Jesus the Model for Short-Term Supernatural Mission
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Jesus The Model for Short Term Supernatural Mission Biblical Ministry and Mission Geoff Waugh Jesus the Model for Short Term Supernatural Mission © Geoff Waugh, 2015 Cover photo: The Great Commission sculpture by Max Greiner Most Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved We need and value your support on Amazon and Kindle to inform and bless others Blog of this book Amazon: ISBN 978-1507545324 Renewal Journal Publications www.renewaljournal.com Brisbane, Qld, Australia Logo: lamp & scroll, basin & towel, in the light of the cross 2 From the book cover Jesus the Model for Short Term Supernatural Mission Contents Introduction 1 Jesus’ Mission and Ministry Characteristics of Jesus’ Ministry Prayer Crowds and Healing Teaching 1. Sermon on the Mount 2. Missionary Discourse 3. Parables Discourse 4. Community Discourse 5. End Times Discourse Other Teachings of Jesus Parables Opposition 2 The Disciples’ Mission and Ministry Called to follow Jesus The Disciples often failed Jesus commissioned and equipped his followers 3 Peter and Paul on Mission Peter Paul 4 My Mission Adventures Australia, China, Philippines, Ghana, Toronto, Pensacola, Kenya, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Brazil, Myanmar 5 How to Minister Like Jesus, by Bart Doornweerd 4 Jesus’ Mission and Ministry 6 Power Evangelism in Short Term Missions, by Randy Clark The Effects of Short-Term Mission trips on team members 1) The “Vicious Downward Spiral” is reversed 2) Full-time missions service 3) Connections are created between local churches and the host country leaders or churches 4) Vision is created for International Ministry The Effects of Short Term Mission trips on the Receiving/Hosting Groups: A. Brazil B. Mozambique C. Russia D. India E. Cambodia F. Norway G. Mexico H. Argentina 7 China Miracle: The Spirit told us what to do, by Carl Lawrence Conclusion Appendix: Resources About the Authors 5 Jesus the Model for Short Term Supernatural Mission http://www.bible- history.com/maps/palestine_nt_times.html 6 Introduction Jesus is the best model for short term supernatural mission. When Jesus, aged about 30, returned to his home town of Nazareth in the hills of Galilee, he explained his mission and ministry by quoting from Isaiah. Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. ... 16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ 20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ ... (Luke 4:14-15, 16-21; see Isaiah 61:1-2) Jesus fulfilled that prophecy in his life and ministry, and taught his followers to minister that way. We can too. Jesus the Model for Short Term Supernatural Mission The name Joshua/Jesus means God saves, or God is salvation. That is why the angel announcing his birth said, “… you are to name him Joshua/Jesus (Yeshua), for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). It is the same name as Moses’ general, Joshua, who led the Israelites into their promised land. The earliest English translations of the Bible used the name Jesus for Yeshua of Nazareth, and the name Joshua for others with that same name. So in English the name Jesus became unique and sacred for Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. This book explores the mission and ministry of Jesus/Joshua the Christ/Messiah, the Son of God, and how he fulfilled his brief ministry (Chapter 1). Jesus took others to minister with him and sent them out to minister in the authority and power of his name (Chapter 2). Peter and Paul travelled with teams in their mission and ministry, also anointed with the Spirit of God (Chapter 3). I give some brief contemporary examples of short term mission and ministry (Chapter 4) and Bart Doornweed (Chapter 5) and Randy Clark (Chapter 6) describe their experience of short term supernatural mission. Listen to God’s Spirit as you read and apply this good news. Back to Contents 8 Jesus’ Mission and Ministry The Lion of Judah series 9 Jesus’ Mission and Ministry Chapter 1 Jesus’ Mission and Ministry Jesus’ brief ministry of about three years involved constant travel, walking through the towns and villages of Israel. He taught about the kingdom of God and demonstrated it in what he did. Today that kind of mission is often called itinerant evangelism and discipleship. Jesus’ ministry began after his baptism in the Jordan River when the Spirit of God came upon him, anointing him for his mission and ministry. He then returned to Galilee at the beginning of his public ministry and was based in Capernaum on the north west shore of Lake Galilee. Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 ‘Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.’ (Matthew 4:13-16; see Isaiah 9:1-2) 11 Jesus the Model for Short Term Supernatural Mission The following brief overview highlights some of the main developments of Jesus’ ministry and mission. He set us a wonderful example of how to do short term supernatural mission in the power of the Spirit. Jesus’ Early Judean ministry began with his baptism, his fasting and temptations, and inviting enquirers to be with him, His public ministry began when he was about 30 (Luke 3:23) after his baptism in the Jordan River in Judea, and 40 days fasting in the Judean desert where he rejected temptation. The Jordan flows from the freshwater Lake of Galilee, 700 feet below sea level, for 70 miles (100 kilometres) through the 6 mile wide (10 kilometre) Jordan valley to the Dead Sea, 1400 feet below sea level. This lowest place on earth is about 30 miles east from the mountain city of Jerusalem at 2,500 feet. Jesus’ ministry possibly covers three Passovers, as John’s Gospel suggests: the first in John 2, the second in John 6:4 and the third (the Last Supper) in John 11:55; 12:1; 13:1; 18:28, 39; and 19:14. The other three Gospels all describe that final Passover. Jesus began his Early Galilean ministry around his base at Capernaum on the north west of the Lake of Galilee. He called his first disciples who then travelled with him. The Major Galilean ministry included commissioning the 12 apostles and covers most of the ministry of Jesus in Galilee. The Final Galilean ministry began after John the Baptist’s death and culminates in the Transfiguration in the mountains near Caesarea Philippi as Jesus prepared for his final journey to Jerusalem. In the Later Judean ministry Jesus continued his final journey to Jerusalem down the Jordan valley, through Jericho on the southern Jordan up into the hills of Bethany and Jerusalem. 12 Jesus’ Mission and Ministry The Final ministry in Jerusalem, known as The Passion Week or Holy Week begins with Jesus’ triumphal entry on what is now called Palm Sunday. The gospels devote about one third of their text to that last week. Peter summarized Jesus’ ministry this way: That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10:37-42) The following overview gives more details. Here are passages describing what Jesus did on mission, which he also taught his followers to do. Early Galilean ministry The Early Galilean ministry began when Jesus returned to Galilee after John the Baptist was imprisoned.