This post is intended to be used in conjunction with the 12-week Bible Study of Experiencing God by Henry, Richard, and Mike Blackaby and Claude V. King. References to specific quotes and texts are indicated by ‘EG’ and the corresponding page number and come from the 2022 publication.
Day One: “You cannot be in relationship with Jesus and not be on mission.” (EG, pg. 226)
What is a mission? What does it mean to be on mission for God?
“Christian mission is following Christ’s call: sharing the gospel with the lost world through God’s wisdom and strength.”[i]
I spent some time with several of my great-nieces this past week. As I was playing with them, I realized that any kind of playing involved an object- whether it was a baby doll, crayons, or an electronic device.
We used to play games when we were little that didn’t require a toy or batteries. Remember Mother May I? Duck, Duck, Goose. Red Light, Green Light, and Follow the Leader? We could play those games for hours until sunset and we were expected to go home.
If you’re around kids, you can just imagine the difficulties in playing Follow the Leader nowadays.
First of all, everyone wants to be the leader. In fact, some won’t participate unless they are the leader.
Secondly, even if someone else is named the leader, at least one in the line will shout out suggestions on where to go and what to do.
Thirdly, nowadays, some so many kids have ADD, ADHD, and ODD (oppositional defiance disorder) that “leaders” have a hard time keeping children’s attention and focus and having those children follow the instructions given to them.
The result is a leader walking in a certain way, in a certain pattern, doing hand motions, and other movements with a zig-zagged line of other kids not paying much attention, much less imitating the leader’s movements which is the whole point of the game.
But here’s what you might notice. If the leader has a best friend or buddy in the line, that best friend will pay attention and do exactly what the leader does. Why would that be? Because there is a relationship between the two, part of that relationship is wanting to please the other.
Now if I asked you to stand up and play Follow the Leader with me, you would likely laugh. Some of you would participate, but probably not energetically. Some of you would stay right where you are and say, “I’m too old,” “I don’t have the energy,” or “I’m not going to embarrass myself”. And then some of you would simply stare at me and think I was nuts. Maybe, just maybe, one of you would get up and participate fully and enthusiastically. Maybe.
We, as Christians, should be playing Follow the Leader every day of our lives. Little did we know that the game we played as children would teach us to live in a manner pleasing to God.
1 John 2:5-6 “But if anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in Him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.”
Going back to that summary statement on day 1, what do you think of when you hear the phrase “on a mission”? The Cambridge Dictionary defines mission as: “an important job, especially a military one, that someone is sent somewhere to do.“
Often when we mention the word “mission” in the church, it conjures up images of foreign countries, desolate conditions, sacrifices, health and safety risks, questionable food, poor drinking water, and the lack of the comforts of home. While some of those may apply, what are the blessings that a mission for God brings?
Those who have served on trips such as that would most likely tell you the blessings far outweigh the discomforts. What an experience to witness the difference God makes in the lives of those who have very little. And what a humbling encounter to see how people understand the love of God despite language and cultural differences.
Mission trips can be intimidating for some people and there can be some resistance to boarding a plan and taking off for the great unknown. Some will not even entertain the thought of going on a mission for God because of all it entails.
Let’s see if we can put things in perspective.
“The ministry of Jesus Christ is one of the most significant events in human history, with his teachings and actions still impacting the world today. However, despite the vast impact of his ministry, the area that Jesus covered during his three years of earthly ministry is relatively small.
According to the Gospels, Jesus’ ministry primarily took place in the region of Galilee, located in northern Israel. This area encompasses a total of approximately 3,000 square miles, roughly the size of the state of Connecticut.”[ii]
To personalize that fact for us, the state of Connecticut is approximately 1/12 the size of Georgia.[iii]
“While the exact distance that Jesus traveled during his ministry is unknown, it’s clear that his impact was far-reaching. His teachings and actions inspired countless individuals, leading to the formation of the Christian faith and shaping the course of human history.”ii
We don’t have to go to Zimbabwe, Peru, Iceland, or Canada to be on mission with God.
Did you go to the grocery store this week? That’s a mission field.
Were you in the office this week? That’s a mission field.
Anyone go shopping, talk on the phone, or pump gas? Those are mission fields!
This question was asked on day one: “Who will be the woman at the well for those places who still do not know Jesus?” (EG, pg. 227) Are you willing to be the woman at the well in your every day life?
“Isn’t it tragic when we become so self-centered we enter God’s presence and say, ‘O God, bless me. Bless my family. Bless my church?”
“Then God says, ‘I’ve been trying to do that all along but in a completely different way than you anticipated. I want you to deny self. Pick up your cross and follow Me. I will lead you to places where I am working, and I’ll include you in My activity. You will be an instrument in My hand so I use your life to touch a world. When I do that through you, you will truly experience My blessings.” (EG, pg. 228)
How many blessings have we missed because we neglected to be on mission for God in our day-to-day routines?
