Matthew 10:32-33 (NKJV)
32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Romans 10:10 (NKJV)
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV)
14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 15:8 (NKJV)
8 "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

1. What is Missions?

· Missions is the heart beat of God
From the time that sin entered into the world, and death came as the result of sin, God began a plan to bring his Son into the world so that the world could be saved through Christ.

Ephesians 1:4 (NKJV)
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

Before God created Adam and Eve He knew that man would sin. And God's desire before the foundation of the world is that we would be in Christ.

Acts 2:22-23 (NKJV)
22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- 23 "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

· The parable of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son shows the heart beat of the Godhead.

The lost sheep parable shows Jesus going to look for the one sheep that was lost.
Luke 15:1-7 (NKJV)
1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying: 4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 "And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' 7 "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

The lost coin parable is seen by some as the Holy Spirit searching for the lost. As Jesus is called the Good Shepherd the parable of the lost sheep is pictured as Jesus searching for the lost. As the parable of the lost son is about the Father's desire for the lost son. This is seen as the Heavenly Father. So since we have the Son in the first and the Father in the last, the lost coin is seen as the Holy Spirit searching for the Lost in the house.

Luke 15:8-10 (NKJV)
8 "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 "And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!' 10 "Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

We see the Holy Spirit's desire for the lost.
Revelation 22:17 (NKJV)
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

We see the Father's desire for the lost as He ran to meet the prodigal son who had gone astray.
Luke 15:11-24 (NKJV)
11 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. 12 "And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 "And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 "But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 "Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 "And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 'I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 "and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." ' 20 "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.

I THINK OF JOSPEH BEING PUT INTO THE PIT BY HIS BROTHERS. AND THEN BEING SOLD INTO EGYPT FOR SILVER. HIS BROTHER'S DIPPING HIS GARMENT INTO GOAT'S BLOOD TO DECEIVE HIS FATHER IN THINKING HE WAS KILLED BY A WILD BEAST. THEN THE BROTHERS TAKING THE BLOOD SOAKED GARMENT TO THEIR FATHER LETTING THE FATHER BELIEVE HE WAS KILLED. AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT FOR DAYS AND YEARS JACOB MOURNED FOR HIS SON JOSEPH. HE PROBABLY WAS NOT QUITE THE SAME, AND SPENT MANY OF HIS DAYS IN SORROW AND SADNESS. AND THOSE BROTHERS ACTED LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. HAD NO SORRY OR CONCERN OVER JOSEPH. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE SAME HEART OF THEIR FATHER. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE SAME LOVE AS THEIR FATHER HAD OVER JOSEPH.

AND DEAR FRIEND IF WE DO NOT HAVE A LOVE FOR THE LOST, WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME HEART AS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.

· Missions explained by Jesus
Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority (power) has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

JESUS HAS ALL AUTHORITY.
All authority of Creator (You made it)
Authority of Owner (I bought it)
Authority that has been delegated (or I delegated it to you)

Who is speaking to us?
Revelation 1:12-18 (NKJV)
12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

THIS GOSPEL MESSAGE IS TO BE TAKEN INTO ALL THE WORLD BY THE AUTHORITY AND POWER OF JESUS CHRIST.

IT IS NOT BY OUR OWN STRENTH OUR MIGHT THAT WE CARRY THIS GOSPEL MESSGE OUT INTO THE NATIONS, BUT IT IS BY THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD.

Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV)
6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts.

Romans 1:16 (NKJV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

GO INTO ALL THE WORLD, ALL NATIONS - EVERYONE IS TO HEAR THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL. Church growth says today just to target certain type of individuals.

God is no respecter of persons.
Romans 2:11 (NKJV)
11 For there is no partiality with God.

Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.

1 John 2:2 (NKJV)
2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS.
We are to teach them to observe all things that Jesus has commanded. This includes the teachings of the Apostles as the teaching of the Apostles are the teachings of Jesus. As Jesus promised to guide the Apostles into all truth.

John 16:13 (NKJV)
13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS.

GOD IS WITH US ALWAYS AS WE ARE TAKING THE GOSPEL INTO ALL THE NATIONS.

JESUS HAS ALL AUTHORITY, WE ARE TO TEACH ALL NATIONS BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS, AND JESUS WILL BE WITH US ALWAYS.

GREAT CLAIM: Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth.

GREAT COMMISSION: go into all the world, into all nations, to all creatures, teaching them all things.

GREAT CONSOLATION: I am with you always.

Why don't all of us, tell all the world, all that Jesus says for us to do.

JESUS TELLS US THAT MISSIONS IS THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.

