WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 Revelation chapter 7. 00:00:03.660 --> 00:00:07.480 If you have your Bible, someone wants to turn to Revelation chapter 7. 00:00:07.900 --> 00:00:14.820 I hate so much that the book of Revelation is often misunderstood and misinterpreted and misrepresented. 00:00:15.740 --> 00:00:24.359 The point of the book was to give a future hope to a persecuted church in Asia Minor 00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:29.980 by proclaiming not only a future victory by the Lord, 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:37.159 but sharing that God was already victorious, that God was already on the throne. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:45.140 And it's just going to get much better and much more obvious in the future, of course, after it gets worse. 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:52.299 Never miss the beautiful scenes of the book of Revelation. 00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:55.399 If you've not read it or you're not familiar with it, 00:00:55.619 --> 00:01:04.759 I want you to go home and read the amazing image of Christ walking among the churches that were hurting in Revelation chapter 1. 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:09.060 I want you to read about the amazing description of heaven at the end. 00:01:09.060 --> 00:01:20.719 But there's a beautiful image of heaven in Revelation 7 where God allows John to see a vision into heaven. 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:25.579 And the scene is amazing. 00:01:27.099 --> 00:01:33.039 Revelation 7, beginning in verse 9, and it says this, 00:01:33.040 --> 00:02:02.360 And to the Lamb. 00:02:02.359 --> 00:02:02.400 Amen. 00:02:03.459 --> 00:02:10.139 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, 00:02:10.819 --> 00:02:15.759 and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying, 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:16.719 Amen. 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:26.579 Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever. 00:02:27.379 --> 00:02:27.800 Amen. 00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:27.860 Amen. 00:02:28.660 --> 00:02:30.520 What an amazing scene. 00:02:30.980 --> 00:02:32.360 Can you imagine? 00:02:34.360 --> 00:02:37.000 Well, I will tell you what we can do. 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:42.680 We can influence that crowd. 00:02:44.420 --> 00:02:51.120 The reality is that most people that die won't be in that crowd. 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:56.039 Only those that come through Christ make it to heaven. 00:02:57.080 --> 00:03:00.840 And Christ said himself in Matthew 7, verse 13 and 14, 00:03:01.500 --> 00:03:03.340 Enter by the narrow gate. 00:03:04.219 --> 00:03:07.920 For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, 00:03:08.140 --> 00:03:10.319 and those who enter by it are many. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:14.719 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, 00:03:15.219 --> 00:03:18.020 and those who find it are few. 00:03:18.020 --> 00:03:24.040 The translation of what Christ said was that most people that die will not be in heaven. 00:03:25.180 --> 00:03:27.020 But Christians are invited. 00:03:28.280 --> 00:03:29.460 Christians are commanded. 00:03:30.640 --> 00:03:34.800 Christians are empowered to carry the gospel message to the world, 00:03:35.740 --> 00:03:43.000 starting right there at our house and right around our house and going beyond that. 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:45.120 God has saved us. 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:46.719 He has placed us. 00:03:47.139 --> 00:03:52.000 He has equipped us to make a difference in the world and to influence eternity. 00:03:52.979 --> 00:03:55.180 How do we do that? 00:03:55.979 --> 00:03:57.939 The one way we do that is by sharing. 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:00.219 We do it by sharing. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:06.060 What I love about this scene in Revelation 7 is that there are so many different types of people there. 00:04:06.060 --> 00:04:08.379 You don't see distinctions by race. 00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:11.340 You don't see distinctions by politics. 00:04:12.020 --> 00:04:14.240 You don't even see distinctions by ball teams. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:23.459 It is just the blessed body of Christ focused upon Christ celebrating him around the throne. 00:04:23.879 --> 00:04:34.060 And Jesus gave us the Great Commission and told us to go and invite everyone we come in contact with to come and go with us. 00:04:34.060 --> 00:04:38.459 Do you remember when the Lord shared the story of the great banquet? 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:43.980 The man prayed and prepared a great party and invited a bunch of people. 00:04:44.360 --> 00:04:44.959 They didn't come. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:46.160 They made up sorry excuses. 00:04:46.899 --> 00:04:48.120 One said, I bought some land. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:49.100 I need to go look at it. 00:04:49.620 --> 00:04:51.759 I would encourage him to look at it before he bought it. 00:04:51.840 --> 00:04:55.319 But one said, I bought some oxen. 00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:56.959 I need to go examine them. 00:04:57.579 --> 00:04:59.019 Another said, I got married. 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:00.180 I can't come. 00:05:00.180 --> 00:05:04.160 I don't know if he didn't want to come. 00:05:04.300 --> 00:05:05.600 I don't know if he couldn't come. 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:07.819 I'm not really sure what his situation was. 00:05:07.900 --> 00:05:09.240 But either way, he didn't. 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:12.879 And the banquet host said in Luke 14, 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:21.399 Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city and bring in the poor and the crippled and the blind and the lame. 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:25.699 And the servant said, Sir, what you've commanded has been done and there's still room. 00:05:26.219 --> 00:05:32.659 And the master said to his servant, Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in. 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:37.339 To compel them to come in that my house may be filled. 