|
APOSTOLIC MISSION STRATEGY
We
learn from Paul the apostle, a servant of Jesus Christ, that he was led by the
Holy Spirit in different ways in his decision making as to when and where he
and the other co-laborers were to travel on the various missionary journeys.
For
example, on the first journey, according to Acts 13:1-4, the Holy Spirit from
among the five prophets and teachers separated Barnabas and Saul as they
ministered to the Lord. After the laying on of hands, they were “sent forth”
by the Holy Spirit.
However, on the second journey, according to Acts 15:35-36, Paul and Barnabas
were teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also, when
Paul simply said to Barnabas, “Let us go again and visit our brethren in every
city where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they do.” It was
at this point that Paul and Barnabas disagreed over taking John Mark on this
mission and the result was that Paul chose Silas and they went through Syria
and Cilicia confirming the churches. Barnabas chose John Mark as his
co-laborer and they sailed to Cyprus.”
Then
on the third journey, according to Acts 16-11, Paul and Silas sailed to
Philippi after the Holy Spirit forbade them to go to Asia and Bithynia. It
was only after Paul had a vision of the “Macedonian calling to come over and
help us,” that they assuredly gathered that the Lord had called them to preach
the gospel in Macedonia.
Finally, on the fourth journey, according to Acts 26:32-27:1-2, Paul, having
appealed to Caesar was taken for trial as a prisoner to Rome. According to
Acts 28:30-31, “Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house preaching
and teaching with no man forbidding him.”
Also,
from the Scriptures, we learn about co-laboring among the apostolic workers.
We see for example that even though both Peter and Paul were both called as
apostles of the Lord, they had different spheres of ministry: one to the Jews
and other to the Gentiles; one primarily ministered in Judea and Samaria and
the other to the Nations.
They
were both effective laborers and yet they never ministered together on
missionary journeys as far as the Scripture reveals. They did, however, agree
among themselves what their part was in the Kingdom; understood one another’s
sphere of influence; and were supportive of one another in their respective
ministries.
It is
also important to note that the Holy Spirit has to do the “connecting” in
regard to leadership co-laboring ministries and one should never try to make
this happen nor arbitrarily decide who travels with whom on any given mission.
One of
the things that the Holy Spirit seems to be doing throughout the world today
is putting together apostle teams of Ephesians 4 gifted servants who make
themselves available for specific missionary journeys, as they feel directed
by the Spirit.
In the
New Testament, the pool of potential co-laborers available for missions
perhaps numbered up to twenty-eight different workers from different cities
and provinces. For example, the itinerant “sent out ones” were not all
located in Antioch as were Paul and Barnabas, but lived in their respective
hometown locations and were available and on call as the Spirit led.
It is important that Biblical “relationships” be maintained among the
co-laborers rather than establishing an “organizational” structure. In other
words, to prevent a “headquarters mentality” among apostolic workers, the
“Macedonia call” should be able to come from any itinerant worker anywhere in
the world. When the invitation is extended, everyone should be able to
respond and be “sent out” by each worker praying and being led by the Spirit
to team up and traveling on a particular mission to a specific nation.
|
