Chapter 16 from “Fully Equipped: Having What It Takes to Give Your All”
“so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ”. – Romans 14:19b
The Apostle Paul declares that his missionary travels took him from Israel westward to Europe. His desire was to preach the gospel where Christ had not been named. From the time of the early churches in the first century until now, God’s word and work have been advancing. God has even used persecution for the furtherance of the Gospel!
I want to extend a personal challenge to continue to get more informed and involved in world evangelism. We live in a day where we see the sun setting in regards to our time here on earth. Jesus said, “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few.” (Luke 10:2a) Why are there so few workers in the fields?
Perhaps, the labourers are few, because the worshippers are few. Those who are in love with Christ will certainly love their neighbor and the stranger because God loves them. But what impact can we make in this world? What needs still exist? Let us see what has been accomplished in early church history at the inception of world evangelism, then we may evaluate the task that remains for us today.
“The 4th Quarter” of Missions
When Jesus gave his disciples the Great Command to “Go preach the gospel to every creature”, the time clock of world missions began ticking. Since that time, dedicated Christians have travelled, preached, discipled believers, organized churches, and reproduced the process. Bible translation has occurred in numerous languages, and thousands of martyrs have shed their blood for the cause of Christ. But with all the triumphs and blessings from the past to the present, we still have the most important work ahead of us.
In any sporting event, players must be unified and disciplined to fulfill the vision of the coaching staff. Everyone, from the starters to the substitutes, must fulfill their role throughout the duration of the game. As important as it is to score throughout the first three quarters, it is critical that the team stays focused until the end of the fourth quarter. To let up in the end due to fatigue or mere laziness will undermine the cause of victory.
In Acts 1:8, Christ told his followers that when they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they would be witnesses both in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. In Acts 8:1, persecution moved the saints out of their comfort zones. At this point, the Gospel had already spread from Jerusalem, throughout Judea, and into Samaria. We will divide the progress of the spreading of Christianity to the uttermost parts into four quarters.
The 1st Quarter
Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, went westward with Barnabas from Antioch, which is modern day Syria, to the regions beyond. He made his way into modern day Turkey, Greece, and died in Rome, Italy. But the Gospel had now spread to Europe!
As we understand the movement of Christianity in a westward direction, several things stand out. We find that as missionaries went into foreign nations, they encountered different language groups. As the Word of God was preached throughout Europe in the 1300’s onward, the Bible began to be translated into the heart languages of the people: such as in German, French, Spanish, English, etc.
The result of the Bible in the hands of the common man is powerful! Revival would break out and as a result, missionary enterprise. But there is always sure to be opposition when the Gospel is preached. Persecution from the world is to be expected when God is changing lives. This is exactly what happened. During the time of the Reformation, Anabaptists along with other groups were persecuted. Puritans, Huguenots, and others fled to the New World seeking an opportunity to freely worship God. Again, persecution led to the furtherance of the Gospel!
The 2nd Quarter
When the pilgrims arrived in America, they met the Native Americans. One pastor in New England named John Eliot had come from England. He had a burden for the Algonquin Indians and began to learn their language. He created an alphabet and devoloped a dictionary. He went on to translate the Bible into their language and saw many saved and baptized. He started at least four churches. As a note of interest, this Native American Bible was the first Bible printed on American soil! (For the first one hundred years, English Bibles were printed and shipped from England.)
We know of the great missionaries sent from England and other European countries during the 1700’s and 1800’s, like William Carey and Eric Liddell. William Carey labored over seven years before seeing his first convert. But he was laying a proper foundation as a pioneer missionary. He was busy translating the Bible into the Indian languages. In time, thousands would be converted and baptized!
IIAs a result of the Christian prominence and influence in America, many great missionaries have been sent throughout the world. Men like Adoniram Judson, David Livingstone, and Jim Elliot have blazed trails to new frontiers of the harvest. Africa and South America have been greatly influenced, and many countries there are considered Christian now! But in more recent years, we know that the glorious light of the Gospel has been directed further westward in Eastern Asia. America is slowly being lost in the shadows. In 1950, we had approximately 100,000 foreign Christian missionaries. Today, the number is greatly reduced to about 29,000!
In colonial America, God moved through Bible preachers like Jonathan Edwards to spark the Great Awakenings. Thousands were converted! As a result of the Christian prominence and influence in America, many great missionaries were sent throughout the world. Men like Adoniram Judson, David Livingstone, and Jim Elliot have blazed trails to new frontiers of the harvest. Africa and South America have been greatly influenced, and many countries there are considered Christian now!
But in more recent years, we know that the glorious light of the Gospel has been shining westward in Eastern Asia. America is slowly being lost in the shadows. In 1950, America had approximately 100,000 foreign Christian missionaries. Today, the number is greatly reduced to about 29,000!
The 3rd Quarter
Our attention must be drawn to the movement of God in Latin America and Asia. Many missionaries from Central and South America are going into Muslim countries where it is difficult for white Americans to go. Amazing numbers of believers are being reported in the Philippines, China, and South Korea. In fact, there are more missionaries being sent out of each of these countries than America. They can’t keep up with the need for Bibles and teachers in some areas! Many of these countries are now focusing on the remaining fields for harvest. Yes, the Gospel is still on the move…and it is westward!
The 4th Quarter
Let us examine the gap that remains between far Eastern Asia back to Israel where the Gospel began. Much of this area is referred to by missiologists as the 10×40 window. This is the land between the tenth parallel and the fortieth parallel above the equator. Spanning from Northern Africa across the Middle East to Asia, we find the most needy areas to be reached. Some staggering statistics include:
- 2/3 of the World’s population
- 97% of unreached people groups
- The majority of the 3,000 Bible-less languages
- Countries with the most severe poverty and persecution
- Birthplace of the world’s major false religions including Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism
- Only 8% of our missionaries are sent here
- Less than 1% of our missions money is invested here
The movement of God seems to be directed toward Jerusalem, where we know Christ will one day establish his throne to reign during the Millennium. We must remember that according to prophecy recorded in Revelation, there will be people from every tribe, nation, kindred, and tongue (language) that will be around God’s throne giving the worship due his name!
We must not drop the ball in the final quarter of world missions! Churches and missionaries alike must double our efforts and evaluate what we are doing and where we are going. May we have churches and individuals willing to go where no one else is willing to go – to the unreached, and do what few others are willing to do: translate and teach God’s Word.
May the Lord challenge you to prepare yourself and be fully equipped to do whatever He asks of you. He will enable you and lead you as you remain surrendered and abiding in His Word. Let your life be given to what really matters – the Glory of God. Let God prepare you so that you can give Him your all.
