God's Amazing Ways — David Daniel

Announcement that I would want to share with you would be that for those of you that are not our church members but our guests are belief in terms of the Lord's Supper is if you are a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and we welcome you to gather with us tonight in the Lord's Supper.

The scripture challenges us were to examine ourselves to be sure that we're right with God before we do that. But that's between you and God. We welcome you to come and join us tonight for the Lord's Supper.

The message is built around the meaning and the application of the Lord's Supper and I pray that you'd come and be blessed. So we give you an open invitation to come and be with us. There are many things that happen in our Christian lives that we have difficulty being able to accept and understand.

God's Purposes in Life's Difficulties

We wrestle for example with Romans 8 28 which says all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are the called according to his purpose. Part of our problem may be that we stop there because the next verse says for whom he did for know he did also predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the first born among many brethren.

And therefore the challenges that we find in life many times we struggle with what does this mean. Why did God allow this to happen. What is his purpose in this. And I quickly admit to you as pastor that I do not have all the answers to those questions.

But I believe when such things happen in our lives that should not cause us to run away from God but instead should cause us to run to God's word so that we might have an understanding of what God would be trying to teach us through the event that is going on in our life right at that particular time.

The title of the message this morning is God's amazing ways. How many of you would agree with me that God's ways are not your ways. Number two how many of you are thankful that God's ways are not your way.

Someone said that they thought that one of the things that we would be celebrating in heaven would be that God didn't answer some of our prayers because he had a better plan and a better way. And I think it's worthy of thinking about that and making some applications in our life this morning as we study God's amazing ways I want us to go on a bit of a journey and we want to start in Matthew chapter twenty eight in that regard.

The Great Commission and Christ's Authority

Matthew chapter twenty eight. The Great Commission is the commission to go. Verse eighteen of Matthew twenty eight. Jesus came and spake unto them as disciples saying all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world.

Amen. As we look at that Great Commission that Great Commission is go. That has not been rescinded and it was very powerfully proclaimed to those disciples in a way that had they really wrapped their heart around it.

It would have given them even greater enthusiasm in going because as Jesus is giving this announcement and this Great Commission he begins with that all authority all power is given unto him. And friends if you know that God is in complete authority and has unlimited power and he gives you an assignment.

What is to fear. What is to fear. I really would suggest to you there's nothing to fear because his sufficiency will become your sufficiency along the way. Now acts one eight is one that we're quite familiar with.

Jesus said to his disciples you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses first in Jerusalem then in Judea then in Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the world.

So they're given the commission go. They're told that all power is given unto him and they're given their marching orders to go and disciple and as they disciple they will baptize and they will bring people into a relationship with him.

Persecution Sends the Church Outward

Well as we deal with the situation of how does How did they fulfill and how did they respond to that. Go with me next if you would to Acts chapter eight Acts chapter eight. And as you look in that first verse of Acts chapter eight.

I'm going to jump into the middle of it a bit there. So follow with me. At that time there was a great persecution against the church and they were all what. Scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.

Except for the apostles. Someone is aptly said. Because they didn't obey Acts 1 8 there was Acts 8 1. They were told to go to Judea Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the world. But instead of going.

What did they do. They huddled up. They huddled up. And when great persecution began to break out against them. Then they scattered. I want to ask you a question. How many of you like comfortability more than uncomfortability.

We're all that way. There was cozy there. There was something new. There was the church. They've seen the evidence of the power of God in their midst by the Holy Spirit. The apostles were there and there was teaching and if you read in Acts chapter two.

The scripture says that daily they were gathering together. They were meeting and breaking bread I think two applications are made. Breaking bread. And secondly they also remember the Lord's supper. They fellowshiped around that and they were continually in the apostles doctrine.

So there was a great learning thing going on and they were comfortable. Here's the next part that it talks about in Acts two. And they were being added to the church daily such as the Lord said unto them.

Wouldn't you want to be in a church like that. The good things are going on and God's doing great things. And so they were comfortable in that. Well now the persecution and now they are scattered and look with me to verse four.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere. And now what are they doing. Preaching the word of God. They were forced out of their nest. And as they were forced out of that nest they could go forth and they could go preaching the word of God.

Friends. The gospel is catching. If you preach it. And you live it. And you pray. God is going to enable you to be able to contact and so to speak infect other people with the gospel. That was the plan.

