"Lighting the Fire"
Jotting – Week 28

Tell the World

Jesus said to His disciples right before His ascension: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

“Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).

“At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1).

It seems that it sometimes takes persecution for the Church to move beyond its own borders. In the first verse cited above, Acts 1:8, Jesus expressly tells His disciples that the Gospel is for the whole world to hear. Yes, they were to start in Jerusalem, but they were not to stay there. It’s not until after the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 6:8–7:60), that great persecution came upon the Church at Jerusalem.

In Acts 8:3-4, we read, “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” In the very next verse, we discover that Philip (the deacon, later called Philip the Evangelist) went to Samaria to preach Christ there. This same Philip is the one who had the encounter with the Ethiopian treasurer (Acts 8:26-40), and explained Christ to him, baptizing him when they came on a body of water. And so at that time, the Word was carried to Ethiopia.

Did you catch the verses that said, “they were scattered ... except the apostles”(Acts 8:1) and “those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4)? It wasn’t the “formally trained,” the “church professional” who was spreading the news of Jesus. It was the new Christians, the people who worked as carpenters, fishermen, bakers, blacksmiths, cooks, farmers, grape pickers, sheep herders, masons, midwives, potters, etc., who were telling their new neighbors, the people who lived next door, across the street and around the corner, about this Jesus they had come to know and love and who had loved them enough to give His life for them.
It’s not likely that many of us will “be scattered” to other countries as missionaries or church workers. It’s not likely that even on pleasure trips we take to other countries that we will encounter many of native people other than those who work in the hotels where we stay, the restaurants where we eat, or the shops where we buy. But even at those times, we can tell the love of Jesus to someone who has had no opportunity to hear the Good News of salvation. Find out ahead of time if gospel portions are printed in the language of the country you plan to visit, and give away the Word.

How then, do we “tell the world” if we never go outside the borders of our own country? Discover what The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is doing throughout the world through the Mission Department (http://www.lcms.org/pages/default.asp?NavID=887). Search at this site for ways to support and encourage missions and missionaries around the globe.

Lutheran Hour Ministries has an international outreach effort in 40 countries. Go to http://www.lhmint.org/getinvolved/default.htm to learn more about what your church is doing through this organization and how you can contribute time, talents, and terasure.

For decades, perhaps centuries, the western world has sent missionaries into other countries. Now, many countries have bans against western missionaries, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to get the message of God’s love through Jesus to whole areas, villages, cities, and towns who are held in Satan’s grip. Many native Christians are training their own people to go out and plant churches in areas where the people have never before heard the Gospel message. These missionaries are effective because they know the language and culture, the country and lifestyle; they live at the same level as those they are trying to reach. They don’t bring “foreign baggage” with them and those they serve see them as being like themselves. Some of these missionaries are being sent with little more than the clothes on their back and some food for the journey.  They need supplies to meet basic everyday needs: food, clothing, a bed to sleep in. Some are persecuted, yes, even killed for the sake of the Kingdom, but still they go. They need encouragement and prayers. You can give both.

Not only are churches sending people out, God is bringing people from many nations onto our shores, into our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our schools, where we bank or shop or play. As we get to know these “new neighbors,” God will surely give us opportunities to tell them of Jesus Christ and of His death and resurrection. When the Holy Spirit works on their hearts and brings them to faith, they will have the same opportunity to share the Gospel with family and friends in their home countries.

Let us not put off telling what God has done for us in and through Jesus Christ, His Son. Too many sit in darkness, too many have never heard. “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel of Peace, who bring glad tiding of good things’ (Romans 10:14-15).”

Pray: Father, forgive my unwillingness to speak about You and Your great love to others. Give me opportunities this week to tell someone of Jesus. Show me ways that I can “tell the world” that salvation is free and full. Break down the barriers of sin and darkness. Bind Satan wherever he has a stronghold on people and cultures. Lord, in all ways, give Your servants protection and peace so the Good News is preached. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.