10/6/13 Design For Life
Missions Launch - That All May Hear
From the beginning of the church there have been spiritual battles. On the day of Pentecost there were people in Jerusalem from many countries. 3,000 people were saved and they scattered to their homes. The church had a powerful launch. The message of Jesus spread all over the known world. They headed east into Asia, including many of the countries called the “stan” countries - those whose names end in stan. These nations were once home to a thriving Christian movement. Wars and persecution brought the church to near extinction. During the first 700 years there was a strong missions movement throughout the east.
With the rise of Islam, vast areas were overcome and the church was devastated. Those nations were isolated and Islam ruled with an iron hand. Persecution still exists. But, the church is gaining ground and people are being saved. Christian workers are being trained and local churches are starting. It is an intense battle, but God’s kingdom is making headway.
The battle against God has been going on since the beginning of time. We see it from Genesis to Revelation.
Israel and the Philistines were at war. That seemed to happen often. It did not look good for Israel. They were without the weapons they needed, they were outnumbered. And, they were discouraged. They had no hope for victory, only expecting defeat. They had no reason to expect anything but a massacre.
1 Samuel 13:6 NLT
6 The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns.
This is not a good situation when your army is hiding.
Let’s get a little background foundation for this situation.
Saul had been anointed the king of Israel by the prophet Samuel.
Samuel told Saul he would meet the Philistines at Gibeah.
They were to wait seven days till Samuel arrived and gave instructions.
1 Samuel 10:8 NLT
8 Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions.
Saul disobeyed what Samuel told him and didn’t wait for him to arrive. So, in the midst of this bad situation the king was told of God’s judgement.
1 Samuel 13:13-14 NLT
13 “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. Had you kept it, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”
So, when this situation looked hopeless and they had been told of the loss of God’s blessing on the reign of Saul, what was about to happen?
1 Samuel 14:1-15 NLT
1 One day Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to where the Philistines have their outpost.” But Jonathan did not tell his father what he was doing.
2 Meanwhile, Saul and his 600 men were camped on the outskirts of Gibeah, around the pomegranate tree at Migron. 3 Among Saul’s men was Ahijah the priest, who was wearing the ephod, the priestly vest. Ahijah was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD who had served at Shiloh. No one realized that Jonathan had left the Israelite camp.
4 To reach the Philistine outpost, Jonathan had to go down between two rocky cliffs that were called Bozez and Seneh. 5 The cliff on the north was in front of Micmash, and the one on the south was in front of Geba.
6 “Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”
7 “Do what you think is best,” the armor bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.”
8 “All right then,” Jonathan told him. “We will cross over and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, ‘Stay where you are or we’ll kill you,’ then we will stop and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come on up and fight,’ then we will go up. That will be the LORD’s sign that he will help us defeat them.”
11 When the Philistines saw them coming, they shouted, “Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!” 12 Then the men from the outpost shouted to Jonathan, “Come on up here, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” “Come on, climb right behind me,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “for the LORD will help us defeat them!”
13 So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer killed those who came behind them. 14 They killed some twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre.
15 Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified.
1 Samuel 14:23 NLT
23 So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle continued to rage even beyond Beth-aven.
Let’s look at this story. Review. When there was no hope, when it seemed impossible, God directed Jonathan and a miracle deliverance happened. Everyone said it was over. One person stepped out, another followed, and God brought the victory.
What are the impossible situations we see today?
The list is very long.
Let’s start here in the St. Croix Valley. Many spiritual blockages. Many godly people have worked hard to build the church. There is a spiritual stronghold of drugs. The police chief told me, any drug you want to get you can get in New Richmond.
Across Wisconsin. Our capital city is a stronghold of evil, a stronghold of atheism. Our state is a stronghold of alcohol. It is destroying countless lives.
From a missionary friend: John Campbell (missionary I worked with in Benin, West Africa): We believe that God has great plans in store for our ministry in Benin, besides the testimony of the Scriptures, the enemy of our souls tried to take me out 3 times: I came home with a diagnosis of advanced metastic prostate cancer and had also two very serious car accidents where I nearly didn’t walk away from either one after totaling both vehicles. But God has taken care of us and will watch over us in Africa as well. (Said pray for the support so they can go next month.)
From a Christian worker in Kiev, Ukraine:
“I remember the first time I saw Saint Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria. I had never seen a church building like it before. It is simply amazing. Now, I know that the Church is not a building. It is the people that make up the church. But, a building is a place that the Church is able to meet, invite people to, and worship and grow together in.
For the last several months ICA Kiev has been without a building to meet in. They have been meeting in different locations until they can find something of their own. Please pray for God’s favor in finding the future location for our church.” -worker in Kiev, Ukraine
I read letters earlier in the service of strong battles happening in various places in the world.
Question: Do we give up? Do we say it is too hard?
What is the solution? Let’s read Acts 12:5 NLT
5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.
The church was earnestly praying during this impossible situation. The New Testament church reacted to resistance and persecution with heartfelt prayer. The situation appeared impossible: James had been martyred and Herod had Peter in the custody of sixteen soldiers. The church believed the promise that prayer is effective and the answer. Their response to Peter’s situation was a prayer meeting. God answered their prayer.
It was common for the early church to participate in extended times of corporate prayer. God’s plan is for the church to come together often to wage war in prayer. If we are going to be Biblical believers we must be people of prayer. Prayer is more than a simple prayer from time to time. We must gather and really seek God. Do we want God’s presence and power? We must be people of prayer.
When the church was formed, prayer was a high priority. The battle is the same and God’s plan is the same. We will win as we are really people of prayer. This is why every missionary who comes by gives you a prayer card. Remember me in prayer.
Every missionary also needs financial support. I get many calls throughout the year, we need support. God blesses a generous heart.
Let me leave you with two thoughts.
A friend since college days, Jerry Brooks. He is pastor at Oak Creek AG, in the past 35 years, gone from 35 people to thousands. I have asked him about their church. He told me they emphasize prayer and missions. They now give over $1 million a year to missions. He said prayer and missions are critical to what they accomplish for God.
Let me share a story from the fall of 1971. At North Central Bible College there was an annual week of special meetings. That year the speaker was Dick Eastman. During the summer there were students praying especially for the school. The spiritual climate at the school was very poor. It was a time of rebellion in our nation and it impacted the student body. There was a strong need for a spiritual breakthrough. God gave us many miracles. One night he sent everyone out of the chapel and told us to go somewhere to pray. Students lined the halls, stairways, even the elevator. Powerful prayer filled the building. God gave us a miracle offering. Students made amazing sacrifices and gave thousands of dollars. It was the breakthrough that allowed the new chapel to be built and paid for. An awesome overwhelming presence and power of God filled those meetings. Lives were changed. God’s power took over.
The overwhelming sense of the power and presence of God makes all the difference. It is what will make the difference in the St. Croix Valley in 2013. Now is the time. God is the source of victory.