Go and teach and preach and baptize. Go and do that. And so as they went. They were doing that and things were happening. Now part of the things that were happening of course. Was that we see that the devil didn't like that nor did the establishment church of those days like that.

Stephen's Witness and Martyrdom

And if you look in Chapter seven of Acts. Chapter seven. I'm not going to take time to go through that whole chapter. But we find there. That there was a man who started out as a table waiter as a deacon in the church.

Stephen by name. Who was brought before the Sanhedrin. And he. Totally flabbergasted him. With the amount of wisdom and knowledge and understanding that he had. And he preached to them. And they were brought.

Under very very very. Serious conviction. And if you look at verse. Four fifty four. Acts chapter seven. Says when they heard these things they were cut to the heart. And they gnashed on him. With their teeth.

But he being full of the Holy Ghost looked up steadfastly in the heaven. And saw the glory of God and Jesus standing. On the right hand. Of God and said behold I see the heavens open. And the son of man standing in the right hand of God.

Then they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and ran upon him with one accord. And cast him out of the city and stoned him. Notice the next part of that verse. And the witnesses laid down their clothes.

At a young man's feet whose name was. Saul. Whose name. Was Saul. And they stoned Stephen calling upon God. And saying. Lord Jesus. Receive my spirit. Look. To. Verse one of chapter eight that we skipped over a moment ago.

It says. First part of verse one of eight. And Saul. Was consenting. Unto his death. Saul was there. Saul. Heard. Stephen. Preach. Saul. As a witness. Stood there and. Based upon some study that I have done.

He may have thrown a stone. At Stephen. Because as a witness. If you recall. Jesus said to the woman. You know regarding the woman at the well that he was without sin must what. Cast the first stone. And it appears that.

It was a common practice that the chief witness against someone. Would be the one to cast the first stone. Regardless. It says that the people there that were stoning him. Laid down. Their garments. At.

Paul's feet. Saul. At that point in time. Literally so they could have more. Liberty in casting their stones. And killing. Stephen. In the process. So. As we. Look at what is happening there. We see. Wow.

This. Introduction to Saul. Is rather. A negative. One. Go with me to chapter. Nine. Acts. Chapter. Nine. Verse. One. And Saul. Yet. Breathing out. Threatenings. And slaughter. Against the disciples of the Lord.

When. To the high priest. And desired of him. Letters to Damascus. To the synagogue. That if he found. Any. Of this way. Meaning. Any Christians. Whether they were. Men. Or women. It did not matter to him.

He might bring them. Bound unto Jerusalem. For what purpose. The force. There. Neither to recant. Their faith. Or to die. I want you to go. Backwards. In your mind. With me for just a second. To a rather.

Unpleasant time. In recent. American history. When it was not. Irregular thing. To watch. On the news. That Isis. Was bringing forth. People. And putting pressure. On them. To renounce Christ. Or else have their head.

Chopped off. I mean. I don't know. How many know. What I'm talking about. And we remember. The pictures. Of individuals. In orange suits. Taken down. To the edge. Of the. The shore. And being slaughtered.

They are. Placed in a situation. Either you. Recant. Or renounce Christ. Or you will die. What do you think. Paul was up to. Same thing. Though. Beheading. Wasn't the method. Stoning. As we've just read about.

With Stephen. Was a method. And. And in this passage. It says. He was breathing out. Slaughter. And threatening. Against the church. And he was not picky. Whether it was men. Or women. That were involved. In that situation.

That was his action. Against them. If we want to hear. More about Paul. As he has become a believer. In his testimony. About his life. Back then. Look with me. If you would. To Acts chapter. Twenty two.

Saul's Persecution and Conversion

Verse four. And five. Paul has now been a believer. For a number of years. He's now. In Jerusalem. And he has given. A testimony. Before a mob. That would have liked. To stone him. To death. And here's what we read.

He says. And I persecuted. This way. Christians. This way. Into death. Binding. And delivering. Into prisons. Both men. And women. As also. The high priest. Doth bear me witness. And all the estates. Of the elders.

Agree with that. In other words. From whom also. I received letters. From the elders. Unto the brethren. And went to Damascus. To bring them. Which were. There bound. Unto Jerusalem. For. To be punished.

Listen to his testimony. Before a grip. In Acts chapter. Twenty six. Verse nine. Through eleven. He's saying. This is what my life. Was like. In the past. When he was the persecutor. Breathing out. Slaughter.

