Calendar

BURDENS IN MISSIONS
LORD’S DAY, MARCH 7
Acts 19:21-22

John 20:20-21

 

“…as my Father hath sent me,

even so send I you.”

 

BURDENS IN MISSIONS
 
Anyone who has done missions work will long in his heart to go again. Somehow it is not in the hearts of missionaries to stay at home. They have the compulsion from the Spirit of God to go and teach, baptise and teach. If you have this heart to go then God has endowed you with the gift of a missionary. There are places that need the gospel, and yet there are places that are needful of strengthening. A missionary may desire to be at different places at the same time!
 
Purposed to go: The Holy Spirit placed in the heart of Paul to go to Jerusalem passing through Macedonia and Achaia, after which he also resolved in his mind to go to Rome. This burden was purely of the Spirit. Paul had learned that it was not his own preferred plan that must be done but that which was according to the guidance of the Spirit. The missionary is to pray and seek for the Lord’s will as to where He wants him to go. Different places may come to mind and burdens may be real and reasonable, but only God’s will must be done!
 
Preferred to stay: With the burden from the Spirit of God, Paul also had to attend to the needs of some brethren in other places. Paul preferred to stay first in Asia for a season. As the Spirit grants us the burden to go, He has places also for us where we have to remain for a season. This is not to confuse the missionary. He must simply submit to the will of the Lord. Nothing is better than to do the Lord’s bidding.
 
There may be some burden in our heart to go to a certain place to serve. You may be convinced of the heavy burden in your heart to go, and you may have made arrangements to go there. Then suddenly, a change of events may come, and you may have to remain and serve where you are. These are some trying times in the life of God’s servants. We thank the Lord we are not left to confusion. The Lord has given people in spiritual authority over us to point the way to us. As under-shepherds of God over us, they must be submitted to. God’s Word will confirm it and the Spirit of God will grant us peace to follow His will.
 
THOUGHT: Am I willing to follow the Lord wherever He leads me?

PRAYER: Father, I thank Thee for the burden to labour for Thee.

Search