Strengthening the Foundations: A Call to Mission and Evangelism

In any architectural structure, what’s really important is how solid and how strong are the foundations beneath the building. The foundations enable the building to withstand any shaking. It’s the same with the church. God has structured the church with foundations for every congregation in the Word of God. Even though there are disruptions, the foundation keeps us on course. Hence, we continue to see the Kingdom of God advancing and growing. Foundations hold everything up. They hold all things together, including kingdom growth and development, as we move with time before Jesus returns.

In John 17, Jesus prayed earnestly for the future of what is to come regarding the church. John 17:15 (ESV) I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. John 17:18 (ESV) As You sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. We’re still in this world for God’s divine purpose, and it’s important to acknowledge why we’re here and who we’re living for. When we don’t know the purpose of a tool in our hand, it will either be misused or underused. It would be a great tragedy if we as the church lose sight of our purpose. Hence, we must always be on the discovery path of what’s next for us in God. ‘Eternity’ begins the moment we come into His Kingdom as God requires that we live here today with eternity in mind. So we must make an account of how we spend our time and resources while on earth.

John 20:21 (ESV) Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” Beginning at the early church, from His disciples themselves, the task of ‘sending out to the world’ is to be translated to every generation into our present day. If we say we are a follower of Jesus, it should be consistent in our Christian life to follow where He has sent us. Matthew 9:35 (ESV) And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. Jesus set a pattern for us to follow on how He ministered and how He lived His life. Here are three trademarks of a local church that demonstrates the DNA and the heartbeat of the Father:

1. Teaching of the Word of God.
2. Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. This gospel demands the repentance from sins.
3. Healing of diseases and afflictions.

Acts 1:8 (ESV) 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 ought to be witnesses for Christ, starting from our own neighborhood, and going out to missions and planting churches. Continue to have a burden for souls, and sow into the harvest fields. The ‘five loaves and two fishes’ in the hand of the Master can do wonders. We just need to get out there and see what God can do.

Today, we don’t seem to know how to respond to missions. It’s not just about giving, but beyond giving into sacrifice. Jesus didn’t just give something from Himself; He gave Himself as the sacrifice. Jesus didn’t bring an offering; He became the offering. Romans 12:1 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Have we been caught up by the pleasures of the world that we’ve forgotten about the harvest?

Matthew 9:36 (ESV) When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. What is the ‘face’ of harvest? What do you expect the ‘lost’ to be like? We might have a Christian culture issue, i.e. we feel uncomfortable when someone looks or acts differently from us. A ‘lost sheep’ is someone who is distressed, tired, emotionally beaten and unwell. The gospel must continue to go far and wide. Missions is a lifestyle.

Matthew 9:37–38 (ESV) 37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” This is an urgent call for laborers in His harvest field, specifically:

• Those who will labor in prayer for missions.
• Those who can be laborers in our lives for the purpose of missions.
• Those who will avail themselves to go into the mission field.

Conclusion Have we lost the heart for missions and evangelism? May our hearts burn again so that we take this mandate of God seriously. Romans 10:13–15 (ESV) 13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”