2. WHAT DOES MISSIONS MEAN TO THE CHURCH?

A preacher friend of mine that travels with me to India and to Africa is Brother Joe Hatter. He is the preacher at the Ashland Center Church of Christ in Grant, Michigan. He shared with me that one of his professors taught him that when you have a question on a subject, let it begin with God. And when you do this, it puts everything in the right perspective.

So, as we are asking the question, What does missions mean to the Church? We should first ask, What does missions mean to God? What does missions mean to Jesus Christ?

Lets look at missions through the eyes of Jesus Christ.

· What does Jesus think of Missions, what does the lost souls of men and women mean to Him?

What did Jesus think of the Lost? Jesus left the glories of heaven, came to earth, born of a virgin, suffered for us, died on the cross for us, seperated from God the Father for us as He cried out on the cross, My God, My God why have you forsaken me."

JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED ON THE CROSS, HE IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN FOR SINS OF THE WORLD.

JESUS LAID HIS LIFE DOWN WILLINGLY, WAS FORSAKEN BY GOD WILLINGLY, SUFFERED THE HELL THAT YOU AND I DESERVED WILLINGLY, BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR THE LOST.

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Luke 19:10 (NKJV)
10 "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Philippians 2:3-8 (NKJV)
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Mark 1:37-38 (NKJV)
37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." 38 But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."

John 17:18 (NKJV)
18 "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

Ephesians 3:10 (NKJV)
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

THE LOST MEANT EVERYTHING TO JESUS. SEEKING AND SAVING THE LOST WAS THE MAIN FOCUS OF JESUS CHRIST IN HIS EARTHLY LIFE AND MINISTRY. HE LEFT THE GLORIES OF HEAVEN FOR THE LOST. HE CAME TO HIS OWN FOR THE LOST. HE CONDUCTED HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY IN SEEKING AND SAVING THE LOST. HE DIED ON THE CROSS, FORSAKEN AND SMITTEN OF GOD, FOR THE LOST. FOR THIS PURPOSE JESUS SAID I HAVE COME FORTH.

AS JESUS WAS SENT INTO THE WORLD FOR THE LOST, JESUS SENT HIS APOSTLES INTO THE WORLD FOR THE LOST, AND THE CHURCH THE BRIDE OF CHRIST IS TO SAY, 'COME."

· What did missions mean to the Apostles of Christ?

When I went up Mt. Saint Thomas for the first time in January of 1999, I went inside a Roman Catholic Church building on the top of this mountain. Inside this building is the very location where the Apostle Thomas was martyred by Hindu Priests. And inside this building are pictures of the 12 Apostles excluding Judas Iscariot with Matthias making up the 12. One of the things that caught my attention is that in picture of each Apostle of Christ, the Apostle is pictured in the front of the picture. Then in that same picture of each Apostle in the background is another picture showing how the Apostle was martyred.

And then I thought of the sufferings of Thomas. How he would go down into the villages in the day time to preach and would come and hide and sleep up in this mountain at night. Also he would hide in a cave when he was pursued by the Hindu Priests. I thought of all that Thomas suffered so that the lost in India could hear the Gospel of Christ. I then realized that the life of the Apostles of Jesus was about missions, about winning the world to Christ. There was nothing else that was their focus. It was evangelism and the planting of the church. As the Apostle Thomas came to India in A.D. 52, and was martred in A.D. 72, during this time he planted 26 churches in India. This was what his ministry was about.

Let me read some Scriptures that record the words of the Apostle Paul and his feelings about Missions.

1 Corinthians 9:16 (NKJV)
16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NKJV)
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 (NKJV)
23 Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness-- 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

What caused the Apostle Paul to suffer these things? His love for Christ, and his love for the lost. These sufferings came from Paul's missionary journeys to plant and to establish the church.

· What did missions mean to the early church?
The early church understood that the work of the church is missions. They understood the great commission of our Lord and Savior as He said to go into all the world and preach the Gospel, He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.

But they also understood something else. THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT MISSIONS IS THE WORK OF THE CHURCH.

THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT MISSIONS WAS THE WORK OF THE WHOLE CHURCH, THE WORK OF EVERY MEMBER OF THE CHURCH.

THEY KNEW IT WAS NOT A WORK JUST FOR AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF THE CHURCH, OR A PRIVATE MATTER FOR SOME, JUST TO BE LEFT TO THE MISSION COMMITTEE, BUT A WORK THAT THE WHOLE CHURCH IS TO BE INVOLVED IN.

There are several passages of Scripture that show us this.

