How many times have you questioned what you were put on this earth for? How many times have you wondered why you don’t have a sense of purpose? Countless. That’s the case for me. That is, until I found out the truth of what Jesus is calling his followers to and the vision he has given to His church.
In many ways, we individualize our faith to the detriment of understanding how each one of us plays a part in the bigger picture of the mission of the Church. Your calling is not separate from the mission of the Church. Your calling is a part of fulfilling that mission.[shareable]Your calling is not separate from the mission of the Church. Your calling is a part of fulfilling that mission.[/shareable]
I oftentimes wonder how much the Church could do in this world if we who make up the Church would take Jesus’ words seriously. Too often we minimize His words, ignore His words, discount His words, and come up with elaborate theological arguments in favor of a different interpretation. Don’t believe me? Look at these words of Jesus:
John 14:12
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (ESV)
Of all the amazing things Jesus did, He declares that His Church, you and me, will do GREATER things. The impact that Jesus’ Church has is more abundant than the impact that Jesus himself had on this earth. Jesus’ focus wasn’t the many, though. The Church’s focus is. This verse is in the context of Jesus telling His disciples that He is the only way to the Father and that He was going to be leaving them.
Jesus brings into the conversation 2 things of note.
1. The Importance of Prayer
John 14:13-14
Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. (NASB)
The Church will begin to do greater things than Jesus Himself when the Church begins to ask Jesus to do so. What would happen if you and me, the Church, would begin to ask Jesus to do the impossible? What if we began to ask Him to do more than what we can imagine? What if we started to open our eyes to the reality of what Jesus is saying? Greater things would happen.
2. The Promise of the Holy Spirit
Just as the Holy Spirit had been empowering Jesus, the Church has been promised the same deal.
John 14:16-17
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. (NRSV)
The Holy Spirit is living inside of all followers of Jesus. You are being empowered by the Spirit of God to carry out the mission of the Church. You need not question whether or not you have what you need to do what God is calling you to do for you have the Spirit.[shareable]You need not question whether or not you have what you need to do what God is calling you to do.[/shareable]
The Mission of the Church
Jesus has given us our mission. He has told us that our mission is to make disciples of all nations by going, baptizing, and teaching. Jumping into this by prayer and being empowered by the Holy Spirit, we must get busy. Will you take Jesus’ words seriously? He is calling you and I, the Church, to do GREATER things than what He did.
Will you be a part of the movement of bringing His kingdom to this earth? What are you being called to? How can you leverage your gifts, skills, and passions for the mission of the Church? You HAVE to answer that question and take action.
The gates of Hell will not prevail against Jesus’ Church. Let’s go!
