To the Ends of the Earth for Christ!
Romans 1:1-17
Sermon by Rick Crandall
McClendon Baptist Church - July 15, 2007
*Mary’s dad lived with us most of the last year of his life. It was a very tough year as he battled cancer -- But it was also one of the best, as we got closer and shared good times together.
*Toward the end, we would have to rush to the Emergency Room at Saint Francis every few weeks. One of those early mornings we were on the Interstate crossing the river. The sun was just coming up. Mary’s dad looked out over the city, and made it a sacred moment when he said, “I wish I could stand on the tallest building in town and tell the world what Jesus Christ has done for me!”
*That is the spirit all of us need today. We must be willing to do all we can to reach people for Jesus. Let’s look into the Word of God and see why.
1. First, we must do all we can because we have a great calling from God.
*Paul was willing to go to the ends of the earth for Jesus. He saw this as his calling and he talked about it in vs. 1-6, but he also talks about our calling from God. Listen to vs. 1-6 again:
1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God
2. which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
3. concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
4. and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead,
5. through whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith. . . (Where?) among all nations for His name,
6. among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
*Believers, we are all called to do all we can in our generation to spread the Good News about Jesus Christ to all nations. We are called to spread the Good News that God the Father loves us in spite of our sins! -- And that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins.
*Paul gave a stark description of some of those sins down in vs. 28-32. Here it is from the New Living Translation:
28. When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done.
29. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.
30. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents.
31. They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and unforgiving.
32. They are fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
*Then in chapter 2, Paul warns us not to judge others, because we are all sinners. And in chapter 3, he gives God’s answer for our sins. Listen to Romans 3:19-25a from the New Living Translation:
19. Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses and to bring the entire world into judgment before God.
20. For no one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God’s law, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying it.
21. But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight-not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago.
22. We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.
23. For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
24. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.
25. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. . .
*The Good News is that God the Father loves us in spite of our sins, and that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins, but that’s not the end of the story! Back in Rom 1:4, Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power. . . by the resurrection from the dead. Jesus is alive forevermore! That’s why He is able to give eternal life to all who receive Him as Savior and Lord.
*This is the Good News we are called to take to all the nations of the world. And one of the great things about living in 2007 is that we can hop on a plane and go almost anywhere in a day or two. This week eight of the people we know and love will be getting on a plane to reach Romania for the Lord. They will help with medical clinics, Vacation Bible Schools, worship services, construction projects and women’s ministry.
*This will be Ken’s 8th trip to Romania. Close to 10,000 people have been saved during those previous trips, and this trip the team will witness to thousands more people. But millions more desperately need to hear about Jesus, and God has called us to help them.
2. We must do all we can to reach people for Jesus, because we have a great calling from God, and because it will bring great comfort.
*Reaching out for the cause of Jesus multiplies God’s comfort in our world. We will find comfort, and give comfort by reaching out. In vs. 8, Paul was comforted when he heard about the great faith of the believers in Rome. That’s why he said, “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.” People all over the world were hearing about the difference Jesus had made in their lives.
*And Paul wanted to visit the Christians in Rome, knowing that they could multiply each other’s comfort. That’s why he was praying to see them in vs. 9-12. Listen to this Scripture again from the New Living Translation:
9. God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by telling others the Good News about his Son.
10. One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you.
11. For I long to visit you so I can share a spiritual blessing with you that will help you grow strong in the Lord.
12. I’m eager to encourage [or comfort] you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.
3. We must do all we can to reach people for Jesus, because it will bring great comfort, and because there are great consequences.
*Paul had these great consequences on his heart as he spoke to the Roman Christians in vs. 13-15.
13. Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.
14. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
15. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
“As much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel.” In the NIV he says, “I am so eager to preach the gospel.” With all his heart Paul was eagerly ready to preach the Good News wherever he possibly could. He knew the consequences. It’s the difference between being saved or lost. It’s either Heaven or hell, eternal life or eternal death, everlasting joy or everlasting judgment.
*In vs. 14, Paul considered this to be a great obligation or debt to all non-Christians. Why did Paul think of himself as a debtor? Seems like an odd thing to say -- “I am in debt to people I have never met.” Why did he say that? It’s because Paul had a clear vision of the Cross. He knew what Jesus Christ had done for him. He knew that Jesus had paid the ultimate price for him. He knew that Jesus had saved his soul!
*Paul’s heart was touched, his life was transformed. And he didn’t want one person in this world to miss what God had done for him: Greeks and non-Greeks, wise people and foolish people.
*Paul is saying here that we are obligated to reach as many people as we possibly can with the Good News about Jesus Christ: People who are like us, and people who are not like us -- All kinds of people: People we’ve known for a life-time, and people we’ve never met.
*Paul was ready to go as far as he could to share the Good News about Jesus. For us this would include the part of the world that is called the 10/40 Window. On the screen you can see a picture of the 10/40 window. It stretches from Africa through Asia from 10 degrees to 40 degrees latitude north of the equator.
*Four billion people live in the 67 nations of the 10/40 Window. That’s 2/3 of the world’s population. Ninety percent of those people are the poorest of the poor, averaging $250 per family per year. Ninety-five percent of those 4 billion people are unevangelized. It is estimated that 1.6 billion of them have never had the chance to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- not even once!
