THE TASK OF THE CHURCH

MATTHEW 13:3

A. "THE FIELD IS THE WORLD"
  1. These words are among the most astonishing ever ascribed by Jesus:
    1. He had been reared in a humble home in Nazareth; a town of insignificance - John 1:46
    2. He was permitted only a few months of public ministry
    3. Yet, here stands His affirmation that the world needs His message; what is more, that His message needs the world in which to operate
  2. Note these world encompassing words:
    1. "If I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" - John 12:32
    2. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" - John 3:16
    3. "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel" - Matt. 28:18-20 B. THE TASK OF THE CHURCH
  3. To evangelize the world:
    1. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world" - Matt. 24:14
    2. "To every nation, and kindred, and tongue and people" - Rev. 14:6-7
  4. Note how detailed the task of the church is:
    1. "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth" - Acts 1:8
    2. "To every nation, kindred, and tongue and people" - Rev. 14:6-7
  5. Let us take another closer look at these five words - "the field is the world":
    1. They encompass a lost world which the Son of man came to save - John 12:47
    2. They unfold to the church its world-wide mission - to save the world by the preaching of the gospel of a crucified and risen Saviour
    3. They indicate plainly, that the church must never allow itself to become interested in any thing that would shorten its program of world evangelization C. LET US CONSIDER THE MAGNITUDE OF THE FIVE WORDS BEFORE US MORE CLOSELY
  6. As they apply to the great Second Advent Movement:
    1. Its beginning was so small and unrealistic that it took a great measure of faith on the part of the few that envisioned a world-wide movement'
    2. Its financial support was so small and insignificant that every undertaking seemed impossible
  7. Yet, in less than one hundred years, it has become a world encompassing force:
    1. The mission board has to work hard to keep up with the ever increasing calls for service
    2. The means to answer these calls are a daily miracle sufficient to meet the need
  8. Then think of the literal fulfillment of Isaiah 60:1-11:
    1. Modern transportation facilities make it possible to reach the fields, before totally inaccessible
    2. Doors are opened to evangelism which were closed before
    3. Reports of baptism from the world field show that the last movements shall be rapid ones
  9. All shows that the task of the church is to evangelize the world:
    1. This work is like a man planting a small mustard seed into the ground
    2. The seed becomes a large tree upon whose branches multitudes of people find rest and security
  10. A final look at the five words of our opening text:
    1. Think, dear reader of the time they were spoken, when the outlook for Christ and his mission seemed least hopeful; He stood in the shadow of the cross
    2. They were, at best, an unfulfilled prophecy that seemed doubtful
    3. But now, it has become a world reality in many ways
    4. How wonderful it is to have a very small part in the church's world task to evangelize


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