A Passion for God’s Supremacy and Compassion for Man’s Soul Selected Scriptures Missions Month Week #5 Message © March 24, 2019 Paul K. Kim 2

WHAT SHOULD BE OUR MOTIVE FOR WORLD MISSIONS? The importance of a passion for God’s supremacy/glory The importance of compassion for man’s soul The importance of “both/and” not “either/or” The importance of applying our missional living/church

TWOFOLD MOTIVE: PASSION FOR GOD & COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE 1) God created the world for his glory; but God is not glorified among “all the nations”—this is a key motive for missions. 1 The heavens declare the glory of God. Psalm 19:1 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36

TWOFOLD MOTIVE: PASSION FOR GOD & COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE 1) God created the world for his glory; but God is not glorified among “all the nations”—this is a key motive for missions. 9 “For my name's sake I defer my anger,  for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,  that I may not cut you off. 10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;  I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. 11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,  for how should my name be profaned?     My glory I will not give to another. Isaiah 48:9-11 God is God-centered at all times, displaying his own glory.

TWOFOLD MOTIVE: PASSION FOR GOD & COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE 1) God created the world for his glory; but God is not glorified among “all the nations”—this is a key motive for missions.  24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed  among the Gentiles because of you.” Romans 2:24 God is God-centered at all times, displaying his own glory. But, unlike the nature, the nations/peoples do NOT magnify God’s glory.

That is the ultimate problem in the world. That is the ultimate outrage. The glory of God is not honored. The holiness of God is not reverenced. The greatness of God is not admired. The power of God is not praised. The truth of God is not sought. The wisdom of God is not esteemed. The beauty of God is not treasured. The goodness of God is not savored. The faithfulness of God is not trusted. The promises of God are not relied upon. The commandments of God are not obeyed. The justice of God is not respected. The wrath of God is not feared. The grace of God is not cherished. — John Piper

TWOFOLD MOTIVE: PASSION FOR GOD & COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE 1) God created the world for his glory; but God is not glorified among “all the nations”—this is a key motive for missions. 3 Declare his glory among the nations,     his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;     he is to be feared above all gods. 7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,     ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Psalm 96:3, 4, & 7 God is God-centered at all times, displaying his own glory. But, unlike the nature, the nations/peoples do NOT magnify God’s glory. God’s God-centeredness is for our deepest joy above all else. Therefore, God calls “all nations” to glorify him above all else—this is our SUPREME motive for world missions to all the nations/peoples.

Missions is not the ultimate goal of the Church. Worship is Missions is not the ultimate goal of the Church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever. John Piper

TWOFOLD MOTIVE: PASSION FOR GOD & COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE 2) Compassion for all people are essential to Christ-followers, but the greatest needs of unbelievers is not just their temporal needs but their eternal destiny without Christ—this is also a key motive for missions. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. Luke 15:20

TWOFOLD MOTIVE: PASSION FOR GOD & COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE 2) Compassion for all people are essential to Christ-followers, but the greatest needs of unbelievers is not just their temporal needs but their eternal destiny without Christ—this is also a key motive for missions. 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 To love others as Christ-followers means that we cultivate compassion for others beyond our loved ones—to ache for their sufferings and needs. But our compassion ought be not just for their temporal needs but for their eternal destiny under the wrath of God against all unrighteousness. True Christlike compassion will motive us not just to warn them about hell [God’s wrath] but also attract them to delight in heaven [God’s glory].

TWOFOLD MOTIVE: PASSION FOR GOD & COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE 3) These two motives—passion for God and compassion for people—are not opposites but are closely related as one, two sides of the same coin. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;     let all the peoples praise you! 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,     for you judge the peoples with equity     and guide the nations upon earth.  Psalm 67:3-4 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves  but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 [NIV]

TWOFOLD MOTIVE: PASSION FOR GOD & COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE 3) These two motives—passion for God and compassion for people—are not opposites but are closely related as one, two sides of the same coin. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;     let all the peoples praise you! 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,     for you judge the peoples with equity     and guide the nations upon earth.  Psalm 67:3-4 Our passion for God will motivate us in going to the ends of the earth and our compassion for people will also motivate us in reaching the unreached. In so doing, we must not choose between the two but see them as ONE. Why? True saving faith points to BOTH—(1) escaping from God’s wrath AND (2) praising and delighting in God’s glory of the eternal presence of God!

Why Saving Faith [delighting in God’s Glory] Glorifies God So God glorifies Himself toward the creatures in two ways: 1. By appearing to . . . their understanding. 2. In communicating Himself to their hearts, and in their rejoicing and delighting in, and enjoying, the manifestations which He makes of Himself. . . . God is glorified not only by His glory’s being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it. His glory is then received by the whole soul, both by the understanding and by the heart. God made the world that He might communicate, and the creature receive, His glory; and that it might [be] received both by the mind and heart. He that testifies his idea of God’s glory [doesn’t] glorify God so much as he that testifies also his approbation of it and his delight in it. — Jonathan Edwards

APPLYING INTO MISSIONAL LIVING & MISSIONAL CHURCH As missional people/church, we are to cultivate BOTH motives for missions—a passion for God’s supremacy in all peoples (not merely more people) AND compassion for man’s soul (not just temporal needs). We are to declare God’s glory in “all the nations” not just by warning them about God’s wrath and also attract compassionately them to the pleasures of knowing Christ. We are to be passionate goers and passionate senders for the supremacy of God among all peoples (not just more people) for their eternal joy in Christ (not just temporal relief of their pains).

There are only three kinds of Christians when it comes to world missions: zealous goers, zealous senders, and disobedient. John Piper

APPLYING INTO MISSIONAL LIVING & MISSIONAL CHURCH As missional people/church, we are to cultivate BOTH motives for missions—a passion for God’s supremacy in all peoples (not merely more people) AND compassion for man’s soul (not just temporal needs). We are to declare God’s glory in “all the nations” not just by warning them about God’s wrath and also attract compassionately them to the pleasures of knowing Christ. We are to be passionate goers and passionate senders for the supremacy of God among all peoples (not just more people) for their eternal joy in Christ (not just temporal relief of their pains).

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE In what ways are you more convinced of your need for cultivate the twofold motive—passion for God and compassion for people—in order to actively participate in missions? What did you realize about yourself concerning the need/lack for God’s supremacy/glory and the need/lack for compassion for man’s soul? What is your first step in STOP being disobedient and START being a passionate goer or a passionate sender?