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Volume. XXV, No. 22 A Call for MissionsThe Great Commission is an important instruction If one knew that it was perhaps the final hours of one’s life, he or she would almost certainly leave only important messages or instructions to loved ones. The Great Commission as found in Matthew 28:19-20 is one of the most important passages in our Bible. Its importance and seriousness can be understood from the perspective that this is the last recorded and personal instruction given by Jesus Christ to His disciples.
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matt 28:18-20)
A privilege and an obligation
Why is it important that Christians continue proclaiming the Gospel wherever it is not known or accepted? It is a sad reality that many people who may have a passing knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ have relegated his Holy Name to the symbolism of a wooden cross or a figure they have seen on a stained glass window. A Christian must realise that sharing the Gospel of Christ with others is both a wonderful privilege and also a serious and deep obligation. Paul wrote to the Romans that he had so much enthusiasm to preach the Gospel because he is obligated to both Greeks and non Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.
“I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.” (Rom 1:14-15)
Instructions on how to carry out missions
Our church is planning a missions trip to Batam from 19 to 23 January 2011. It is therefore fitting that we take our instructions for missions from the words of our Lord as recorded in Luke chapter 10. This chapter is about the mission of the seventy and the following is what Jesus said to them as they embarked on their mission journeys.
a) The harvest truly is great.
There are many souls that can be won for Christ. Souls that God first loved that will saved if we be God’s instruments to fulfil the great commission and tell of man’s sinfulness, the need for repentance, and that Jesus is the Saviour and the only way to heaven. Jesus encourages us that the harvest of souls to be won is in abundance which indicates that there is much to be done. However He also tells of the lack of people willing to do this soul harvesting – “but the labourers are few ”. (Luke 10:2) Will we be the few that will take up this important work of missions in obedience to His last personal instruction as recorded at the end of Matthew?
b) Lambs among wolves
Jesus tells us what to expect of the people we meet in missions. We are not to go into the mission fields with rose tinted glasses thinking that people will welcome us with kindness and gentleness. They will be fiercely against the Gospel message and against the good news bearers. Unless we know this reality we may be thoroughly discouraged when we stumble on the first wolf in a foreign land. (“Go your ways: behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” Luke 10: 3)
c) Do not over plan and be over-confident with our own abilities.
Plan we must, to ensure all logistics of travel schedules, resources, places to be visited and messages to be delivered, but we are reminded that we should not bring along an abundance of money and have set ways of accomplishing the goals of our missions trip. We are to rely on God for his providence and leading for a truly great harvest. We are also told not to waste too much time in frivolous talk with people that we meet. (“salute no man by the way” Luke 10:3d)
d) Be gracious with what we say
When we meet with those with whom we want to share the good news of the gospel, how do we start our conversations? If you are like me, I sometimes stumble along wondering what opening line I should use. We are advised to be gracious and bring greetings of peace. Perhaps we can simply say “May God bless you”. Although for man to truly understand the gift of salvation he must also understand the sinful nature of man and the need of repentance, it would be better to begin with a greeting of peace first than to start with a condemnation of his sin. (“first say, Peace be to this house” Luke 10:5b)
e) Accept what is provided by your hosts
Coming from Australia to Batam, we may not be used to what our hosts in Batam may provide us with. Nevertheless accept all that is provided locally in Batam and do not seek what may seem better in food, drink and other provisions. There could be several reasons for this instruction. Perhaps we need to be gracious with what is provided. We should not be too distracted with the luxuries that we are used to in Australia and lose our focus for the work of missions. (“And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give” Luke 10:7a, “And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you” Luke 10:8
f) How to handle rejection
We may have spent much time, effort and resources to tell of the gospel message and yet there may be villages or whole cities who will reject our evangelistic efforts. We are to firstly understand the seriousness of the Gospel message because there are dire consequences for those who reject the truth that is delivered unto them. We should make our ways out of that city that wholly rejects the Gospel truths and move to another community who will receive and rejoice at the good news we bring. (“But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.” Luke 10:10-12)
g) Do not be overly pleased with what you think are your achievements
When we embark on missions it is so easy to focus on what we feel are the achievements of the mission trip especially what we feel is the triumph over spirits. Having experienced the power and protection that God provides us on our missions endeavours we can easily sensationalise the power of God working thought us. Jesus cautions us and reminds us that our rejoicing should be our heavenly citizenry. (“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Luke10:17-20)
It is about 2 months before we embark on our mission trip to Batam. For some it may be their first introductory missions trip. It is in our nature that we all love to share news with one another. As a Christian we must therefore find it difficult to keep silent about the most wonderful news about God’s provision of His saving grace. We go with confidence and tell of the truth of the Gospel because we know the origins of the Gospel. As we share the Gospel with others from other lands we do not share our ideas, but we share a divine message from God which we must convey. Not all may be able to go for the Batam missions, some may contribute resources for those going, but all can pray for this mission trip.
Dn David Yeo
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