As we approach Missions Sunday, let’s reflect and consider Three important aspects or 3 M’s concerning Missions!
The first M, The Mandate of Mission.
Why are we involved in missions? Because it is the Great Commission. Today, we run the risk of making the Great Commission into the Great Omission. Jesus last words to the church (his disciples) was to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations ….”. But today, just like in the day of Jesus, some still doubted Him. Many see it as an option, and not “The Great Commission”! If we are true disciples, then this commission is for us! Jesus has given us the divine mandate, and the command to go!
a. Mandate with All Authority
And with this big mandate, for this big task, He empower us with everything He has, that’s All authority in heaven and earth!
b. Mandate with His presence
Jesus promise to be with us as we obey Him, even to the ends of the earth.
Reference text:
“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28:16-20NKJV
The 2nd M is the Motivation of Mission: We do Missions because We Love God, We want to Make His Name great, and. Because we do not want anyone to perish!
a. The Motivation of L O V E
i)The Love of Christ: “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. II Corinthians 5:14-15NKJV
ii) For God so loved the world – He gave! Jesus so loved the world-He came, died & rose again! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16NKJV
iii) 2 Peter 3:9.. He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to the saving grace. His extravagant Love.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9NKJV.
iv) Our life purpose is to love God
“And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. [Deut. 6:4, 5.] The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. [Lev. 19:18.]”
Mark12:30-31AMP
b. My life purpose is to Do and complete the mission or assignment of God
Acts 20:24 My life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord – the work of telling others the good news about God wonderful kindness and love (NLT)
“And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts20:22-24NKJV
The 3rd M of Mission, the Means & Method of Mission.
There are at least 3 important Means & Method of Mission. Of course, the key is always a man or a woman who is willing to obey God to do His Will in this 3 areas, to pray, to give and to Go!
a. Pray: An important key to missions is prayer! In the midst of prayer, God can give directions as to who to talk to, why to go & direct us to pray for the right prayers! Identifying & breaking strongholds over a person, a family, a city or a state or country are necessary steps to win a person or city for Jesus!
“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV
“Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.””
Matthew9:37-38NKJV
b. Give: Money is a necessary resource to finance the end time harvest! This is achieved through the faithful giving of God’s people giving towards Missions. There are blessings for those who cheerfully give to Missions. Paul encourages the Philippians that, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19NKJV”.
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” II Corinthians 9:6-8NKJV
c. Go: The last important ingredient of every successful mission is for His people to answer the call to Go! “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”” Romans 10:14-15 NKJV
“Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”” Matthew 9:37-38NKJV
The harvest field need labourers, to fulfil God’s plan, we are to go.
Where are we to Go? Acts 1:8 teaches us to go to our Jerusalem (our city, our town, our village), our Judea (our district, division or our State, our country ), our Samaria (our neighbouring states, or countries) and to the whole world.
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NKJV
