I realize I’m asking for some of your most sacred material here, but, hey… really… what are the odds that we’ll be preaching at the same church as you, anyway? :-) Seriously. If you wouldn’t mind sharing the key scripture passage(s) and the sermon points you share from them, there are several thousand Brigada readers that would LOVE to have the scoop. Just click “Comment” (or the comment number below) and copy-and-paste in your key points (or the entire manuscript if it’s easier). You’ll be multiplying the productivity of your message(s) while making new friends across the world! Just jot down the scripture and then explain your points — or paste in the entire message. That warm, fuzzy feeling inside is the feeling you get when you’ve helped a world-full of people eager to please our Lord Jesus Christ! (They’ll all be able to read your messages as you record them here.)
7 Motivations for Missions
Introduction.
Why do you do the things you do? What gets you up in the morning?
Whatever we do as human beings requires motivation.
Be it internal or external, invited or uninvited.
Motivations for Missions
1. The need of the world.
Billions who are in need of the love of God. Millions who have never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Matt 9:35-38 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
2. Out of gratitude for what Christ has done for us.
How can we keep for ourselves that which is sufficient for the whole world?
1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
2 Cor 5:11-15 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And 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.
3. To glorify God through accomplishing our God-given purpose.
Eph 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
John 17:4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
4. Christ’s Return
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (2 Peter 3:10-11)
5. We are commanded.
To witness, preach and make disciples.
Mat 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mar 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Act 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
6. To be like Jesus
John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
7. It was always God’s plan to glorify himself through the nations.
Gen 12:1-3 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Psa 86:8 Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. 9All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. 10For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.
Conclusion
Different people are motivated by different things. For some it is the need for accomplishment, for other it is the need for recognition, others still to be right and for others the need to have stability.
Your personality and background determines what motivates you.
God invites us to join him in his mission to win men and women back to himself. He wants all of his children to be a part of what he is doing. He doesn’t NEED us, but he does WANT us.
There is no ONE motivation for involvement in the Kingdom things of God. Are you involved?
Colin, what an awesome response! Wow. This is EXACTLY what we were looking for. Well done, brother!
The What and the How of Being a Witness Lake Ridge Bible Church 10-14-2012
Thanks… Lake Ridge has a wonderful history of deep commitment to missions!
Your theme this year is ACT 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
A witness in a court of law tells what they have seen, heard, and experienced. That’s simple! Today, my message is simple… we will focus on the what and the how of being a witness.
The What
What are we a witness of… this week? Because the Holy Spirit of God has come into our life as a believer in Jesus Christ… WHAT have we seen, heard, or experienced this week that we can give witness of… to the glory of God?
A few years ago Pam and I were part of an Adult Sunday School class that organized a new leadership team, and we were asked to be on it. I volunteered for the prayer coordinator position and was given it as no one else really wanted that position. I asked for it so I could be an agent of transformation in the class. The first week I got up when it was my turn and asked the class of about 45 people what God has done in their lives that week which only HE could do and that spoke of his power, love, and presence. There was silence. Being trained as a psychologist, I was not afraid of silence and said nothing. After about three to four minutes of silence, a guy in back yelled out, “It’s pretty convicting isn’t it!” The next week, I asked the same question to start the prayer time in the class and hands went up all over the room! Why? The class members had been watching all week for God to work and saw when he did! Had God not been working the previous week? Of course he had been! But people were so focused on their own issues and perspectives that they failed to notice his hand at work! Once they started looking, they clearly saw his hand at work!
Pam and I had a difficult decision to make this week. We were asked if a young woman in her early 20’s could come and live with us. The young woman is a believer from a good family, but she has been living a somewhat rebellious lifestyle as a cocktail waitress with relatively no ambition. She currently lives in another city in Texas and wants to live here in the Metroplex to be near her current boyfriend. Is this an opportunity from God to have a positive impact on a young person’s life… or possibly an enabling situation to further a broke person’s rebellion and self-centeredness? Pam and I don’t have the wisdom to make such a discernment… which would require a knowledge of the young woman’s heart and motives. But we DO KNOW someone who DOES KNOW her heart and motives… Jesus. And he is able to lead us in what he wants us to do! [PAUSE] The Lord led us to invite her to come live with us for 60 days. It will cost us significant time, money and inconvenience to do so, but the Lord has assured us that it is worth it in his economy.
Did you notice that I just gave witness to the knowledge, power, and personalness of God’s work in our lives this week? I bet you have questions right now that you would like to ask me to answer. How did God make that clear to you? Aren’t you worried about her past? What do her parents think of this? And our conversation would continue with more opportunity to be God’s witness…
I have a piece of paper taped to the wall next to my desk where I see it every day. On it is typed in big letters: WHERE THERE IS NO WONDER, THERE IS NO WORSHIP! [Again]
What is it in your life each day that prompts you to be amazed at God’s hand at work… or his character… or his power… or his caring? Where there is wonder and worship, it’s EASY to give witness!
