Staying on Mission
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Intro
Intro
Opening story/Illustration: I remember when I was a kid and I turned about 12 or 13 and my parents, for the first time let me stay home alone while they went out. Before they left they made sure I had special instructions so that I knew what to do. Parents, anytime you leave your children with a baby sitter, before you leave you give instructions to the person who’s going to be watching them. They go to bed at 7, they prefer this to eat, they’re allowed to do this, they aren’t allowed to do that. When we leave, we often leave instructions.
Transition to text: 2,000 years ago, Jesus left some instructions to his disciples. He had died on the cross and been resurrected. After his resurrection he spent 40 days spending time with them and proving to them that he was alive. During his last conversation with them, he gave them his last set of instructions. Let’s read this account from the book of Acts.
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:
Text:
Text:
1 In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. 3 During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. 4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” 7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
Transition to points: It has been 2,000 years since Jesus stood on the mount of olives and gave this command to this commission to his disciples - They were to be his witnesses, to make disciples. To tell everyone about him. 2,000 years and we have yet to reach the ends of the earth.
All over the world today, people will pass away - and many of them have never heard the good news about Jesus.
All over the world today, people will pass away - and many of them have never heard the good news about Jesus.
Why? Why after 2,000 years, have we yet to reach the world?
Why? Why after 2,000 years, have we yet to reach the world?
This is one of the greatest, if not the greatest atrocities of our time - that with all the time that has past, with all the technology we have, with all the modes of transportation we have - the greatest atrocity of our time is that there are men and women, boys and girls, whole people groups who will lay their head on their pillow tonight and they have never heard the name of Jesus. While we sit comfortably in America with a church on every corner and the gospel blasting through our airways 24/7, there are people who have never heard the name of Jesus.
This is one of the greatest, if not the greatest atrocity of our time - that with all the time that has past, with all the technology we have, with all the modes of transportation we have - the greatest atrocity of our time is that there are men and women, boys and girls, whole people groups who will lay their head on their pillow tonight and they have never heard the name of Jesus. While we sit comfortably in America with a church on every corner and the gospel blasting through our airways 24/7, there are people who have never heard the name of Jesus.
To be fair, people are being reached. In fact, some studies show that more people are being reached for Jesus today than at any point in history. But the sad truth still remains, there are people in the world who haven’t heard good news of Jesus. The good news that Jesus came to die on the cross, that he rose again, and that he sets men and women boys and girls free from Sin and shame.
Why?
This morning I want to talk about some of the issues that slow us down in this mission. I want to take a brief survey through a few places in the book of Acts and I hope to show that these are issues we have faced from the very beginning.
The mission is for us, empowered by Holy Spirit, to show the world that Jesus is still alive. They should see this in the lives that we live and in the way that we talk.
What keeps us from fulfilling the mission God has for us?
Points
Points
Distraction
The disciples had moments of distraction
Notice in our text this morning at two points the disciples seem to get distracted and have to be corrected.
In 6:1, the disciples beginning asking Jesus about specifics of the kingdom.
They were ready for Jesus to finish up his mission. He had died and been resurrected, now they were ready for him to restore the kingdom to Israel - to finish what he started.
Some say their motives were impure here - That they were more concerned about a political kingdom. That they wanted Jesus to come and kick Rome out and set up the kingdom of Israel.
I think we can give them a little more credit than that. I think they were just ready for Jesus to finish what he had started and they were curious about the details of it all.
Jesus gently corrects them - and notice what he does - he puts them back on mission. He says, “don’t worry about all the details, God’s got that taken care of - You go get power from the Holy Spirit and you be my witnesses.”
In 6:9-11, the disciples see Jesus go up into the clouds. They see him go up into heaven. They are amazed at this - as anyone would be.
Apparently they stare for a very long time.
They stare long enough that an angel has to come and say - Why are you standing here staring?
They were distracted by the miracle of Jesus being taken into heaven.
The angel gently reminds them - Stop staring, he’ll be back. Go do what he asked you to do!
We often get distracted
I think many of our churches today need a fresh reminder of what really matters.
I think the Holy Spirit is trying to speak to many Christians, just like the angel to the disciples - “Why are standing here staring?”
There’s a mission - Go ask the Spirit to empower you and then get out there and be witnesses.
What are we distracted by?
We are too distracted by what’s happening in the news
We are too distracted by what’s happening in the news We are too distracted by social media We are too distracted trying to figure everything out We are too distracted trying to grow our churches for the wrong reasons
We are too distracted by social media
We are too distracted trying to figure everything out
We are too distracted trying to grow our churches for the wrong reasons
Distraction can lead to confusion and we forget why we are here!
Illustration: Sometimes my wife and I will be sitting in our bed and she’ll say, “Hey, if you get up can you get me glass of water?” I’ll say “sure.” But then I go into the kitchen and I remember - I should put that dish in the dishwasher or my stomach is growling and I want a snack - I get distracted - and I forget why I’m there.
