So far, we’ve discussed the fact that we need to identify our calling, accept the burden that goes along with it, pray to love those we are going to serve, and count the cost before we begin. Now we’re ready to start the planning process – which you’ll see is key to a successful mission.
So you want to go on the mission field, do you? Have you counted the cost? Oh, I don’t mean just in dollars and cents. That’s obviously needful, but there’s more to it than that.
From the world’s perspective, the ROGET Thesaurus lists synonyms for missionary as ‘Holy Joe’, ‘Bible Beater’ and ‘Glory-roader’. Could it be that the general perception of a missionary might be incorrect?
"The story is told of a young man who approached the conference speaker and said, “I’ve never felt any compelling call to give my life for missionary service”, to which the speaker replied, . . . "
"under the pressure of many responsibilities, little by little, this time began to be shortened. Why, I’m not sure. Somehow I assumed I was just too busy to give special, regular time to be with Christ. This was not a deliberate decision, you understand; it just seemed to happen that way. Eventually, . . ."
"There’s one more matter of critical consequence I would like to share with you. Once day I found Him waiting for me at the front door. An arresting look was in His eye. As I entered, He said to me, . . ."
"That evening I spent some miserable hours. I felt rotten! What kind of a friend was I to Jesus? Deliberately leaving him out of part of my life, doing things and going places that I knew very well He would not enjoy?"
Faithfulness…what does it mean? Webster defines it as loyal. And ‘loyal’ is defined as faithful to a trust or confidence – true to duty or love. Is that the definition you had in mind? On this Grace Notes program, Barbara begins a new series which will take us on a journey with the prophet Elijah. We’ll see how God worked THROUGH Elijah to demonstrate His faithfulness to His people, Israel, despite their unfaithfulness.
We’ll also see how God worked IN Elijah to groom him to truly be a man for the times. So, buckle your seat belts, and get ready to roll with the prophet of old.
On our last program, Barbara Sandbek began a new series on Elijah, a man for
the times.
The ungodly King, Ahab, had led them into Baal worship.
In an effort to steer His people back to Him, God withdrew His hand of blessing so they would appreciate what He had done for them.
God chose the prophet, Elijah, to tell the king that there would be no dew or rain until he said so. Then he told Elijah to go and hide, and He’d supply his needs through a brook and a raven.
God kept His promise, and then began to groom Elijah’s faith for an even tougher task ahead.
Let’s continue now, and see how Elijah handled his isolation and humbling
conditions.
Barbara Sandbek has been taking us on a faith building journey with the prophet, Elijah. We’ve seen how God stationed Elijah in the royal palace, where he delivered a prophetic message of impending drought to King Ahab.
Then God sent him to the wilderness, where his only company was that of a raven. Last week we found Elijah settling in, but God soon dried up the brook -- his source of life. Now it was time for him to go to a territory ruled by Queen Jezebel’s father, and be cared for by the human hands of a poor, gentile widow, facing starvation.
Sounds like ‘Mission Impossible’ doesn’t it? Well, the Lord had said to Sarah, Abraham’s barren wife, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”, and He challenges US to believe that EVERYTHING is possible when we act in obedience. Elijah chose to accept this mission and found that NOTHING would ‘self-destruct’ without God’s say so.
JOY is the next gift our host, Barbara Sandbek, will describe for us. Enjoy all the gifts and don’t forget to make that Christmas ornament marked ‘JOY’ for your tree.
The book of Jonah is a book about God’s provision. It was evidenced when He sent a great wind on the sea to get the rebellious prophet back on the right track, and again when He prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah and safely deliver him onto dry land. God also provided salvation for the sailors who prayed to Him for help, and the heathen Ninevites who repented. On our program today, we’ll conclude our study of Jonah and once again see God’s provision as he teaches Jonah an object lesson about His mercy.
