05.20.2012 10am - 12pm
Sunday Service
05.20.2012 5pm - 8pm
Spaghetti Dinner
05.22.2012 7pm - 9pm
Encounter Youth Group
Why Missions?
Download PowerPoint File to follow along with audio: Download (PPT File)
INTRODUCTION
Series Living in 4 D Eph 3:18
What will it take to straighten out the mess the world is in? [Europe & US $; Middle East; Terrorists; Famines; Disasters; Addiction & abuse; etc] 3 Systems of Hope in world: World/Culture/political/social[get phd or elect rt people] ; Devil/false religions; Flesh/get High!/eat,drink,be merry]
Answer is not to solve the problems, but to get world on track of our fundamental purpose: Glory of God
Why send out Missionaries? Core reason NOT help the needy; save lost, but give God the glory and praise He deserves. Matt 5:16 [1st sermon in series; expand beyond N Country to world]
-“Missions exists because Worship doesn’t” John Piper
-God-Centered vs. Man-Centered Evangelism/Missions
God’s Agenda for the Nations
1. Experience His Salvation “your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations”
-World filled with pain, suffering, bondage, & most caused not by natural disasters, but sin
-We preach salvation to save people, because this results in God’s glory Isa 43:3-7
2. Praise His Name
-Repeated emphasis of Psalmist
-God is worthy of Praise, and jealous for praise of the world Romans 1:21-23
*I am jealous of my wife’s affections
3. Enjoy His Presence “be glad & sing for joy”
-God is most honored when we find out greatest joy in Him
-Psa. 16:11 In your presence…
4. Revere His Grace “ends of the earth will fear Him”
- Fear Not mean “get scared and run away, but fear in the sense of be in awe, respect, honor, obey
-Not just look on & admire, but enter into His reign
God’s Testimony before the Nations
-What is it about God that leads the nations to praise & worship?
A Gracious God v1 "God be merciful to us and bless us."
A Saving God v2 “Your way…Your salvation”
A Just God v4 "You shall judge the people righteously."
A Sovereign God v4 " You shall govern the nations on earth." Psa 2
God’s Strategy for Winning the Nations
***To Bless His People so they may be a testimony to the Nations. Vs 1,7;
God’s strategy from the beginning Gen 12:2
-Missed by Israel & now the church; Matt 5:16
CONCLUSION
-When we have a focus on extending God’s blessings on the nations, we can expect answered prayer for His blessings upon us.
Psa 67:1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, 2 that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. 3 May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. 4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. 5 May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. 6 Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. 7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.
Isa 43:3 For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4 Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life. 5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; 6 I will say to the north, ’Give them up!’ And to the south, ’Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth — 7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory….
Romans 1:21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Genesis 12:2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
“Living In 4D,” Inspired By Ephesians 3:18.
Width Of God’s Love: To Share With Others In A Meaningful Way
The Depth Of His Love: Calls For Complete Surrender Of All Our Lives To His Lordship
The Length: Extends To The Whole World
The Height Next Week & Focus On Worship