What is Missionary work?
May “The fruit of the Spirit” be bountiful and overflow in your life as an offering & sweet fragrance to Jesus as you Refresh others with His Agape Love.
*** “I…entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:2-3
What is Missionary work?
Acts 1:8 says we receive the Holy Spirit so we may bear effective witness to those who need salvation. People are Waiting for the Good News!!!
*The purpose of the church is to worship and witness. Some will go and some will send, but ALL are called to the work of spreading the gospel.
We can love one another by sharing each other’s burdens. We have a lot of talkers in the Body of Christ, but what we need are more believers willing to Listen and Pray. LISTEN! Takes Time!
To make time to listen take Love!
* “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16
Paul and Barnabas set the standard for the Church’s Mission Work when they obeyed God’s call to go forth.
*The local body of believers—those left behind to share Christ with neighbors and friends—equipped the men for their journey. They did so for the same reasons that apply today:
1. The spiritual condition of mankind. Romans 1:21–32 describes this sinful world. Unchecked sin leads people down a slippery slope toward a depraved conscience and, ultimately, a darkened mind that cannot perceive what is right. Every unbelieving person is sliding on that treacherous path.
2. God’s spiritual provision.
The Father responded to mankind’s plight with grace: He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to save the world. On the cross, Christ bore the sin of every person—living, no longer alive, and yet to be born. The offer of salvation is for all; God’s grace is blind to race, creed, and color (Romans 10:12). Those who believe in Jesus are forgiven their sin, and they will spend eternity with the Lord.
3. The commission from Jesus Christ. Acts 1:8 says we receive the Holy Spirit so we may bear effective witness to those who need salvation. Notice that we don’t simply begin at home and work steadily outward.
People everywhere are waiting for the Good News. The word is to be carried far and fast.
The purpose of the church is to worship and witness. Some will go and some will send, but all are called to the work of spreading the gospel. This is not a suggestion; it is a command (Matthew 28:19). Believers living in God’s will are all to be involved in missionary work.
Matthew 28: 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
So often we are encouraged to bring people to church. Yet, we see no examples of where Jesus brought people into the synagogue to get them saved or healed. The miracles happened more often in the workplace because that was where Jesus could be found.
Jesus had less response and found more resistance in the synagogue than in the workplace.
Jesus took the gospel to and modeled the gospel in the workplace. That is where the power of God was manifested.
This is not to say we should not bring people to church, only that our priority should be to “bring the Church into the workplace”, NOT bring the workplace into the church.
Paul understood this when he said, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:4).
Paul understood that it wasn’t words that impacted people; it was the power of God manifested through him.
Resist the temptation to settle into religious complacency–that place where you are satisfied with what you already know.
The Lord has more to teach you. Let the Lord lead you on an adventure of fresh excitement in obtaining a greater measure of spiritual reality and a closer relationship with Him.
Don’t get stuck in a rut; keep seeking; keep moving forward.
* Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Lord help me to remember why we are doing what we are doing. Why am I a Christian? Thank You Jesus that I am here to be Christ’s servant, doing everything that You ask of me to the best of the ability You have Given to me. Help me see that by doing this I receive my individual reward, which = salvation. This is my vision, my focus for my individual journey as well as sharing this great message of Salvation with others for Your Glory and our Eternity!
To be Your servant is an act of obedience and needs action. Help us speak of Jesus and not be ashamed! ” Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth”. Amen