Together With God Each Day

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9-10).

I chose these verses to close our special missions emphasis study because I thrill to think how wonderful this vision will be when it becomes a reality.  Seeing people from every tribe and nation gathered and praising God brings tears of joy to my eyes.  All those who were saved because of  the tireless efforts of God’s missionaries as well as those we were instrumental in leading to the Lord will share eternity.  They are the stars in the crowns we will cast at Jesus’ feet when this great multitude gathers around the throne of God. Glory to God!

May this vision motivate us to do all we can, while we can, to take the gospel around the world.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray daily for one another, especially all who read this blog.

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

As you teach others, you are passing on the gospel message—a message they will one day teach to others. It is the paradigm of missions.  It’s not complicated and was never meant to be.  A deacon, an ardent soul winner in a church I used to attend has always used this phrase, “We are simply beggars telling other beggars where to find the bread.”  As we wrap up this missions study, we must continue to use every tool and resource we possess to win the lost of the world. Even if we must change strategies or methods, the Great Commission remains our mission.  As our title states, the greatest plan to evangelize the world requires that we simply “pass it on.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for public school teachers who will be the only gospel light some students see.

“And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way  of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26).

Priscilla and Aquila were New Testament workers who helped Paul in his ministry. They were missionaries and church planters, too.  One phase of their work was teaching new converts.

Our verse speaks of a very zealous convert named Apollos.  As one commentary put it, “Apollos had previously been in Egypt when someone told him about John the Baptist and his teachings about Jesus.  That’s all he knew at that point but he went with what he knew about Jesus.  He just needed to hear the rest of the story that Jesus was the Messiah.”

In Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos preach a dynamic message. However afterwards they, in love, took Apollo aside to fill in the blanks of what had happened to Jesus since John the Baptist.  Obviously, what they shared only added to Apollos’ boldness in spreading the gospel.  Apollos was encouraged by others to keep preaching.

As we work with others, we must be willing to forbear with others as they learn the truths of God’s Word.  You didn’t learn what you now know overnight.  Your patience will be rewarded as you see those you teach mature in the Lord. Patient teaching is not a new concept in missions work. What is new is that Christians aren’t practicing this as in times past. Where would you be in the work of the Lord if someone hadn’t taught you?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for college students as they prepare to begin a new phase of their life.

“To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak:  I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Ladies, when you were someone’s mission field didn’t you respond more to someone who first shared a testimony and developed a bond with you?   The fact that person took the time to build a friendship then share the gospel may have been instrumental in your decision to follow Christ.  This person didn’t compromise values to be your buddy.  You actually respected this.

One commentary I read about our verse stated the following about Paul, “When I am with those whose consciences bothered them easily, I don’t act as though I know it all and don’t say they are foolish; the result is that they are willing to let me help them.”  Paul was not afraid to use all possible means to lead someone to Christ.  Wherever and whatever your station in life, you will encounter people who need the Lord.  Ask God to help you be resourceful in using all means that you, too, might be able to lead some to Christ.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray today for our national leaders from the highest official to our local community servants.

“And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures” (Acts 17:2).

Our last week of study deals with Church Planting Movements.  I would challenge you to read over all the material for week four of our study.  To supplement your reading, follow this link: http://www.churchplantingmovements.com/documents_pdf/englishcpm.pdf . This downloadable booklet, “Church Planting Movements”  by David Garrison clearly defines and details the Church Planting Movement and how God is working through this mission method to build His Kingdom throughout the world.  If  you have a passion for global evangelism you will be thrilled to read how God is working through these movements.

When people in other areas of the world get saved, their fire and zeal for God are evident. These people are part of Bible studies and cell groups which start other Bible studies and cell groups as outreach groups. It’s not without obstacles, and we should pray God will continue to call workers for Church Planting Movements.  One of their biggest challenges? “The main obstacles are not cross-cultural and  geographic barriers of isolated people groups or restrictive governments but the lack of commitment to the task on the part of God’s people…When we get a passion for a lost world, prayer will break down the barriers, and people will be willing to make it happen.”

In our western world with all its technology and polished methods, we may stumble over some very basic principles of church planting. The Bible verses from this week’s devotionals coupled with a renewed zeal can assist us as we carry the gospel in our world.

