Missionary/missions talk continued...

This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. Acts 19:10

Paul was there for two years proclaiming the good news of Jesus. Paul was not a long-term missionary, but I use this verse to show you that a long-term missionary stays for years in one place. they live and do life in that country with locals and others alike. They do all the same things a short-term missionary does but do it for a longer period. they can create deeper ties to the community in which they are in because they are there longer. They are considered to be part of the community. 

This is key because they need to be able to trust that person or they will not trust in the good news. What I by that is if they don't see the fruits of what you are preaching how will they trust what you are saying and believe for themselves. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:20 people did not believe Paul at first because of what he had done but from the fruits that he produced, I believe that is why they believed in what he was saying. People will not believe you if you do not have the right fruit. I'm going off off-topic and that is a whole message unto itself. I did need to mention it because if Paul had not had good fruit and like other missionaries, he would not have had anyone believe him.

Long-term missionaries need to be creditable to proclaim the good news. They are not there to destroy what is being done in that country but to lift it up and proclaim the good news. If they go and try to change things as they want, they are not doing the lord's work right. They are there for God and do his work. I say this because a lot of missionaries come in and think they are doing good and are actually doing more harm than good. we are to go out and do this work, but we need to make sure we are doing it right. Nothing that we do for the kingdom will be easy but is something we can do. That is why we know that God is with us and has he has called people to do this kind of work. 

I leave it there for today and will finish this up tomorrow.

All bible verses taken from the NASB