Compelled by the Love of Christ

Our Heroes for Christ’s Sake

[Show the video of our missionaries]

Many of our missionaries are the sons and daughters of men and women who sent their children to Sam Houston State University for an education. Certainly, there were all different types of motivations, but the general motivation was for their son or daughter to receive a college education that would provide a stable income for themselves and for their future families. Imagine the shock of the parents when their child came home from college with excitement about accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior, being baptized, and receiving the Gift of the Holy Spirit. On top of that, they are now excited about being a small group leader. Later, a year or more down the road they are excited about an opportunity to go into the Muslim world and serve as missionaries! Oh, and then they inform their folks, they could use some support to get there.

What happened? It had all been planned out. Everything was going so well – and then…

The Apostle Paul explains it this way…

Compelled by the Love of Christ

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 NIV

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Throughout the nation and the world, Assemblies of God churches in 2020 are talking about the power of being compelled to go to the world with the salvation message. We just remembered 9/11 and the heroes who walked into buildings that were on fire, disrupted the plans of terrorists to crash a plane into the White House, and saved lives after the Pentagon had been hit. Heroes are compelled to go into, not to run from.

The verb here in v. 14 is in the present tense, which emphasizes the continuous nature of the pressure upon Paul. The source of the pressure is the love of Christ. This can be construed either as Paul’s love for Christ, or Christ’s love for Paul. In the light of what follows (vv. 14b–15) the second option is to be preferred. It is Paul’s recognition of Christ’s love shown in his death for all which acts as the motivation for the apostle’s ministry.[1]

As we begin to take the rest of this month to cast a vision for missions, I think it would be beneficial for us to consider the power that compels missionaries and ministers of all shapes into a burning world.

Common Traits of the Missionary

The decision of these men and women to become missionaries is a statement of conviction that they share with us. They believe that Christ died for their sins and made atonement with God for each of them. Their decision to give their lives, dreams, and talents to a lifetime of selfless service to the Kingdom of God is a powerful statement.

In the Greek, the word compelled means that it restrains us. In this part of 2 Corinthians, Paul is addressing the problem that many in the Corinthian church have been attracted to “Super Apostles”. When they looked at Paul, they looked at a man who was poor, not so attractive, and, perhaps, not the picture-perfect speaker with the latest fashion and coolest stories. Paul is saying that the Gospel is far more important than anything in this world in which we can take pride.

The word, compelled, is interesting and is used throughout the NT with other shades of meaning. I believe that as these meanings are put together, we can have a good understanding of the heart of the missionary.

Experienced

Acts 28:8–9 NIV

His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.

Paul was shipwrecked on Malta. He was being transported as a prisoner to Rome. While en route, the ship was destroyed by a storm and they all had to swim for it. In 2 Corinthians Paul had to be persuasive to get the people’s attention.

2 Corinthians 11:21–28 NIV

To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

When I came out of being in Iraq for 12 months and returned to Kuwait the popular term for veterans with war-time experience was ‘warrior’ instead of just ‘soldier’. Whether people like it or not, there is a difference - experience matters.

Having Been Distressed

Luke 12:50 NIV

But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!

I was recently reminded of the Lester’s who are serving as missionaries to Iraq. A friend had posted the events of the recent attack against the American Embassy in Baghdad. I remember the Lester’s sharing about wrestling with the idea of going to a nation with so much recent turmoil. They listed the pro’s and con’s – the con’s certainly outweighed the pro’s except at the bottom of the list was (I believe) the realization that God had spoken that Iraq was where God wanted them to go. Distress would not dictate their decision – the will of God would.

The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed — Hudson Taylor

Not Quitters!

What happens when we run into failure or disappointment? What happens when the plans that we have made seem to crash and burn? The Love of Christ compels us to never quit.

Acts 18:5–6 NIV

When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

What are the metrics that we use to measure men and women who have been called into missions? Do we test them by ROI, Return On Investment? I’ve read a story about the famous missionary Robert Moffat who showed up to speak for a service but very few showed up to hear him speak. He preached and talked about ministry on the continent of Africa. While he spoke he shared these 20 powerful words, “I have sometimes seen, in the morning sun, the smoke of a thousand villages where no missionary has ever been.” What he didn’t know was that a young doctor had been struggling with the issue of what he would do with the rest of his life. Those words changed his life and ignited him into missions. The young doctor’s name was Dr. David Livingston.

