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[0:00] But I love to hear the people of God fellowshipping together, worshipping together, being together because we're just coming out of a pandemic and there are a lot of churches in our association and around our country that have yet to do what y'all just did.

[0:14] Shake hands, hug necks, and be close together. So let's continue to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world and across our country. This morning, my mother's church back in Alabama, this is the first Sunday.

[0:27] They've had Sunday school. Last Wednesday was the first Wednesday night. They had Wednesday night church since February of 2020. So it's been a whole about 16 months.

[0:38] So I know y'all started back in January and some of our churches in the association haven't started back fully with Sunday school and with Wednesday nights. But let's just keep praying as God keeps blessing us as a country that we come back together and more places we go we can hear the fellowshipping of God's people around the room once again.

[0:56] But it is so good to be with you this morning. Some of y'all are looking at me like, who in the world are you? I'm not Billy Joe. I'm prettier. Just kidding. Y'all can tell him I said that.

[1:07] But, you know, Caleb said he got a 30 seconds warning or something like that on doing announcements. Well, I got a three weeks warning. I'm still nervous, okay? But I enjoy going around the churches and visiting and sharing.

[1:20] But I am the associational mission strategist. Used to be known as the director of missions. And years ago it was called the associational director of missions. They've changed our names about every 10 years.

[1:31] So now we're called association missional strategists. I have three counties in the New York River Baptist Association. For those of you who do not know, you're one of our supporters. And I want to say thank you so much for the way that you support the association.

[1:43] Not only by your giving to the association on a regular basis, but also by your praying for the association. For many of you going on missions with the association. Being involved in the association of projects and stuff like that.

[1:55] And we're just coming out of this pandemic. And I'm looking forward to us getting closer and closer together as an association once again. The other thing that I really missed during the pandemic time was our executive board meetings.

[2:07] Where we would have 100 people show up on a Monday night. Some, you know, four times a year. And we would all get together. And now we're down to about 35 to 40 on a Monday night.

[2:18] But I believe that God's going to start growing us all back together. And we're going to get back together again. If you ever have the opportunity to come to a Monday night executive board meeting. Brother Billy Joe, I know, announces those. Come on and join.

[2:29] Even if you're not a part of the executive board. Just come on and join and hear the work of the association. And that's what I want to share with you just a few minutes this morning before we get started into the word. I just want to share with you a little bit about coming out of the pandemic.

[2:42] And what God was doing. Not only since the pandemic. Well, it's kind of over with. I hope it's over with. But during the pandemic, God didn't shut down. God continued to do a lot of work.

[2:55] And let me just share just a few things. You know, we had a lot of losses. And we had a lot of gains the last 16 months. We've lost quite a few church members to death and to just fearful of coming back.

[3:05] And to just apathy and just leaving and not coming back. They're not coming back for a while. We've had those losses in our Sunday school. We've had those losses in vacation Bible school last summer. We only had six.

[3:16] This year we got 28 so far. And I enjoy visiting vacation Bible schools. And I will be here at Ears on July the 12th. Or one time during that week. We lost a lot in our church attendances.

[3:28] And again, we lost a lot due to death. I know this church was impacted. Churches across our association were impacted. We lost several pastors during this time of the pandemic. But we continue to grow as a church.

[3:41] God is doing some things as a church. And let me share with you the gains. Let's focus on the gains for just a second. We're doing church out of the box. Do you realize that?

[3:54] Some churches were forced to go to FM transmitters and parking lot church. Some churches were forced to go to online presence, Facebook, and develop their own website.

[4:05] And do you know what that's doing? Have you thought about exactly what that is doing? That is doing the Great Commission. That is going outside the walls of the church.

[4:19] Into homes. Not only in our area. Not only in our churches. But homes across the country. Sharing Jesus. Not only across the country. But around the world.

[4:30] There are people hearing the gospel now. Because of the out of the box stuff that God has forced us to do. Through social media and through the internet. They've never heard before.

[4:40] And now they're hearing the gospel. And now they're coming to the gospel. And now they're coming to Christ. I've heard stories since the pandemic. And since we've been in this out of the box thing. Of a church in Shelbyville.

[4:50] Who's up on the hills. East View Baptist Church. They started out with an FM transmitter. And the FM transmitter is only supposed to make it like 300 feet. Beyond the. Wherever that transmitter is. So they had people sitting out in the parking lots.

[5:02] Listening to the church service on their car. And unbeknownst to them. They put it on their side. And down the hill in houses of people who normally didn't go to church. They heard the gospel.

[5:13] Not only did they hear the gospel. But several when the doors opened back up. Responded to the gospel. They were saved. They were baptized. I've heard stories of churches that are on Facebook.

