GOD’S GLORY IN MISSIONS AND THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE LOST Isaiah 66:18-24

Our God is a MISSIONARY GOD: His heart for missions and world evangelization is revealed clearly in Scriptures. HERE GOD’S MISSION WAS MENTIONED AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO DECLARE HIS GLORY TO ALL THE NATIONS OR PEOPLE GROUPS OF THE WORLD.

In these closing verses of the book, Isaiah leaves us with the astonishing truth THAT THESE PROMISES ARE NOT JUST FOR THE JEWS, BUT HE IS GOING TO GATHER HIS PEOPLE FROM ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD. (That includes us and all the elect from the Gentile nations)

In the bible, “all nations” is from the Greek word “panta ta ethne” where we derived the word “ethnic” which refers to all the world’s “enthnolinguistic peoples” or “ethnic groups”, “tribes”, “tongues”, or “people groups”. 103 Political Nations (Countries) 7 Billion Individuals (and multiplying) 16,700 People Groups (“ethne”) 6,800Reached People Groups 9,900Unreached People Groups

The remnant of faithful Jews and faithful people from amongst the Gentiles of every nation, race and tongue will worship and serve Him in the restored heavenly Jerusalem. Isaiah closes with a solemn warning for those who ignore God and continue in their sin and also on the reality of Hell. Disobedience is a serious matter with God. CONSIDER THE REALITY THAT THE BIBLE IS A UNIFIED STORY OF GOD'S MISSION.

For our discussion this morning I want to divide this passage under three sections: V. 18, "GOD'S MISSION DECLARED" VV , "GOD'S MISSION IMPLEMENTED" VV , "GOD'S MISSION FULFILLED” I.GOD'S MISSION DECLARED (v.18b)  God’s mission is declared: He will gather people from all nations and tongues to come and see His glory.

 Genesis 12:3- when God talked to Abraham about establishing His own people, He already declared His intention that ”all peoples on earth will be blessed through you”. God always had a missionary heart.  "World missions was on God's mind from the beginning." — Dave Davidson

What prompted God to make this wonderful declaration here in Isaiah? A.THE PREVALENCE OF EVIL IN THE WORLD (Isaiah 66:3, 4)  In spite of what is happening around us, God's response to evil in the world is always judgment and grace working together.  Isaiah 66:15, 16  Isaiah 66:18b

“God's justice demands that the world is judged; God's love demands that He saves those who come to Him; God's missionary heart longs to gather as many as will come”. (Ben Edgington) B.ISRAEL’S REFUSAL TO BRING GOD’S LIGHT AND TRUTH TO ALL THE NATIONS  The phrase “For I know their works and their thoughts” refers to those who have set themselves up against God.

 The Lord is aware of Israel’s motivation behind their action.  Israel was called to shine forth as God’s light and truth to the nations.  THE PLAN WAS THAT GOD WOULD SO UTTERLY BLESS ISRAEL IN HER OBEDIENCE THAT ALL THE OTHER NATIONS WOULD WANT TO COME AND BE PART OF ISRAEL AND WORSHIP GOD.

 GOD MADE THE WAY FOR GRACE TO REACH THE NATIONS THROUGH ISRAEL. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT ISRAEL REFUSED TO SHINE FORTH HER LIGHT. SHE DISOBEYED AND HELD THE WORD OF GOD TIGHTLY WITHIN HER BORDERS.  The GLORY OF GOD did not go to the nations because His chosen people refused to bring it.

 Will Israel’s stubbornness hinder God’s plan?  NO, God is determined to bring the glory of His Name to the nations. As He has shown to Israel, He can do it with Israel or without them.  God was determined to do two things.  To bring His glory to the ends of the earth, that is, to impact all the nations  To work through the Church in accomplishing this.

