SUPPORT MISSIONS.
*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*SUPPORT MISSIONS.*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Luke 10:4 *Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
Luke 22:35 *And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.*
*Scripture Commentaries.*
The purse and scrip are source of monetary support, but when Jesus was sending out the disciples, He did not want them to carry any of the two.
Not having this usual means of monetary defense, especially at the beginning of any mission, must be very challenging.
Jesus was not discouraging us from preparing financially for missions or equipping for mission. He was not discouraging giving to missions, but He teaches more on morals, conducts, and virtues expected of sent disciples.
There are a few things that Jesus was teaching.
First, He was telling them that though there is a need for support, He wanted them to do things differently.
There are times when souls will be available yet no money, and there are times when money will be available yet no impact on sincere souls for Jesus.
Soul is primary, and money is secondary.
We can never have enough money, but we will never lack enough souls for the Kingdom of Heaven, Matt 9:37-38.
Christ wants souls from all nations.
Money will never be enough. Lack of it will not put an end to the great commission, while a lot it will not exhaust it.
Though caring and providing support for souls can touch their lives, it still remains that money can not redeem them.
Money does answer all things (Eccl 10:19) but does not solve all things.
The redeemed soul of man is more important than every earthly possession the soul may have, Luke 12:15, Mark 8:36.
Jesus was telling them that the gospel is not dependent on how much we have or have not.
Secondly, God is opening our eyes to know that though Satan can not destroy the believer, he will try to distress and discourage us, especially with a lack of support. Therefore, we must not be too money minded.
We must learn to serve God with or without money, as the case may be.
Not many of today's preachers want to start this way.
It is a hard saying, but this is the message, and it is the true test of discipleship!
Want and need for the work of the ministry, when they persist, are severe trials. Paul explained in Philp 4:11-12
*Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.*
*I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.*
Paul called this experience "my affliction" Philp 4:14, and he prayed for the church in Thessalonica (Philp 4: 19) for communicating with his affliction by sending *".....again unto my necessity.* (Philp 4:16).
We must appreciate Paul's word concerning those who communicated with his afflictions.
Fouth, Jesus was warning them about the prosperity gospel. Prosperity preaching when badly managed could be one of Satan's greatest deceptions and weapons against soul winning. This is most common, and it mostly affects the less privileged.
Human's mindest on prosperity in the name of the human prosperity gospel is very much against God's gospel of salvation.
James warns on this James 2: 1-6.
Preaching the gospel to become rich is the bedrock of the emergence of false prophets, Philp 3:19.
Fifth, Jesus' call was a call to a humble beginning, Zech 4:7. The disciples answered Jesus, saying they lacked nothing, though He had sent them without scrip and purse, Luke 22:35.
If God has sent missionaries with no purse or scrip, He will also send people to support them.
We should use our material possessions to meet not only essential family needs but also the needs of the gospel.
Support the gospel.
*Remorse corner,*
Do not live without touching hearts for Jesus.
*Call to Word action.*
Job 8:7 *Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.*
Every disciple of Christ who started with no purse or scrip has a glory to show of Christ's faithfulness.
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Our God-given wealth is not just for us it is to support God's work.
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me to support the gospel in Jesus name.
Good morning all and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.