He says. I barely thought. With myself. That I ought. To do many things. Contrary to the name. Of Jesus of Nazareth. Which then. I also did. In Jerusalem. And many of the saints. Did I shut up. In prison.

Having authority. From the chief priests. And when they were. Put to death. I gave my voice. Against them. And I punished them. Often. In every synagogue. And compelled them. To blaspheme. And being exceedingly.

Mad against them. I persecuted them. Even under. Strange cities. How many of you. See the zeal. That Paul had. Against the church. Or Saul had. Against the church. He is. Very. Very. Strongly. Against them.

First Corinthians. Fifteen nine. He reflects. Back on his testimony. As a persecutor. He says. I'm least. Of the apostles. That I'm not meet. Or fit. To be called an apostle. Why. Because I. Persecuted the church.

Of God. Philippians three. Six a. Says. Concerning zeal. Persecuting the church. When he has confessed. Himself. To be the chief. Of sinners. In first Timothy. One. Thirteen. He says. Who was before. A blasphemer.

And a persecutor. And injurious. But I obtained. Mercy. Because I did it. Ignorantly. In unbelief. Paul had a before. Paul had an after. As Saul. Before. You've been introduced. To his life. When we see.

Him as Paul. Of Tarsus. Later. We see him. After. His conversion. After. He became. A new man. In a. New creature. In Christ. Jesus. So how did that happen. Well. Go with me back to. Acts chapter nine.

We're going to pick up in. Verse three. Paul's witness. Is given here. The testimony. Of how he came. To Christ. And as he journeyed. He came near Damascus. And suddenly. There shined round. About him.

A light from heaven. And he fell. To the earth. And heard. A voice. Saying unto him. Saul. Saul. Why persecutest thou me. And he said. Who art thou. Lord. Did you ever hear. A dumb question. That is. A dumb question.

Who art thou. Lord. Well. And the Lord said. I am Jesus. Whom thou persecutest. It is hard. For thee to kick. Against the pricks. Or against. The goads. And he trembling. And astonished. Said Lord. What wilt thou.

Have me to do. And the Lord. Said unto him. Arise. And go into the city. And it shall be told thee. What thou must do. And the man. Which journeyed. With him. Stood. Speechless. Hearing a voice. But seeing no man.

And Saul. Arose from the earth. And when his eyes. Were opened. He saw. What. No man. No. He saw nothing. But they led him. By the hand. And brought him. Into Damascus. And he was. Three days. With outside.

And neither did. Eat. Nor drink. Three days. Of. Severe silence. A self-imposed fast. You might say. And it must have been. A deafening. Silence. That he experienced. There. Verse ten. There was a certain.

Disciple of Damascus. Named Ananias. And to him. Said the Lord. In a vision. Ananias. And he said. Behold. I am. Here Lord. I'm going to pause. For just a second. I believe. From the bottom of my heart.

Paul had that man's name. Already on a piece of paper. He was coming. And I believe Ananias. His name was probably. On one of those warrants. That he had. And God. Friends listen to me. God works in mysterious ways.

His wonders. To perform. His ways are not. Our ways. His ways are. His ways are. Higher than our way. Look at. Verse eleven. The Lord said unto him. Arise. And go into the street. Which is called straight.

And inquire. In the house. Of Judas. For one called Saul. Of Tarsus. For behold. He prayeth. And hath seen. In a vision. A man named. Ananias. Coming in. And putting his hand. On him. That he might receive.

His sight. And a nun. And choose me. And Ananias. Answered Lord. Send. Him. Somebody. Else. Don't you think. That was on his heart. But look at what it says. I have heard. By many. Of this man. How much.

Evil he hath done. To the. Saints. At Jerusalem. And here. He hath authority. From the chief priest. To bind. All that call upon. Thy name. But the Lord said. Unto him. Go thy way. For he is. A chosen vessel.

Unto me. To bear my name. Before the Gentiles. And kings. And the children of Israel. For I will show him. How great things. He must suffer. For my name's sake. Friends. God's ways. Are not our ways. If you.

Had taken a poll. Of the church. In those days. And ask them. How many of you think. That the one. Who is persecuting. The church. Will become. The greatest missionary. Of the church. How many votes. Do you think.

That would have gotten. Do you really. Believe. That the church. Overall. Was persecuted. How many of you think. With me. That he might have been saying. Surely. Out there on the road. Somewhere. There ought to be a thief.

