What if? We go where Jesus goes?

How far would you go?

On average we drive over 1,000 miles per month - that’s for work and pleasure

It made me ask - How far would I go for great meal? , movie?, job?, or vacation?

Isn't that what we think of when we think of missions?

When I was kid, “Mission messages” always terrified me

I did not want to go to China or some dark jungle - and truthfully few do that - only 1 out of every 210,000 people

I shared last week from Spurgeon-

Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor. - Charles Spurgeon

If we believe this, it makes no sense that we would drive 50 miles for a good steak and not even cross the street to bring hope

What if our perception changed? What if we viewed everywhere and everyone as our mission and we are the missionaries? What if our hearts cried as John Wesley

I want the whole Christ for my Savior, the whole Bible for my book, the whole Church for my fellowship and the whole world for my mission field. - John Wesley

As we close out our month of missions, I want to ask us, “What if we go where Jesus goes?”

Turn your bibles to Mark 5 and follow along as we read:

Mark 5:1–20 CSB

They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. As soon as he got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met him. He lived in the tombs, and no one was able to restrain him anymore—not even with a chain—because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had torn the chains apart and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him. And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don’t torment me!” For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” “What is your name?” he asked him. “My name is Legion,” he answered him, “because we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region. A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged him, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” So he gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there. The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs. Then they began to beg him to leave their region. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him earnestly that he might remain with him. Jesus did not let him but told him, “Go home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.” So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.

Let’s pray

Background

The disciples and Jesus had just crossed the Sea of Gallilee - faced a huge storm - Jesus calmed it

Region is not exact - but it was primarily Gentiles

The land on shore - first contact is with this man - possessed and tormented

He was an outcast, uncontrollable, probably for a long time

It is interesting to me that the Demons knew exactly who Jesus is - made me think

James 2:19 CSB

You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.

Knowing who he is isn’t enough

Not someone I would probably go looking for

That’s our first point

1. Jesus went to where he was, to change his life

Mark 5:15 CSB

They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

We go where they are - around the world and across the street

We go for the purpose to change lives

Yes we serve and meet needs, but it must be tied to life change or it is worthless

Mark 8:36 CSB

For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life?

Notice - it was not just about making converts - Missions is not about making church members

We are commanded to go and make disciples

This is life change, direction, focus, and mission

2. Jesus went where he was, to send him where he wanted to him to go:

First and foremost:

a. Jesus made him a missionary to his family

Mark 5:19 CSB

Jesus did not let him but told him, “Go home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.”

He begged Jesus to go with him - but instead Jesus told him to stay home - tell the story there

You will never make a missionary of the person who does no good at home. He that will not serve the Lord in the Sunday school at home, will not win children to Christ in China. - Charles Spurgeon

b. Jesus made him a missionary to the community

Mark 5:20 CSB

So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.

Notice - the first response to Jesus being there was to ask him to leave

Later in Mark - Jesus returned to the Decapolis region ( 10 cities ) and thousands came out to see and hear him

This our community it is our responsibility- our call

What if?

What if we go where Jesus goes?

Around the world or across the street - everywhere to every people

What if we each connected one family to Christ’s love

It is not an option

Millions have never heard of Jesus. We ought not to ask, "Can I prove that I ought to go?' but, "Can I prove that I ought not to go?"; - Charles Spurgeon

We say we want to see change, we want to see growth, we want see God move

It starts with us

Will you say yes - will you go?

It starts right here

Let’s pray