When the number of the Apostles has been reduced to eleven by Judas' betrayal and suicide, the Apostle Peter calls the attention of the brethren to need and scriptural grounds for filling his office. It was the brethren who put forth and cast lots for one, who from among them should be a witness with the apostles of the Lord's resurrection. (Acts 1:15-26)

The Apostles were the ones who were going to be the WITNESSES of the Lord Jesus's resurrection from the dead. They were the eye witnesses, the ones to give witness to the world by their testimony and their lives to the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

AND WE SEE THAT THE CHURCH IS INVOLVED IN THE SENDING OUT OF THE WITNESSES AS THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THE SELECTION OF ONE OF THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST WHO WOULD BE A WITNESS TO THE WORLD OF CHRIST.

THE EARLY CHURCH WAS INVOLVED FROM HER BEGINNING IN MISSIONS, IN GIVING WITNESS TO THE WORLD OF JESUS CHRIST.

When Saul was persecuting the Church, we see that entire church was involved in missions.

Acts 8:4 (NKJV)
4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

After Stephen was martyred, and persecution came upon the church, one individual preacher by the name of Philip went on a missionary journey to Samaria. And Philip had a great response to the Gospel message in Samaria.

Acts 8:12-13 (NKJV)
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

Even a sorcerer named Simon believed the Gospel message and was baptized into Christ.

The Gospel work that Philip was doing in Samaria was not considered to be an individual matter. It was not just considered to be something that Philip was doing. Philip was not just left to take care of things himself. For the Scripture says in …

Acts 8:14-15 (NKJV)
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

The leadership of the church at Jerusalem was concerned about the work that Philip was doing in Samaria. The Church in Jerusalem was interested in the mission work in Samaria. And they sent Peter and John to Samaria to help Philip in the work there.

As I read this passage, it sounds like there was an immediate response from the church at Jerusalem to help Philip in the missionary work in Samaria.

The early church supported missions as we see them sending out missionaries such as Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 13:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

As the church at Antioch sent out Barnabas and Saul to the unreached nations to preach the Gospel, the
Scripture says that the Holy Spirit sent them out. Dear friends, the Holy Spirit is in a church that is
sending out missionaries.

WE SEE THAT THE CHURCH CHOSE AND PUT FORTH WITNESSES, HEARD REPORTS ON
NEW MISSIONARY WORK, KEPT IN CONTACT WITH THE MISSION WORK, AND
STRENGTHENED IT BY SENDING OTHERS TO HELP, SEPERATED TWO OF THEIR NUMBER
FOR THE SPECIAL WORK OF EVANGLIZING THE LOST WORLD AND SENT THEM FORTH
TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO ESTABLISH CHURCHES, AND CONFIRM CONGREGATIONS
THAT HAD BEEN NEWLY ESTABLISHED.

We also see that this Antioch church did not just send out Barnabas and Saul and forget about them.
But we see that when Barnabas and Saul came back from their missionary journey and the whole church gathered together to hear about their travels and work in the Gospel.

Acts 14:26-27 (NKJV)
26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. 27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Notice that the Scripture says, THEY REPORTED ALL THAT GOD HAD DONE WITH THEM.

Where had Barnabas and Saul been? Let me name some of the places to you (You can find these listed in Acts 13 - 14).

SELEUCIA
CYPRUS
SALAMIS
PAPHOS
PERGA IN PAMPHYLIA
PISIDIAN ANTIOCH
ICONIUM
LYCAONIA
LYSTRA
DERBE AND THE SURROUNDING REGION
THEN TO LYSTRA
ICONIUM
ANTIOCH
PISIDIA
PAMPHYLIA
PERGA
ATTALIA
THEN BACK TO ANTIOCH

THE SCRIPTURE SAYS…

Acts 14:22-27 (NKJV)
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. 27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THAT WHEN THEY GOT TO ANTIOCH, THEY GATHERED THE CHURCH TOGETHER.

WHY WOULD THEY GATHER THE CHURCH TOGETHER? IT WAS JUST PAUL AND BARNABAS GETTING BACK FROM THEIR MISSIONARY JOURNEY.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT WAS THE IDEA THAT THEY HAD TO BEG THE CHURCH TO ASSEMBLE. I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS THE IDEA THAT ALL OF THE CHURCH WANTED TO KNOW WHEN PAUL AND BARNABAS GOT BACK HOME BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

THEY WANTED TO KNOW HOW MANY OBEYED THE GOSPEL. THEY WANTED TO KNOW HOW MANY CHURCHES WERE PLANTED. THEY WANTED TO KNOW ALL ABOUT THEIR MISSIONARY WORK, BECAUSE THEY WERE INTERESTED AND EXCITED ABOUT SUPPORTING THE GREAT COMMISSION OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.

