Mission Possible

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
I John 4:11

As we unfold our series on Missions, let me start by asking,: Are you mission-minded?

As you ponder your own response, I would like to introduce to you my friend, Kiki (pictured above)! Kiki lives at the Little Children Of Jesus (LCJ) orphanage in Port Au Prince, Haiti. He is a precious soul with a most contagious laugh. Although Kiki has many physical and medical concerns, he truly exuberates a joyful spirit.

My journey to meet Kiki, began on January 29, 2017. My family and I were on our final day of a 21-day Daniel Fast and we were participating in an hour of prayer. During that prayer time, I knew God was calling me to Haiti.

I never had the desire to do overseas missions. N.E.V.E.R.. Instead of being mission-minded, I was close-minded.

Haiti was my mission impossible.

But God!

I knew early in my life God had called me to be a speech therapist. However, I had such a heart to serve Him that during the fast, I specifically asked God to connect my profession to His purpose for my life.

Haiti was an unexpected answer to that prayer. Because I had been intentional with meeting with God daily in His Word and in prayer, I heard Him loud and clear. God was calling me to Haiti to do speech therapy.

What!?! Was that even possible?

That seemed so crazy to me. Well, immediately, fear and doubt created a mission impossible. But with power, love, and a sound mind, within my spirit God created a mission possible. Meet the LCJ Therapy Team. 🙂 That fall we were able to serve the children of LCJ with speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

If we are not mission-minded, we will miss opportunities to be on mission.

In Matthew 4, after Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John, He withdrew to the wilderness to spend time with His Father. He fasted for forty days and forty nights (verse 2), and His flesh was hungry. The enemy knew his physical body was tired and hungry, and he attacked. Jesus responded with His spirit.

“Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.’ Then the devil left him and behold the angels came and were ministering to Him.”
Matthew 4: 10-11

To be mission-minded, we must worship the Lord our God and only serve Him. Be an imitator of Christ.

So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
John 5:19

As the story continues in chapter 4, Jesus shows us two ways of being mission-minded.

1. Withdraw to the Father
Immediately after He was baptized, He withdrew to spend time in prayer with His Father. This is when you must earnestly lay down your fears, worries, and doubts about the mission He is calling you to. Missions look different in each of our lives. There was a season in my life where my mission field was my home. I can recall another season in my life when my mission field moved to my workplace.

Being mission-minded is not focused on location, it’s focused on obedience. Be obedient in sharing Jesus wherever God has placed you.

Seek Him first (Matthew 6:33) and listen as He directs your steps. You must have a regular devotion time. If you don’t then you are functioning in the power of the flesh. The flesh will grow weak and stop. He will equip your spirit, and He will provide ALL of your needs – spiritually, physically, emotionally, and financially. You must seek Him in His Word and in prayer.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4: 19

2. Withdraw to Others
After Jesus withdrew to spend time with His Father, He then withdrew to others.

“And leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulum and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled…From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4: 13, 14, and 17

He was joining His Father, and we too are called to GO and join our Father in His work. Jesus provides so many examples of meeting people’s physical needs before He meets their spiritual needs. People are broken, hurt, hungry, sad, lonely, and many are looking to just be loved. Look for intentional ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus by serving them physically. A cup of coffee and 5 minutes of time can surely refresh someone’s soul.

I recently spoke with some of my Jesus Girls and I asked them what being mission-minded “looked like” in their lives.

Let me share with you some of their thoughts:

If we are open to walking worthy of our calling, our earthly aspirations will be exchanged for the kingdom’s intentions.

Haiti is my mission possible. My home is my mission possible. My workplace is my mission possible. Be mission-minded.

What is your mission possible?     _________ is my mission possible.

Time to Unfold

• Read God’s Word: Read God’s Word: Search for the scriptures of mission-minded believers. Meet with Him daily.
• Pray: Ask God to reveal His mission for you in your present season. Pray for those who have surrendered their lifestyles and lives to share the Gospel.
• Do: Support mission opportunities within your community, state, and internationally through prayer and financial donations.
• Repeat: Keep seeking God in being mission-minded. Join along side of Him when you see Him at work.

Seeking and going,