Introduction: Do you know what is your MISSION for 2022? Jesus Christ has fulfilled His MISSION. Listen carefully. While this Pastor does not make New Year’s RESOLUTIONS, it was interesting to read the following:
Guess what were the top (4) New Year’s RESOLUTIONS for 2022?
- Exercising more. (By the way, that does not mean exercising by lifting your fork to your mouth!)
- Losing weight. (One man said he had a goal of losing 15 lbs…then he shouted, “I have 20 more to GO”!!) (The following is a is a True story: a dear lady gave this Pastor an Avon spoon with a BIG HOLE in the middle of it, and said, ”Try this Pastor, it works!”)
- Saving money/getting out of debt. (“I owe, I owe, so off to work I go!”)
- Reducing your stress level. (Suggestion: PRAYER WORKS, if you WORK IT!)
Will you take these (3) NEW YEAR CHALLENGES in order to fulfill your MISSION? In John 17, otherwise known as the Golden Prayer, Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples, and for all believers while fulfilling His mission on earth.
1. Will you SPEAK OUT about the true and living God and be led by the Spirit of God? “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.” (John 17:6,7)
Do you know who is the richest man in the world as of 2022? Elon Musk. He is an entrepreneur who is worth 296 billion dollars…that’s a B! BILLION!! (Not sure if he is a CHRISTian – do not know a lot about him.) However, after hearing him being questioned in an interview on YOUTUBE by some CHRISTians about his faith in Jesus, he responded by mentioning the “teachings of Jesus, the miracles of Jesus, and the life of Jesus.” But he stopped short of His sacrificial death, burial and glorious resurrection from the grave. Please understand that it is not the teachings – miracles – or life of Christ that FORGIVES sin, instead, it is the blood of JESUS that REDEEMS (to purchase to go free), JUSTIFIES (to pronounce righteous), and CLEANSES from all sin (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 5:9; 1 John 1:7). Do you know someone today that is not a believer in the God of the Bible? Why not pray for them right now? Then, go talk with them.
2. Will you “GIVE OUT” the WORD of God? “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” (John 17:8)
We can give out the Word of God by both our WALK and TALK. One way is by turning our “OBSTACLES into OPPORTUNITIES.” Another way is by turning our “TEST of FAITH into TESTIMONIES of FAITH”! Will you take this challenge to give out the Word of God? Think about WHERE you can give out the Word of God, and WHO you can give out the Word of God, and lastly HOW you can give out the Word of God.
3. Will you “REACH OUT” with the LOVE of God? “And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:26)
Can you take the Bible and lead someone to Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit? One method: Understand all are sinners (Romans 3:23); understand there is a penalty for sin (Romans 6:23); understand Jesus paid the penalty (Romans 5:8); and understand one must repent and receive the gift of God, Jesus Christ (Luke 13:3; John 1:12; Romans 10:9, 10, etc.)
The Great Commission is still the marching orders of the Church today (Matt 28:18-20).
Conclusion: From eternity past, it was decided that God the Son would go on a MISSION to the earth to be born as the God-man….to be crucified on a cross, to be raised from the dead, and to promise to COME again. Jesus finished His MISSION on earth.
Yet, now we are waiting for His soon return in what is called the rapture of the Church. We are referred to in the Bible as the bride of Christ. The Bridegroom has gone to prepare a place for us. But Jesus will come back for His bride (Church) some sweet day to take us to His Father’s house (John 14:1-3; Ephesians 5:25). Oh what a marriage that will be after we appear before the JUDGMENT SEAT of Christ! There CHRISTians will either be rewarded or suffer loss of rewards although still get to go to heaven. (Please do not confuse the Great Throne Judgement – for the lost, Revelation 20:11-15, with the Judgement Seat of Christ for believers – 2 Corinthians 5:10.)
Jesus has given us a MISSION in 2022. If we are going to fulfill our heavenly MISSION in 2022 as believers in Jesus Christ, then we must take the CHALLENGE: SPEAK OUT, GIVE OUT, and REACH OUT with the love of Christ before it is eternally too late.
Will you purpose in your heart to fulfill your MISSION in 2022?
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese
