How to Serve as An Effective Sender - 3 John 1:7,8
Quote:If the world were a village of 1000 people, next year’s population would be 1018. Twenty-eight people would be born, but 10 would die: three from lack of food, one from cancer, two in birth, one from war or crime, and three from natural causes.
Two-hundred people from this village would receive 75% of its total income. Six-hundred (the "middle class") would share another 23%. The remaining 200 people would have to survive on the last 2% of the income. --adapted from a statement by World Vision
Many Christians are missing out on some of the greatest blessings available in the New Testament and they do not even realize it. In our passage this morning, John recognized missionaries as co-laborers worth investing in. He wrote, they went out for the sake of the Name of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers with the truth." (3 John 1:7,8) We all know that God loves a cheerful giver, but it is especially true that the Lord blesses strategic Great Commission oriented givers. We are to fight the good fight of faith so we can see Christ’s kingdom achieve total victory.
Illustration: Dr. Irwin Lutzer, the Pastor of the Moody Memorial Church and famous radio preacher said on July 22nd radio sermon, "We should be in the battle in our relationships, ministries or personal lives to win the victory. When American engaged in the Vietnam War we lost because we were not all committed to winning the war. When America fought the Gulf War we won because victory was a commitment of us all. Too many times people are not focus on winning the battle but just engaging in it."
Application: Let us trust the Lord to help us to fight the battle for the completion of Christ’s great commission of Matt. 28:18-20. We can be assured that faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
Do you know that you can support a full time church planter in many developing countries for only $30/month? One organization named ChristianAid.org is in contact with 300,000 such missionaries in the developing world through 5000 mission boards that are eager to partner with Americans for the fulfilling of the great commission in nearly all of the 228 countries on the planet.
Example: Jesus said, "When Jesus saw the multitudes 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.
Application: Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." (Matt. 9:36-38) How can we more effectively engage in facilitating the sending forth of workers into the vast harvest fields today?
Yet, the average America spends more money on dog food than on missions.
98.3% of the money given in churches last year in America stayed right within their own communities and borders.
Only 1.7% of all Christians giving last year went for the support of overseas missions. That despite the fact that we know we are to be obedient to what Jesus said, "You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."
Let us look at several guidelines in helping us maximize our eternal investment as Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also." (Matt 6:19-21)
1. Ask the Lord for wisdom in knowing the best ways you can serve as a sender in the following areas:
A. Providing prayer support for missionaries. Every great commission oriented Christian should own and use an Operation World, by Patrick Johnstone, a guide for praying for every country on the planet. Can I see a show of hands of those who have access to a copy of Operation World? How many of you are using it to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth workers into His harvest fields?
It gives specific prayer points to help us pray intelligently toward the completion of the great commission for all 18,800 people groups in the world.
Illustration: I first gained a real burden for missions as I prayed for countries in Africa back in 1975 with a friend from the Navigators. We would pray over maps, prayer letters and any scrap of information about where the Lord might want to use us as worker for His harvest fields. Subsequently, the Lord gave me a vision for helping to reach Nigeria for Jesus Christ and I ended up spending nineteen years there teaching in a seminary where the Lord allowed me to have the privilege of participating in the training of more than 2000 Pastors, theological teachers and missionaries. During that time our film and music teams led more than 300,000 people to Christ and Lord provided the funds to start more than 100 satellite film evangelism and church planting centers throughout Nigeria. God used some great men and women from our seminary to help start hundreds of churches. Today, Jesus is still looking for people who are willing to give what it takes to follow Him so He can make you a fisher of men. (Matt 4:19)
Application: Let us believe God that as week seek for the qualitative and quantitative expansion of His kingdom and His righteousness throughout the world, he will meet our needs. Let find out how we can more effectively ask, seek and knock so the Lord will open up numerous doors for you to maximize your contribution to the priorities of Christ’s purposes for eternity. (Matt 7:7)
B. Providing logistical support. Perhaps you can find ways of giving services and equipment to missionaries. One generous donor helped supply film evangelism equipment to missionaries using the Jesus film. To date, 4.2 billion people have seen the Jesus film and more than 135 million decisions for Christ have been recorded to the glory of God.
Illustration: There are many people who are eager to contribute to people who are willing to take Christ’s message those who are lost and dying in their sin. Follow the example of great men of faith like Dr. Bill Bright, who began a small Bible study in one fraternity at UCLA in 1951 and saw God multiply him to a ministry that has 68 branches and impacts millions for Christ every year. Heb. 13:7 says, "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." Little becomes much when it is placed in the Master’s hands. I have met Bill Bright and he is an extremely humble man, but one committed to Christ and to the fulfilling of His great commission. His 4 Spiritual Laws has been distributed to over 2 billion people and taught thousands of Christians how to share their faith with effectiveness. Jesus said, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much and whoever is unfaithful with very little will also be unfaithful with much." (Luke 16:10)
Application: Allow the Lord to help you to be promoted to higher levels of effectively by being faithful in what God has given you today and He will help you mature to higher levels of ministry maturity:
1. Comers
2). Growers
3). Developers of their spiritual gifts
4). Disciple-makers
5). Leaders-shepherds
6). Reproducers - people who can lead others to Christ and plant and grow a church or a fellowship
7). Multipliers - people who can help multiply the planting and growing of several churches to create a church planting movement that is self-multiplying within that community or culture
C. Providing financial support. Paul wrote, "How can they preach unless they are sent?" (Rom. 10:15) You can support church planting missionaries for around $30/month through organizations like Christianaid.org; Bibleleague.org; GFA.org (Gospel for Asia).
These are all fine mission sending agencies that specialize in supporting, training and mobilizing church planter to start and grow new churches throughout the developing world. Paul wrote,” Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account...And my God will supply all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:17,19)
Illustration: I have learned that by supporting just one church planter for about $30/ month through one of these fine indigenous missionary supporting agencies, it will help people in our churches and schools to lift their eyes more to the fields of the world’s unreached peoples. Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish his work. Do not say, "Four months more and then the harvest? (Do not make any more excuses for not being involved with the great commission) I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvesting." (John 4:34,35)
D. Providing correspondence support. Many missionaries would love to hear through email and snail mail from people at home.
Example: One church supported me as a missionary by sending me Dr. David Jeremiah’s tapes every two months. This provided fresh encouragement, instruction and illustrations of how God wanted me to keep the broader perspective in mind. How many of you are actively emailing several missionaries with your prayer support, encouragement and information that may be helpful to them personally, relationally or in their ministries.
Application: The Bible says, "Like drink of cool water in the desert so is good news from a distant land." "Good news gives health to the bones." (Prov. 15:30) Be an encouragement and a prayer supporter of the thousands of missionaries out there who need your help. Sign up for some of the intercessory prayer services on the Internet. There are dozens of good ones like eprayer.org
E. Providing moral support. People on the front lines need to know that the body of Christ is standing with them emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Many missionaries and Christian workers need to know that people are faithful, available, reliable and co-laboring with them in all of their human struggles.
Application: It may be particularly significant if you can send a care package to one of your missionaries or through a key agency to buoy their spirits knowing that somebody cares about them as people with needs, fears and a whole range of discouragements.
Example: In WW2 they figured that for every one man of the front lines, they need approximately 20 personnel behind him to supporting him with all kinds of logistical support. Cannot we not do the same for those who are involved in the front lines of the battle for lost souls?
Illustration: Visiting missionaries or sending people who can visit missionaries is an invaluable service to field missionaries. We have more than 1100 missionaries in the Evangelical Missionary Society of our 7000 congregation denomination called the Evangelical Church of West Africa in Nigeria. When we visited these field missionaries it was often more of a contribution than if we would have given them a thousand dollars. Our visit sent a message to everyone in the area that these missionaries were a valued part of an important army of the Lord Jesus. It gave the missionary a heightened sense of direction, encouragement and protection from all kinds of opposition forces.
Application: WE are to fight the good fight by helping people take up the full armor of God as a body of Christ. When one member suffers we all should hurt and come to their aid.
F. Provide needed ministries to missionaries according to our specific spiritual gifts and abilities. We all have our responsibilities according to the talents and gifts God has provided. Perhaps there are missionaries who could use a music team to come to their field on a short term mission trip for an evangelistic crusade or a building team to erect a new church sanctuary.
Illustration: When I was a missionary in Nigeria we had several builders who came to construct our library, our classrooms and our dormitories for the students. Maybe there is someone who can help dig a well for a key village that will provide a great open door for the gospel. We need to not set up this false dichotomy between shall we meet spiritual or social needs.
