The Call to World Mission

Jesus said "The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest." (Matthew 9 v38)

Do you believe Jesus when he says that the harvest i.e. the people who are ready to respond to the gospel is plentiful but the labourers are few? I'm not sure we always do. But according to Jesus there are many, both here and around the world, who are ready to respond to him. Now, Jesus doesn't say the harvesting will be easy. The word labourer suggests that it will involve hard work. But, with enough labourers sent by God, Jesus implies that the plentiful harvest will be gathered in. Yes, the harvest is plentiful. It is the labourers who are few. So we're to pray earnestly -note earnestly-for God to send out labourers. Ultimately it's his work. So prayer is a vital part of mission. As we look at the nations such as Egypt, at those in our classrooms, on our wards, in our surgeries and offices, what do we see? We see crowds harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. And like Jesus we're to have compassion on them and pray earnestly for the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest and be willing to be part of the answer to our own prayers. Lord here am I, send me.

Now, sure, we're all to be involved in world mission even if we stay here. Vitally we can pray. We can make a difference by sponsoring a child overseas. A recent study into the 9 million Christian child sponsorships found them to be highly effective in helping to change and build young lives who can then make an impact in their countries for Christ. And we can get involved in the wonderful opportunity of the international ministry here.

But is the Lord of the harvest calling you to go and make disciples overseas long term? Wycliffe Bible Translators say that almost 2000 languages are still without active Bible translation work. Yet in heaven, Revelation 7:9-10 tells us that “a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people and tongue will stand before the throne and in front of the Lamb crying in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!’” Notice that there'll be folks from every tongue standing before the throne in heaven. Is God calling you to help reach those 2000 language groups? And there are still huge needs in Muslim countries both on the ground and in radio, television, online and Bible correspondence ministry. I'll never forget Joe Williams, who recently led our music ministry, saying that while he was a student here he never heard that direct challenge from the pulpit. Well that challenge is before you this morning. If God is calling you don't ignore it. Go and talk with Andy Wilson. Now today the Lord is sending workers from other countries in to the UK harvest field. And let's pray it happens more and more. Pray too for the Lord to send the right workers to St Joseph's. Some will be full time; others will be those who labour voluntarily. Is that you? Is God calling you? Are you the answer to prayer? There’s a real need for labourers in the harvest fields of Tyneside and Europe. It's been argued that Geordies are now one of the most unreached people and language groups!

You see although God does call some to specific places we're all called to be on mission for Jesus Christ wherever we are. The Great Commission still stands. We're all commanded to go and make disciples, in the power of the Spirit, whether here in this city or to the ends of the earth. So who are you discipling under God? And if you're thinking that God might be calling you to St Joseph's or overseas ask yourself am I helping to make disciples here? Because if not why would you do so at St Joseph's or in another country? And if you're not involved in ministering here cross culturally to internationals why would you do so in Benwell or overseas? So why not get involved in either of those two areas of ministry here as a first step, followed perhaps by a short term mission trip.

But perhaps some of you are still asking why should I be involved in mission whether home or away? Well what was the first thing Jesus said to his disciples (Mt 4:19)?

“Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt. 4.19)

Yet many of us just want to be keepers of the aquarium. But what was the last thing Jesus said to his disciples in the same Gospel (Mt 28:19)?

Go and make disciples of all nations… [under and with Jesus] (Matt.28.19)

And what were the last words of Jesus on earth before he ascended into
heaven? Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”(Acts 1.8)

Let me ask you this. Why do you work where you do? Why do you live where you do? God has put you there for a purpose. And that purpose is to be Christ’s ambassador to those around you until he calls you elsewhere. You might be the only Christian they know or meet. And 2 Corinthians 5, p966 is a wake up call - so do turn there. Paul's telling us what motivated his missionary work and what should motivate ours, whether at home or away. He gives us 3 motives for mission.

First, The fear of the Lord v9-11

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. (2 Cor. 5.9-11).

Here, Paul makes one thing very clear - that Christians as well as non Christians must appear before the judgement seat of Christ. Now that's not meant to cloud our assurance of heaven if we’re trusting in Jesus, but it is meant to be a spur to our Christian walk and witness. And that's exactly what it was for Paul.

Some at Corinth were objecting to his forthright style and wanted him to go to the school of soft sell but how could he, and how can we, be anything but bold in evangelism when we know that we have to appear before the judgment seat of Christ? Yes, being Christ’s ambassadors will sometimes require diplomacy in terms of being wise in how we act towards outsiders, and being aware of people’s needs. But we must not misrepresent our King and his gospel. How could Paul and how can we face Jesus with a clear conscience if we know we've neglected trying to persuade men by sharing the gospel clearly with people who must one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ themselves?

So can I suggest a practical challenge for all of us whether God is calling us to go overseas or to Tyneside? It is this: to make the most of the opportunity you have at work, outside work or with family members to share the gospel with someone. This is an urgent task. If you’re too busy then drop something. Evangelism in the power of the Spirit is part of our Christian discipleship. It isn’t a Christian hobby. It’s an urgent rescue operation.

Consider this if you, under God, could win 1,000 people to Christ every day, how long do you think it would take to evangelise the whole world when the population of the world is over 6 billion? It would take you 16,427 years to reach every person.