00:05:37.339 --> 00:05:42.879 The Lord wants people to know that they are invited to come to Christ. 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:49.500 And he calls his church, Christians, his servants to go and invite. 00:05:50.500 --> 00:05:52.519 Share your faith. 00:05:54.539 --> 00:05:59.959 We will impact the population of heaven when we share our faith. 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:05.439 Not only that, but we also do it by praying. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:08.300 Pray for the lost. 00:06:09.579 --> 00:06:13.819 Now, if lost sounds offensive to you, I didn't come up with that. 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:15.199 Jesus did. 00:06:15.819 --> 00:06:16.959 He called them lost. 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:22.379 Pray that God will burden your heart enough to be obedient to share your faith. 00:06:23.259 --> 00:06:28.980 Pray that God will work in the hearts of others that you come in contact with to work in their lives. 00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:31.659 Too many of us never do it. 00:06:31.660 --> 00:06:32.300 Pray that God will. 00:06:32.300 --> 00:06:36.160 And if you don't, I want you to pray that you will. 00:06:38.540 --> 00:06:43.100 We can talk about the deal when we went shopping. 00:06:43.240 --> 00:06:45.040 We'll talk about the deal that we got. 00:06:46.060 --> 00:06:47.820 We love to talk about our team. 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:51.900 We love to talk about our kids or our grandkids. 00:06:51.899 --> 00:07:02.599 I remember there used to be a, and it's still around from time to time, but there used to be a popular car tag on the front of cars that said, 00:07:02.719 --> 00:07:06.500 let me tell you about my grandchildren. 00:07:07.620 --> 00:07:10.699 Which meant, don't you dare ask that lady about her grandchildren. 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:11.679 That's what that meant. 00:07:13.479 --> 00:07:16.199 They were usually on the front of a Buick Century. 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:20.279 And I owned one. 00:07:21.899 --> 00:07:31.839 And when I got home, I got ridiculed by my wife, who said, you look like every senior adult lady at the church riding around in that century. 00:07:32.740 --> 00:07:36.519 It was a nice car, and I have no problem with the senior adult ladies of the church. 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:40.300 So, but I traded it for an Explorer, so now I'm cool. 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:50.000 But we'll cast our opinion on what in the world is going on, but we don't talk about the Lord. 00:07:52.520 --> 00:07:54.780 Somehow that may go too far. 00:07:56.420 --> 00:07:58.180 We don't care to discuss our kids. 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:00.319 We don't care to discuss the deals that we got. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:04.360 We don't care to discuss our teams, our great insights, but Jesus? 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:08.860 Man, it's hard to find the right time to bring him into it. 00:08:09.220 --> 00:08:10.180 Ain't that interesting? 00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:13.040 Why do you think that is? 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:21.579 That's a strategy of the evil one, I promise you. 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:26.639 Pray that we share. 00:08:27.860 --> 00:08:32.220 And then pray for the others that we share with. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:37.180 Matthew chapter 9, verse 36 through 38 says this. 00:08:37.179 --> 00:08:58.339 Pray that Christians will obey God and go. 00:08:58.340 --> 00:09:02.060 And then pray for them as they go. 00:09:03.680 --> 00:09:07.200 At Christmas time, we celebrate our missionaries by praying for them. 00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:12.580 You'll find a prayer guide in the lobby that you can take with you. 00:09:13.460 --> 00:09:15.180 And pray for our missionaries on the field. 00:09:16.920 --> 00:09:21.200 Pray for our missionaries to have the spiritual and the physical and the emotional stamina. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:22.440 To deal with what they deal with. 00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:23.540 To deal with what they deal with. 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:27.900 To deal with going to language school and learning language. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:33.160 When I went to Southeast Asia for a couple of weeks a couple of times. 00:09:34.160 --> 00:09:37.840 To help teach doctrine to church leaders in that area. 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:48.660 And I was told by IMB missionaries over there that until one has been on the field in that area and learned Mandarin over eight years. 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:54.100 They're not really ready to have a real conversation with somebody else. 00:09:54.180 --> 00:09:55.700 That's how difficult the language is. 00:09:56.580 --> 00:09:58.019 An in-depth conversation. 00:09:58.019 --> 00:10:03.559 We have missionaries who are going through. 00:10:03.699 --> 00:10:07.559 And many of those who went through those language schools to learn that language. 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:09.600 Are no longer allowed in that country. 00:10:10.100 --> 00:10:10.899 And have moved on. 00:10:13.699 --> 00:10:17.039 Pray for them to have the stamina to deal with that. 00:10:17.699 --> 00:10:20.399 To build relationships across cultures. 00:10:21.340 --> 00:10:24.139 To put their children in multicultural schools. 00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:29.399 Where the primary language is different than the one that the child of the missionary speaks. 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:33.679 I know of a missionary serving in Africa. 00:10:34.779 --> 00:10:37.740 There's a French private school down the street that she. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:39.980 They sent their children to. 00:10:41.139 --> 00:10:43.799 In young age grade school. 00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:45.679 Not knowing the language. 00:10:47.500 --> 00:10:48.580 Great way to learn it. 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:49.319 It's in the classroom. 00:10:49.480 --> 00:10:49.720 Go. 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:51.519 Can't imagine that. 