Equipped for mission work
Dr. Olawale
As Christians, many of us have forgotten that we are on a mission on earth. We believe that those on missions are primarily pastors, evangelists, and missionaries serving in foreign places. We think only about missions when we go on organized mission trips to foreign countries. This is, however, a limited view of missions. Every Christian is called to be on mission daily in and outside our homes. The call to missions is not only for ordained ministers but for every Christian. The work of ordained ministers is actually to equip and prepare God’s people (you and me) for the work of the ministry. Ephesians 4:7-13 says:
7 “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” - Ephesians 4:7-13
This scripture shows that (verse 7) “To each one of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” No one was left out. We can also see that Christ gave us (verses 11-12) “The apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
So, each of us has been given grace as Jesus wills, and we are being equipped through the ministries of the ordained ministers for the works of service. The works of service are our specific areas of ministry, and as we serve in our areas of calling daily, wherever we are, we are living on missions.
What are the works of service (missions) God has called each believer to? The approach, method, and areas may differ for each believer, but they all center on two main commissions or assignments as commanded by the Lord.
The Great Command: The Lord commands each of us to go and love our brethren (fellow believers), our neighbors, and even our enemies. Although the grace apportioned to each believer may be different, all must function in and with love.
“9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.” - John 15:9-14
“37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”” - Matthew 22:37-40
“43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” - Matthew 5:43-48
The Lord further showed us the grave consequence of service not motivated by love.
“22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” - Matthew 7:22-23
“41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.[d] 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ 44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ 45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ 46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” - Matthew 25:41-46
When we live daily, conscious of the needs of people around us, and we serve them by meeting those needs from a heart of love, we are serving the Lord and living on missions. You don’t have to travel to a foreign country to be missional. Daily, at work, at home, at the mall, in your neighborhood, at church, and everywhere you go, the Lord is bringing people your way with one need or the other, and you have the grace to meet some of these needs. Daily, the Lord is bringing to you or to your awareness people who are hungry, sick, or in need of prayers, counsel, comfort, or one help or the other. When you are conscious of this and in constant communion with the Holy Spirit, you will recognize these opportunities and respond in love to meet those needs. This is missional living; you are serving the Lord with the grace He has apportioned you.
The Great Commission: The Lord’s last command to His disciples after His resurrection is for them to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. This is the Great Commission.
“16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 25: 16-20
The disciples were commissioned to go and make disciples who are also to make disciples. That is us! A disciple is a student who learns and follows (obeys) the master's teaching. We have been saved, and we are also commanded to go and share the good tidings of the Kingdom of God that we have been called into through the redemptive work of Christ. The Scripture says that we are Christ’s Ambassadors and have been given the ministry of reconciliation and that God is not holding people’s sins against them. That is the Good News! When you live daily seeking opportunities to share with the people God brings your way the Good News of reconciliation to God through Christ's love, death, and resurrection, you are living on missions, whether in or outside your country.
“14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
