One Body, One Mission
Christianity is an ongoing mission. From mission field to mission field, nations and generations are being evangelized and discipled for Christ. The focus of any mission is directly connected to the whole of the vision. As believers, our vision is souls won to Christ and lives transformed by the power of the Gospel message. To be effective, we as individuals must operate as a whole.
We have been engrafted into the body of Christ. 1st Corinthians 12:12–13 states:
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…”
The body of Christ has been commissioned with a calling to reveal and demonstrate the victory that is ours through Christ. The scope of this commission extends to the nations of the world. Jesus declared in Mark 16:15:
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
This same commission is echoed in Matthew 28:19:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
Since we are one body, the vision is one. Yet that one body, in order to fulfill the commission, must operate in a multitude of missions and mission fields.
It Begins With You
It all begins with you. Through the working of the Holy Spirit in your life, you carry the potential to take your place as a valued part of the body—one that moves the whole toward completing the mission. Your growth as a believer in who you are in Christ, and the increase of your faith walk, is the foundation that allows you to evangelize your world.
From you, the Word and promises that belong to you are spoken over every aspect of your life. From you, the victory won at Calvary is applied to your future. With a renewed mind, you come to know the perfect will of God and understand your calling and part in the Kingdom.
To know your purpose places you in a position to be fully pleasing to God in all you do. Romans 12:1–2 exhorts us:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Your personal growth in the Word and your application of it to your life, your family, and your world are foundational to the expansion of the Gospel. Full of the Holy Spirit, you become an integral part of believers who are on fire—full of faith and empowered by the Holy Spirit—advancing the mission and calling of the Church into generations and nations.
The Mission of the Local Church and the Nations
The mission begins in the local church. It is here that the flock is fed, believers are strengthened, needs are met, communities are reached with the Gospel, and disciples are trained to walk effectively in their calling. From this foundation, the Gospel is carried outward to the nations of the world.
There are churches to be planted, lives to be discipled, nations to be evangelized, outreaches to be launched, and both spiritual and natural needs to be met. Every believer is called into service.
Ephesians 2:10 declares:
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), we are positioned for action. From this place, we possess all that we need to engage our purpose.
Ephesians 1:3 further reminds us:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”
To every believer, there is a personal commission.
One Body, Many Roles
Each believer has a calling in Christ to produce the good works they are responsible for. In the military, every soldier is assigned a specific role. Each is expected to fulfill their duties according to their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). From the chow hall to vehicle drivers, from communications and administrative roles to the front lines—each position matters. Together, they form a unified force that moves as one.
In Judges 6:16, the Lord tells Gideon:
“Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”
There would be such unity in purpose and execution that it would be as if one perfect man carried out the mission. Scripture often presents the people of God in military terms. In 2 Timothy 2:3–4, Paul writes:
“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”
Paul understood that our mission involves spiritual warfare and that the enemy actively seeks to hinder believers from fulfilling their calling.
2 Corinthians 2:11 warns us:
“Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
Fighting the Right Battle
Scripture reminds us that while we live in the natural world, our warfare is spiritual. 2nd Corinthians 10:3–6 declares:
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
Peter adds this exhortation in 1 Peter 5:8–9:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”
Every mission for souls and spiritual growth involves conflict. Advancing the Kingdom of God is our ultimate mission, and it requires vigilance, unity, and perseverance.
Staying on Mission
The daily challenge before us is this: Are we staying on mission? Are we walking in step with God’s calling and purpose for our lives? Are we working together as one body, building the Kingdom as one man?
When Nehemiah rebuilt the wall, each person worked from their assigned position. No two sections were the same. The terrain varied. The opposition differed. Yet the wall had to be built to the same height and the same standard. Unity of purpose produced completion despite resistance.
Two areas must continually be kept in check. First is our personal walk with God. Are we maintaining a consistent prayer life with a posture of listening to the Holy Spirit? Are we staying rooted in the Word and intentionally strengthening our faith? Are we covering ourselves and others in prayer and declaring God’s promises over our lives?
This alignment keeps us in one accord with other believers and enables us to move forward together. When we do, the enemy cannot steal, kill, or destroy what God is doing in and through us (John 10:10).
The second area is staying aligned with the specific calling and mission God has entrusted to us. Ministries and individuals alike must regularly examine whether they are remaining true to the vision God gave them. Distractions can arise from many directions.
Jesus warned in Matthew 13:22:
“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”
Sometimes, we must pause to check our bearings.
Staying the Course
Years ago, I earned my pilot’s license and spent time flying small aircraft. While I am not currently flying, I understand the discipline required to remain current and safe. Pilots must fly regularly, stay informed, and continually assess their position.
On a cross-country flight, there are no road signs in the sky. A slight crosswind may seem insignificant at first, but over time, if left uncorrected, it can take you far off course. Constant awareness and course correction are essential to reaching the intended destination.
Our lives as believers reflect this same principle. We must:
- Stay in the race
- Stay on course
- Confront distractions
- Run to win
Hebrews 12:1–2 encourages us:
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
Finishing Well
Believers, we are called to the highest calling. Our mission is the salvation of souls and the building of the body of Christ worldwide—to be a supernatural representation of all that Christ is and has accomplished for us.
Our mission, and our missions, are to stay the course, run the race, fight the good fight, and faithfully complete our calling. May we live in such a way that we one day hear the words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
CALL TO ACTION:
- Stay on mission. Reflect on where God has placed you, and commit to walking faithfully in the calling He has given you.
- Take your place in the body. Grow in the Word, stay aligned with the Spirit, and let your obedience strengthen the whole.
- Run the race set before you. Resist distraction, stay the course, and finish the mission God entrusted to you.