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:57.199 Pray for missionaries that Southern Baptist lead at. 00:10:57.419 --> 00:11:00.960 Pray for ministries that Southern Baptist missionaries lead at refugee camps. 00:11:01.379 --> 00:11:02.740 In oppressed places. 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:06.299 Pray for our African missionaries who minister to college students. 00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:10.259 Who are entrenched in traditions of Islamic faith. 00:11:11.299 --> 00:11:15.179 Pray for our UK missionaries that are surrounded by people of the same language. 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:16.419 In this very similar culture. 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:17.899 They ride on the wrong side of the road. 00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:19.319 But the very similar culture. 00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:23.020 But are 1 to 2 percent Christian. 00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:24.960 As Kenny has shared with us from this pulpit. 00:11:26.340 --> 00:11:29.060 They are swallowed up by multiculturalism. 00:11:29.160 --> 00:11:31.260 That brings a cesspool of false religions. 00:11:32.040 --> 00:11:33.920 And by the Church of England. 00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:38.220 That's too many times just a cultural community of people to be involved in. 00:11:38.920 --> 00:11:40.940 I visited beautiful cathedrals over there. 00:11:41.160 --> 00:11:43.380 And I can tell you based on their advertisements. 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:46.060 And based on what they had posted in their churches. 00:11:46.059 --> 00:11:48.939 They were anything but gospel centered. 00:11:50.299 --> 00:11:50.819 Pray. 00:11:52.959 --> 00:11:56.359 That God will move in those lands. 00:11:57.539 --> 00:11:59.500 Like he did 200 years ago. 00:12:01.299 --> 00:12:05.339 Pray for those who God is working in now to one day go. 00:12:05.739 --> 00:12:07.759 Pray and ask what he would have you do. 00:12:09.199 --> 00:12:11.359 Pray and ask what he would have you to give. 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:15.519 But understand that your prayers impact heaven. 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:19.039 Let me give you an example right here. 00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:20.080 Right now. 00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:21.039 A great example. 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:22.159 I hope it's okay. 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:23.340 I'm going to share it. 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:26.120 We have a man in this congregation. 00:12:26.820 --> 00:12:28.740 That was lost without Christ. 00:12:29.060 --> 00:12:30.100 By his testimony. 00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:32.399 He told me one Sunday morning. 00:12:32.680 --> 00:12:35.300 The sand is leaving my hourglass. 00:12:36.060 --> 00:12:37.159 He knew. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:39.180 He would die without the Lord. 00:12:39.179 --> 00:12:42.039 Some time ago he was traveling with his brother. 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:43.659 His brother tried to share Christ with him. 00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:45.719 Last Easter. 00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:49.199 I asked each one of you to write down five names. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:51.479 And pray for them for five weeks. 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:52.859 Leading up to Easter. 00:12:52.979 --> 00:12:55.259 About inviting them to come. 00:12:55.779 --> 00:12:57.659 That man's name was written down. 00:12:57.739 --> 00:12:59.379 On at least one of those cards. 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:01.500 Somebody was praying here. 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:03.259 His brother was sharing with him. 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:04.039 There. 00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:07.759 He went to a. 00:13:08.079 --> 00:13:10.279 Somebody else invited him to come to church. 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:12.699 Invited him to come to Christ. 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:15.719 He went to a friend's funeral. 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:18.179 Got convicted at that funeral. 00:13:18.339 --> 00:13:19.279 Went to the funeral. 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:21.919 Preacher's church that Sunday. 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:23.939 Wanted something different. 00:13:24.079 --> 00:13:25.599 But still felt drawn to the Lord. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:27.240 Came here the next week. 00:13:27.579 --> 00:13:29.719 Attended here four to six weeks later. 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:31.219 He walked in my office and said. 00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:33.120 I need to get saved. 00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:36.440 And thank God he got gloriously saved. 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:37.759 How? 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:39.440 Because somebody shared. 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:40.340 How? 00:13:40.580 --> 00:13:42.060 Because somebody prayed. 00:13:42.460 --> 00:13:44.879 There was no orchestrated effort among them. 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:46.980 Except by the spirit of God. 00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:49.560 And eternity was influenced and changed. 00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:51.000 By people's obedience. 00:13:51.420 --> 00:13:52.680 And by their faithfulness. 00:13:52.920 --> 00:13:56.300 We impact the population of heaven. 00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:57.700 How? 00:13:58.700 --> 00:13:59.800 By sharing. 00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:02.079 By praying. 00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:04.179 And by going. 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:06.599 Boots on the ground. 00:14:07.719 --> 00:14:08.740 Encouragement on the field. 00:14:08.859 --> 00:14:10.399 And people to help with the cause. 00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:13.579 May we strive to go as God gives us opportunity. 