Why We Must Be Mission Minded

Welcome my friends, It is so nice to see you again and to be able to worship with you today. Its good to be back home.

We had a good time visiting family and spending some time together as a family. But here we are together to worship.

To worship and to join together as the body of Christ, how precious it is to encourage one another and build each other up, to pray for one another and then to leave this place and go forth as the disciples of Jesus!

Now when I say that, what do I mean?

And in our going, we are on the mission field. you see everything beyond these doors and walls is uniquely our mission field. And I am asking the question, how can we ( the church) best be on mission for Jesus.

This question my friends is one we should endeavor to understand, Where is the Lord leading us?… What does God desire of us as we live and move in this world?

I know at the very heart of our existence is for us to be mission minded in all that we do...

Now Jesus has already given us the parameters for our work… Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

When the Holy Spirit comes, you will be my witnesses.... Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the end of the earth.

And so we know the first part of that has happened, we received the Holy Spirit when we received Christ as our Savior. He, the Holy Spirit is the Godly power and presence in us that leads us, walking alongside of us , empowers us, convicts us when we are in error and leads us into all truth.

And we know where we are to go… here and there.

The will of God is for us to go!

We have to expand, more people must find and understand their calling and reach out even when we are uncomfortable, unsure, sacred and are full of doubt.

Why must we do this...

Without a doubt, God is calling each of us to go and be on mission for Him.

So this morning I want us to go to and remind you of just how special it is, what God has set before us.

2 Corinthians 4:1–6 ESV

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 4:1-

One of the greatest blessings we have as a child of God, is the simple truth that God has chosen to use us to help reach the world with His wonderful message.

Now let me ask you.. what excites you?

We have so much in life that just thrills us… That we are passionate about…

But here is a critical question: Are we just as passionate about the ministry God has called us too? Are we just as passionate about Jesus?

To understand this better, lets look at our text more closely...

verse 1

2 Corinthians 4:1 ESV

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

So that first word is that word of transition (therefore), Paul has been talking about the life giving nature of the Spirit of God, So here is the effect of the Spirit of God in us… ministry, ministry we are blessed and called to do...

So the key phrase here in this verse is the “mercy of God”

The key here in this verse is the phrase the “mercy of God”

Consider this, where would we be if it were not for the “mercy of God”. The work we do is not something that can be attributed to our own human will or merit. Not at all…

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

In and by His mercy, He has saved us. The mercy of God through the free salvation we have received in Christ has cleansed us, it made us acceptable and righteous in the sight of God, it was because of this mercy and we were brought into the family of God by adoption; .

So through the life giving mercy of God, and through the Holy Spirit who walks alongside of us, who empowers us and helps us has now take n us who were broken, sinful and lost..

But....here is the good news… He has made us ministers of the gospel.

here is the good news… He has made us ministers of the gospel.

Listen to Paul in chapter 3… verses 5-6

2 Corinthians 3:5 ESV

5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,

2 Corinthians 3:6–8 ESV

6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

2 Corinthians 3:6 ESV

6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 cor

It is not our work, it is God’s work in us.. He has given us work to do..

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

I love this verse, God knew us (beforehand) and has prepared the work we should do (before hand)

Now listen.. He chose us to be those who minister.. those who share the greatest message, the greatest truth, the greatest hope for all man kind, that they can be forgiven.

Now listen.. He chose us to be those who minister..

This is a wonderful ministry..

Now back to verse one...

2 Corinthians 4:1 ESV

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

But the task is hard, difficult and exhausting and yes can be discouraging at times, but Paul says we do not lose heart.... Paul is saying here, in the midst of trials, he did not sink down under the weight of it all… For he was sustained by the Lord himself.

As we minister my friends, know that the Lord is with you, he will never leave you and He will help you as you walk with Him in this world.

How blessed are you today… blessed that He has saved you prepared you and called you to walk with him and serve in this world.

And we have the greatest opportunity in the world.

But let me ask you a question, are you living for Him today? How is your walk with and before the Lord?

