Devo for 11/02/2025 Service - Message by Pastor Jacob
As we finish our series “Our Purpose”, which followed the 5 purposes of LifeMission Church, Pastor Jacob spoke on the final one, Missions. Pastor Jacob started off by identifying three things most of us have probably said or thought when the idea of going on a mission trip comes up: I am disqualified; I am not ready; I am not interested.
Pastor Jacob demonstrated that the first two were untrue, as Scripture reveals many men and women in the Bible who, despite sharing similar thoughts mentioned above, were obedient to God’s call and went on mission to accomplish great things. The last point, which was “I am not interested”, is most likely a result of the first two, but amounts to a decision YOU are making instead of asking God what you are supposed to do. My point is this: I don’t believe God would tell us to “take no interest in going to the nations and spreading My good news”, so being uninterested in going on mission is our decision, not God’s. So you can see that none of these are truly valid reasons not to go on mission and do what God has asked us to do.
During his sermon, Pastor Jacob made this statement while talking about our fear of not being ready when called:
“A lot of us walk around like dogs who don’t realize we are off leash.”
His point is valid in so many ways when it comes to us walking in obedience to what God has called us to do. We may feel He has asked us to do something, but we convince ourselves that we have to wait until He unleashes us! That we cannot go any farther than the length of the “chain” that we believe is “holding” us back.
But the truth is, every time God asked someone in the Bible to do something outside their comfort zone, and they were obedient to His ask, it started with them stepping “beyond the length of the chain” they felt was holding them back. But in all actuality, there is no chain when God asks us to do something! We are unleashed to do what He asks! One of the best examples of this was when God asked Ananias to go see Saul after he was blinded on the road to Damascus:
Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 9:13-17
Ananaias surely did not feel qualified or ready to go on this mission. And I have no doubt he had no interest in meeting a man who was known for persecuting Christians, but he walked in faith and did not let any earthly chains hold him back, and he went on mission!
Men, ask God to show you anything that is keeping you from answering His call. Learn to get excited about stepping out of your comfort zone, breaking any “chains” holding you back, and going all in to what God has called you to do! Be an Ananias!
Don’t forget to invite God into your day!
Topic for Study
Rest
Hebrews 4:1
Psalm 62:1
Jeremiah 31:25
November Memory Verse:
Proverbs 12:15
“A fool's way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to council is wise.”