Feb 07, 2011 Future Grace: A Missionary Spirit
Originally posted on May 4, 2005
Future Grace
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses ” Acts 1:8
I wrote to you last week that it has been one year since we launched the three-year Future Grace Giving Campaign. So, we take this time to renew our vision and commitment to God’s work among us.
More Than Money
Future Grace is about giving money, and so much more. During this three-week renewal, it is the “so much more” that I want to write to you about. I want to share with you about a missionary spirit.
Jesus’ final words to His disciples were to go make disciples, in the world, in the power of His Spirit. Jesus was telling them to live with a missionary spirit. He was communicating to His disciples that His Spirit is a missionary Spirit and to have His Spirit is to live with a missionary spirit. The Missionary Spirit births within Christians a missionary spirit.
This is an important message for us to remember when we talk about giving money. Here’s why I think so. If Grace had all the money we could possibly spend but no missionary spirit, we would be a wealthy, ineffective, unproductive, unfulfilled, unholy, insignificant and ingrown congregation. But if Grace has a missionary spirit, then we will learn to be content in whatever circumstances. We will know how to get along with humble means, and also to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance, we will learn the secret of being filled and going without, of having abundance and suffering need. We will be able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (see Philippians 4:11-13)
A Missionary Spirit
A missionary spirit birthed in us by the Missionary Spirit is the greatest gift we could ever have as a church (Acts 1:8).
A missionary spirit comes from the Holy Spirit. He is delighted when we ask for it (Luke 11:13).
A missionary spirit keeps us going to places we would not normally go, doing things we would not normally do, with power we would not normally have (Matthew 28:19-20).
A missionary spirit is the energy behind our mission statement (Luke 4:18-19).
A missionary spirit begs for opportunities to serve, give, and support others (II Corinthians 8:4).
A missionary spirit unifies marriages, families, friendships, and churches. It cuts down on criticism, slays selfishness, humbles the heart, and elevates others. A missionary spirit makes it easier to act like Jesus (Philippians 2:1-5).
A missionary spirit helps us make the most of the money God provides for His work, through His people (II Corinthians 8:20-21).
Do Two Things Right Now
First, pause and pray for a great and growing missionary spirit at Grace. Second, send me an email with a sentence about a missionary spirit (like the ones above). I’d love to share them in next week’s e-message.
Pastor Scott