From Grant to You – All about Mission
God is a missionary God. He is a sending God. The Father sent the Son to earth to bring His people into a right relationship with Him. And the Son went. As the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus sends His disciples into the world to share the good news of the gospel with every nation (John 17:18).
God is … a sending God.
The book of Acts is essentially the story of Acts 1:8 being lived out: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” We see thousands coming to faith at Pentecost and afterwards being scattered under persecution that follows Stephen’s martyrdom in chapter 7, Paul converted and given a specific commission by Jesus to go to the gentiles (literally the ethnos, nations, in the Greek), and Paul goes on four missionary journeys to Syria, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Crete, Malta and Italy, finishing in Rome – the capital of the Roman Empire.
God is calling you to go. The question is: is that across the street, across the room at work, or across the ocean?
The Navigators calling to advance the gospel of Jesus and His kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of labourers living and discipling among the lost is the way that we endeavour to play our part in the grand plans of God. Reflect prayerfully on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20. God is calling you to go. The question is: is that across the street, across the room at work, or across the ocean? As you pray, let God’s purposes and promises possess you to make your God-intended contribution on earth.
Mission is on the very heart of God. Is mission on your heart?
Featured image: “Missions”. Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash. Collage: Different calls to mission: Image designed using CanvaPro.
Your Questions Answered – A Heart for Missions
We, as Australian Navigators, have a deep desire to go on mission; our heart is for the nations. We asked one of our Associates why he has a heart for missions, not just locally but overseas as well.
Why do you have a heart for missions?
Jesus’ parting words were to tell his disciples that they would be his witnesses from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We can still say today, two thousand years later, that He is calling us all to the same mission. Later this month, I will have the privilege of joining a group of Navigators going to [South Asia] to do this very thing.
Why go overseas when there is need here in Australia?
While it is true that we can take part in this calling at home in our own neighbourhoods, I believe Jesus is also calling us to take his message to the nations. And especially so when there are nations where it is likely that people could live their whole lives without hearing about him. Jesus has given us the words of eternal life. But having gone on previous trips like this in the past, I know that it is not only for their benefit that we go, but also for our own. Stepping out of our comfort zones in faith forces us to be keenly aware of the fact that we must always rely on God, and reminds us that all spiritual growth we see, whether in our lives or those we minister to at home comes only by the working of the Spirit. So I eagerly look forward in faith in anticipation of the work that might be done in us and through us in the coming months.
Interested in overseas mission trips or simply want to find out more about God’s heart for the nations? Get in touch with us:
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Featured image of man gazing up into starry night by Paul Pastourmatzis on Unsplash.
The Power of God’s Word From Neighbours to Nations
By an Australian Navigators Labourer
Our neighbourhoods are a wonderful place to advance the gospel. My friend, on numerous occasions, has met neighbours from differing cultures with different exposure to Jesus and the Scriptures. With great regularity, I hear how she shares the Scriptures with these friends. I eagerly asked what she believes to be true about the Word of God and how she’s seen the power of God’s Word accomplish His purposes.
“Hebrews 4:12-14 really summarises it for me. ‘The Word of God is living and active’ means that it does not depend on me – God’s power is offered to me, through His Word, and it speaks into parts of a person’s being that I am unable to as my knowledge of their inner life is limited to what they share with me. It encourages me to know that in sharing God’s Word, He is able to pierce the hardness of their hearts and enlighten the darkness of their souls…
“Where there are misunderstandings, deceptions or rebellion, the Word of God offers timeless teachings, gentle and assertive rebuke and spiritual encouragement. This means that as I live a life following Jesus, based upon the reading of His Word, those walking with me can see the immense value and transformational impact it makes in every aspect of my being. Knowing these powerful truths about the Word of God, as I share it with others, it really becomes the lamp we need for our feet and the light to our paths (Psalm 119:105).
“As I have shared specific scriptures with my friends, I have witnessed their joy in receiving it. Some significant moments that come to mind are ones where the Scriptures have brought awe and amazement to their hearts. In learning the redemption story of God for humanity through reading from Genesis, the prophecies and the dwelling of Emmanuel to accomplish the plan of salvation, they can recognise that God truly desires a personal relationship with us (Hebrews 1:1-2). They discover God’s character in ways that show His authority and power, but also His tenderness and grace to draw us to peace with Him (2 Peter 3:9). They can see how they fit into God’s plan for salvation that is offered to all who believe (Romans 1:16). They find sweet comfort and strength in the lifegiving Word of God that speaks into situations where earthly wisdom cannot intervene (Psalm 19:7-10).”
These answers are such an encouragement to me. I’ll leave you with a touching exchange she shared with me that shows how God accomplishes His purposes and reaches beyond the neighbourhood.
“I was comforting a friend who was fearing for the safety of her relatives in her home country. I shared portions of the Psalms as a way of praying for their situation as I felt at a loss in my own words to speak into her pain. She said to me one time in the midst of deep grief, anxiety and fear, ‘Nothing else is giving me comfort, except what you are sharing.’ I found out that she had been forwarding the scriptures to comfort her aunt.”
*Names withheld to protect privacy of individuals in sensitive situations.
First published in Compass, Summer 2024. Featured image of a birds eye view of a neighbourhood uses photo by Tom Rumble on Unsplash.