Paul was a missionary and church planter. He tried to spend time developing relationships as he shared the gospel. It seemed he was able to discern who would be good leaders as he worked with new converts. Then he would turn the work over to them when he felt led to target another area. As we work on building relationships, we can win others who in turn will win others to Christ.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray today for Free Will Baptist chaplains and military personnel.

“I wish everyone could get along without marrying, just as I do. But we are not all the same. God gives some the gift of marriage, and to others he gives the gift of singleness” (1 Corinthians 7:7 NLT).

Baking is not my forte. Well, to tell you the truth, anything dealing with utensils, pots and pans or an area of the house marked “kitchen” is not a strong suit of mine. I cook well enough to feed and nourish my family, but going to my Mom’s house for a meal—even leftovers— is still considered a huge treat.

I can whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies that’ll make my guys’ mouths water. I can cream the butter, add the sugar and drop in the egg. I can scoop up my dough with the fancy scooper I’ve purchased to make all the cookies the same size, and what happens? I get  misshapen mounds of cookie that scream homemade.

The same thing happens with my Mom’s famous sugar-cookie dough. I can mix it up (after I locate its secret ingredient—cream of tartar—at the back of my cabinet). I can wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and allow it to chill the 2-4 hours she recommends. I can roll it out with minimal flour, dip each cookie cutter in flour, gingerly place them on lined cookie sheets, and what happens? Each and every cookie looks different.

That’s why I love verses like this morning’s that tell me it’s okay to be different.

I will not look like, worship like or serve like anyone else in my church. But that’s okay, too, because we’re not all made the same. God doesn’t use cookie cutters on His children.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Sunday school teachers in Free Will Baptist churches worldwide.

“…Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear” ( Matthew 13:3b-9).

She ranted and raved. She cussed and swore. She put down and she criticized until she was red in the face. She flinched. She spit. She sputtered. She named names and she extolled questionable behavior associated with them. She took a deep breath and began again…

She’d had enough of the church crowd. She’d endured all she could of religion and the religious. She’d reached her limit on hypocritical Jesus freaks. She was worn thin on the “thou shall not’s” of the church. She knew all about those church folks and she didn’t want any part of them. And, she said, if she were invited to another special service, she’d have to scream.

She was on a roll. Her voice quivered as she spoke of grandparents done wrong by the church down the road, and aunts and uncles who’d left because of a split in the church and never returned. She recounted each and every time she’d darkened the door of the church house, and had not been properly greeted by the pastor and his deacon committee. Then she mentioned, at a rather high volume, that one time she was even asked to pray in a Sunday School class she attended.

Now? Now she had stopped talking and looked at me as if she were waiting for a response from me.

My response? Me, the gal wearing the Christian t-shirt? The one holding a worn Bible under my arm? The one who has a Christian radio station blaring at my desk? She really wanted my response? Me? The Sunday School teacher? The one who was saved, baptized and already a church member by the age of 8? Me, the one who’d not strayed far from godly teachings—out of fear, respect and a deep love for the Lord and my parents? She really wanted to know what I had to say?

So I asked her, “You don’t know who I am, do you?”

Her hand went to her hip, her eyebrow arched and she leaned in to show an interest, but made no remark. I think I saw a flash of lightning in her eyes. She may have even dug her feet into the ground and prepared herself for another round of fire. Her face said, “This had better be good.”

Pointing to myself I said, “I am just like you.” Then looking her squarely in the eye I added, “I’m tired of it all, too.”

She listened.

I was able to speak of relationship not religion. I testified in everyday terms of freedom and not being tied down to rules. I explained my personal experience with amazing grace and miraculous mercy. I spoke highly of the privilege I’d been given to worship beside some very imperfect people, people just like me. I was excited as I spoke of the fact that I’ve not fully grasped profound truths, but I keep reaching for them and coming up with handfuls of faith.

And she listened.

Bible verses were never quoted. No tracts were exchanged. Translations nor dress codes were discussed. Doctrine? Not even mentioned. The Romans Road never came up in the conversation. The church I attended had a special service coming up, but I didn’t bring it up. Why, she never even asked my name.

But she listened.

Know what? Seeds were planted. Potential-filled, just-needing-the-warmth-of-the-Son seeds were planted.

Seeds? They’re the tiniest of things, aren’t they?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER:Pray for WNAC leaders on all levels—national, state, district and local.