UNDERSTANDING MISSION (5)

The Life of a Missionary (2)

MUST BE A MAN UNDER AUTHORITY. 


In our last edition, while examining the life of a missionary, I reiterated the need for a missionary to have personal encounter with Jesus. He must not be a circumstantial leader who enters the field without the authority of the Master who specifically directs him after examining his heart and life for the job. 


A missionary is necessarily a sinner saved by grace and whose heart is opened to reach out to those still under the oppression of sin. 


Another important life a missionary must carry is that HE MUST SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITY OF ANOTHER MAN.


A mission field is not just an open field for easy and unobtrusive access but one under the influence and control of the evil ones. For a missionary to succeed well, he must have the covering of a father who oversees and direct his work and affair such that he is sure of the consistent prayers of the father. 


Apostle Paul in Galatians said, "Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.... But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me[e] so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus". Vs 11-12, 15-17. 


However, for Paul to have an acceptable ministry he has to go to Jerusalem to seek the protections of the Apostles. And when he was vehemently opposed by the Judaisers, he ran back to Jerusalem where he was given a covering letter and men to substantiate the genuineness of his apostleship and messages. 


Please, allow your messages to be tested. Submit your visions and burdens to be examined. Never launch out because you have an unquenchable burden. Get a covering from the authority of leader(s). Jesus said he would do nothing except what he sees his Father doing. "Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does." John 5.19. And when trouble comes, he resorted to the Father without hesitation: "About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)." Matthew 27. 46. You can't claimed to be abandoned if you have failed to submit. 


Seriously, there are periods and season in the life of a missionary when he must run to his father for love and reassurance.


When Lot desires independence, he went to Sodom and Gomorrah and eventually lost all that he has including his wife. He degenerated into impregnating his own two daughters. 


Saul the king resulted into consulting the dead spirit and eventually lost his kingdom because he would not listen to the counsel of his father, Samuel. 


Mission work is so enormous. Therefore to succeed in it, one must not only think of financial and material availablity. But the continual presence of a father is indispensable. 


Peter Abdul-Razaq, OLAYINKA 

Living Grace Christian Missions, Ilara.

WhatsApp (+229)94139130

peterrazaq@yahoo.com

Twitter & Instagram: @peterrazaq

Linkedin: Revd. Peter OLAYINKA

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