By Dave Frodsham, lead elder, Jubilee Church Wirral

Why are we here is, I think,  a question we all have to ask ourselves from time to time!

But our context and sphere of influence is very important in answering that question.  Follow up questions could be:

What am I born for?

Why am I born the way I am? In the place I was?

Why do I live where I do?

Why do I do the work I do?

Why am I in Church?

Why do I serve in a particular way?

The answer is to be on Mission!   People often talk about that they are on a mission. The main definition in the dictionary of the word mission is “an important job, especially a military or religious one that someone is sent somewhere to do”. 

We often use other words instead such as an aim/ objective/ target / goal/ hope / a charge. The bible uses the word ‘charge’ a few times instead of mission and it means ‘to entrust someone with a task as a duty or responsibility.’

Whether we like it or not we are all on some sort of mission and if you are a Christian, God has a specific mission for the church to complete and you have a part to play in that. The word mission comes from the Latin word “missio” which means ‘to send’, the Greek translation is “apostole”. So, we see that if you are sent on a mission, you are a missionary, this is generally only used for Christians sent abroad, but as the disciples and the church is charged to “make disciples” by Jesus we are all on a mission and therefore we are all missionaries.

Jesus was very clear on his mission. He said in Luke 19:10. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (ESV). He also reads from Isaiah 61 in the synagogue and declares that this scripture is fulfilled:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4:18-19 ESV)

So, Jesus clearly set out what he had come to do, or what his mission was.  He did all these things and by living perfectly and dying on the cross and He also enabled us all to continue His mission. He said to his disciples as they argued over who was greatest that if they wanted to be great, they would need to be a servant. Jesus had come to serve and not to be served, his life given to pay the price that we couldn’t pay.  He calls them to wait for the Holy Spirit to come as they would then receive power to be his witness starting in Jerusalem but then extending out across the whole world.

So, why are you here and why is the Spirit of the Lord on You? 

Our calling is the same, we are called to be filled with the Spirit to be Jesus’ witnesses, to continue the mission that the Father sent Jesus on, to seek and save the lost and to serve people, not to be served.

Finally, to encourage you to continue serving and witnessing as our mission for the rest of 2021.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21 ESV)

Dave Frodsham, Jubilee Church Wirral