Authentic Missions

Introduction

JUNIOR CHURCH DISMISSED

This morning we continue in our series Authentic where we are looking to the Bible and the NT church to discover what an authentic church is and how we can be one today in the 21st century.

This morning we will focus on Authentic missions.

Missions is integral to a New Testament church being authentic and obedient to Christ. That’s why I’m excited about our Missions conference coming up in March of next year. I’ve looking forward to operating our missions program according to what’s known as Faith Promise Missions. I’ll talk more about that later.

I also wanted to let you know about a missionary we have coming in on Wednesday October 2nd. That night we will have a full service with singing from our worship team and preaching from Pastor Kevin Folger. A representative of Spiritual Leadership Conference Asia and the work being done in the 1040 window. If you don’t know what that is, I suggest you google it today after church and pray for missions in that area.

None the less, please mark your calendars and plan on being here that night. I would like to have a full auditorium to show our support and hear the message God gives him for us.

Open your Bibles to this morning.

Here we will look at some verses that help us see the process and importance of Missions and how we can be involved.

It was just before Christ’s ascension into Heaven that He gave us the misson of the local church.

Matthew 28:18–20 KJV 1900

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Think about what He said there. He said All the world. When I was studying this last week the current world population was over 7.7 billion people.

According to Joshua project.net approximately 5.11 billion of those 7.7 reside in the 1040 window. The 1040 window is also known as the resistance belt. It’s there where most of the world’s population resides and where there is much resistance to Christianity.

And just as God died for us He died for them. But how can they know him unless someone tells them? How can someone tell them unless someone is sent? How can someone be sent unless someone surrenders to go?

Worldwide missions is a great task laid upon the local church, but there is another, just as equally important task that we must take up and make a priority. And that is local missions.

What is a mission field? Jesus described it in

Acts 1:8 KJV 1900

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

He was speak to those who lived in Jerusalem at this time. He said your first obligation in missions, in getting the gospel out, is in your home town. Is where you live.

When you leave this property you are a missionary. Jesus said “Even as my father hath sent me, so send I you.”

You have been sent out into the world, commissioned to be an ambassador of Christ.

One person can’t reach the world, One church can’t reach the world, one missionary can’t reach the world, but many Christians that are of one mind and one accord, focused on engaging those around them with the life giving and and life changing message of the gospel of Jesus Christ can see God do great things through them.

Questions for you to ponder: What are you doing for missions?

There are two types of Christians when it comes to missions: Those who are doing something for missions and those who are not obeying God’s word. Which are you this morning? Which do you want to be?

Here in we encounter an Authentic church full of people obedient to the Lord. Working together to see people saved and then God calls the first missionaries out of it.

Follow along as I read please

Acts 13:1–4 KJV 1900

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

PRAY

Notice with me first the Context of Missions

I. The Context of Missions

Where does missions take place? Where is all the action at? Is it a denomiational headquarters? Is it a missions board?

No.

I believe that the hub of activity for missions is in a local church.

A. The local church

Verse 1 in our text sets the tone for the context of missions.

Acts 13:1 KJV 1900

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

The church that was in Antioch. Remember, a church is not a building or a place it is a called out group of people that believe in Jesus as their savior.

This church in Antioch was started by believers that had been spread out because of the persecution in Jerusalem. gives some insight here

Acts 11:9 KJV 1900

But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

Acts 11:9 KJV 1900

But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

Acts 11:19 KJV 1900

Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

In the beginning of the church at Antioch we see that they were preaching to the Jews only. Yet, after a time they began to see something happening that was unexpected. They had Gentiles begin to trust Christ as their savior and become part of the church.

The church in Jerusalem heard about this and sent Barnabus to investigate it.

Barnabus arrives in Antioch and sees things are going well and desires for them to continue and cleave unto the Lord. It’s no surprise really that this type of church is the one God used to call the first missionaries unto the rest of the world, specifically Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles.

There was something driving them, something that made this church special. Something that opened their hearts to the gentiles.

I believe it was because the church Antioch was a loving church.

B. A Loving Church

It’s my prayer that Liberty Baptist be known as a loving church. A church like the ones found throughout the book of Acts marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit and known by the fruit of it’s labor in the community.

This was a loving church that was also a diversified church. They had people from all different walks of life. They had Patriots fans and broncos fans, They had red sox fans and Yankees fans, They had people that believed the toilet paper should go over the top rather than from behind. And with all that diversity, they were able to be a loving church.

No matter the backgrounds or nationalities, they had a common bond of love.

notice the international nature of the church in verse 1.

Acts 13:1 KJV 1900

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Barnabas was a levite from Cyprus

Simeon that was called Niger was a black man. The word Niger is from Latin and means black

Lucius of Cyrene was from a city in northern Africa on the Mediterranean Sea. It is in modern day libya

Manaen, was a companion of Herod

Then there was Saul who was a Jewish Rabbi and High ranking Pharisee before his salvation.