I had the privilege to do a sabbatical a decade ago at Exchanged Life Ministries Texas. It is a discipleship ministry cleverly disguised as a counseling center. While there I had the privilege of seeing 50- and 60-year old guys fall in love with Jesus all over again. They came to real brokenness before the Lord, learned their identity in Christ, dealt with years of unforgiveness and guilt, yielded their rights to the Lord for his purposes, learned to set their minds on things above, and to live by grace and not law. They were transformed… and JOY was a chief characteristic! They were filled with JOY! These guys didn’t have to go to a class on witnessing… you couldn’t shut them up! The joy within them compelled them to give witness to the transformation Jesus did within them and to their daily walk and joy with him—allowing Jesus to live his life out through them!
What does it take to get the wonder back when that has not been our focus? 3 things to start…
1) Reading his Word, meditating on it, reflecting (with his guidance) upon the ways he has worked in the past in our life, praising him for those, saying thank you… the Psalms are there for a reason to guide us. (You expected me to say that didn’t you! But #2 might surprise you!)
2) Getting in touch with how really needy we are… Heb 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” The more we are in touch with our neediness, the more we seek him and the easier it is to pray for all manner of things… But especially to pray for his working in the midst of many circumstances we’re in to bring grace to those in need (often us!) and glory to himself.
How do we get the wonder back in order to be a witness? Experiencing God in his Word and work in our lives… and getting in touch with the depth of our neediness for him!
One day during that sabbatical when I was learning so much, I went out of the house and got in my car to drive to the office. Not audibly, but close, the Lord asked me if I really thought I could drive to work that day without an accident. I didn’t know what to think at first, and then it hit me that in my arrogance I had gotten in that car and driven to work hundreds of time without seeing my need for his enablement and protection. I felt so stupid and arrogant. I repented… and told the Lord that every time from then on that my rear hit the seat of that car that I would ask for HIS enablement to get where ever I was going… and not arrogantly assume I could do it without him. Remember John 15:5, “…Apart from me you can do nothing.” The Lord often asks me “Derrah, which part of ‘nothing’ do you not understand son?” Well, apparently a great deal!
3) Step out in faith and confidence we have the requests we have made. Seven times in the upper room discourse (John 13-17) Jesus says to ask for whatever we need in his name and he will do it that the Father might be glorified. Step out knowing Jesus is giving us the POWER we need.
So how do we get the wonder back? Hang out with Jesus, get in touch with how needy we really are and start crying out to him for the needs all around us, and step out of the boat trusting he will do what he says he will do!
You know recently I have been reflecting on the idea that it is actually SAFER outside the boat in the midst of the wind and the waves… because Jesus it there.! He is not in the boat, he is out where it is scary. Sometimes it just takes choosing to follow Jesus into scary and uncomfortable places that causes us to see his real power manifest… like being witnesses to those around us of what he is doing this week in our lives.
Is this simple? YES… and NO. The concept is simple… but I have to cooperate wholeheartedly with what the Lord is doing in my life today. Out of that cooperation, we will experience his love and power… and it will be easy to be a witness to what we have seen, heard and experienced!
The How
In Luke 9 Jesus sends out the 12.
1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey — no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.
[Ask for an adult volunteer to come up and help you. Challenge them to go through the neighborhood, knock on doors, cast out demons, heal the sick, and tell them the kingdom of God is near. Then ask how they feel about the task?]
Well the disciples took Jesus at his word and did what he asked… they stepped out of their comfort zone and obeyed the master. And what happened? Good stuff… but the rest of the chapter records that they were just beginning to get the whole message of who Jesus was and what he was doing. So…several illustrations later… we get to Luke chapter 10.
In Luke 10, Jesus send out the 70 (72).
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. 8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’
So Jesus is sending his guys out to where he is ABOUT to go. By implication, is Jesus sending you anywhere this week—office, store, school, gym… or maybe to a group of people you struggle to relate to?
Jesus sends them out with nothing to take with them! WHY? Remember that needy part we just talked about. Recon’ about supper time they had any problem knocking on doors and asking to see if those folks were people of peace? People of peace who would FEED THEM SUPPER!
Get the picture? Jesus LOVES needy servants who trust him for everything. If you feel adequate to help Jesus out on his mission, you are DISQUALIFIED! Jesus only wants broken and humble people who see themselves as weak and inadequate to be his guys! Remember II Cor 12:9-10? Paul says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Life is all about love and power… love for Jesus and experiencing his power today! When we have Jesus’ love and power flowing through us it is exciting! And with the JOY he gives us as a fruit of the Spirit, we’ll have no problem being his witnesses… in fact, no one can stop us from talking about what Jesus is doing in us and through us!
You know, I am thinking at this moment that some of you may not be buying what I am sharing. Honestly, I have not shared anything with you today that you did not already know. But it may be time for you to step out of the boat to see if Jesus is there amidst the wind and the waves. I assure you that he is. Maybe a first step might be to read Jerry Trousdale’s book just released entitled Miraculous Movements. It is about what Jesus is doing in sub-Sahara Africa among Muslim peoples. For $10 plus shipping Amazon.com will put it on your doorstep. The book is an elaborate case study about what I have been sharing today. Real people simply obeying Jesus.
