God’s Great Call To Missions
“ Lamak”* was born into a wealthy, powerful Muslim family in South Asia. His family’s reputation put pressure on him to live like a Muslim. Everything changed when Lamak turned his life over to Jesus Christ while working in Singapore.
When he returned home four years later, he accepted the risks of living out his faith. Despite the danger, Lamak shared Jesus with his family.
His father-in-law reacted violently. He strapped Lamak to a chair and pumped volts of electricity into his arms. He tried to force Lamak to denounce his faith in Christ. Lamak refused.
Though scars remain on Lamak’s arms as a result of this torture, he uses his wounds to share his testimony with others. He now works with a short-term missions worker and has helped plant 32 churches and has baptized 500 Muslim believers.
“The Lord continues to work in mysterious ways through those who are willing to serve Him,” a Southern Baptist mission worker says.
*Names changed for security reasons.
But Lamak would never have had the opportunity to do so much for Christ Had he never Heard, the Gospel and Believed on Jesus Christ.
Romans 10.14-15a
I. How can they hear?
A)They can’t if we don’t Speak up! (Paul uses one of his favorites Rhetorical question.)
1) Paul’s Point—Someone must tell the good news
2) Paul’s Purpose and ours – Romans 10.17
“So faith comes from hearing and, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
a) Not simple hearing – spiritual ears.
b) Understanding as given by the Holy Spirit.
God through the Holy Spirit almost always uses people.
B) They can’t if we don’t send someone to Speak up!
1) Someone to reach other people groups
2) Someone that reach people we can’t
a) It involves your treasures (offering, time)
but stores up heavenly treasure
b) It involves their talents, time and Our God.
Talking about salvation Jesus said, “With man these things are impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
When we give it all to God, and stop limiting His power God can.
Do anything
Do everything
Bring all men to Him
But the question comes up.
II. How can they believe (Live Up)
A) Letting others hear from our lives
1) living out the word of life
“How many million more souls are to pass into eternity without having heard the name of Jesus?”
This led Lottie in her older years to give away her food so others might live and have one more opportunity to find Jesus. (Live UP)
2) Jesus said if you gave a cup of cold water in my name.
B) Letting them hear from Missionaries lives
1) sacrificing for the Gospel
a) As Lottie did
b) As missionaries do today, as Paul, Peter
And most important of all As Jesus did.
2) Life Story
a) Living with people on the missionary field
b) Walking with them just like Jesus did
Those that are willing to sacrifice should have our prayers, our love, and most importantly our support.
III. How can they preach?
A) They have to be called.
1) Isaiah 6 Whom shall we send and whom shall go for us?
2) Jesus go and make disciples
3) Jesus You will be my witnesses,
B) They have to be sent.
1) Isaiah 6. – always reminded of this when I think of Missionaries.
2) Lottie moon was given a desire to win he people of China to Jesus. (This was not a desire she placed in her own heart)
Once they are called, and sent, then we must support them.
C) They have to be supported.
a) With our Prayers.
1) prayer is the Christian key that unlocks God’s will for our lives. (as well as getting us in line with that will)
b) With our love.
1) It was compassion placed Jesus on the Cross
2) It was compassion that put Lottie In China
3) It was compassion that someone told you about Jesus!
Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for a friend.
c) With our money.
1) sacrifices may have to be made
2) But it is better to lay down our life now
than risk another soul die without Christ.
3) Money will some day be gone. You can’t keep it, it rots, it burns, it sometimes flies out of your hands.
4) You can only serve 1 God.
So who do you serve.
God or Mammon
God or self
God or Lust
On and on
5) In telling others about Jesus at home, and supporting missionaries abroad, we can set up a legacy that time, moths, rust and thieves cannot destroy.
Listen to the words of Lottie Moon.
“How many there are … who imagine that because Jesus paid it all, they need pay nothing, forgetting that the prime object of their salvation was that they should follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in bringing back a lost world to God.”
— Lottie Moon
Tungchow, China
Sept. 15, 1887
So today do you sound like Christ?
Are you speaking the Words of Christ?
Are you Living up to His example
Are you supporting His Commission. Do you even Have his heart the lost.