All of these different backgrounds yet the church showed so much love and character of Christ in their community that it was at Antioch the name Christian was coined.

Acts 11:26

Acts 11:26 KJV 1900

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

The church did not develop the title Christian, which means Christ like. they were given it and wore it as a badge of honor almost because it signified they were living what they were teaching and loving as Christ as taught them to love.

A church that exists without this type of love. The love of Christ, for each other and the lost, will never experience missions the way God intends.

Authentic missions takes place when the local church has a loving heart. The love of Christ is a love that takes us beyond our own personal needs and beyond our natural prejudices to care for people who are not just like us but who are without the gospel.

It’s this type of church that God uses and calls missionaries from.

Look with me at the calling of missionaries.

II. The Calling of Missionaries

This takes place in churches that exhibit that Christ like love.

But how is it that some people are called to a mission field? And what does that mean?

Verse 2 in your Bible

Acts 13:2 KJV 1900

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

From this verse we learn there are two significant factors that allow a church family and individuals to hear God’s calling concerning missions.

Before I get to them though I want to tell you one factor that plays no role in being called to do something for God…Age

I mean that on both ends of the spectrum. Some men will tell you they surrendered to preach or be a missionary as a 7 year old boy at camp or as a teenager at a conference.

Then on the other side we have missionaries like the The Peelers.

This is Jack and Melinda Peeler. I couldn’t find their exact age but they were married in 1974 so I assume they were born in 54 or before. That would put them in their 60’s.

It was around 2002-2003, When Jack was in his 40’s with a succesful construction company, that the Lord laid it on their hearts to give it all up and go into missions. Well Jack would tell you he isn’t a learned man and doesn’t enjoy public speaking. I’ll tell you in my experience with him, he is an intelligent man and he really does hate public speaking.

None the less they gave up the business and went into a maintenance ministry where they traveled in and out of country to help with maintenance at churches, camps, and on the mission fields of the world. They would even provide furlough relief if needed.

During this time they were serving on an island at a radio station ran by a missionary there when the missionary asked them to pray for the Lord to send someone who would take the gospel to the island of Nukuoro.

Long story short, Jack and melinda began praying and the Lord impressed on their hearts to be those people. They are the first ones to take any sort of organized religion to this island. They had to get permission from the island chief to come on the island and stay.

Let me show you where this is. Jack and Melinda are from one of the Carolinas. Just good ol’ southern folk that enjoy Sweet tea and chik fil la.

Here is where the island they serve on is in relation to Asia and here is a close up of the island. It is about 5 miles across.

It’s sits on the rim of a volcano and only accessible by boat. Which, unless there is an emergency, only comes through once every 3-4 months.

Age is not a factor in service to God. Willingness is.

The call to missions or work for the Lord comes during a busy time.

A. A Serving time

Notice what the church was doing in verse 2 “As they ministered to the Lord.”

They were serving God. They were witnessing others. Teaching people about Jesus, loving their community through action, baptizing believers, and adding to the church.

The call of God doesn’t come when we are sitting around holding hands and singing kum by yah.

It’s when we are busy about our Father’s business that we see the Lord working in the hearts of the people to send them out to mission fields.

Just as you wouldn’t ask a lazy employee to do an important job, why would the Lord call someone who isn’t already being obedient to Him to go somewhere and not be obedient to Him?

We see they were so busy for the Lord they were sacrificing things in their own lives.

Notice in verse 2 where the Bible says they were fasting. Fasting is a physical act to show that we desire God more than food or nourishment for our own bodies. Typically you don’t find new Christians fasting. You really don’t hear about Christians that have fallen away from the Lord fasting. It’s a spiritual discipline that comes from the heart of a believer that is wiling to set all things aside in this life for the Lord.

The church at Antioch would pray, they would fast, they would work, they would serve, they would love, and then the Lord would separate.

B. A Separating time

The church was busy about serving the Lord and then the Holy Ghost spake and said “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work wherunto I have called them.”

Men serve and God speaks. God speaks to churches that are active in His work.

God doesn’t call prayerless men, he calls praying men

God doesn’t call idle men, but serving men.

God did not cal carnal men, but spiritual men.

I want you to ask yourself something this morning and maybe something you can pray over this week:

Am I in a position to be called by God? Am I actively engaged in what the Lord would have me doing? Am I sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit? Am I responsive to His instruction?

Missions is not the sideline of the church, it is the front line. We should not fiddle with it desiring for it to conform to our own desires, it is the very heartbeat of God.

Then lastly we see the commencement of missions

III. The Commencement of Missions

The first missionary endeavour moved from a working church and called men to the gospel being carried out to to other places with prayer.

