Discerning God's Will Article
2) God Wants Every Christian to Realize the World’s Great Spiritual Need.
The world is spiritually hungry.
As increasing numbers of people all over the world are becoming dissatisfied with the world’s answers to life, they are seeking spiritual answers. Saint Augustine said, “Thou has made us for Thyself, and the heart of man is restless until it finds its rest in Thee.” God is causing people to seek His answers to world problems and life’s personal problems.
Jesus said, “Do you not say, `Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35).
The need for workers is great.
Jesus said, “Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37).
- Every day, 150,000 people die without Jesus Christ
- There is only one missionary for every 72,000 persons.
- There are 2.7 billion people who have never heard the gospel. In other words, for every person in the world who has heard the gospel of Christ, there are two who have never heard.
How great a value does God place upon the lives of these individuals? The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 2 Peter 3:9 tells us: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
God mercifully is holding back His judgment so that others will realize their spiritual need and will have the opportunity to turn to Him.
What is God’s plan to meet this spiritual need?
3) God’s Plan is that Every Christian Help Meet the World’s Spiritual Need.
What God wants is you! He desires your availability and your love.
In reality, we don’t belong to ourselves anymore.
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1Corinthians 6:19-20).
Jesus Christ paid the highest cost possible for our salvation – His own life. Shouldn’t we then be willing to commit our lives totally to Him to accomplish His will? Because of the great love that He has already shown us, we know that we can trust Him with every aspect of our lives.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God --this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is --his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).
Jesus reminds us, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15).
We have been given a ministry.
In spite of our human inadequacies, Jesus has chosen us to help reach the world for Him. We are His ambassadors – sent out to represent the King.
“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God….All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation….We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 3:5; 5:18, 20).
Jesus has commanded us to make disciples.
Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
The Christian who is faithful to Christ’s commands will disciples others – that is, multiply himself spiritually. 2Timothy 2:2 gives us a simple definition of discipleship: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”
We have a God-given responsibility to pass on to others the knowledge that God has given us. “…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded” (Luke 12:48).
God wants every Christian to help meet the world’s spiritual needs effectively and faithfully by multiplying himself (winning, building and sending others). In light of this responsibility, one decision you should consider carefully is your choice of vocation.
In what type of vocation can you be most effective?
You can be certain that God has called you to help fulfill the Great Commission (through making disciples), regardless of your vocation. But there are three important factors you should consider as you determine God’s specific vocational direction for your life.
- All Christians have already been called specifically to a ministry of reconciling men and women to God (2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Matthew 28:18-20; Colossians 1:28-29)
- A vocation should fulfill your goals in life, rather than simply provide a means to make a living. As Christians, our basic purpose or goal in life is to bring glory to God (1 Corinthians 10:31; Isaiah 43:7). We bring glory to Him by knowing Him and making Him known (Mark 3:13-14). Therefore, you should simply ask yourself, “In which vocation can I best get to know God and make Him known to others?”
- The world has a great spiritual hunger that grows daily; thus, there is a growing need for Christian workers. Both Christians and non-Christians can do secular work; however, only Christians can do Christian work, and many thousands of vital positions are not yet filled (John 4:35; Matthew 9:37-38).
Each Christian should consider the available options.
Choosing a vocation should not be taken lightly. Consider these two options:
Secular Vocation:
- Provides a means to make a living.
- Allows sometime for a ministry of evangelism and discipleship.
- May provide a secular platform for a spiritual ministry by opening up opportunities to make Jesus Christ known among other professional and vocational people.
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