The Desire of All Nations Will Come

Reading Time: 7 minutes

“Do good things for the city I sent you to. Pray to the LORD for the city you are living in, because if there is peace in that city, you will have peace also.” (Jer 29:7, ERV)

pray for the living waters
pray for the living waters

Many people around the world are so worried about current political event and affairs of the great nations of the world. But there is a bigger picture we can focus on. A better story that we can be a part of.

What the church needs in these days of peril is an army of workers who, like Paul, have educated themselves for usefulness, who have a deep experience in the things of God, and who are filled with earnestness and zeal. Sanctified, self-sacrificing men are needed; men who will not shun trial and responsibility; men who are brave and true; men in whose hearts Christ is formed “the hope of glory,” and who with lips touched with holy fire will “preach the word.” For want of such workers the cause of God languishes, and fatal errors, like a deadly poison, taint the morals and blight the hopes of a large part of the human race. {AA 507.2}

Jeremiah wrote to the captives in Babylon (Jer 29:4-23) instructing them to move ahead with their lives and to pray for the pagan nation that enslaved them. Life cannot grind to a halt during troubled times. In an unpleasant or distressing situation, we must adjust and keep moving. You may find it difficult to pray for those in authority if they are evil, but that is when your prayers are most needed.

First of all, I encourage you to make petitions, prayers, intercessions, and prayers of thanks for all people,for rulers, and for everyone who has authority over us. Pray for these people so that we can have a quiet and peaceful life always lived in a godly and reverent way.(1 Tim 2:1-2).

When we enter times of trouble or of sudden change, we should pray diligently and move ahead, doing whatever we can with whatever God has set before us rather than giving up because of fear and uncertainty.

God didn’t give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord or be ashamed of me, his prisoner. Instead, by God’s power, join me in suffering for the sake of the Good News. God saved us and called us to be holy, not because of what we had done, but because of his own plan and kindness. Before the world began, God planned that Christ Jesus would show us God’s kindness.
Now with the coming of our Savior Christ Jesus, he has revealed it. Christ has destroyed death, and through the Good News he has brought eternal life into full view. I was appointed to be a messenger of this Good News, an apostle, and a teacher. (2 Tim 1:7-11, GW)

Although God is all-powerful and all-knowing, he has chosen to let us help him change the world through our prayers. How this works is a mystery to us because of our limited understanding, but it is a reality. Paul based his instruction about prayer for everyone on his conviction that God’s invitation for salvation extends equally to all people. God’s messengers will capture the true nature of the gospel. The world that God loves includes every person.

Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world. He did not send him to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17, ERV)

You formed the way I think and feel. You put me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way. I know how amazing that was! You could see my bones grow as my body took shape, hidden in my mother’s womb. You could see my body grow each passing day. You listed all my parts, and not one of them was missing. Your thoughts are beyond my understanding. They cannot be measured! If I could count them, they would be more than all the grains of sand. But when I finished, I would have just begun. (Psalms 139:13-18)

“He formed the way you think or feel” (Psalms 139:13)

God’s character goes into the creation of every person. When you feel worthless or even begin to hate yourself, remember that God knows exactly who you are, what you are like. Yet He is ready and willing, through His Holy Spirit to work within you. We should have as much respect for ourselves as our Maker has for us. We need to see ourselves and others the same way Jesus sees us. Knowing and loving Jesus, we proclaim:

“I am the one that Jesus loves.”

Our acceptance with God is sure only through His beloved Son, and good works are but the result of the working of His sin-pardoning love. They are no credit to us, and we have nothing accorded to us for our good works by which we may claim a part in the salvation of our souls. Salvation is God’s free gift to the believer, given to him for Christ’s sake alone. The troubled soul may find peace through faith in Christ, and his peace will be in proportion to his faith and trust. He cannot present his good works as a plea for the salvation of his soul. {5BC 1122.1}

How often do we pray for the well-being of our communities? The prosperity of the places we live in impacts us all. By lifting our communities in prayer and action, we contribute to a greater good that benefits everyone. What steps will you take today to help your community prosper?

First of all, I ask that you pray for all people. Ask God to bless them and give them what they need. And give thanks. You should pray for rulers and for all who have authority. Pray for these leaders so that we can live quiet and peaceful lives—lives full of devotion to God and respect for him.
1Ti 2:3  This is good and pleases God our Savior. God wants everyone to be saved and to fully understand the truth. (1 Tim 2:1-4)

Jesus will never coerce our will. When we kneel before Him in heartfelt prayer from an open honest heart He respects our choice to have Him personally intervene more fully in our lives. It’s time for THAT kind of prayer.

Our Heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme, will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet. – MH 481.2

Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. – SC 93.2

When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He directed them to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should be heard, is assurance also to us. (SC 93:3)

Our Heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless love. What a wonder it is that we pray so little! God is ready and willing to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children, and yet there is much manifest reluctance on our part to make known our wants to God. What can the angels of heaven think of poor helpless human beings, who are subject to temptation, when God’s heart of infinite love yearns toward them, ready to give them more than they can ask or think, and yet they pray so little and have so little faith? The angels love to bow before God; they love to be near Him. They regard communion with God as their highest joy; and yet the children of earth, who need so much the help that God only can give, seem satisfied to walk without the light of His Spirit, the companionship of His presence. (SC 94:1)

And I will shake all nations, and the Desire of All Nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
(Hag 2:7), ERV)

Before this shaking, God assures us:

don’t be discouraged!”…Don’t be discouraged! And all you people who live in the land, don’t be discouraged! Continue this work, because I am with you.” This is what the LORD All-Powerful said. (Hag 2:5)

Do not let any of today’s world events discourage you. The main “glory in the Church” (Eph 3:21) is NOT how beautiful the building is, but my presence. As I covenanted to be with you when ye came out of Egypt, so I will fulfill my covenant even today in this “time of the end” that you live in now. Be of good courage for my Spirit remains among you, fear not; Hag 2:5. What is the most beautiful church in the world, if God is not in it, influencing all by his presence and by His Holy Educating Spirit?

We need to remember that God will not be in it unless there be a messenger of the Lord there, and unless said messenger delivers the Lord’s message on praying for others. Even ones we do not like.

Brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord comes again. See how farmers wait for their precious crops to grow. They wait patiently for fall and spring rains. You, too, must be patient. Don’t give up hope. The Lord will soon be here. Brothers and sisters, stop complaining about each other, or you will be condemned. Realize that the judge is standing at the door. Brothers and sisters, follow the example of the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. They were patient when they suffered unjustly. We consider those who endure to be blessed. You have heard about Job’s endurance. You saw that the Lord ended Job’s suffering because the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (James 5:7-11)

The prophets who had spoken to their forefathers by the authority of God, were often persecuted by the very people to whom they delivered the Divine message; but they suffered affliction and persecution with patience, commending their cause to him who judges righteously; therefore we can also be of that kind of “good courage” choosing each moment whom we will serve. The world’s “Gods” or our GOD.

Just keep saying “I am the one that Jesus loves.” People will get the message. Because you will be the message. People will know how that The Desire of All Nations Will Come!