Missions Ministry Eastview Church of God 5289 Burkhardt Road / Riverside, OH 45431 Pastor: Rev. Zeke Grigsby / Phone: [937] 254-3261

In Matthew 24:14 Jesus said, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." The thrust of His Great Commission to His Church is "into all the world" "among all nations" "unto the uttermost part of the earth." However, we must remember that it is to begin with where we are ("beginning at Jerusalem" and "in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria") and then "among all nations . . . unto the uttermost part of the earth." The beginning of the preaching of the Gospel by the Church was to be at home, and then spread out as far as they could possibly go, even "unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Sometimes local churches get bogged down in the work of spreading the Gospel by looking only afar off and concentrating all their evangelistic efforts upon places away from home, while all the time souls are perishing without Christ right in their own communities. Certainly, we should be involved in sending out and supporting missionaries in foreign lands. We should, just as certainly, do all we can to support the missionary and evangelistic work of the Church here in our own nation also. However, even with our "most faithful" monetary, encouraging, and prayerful support of these foreign, national and local ministries, we must stir up ourselves to hear our Lord say to us, "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields" right where we are. Of a truth, we are to continually "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." Yet, we must always be aware that we are the answer to the prayers of others "as workers together with Him" for the sake of their loved ones.

I would like to ask us to consider the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Answer this for yourself, To whom did God give the ministry of reconciliation? and, Just who are ambassadors for Christ?

I thank God that our denomination is evangelistic, and that we have opportunity to support missionaries throughout the whole world and here in our own country (even in our own state). However, we must take personal responsibility for that with which God has charged us. By all means do all you can to support World Missions and National and Local Missions; however, please know that we cannot hire out the work in our own field. Surely, the souls in your own household and family, in your own neighborhood and community, in the place where you shop or work or go to school, are as important as any other soul in distant and far-reaching places. Who will go to them to tell them about God's love, mercy and grace through Christ? Who will you "hire" to do that? Please pray for personal compassion for souls, and for grace to tell the "Good News" to each and every person you have opportunity to share with (and pray for opportunities).

Time is short. Jesus is coming soon. And, even as He tarries, souls are passing into eternity. You are the hope of salvation to a dying race in a dark and dying world. Just tell them. They will make their own choices for Heaven or Hell, but they have a right to know that they do have that choice. How will they "really" know if someone doesn't tell them? Remember, someone cared enough to tell you.

Winning The Lost / Perfecting The Saints / Making Disciples / Sending Forth Laborers Into His Harvest

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