10/20/2024
We consider Jesus to be many things; we call him the Son of God, our Lord, Savior, Redeemer, the Dove of Peace, Lion of Judah, Prince of Peace, Bread of Life, and so many other things, but who was Jesus if not a missionary to the world? That is the thought I would like for us to consider this morning, and bring to the forefront of our attention. This is something He was proclaimed to be in ancient prophesy, and at the moment of His conception.
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21 KJV
Jesus came to save us from our sins; the spiritual Son of God embodied in human form, sent to deliver the Word of God... our salvation. He was in every sense the first missionary to the world. He was from a distant land, and yet He was one of us; and He came to save us from our sins.
“And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
John 8:23-24 KJV
The Words that would save us... the Gospel in brief to a fallen, sinful, world... "if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." This was a warning to those who would not recognize Him and His mission. From the time of King David and before, it was prophesied that He would come to deliver us and that we should pray to Him, and today, as believers, we do.
“And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.”
Psalms 72:15 KJV
Charles Spurgeon wrote one of the most wonderful prayers to Jesus, and I would like to share it with you this morning... let it be ours.
"Lord save me from my sins. Save me from past sins, that the habit of them may not hold me captive. Save me from constitutional sins, that I may not be the slave of my own weaknesses. Save me from the sins that are continually under my eye, that I may not lose my horror of them. Save me from secret sins, sins unperceived by me. Save me from sudden and surprising sins: let me not be carried off by a rush of temptation. Let not any iniquity have dominion over me."
Spurgeon leads us in prayer to Jesus for our very salvation. He is giving us a prayer which calls on Jesus for His help in defeating and defending us against sin. All that is left is for us, the sinners, to ask forgiveness, and then praise Him for delivering us.
Acknowledging Jesus as our savior, asking for forgiveness of our sins, and then for Him to come into our lives, these are the steps that lead us to Salvation, and delivering them to the world is the goal of the missionary.
Missionaries come bearing the good news... Jesus lived, died, was resurrected, and defeated death and sin that we might understand this, and have eternal life. Jesus, the first missionary, told that story... that amazingly good news... with His very life. Today we praise His name, and rest in the promise He fulfilled. And, there aren’t names nor words enough to describe Him, but He is most certainly the first missionary. Do we pick up our crosses and follow Him in this way?
Prayer:
Father thank you for your Son Jesus Christ, and for giving Him, and sending Him, into the world to deliver the message regarding who He was, and to redeem us; to save us from sin and death. Thank you Lord Father for the mercy and grace that you showed us in that moment of divine conception, which foretold of your Son’s coming life of revelation, and for the pain, blood, suffering, death, and resurrection that would follow Him as He revealed Himself to the world, and all who would believe in Him. Help us Father as we pick up our crosses and follow after Him, and as we continue to spread the good news of His coming, the gospel message of forgiveness, and the promise of life He brought to the world. In His precious and holy name, and by His blood, we ask that you forgive us of our sins. We ask that you forgive, and choose to forget, all those we have committed knowingly, unknowingly, and by our abstention. Grant us increase in our faith, and help us in our unbelief Father so that we will be perfected in Him, and be prepared to deliver the gospel to the world as He did. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who sent your Son Jesus into the world. Holy are you who gave us your Word, and Light, that the world would be saved, and returned to you cleansed and made perfect in His sacrifice. Through Him you have prepared us for eternity in your presence, having made Him the perfect sacrifice and remittance for our sins, and disobedience. We praise you now with all the heavenly host, and kneel at your feet as Jesus continues to make intercession for us. We have come to understand that your grace is indeed sufficient for us, and that we are to deliver the good news of Jesus unto all the nations, and everyone who surrounds us… strangers, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and even our enemies. Help us Abba that none in the world will go without hearing, and hear us as we pray that none should be lost. Let you will be done in this, and through us Father.
Amen
Rich Forbes