DO YOU HAVE A HEART FOR MISSIONS (2)
As I concluded the blog of the same title today, other thoughts came flooding into my mind. The previous blog was primarily about praying for and going to foreign nations to bring them the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, which the Lord gave me the privilege of doing for so many years. My main text was Psalm 2:8 NKJV Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as an inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your inheritance.
It is interesting that the KJV translation uses the word heathen (instead of nation), which can also be translated gentile (non Jew) and foreign (as well as nation). When we think of the word nations in our understanding of the English word, we initially just think of an area with borders. The Hebrew word and especially the Greek word gives a much broader picture. Let me just give you one illustration, that of the Romany (Gypsies) that live in many European nations. They are a distinct ethnic group (amongst often many other ethnic groups) within the borders of a given nation, and the Bible tells us we are to reach EVERY ETHNIC GROUP WITHIN A NATION.
When we come to the Greek word translated nation it is ETHNOS) where we also get the word ethnic.
In this blog I want to highlight having a heart for Missions at home in our own country. Here in Australia, (for example) like the USA and Israel we are known as a nation of migrants, I believe it is well over 50% of our population was born in another country, and the majority of our continued growth is from migration even more than births. Which means here in Australia we have hundreds of ethnic groups who need to be specifically reached by the Gospel. I love watching football on tv, and so many of the players have surnames that are very hard to pronounce, yet when they are interviewed on camera, their speech is totally Australian, and their use of our slang is no different to us. Most have been born here in Australia, and educated here, but when they walk into their parents or grandparents homes they often walk into a different world, THEY ARE BI-CULTURAL. Also a very unique group of people.
This is why Jesus said to the Disciples just prior to His Ascension in Acts 1:8 NKJV But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Why did Jesus highlight four different regions that needed the Gospel.
Jerusalem, The City of the Jews and their the Temple. To the disciples the same language, same ethnic and cultural group (except when Jews from other nations came for the three great feasts of Israel).
Judea, a similar cultural and ethnic group
Samaria, a different cultural and ethnic group
Uttermost parts. Totally different cultural and ethnic groups.
What of your area? Different tribes, and culture groups, you may need to pray that the Holy Spirit will give you keys to work with them, and see them coming to Christ.
Let us not forget we have migrated too, we are now part of a new ETHNIC GROUP, Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2: 9 NKJV But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy (new ethnic) NATION, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
May the Lord help us to reach every ethnic nation in our country, so that they will be part of every tribe and nation in heaven around the throne of God Amen.
