Looking at Questions in God’s Word – 6
Subject – Mission’s Convention – 2021
By Rick Welborne
Romans 10:13-17 (NLT2)
13 For “Everyone (whoever) who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “LORD, who has believed our message?”
17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
--We are here today kicking off our 2021 Mission’s Convention and mostly to give all the glory to God for all He has done for us and through us.
--Every year we celebrate our wonderful House of Hope. Brother and Sister Bass and their team do a great service to God and our community by providing food and love.
House of Hope - 2020 - Served close to 3000 families. The HOH volunteers donated more than 3900 hours. Food collected and purchased was 241, 449 lbs. Thank you Bro. Bass and your team. Please stand.
Joseph Storehouse and LEGACY - Glorified God by helping our people and others through tough times. These two ministries helped numerous families and the teachers at two elementary schools. FPE and VELL.
2020 Mission’s Program - So blessed by God, and though we did our part, we want to give God all the glory because without Him we could do nothing. Supporting 203 missionaries with $425,346. PTL! Dan and his team.
--Attempting to stay with our theme in this series…Looking at Questions in God’s Word…our text asks us some pretty piercing questions that I believe are worth investigating. Four questions:
Romans 10:13-17 (NLT2) 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?
1. How can they call on Him?
--Let me ask it another way; how can anyone be saved if they don’t know Who Jesus is? Correct me if I am wrong but doesn’t the Word say there is no other Name under heaven where man can be saved?
Acts 4:12 (NKJV)
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
--How will they know Who Jesus is unless someone who knows Jesus tells them. You can’t believe in someone if you know nothing about Him (Speaking of Jesus).
--Today you will hear much about personal responsibility. Who is the best person to tell someone else about Jesus? Of course, the best person will be someone who already knows Jesus.
--We want them to call on Jesus and we want them to believe in Jesus, so as we show them the transformation in us and we love them (so important) they will call on Him. Result of a Christian should always be another Christian.
--Romans 2 tells us that it is the goodness of God that leads people to repentance. Don’t you think it is the goodness of God in us that encourages people to call on the Lord for salvation? Personal responsibility.
2. How can they believe in Him?
--Many times we judge those dirty rotten sinners because of the blatant sin they commit. Isn’t that what sinners do? Sin? If we judge sinners who sin, how much more we who know Christ, will be judged when we sin.
--I was preaching years ago how we all sin. We had visitors that night. They came up and told me I was preaching heresy. Wow! We have not sinned for over seven years. Really? What does the Bible say?
1 John 1:8-10 (NKJV)
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
--People struggle to believe in someone if they think it requires them to be perfect. I told my youth group one time that I struggled with sin just like them. I was honest with them.
--The lead pastor of that church called me in and rebuked me. Never say that. Set yourself way up on a pedestal and tell them to work their way up to you. I believe we are all on level ground when it comes to sin.
--I feel sometimes those who were so messed up tend to understand the plight of the sinner more than someone raised in church. Even Paul had to cry, who shall deliver me from this body of death? Jesus was the answer!
--Lest I be misunderstood, I am not saying you have to live a total life of debauchery to be a good witness. Jesus lived a perfect sinless life and He was the greatest witness of all. Why? His love and grace for people.
--Again it comes down to personal responsibility. I have found in my restaurant ministry, if I am honest, loving, and transparent I have a much greater possibility of getting them to believe in Christ.
--Just a news alert from someone who loves you…sinners can see a fake or a hypocrite from a mile away. Again, if you are not going to tip them well, please don’t tell them you are a Christian.
3. How can they hear about Him?
--How can they hear about Him? Great question. Preachers, of course, that is why they get paid, for goodness sake. Christian TV. Other than Billy Graham crusades, not much of a chance of that.
--Pastor, they have access to information on the internet if they really want to get saved. What if they do not know they are lost? Whose responsibility is it to tell them? It is not a trick questions.
--I truly believe one of the many reasons God will have to wipe away our tears when we get to heaven is because we have had this treasure in earthen vessels and we kept it to ourselves.
--And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? You know what is funny? No one told me I had to go tell people about Jesus when He totally changed my life. I couldn’t wait.
--If you were dying of some dread disease and your death was imminent, if someone came along with the cure and your life and body were healed immediately, do you think you would keep it to yourself? Of course not!
--I did not do God a favor by giving my life to Him, He saved Me! He saved me from addiction, from death, from hell, from eternity without Him, from emptiness. How can I keep silent?
--Just an observation. Some tried sharing Jesus and they were rejected. They were going after percentages. Others are being obedient…Jesus said, “Go and preach the gospel to every creature!” That’s good!
--I personally believe the greatest motivation to be a great witness for Christ is love and grace that is propelled by Holy Spirit power! What value do you put on Jesus?
Matthew 13:45-46 (NKJV)
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
--How can they hear about Him unless we tell them? My own personal responsibility to share Jesus…Dad’s salvation and the men at the Paper Mill.
4. How will anyone go?
--And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? Now we are speaking of Missions.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
--On the backside of a mountain in Mexico God gave me a mandate about Life Church before I knew it existed. I was in Mexico telling people about Jesus and begging God to let me stay there.
--God told me I would pastor a church and my job would be to make that church a great missions church. Pastor, we all can tell your story. Exactly!
--I want you to never forget God raised up this church to send missionaries. Matter of fact, that is exactly why God raised up the AOG!
--Much of our calling and destiny is to send missionaries all over the world to preach God’s message. And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? Don’t you think 203 is enough? Nope!
--I want to challenge you in 2021 to join with God and with us in helping missionaries to be sent to the countries of their calling. Make out a new Faith Promise card or increase yours from last year.
--Look at what happens to those who work with God.
Mark 16:15-20 (NKJV)
15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
--Pastor Juan. Take out your Faith Promise Card – Let’s pray!
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