The Mission

INTRO:

• Recap of the last message “The Call” from Luke 5 – going deeper with God requires:

  • Trust

  • Full surrender

  • It reveals what is hidden

  • Leads to abundance

• Illustration: Snorkelling in the shallows vs. diving deep — Are you playing it safe, snorkelling on the surface? -  or do you want to go all in with God? To dive deep into all He has in store for you.

Missions Sunday – this is going to be a very missionally focused message and that is because you weren’t saved to sit. You were saved to be sent - Amen!

Right now, there are people in your life—your family, workplace, gym, even your barista—who may never walk into a church… but they walk past you every single day.

We have to change our view that the missions’ field is always on the other side of the world—it could be on the other side of your street.

And the question God is asking this morning isn’t ‘Are you able to?’ It’s ‘Are you Willing?’

1. THE CALL IS PERSONAL & UNIVERSAL (Luke 5 & Isaiah 6:8)

• Jesus called regular people — Peter, James, and John weren’t chosen because of their brilliant character traits:

Peter was impatient – stubborn, emotional, and a little rough around the edges... – sound familiar? 😉

They were chosen because they had a willing and obedient heart.

• Isaiah heard the call of the Lord in Isaiah 6:8 he writes: “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"

Then I said, "Here I am! Send me."

Main Point: God is not just calling pastors or missionaries — He’s calling YOU.

• Christ took on flesh, walked the earth, preached the Good News and then was gruesomely hung on a cross to take our punishment, to set us free. He saved us from death, both spiritual and physical, but he didn’t just save you from something, He saved you FOR something. God sees the past, present and future at all times, he is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent, He knows you better than you know yourself — and if He says “Come, follow me” we’d better answer the call!

2. WHERE YOU ARE IS YOUR MISSION FIELD

• So, once we’ve understood that the call is personal… what next? We recognize that God has placed us exactly where He wants to use us.

• You don’t need to cross an ocean to carry the Gospel — sometimes you just need to cross the room.

• You don’t need a microphone to minister.

• You don’t need to be “in ministry” to live missionally focused life.

• God has already placed you in a sphere of influence, with people that pastors will never be able to reach — but you can.

• Driving Instructor story — simple conversations = eternal impact.

(Confident in Christ - > Willing to share -> Firm understanding of salvation -> Christ said “It is finished.” Not “almost there.” – sprinkle in some good works and you’ve got it.)   

• Your mission field— it’s your workplace, your dinner table, your neighbourhood, your gym, your barista, your boss, your classmate. Sometimes, evangelism doesn’t look like shouting on a street corner — it looks like listening, asking questions, being present.

• Philippines story — Young man turning from cold-hearted to the things of God, to a radically transformed man of God, getting up before the sun came up to seek God, read his bible and pray.

• Vision & Purpose ignites something within us.

• Stop waiting for the ‘right moment’ — you’re living in it. Your workplace might not look like a church, but if you show up filled with the Spirit, it becomes one. That gym might not have a worship team — but it has a witness, and it’s you.

“God didn’t just save you from something. He saved you for something”

3. THE GOSPEL DEMANDS ACTION (James 2:17-18, Romans 1:16)

• James 2:17-18  “… faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead…. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds..”

• Faith isn’t just a belief system — it’s a lifestyle. It's not just what you say, it's how you live, how you treat others and the fruit that you bear.

Real faith has fingerprints. It leaves evidence right?

The world isn’t looking for Christians who sound religious —There are so many different faiths already, the world is looking for believers who live different, who “carry the aroma of Christ.”

·       Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” — The Gospel is not weak, it’s not optional, not passive. It has the power to bring about ETERNAL Salvation to those who hear, but it needs a messenger to share it.

·       Church — it’s not enough to believe it. We must live it. The Gospel isn't just something we receive; it's something we release. And it’s time for believers to stop spectating and start participating. The Gospel DEMANDS action… Amen?