No one knows, except God, what impact you can have for Christ as long as you continue to move forward. Never quit!

Missionaries Struggle with Conflicting Thoughts

I’ve heard of many ministers who have had a very difficult last 6 months since Covid 19. Many are reconsidering the ministry because of the difficulties that they have experienced. Churches, nationwide, only have a fraction of their members returning and the initial interest and commitment to online participation has fallen. Just like pastors who question their call into ministry, missionaries are real people who struggle with serious conflicts within themselves.

Philippians 1:23–26 NIV

I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

I’m sure that if we had the time to learn the stories of present-day missionaries, we would find a similar story to that of the missionary Henry Martin in the early 1800’s. He was faced with his calling and the desires of his heart…

Though several attractive, lucrative vocations were open to him, he said, "Here I am, Lord: send me to the ends of the earth. Send me even to death itself if it but be in Thy service and in Thy kingdom!" When he fell deeply in love with a girl named Lydia, he told her of his call from God to live and minister in India. Was this agreeable to her? he asked, and pleaded that it might be. But it was not. If he would stay in England, he could have her as his bride; if he went to India, he must do without her. The question came like a drumbeat in his brain—India or Lydia? Lydia or India? Henry Martyn was a mastered man…constrained by the love of Christ. The mastery was his in a crisis involving a crucial choice. ‘My dear Lydia and my duty call me different ways, yet God has not forsaken me. I am born for God only, and Christ is nearer to me than father or mother or sister.’ So he went to India to ‘burn out for God.’ ” (2400 Scripture Outlines, Anecdotes, Notes and Quotes Archibald Naismith)

Missionaries are Pressed from All Sides

Modern combat has moved from line combat to what is called asynchronous battlefields. This means that you don’t know where the enemy may be coming from. In the streets of Sadr City or Fallujah you “had to keep your head on a swivel”.

In this passage, Jesus is in the middle of a crowd with people demanding all types of things from Him but He didn’t stop ministering.

Luke 8:45–46 NIV

“Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

Life can get that way sometimes with demands bombarding you from every direction. You can either get into the fetal position or you can allow the Holy Spirit to begin to minister through you regardless of the circumstances.

Missionaries Learn to Listen to the Master’s Voice

This passage demonstrates compelled in a negative light from the Sanhedrin. However, it can be a positive attribute when we understand it.

Acts 7:54–58 NIV

When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

In this passage it is the Sanhedrin who covered their ears, but sometimes as believers we need to cover our ears. Years ago, I remember being warned about the “backseat drivers of life who are always prodding you with umbrellas”. Go here, turn there, stop doing this, start doing that, and on and on. The voices will never quit. What we must do is learn to hear the right voice.

Christian, You Share These Same Traits

I came across an interesting quote from A.W. Tozer this week that you might appreciate. He said:

A real Christian is an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One Whom he has never seen. Talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see. He expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another, empties himself in order that he might be full, admits he is wrong so he can be declared right, and goes down in order to get up. He is strongest when he is weakest, richest when he is poorest, and is happiest when he feels worst. He dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, and gives away so he can keep. He sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passes knowledge.[2]

I hope that you, like Paul, will agree that it is the Love of Christ that compels us.

We Must Live Compelled for Christ

Two weeks ago I preached about the end of evil and learned what the Bible had to say about hell. I believe that we need to understand the permanence and horrors of hell. Last week we looked into heaven and marveled at the greatness of what God has in store for believers. We need to understand each. Hudson Taylor once said,

“Would that God would make hell so real to us that we cannot rest; heaven so real that we must have men there. Christ so real that our supreme motive and aim shall be to make the Man of Sorrows the Man of Joy by the conversion of Him to many.” - Hudson Taylor

In the context of missions, as a church we must agree that we have to be focused on missions. We have to understand that the privilege that we have to be missionaries, to send missionaries, to pray for missionaries, and to give dollars to missionaries is of eternal importance. The Gospel must be shared…

Acts 4:18–20 NIV

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Peter and John were compelled to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to be as well.

Respect!

[1] Kruse, C. G. (1987). 2 Corinthians: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 8, pp. 120–121). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

[2] PerceptAustion.org. Matthew 5:14-16. Tozer, A.W. quoted.