Application: Instead, we need to just ask What Would Jesus Do if He were in this situation and do the same. Sometimes Jesus minister to physical needs to create an opening to meet a spiritual need. We can have the liberty and leading of the Spirit as we listen to His voice and obey His word.
2. Seek expert advise from people in serving as sender specialists by offering yourself to train people to go as missionaries.
A. Some people can serve as mission mobilizers. Some people need to teach people about the opportunities to serve as senders in churches, secular schools and Christian schools throughout North America.
B. There are a number of organizations that need volunteers of all types to help in their mission agency services department. We had faithful servants open and process the hundreds of checks that came in daily to our mission.
C. Some people can serve as recruiters and representatives of mission agencies as they visit high school and college campuses speaking with students.
D. Some people can serve as a missions Pastor or a the head of a missions committee in their church. Recently, I received an invitation to speak at a church from an 85 year old chairman of a mission committee that has provided him with 15 years of fruitful ministry past his retirement. He credits his fruitful lifestyle and buoyant attitude to the fact that God has given him the privilege of serving as a sender and finding significance in contributing to the cause of Christ for eternity. Many people have learned that saving their life their lose it, but losing their own life and interests for Christ’s sake, they save it and enrich it in many ways.
E. Some people can serve as prayer mobilizers. There are a number of churches that need the catalytic help of people to organize prayer meetings, put out prayer lists and keep the mission vision alive in their churches through weekly announcements in the bulletin.
Application: A serving sender will never lack good things to do. Jesus said, "Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest fields." (Matt 9:36-38)
Illustration: Bob Sjogren and Bill Stearns write in their book, Run With a Vision, "When a country goes to war, it isn’t just the frontline soldiers whose lives are affected. An entire line of support personnel must stand behind them, supplying whatever the combat troops need to do battle. And back on the home front, massive mobilization is required to keep people aware of their part in the war. Posters and radio programs, small-town parades and publicity campaigns, urge people to pray for their troops, to write to them to keep up their battle fatigued morale, to sacrifice luxuries for the sake of the war effort, to give up the use of items that are more desperately needed on the front lines, to volunteer for support positions from medical assistants to trainers, to put their personal money in special accounts such as "war bonds" so the proceeds can be used for the war effort, to go to work at new jobs in order to produce materials needed in the conflict.... Think over the items of this analogy and ask how you might motivate, train, and activate people in your culture to such vital responses to an international crisis (completing the great commission or risk seeing billions go to a Christless eternity in hell).
Today, we need to be a part of the spiritual war going on between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. Let us pray that God would help us find ways to be more effective mobilizers, senders and catalysts for the accomplishment of Christ’s kingdom priority ministries.
3. Ask God to help you participate with Godly people who can show you how to gain greater vision, insight and skill in serving as effective senders. If you want to become an expert carpenter, serve as an apprentice under an expert craftsman.
Application; Similarly, spend time with people like Dr. Ralph Winters at the US Center for World Missions in Pasadena, CA. There you will learn from experts in mobilization ministries. They provide services in the Perspective Course on the World Christian Movement. They have over 80 agencies that are committed to reaching the over 8000 unreached people groups of the world with their collection of fine personnel. WE become like the people we associate ourselves with. Proverbs says, "He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
4. Read and study biographies of people who served as effective senders. Paul wrote, "My circumstances (His imprisonment for preaching the gospel) have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel." (Phil. 1:12) Paul knew that he needed partners as no one can do it alone.
Example: Hudson Taylor mobilized thousands of young people to go to China to preach the gospel. It was through his writings, stories and teaching that many people were inspired to give their lives to missions. You may not be able to go, but you can read and write about great mission stories through email as well as providing effective literature for people in your church bulletin and lobby.
Hudson Taylor went to China when there was less than 1000 believers in the country. Today there are around 100 million believers many of who are following in his missionary footsteps in reaching their own people.
5. Ask the Lord to help you form good partnerships with kingdom priority thinking missionaries. Paul wrote, "I delight in your participation in the gospel from the first day until now." (Phil. 1:5) I have learned how to provide numerous services to effective church planting missionaries throughout the developing world. For instance, recently I helped link up a film evangelism ministry with a strategic seminary in Lagos Nigeria. They are now able to lead about 500 people to Christ every month as a result of their cinema van. Yesterday I received word that they are now getting their second evangelism vehicle as well as mobile clinic van that can help them evangelize needed community with the gospel and medical care for people who are hurting.
