“Messiah Is Saving Souls Indeed Offering Nurture! (M.I.S.S.I.O.N)”  

By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Monday, Feb 23, 2009

SCRIPTURE:
"The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught." (Mark 6:30, NIV)

Observation:
I asked myself what did the apostles do?

1. The apostles gathered around Jesus.

2. The apostles reported to Jesus all they had done.

3. The apostles reported to Jesus all they taught.

Interpretation:
I asked myself the significance of knowing the apostles gathered around Jesus?
The apostles had been on a tour of six different towns, two going to each town as Jesus called them, sent them, and gave them authority to cast out demons and heal people. Now they are back and meet with Jesus. It was not any meeting though for they came back to Jesus with a purpose to let Jesus know two things: All they had done and all they taught.

They were called, sent, and given authority to go on a mission trip and they returned to report the events that transpired. They were called & EQUIPPED, sent & ENABLED, and given authority & EMPOWERED.

I asked myself the significance of reporting to Jesus all they had done and taught?
Whatever mission trip they were on, they all converged at a central location to gather around Jesus to give Jesus a status report. This is significant because after the mission trip was over, they did not forget about the mission trip nor did they keep to themselves what they had done and  taught. Instead, they shared everything with Jesus who had called them, sent them, and given them authority over demons and authority to heal people. In essence, they spent time in prayer sharing everything with Jesus.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. I realized the importance of status reports when we are called and sent on a mission trip as the Lord gives us authority to do His work. He accomplishes it by raising laborers to accomplish His mission of reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I learned, sharing about all that has been done or taught does not constitute boasting or being prideful but letting supporters and prayer partners know how the Lord has been using us for His honor and glory. It also lets our supporters and prayer partners know that their support of the mission trip has not been in vain and lets them know their prayers have been answered and are being answered. More than anything I learned that I should be part of a rescue mission like the disciples did when Jesus sent them. Jesus can send me too and I need to obey whether it is locally, nationally, or internationally!

I need to always say to the Lord Jesus: ANYTHING, ANY TIME, ANYWHERE, ANY COST, I am ready as you give me the strength!

I realized when the disciples were sent on a mission, it was actually a rescue mission. In the disciples rescue mission, they were given authority to rescue people from demonic influence and possession. In essence, they were given the power to heal. Jesus sent them out because there was trouble and He wanted  his disciples to be rescuers of people's souls. Sometimes we have to rescue the physical being of a person to reach their souls for Christ.

This is even happening now. Just the other day members of the Adoye cell group and few members of our Living Acts cell group as commissioned by Oakland International Fellowship went to share the love of Christ with Burmese, Karen, Thai, Bhuton, and African refugees among others at Calvary Chapel Church in Green Tree. Before they could even share Christ with them, they had to be rescued from their oppression and have been given legal status in the U.S.

Yesterday, afternoon I saw a powerful video with my pastor at his house on the rescue of Sudanese refugees.

Just yesterday morning in church during Sunday school as part of Missions month, we saw a rescue mission by seeing the biography of James O Fraser who was sent to the Chinese Lisu tribe and reported back all he had done there and what was going on there to his mom and others so they can keep him in prayer. He had been commissioned by the China Inland Missions.

Even before the disciples went on this rescue mission, it had already started. It first started with God in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve were in a relationship with God and then sinned, a separation occurred between God and human beings. Before when Adam and Eve were naked, they did not feel shame but later after eating the forbidden fruit they did. In that situation too, demonic influence was involved, specifically what the serpent enticed them to do. But God did not abandon them in their shame and nakedness. If anything, the first sacrifice occurred to foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice. God covered the bodies of Adam and Eve with lamb's clothing so they would not feel shame in their nakedness. Their shame was covered over.

But their outward shame may have been covered over but not their inner shame. The separation still existed and God was preparing a mission trip. In that trip, God would become the missionary and lay down His life for humanity to rescue them. It happened in the person of Jesus Christ.

God in His love for humanity and desire to continue to have a relationship with us the created, He became God-incarnate to come rescue us. This is what Jesus did for you and me. While we were yet sinners, Jesus came into this world to rescue us.

For only Christ was without sin and only He could rescue us from the bondage of sin. Jesus began His ministry with these words, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19, NIV)

Jesus acted on those words with His life to rescue you and me. We all need to be rescued no matter how well we think our life is going for our Salvation will not be based on family life, our riches, our accomplishments, our career, etc. Look at Hollywood as an example where many have riches, career, etc but there is still an emptiness inside all those that have not found Christ and all He has to offer. There will be that void in all of us without Jesus Christ. That void could lead to suicide too because of hopelessness, etc.

Jesus came to give hope when He died on the cross shedding His precious cleansing blood to save you and me. But if it ended with Jesus' death on the cross, the rescue mission would have been futile. But, Jesus came back to life on the 3rd day to save us.

That is exciting to know that Jesus came to rescue you and me. Friend,  God came to earth to reach human beings so they can continue to have a relationship with Him after they have been rescued. In all the other religions of the world, man tries to reach God by his own good works but continues to fail. In Christianity, we learn that God reaches out to humanity to rescue us.

