Equality - 9/1/26 - Meadows Baptist Church Missions Conference - Bro. Gary Crisp

Welcome to the podcast of Meadows

Baptist Church of Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. We're so glad you joined us

today. If you enjoy today's message, be

sure to subscribe, follow, and share

with your friends. Now, let's join

Pastor Charlie Branch with a word from

God.

Amen. I sure you enjoyed that tonight.

Amen. What a blessing it has already

been to be here this evening. Appreciate

you being in your place tonight. And uh

Sister Lindsay was talking about her mom

and dad leaving, fixing to head back to

the mission field. I do want to ask you

to be much in prayer for brother Keith

and Miss Tracy Bllelock.

That's her parents serving in Bulgaria.

And um they've been they've been serving

for quite some time. uh been on two

different fields,

pastored for a while, and I know this

about them. I talked to them just last

week. It's getting a little harder and

harder to go back every time. How many

grandkids they've got now? 20. 20

grandkids they're fixing to say goodbye

to have already said goodbye to some of

them and fixing to head back over these

seas and continue the work that God's

called them to. So you be much in prayer

for the Blocks as they get ready to head

back. And uh thank the Lord for families

that's willing to sacrifice.

>> Amen.

>> And uh brother Brian was mentioning

something about Scotland and he

mentioned those visas.

>> Brother Brian, stand up and explain

those visas just a moment and tell the

full cost of that.

>> So our family get a visa to get to

certain countries

and get into the country.

The threeear ministerial visa for my

family is going to run between 50 and

$60,000.

>> And that's every three years, correct?

>> Have to pay for those visas every three.

They're only good for three years. And

they have to pay for them. And for a

family of eight, it's about 50 to

$60,000 every three years. So it's

expensive, preacher. It sure is. But one

soul

>> if they have to strike up the choir one

time.

>> Amen.

>> I think that's well money well spent.

What y'all think?

>> Amen. Well, if that's your soul,

>> if that's your child or your family,

>> you can't put a price on that.

>> And I'm thankful that uh thankful

people's willing to pay the price to

>> go tell somebody about Jesus. Amen.

All right, take your Bibles tonight.

Let's go to the book back to the book of

2 Corinthians in chapter number eight

this evening. 2 Corinthians chapter

number eight tonight.

We were here last night for a little

while. We dealt primarily with the first

five verses, mainly verse number five. I

want to go on down a little farther

tonight and bring out another thought

out of this text this evening.

And we'll go ahead and begin reading

verse number one, 2 Corinthians chapter

number eight.

The Bible said, "Moreover, brethren, we

do you to wit the grace of God bestowed

on the churches of Macedonia,

how that in a great trial of affliction,

the abundance of their joy and their

deep poverty abounded under the riches

of their liberality.

For their power, I bear record. Yay. And

beyond their power, they were willing of

themselves, praying us with much

intreaty, that we would receive the

gift, and take upon us the fellowship of

the ministering to the saints.

And this they did, not as we hoped, but

first gave their own selves to the Lord,

and unto us by the will of God, in so

much that we desired Titus, that as he

had begun, so he would also finish in

you the same grace also. Therefore, as

you abound in everything, in faith and

utterance and knowledge, and in all

diligence, and in your love to us, see

that you abound in this grace also. I

speak not by commandment, but by

occasion of the forwardness of others,

and to prove the sincerity of your love.

For you know the grace of the Lord Jesus

Christ, that though he was rich, yet for

your sakes he became poor, that ye

through his poverty might be rich. And

herein I give my advice for you.

And herein I give my advice, for this is

expedient for you who have begun before

not only to do, but also to be forward a

year ago. Now therefore perform the

doing of it. That as there was a

readiness to will, so there may be a

performance also out of that which you

have. For if there be first a willing

mind, it is accepted according to that a

man hath, and not according to that he

hath not. For I mean not that other men

be eased and ye be burdened, but by an

equality, that now at this time your

abundance may be a supply for their

want, that their abundance also may be a

supply for your want, that there may be

equality. Let's pray. Father, thank you

so much again for the privilege you've

given us to be here these days. It sure

has been a blessing and we're grateful

for everything that you've done for, in,

and through your people. Thank you,

Lord, Brother Charlie, and his heart,

Lord, that that he has, Lord, for the

lost and dying world missions. Thank you

for this church, God, and all that

they're doing for the cause of Christ. I

thank you, Lord, for brother Lindsay and

his people coming over and being a help

to us these days. Lord, I pray, Father,

rich blessings upon them. Thank you for

these missionaries, God, that have

surrendered all, Lord, and sold out to

follow you and do what you have called

them to do. I ask you, Lord, to help us

now as we stand once again. Would you

please touch us aresh, Lord? Give us

liberty to preach. And Lord, whatever

you do tonight, we'll continue to thank

you for it, Lord, for it's in Jesus

precious name that we pray. And amen.

Back in 2 Corinthians chapter number 8,

again we dealt primarily the first five

verses last night. We come on down and

we continue to read and we see that Paul

is again reminding them of this

commitment that they have made a year in

advance, a year ago. And he's telling

them now to perform the doing of it.

You've committed to it, now do it. And

then he goes on and he brings up another

interesting point in verse number 13.

