July 19, 2026 | Ptr Neil Smith
The theme for this Missions Month is “Live Your Purpose, Go Beyond.” Every follower of Christ has been given a purpose that extends beyond personal comfort and success. God calls us to participate in His mission of bringing the gospel to a world experiencing a spiritual famine. Our lives are not meant to revolve around ourselves but around His purposes.
The message centers on 2 Kings 7, where four lepers found themselves trapped outside the city of Samaria during a severe famine. Rejected by society and facing certain death, they asked one another, “Why sit here until we die?” (2 Kings 7:3). Their story becomes a picture of what it means to live with faith and purpose. Though they had little to offer, God used their simple act of obedience to save an entire nation. Our circumstances do not determine our usefulness—our willingness to trust God does.
1. GIVE GOD SOMETHING
The four lepers had only two choices: remain where they were and die, or take a bold step toward the enemy’s camp. Humanly speaking, neither option guaranteed survival, but faith required movement. They chose to act instead of remaining paralyzed by fear.
God often works the same way in our lives. He invites us to take steps of faith before we see the outcome. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is rarely comfortable because it asks us to trust God before we see His provision.
The speaker illustrated this through his own life. As a young boy, he believed God had called him to preach, yet no one would allow him to preach in church. Instead of giving up, his mother encouraged him to hold church services in his bedroom. Every week he faithfully preached to his congregation of teddy bears. Years later, that same child would preach the gospel to stadiums filled with tens of thousands of people. The calling did not begin in a stadium; it began in quiet obedience.
Many people wait for extraordinary opportunities while neglecting ordinary acts of faith. Yet God often prepares us for greater assignments through small acts of obedience. Whether it is initiating a gospel conversation, praying for someone, serving faithfully, or joining a discipleship group, God simply asks us to take the next step.
2. GOD MAKES A WAY
When the lepers arrived at the enemy’s camp, they discovered something remarkable. God had caused the Aramean army to hear the sound of a great army approaching, causing them to flee and leave everything behind (2 Kings 7:6-8). The miracle happened because God worked while the lepers simply obeyed.
This reminds us that faith does not eliminate obstacles. It invites God to overcome them.
Too often we respond to difficulties with fear instead of faith. Problems become opportunities for God to display His power. Whether we face struggles in our family, finances, career, or ministry, God remains able to make a way where there seems to be none.
The speaker shared several personal examples of this principle. A cancelled mission schedule in Thailand unexpectedly opened doors to share the gospel at a university, eventually leading to long-term ministry in the country. Years later, what began as simple acts of obedience resulted in ministry opportunities across Papua New Guinea, where hundreds of thousands heard the gospel.
God’s provision often follows our obedience, not the other way around.
Faith also grows best in community. The four lepers walked together toward the enemy’s camp. Likewise, believers are not meant to pursue God’s mission alone. Jesus promised His presence when His people gather in agreement (Matthew 18:19-20). Walking alongside other believers strengthens our faith and encourages us to keep moving forward even when the outcome remains uncertain.
3. HE IS GOOD NEWS
After discovering the abandoned camp, the lepers began eating, collecting silver and gold, and hiding their newfound treasure. But eventually they realized something important: “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent” (2 Kings 7:9). Their discovery was never meant to remain private.
The same is true for those who have experienced salvation in Christ. The gospel is good news that must be shared. Like the lepers, we were once spiritually helpless, yet God extended His grace to us. We cannot keep that hope to ourselves while others remain spiritually hungry.
The people God often uses most powerfully are those who recognize their own weakness. The four lepers were rejected, broken, and overlooked, yet God chose them to deliver an entire city. Likewise, our past failures, weaknesses, or limitations do not disqualify us from God’s mission. Instead, they often become the very testimony God uses to point others to Christ.
Mission is not reserved for pastors or missionaries. Every believer has been positioned by God to influence the people around them. Whether in our homes, workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, or across the world, God invites us to take bold steps so others may hear the good news of Jesus.
Living our purpose means recognizing that our lives belong to Him. We step out in faith, trust God to make a way, and faithfully share the hope we have found in Christ. The question is not whether God is still calling people to His mission. The question is whether we are willing to take the next bold step He is asking us to take.