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Bring Stability & Predictability
Carl Higashi1 Thessalonians 2:8-12
8So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
9For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11For you know how, like a father with his children, 12we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
As Pastor Wayne said we are in a season of “stability and predictability” at New Hope Oahu, God reminds me through Paul’s letter of two things that will bring this type of environment in my family and ministry. He tells the church at Thessalonica here are the two conditions, first his love of God and sharing His gospel, and second the love of God’s people in the church.
Then he describes the labor of he and his love for God and the gospel and the love for the people in Thessalonica. Paul made it clear that his presence should in no way be a burden to anyone. His righteousness was to be on display for them to see as a witness of not the holiness of himself, but the holy and righteousness of God. He and his companions conduct day in and day out would be used as the greatest presentation of the gospel.
As a spiritual father, he exhorted, encouraged and challenged all the people he encountered to live their lives in a way that is worthy of God who sacrificed his Son Jesus Christ that they might spend eternity in heaven with them!
This is a word of confirmation to me and for the mission team from NHHK going to Japan. We will need to set aside and personal agendas, all our wants and desires, and instead reflect the love that we have for God in the presentations of the gospel to the people at NHY, NLFC, and Friend of Sinners.
In all our times together in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Japan, we are not being a burden to them. Our mission expenses would be fully supplied by the resources that God provided through NHHK and the relationships of the mission team members. We must be well prepared and filled with the Holy Spirit so that we do exactly as Paul did for the church in Thessalonica. All personal agendas must be set aside for the sake of the gospel.
Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit.
Be well prepared.
Be ready to exhort and encourage.
Be ready to challenge people to rise up in victory!
Be ready to love like Jesus would 24/7.
Heavenly Father thank you for this clear direction on how we as mission team members are to live life not only in Japan, but daily bringing “stability and predictability” by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lord as we are coming down to the final preparations for the mission team in our last three weeks, may you be speak and I be hearing clearly and acting upon your Holy Spirit’s direction.
May each of our mission team members be selfless and may none of us be a burden to the churches in Japan as we present the gospel. May we be filled with your Spirit, well prepared for each encounter big and small, ready to exhort and encourage the person(s) who we are with and as appropriate, challenge people to entrust their lives fully to Jesus! May this team be a part of making Jesus famous in Japan by making disciples, that will bring “stability and predictability”!
All glory to God! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!
