When Lord?

Introduction: This morning is the first week of a two week mini-series about missions and a 2022 missions goal.

While in Egypt: Several wonderful things happened; probably too many some of which you might never hear.

One of the clearest things that God placed in my heart was a reminder and call to a missions heart!

Application: Over the many years of being involved in missions projects in so many different places from Argentina to Romania, all over central and south America and now in the continent of Africa (Cairo and Northern Egypt), there are some very important take aways.

1. People need the Lord
2. We are a very blessed nation and even our poor in America do better than many/most people in world.

Let me read the text and then tell you about a couple of the projects that I saw and then go back to the text for more of an outlined sort of application in a message/sermon.

Matthew 25:31-45

• Water Filtration
• Champions Club(s)

As a church we have supported Convoy of Hope over the years which is primarily a disaster relief ministry.

I mentioned in the announcement that I wanted to talk about the difference between M.A.S.S. and M.O.R.E.

Mass stands for Ministry Among Saved Saints

More stands for Ministry Outside of Reached Entities.

Application: I am in my 16 year as Pastor here at CLC. I am convinced that most of the time or the greater percentage of my work/ministry/emphasis has been in the MASS area.

Just in the area of our buildings alone…a lot of time and resources has been focused on us here.

Application: I am very thankful and mindful of just how much has been accomplished over the past 16 years!

Vision in Honduras: I need to remind you of how and why I believe so much has been accomplished.

• I can’t remember the year but…
• While building a little block house for a pastor on that particular trip (think I’ve been in Honduras 3-5 times) I felt like the Lord spoke something to my heart that I’ve shared with you ever since.
• ‘You’re helping other build their house, I will help you build yours!
  • Grace Koinonia
  • Favorday came calling soon after.
  • Then IBB

As a result of our obedience and willingness to help others, God has blessed us in amazing ways!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Transition: Well, I believe God has spoken to me again. I am really careful about making such claims but I will again. I will put this new ‘word’ before you for prayer and discernment.

I really felt like the Lord told me, ‘It’s time to move away from the M.A.S.S. and pursue the M.O.R.E.

M.O.R.E. can only really come two ways:

1. Evangelism – I am praying and asking God to lead us and open doors, and provide leadership for community outreach/evangelism opportunities.

2. Missions – It is this branch of the M.O.R.E. that I will spend the next couple of weeks laying out a plan/vision.

Application: I assume full responsibility for not having paid more attention to evangelistic and missions endevours. The Pandemic didn’t help but its no excuse.

But I want to step up to the leadership plate and share what I and the board, is believing for.

Next week you will be receiving a 2022 Missions Pledge Card. I will be asking you to pray, believe and respond to this call to awaken our missions heart!

I will lay out the three major missions giving arms: Our AGWM missionaries, Convoy of Hope and The Gateway Project (which is what we were doing in Egypt. Details next week.

The Underlining reason(s) is a two-fold Biblical narratives: This week is the first…It comes from the Matthew 25 text.

Question: Why is / should missions be a priority? Why should you and I give to missions? Why should CLC be committed to reaching out to others besides what is necessary in house?

1. Jesus / Word of God commands it!

James 1:27 ‘Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you’. (Jam 1:27 NLT)

Matthew 28:19-20, ‘Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,¹ baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NLT)

Question: So if I / we really believe this, then why aren’t we doing it?

I can really only answer this for myself:

1). I can’t – I have needs myself.
2). I want – There are things I would like to have.
3). I strive – To attain, achieve, arrive at.

One of the things about faith is that we have to believe, trust, and depend on God to take care of these three areas and others.

Psalm 23, ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…’
chacer {khaw-sare’} Meaning:  1) to lack, be without, decrease, be lacking, have a need

Philippians 4:19, ‘And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (NLT)

Proverbs 21:13 ‘Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need’. (NLT)

• Because it is our heart!

Application: Thursday morning in my reading time I read a couple of things that again, are perfect timing for us this morning.

Mark 1:41, Moved with compassion,¹ Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” (NLT)

John 11:35 ‘Then Jesus wept’. (NLT)

Matthew 9:36 ‘When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd’. (Mat 9:36 NLT)

Proverbs 21:26, ‘Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give’! (NLT)

Application: All it took for me was one more visit to another broken, hurting, hungry, thirsty and lost people to remember why my/our missions giving is so important.

In the US, there are churches everywhere…on many intersections.

In Egpyt, we would see and hear the huge speakers on the muslim mosks. 5 times a day we could hear the cities blaring out for everyone to hear. Some carried their carpts with them to pray at the appointed times (sunrise, noon, afternoon, sunset and night time).

• Prayers remind the faithful of God and the many opportunities to seek His guidance and forgiveness. They also serve as a reminder of the connection that Muslims the world over share through their faith and shared rituals.
• One of those prayers is called the Kalimah (Cal-Lima), ‘There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.’

You can go online and see the Muslim prayer times in Long Beach (as well as other cities).

Why Missions? Because it’s God’s heart and because it is our heart!

Question: ‘When Lord?’”And he will answer…’

When You Did or When You didn’t! Conclusion: This is week one or two parts as I move you and I toward a response to helping/giving/serving the lost and needy