HOW TO INITIATE A MISSIOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH
"Then He said to His Disciples, ‘The Harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers into His Harvest.’” Matthew 9:37-38(NKJV)
BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 9:37-38; LUKE 4:18; ACTS 1:8; JOHN 4:35; ROMANS 10:14-15; PSALM 96:3; MATTHEW 28:19-20
A Missiological Breakthrough occurs when God's Transformative Power breaks through the barriers that hinder the Advancement of His Kingdom. It is a Divine Moment when His Mission is propelled forward, disrupting strongholds and opening hearts to His Truth. Initiating such a Breakthrough requires a Partnership with the Holy Spirit, aligned with His Will and sensitive to His Leading. Jesus, the Ultimate Missionary, demonstrated how to engage in this Mission effectively. He came with a Purpose, and everything He did was rooted in that Mission: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim Good News to the poor"(Lk. 4:18).
The first step in initiating a Missiological Breakthrough is understanding the Heart of God for the lost. God’s Desire is that all people come to the Knowledge of the Truth (1Tim. 2:4) and this Heart must become our own. When we begin to see the world through God's Eyes, with Compassion and Urgency, it sets us on the Path of action. As we seek God's Heart for the nations, we move beyond mere programs and strategies and enter into the Realm of Divine Appointments, where the Holy Spirit works mightily to soften hearts and prepare the ground for the Seed of the Gospel.
Prayer is a Key Component in initiating a Missiological Breakthrough. Jesus instructed His Disciples to pray earnestly for the Lord to send laborers into the Harvest Field (Matt. 9:37-38). Our Prayers must reflect a Desire for God to break down barriers, be it cultural, emotional, or Spiritual, and create opportunities for His Message to be heard. Through Intercession, we partner with God in His Mission, inviting His Power to work in ways we cannot. Prayer also strengthens our Faith and empowers us to go into unfamiliar territories with Boldness and Courage, trusting that God will go before us.
Another Essential Element is building relationships and engaging with people from all walks of life. Jesus didn't merely preach from a distance; He built Genuine Relationships with the people He encountered. He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well (Jn. 4), healed the sick and reached out to the marginalized. As Christian believers, we must be willing to enter the world of those we seek to reach. It's through Relationships, Conversations, Acts of Kindness, shared experiences that people come to know the Love of Christ.
A Missiological Breakthrough also requires Obedience to the Calling, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable the Journey may seem. The Apostle Paul exemplified this in his Missionary Journeys, facing persecution, imprisonment, and hardship for the sake of spreading the Gospel (Acts 13-14). He was driven by a Deep Conviction that God's Mission was worth any Sacrifice. Likewise, when we obey God’s Call, even when it stretches us beyond our comfort zones, we participate in bringing about a Powerful Shift in the Spiritual Atmosphere.
Finally, a Missiological Breakthrough is sustained by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His Disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Promised Holy Spirit, who would empower them to be His Witnesses (Acts 1:8). It is the Holy Spirit Who transforms hearts, opens doors, and empowers us to boldly declare the Gospel. Without His Work, our efforts are futile. Therefore, we must rely on His Guidance and Power to accomplish the Mission He has set before us. As we initiate a Missiological Breakthrough, we must remember that it is not by our might or power but by the Spirit of God (Zech. 4:6). When we align our hearts with God’s Mission, commit to Prayer, build Relationships, obey His Call and depend on the Holy Spirit, we set the Stage for a Mighty Move of God in the world. This is the Mission we are called to, one that has the Potential to change lives, communities, and nations for the Glory of God.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the privilege of being part of Your Great Mission to reach the world with the Gospel. O Lord, please empower us by Your Holy Spirit to step out boldly and fulfill the Great Commission. Open our eyes to the fields that are ripe for Harvest and raise up laborers for the Work ahead. Help us to be Faithful in sharing Your Love and Truth, both near and far. May our lives reflect Your Heart for the nations and may Your Kingdom come in Power in Jesus' Mighty Name we pray. Amen.