Spiritual Preparation for a Mission Trip

2. Begin Journals.

3. Begin Bible Studies.

A. Discerning the Will of God - Proverbs 3:5,6

B. Focusing On Your Mission - Luke 10:1-24

C. Complaining - Philippians 2:14-16

D. Spiritual War I - Luke 11:21-28

E. Spiritual War II - Ephesians 6:10-20

F. Prayer - Ephesians 6:18-20

G. Flexibility - Mark 6:30-34

H. Accepting Physical Hardship - Philippians 4:10-13, 1 Corinthians 12:7-10,

2 Corinthians 1:8-11, 2 Corinthians 4:1-12

Hebrews 12:4-13, James 1:2-12

I. Sharing the gospel IN SPITE OF OPPOSITION - 1 Thessalonians 2:1-5

J. Growth From Sharing - Philemon 6

K. Breaking Walls - Ephesians 2:11-22

L. Working In You - Philippians 3:12-16

DISCERNING THE WILL OF GODProverbs 3:5,6

Read and memorize Proverbs 3:5, 6. If you already have these verses committed to memory, memorize them in a different translation. Read the following study after you have memorized the verses.

It is crucial for you to know that God is leading you to go on this mission trip. You can trust God to give you direction as you seek his guidance.

In the study, Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby notes that, "God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways." Scripture will be the Holy Spirits primary means of guiding you. You need to expose yourself to God's word as much as possible in seeking His will.

God has always spoken to me when I have hungrily sought His direction from scripture. However, I cannot remember a time that God spoke first about what I was seeking. If God seems to speak to you on other subjects, record in your journal what God says to you. It will be more important than you can imagine for your life and for this mission. God knows what you need to hear better than you know how to ask.

FOCUSING ON THE MISSION Luke 10:1-24

Read Luke 10 1-24 asking God to impress you with truth you can apply to this mission project. Write whatever God says in your journal. Number things God seems to be saying so you can refer to them easily in the coming days.

Re-read verses 3 and 4 noting these concerns;

You too, are being sent as lambs among wolves. A lamb does not vacation among wolves. You must stay close to the Shepherd. You must focus on His mission.

The disciples were not to greet anyone on the way. All their attention was to be on the target city.

They were to take neither purse nor bag.

Americans are tempted to devote much attention to shopping for bargains. Any shopping must be done with caution. You are not on a shopping trip but a mission. Americans are also notorious for over packing. Our general rule on mission trips is do not bring more luggage than you can carry by hand for a mile.

Check one of the following that God is telling you about your mission.

__ A. Shopping is an exciting part of this travel opportunity.

__ B. Being a good steward requires you to take advantage of bargains wherever you are.

__ C. Our attention on this trip must be focused on our mission to the exclusion of other pursuits.

__ D. It will impress the nationals if we have lots of things, and spend a lot of money.

Re-read verses 7 and 8. Note these applications of truth;

Jesus said you may eat what is put before you. It is often difficult to receive food or gifts from poor people. But you need to let them express their generosity in faith.

Americans are also tempted to turn our noses up at food we are not used to. That can be offensive to people who have sacrificed to please you. On our first team trip into the former Soviet Union I felt God was telling me to obey this very literally. At first I responded by asking God to keep me healthy as I ate unfamiliar foods. Then I had to come to the place where I said, "Lord, I will obey you even if I get sick." I did fine.

Check one of the following.

__ A. I only eat food I am familiar with.

__ B. I can eat anything I do not have a moral reason to refuse.

Re-read this entire passage. Meditate on it recording in your journal whatever God says to you.

COMPLAINING Philippians 2:14-18

Read Philippians 2:14-18.

Complaining can spoil good efforts to be light in the darkness. Complaining is a verbal expression of selfishness. In these verses Paul rejoices that his life is being poured out in sacrifice for the faith of those to whom he was sent.

You will need to guard against complaining, especially when you are tired, fearful or frustrated. In times of stress the flesh complains, but the Spirit prays. By letting down your guard for only a moment you can defeat your purpose and miss God's purposes for the whole trip.

Complaining can be a difficult habit to break. Do not wait until you get off the airplane to start working on it.

Fill in the blank in the following sentence.

_______________ or arguing can spoil my efforts to be light in the darkness.

Memorize these verses (Philippians 2:14-18) and meditate on them for at least a day. Write in your Journal anything God says to you. Continue numbering the truths you sense God applying to your life and mission.

SPIRITUAL WAR I Luke 11:21-26

As with all of these studies, we are not presenting a thorough treatment of everything the Bible teaches on this subject. But these scriptures will help explain some things that will be happening to you and around you on this mission.

