March 5, 2019

To Every Nation

Approximately 7.5 billion people live on the earth that God created. Of those 7.5 billion people, we can really divide them into two categories. They either believe in the Lord Jesus Christ or they do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:36). The church, comprised of believers from around this world, has been commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ with a two-fold task. The first task involves their assignment with the unbelievers. They are to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). Someday the gospel will be proclaimed to all the nations (Matthew 24:14) and people from every nation will be present in heaven (Revelation 7:9). But how does this important task affect us in 2019?

Assuming you are a believer, you have been given an assignment with the people in your world who do not yet know the Savior. You are to be the one who faithfully displays and declares the gospel of Jesus Christ to them. The New Testament gives several specific examples. First, ask yourself if all of the members of your household are believers. If not, then a primary assignment for you is to share Christ by your life and by your lips in your home. 1 Peter 3:1 describes how a believing wife by her joyful submission will be a powerful testimony to her unbelieving husband. 2 Timothy 1:5 and 1 Timothy 3:15 relate how a godly grandma and mom lived and shared their faith with their grandson and son by teaching him the Holy Scriptures. Be careful when you think about the great commission that you don’t neglect the people in your own family.

Second, realize that there are other people in your world outside of your family that need to know the Lord. Again the emphasis of missions in the New Testament begins on a local level. Every nation includes our local community. The early church began in Jerusalem and their first assignment was to be witnesses in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). One missionary has commented that the best sending churches are those who are faithfully carrying out the great commission in their local community. In other words, if we are fulfilling our task on a local level, we will probably be serving our missionaries well on an international level. I’m thankful for the missionary emphasis we have at First Baptist Church of Hamburg. To hear people praying for missionaries on Wednesday nights, reaching out to them when they visit our church, communicating with them, encouraging them, and giving financially to them are all huge blessings to acknowledge. Just this last month Pastor Filipe broke ground on the new edition for their church building. Praise God that the gospel is for every nation and we have the privilege of participating in that task, both here in Western New York and around the world.

There is another task implied in the great com-mission and that is our relationship to the believers. Matthew 28:19-20 continues with the work of the church in baptizing believers and teaching and encouraging believers. Again the emphasis in the New Testament focuses on our local relationships starting with our own families. Parents are to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:1-4). Husbands are to nurture their believing wives with the Word (Ephesians 5:25-28). Those local relationships continue as we en-courage one another in the body of Christ. Regular participation in the meeting of the saints is a vital component in fulfilling the great com-mission (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Someday we will have the privilege of being with the redeemed from every nation as we worship our Lord in heaven. Until then, may we be found faithful as we seek to make disciples and be faithful disciples from every nation!

April 6, 2018

Out of Every Nation

What does Matthew 28:18-20 and Revelations 5:9 have in common? Revelation 5:9 is the great culmination to the Great Commission that was given in Matthew 28. Listen to the lyrics of the song that will be sung before the Lamb in heaven from Revelation 5:9: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals: for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” Jesus spoke to His disciples in Matthew 28 shortly after His death and resurrection and shortly before He ascends into heaven Jesus gives this command: “make disciples of all the nations.”

Because of the Great Commission and the great culmination to the commission, First Baptist Church of Hamburg has and, by God’s grace, will continue a vibrant mission’s outreach. The country of Brazil has been a main focus of our international missionary endeavors. On February 23, 2018, a six-member team from First Baptist Church of Hamburg began a 24 hour journey to Caldas Novas, Brazil. For the next nine days, we ministered alongside our missionaries, Pastor Filipe and Marina Niel. We were able to serve the people of Caldas Novas through work projects, encouraging and equipping members of the church, and by preaching the gospel. What a privilege to share the gospel with over 650 students and teachers in the public schools. What a privilege to build friendships with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Caldas Novas.

But the fruit from this most recent trip is possible from a human point of view because of the 10-year investment First Baptist Church of Hamburg has made in Pastor Filipe and Marina. Back in 2008, our church sent Pastor Filipe and Marina to Caldas Novas desiring to make disciples of every nation. The last ten years have not always been easy or fruitful for the work in Caldas Novas. But God has sustained the Niels and He has used the faithful financial support, visits, prayers and encouragement from believers in Hamburg to help them persevere. Today, the church in Caldas Novas is a vibrant, growing church that is looking to expand their building. Eternity has been impacted! You see the great commission involves more than those who are sent, it involves an entire church serving the senders! Paul said it this way, “how shall they hear without a preacher, and how shall they preach unless they are sent.” May the Lord encourage us to faithfully support all of our missionaries. Keep praying for them! Take time to send them a note of encouragement!

To the glory of God, Christ has been faithful in building His church and we have had the privilege of participating in the process as we have obeyed the Great Commission. Eternity will be a special time for those who have been actively involved in carrying out the Great Commission. Our recent trip to Caldas provided a little glimpse of what we might experience in heaven. Numerous times, various believers in the church in Caldas Novas conveyed to me with a huge smile on their face, “thank you for sending Pastor Filipe to us, we have now heard the gospel and we are growing in Christ.”

Because Christ was slain, we are called to make disciples of every nation and someday, believers from every nation will be praising God together as we proclaim, “worthy is the Lamb who was slain and has redeemed us to God out of every nation.”