Cultivating a Missionary Heart A Missionary is simply

Cultivating a Missionary Heart.

A Missionary is simply someone sent on a mission! Jn 20: 21 “as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. ”

What motivates someone to leave the comforts and conveniences of home to endure the ordeal of Preparation, Deputation, and then Separation from Family, Familiarity, & Friends? 2 Cor 5: 11 “The Love of Christ Constrains us”

“as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. ” Jn 20: 21 Barnabas was one of the first “Missionaries”. ØHe was “sent” to Antioch. Acts 11: 19 25 ØHe was “sent” to Asia minor. Acts 13 ØHe was “sent” to Cyprus. Acts 15: 39 He was Sent to Represent God’s heart!

Jn 20: 21“as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. ” 2 Cor. 5: 20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ” Πρεσβεύω (presbeu’ō) representatives

Missionaries are not “Super Saints”! They’re “ordinary” Christians who have recognized God’s “extraordinary” heart and partnered with Him to reach others. By examining Barnabas’ journey, I hope to reveal God’s process for developing His heart in each of us.

“as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. ” Jn 20: 21 Developing a Missionary Heart. 1. BECOME AN ENCOURAGEMENT IN YOUR CHURCH Acts 4: 36 "And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation" Parak’lēsis: comfort/encouragement (John 14: 16, 21)

“So Send I you” Jn 20: 21 1. Become an Encourager! A. Barnabas was a builder! 1. Encouraged the Church in Jerusalem. Acts 4: 36 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Encouraged Saul when others rejected him. Acts 9: 27 Encouraged the Church in Antioch. Acts 11: 22, 23 Personally sought Saul to help in Antioch. Acts 11: 25 Chosen to plant churches with Paul. Acts 13 Encouraged John Mark. Acts 15: 37 39

“For he was a good man, (agathos: useful, beneficial) Are you “useful” to God? and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: Jesus called the Holy Ghost the “Comforter. ” and much people were added unto the Lord. ” Acts 11: 24

1. Become an Encouragement at Church! “as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. ” Jn 20: 21 B. HIS NAME WAS CHANGED TO REFLECT HIS NATURE. Pr. 22: 1 "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. " 1) You can’t choose your birth name, but you can choose what you’ll become known as. “he was surnamed Barnabas… son of consolation”

Rev 3: 11 -13 “Behold, I come quickly: 12 hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh …I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, …and I will write upon him my new name. ” On’oma: Authority, character He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. ” 13

“So Send I you” Jn 20: 21 C. We’ll Never Impact The World For Christ If We Neglect Those Around Us. 1) 80% of all mis sion ar ies will not fin ish one term on the mis sion field* because of… a) Interpersonal conflict b) Discouragement. Gal. 6: 10 "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good (benefit) unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. “ *http: //worldim. com/2012/01/lets-reverse-the-statistics/

“So Send I you” Jn 20: 21 Are you a “Son/daughter” of consolation? “Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do, Do not wait to shed your light afar; To the many duties ever near you now be true, Brighten the corner where you are!” Ina Ogdon 1913

2. BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE TO ACCOMPLISH GOD’S WILL. (Acts 4: 37) A. Understand Stewardship. 1) A Steward is a manager, not an owner! (Mt. 25: 14) “The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof…” 1 Cor. 10: 26 Mal. 3: 9, 10“Ye have robbed me… in tithes and offerings”

2. BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE TO ACCOMPLISH GOD’S WILL. (Acts 4: 37) A. Stewardship 2) The Early church modeled this. the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own…” Acts 4: 32 “ 4: 37 “Barnabas…Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

2. BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE TO ACCOMPLISH GOD’S WILL. (Acts 4: 37) A. Stewardship 3) It “costs” something to minister to others! 1 Chr 21: 23 -25 “Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, …I give it all. And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost. So David gave to Ornan for the place 600 shekels of gold…”

“So Send I you” Jn 20: 21 It “costs” something to minister to others! An American took a picture of a man pulling a plow in Asia. The missionary explained that the man had sold his ox to raise money to build the village church. Are you willing to “Downsize” in order to “Do More” for God?