Going on an overseas mission trip will involve you in spiritual warfare. You are invading territory the enemy has long held. In much of the world people talk about and use spiritual powers in ways we seldom see in America. Jesus gave an explanation for this in Luke 11:21-28. Prayerfully read these verses before continuing this study.

For 70 years Christianity was oppressed and driven from the Soviet empire. The absence of Christianity left a spiritual vacuum. The emptiness was filled by other powers. However, note that our Lord is like "the strong man" who can over come these spirits. The traditions and religions of much of the world have opened doors to demonic powers. We are seeing more and more of these kind of things in America as well.

There is victory over Satan in this very mission. Revelation 12:11 reads, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Your faith and the power of your testimony will overcome the devil himself. But be careful lest you become arrogant. You cannot deal with these things in your own strength. Remember the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19:13-17.

Read Luke 8:26-39 and 1 John 4:4 recording in your journal things God wants you to understand in preparation for this mission.

SPIRITUAL WAR II Ephesians 6:10-18

It may seem like you are encountering more difficulty and temptation than usual as you prepare for this mission trip. Don't be surprised if these temptations increase as you enter the country. That does not mean it is not the will of God for you to go. Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted (Matthew 4:1). But it does mean you need to be spiritually prepared.

Read Ephesians 6:10-18 noting things you need to do or commitments you need to make in preparation for this trip. Write what God shows you in your journal. Memorize this passage and quote it aloud in a group.

Read Deuteronomy 23:14. Write in your journal things that you need God to cleanse from your life so you can be used on this trip.

Memorize 1 John 1:9. Take time to confess thoughts, attitudes, relationships and deeds that you have committed.

PRAYER Ephesians 6:18-20

Read Ephesians 6:18-20 note things that Paul included as he urged the believers to pray.

It is no coincidence that Paul concluded his word on the Christian's armor with a call to prayer. In John 15:5 Jesus said we can do nothing with out Him. God must do everything of significance done on this trip and in your life. He will work through you.

To be an effective servant of Christ, you must know how to pray. You cannot learn to pray by reading a book or doing a study. You must learn to pray by praying. Discipline yourself to spend regular time in prayer, alone with God and with other believers. Jesus rose up early in the morning to pray (Mark 1:35). Your time with God is important enough to get yourself up in the morning to start your day with Him. Continue to talk to God as you go through each day. You can pray almost all of the time.

Make a list of people and things you need to pray for on this trip. Do not neglect people in your church and family who will stay behind.

FLEXIBILITY Mark 6:30-34

In Romans 15:28,29 Paul told the believers in Rome that he would visit them on his way to Spain. Those were Paul's plans. You only have to read the book of Acts to discover that Paul had to adjust his plans.

It must have been hard on Jesus and His disciples to have their rest interrupted. Read Matthew 6:30-34 before continuing this study.

It was not beyond Jesus to tell the disciples what they were going to face on their vacation trip. He knew they were not really going to get their rest. The Master was teaching His disciples and us not to chafe when circumstances demand changes. Plans you make for this mission will certainly change as you see God working in the people and circumstances. You can be free to adapt as you remember God is not surprised. He is teaching you to trust Him.

Choose the best response to the demand for change on a mission trip.

__A. "I don't know why our leaders changed our plans after we got here. They should have anticipated this."

__ B. "We might as well quit and go home, if we are not going to do what we planned in the first place."

__ C. "The rest of you can change if you want. I am going to do what we planned while we were still at home."

__ D. "God knew we would have to make this change. He must be doing something special in this circumstance."

ACCEPTING PHYSICAL HARDSHIP Philippians 4:10-131 Corinthians 12:7-102 Corinthians 1:8-112 Corinthians 4:1-12Hebrews 12:4-13James 1:2-12

Going on a mission trip will almost certainly present physical difficulties. You cannot drink the water in many places. The food will be different. Transportation may be slow and uncomfortable. At times you may be cold inside buildings as well as outside. At other times you may be too hot. The public bathrooms may stink if they exist.

Paul learned to trust God in worse circumstances than these. Read the scriptures listed for this study. Write the central thought of each passage in your journal before continuing this study.

We took eight ladies into a small town in the Ukraine. Their ages ranged from 14 to 67. They had to carry their luggage for long distances. They had to walk several miles every day. They went two weeks with out any hot water. They were cold and uncomfortable. Yet none of them would trade for the experience. The blessing of seeing God work over shadowed the difficulty. Sharing the gospel

IN SPITE OF OPPOSITION1 Thessalonians 2:1-5

Presenting the gospel to people will always produce cultural and spiritual opposition. While many people in the world are hungry to hear the message of Christ, opposition can be intense.

