Jesus has called us to join His mission. there are risks and we are not guaranteed safety. However, we are promised that Jesus will be with us, giving us the words we will need and that this opposition and persecution will bring an expansion of God's Kingdom. Blessings come when we are faithful to live on mission. Are you in?

Every disciple of Jesus is a missionary irrespective of our vocation. Just as Jesus commissioned His original disciples, He has commissioned us today to announce the arrival of His Kingdom to the world. If we don’t embrace our calling to be missionaries, we are disconnected from God’s purposes for our life. Here is the question for you and me: If we are missionaries, what does this missionary lifestyle look like? What patterns, convictions and values form the core of our lives?

Discipleship is costly. The disciples were beginning their journey with Jesus and He wanted them to know this very important truth. But He also wanted to let them know that He would be with them as they grow in discipleship with him. Today, He want us to know, as He did with them, that discipleship is costly but that He would be with them on this journey.

The keyword for discipleship in all four Gospels is the word ‘follow’. When a person commits their life to Jesus Christ, they embark on a lifelong journey of following Him! While the invitation to follow Jesus is offered to all, the demands are total. Jesus calls us to embrace costly discipleship!

Death is a longstanding enemy of the human race and it brings despair and gloom. We are under the firm grip of this enemy. Jesus has already exercised His decisive authority over death. He has comprehensively defeated this enemy and removed its sting. Death no longer reigns but Jesus does!

Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God, we live in a world where sin is rampant and brings with it all forms of brokenness. The good news is Jesus breaks the power of sin! In Matt 9:1-8, Jesus forgives the sins of a man and thereby asserts yet another divine claim that He alone has the authority to forgive.

Matthew 8:28-34 shows us that Jesus holds within Himself total and supreme power and authority over the supernatural world. Jesus uses this power to free 2 men from being harassed and possessed by demons. What does this mean for us today? Jesus still has power over the supernatural world and so we don’t need to be afraid of Satan and demons. Jesus isn’t afraid of the sin and brokenness in our lives. Motivated by love and compassion and grace, Jesus heals and restores us to life.

The created world tarnished by sin has lost its balance and wavered from God’s original intent. That’s the reason we have earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and floods. Matthew 8:23-27 presents Jesus’ authority over the forces of nature. The One who has absolute authority over nature is well able to handle the storm you are facing in your life right now!

Jesus demonstrates His authority over all the forces that oppose God’s Kingdom. The last few weeks have confirmed the power of disease and the havoc it wreaths on humans. The good news is Jesus has conquered this enemy and the promise of divine healing is available to all who trust in Him!