Many have heard the word "mission" in association with Christianity, but have never had it explained to them and have been left with a vague concept. To be "On Mission", a church must understand and adopt the specific assignment that Christ has given that is found in Scripture. Yesterday, I discussed four keys of preparation for the mission that are found in Acts 1:1-8.The first key is understanding the message of the mission. The message is all that Jesus has said and done found in the Gospel's through the first part of the book of Acts. His deeds include His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection. His doctrines include His teachings about himself, the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Kingdom of God. The message is essential because it justifies the actions of God's people. For example, why would a missionary move his family to a dangerous area of the world? Because what Christ has said and done provides hope to all peoples of the world.
The second key to preparing for the mission is to receive the power of the mission. The Holy Spirit is God's empowering agent and is emphasized because if God's people were left alone to complete this extraordinary task, God's mission would be in jeopardy. The Apostles are told in Acts 1:4 to wait on the Holy Spirit because the work cannot be completed without Him.
Third, is to become the instrument for the mission. Believers, like Jesus' apostles before them, have been called out of the world to be witnesses to the world. It is important that the people of God understand that they have not only been saved from sin and death, but saved for God. Forgiveness is not an end, but a means to an end. Believers have been forgiven so they will make much of God by worshiping Him and representing Him to the world.
The fourth and final point of preparation is to target the world for the mission. The end of Acts 1:8 clearly indicates that our Lord wants to be known and worshipped among the nations. No one people deserve preferential treatment because it is not about us. The Gospel is God-centered and is to make His name great. The way believers do this is by seeking out worshipers of Him throughout the world.
As believers understand the mission Christ has left the church, may they set their mind toward preparing for and partaking in the mission. May the church avoid becoming preoccupied with things they are not called to be preoccupied with, but may they instead take the message of who Jesus is and what He has done, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to people that do not know Him for their joy and for His Glory.
