Missions Follow Up -- SO ALL CAN HEAR
10/28/12 Ready, Set, GROW!!
The past two weeks we have had our annual Missions Convention. Why have a missions convention and why get excited about missions? Why the effort and sacrifice?Let me tell you about a man I met in Brazil.
Picture
One interesting event when Pastor Richard and I were touring the coastal area. Richard was thirsty and went to a building where he thought he could buy a bottle of water. He started talking with the man there who said they didn’t sell water, but would give him some water to drink.
As we were talking (they were talking and I listening and not understanding) we saw an open Bible on the counter. Richard asked him about it. The place was not a store but a beach outreach from a church. Richard said he knew the church and the pastor. The man was a surfer, party-life guy who had gotten saved. He worked there at the ministry. The surfer beach is very popular with the youth. Every weekend the beach is full of kids and there is much sin that happens. The church has the outreach to minister to the youth. He showed us a wooden box. He sat on it and the front is a drum. He demonstrated and he could get amazing sounds out of it. They are there to reach a generation of people looking for answers and thinking they will find them in sin. It was very interesting and again, we ran in to a Christian. Brazil has many Christians. The Brazilian Assemblies of God has 15 million people. There are millions more in other fellowships.
The reason why we have a missions convention, the reason why we have church services and teach the Bible, is because Jesus is the only hope of the world. Like this young man who found that Jesus filled what he was seeking, millions have found the answer in Jesus. The last thing Luke records Jesus saying in Acts 1 is this: “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” V.8.
We are to be witnesses of Jesus and all He did. It starts locally, then spreads out farther and farther and goes to the ends of the earth. We are to be witnesses because Jesus knew He was the only real hope for the world.
Acts 4:12 NKJV
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
NLT
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.
The Message
Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.
WEYMOUTH
And in no other is the great salvation to be found; for, in fact, there is no second name under Heaven that has been given among men through which we are to be saved.
This is the footnote from the Fire Bible:
Salvation... in no one else. Jesus’ disciples were convinced that the greatest need of every individual was to be rescued from the consequences of rebellion and opposition against God so they could enjoy a personal and eternal relationship with him. They preached that this need could be met by no one other than Jesus Christ. He is the only one whose perfect and sinless life (Heb 4:15) could have provided the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for sin once and for all (1Pe 3:18). This truth reveals the exclusive nature of spiritual salvation (i.e., the fact that it comes only one way—through faith in Jesus Christ; see Jn 14:6). It also highlights the church’s responsibility of communicating the message of Christ to every person. If there were other ways to be spiritually saved and to have a personal relationship with God, then the church would not have to face its mission with such urgency. But according to Christ himself (see Jn 14:6, note), there is no hope of salvation for anyone apart from Christ and faith in him (cf. 10:43; 1Ti 2:5-6). This fact is the basis for the church’s need to support missionary efforts (i.e., people and ministries that take Christ’s message to people in other places, nations and cultures).
Acts 4:7 NKJV
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
Authority. There must be power, authority to do the miraculous. The disciples were asked how the healing of a crippled man happened. Jesus is not limited by political power or the laws of evil leaders. There is power in the name of Jesus. Since Jesus never changes, His power is just as strong today.
John 14:6 NKJV
Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
This is a clear declaration by Jesus that He is the ONLY way. While this may offend some people, it is still the truth. How will people know this if no one tells them?
Romans 10:13-15 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
Someone has to tell each individual person about the love and hope found in Jesus. Someone must tell them the truth of Jesus. This telling is local, regional, national and worldwide.
What are the results of telling people around the world of Jesus? People are changed. Hope is given where there is no hope. Eternity comes into focus.
I have had the privilege of traveling and teaching in three other continents. I want to share some of my experiences and the insights I have gained.
Brazil
Student ministries, Chi Alpha weekend conference.
Pic: the students had posters with Biblical themes. Luke 9:62 NKJV
But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” They painted their hands and put them to the plow.
Pic: Joyful students ready to serve the Lord.
Pic: prayer time with believers in the local church. Anxious to seek God. They expressed great joy in knowing Jesus.
Pic: George’s car. Speed The Light. Youth missions program the provides millions of dollars annually to purchase equipment, transportation for missionaries. The kind of vehicle purchased depends on the need. Here, George lives in Amsterdam, a practical vehicle for the city.
Pic: This Toyota Land Cruiser diesel is what we drove in West Africa. Four wheel drive, high clearance. Why is this needed here? Look at the roads.
Pic: This was my first day there, driving from the airport to Dassa-Zoume, where I would teach. The main highway was flooded. It was worse the day before. Many vehicles got stuck there. We drove right through.
Pic: BGMC A well on the campus of the Bible School to provide water. Water is hard to come by. This well is a major blessing.
Pic: What are the options for water? Pumping it by hand and pushing a cart.
Pic: What were the streets like? Dirt. All these men are taxi drivers. If you want a taxi you will have a motorcycle ride.
Pic: Do you need fuel for your bike? Here it is at the local convenience store.
Pic: There was road construction going on. We drove past this every day on the way to the Bible School. This is how they were mixing cement for the curbs to help control rain runoff.
Pic: More streets.
Pic: More streets.
Pic: This is a street in the large city, Cotonou, where the airport was.
Pic: Do you want electricity? Here is a local utility pole.
I show you these pictures to see the setting the people live in. Nothing was fancy. No hot water in the motel I stayed in. Electricity went off multiple times every day. Medical care was almost not existent. Yet, as the people find Jesus, there is joy in their hearts. They love the Lord.
Pic: this is the chapel on campus. The student body circled it and had a powerful prayer meeting.
One more picture, transition to Amsterdam. I spoke at a local church. I met a young man who was wanting to go into youth ministry. He had an interesting story. He grew up there. He went to Africa on a volunteer program. He got saved THERE. He told me that it was much harder to get saved in Amsterdam than Africa. His goal was to get training and reach out to the street youth of Amsterdam.
The needs of the world are overwhelming. We know, we have the answer. But, it takes effort, it takes sacrifice to get the job done. A few weeks ago, Kevin Senapatiratne used an illustration about skiing. Well, I have never gone skiing in my life. But, as I thought of his story, I thought of something from my life. Let me borrow and modify his story.
There is a popular puzzle game called sudoku. It is a number puzzle. One day Andrea encouraged me to try it. I did. I decided that if I was going to do it I should learn about it. So, I read about strategy and started out with the really easy ones. Little by little I learned and got better.
I make no claim to be a champion, but I can now figure out some hard ones. The easy ones that I used to do are now boring. I find myself only doing the hard ones in the book and the easy owes get ignored. I enjoy the challenge of the harder puzzles.
That is a good illustration of life. We need a challenge. We don’t just want to read about Dick and Jane and their dog, Spot. Spiritually, we often want to do just the easy things. But, the task is hard and the battle challenging.
**As we grow closer to the Lord
**As we see the world more the way God sees it
**As we see the need more clearly
*****We want to step out and let God take us to new areas of service for Him.
God will take us to greater accomplishments for Him than we ever thought possible.
Missions will:
start locally
expand outward
include each one of us
LIFE APPLICATION: The Next Step
Ready, Set, GROW!
What are the key points of this message?
How can we apply this message?