But let me ask you a question

If you are hear today and you think , you know, I haven’t lived for Jesus like I should, you can change that today. You an ask him right now… Lord forgive me of this....... whatever it is, what ever has caused the disruption and ask for forgiveness and ask the Lord to return to you joy, joy not only in Him but as you serve.

Now let me take you to the second thought....

The message we share with the world is not ours, it is not something made up by the cunning practices of men, no not at all.

The message with have is the gospel… its about the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Look back at our text...

2 Corinthians 4:1–5 ESV

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

You know there are many who we might describe as “Wolves in Sheep's Clothing” they preach a message that is so far form the truth, or is just their truth.

There are people out there, who have distorted the Word of God for years for their own gain and or popularity, hoping to make gains with the world.

All it does is cheapen the Word of God in the eyes of the world and hurt the name of Christians ....

We have a powerful message.

Verse 2… Paul says he refuses to do anything that might tamper with the Word of God.. To refuse means to literally “to bid farewell” to such things… listen to verse 17....

2 Corinthians 2:17 ESV

17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Instead they are bold in proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ… Paul says this in

Paus

2 Corinthians 3:12 ESV

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,

The hope we have in Christ is a powerful message, it saves from the utter-most to the gutter-most as those preachers from years gone by used to say..

I think often of Paul speaking in …

Romans 1:16 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

:

The message is life and light… it pulls people out of darkness, and moves them from death unto life...

There in verse 5, Paul shares the central person of this message, He shares Jesus Christ…

2 Corinthians 4:5 ESV

5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

The message is Jesus… Jesus came to this world, born of a virgin, grew and lived until the appointed time when God directed him to begin His public ministry.

And there for 3 and half years we see him preached the message of God, healed the lame, raised the dead and He himself was murdered, died, was buried and on the third day rose again.

and after 40 days he ascended to the right hand of God, where he now is until the day of his return..

Listen tot he beloved disciple from , verses 1-4

1 John 1:1–4 ESV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message, and we continue to have the joy of sharing this with you.. and with others..

1 John 1 ESV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

His is the great message and the wonderful ministry we have…

Aren’t you glad you heard and believed… and aren’t you glad you get to share in this message.

The wonderful truth is we are ministers of the gospel, each of us. We are part of tis wonderful ministry..

And we proclaim it to a audience....

Here is my last thought my friends...

We have a audience my friends, we have men and women around us, those who are perishing that we must reach with the message of Jesus Christ.

We have Men and Women to Reach

Lets look at what Paul is saying again...

verses 3-5

2 Corinthians 4:3–5 ESV

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

We have a world around us to reach, because the god of this world, has blinded the minds of unbelievers.

2 Corinthians 4 ESV

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

The devil has made sure the gospel is veiled, which means to cover up, so that it can not be seen. The devil wants to take the world to hell with him, he wants to keep people from serving and following the Lord.

And we see it ....

We see the lostness of the world around us…

And the lostness of men and women, Paul says they are perishing … that word perishing is a interesting one, it peaks for a person to lose spiritual life. To lose it because you are accountable to God for your sin.

The Bible tells us that it is appointed unto men once to die and then the judgement..

We all come into the world, we all come into this world holding a sin guilt in our life, because of Adam, the bible tells us plainly for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

A person said the other day, we are only accountable to self, to our own conscience…

There is how the devil has blinded this world, He has veiled the message in order to keep people from following Jesus. So instead they might live for him and his ways, but to have them stand judged as he is...

To keep them from seeing the wonderful, liberating, life giving message of Jesus Christ.

As people we will share everything, bad experiences with restaurants, terrible recipes, we will talk it all up...

But do we talk up our past, and where we were once going and tell people of the place we are now headed...

Do you remember when you were lost?

Do you remember the joy when you received Jesus...

That is why we tell… because we remember and we are now blessed

As a church we must be mission minded, here and there...

Why We Must Be Mission Minded

Introduction

1. We Have a Wonderful Ministry...

2. We have a Powerful Message

2. We have Men and Women to Reach...