3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.

5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord.

6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.

10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.

11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.

12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

1 Samuel 7:3-12 (KJV)

Missions is Commitment to Speak for God

Examples of those who spoke on behalf of God.

  • Moses and Aaron spoke for God before Pharaoh. (Exodus 5:1)
  • The prophet Micaiah spoke for God before Ahab. (1 Kings 22:14)
  • John the Baptist spoke for God. (John 1:23)
  • Peter and John spoke for God. (Acts 4:12)

The declaration of God’s Word is power! But when God’s Word is preached, what is our response?

Does God bring us under conviction? (Jeremiah 20:9, Luke 24: 32) When God convicts us, do we obey? (Acts 2:37) Do we avoid? Do we resist? (Acts 6:10) Do we pretend that it is not for us? Do we let is pass from one ear to another? (Acts 24:25) Do we harden our hearts? (Hebrews 4:7)

Missions is Commitment to Serve God and Sacrifice for Him

Jesus Christ was the initiator and our example of sacrifice. (Ephesians 5:2, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Philippians 4:18, Acts 10:4, Hebrews 13:16, 2 Corinthians 8:1-2)

According to these verses, faith promise missions giving is a sacrifice that is well pleasing before God.

The Hannahic Method
You do not have it, so you pray and ask, and when it is provided for, you give it to God.

The Abrahamic Method
You have it, you have some surplus, or you sacrifice your own wants, and you give it instead and ahead to the Lord and wait for Him to return it you.

Missions is commitment to speak for God. Missions is commitment to serve God. Missions is commitment to serve God and sacrifice for Him.

Missions is Seeing the Commitment of God to Help

We need God’s help to fulfill our commitments. It is also about His commitment to help those who have placed their full reliance upon Him. (Philippians 4:19, Psalm 121:1-2)

Where is your help coming from? While commitment starts with a decision, a prayer, a word or a commitment slip, it must be followed through with action. (2 Corinthians 8:11)