00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:16.959 If God's leading you to go to the international mission field. 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:17.659 Go. 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:20.319 The question is. 00:14:20.359 --> 00:14:20.879 Are you willing? 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:23.579 If you are. 00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:24.759 Dip your toe into that. 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:28.059 Maybe God's calling you to serve overseas. 00:14:28.059 --> 00:14:28.259 Please. 00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:30.439 You'll never be happy doing anything else. 00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:31.739 But what God's called you to do. 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:33.879 And if God's not called you to stay. 00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:35.139 He's calling you to go. 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:39.019 The task is too large for us not to go. 00:14:39.579 --> 00:14:41.839 And the best thing we could do is go. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:44.059 And if you're willing. 00:14:44.619 --> 00:14:47.079 The international mission board will prepare you. 00:14:47.219 --> 00:14:48.039 And will train you. 00:14:48.119 --> 00:14:49.119 And will place you. 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:51.619 And Southern Baptist will support you. 00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:54.659 And the faithfulness of God's people will help you. 00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:58.279 To stay on the field without worrying whether you're going to get paid or not. 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:01.039 Without worrying whether you're going to have to be able to stay or not. 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:03.600 That is what else we can do. 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:05.399 And I ask you to do it generously. 00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:07.240 As heaven depends on it. 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:10.279 I'm convinced by God's design. 00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:14.560 And God blesses the faithfulness of his people by bearing fruit. 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:17.519 And fruit leads to life change. 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:19.720 We influence heaven by going. 00:15:20.699 --> 00:15:22.620 We also influence heaven by giving. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:26.980 I make no bones about this. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:28.639 Very clear about it. 00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:32.360 I ask you to give and to give generously. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:34.960 To an annual event that we do. 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:37.439 And Southern Baptist churches across America do. 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:40.699 And that is the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:42.340 For international missions. 00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:45.559 Now if you don't know the back story. 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:47.379 And many of you know it like the back of your hand. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:48.960 But if you don't know the back story. 00:15:49.079 --> 00:15:51.340 Lottie Moon was a missionary to China. 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:53.819 That had a burden for the lost. 00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:55.480 And she served faithfully. 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:58.379 And the mission board ran out of money. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:01.240 And told her she needed to come home. 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:02.279 And she didn't come home. 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:02.939 She stayed. 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:05.340 She grew so burdened. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:08.539 For the cause that she deprived herself. 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:10.899 Her health failed her. 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:12.840 And she was forced to come home. 00:16:13.199 --> 00:16:16.299 And she died on the boat on the way home. 00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:18.219 But before she died. 00:16:18.219 --> 00:16:21.519 She said one way we could keep missionaries on the field. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:26.319 Is to start an annual offering at Christmas time. 00:16:26.859 --> 00:16:29.339 So that missionaries would not have to come home. 00:16:30.199 --> 00:16:32.259 And many years after she died. 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:34.859 That offering was named after her. 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:38.399 That's what the Lottie Moon Christmas offering is. 00:16:38.439 --> 00:16:39.319 In case you're wondering. 00:16:40.219 --> 00:16:42.719 It's like some little boy in church one day said. 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:45.220 When are we ever going to pay that lady off? 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:48.340 We've raised money for her every year. 00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:52.279 I know Christmas is coming. 00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:55.720 A lot of people ask for a lot of things. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:57.220 Because hearts go out to others. 00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:58.040 However at Christmas. 00:16:58.180 --> 00:16:59.820 I know of no better place to give your offering. 00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:01.620 Above the tithe. 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:04.279 Than to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. 00:17:04.360 --> 00:17:05.140 For international missions. 00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:07.000 And I say that with no strings attached. 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.839 Because I'll tell you. 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:10.419 We need to give and we need to give sacrificially. 