In Mission - Part 1

Matthew 9:36-38 But when He [Jesus] saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 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.”

 

This last Sunday, Pastor Herk of the Little Church in the Pines continued in his topical sermon series on “Mission”. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “mission: as: Persons sent; any number of persons appointed by authority to perform any service; particularly, the persons sent to propagate religion, or evangelize the heathen. The societies for propagating the gospel have missions in almost every country. 

Pastor proclaims that God has a plan for each and every one of us, and that we have a purpose in His “from darkness into loving light” ministry. Missions of ministry are everywhere and every Christians duty. Jesus said in Matthew 10:8b “Freely you have received, freely give.” All Believers are missionaries to an extent. We all have been commissioned by the Lord in Matthew 28:18-20, 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. That was not the Great Suggestion; it’s our mission. 

 

Luke 19:10 “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

 

Commonly, our conversations conclude with what is most important to us, so that they stick in the mind and are remembered by our family or friends on the other end of the line. Personal last words like “I love you”, “God bless you”, or “talk to you again soon”. The Gospel of Salvation is now a new theme. The “one reaches two, two reach four, four reach eight” principle of evangelistic witnessing is a vital element of the Great Commission because Christ, the Savior of the world is the pearl of great price. Matthew 13:45-47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” 

 

Jesus said in John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Satan doesn’t want us to win souls for Christ. An effective Christian witness and church is salt and light to the souls of the lost in the darkness of sin and unbelief, and they will be attacked. Be prepared with the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) for opposition. James 4:7 tells us, “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” There is spiritual warfare battling for hearts and souls today, but we do not battle alone in mission; the indwelling Holy Spirit is in us and the Lord has our back. Defend the faith and join the mission to rescue the lost.

Let's continue Pastor Herk's message about being in mission on the next post.

In Christ, Brian