Tag: Matthew 28:18-20
Missions partnership
Scripture reading for September 5: Philippians 4
“Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:14-19
Paul ended his letter to the church a Philippi by thanking them for their partnership with him in his calling of sharing the Gospel to the Gentiles. No other church had entered into this partnership with him. It was a partnership of giving and receiving. Paul was the recipient of their support to him through their representative Epaphroditus. Their gifts were a fragrant offering and a sacrifice that pleased God. These descriptive terms came from the offerings of the priests before the incense altar in the Tabernacle. As the aroma of the incense along with the blood of the sacrifice rose before the Lord, so these gifts were pleasing to God and acceptable as a sacrifice. Paul stated in faith that God would reward those giving to him with meeting their every need. This was guaranteed by Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior, seated in glory at God’s right hand.
The great commission given by Jesus to His church(Matthew 28:18-20) of going to the ends of the earth and preaching to all was being worked out practically in the church at Philippi. Paul had gone there as a missionary and preached. Souls had been saved as they received the Word. These souls had heard the call to take the Gospel to others and had partnered with a missionary, Paul, to help send him to others who needed to hear. The offerings sent to meet the needs of Paul were a fragrant offering that pleased God and helped him preach. The partnership was rewarded by God meeting needs.
Have you ever viewed your giving to missions and missionaries as a partnership? As you give, do you see your offerings as a fragrant sacrifice that pleases God? Do you believe that as you give to missions God will supply all your own needs through Christ Jesus?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing plan to reach the ends of the earth through sending Your people to preach. As I give, these Scriptures help me to see how I am partnering with other believers to fulfill Your plan of salvation. Thank You that You have and will meet all my needs through Jesus! Amen.
Appointed to go and bear fruit
Scripture reading for April 25: John 15
“”This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He may give it to you.”” John 15:12-16
Following Jesus is not something that we dream up for ourselves. Jesus taught that no matter how sinful or how noble our lives may have been, coming to Jesus is because of the Father’s mercy in choosing us and drawing us to repentance through His goodness. The ultimate goodness of God is found in His sending of His Only Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us and then to willingly offer His own life, body and blood, for us. This is the greatest act of love ever demonstrated to us as self-centered sinners.
Not only did God appoint us to salvation through His Son Jesus, He also sent us out (“go into all the world”) to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people and nations. (Matthew 28:18-20) This is how we are to ‘bear fruit’ that will remain. These souls will be our ‘treasure’ in heaven. When someone is ‘born again’, they become new creatures in Christ and then possess the gift of eternal life. One of the greatest gifts to His followers is the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray and intercede for those needing salvation. The Holy Spirit directs the gifts needed to produce the fruit that remains–saved souls! The Holy Spirit gives each believer spiritual power to be a witness of Christ. Full joy awaits the believer!
Have you responded to the call of Jesus to inherit eternal life? Has God’s choice of you brought you to repentance and receiving of His Holy Spirit in new birth? Are you obedient to His appointment to go into your world with the precious message of God’s love for each person? Fruit that abides awaits!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for choosing me and desiring all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. I receive Your appointment to go daily into my world and pray for fruit that will remain, souls awakened to eternal life! Your joy is in me as I rejoice in these new eternal believers! Amen.
Hush money!
Scripture reading for August 5th: Matthew 28
Key Scriptures: Matthew 28:10-15 “Then Jesus said to them(the women), “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.”
Jesus personally appeared first to the women who had gone to the tomb in hopes of anointing His body. They were surprised by an earthquake and an angelic messenger who rolled back the stone revealing the empty tomb. The guards were immobilized temporarily. The angel encouraged them with the good news that Jesus was not there, but had risen! They were not to be afraid but to convey the news to Jesus’ disciples. The guards recovered and went and reported that Jesus’ body was missing. I am not sure how they explained the earthquake and angelic visitor and their supernatural immobilization. The elders and chief priests cooked up a plan involving ‘hush money’ for the soldiers and a way to explain this to other authorities. The world uses money to solve many problems because people love it. The blame was to be put on the disciples for stealing Jesus’ body. All agreed and the plan was circulated and became well-accepted among the Jews and authorities. However, Jesus was alive and began appearing to His followers! He had a plan that they would soon enact that would reach the world!
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Faith confession and prayer: Father, thank You for overcoming death, hell and the grave and proving Your resurrection by appearing to the women and Your disciples. I believe You are God’s Son, crucified and raised from death on the third day. I offer myself to You to fulfil Your great plan of reaching the whole world with Good News. Hallelujah! I am never alone and You meet all my needs!
Hebrews 13:5-6 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”(Joshua 1:5) So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6)
Thankful for Christ’s Total Authority!
Scripture reading for October 20th: Matthew 26-28, Mark 1-2
Key Scriptures: Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”
Jesus concluded His teaching ministry with a final command before He was taken up to heaven. He stated that He had been given all authority in heaven and on earth. He directed those under His authority to fulfill His will: making disciples of all nations! God’s world- wide family would be gathered from the nations as His inheritance and the ends of earth would be His possession. No one will stop Christ’s total authority!
Thankful for Christ’s authority: “In my vision at night I looked and there before me was One like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will never pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14)