Why Mission is Vital

John 9:1-7

4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no
one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

One of the things that stands out in this passage are these two verses. These verses shake
me to the deepest parts of my being whenever I read them.

As with any passage of Scripture, the choices are there as to which subject to tackle.
There is the subject of healing and the Jewish view of sin and sickness. The disciples have that
view when they asked who had sinned because the man was blind.

We could tackle the conversation between the Jews and the healed man.

But the subject of Jesus commanding us to work while it is day is always something that
captures me.

Our last chapter emphasized Jesus being the light of the world. Here he demonstrates it.
It is physical healing. It is spiritual healing. It is a picture of the spiritual condition of humanity.

But there is a sense of urgency in these verses. We have a work to do. We can’t forget that
work. We have to keep the work of the Kingdom in our foremost thoughts. We need to realize what
we are a part of as the Body of Christ.

Being part of the Kingdom means we bring light into darkness. All the time. Everywhere. If
there is darkness, when we show up, darkness has a reaction of some sort. But there is the
knowledge that this time epoch will be over. There is a sense that we should have that this period
of light won’t go on forever.

In light of that... how should we live?

1. We are called to live simply

It’s not about being simplistic. It’s about keeping it simple.

Think of this blind man. He is set free from physical blindness. In that day, it was an
incredible prison sentence. They didn’t have Braille so he couldn’t be taught to read. There weren’t
seeing eye dogs or canes. He could be taken to a spot on the road and left there to beg so maybe
there would be some income so he could eat.

He was then set free. He could SEE! Life was going to be radically different. Yet, in that

1
Why Mission is Vital Pastor Dan Thompson
Senior Pastor
Columbia Heights Assembly of God
miracle came the challenges. The Jewish leadership wasn’t happy with this new development. They
question the man. This very simple man took on the very educated Jewish leadership. His only crime
was being in the right place at the right time! All he knows is this miracle and now he’s being
persecuted!

He doesn’t know the Torah like these guys! They are coming at him.

For this man it stays simple.

v. 25 -- This one thing I know: I once was blind but now I see!

And in his simplicity, he confounded the wisdom of the intellectual set!

Friends, we are not called to leave our brains at the door. We are not called to be dumb in
this world. Yet, we need to recognize the simple power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

One of the greatest theologians of the 20th Century was a Swiss pastor named Karl Barth.
His radical theology was we needed to believe the Bible! We needed to hold to Christ in the Bible!
Radical stuff!

He came to the United States later in life and had instant celebrity to a certain point. He
was interviewed on day and was asked, “What is the greatest theological discovery of your career?”

This was a man who had written volumes on theology. He was incredibly profound in his
writing.

His answer: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

Friends, we can scale some serious heights in Christ. We can climb in the knowledge of him.
But what we must NEVER leave are the essentials.

The early church held to very few core practices and creeds. One simple creed recited at
communion was “Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ is coming again.”

We need to keep it simple so we focus on the mission. We are called to walk in the light of
the power of the Spirit. In the power of Christ. In the power of the Kingdom. And in that walk we
are to take on darkness. If we are so busy building theological castles, we don’t have time to take on
darkness!

When we live out the power of the Gospel, we penetrate the darkness whether we realize it
or not! Darkness can’t stand the light of Jesus. Just show up and see what happens!

Years ago I was working on a community board and there was one guy I couldn’t find a way

2
Why Mission is Vital Pastor Dan Thompson
Senior Pastor
Columbia Heights Assembly of God
to get along with. He just disagreed with all I said and did and we butted heads a few times. One
day as I was leaving a meeting, the Spirit spoke to my heart. “He’s not battling you. It’s the spirit of
the enemy that’s bothered by the Spirit of Christ in you.”

It helped me to keep trying. I didn’t have to hate the man. I could still work with him and
see God do something. The guy didn’t dislike me. It was a spiritual deal.

When light shows up, darkness is irritated.

In our world, we need to live simply so that the power of Christ can be manifested in this
darkness. You don’t have to go seeking darkness! The enemy will find you. Live the simple gospel.

This I know: I once was blind, but now I see.

2. We are called to live in the power of the Spirit

In this instance, Jesus moves in healing power. He sees a physical condition and moves on it.
He knows there is a work to do. He hears the Father speaking to him and he acts.

We need that life in the Spirit. We need to be like Peter and John in Acts 3.

We need to be like Paul and the Philippian slave girl.

We need to have the eyes of the Spirit. We need our ears open. We need to know that the
miraculous has not ceased and we can be used of God to see people set free in healing.

As we move with the Light of Christ in us, we carry on the mission of LIGHT.

Isa. 29:17,18

17 In a very short time, will not Lebanon be turned into a fertile field
and the fertile field seem like a forest?
18 In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll,
and out of gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind will see.

Isa. 35:4,5

4 say to those with fearful hearts,

"Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution

3
Why Mission is Vital Pastor Dan Thompson
Senior Pastor
Columbia Heights Assembly of God
 he will come to save you."
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

Isa. 42:6,7

6 "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;

I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

We are given authority to open the eyes of the blind. When Jesus comes darkness can’t
stay around. WE bring the light of Christ. WE bring freedom to the captive.

Knowing we’re just a bunch of cracked pots keeps us in check! It is the radiance of HIS
glory that shines out. Something great happens, people can glorify GOD not US!

2 Cor. 4:7

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and
not from us.

3. We are called to live with the end in mind.

Jesus declared there would be a time when light was finished. No more ability to work.
Night is coming when no one can work.

We do our job and we get to go home. We love people because of the love of God. We long
for those people to come home with us.

Living with the end in mind keeps us focused. We look for opportunities to BE the light of
Christ all around us.

We want to look for a couple of key ways as a church to focus on being light in our
community. What does God want to do through US for this city?

We look for opportunities to give. Next month is our missions emphasis. We will talk about
faith promise giving. This church has been strong in giving to missions. We want to make sure we
stay strong. In faith promise giving you ask the Lord what he wants to pour through you in the next

4
Why Mission is Vital Pastor Dan Thompson
Senior Pastor
Columbia Heights Assembly of God
year for missions. In faith you pledge that amount. He will be faithful to give that through you if
you are open to his Spirit. It’s a miraculous process. If you have not stepped out in faith giving to
missions, I invite you to this great step of faith and the miraculous.

John 9:4

4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can
work.

I think of great missionaries who are full of the Spirit and out in areas where the gospel is
just breaking through the darkness. Some I can’t even write down their full names in places because
if their names are discovered there are people watching that will look for opportunities to kick
them out of their countries... or do worse to them.

Dwight. Jerehmy. Thom. Others.

Great warriors for the Kingdom who are pushing like crazy to get the gospel into the
farthest places possible so LIGHT comes to darkness. They are working while it is day.

Jesus steps into this blind man’s life to bring LIGHT. The opportunity is there to teach the
disciples in his own day. There would be a time when HE would no longer be there physically. He is
demonstrating the urgency they need to have. WORK while the LIGHT is still available. Don’t take
the Light for granted. Look for the opportunities to bring light to darkness. They are all around.

5
Why Mission is Vital Pastor Dan Thompson
Senior Pastor
Columbia Heights Assembly of God