On Mission - Part 3

On Mission

Our Mission: Reconciling the World to Christ through the Power of the Holy Spirit

Matthew 28:18–20 NKJV

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 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, 20 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.

The Great Commission: Go

The word "commission" has multiple origins. It is partly a borrowing from French and partly a borrowing from Latin1. The earliest known use of the noun commission is in the Middle English period (1150—1500)1. The word "commission" comes from the Latin word "commissiō" which means "sending together"2. The word "commissiō" is formed from the prefix "com-" which means "with" and the noun of action "missiō" which means "sending"2.

We have confused our Mission with Missions.

Missions:

Some can go. Some can give (send).

Whether the church is going or giving to (foreign) missions, we are NOT relieved of our MISSION.

Our Mission:

Going

Giving

Sharing

Living

If we want to see the miraculous, our commitment must go beyond the minimum.

Living:

There was a time in recent memory when so-called “lifestyle evangelism” was the second-most popular form of Gospel sharing. According to a Barna Group study, almost three quarters of “born-again” believers in the U.S. who are now 29 years old or older said they’d used this form of outreach.( 1 )Lifestyle evangelism is defined as “living in ways that would impress non-Christians and cause them to raise questions about that lifestyle.” This is a wonderful approach to life. There’s only one problem with describing it as “evangelism”: It’s not. This is normative, obedient Christianity, not evangelism. After all, the Apostle Paul admonished Christians in general to “let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ. (2) There should be nothing remarkable about this way of living for Jesus’ disciples. - A Biblical Take On 'Lifestyle Evangelism' - Modern Day Missions

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Philippians 1:27 ESV

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Today’s Theme Scripture Passage:

1 Thessalonians 4:1–18 CSB

1 Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God—as you are doing—do this even more. 2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality, 4 that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God. 6 This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. 7 For God has not called us to impurity but to live in holiness. 8 Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 9 About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 10 In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers and sisters in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more, 11 to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone. 13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Sanctify Your Vessel

2 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

Your Vessel = Your Body

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Conformed = Molded by outside pressure

Transformed = Changed from the inside out

Sanctify:

To Cleanse / Make Holy

To Set Apart

Colossians 3:12 (AMP)

12 So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper];

John 17:17–19 NKJV

17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Ephesians 5:24 NKJV

24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

Ephesians 5:26 NKJV

26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

Ephesians 5:27 NKJV

27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Live as Though Christ is Present With You at All Times

Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV

6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Philippians 4:5 CSB

5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

Live a Life of Love:

1 Thessalonians 4:9–10 NKJV

9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;

Colossians 3:13–14 NKJV

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Bond = Sinew

Perfection = Maturity

sin·ew [ˈsinyo͞o] noun

a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone or bone to bone; a tendon or ligament:

Live a Quiet Life:

1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 NKJV

11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 KJV 1900

11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Study = Learn

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 1900

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Quiet = be quiet, remain silent, be well ordered, leave unspoken

1 Thessalonians 2:3–5 NKJV

3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness.

1 Thessalonians 2:6 NKJV

6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.

Ecclesiastes 3:7 NKJV

7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;

James 1:19 NKJV

19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

We Must Discern The Breath of God vs. The Word of Man

Joel 2:28 NKJV

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.

Spirit = Spirit, Breath, Wind

2 Timothy 3:15 NKJV

15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Tongue

Voice Box

Breath

Live Like You Have Hope:

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NKJV

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.