Outreach and Brokenness – From the Field – Sept. 26, 2017
MISSIONS IS OUTREACH
Out of the Heart of God – We all know the passages in the end of the four
Gospels that deal with our reaching out. There are several other passages
that remind us that outreach is in and from the heart of God Himself. I Tim:2:4
“…who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
It is God’s desire and therefore our desire. And so great is the loving heart
of God that His desire is for “all” men. So Jesus died once for all.
II Pet. 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness,
but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all
should reach repentance.” How much clearer need it be when it states that He
wishes for none to perish, but all to reach repentance. This is why we are out
there working to bring the message of Good News of the Saviour slain for all.
Mt. 18:14 “So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of
these little ones should perish.” As adults we sometimes don’t think too much
of children and especially little children. This is not so with our wonderful
God. He has the best good for each and every one of the little ones on His
heart. Let us also.
Outside of Ourselves and Our Interests – The leaders in His Church should
be thinking and working as servants. The Master sends us beyond the 99 safe
Christians to the lost. The Lord of the harvest sends us out among the
Gentiles: Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Animists. But all this as we know takes commitment,
individual commitment. Listen to Paul. I Cor. 9:19-23 In these verses Paul
says he is v. 19 “a slave to all…to win the more”. In v. 22 he says he seeks
to “become all things to all men that I might by all means save some.” In v.23
“I do it all for the sake of the Gospel.” This is the kind of dedication we
need to show as His servants.
II Cor. 12:15 Paul says he most gladly will spend and be spent for their souls.
Notice he says he will “gladly” do this. There is not regret that he had to
sacrifice so very much. Who of us can list as Paul does what we have to face,
II Cor. 11:23-29. And he faces this all “gladly” for Him and for those for
whom Christ died.
Truly we are not our own, we were bought with a price. I Cor. 6:19-20. It is
for us then to glorify Him in how we serve. The price was His holy precious
blood and innocent suffering and death.
May His Word speed on and triumph as we reach out beyond those already in the
faith. II Thess. 3:1
Brokenness
We require a broken and contrite spirit to serve Him and those for whom He
died. In the confessional/penitential Psalm 51 verse 17 reminds us of this.
“The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart,
O God, Thou wilt not despise.”
To get an idea of “brokenness” we look to our loving Leader, who did not sin,
yet exemplified “brokenness”. This applies to more than just leaders, but to all of us.
This is from Collinson. “Brokenness is not
easy to define but can be clearly seen in the reactions of Jesus, especially
as He approached the cross and in His crucifixion. I think it can be applied
personally this way:
When to do the will of God means that even my Christian brethren will not
understand, and I remember that “Neither did His brethren believe in him.”
(John 7:5), and I bow my head to obey and accept the misunderstanding, THIS
IS BROKENNESS.
When I am misrepresented or deliberately misinterpreted, and I remember that
Jesus was falsely accused but He “held His peace,” and I bow my head to accept
the accusation without trying to justify myself. THIS IS BROKENNESS.
When another is preferred before me and I am deliberately passed over, and
I remember that they cried, “Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas”
(Luke 23:18), and I bow my head and accept the rejection, THIS IS BROKENNESS.
When my plans are brushed aside and I see the work of years brought to ruins
by ambitions of others, and I remember that Jesus allowed them to lead Him
away to crucify Him (Matthew 27:31) and He accepted that place of failure,and
I bow my head and accept the injustice without bitterness, THIS IS BROKENNESS.”
When in order to be right with my God it is necessary to take the humbling
path of confession and restitution, and I remember that Jesus “made Himself
of no reputation” and “humbled Himself…unto death, even the death of the
cross” (Philippians 2:7,8), and I bow my head and am ready to accept the shame
of exposure, THIS IS BROKENNESS.
OH, LORD, WHY MUST I SUFFER?
I prayed to the Lord, for my troubles to cease,
But, instead of departing, they seemed to increase.
Each day found new problems, I’d not faced before.
And so my depression, just grew, more and more!
I begged and I pleaded, “Lord, please, let me die!
If You won’t ease my pain, at least, tell me, why!”
The Lord said, ” My dear child, I love you so much!
And I could have erased all those tears, with just one touch!
But, I wanted to teach you, to cling to My hand,
And trust me for things, you cannot understand!
I wanted to show you, that when things go wrong,
My strength, in your weakness, will make you strong!
You’ve suffered, because you were chosen to be,
A light for the lost, and a witness for Me!
As you travel the pathway, I’ve laid out for you,
You will meet many hearts, that are suffering, too!
And because you have been there, and know, what they feel,
You can show them My love, and help them to heal!”
It was then, that I wept, and fell on my knees,
And gave thanks to God, for not granting my pleas!
For, had I not suffered, and felt such despair,
How could I have known, the extent of His care?
“Oh, Lord, make me worthy, to share your great love,
And help hurting souls, to Your Heaven above!”
AMEN
W. Ristau