The Trip is over - What now?
Gladstone Baptist Church – 22/1/06 am
Well, I hope that you have enjoyed your whirl wind tour around Thailand with us. We had an amazing time as you can see and I don’t think any single member of the team came back the same.
Today, I want to wrap up by asking the question “What now?”
For the 11 who went to Thailand, the trip is over and the memories will begin to fade. But What now?
For the other 200 odd people here this morning – you didn’t go to Thailand the trip and you’ve only got a glimpse of a few of the things we learnt this morning. But for you the question is the same - What now? 2006 has started at a flat out pace. This week school starts and everything else won’t be too far behind it. But what now? Does any of this have any bearing on you for the rest of 2006?
This morning, I want to put before you the challenge of your involvement in God’s mission.
If I had to pick the most important of the 5 purposes we have on this earth, I think I could make a fairly strong argument for picking evangelism. Why? Because it is the only one which has a limited lifespan. You will worship, become like Christ, minister and enjoy fellowship for all heaven’s eternity. But once you die, your chance to evangelise is finished. That means we have eternity to do 4 of these things, but we’ll most likely have less than 80 years to share our faith with non-believers.
You ask the question – What Now? My answer is to tell others about Christ in season and out.
When Jesus came back from the dead, Luke records what he did in Acts 1:3.
“After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”
The disciples had many questions (vs 6) So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” The disciples wanted to know when he was going to overthrow the Romans and seize power. But Jesus said, “Don’t you worry about that. What I do want you to worry about is being my witnesses.” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Here is the commissioning of the disciples to be His witnesses locally and globally, in Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth. This was his mission statement and the single most important thing he wanted his followers to achieve. Why? Because their time was limited. It is still the highest priority for us because it’s deadline is closest. Unfortunately we often see witness or mission as an optional extra. It is not and I want you to remind you this morning about 3 things you’ve all heard before…
1. YOU ARE CALLED TO BE WITNESSES TO HIS KINGDOM
“..and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8
“go and make disciples of all nations,” Matthew 28:18,19
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” 2 Cor 5:18-20
Being Witnesses is the core mission of the church – not to have a nice building, or to have some wonderful fellowship, or to educate people, or to have the best programs around that entertain kids. As C.S.Lewis says.. “The church exists for nothing else than drawing men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself are simply a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose."(Mere Christianity Fontana p 167)
What now? We need to recapture the centrality of our witness. This year we are going to have several evangelistic outreaches. The first is the Narnia Sermon Series. The next will be a family and marriage focus in June / July centred around a family fun day. The last will be a Christmas outreach. We are not running these just to entertain or educate, but to evangelise. I want you to start to get on your knees from today onwards and ask God to show you who you are to invite along to these events. I want you to begin to pray every week for those people that God would soften their heart and prepare the ground for the gospel. I want you to stand up against Satan and the fear he is placing in your heart and invite those friends to these outreaches – believing that God will speak to him. God is calling us to be his witnesses for him in 2006. What now – be his witnesses.
II. YOU ARE CALLED TO WORK INTERNATIONALLY
“..and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
God’s Kingdom is not the domain of just one ethic group but all people have a right to enter into his kingdom.
Jesus expects us to witness to our Jerusalem … our neighbors, our family and friends and work mates in Gladstone …
At the SAME time as witnessing in our Jerusalem … Jesus expects us to witness to our Judea and Samaria … our country men – Australians – both those we relate to and those we don’t. Geographically they are close. Language wise, the same, but we may find some different Cultural things.
At the SAME time as witnessing in our Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria … Jesus expects us to witness to the ends of the earth…
How can we be in 3 places at once? We can’t, but we can still be involved in witness in three areas.
The 12 who went to Thailand we were challenged to identify where we are ministering in each of these spheres of Witness … Some of the ways we can serve in these areas are …
• Supporter – One who provides financial support for the workers. Someone who sends over resources that are needed to complete the work.
• Encourager – Someone who writes letters or emails or sends over the latest episodes of a favourite TV show.
• Representative – someone who represents the needs of the missionary to God through prayer and intercession and also who represents them to others in the church – their advocate if you like.
• Volunteer – the one who volunteers to go and do the work themselves. To be the witness to tell others about Christ. They volunteer their time, energy, ambitions and maybe even their life.
• Enlister – the one who raises up volunteers and finds people to do the work.
What ways are you serving in each sphere of witness. What ways are you serving to help people come to know Christ in Gladstone? What ways are you serving to support evangelistic work in Australia? In the world? You should have at least box ticked in each column because God demands that we be operating in all three areas at the same time.
In 2006, I believe that God wants us to get serious about His International Mission and get involved somehow in each sphere of service. Here are some practical ways of doing this … You may choose to regularly support financially the work of the Aboriginal Outback Mission and become a Supporter for that ministry in Australia. You may like to go on a short term mission trip like the one we’ve just been on and volunteer to do some work overseas. I’m keen to organise another trip to Thailand in early 2007 – so if anyone is interested, please come and see me. Some of you might like to become the representatives of one of our missionaries and help to keep the church informed about what they are up to. This year we are wanting to focus on our missionaries and we need some advocates or representatives for them in the congregation. If this is something you’d like to do, come and see Roger or myself.
I also want to suggest that you also need to have at least one of the boxes ticked in the Volunteer row. Because we also are called to be God’s witnesses wherever we are. So if you live here in Gladstone, you should have this box ticked as a minimum. We need to volunteer to do the work of witnessing. That is scary, but it leads me to the third point …
III. YOU ARE EQUIPPED & EMPOWERED FOR THE WORK GOD CALLS YOU TO
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses,” Acts 1:8
God doesn’t just expect us to go and do his work through our own resources. He provides the Holy Spirit to help us and equip us.
The Holy Spirit is freely given to all who repent and follow Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is given to equip and empower people for ministry. Spirit’s ministry is primarily outward, equipping believers and leading them to new places and peoples to share the good news of the Kingdom.
The Holy Spirit led Philip to the Samaritans
The Holy Spirit led a reluctant Peter to the gentile Roman Cornelius
The Holy Spirit led Paul & Barnabas on the first missionary journey into Asia Minor.
At ever point of advance in Luke’s record in Acts it is the Holy Spirit who took the initiative.
The disciples received the Holy Spirit and became irrepressible witnesses spreading throughout the known world with the gospel. We have the same Holy Spirit within us – the same power, the same resources.
What was true in the first century is no less true today. Some one has said “Mission is the story of unexpected people working prayerfully and persistently together empowered by the Holy Spirit.”
What Now? We need to start to do the work we have already been equipped for and empowered to do.
What will your part in this task be in 2006? On your sheets this morning is a covenant you can sign – It’s between you and God. I challenge you to get serious about your part and to promise to God to
- Start to fulfill your calling to witness,
- Get involved all three spheres of his international mission, and
- Recognise that you are both equipped and empowered by God himself.