[5:24] And never been on Facebook before. I had pastors tell me. I'll never go on Facebook. Didn't they Brother Phillip? They said we'll never do that. And Brother Phillip standing in his. In his living room on Sunday mornings.

[5:36] We shared the gospel to unknown people around the world. People are coming to Christ. Heard stories of people coming to Christ. And then driving. Three and four hundred miles to a church. They've never been to.

[5:47] Just to get baptized in that church. Because they came to Christ. On Facebook. And they're going to go to that church. And they're going to get baptized. So God did a lot of really cool things.

[5:58] During the pandemic. That the devil was trying to shut everything down. But God kept doing his work. God is always at work y'all. You believe that? God is always at work. He just didn't spin the globe years ago.

[6:11] Got the earth spinning. And walk away and leave it like many think. He's still at work. In the lives of people. He's still at work. In churches.

[6:24] And he's still working. And he will always be working. All the way. Through eternity. God will be at work. I don't know each one of you personally.

[6:36] But if you've never really experienced Jesus Christ. If you've never really come to know that Jesus. We're going to talk about that today. But I want to encourage you and challenge you. And what I want to do for you as a church today. Is to leave you with a challenge.

[6:50] I'm an associational missionary. But I want to leave you with a challenge. To be a missionary. Wherever God chooses to place and plant you this week. Because he's going to put you around people.

[7:01] In our area. 51% of the people don't know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. You're in a mission field. So I'm going to challenge you. He's going to put you around people. That don't know Jesus. And I hope you will do.

[7:13] What Philip did. We're going to read about it in just a few minutes. I hope that you will run. And God says go. And share Jesus with folks that you come in contact with. One other final thing that I'm going to share with you.

[7:25] That you as an association. You've had a part of. And some of you may have heard of this. And some of you may not have heard of this. But El Bethel Baptist Church. In June of 2019. Voted to close their doors.

[7:37] They had gone from a large attendance down to 16 members. And they realized that they could not continue on as a church. Financially they couldn't do it. They had a debt they couldn't do. They had all sorts of things.

[7:48] And they met with me. And I promised them. I said look God's going to use this building for his glory. If you gift it to the association. Which they did. The association voted to take it. And I'm here to report to you now.

[8:00] This is what God is doing there. God has a cowboy church over in the gym. They're reaching anywhere from 65 to 125 each Sunday morning.

[8:12] They have planted four cowboy churches. Or in the process of planting four cowboy churches. Beyond Shelbyville. Over in Woodbury. And over in McMinnville. And some other places around.

[8:22] So they're actively involved in it. So God is taking that building. And using it for church planting purposes. So cowboy churches. But the big thing. The other big thing. Is over in the church church.

[8:33] Over in the sanctuary part of the building. We don't have one church meeting on Sunday morning. We have two churches meeting. Bedford County is at least 40% Hispanic. We have one Baptist Spanish church.

[8:48] In Bedford County. The association voted to turn that property into a church planting center. To plant churches all over. With a focus on raising up Spanish speaking men.

[9:04] To start churches all over our association. For the cause of Christ. Going into our English speaking churches. And starting Spanish congregations. And now we have a Spanish church meeting.

[9:16] In the other building. And they're running 65 to 100. But the beautiful thing about it is. Now we have a Spanish seminary. Meeting on property. And we have 12 men training.

[9:28] To go into the gospel ministry. And be pastors. So see what you're involved with. Being involved with the association. You're involved in planting cowboy churches. You're involved in planting Spanish churches. And you're involved in raising up men.

[9:41] To be Spanish pastors. To maybe even come here. And start a Spanish church. On a day other than Sunday. In your facility. Reaching the Spanish. That live in and around War Trace area.

[9:54] So God's doing a lot of great things. But we do live. Still live in that troubled world. And I want to remind you some things. I want to remind you of a promise. First of all. Jesus said in the Great Commission. I will always be with you.

[10:05] All the way to the end of the earth. And this morning during my quiet time. I thought it was real interesting. That he also bore out. In Hebrews chapter 13. Not only will I always be with you.

[10:15] But the promise that I read this morning. From Hebrews was. I will never leave you. Or abandon you. I will never leave you. Or abandon you. God will never leave you.

[10:27] Or abandon you. Therefore we may boldly say. The Lord is our helper. We will not be afraid. What can any man do to me?

[10:39] So remember. God is always at work. Around you. Your responsibility. Is to find out where he is at work. And then join him.

[10:50] In that work. Amidst all the trouble you come into. And amidst all the trouble you experience. And amidst all the trouble that is around us. We got to find where God. Is speaking. Y'all don't know me.

[11:03] Y'all don't know my background. Y'all don't know where I came from. But growing up in Alabama. I was living on a farm. My dad was a coal miner. He was a bivocational preacher. He died young.

[11:14] At the age of 42. Not due to health issues. But due to a mining issue. That had happened about a year earlier. And it caught us all off guard. But all I ever wanted to be in life.

[11:26] Was a motorcycle mechanic. Those were my aspirations. I had no desire to go to college. Had a bad high school experience. Being a preacher's kid. Didn't want to go there.

[11:37] Didn't want to do that. But my dad suddenly passed. In March of 1979. Two years after I graduated from high school. I was working as a motorcycle mechanic. I was managing a shop.

[11:47] I was living the life. Dad passed. And I realized. That what I was doing. Wasn't really what God wanted me to do. A real. I can't go into the whole. I wish I could share the whole thing with you.

[11:58] And one day I will. Because I need to get to the meat of the message today. That God's given me to give you. But through a series of events. God took me to a place I didn't want to go. College. And when I got there.

[12:11] I realized. That he had been preparing me for college. While in high school. I didn't have to take the ACT. I didn't have to take the SAT. I didn't have to take pre-exams. Anything like that.

[12:22] Because. My high school diploma. Was a college prep. High school diploma. And God was preparing me for college. And I didn't want to go. Before I even knew.

[12:34] That he was preparing me for college. College. Perhaps. Somewhere here today. In this room. God is preparing you for ministry. And you may be kicking against it. Don't kick.

[12:44] God's at work. He can use you. He's used this motorcycle mechanic. This introvert. Motorcycle mechanic. I mean. Motorcycles don't talk back.

[12:54] And this is one of the hardest things I do. Is stand up and talk. Because I'm very much an introvert. And I don't. I enjoy being with people. But I don't really enjoy.

[13:06] Public speaking. But God has given me a gift. And I have to use that gift. For him. So if you've got your. If you've got your Bible. I want you to turn to Acts chapter 8. We're going to look at two verses. And then we're going to chase some rabbits.

[13:18] Okay. We're going to look at two verses. And then we're going to chase some rabbits. And I want to encourage you. And challenge you. To be on mission. That's the bottom line. And what we're looking at. Is being on mission. Wherever God chooses to challenge.

[13:29] And place you. So if you can. Stand where you are. We're just going to read verses 30 and 31. Acts chapter 8. Stand to your feet. In honor of God's word. I will apologize up front.

[13:41] Because I did not ask. I usually ask the pastor. You're all the King James Version. The only church. You're not. But. Don't kill me if you're not. If you're a King James only. Because I'm going to be reading. From the New American Standard. This morning. Okay.

[13:51] So. Please forgive me for that one. But I've just got two verses here. And they both read very similar. In King James. And in New American. Then Philip ran. Up to the chariot. And heard the man reading.

[14:03] From the book Isaiah the prophet. Do you understand. What you're reading. Philip asked. Here's the question. How can I.

[14:14] He said. Unless. Someone. Explains it to me. So. He. Invited Philip. To come up. And sit with him.

[14:25] Father. Thank you so much. For this opportunity. To share today. Thank you so much. Father. For the word. For the. For the way that you speak. Through the word. Lord. And father. The way that you speak. Through each one of us.

[14:37] Father. I just pray today. That as we listen. With our ears. And our minds. Lord. And our hearts. Father. That we would hear you speak. And answer that question. Maybe with someone else.

[14:47] This week. Or down the road. And in the future. How can I know. Unless someone. Tells me. That's what it's all about. Father. Is us telling. Others. About Jesus.

[14:58] May we do that. Father. I thank you for this church. I thank you for the way. That they serve you. I pray father. That during these next few moments. That amongst all we hear. The air conditioners. Babies.

[15:09] People. Pages. Whatever it is Lord. Above all we hear. May we hear. The shuffling of sandaled feet. As you pass our way. That is my prayer. In Jesus name. Amen.

[15:20] You may be seated. I really do wish we had the time. I'm going to take my watch off. Because I will get long winded. If I'm not careful here. I'm going to stick it right there. You know what that means?

[15:32] Absolutely nothing. Okay. But at least it's there. Okay. I can look that at. Usually there's a clock in here somewhere. And I don't even see a clock. Which maybe I just need to hide it. Because Brother Billy Joe's. Keep going.

[15:42] Keep going. Keep going. You know. But anyway. But I wish we had the time. To really unpack this. This scripture. Because there's a lot more to it. I want to challenge you today. To go back and read the entire chapter 8.

[15:54] In the book of Acts. You're going to see a contrast. Of two salvation experiences. You're going to see a contrast. In the first part of the book. And a contrast in the second part of the book. In the first part of the book.

[16:05] You're going to read about a sorcerer. That came to Christ. Because he wanted the power of God. For his own pleasure. But in the back part of the book. You're going to see a man. Who came to Christ. Who wanted Christ.

[16:17] Because he wanted God. For himself. And he took that gospel. And he shared. With a country called Ethiopia. And today. There are many Christians. Still in Ethiopia. That came from that.

[16:27] One man's experience. With Philip on the road. Going home. But let me just share. A few things about. Just real quick. Okay. Let's look at Philip.

[16:38] For just a moment. Philip was mentioned. In the New Testament. Only eight times. In the whole New Testament. Three times. He was listed. Among the other list.

[16:49] Of the apostles. In the. Matthew. Mark. Luke. And John. He was listed over there. One time. Over in Matthew. He was listed. I'm sorry. In Mark. He was listed.

[16:59] Asking Jesus. A question. But the other four times. That we see. Philip mentioned. In the New Testament.

[17:11] Were places. Where he was leading. Other people. To Jesus Christ. So half the time. We read about Philip. In the New Testament. He was sharing Jesus. With someone else. On a road.

[17:24] In a crowd. In a building. Out in public. Philip was sharing Jesus. Wherever God placed. Philip. He shared.

[17:35] With Jesus. There are. Four. Quick. Things. That we're going to. Look at. Before we chase a rabbit. Okay. Four quick things. And it's. It uses the word. Go.

[17:46] Each time. We see the word. Go. In this entire passage. Beginning over. In verse. Twenty six. And ending down. In verse. Thirty. Forty. Forty six.

[17:57] Or the end of. Yeah. Forty down there. Each time. We see the word. Go. Go. In this phrase. Is an imperative. Go. It's not just a. If you want to go. It's a.

[18:08] An imperative command. It's a. Go. And. It not only just means. Go. But really. It means. While you are going. Or as you are going. Is the literal translation.

[18:18] Of this. Go. In the original language here. So we see down here. Over there in page. On verse. Twenty seven. God. The Holy Spirit. Came to Philip. And said. Go. Where?

[18:29] Go. South. He gave him a specific. Direction. To go. God was telling him. While you're going. Go. South. And Philip. Didn't sit on the couch.

[18:39] Watching TV. Eating a bag of potato chips. Saying. Well let me think about that God. No. It says. Immediately. He got up. And he went south. He didn't argue with God.

[18:51] He got up. He went south. Immediately. The second time we see God. The word go. Is mentioned down in verse. Twenty nine. We actually see it. At the very beginning of that. Go. To that chariot.

[19:02] God was specific. And pointing to him. Don't just go south. You're going to see a caravan. Along the way. If you read this. This is Tim Key translation here. You're going to see a caravan. And you see this caravan. Follow that caravan.

[19:13] As you're following that caravan. They're going from Jerusalem. Back to Ethiopia. And this caravan is a big caravan. Because it's got a very important. Dignitary in it. This Ethiopian eunuch.

[19:24] Is a very very important. Wealthy man in Ethiopia. He took care of all. The queen's monies. He was a. CPA. Times ten.

[19:35] And he had a large caravan. Traveling with him. He was a Gentile man. But he feared God. We read that in the passage here. He actually was so wealthy. That he was able to buy a copy of God's word.

[19:46] It's a scroll. Which was very expensive back then. And they're very expensive today. And there still are men. Who handwrite. On a piece of leather. A scroll.

[19:57] And sell it today. You can buy a copy of the scroll. The original Hebrew. But he had that. And he was reading it. And he didn't understand it. It says he was coming back from a worship service. Because. Not only did Philip be told to go south.

[20:10] But he was told to go. Follow that caravan. And then. If we see there. In verse. 29. It says. He said. God told him. He said. Go. Go to. That chariot.

[20:22] Not the one in the front. Not the one in the back. Go to. That chariot. And then. The word goes not there.

[20:33] But he says. Go to that chariot. And go. Stay. Near. It. Go to that chariot. And stay near. And this is where we see. The encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch.

[20:44] He's a godly man. Philip. Is walking beside it. And he hears the man reading. From the book. Of Isaiah. He was led like a sheep.

[20:55] To the slaughter. And as a lamb before his shears. Is silence. So he did not open his mouth. And he read Isaiah. And he read Isaiah.

[21:06] And Philip could see. That there must have been a question mark. On his mind. About what does this really mean. And God told Philip. To ask him a question.