Speaking of books, if you have not read the book entitled Radical yet, get it from Amazon at the same time. It’s by David Platt and well worth your time.
Steve Saint is the son of martyred missionary Nate Saint who died January 8, 1956 with Jim Elliot and the other three missionaries in Ecuador at the hands of the Auca Indians (more properly the Waodoni). Steve is a world-renown missionary statesman, a frequent contributor to Christianity Today magazine on missions topics, and inventor (www.itecusa.org). Of late, Steve has been preaching “Let God write the rest of your story!” Steve invented a car that flies. Several months ago while testing a new wind foil feature on the car, it came loose and struck Steve in the head creating a massive head injury and making him a paralyzed quadriplegic for a while. Since surgery, Steve has gained some functioning back, but his insights into life, God’s purposes, and how we should respond in humility are profound. Watch this video from Steve.
[Show Steve Saint video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfPZ_bIRfmM%5D
God has continued to astound folks with Steve’s physical progress, and he now can walk with a walker and has returned to his home. Again, you can see the videos on youtube.com.
Are you weak and limited in your abilities? Are you suffering? Are you needy?
CONGRATULATIONS! You are just the type of person the Lord would delight to use to step across cultures locally and to be his witness. Because you are so needy, the folks you are witnessing to might not be threatened by you and might see themselves as being able to be your friend or peer.
Are you willing for Jesus to write the rest of your story?
Are you willing to learn to prayerfully seek his power and enablement for everything in life?
Are you willing to step out of the boat and to follow Jesus… even when it looks wet and scary?
If you are, there are wonderful adventures awaiting you! Jesus will astound you with what he can do both in you and through you… and it will cause you to be overwhelmed with wonder and to worship him!
Because… WHERE THERE IS NO WONDER… THERE IS NO WORSHIP!
If you would like to learn how to reach out to the 20,000+ international students who are here in the Metroplex in universities, ISI has a table in the foyer.
—————————————————————————————————
The Thorn — by Martha Snell Nicholson
I stood, a mendicant [beggar] of God, before His royal throne
and begged Him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own.
I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart I cried,
‘But Lord, this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.
This is a strange and hurtful gift which Thou hast given me.’
He said, ‘My child, I give good gifts. I gave My best to thee.’
I took it home. And though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,
as long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.
I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace:
He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.
Great stuff, Derrah! Thanks for sharing!
Some people thought my fall 2011 editorial was challenging:
International Intercessors
By John Lindner
“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?” the Psalmist asks (Psalm 2:1). Today we are seeing the nations rage, and their people hope for changes. But what will the outcome be?
We are not assured that the outcome will be what is hoped for. The end result could be worse than the way things were before.
The question that comes before me is: Are you praying for those people and the leaders of those countries? Are you being an international intercessor?
When Paul exhorted Timothy “that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1), there wasn’t one Christian king on the planet. All the kings, and especially the Caesars in Rome, were stark heathen.
But Paul said, “Pray for them.” He didn’t just ask, he exhorted!
Probably most of you pray for the president of the U.S., but do you pray for the leaders of the troubled countries today?
Do you pray for Nuri al-Maliki, Prime Minister of Iraq? In 2006 he told a joint session of the U.S. Congress: “This is a battle between true Islam, for which a person’s liberty and rights constitute essential cornerstones, and terrorism, which wraps itself in a fake Islamic cloak…. It is your duty and our duty to defeat this terror.”1 Does he have the backing of your prayers?
How about Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan’s beleaguered Prime Minister? He joined the mujahedeen to fight against the Soviets in Afghanistan. Then when the Taliban began its suppression, he opposed them. And after the Taliban assassinated his father to silence him, he snuck behind Taliban lines with his satellite phone and told the Americans where to drop their bombs.2
Karzai believes the Qur’an teaches “all men are created equal in the sight of God.” 3 On July 4, 2004, he was awarded the Philadelphia Liberty Medal for being a true follower of Thomas Jefferson. Does he deserve our prayers?
I know these men are not perfect, but how many of our own are? It is commonly thought their governments are corrupt—but is ours pure?
If we ever expect to see Iraq and Afghanistan established as democracies, we better pray for them and their leaders. And the same could be said of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria, and a host of other nations.
And are we dismayed with the “leadership” provided by President Ahmadinejad in Iran? And how about Kim Jong Il’s dismal reign in North Korea? Are we lifting these despots before the throne of grace that the Supreme Ruler will do something about it? And how about the communist leaders of Laos and Vietnam who incarcerate native missionaries? The list goes on.
These men and countries are all on my personal prayer list, as well as missionaries, church members, family members, and more. I encourage you to make your own list of international intercession. And be sure to include the beloved missionaries supported by ANM as well, as the Lord leads.
__________
1 Quoted by Joel Rosenberg in Inside the Revolution, Tyndale © Rosenberg, 2009, p. 282.
2 Rosenberg, p. 281 3 Rosenberg, p. 267
John, well done! What a great key point about praying for leaders of nations!