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WE’RE ON A MISSION

Introduction

Every Christian is Part of a Mission - To Reach the World with the Gospel!

In Acts 8, we are given the story of Philip being directed by the Holy Spirit on a mission. His mission was to reach the Ethiopian Eunuch with the Gospel!

Philip was obedient to the Spirit of God and the Eunuch was gloriously saved!

The mission of the New Testament Church is to reach this world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God did not give that responsibility to anyone else! It is solely the job of every born-again, blood-bought believer!

It is when we see ourselves as being "On a Mission" that we will see the need to work together as a team, and the need to prioritize our lives, and the need to battle our real enemies.

Jesus was "On a Mission." It was a mission that only He could accomplish.

But before He ascended back to heaven, He passed on some tasks to believers–

tasks that we can accomplish if we depend upon Him and are obedient to His commands.

We who are saved have a mission - a reason for existence beyond just living out our lives - it is called OTHERS!

Let’s read our text. Acts 1:1-11.

I.       THE PERSON OF MISSIONS–JESUS! (Acts 1:1-3)

               The world always associates great events with people

Different publications and programs have had their “Person of the Year, or Century, or Millennium.”

               These folks are said to be examples for the rest of us in certain areas.

               Well, Who is our example of Missions, and Soul-Winning? Jesus!

We find God reaching out to mankind from Genesis 3, when man first fell, all the way through to the present!

In fact, even since before time began, the triune God has been working in the area of Missions. God’s plan for Missions started before the foundation of the World was laid.

We find that Jesus came to reveal to us the heart-beat of the Godhead when it comes to Missions.

If we want to know what Missions is, we must look at the life of Jesus! It wasn’t just His occupation, it was His very reason for existence!

Jesus was involved in missions:

                            When He was in the Temple as a young boy. (Luke 2)

                            When He witnessed to Nicodemas. (John 3)

                            When He met the woman at the well. (John 4)

                            When He called out His disciples to follow Him

When He faced an angry mob surrounding a woman caught in adultery.

                            When He went to the cross to die for the sin of all mankind.

                            (This is referred to as His “Passion.” Acts 1:3)

While He was on the cross when He saved one of the thieves next to Him.

It is THIS life that Jesus lived that defines what Missions really is:

It is simply the Gospel being presented by our life and by our words to someone else!

And we do it Jesus' way - His way may be 2,000 years old - But have things really progressed since then? No, not really! Are people really that different now than they were then? No, not really!

               The Person and Life of Jesus is the definition of Missions!

II.     THE PROMISE OF MISSIONS–THE HOLY SPIRIT. (Acts 1:4,5)

               A.         There Is An Empowerment! (Acts 1:8)

Becoming "endued with power" that comes from the Holy Spirit

Luke 24:49–“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

John 14:16–“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever”

                            The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, Guide, Teacher, Helper.

               B.          There Is A Filling! (Acts 2:2,4; 4:8,31)

A filling of the heart and life of a Christian with the Holy Spirit of God which includes the power, the drive, and the strength needed to obey the Lord Jesus.

               C.          There Is A Responsibility!

As a body, the body of Christ, the New Testament Church is not to “relish” this spiritual gift, but use it for souls, and for the living of the Christian life!

Philippians 2:5-8–Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

All that Jesus did in His life and ministry, He did through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 1:2)

John 3:34–“For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.”

The Holy Spirit was given to us so that He could show us how to live the Christian life and reach the lost!

The promise of the Holy Spirit was made good on the Day of Pentecost - it showed that God's Holy Spirit can enable ANYONE to win souls!

               THE PERSON OF MISSIONS–JESUS.

               THE PROMISE OF MISSIONS–THE HOLY SPIRIT.

III. THE PRIORITY OF MISSIONS–SOULS. (Acts 1:6,7)

               A.         Notice What’s On The Mind Of The Disciples:

                             1.          They wanted God to restore Israel back to its glory!

                            2.    They wanted life itself to be different, soon!

                            3.    They wanted Heaven right then!

                            4.    They knew that God had all those promises!

                            5.    They just wanted to also know "how long?"

               B.         But Notice, Missions Is God's Priority Program.

                            1.          The world has priority of:

                                                      social programs.

    educational programs.

                            economic programs.

                            2.        But what about the souls of men and women and boys and girls?

Mark 8:36-37–“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

                            3.         Jesus puts things in perspective - by priority!

                                         a..   Yes, Israel would be restored as a great nation - we know it started up again in 1948

                                         b.    Yes, the future looks bright, with Jesus coming back to this earth

                                         c.    But the world is not ready - what if Jesus had said, not for another 2,000 years?

Do you think that many of those early Christians would have been lazy, and would have neglected the priority of soul-winning?

                                         d.    The priority of God is not to judge this world, but to save it - and He uses Christians to bring sinners to Christ (like a nurse brings patients to the doctor).

                                         e.    Don't be consumed with what time it is -

                                                      I think it is getting very late -

But, just worry about the lost millions who need Jesus!