[21:18] Do you understand. What you're reading. Can I share with you. What's going to happen here. Starting July 12th. Vacation Bible school.

[21:29] I would dare say. That many of you in here. Heard Jesus. And understood Jesus. For the first time. In a vacation Bible school environment. I came to Christ. Because of vacation Bible school.

[21:41] You know. A large. Large number of children. Come to Christ. Not in Sunday school. Not in a worship service. But they come to Christ. In their minds. Through vacation Bible school.

[21:52] And then they make it public at church. Or they make it public at Sunday school. But it makes sense to them. In a vacation Bible school environment. In a Sunday school environment. Where all of a sudden. The gospel makes sense.

[22:03] So here in about a week and a half. You're going to have a bunch of children. Running around. Be praying for them. That God would open their eyes. Their hearts and their ears. For the gospel's presence. To be made sense.

[22:14] In their minds. So that they can come. To know Jesus Christ. But he asked him. Do you know what you're reading? And the man says. No. Not really. I'm reading it. But I don't know what it's about.

[22:24] Or who's it about. You know. It's just. Is it about something today. Or is it about something going to happen. Or about something last week. And you know. How can I know what this really means. And let somebody really tell me. What this really means.

[22:35] What this really means. And Philip said. You know. I can tell you. If you'd let me. And then. And then. Philip was invited. To go. Get up.

[22:46] In the chariot. And then the rest of the story. He shares the gospel. This Ethiopian. Very powerful man. Comes to know Christ.

[22:58] They're passing by a body of water. And he says. Can I be baptized? They stop the chariot. Jump off the chariot. He gets baptized. And we see the last go.

[23:09] In here. You have to kind of look at it. Sometimes we even miss this go here. Because we don't really. We don't really understand. What this go means. Totally. But. But if you look down there.

[23:21] Starting in verse. Thirty nine. When they came up. Out of the water. The spirit of the Lord. Suddenly took Philip away.

[23:34] And the Ethiopian eunuch. Did not see him again. But the Ethiopian. Went on his way rejoicing. Philip. However. Appeared.

[23:45] At Zodos. And traveled about. Preaching. The word go. The gospel. To all nations and towns. In that area. Until he reached.

[23:56] Caesarea. So Philip. After he. Obeyed. The voice of God. To go. Continued. To go. And share the gospel.

[24:07] Now the rest of the story of this is. Is. Is why. Why. Do we need. To continue. To go. And share. The gospel. Let me just share a few. Quick.

[24:18] Statistics. Some of these I heard. We can have to go at the Southern Baptist Convention. But the Pew Institute. Gallup. Barna. Lifeway Research. Tells us. That. In the south.

[24:28] In the deep south. In our area. 51 percent. In Bedford County. Do not know Jesus Christ as Lord. So that means. Whenever you go to Walmart. This week. 51 percent.

[24:39] Of the people that you see. That you do not know. About their faith in Christ. Are lost. And dying. And going. To a Christless.

[24:50] Hell. Separated from God. And Jesus. And us. Barna. Goes on to say. That. There could be possibly. 50 to 75 percent.

[25:02] Without a relationship. In Jesus Christ. These are the interesting. Statistics. That I find. Very interesting. About. We as. Born again Christians. We as.

[25:13] Baptists. We as believers. 90 percent. Of the lost people. Around you. Know a Christian. 90 percent. Of those around you. That are lost.

[25:24] Know a Christian. They know you maybe. But they know somebody else. 90 percent. Know a Christian. Statistics. Tell us. That 89 percent. Of the unbelievers.

[25:34] Would attend a church service. If they're only asked. By a Christian. We've been fed a lie. On that one. Nobody wants to go.

[25:45] But 89 percent. Of the people around you. Would come to church. If you'd ask them. Children. Especially. Vacation Bible school. Especially. Good time to get children. To vacation Bible school. If you don't have.

[25:56] An adult vacation Bible school. It's too. Maybe too late. To start this year. But next year. We've got churches. This year. That for the very first time ever. They're doing an adult vacation Bible school. And they're having a wonderful experience with that.

[26:07] 87 percent of the people. That you know. That are lost. Would listen to the gospel presentation. Or listen to your testimony. 87 percent would listen. We're told.

[26:18] Nobody wants to hear it. But 87 percent would listen. Do you share? Do you share? Only 8 percent of us. Born again believers. Will share Christ.

[26:30] With a lost person. During the course. Of our life. That's sad. We all need to be about sharing the gospel. But why? You asked. But why do we need to be sharing the gospel?

[26:41] We've got to realize. There's four greats. Mentioned in the Bible. And this is. This is the meat of what we're going to talk about this morning. And I'm going. We're just going to hit them pretty fast. So. We're not going to have a chance to read all of it.

