WHAT’S IN YOUR HEART? WHATS IN YOUR WALLET ? By Roger Roark ------------(TITUS 2:11-14 )
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [14] Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
(illustration ) Let me tell you a story of 2 men. One, we will call Jim, and the other we will call Ron
Jim went to church one Sunday morning. He listened to the choir sing, and noticed that the choir sang to loud, so he just made a face and shook his head.
He saw a teenager talking as the pastor was praying , and he just frowned. He felt sure that the ushers were staring at him as they passed the collection plate.
He heard the pastor use incorrect grammar during the sermon.
So as the pastor gave an altar call, Jim slipped out the side door, and shook his head an said " what a waste of time "
Ron went to church also
He heard the choir sang How Great thou art, and felt chills run down his spine. He was glad that the church was taking up a special missions offering.
HE especially enjoyed the sermon. It seemed to really speak to him about an area in his life that he had been struggling with.
On the way out, he shook the preachers hand, and thought " How could anyone not be blessed after this mornings worship?
Both men went to the same church, the same Sunday morning, and heard the same sermon.
They both found what they were looking for.
Jim came looking for faultls, and he found them.
Ron came to worship God, and to praise Him, and learn from His word, and He felt the nearness of God, and felt closer to Him.
It is all in our attitude, and how we approach God.
We should come to church expecting to receive God’s word., and to act on what we have heard.
Matthew 7:24
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Today, we will hear God’s word and find out how He feals about spreading the Gospel.
Luke 4:43
And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
Reaching out to the lost is really about life and death. It is eternal, and eternity is a long time.
Many people are searching for something real, something genuine in their lives. They are looking for something to fill the void that is placed in their spirit, and that void can only be filled by God.
Many of the unchurced are unaware that Jesus Christ can fill that void, and it is up to us, the church, to tell them about Jesus.
Most Americans claim to be Christians, and yet during a recent poll, they were asked " what is the great commission?
It was surprising to find out , that 90 percent , didn’t know what the great commission is.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] 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.
Jesus has commissioned every believer to reach out to their community, and to the world.
What is evangelism, or outreach? It is the bridge we build between our love for God, and our love for people.
I want us to look at 2 things today.
Ask ourselves these 2 questions?
1. Do you have a heart for evangelilsm?
2. Will you help support evangelsim by prayer and giving?
Is it okay to send people to areas of danger for the sake of religion?
Is it okay to send someone to another country , or another culture , to try to convince them that they are wrong in their belief, and that we are right?
We may ask ourselves,, " why don’t we just leave them alone, and let them believe the way they want to believe.
We may ask " why don’t we just mind our own business?
The answer to these questions , comes from the first missionary. The apostle Paul.
Paul is on one of his missionary journeys spreading the gospel, and he meets a man named Titus.
Later, Paul writes a letter to Titus, and this letter is recorded in the book of Titus.
In this letter, Paul answers the question, Is it okay to bother people with this message.
Titus 2:11-14 (nlt )
For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. [12] And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God, [13] while we look forward to that wonderful event when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. [14] He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing what is right.
Notice that Paul says " TO ALL PEOPLE.
Jesus wasn’t a savior, He is THE Savior.
Jesus didn’t come to redeem just our friends and family.
Jesus didn’t come just to redeem our local church and community.
Jesus didn’t come just to redeem the United States.
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD. ----- GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL.
Jesus offers a way to deal with sin.
" TEACHING US THAT DENYING UNGODLINESS, AND WORLDLY LUSTS , WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY IN THIS PRESENT AGE.
The gospel transforms lives, or changes peoples lives. The gospel has that capability.
WHY the gospel? Because the gospel has the power to break chains of sin, and tear down walls.
Walls of hatred. Walls of racism. We can’t just sit on it. WE must share it.
IF someone came up with a cure for cancer, they would share it. The gospel is a cure for people’s souls.
Jesus offers hope for eternity. Jesus transforms our present, and our future.
The eternity of every nation, culture, race and every person , hangs in the balance, and that is why we have world missions.
This isn’t just about our beliefs,, and yes , it will offend some people. But Jesus says that He is the way, the only way, to the Father.
The world needs to know that He is the only way.
We need to shift from self centered thinking, to thinking of others.
Shift from local thinking , to global thinking.
Shift from here and now thinking, to eternity thinking.
II. What’s in your wallet.
WE can’t all go to world missions, but we can give. We can give from our resources, our money, and our time in prayer.
We don’t want to do like Moses , and start making excuses.
Let’s look at some of Moses’ excuses, and compare our excuses that we sometimes use.
God told Moses to go to the Pharoah, and tell him to let the Israelites go.
Moses first excuse was.
1. I don’t have the position to approach a powerful Pharoah.
Our excuse, -------- A minister is the best person to go talk to the lost.
2. Moses second excuse ----I don’t know enough about God to convince people that I am truly speaking for the God of Israel
Our excuse------------- I don’t know enough of the Bible, or how to explain things to a lost person.
3. Moses third excuse -------- Peopole wont believe me.
Our escuse ---------------A lost person wont see any reason in my life to believe God’s saving grace.
4. Moses fourth excuse -------------------i don’t have the eloquent voice of a good speaker
Our excuse -----------------------------I’m to shy, and I don’t know the right words to say.
5. Moses final excuse was,, Lord, please send someone else.
THE BASIS FOR EVERY EXCUSE THAT MOSES OFFERED, AND WE STILL OFFER, IS NOTHING OTHER THAN FEAR.
What Moses overlooked, and what we overlook today, is God’s promise.
Exodus 3:12
And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
Just as God was with Moses, He will be with us as well.
(illustration ) When Japan was invading the Philipine Islands during world war 2, a missionary was trying to get all the orphans moved out of a village before the Japanese soldiers could get there, and do harm to them.
The missionary was tired, and it seemed like she just couldn’t get everything together in time. She was getting frustrated, and she said " I can’t do this, I can’t make it.
One of the little orphan girls told her, " Remember that Moses led thousands of Israelites out of Egypt.
The missionary replied " Yes, but I am not Moses.
The little girl told her " No your not, but God is still God.
Moses faced his fear, and realized that God’s power was much bigger than his worst nightmare, and as a result, God delivered His people from bondage.
--- We must be in partnership with Christ.
John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Without Jesus, we can do nothing. But the flip side of this is. Philip. 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
I challenge you today, to support world missions.
I challenge you today to have a heart for missions, and to support it with your prayers, and by giving.
