Let’s Lose Some Weight – 5

                                                             Let’s Lose Some Weight – 5

Subject – Beautiful Feet

By Rick Welborne

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV)                                                                                                                                                                                                                ¹  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
²  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
³  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 

--At the time of writing this sermon we have not yet heard from Greg Mundis or Zach Rix but I am sure what they shared with us was motivating enough to stir us to action.

--After doing Mission’s Conventions for over 30 years, what does one say that hasn’t already been said? How do you convince people to understand the Great Commission? To be sacrificial? Simply, to care about the lost.

--The Word of God is pretty clear…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. "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

--The verses from Matthew and Mark are pretty clear about us going into the world, our world, our sphere of influence and sharing Christ. We know it in our heads but do we get it in our hearts.

--Even though Jesus was so clear here about going and preaching the gospel to everyone everywhere something seems to be left off especially in the light of missions. Sending missionaries out to preach. Paul:

Romans 10:1 (NKJV) ¹  Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 

Romans 10:13-18 (NKJV)
¹³  For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
¹⁴  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
¹⁵  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
¹⁶  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"
¹⁷  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
¹⁸  But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: "Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world." 

--Several things strike me as I read Paul’s remarks (which is the Word of God.)

V.1 His heart’s desire and prayer was for Israel to be saved. Is that our desire and do we pray?

V.13 He understood the only way people could be saved was to call on the Name of the Lord. Do we understand?

V.14 He understood the issue with the lost was that they had not heard about Jesus. Do we understand?

V. 15 He understood someone (missionaries) had to be sent to these people. Do we understand that is what our Mission’s Convention is all about? Sending out missionaries. 

V.18 He understood that the message of the Gospel should go to the ends of the earth. Do we really understand?

1. A Simple Test.

A. Do we believe the Great Commission is biblical and is to be obeyed?

B. Do we support the Mission of Life Church to send out missionaries to the ends of the earth? 

C. Do we support our missionaries by praying for them (adopting them) and being here when they minister to us? Pastor Rick, they are boring. Maybe you would be boring if you had to spend 4 years on the field.

--Then you have to travel from church to church hoping and praying people will support your call to go where Jesus called them. Have you ever thought they may need your support and encouragement? They are tired.

D. Do you have a greater desire to be entertained in church than to hear the heart of someone called to a distant land or to lost here in America? We may need to stop thinking church is all about us.

E. Do we actually give to our General Missions of Life Church above our tithes? Do we understand the idea of being sacrificial like the Macedonian believers?

2 Corinthians 8:3-5 (NLT2)
³  For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.
⁴  They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.
⁵  They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

 F. Does our mission’s giving resemble more a token than a sacrifice? Example…Is our cable bill (Direct TV, Dish, etc.) more than what we give to missions? Our entertainment more important than souls?

--What are some practical ways you can increase your mission’s giving? Here is a novel idea…ask God what He would have you to do above your tithe and then, listen to what He says. Do it!

--Another practical idea is similar to the Macedonians…they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 

--What could that look like? Let’s say in 2021 you gave the Lord $50/$75/$100/ $200 a month to missions and it appears God has blessed you, then double your giving and watch God bless you.

--God spoke to me twenty years to increase my mission’s giving by $25 dollars a month every year and He has not told me anything different. Also, our guest missionaries get a certain amount every time from the Welbornes

--Sometimes He lays on my heart to give more but never less. Funny how that works. It is a test of our faith but I could spend the rest of the day talking about how God has blessed us.

--We have decided to lay up treasures in Heaven instead of here on earth. Remember the series…The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure?

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

--Where’s your treasure, Life Church? Another house? Another car? Another boat? Where’s your heart?

2. Pastor Dan Betzer and Doctor Oswald J. Smith

--I believe all of us (especially pastors) have heroes of the faith who have inspired us to do greater things and go farther than we ever thought we could. I love Dan Betzer’s mission story. Reader’s Digest version.

--Pastor Betzer was pastoring a struggling church in Sandusky, Ohio in the 60s. He asked God why were they struggling? God told him they were not in the same business. He said, “Say, What?” Great Commission?

--God spoke to him to do three things that would change his ministry and life forever. 1. Have a Mission’s Convention yearly. 2. Invite Dr. Oswald J. Smith 3. Faith promise Goal of $20,000

--Okay with a Mission’s Convention even though I have no clue. Okay with inviting Dr. Smith because he probably will not come. Faith promise for $20,000 when our annual budget is $16,000…impossible.

--After much arguing and complaining Betzer said okay. Starting planning the convention, set the goal that freaked out his Board Members. Wrote a letter to Smith and he said yes! What?

--Billy Graham said of Dr. Smith, “As a missionary statesman. There was no equal.” Over 80years of ministry he preached over 12,000 sermons in 80 nations. Wrote 35 books and 1200 wonderful hymns. 

--He made 21 world tours traveling to tell multitudes about Jesus and for several decades pastored the historic People’s Church in Toronto, Canada. This man of God was coming to a church of 90 in Sandusky.

--Obviously word got out that this awesome man of God was coming to their tiny church and the anticipation and excitement was high…through the roof. Pastor Betzer picks him up at the airport. 

--Pastor Betzer knew this was going to be a church service like non-other and that it was going to be a spiritual pep rally that would lift everyone into the very throne room of God.

--After singing some beautiful mission’s songs, Betzer introduced Dr. Smith to the excited congregation and he approached the pulpit and then, just stood there without saying a word for a few minutes. He drops the bomb:

Dr. Smith – What did you want from me? How many times have you heard the gospel? How many church services have you attended? Were you expecting something new from me? What right do you have to hear the gospel over and over when so many have never heard it for the first time? What makes you so special?

--Pastor Betzer and his little church were shocked. He thought it would end his ministry there. But to make a long story short, God helped reach their Faith promise goal and they never looked back.

--Pastor Betzer, who just in the last couple of years has retired went on to become a premier mission’s pastor in Ft. Myers, Florida and has literally impacted missions all over the world. Raising countless millions. 

--I hope what changed him would change us…listen again.

 Dr. Smith – What did you want from me? How many times have you heard the gospel? How many church services have you attended? Were you expecting something new from me? What right do you have to hear the gospel over and over when so many have never heard it for the first time? What makes you so special?

Romans 10:13-15 (NKJV)
¹³  For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
¹⁴  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
¹⁵  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"