I’d like to talk about the mission that Jesus has for each disciple. A mission is a special task given to a person or group to carry out. Before we begin discussing what Jesus has to say about your mission, we need to look at some biblical background.
1 John 5:19 (NIV) We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
The world that we live in is a spiritual war zone between two opposing kingdoms. On one side is the kingdom of God, inhabited by disciples of Jesus. On the other side is the world, the kingdom of darkness, inhabited by those who are not Jesus’ disciples. The world is under the control of Satan, the evil one. Every person is on one side or the other.
1 John 2:15 (NIV) Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
These two sides are in direct opposition. A disciple is not to love the world or it’s ways. In fact, if a person loves the evil of the world, it proves they are not Jesus’ disciple. What then do you think the world thinks of Jesus’ disciples?
John 15:19 (NIV) If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
As we have seen, the character qualities of a disciple of Jesus are exactly the opposite of what the world teaches. So, true disciples, committed followers of Jesus, are hated by those who are of the world, those who are not believers.
So, what is the mission of a disciple of Jesus? Jesus’ mission for you and me is to influence people in the world for God so that they go from hating Jesus and His disciples to loving Jesus and His disciples. Our mission is to work with God in rescuing people from the dominion of darkness and bringing them into the kingdom of light.
Today, we’re going to look at Jesus’ instructions on how to carry out your mission, one of your primary purposes in life.
Listen to my October 10, 2010 message “Jesus on Mission.”