There is a word that kept popping up this week. Koinonia.
What is the definition of koinonia? It’s most frequently translated as fellowship.
“But koinonia is translated in other ways as well. Because it comes from a root word that means “partner” or “companion,” it has in it the idea of “sharing”—sharing possessions, sharing experiences, sharing life, sharing one’s self with another.”[iv]
Read this carefully. “You cannot be in true fellowship with God and out of fellowship with other believers.” (EG, pg. 229)
TRUE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD =
TRUE FELLOWSHIP WITH BELIEVERS
That may take a little time to settle in before you start becoming restless. Because, let’s face it, church can be a breeding ground for conflict, can’t it?
“This is how God’s children and the devil’s children become obvious. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother or sister.” 1 John 3:10
“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother or sister whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” 1 John 4:20 day 3, we move into koinonia in the kingdom; fellowship in the kingdom of God.
Day 3 speaks of koinonia in the kingdom.
“When koinonia exists among churches, it is evident in their relationships.” (EG, pg 235
Take a look at activity #5 on page 236. How honest were you? It’s not easy to love all people, is it? Who are some of those you find difficult to love?
Child molesters and abusers are first on the list for me. It’s next to impossible for me to find any redeeming value in someone who abuses children. It’s also not easy to love those who have hurt either me or someone I love.
Read these verses from Luke 6 and keep track of how many things we are told to do
Luke 6:27 ICB “27 “I say to you who are listening to me, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 28 Ask God to bless those who say bad things to you. Pray for those who are cruel to you. 29 If anyone slaps you on one cheek, let him slap the other cheek too. If someone takes your coat, do not stop him from taking your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who asks you. When a person takes something that is yours, don’t ask for it back. 31 Do for other people what you want them to do for you. 32 If you love only those who love you, should you get some special praise for doing that? No! Even sinners love the people who love them! 33 If you do good only to those who do good to you, should you get some special praise for doing that? No! Even sinners do that! 34 If you lend things to people, always hoping to get something back, should you get some special praise for that? No! Even sinners lend to other sinners so that they can get back the same amount! 35 So love your enemies. Do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. If you do these things, you will have a great reward. You will be sons of the Most High God. Yes, because God is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin. 36 Show mercy just as your father shows mercy.”
Thirteen times we are given instructions. That includes a summary beginning in verse 35 that sums it all up for us. Love your enemies. Do good to them and lend to them without expecting anything back.
We can only love on that level if we are koinonia (fellowship) with God.
“Koinonia with God is the basic element of salvation and eternal life (see John 17:3). God takes the initiate to invite you into a love relationship. He places His Holy Spirit in you to enable you to live in right relationship with Him. No human method or list of steps to follow can maintain fellowship with God. Koinonia with God is an experience of His presence. Although God takes the initiative, you must respond to Him in order to fully experience His presence.” (EG, pg. 239
How critical is koinonia with God? It’s the foundation of our existence!
Take a look at the Essentials of Koinonia on page 240.
Do you struggle in loving God with your total being? Has it gotten better since we started this study?
How is your submission to God’s sovereign rule coming along? Has there been any change? Has your Playdough that you were given the first week of this study been squeezed from its original shape?
“Jesus is your Lord. Because of His perfect love for you, He demands absolute obedience. As the Head of the church, Christ expects submission to Him and obedience to His will. Absolute surrender to His lordship is necessary for proper fellowship with God.” (EG, pg. 241)
Are you experiencing God in a more real & personal way? “Your koinonia with God is based on your personal experience with Him. No substitutes will do. You cannot rely on the personal experience of your spouse, your parents, your pastor, your Bible study teacher, or your fellow church members. You Koinonia with God must be real and personal to you.” (EG, pg 243)
In other words, you can’t piggyback off someone else’s relationship with God. You must have your own!
Do you completely trust Him?
“To experience genuine koinonia with God, you must depend on God to do things only He can do. You must trust in God alone.” (EG, pg. 244)
In this week’s video, the question was asked, “Do you have a kingdom perspective?” If we follow our Leader, our Savior, our Lord, we have a much greater chance of doing that.
Following the Leader was a fun game when we were kids. Following the Leader when Jesus is your Leader is the only way to live a life pleasing to God. If you’re like me and suffer from spiritual ADD, ADHD, or ODD and find it difficult to follow our Lord as you should, ask God to help.
I want to end with a phrase found at the end of this week’s study. “Over the years I have learned that although God does not call everyone to be an author or a preacher, He expects all of His children to have the world on their hearts.” (EG, pg. 246)
Do you have the world on your heart?
[i] What is Christian missions? | GotQuestions.org
[ii] In square mileage, what area did Jesus cover during the three years of his earthly ministry?
Beacons of Light 