00:17:10.959 --> 00:17:12.859 We take that offering in December. 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:17.379 And every dime that goes in. 00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:19.139 To the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:21.519 None of it stays in Pickens. 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:24.599 Every dime of it goes. 00:17:24.939 --> 00:17:26.220 To the international mission field. 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:29.319 It'll buy bikes. 00:17:30.439 --> 00:17:31.480 It'll buy Bibles. 00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.339 It'll buy tents. 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:33.179 It'll buy clothes. 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.500 It'll buy food for missionaries. 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:37.200 It'll help them stay another year. 00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:39.900 As they retire. 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:42.819 It will allow those in seminary prepping now. 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.660 To be able to go. 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:45.119 And fill that void. 00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:48.319 Economies are different throughout the world. 00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:51.920 What it costs for a missionary to live in Japan. 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:53.079 Listen to this. 00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:58.400 Is 30 times more than in rural southern Africa. 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:04.960 A missionary's kid can go to school in Czech Republic for nearly $600 a month. 00:18:05.060 --> 00:18:07.519 But in Malaysia it costs twice that much. 00:18:08.560 --> 00:18:15.060 But the average of the missionary on the field is about $65,000. 00:18:16.360 --> 00:18:21.000 Which is our goal this year for the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. 00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:23.380 And December is the time to give it. 00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:25.920 Now I want to be clear about something. 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:29.519 You don't give that instead of the tithe. 00:18:31.120 --> 00:18:34.680 The tithe is not yours to dictate where it goes. 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:37.980 The first tenth belongs to the Lord. 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:40.200 And biblically that goes to the storehouse. 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:44.039 It goes to the place where you're fed. 00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:46.259 Undesignated. 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.240 Just given. 00:18:48.560 --> 00:18:53.100 And as God enables you above the tithe to give a free will offering. 00:18:53.600 --> 00:18:55.539 Give as God allows you. 00:18:56.900 --> 00:19:01.920 Let's do our part to share Christ with the world. 00:19:02.600 --> 00:19:03.980 With every nation. 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.880 And let me share one more thing. 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:12.080 Jesus said in Matthew 24 verse 14. 00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:20.779 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations. 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:24.099 And then the end will come. 00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:26.339 Did you catch that? 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:32.139 When the gospel reaches every nation the Lord will return. 00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:36.280 What's our role in that? 00:19:36.280 --> 00:19:38.920 Our role is to share Christ. 00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:41.520 And support those who do. 00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:45.700 Let's do all we can to usher in the Lord's return. 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:56.019 For 178 years the gospel has gone out through Southern Baptists and have moved forward without interruption. 00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:59.059 Let's not stop now. 00:19:59.059 --> 00:20:05.119 There are 12,019 people groups globally. 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:12.480 A people group is an ethno-linguistic group with a common self-identity. 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:15.400 Common language, culture, heritage. 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:24.500 Of the 12,019, 7,303 of those, over half, are unreached. 00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:30.619 No indigenous community of believing Christians are among them. 00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:38.079 And of that 12,000 people groups and 7,000 that are unreached. 00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.220 Listen to this. 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:42.380 3,145. 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:43.279 That's a fourth of them. 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:48.299 3,145 are unengaged and unreached. 00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:53.099 No plan has been established to go to those people. 00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:57.559 They have not been penetrated with the gospel. 00:20:57.879 --> 00:21:01.299 That is primarily in Asia and primarily in Africa. 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:04.379 The people groups make up a fourth. 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:10.819 The people probably are much less because they're small groups with different languages that we don't know. 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:16.159 3,145. 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:19.139 Unengaged and unreached. 00:21:21.139 --> 00:21:23.059 I want to be like that little girl was. 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:25.240 I want you to be like that little girl was. 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:30.500 Her elementary school called her mother and she asked a question that shocked her mom. 00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:33.159 She said, is your family having financial difficulties? 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:36.719 And mother said, no, not really. 