World Missions Strategy, Mark Baxter and Scriptures to Pray
Christ will win. A new heavens and a new earth is on its way. The resurrection of Jesus Christ has inaugurated a glorious rule and reign that will end with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the judgment, the acquittal of the elect and Christ making all things new and then handing over the Kingdom to the Father that God may be “all in all.” That is not only the message of Scripture (see missions passages below) but the glorious teleological vision of redemptive history. It also is the mind expanding, soul stirring motivation for you to become involved in something greater than yourself.
Mark Baxter, one of the best servant-leaders I know in world missions, leader of the YWAM Reformed missions movement out of Jacksonville, Florida, outlines the present situation in missions, strategic changes that are needed to bring balance in missions, and other good thoughts at his YouTube video here.
As Mark says, “Today is a day of optimism…because of our sovereign God!” Mark’s optimism comes naturally because he is the son of The Reverend Robert “Pastor Bob” Baxter, now Executive Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Dothan, Alabama and formerly my pastor at Olathe (now New Hope) Presbyterian Church in Olathe, Kansas. I know of no one more optimistic about mankind’s future than Pastor Bob, my pastor and my mentor, who lifted my head to see the undeniable Biblical vision of total universal victory in Jesus Christ. But Mark comes about it also supernaturally as I witnessed, first hand, how Mark’s own life was transformed by the mission vision of the Bible and how he gave his life to the work of the Lord in missions, along with his wife and family.
So I say, “Amen Mark!” And may the message and work of Mark Baxter and his wife and that good work coming out of Jacksonville bring many sons and daughters into the kingdom of God, and many into the work of reaching those who have never heard.
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2.14).
Some Missions Scriptures
May I suggest praying these passages back to God in your seasons of focused prayer for nations, for missionaries, for cities and for individuals who need the Lord. Please also remember to pray that prayer that we are to pray, for laboers to be raised up for the Lord’s harvest:
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9.36-38).
In this, we at RTS Charlotte join with Mark Baxter and his vision for missionaries to go where others have not gone.
Genesis 12:3Genesis 12:3
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3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. In you will all of the families of the earth be blessed.”
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“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”Exodus 19:5Exodus 19:5
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5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine;
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“…Although the whole earth is mine”Deuteronomy 28:9-10Deuteronomy 28:9-10
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9 Yahweh will establish you for a holy people to himself, as he has sworn to you; if you shall keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, and walk in his ways. 10 All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of Yahweh; and they shall be afraid of you.
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9 “The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you.”Joshua 4:23-24Joshua 4:23-24
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23 For Yahweh your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until you were passed over, as Yahweh your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were passed over; 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Yahweh, that it is mighty; that you may fear Yahweh your God forever.
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23 “For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”1 Samuel 17:461 Samuel 17:46
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46 This day will Yahweh deliver you into my hand; and I will strike you, and take your head from off you; and I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky, and to the wild animals of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
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“This day the LORD will hand you over to me…and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”2 Samuel 22:502 Samuel 22:50
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50 Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, Will sing praises to your name.
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“Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.”II Kings 19:19
“Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.”1 Chronicles 16:23-241 Chronicles 16:23-24
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23 Sing to Yahweh, all the earth; Show forth his salvation from day to day. 24 Declare his glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples.
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23 “Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. 24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.”2 Chronicles 6:332 Chronicles 6:33
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33 then hear from heaven, even from your dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you for; that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, and fear you, as does your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by your name.
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“then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you…”Nehemiah 9:6Nehemiah 9:6
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6 You are Yahweh, even you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their army, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all; and the army of heaven worships you.
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“You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.”Psalm 86:9Psalm 86:9
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9 All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name.
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“All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name.”Isaiah 49:6Isaiah 49:6
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6 yes, he says, It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give you for a light to the Gentiles, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.
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“… I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”Jeremiah 3:17Jeremiah 3:17
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17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Yahweh; and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of Yahweh, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart.
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17 “At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. ”Ezekiel 36:23Ezekiel 36:23
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23 I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I am Yahweh, says the Lord Yahweh, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
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“I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.”Daniel 7:13-14Daniel 7:13-14
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13 I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
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13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him…”Amos 9:11-12Amos 9:11-12
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11 In that day I will raise up the tent of David who is fallen, and close up its breaches, and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old; 12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the nations who are called by my name,” says Yahweh who does this.
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11 “In that day I will restore David’s fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be, 12 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name,” declares the LORD, who will do these things.”Nahum 1:5Nahum 1:5
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5 The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it.
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“The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it.”Habakkuk 2:14Habakkuk 2:14
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14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.
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“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”Zephaniah 3:8-9Zephaniah 3:8-9
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8 “Therefore wait for me,” says Yahweh, “until the day that I rise up to the prey, for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour on them my indignation, even all my fierce anger, for all the earth will be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. 9 For then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that they may all call on the name of Yahweh, to serve him shoulder to shoulder.
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8, 9 “…for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them—all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger. Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.”Haggai 2:7Haggai 2:7
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7 and I will shake all nations. The precious things of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of Armies.
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“I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty. ”
Zechariah 14:9Zechariah 14:9
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9 Yahweh will be King over all the earth. In that day Yahweh will be one, and his name one.
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“The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.”
Malachi 1:11Malachi 1:11
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11 For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great among the nations,” says Yahweh of Armies.
WP-Bible plugin“My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD Almighty.”
Matthew 28:19Matthew 28:19
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19 Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
WP-Bible plugin“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
Mark 13:10Mark 13:10
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10 The Gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
WP-Bible plugin“And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.”
John 3:16-17John 3:16-17
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16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
WP-Bible plugin16 “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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Acts 1:8Acts 1:8
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8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
WP-Bible plugin“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Romans 15:12Romans 15:12
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12 Again, Isaiah says, “There will be the root of Jesse, He who arises to rule over the Gentiles; On him will the Gentiles hope.”
WP-Bible plugin“And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.”
1 Corinthians 10:261 Corinthians 10:26
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26 for “the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness.”
WP-Bible plugin“…”The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
2 Corinthians 5:192 Corinthians 5:19
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19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
WP-Bible plugin“that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ…”
Galatians 3:8Galatians 3:8
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8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.”
WP-Bible plugin“The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”
Ephesians 1:10Ephesians 1:10
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10 to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him;
WP-Bible plugin“…to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.”
Philippians 2:10Philippians 2:10
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10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,
WP-Bible plugin“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth”
Colossians 1:6Colossians 1:6
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6 which has come to you; even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
WP-Bible plugin“… All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing…”
“The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere…”
1 Timothy 3:161 Timothy 3:16
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16 Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, And received up in glory.
WP-Bible plugin“Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.”
2 Timothy 4:172 Timothy 4:17
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17 But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
WP-Bible plugin“But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it…”
Titus 2:11Titus 2:11
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11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
WP-Bible plugin“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.”
Hebrews 10:10Hebrews 10:10
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10 by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
WP-Bible plugin“… we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
James 1:18James 1:18
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18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
WP-Bible plugin“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”
1 Peter 3:181 Peter 3:18
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18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
WP-Bible plugin“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God…”
I John 4:14John 4:14
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14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
WP-Bible plugin“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”
Jude 1:25Jude 1:25
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25 to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
WP-Bible plugin“to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
Revelation 5:9-10Revelation 5:9-10
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9 They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book, And to open its seals: For you were killed, And bought us for God with your blood, Out of every tribe, language, people, and nation, 10 And made them kings and priests to our God, And they reign on earth.”
WP-Bible plugin9 “And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