APPLICATION:  Praise God that our local church is responding to the call of missions. But this Great Commission call is not confined to few individuals among us. Our entire Church must respond.  "Missions is not the 'ministry of choice' for a few hyperactive Christians in the church. Missions is the purpose of the Church." — Unknown

 "If we have experienced the blessings of the Gospel and don't pass it on to all peoples, then we are denying them that which is rightly theirs”  Each of us who are in Christ must ask, what is my crucial part in my Lord’s Great Commission call? II. GOD'S MISSION IMPLEMENTED (v19-20) God puts His mission into action in two ways which we see in verse 19:

 First, God prophesies, "I will set a sign among them" (Isa. 66:19).  Christ Himself is this "sign" as Isaiah 7:14 confirms  Old Simeon refers to Jesus as a "sign" in his words to Mary (Luke 2:34).  Matthew 24:30

 CHRIST IS THE "SIGN" POINTING US TO THE GOD WHO SAVES HIS ELECT AND PUNISHES THE WICKED AND UNBELIEVING.  NOW WE SEE THAT THIS SIGN OF GOD'S RESTORATION IN CHRIST IS NOT JUST FOR THE JEWS BUT FOR THE GENTILE NATIONS AS WELL.

2.GOD SENDS HIS CHURCH TO THE NATIONS TO DO HIS WORK FOR HIM.  The Church is the one whom God spared in His judgment of the world. We now live in the great Gospel Age and WE ARE THE MESSENGERS GOD SENDS TO THE NATIONS.  “We are either goers, senders or disobedient” – John Piper

In verses 19-20, we see that the way in which God implemented His mission into action is to give His people four things: A.HE GIVES THEM A MISSION (v.19) God gives them work to do: THEY ARE TO GO OUT AS HIS AMBASSADORS TO THE VERY ENDS OF THE EARTH. THEY WILL GO BECAUSE FAITHFUL BELIEVERS SHARE GOD'S HEART FOR MISSION.  Messiah will send for and gather all the nations of the known world.

 GOD WILL SEND HIS PEOPLE (ACTS 4:20) TO THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD TO TRAVEL TO ALL THOSE PLACES TO PROCLAIM HIM – THIS IS NOW THE MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE OF THE CHURCH (66:19).  THE MISSION GOD GIVES HIS FAITHFUL PEOPLE IS UNLIMITED. NO NATION OR RACE OR COLOR OF PEOPLE IS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF GOD'S SAVING GRACE.  Acts 1:8

 If we are Christians then we are God's people. We have received the same power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses and obey Matthew 28:19  If we truly grasp the missionary heart of God, we can do nothing but OBEY.

“God is a missionary God and He has sent the Church to participate in His mission of reconciling the world to Himself. That mission is the purpose of the Church on this earth, and the message is the good news of the kingdom. Missional activity encompasses the redemptive mission of Jesus.” Dr. David DeVries

B.GOD GIVES THEM A MESSAGE (v.19)  This is the message to be proclaimed throughout the world: God’s glory.  Isaiah makes it very clear that God’s glory is revealed in Jesus Christ. Isaiah 40:5 prophesies, "the glory of the Lord shall be revealed."  Hebrews 1:3  John 1:14

 OUR MESSAGE IS ABOUT GOD'S GLORY. We are to be witnesses to the Sign that God has set among the nations: THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.  THE MESSAGE OF GOD’S GLORY IN CHRIST TO ALL NATIONS INCLUDES SOVEREIGN ELECTION AND REPROBATION. WE CANNOT BE UNFAITHFUL AND LEAVE THIS OUT.

 If we truly grasp the missionary heart of God, then WE WILL BE MUCH MORE EAGER TO TALK ABOUT JESUS THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN OUR LIVES. GOD HAS GIVEN US A GLORIOUS MESSAGE! C. GOD GIVES THEM THE MEANS(v.20)  "bring these people in by any means possible!"  Nonetheless, the point still stands: We do what it takes to bring people to God by whatever means He has given to us!

