Take Part In Missions Matt 9:35-38; 10:5-14,
26-31 Sept 30, 07
Introduction
I heard Billy Graham preach at one of our conventions and he said
something like this, "If the world is won to
Christ the significant mission organizations of this convention will
play a
meaningful part." It pleased me to hear that from him. By our actions
lets, Take Part In
Missions.
1.
Take Part In Missions Through Specific . . Prayer. 9:35-38
A. Specific Prayer For A . . Willingness To Share The
Good News. 9:35-36
35 Then Jesus went to all the
towns and villages, teaching in their • synagogues, preaching the good news of the
kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. 36 When He saw the crowds, He
felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a
shepherd.
B. Specific Prayer For . . Workers
To Share The Good News. 9:35-36
37
Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is abundant, but the
workers are few. 38 Therefore, pray to the Lord
of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."
Sometimes active church members will study missions
and pray for missionaries but
never be willing to walk across the street to witness. Specific prayer
for lost people is good, but
Jesus requested prayer for workers to go out into the mission field and
share the gospel in His
harvest. Just a few weeks ago, the evangelism team led by my wife led a
lady to the Lord. The
one who actually led the lady in the sinner's prayer was a newer
Christian zealous for evangelism
training.
2. Take Part In Missions
Through Submissive . . Planning. 10:5-10
A. Submissive Planning Following The Lord's .
.Recommendations. 10:5
5 Jesus sent out these 12 after
giving them instructions: "Don't take the road leading to
other nations, and don't enter any • Samaritan town.
B. Submissive Planning
Following The Lord's . . Requirements. 10:6-8
6 Instead, go to the lost sheep of
the house of Israel. 7 As you go, announce this: 'The kingdom of
heaven has come near.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those
with skin diseases,
drive out demons. You have received free of charge; give free of charge.
C. Submissive Planning
Following The Lord's . . Regulations. 10:6-8
9 Don't take along gold, silver, or
copper for your money-belts. 10 Don't take a taveling
bag for the road, or an extra
shirt, sandals, or a walking stick, for the worker is worthy
of his food.
Jesus recommended a plan to His disciples for the
geographical areas in which to share
His message. When we share it is not enough to just talk about our
church or Christianity in
general, Jesus wants us to actually share the gospel. Recently a friend
of mine, while waiting for
the choir to finish practicing, led a deacons wife to the Lord. No one
had ever really presented
the claims of Christ to her personally. If we submit to the Lord's plan
we will share the gospel. The Lord requires His disciples to do many
ministries, and we all need to be obedient to what
ever He requires of us. The Lord presented a plan regulating how His
disciples would be taken
care of monetarily. One evangelist said, "Where He leads I will follow,
and what He feeds I will
swallow."
3.
Take Part In Missions Through Sharing . . Peace. 10:11-14
A. Sharing The Peace Of God
Readily With Those Who . . Desire It. 10:11-13a
11
"When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay
there until
you leave. 11 "When you enter any town or village, find out who is
worthy, and stay there
until you leave. 12 Greet a household when you enter it, 13 and if the
household is worthy,
let your peace be on it. . . ."
B. Sharing The Peace Of God Restrictively With
Those Who . . Decline It. 10:13b-14
13b But if it is unworthy,
let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen
to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house
or town.
Some people want to hear the gospel but no one
shares it with them. A few weeks ago a
man shared with me that as a child he came forward to make his
profession of faith, and no one
told him how to do it, and he needed some guidance. He was handed a
card and told he would
be baptized. He expected something to happen but it never did. Praise
the Lord he did
acknowledge the Lordship of Christ as an adult. Jesus wants the gospel
clearly shared, especially
with those who desire to hear. Some will decline to hear the gospel,
and we should not be
discouraged by them since the Lord told us about these kind of people.
4.
Take Part In Missions The Savior's . . Protection. 10:26-31
A.
Trusting The Savior's Protection By . .
Announcing His Message. 10:26-28
26 "Therefore,
don't be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won't be uncovered,
and nothing hidden that won't be made known. 27 What I tell you in the
dark,speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the
housetops. 28 Don't fearthose who kill the body but are not able to
kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able todestroy both soul and
body in • hell.
B. Trusting The Savior's
Protection By . . Acknowledging His Message. 10:29-31
29 Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of
them falls to the ground without your Father's consent. 30 But even the
hairs of your head have all been counted. 31 Don't be afraid
therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows.
The
Lord promises to protect us as we take part in missions through sharing
our faith. Our responsibility is to announce the gospel. One man said,
"We are in sales not management." The message of the Lord's protection
is illustrated with sparrows and the hairs of our head. As
we obey we acknowledge the Lord's teachings. When we are obedient we
Take Part In
Missions. Amen? Amen!