[26:52] But I want you to write this down. If you haven't written it down yet. But there are four greats. Four great reasons. To be on mission. And each day. We hear people tell us.

[27:03] Tell me about Jesus. How will I know if no one tells me. But these are the four. Are you ready? Bibles in your lap. Pens in your hand. Let's get going here. Okay. First of all. We're going to go backwards with this. We're going to go to the end. And come back to the beginning.

[27:14] About these four greats. The first great is found in Revelations chapter 7. Verses 9 through 10. It's a great crowd that no man could number. From every language. Tribe. Peoples of the world.

[27:25] Standing before the throne. Praising the Lord. Revelations chapter 7. Verses 9 and 10. Every person who has ever lived on earth. Will stand before God. Either in judgment.

[27:36] Or in welcome. One of the two. And we see this picture here. In Revelations chapter 7. Verses 9 through 10. We see a great crowd of people around the throne.

[27:48] Worshipping the Lord from every tongue. Every nation. Every tribe. Every peoples. All around the world. They're there. At the throne. Worshipping God.

[28:00] We have a great white throne judgment. That's listed later on. There's a crowd. A number. Group of people there. That are judged. And they're either going to be spending eternity in heaven.

[28:12] Or they're going to be spending eternity in hell. So one of the best reasons. Is a great crowd. Of witnesses. Is going to be right there. In front. Of all of us. One of these days.

[28:22] And I want to be a part of that great crowd. Of being sure that that great crowd. Is there. And I've had an opportunity. To take people with me. The second great. Is a great command.

[28:33] Now remember going backwards. You're going from the great crowd. We're going to go backwards. And build this thing. And you'll see where I'm headed. Real quick. Okay. I'm watching my watch. Okay. The next one is a great command. What is the great command? Well we find in Mark chapter 12.

[28:47] Verses 30 and 31. Mark chapter 12. Verses 30 and 31. And if you have your Bibles. And you're looking at your Bibles. And your Bible is a red letter edition of the Bible. What do the red letters mean?

[28:59] Jesus' words. Okay. Those are the words of Jesus. And Jesus right here. Is trying to be tricked by an attorney. But the. But the great command is. Love the Lord your God.

[29:10] With all your heart. Soul, mind and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. These are the great commands. That Jesus gave. In answer to a question.

[29:22] What is the greatest command? Love God. Oh and then. The other one is. Love your neighbor. Now. If you love God.

[29:34] And you truly follow God. And you are a Christ follower. And you spend time with him every day. And you listen to him. If you truly love God. You cannot not love your neighbor.

[29:46] And if you love your neighbor. You cannot not tell your neighbor about God. You see the quandary you've got there? If you love God. You've got to share him. You can't not share him.

[29:58] I know it's a double negative. But you cannot not share him. You have to share Jesus. If you love God. You're going to tell your neighbor. There are six levels of missionaries in the world.

[30:09] In Southern Baptist life especially. There's an international missionary. Okay. Now listen carefully on this one. There's a North American missionary. Those are the ones that stay. You know. International is around the world. North American is Canada.

[30:20] Mexico. And the United States. And the Caribbean. They're all North American missionaries. Also hospital chaplains. Navy chaplains. Air Force chaplains. Army chaplains. They're all North American missionaries. That are appointed by the Southern Baptist Convention.

[30:32] Then there's state missionaries. Tennessee Baptist Convention has state missionaries. Then there's me. The associational mission strategy. Director of missions. Your pastor is a missionary. Okay.

[30:44] But the sixth missionary. Is you. And you. I would say. Are probably. The most important.

[30:56] Of all six missionaries. Because you can go places I can't go. You can talk to people at your work. And at school. I can't get there. I can't go to where you work. I can't go to your school.

[31:07] I can't go to your family. Because you got more family than I could go to. Or Brother Billy could go to. But you're a very very important missionary. So I want to challenge you. If you love God. And you love your neighbor.

[31:18] Tell them about Jesus. Because you really don't want them to spend in the place. In the hot house. Forever and ever and ever. You want to be with you. And with God. In heaven. So we've got the.

[31:29] We've got the great crowd. We've got the great command. The next great. Is the great challenge. And it's found in Acts chapter 1 verse 8. Okay. Acts chapter 1 verse 8. And again. If you've got a red letter Bible.

[31:40] These are letters that are red. Meaning that they are the words of Jesus. Yes. They're outside the gospels. But they are the words of Jesus. In Acts chapter 1 verse 8. And they read like this.