               4.   Missions and soul-winning is more important than houses, jobs, buildings, health, elections, fashion, hobbies, and your own life!

               THE PERSON OF MISSIONS–JESUS.

               THE PROMISE OF MISSIONS–THE HOLY SPIRIT.

               THE PRIORITY OF MISSIONS–SOULS.

IV.    THE PATH OF MISSIONS–WITNESSING. (Acts 1:8)

               A.         We See Here That The Path:

                            1.    Starts where you are at - your Jerusalem.

                            2.    Reaches into your surrounding region - Judaea

                            3.    Reaches into the next counties and states- Samaria

                            4.    Ultimately reaches into the uttermost parts of the world.

               B.         What Did The Disciples Do?:

                            1.    Peter remained in Israel for quite a while, and then went East.

                            2.    Philip went South.

                            3.    Barnabas went into Europe.

                            4.    The Apostle John went North.

                            5.    The Apostle Paul went North, by Northwest into Europe - three extensive Missionary journeys covering 10's of thousands of miles - starting hundreds of New Testament churches.

                                          a)   The starting line for Paul was his salvation on the Damascus road. (Acts 9)

Acts 26:16-18–16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

God told Ananias in Acts 9:15–“But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:”

                                         b)         The race for Paul was to fulfil God's will for his life!

Acts 20:24–But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

                                         c)        The finish line - completion of the course.

2 Timothy 4:7–“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

               C.      How was it possible that fishermen, and carpenters, and labourers could go so far, and reach so many for Christ?

Acts 17:6–“These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;”

                            1.    Because of the power of the Holy Spirit.

John 20:21-22–“21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”

                            2.    Because of the power of the Gospel - It does the work!

Romans 1:16–“16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

1 Peter 1:23–“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

                            3.    Don't you see? All we are doing is delivering the message?

               THE PERSON OF MISSIONS–JESUS.

               THE PROMISE OF MISSIONS–THE HOLY SPIRIT.

               THE PRIORITY OF MISSIONS–SOULS.

THE PATH OF MISSIONS–WITNESSING.

 V.     THE PRESSURE OF MISSIONS–IT IS URGENT! (Acts 1:9-11)

There is no getting around it - the work of Missions, and soul-winning is urgent work!

               It is more urgent than any emergency room or a trauma center!

The spiritual battle rages all around us, yet so many Christians choose to close their eyes!

               A.      All the disciples were gathered together, and in amazement, were squinting to watch Jesus as he ascended up back towards heaven.

               B.      But two other men in white apparel, (angels), standing nearby break the silence.

                            1.    “You saw him go up, well, He's coming back again! Soon!”

                            2.    i.e. They were saying, “Get busy men! Get out there and tell the world the Gospel as you’ve been told to do!”

                            3.    “Tell the world there is a way back to God - a way to get saved!”

               C.      Notice the pressures on these first century Christians:

                            1.    The pressure to pray - Oh what a glorious pressure!

                            2.    The pressure to hunger for God's power!

                            3.    The pressure to get busy doing something for eternity's sake!

                            4.    The pressure to be ready for Christ's return!

D.     There is no denying the pressure that is on the Christian:

                            1.    We accept pressure from all other areas of life

                                          a)    Our jobs.

                                         b)   Our finances.

                                         c)    Our family's needs.

                                         d)   Our health needs - when feeling bad, the pressure is on to get to the doctor.

                                         e)    Emergencies - like storm damage and destruction

                             2.    Why then, when it comes to witnessing, do so many Christians tell God to "lay off!"

                                         a)         Death does not wait for us to get comfortable with witnessing.

                                         b)         Hell does not close down until we get ready to witness.

                            3.    We must have the attitude of , "I have GOT to tell somebody!"

E.     A prophet named Isaiah had a vision of the Lord in heaven.

The Lord was asking the question, "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?"

To which, Isaiah, feeling the urgency of the request, and the need of the people of Israel, answered, "Here am I Lord, send me!"

Conclusion

We have seen:     The Person of Missions– Jesus!

                                         Do you know Him?

                            The Promise of Missions–The Holy Spirit!

                                         He Wants To Fill Us!

                                         He Wants To Empower Us!

                            The Priority of Missions–Souls!

Missions is God's priority program.

                                         Missions ought to be our priority program.

                            The Path of Missions–Witnessing!

                                         1.   Starts where you are at - your Jerusalem.

                                         2.   Reaches into your surrounding region - Judaea.

                                         3.   Reaches into the next counties - Samaria.

                                         4.   It reaches into the uttermost parts of the world.

The Pressure of Missions–It Is Urgent!

                                         People are dying! Jesus is coming! 

We all need to acknowledge the reality of the situation, and respond to the urgency by grabbing a fistful of Gospel tracts and handing them out, and then we need to start talking, and we all need to be involved in missions on a worldwide basis–we all need to be giving, we all need to be going!

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!