Mere Missions

194 • M ere M issions : M oving F orward to M ultiply

commending them to the Holy Spirit to lead fully functioning churches for the glory of God. What allowed the Apostle to the Gentiles to engage courageously and faithfully in missions? I believe Paul was anchored securely in the Five Planks of Missions. Let’s take one last look at these from Acts, the book on missions, and see how each of these planks was firmly established in Paul’s platform of missions. 1. Jesus Is Lord. “And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you” (Acts 26.14-16). The Apostle Paul was forever changed by the Lord Jesus that inevitable day he journeyed to Damascus. Jesus as Lord of all, infiltrated every crevice of his life and it showed in his missionary journeys and in his writings to the Churches he had planted. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11.36). Jesus is it! It’s all about Him. God’s purpose, His rule and reign, is focused on Jesus. His death and resurrection secured His Lordship over the kingdoms of this world and the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2.1-7).

For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. ~ Colossians 1.19-20