JMA Newsletter Missions Mid-Month August 2024
Over the last few months, we have observed the Great Commission in the Gospels. Now, we'll continue our series on through the New Testament!
The Great Commission in Romans
Romans 1:9-15, 9"For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also."
An aspect of missionary calling that is not talked about is going to a place where the church already exists. We think missionaries should focus on unreached people, and that is important. But it is not everything there is. Holy Spirit is the One who guides, leads and directs, and He is the One Who decides.
In Acts 16:6, Paul and his team wanted to go into Asia, a totally unreached area. Holy Spirit forbade them (note that language! not urge, not influence, not a feeling! Forbidden!!) Then in v7, they tried another unreached area. Holy Spirit did not permit them. He said no. In v9, Paul had a vision of a Macedonian man, and they determined that was the open door.
Our mission strategy must be built on the will of God. What is the Lord saying? Having the knowledge of where unreached people groups are, where they live, how they live, all that is great, it is helpful, it is needed information. But at the end of the day, it is not what drives the missionary bus. Holy Spirit is the Driver!
In Acts, Paul and his team went through a process in discovering where they would go next. They knew about several areas, all of them worthy, all of them needy, all of them with lost people who need Jesus. But Holy Spirit said no to all their ideas, and then provided His own people group for them to reach, the Macedonians.
Paul is telling the church in Rome the same thing. He wants to come visit, but he cannot go anywhere without that green checkmark from Holy Spirit. The need is there, the opportunity is there, the invitation is there. But Paul is still 10"making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you." Paul is in negotiations with Holy Spirit! Not to get his own way, but for Paul, and it should be for us as well, the will of God is the key factor. Without that confirmation, I will not, I cannot.
My point is that there is already a church in Rome, and it is that church Paul wants to visit. Romans 1:8, "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world." These people are already saved, and have been doing well, and have become famous for their faith! And then, look at v15, "So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also."
What does he mean? Is he going to preach a salvation message to people that are already saved and doing well and famous for their faith? No, we must conclude that 'preach the Gospel' in this context must mean something else. And here is the answer:
Romans 1:11-13, 11"For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— 12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles."
A major work in the missionary endeavor is the building up of the Body of Christ. A statistic I heard a few years ago, one that drives our ministry, is this: 'there are 5 million Pastors around the world that have never had a single day of training, ever.' There are countless congregations around the world that need a word of encouragement, a good teaching, an impartation of spiritual gifts. Sometimes you just need somebody to walk up and release that gifting into your life! Sometimes you get stuck in a stronghold, and you need somebody to walk up and slap that thing off you! As a missionary, there have been countless times where that somebody has been me! Nobody could be more surprised than I am about it!
There have been a great many people who have come to the Lord as a result of what we do. And what we do is equip the church to do the work. And they do it! We don't publicize numbers or try to take credit for what Holy Spirit is doing. But I can tell you people are being saved, churches are growing, believers are being discipled.
We need to stop making missions synonymous with evangelism, so that a missionary stands on the street corner and hands out tracts. That kind of thinking limits the directive authority of Holy Spirit, the Great Commission Director. We are not directed by a strategy, we're directed by Holy Spirit!
Holy Spirit, have Your way. My life is Yours, my family is Yours, my ministry is Yours. I will go wherever You tell me to go, and I will say whatever You want me to say.
John 10:27, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."
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