Missions
Measures Our Convictions, Materializes Our Intentions and Maintains Our Passion
When we say the word Missions, we think of another world, strange people going to strange places seeing other strange people and sharing Christ, and as close as we get to it is we give some money during an offering.
Missions are meant to be personalized
Missions show us how convicted am I about what I believe or how much do I know about what I believe.
Jesus said: 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."
Intentions are wonderful things if we are intentional about them, If we are passionate about Christ then we will passionate about our missions. Missions fuel our passions.
Romans 15:23-33
But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain.
1) Missions measures my convictions
You see conviction, there is a conviction in him to go. Paul is saying I want to go to Spain because the good news of Christ has not been brought to Spain. It is a conviction of his heart, labor of love. He wants to see those who he has seen before in Christ and yet he wants to go further and continue in the mission that God has given him.
Where is my mission field today? Have I talked to the people around me about Christ? Where are my convictions?
I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.
Paul understood "passing through" we only have so much time, we are only passing through.
25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord's people there.
If you really believe in your convictions and they now become your intentions, God will help you materialize it. God will tell you where to go and what to do. Our intentions should come from our convictions, and our intentions, if they are real, will materialize.
What was Paul's intentions? to serve. Why? Because that was his conviction. You go out and you make a difference.
26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord's People in Jerusalem.
2) Missions materializes my intentions
Paul was taking money and going to Jerusalem because Jerusalem had suffered under all sorts of oppression and all sorts of problems were going on and the believer were barely hanging on. Paul saw the oppression as an opportunity for service. All you have to do is look around and listen... If your convictions are weak then your intentions will be weak.
27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.
30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord's People there, 32 so that I may come to you with Joy, by God's will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
3) Missions maintains my passion
Verse 29 Missions maintains your passion. When you seek to live under the commissions that Christ has given me, I don't go alone. When we go to be with those who don't know that there is a God there for them, we go with the full measure of the blessing of Christ
When your passionate means you are going up against something but your able. We enter this struggle because we are ready and we are able. Passion is the power to press through and the joy and refreshment that comes on the other side.
1) Search Your Heart: God speak to me, what do you want me to do? where am I? Am I connected truly to the heart of Christ? Where do you want me to be?
2) See Your Options: Look around how can you make an impact?
3) Secure Your Passion: Do you feel there is something missing in your faith? You can be sure this is one of the first places to look. We are not built for this world we are just passing though.
Notes taken by: lorelllawrence@comcast.net
Any errors or miscommunication please refer to me not the pastor, the intent is for you to have the notes for review in the series, also to reflect on during the week.
God Bless,