A. With Prayer

Every great work for God begins with prayer.

Verse 3

Acts 13:3 KJV 1900

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

They laid their hands on them. This is what happens when men are ordained into the ministry. Before coming here I was ordained at Freedom Baptist in Yuma. My certificate is in my office on my bookshelf between the two degrees I hold as a reminder to me and anyone else, that ordination, the call of God, the reaffirming of that call by this church and those men who signed that certificate, is more important in my life than any letters you can put after my name.

Ordination has been formalized in a sense that we have a service and might sing special music, some of you watched my ordination. If you watched until the end, you say me blubbering like a baby.

At the basic level ordination is the church as a body of believers confirming the call of God on the lives of men into ministry. Whether that be missions or the pastorate.

Does a person need a degree to be a pastor or a missionary? Absolutely not. Does it help, of course.

Should a person be ordained before going into the pastorate or becoming a missionary? Absolutely. It’s the biblical example we have to follow.

These men were sent out with prayer and they were sent out with participation

B. With Participation

The word they in this verse speaks volumes. The church was in unity sending these missionaries. Remember, this is a church of all different backgrounds, ethnicities, and sports teams.

No matter their differences they came together and sent these men out in uniformed agreement.

The word they also confirms the authority of the local church. It was a missions board, a denominational headquarters, or a network of churches that ordained these men to ministry, it was the local church.

The church must steward this authority and only ordain men after diligent prayer.

One missionary wrote “The history of missions is the history of answered prayer. Form Pentecost to the Haystack meeting in new England and from the days when Robert Morrison landed in China to the martyrdom of John and Betty Stam, prayer has been the source of power and the secret of spiritual triumph.”

Men and women involved in missions are on the frontlines against the devil. He has a stronghold in many parts of the world and these men and women said “we are going into battle to take it back.”

He isn’t going to give up easily. Missionaries are often under a spiritual attack by Satan. Paul experienced this and asked for the one thing he knew could affect his situation more than anything else…Prayer.

Romans 15:30 KJV 1900

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

1 Thessalonians 5:25 KJV 1900

Brethren, pray for us.

Missionaries need financial support but more importantly they need prayer support.

That’s why you have a list of them in your bulletin this week. Take that home and add them to your prayer list. Pray for their families, pray for their work, pray for their own spirits to stay high and lifted up in the work God has called them to do.

Pastors, Missionaries, and local NT churches all have a part to play in local and worldwide missions.

My question for you this morning…What part are you playing?

Conclusion

As the piano plays and we all stand to our feet with our heads bowed and eyes closed we are going to have a time to respond to the message this morning.

Christians, What could you be doing for to further advance local and worldwide missions?

This morning I asked you, what part are you playing in the great commission? What could you be doing for to further advance local and worldwide missions?

I’ll give you the answers. You could pray more for lost souls in bristol and abroad. You could give more to worldwide missions through a local church. You could be a witness yourself to those you interact with weekly.

This morning I want to ask us as a church to bring that list of missionaries with you to the altar and we take a moment to pray for them by name. If your a member or regular attender would you come forward please and as a church lets pray for those God has called to far off lands.

To our guests your welcome to come down to the altar or stay in your seat. As the piano plays a few more moments we are gonna pray for these missionaries.

With every head bowed and eye closed this morning I need to ask another question while these pray.

Maybe your here this morning and you’ve never heard of missions or why anyone would leave their hometown to go somewhere and tell them about Jesus. Theres only one answer to that question and that answer is Jesus.

It’s because of Jesus. Maybe you don’t know Jesus. You don’t have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

You don’t know for sure that your going to heaven when you die. If you don’t know I’d like for you to.

As the piano plays this morning lets stand for a moment as we have our time of invitation. This is your opportunity to respond to what you’ve heard this morning.

With every head bowed and every eye closed I’d like to ask you, do you know Jesus? Do you know that your saved?

How many here would let me pray for you and raise your hand to indicate you don’t Jesus but would like to. You don’t know if your saved but you’d like to know.

Salvation message

If you prayed that prayer this morning would you raise your hand and let me rejoice with you? If you trusted in Jesus as your savior this morning for the first time would you raise your hand?

PRAY

This morning I asked you, what part are you playing in the great commission? What could you be doing for to further advance local and worldwide missions?

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I’ll give you the answers. You could pray more for lost souls in bristol and abroad. You could give more to worldwide missions through a local church. You could be a witness yourself to those you interact with weekly.

This morning I want to ask us as a church to bring that list of missionaries with you to the altar and we take a moment to pray for them by name. If your a member or regular attender would you come forward please and as a church lets pray for those God has called to far off lands.

To our guests your welcome to down to the altar or stay in or seat. As the piano plays a few more moments we are gonna pray for these missionaries.