Taking the Gospel to the Ends of the Earth

I heard the usual jargon on the radio today. Get ready! The rapture could happen at any time. I am not sure that is exactly accurate. I am certain that is not to be our focus as true believers. Jesus made a declaration in Matthew 24:14. It says, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations [ethnos], and then the end will come.”

My wife and I are involved in supporting three mission ministries that are focused on taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. There is something that is called the 20-50 window. It is the area occupied by nations between the 20th and 50th parallel found mostly in Asia and Europe. This is the area in which 90% of the unreached people groups are located. These people have never heard the gospel even once. They number somewhere in excess of three billion people. Most of them are designated in one of the five following categories. They are Tribals, Hindus, Unknown/Unreached, Muslims, and Buddhists.

Let’s imagine something together. Hebrews 7:25 tells us Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, as He always lives to make intercession for them. We often mention that Jesus is in heaven praying for us. It may be the case, but the focus of this verse is Him praying for the lost to be saved. Imagine Jesus looking over the portals of heaven praying that we, His church, are aggressively focused on fulfilling the great commission He gave us. Our tendency is to focus mostly on ourselves and personal comforts instead of taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. Our assignment is to make the Great Commission, the Great Completion!

We can be a part of answering Jesus’ prayers and seeing Him come back by praying for these end-of-the-earth peoples, giving, sending, and going if it is possible. Often, these places are shut to those outside their people and cultures. So, we participate by what I mentioned above, praying and giving.

This weekend, we have the privilege and joy of receiving Diane Brask as our guest speaker in the Sunday evening service. She is the CEO/President of Global Seed Planters. They are a ministry focused on reaching the ends of the earth with the gospel. Diane has an apostolic function and an evangelistic gift. What God is doing through her and her international team is truly amazing. Come and be encouraged and challenged by her testimonies and reports! Investing in this ministry is an act of sowing in good soil. It is producing a great harvest of souls. Our prayer emphasis after she shares will be praying for the ends of the earth to be reached.

Here at Church Alive NWA, we are becoming local in our service with a vision for the world. We are EVANGELIZING, EQUIPPING, ENCOURAGING, AND EXTENDING here, nationally, and around the world. Let’s excel still more this coming year with local outreaches and follow up, sending a team to the Lakota Sioux, and possibly going to a foreign nation.
It is a distinct joy to take part in seeing Jesus’ prayers answered. If we do our part, He will be returning before we know it! We will gloriously rejoice in heaven with those we helped come to know Him and receive a reward.

Advancing His kingdom,

Pastor Tony