THOSE "SENT OUT"
"You yourselves are well acquainted with my manner of living among you from the first day I set foot in the province of Asia, and how I continued afterward" (Acts 20:18 ff AMP).
The first thing a missionary (one who is "sent out") does is realize he/she is a servant of the Lord and diligently keep a humble attitude. A missionary must have true compassion for those he/she ministers to. Oftentimes it is required for a missionary to continue his/her commission with perseverance and patience in the face of persecution, resistance and other trials. A missionary cannot compromise or shrink back in fear when speaking the Gospel or teaching the sound doctrines of the faith. He/She must bear constant testimony (by word and deed) to those around them, urging people to turn in repentance to God and to put their faith in Jesus Christ. A missionary of the Gospel must empty himself/herself of all selfish reasoning and be determined to stay the course faithfully, knowing that the Lord has enjoined him/her in His ministry. The missionary must expect no reward for his/her service in this world but be confident that God will hold a crown of glory for him/her in heaven. The missionary must remain clean of sin and innocent of wrongdoing among those to whom he/she ministers.
Church growth occurs when all of God's people practice their faith before their neighbors in such a way that the goodness of God receives full glory. However, there are those whom the Spirit of God separates out as those He would send out from the local fellowship to other places He wishes His gospel to spread. Many may think this calling is something "more than" what God in Christ has called all His people. Not so! The missionary is merely laboring in another field. The glory is still to be the Lord's! Think about it.
"You yourselves are well acquainted with my manner of living among you from the first day I set foot in the province of Asia, and how I continued afterward" (Acts 20:18 ff AMP).
The first thing a missionary (one who is "sent out") does is realize he/she is a servant of the Lord and diligently keep a humble attitude. A missionary must have true compassion for those he/she ministers to. Oftentimes it is required for a missionary to continue his/her commission with perseverance and patience in the face of persecution, resistance and other trials. A missionary cannot compromise or shrink back in fear when speaking the Gospel or teaching the sound doctrines of the faith. He/She must bear constant testimony (by word and deed) to those around them, urging people to turn in repentance to God and to put their faith in Jesus Christ. A missionary of the Gospel must empty himself/herself of all selfish reasoning and be determined to stay the course faithfully, knowing that the Lord has enjoined him/her in His ministry. The missionary must expect no reward for his/her service in this world but be confident that God will hold a crown of glory for him/her in heaven. The missionary must remain clean of sin and innocent of wrongdoing among those to whom he/she ministers.
Church growth occurs when all of God's people practice their faith before their neighbors in such a way that the goodness of God receives full glory. However, there are those whom the Spirit of God separates out as those He would send out from the local fellowship to other places He wishes His gospel to spread. Many may think this calling is something "more than" what God in Christ has called all His people. Not so! The missionary is merely laboring in another field. The glory is still to be the Lord's! Think about it.
© S.M. Hudson, Hidden Treasure Ministries, December 2003. All rights reserved.
Categories: forgiveness