I need to make it my mission to reach out to others with the love of Christ giving others the Gospel of Jesus Christ so they can be rescued and saved. But, I cannot forget to give status reports of what I have been doing. The disciples gave a status report to Jesus and I need to do the same. I need to also  give status reports to churches and groups that support me so they can lift me up in prayer before the Lord.

When I was with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF), my mistake had been not sending status reports to supporters and prayer partners as I should have. Since they do not know how the Lord was using me to make a difference on campus, how could they have effectively supported me and prayed for me! This would have been possible through prayer letters. Maybe if I had done that as I should have, I may have still been with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship doing mission work on campus! One day when God calls me back to IVCF, I pray I will do that.

Right now, I still strongly feel student ministry is something the Lord Jesus wants me to engage in as He equips, enables, and empowers me. I need to do that faithfully but most of all I need to be faithful in where the Lord Jesus has placed me currently and do my best their depending on Him.

There are 4 areas I need to commit to wholeheartedly and give status reports to the Lord Jesus Christ and others:

1. Living Acts Cell Group leader commissioned by the leaders of Oakland International Fellowship.

2. Right now, I also strongly feel the Lord wants me to continue to publish www.pittsburghstandard.com for His honor and glory and continue to reach out to students with the love of Christ through other means. The daily devotionals I have and share with thousands of students give you a status report of what the Lord has been teaching me and what I have been learning from Him. I do hope they help you because each devotional is about a rescue mission, the mission of rescuing us from our flesh and self-centeredness to focus on Jesus and what He wants us to do.

The paper does different areas of coverage in the hopes readers and viewers will come and read the devotionals and God's Word so they can be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. I need your prayers and the Lord has been providing the financial support. I have been blessed with a wonderful job that I love.

I am touched my the letters to the editor that I have received this week alone nationally and from the ends of the earth to let me know how different articles have blessed them and helped them.

3. Being the best manager I can be at Market Central Dining for Sodexo. I have been blessed to be put in a unique position as floor manager 95% of the day where I get to interact with as many students as I can and meet their food needs which also opens the door for me to share the Gospel with them when they find out that I have facebook and befriend me.

4. Started facebook to use it as a means to ministry and how the Lord Jesus has been using my facebook profile, notes, and links as a means to ministry for students.

The first calling does not have much to do with STUDENT MINISTRY directly but the next 3 have a lot to do with STUDENT MINISTRY but mostly indirectly.

I pray for the day that I can go back to IVCF as a staff volunteer only if the Lord chooses to use me to serve there to do student ministry but most of all I pray that Oakland International Fellowship can become a haven for student ministry especially for international students who saturate the Pitt campus.

In all my prayers, I need to remember that it is not about me but all about HIM and seek His will only as I remember ANYTHING, ANY TIME, ANYWHERE, ANY COST, Lord I am ready as you strengthen me.

I ask you now dear friend, what is your mission you have been called to?
Dear friend, the apostles knew what their mission was and came back to Jesus and gave Jesus a status report. If you are called, sent, and given authority by the Lord to do mission work, He will let you know what that mission is. Not all are called to do direct mission work in other countries or at home by being missionaries but everyone is called to have a mission wherever they are at whether it is in a career, academia, or relationships.

If your mission is to accomplish something in your career field, do the best you can there sharing Jesus with those around you and report the results to Jesus as you gather around Jesus and spend time in prayer. If you have a hard time talking to Jesus then write down your prayer to Jesus. If it is in academia or relationships, the same principles apply. Share what the Lord has been doing in your life and what the Lord has given you a mission in. For when we seek the Lord, He will give each of us a mission for His honor and glory. It may not be directly being a missionary to a certain part of the world but right where you are at.

At one point my mission became counseling broken hearts with the love of Jesus Christ! I have done that and reported all that has happened without naming names for confidential purposes. I would talk to Jesus about the situations too where I would name names to Jesus personally. It is still a mission of mine the Lord has not taken away but is now accomplished through other means too!

I have seen lives changed as the Lord Jesus has used the counseling poems with problem-solution to impact lives in different areas from depression to addiction to traumas to syndromes.

Usually, supporters and prayer partners get letters or status report from missionaries spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in different parts of the world such as Pastor Bucknell has done or even on campuses such as Tom Grosh has done but it does not have to be limited to that when we give a status report to the Lord about our lives.

Friend, Jesus wants to know what you are doing with the mission He has given you. If you do not know your mission, ask the Lord and He will reveal it to you as you spend time with Him in prayer, in His Word, and through the fellowship of believers. Mostly, I have seen the Lord speak to me through His Word as I have spent time in prayer whether the answer has come through circumstances, signs, or dreams. Let His Word guide you and lead you whatever His mission for you is.

“But I will call upon the Lord to save me---and he will. I will pray morning, noon, and night, pleading aloud with God; and he will hear and answer.” (Psalm 55:16-17, TLB)

“Give your burdens to the Lord. He will carry them. He will not permit the godly to slip or fall.” (Psalm 55:22, TLB)

Talk to the Lord about your life during the morning, noon, and night, pleading aloud with God and He will hear and answer. He wants to carry your burdens. He will not permit the godly to slip or fall.

