Missions Paul

Not seeing but still going
John 20

She presumed Jesus was the gardener. Earlier the disciples on the road presumed Jesus was a visitor and the disciples in the house presumed he was a ghost and Thomas presumed the disciples were lying.
Sometimes when we ask the question where is God, we are looking for a certain type of aspect of God. We are conditioned into thinking of God in one way, and so look for him in that way.
Mary didn’t expect to see the risen Christ, because she had never seen him that way before, so would presume a man standing there was a gardener.
How many of us in our journey ask the question where is God?
God is there all the time, but perhaps we don’t recognise him, we are conditioned into seeing him in a certain way.

When Mary does see Jesus, he immediately tells her to GO from him. This is so important.
We ask the question where is God? But maybe the question should be: Where are we? Because in every case we have looked at today, Jesus was there. He was actually the one seeking them. It didn’t matter whether they were in hopelessness and confusion, fear and doubt, anguish and presumption, on a road, a house, a garden.
Where are you? How would you describe your situation?
All followers struggle to see Jesus at some point. The sick can’t see the healer, the confused can’t see the shepherd and the fearful can’t see the protector.
What’s important to Jesus is that we know our purpose, we live by the power of God, and we are his witnesses even unto death.
Don’t stress that you can’t find God in your situation. Seeing him won’t take you forward. But know you are purposed, commissioned, acknowledge you can’t see him but know he is still there.
The road, the house, the garden – these are just places we find ourselves in and we don’t have to be able to see Jesus to keep going, that’s what Jesus was saying.

Without the cross there is no mission.

Some of the most moving words in the Bible = Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother … Jesus saw his mother there. John 19:25-26
When was the last time you got alone with the perfect sacrifice?
When you got alone, you didn’t tell anyone, you distanced yourself from distraction and you gazed on your crucified Lord, you drank his blood and ate his flesh and appropriated the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ for your life and situation.
This is mission.
We know the message of the cross is foolishness to the world. 1 Cor 1:18
There are times when we have to face the feelings of foolishness for ourselves. Where is God? I can’t feel Him anymore? I can’t see Him in this.
This is mission.
Crying, grieving for what has been lost.
Crying for God to intervene.
Crying over your own sin and identifying with the sin of others, pouring it all on The Rock Jesus Christ.
This is mission.
· Many were near the crosses of the 3 crucified; some were near the cross of complaint and some the cross of hope, but Mary was near the cross of sacrifice. It is at this cross where mission is found.
· From this moment on Mary’s son would become Mary’s Lord. She moved from being Jesus’ mother to His Dear Woman. Your relationship to Jesus will always determine your mission.
· Mary stood in her defeat and her belief. She did not crumble. The enemy may have taken everything from her but it would not take her dignity. Missionaries stand.
· Mary was not alone; she had her sister and her friends with her. Together in Mission.
· Here at the foot of the cross Mary’s mission changed to care for John. From that time on … mission is progressive and we need to be flexible to flow with it.
There is no mission without the cross.

When the journey of mission is paused…

John18
I was too small to be able to see what was happening at the front of the church. But I could see people disappearing as they were being prayed for. They seemed to be falling down. It was weird but nice.
This was my first experience of such a response.
However, it was always with nice music and a great atmosphere.
Not what we have here in John 18.
600 soldiers waiting to capture Jesus and he had to once again use the ancient name, “I am he” and the soldiers fell to the ground.

When was the last time you fell to the ground?

Way back in Exodus God instructed Moses to tell people His name is I AM.
Jesus embodied the I AM.
I am the bread of life John 6:35;
I am the light of the world John 8:12;
I am the gate for the sheep John 10:7;
I am the good shepherd, John 10:11;
I am the resurrection and the life, John 11:25;
I am the way and the truth and the life, John 14:6;
I am the true vine, John 15:1.

The soldiers fell under revelation of the name above all names. Maybe also we should voluntarily fall at the sound of the I AM?

Let’s make Him known.
Mission is not complicated.
John 17
It is to know God, v3
It is to know the One He sent: Jesus, v3
It is to know the love of God, v23

So let’s get this simplified.
In your home, work and leisure:
Are you knowing God, welcoming Jesus and receiving His love?
And …
Are you making known God, being sent by the sent one and sharing the love of God?
Mission is this.

The world is full of missionaries.
John 16
The time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God, v2.

According to a recent report at least one in four of the estimated 2,000 foreigners fighting for ISIS in Syria and Iraq is British – and half of those are already back in the UK.
That means there are now almost three times as many British Muslims fighting for Islamic State than there are serving in the UK military, an MP has claimed. Another report reveals how girls as young as 14 or 15 are travelling mainly to Syria to marry jihadis, bear their children and join communities of fighters, with a small number taking up arms. Many are recruited via social media.

