Be Sent Out

As I was praying the other evening with another missionary God led us to pray for those we have influence with in the American Church. I also prayed that He would give us a platform to share on this topic, so I praise God for an answered prayer!

People are falling away from Christ because they are not taking the step of being sent out that being a disciple of Jesus demands. It is clear throughout the Gospels that Jesus disciples were sent out consistently while He was alive and after His resurrection [Luke 10:1-3; Matt 10:5-8; Acts 6:5-7; Acts 13, 14, 15]

Here is what I see happening… I (state your name here) go to church most of the time, pray semi-frequently, study the word semi-frequently, and even occasionally serve at my place of worship. Is this merely how I have allowed Christ to affect the pattern of my life? Or am I giving Him unrestricted Lordship of my life? Will I allow Christ to truly challenge me and take me places I wouldn't be compelled to go otherwise [Acts 20:22]. If I do not apply the knowledge I become so FULL of head knowledge that I literally get overstuffed and want to go to 'sleep' (like on Thanksgiving). This is the point at which people want to change churches (rational being the messages are the same and they aren't getting anything out of them anymore, worship doesn't do it for me anymore, etc.) or just move on altogether.

Jesus NEVER intended for us to just continually get filled with head knowledge and never GO OUT and use it! NEVER! Look at the pattern throughout Jesus' life. He would preach and then show them miraculous things, then He would send them out to do the same. Then He would gather them back together, ask them how things went (to show them that there faith could sustain them in those and even more difficult situations), teach them more, then SEND THEM BACK OUT!

We have experienced this in school as well. Even in basic courses we don't just learn from a book. At some point we are required to do a project or lab work. Why? Because they know that the only way for us to completely understand the lesson is for us to go experience it. In this example you are doing it under the supervision of the teacher, but later on if you continue in your learning you will be required to do field work, where you will take the knowledge and creativity that you have and complete a new project out in the field. This is what Christ calls us to do. Allow Him to give us creative input as we must trust in Him (because we finally are living in full faith) and apply the knowledge we already have to bring Glory to the Father. This is how Christ lived. This is how His followers will live.

One of the reasons we need to be sent out is that the bible doesn't make sense fully in our cultural context. Many of the stories cannot be understood unless we go to different places where we are able to apply the message in a different setting. For example, If we live in an urban setting, parables about vineyards and harvest time can only be imagined, we miss many, many insights because we have never labored in the soil.

Begin with your own life… When was the last time you allowed God to send you out to apply your knowledge in a new way? I would highly recommend to all followers of Christ to take a short term mission trip to a different country. You will begin to fulfill the final command that Jesus left us with, you will grow in ways you CANNOT by staying at home and you will understand the Gospel message in a new way.

You have more power than you think if you will just wield it! Go for it! Don't let anyone tell you you cannot. You can! I believe in you! God believes in you! If you have the Spirit of Christ in you then you can do ALL THINGS!

Oh Hebrews... [Guest Post by Corbett Cutts]

Guest post by my good friend and brother in Christ, Corbett Cutts.

""'We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again.'" (Hebrews 5:11-12).

WOW! Nobody ever said the author of Hebrews was gentle with his words - but what truth those words hold.

I've read that passage 4 times in the past 24 hours and it wasn't because I didn't understand it or because I was falling asleep (usually why i reread passages) - but because each time i read it, it humbles me more than words can express. For the past twenty nine years I have associated myself in some way, shape or form with Christ. At times, I was seeking Him with all of my being; and other times, God wasn't even on the back burner...He wasn't on the stove or even the kitchen. Yet, I still knew who He is and what He offers. But the question remains - in those (nearly) three decades, where was my spiritual maturity? I am still a BABE in both my understanding of and my trust (faith) in Christ? Here I am professing my lifelong love for Christ and I'm not sure I can name all the books of the Bible..............

The point is that the author of Hebrews has me pegged. By now, i should be leading people spiritually. But I'm not, I'm scared and unprepared and it's a very sad truth. I know I lack the cranial capacity to know God fully and I am at His will for Him to reveal Himself to me in Scripture and His creation to know Him more. My epistemology is not to know all of God's being - that would be impossible. But my focus should be on using the tools He has provided me to shape my ethos.

God - my prayer is that this new season in my life will bring greater maturity and understanding of You. Not for my own edification, but so that I can be a more effective resource for you in transforming lives and helping those that are seeking You open their hearts to meet and receive You."

This is so applicable to us all. Thank you for sharing brother.