Be Mission Minded

You guys are going to think I am crazy and that is ok with me. Most people in our culture think that people like me are crazy. I used to think people like me were crazy, but the Holy Spirit has given me a whole new outlook on some things. The Holy Spirit is alive in me. God is showing me the "MORE" that is out there. Listen guys, if you seek more, He will give it to you. Don’t be satisfied with safe living and small goals. I want my life to mean something for the Kingdom of God when I leave this earth. He spoke to my heart and said, “Be Mission minded”. I believe that Jesus was mission minded. In fact I know He was. Lu 2:49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"

What are missions?

The word "MISSIONS" or "MISSION" is not found in the Bible. The word "MISSIONARY" is not found in the Bible either. Even though these words are not found in the Bible, they are good words, and we need to understand what they mean. The word "MISSIONS" comes from a Latin word meaning "I SEND." God’s purpose is to MAKE HIMSELF KNOWN, and to achieve this purpose, God sends people on a MISSION. Those whom God sends are often called missionaries. This word means "SENT ONES." Missionaries are people sent by God to be God’s MESSENGERS and God’s WITNESSES and God’s SPOKESMEN. I believe that everyone who names the name of Christ is a missionary.

Although the Bible does not use the word "MISSIONS" or "MISSIONARY," it does have much to say about God SENDING people into the world. Consider Joh 17:18 "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. We are commissioned by Jesus Christ to go into the world and do what He did. Well, what was that? Where did you find Jesus? You never found Him in his nice home relaxing. You never see Him focused on making money or having nice things. You never see Him only hanging out with His friends and people like Him. No! You find Him with hurting people. Those who were lost in sin. Those who were broken and helpless.

Those who were homeless and poor. Those who were widowed and lonely. Jesus was at work around those who needed Him.

Where do you find Him today? The same places. Setting the captives free and helping the helpless. If this is true of Jesus, then what should be true of us His followers? The same.

What should be important to us?

The things that were important to Jesus should be important to us as well. Listen guy, being huddled up here at church is great and needed at times, but there is a whole world of lost and dying people out side of this place. What are we doing to help them? Did you know that there are homeless people here in Owensboro? Did you know that there are dozens of people sleeping under the bridge at night right here in our own town? Did you know there are starving people right here where we live? There are teens contemplating suicide in your school right now because they see no way out. No hope.

What is your mission?

Your mission is right here and now. I agree with Bro. Gerald Wethigton that Jesus is not going to call you to foreign missions if you are not already doing something here in your own town. Your mission is Owensboro, KY. Your school is your mission field. Your neighborhood is your mission field. Your work place is your mission field. Every person you pass or know that does not know Jesus should be a priority.

I challenge you this week to pray and ask God to lead you to help someone who is hurting. Someone who needs to hear the Gospel. Someone who needs an encouraging word. Maybe it’s someone you have never talked to before in your life. Maybe it’s a friend who needs Jesus. Maybe you need to go street reaching and hand out tracks. Maybe you need to serve at one of our local homeless shelters or food banks. I just ask you to forget about your self, concentrate on Him and Worship Him.

Mt 25:31-40 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'