The Calling...

"To know the will of God, we need an open Bible and an open map". -William Carey

"For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am compelled to preach: yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!" -1 Cor. 9:16

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit." -John 15:16

"Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a Shepherd... the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few."

God uses those who commit themselves to Him, to serve Him in whatever capacity. A missionary is one who is sent by God. Where we’re sent is irrelevant...

"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light". -John Keith Falconer

The fact that we’re doing what He has commissioned us to do is exceedingly relevant. It’s all about making disciples. Matthew 28:18-20 states that ALL authority on heaven and earth has been given to Jesus. Therefore, we can go out and make disciples for Him because He has all authority. If we think we can go out on our own authority, we will be blasted because we are invading a battleground. In Christian ministry and as a missionary, you are invading a spiritual battleground. Satan will do anything he can to destroy us, to make us appear ineffective. We need to stand firm and strong in the power of the Lord.

Is your heart committed to Him? Then He wants to use you to serve Him. We need to be grounded in the Word of God. That it’s by His Spirit, not our own strengths, abilities or resources. The command to “GO” in Matthew 28:18-20 is a present participle, which means the verb tense can be translated “as you’re going”. Jesus wasn't just issuing a command to GO, that was already assumed, the command was for what to do as we're going. As a missionary, we're missionaries wherever we go, God sometimes just changes the scenery. Our passion for missions is weak often because our passion for God is weak. It is the love of Christ that compels us, not our love for Christ. My love for Christ is inadequate. We can never minister to the body of Christ without having the heart of Christ, the love OF Christ.

The power of love is the language we all have in common. He puts a passion on our hearts for certain places and people groups often, but ultimately He puts a passion on our hearts for Himself. He calls us to Himself. As we realize what He’s done for us is only how we begin to share Him with others. Our maturity takes place when we apply what we’ve already learned on a daily basis. We need to be doers of His Word and not merely hearers, as the book of James warns. We need such a personal relationship with Jesus Christ before we could ever purpose to serve Him.

"Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you". -1 Samuel 12:24

Consider what great things He’s done for you. We can know the will of God (Rom. 12:1-2). God’s looking for who’s hearts are committed to Him.

Our worth to God in public ministry is 100% contingent upon our relationship with Him in private. If we don’t have it in private, we’ll never have it out there in public ministry or on the mission field. If there’s going to be an advancement of God’s Kingdom it better be through the work of the Holy Spirit or our work will be in vain (Ps. 127:1). What is really important in life? Add up everything money can’t buy and death cannot steal away. Be set apart, Holy and consecrated to Him.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also". -Matt. 6:19-21

Christianity is a missionary faith. God is a global God. God desires we go and make disciples.

"...as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." -John 20:21

He is the propitiation for our sins and the sins of every one in the entire world (1 Jn. 2:2). When we consider what He’s done for us, what else could we do but go out and serve the living God? What is our priority in life?

"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." -Matt. 6:33

"God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on Him." -Hudson Taylor

When we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts. What thwarts God’s will in our life? Ourselves, our disobedience and our lack of faith keep us from being in God’s will. We need to walk by faith and not by sight. We’re the one that hinders Him. Jesus has a wonderful plan for our lives, but we hinder His work. We get in the way. When our service to God supersedes our devotion to Him, we’re headed for trouble. When we get so caught up in the work, our devotion takes a second place. Our devotion has to come first because the way we come to know Jesus more intimately and passionately is to spend more time with Him.

When we care about the cause more than the causer of all things, we get into trouble. We get so involved in the work of the Lord, that we forget the Lord of the work. Consider the cost for being His disciple, no matter where He sends you; it costs everything. Don’t diminish what it costs, the commands of discipleship; Jesus never did. Ministry is what God does in us and through us to His glory, not what we do for God. It's not about us. We need to identify ourselves in God’s interests, seek first His kingdom. Spend your time with those who desire to know Him more. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. He equips the called, not calls the equipped. Jesus Christ requires we stand in the shadow of the Cross. He’s looking for those who’s hearts are fully committed to Him. He prepares beforehand the steps we’re supposed to walk in and gives us our spiritual gifts for His work. Never take on more work than you can pray for.

Prayer reaches as far as God reaches. We’re fighting a spiritual battle, not against flesh and blood. When we’re involved in ministry, we’re pulling down strongholds. There’s a lot of loneliness on the mission field. If we’re not standing on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, we’re going to crumble. Don’t be more devoted to being a missionary or a cause than to Jesus. God is BIG enough to change your direction if you’re not going in the right direction. Jesus will always bring us back if we’re not going in His direction. God is a God of organization and inspiration. A servant’s spirit is necessary for a missionary.

"If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and a servant of all". -Mark 9:35

"Sympathy is no substitute for action". -David Livingstone

Jesus didn’t come to be served, but to serve. We need to serve with our attitude and heart more than in what we do outwardly. A true servant is one in whom Jesus Christ can be seen. God’s strategy has not changed. Jesus was open, transparent, established intimacy with others, and related to people. He made friends with people. Our actions need to bear witness to the words we speak. He had the love that reaches out and brings others in. Jesus was approachable. He was compassionate because He cared about them, not just to get them to follow Him. He was perceptive, He looked beyond the surface; He showed no preference. He’s a humble God. God goes before and works everything out for good. Be a good steward of God’s resources and time. Let Him direct your steps and light your path.

"My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work". - John 4:34

"How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? And how will they preach unless they are sent?" -Rom. 10:14-15

"God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies". -Hudson Taylor

"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice is to great for me to make for Him". -C.T. Studd

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell". -C.T. Studd

"To stay here and disobey God- I cannot take the consequence. I would rather go and obey God than to stay here and know that I disobeyed".

"I wasn't God's first choice for what I've done for China… I don't know who it was… It must have been a man… a well-educated man. I don't know what happened. Perhaps he died. Perhaps he wasn't willing… and God looked down… and saw Gladys Aylward… And God said - 'Well, she's willing." - Gladys Aylward

"Brother, if you would enter that Province, you must go forward on your knees."
- J. Hudson Taylor