With a sharp knife. That could solve this problem. They wanted to get rid of him. I am sure. That's just. Their natural. And even in their. Their greatest moment. Of spirituality. I think they wrestle.

With the possibility. That this man. Could ever become. One of them. But friends. Look at. What is. Spoken there. In verse. Fifteen. The Lord. Declared. That Paul. Was a chosen vessel. How many of you find.

That hard to understand. A chosen vessel. He didn't look like that. Did he. He looked like a. A condemned vessel. One worthy of condemnation. And judgment. But he's a. Chosen vessel. He's a. Not. Unto man.

But unto God. God. Had a call. In that. Choosing of him. To bear his name. Before Gentiles. But not. Just Gentiles. But what else. Kings. And Jews. The children of Israel. For I will show him. How great things.

He must suffer. For my name's sake. Friends. If you. Would read. In second. Corinthians. Chapter 11. About. Saul's. Now become Paul. Testimony. About the amount. Of suffering. He did. You will be overwhelmed.

He talks about. How many times. He was whipped. How many times. He was shipwrecked. On and on. He describes. All the events that. He had gone through. As a chosen vessel. He was chosen not only. To carry out the gospel.

But he was also chosen. To suffer. For the name's sake. Of the very one. That he persecuted. We read on. Verse 17. And Ananias went his way. And entered into the house. And put in his hand on him. Said.

Brother. Saul. That's grace. The Lord. Even Jesus. That appeared unto thee. In the way. As thou camest. Has sent me. That thou mightest receive. Thy sight. And. Be filled with the Holy Ghost. And. Immediately.

Their fellowship. And. He fell from his eyes. At his. As it had been scaled. And he received. Sight. Forthwith. And arose. And was baptized. What. A. Transition. Amen. And. When he had received. Meat.

He had not eaten. For three days. Nor drunk. He was strengthened. Then was Saul. Certain days. With the disciples. Which were Damascus. He's meeting. With. The believers. Many of them. For whom he had come.

To arrest. And to take. Back to Jerusalem. To punish. Look at verse twenty. And straightway. He. Preached. Christ. In the synagogues. He is that. That he is the son of God. Therefore. If any man be in Christ.

What is the scripture say. He is a new creation. Old things. Pass away. And behold. All things. Become new. One day. Breathing out. Slaughter. Against the church. The next day. Preaching. Christ. In the synagogue.

How many of you think. That's. Mighty. God. Now. Secondly. Let me ask you a question. How many of you think. That God could use you. In a radical way. Like that. He can. He will. He'd love to. Question is.

Our availability. And our willingness. And obedience. To what he calls us. To do. Well. I just need. While I'm here. To show you. One other thing. That I. I find. Is rather interesting. Jump down with me.

Barnabas and the Church's Acceptance of Saul

To verse. Twenty six. When Saul. Was come to Jerusalem. He has say. To join himself. To the disciples. He wanted. To join. The ministerial alliance. In Jerusalem. But they were all. What. What's the matter.

With those guys. They were all. Afraid of him. Believe not. That he was a disciple. But Barnabas. Took him. And brought him. To the apostles. And declared. Into them. How. He had seen the Lord. In the way.

And that he had spoken. To him. And now. He had preached. Boldly. At Damascus. In the name of Jesus. And he was with them. Coming in. And going out. At Jerusalem. And he spake. Boldly. In the name of the Lord. Jesus.

And disputed. Against the Grecians. But they went about. To slay him. Which when the brethren. Knew. They brought him down. To Caesarea. And sent him forth. To Tarsus. Then had the church. What. Rest.

Throughout all. Judea. And Galilee. And Samaria. And were edified. And walking. In the fear of the Lord. And in the comfort. Of the Holy Ghost. Were multiplying. God's ways. Are not our ways. His ways.

Are so much higher. Who would have thought. That. That would be. How God. Would choose. To work. Turn with me. If you would. To Acts. Chapter eleven. Acts. Chapter eleven. Reflecting back. On the persecution.

And the scattering. Verse. Nineteen. Of Acts. Eleven. This is now. They which were scattered. Abroad. Upon the persecution. That arose. About Stephen. Traveled as far as. Phineas. And Cyprus. And Antioch.

Preaching the word. To none. But unto the Jews. Only. And some of them. Were men of Cyprus. And Cyrene. And which when. They were come to Antioch. Spaken to the Grecians. Preaching the Lord. Jesus. And the hand of the Lord.

