“Why We Should Be Involved In Missions!” is a message that reminds us of some of the reasons we should be involved in supporting missions, daily soul-winning, praying for the lost, etc.! Often, we need reminding of the reasons why we do things. Routine can dull our senses!
Title: “Why We Should Be Involved In Missions!”
Text: Various
Introduction:
• If you are like me, then you find yourself doing things and forgetting why you do them!
• The heartbeat of God is missions, and you cannot be right with God unless you love missions!
• When a church ceases to be in love with what God loves, then they cease to be a New Testament church!
• When we as individuals cease to have a heart for missions, then we fail to function as God’s instruments of salvaging broken vessels in the sea of life.
• By the way… there is no such thing as foreign and home missions; it is world missions!
Proposition: There are four reasons, among many, why we as individuals and as members of the local assembly should be involved in worldwide missions.
I. We Should Be Involved In World Wide Missions Because It Obeys The Command From Above!
A. Consider the following:
(Matthew 28:18-20) “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (KJV)
(Mark 16:15) “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (KJV)
(Luke 24:46-49) “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (KJV)
(John 21:15-17) “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (KJV)
(Acts 1:8) “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (KJV)
B. We see here that God is interested in us getting the gospel to people!
C. The Great Commission is not the Great Suggestion, Idea, Endeavor, or even the Great “Plan B”… Indeed it has become the Great Omission in many churches today.
D. Either we go or send a substitute!
E. The Great Commission is meant to be the priority not the sideline.
F. The trend in most modern church is saved centered (focussing on ourselves not the lost) not lost centered!
II. We Should Be Involved In World Wide Missions Because It Silences The Cry From Beneath!
(Luke 16:19-31) “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (KJV)
A. The rich man was concerned that someone should go and convince his brethren to heed the message of God and not come to Hell!
B. He was pleading with all that was in him for Lazarus to go back and talk to his family!
C. So it is today… people in Hell are pleading for someone to go and tell their Mom or Dad, Son or Daughter, Grandpa or Grandma, Aunt or Uncle, Cousin or grandchild.
D. If we could listen to the conversations of Hell tonight it would change our viewpoint about soul-winning!
III. We Should Be Involved In World Wide Missions Because It Answers The Call from Without!
(Acts 16:9-10) “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” (KJV)
A. If we will listen, then we will hear the cry from others to come and help them!
B. We need to see sinners the way God sees them: explain Matthew chapter nine! They are a harvest field
C. Get passed the sight, sounds, and smells of the unregenerate!
D. Paul and his companions heard the call and we should too!
E. Is God calling some person among us to go unto the heathen!
IV. We Should Be Involved In World Wide Missions Because It Fulfills the Constraining From Within!
(2 Corinthians 5:14-15) “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (KJV)
A. Just as natural as it is for a young man and woman to come together in the confines of holy matrimony and have a child together, so it is with every child of God who loves the Lord Jesus! We should desire to see someone saved!
(2 Corinthians 5:19-21) “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (KJV)
B. God left us here to tell others about Him.
C. There is no wrong candidate for our work!
D. We are to plead and beseech others to come and be saved as an Ambassador of Heaven!
E. Nothing will satisfy a believer like sharing the good news of Jesus with others!
F. Even a sourpuss can get excited and smile when they see a baby: so nothing will stir a deadened church like someone getting in the family!
Conclusion:
• Sinner be saved!
• Child of God: are you telling others? Are you burdened for the lost you know and love? Are you willing to be a missionary?
Not to long ago, my pastor, Dr. Bobby Roberson was interviewed by some men sent by Dr. Paul Chappell and Lancaster Baptist Church of Lancaster California. He was asked to share some stories, illustrations, and lessons from great men of God from the past like Tom Malone, Jack Hyles, Lester Roloff and others. Below is that video production which was first shown at the Spiritual Leadership Conference held back in July 11-14, 2010.
