One of the goals of our church is to reach out into this community God has placed us in and to minister to their needs. Every Christian is primarily called by the Lord to serve.
A missionary was sent into the deepest parts of a jungle and fell into the hands of a band of cannibals. Realizing they were going to eat him the missionary told them, “you are not going to like me,” and calmly took out his pocketknife, sliced a piece from the calf of his leg and handed it to the chief. “Try it and see for yourself.” The chief took one bit, chewed a minute, grunted, and spit it out. The missionary lived on the island another 25 years, and the natives never knew he had a corked leg.
A followers of Jesus, we follow Him into the fields of harvest reaching others with the good news. What is the good news we share? God created you. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. You are no accident, God has a plan. God loves you. In spite of all the wrong things you’ve done. God loves you so much He sent the Lord Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, to this earth. Jesus lived a perfectly sinless life. He died on the cross of Calvary to save you from the penalty, power, and one day the presence of sin. God calls you to turn from your sin, trust the Savior. Jesus came that you may have life to the full now and throughout eternity in His presence.
In our text today I would like us to look at four ways to successfully reach our community with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
1. Enlist Your PARTNER (V 1)
True Christianity is not a lone ranger event. God will give you someone to partner with you in His mission.
How successful would the GA Bulldogs be if they went out on the field with just a QB? How successful could the Braves be if they only had a pitcher? How successful would a business be if it existed with one person and that person only had eyes for himself? How strong could our church be if we only thought about ourselves and never thought about any other people around us?
Why did Jesus send His disciples out by twos? Perhaps several reasons:
1) Extra eyes to see – one person can’t see everything. Several months ago, Walt Dejager and I drove around this community as a mission experience. He saw things I would have never seen.
2) Protection – safety in numbers
3) Encouragement
4) Accountability
5) Reputation – One person could be accused falsely and have no one to back him up, but the other person could refute it.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, 9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Your Partner will STRENGTHEN You
Your Partner will STRETCH You
Your Partner will STAND with You
Let’s face it, sometimes everyone gets lonely in life.
• Shut Ins
• The struggling middle or high school student
• People in ministry
• Those who are living far away from home, family
• Successful leaders
• Those who have been terminated from their job
• Nursing home residents
• Single moms and dads
• Those who are suffering with prolonged illness
What could God do in the life of this church if each SS class, each ministry represented said, “We will reach inside and outside the church to minimize loneliness.” WE will partner together with the Lord to reach more people with the comforting message of Jesus Christ. What would happen if we went through the church roll and just said, “I wanted to check on you today. You are on my heart. I love you. Your church family misses you, is here for you. Praying for you. How can I befriend you?
Aren’t you thankful when you know Jesus, He promises, “Never will I leave you or forsake you.”
2. Excel through PRAYER (V 2)
God is calling our church to reach this community for Him. One way to do that is to partner with one another and another way we do this is through prayer.
Did you pray to the Lord of the harvest this week for this community?
When you drive up and down Lester Road, did you think of the thousands of people who are in spiritual darkness and need the Light of the world, Jesus Christ?
There is so much work to be done, but the greatest thing we can begin to do as a church family is make prayer our top priority.
It’s so easy for our church to fill out a church calendar. Make sure it’s planned with plenty of activities. SS meetings, council, choir, deacons, visitation. Etc. How about the priority of prayer?
God is calling our church to prayer. There are some things our church can never do and God is not asking us to do those things.
The deacons have a fall project to get the prayer room up again. Praying at the Tom and Gloria’s house before revival was powerful. We still have a prayer meeting on Wednesday nights. Do you know we have been praying to God for months about our need for a God called, ordained, worship leader who will have a heart for God and a heart for this church?
Acts 6:4, “…but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Mark 11:15-17, “So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. 17 Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’
Why did Jesus react like this? Why was He so angry? It was because God’s temple, the place where people were supposed to come to worship, pray, meet with God was being used for the wrong purpose. It was being used to sell merchandise and keeping people away from the presence of God. One of the primary purposes of the temple was to be a house of prayer for all nations.
You know what excites me about God’s church? We can be about God’s purpose.
First, Know to WHOM You Pray – Sovereign (Confidence)
Second, Know WHAT to Pray for – Servants (Compassion)
Third, Know WHY You Pray – Souls (Christ)
• Families have lost values
• Our country is turning away from God and His principles daily
• People of all race, religion are living in sin, under Satan’s domain
• Churches deny God’s Word and clear call for holy living
What is it going to take for God to get our attention once more? Another 9-11? It should not, but it might.
3. Expect God’s PROVISION (V 3-4)
Have you ever been on a vacation and discovered after a few days you brought way too many clothes? Amy and I have gotten better at this over the years. We used to bring about the whole house on trips and now we travel light.
Jesus tells His disciples what they are going to need on their mission trip.
In verses 3-4 He says, “Go your way; behold I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.”
He told them they were going to simply need the basics. Some may be thinking, “Wouldn’t it be better if they took something extra just in case?”
God has a reason for doing the things He does - We may not understand, but He knows what is best for us.
Three reasons why Jesus gave these instructions:
First, it helped them learn how to be DEPENDANT UPON GOD.
