Being Mission s Minded

Transcription

1 Being Mission s Minded This morning I want to talk about something that is very dear to my heart, in fact, if you have been watching and paying attention, you may even see how important it is. It is a part of my life, it is a part of my God-given DNA, and it is a passion and a desire that continues on and will probably last my life time. The topic is Missions reaching people of every race, tribe and tongue with the Good News of Jesus. You may or may not know it but the words mission, missions, or missionary are not found in the Bible. In fact, the word rapture isn t found in the Bible. Though they are not Bible words, they sure have become a part of the Christian vocabulary. Though the word missions is not found in the Bible, reaching people, both here, and in other lands with the Good News of Jesus Christ is illustrated and commanded in Scripture. When I talk about missions I am talking about missions both here and abroad. Is one more important than the other? Mission s both overseas and here in our backyard are equally important because it all centers around people. It is my conviction that the Bible is not only a book about God but is also a record of how God reaches out to mankind His mission. Ephesians 1:10-13 tells us: 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,* for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. 12 God s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own* by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. This mission is therefore universal and available to everyone. The bible is the story of how God saves mankind. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us: 9 The Lord isn t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. Three Things We Know About Missions 1. Missions is the HEART of Christ John 4:4 tells about a journey that Jesus took. It tells us: 4 He had to go through Samaria on the way.

2 There were two highways from Judea to the northern territory of Galilee. One is shorter than the other. Devout Jews avoided the route through Samaria and preferred the longer route than to journey among people they detested. The MUST of our text was not a necessity imposed by geographical restrictions. The route through Samaria was a necessary way because there was a needy woman. Jesus heart was so filled with love for the lost, he went the route other Jews would not dare. God had only one Son, and He made Him a missionary. Mark 1:38 tells us: 38 But Jesus replied, We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came. 2. Missions is the HOPE of the Condemned Without the gospel, man is helpless, hopeless, and hell bound. Though the lost here may not recognize it, the domed in hell know the hope of the lost is missions. We find a great illustration given by Jesus in Luke 16. It is a story of a Rich Man and a poor man. Look at this story with me in Luke 16:19-31: 19 Jesus said, There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. 22 Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham.* The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and his soul went to the place of the dead.* There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. 24 The rich man shouted, Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames. 25 But Abraham said to him, Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there. 27 Then the rich man said, Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don t end up in this place of torment. 29 But Abraham said, Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote. 30 The rich man replied, No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God. 31 But Abraham said, If they won t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won t listen even if someone rises from the dead. Those who refused to embrace the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and in his resurrection, and who are now waiting for an eternity in hell, cry our and know the urgency of this hour. This sense of urgency should motivate us to tell others about

3 Jesus. The story is told of an agnostic professor who visited the Fiji Islands. The professor remarked to an elderly choir You are a great leader, but it is a pity you have been taken in by those Christian missionaries. No one believes the Bible anymore. People are tired of the story of Christ dying on cross for the sins of mankind. They know better now. I am sorry you been so foolish as to accept their story. The old chief s eyes flashed as he answered, See that great rock over there? On it we smashed the heads of our victims. Notice the furnace next to it? In that oven we used to roast the bodies of our victims. If it wasn t for the those missionaries and the message they brought that changed us from cannibals to Christians, you would our next supper. Romans 10:13-15 tells us: 13 For Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. * 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news! * The Hope of so many lies within our hands. My prayers is that as a church that we make the most of every opportunity that presents itself. We showed it in our willingness to show kindness and give to our missionaries in Costa Rica and Mexico City, so that lives will be changed. We have an opportunity to reach into the life of a Zambian Pastor coming in November. We have now been invited to go to Costa Rica, or Mexico City and lend a helping hand. The question posed to us is what will we do with these opportunities? Will we turn them away? Will we treat them as just another project? I pray that we will send, tell and bring the good news of Jesus 3. Missions is the HEALTH of the Church In Mark 16:15 Jesus said: Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. What was the last command of His lips must have been one of the dearest desires of His heart. Since salvation through Christ has been provided for all men, it must be proclaimed to all men. Only as the church fulfills her missionary obligation does she justify her existence. The mission of the church is missions That everyone will know God. How can God change us to be mission s minded Christians? I believe that we can ask God for three things that line up with his Word.

4 A. Ask God to show you the Harvest. In John 4:35 Jesus said: 35 You know the saying, Four months between planting and harvest. But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe* for harvest. Some within the church just need a complete wake up call. The church is not just about you and me, it is also about more people out there who are still at risk of being eternally lost. The harvest is ready. There may be some who think that reaching other countries is their problem. There may be some who are worried about sending too much of our resources overseas. But the God that I serve rewards those who respond how he responded to the great need worldwide. B. Ask God to motivate you to do something about it. Jesus said in Matthew 9:37-38: 37 The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. I hope within all of us, God is doing something within us that longs for the salvation of more and more people that we are taking on the fathers heart for his lost children. We cannot simply watch people go to a hopeless eternity with out saying something. Ask God to send more workers or should I say, ask God to make you into one of his workers. C. Ask God for the strength to reach others. Psalm 126:5-6 tells us: 5 Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. 6 They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest. Reaching out to others with the Good News is hard work. It requires patience, endurance, kindness, effort, etc. but it is worth it. The salvation of one soul is worth any effort that is required of us. Ask God for strength to lead others and ask him to help you keep your eye on the day when you will experience the joy of bringing others to heaven with you. The church that does not evangelize will fossilize! If God wants to evangelize the world, and you refuse to support it, then you are opposed to the will of God. The supreme task of the church is the evangelization of the world. When God loved, He loved the world. When the Father gave His Son, He gave His Son for the world. When the Son

5 died, He died for the world. God s vision is the world. If the business of the church is not about God s business, the church has no business being in business. There is a bridge built across Panther Creek in Western Kentucky. It was built by the United States government. It was a source of pride and a symbol of recovery. Today, years later, the bridge looks as new as the day in which it was built because there is no road leading to it or from it. A bridge that doesn t carry traffic is a bridge in name only, and a church that doesn t go with the GOSPEL is a church in name only. CHRIST ALONE CAN SAVE THE WORLD, BUT CHRIST CANNOT SAVE THE WORLD ALONE. Are you part of the problem or the solution? Are you willing to get the Gospel to some area of the world where Christ has not been preached? The Coca-Cola company seems to be everywhere. How did it get there? A motto that is posted in the company headquarters explains it: THINK GLOBALLY, BUT ACT LOCALLY. Being missions minded means to be Christ hearted. Let s Pray!