*The headquarters of every major non-Christian religion in the world is in the 10/40 Window: -Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Animism, Atheism, and Sikhism.
*Open evangelism is difficult and dangerous because of governmental restrictions. In many of the 10/40 countries, witnessing for Jesus means death. 43 of the 50 worst countries in the world for persecution of Christians are here. The 10/40 Window is the darkest territory to the cause of Christ and represents the greatest stronghold of Satan.
*But Good news! There’s a difference between unreached and unreachable. In 1989 there were only four known Christians living in Mongolia. That country now has an estimated 10,000 native believers.
*Good news! Christians delivered more than a million dollars worth of food to just one 10/40 refugee camp in a recent year.
*Good News! In one North African country that is hostile to the Gospel, abundant rain fell after an Easter service. A local news channel reported, "Christians have brought rain to the desert."
*Good news! Missions researcher David Barrett says the country with the most rapid Christian expansion ever is China, where there are 10,000 new Christian converts every day. (1)
*Here’s more good news: Next year we have an unprecedented opportunity to impact China because of the Summer Olympics in Beijing. David Guinn is taking a team to the Olympics. Bro. James has already committed to go, Lord willing. And we have at least 5 other people expressing strong interest in this great opportunity for Christ.
4. We must do all we can to reach people for Jesus, because there are great consequences, and because we have great confidence in the Gospel.
*As Paul said in vs. 16&17:
16. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith.’’
*Sometimes I am ashamed of myself, but I am never ashamed of the Good News about Jesus Christ, because I am absolutely confident that it has the power to save anyone who turns to the Lord. Christians: I am confident that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins, confident that He rose from the dead, confident that He is preparing a home in Heaven for us, confident that we will live forever with Him.
*Do you know Him? Why don’t you open your heart to Jesus today? Receive Him as your Savior and Lord. He will give you eternal abundant life, and a reason to live. This is the confidence that we have in Jesus, and this confidence compels Christians to go to the ends of the earth for Him.
*Rob is a pastor I know from Florida, and he tells about some believers like this -- a couple I’ll call Jim and Jane. They are ordinary people who are being used by God in an extraordinary way. Jim and Jane used to serve the Lord in California, but now are serving in a dangerous place in the 10/40 Window.
*Last summer Rob got to visit his friends, and recently emailed them about the possibility of another visit. Jim’s reply read like a page from the Book of Acts. Here is part of what he said:
Hello Bro. Rob,
I appreciate your note and it is good to hear from the homeland! We are getting ready here for a bit of meetings and vacation in Japan. We’re really looking forward to that.
As I appreciate your honesty and practicality about a trip -- I’ll be honest back with you. We are getting sincerely attacked by the enemy from every angle in this country right now. Instability in the national government has led to an increase in lawlessness and things seem ready to implode from every side.
*There are more instances of persecution of national believers, thefts, kidnappings, etc. etc. Some of this makes the international news. There are also fresh reports of terrorists looking for American targets. This all affects us a lot. This is spiritual warfare. Our enemy is using all he has to stop God’s Word from spreading in this place.
*We are advancing in several areas, Rob. God is good. We have amazing opportunities -- some of those even derive from the instability in this place at this time. Please pray for the gospel to advance here now.
*Regarding volunteer trips -- we cannot handle much at all currently. The best use I would want to use you for would be to spend time with our team of people in country, leading a spiritual emphasis retreat. We can do this around Oct. of ’07 or March of ’08. The other thing you could do -- and one man recently came to do this, is to spend time with myself and other team members visiting work areas praying. Learn about the work and share it with your church, etc. for prayer. This is important and meaningful for us and would be for you as well.
*As far as funds - there are a couple of items that we can think through that you guys might want to support. Let me "cook" these a bit more and share them with you. We have a lot of what we need. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering was phenomenal last year and we see the benefits of that here! Thanks for all you guys did in that area. . .
*Rob, as I read Acts -- great progress in the gospel work seems to be followed by great persecution. But that does not have to stop the work. We are in that second phase right now. We appreciate your prayers.
*Praise God my family and I and our whole team are fine -- Good health, good relationships, good atmosphere among us. We are just being blasted from all angles these days. We will stand and continue to do what God has given us to do. We want to see the fall of the enemy in this place for God’s glory. Please pray in this way for us.
*Thank you for all you do. We really do have fond memories of you and your church family. We hope to hear how God is working there too these days. Keep in touch brother,
Jim
*They are “being blasted from all angles these days,” but they “will stand and continue to do what God has given (them) to do.” They are compelled by their confidence in Jesus Christ.
*God wants us to have the same spirit. And maybe we can’t go to the 10/40 Window, but there is a lot that we can do to support people like Jim and Jane. I would like to see us have several 10/40 Days of prayer -- praying from 10:40 in the morning until 10:40 at night. We can focus on the 2008 Summer Olympics, and other work in the 10/40 Window. And there are other ways to help.
Conclusion:
*We must do all we can to reach people for Jesus, here at home and even to the ends of the earth. Are you willing to do all you can? Make that commitment to the Lord as we pray. And if you don’t know Jesus as Savior and Lord, don’t let another day go by. Open your heart to Jesus. Put your trust in Him. Receive Him as Savior and Lord.
1. Edited from 2 online resources: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/1040.htm (Southern Nazarene Univ. - Last Updated: Nov. 1, 2006) and Window International Network