Among the various means that God is allowing us at this time are:  Our strengthened partnership with missions agencies  Our revitalized faith missions giving  Our consistent prayer times for our missionaries and missionaries in training  Our congregational prayers of people groups all over the world  Our mobilizing efforts We can all be part through these means.

 We must be available and prepared to do what it takes to bring people in by whatever means God has given us in proclaiming His glory to the nations. D.GOD GIVES THEM A MOTIVE(v.20)  God gives His people a motive: THE PEOPLE THEY BRING ARE AN OFFERING TO GOD.  Their motive was simply their desire to bring an offering to God.  Deuteronomy 26:2

 THE CONVERTS OF THE NATIONS COME AS THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE HARVEST  This image that God gives us through Isaiah can help us broaden our understanding of WHAT IT MEANS TO WORSHIP GOD.  BUT WHAT CAN WE OFFER HIM? Isaiah encourages us that it is appropriate to consider those WHOM WE BRING TO THE LORD AS OUR OFFERING TO HIM.

 WHAT BETTER WAY TO HONOR GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS TO US BY BRINGING TO HIM NOT ONLY AN OFFERING OF OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR COLLEAGUES BUT THE UNREACHED PEOPLES FROM EVERY NATION.  Romans 15:16  WE ARE ALL PRIESTS IN GOD'S TEMPLE; LIKE PAUL, LET US BRING THOSE WE CAN AS AN OFFERING TO THE LORD.

3. GOD'S MISSION FULFILLED (v.21-24) A.GOD’S PEOPLE ARE GATHERED AND HIS JUDGMENT FOR THOSE WHO REJECTED HIM.  There will be complete equality between the Jews and the Gentiles brought in. No longer will only the Levites be priests of God but everybody will have that kind of access to God.

 Because of Jesus, all God's people can have equal access to Him. That is, as Christians we are all priests and Levites.  1 Peter 1:9 B.A NEW PLACE TO LIVE FOR HIS PEOPLE (THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH)  The second reality of God's mission accomplished is a new place to live for His people, TO BASK ON HIS GLORY AND TO WORSHIP HIM FOREVER. This is what He is gathering them to(Isa. 66:17)

 Our worship of God will not be interrupted by sin and rebellion anymore, unlike in this world day after day.  Isaiah 66:24  We must never forget that God's judgment on this world is unavoidable. This world has turned its back on God.  THERE IS A HELL. IT IS REAL, AND IT IS RESERVED FOR ANYONE WHO REJECTS JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR. THE PUNISHMENT WILL GO ON FOREVER.

God is fundamentally mission-hearted. If He is truly at work in us and in our church then we will be mission-hearted as well. MISSIONS IS ABOUT THE LORD WORKING THROUGH OUR LIVES. If we, as a church, or as individuals, are not ready to be an instrument of God’s grace to another, then we are not serving God’s purpose. If we do not take an active step to participate in His mission, then we will like many others default to being inactive.

CRUCIAL STEPS INCLUDE OUR DELIBERATE COOPERATION IN THE MISSION MOVEMENT THROUGH:  SERIOUS PRAYING  DEVOTED GIVING  INTENTIONAL MOBILIZING  PASSIONATE GOING IT IS GOD’S PLAN TO USE HIS CHURCH TO GLORIFY HIS NAME AMONG THE NATIONS (Isaiah 66:18-19)

"God is a God of missions. He wills missions. He commands missions. He demands missions. He made missions possible through His Son. He made missions actual in sending the Holy Spirit." — George W. Peters “GOD ONLY HAD ONE SON AND HE SENT HIM TO EARTH AS A MISSIONARY”. W. T. Watson

“God is pursuing with omnipotent passion a worldwide purpose of gathering joyful worshipers for Himself from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. He has an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the supremacy of His name among the nations. Therefore, let us bring our affections into line with His, and, for the sake of His name, let us renounce the quest for worldly comforts and join His global purpose.” John Piper