GIFTS of MISSIONAL LIVING: A 5-Day Journey Exploring the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for Missional LifeSample

PROVISION FOR MISSION

We have been rejoicing in the Holy Spirit’s gifts for missional living — the power and presence of the Spirit with those whom the Spirit calls. The Holy Spirit’s power fuels the mission to which he calls us, and his presence assures us that we are not left alone to carry out that mission on our own strength.

We saw in Acts 13 how Barnabas and Saul answered the Spirit’s call to missional living. Over the years of faithful obedience to that call, Saul (who became the Apostle Paul) learned many lessons about depending on the Spirit’s resources for carrying out the mission. In Philippians 4, Paul gives us a glimpse of yet another gift from the Holy Spirit to those who are on mission with Jesus: provision. Paul is writing this letter to a local church that has partnered closely with him as he’s been traveling around the Mediterranean world preaching the Gospel. At times during that itinerant ministry, Paul has been able to be bi-vocational, working part-time as a tent maker to support himself and as a part-time evangelist (see Acts 18:1–4). However, most of the time, the mission was so urgent and demanding that Paul gave 100% of his time to it. In those times, he relied on the generous hospitality and support of the local churches to meet his basic needs. Notice how this takes us right back to what we saw in Paul’s call story (Acts 13). Paul was deeply connected to the local church and didn’t try to be a “lone ranger;” both Paul and the churches were attentive to discern the Holy Spirit’s calling and direction. Paul was humble enough to accept the church’s help, and the church took joy in partnering with him.

Despite existing in economically difficult circumstances, the Philippian church displayed incredible generosity to Paul’s ministry and other Christians who were in need (see 2 Cor. 8:2–5). They allowed themselves to be the Spirit’s arm of provision for Paul’s needs — and Paul allowed himself to receive that provision with graciousness and gratitude.

When the Holy Spirit calls us into Jesus’ mission, he gifts us with his power and presence and undertakes to provide for our needs as we respond in obedience to the call.