The Answer For The Worlds Greatest Problem

Paul Morphy was the world’s champion chess player when he was invited by a friend to look at a valuable painting titled, “The Chess Player.” In the painting, Satan was represented as playing chess with a young man, the stake being the young man’s soul. The game had reached the stage where it was the young man’s move; but he was checkmated. There was no move he could make which would not mean defeat for him and so the strong feature of the picture was the look of utter despair on the young man’s face as he realized that his soul was lost.Morphy, who knew more about chess than the artist, studied the picture for a time, then called for a chessboard and pieces. Placing them in exactly the same position as they were in the painting, he said, “I’ll take the young man’s place and make the move.” Then he made the move which would have set the young man free

The greatest problem in the world is not a natural disaster or famine, or pandemic.... the greatest problem is lostness! And we have the only remedy!

Context: In our text we see that like many of us today the disciples were concerned about the Coming Kingdom that will come at end of the age. But Jesus tells them to focus on the mission at hand! You see, the restoration of the kingdom involves a worldwide mission!

Jesus said Mark 13:10 ““The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.”

CPS: The Answer for today’s greatest problem is Global Missions, to take the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection throughout the whole earth!

I. God has enabled us for Global Missions 1:8(A)

Some of the greatest excuses to missions is “I can’t do that., I don’t know how to do that, or I’m uncomfortable doing that.” Nonsense!God has empowered the believer to fulfill His tasks! The apostles were ordinary people who accomplished extraordinary things through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. We too are just ordinary people able to do extraordinary things through the spirit of God!

Jesus says you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you! Power is the Greek noun dynamis, it means empowerment or the ability to do. The Holy Spirit is not a Luxury but a Necessity to the call of God on all our lives!

These are Jesus’ last words, last words are meaningful and important. Now listen to Paul’s last words 2 Tim. 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”

When the Holy Spirit came upon them He enables them with....

A. We have Boldness

Peter’s Sermon Acts 2. Here is a man that just 50 days before denied Jesus 3 times… Now He has boldness and calls for people to repent

B. We have Love (Rm. 5:5)

Love is the The Great Motivator for God’s Mission! (John 3:16, Romans 5:8)

C. We have Discipline

ILL: You can get ore bees with Honey that you can Vinegar

2 Timothy 2:24-25 “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,”

Its the Job of the Holy Spirit to move and bring people to faith!

D. We are to Trust

John 14:26 ““But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

The same Holy Spirit poured out upon the Apostles is the same Holy Spirit poured out upon us when we are saved. We have the Holy Spirit but does the Holy Spirit have a hold of you?

ILL: Herbert Jackson was a missionary who was assigned a car that would not start without a push. Day after day he went to the school near his home and got permission to take some children out of class to push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.

After two years Jackson different orders but before he left he briefed his replacement on the condition of his car. The new man began looking under the hood, before long the new missionary said, “Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable.” He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life.

The power was there all the time, only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work. How tremendous is the Power available to us when we make firm our connection with the Holy Spirit of God and we allow Him to work through us!

II. God has called us to Global Missions 1:8(B)

Before the foundation of the world God had a plan for the redemption of fallen man. His plan has always included people! Just as Jesus called the Apostles to bear witness throughout the whole world He calls us to do the same!

“You will be my witnesses.” Witnesses is the Greek noun martys - it is one who tells what he has seen and/or heard.

ILL: It is the idea of stepping onto the witness stand and telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!

A. Our Testimony

The ministry of Christ Jesus with an emphasis on the Resurrection.

Acts 1:22, 2:32, 3:15, 5:30-32, 10:41

B. Our Mission Field

All the earth! Ps. 96:3 “Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.”

Jerusalem (Acts 1-7), Judea and Samaria (Acts 8-12), the Ends of the Earth (13-28)

This mission was given 2000 years ago yet in continues still today, and it will go on until all the nations hear of the Good News of the Gospel. Today it is estimated that 59% of the world is lost, that means 4.7 billion people don't know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Hundreds of thousands of people die lost each day ..... and you have the answer to their lostness! We must be about the mission of God

Application: But how will we do this? Through the Power of The Holy Spirit that enables us to bear witness of the Resurrection of Jesus!

A. Global Missions is a Cooperative Initiative.

B. Global Missions is a Personal Responsibility.