00:21:37.399 --> 00:21:38.879 I don't know what you're referring to. 00:21:39.899 --> 00:21:42.439 She said, well, your daughter didn't have lunch money. 00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:46.199 And I was wondering if y'all were having some kind of difficulty. 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:47.819 She said, I gave her lunch money. 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.919 She said, well, she didn't have any. 00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:55.879 And so when the little girl got home, she said, didn't I give you some lunch money the other day for you to take to school? 00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:58.740 The little girl acknowledged that her mother had. 00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:02.000 She said, why did you tell the teacher that you didn't have any money? 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:02.919 She said, because I didn't. 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:06.420 She said, I wanted to give to Honeymoon. 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:16.519 I had some change that I could have given, but I wanted to give dollars to that mission offering for Honeymoon. 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:16.559 Honeymoon. 00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:20.079 The mother knew what she was talking about. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.799 She was talking about Lottie Moon. 00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:28.079 We are surrounded in this world by vast lostness. 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:31.799 And people are dying at a rapid rate. 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:38.259 2,573 plus have died since I started preaching. 00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:45.140 Most of them without the Lord. 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:49.079 Heaven will be grand. 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:55.480 And I want to take as many people with us as we possibly can. 00:22:57.599 --> 00:23:01.460 Hell is horrible and getting worse. 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:06.799 But let's not miss a moment of opportunity. 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:14.640 We have an opportunity to be a part of something much larger than us. 00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:22.380 We can influence the population around the throne of God. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.019 Be faithful. 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:33.019 We are surrounded by vast lostness. 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:37.279 With every head bowed. 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:40.099 And every eye closed. 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:45.460 I ask you this morning first, do you know the Lord Jesus personally? 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:51.339 How important it is for you to know that you know the Lord. 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:55.660 That you surrendered your life to Him to follow Him. 00:23:57.019 --> 00:24:04.240 That you've asked Him to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life and to change you. 00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:08.119 That you've committed your life to follow Him. 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:12.879 If you've never done that, I want you to know you can do that today. 00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:17.980 You can take care of that right this morning. 00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:22.119 I'd be happy to guide you in that process. 00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:24.799 Maybe you're here and you have done that, but you've never made that public. 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:26.119 It's a private decision you've made. 00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:27.779 You've never made that public. 00:24:29.399 --> 00:24:32.659 Jesus said, if you're ashamed of me before men, I'll be ashamed of you before my fathers. 00:24:32.699 --> 00:24:35.179 Because it's not real if it's not shared, quite honestly. 00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:38.439 So I encourage you today to make that public. 00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:39.519 As God will lead you. 00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:41.179 I'll be happy to guide you in that process. 00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:44.979 Maybe God's drawing you to this congregation. 00:24:45.219 --> 00:24:47.959 And you know this is where you are to be. 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:52.519 I encourage you this morning to just follow the Lord. 00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:54.720 Follow the Lord. 00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:56.079 If He leads you here, you join us. 00:24:57.340 --> 00:25:00.420 Let's get done for the kingdom what God would have us to get done. 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:06.140 Maybe you're here this morning and you just need to put something before the Lord. 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:09.060 Maybe you've got a burden for somebody. 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:13.060 Maybe you've got a burden that you're not doing and everything you need to be doing. 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:18.740 I don't know what God's saying to you, but I know you'll never be satisfied unless you do exactly what He tells you. 00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:23.420 So I encourage you today to just be obedient, to just be faithful. 00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:28.839 We'll stand and sing in just a moment, but more important than that, just obey God as He speaks to your heart and life. 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:32.539 Lord Jesus, I love you and I thank you, dear God, for your love for us. 00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:35.920 And I ask, dear God, that you will lead us today. 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:41.019 Lead us to simply be obedient and follow exactly what you'd have us to do. 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:44.200 In Jesus' precious name, amen.