New Wine family and friends of New Wine,
I have been listening to a song, which has deeply moved me, challenging me in my priorities, and perspectives as a follower of Jesus. The song, by Bethel Music and Brian Johnson, is called, ‘For the Sake of the World’. The words of the song express what I would love to be the passion in my soul, and the deep desire of my heart: “This passion in my heart, this stirring in my soul, to see the nations bow; for all the world to know I’m living for Your glory on the Earth. For the sake of the world burn like a fire in me. Light a flame in my soul for every eye to see. For the sake of the world burn like a fire in me… For every knee to bow down, for every heart to believe, for every voice to cry out, burn like a fire in me. For every tongue to confess You alone are the King. You are the hope of the Earth. Burn like a fire in me.”
‘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). From this verse and many others in the Bible, it is plain for all to see, that God the Father loves the world, and that he desires that no one should perish. The very purpose of His coming from heaven to earth, in the person of His Son, Jesus, was to rescue the world: ‘For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him’ (John 3:17). In everything that Jesus did and said in His life on earth, He revealed the perfect will of the Father. Jesus said this was the will of the Father: “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:39-40). The burning passion in Father God’s heart, as
demonstrated in Jesus, was His desire to see the world reconciled to Him- restored to a relationship with Him through Jesus- and to live the full and abundant life (John 10:10) that Jesus came to bring.
There is no doubt in my mind, that God in Christ, acted ‘for the sake of the world’. When Jesus taught His followers to pray, He was asking them to share His passion for the world: ‘This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven’” (Matthew 6:9-10). So, I ask you, as I ask myself: Do we share His heart? Do we truly believe that Jesus is the hope for the world, and do our lives reflect that belief? Do we long for every tongue to confess that Jesus is Lord? Do we desire every knee to bow before Him? Do we yearn for the Holy Sprit to burn like a fire in us, such that people encounter Jesus in us? Are we desperate for the Holy Spirit to stir up passion and love in us, for the sake of the glory of Jesus, and His love for the world?
The famous preacher, John Wesley, describes this passion, that Jesus would love for all believers to share: ‘Get on fire for God and men will come and see you burn’. I believe many in the church have lost that driving motivation that Jesus birthed the Church for: ‘for Jesus Christ sake’ and thereby, ‘for the sake of the world’. I also believe that Jesus is looking to anoint with His Holy Spirit and power, the hearts and lives of believers who cry out daily, “For the sake of the world burn like a fire in me… For every knee to bow down, for every heart to believe, for every voice to cry out, burn like a fire in me”. Will not Jesus, who came for the sake of the world, manifest His presence powerfully in and through lives that have been fully surrendered to Him to live for His glory, in living for the sake of the world to know Him.
I pray that you and I will have courage to step into this space, that I have described, and experience the unending of joy of reaching His heart.
Bless you all!
David Stansbury