[31:53] When you have received power. When the power has come upon you. Be my witnesses. To Jerusalem. Judea. Samaria. And the uttermost parts of the world. Okay.

[32:03] Let me just. Briefly explain that verse to you. Because I think a lot of times. We miss what that verse really means. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you. It's not a special call of God.

[32:16] To go into ministry. It's not a special call of God. To be a Sunday school teacher. It's not a special call of God. To be a deacon. It's not a special call of God. To be a missionary.

[32:26] When the Holy Spirit comes upon you. Is the point of salvation. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you. That is God's call on your life.

[32:37] To follow Jesus. And to be a part of his family. So that first part of that verse means. When you get saved. That's the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And the next couple of words in that verse.

[32:48] Are very, very, very important. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you. If you want to. And would like to. Be my witnesses. No. It doesn't say that.

[33:01] When the Holy Spirit comes upon you. Again we've got an emphatic command. Be my witnesses. When you get saved.

[33:13] Be his witnesses. The rest of that tells where. It was culturally spoken where it was. And it was spoken beginning in Jerusalem.

[33:25] In the Judea. In Samaria. In the uttermost parts of the earth. And Jerusalem today would be. War trace. Judea would be. Tennessee.

[33:37] Samaria would be. The United States. And the uttermost parts of the earth would be. Around the world. So what Jesus hears. He's given us a great challenge.

[33:48] He says. When you get saved. When you get saved. Be my witnesses. Starting at home. And going to around the world.

[34:00] So we've got the great crowd. We've got the great command. We've got the great challenge. And finally. You know where it's coming from. It's the great commission. Matthew 28. Starting in verse 16.

[34:13] But the most important. Well not the most. The important part that we're going to flesh out today. Is 18 through 20. Matthew 28. Verses 18 through 20. And again. These are red lettered words.

[34:24] Of Jesus in the Bible. Meaning that they were Jesus's command. It's not a great. If you want to. It's not a great. You can. But it's a great commission. And Jesus says.

[34:36] All authority. Everything that he has. All authority has been given to him. He's authority. He's had authority over death. Sickness. Nature. You name it. Jesus had authority.

[34:47] While on earth. All authority. Is given to me. He says. Go. And make disciples. Okay. Again. The word go.

[34:58] Go. Is an imperative command. In Greek. It really means. While you are going. Make disciples. Then after he says.

[35:09] Make disciples. He tells you how to do it. Baptizing them in the name of the Father. The Son. The Holy Spirit. Teaching them everything. That I've taught you. And then the great promise. I will be with you always.

[35:21] Even. Until the end. Of the age. So what Jesus is telling us. Today. Is. There's going to be a great crowd. There's going to be a great crowd in heaven.

[35:32] You have a responsibility. Of taking some of that great crowd with you. When you go. It can be a child. It can be a parent. It can be an uncle. Aunt. It can be a co-worker. It can be someone at school. It can be somewhere. Around the world.

[35:44] But you've got a job. Is to take somebody. To that great. Crowd. Meeting in heaven. Love God. All along the way. Love your neighbor. Tell them about Jesus.

[35:55] Who is your neighbor? Well. You're going to that one too. Because your neighbor is around the world now. With social media. You've got neighbors everywhere. Great command. Great challenge.

[36:06] And then finally. Great commission. It is imperative that we make disciples. Of all nations. When God speaks. That is the time.

[36:18] At which. To answer. The call. And not. Delay. Some of you have heard this story. But I'm going to share it with you. Very quickly. God speaks through his word.

[36:31] By the Holy Spirit. Through his word. Through prayer. Through circumstances. And through others connected to the vine. And you know. We've been very involved in Alaska. About three years ago.

[36:43] I took a group of college students. To Alaska early. To open up the houses. That we were in. We got into this village. And as we got into the village. That day. It was 445. And the post office closes at 5.

[36:54] And all the stuff. And all of our supplies. We have to ship up. So I sent the four college kids over. To get the supplies out of there. Because I knew I needed one thing. To fix a water valve. That was broken.

[37:05] And I'm standing there. There's a box. About the size of this pulpit. On the side of the house. And I got it all out. And got all the insulation out of it. And there's a water valve. That goes in the house. There's a water valve. That goes out of the house. And it circulates the water.

[37:15] Through the house. So in the winter time. It doesn't freeze. And we always shut it off. Well the intake valve. Going into the house. Always freezes. The exhaust valve doesn't.

[37:27] This year. It was vice versa. The exhaust valve froze. The intake valve didn't. So I'm thinking. I'm wondering. If I can get water in the house. For us to take a shower tonight.

