A Church that is not living outwardly is dying inwardly! (and a set of precious stones)

There are churches out there that have no intention of offering salvation to the lost. Many are very inward looking, with an "It's all about us" attitude - "they can come and join us if they want." A church that is not living OUTWARDLY is DYING INWARDLY!

Church was never meant to be like this -in Acts it was all about the church moving outwards (being sent). God is indeed a sending God - not a 'let's hang around and see what happens' type of God.

God sends his Son, Jesus send us and sends the Holy Spirit to motivate us to GO.
Our first motivation for mission is of course Jesus command to "GO and make disciples of all nations."

It is because Jesus is Lord that we say "Yes ... Here I am ... send me" and in fact we should need no other motivation than this.

For me though I have a picture in my mind when I am doing mission and sharing God's grace and means of salvation. It looks something like this:



Beautiful isn't it?

The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. (Revelation 21:19,20)

You see, when we are doing mission I believe we are helping to build the very foundations of the new Jerusalem itself!

But our greatest motivation to do mission will always be what Jesus has done for me!

Because the sinless Saviour died
My sinful soul is counted free
for God, the just, is satisfied
to look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there the risen lamb
My perfect, spotless, Righteousness
the great unchangeable I AM
The King of Glory and of Grace

One with himself I can not die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ, my Saviour and my God.
(Charitie Lees Bancroft)

There will never be any greater motivation for church to get involved in mission than this!

If you believe Jesus died for your Sins, why not share this good news with someone else today?







Comments

Michelle said…
Thanks for your comments on my blog, glad you like the card could it be involved in a sermon or preaching of some sort I wonder? One way perhaps??

You write really well Neil - proud of you and what you are striving to acheive
x Shell
March 6, 2009 at 12:13 AM
Question of Identity said…
Michelle
My wonderful sister!
The card will be put to use:
Watch this space!

Neil

xx
March 6, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Dawg said…
That hymn brought tears to my eyes!

Keep up the great work in the Lord!!!
March 6, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Question of Identity said…
Wayne
Yes it is a beautiful song - actually written I think in the 19th Century - but now has a new tune. I think I will down load it onto this blog in the next few days.
May God bless your ministry too!
Neil
March 6, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Ike said…
Although the lostness of men should drive us to the mission field, it should not be our primary motivation any more than loving our neighbor should be a higher commandment than that of loving God. Those most effective and enduring on the mission field are those who are there first and foremost for the glory and good pleasure of God. When every other motivation or reason for staying has failed them, they remain because above all things they are there for God!
March 12, 2009 at 12:02 AM
Lighthouse Prayer Line said…
Hi Neil,

Thanks for sharing that with us! Very insightful!

Hey. If you get the opportunity, would you
mind praying for the prayer requests that are
on our main page?

May the Lord bless you and your family!!

Mark, Lynn, Brooke & Carley Seay
www.LighthousePrayerLine.org

ps - please consider "following" our blog -or- atleast
grab one of our free, linking, blue buttons. (see top
sidebar at www.LighthousePrayerLine.org).
March 20, 2009 at 8:49 PM
Michelle said…
A little something on my blog for you
x x Michelle
March 25, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Where does the ability to love come from?

Perhaps a silly and too basic a question, but I wonder if you have sat and thought about the question: "Where does the ability to love come from?" There is a new film out about Charles Darwin's life and of course his theory of evolution. The theory (and that is all it is!) describes a dog eat dog existence - where only the fittest survive. In all this the theory fails to address the existence of love. I'm thinking about the type of sacrifical love that we see clearly in the life of Jesus Christ. The type of love that on a good day we might manage to emulate. The Bible of course is absolutely clear about the source of love. Dear friends (says John) let us love one another, for love comes from God. And more clearly goes on to say: God is love! In the New Testament there are 3 words for love: Philia (family loyalty) Eros: (physical intimate love) And Agape: (sacrificial, life transforming, Christ like love) All these are gift from God but it is the th
Read more

Hedonist in the Making

Image
The other day I saw a young girl (about 6 yrs old) wearing a t-shirt that proclaimed: "It's all about me ME ME!" This young girl is a hedonist in the making. Little does she know of the prison she is building for herself. Little does she know of Satan and his cohorts who are all too willing to help her. The basic idea behind hedonistic thought is that pleasure is the only thing that is good for a person. Hedonism can be conjoined with psychological egoism - where people are motivated only by their self interest. Isaiah observed this attitude in Israel: "Let us eat drink (and be merry)" you say, "for tomorrow we die!" How sad that there is a real potential for this child to finish up like this:- All this only reinforces the importance (and high calling!) of children's outreach in the church. It was Bill Wilson of Metro Ministries and founder of Kidz Klub that said: "It iseasier to build boys and girls then to repair men and women" . How
Read more

A Bible Believing Repentance Seeking Evangelising Arch-Bishop

Image
John Sentamu is a Bible believing Arch-Bishop with tremendous gifts in evangelism. From past experience I know that he preaches the need for repentance and I was pleased to read that last week hundreds of people committed their lives to Jesus Christ following an invitation by the Archbishop of York at the Church Without Walls National Gathering in Scotland. John Sentamu said, "The National Gathering was a tremendous event. I was thrilled and excited to see so many people come forward and commit their lives to Jesus Christ." We need to pray for him and his work. When John came into office a couple of years ago now, he said that his mission was to give the church the confidence back to evangelize this nation. He is doing a good job!
Read more