THEN THINK ABOUT THIS, THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, 'THEY REPORTED ALL THAT GOD HAD DONE WITH THEM."

WHERE HAD PAUL AND BARNABAS BEEN?
WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO NAME ALL OF THOSE PLACES FOR YOU AGAIN?

THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH DIDN'T MIND HEARING THE NAMES OF ALL OF THOSE CITIES AND PLACES. THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH DIDN'T MIND HEARING ALL OF THE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT WENT ON IN EACH OF THOSE PLACES. AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IT TOOK PAUL AND BARNABAS LONGER THAN 20-30 MINUTES TO TELL ABOUT ALL OF THEIR MISSIONARY JOURNEYS AND WHAT TOOK PLACE.

BUT THE ANTIOCH CHURCH GATHERED TOGETHER, AND PAUL AND BARNABAS REPORTED ALL THAT GOD HAD DONE WITH THEM, AND THAT GOD HAD OPENED THE DOOR OF FAITH TO THE GENTILES.

MISSIONS WAS THE WORK OF THE WHOLE CHURCH. IT WAS NOT JUST AN INDIVIDUAL THING THAT PAUL AND BARNABAS WAS DOING, IT WAS NOT SOME PRIVATE THING THAT PAUL AND BARNABAS WAS DOING THAT THE REST OF THE CHURCH DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT. NO DEAR FRIEND, IT WAS THE WORK OF THE WHOLE CHURCH, AND THE WHOLE CHURCH WAS INTERESTED AND INVOLVED IN MISSIONS. THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH GATHERED TOGETHER TO HEAR ABOUT THE JOURNEYS OF PAUL AND BARNABAS.

WE SEE THAT THE EARLY CHURCH WAS INVOLVED IN MISSIONS. THE CHURCH WAS INVOLVED IN HELPING THEIR MISSIONARY.

Romans 15:24 (NKJV)
24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.

2 Corinthians 1:16 (NKJV)
16 to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Rome about helping him on his way to Spain.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth about helping him on his way to Judea.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING WITH BROTHER REGGIE THOMAS IN GOING TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN INDIA, I KNEW I WOULD HAVE TO ASK FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND HELP.

AND I SAID TO BROTHER REGGIE, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN ASK FOR SUPPORT. I AM NOT VERY GOOD AT ASKING FOR HELP FOR MYSELF. AND BROTHER REGGIE SAID TO ME, MIKE YOU ARE NOT ASKING FOR HELP FOR YOURSELF. YOU ARE ASKING FOR HELP FOR ALL OF THOSE THOUSANDS OF PRECIOUS SOULS WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

AND I SAID TO BROTHER REGGIE, IN THAT WAY, I CAN ASK FOR SUPPORT. I CAN ASK FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL. I THEN REALIZED IF I DON'T HAVE MY SUPPORT THEN THERE WILL BE THOUSANDS WHO MIGHT NEVER HEAR ABOUT JESUS.

THE APOSTLE PAUL REALIZED THAT MISSIONS WAS THE WORK OF THE ENTIRE CHURCH. HE REALIZED THAT THIS WAS NOT A PRIVATE THING, THAT HE COULD NOT AND SHOULD NOT DO THIS BY HIMSELF. HE KNEW THAT MISSIONS WAS THE WORK OF THE INTIRE CHURCH. AND SO HE WROTE TO THE CHURCH AT ROME, AND HE WROTE TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH, TO HELP HIM ON HIS WAY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

THE WORK OF THE CHURCH IS MISSIONS.

MISSIONS IS THE WORK OF THE CHURCH.

OUT TOPIC TONIGHT IS, 'WHAT DOES MISSIONS MEAN TO THE CHURCH?' and 'WHAT DOES THE CHURCH MEAN TO MISSIONS'?

3. SO, WHAT DOES THE CHURCH MEAN TO MISSIONS?

THE WORK OF THE CHURCH IS MISSIONS
MISSIONS IS THE WORK OF THE CHURCH

AND THE WORK OF MISSIONS IS THE CHURCH.

IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN THE CHURCH SUPPORTS MISSIONS, THE CHURCH IS ESTABLISHING THE CHURCH, AND BUILDING UP THE CHURCH.

THE WORK OF MISSIONS IS THE CHURCH.