“So Send I you” Jn 20: 21 B. Our resources are a “Trust” and a “Test”! (Mt 25) “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? Ye cannot serve God and mammon. “ Luke 16: 10 -15

“So Send I you” Jn 20: 21 B. Our resources are a Trust” and a “Test”! Mt 25: 14 “And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts. ” Lk 16: 15 Then he told the story of the Rich man and Lazarus. Vs 19 31

“So Send I you” Jn 20: 21 Barnabas willing to: 1. 2. Be an Encourager… Sacrifice for God’s Will. . 3. Believe that God could Change Lives! A. BARNABAS “INVESTED” IN OTHERS. 2 Cor 5: 17 “If any be in Christ, he is a new creature” 1) God is in the saving and changing business. “I’ve never seen God change water into wine, but I’ve seen him change beer into groceries!”

“So Send I you” Jn 20: 21 3. Believe that God could Change Lives! A. BARNABAS “INVESTED” IN OTHERS. 2 Cor 5: 17 1) God is in the saving and changing business. a) He took risks to work with Saul (Paul). Acts 9: 26 -28 b) He gave John Mark a 2 nd chance. (Acts 15: 37 -39) 2 Tim 4: 11 “Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. ” INVEST IN A YOUNG CONVERT!

“So Send I you” Barnabas willing to: 4. Expose Himself To What God Is Doing Outside Of His Comfort zone. A. BARNABAS WILLING TO GO ON A SHORT TERM MISSION TRIP. (307 miles) Acts 11: 19 30 Vs 23, 24 “Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. “

“So Send I you” Barnabas willing to: 4. Expose Himself To What God Is Doing Outside Of His Comfort zone. B. HE WAS WILLING TO “SHARE THE LOAD”. Vs 25, 26 “Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: …and brought him unto Antioch. … the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. 1) He discipled Saul who later replaced him as the leader. (Acts 13) 2) He had John the Baptist’s attitude: John 3: 30 “He must increase, but I must decrease. ”

“So Send I you” Barnabas willing to: 4. Expose Himself To What God Is Doing Outside Of His Comfort zone. C. WILLING TO GIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS. Acts 11: 27 30 “Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it … by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. ”

It was while Barnabas and Saul were ministering in Antioch that God called Jn 20: 21 them to be “Missionaries”! Acts 13: 2 3 “As they ministered to the Lord, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. ” “So Send I you” The rest is “History” and directly resulted in the Gospel getting to Europe!

“So Send I you” Jn 20: 21 Developing a Missionary Heart involves: 1. Becoming an encouragement where you are. Look for ways to Lift up others! (emails, phone, letters, visits) 2. Willing to Sacrifice the temporary for the Eternal. “Downsize” to “Do More” for God!

“So Send I you” Jn 20: 21 Developing a Missionary Heart involves: 3. Believing in God’s power to change lives! Invest in others! 4. Exposing Yourself To What God Is Doing Outside Of your Comfort zone. Read missions newsletters, take missions trips, visit a Crisis Pregnancy Center, Prison, soup kitchen and/or Rescue Mission.

“So Send I you” Jn 20: 21 Developing a Missionary Heart involves: 5. Being attentive and obedient to God’s voice. Acts 13: 3; Isaiah 6: 8 “I heard the voice of the Lord…who will go for us? Then said I, “Here I am, Send Me!” Isaiah 6: 8

Satan convinces us that we are “So Send unusable and keeps us so I you” preoccupied with the cares of this Jn 20: 21 world we fail to invest in eternity. (Mark 4: 19) Mt. 6: 20, 21 “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. ” For where your treasure is, there shall your heart be also. ”

Plastic for Pearls? “Lovest thou me more than these? ” Jn 21: 15 Are you willing to exchange the “wood, hay, and stubble”, of this world for “Gold, Silver, and Precious stones”? 1 Cor. 3: 12 Imagine the interest on the investment Barnabas has earned because of his “supporting role” in the lives of so many? (1 Cor 2: 9 and 3: 9)