Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
There are many examples throughout the Old and New Testament of God using missionaries in the Bible, despite their imperfections, to share His message, His perfect love, and the good news of His Son throughout the world.
The story of redemption in the bible begins with God’s promise to Abraham and his role in the plan of redemption. Abraham struggled with the call given to him by God, but his struggle led to great growth and faith. For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. (Rom. 4:13) Read more about Abraham’s story beginning in Genesis 12.
Not every missionary in the Bible responded willingly to their call. Though Jonah was a prophet who believed in God’s message and the need to preach the gospel, he was reluctant to go when called by God to go outside his comfort zone. He ran from God and yet God still wanted him as his missionary. Through the story of Jonah, we learn of God’s grace even in the face of our willful disobedience and the love He has for all nations. Learn more about Jonah’s story beginning in Jonah 1.
Paul or Saul as he is known when we first meet him in the bible is introduced not as a missionary for Christ, but as an avid persecutor of the early New Testament church. His life and mission change when he meets the risen Christ on the road to Damascus leading to his repentance and receiving the Holy Spirit. Afterward, Saul began going by his Roman name, Paul, and spent the last 35 years of his life in ministry. Learn more about Paul’s journey from persecutor to missionary beginning in Acts 9.
One of the twelve disciples and the first called by Jesus, Peter began his life as a fisherman. He is a perfect example of how forgiving and patient God is with us as imperfect servants of a perfect God. Peter, like many of us, was strong-willed, impulsive, and impetuous to the point of rashness. Despite all his flaws, Jesus remained his loving Lord and faithful Guide and Peter became a powerful missionary for the New Testament church. Read more about Peter’s journey beginning in Matthew 4.
Wondering how to pray for missionaries? We cover your prayers as we work to reach the unreached and share the good news throughout the Southeast Asian communities. Below we have gathered some prayer points for missions that you might use as you pray for missionaries serving in Asia.
Pray for the safety of our missionaries as they share the gospel in areas that are sometimes hostile towards Christianity and those who work to share the good news.
Pray for those currently fleeing government persecution, that they may return to their homes and continue their work for the Lord.
Join them in prayer that God draws those who hear the Word to Him. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44)
Join them in praying that those they share the Gospel with will believe the Scriptures. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Rom. 10:17)
Pray that Satan is bound from blinding those who hear the Word from the truth. “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.” (Matt. 13:19)
Join them in praying that those who hear the news of Jesus will believe in Christ as Savior. “Yet all who receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
Finally, join them in praying that those they reach will confess that Christ is Lord and that those new believers take root and grow in Christ. “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9) “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Col. 2:6-7)