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4. MISSIONS IS LOVE IN ACTION (Mark 16:15, Matt. 28:19-20)

• “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)

• The Great Commission is - your mission.

• Missions is birthed from a place of compassion and they’re at the core of God’s heart — Jesus was moved, then acted.

• You don’t need a passport to be missional — just a willing & obedient heart.

Philippines stories:

• First day of missions: Summarise - Expecting 20 or so, HUNDREDS of children showed up, little girl grabbing our hands, you step out in faith and God provides, He blesses obedience.

• Bamboo church on Easter Sunday: - Pure worship in poverty —They were the ones who were truly rich. They knew they were loved, cherished and chosen by God — not because of what they had, but because of who He is and who we are to Him. They knew that they were seated in heavenly places, even if their feet currently stood on dirt floors. They were storing up their treasures in heaven.

• Fishing village encounter: Presence of God touched every heart after the Word was preached. “so shall the word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Biggest learning: It’s not about me; my only instruction is to: “ Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all.” Your job is to plant the seed, someone else may water it, but it is GOD that makes it grow.

• Don’t be afraid if you feel underqualified to be a worker in the kingdom, God’s not looking for scholars or Pharisees, he is looking for those with a humble and willing heart,  and  remember: Whatever He has called you to, He will equip you for.

5. PRAYER FUELS THE MISSION

• “To desire revival but neglect prayer is to wish one way and walk another.” — A.W. Tozer  (Author / Pastor)

• (Day of Pentecost) Right before the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples in Acts 2 they had gathered and were united in persistent, expectant prayer.

·       Acts 1:14  says: “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

Prayer for them wasn’t an afterthought or a backup plan -  it was their first priority, and when you need a breakthrough you don’t go out into the world to find it – it is found in God and God alone. He makes a way where there is no way, He parted the sea, He brought forth water from the rock and He sent manna down from heaven, He. Will. Provide.

• You don’t need a passport for missions, you can shake nations through intercessory prayer, even if you never step foot on a plane.

“The devil is not terribly frightened of our human efforts and credentials (titles). But he knows his kingdom will be damaged when we begin to lift up our hearts to God” (We are strongest when we’re at our limit, when we lay it all down at the feet of Jesus and lift our hands and hearts to God – This is where miracles happen, where serpent heads are crushed and where breakthrough happens.)  

 — Jim Cymbala (Author / Pastor)

• It’s not about us, what we can do-think-or create, it’s about God’s ability to work in and through us to bless others.

• Your secret place, your prayer closet is your strategy room for spiritual warfare. It’s where you and God can get alone together and prepare for the battle ahead.  The nations may never get to know your name, but they can feel the effects of your prayers.

CONCLUSION & CALL

• Ask: What has God placed on your heart? Where has He planted you? And what can you actively do to better share your faith with those around you.

• Isaiah heard the call of the Lord and said: “Here I am! Send me.” – Is this your heart posture?

“God didn’t just save you from something. He saved you for something”

Ø  And you may never stand behind a pulpit — but you will stand in front of people who need Jesus.

Ø  You may never hold a microphone — but you hold a message.

Ø  You may never go to another nation — but you’re already standing in your mission field.

Ø  The call has already gone out. The question now is — will you go?

• Close with prayer.

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To add?

• If you’re just following the crowd, you’re going to end up exactly where they are. Our culture is so obsessed with gratifying the flesh, with finding fulfilment in shallow, temporary things.

Cultural Lie	Biblical Truth
“Follow your heart”	Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful…”
“Speak your truth”	John 14:6 – “I am the Truth…”
“Believe in yourself”	John 15:5 – “Apart from Me, you can do nothing”
“You do you”	Gal. 2:20 – “It is no longer I who live…”

Church – we don’t follow the latest trends. We follow the Truth.

• We have to be careful that wordly mindsets do not infiltrate our thinking, that we are consistently “setting our hearts and minds on things above.”

• “But Jesus, our Good Shepherd, leads to green pastures -