Kingdom People: Sent Ones
As Kingdom People, we must lift up our eyes to see what God is doing around us. There can be a tendency to look at the world and be so focused on the challenges that we miss the significance of what God is already doing and how we can play our part.
Psalm 24:7 says, ‘Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.’
As we lift our eyes to the Lord and His agenda, the King of Glory moves in and through us.
God sends us, His people, into the chaos to rescue people and turn their hearts to Him.
God is a sending God
From the very beginning of the Old Testament, God sent people into the world.
- Adam and Eve were commissioned to fill the earth with God’s glory (Gensis 1:28).
- Noah was sent to build the ark.
- Abraham was sent from Ur of the Chaldeans to the promised land.
- Joseph was sent into Egypt.
- The Israelites were sent to go and take possession of the land.
- Jonah was sent to Nineveh.
In the New Testament, God sent Himself through the incarnation. Jesus then sent His disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God, and that includes us today too (Matthew 10:5-8, Matthew 28:18-20).
The Holy Spirit was then given to empower and equip believers to be witnesses in all the nations of the earth (Acts 1:8).
You are a sent one
“Sent ones” refers to all believers, not just vocational missionaries.
Jesus called His disciples ‘apostles’ (Luke 6:13) and, in fact, the word Apostle = Apostollos, which means, ‘a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; (with miraculous powers) that is sent.’
As a follower of Christ, you have therefore been sent to share the Good News. There is no separating ‘sent’ from being a disciple, just like there is no separating Ant from Dec!
This is exciting! There is God given DNA inside of you from the beginning of time calling you to be a sent one.
So, what does this mean for you today?
1) Sent Ones pray (Colossians 4:2-4). Prayer shifts things! God responds to the prayers of His people. You are called to be a praying disciple.
2) Sent Ones train and equip themselves. A great way to equip yourself is by practicing your 15 second testimony. For example:
‘There was a time in my life when I felt bored and lonely. When I met Jesus, He filled me with hope and purpose, and now my life has direction. Do you have a story like that?’
3) Sent Ones go. Acts 1:8 says that we are called to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and all the ends of the earth. This means your neighbourhood, your nation and the nations.
You are not being held at ransom today. God looks for willing vessels to fill.
‘Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”’ Isaiah 6:8.
Will you go?
Next steps:
1) Pray!
2) Share your 15 second testimony this week.
3) Catch up with the message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ5EvIMyFVo