What’s the solution? When you’re distracted, go do the last thing Jesus told you to do - be witnesses, make disciples
When you’re distracted, go do the last thing Jesus told you to do - make disciples
Comfort
The disciples let comfort slow them down
Jesus’ command was that they go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.
We get to Acts Chapter 8 and guess where they still are? Jerusalem!
From what I can tell, it was about 18months to two years after the accession of Jesus, and they are still in Jerusalem!
In fact, the only thing that moves them out of Jerusalem is persecution!
1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
We are afraid
1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Here the Holy Spirit uses their circumstances to PUSH them out to where he wants them to be.
God will use circumstances in our lives to PUSH us to where he wants us to be.
We let comfort slow us down
We have it easier than any other generation in history - and it’s killing us - literally
A recently read a Christianity Today article entitled, “Move over sex and drugs, Ease is the new vice”
Ease is the great vice of our time We have it easier than any other generation in history - and it’s killing us - literally Metal health is one of the top issues facing our culture and our church Proverbs says - a little sleep
The article talks about how drug use and premarital sex is going down among young people - and that’s a good thing.
But the article states that perhaps the reason for the decline in premarital sex and drug use is because people just want things easy and they don’t have time to be bothered with anything - including sex and drugs.
I recently read a book entitled, “The coddling of The American Mind.” The book points out that kids are growing up slower than ever before. Part of the reason is what the book called a culture of safetyism. In other words, everyone wants to keep their kids safe and comfortable - but the problem is, kids need a certain amount of risk to grow up and develop into adults. Our overprotection and over-concern about their safety and comfort is actually hindering their development.
The
Here’s the point - I think these attitudes have a way of slipping into the church.
The church, to grow and develop needs a certain amount of risk.
What if, as Christians, some of our developmental and discipleship issues come from the fact that we want a safe and comfortable Christianity void of risk? We want to be comfortable.
Why should we bother or care about lost people? We want to be comfortable.
We’ll take the gospel as long as it’s not too risky.
We want to be comfortable. We’ll take the gospel as long as it’s not too risky
We’ll go, as long as it’s not to a group that makes us uncomfortable.
We’ll give, as long as it’s not too much and puts us out.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
I wonder if this isn’t true of the Church - And the poverty that comes on us is spiritual poverty. What if our desire for comfort is killing us?
I wonder if this isn’t true of the Church - And the poverty that comes on us is spiritual poverty. What if our desire for comfort is killing us?
What’s the Solution? Push yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to push you into uncomfortable and risky places where you can be a witness!
Fear
The disciples had moments where they had to move forward instead of hold back.
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.
Peter here has a vision. In the vision God is showing him a sheet full of food that Peter, being a good Jew, is not supposed to eat. In the vision, He is told to eat and he refuses. This happens 3 times.
God is speaking and moving things into place in order to bring the good news of Jesus now to Non-Jewish people.
You can sense a bit of apprehension on Peter’s part - But he moves in obedience to God anyway!
What’s the result of His obedience? We are sitting here today because of it!
Had Peter let fear of the unknown or the new control him, he would have never moved out and you and I might not be sitting here today!
We often have moments of apprehension and fear
We are afraid of the changes happening around us
We are afraid of the changes happening around us We are afraid the our neighbors won’t listen - we are sold a bill of goods that everyone is opposed to Christians - this is bologna. Stop believing this mess and start loving your neighbor and see what happens! The church must think like a missionary in a foreign culture. Learn to speak the language so you can communicate the gospel! Don’t be afraid!
We are afraid of living in a culture where it feels like people are against us.
Our fears get played on by politicians and the media
We are afraid the our neighbors won’t listen to the message of Jesus - we are sold a bill of goods that everyone is opposed to Christians - this is bologna. Stop believing this mess and start loving your neighbor and see what happens!
Peter moves the church into a brand new era - Because he chose to be obedient!
Don’t be afraid, be obedient!
Refuse to believe the garbage that gets sold to you and go out and love people and be Jesus to them and watch what God will do.
What is the church missing out on today because it is afraid?
Don’t be afraid of change. You live in a changing world and God put you where you are for such a time as this. He didn’t put you here so you could stick your head in the sand he put you here so you could show the love and power of Jesus to a lost and dying world.
Don’t run from the darkness, engage it with the light.
The church must think like a missionary in a foreign culture. Learn to speak the language so you can communicate the gospel! Don’t be afraid!
What’s the Solution? When you’re afraid, do it anyway! Be obedient.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What’s all this mean this morning? We have a mission. A mission to reach the ends of the earth with the gospel. We cannot let distraction, comfort, or fear keep us from going.
Part of missions is also giving so others can go.
Next week we start our missions convention. The challenge is this - don’t let distraction, comfort, or fear keep you from giving!
This week we want you to pray about what God would have you do in the next year for missions. Don’t let distraction, comfort, or fear keep you from being obedient to what the Lord wants you to do. Obey. Take a risk and watch God grow your faith!
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