Missionary Minded Believer

Defining a Missionary Minded Believer

Transcript & Notes for Missionary Minded Believer:

So today we’re going to start this new series that is called “Heart for Missions”. The sole purpose for this class is to really get into missions in a way that I hope can not just be good information, but also something that we can apply to our own lives to make a difference in the lives of the people that are around the world. We have many different weeks, each dedicated to specific topics.

For this week what I really want to emphasize as a prerequisite to the other teachings is the way that Christians are to be missionary minded. We may not all have a specific function in the body of Christ to be missionaries or to be in a ministry context, but we all are called to be missionary minded because all the different types of specific ministries that Christians can have, Jesus did it to some degree, and called us to imitate him. Whether it was evangelistic, pastoral, teaching, or prophetic, Jesus did it.

Emphasis for prerequisite to other teaching

Not all Christians may be specific in missions, but all Christians ought to have functions that expand over all types of ministries.

Evangelistic, Pastoral, Teaching, Prophetic.

What is a missionary minded believer?

Matthew 28:19-20 is a scripture that is commonly referred to as the Great Commission, and it reads: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you… dot dot dot”

Matthew 28:19–20 NLT

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

It’s clear that this applies to us because those that were soon to be discipled, Jesus commanded them to observe the same commandments that were given to the disciples. It’s also clear that this is not to missionaries or people that refer to themselves as missionaries. It is to believers that are faithful to do all that he commanded. To the faithful it is expected that they first Go, as the very first word of this command says. If we are to do all that God has commanded us, yet we do not move geographically to different types of people with different languages, how can we really be obedient to this word? And of course I know that with many things what is important is hearing from the Lord when it comes to direction. But we must see people saved and that’s all that counts.

Jesus speaks to us because he said to teach the disciples of the disciples to observe all that was commanded to the disciples.

It’s not to missionaries or people in a ministry context, it is to all believers.

Jesus said that all that are faithful followers of him are to go to different places.

What was expected by Jesus for his followers to do to reach the world?

Surrender time

Surrender wealth

Surrender popularity

We are supposed to be a people that are intentional with those that are much different than us. We are not to neglect those that don’t know Jesus just because they may seem irrelevant to our day-to-day life. We are to be a people that are active in doing things. There is a reason why it is called “The Book of Acts” and not “The Book of Intentions”. God doesn’t care about intentions if it doesn’t change anything, because what counts is actually having obedience, and not just the concept of it. If the Lord makes it clear to you that you should speak to an individual about the Lord, but you don’t actually speak to them about it, but only feel conviction in your heart, how can God really trust your obedience?

Talk about perspective that Jesus instilled into his disciples to have when they follow.

Talk about the necessity to be people that are actively doing things and how it involves willingness to be inconvenienced.

Having good intentions without action is disobedience. Conviction is a push to obedience.

Talk about the Bible story with the two sons, One says he won’t, then he did, one said that he will, but he didn’t. Matthew 21:28-32

Matthew 21:28–32 (NLT)

“But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go. “Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.”

Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.

The emphasis on this parable is the the action of following through with the commands that God has given. When we think about how this relates to ourselves when it comes to witnessing to the lost (question) ->

Why does God put these unctions in us to speak to people?

As clearly as the last part says: “to speak to people”. To be missionary minded is to be mindful. Your mind is full. Of what exactly? The Lord’s direction for your obedience.

Why might some NOT have these unctions to speak to people about the Lord?

Where are we putting our mind, that we’re not mindful of the way the Lord moves in our surroundings? I believe that the Lord wants his people to be a people that are ever-leaning into the Lord to be interrupted in their schedule to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in reaching those around us. If God has a different schedule than ours, his schedule is better. Being late for something is OK in the eyes of the Lord if he wants us to spend time ministering to the person at the gas station. The person who is scanning our groceries at Kroger. Before we go throughout the day to do the tasks of the day, tell the Lord that you are willing to be inconvenienced, to be interrupted, and if the Lord wants to do things that we might not choose to do, that he would just do it.