Was with them. And a great number. Believed. And. Turned unto the Lord. Then tidings. Of these things. Came into the ears. Of the church. Which was in Jerusalem. And they sent forth. Barnabas. That he should go.

As far as. Antioch. Who when he came. And had seen. The grace of God. Was glad. And exhorted them all. That with purpose. Of heart. They would cleave. Unto the Lord. In other words. They needed discipleship.

For he was a. Good man. And this is Barnabas. We're talking about. Full of the Holy Ghost. And of faith. And. Much people was added. Into the Lord. Then departed. Barnabas. To Tarsus. For to seek. Who saw.

And when he had found him. He brought him. Unto Antioch. And it came to pass. That a whole year. They assembled themselves. With the church. And taught. Much people. And the disciples. Were called. Christians.

First. In Antioch. In a time frame here. In a little. Over a year. What changed. It happened. In Saul's life. From killing. Followers persecuting followers. To discipling new Christians. And being edified and built up and strengthened.

In the faith in a great great way. Paul you was used of God. As perhaps the greatest missionary. Of the first two centuries. Amazing how he went forth in that. Mighty power of God. And he witnessed to use and Gentiles and.

He was of course as predicted. Even before Kings. Call Paul. Excuse me. God used. Paul as an extreme. You. To carry the gospel to the Gentiles. Turn with me if you would. To the book of Philippians. Chapter three.

Paul's Credentials, Doctrine, and Ministry

Verse four. Paul says. Though I might. Also have confidence. In the flesh. Meaning in his past credentials. If any other man. Think if he has. Were of that he might. Trust in the flesh. I more. Circumcised the eight day.

Of the stock of Israel. Of the tribe of Benjamin. And Hebrew of Hebrews. As touching the law. Pharisee. Concerning zeal. Persecuting the church. Touching the right hand. The law. Blameless. He went. From being a super.

Zealous. You. Persecuting the church. To become a follower. Jesus Christ. And a disciple maker. And a minister of righteousness. To God. Paul. Also. We find that. God used him. To edify. And equip the church.

The book of Romans. Chapter. One. Eleven. All. Doctoral. Thesis. Of sorts. For Paul. Chapter. Twelve. Through. Sixteen. Is application. Time. Read Ephesians. One. Through three. And see the depth. Of the doctrine.

It's presented there. Read verses. Four through six. And see the application. Read Colossians. Chapter one. Verses. One through twenty three. And get into super. Deep. Stuff. Of theology. About. Christ.

In terms of his incarnation. And how God. Used him. In such a. Fabulous way. Paul's training. Was. In one area. But God. Turned him inside out. And around. And. Caught him. To be a great. Teacher. And a quipper.

Of the church. And friends. It was not only good. For those. Back then. But it's good. For us now. Where would we be. Without the letters of Paul. God's ways. Are not our ways. Man wouldn't have predicted.

That's the way it would go. When they saw him. Persecuting the church. I suspect. Like I said earlier. They wanted him dead. God wanted him. Alive in Christ. God used him. In such a. Fabulous fabulous way.

We also find. That God used. Paul. In another. Very serious way. And that was. In the equipping. Of ministers. To go and do the work. Not only did he have. Titus and Timothy. But he equipped many others.

To go out as as preachers. To do the work. That was being done. What an amazing thing. Now. I want to draw us. If I can. Up to today. And God can use. The current. Anti Christian. Bias. And hatred. That is present in the media.

Persecution, Perseverance, and Christian Conviction

In the political world. And entertainment. And educational realm. To motivate the church. If we are indeed. In the last days. Then there's a high probability. That the church today. Is the layout of seeing church.

I mean. He remember. What the Lord had. They were neither. Hot. Nor cold. Lukewarm. And what did he want to do. View him out of his mouth. John. Sixteen. Thirty three. He said. In this world. You will have persecution.

But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. We find it. The Lord. Communicated. Something else. Second Timothy. Three twelve. All who. Live godly. In Christ. Jesus. Suffer. Persecution. Not. Might.

Will. The church. Today. Needs. Motivated. Let me suggest. Something to you. Perhaps. God. Is at work. Through the negative. Anti. Christian. Activities. Going on. In our country. To try. To wake up. The church.

To do. What the church. Ought to be doing. Justice. Acts one eight. Acts eight one. Where to go. Where to preach. Where to disciple. Where to be witnesses. Where to be salt. Where to be light. And if we're not doing that.

