Reasons to be courageous and go

Reasons to be courageous and go

1. Christ has others that are coming

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” John 10:16.

This is a great missionary text in the book of John. It has been a source of inspiration for many missionaries through the centuries. When we get to comfortable this verse is a great reminder that Jesus has others that are not yet converted. This kind of verse causes us to look beyond our own area locally to the people of the world and dare to believe that God might want to use us to disciple some of these unreached.

This truth encouraged the apostle Paul when he was discouraged and afraid.
“And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” Acts 18:9-10

“I have sheep that are not of this fold” and the truth that “I am with you” are great reasons to be courageous and go.

Second,

2. They are scattered and still lost

This verse also implies they are currently outside of the family and they are not all in one location.

John said that
“Thou was slain and by thy blood did ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” Revelation 5:9

We may be sure on the authority of God’s Word that among all the peoples of the world we will find people who belong to God's family. That is a great encouragement to get on and keep on with the task of missions and to reach the lost that are new in every generation.

Third,

3. The Lord Himself has committed to bring his lost sheep home.

He promises to do it. “I have other sheep , that are not of this fold; I must bring them also.” He will bring them. This does not mean that we don’t go. We must go.

John 17:18 says, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

John 20:21 says, “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

We continue His mission and He has prayed for us.
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,” John 17:20

Just as Jesus called disciples in His time on the earth He now calls them through us as we preach the gospel. What a privilege!
This is the wonderful power of the Gospel. When it is preached we can expect some to receive it as the Word of God.
“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13

It is just as true today as it was in Jesus’ day: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 20:27).
It is Christ who calls in the gospel. Christ gathers and we are His ambassadors. That is why Paul said in Romans 15:18.
“I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has wrought through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed.”
So we can be courageous and go: all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to the Son of God and he declares, “I must bring in my other sheep.” He will do it. And He will do it with us!