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What We Believe and Why
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE

THE LORD'S CHURCH SHOULD BE MISSIONARY
MARK 16:15

We believe the number one responsibility resting upon the shoulders of every saved person is to evangelize; to reach out with all zeal to bring others into the family of God. That responsibility rests upon us, not only as individuals, but also on us collectively as a church.

I. The necessity of being missionary is clearly laid upon us:

A. A large number of scriptures teach us to be constant witnesses:

1. The text teaches us to "go." Mk. 16:15.

2. The great commission of Mt. 28:19-20 is a commission to evangelize.

3. The last thing Christ told the apostles was to be missionaries, Acts 1:8.

4. Lk. 24:46-48 teaches us to be witnesses.

5. Jesus said, "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." Jn. 20:21.

6. Jesus said in Mt. 4:19 "I will make you fishers of men.

7. Our very purpose as believers is to bring others to the knowledge of Christ:

a. Jesus said in Jn. 15:16, "I have chosen you and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit."

b. God told Paul that he was saved for the purpose of winning souls, Acts 26:16-18.

8. The example which the church has to follow is seen in Acts 5:42 where "daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

B. We conclude that individuals nor churches can not possibly be obedient to God without being actively engaged in missions:

1. Missions and evangelism is the very heart and core of our business.

2. Nowhere do the scriptures teach us to wait for men to come; but all, like these teach us to go after them.

II. The prosperity and increase of the Lord's work depends largely on how faithful we are to missionize:

A. The Bible teaches that if we are faithful to evangelize, God will bless our efforts:

1. Ps. 126:5-6 shows that if we go we shall win some.

2. Eccl. 11:1 says, "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.'

3. Prov. 11:18 reads, "To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward."

4. An essential prerequisite to building churches, winning souls, developing dedicated workers is evangelism.

B. Nothing of spiritual value is accomplished when Christians cease to missionize:

1. In the first place, souls will not be won unless somebody tells them the Gospel, Rom. 10:14-15.

2. I Cor. 9:14 shows that fulltime ministers should live of the Gospel, but when God's people stop supporting missions, the fulitime workers cannot survive, Neh. 13:10.

3. The fact is when God's people quit sowing, there'll be no good fruits produced in the service of God. Consider Prov. 6:6-11:

a. Without evangelism there won't be many souls saved, pews will grow empty, coffers will grow empty, there'll develop a shortage of laborers, and in general the work will come to a standstill or cease.

b. Missionizing is what perpetuates and enlarges the Lord's work.

4. It is no wonder the Bible thus says, "Woe unto them that are at ease in Zion, Amos 6:1.

III. There are three ways to participate in missions:

A. Every person can be a witness whereever he goes; and God might call that one to special fulltime service:

1. Our personal testimony should be in effect daily, Mt. 5:16; Phil 2:15.

2. And, on occasion God sets men wholly into his ministry as He did Isaiah, Isa. 6:8.

B. Second, every person can directly participate in missions by praying for missionaries and the furtherance of God's work:

1. The Bible teaches us to "Pray one for another" (James 5:16) and particularly for missions, (Heb. 13:18).

2. Phil. 1:19-20 Prayer helps sustain missions and missionaries:

3. We believe that every believer should pray for the furtherance of God's work and kingdom.

C. We thirdly believe people can directly participate in evangelism by giving of their substance to it:

1. Giving pays the bills and feeds the workers, Neh. 13:10-12.

2. Giving will produce fruits to the account of the giver, Phil. 4:15-17.

3. Churches and individuals should give to missionize.

It is extremely important that we be missionary minded. We believe it is our main business.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"