However, if you would lead only one person each year to Christ, and then really train them, here’s what would happen: At the end of one year there would be two of you to take the "Good News" to others. If each of you would then lead one person to Christ that next year, there would be four of you at the end of the second year to go and tell. At this rate, it would only take 32 years to reach the rest of the world!

So to help you reach one person for Christ this year I have copies of UNCOVER which is Luke's Gospel with internet helps/QR codes for smartphones/tablets to read with friends or the Christianity Explored DVD digital download for your smart phone or tablet for you to take away today. So please get either one from me after the service.

Secondly, The love of Christ v12-17

Paul’s second motivation to share the gospel plainly and without any manipulation was the love of Christ. Before Paul’s conversion his work of persecuting Christians was motivated by hatred. Now his ministry is motivated by love, by the love of Christ. And surely Christ’s love controls or compels us too. V13

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (5.13-15)

Some people will think we are out of our mind to be sharing the good news of Jesus Christ boldly today. And we might then be tempted to water it down. But of course then it's no longer the gospel and has no power. Do not be ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for all who believe, no matter what some people might think. For Christ’s love controls us. Paul is no longer concerned about his own reputation. He lives for Christ. Why? Because Christ died for him and was raised. And in Christ he has died to self, and been given a whole new focus for living. 'Therefore all died’ in v14 is stating that the death of Jesus should procure death to self in all who turn to him in repentance and in faith.

So often our fears about evangelism derive from what others might think of us. When Paul was tempted to think like that he turned his mind to the cross. You're not on this planet to live for yourself any longer, he said to himself, Christ has died for you, you were bought at a price, you have no right to live for anyone else but him. Do we think like that? Is Christ’s love controlling or compelling us in this way? The love of Christ for us and for all men controls or compels us to evangelise, wherever he sends us. Christ didn’t just die for Paul or for you and me but for all, for the sum total of individuals, like Paul, whom he loved. Now that doesn’t mean that everyone is automatically forgiven and saved. No! The universal scope of Christ’s love and Christ’s death does not mean universalism – the automatic salvation of everyone. No there has to be a response. And the Bible clearly indicates that not all will believe. But Christ’s love, his death on the cross for all compels us to go and share this news with all.

You see,

from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (16-17)

Does that not motivate us too? Surely the love of Christ should transform the way we view those around us, as we recognise their need of Christ’s love and see what they could become - a new creation - if Christ entered their lives. How do we view those around us? In a worldly way or in a Christ like way? Do they become the focus of our gossip or our prayers?

Thirdly, The commission of the King v18-21

Paul’s third motivation was that God had called him to preach the gospel. And although we're not the Apostle Paul the ministry of reconciliation has been given to us too. We are Christ’s ambassadors. That’s what we learn from v18-21 along with the message we're commissioned to preach, here and around the world.

So what is the gospel message we are still to proclaim today wherever God calls us? Well v18-21 make three things very plain. One, it is a message about a great act of divine initiative. V18: All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; Christianity is not about people finding their way to God but about God sovereignly making a way to himself by a great, even a gigantic act of condescension. Two, the message contains a great act of divine acquittal. V19: that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

This is the root problem that Christianity addresses: the guilt of the human race. We need to be reconciled to God because our sin has separated us from him. It was that problem that God dealt with in Christ. So three, the message contains a great act of divine substitution. V21:

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (5.21)

Now do you notice the beautiful symmetry of that verse? You see Paul is describing a great exchange: on the one side there is Christ who is sinless, on the other side, there is man who is sinful. As a result of God’s gracious intervention, what happens? Christ, fully God and fully man, is made sin, and man becomes righteous in him through faith in him. What other word could describe what Paul is saying here except substitution? It now becomes transparently clear what Paul meant in v15, when he says that Christ died for men and women. Paul doesn’t mean that Christ died just to set us all an example of self -sacrificial love. Paul means Jesus died instead of men and women. Jesus took our guilt upon himself and bore the penalty for it. He was our substitute.

Some people object to this interpretation of the cross of Christ. They say it’s morally scandalous to imagine God punishing an innocent third party for other people’s sins. But Jesus, though innocent, was not a third party. V19 should be translated: ‘God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself.’ God and Christ are not two parties as far as this exchange is concerned. They are one. God was not laying the sins of the world upon somebody else when he placed them on Christ. He was placing the sin of the world on himself. Such is the love of God. And through faith in the death and resurrection of Christ we can be reconciled to God.

People the world over need to hear the message of the cross, the love of God. The Bible tells us that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ…But how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10:17,14-15)

And this section of 2 Corinthians 5 stresses this fact three times. ‘God gave us the ministry of reconciliation. V19: He committed to us the message of reconciliation.’(v18)
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (v20)

Now it's the Holy Spirit who brings people to new birth in Christ but God has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Yes as Christ's ambassadors we are to demonstrate the love of Christ. But people need to hear the gospel. We can’t get away from that. Yes, technology can play an important role both in getting the message out and in training, such as clayton.tv. But human contact is still important. We are Christ’s ambassadors to this dark world. We are representatives of the King of Kings. What a privilege! So go and live up to your calling in the power of the Spirit whether God is calling you to take the whole gospel overseas as a medic, teacher, accountant, Bible translator or church planter or to Tyneside. The harvest is plentiful. It is the labourers who are few. Lord here am I, send me.