What Business Are We In?

Mt. 16:21-23

Introduction:

1. Flight 409 was bound for Florida and had more than 200 people on board. During the flight a small light which usually burns went out. The flight engineer saw it and began asking questions. Since everything else was okay, he decided it must be the bulb was burned out. So he set about to replace it. Having some trouble he asked the co-pilot to help him. The two working together were unable to get the bulb changed, so the pilot put the plane in auto-pilot and came to help. Each of them had their own idea about how to fix the problem and an anxious discussion grew in their midst. They just had to fix that bulb.

Meanwhile, the plane was descending. The focus of the crew was on an inexpensive bulb, while a very expensive plane and 200 people crashed into the ground destroying all.

2. Peter too, had this problem of being off-track (Matt. 16:21-23) From that time Jesus Christ began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22 And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."

a. wouldn’t you hate to be called “Satan” by the Son of God?

b. but Peter’s focus was selfish and misplaced

3. 2 Tim. 2:4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

What Business Are We In?

Our Marching Orders: This is our business!

Mt. 28: 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Mk. 16:15,16 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

REASONS TO EVANGELIZE

I. To Follow Christ’s Example

1. Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

2. John 3:16,17 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.”

3. 1 Tim. 1:15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

4. John 20:21 "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

5. Jesus dealt with people personally

a. Nicodemus “You must be born again”

b. Woman at the Well "I who speak to you am He." (the Messiah)

c. Zacchaeus "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."

6. God had only one son and He was a preacher and teacher

II. To Meet the World’s Need

1. There are some people who think everyone is going to be saved

a. Matt. 7:13,14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.”

b. We often quote John 3:16, but we also need to hear 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

2. Hell is not a popular subject in America today, but we cannot escape its reality—ignoring it will not make it go away!

a. Jesus spoke often of hell and warned people of the danger of going there

b. Someone may suggest it is not loving to speak of hell, but love warns of dangers—what is unloving is to know of a danger and remain silent about it!

c. Rev. 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

3. Jesus wept over Jerusalem, because the people would not accept him. Matt. 23:37-38 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!”

4. Paul agonized over Athens. Acts 17:16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was beholding the city full of idols.

5. People without God are harrassed and helpless, downcast and distressed. They are without hope and utterly lost in sin.

a. some put on their church signs: “Come help us grow”

b. we should put “How Can We Serve You?”

6. Sin ravages our country, city and our homes. It tears apart homes and lives and makes life utterly ugly. The blood of Jesus and the gospel is our only solution!!

a. Acts 2:40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!"

b. Gal. 1:4 Jesus “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age”

7. I could never hope for anyone to have some tragedy in life

a. loss of a limb, eye

b. loss of a job

c. loss of a house

d. loss of a loved one

e. spending eternity in hell is worse than all these things

III. To Fulfill Our Inner Compulsions

1. When the Sanhedrin commanded the apostles to quit preaching the name of Jesus, they said, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19,20)

a. like a woman with an engagement ring, it is hard to be silent

b. like a young couple expecting a baby, it is hard to be silent

2. 2 Cor. 5:14,15 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

3. Rom. 1:14-16 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. Thus, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

a. I am under obligation

b. I am eager

c. I am not ashamed

4. Acts 20:24 "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”

IV. To Make Disciples

2. God not only wants us to teach and reach out, He wants disciples

a. Disciples are people who follow Jesus and are interested in training others to do the same.

b. Are you a disciple? A mature, responsible, reproducing follower!

c. If you had a friend who wanted to become a Christian, could you teach him?

3. 2 Tim. 2:2 “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”

4. S. D. Gordon relates an imaginary story between Jesus and Gabriel at the time of the Lord’s return to heaven after the cross and resurrection.

“Master, you died for the whole world down there, didn’t you?” asked the archangel.

“Yes,” said Jesus.

“You must have suffered much.”

“Yes.”

“And they all know about it?”

“Oh, no, only a few in Palestine thus far.”

“Well Master, what is your plan? What have you done about letting the world know?”

“I asked Peter and James and John and Andrew and a few others just to make it the business of their lives to tell others and so pass it on.”

“Yes but suppose Peter fails? And suppose after a while John grows weary in his well-doing, and neglects to tell others? Judas failed and all the rest may too. Suppose the descendants down in the 21^st century get so busy with making money and their fun they quit passing on the good word?”

Then came the quiet voice of Jesus saying, “Gabriel, I have made no other plans. I am going to count on them.”

Conclusion:

1. Can Jesus count on you?

2. Will the generations coming on know the truth? Will our children follow Jesus?

3. Will our neighbors know we love the Lord and serve Him?

4. Will you have time for the Lord?

Will you go to heaven when you die?