How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace and brings good news of happiness
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
The Lord has bared His holy arm
In the sight of all the nations,
That all the ends of the earth may see
The salvation of our God.
Church planting starts with a vision. A vision from God; a promise that ALL nations will know of His great name (Malachi 1:11). In Acts 17:24-27, God reveals how this will be done:
24 The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
We were born at this time frame in history. God even appointed where we will live - which country, which village or city. So wherever we are, we have the opportunity to know Him and make Him known...and make His name great.
The intentional focus of prayer for open hearts and then seeking out the person of peace and house of peace in order to do evangelism, bible studies, making disciples during these short term mission trips has made feel like a harvester. More often than not, God has so prepared the person(s) to hear the Good News that I get to reap the harvest - they receive the Word with joy and want to follow Christ. The fields are REALLY white for the harvest.
During my first week of search for a house of peace, there were challenges to overcome, such as so many questions to answer, and mainly on Jesus equality with God. There was misinterpretation on the Colossians passage of Jesus being the firstborn of all creation.
So, for the sake of Titus and his household, the family who had so many questions, the following are passages of the preeminence of Jesus and a clarification on the term firstborn of all creation - referring to the those that experience regeneration and born of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:20-27, 45-49
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.
Also, Christ's own proclamation of who He was I believe was best expressed when he plainly said,, "I AM" in the passage in John 8, Jesus was confronted with questions of where he came from and who He was, He said,
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced [p]to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham [q]was born, I am.” 59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus [r]hid Himself and went out of the temple.
Here are His other declarations about Himself:
I am gentle and humble in heart Matt 11:29
I am the Son of God. Matt 27:43
I am with you always Matt 28:20
I am the bread of life John 6:35
I am the light of the world John 8:12
I am not of this world John 8:23
I am the door John 10:9
I am the good shepherd John 11:25
I am the resurrection and the life John 11:25
I am the way the truth and the life John 14:6
I am the vine John 15:5
I am the king John 18:37
I am the alpha and omega/ Almighty - Revelation 1:8; 21:6
I am the First and last, the living one, alive forever - Revelation 1:17-18
I am He who searches the minds and hearts Revelation 2:23
I am coming quickly Revelation 3:11
I am the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star - Revelation 22:16
I AM - John 8:58
The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; Let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Fire goes before Him and burns up His adversaries round about.
His lightnings lit up the world; The earth saw and trembled.
The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare His righteousness, And all the peoples have seen His glory.
Psalm 97:1-6