Can’t hear Holy Spirit

(we just don’t know that God wants us to do that)

Predetermined laziness

The Christian might have already determined before going to the grocery store that they are here for groceries, not to “bother” people with preaching

Excuses

The reason why we make ourselves to be so intentional with becoming missionary minded is because there is a need for us to speak the gospel. It says in Romans 10:14 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” Paul was notorious for traveling and preaching to many different types of people. If Christians are mindful of the lost, it shouldn’t be a while ago since the last time you’ve witnessed to someone.

Romans 10:14 NLT

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

We ourselves are to preach because Romans 10:14 makes it clear that there is that need to be fulfilled.

Being mindful of the lost is about seeing people in our walk of live for where their destination will become.

Is it biblical to go weeks at a time of not having spoken the gospel out of your mouth?

Tell story of the woman in the airplane to whom you wrote a note to.

There is an important need for us to surrender our schedule and our time to God before we go about our schedule

God wants to use you more than you want to use you

God has a heart for the people that we pass on the highway more than you

God wants to reach people frequently. Not seasonally. Not every once in a while. Look at this scripture. One of my favorites when it comes to the simplicity of evangelism: Acts 5:41-42 ‘Then they left the presence of the council, [the apostles] rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

Acts 5:41–42 (NLT)

The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

God wants to reach people frequently, not seasonally

The simplicity of Evangelism is found in Acts 5:41-42

What can we gleam from this?

Not only did their mission to reach people bother people, but it got them a beating. That’s not what their mind is focused on. They are glad to be dishonored for the name of Jesus. And though they had difficulty with non-believers, they didn’t not stop. In verse 42 we see that it was every single day they were actively teaching and preaching. Whether it was in a public environment, or in people’s own comfort of their house, there was an intentionality. I remember any times when I would knock on peoples’ doors ultimately to witness to them. The reason why is because this scripture hit me hard. I saw the people around me as lost and a believer in that fact that I have responsibility for those around me. If I don’t knock on this person’s door and proclaim the message of the gospel, how can I think I am liberated from their eternal destination, having an opportunity?

Their situation didn’t determine what they would do to bring people to Jesus

It is also seen in their lives that it wasn’t determined by what people would do

How can we be missionary minded with our neighbors?

It’s my strong opinion, based on the Bible, that if you’re going to reach the people in different areas, it only makes sense to get used to doing it in the place you already live in. Get practice with the people around here, and then you’ll be ready for the people far away. You already have opportunity to see people saved and to have these encounters that God wants you to have. The fact that we don’t have them strongly suggests that we aren’t completing what Jesus said to do. If we take responsibility, then we will do something. If we act like the Lord is not calling us to do something, we are removing responsibility. A spiritually dry Christian always loves excluding themselves from responsibilities. Evidence is when it is heard: “Well I’m not called to fill in the blank.” I understand that there are often specific functions that only certain people can do. But if you get busy for God, then God will give you stuff to do. If you want for God, you already denied what he said to do. It’s clear what we’re supposed to do.

The way we reach the lost with the people that are already around us show us how we will reach the people far away from us. Jesus talked about the progression of reaching the lost in Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 (NLT)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

There are already dozens of opportunities to see lives changed, it’s just a matter of choice

This fallacy of not being called or only some are called is a perfect entry point for excluding yourself from responsibility. Going back to the scripture in Romans 10:14: “… how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?” Every person you counter is on a path in one of two directions. They are either going to be with Jesus, or they are going to Hell. What happens to people who don’t believe in Jesus? What happens to the person who lives right next to you if they don’t believe in Jesus? Do we want them to go to Hell and be told on the day of judgment that we could have done something about it? And if you think it’s an arrogant statement, you just don’t believe you are responsible for anyone being saved.

Callings are real, but not being called shouldn’t be an excuse to not interact with non-believers.

Romans 10:14 shows that they won’t hear unless someone is sent, chances are that’s you. God earnestly wants to send people to the non-believers

Any thoughts or questions?