Having gone through the first 5 subsections of this chapter, we have witnessed Paul's "fire for God."
But what about ours?
Some of you who are reading this are without a doubt missionaries; perhaps in your hometown, but also likely in far away lands. At the end of the day, we are all required to be missionaries as part of our walk with Christ.
And each of us have a different skill-set. For some, it is singing in the choir. For others, to assist in the day care. How about leading a Sunday school class. Other religions even require that as young adults, that their parents send them out on the mission field as part of their spiritual development.
Most Christians will unabashedly and undoubtedly admit that this is an area where they struggle. Paul became an apostle, and his mission was to build churches, preach, teach, and ultimately gain one of the incontestable crowns for Jesus by bringing the message of the gospel, the "Good News," to the uncircumcised or unsaved. Not just Gentiles, but to all who would believe.
In Acts 13:47, we read, "For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."
In Romans 10:13-15 Paul declares, "for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!" "
There are numerous verses in the bible that apply to us as parishioners, and to us as missionaries in our personal mission for God.
Here are just 3 examples:
1 Chronicles 16:24 "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds to all peoples."
Nahum 1:15a "Look, there on the mountains, the feet of the one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!"
And in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, "On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts." Thessalonians 2:4.
I absolutely love how my pastor ends his services each and every Sunday morning. He says, "Church, you are dismissed. You are loved and you are sent."
Paul had a mission. He did not let imprisonment stop him, he evaded threats of death, he was shunned and many times he was to be stoned. Paul was not going to let anyone or anything derail his "fire for God."
God has given us all unique gifts, and they are to be used for His glory. It is also our responsibility to mature, nurture and use those gifts.
If you are not using the blessings that God has instilled in your heart for Him, ask? "Lord, what have you given me, in your divine power, that you would have me do to reach your people?" I would make a bold claim on two accounts: 1) that He will answer, and 2) over time you will be presented with new challenges; that in the maturity of your walk, you will be asked to strengthen your faith in different and perhaps uncomfortable areas to reach people for God's kingdom.
What we need to be doing as Christians is to ask ourselves, "What can I do today to advance the kingdom of God?"
Make this a daily exercise.
The Prayer of Jabez is an excellent start. A few years back, there was an entire book on this verse with four parts in this simple prayer. It is also close to my heart. As a board member to my publisher's foundation, we pray this prayer as an opening to our meetings. It goes like this:
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.
Since I am focusing exclusively on the writings of Paul, I encourage you to seek out and read this book.
So what should be our action plan?
1) Ask God to lead you in your personal mission. He has divinely planned it; long before you were born, so ask Him to take the lead and give you specific instructions.
2) Use the Bible as your personal workbook. For example, on finance and financial management alone, there are over six-hundred verses alone that relate to finances and money. When you get your answer, seek out the verses that apply to you in what God has called you to do.
3) Pray for guidance. You cannot fulfill your mission alone. While God will reveal your mission to you, you will need the counsel of the Bible, first and foremost, and then go to others who are further in their maturity who can assist you.
4) Have an accountability partner. Ask a Christian who you can rely on to ask you hard and pointed questions; such as, "How did you advance in your mission today to spread the gospel so that His people can reach Him?"
5) Ask God to place people in your path. You not only want to find people in your path that you can reach, but to those who can assist.
6) Determine you war strategy and walk boldly. You are prepared with all the tools. The Bible, others, and those that God will divinely, and by no coincidence, place in your path.
7) Continue to mature. Find additional books and resources that will guide you. Chances are pretty good that someone that has gone before had a similar mission that they were called to do, for His glory.
So there you have it. 7 steps: Ask, Use the Bible as a lighthouse to direct your unique path, Pray, Be held Accountable, Ask for others to be placed divinely and directly in your path, Develop a War Strategy, Walk Boldly spreading your Mission, Mature.
Take these 7, and use every resource possible to place you in a position to reach people for the glory of God.
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