[1] A Good Look at Missions, Pastor Harv Meppelink, Sunday, 10-26-2008

Text: Matthew 24:14

Matthew 24:14 “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then shall the end come.”

 

The heart of the Gospel is revealed in the story of the Cross.  John, in his writings, so clearly spells it out.  Man is a sinner.  He cannot save himself from his sin.  God loves man, but cannot accept his sin.  When man calls on God in faith and faith alone, God forgives and keeps on forgiving man’s sin, and promises him a home in heaven for eternity as a means of building an eternal relationship.

 

Imagine yourself in front of a cabinet makers work bench, and having a conversation with the tools that lay on it.

 

“Saw, why don’t you saw?” 

            Response: “By myself?”

 

“Sander, you lay there lazy like, why don’t you sand?”

            Response: “By myself?”

 

“Electric drill, you’re like new!  Why don’t you drill?”

            Response: “By myself?”

 

“And you, paint brush, why don’t you put a coat of paint on the house?  You know it needs to be finished!”

            Response: “By myself?”

 

Each tool had the same answer—

 

“I need a Master Craftsman–I’m just one small piece of equipment in the role of craftsmanship.”

 

 And in chorus, they all sang out:

 

“We are all your servants—just put your hand to us, and we will show you what we can do!”

 

And, after leaving the church one day this week, my spirit cried out to God, “Lord, make us willing to be a tool in your hand.  Send us a revival.”

 

“And I will send my Holy Spirit to help you get over your insecurities and to empower your words, and to make them real to their hearts, and many will hear and believe!”

 

 

 

I.              CAN WE FULFILL THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH?

 

The Apostle Paul stated in Acts 20:22-24   And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.  I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.  However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

 

I consider my life worth nothing to me. 

 

I want to answer the question, “How long has the Assemblies of God  (AG) been working in missions?”  In the very original minutes of the first meeting of ministers who joined together to work together in missions in the early 1900’s, even before the first organizational meeting which later became the General Council of the Assemblies of God, it reads:

 

“We commit ourselves to HIM, for the greatest evangelism task the world has ever seen.  We pledge our hearty cooperation.  We cooperate with the Lord of the harvest.”

 

We live in the year 2008, 94 years later.  In retrospect, we can see two things that took place in the fellowship in those early years.  We are living in the days our fathers dreamed of.

 

·        There was a continuous revival at home in America, as new churches were raised up all over the countryside of the American landscape.  We now have more than 12,000 churches in America.

 

·        There was a feverish commitment to missions overseas.  Missionaries would board ship in those early days, fully aware that they may never see their relatives again.  Many did not come home — ever, giving their lives to the work of missions.

 

The AG has commissioned more than 1862 missionaries, 600 missionary associates, numerous MAPS workers (very short term), into 158 countries.  Some of these countries cannot be placed on a printed list for security reasons.

 

In the Middle East, we have a vibrant church in Jordan (300). In Asia, we have a powerful missionary church in Hong Kong.  In Africa, Nigeria 700 AG church, with 3.5 million adherents. In Malawi, 1500 churches, Burkina Faso, 2500 churches, Tanzania, more than 1000 churches.  In Eurasia, Russia, we had 65 churches in 1990; in 1999 we now have 1300 churches.

 

In Latin America, there is phenomenal growth.  Over 500 million evangelicals and Pentecostals now.

 

AND STILL, THE NEED ALWAYS PRECEDES US.  IT IS OUT AHEAD OF US!  The world needs Jesus.

 

 

 

II.           DO YOU NOW SEE THE VALUE OF MISSIONS?

 

MAT 16:26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

 

Do you now see why, right here in LEOMINSTER, we have a center of the Bible, where the word of God is taught Sunday morning?

 

Do you see why, right here in LEOMINSTER, we have set up ministries, where the presence and word of God is felt each and every day through dedicated workers?  Do you see why we have discipleship on Sunday night?

 

Who needs this hassle?  Who needs this organizational work?  Who needs the headaches of a church?

 

The answer from God is reflected in the value of a soul!  The value of a soul!

 

WHAT IS MISSIONS?  Missions is a sending forth, a sending forth of men with authority to preach, and administer the sacraments.

 

A MISSIONARY is one devoted to missions, the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

A MISSIONS ORGANIZATION is a group of people dedicated to the purpose of sending men forth who are committed to the purpose of preaching the good news about Jesus, and is willing to support those who go to another land for that purpose.

 

What is the purpose of Leominster Assembly of God?  First it is to WORSHIP GOD.  Secondly, it is to edify and disciple fellow believers.  Thirdly, we are here to evangelize the world: at home and abroad!

 

Our record shows that we give to missions, we pray for missionaries, we listen with apt attention to the reports of victory from around the world.  The flags that adorn this room are not there for decoration.  We are sending men and women into those countries to win the lost, and disciple new believers.  We must never lose sight of this vision.  WE must never become a social club, without this higher calling!  We have done well.  But the need is greater!

 

III.         MY PERSONAL TESTIMONY

 

At age 17, I was in business for myself, under the mentoring of my father.  I raised money for my education on the college level.  Since I grew up on the farm, my business was custom hay baling.

 

God blessed our business venture.  We earned a good profit.  I came face to face with giving for the furtherance of His Kingdom.  Do I tithe?  Do I give to missions?

 

This is what I learned as I went along!  Tithing is recognition of the sovereignty of our Heavenly Father.  I learned that God owns the hills and the cattle on the hills, and we as believers are but stewards of what He has given us. 

 

In Malachi 3, the Word of God declares, “Bring all your tithes into the storehouse…”  What is tithe?  It is ten percent of income.  What is it for?  It is to show that we recognize God’s owner ship and our stewardship of what we have in the way of things we have under our name.  We are to bring it, the tithe,  into the storehouse, the church!

 

But what about missions?  It was to be above the tithe, given to further the Gospel around the world, as in Matthew 28, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel….”

 

It has worked for me for sixty years now.  My wife and I have never missed a meal through the years.  All of our bills are paid, with the exception of a small mortgage on our house.  We have been so blessed, a result of recognizing God in our finances.

 

Do you want to live with bills paid?  Catch the vision.  Then give, for we cannot receive from God if we do not give to God over and above what He requires…over and above the tithe. However,  “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

 

I conclude.

 

Matthew 24:14 “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then shall the end come.”