by Ryan Shaw

I have been pondering lately the call of God upon the church globally to reach the nations. This is a very intense call that our Lord lays out before us. It is not to be taken lightly, and yet it must be taken up, in some capacity, by all those who call upon the name of Jesus as Lord. We have the incredible opportunity to influence others with this great call as well. There are many around us who have never considered their role in Global Proclamation. Many who God may be calling as message bearers to make disciples among a forgotten people, yet who have never opened themselves to such a possibility. For some this is not out of a purposeful disobedience to God but because of an ignorance of what this really means and of what God’s heart is for the world. A friend of mine attended a Christian college that was very committed to missions. He, however, had never considered this possibility for his own life. Not because he hadn’t heard about it consistently but because no one had ever posed the question to him, “Have you ever considered becoming a missionary?” When that question was posed to him finally and someone sat down with him and described biblically the heart of God for every person around the world, he was hooked and is involved in mission leadership as a result today.

This morning I want to challenge each of us to come up with a list of 5 people we know. Either from our church, campus ministry, or Christian campus. I want us to pray for each of these 5 and ask God to prick their heart in such a way that they would open themselves up to the possibility of becoming a message bearer among the forgotten. Then I want us to sit down with each of these 5 in the next few weeks and talk to them about their future and ask them directly about committing themselves to go and make disciples among the forgotten. Why should we do this? God’s heartbeat is for all humankind that is alive today to have the opportunity to respond to the glorious love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. This presently is not possible in large chunks of the world. Yet in the one most of us live in, it is very possible. For this reason I believe with all my heart that it is His will that many more message bearers go out and live in Muslim communities, Hindu communities, Buddhist communities, etc., so that they too can choose to love this wonderful Savior and Lord of ours.

Once you’ve spoken with these 5, I encourage you to invite them to join you in a Global Prayer Team (GPT). This way they are able to consistently join you (someone who has already committed themselves to going) and pray with full and passionate hearts for those around the world who are outside of a relevant hearing of the gospel. Handbooks that explain and give vision and ideas for the GPT’s are available to download at http://www.svm2.net/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=44.

Scriptural Reflection

As we look at the scripture today I want us to re-read Daniel chapters 1-3. The entire book of Daniel always blows me away whenever I read and study it. Here we see an example of total consecration and loyalty to God shown by Daniel and his three friends (probably under 20 years old when taken captive). Each of them had learned the true fear of the Lord that God intends us to walk in, as children growing up in Judah. When the Babylonians attacked Israel and they were taken captive to Babylon, these teenagers chose not to question God, and with bitterness ask Him why He had allowed this to happen, but instead chose to commit themselves to Him and to walk in integrity and flee from any form of compromise. They were young men of character who separated themselves from the ungodly culture and society in which they lived. They would not participate in the sin of the culture. How is our commitment today to “No Compromise?” What do those who are closest to you have to say about this? Do you possess a fierce loyalty to not sin against God as these four young men did?

In chapter 1 we also see God unleashing uncommon wisdom and understanding upon these young men. Why? Because He knew that He could trust them as His servants in this pagan kingdom. They had shown themselves faithful in other areas. Are we consistently seeking after wisdom and prophetic understanding for our circumstances, our spheres of influence, to gain a grasp on the signs of the times? The book of proverbs talks at length about the importance of wisdom and understanding and making sure that you “get it”. It even states rather clearly that to have these will keep you from harm and a way will be made for you. How often and seriously do we seek God for the wisdom that He gives from heaven? I’m not referring to a one time thing but a lifestyle of seeking wisdom. James says that God will give generously of His wisdom to those who ask and ask and ask. How persistent are we to lay hold of it? Daniel was evidently quite persistent.

In these four young men there is also found an amazing courage in the face of strong opposition. Each of them faced incredible testing to their faith and yet they all stood upright and would not back down in staunch commitment to not turn their loyalty to anything or anyone but God. They even did this when death was seemingly imminent. These were men that were other worldly. They did not consider earth their home but knew where there identity as sons of the Most High was placed. They did not walk the earth for their own purposes but completely for the purpose of their God.

God loved the heart of these four young men. He was fiercely devoted to them and used them powerfully to impact a sinful and pagan kingdom. They brought glory to His name and He enjoyed communion and deep fellowship with them. As followers of Jesus, with the Holy Spirit living within us, we can walk in the same kind of faithfulness as these men possessed. We can see God use us to bring His name glory in a sinful and pagan culture and society somewhere around the world. But we must count the cost recognizing that our faith will be tested, that life will not be easy and that we will not be kept from difficult circumstances. Even as Daniel experienced in the Lions den, God will often meet us in the midst of difficult circumstances, bringing deliverance to us, but not necessarily keeping us completely from the circumstance. It is through these that God’s glory can shine the brightest.

Together for the Nations,

Ryan Shaw

Director

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Ryan Shaw