Week 5: Living on Mission

7 Weeks to a Healthier Heart Week 1 - Praise/Thanksgiving. "Make a joyful noise to the LORD all the earth..." Ps100; Week 2 - Surrender "I have been crucified in Christ. It is no longer I who lives but CHRIST... Galatians 2:20;  Week 3 - Wisdom "Behold, to fear the LORD, that is wisdom..." Job 28:28 Week 4 - Family "...a cord of three stands is not easily broken." Eccl. 4:12

We are at war. We are at war and our true enemy is not a physical one. Ephesians 6 reads, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." One must be aware that there is an enemy of their soul if they are to stand. Even more so, one must know the One who gives the power to stand. "...Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." Eph. 6:10-20         

Soldiers are in constant training. Why? To be ready. To be prepared for what may come their way. A good soldier is alert and ready to defend and protect. Would a soldier go into battle without his helmet, body armor, shoes, weapons, or battle buddy? 

What about you?

Do you put on your spiritual armor/weapon?

Do you have a battle buddy to sharpen & be sharpened by?

What does your daily spiritual training look like?

Are you living on mission?

“I am wired by nature to love the same toys that the world loves. I start to fit in. I start to love what others love. I start to call earth "home." Before you know it, I am calling luxuries "needs" and using my money just the way unbelievers do. I begin to forget the war. I don't think much about people perishing. Missions and unreached people drop out of my mind. I stop dreaming about the triumphs of grace. I sink into a secular mind-set that looks first to what man can do, not what God can do. It is a terrible sickness. And I thank God for those who have forced me again and again toward a wartime mind-set.”  - John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life

"And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."  Hebrews 13:12-16 

"...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. Matthew 28:19-20

Prayer Focus

That God would reveal areas in your life that do not match the mission HE has for you. Where do we look too much like the world? What strongholds am I giving the enemy? Where am I weak? Praying that God would continue to transform our lives in a radical way and we would be obedient to through off what hinders us! 

Put on the armor of God (Eph 6:10-21) Pray this over your spouse & children.

Pray for your home - that it would be used to bring glory to GOD.

Pray and ask God to give you favor & a holy boldness as you share CHRIST with your life - in word & deed -  in your neighborhood, workplace, and community. 

Pray for opportunities to "GO or/and GIVE" on the foreign mission fields. 

Thoughts to Ponder

You are a missionary. Your home, work place, and community is the mission field. How can you take each day and live it to the fullest with the Kingdom of God in mind?

How can you get involved with reaching people “outside the camp” or outside your circles?  To the ends of the earth? 

Are you making disciples?  We as believers and followers of Christ, are all called to teach others the gospel. Matt. 28:19-20  How can we encourage others to do this as well?

Action Steps                                                                                                           

Talk with your spouse, kids, accountability partner about how you can better "live on mission" with a kingdom focus. In what ways do you reflect the world more than you reflect CHRIST?  What small or large changes can you make in your home/life style to better reflect God's Kingdom?

If you are not already intentionally and purposefully disciplining someone, start this week. You can start simply by praying for people to disciple and begin preparing.   Simple, free, and powerful resource to help you disciple others here. 

Take a prayer walk through your neighborhood praying over the families & homes in your community. As you walk I pray that God would put someone in your path...a divine appointment! 

Get a map of the world and start praying for the nations & for missionaries by name with your family.  Click on this link for some great resources. 

Memorize: Philippians 3:13-14

 "...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."