[37:39] Because we've been there a week. You know. We've had baths. But not really a good hot shower. And all of a sudden. I hear from. Off to my left. A young man walking up the hill. Saying. Hey. How are you? And I turn and look.

[37:51] And a young. Young. Native. Eskimo man. Is walking up the hill. He's got a baseball cap on. He's about this tall. He has a backpack on. He's walking up the hill. To work where I'm standing.

[38:01] Looking at this. And I knew him. But he. He never really spoke to me. The years we've been in the village. He didn't believe in God. Didn't want to have anything to do with the church. And. But anyway. He walks up to him. He says. How are you doing?

[38:12] I'm doing fine. And. And I said. Hey. I understand. You used to work with the. With the water department. Can you tell me if I can make this work tonight. Without replacing that other valve. And he said. He said.

[38:22] Yeah. As long as you've got a certain valve in the house. You can. So we walked in the house. He walked in there with me. Never had anything to do with me. He gets on his hands and knees. Behind where all the water comes in.

[38:33] And just. Not to explain it. But it's a real mess back there. And he says. Yeah. If you turn this valve here off. You can turn the water on outside. And you can get water in the house. And then. Replace that valve.

[38:44] And then you can turn all this back on. And the water will flow like it's supposed to. Oh man. Thank you so much. So he stands up. And he turns around the face. I mean. I've stepped out of the door. Of where he was working. And the Holy Spirit spoke to me.

[38:55] About as loud as I'm speaking to you now. I know it not this loud. But I could hear it this loud. And the Holy Spirit says. Tell him this. And I'm thinking. Huh? Huh?

[39:06] And I. And I didn't know what. Was coming to be. He says. Tell him this. Don't do what you're about to do. So I thought. Okay. So.

[39:16] I didn't argue with God. I said. Okay. So he's facing me by this time. And I says. Don't do what you're about to do. I didn't know what was about to come out. But the Holy Spirit spoke this.

[39:26] I said. Don't do what you're about to do. Don't take your life. And he drops his head. And he slowly looks up at me. With a tear starting to form in his eye.

[39:38] And he points at me. And he said. Who told you that? I said. God just told me to tell you. Don't take your life today. There must be a God.

[39:52] I wrote a note. 15 minutes ago. And left it on my pillow at home. 21 year old young man.

[40:03] I got a gun in my backpack. I was coming up the hill. To go down to the river. To kneel in the water. To take my life. So my body would float away. When nobody would find it. Suicide is very high in the villages.

[40:18] And God spoke. At the time. He needed it. God speaks. At the times.

[40:30] That others need to hear it. I want to challenge you today. To be the voice of God. When God speaks to you. Share the words.

[40:43] With others. How they can know Jesus. Many days prior to that. Or times prior to that. That I would have stood there. And argued with God. No. I don't. That's. You know.

[40:53] Can I think about this Lord? Not. Not right now. No. I don't. No. But. And I often think back now. About what would have happened. To that young man that day. Had I argued with God. Where would he be spending eternity now?

[41:06] He didn't get saved. When we were there. But I do believe one day he will. Because he remembers that. And every time I see him in the village now. He speaks to me. People around you.

[41:17] Want to hear about Jesus. If they see Jesus in your life. And you're living for Christ. Deep down inside. You may not hear it. But they're asking the question.

[41:29] How can I know. If nobody tells me. All I ever wanted to be. Was a motorcycle mechanic. God uses me.

[41:42] God can use you. To do great things. Will you bow your heads and your hearts with me? Father.

[41:54] As we come to this portion of our time together. Lord. I hope that we've heard what you've said. That we need to be a part of your great commission. And sharing Jesus. Wherever we go Lord. There are.

[42:07] Thousands and millions of people Lord. Around the world. Billions of people around the world Lord. Approximately four billion people in the world. Do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

[42:20] I pray Father. That you would allow us. The opportunity. To be your mouthpiece. To share Jesus. Wherever we go.

[42:33] May we never argue with you. When you speak. Your word. That we need to share. During these next few moments. I don't know if there's anyone that needs to make a public profession of faith.

[42:45] Or if there's anyone that needs to join this church. Or if there's anyone that needs to. To come forward and pray for a lost person. But Father. Lord I pray that you do the work. These next few moments. And let me get out of the way.

[42:57] And let you receive the glory for everything. I thank you for the opportunity to be here. And I pray Lord now. That you would work during these few moments. As we sing. Amazing grace.

[43:08] In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. I don't know where you are with Christ. I don't know. Come on up. Tricia. I don't know where you are with Christ. I don't know if you've ever asked him to be your Lord and Savior. But I can't think of a better place.

[43:20]  And a better time to do it than this morning. And I can't wait to share. Amen.