Vision rooted in God’s plans for the nations

"It's not just our bright idea that God wants to bless the people of Greater Manchester"

As we set out our vision for the city, it’s so important that we root it in the grand narrative of the Bible, nothing less than God’s great plan for the nations. This should give us real hope and confidence.

From the beginning, God created Adam and Eve to populate the nations:

Gen. 1:27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

God reaffirmed this after the flood to Noah:

Gen. 9:1: Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.”

Sadly calamity struck again as people tried to make a name for themselves by building a tower in Babel that reached to heaven (Gen 11:4). This resulted in God scattering them and confusing the people by giving them many languages.

He then speaks to one man, Abraham, outlining his amazing plan, with a promise that lives on through us:

Gen. 12:1: The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

This was partly fulfilled as God gave his people a land of their own, but the psalmists and the prophets pointed still further ahead. Jesus himself carried on this great, all-encompassing theme, in his closing addresses to the apostles:

Matt. 28:19: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8 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.”

It’s not just our bright idea that God wants to bless and save the people of Greater Manchester - it is part of the whole mission of God in the Bible, right up to the final curtain.

Rev. 7:9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

Our dream is that there will be many from Greater Manchester there at the final curtain.

Vision rooted in God’s plans for the nations

As we set out our vision for the city, it’s so important that we root it in the grand narrative of the Bible, nothing less than God’s great plan for the nations. This should give us real hope and confidence.