The other night the entire church had the opportunity to join in for a mission’s presentation sponsored by the IMB (International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention).  It was a good presentation of various speakers addressing the challenges of missions going into the future interspersed with testimonies of current missionaries serving across the globe.  A couple of things stood out to me.  First, there are still many people groups who have not heard the Good News of Jesus and the hope of Salvation.  Second, even as I preached from 2 Peter that believers faithfully sharing the Gospel can “hasten the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ”, each speaker seemed to emphasize that very fact.  Third, this is the mission and purpose of God’s people, the church, to carry the Gospel to the world and make disciples who will also carry the Gospel.  Three primary scriptures were consistently referenced:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you,

and you will be My witnesses, in Jerusalem, in all Judea,

AND Samaria, AND to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

“Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me

in heaven and on earth.  ‘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,

teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.

And remember I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

Matthew 28:18-20

“After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every

nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number,

standing before the throne and before the Lamb.  They were clothed

in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they

cried out in a loud voice:  Salvation belongs to our God,

who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Revelation 7:9

 

Fourth, we are the church.  We are the people of God given the task of taking the Gospel to the world, here in Rock Springs, Wyoming, North America, and to the world.  This is the priority mission we are to undertake.  I have been convicted that our church needs to seek God’s wisdom and direction for effectively sharing the Gospel here in Rock Springs and around the world.  There are people everywhere filled with despair and hopelessness, the question I keep asking myself and I ask you, do I truly believe that Jesus is the answer to hopelessness and despair, enough so that it compels me to go and share the Gospel out of love for people and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ?

Thinking about heaven and the verse from Revelation, what a glorious day it will be to praise God with people from every nation, tribe, people, and language!  It has been said a believer’s task is to go to heaven and take as many people with them as possible.

Let’s recommit to sharing the Gospel and watch what God will do!