I'm taking a class by Dr. Jerry Rankin about the importance of missions. We've only had one session, but it really got me thinking and meditating on missions. Most people hear the word missions and think of "those" people who were specifically called by God to go to a third world country and, I believe in many cases, thought to civilize them. You know teach them the "right" way to live. But that lifestyle isn't for everyone right? I mean some people are called, but "surely not me right?" Wrong. So so so wrong. Read what Acts 1:8 says. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Did you catch it? Read it one more time. You shall receive power...AND..." If we are not being witnesses in all parts of the earth, we are NOT utlizing the power God wants to empower us with. Being witnesses for God is a natural reaction to being filled with His power. If we aren't spreading the Gospel, we aren't obeying God. Period. If you have absolutely no desire to see the lost saved then you are either so far from God or you may not be a child of God.
Let's explore a thought. Why did Jesus die? Most would probably answer with "me" or "my sins." How self centered our western, americanized christianity has become. Jesus died so Hid message of redemption and remission of sins could be preached to ALL the world, not so we could live comfortable, complacent "christian" lives content to live in mediocrity. We are in danger of having our hearts hardened to the nations as the Israelites were, to the point of rejection. What a scary thought. We justify and rationalize our excuses by saying we give money or something like that, which is great! but we have forgotten or ignored God's purpose. It's God's purpose, His Mission that we do missions. It's the impulse of an indwelling presence that motivates us to go. We have gotten it in our heads that since we haven't had a "burning bush" kind of calling, that we haven't been called. WRONG! Dr. Rankin said, "Our worship should draw us to the heart of God so we feel His impulse to go, so HE will be exalted in all the earth. We will only be compelled to go by a relationship with Jesus Christ."
If you aren't feeling compelled to go, draw near to Christ. Be still and know that He is God. Learn to feel His heartbeat. Hurt over what hurts Christ. Be broken for the lost. I mean really broken. Empty yourself of yourself so you can be filled with the Spirit. Remember what happens when you're filled with the Holy Spirit? You will receive power. That's Christ's power. You will receive power AND then you will be witnesses to the ends of the earth for Christ. Let's fall into the arms of Christ, be filled with his power and start caring for the souls who are dying and going to hell.
