"You will go forth in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will
burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."
Isaiah 55:12
I have been thinking about the phrase "go forth" a lot lately and how that pertains to the call Jesus has given each of us.
Looking through the Bible there are many instances in the old and new testament where "go forth" is used. However, I found myself focused on the gospels where Jesus tells the disciples to "go forth and preach the gospel to all creation"; to "go forth and heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils"; and to "go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you".
Go forth is a powerful term as it means one is being sent. As a disciple of Jesus Christ we are sent just as the original 12 disciples- to go forth and preach the gospel to all creation; to heal; to cleanse; to raise the dead; to cast out devils; to make disciples; to baptize; and to teach the ways of the Lord. Notice that the disciples are not being sent to a particular place; but rather, are given commands that can be executed in their own neighborhoods, in their workplace, anywhere that they go.
As we go forth into each new day, I pray that we would remember the words that Jesus spoke to us. That we would remember his call. That we would not be hindered in living out his call to us- to preach the gospel to all creation; to heal; to cleanse; to raise the dead; to cast out devils; to make disciples; to baptize; and to teach the ways of the Lord- that we would go forth confidently. Whether we are in a ministry setting, overseas or domestic, on vacation or at work, we are a disciple and we have been given a call- to go forth.
How does this play out in my life?
I have been convicted as I used to think that I have to go forth to specific places- that ministry happens only when around non-Christians and can only happen when you are on a mission trip or serving within a specific ministry-setting. A little over two years ago I felt God's call to "go forth into full-time ministry". At the time I thought this meant serving full-time with Ignite campus ministry at PLU- including dropping out of college- and then going to Haiti on a one-way ticket to serve full-time with Foursquare Haiti. Over the course of the past two years I have watched the Lord move here in the Pacific Northwest as He has shown me what it means to go forth in everyday life. That whether I am in Tacoma, overseas, or on vacation that I am His child and I have been gifted with His love to go forth and live out His great call.
As I work with Youth Missions International (YMI) here in Tacoma I have been shown more and more of what it means to go forth as I work in an office three quarters of the time and have moved out of my long-time Parkland community. As we train and send interns and teams throughout the U.S. and the globe; as we work on the computer and make phone calls according to the details each of our jobs require; as we meet with supporters, mentors, friends, and family; and as we attend weddings, baby showers, youth retreats, and celebrations I am reminded of the verse in 2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching."
So no matter where I am-whether it is the sidewalk, the coffee shop, church, the office, the grocery store,etc- or who I am with I know that I have been sent. That Jesus has called me to go forth.
Is there anything holding you back from going forth in your life? Identify these things and allow the Lord to come in and give you the courage and the strength. Repent and move forward in intimacy with your Father. He is the One who empowers and equips you. Are you willing? Are you ready? It's time to GO!!
I would love to hear testimonies that you have as you live out the call of Christ and go forth. Please share them by adding a comment or emailing me!!
To read some testimonies in my life from this past week check out the additions below.
Looking through the Bible there are many instances in the old and new testament where "go forth" is used. However, I found myself focused on the gospels where Jesus tells the disciples to "go forth and preach the gospel to all creation"; to "go forth and heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils"; and to "go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you".
Go forth is a powerful term as it means one is being sent. As a disciple of Jesus Christ we are sent just as the original 12 disciples- to go forth and preach the gospel to all creation; to heal; to cleanse; to raise the dead; to cast out devils; to make disciples; to baptize; and to teach the ways of the Lord. Notice that the disciples are not being sent to a particular place; but rather, are given commands that can be executed in their own neighborhoods, in their workplace, anywhere that they go.
As we go forth into each new day, I pray that we would remember the words that Jesus spoke to us. That we would remember his call. That we would not be hindered in living out his call to us- to preach the gospel to all creation; to heal; to cleanse; to raise the dead; to cast out devils; to make disciples; to baptize; and to teach the ways of the Lord- that we would go forth confidently. Whether we are in a ministry setting, overseas or domestic, on vacation or at work, we are a disciple and we have been given a call- to go forth.
How does this play out in my life?
I have been convicted as I used to think that I have to go forth to specific places- that ministry happens only when around non-Christians and can only happen when you are on a mission trip or serving within a specific ministry-setting. A little over two years ago I felt God's call to "go forth into full-time ministry". At the time I thought this meant serving full-time with Ignite campus ministry at PLU- including dropping out of college- and then going to Haiti on a one-way ticket to serve full-time with Foursquare Haiti. Over the course of the past two years I have watched the Lord move here in the Pacific Northwest as He has shown me what it means to go forth in everyday life. That whether I am in Tacoma, overseas, or on vacation that I am His child and I have been gifted with His love to go forth and live out His great call.
