“O Earth, Earth, Earth, Hear the Word of the Lord”
(A mission Sermon)
Jeremiah 22: 29

by Robert G. Brooks
RgregoryBrooks@aol.com

Introduction:

Christmas must remind us of World Missions, for God sent his Son on that holy day, (John 3: 16), and Jesus commanded us – “. . . as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (John 20: 21)  Our Great Commission is “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of (the Blessed Trinity) the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28: 19)

The brute fact is that if one really desires to hear the Gospel in America, there are manifold radio, television, and internet opportunities, but there are multiplied millions in the world who have no chance to hear the Gospel, who have no missionary.  The approximate population of the world is 6,383,986,766.  Statiscally, half the world has never heard – even after 2000 years!  We have done everything under the sun except obey the Great Commission.  We’ve built universities, spent billions on mega-churches, millions on family centers to eat in or for the youth to throw a basketball (they can do that at school or on the playground).  We’ve tied up billions in buildings to the neglect of the lost.  Buildings we need, yes, but so elaborate!

Babies are being born everyday at a much greater rate than we are winning adults.  No doubt more children are destined to die of aids (especially in Africa) than we are winning, yea, even witnessing to for Christ.

I. No one must be left without a witness!

The little Psalm 67 is rich in mission motivation.  It calls for God’s mercy and his blessings in missions.  It calls for the face of Jesus to shine upon us (verse 2), that the Gospel may bless the whole earth.  The Psalmist cries for all the peoples of the earth to praise Him. (verse 4)  “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,” but most are deprived and experience no Christmas gladness and have no joy.  Then shall be an increase of souls with the blessing of “our God,” the true God. (verse 6)  “God shall bless us (as we send the Gospel), and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.” (verse 7)  No one is to be left without a witness – for Jesus boldly uttered, “This Gospel must first be published among all nations.” (Mark 13: 10)   This is the sign of the eschatological end of the world.  Let us hurry before sundown!

II. The world religions and the so-called “Christian cults” are erroneous.

The famous historian, Arnold Toynbee, advances the idea that all religions are a way to God.  This is false!

The “Christian cults,” e.g. Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses offer a distorted Christ.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No man cometh to the Father but by me. (John 14:6).  In some cases the world religions and the cults offer “good advice,” but the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth is not good advice (works), but Good News of forgiveness, and free grace upon repentance!

III. Pray for Missions.

Missions becomes more personal through prayer.  Most of us cannot go on our feet to the mission fields, but we can all go on our knees.  I have a little globe on my desk.  It is turned toward Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Russia and Asia – where most of the need for the Gospel is!  Everyone can pray: the shy, the poor, the sick, the disabled, and the uneducated.

IV. Pay for Missions.

The main thing is the main thing is the main thing.  Give through your church, yes, but let me testify – for thirty-two years my wife and I have given to what was originally called World Literature Crusade.  Now called Every Home for Christ.  Their address is P. O. Box 6400, Colorado Springs, Co. 80962-9944, Web address: www.ehc.org.  Their method is to use laymen to distribute Gospel booklets and other materials to every home in a country.  They are acknowledged by Billy Graham.  Remember, China was won to communism by the “printed page.”  Give a gift to Christ through Every Home for Christ and through the mission program of your church.

V. The Gospel needs to be concentrated upon non-English speaking peoples.

Approximately 9% of the world speaks English, yet 90% of all Christians work among this 9%.

Jesus might say for emphasis of an extremely important truth, “Truly, truly I say unto you.”  Now I would simply say  “note this carefully:” If you saw ten men struggling to carry a log, and there were nine men on one end of the log and only one man on the other, which side would you help?  Yet, in point of fact, this is a picture of the world’s mission effort.  Africa, Asia, Russia, even now spiritually cold Europe are the places where the “one man,” so to speak, is struggling.

Conclusion:

Pray and get missions on your heart.  Give that others may go, or maybe even now, Jesus of Nazareth is calling you to go as a missionary.  Remember again the words of Jesus: “. . . the Gospel must first be published among all nations.”

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