Co-workers in All the Earth
Along with walking with God in a personal relationship with Him, we are saved to do the work of His Kingdom as well. The Apostle Paul calls all followers of Christ workers. In fact, he often uses the phrase ‘co-workers’.

We are co-workers because we all play a part and work together in God’s great plan to bring His Kingdom to every corner of the earth. Global Month is a time to renew our hearts and commitment to those we partner with in different parts of the globe.

I want us to think about our partnership as co-working because there are specific things we can do to practically support and champion those who have left the shores of Australia to serve the purposes of God in another nation.

The first thing we can do is PRAY. When we pray, we contend. Prayer knows no geographic boundaries and puts us shoulder-to-shoulder in the same spiritual arena as the field workers we support.

Paul says of his co-worker, Epaphras, regarding the Colossian church, “He is always wrestling in prayer for you” (Col. 4:11). That’s what it’s like. We co-work with those on the field by contending against the spiritual forces of darkness in prayer.

The second thing we do is CONNECT. When we connect, we encourage. Today, technology allows us to connect with everybody, and we can use that to our advantage to stay in touch with our field workers and remind them they are not alone.

Philemon was a great encouragement to Paul through their partnership. Paul says, “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement” (Phm. 1:7). Messaging our field workers will bring so much joy to them as they are reminded that we are thinking about them and cheering them on.

The third thing we can do is GIVE. When we give, we release. Financial support simply releases our field workers to do the work of ministry they were sent and called to do. The more we can release them to do this, the more fruitful they will be.

Paul says of the Philippian church that “not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only” (Phi. 4:15). Citylife Church, let’s be the church that releases field workers to do the work of ministry!

The final thing we can do is GO. When we go, we refresh. There are a lot of benefits and reasons for going to the mission fields beyond our own nation. One is that it helps us understand the culture and context of the nation our field workers are serving.

Paul says he was often refreshed by Onesiphorus, who would search him out and help him in whatever way was needed (2 Tim. 1:16). As co-workers, we go to serve in whatever way is helpful and practical. It takes some of the load off the shoulders of our field workers and simply refreshes them.

To be co-workers in all the earth, we pray, we connect, we give, and we go. Paul says to the church in Ephesus that the body of Christ “grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Eph. 4:16). Let’s all play our part in the work of global missions.

Discovery Bible Story:
Phil. 4:10-20 or  Col. 4:7-18

Question:
Of the four ways to be a co-worker in global missions, what do you feel the Spirit is encouraging you to step up in?

Hope for the Illawarra
Spend some time praying and encourage each other to invite friends and be part of the event.

Below is Sunday’s message on YouTube.

There are three opportunities to go over and above your regular giving to contribute to other areas.