We gather tonight to experience a great honor. Though it is still a few weeks away that Roy and Donna will travel to Slovakia, Donna is going to visit her family tomorrow morning before their trip. Therefore, we have chosen tonight to commission them for the work in which the Lord has prepared for them to walk.
I believe that not only is tonight a great honor, but it serves as foreshadowing of what God, by His grace, will allow us to do in the days ahead. This opportunity serves as confirmation for the vision to which we believe God has called us.
Therefore, tonight I want to remind us of what it is that we are all to be doing, and, specifically, what it is that Roy and Donna are to be doing as we send them out. And then I want us to close the service this evening by laying our hands on them and praying for them, as we await what God has for them.
I want to point out a framework for missions in the fifteenth chapter of Romans. There is much that could be drawn out in this text, but I pray that it will serve tonight as a timely reminder of what it is that our lives are to be about. I pray we will be reminded of three things: our commission in Christ, the means for this commission to be accomplished, and the purpose for the commission being given.
First, the commission—what is it? Paul tells us in verse 1. “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.” And in that statement I believe we have a synthesis of what it is that we, as believers, are commanded to do in this world. We are to bear the weakness of those without strength. I think this includes everything in which we are to be involved.
In evangelism we who find our strength in the Lord are attempting to share the good news of Jesus Christ with a world that is too weak to attain righteousness apart from Him. In relieving the needs of the poor, we are bearing their inability to provide for themselves and are meeting their needs with our provisions instead of simply pleasing ourselves. In fighting against such evils as abortion we are fighting on behalf of those who are too weak to even have a voice. And in teaching, praying, and encouraging one another, we are attempting to strengthen one another in the race, knowing that it is long and that we will often grow weak. May we not only take on this mindset as we travel across the seas to work with helpless children, but may we have it each day when we awake in Jackson, Tennessee.
I know that it is a difficult thing to do each day because our flesh wars against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, but we draw our strength for the battle from Christ and His Word. Verse 3 tells us that Christ has set an example for us in taking our weaknesses, our reproaches, upon Himself. In everything we do, though the situation may not be exact, we must look to Christ as our model.
Michael Card pointed out from Mark 5-6 that Christ modeled for His followers how it was that they were to perform their ministry. In Mark 5:1-20 Jesus runs into a demoniac and casts the demon out of Him. In Mark 5:25-34 He heals the woman with the issue of blood. And I will add that back in Mark 1:14-15 Jesus had preached, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
So they had seen Jesus cast out demons, heal, and preach the gospel. Now look at His disciples as He sent out the twelve in Mark 6:7-13. Verses 12-13 read, “And they went out and preached that men should repent. And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them." They knew what to do and how to do it because they had seen people do it.
Therefore, our mission work, our commission is simply to model what we saw Christ do in the world. That’s going to require that we spend much time studying how Christ did things. In short, he went into the world and took them relief and the gospel. So, though it rivals our flesh, let’s simply keep an eye on our Lord as He directs us to His will and our greatest joy.
And read the totality of the Scriptures, for they were given to encourage us along the way. Have you ever asked why we read the Old Testament? One reason is given in verse 4 of Romans 15. “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” The Old Testament was written to instruct us that we might be encouraged and have hope.
Let His Word guide you as you bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please yourselves.
Secondly, what is the means by which we labor? It is answered in verse 13. Paul says that you will abound in hope by the “power of the Holy Spirit.” Even as we understand our commission from Christ and take our cues of how to relieve others’ weakness from Him, it is through the power of the Spirit that we have the strength to minister.
Many serve, but it is quite another thing to serve in an overflow of joy and peace. It is quite another thing to serve in such a capacity that men are not drawn to look to you, but to your Father in Heaven. It is only by serving in the power of the Spirit that men will praise God instead of just praising men. That is (once again) why Peter says, “Whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
And then, what is the purpose of the commission which Christ has given us? It is that men all over the world, from every tongue, tribe, and nation will join together in glorifying God, and thus fulfilling the purpose for which we were all created. We obey the commission that God may be glorified and treasured above all things.
Verses 5-12 actually lay out the pattern of the commission. We declare praise among those who do not know God. We then invite them to rejoice with us in praise. Then we lead them to praise the Lord as part of all the peoples of the earth. Then they begin to hope in Him as their Lord. That is the cycle for all mission efforts. It all begins with a passion to glorify God being shown in our lives among the peoples of all the world. Starting here in Jackson, and then stretching to the rest of the nation, to Slovakia, and around the world. And it is not finished until people from every people group are joining in praise to God and glorifying Him.
This drive to bring glory to God must be the passion that will drive us. Determination will fail. Good plans will fail. Even a love for people will fail in fulfilling the great commission. It is only a passion for God’s name to be exalted above all things that will lead us to live utterly different from the world, joyfully filling up the afflictions of Christ that will complete this task of taking the gospel to every people group. And it is only this passion that will sustain any mission work.
But, your passion must be genuine. The world will take notice, for such passion produces martyrs, and that is what will be needed in the completion of the great task. May God burn in our hearts a desire that extends far beyond joy when God’s work involves us receiving praise. May He burn a passion so deep that we would be living sacrifices that all the world may praise Him. May God raise up men like Paul in Romans 9:1-5 whose heart beat so much for men to glorify God that he would wish that he were accursed if they only would. O God grant us such grace in this day!
And may God grant that grace to Roy and Donna in this time as we send them off to labor by His might in this commission.
Finally, Roy and Donna, let me say that we truly believe you have been called of God for works such as these. Your drive for missions, service, and love is apparent in my every contact with you. You embody what it is to love, by finding your joy in the holy joy of others. And we, as your brothers and sisters, are often the beneficiaries of your many acts of love. I can speak on behalf of the others here tonight in saying, “Thank you for allowing God to love His people through your lives.”
Our prayers will not simply be with you tonight, but they will be on our hearts each day as you are gone. We will pray for your strength, wisdom, and understanding as you teach and care for these children. And, most of all, knowing it is the desire of your hearts as well, we will pray that through this work the name of our Lord would be exalted among these children and others and that His Kingdom may be advanced even in this age. May His grace be with you. Amen.