Browsing the archives for the missions tag
Of the 348,000 Taureg living in Niger, 100% of them are Muslim. The Tuareg tribes have strong tribal identity, and Islam is part of that self-identification. Pray for the Tuareg tribes of Africa, that they will increasingly desire to know Jesus, the Son of God, deity. Pray He will reveal Himself to them, and will send Christians to help them.
You can find more information at this site.
No Comments The Ryukyuan people of central Japan do not have a legacy of understanding the ways of God as revealed through Moses, the prophets, and Jesus Christ. They are 97% Buddhist and 1% ethnic religion. They have no Bible in their native language. You can learn more about them at this site. Please make them part of your regular prayers.
There are 40,000 Ersu people living in western China. Our best information about them tells us no evangelical Christians live among them and they have no churches; they are 98% Buddhist and 1% Muslim. They do not have any part of the Bible in their native language.
More information can be found about the Ersu at this site. Please pray for the Ersu people.
The Mongour people live in central China. Out of 46,000 people, none of them are Christian. They have no Bible in their native language.
You can learn more at this site. Please pray for the Mongour of China.
Paul suffered as he did missions, and he dealt with suffering by keeping his eyes on Jesus. This is my sermon from 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 on May 20, 2012
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Romans 5:15-21 ESV)
Five contrasts between Adam and Christ
1. Many died through Adam’s sin, but much more have the grace of God and the free gift by grace through Jesus.
2. Adam’s trespass brought judgment, but the free gift through Jesus brought justification.
3. Death reigned through Adam, but many reign in life through Jesus.
4. Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but Jesus’ act of righteousness leads to justification and life.
5. By Adam’s sin many were made sinners, but by Jesus’ obedience many are made righteous.
There is fullness of life and freedom and hope in Christ. In Christ we have grace, justification, life, and righteousness. This is cause to praise God and give Him glory. This is cause to fight against sin. This is cause to boldly go and proclaim the name of Jesus to the world.
John Piper talks about the importance of Biblical truth for missions.
The Value of Biblical Truth
Biblical truth frees from Satan (John 8:32; 2 Timothy 2:24-26).
Biblical truth mediates grace and peace (2 Peter 1:2).
Biblical truth sanctifies (John 17:17; 2 Peter 1:3, 5, 12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Biblical truth serves love (Philippians 1:9).
Biblical truth protects from error (Ephesians 4:11-15; 2 Peter 3:17-18).
Biblical truth saves (1 Timothy 4:16; Acts 20:26-27; 2 Thessalonians 2:10).
Biblical truth is the ideal of heaven (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Biblical truth will be resisted by some (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
Biblical truth is the duty of elders (Titus 1:9).
Biblical truth is approved by God (2 Timothy 2:15).
Biblical truth should continually increase (2 Peter 3:18; Colossians 1:10; Hebrews 5:12).
Since Biblical truth does so much and is so important, how much more important is the work of local and overseas missions to get this Biblical truth out to the lost and unreached peoples of the world?
Philippians 4:14-20 14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
I was not able to record the sermon from February 12, but I am posting an outline and some thoughts for you to read here.
The main idea of the passage was, “Give glory to God our Father forever and ever.” We do this by giving / going / sending / praying for our missionary efforts, down the street and across the oceans. You see, Paul was facing several problems as a missionary (trouble in v. 14). These were physical problems of being a missionary and also the burden of doing the work while looking forward to Jesus’ return. There is an immediate and eschatological sense to his problems.
These problems led the Philippians to partnership with Paul in his efforts (vv. 15-16). They partnered with Paul through prayer, suffering with him, carrying his burdens and financially providing for his needs. Why did they do this? They caught his vision, and Jesus’ vision, to go out into “Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth” with the gospel. The gospel is the only truth that can help the people of Macedonia, Rome, the Middle East, China, Africa, or America. It is a vision and cause and command worth partnering in.
This partnering led to payment in vv. 17-18. Paul was paid financially, and the Philippians were paid in being blessed, “the fruit that increases to their credit.” They gave a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God, and God blessed them for their sacrifice. They were storing up for themselves treasures in heaven, and it did not go unnoticed by Him. Payment goes all around, from the giver to the receiver; it is truly more blessed to give than to receive.
The Philippians made great sacrifices to give, but God made provision for them in v. 19. He supplied all their needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus, because they had sacrificed all they had. Sometimes we hesitate in giving to missionary efforts because “we need that money for something else”, but don’t’ we think God is able to provide for us if we obey His command to give?
All of these problems, partnership, payment and provision result in praise to God. Won’t it be something for missionaries to succeed in their efforts and the lost to declare faith in Christ! What a joy for missionaries to preach and unbelievers in China, France, Russia and downtown to respond and join in praise of our Father!
We concluded with our missionary to Laos and our team to southeast Asia sharing their needs. We asked the church to respond by helping us pay for our efforts. It was a challenging sermon and some people answered the call to partner with us. We look forward to sharing good results with the congregation at a future time.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:13, Paul reveals his great heart for the church of Thessalonica, and his heart for missions. Some things from this passage that I have been moved by in my reading in prayer time -
I hope we would pray and have a heart for missions and missionaries as Paul did.
This was a good opportunity to share, I’m glad we could do it. We said a lot more that couldn’t be shown, but we pray it is for His glory.
Aug 20, 2012 
