Romans 15:
7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.”
10 And again it is said,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse will come,
even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope.”
(Reflections on 9/11, Redemption & God's Mission)
sea of souls
soon to be cast
into the lake of fire
the second death
unless souls repent
unquenchable fire
everlasting pyre
are you not sent
to the sea of souls?
sea of souls
soon to be cast
into the lake of fire
who will go
who will preach
to the sea of souls?
repent and believe
eternal life receive
through Jesus Christ
atoning sacrifice
if you are Christ's
must you not invite?
by mercy plucked
by love constrained
by blood unstained
by grace sustained
from God's wrath
by sovereign grace
from the sea of souls
you were snatched
your soul was saved
from the sea of souls
will you stand in the breach
will you pray for and beseech
the dying sea of souls?
are you not sent
to the sea of souls?
you were snatched
your soul was saved
from the sea of souls
every brand snatched
is a brand dispatched
to the sea of souls
who will go
are you not sent
to cast abroad
the Gospel net?
seek the Baptizer
breathe His breath
take His strength
in His yoke never tire
cast the Gospel net
farther and wider
compel all to come
compel all to dine
to drink of Christ
to plunge inside
the crimson tide
if you are Christ's
must you not invite?
didn't He call you, didn't He draw you out
to ascend the housetops, to the world shout?
"Go quickly," the Master tells you,
"Compel them – still there is room!"
the LORD enlarges all borders of the land
He increases the nation by His strong hand
forgiven sinners, washed white as snow
are to call a nation that you do not know
commissioned to be Christ's mouthpiece of declaration,
are you locked in the Christian bubble of segregation,
gathering for carnal fellowship
oblivious to souls gasping their final breath
singing your Sunday songs to God Most High
forgetting worship is mission's battle cry:
"Run to every nation, lift His banner high
Go and make disciples of the sea of souls"
dare you stop the cleansing tide
keep your light hidden inside
from the sea of souls
every brand snatched
is a brand dispatched
to the sea of souls
will you hide from your own flesh?
how will souls know Jesus Christ,
the way of God's righteousness?
how will lost souls hear salvation
comes not by works, but God's graciousness?
how will oppressed souls receive
the garment of praise for heaviness?
will you hide from your own flesh?
who will loose the bonds of wickedness?
who will proclaim peace to those in distress?
who will lead the weary to the yoke of rest?
if you are Christ's
must you not invite?
does our high priest ever tire
is it not God's great desire
to pluck firebrands from the fire?
other sheep the Shepherd has, lambs He must retrieve
what have you done? why are you not on your knees?
the house of prayer for all nationalities
have you not fashioned it into a den of thieves?
prayer – God's gift for God's glory
have you not made it self-centered, all self-absorbing?
Messiah expects an abundance of corn
are you bearing only briars and thorns?
every brand snatched
is a brand dispatched
to the sea of souls
once fatherless, now to God reconciled
His Son's precious blood made you His child
once a stranger far off, how did you ever hear?
whose beautiful feet preached to draw you near?
God's eternal redemption plan
transcends all colors, every clan
in the gap who will stand
will you reach for the firebrand?
who will weep
for helpless sheep?
who will intercede
at the mercy seat?
who will lay down his life
for the sea of souls?
will you be cast outside
for the sea of souls?
will you live comfortably
or be poured a drink offering
for the sea of souls?
are you not sent
to the sea of souls?
every brand snatched
is a brand dispatched
to the sea of souls
God's good purpose from eternity
O! such an adorable mystery:
to both Jew and Gentile, He is rich in mercy
the middle wall of hostility
abolished in Christ at Calvary
the devout man of Joppa
the fierce man of Nineveh
the leprous commander
the persecutor, the blasphemer
what you do to the least of these
that you do unto Me
are you not a sinner unworthy
just like the least of these?
are you not sent
to the sea of souls?
you were snatched
your soul was saved
from the sea of souls
every brand snatched
is a brand dispatched
to the sea of souls
will you lay down your pride
for the sea of souls?
how can you call any man common or unclean
are not all the thirsty bid come to the healing stream?
will you turn a deaf ear to the Macedonian man
contemn Christ's inheritance, innumerable as sand
can you limit eternal cords of love?
dare you provoke the Holy One
will you bind unbounded love?
and grieve the Spirit of His Son?
is your love truly Christian
if love extends only to your friends?
cast off ethnic barriers, boundary lines
remember Gospel grace is color-blind
hinder not, yea, do not prevent
children called to the veil rent
life to the driest eunuch
welcome to the foreigner's son
God's will be done
His Kingdom come
even in Babylon
even in cities of ruthless nations
dwell some of the Lord's elect
kings led in procession
the Lord's offering
ordained to bring Christ praise and adoration
will you love your enemy
will you go down to your knees?
will you love your enemy
pleading for him fervently?
were you not once Christ's enemy?
behold your God who bled for thee!
were you not a hopeless alien
separated from God by your sin?
when will you learn Christ's love is blind
goes to every nation to seek and find
to gather His sheep at any cost
so none are missing, not one is lost
on the cross the Lamb was hung
to purchase souls from every tribe and tongue
when will you learn Christ's love is unearned
stretches His hands to those who spurned
Christ ransomed men from every race
who will tell them of God's grace?
who will take life to those who kill
if you don't, then, pray tell, who will?
the glory of God, the cause of Christ
do these ambitions control your life?
so long as the King's coming delays
go out into the hedges and highways
night approaches, the day is fading
are you merely shadows chasing?
are you wasting your life
or presenting it a worthy sacrifice
are you not sent
to the sea of souls?
you were snatched
your soul was saved
from the sea of souls
every brand snatched
is a brand dispatched
to the sea of souls
who will cast all on Christ
for the sea of souls?
who will cast off for Christ
to the sea of souls?
who will spend all and be spent
for the sea of souls?
will you gain the whole world
and lose the sea of souls?
will you gain the whole world
and lose your own soul?
are you not sent
to the sea of souls?
are we not sent
to the sea of souls?
every brand snatched
is a brand dispatched
to the sea of souls
so the earth shall be filled
filled with knowledge heavenly
knowledge of the LORD's glory
as the waters cover the sea
so the earth shall be filled
filled with tongues confessing
Christ Jesus ever blessing
to the glory of God the Father
so the earth shall be filled
filled with our Redeemer's praise
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!"
the plucked firebrands' blazing refrain
Luke 24:46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem."
Luke 14:23 And the master said to the servant, "Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled."
Psalm 96:3
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.
Luke 13:29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.
Psalm 72:17
May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in him,
all nations call him blessed!
Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
Related:
Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream | God has a greater one
Are you a Jonah?
Things to look for in a Church ... Missionary Zeal
"Christ for the World We Sing" / Psalm 57:7-11
the infinite significance of the eternal Kingdom
our yearnings & desires & God's Mission (Isaiah 26:9)
"Call to Me and I will answer you" (thoughts on holy ambition)
Is your ambition holy? / What are you living for? (Louis Paul Lehman) | The Christian's Aim
adopting God's purpose for the nations is for your joy & His glory
Thoughts on necessity (Richard Baxter, myself)
I don't want to walk anyone into hell
Are you robbing God? Where is God telling you to "Rise and go!" for the joy of others?
Epiphany: we are made a light to bring salvation to the ends of the earth
Feast of Epiphany / II Corinthians – Manifesting Christ to the world
We are the salt of the earth: sprinkle us out in the world
earth Day (fill the Earth (Genesis 9)
All the Earth Celebrate
In my contemplation
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Emphasis mine.
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