Temple Baptist Church - 6-11-2023
Acts 1:8
Introduction:
A. I have been preaching a series on the local church. Tonight, I want to preach another message so as to help our church to understand the importance of local church missions and why God gave this commission to the local church instead of to the individual believer alone.
B. The Lord left the people of God and the local church several Commissions or Commandments before He ascended back to heaven. God’s people are the people of the work, and the local church is the agency of the work.
1. The Great Commission to go to ALL nations, the people of the world. Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2. The Great Commission to go to ALL the people of the world. Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
3. The Great Commission of Missions: to all people in all nations at the same time! Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me BOTH in Jerusalem (where we live), and in all Judaea (in our state), and in Samaria (in our nation), and unto the uttermost part of the earth (world missions).
C. We live in the days of Mission Boards. This is a relatively new phenomenon started over the past 100 years or less. Some Mission Boards are under the authority of a local church while some are para-church organizations. I personally believe that all Mission Boards should be under the authority of a local church.
D. Many of these organizations have boards of directors made up of pastors but not church authority. There are what we would classify good Mission Boards and not so good Mission Boards. This is not my message for the night but is a sign of the times.
E. Churches have also “farmed out” their “preacher boys” to schools: colleges and universities. Some of these colleges and universities are under the authority of local churches and some are para-church organizations that simply have a man over them with boards of directors. Some of these adhere to the cardinal doctrines of the faith while others become critical of such doctrines.
F. Though not all these are bad, they are unbiblical. The above Great Commissions or Commandments were given to the Apostles and the local churches. I said all that to ask this question: what is a biblical mission agency?
G. The local New Testament church is the only biblically authorized mission agency found in the Bible. I want to take a short look at the Biblical Mission Agency, the Local Church. What were they commanded (go into ALL the world; go to ALL peoples; do it ALL at once) to do and what do they continue to do.
H. I believe that Temple Baptist Church has been an example of missions over these years. A mission minded church thinks missions while a mission hearted church does missions. This local church is known worldwide for its work in missions.
J. Over these past 36 years, Temple Baptist has:
1. Temple Baptist Church has ordained both pastors and missionaries and sent them out of the church. Acts 13:1-3 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (2) As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (3) And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
We have ordained 4 pastors and 3-4 missionaries here. I believe that churches should have men saved, called, and sent forth to preach the gospel around the world. We have done so.
2. Temple Baptist Church has loved God’s men—pastors, evangelists, and missionaries—over the years. These men of God are always welcome here and they are loved here. Our missionaries are not just a part of our ministry here at Temple, they are a living part of our church. It thrills my heart to see them come to visit with us and I love the sweet fellowship that we have with them.
Galatians 4:15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
1 Thessalonians 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
3. Temple Baptist have financially supported God’s men over the years. I quit trying to add up totals but, over the past 36+ years, our church has probably put over 3 mission dollars on the mission field. That is a huge amount of money for such a small church, but 50-60 percent of every dollar given to this church goes to missions around the world. We support 2 missionaries for each man, woman, and child that we have on the pews.
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; (2) How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. (3) For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; (4) Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. (5) And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
Philippians 4:14-18 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. (15) Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. (16) For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. (17) Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. (18) But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
4. Temple Baptist has both welcomed and accommodated missionaries in a wonderful way. We have a Missions House that is comfortable and beautiful for their use for a few days or even months or a year when on furlough. We have a comfortable and beautiful two bedroom Prophet’s Chamber in the church which is available for use with the keys hid for them to be able to drop in at any time of the day or night if they need a place to rest or stay a while. Counting tonight, missionaries have stayed here 6 times in the past two weeks. Busy, busy, busy but loving it.
2 Kings 4:8-10 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. (9) And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. (10) Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
5. Temple Baptist Church feeds them and cares for them when they come. We spend quite a bit of money taking these precious missionaries out for meals. We pay the cost of their stay by paying for all utilities that they use. Giving them love offerings.
Matthew 10:41-42 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. (42) And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
6. Because of all the above, God has bountifully taken care of and blessed Temple Baptist Church.
Philippians 4:15-19 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. (16) For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. (17) Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. (18) But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. (19) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Conclusion: God bless those who bless those whom He sends! We here at Temple Baptist Church have certainly been blessed.
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