As I work with Youth Missions International (YMI) here in Tacoma I have been shown more and more of what it means to go forth as I work in an office three quarters of the time and have moved out of my long-time Parkland community. As we train and send interns and teams throughout the U.S. and the globe; as we work on the computer and make phone calls according to the details each of our jobs require; as we meet with supporters, mentors, friends, and family; and as we attend weddings, baby showers, youth retreats, and celebrations I am reminded of the verse in 2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching."
So no matter where I am-whether it is the sidewalk, the coffee shop, church, the office, the grocery store,etc- or who I am with I know that I have been sent. That Jesus has called me to go forth.
Is there anything holding you back from going forth in your life? Identify these things and allow the Lord to come in and give you the courage and the strength. Repent and move forward in intimacy with your Father. He is the One who empowers and equips you. Are you willing? Are you ready? It's time to GO!!
I would love to hear testimonies that you have as you live out the call of Christ and go forth. Please share them by adding a comment or emailing me!!
To read some testimonies in my life from this past week check out the additions below.
Monday, June 07, 2014:
Got home late and a friend was over who had gotten in a car accident on the 4th of July. She had already healed radically fast from the day before, but was in much pain. We were about to watch a movie when she asked if we- my housemate and I- would pray for her. As we prayed the Lord spoke to massage her feet. As I massaged her feet she began to feel a pull in her hand and her lip began to puss more (which is a sign of healing!); the Lord then spoke to have my housemate massage our friend's hand as I continued with her feet and to have our friend raise her injured hand in the air and declare the praises of who God is. Throughout this process her pain went down to a level one to two and the bruising in her hand began to fade. I got a report today (Tuesday, July 08) that her constipation was relieved as well and the scaring on her face is almost gone. God is HEALER.
Tuesday, June 08, 2014:
I had a meeting with a ministry leader in Tacoma and as I got on the LINK to go meet with him ended up talking to a man named Sean. Sean is a born-again Christian who has recently fallen into some problems with drugs. We got to talking as we rode the LINK and he shared with me testimony after testimony of what God is doing in his life and how he has seen the Lord's faithfulness come through as he has been in this process. He allowed me to pray with him and we are believing for greater revelation and deeper intimacy between Sean and his heavenly Father. God is FAITHFUL.
Also, on the way back from the meeting I ended up walking as it was so beautiful outside and just as I arrived at the stairs to head up to work ended up running into some friend's from church as they were on outreach for Catalyst. I got to share about YMI and then they prayed for me and both were given pictures of my heart from the Lord. What a blessing this was! God SPEAKS and MOVES... He is ALIVE.
Got home late and a friend was over who had gotten in a car accident on the 4th of July. She had already healed radically fast from the day before, but was in much pain. We were about to watch a movie when she asked if we- my housemate and I- would pray for her. As we prayed the Lord spoke to massage her feet. As I massaged her feet she began to feel a pull in her hand and her lip began to puss more (which is a sign of healing!); the Lord then spoke to have my housemate massage our friend's hand as I continued with her feet and to have our friend raise her injured hand in the air and declare the praises of who God is. Throughout this process her pain went down to a level one to two and the bruising in her hand began to fade. I got a report today (Tuesday, July 08) that her constipation was relieved as well and the scaring on her face is almost gone. God is HEALER.
Tuesday, June 08, 2014:
I had a meeting with a ministry leader in Tacoma and as I got on the LINK to go meet with him ended up talking to a man named Sean. Sean is a born-again Christian who has recently fallen into some problems with drugs. We got to talking as we rode the LINK and he shared with me testimony after testimony of what God is doing in his life and how he has seen the Lord's faithfulness come through as he has been in this process. He allowed me to pray with him and we are believing for greater revelation and deeper intimacy between Sean and his heavenly Father. God is FAITHFUL.
Also, on the way back from the meeting I ended up walking as it was so beautiful outside and just as I arrived at the stairs to head up to work ended up running into some friend's from church as they were on outreach for Catalyst. I got to share about YMI and then they prayed for me and both were given pictures of my heart from the Lord. What a blessing this was! God SPEAKS and MOVES... He is ALIVE.