Jesus wanted His disciples to trust in Him and have faith that He was able to provide for their needs.
Do you trust God to meet your needs? When God calls us to give to His ministry, you can be sure that He is going to provide for you.
Matthew 6:30-33, “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Second, it helped keep their mind on GOD’S MISSION
Too many people have got their mind upon building their own kingdom, instead of the kingdom of God. We love our stuff and possessions more than we love God and His will for our lives.
1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
Some people spend so much of their lives focused on the material things that they pay little attention to the Master’s things.
Third, it helped them understand that serving Jesus involves SACRIFICE
Following Jesus obediently is not easy…but it’s the path to real life. What did Jesus say about following Him?
Matthew 16:24, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
Let him DENY SELF
Let him TAKE UP HIS CROSS
Let him FOLLOW ME
What does Jesus want from His followers? Total dedication, not halfhearted commitment. His followers must accept the cross along with the crown, judgment as well as mercy. They must be willing to abandon everything else that has given them security. Nothing should distract them from service for the kingdom. Life Application Bible, Luke
Also, in reaching out to the community, expect there will be problems. It won’t be easy. My first roommate at seminary was in the Christian Index recently sharing about his youth ministry in Decatur, GA. They asked him, “What are you learning about Christianity?” He said, “I’m learning Christianity is messy.”
Some are going to receive the message of Jesus Christ and others are going to reject it. You would think everyone would receive Jesus, His will, His people, but it’s just not so. God is calling us to go into this community and minister to their needs. Bring the healing presence of the Lord Jesus Christ into this area. As we obey him, there will be some problems.
Jesus Spoke of Condemation (10-12)
Jesus Spoke of Destination (13-15) - Jesus mentions the name of two cities, Corazin and Bethsaida, which refused to turn to God as examples of the cost of the rejection of God. Capernaum in particular is pointed out for judgment. Capernaum was mentioned so often in relation to Jesus that is was called “His own city” (Matthew 9:1). It was here that Jesus performed several of his miracles. It was here that Jesus’ major teachings took place. Capernaum had seen the miracles and heard the teachings but had not responded in faith. Three cities, Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum had received great and convincing proofs of the Lord and His ministry and they would be held more accountable at judgment. – Pastor John Hamby
Jesus Spoke of Invitation (16) - When someone accepts Jesus, we rejoice. But if someone rejects His message, don’t take it too personally. It’s not so much you they are rejecting, but Jesus Christ.
4. Enjoy the PROMISES (VS 17-20)
God is calling us to be on mission with Him in reaching this community with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the greatest calling anyone can ever be a part of.
You don’t have to be behind a pulpit to be effective for Jesus, you’ve just got to have a heart that is submitted and surrendered to Him.
There is great joy in doing what the Lord has called and commissioned you to do. Thankfully, you don’t need to serve the Lord through your own puny strength, it’s His strength that sees you through.
One song says, “His strength is perfect, when our strength is gone. He’ll carry us, when you can’t carry on. Raised in His power, the weak become strong. His strength is perfect. His strength is perfect.”
To those who alingn themselves with Him, Jesus gives
First, the Promise of His POWER
Second, the Promise of His PROTECTION
Third, the Promise of His PLACE
Through the power of Jesus Christ, Satan would be defeated. Every time someone commits their hearts and lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, Satan is defeated.
Through the promise of Jesus Christ, saints would be delivered. Satan is real and he does all he can to keep the lost from coming to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If he can’t keep them from Jesus Christ, he wants to make Christians weak and powerless.
Satan wants to enslave you – Alcohol, Internet, TV, Debt, Profanity, Bitterness
Jesus Christ wants to set you free.
I believe this freedom can only be found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. In other words, it is the gospel of Jesus Christ that sets us free from the excesses of this sinful world.
Galatians 1:4, “who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.”
There is nothing so strong that that the power and protection of Jesus Christ can’t break through. You’ve tried to do it on your own, now yield yourself in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Through the power of Jesus Christ, servants can be delighted.
Jesus told them not to rejoice in the accomplishments of their service, as great as it was.
More than anything, He told them to rejoice because their names are written in heaven.
We should be joyful when the Lord works through us in mighty ways, but our greatest joy must be found in our relationship to Him.
Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
Our community can be reached with the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God is calling us to reach out to all people with our hearts, hands, and with His healing gospel.
Everyone from the youngest to oldest can begin to enlist a partner, excel in prayer, expect God’s provision, and enjoy God’s promises.
Come to Jesus this morning and let Him give you life. Is your name written in heaven?
Revelation 20:11-15, “"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15)
If you are not sure of your relationship with Jesus, let’s nail it down today. ABC.
Admit to God you are a sinner (Romans 3:23, 6:23).
Believe Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God who loves you so much He was willing to be crucified on Calvary’s cross. Believe in your heart God raised Him from the grave. Jesus died that you may live. His blood paid the price for your sin (Romans 5:8).
Confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and commit your life to Him. Call upon the Name of Jesus for salvation (Romans 10:13, Acts 4:12).
Then, let Him send you into a world that is dying to hear good news.
*Thanks, Pastor Mark Jackson for some principles in this sermon