Then we become good for what. Nothing but to be. Cast out. And trodden under the feet of men. I just want to challenge us. To consider that. Perhaps God. In his. Most unusual way. Is. Causing us to realize.

More and more. Persecution. And again. One or two things. Will happen. Either we're going to go. Hide. We're going to deny. Christ. Or we're going to stand. For the faith. And suffer persecution. Question is.

What are we. Going to do. We look at. First Peter three. Verse fifteen. And we are told. The word is sanctified. The Lord God. In our heart. And we're. Ready. Always. To give an answer. To every man. Who asked us.

A reason of the hope. That is within us. You know how that happens. That happens. As we stand. As a testimony. For the Lord Jesus. In the midst. Of all the opposition. And persecution. Going to Denver.

Or. As a perk. I get to go to Chick-fil-A. Now some of you are thinking. That I just have something. Against B. I don't. I've got something. In favor of the man. That had the guts. To stand up. And take on.

Regardless. Of the opposition. And he's suffering. Everywhere. And you want to know. What I see. When I go to Denver. I see. Chip. To let. Chick-fil-A. With cars in double lines. Lined up in the parking lot.

Being filled. And night next door. McDonald's. Begging for a customer. To come in. God will honor. Those that honor him. And you know what. We've got too many people. That way you know. I got to kind of.

Have a low profile. Because if I stand up. For Christ. I'll lose business. Hadn't worked that way. For him. I talked to you here. A while back. About Hobby Lobby. And a stand. For Christ. And God has honored them.

And we have individuals. Who have been taken to court. And they've been sued. Why? Because they stood. For their convictions. Against gay marriage. Against same-sex marriage. They said I will not. Compromise my faith.

In regard to. Paying for abortions. I'm against. Gay marriage. I'm against that stuff. And some people are hiding. Under the covers. Because they. Afraid somebody might. Hear. And some are standing up.

And they're. Giving their testimony. And friends. That's what we need more of. Not just here and. There but everywhere. And when it says. But sanctify the Lord. God in your heart. It literally means. That you set apart.

Christ as. Your Lord. What did Paul ask. Who art thou? Lord the day sanctify the Lord God in your heart he's first and friends if he's first then there's not a question where we stand right why call you me Lord Lord not do not the things that I say we must take the stand we must speak the truth.

Suffering as Part of Christian Calling

It's interesting also that we need to recognize that the church needs to be motivated that suffering for Christ is part of our so great gift of salvation. Listen to what it says in Philippians 129 run to you it is given on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake.

We love the promise of eternal life. Amen. Do we love the promise of suffering for his sake. Or do we try to avoid that the church needs to be motivated to come back to realizing that's as great a part of our salvation as is our turn like listen to me in other parts of the world predominantly those that are controlled by Muslims Buddhists and Hindus when someone makes a decision for Jesus Christ they sign on the line to suffer for Christ's sake.

How many of you know what I'm talking about. They're doing it right. We're not always doing it right. We're undercover agents instead of being up front witnesses for the Lord. Thirdly if necessary we should be motivated that if we have to we will die not just suffer but we'll be willing to die for our faith in Christ.

And Acts chapter twenty verse twenty four here are the words Paul says. But none of these things move me. Neither count I my life dear unto myself so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul said for me to live is what price to die is gain. And he says you know what I'm kind of torn. I'm torn between dying and going on to heaven. You know how he's picking on his dying day. But he was willing if necessary to die.

He loved the concept of heaven but he also then went said. But I feel like God's probably going to leave me here longer to suffer longer for the sake of the gospel but whatever that matter to me absent from the body as to what the present with the Lord.

The Church's Mission to Reach the Lost

And one other thing that I believe the church today needs to be motivated and stirred up by is a heart of the lost a willingness to testify for the name of Jesus Christ. Second Peter three nine says. For the Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness but is long suffering to us were not willing that any should who can provide that next word perish.

But that all but that all should come to eternal life. In verse fourteen report brethren seeing that you look for such things be diligent that you may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless and account that the long suffering of the Lord is salvation.

And you want to know something interesting as Peter is writing that if you finish out the last part of verse fifteen he says. Even as our beloved Paul wrote in words that sometimes are difficult to understand.

That's the way it is. Friends I pray I look forward. I anticipate the rapture even so come quickly Lord Jesus that day would be a good day. And then that day would be a good day. But as long as I'm still here and as long as you're still here what's our mission.