MOBILE MINISTRIES
ANOTHER VESSEL USED TO SHARE
THE MESSAGE
The plans of God for the redemption of mankind were hidden in his heart from eternity past. He would send part of himself as a redeemer at a certain time, but how would the future be provided for? The Redeemer would need to have a period of earthly ministry to pass on the truth of God's plan. To really make sure that humanity received the pure Good News until his return the redeemer planned to individually call people to that task, both during his earthly ministry and after his ascension to heaven. During his earthly ministry Jesus, and the band of individually called ones, travelled around doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil. When Jesus called the first groups of disciples by name to be his followers the first mobile ministry team was born. Everything that we now know as the New testament Church emerged from the dedicated labour of these people and those who subsequently heard that individual call to serve him in this way.
We are given an insight into the importance of these people when we read in Acts 1 that Jesus spent 40 days between the resurrection and the ascension 'teaching them about the Kingdom of God'. Immediately after he ascended we are given a series of windows into the life of the early church. In Acts 1 they knew exactly what to do even though the Lord Jesus was now no longer physically with them. In Acts 2 they received what they needed and set out to establish church life that overwhelms us with awe (2:42-47). In Acts 3 we are shown how they were ready to be led by the Holy Spirit and in Acts 4 that they knew how to deal with attacking forces.
To make the church lose its way, become ineffectual and introduce error, the enemy of our souls needed to weaken and then destroy the mobile ministry. Of course, over the centuries, he has never been entirely successful, but he has done an immense amount of damage. For
example most Christians today regard the mobile ministry as an unnecessary, optional extra!
That is exactly the reason why restoration must include the New Testament-type mobile ministry as well as recognition of the priesthood of all believers. These individually called people must be encouraged to network and to move out, under the leadership of Jesus, to help, encourage, strengthen teach and advise the restoration families that are emerging throughout the world. Check their validity by all means but then receive them with joy!