MADE FOR MISSION

 

MADE FOR MISSION

 

Introduction:

Every life exists for a purpose and so every group or organization – the Church inclusive. If there is no purpose or mission for existence, it means life is futile. The church exists for two major reasons. One is to bring souls to the Lord Jesus and two, to establish the souls through teaching. God has made believers to be instruments iN His hands to fulfill this purpose. He has therefore commissioned us to go, preach, teach all nations – in other words, wherever man is, we are to go!

 

What Is Mission(s)?

This is the assignment God has given to us, to harvest the souls of man into His kingdom. Missions can be defined as taking the message of salvation through Christ to people who have not heard about Him or yet to know Him as Lord and Saviour. Missions encompasses many things in order to bring the gospel to the people we are reaching. These may involve raising evangelists, missionaries, building schools for children and youths, provision of water, free or subsidised health facilities for the people and that can be done to meet the physical and spiritual needs of others.

 

Basically, there are three ways by which one can be involved in missions. These are: by going for missions, giving to missions and praying for missions.

 

In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus said to His disciples: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

 

By this, Jesus commissioned all the disciples then and now. It is this commission that is the focus of our mission which is carried out in different ways and through different avenues as missions. It should be noted that each one of us has his/her own part in the work of missions through our various callings or offices such as Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and teachers. It is by functioning in any of these offices through our different gifts that make us accomplish the task of missions. The work could also be done through medical, education and other professional services both locally and internationally. Whatever services we render becomes our ministry. The work of missions cannot be done alone. It is a collective efforts of others that ensure the success of our work. It is a collective responsibility.

 

Types of Missions:

Foreign – This is carried out outside the home countries of the missionaries and unfamiliar countries.

Home – This could be in the missionaries’ home country or town, in which case, the missionary is sometimes familiar with the people’s way of life.

Cross-Cultural – This may be outside the missionary’s home country or even in his home country but in a totally different culture from his own. For example, a Yoruba man among the Fulanis, Igedes, Hausa etc. Sometimes, the mission field could be very close to one’s place. It could even be in form of medical, educational or social targeted towards a particular group such as the handicapped, invalids, prisoners, motherless etc.

 

Who is to do it?

All believers are called to carry out missions. The mission of every believer is the propagation of the gospel-message of Christ for salvation of mankind. In Matthew 28:16-20 after the resurrection of Jesus, He gave a mandate to the disciples: “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, in a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. …And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth go ye therefore, and teach all nations…Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always. Even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

Where?

Wherever man is found. “The Comforter has come …”

 

Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found,

Wherever human hearts and human woes abound;

Let every Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound:

The Comforter has come!

 

Refrain:
The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!

The Holy Ghost from Heav’n, the Father’s promise giv’n;

Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found—

The Comforter has come!

 

The long, long night is past, the morning breaks at last,

And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast,

As o’er the golden hills the day advances fast!

The Comforter has come!

 

Lo, the great King of kings, with healing in His wings,

To every captive soul a full deliv’rance brings;

And through the vacant cells the song of triumph rings;

The Comforter has come!

 

O boundless love divine! How shall this tongue of mine

To wond’ring mortals tell the matchless grace divine—

That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine!

The Comforter has come!

 

Sing till the echoes fly above the vaulted sky,

And all the saints above to all below reply,

In strains of endless love, the song that ne’er will die:

The Comforter has come!

 

Biblical Background:

In the beginning when God created man, He did not leave him without assignment – Gen 1:26-28 man did not exist without a mission or purpose. For His mission, God is again asking “Whom shall I send? “ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us”. And I said “Go and tell this people: “Be ever hearing, but never understanding: be ever seeing but never perceiving”. Isa 6:8-9.

 

Today, the church is singing and dancing while the world around her is sinking and perishing. The Lord is asking you and I, “Whom shall I send?” Will you answer “Here am I, send me?” we are too much into ceremonies and activities more than the essence of our calling into the kingdom by Jesus Christ. Jesus did not leave us in confusion of the mission for which He has engaged us: “Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach". Mk 3:14.

 

“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Mt 4:19. This "MADE FOR MISSION". 

By the time Jesus was leaving them He said: “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”. Act 1:8. This is our mission. Any programme that is not geared towards fulfilling this purpose, is a waste of time, energy and resources. This assignment is not without challenges and opposing forces.

 

Earlier in Matthew 10 and Luke 9 Jesus had made His disciples to practicalise this having given them power to accomplish the task. In Ephesians 6:10-12, Paul made us realize that the power confronting us is not of the flesh but the higher powers that resist not only the gospel but the gospeller.

 

It is a serious battle that cannot be fought with the physical weapons – 2 Corinthians 10:4. Thus, in this mission, we are bound to confront the enemy since the preaching of the gospel is whole and total – embracing salvation from sin, healing of the sick, casting out of demons and delivering people from all manner of satanic oppression, attack and bondage.

 

But certainly, victory is already assured by our Master. Who then will say: “Here am I, send Me”.

 

Today, in the western world, this mission is fading away. Interest is being eroded. Will you allow this to happen in our time and days? Are you passionate about the mission? Do you realize you have rewards for it?

Rewards:

-         Rom 10:14-15 – Beautiful feet 

-         Daniel 12:13 – Shine like the brightness of the sky.

-         Jas 1:12 – Crown of life

-         1 Cor 9:24-27 – Crown imperishable

-         1 Thess 2:19-20 – Crown of rejoicing

-         2 Tim 4:5-8 – Crown of righteousness

-         1 Pt 5:2-4 – Crown of glory

 

Only eternity will tell the numerous lives that can be touched by yours, as you, by God's grace and power, walk in submission to Christ ministering His gospel to others.