1. The Meaning of Mission.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary Meaning : mis·sion noun \ˈmi-shən\ The act of or instance of sending.
: a task or job that someone is given to do. : a specific military or naval task.
: a ministry commissioned by a religious organization to propagate its faith or carry on humanitarian work.
So the Mission of the Church is the task that the church is given by her Lord to do in the World.
2. The Biblical Mandate for Mission.
In this section we will look at the command or authorisation that Jesus gave to the church concerning what it is to do in the world. Many churches have strayed from the primary purpose or the Great Commission.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 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.
Note here 1. the Authority of the Commander: Our Lord Jesus Christ.
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. v.18
All authority (pāsa exousia). Jesus came close to them (proselthōn) and made this astounding claim. He spoke as one already in heaven with a world-wide outlook and with the resources of heaven at his command. His authority or power in his earthly life had been great (Mat_7:29; Mat_11:27; Mat_21:23.). Now it is boundless and includes earth and heaven.
Hath been given (edothē) is a timeless aorist (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 836f.). It is the sublimist of all spectacles to see the Risen Christ without money or army or state charging this band of five hundred men and women with world conquest and bringing them to believe it possible and to undertake it with serious passion and power. Pentecost is still to come, but dynamic faith rules on this mountain in Galilee. RWP
So the Mission of the Church is based on the Authority of the Commander
2. The Dynamic and Direction of the Command.
Go ye therefore,
The Command was to move out, change location so as to make disciples throughout the world. ‘GO” is a verb, an action word. You cannot obey this command without moving out for God. This is an order and must be obeyed.
Go G4198 πορεύομαι poreuomai por-yoo'-om-ahee Strong’s Concordance
Middle voice from a derivative of the same as G3984; to traverse, that is, travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove [figuratively die], live, etc.): - depart, go (away, forth, one’s way, up), (make a, take a) journey, walk.
The Missions Dynamic is a church on the move for God. Reaching out to a Lost world. It is not about being inward but a thrust to reach the world for Jesus.
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
3. The Means of accomplishing this Mission.
Going, 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.
The Gospel must be taught. People are ignorant of the Good News and therefore are living in careless wickedness. This word for teach is make disciples.
Teach :G3100 μαθητεύω mathēteuō Thayer Definition:
1) to be a disciple of one
1a) to follow his precepts and instructions
2) to make a disciple 2a) to teach, instruct
a. The first means of accomplishing the Mission is Discipling. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.
Teach all nations - The word rendered “teach,” here, is not the one that is usually so translated in the New Testament. This word properly means “to disciple, or to make disciples of.” This was to be done, however, by teaching, and by administering baptism.Barnes.
Discipleship involves a Mentor. Each new Christian needs a Mentor. A close counsellor, discipler and trainer or coach, who is with the person teaching Him like a Flying Instructor.
c. The Third means of fulfilling the Mission Mandate of Christ. To Preach the Gospel to every Creature. Mk 16:15. Having gone into the world together, proclaim the Good News to the whole world. he who believes and is baptised shall be saved. (ABP+)
to preach the Gospel
G2784 κηρύσσω kērussō Thayer Definition:
1) to be a herald, to officiate as a herald
1a) to proclaim after the manner of a herald
1b) always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed
2) to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done
3) used of the public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it, made by John the Baptist, by Jesus, by the apostles and other Christian teachers
Kerygma (from the Greek word κήρυγμα kérugma) is a Greek word used in the New Testament for "preaching" (see Luke 4:18-19, Romans 10:14, Matthew 3:1). It is related to the Greek verb κηρύσσω kērússō meaning, literally, "to cry or proclaim as a herald" and used in the sense of "to proclaim, announce, preach".
According to the New Testament (Luke 4:17-21), Jesus launched his public ministry when he entered the synagogue in Nazareth, read from the scroll of Isaiah and identified himself as the subject of Isaiah 61. The text is a programmatic statement of Jesus' ministry to preach or proclaim – kerygma – good news to the poor, the blind and the captive. Wikipedia.com
Public heralding and proclamation of the Gospel is the Need of the Hour in which we live. May God raise up the Billy Grahams and Ray Comforts of our day who will Preach the Gospel to every every person on this planet. |
| Ray Comfort proclaiming the Good News on the Streets of Europe. |
The Old Time “Open Air” Meetings were very Biblical. May the Church return to its Primary Mandate and Obey the Last Command of our Saviour.
3. The Focus of the Mission. The whole World - every creature.
 |
| The Focus of the Mission the World especially the Unreached of the 10/40 Window. |
Especially the 10/40 Window. Wikipedia.com
The 10/40 Window is a term coined by Christian missionary strategist Luis Bush in 1990[1][2] to refer to those regions of the eastern hemisphere, plus the European and African part of the western hemisphere, located between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator, a general area that in 1990 was purported to have the highest level of socioeconomic challenges[3][4] and least access to the Christian message and Christian resources[5][6][7] on the planet.
The 10/40 Window concept highlights these three elements: an area of the world with great poverty and low quality of life, combined with lack of access to Christian resources. The Window forms a band encompassing Saharan and Northern Africa, as well as almost all of Asia (West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia and much of Southeast Asia). Roughly two-thirds of the world population lives in the 10/40 Window. The 10/40 Window is populated by people who are predominantly Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, animist, Jewish or atheist. Many governments in the 10/40 Window are formally or informally opposed to Christian work of any kind within their borders. [3][6][7]
Muslim Fula Jalon [Fulbhe]
4,963,000 99.9% Muslim 50 Christians in Guinea. Need for full-time Church Planters and Evangelists among them.
5. The Dynamic Motivation for Mission is the Power of the Holy Ghost.
Act 1:8 But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Power: [dunamis] strength, ability, might. wonder-working strength.
But ye shall receive power,.... From on high, with which they were to be endured, Luk_24:49 meaning the power of the Holy Ghost, strength from him to preach the Gospel, and work miracles in confirmation of it, and courage and greatness of mind, amidst all reproaches and persecutions, to face and oppose their enemies, profess the name of Christ, abide by his truths and ordinances, make their way through all opposition and difficulties, and spread the Gospel all over the world; J.Gill
They prayed for GREAT BOLDNESS to PROCLAIM the Word of God.Acts 4
Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.
Act 4:33 And the apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power. And great grace was on them all.
"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now
So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine
You must listen to this song www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9nwe9_xzw&feature=kp
The calling and direction of the Lord is often a mysterious thing. Looking back, we sometimes cannot identify how the stirring or desire or the very thought of a new calling first entered our lives, but we find ourselves standing on a new sea, somehow desiring, beyond all common sense, to leap out of the boat into deep waters. Amyb Blogger I am His.
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