The Sending God

Background to passage: beginning of Paul’s letter to a church he has never met. So, he introduces himself with a very theologically packed, missional opening. He tells some of his story about being a apostle, a sent one, of a sending God; a God who has a deep concern for the nations.

Romans 1:1–6 ESV

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

Opening illustration: The number of people on the globe is closer to 8.1 billion as of yesterday. 7000 is still a pretty good number for unreached people groups with a little less than half with no access to the gospel. One of my first trips to Peru was a vision trip to determine where God wanted us to work in and around the city of Jauja. We went to about 6 villages around Jauja, and God opened a huge door for us in Molinos and Julcan. There were 5 of us. At each town square, Margaret and Kayla’s job was to talk to people in the square. Geoff and I and John the IMB journeyman went to see the mayor of the town if he would see us. Don was to start walking and praying...

Main thought: It’s Christmas and the incarnation is God strategy to save his people. Paul understood the mission of God to take the gospel incarnationally. Jesus told us, “just as the Father sent me, even so I send you” and “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.”

This message is going primarily geared toward missions, not necessarily evangelism. We’ll deal with the latter, later. There are five ways to respond to God’s call to take the gospel outward.

1) Pray

Explanation: Jesus said that the harvest was white and ready, but the laborers are few.

Matthew 9:37–38 ESV

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

So, he instructed us to pray for God to send laborers. Why? Why would he not just say go? He knew that the power of the Father to raise up and send was much greater than calling those within the sound of his voice to go. Later he would tell them to go, but even then the resources are at the bidding of the Father. He can move on men’s hearts, he can remove obstacles, he can make paths straight, he can restrain evil influence, he can provide necessary resources.

Illustration: In our prayer room there are maps on the wall for N America and one for the state of global Christianity. Stories could be told of people praying here and protection or provision was being made simultaneously over there...

Application: We avail ourselves to the greatest power to advance the local, state, and global gospel movement when we pray. Over 8 billion people, 3.4 of which are unreached; 7000 people groups, 3000 of which have no Christians, no churches, no missionary engagement, and no bible in their language. We must intentionally, regularly, faithfully call out on behalf of the nations. Revelation tells us that every tribe, tongue, people, and nation will be there, but someone must go.

You can put reminders on your phone. Pray at 9:38 or 10:02 each day. You can sign up for the Unreached People of the Day on the Joshua Project. They also have calendars, podcasts, email lists, and social media pages. The IMB puts up daily prayer requests for missionaries, people groups, nations, specific ministries, etc., 13 on Friday alone.

2) Give

Explanation: As Americans we are some of the richest people on the planet by comparison. So we will have the most accountability for American Christians financially support the furtherance of the gospel. We must give to support the work of those who are “out there” reaching others with the gospel.

Argumentation:

Illustration: Talk about the CP, GBC does a 46/54 split, WHBC gives 6%. Jeff’s testimony about IMB work in Zambia while there as an independent baptist missionary.

Application: The NT teaches that we should give regularly, proportionately, sacrificially, cheerfully, and as each has determined in his heart. We need to examine our hearts about what we give. The CP is the best way to fund and do missions. We should keep increasing our giving percentages to the CP. In addition to our church giving, there are all sorts of ways to give and support missionary efforts. The Lottie Moon is one of the best, because every last penny goes directly to the field. Your “over and above” giving been done in many ways, but one thing that you can do is give an extra $10 to LMCO each week, then by the end of the year, you will have given $500 directly to 3,500 missionaries to share the gospel. What if 50 of us did that in 2025? We will have given $25,000 to LMCO!

3) Go

Explanation: The Great Commission wasn’t given just to the 12, it was given to all. We are all called to go make disciples. For most of us that will not include going to a distant land, to an unreached people, and spending 30-40 years sharing the gospel, burying spouses and children while you sow the seed like Adoniram Judson. However, God calls some out. NRBC has been in existence since 1877. It has had a partnership with Peru for four years while I was there. They have sent one missionary out in 147 years. Wouldn’t it be great if we sent out a dozen in the next five years?

Argumentation:

Illustration: "Almighty God, just because He is almighty, needs no support. The picture of a nervous, ingratiating God fawning over men to win their favor is not a pleasant one; yet if we look at the popular conception of God that is precisely what we see. Twentieth century Christianity has put God on charity. So lofty is our opinion of ourselves that we find it quite easy, not to say enjoyable, to believe that we are necessary to God. But the truth is that God is not greater for our being, nor would He be less if we did not exist. That we do exist is altogether of God’s free determination, not by our desert nor by divine necessity.

Probably the hardest thought of all for our natural egotism to entertain is that God does not need our help. We commonly represent Him as a busy, eager, somewhat frustrated Father hurrying about seeking help to carry out His benevolent plan to bring peace and salvation to the world, but, as said the Lady Julian, “I saw truly that God doeth all-thing, be it never so little.” The God who worketh all things surely needs no help and no helpers.

Too many missionary appeals are based upon this fancied frustration of Almighty God. An effective speaker can easily excite pity in his listeners, not only for the heathen but for the God who has tried so hard and so long to save them and has failed for want of support. I fear that thousands of younger persons enter Christian service from no higher motive than to help deliver God from the embarrassing situation His love has gotten Him into and His limited abilities seem unable to get Him out of. Add to this a certain degree of commendable idealism and a fair amount of compassion for the underprivileged and you have the true drive behind much Christian activity today." -Tozer

Application: Let me assure you, I do not want to manipulate you with guilt because I can. Guilt is not a good long-term motivater. Besides, I believe exactly what Tozer said. If the Holy Spirit is convicting you of sin and guilt, then him I would listen to. Western Heights, we are called to go! Since I have been here in 7 years (this week), we have been to Panama City once, Griffin once, Peru once, and NC once. I’ll be honest, I feel like there is a giant brick wall in front of us. We have got to get going. I am hoping to go on a trip this summer. We may have to go individually until something catches flame. I am praying that God raises up some of you who will go sometime. This church has a glorious past of international involvement—Ukraine, Dominican Republic, West Africa, and supported ministers and missionaries in other countries. Year after year, then… We must go!

4) Send

Explanation: This is a little repetitive, but maybe it needs to be said twice. God calls some to go now, some to go for a season, and some he calls to stay home and hold the rope. Because of our wealth, because of our cultural system of retirement, because of our colleges, seminaries, and mission boards, because of our institutional and free churches in a society that is permissive, we have the obligation to ensure that when God calls laborers, we send.

Argumentation:

Illustration: OCC, NC trip,

Application: This means more than praying. This means more than giving. This means influencing others to go, then equipping them at the level we are to go. It means educating them about missions. It means teaching about strategy and methodology of missionaries in our church from the little ones all the way up through college and retirement. It means knowing how our mission boards work so we can instruct others. It means knowing about our baptist colleges and seminaries so that you can encourage others. It can mean sending some to seminary for further training.

Closing illustration: The final of the five responses is to DISOBEY. “The highest of missionary motives is neither obedience to the Great Commission, nor love for sinners who are alienated and perishing, strong as that is, especially as we contemplate the wrath of God, but rather zeal, burning and passionate zeal for the glory of Jesus Christ, only one imperialism is Christian, and that is concern for His imperial majesty, Jesus Christ and for the glory of His empire!...And we should be jealous for the sake of His Name, troubled when It remains unknown, hurt when It is ignored, indignant when it is blasphemed, and all the time anxious and determined that It will be given the honor and glory to which It is due!” – John Stott

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