Illustration:
We thank God that He helped us furnish more than 1000 bicycles for church planting missionaries in Nigeria than enabled them to reach many villages for Christ. For about $70 we were able to equip the church planter with a vehicle that would be a significant as giving someone a pickup truck here in the usa. The bicycle sent a message to everyone that this missionary was a valuable person to those who has sent him to do an important work. When you give facilitating gifts they have a multiplying affect on the missionary and a social-cultural effect on the audience that he or she is trying to reach.
6. Get involved with mission’s committees in your church or area. Collaborate with other like minded people to make a difference for the great commission. There are numerous ways to serve as a sender in great mission committees by staying in touch with your Pastor about the opportunities the church has to contribute to the planting and growing of new churches around the world. Jesus said, "If you are faithful in little things, you will be made responsible for much." (Luke 16:10) Many people fail to realize that the more we obey, the more God reveals to us about his will for our life.
Application: Take the first step and God will start to open up new vistas of opportunities where you can find meaningful ways to make a difference for eternity.
7. Learn how to motivate others to think about and give to missions. Recently, I made copies of mission mobilizing videos and distributed them to mission Pastors and mission committee chairman in local churches. It was amazing to see how responsive their churches became to supporting church planters in the developing world. Many people are not serving as senders because they have not been properly motivated, informed or inspired.
Illustration: Do you know that in 2000 only 6% of Americans even tithed or gave at least 10% of their income to the Lord’s work. If people knew how God would multiply their investment many would be more motivated to give to where it will be greatly used to multiply His kingdom in quantity and quality throughout the world.
Application: Ask the Lord to give you the wherewithal to be a more effective motivator for the fulfillment of His great commission. Most Christians know the facts about missions but they need to be motivated to utilize what they know intellectually to be true about world evangelism.
Quote: An old Chinese proverb says, "He who ask question, may appear to be fool for moment. But he who never ask question may be fool forever." Ask questions and you get better information to base your intelligent decisions upon.
8. Disciple people who are open to the idea of becoming a missionary. I have given my life as a mission’s Professor to train, equip and mobilize young people to help accomplish Christ’s great commission around the world. Having done so for 25 years, I am trusting the Lord to help me do it for another 40 years or until he comes.
Example: Paul wrote to Timothy, urging him to be a more effective sender, "The things you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses. The same entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2 Tim. 2:2)
Application: Ask the Lord to use you as a multiplier of good people for missions. Do you know that if you lead one person to Christ every day for thirty years you will have led 12,084 people to Christ. But if you disciple just one person every year and then two becomes four disciples and then the next year four becomes eight. At the end of 30 years you will have helped to contribute to the making of 8.5 billion disciples through the power of obeying Christ’s great commission. To me that is a no-brainer. Obey Christ and He will multiply you through the ministry of disciple-making.
9. Take people to great mission conferences where they can rub shoulders with numerous people who are serving as senders. There is Urbana, the Inter-Varsity Mission Conference in Illinois every three years. But there is also the GO conference in Georgia. There are the ACMC conferences. Accelerating Church Mission Committees. Global Focus, of Woodstock Georgia has an excellent Friday night and Sat morning mission conference geared for each local church.
Application: Ask the Lord to help you attend one of these eye opening events. Paul wrote of Epaphroditus, "My brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need." (Phil. 2:25) Plan to attend one of these conferences to help you get a greater vision for how you can serve as an effective senders.
Conclusion: Steven Hawthorne writing on P. 712 of Perspective on the World Christian Movement states,"
"To grow as a sender who prays with steady passion and hope, try praying like the Philippians did for Paul. Pray first with them, according to their vision and biblical hopes for the fruit of their efforts. Let missionaries know how you are praying. Pray huge, kingdom sized prayers (such as Christ being glorified throughout a city), along with specific prayer requests (such as generators operating smoothly for Jesus film showings).
Learn to pray daily, using prayers that mention the names of missionaries. Learn to pray for the advance of the gospel in a particular people or place even if you do not know the specific missionaries."
Concluding Thought: Paul wrote, "For it is God who is at work in you. Both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13,14)God will use you to extent of your faith and obedience. Why not believe that God can use you in serving as a sender? He will if you will just ask Him for help!
