Wednesday, February 04, 2009

“Go, Don’t Come”: Learning to Follow the Mission Model of Jesus

The Lord is continuing to grow and teach Tom and me in so many ways. We went to a seminar this weekend about missions and “gospel planting” instead of “church planting.” They shared some powerful points about how much of what we do in the church system can actually work against the heart of the gospel.

They began with 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.’”

The focus was on the word “GO”—make disciples, not “COME” to church, and not simply make converts. They also introduced the idea of a “Discovery Bible Study,” where instead of teaching or instructing, you simply ask questions and point people to Scripture, allowing them to discover God’s truth for themselves. That really impacted me.

When people discover truth on their own, they own it—and allow the Lord to transform them. When we constantly instruct, people can become dependent on others instead of developing their own walk and relationship with the Lord.

The next passage they shared was John 6:43–45:

“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.”

This reminded us that we’re not responsible for bringing people to the Lord—only for being obedient to what God calls us to do. We share the gospel, but it’s the Holy Spirit who draws hearts and transforms lives.

Another passage they discussed was Deuteronomy 6:4–9, which convicted me deeply:

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength… Impress these commandments on your children… Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

This was a strong reminder of what God desires from us—a daily, lived-out love and devotion. Lord, help me grow in my love for You so that these things flow naturally in my life and service.

One especially convicting part of the seminar was the idea that we should mentor others only if they are also mentoring someone else. It’s such a powerful model—multiplying growth and empowering believers to depend on the Lord, not a leader. I want to encourage the women I work with to pour into others so that God’s work can multiply in and through them.

The Discovery Bible Study method also gave me a new approach to Scripture:

1. Read it aloud.

2. Write it out word for word.

3. Rewrite it in your own words.

4. Write “I will” statements based on what God shows you.

I’ve been doing this with Isaiah 58 while on my raw fruits and vegetables fast. It’s helped me focus more deeply on God’s Word. One verse that really stood out was Isaiah 58:8:

“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.”

I’ve long believed the Lord healed my eye in 2002, though I haven’t seen the full manifestation yet. As I meditated on this verse, I felt Him whisper that obedience will bring that healing into view. How amazing is that?

Speaking of obedience—remember the $100 I was tempted to use for something other than the eye drops it was given for? I’ve realized that was a test. The temptation came back again and again, and at one point, I saw how new it was to have money in hand and not be able to spend it on what we “needed.”

I kept praying and resisting, reminding myself that God has always provided. Then on Monday night, while driving home from picking up a DVD from H, I had this realization: if the enemy is working so hard to tempt me, there must be a reason. That’s when I decided to stand firm, trust God completely, and stop entertaining the thought.

Moments later, H called to tell me she had slipped something into the DVD sleeve. When I checked—there was a $100 check inside! Wow! God’s timing is perfect. Only after I recognized the enemy and stood firm did the Lord reveal His plan.

And this morning, when I found our back tire flat again, I couldn’t help but smile. Even in small inconveniences, He reminds us that He’s faithful. We used our spare and are trusting Him once again for provision.

Thank You, Lord, that You are God—and there is no other. You are always faithful, always teaching, always providing.