Believers in the New Testament faced the same opposition. In Acts 17 the Jews caused a riot because they were jealous of the reception the gospel received. Paul and Silas escaped hostilities in Thessalonica only to find the Jews from Thessalonica had followed them to Berea where they stirred up another riot. And in 1Thessalonians 2:1-5 Paul tells how he was able to share the gospel in spite of opposition.

Read 1Thessalonians 2:1-5. Note each of the following issues.

1. "The appeal we make does not spring from impure motives."

Examine your motives for telling people about Jesus, on this trip or at any time. Are your motives pure?

2. "We speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel."

Have you considered the precious truth God has given you? Because of the gospel you have become a child of God who loves you with an everlasting love. The gospel is not only a precious gift; it is a great responsibility. God has trusted you with the power to give eternal life to all who will believe. Surely that out weighs the fear of opposition.

3. "We are not trying to please men but God who tests our hearts."

If you are worried about pleasing men, you will not please God. God will test the devotion of your heart. Every time you have an opportunity to speak to someone about Christ your devotion is being tested. Do you desire to please God or men?

In your journal list the three things that helped Paul present the gospel in spite of opposition.

GROWTH FROM SHARING Philemon 6

Read and memorize Philemon 6.

This verse contains a simple principle that every believer needs to grasp. We grow to a fuller understanding of what we have in Christ by sharing our faith. You will find this true as an individual believer and in the fellowship of a church.

Take these related assignments very seriously.

Assignment # 1. Begin sharing with people in your church what God has been saying to you as He prepares you for this mission trip.

God builds up the body of believers as we share with one another.

Assignment # 2. Pray for the opportunity to lead an unbeliever to repent and accept Christ. Start by praying for unbelievers that you already know.

Sharing your faith where you are is the best preparation for missions evangelism.

Assignment # 3. When God allows you to lead someone to Christ, begin sharing with that person everything you might want to share with a new believer overseas.

Your own understanding will increase as you teach this new believer.

Assignment # 4.Commit yourself to take every opportunity after you return to share what God did on this mission.

God will use your experience to touch the lives of others in your church and

beyond. He will stir in others a desire to be involved in missions.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

REMOVING BARRIERS Ephesians 2:11-22

One of the greatest challenges of this type of partnership mission is working together with believers from another culture, who speak a different language and understand from a different perspective. This is also one of the greatest blessings involved in such a mission.

In John 17:20,21 Jesus prayed "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." God will use the unity between believers from different cultures to convince the world to believe in Jesus.

The miracle that God must perform to help you work together as a team is described in Ephesians 2:11-22.

Read these verses and answer the related questions, true or false.

1. T__ , F__, The foreign nationals need to take the initiative in making friends with us. After all, we are the guests here.

2. T__ , F__, I am the only one who can establish a relationship with another believer.

3. T__ , F__, No one can overcome differences between people. 4. T__ , F__, God must remove barriers between people.

5. T__ , F__, I can't be expected to be close to people who are different.

6. T__ , F__, God reconciles us to Himself.

7. T__ , F__, We can pray together because God gives us access to Himself.

8. T__ , F__, God makes us members of one family.

9. T__ , F__, There are some Christians that you just cannot get close to.

10. T__ , F__, God removes our natural hostilities.

As soon as you know the names of the people who will be on your team, write them in your Journal and begin praying daily for each of them.

WORKING IN YOU Philippians 2:13

God not only desires to work through you on this mission trip. He is also doing a work in you. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience. Are you open for God to work in your life?

Read and memorize Philippians 2:12,13.

God often makes changes in us by allowing us to face difficulties.

Read 1 Peter 5:10, Romans 5:2-4 and James 1:2-5. Note particular things listed in these passages that God may desire to do in your life.

Read Hebrews 13:21 and choose the best response to this related question.

Why is God working in you?

a. to make me fit for His purpose

b. for His pleasure

c. for his glory

d. all of the above

Read Philippians 1:6 and answer these questions.

1. Who began good work in you?

a. my parents

b. my pastor

c. I did.

d. God

2. Is the work complete? _____YES _____NO

3. Is God still working in you? _____NO _____YES

Write a paragraph in your Journal describing your current level of commitment and maturity in Christ.

Write another paragraph about how you believe God might challenge your relationship with Him. List changes God may desire to make in your attitudes and character.