To The Ends Of The Earth
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The Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 1:8 and Luke 24:46-48. It is the mission of God. It's our mandate from Christ to preach the good news to everyone everywhere. It's the most significant and compelling directive Christ gave the church. There's no other mission. It's what we're here for. It's your mission, my mission, and the mission of the church. The Great Commission is Missio Dei. From Genesis to Revelation, Missio Dei is revealed. When you read in the Bible the words nations, earth, or world, think missions. Jesus was concerned about the global harvest of lost souls. We too should be. Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" (Luke 10:2 NIV). Are you praying that God will send workers into the harvest field? Are you praying that God will send you? The very heartbeat of God is the global harvest of souls. It's why he gave us our marching orders. The Great Commission is not a suggestion, it's a mandate from God. Jesus said, "GO!"
So what are you waiting for? An invitation? You already have one. Jesus invited you to engage in world missions the moment you were saved. He not only invites you to find your place in world missions, He compels you!
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn..." (Isaiah 61:1-2 NIV)
Missio Dei - To The Ends Of The Earth
Missio Dei is the very heartbeat of God. It's a Latin term translated as the "mission of God." It's our obedience to Missio Dei that we accept Christ's Great Commission as our primary objective. "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, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you..." (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus spent 3-1/2 years training and educating his 11 disciples to be global missionaries. Then, after they were fully trained, He sent them into "all the world" (Mark 16:15) to spread the good news to everyone everywhere. They were to make global disciples who would in turn do the same thing.
"The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity." - Mike Stachura
"The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed"
- Hudson Taylor, Missionary to China for 51 years
Our churches should be missional churches. If your church isn't supporting world missions, find another church. Missio Dei is God's mission for the church. Jesus said, "GO!" Consider the following quotes from great church leaders:
"The mission of the church is missions" - Oswald J. Smith
"A church that is not a missionary church is contradicting itself and quenching the Spirit." - Lausanne Covenant
"Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great Commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist." - Oswald J. Smith
"Missions is not the 'ministry of choice' for a few hyperactive Christians in the church. Missions is the purpose of the church." - Oswald J. Smith
"The Church must send or the church will end." - Mendell Taylor
If you're a pastor, stop viewing your church as a local church with a missions program. Instead, view your church as a global church with a missions purpose.
Are you familiar with the 10/40 Window? The 10/40 Window is a rectangular area of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia located approximately 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator. The 10/40 Window is home to some of the largest unreached people groups in the world.
4 billion people live here
2.9 billion are unreached
80 percent of the world's poorest of the poor live here
2 billion people living here have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ even once
The majority of the world's Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and animists live here.
It is estimated that 40% of the world's population have never heard the gospel message.
"I believe that in each generation God has called enough men and women to evangelize all the yet unreached tribes of the earth. It is not God who does not call. It is man who will not respond!" - Isobel Kuhn, missionary to China and Thailand
The Great Commission applies to all
Christians without exception. Some are called to go, some are called
to send. But all are called. If you can't or won't go, then you must send. Every missionary needs financial and prayerful partnerships. The Apostle Paul was a missionary and he thanked the Philippian church for their continuing partnership (Philippians 1:3-5 NIV)
"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
He said, "Go and tell this people ..." (Isaiah 6:8-9 NIV)
To The Ends Of The Earth - Hillsong Worship
"To know the will of God, we need an open Bible and an open map." - William Carey, pioneer missionary to India
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