WHEN THE CHURCH SUPPORTS MISSIONS, SOULS IN OTHER NATIONS WHO ARE IN THE DEPTHS OF DARKNESS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SHINING FORTH FROM THE CHURCH THAT HAS BEEN PLANTED THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF THE CHURCH.

WHY IS THE MISSIONARY SENT OUT BY THE CHURCH? THE MISSIONARY IS SENT OUT BY THE CHURCH TO ESTABLISH AND PLANT THE CHURCH.

IT IS GOD'S INTENT THAT THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD SHOULD BE MADE KNOWN THROUGH THE CHURCH

Ephesians 3:10 (NKJV)
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

WE SEE THAT TITUS WAS LEFT IN CRETE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING THE CHURCH.

Titus 1:5 (NKJV)
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you--

ELDERS ARE SHEPHERDS AND OVERSEERS OF THE CHURCH. SO PAUL WAS LEAVING TITUS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED IN CRETE.

PAUL AND BARNABAS AS WE NOTICED EARLIER WENT THROUGH THE CITIES PREACHING THE GOSPEL, PLANTING CHURCHES, AND ORDAINING ELDERS IN THE CHURCHES.

PLANTING AND ESTABLISHING THE CHURCH IS THE WORK OF MISSIONS.

· SO WHAT DOES THE CHURCH MEAN TO MISSIONS? IT MEANS THAT THE CHURCH IS PLANTED, AND THE CHURCH IS ESTABLISHED, AND SOULS WILL BE ABLE TO FIND CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH.

· IT MEANS TO THE LOST SOUL THAT HE IS SNATCHED FROM THE FIRES OF HELL, REMEMBER THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS? HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT HELL. HELL IS REAL, HELL IS FIERY TORMENT, HELL IS ETERNAL SEPERATION FROM GOD, OUTER DARKNESS, BOTTOMLESS PIT, WITH THE DEVIL AND HIS DEMONS. HELL IS SEPERATION FROM GOD AND FROM THE GLORY OF HIS POWER.

An atheist wrote these words, " If I firmly believe as millions say they do that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences the destiny in another life, then religion would mean everything to me. I would cast away the earthly enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as follies, earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity. Religion would be my first waking thought and my last image before sleep swept me into unconsciousness. I would labor for it alone. I would take thought for tomorrow, of eternity. And I would esteem one soul gained into heaven worth a life suffering. Earthly consequences would not stay my hand or seal my lips. Earth, it's joys, it's grief's would occupy no moment of my thoughts. I would strive to look upon eternity alone and upon immortal souls that are around me, soon to be everlastingly happy, or everlastingly miserable. And I would go forth and preach in season and out of season and my text would be, "What would it profit a man if he gained the whole world and loose his own soul?".

WHAT DOES THE CHURCH MEAN TO MISSIONS? IT MEANS THAT YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND THE WORLD CAN HEAR THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL AND BE SAVED FROM HELL.

HOUSE IS ON FIRE!! BRIDGE IS OUT!!!

HOW CAN WE BE SILENT AND UNCARING, WE WOULD PULL SOMEONE OUT OF A BURNING HOUSE,

WHAT DOES THE CHURCH MEAN TO MISSIONS?

· WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE CHURCH, HOW CAN THERE BE THE WORK OF MISSIONS?

Romans 10:14-15 (NKJV)
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!"

HOW CAN A PREACHER PREACH UNLESS HE IS SENT?

HOW CAN A PREACHER GO INTO INDIA, AFRICA, HAITI, RUSSIA, PAKISTAN, AND TO THE OTHER 122 UNREACHED NATIONS IN THE WORLD, UNLESS THE CHURCH SENDS HIM.

VERY FEW WOULD HAVE THE WEALTH TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES TO PREACH THE GOSPEL INTO FOREIGN SOIL.

IF THE GOSPEL IS TO BE TAKEN INTO THE WORLD, THEN THE CHURCH MUST SEND OUT THE PREACHERS INTO ALL THE WORLD TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND TO ESTABLISH THE CHURCH.

HOW CAN THEY PREACH UNLESS THEY ARE SENT.

WE ARE BEING GIVEN THE MACEDONIAN CALL FROM WEST BENGAL, INDIA AND FROM OTHER NATIONS? COME OVER AND HELP US…. COME OVER AND HELP US…..

WHAT ARE WE, I SAID WE, BECAUSE MISSIONS IS THE WORK OF THE CHURCH. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

WHAT WILL CHRIST SAY TO US WHEN HE COMES AGAIN?

WHAT WOULD WE SAY TO HIM IF HE CAME TODAY?