I have written a song based on Psalm 55 and pray it will be a blessing to you and you can make this song a prayer to the Lord even though you don't know the tune of it but just have the words.

Prayer is Wonderful, Prayer is Powerful
                    By Ramesh C. Reddy

Prayer is wonderful; prayer is powerful
Prayer is wonderful; prayer is powerful
More of prayer in my life!

In the morning time;
I will pray to you my Jesus
In the noon time;
I will pray to you my Jesus
In the night time;
I will pray to you my Jesus
For you hear and answer!

Prayer is wonderful; prayer is powerful
Prayer is wonderful; prayer is powerful
More of prayer in my life.
Amen!

Friend, also know your loved ones and those praying for you love to know what is happening in your life and how they can help you just as James O Fraser did as he was serving the Lisu tribe in China.

Let your loved ones help you and receive their help. Share with them what you feel the Lord wants you to share with them and ask them to keep you in prayer. More than anything, it is prayer to the Lord that sustains us and keeps us going.

With this in mind, please keep me in prayer so I can continue with the mission of counseling broken hearts with the love of Christ through all the experiences the Lord has let me go through and continue to experience. Pray that students can be impacted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ for His honor and glory.

The most troubling experience has been the loss of my beloved dad who was married to my mom for 37 years. But, we know He is with the Lord. Please do keep our family in prayer! Thanks!

Please also pray that I will continue to do the Lord’s will and not what I want in any area of my life but what my Lord wants for me whether it is in career, academia, relationships, etc. Please pray for those you come in contact with too! Thank you so much!

This pledge was given by Dr. George Murray last week during our Missions Conference at Oakland International Fellowship.

"The pledge says, 'Lord Jesus, ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, I am ready!'

Signed ____________,  Date _________ "

"On the inside it says, MY DECISION

By signing the front of this card, today I decide that Jesus Christ is Lord and Master of my life. I no longer want to merely include God in my plans. I want God to include me in His plan, whatever that means, whatever the cost.

ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

Witnessed by _______________"

I cannot do it on my own strength but by the strength He gives me. I am comforted by the promises in Psalm 121 which is a favorite song of mine and Romans 8 which is a favorite chapter of mine.

May you know the Lord who calls you, sends you and gives you authority will equip, enable, and empower you as you accomplish His mission in your life! Amen!

“Messiah Is Saving Souls Indeed Offering Nurture!” (M.I.S.S.I.O.N)/”What is your mission you have been called to?”

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you so much for being our Redeemer, for calling us, sending us, and giving us authority to accomplish the mission you have for us. I want to thank you Lord for what your apostles were able to accomplish and report back to you. They shared with you all that happened. Help us to do the same in our lives no matter what is happening. Let us share with you our excitement and our disappointments. I thank you Jesus for being there to listen to us. You Oh Lord want us to seek you in the morning, noon, and night at all times laying our requests before you, for you want our burdens to carry them. Thank you so much Jesus for that, for it means a lot. Help us to be open to share with others what you have called us to do in your timing. Help us not to be lone-ranger Christians but be involved in a community of believers wherever you send us to for there is a reason you do not want us to forsake the fellowship of believers. I thank you Jesus for sending missionaries across the world to give people the Good News of your saving Gospel. Thank you Lord for the report I have been able to read about how you are using student missionaries to reach souls with your love Oh Lord in different places of the world. Thank you for the reports that come from all over about your work being accomplished! We trust in you and thank you for everything. Thank you for your love and affection. Help us to be diligent in sharing prayer letters with others and most of all sharing everything with you! Thank you so much Jesus for everything! Thank you for dying for our sin and coming back to life to save us. As a song goes, "Thank you for sending your Spirit till the work is done here on earth. We entrust our lives to you Jesus, God’s own Son, Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, and Holy One. Jesus, my Redeemer and Name above all names, you are the hope for sinners." Thank you so much Jesus! We acknowledge you as our Lord and Personal Savior depending on you for help! Thank you for your help and that you have heard our prayers and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

May you be uplifted knowing Deliverer openly understands bringing total Salvation! Amen!

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart and finding your new identity in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I am a sinner Lord. I am so sorry for my sins. I confess my sins to you. I confess the wrong things I have done and the times I messed up my own life. I need you Lord right now and in the years to come. I have gone my own way and have not found what only you can give me. You alone have the words of Eternal Life. You alone love me unconditionally for who I am. I thank you Jesus. Thank you for going to the cross for me, for dying for my sins, shedding your precious blood for me, so I can me made whole. I am covered by your blood Lord! I come as I am and  accept you Jesus into my heart. Please come into my heart Jesus. Please make my heart your home. Please live in me Jesus. Thanks Jesus for coming into my heart and living in me. Thank you for forgiving me of all my sins. Thank you for giving me a new identity in you. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior as I believe in my heart that you died and came back to life to save me now and forever. I give myself to you and ask you to be in control of my life. Thank you Jesus through the  days, we can do things together. Thanks for being my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thanks Jesus for changing me and helping me through life's storms and winds. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!