THE WORLD’S LARGEST BUSINESS
Luke 24:44-53
44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
WHEN JESUS WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD, He went to Jerusalem with Joseph and His mother. When His parents returned home, they thought Jesus was in the company of those returning home, but at the end of the day they couldn’t find him. At like any concerned parents, they went looking. After three days they found Him in the Temple and Mary asked Him, “Son, why have you treated us this way?” And He answered her question with a question: “Didn’t you know that I had to be about my Father’s business?”
In John’s Gospel, His answer includes these words: “For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38). At another time Jesus said, “For I always do those things that please the Father” (John 8:29)
And He says to us, “As my Father has sent me, even so send I you.”
Don’t you think its high time we got down to business—our Father’s business!
I. What Is the Father’s Business?
1. The Father’s business—the thing that is dearest to His heart, is to rescue the perishing. Jesus said, “For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” When He was seeking and saving the lost, He was doing the Father’s business.
2. Like Jesus, we should also be about our Father’s business. In fact, it must become our business. It is the grandest and greatest business to ever be a part of.
Illus.: “Biggest Business in the World”
A missionary was seated on a plane next to a well-dressed young man and they soon began conversing. The missionary asked him what he did for a living. He answered, “I’m in big business.” “So am I,” replied the missionary. With that the young man remarked, “I cover the entire U.S. with my business.” “Well,” said the missionary, “I’ve traveled all over the world in connection with mine.” The young man continued: “I’m in partnership with my father. He’s a millionaire.” The missionary smiled and said, “I, too, am in partnership with my Father. He’s a multimillionaire.” The young man said, “We have representatives in most states.” The missionary replied, “We have representatives in almost every country in the world.” By this time the young man looked at the missionary and said, “What sort of business are you in, anyway?” When the missionary explained, the young man said, “Sir, you’re not just in big business. You’re in the biggest!”
II. Why Christian Missions is the
Biggest Business
1. Because of the SIZE of the task—6 billion people on this planet. The population has increased faster in the last 60 years than during all the previous centuries put together. At present, it is increasing at the rate of a million a week
For example, Hong Kong has about 6 million—45% under the age of 20; 90% never go to church.
All of this simply means that there are more people to be reached than ever before in the history of the Church.
But to God, all of this is more than mere statistics. Each individual is precious to Him. He knows their name. Jesus died for them. Once a minister was visiting a family and noticed many children in the home, so he asked the mother, “How many children do you have?” She began to count them off on her fingers: “John, Lucy, Mary, David…” Then the minister interrupted and said, “I don’t need their names. I just want to know the number.” The mother replied, “I’m sorry, Reverend. They have names, not numbers.”
So also in God’s sight, the teeming millions of the world are not just a mass of numbers but are precious souls
2. Another reason that that missions is the biggest business in the world is because it deals with the DEEPEST NEED of the human race. We all know what the basic needs are: food, shelter, medicine, education. We have to do all we can to provide those. No Christian can close his eyes to these.
But there is a need that is deeper still. One can meet all the basic needs and still there is a profound emptiness within the heart. That’s why we have suicides, mental problems, hatred, disease.
Some time ago a Christian teacher in a village of South India was conducting a class in adult literacy. After a few weeks he gave the class a simple assignment. Write on the blackboard, “My name is___________.” With a feeling of accomplishment, the last man in the group, the head man of the village, wrote, “My name is Samuel.” And then, because he was the village leader, he felt constrained to do something beyond the call of duty, he added, “My Savior’s name is Jesus.”
Its not enough for us to give bread to eat; we also have to give them the Bread of Life. Its not enough for us to teach them how to write their names; we must also teach them how to write their Savior’s name. It not enough for us to introduce them to a better way of life; we must introduce them to the One who can impart eternal life.
3. The third reason that missions is the world’s biggest business is due to the COMPETITION we are facing. It is the strongest yet.
Islam—using all the same technology we are using
Buddhism—hundreds of missionaries in America; adopted several of our hymns: “Buddha Loves Me, This I Know, for the Dhamma Tells Me So.” “Buddha, Lover of My Soul.” YMBA They have preaching services and S.S.
Hinduism—chief message is “tolerance.” Teach that all religions contain truth, so take the best from all. Consider America it’s one great mission field.
False Cults: Mormons, JW’s, Moonies, New Age movement
Communism
Secular Humanism
Thus far we have been considering our problems. Now let’s focus on our possibilities. Its true, that we are facing the largest task, and the deepest need, and the strongest competition.
But, consider this…
1. We still have the GREATEST MESSAGE the world has ever heard.
Its written not just in the Bible, but in our hearts
It’s the only message that turn men from darkness to light, from despair to hope, from bondage to freedom, from death to life, from sin to righteousness.
Buddha is dead. Mohammed is dead. Jesus is alive!
2. We now have the GREATEST EVANGELISTIC OPPORTUNITY of this age. There is a spiritual void even among the more prosperous nations of the world. For example, 65% of students in Japan say they have no particular faith whatsoever. They also have the highest literacy rate and the highest suicide rate per capita of any nation.
3. We also have the GREATEST MEANS to proclaim this message:
Satellite TV
Internet
Films (Jesus Film)
High Speed Presses
Computers (translation)
Rapid Transportation
4. We have the GREATEST POWER to proclaim this glorious truth. Jesus said to His disciples in Acts 1:8: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you shall be my witnesses everywhere in the world.”
This makes the difference between the missionary endeavor of the non-Christians and that of the Christian church. Theirs is man-made; ours is Spirit-led.
The Holy Spirit is the Originator, Director, and Empowerer of Christian Missions.
During WWII, when Italy invaded Ethiopia, all Protestant missionaries were forced to leave the country. In one district there was a church of about 70. Some 5 years later when the missionaries returned, they found 60,000 Christians organized into fully indigenous churches. It was the work of the Holy Spirit!
CONCLUSION
Let’s recap.
1. The church is engaged in the biggest business ever.
2. We’re facing the largest task, the deepest need, and the strongest competition.
3. But we still have the greatest message and the greatest power to proclaim it.
Here are the problems and here are the possibilities. But what spells the difference between defeat and victory is our response.
The biggest business now calls for the greatest consecration, the greatest faith, and the greatest effort on the part of all who call themselves Christians.
