As Christians we are called to a big vision. Jesus gave us a big vision. There are small steps but the end goal is huge. So Jesus, just before he ascended into heaven, gave this command:

“Go and make disciples of all nations“ (Mt 28:19)

So we are called not to just make disciples of people but to disciple WHOLE NATIONS! And all nations.

We see this in the Bible and in history:

1. The Ethiopian

In Acts 8 Philip the evangelist starts a powerful revival in Samaria. However, at its height the Holy Spirit calls him away to go south along the desert road (8:26-27) from a great revival to share the Gospel with one person, an Ethiopian?

“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

Why? It makes no sense? Surely it was better to stay in the great city and grow this impacting work?

Of course God wants to reach all people and doesn’t make decisions based on numbers. But God also had something additional in mind. This was no ordinary person that Philip encountered. He was the Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ethiopia, with huge influence in his nation. He accepted Jesus and was baptised immediately by Philip and returned home to Ethiopia. Ethiopia was one of the first Christian nations.

So God had in mind to use this encounter to disciple a whole nation. It’s the same today. God wants us to have a vision to disciple whole nations. And you? What’s your vision?

2. Martin Luther’s Secret

The great Reformer Luther had a massive influence on many nations. The Reformation spread very quickly in the 1500s despite the powerful hold the Catholic Church had on people and nations. What was Luther’s secret? Let’s look at just one story.

Laurentius and Olaf Petri played a significant role in the Reformation gaining hold in Sweden.

The King of Sweden Vasa appointed Olaf as the preacher of the great Cathedral in Stockholm and Laurentius as chair of theology at the University of Uppsala. These young men infused Swedish society with Reformation ideas making a deep impact on the country.

Olaf Petri translated the New Testament into Swedish using Luther’s New Testament as a model.

Luther’s secret to discipling the whole nation of Sweden? Laurentius and Olaf Petri both went to study at the University of Wittenberg. So they were discipled by Luther and Melancthon during their time there and simply passed all this on! They made disciples in Sweden the same way.

See HOW TO MAKE MORE DISCIPLES: 3 VITAL KEYS for more on how Luther made disciples so well.

3.Why Howell Harris chose to reform the Anglican Church

He was converted at the age of 21 in 1735 and immediately began to preach the gospel with power to all who passed him in the road and from village to village. He began to make make disciples, forming cell groups everywhere he went. He started 60 cell groups in 5 years all over Wales!!

For more on his story see THE KEY TO GREATER ANOINTING: SONSHIP and  HOW REVIVAL STARTS: A POWERFUL STORY

He was part of the Anglican Church and so were all his converts. 90% of all Welsh people considered themselves Anglican in Wales but didn’t know the gospel. For his work of preaching and discipling he was considered as an ‘enthusiast’ and persecuted in every town. His application to be a minister in the Anglican Church was also rejected.

However, he had another option. He could have joined instead a minority independent church, like the Baptists, where there was no persecution and he could have become a Pastor there as well. But instead he remained persecuted in the Anglican church. Why? Because Harris wanted to disciple whole nations, in this case Wales and he knew that he could only do this within the Anglican Church. Most of his disciples remained in this Church and indeed began to transform it and affect the nation.

4.Why Hudson Taylor pioneered an Inland Mission

In 1854 Taylor, only 22, he left England for China as a missionary. But he discovered that most of the missionaries already there lived in the big coastal cities where they were comfortable. However, he wanted to make disciples of whole nations. He wanted to reach all of China.

So in 1865, aged just 33, he started his own missionary organisation called the China Inland Mission to fulfill exactly this. He recruited 24 missionaries with the vision of placing them in every province of China. and he began to disciples all over China.

By 1906 God had so blessed this vision that he now had 800 missionaries and was the biggest protestant missionary agency in the world! His work also formed the foundation of the 20th century revival in China that has grown the church to more than 100 million.

5.We now have a choice

In Gen 13:8-11 Abraham and Lot separate. Abraham allows Lot to choose where to go. Lot chooses the comfortable and prosperous region.

Abraham chooses the promise, to bless all nations, and places himself in God’s hands, though the route was more difficult. Today we are called ‘sons of Abraham’ because we inherit the same promise given to Abraham:

“Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.” (Gal 3:7)

“He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:14)

“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.“ (Gen 17:4)

But will you choose the same call you have been given to disciple whole nations or will you like Lot choose the more comfortable?

What now?

The book GRACE OUTPOURINGS: 21 DAYS REVIVAL DEVOTIONAL is designed especially to disciple through stories and verses on revival. Do read for a great discipleship experience.

Also see HOW TO DISCIPLE THE NEXT GENERATION: 7 PRACTICAL THINGS TO DO