We are living in a time where young people are becoming missionaries in unprecedented ways. In service to God they are offering their lives, often sacrificing them for the cause of wickedness.
How someone can commit horrible crimes thinking they are serving God is beyond us. Their God is not God.

However we do not despair. We rejoice that this is simply a copy of what our God is doing. For we are also seeing droves of young people sign up to lay their life down not to kill but to serve, to love and pour mercy on those who need it the most in our world.

For Elim, over the next few years we are going to see hundreds of young people sign up for the Missionary Apprenticeship Programme. They will think they are in service to God and they will be. Whatever Satan is doing in the world it is just a faulty copy of what God is truly doing. Watch this space!

Mission with friends

John 15
Take friends with you along the journey.
Everyone should have one friend.
“You are my friends”, v14.
The blind humanitarian, Helen Keller, once said, “My friends have made the story of my life. In a thousand ways they have turned my limitations into beautiful privileges, and enabled me to walk serene and happy in the shadow cast by my deprivation.”
Jesus said:
A friend lays their life down ,v13
A friend does what they are asked to do, v14
A friend can be trusted with secrets, v15

What friends do you have in mission today? Call them and thank them for being that friend.

A call to mission
John 14
Come on, arise, let’s go and do this! v31
* Believing Jesus has got it sorted for us after this life, v1,3.
* Calling people to a journey to seek truth and find life, v6.
* Expecting God to work through us, v12.
* Willing to ask and obey, v14,15.
* Being comforted and with peace, v18,27.

This is mission. Sign up today.
Come on!

There is no ladder to climb in mission, just a towel and a bowl.

John 13: 1-12

Mission is to leave your elevated place (as the Son of God)
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. (John 13:3, 12 NIV)

Mission means your own needs do not come first, v4 “so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist”.

Mission means you will look like a servant v4

Mission does not mean your work of service may is fully appreciated at the time v7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

Mission can be lonely. Some of your closest friends may insist you do not serve v8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

Mission will cost and that is a guarantee. The cost is often unpleasant. You may have to serve the one who will betray you v11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

Mission 101: Death.
John 12
Recently I overheard a conversation regarding a conference that was being planned and the organisers were thrilled that a big-named speaker had agreed to be there. They were thrilled because they believed this would automatically bump up the numbers of attendance.
It probably will.
Why?
Because we live in a world where we chase after the cult-like leaders who walk on red carpets with flashing lights all around. How we love to see that carpet! And one day who knows God may allow us to walk on that platform of accolades and recognition, for His glory of course.
Desperate Pastors and desperate churches think they are just one major miracle away from a revival and that revival would be their red carpet. One miracle, not much of a big thing for God to do.
Jesus said if he is lifted high from the earth then men will come to him, v32.
There are many being lifted high today and many more wanting to be. And there are many who gather in the auditoriums of life to cheer and to applaud, to drool and to wish.
Sometimes this is called mission.
It is not.
This is pride, an enemy of mission.
In being lifted high, Jesus was referring to him being hung on a cross, v33. He was speaking of his submission, of giving his life, his death. It is this that will motivate people to the cause.
Stars come and go and their audiences fluctuate like the wind. But sacrifice remains. Death is permanent.
Pastors and churches who long for revival (whatever that is) should die.
You want to lead your friends to faith in Jesus? Then die.
To surrender is to be truly lifted high. This is mission.

Weeping or Leaping?
John 11

Some people are content to just weep. Some people have been crying for years, ‘It’s not fair’
Maybe today something has died within you, don’t just stand and cry!
Can you hear a call from Jesus?
‘Lazarus, Come out!’ Impossible!
How did he come out?
For his feet were bound with the burial clothes.
Can you see him leaping out? He has a chance of a lifetime. One moment in time, one opportunity.
If things are ever going to change for you, then you had better hear God when He calls, and leap when He does.
Lazarus didn’t shout back “I can’t, I’m dead!” But the devil wants you to lay your life down and play dead. It’s all over, my life will never get better, it’s impossible.
Will you hear a new voice today? A voice of one who called to Lazarus, “Come out!”
This is not the day for weeping, it’s a day for leaping. Leaping out of the grave that was designed so that you wouldn’t make a comeback. Leaping out of a grave that others have placed you in and said ‘he won’t be back, she’s finished. Its over.’
Everybody around you can cry out ‘Come out. Get better. Snap out of it.’ But its not till you respond to the call of Jesus will you ever be able to move on.
His call is always to do the impossible.
Today God calls you to do that what man says you can never do.
Stop wallowing in your pity, get up and do what you and others say you can’t do.
Stop weeping and start leaping.
Now, that’s mission!!