David Platt: Divine Sovereignty: The Fuel of Death-Defying Missions
1) Local ministry and mission are totally necessary. Yet,
2) Global missions is tragically neglected.
In northern Yemen there are 20-30 Christians. They are lost and have no access to the gospel. They are born, live, and die without ever hearing the gospel. 2 billion people. 6,000 people groups.
3) Pastors have the privilege and responsibility to lead the way in global missions. Rock solid confidence in the sovereignty of God drives this.
Revelation 5
The scroll contains God’s sovereign decrees. There is not a speck of dust on the planet that exists apart from God’s sovereignty. The hearts of rulers are in God’s hands. American Christian, you don’t have rights. God alone has rights. He will save and condemn.
1) God involves us in His mission, not because He needs us, but because He loves us. All of our churches and associations could die, but God would still bring Himself glory.
2) The state of man before God apart from Christ is utterly hopeless. Apart from Christ man is enslaved to sin and the devil. Man is under the wrath of God.
3) The lamb of God has not only endured death in our place. He has conquered death.
4) The atonement of Christ is graciously, gloriously, and globally particular (Rev 5:9). Jesus died to purchase men and women from every people group. We are to make disciples among every people group. If we believe this, we will reach every tribe and people group. Guilt does not drive passion for unreached people groups. Glory does!
Four applications for pastors:
1) Let us lead our churches to pray confidently. God’s sovereignty necessitates prayer! God has sovereignty ordained the prayers of His people to bring about the coming of the kingdom! Tell them to pray Matthew 24:14. Show them how to use Operation World and assure them that their prayers are piling up at the altar of God.
2) let us lead our churches to give sacrificially. Christians give an average of 2.5%. The churches regularly give about 2% to world missions. Psalm 67 is the answer. God has blessed us so that He might be worshiped in all the world!
3) Let us lead our churches to go to unreached peoples. Send out on short and medium trips, as well as career missionaries.
4) Let us lead our churches to die willingly for the sake of all peoples. Unreached people’s are unreached because they are hard to reach, and many don’t want to be reached. God has willed the gospel to spread through suffering. Suffering is never out of the hand of God.
Let’s not stop until the slaughtered lamb of God receives the full reward of his suffering!
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