The Bible said, "For I mean not that

other men be eased and ye be burdened,

but by an equality."

Evidently, in those days there were some

that were heavily burdened

>> while others were at ease.

>> I think that's still true in this day. I

think some are heavily burdened while

others are at ease. May I ask you

personally, how heavily burdened are you

tonight

for the gospel's sake?

>> How heavily burdened are you tonight to

see someone saved by the grace of God?

Amen.

>> I do believe that we that are saved by

the grace of God are all enjoying the

blessings of God and we're grateful for

that. We have that peace that passes all

understanding. We have a hope that

cannot be taken away from us. We're

going to glory here in just a little

while. But while we're enjoying these

things from God, I do believe we have

some that are still heavily burdened.

While on the other hand, we have some

that are at ease.

It would be real good tonight if those

of us that are at ease

could take some of that burden off of

them that are heavily burdened that

there might be an equality.

>> That that word equality is an

interesting word. Back in 1964, our

government in introduced what they

called the Equal Opportunity Employment

Act. I don't know if you remember that

or not, but all that simply means is

that regardless of race, regardless of

gender, whatever it might be, everyone

should have the same equal opportunity

for employment.

I'm okay with that.

uh it also means that they should have

the same equal opportunity for

advancement in that employment.

>> I want to make a statement tonight and

see if you agree with me. Our God is an

equal opportunity employer.

>> Amen.

>> You say, "What do you mean, preacher?

God ain't no employer.

This is not a business." I I beg to

differ. That's what Jesus said it was.

He said, "I must be about my father's

what? business.

>> Business.

>> Whip are the greatest business in the

world tonight. Amen.

>> And God is a real good CEO.

>> I don't mean that in a negative way. I

don't want to take nothing away from his

holiness. I just say he he he does all

things well. Amen.

>> And regardless of who you are, you and I

have the same equal opportunity

to do something for God.

Everything with the Lord is equal. Amen.

There's no big eyes and there's no

little U's.

>> There's nobody that he favors more than

anybody else. It's it's equal. Well, let

me say God's also given us an equal

responsibility.

>> Amen.

>> I don't know. Am I hoping that you're

saved by the grace of God? If not, I

sure would like for them to have to

sound the horn tonight and strike up the

choir. Amen. Love to see you come to

know Christ as your personal savior

right here this evening. That'd be a

blessing.

>> But if you are saved and uh part of the

New Testament church,

then you have a responsibility

in being a part of the church.

At least three different times while the

Lord Jesus was here, he gave us what we

call the great commission. Have you ever

heard that phrase before?

The great comm. Now, you won't find that

in your Bible, at least not that term.

You won't find great commission.

>> That's been given by man. Brother

Charlie, I tried to research and find

maybe who might have coined that phrase,

but as far back as the 1500s

in different writings, that phrase has

been pinned down, the great commission.

So, they started calling it that a long,

long time ago,

>> right?

>> Hudson Taylor probably is the one that

made that phrase or that title popular.

He would use it everywhere that he went.

As a matter of fact, it was Hudson

Taylor said this. He said, "The great

commission is not a suggestion to be

considered. It's a command to be

obeyed."

>> Amen.

>> The great commission

>> at least three different times. You say,

"Well, I know it's recorded in three

different places, but that don't

necessarily mean he said it three

different times." I believe it does.

I

>> I believe if you look at Luke's account,

we'll not take time to turn back and

read it. I just want to try to show you

how important this is. In Luke's

account, Luke chapter number 24,

beginning in verse 46, we find what we

call the great commission

recorded there in Luke 24. It's where

the Lord said that repentance and

remission of sins shall be preached in

his ma name among all nations. If you'll

look at the context in Luke 24 of when

and where the Lord Jesus said that it's

right after Calvary, it's right after

resurrection

and they're still in Jerusalem when he

says that.

>> Okay, that's probably the first time

Jesus mentioned about going into all the

world. The second time probably is in

Matthew's account. Matthew

in chapter 28 verse number 19 it's where

it said go ye therefore and teach all

nations

in Matthew's account if you look at the

context in chapter 28 of Matthew it's

clear they're on a mountain in Galilee

how many of you know that that Galilee

and Jerusalem's a long ways apart

that's probably the second time Jesus

gave us the great commission the third

time is Acts chapter number one. We know

clearly where they were then. They're on

a mount called Olivet and Jesus is

fixing to ascend back into heaven. And

just before he ascends, he's got

something to say. Acts 1:8 said, "But

Acts 1:8

you shall receive power after that the

Holy Ghost has come upon you, and you

shall be witnesses unto me both in

Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria, and the

uttermost part of the earth." That's at

least three different occasions that

Jesus clearly commanded the church to

take the gospel into the world.

>> We find it recorded in Mark. We just

cannot pinpoint where when it was said.

It's at least three different times.

He's pretty serious about it.

>> Would you agree with that?

>> I think if he said it one time, it'd

been enough.

>> Sure.

>> But at least three different times,

Jesus clearly instructed us of what to

do. So, if you're part of a New

Testament church, and I'm hoping that

you are, then you have a responsibility

as a church member to take the gospel to

the uttermost parts.

>> Amen.

>> We understand everybody's not going to

go. Everybody's not going to sell their

home. Everybody's not going to kiss mom

and daddy goodbye and and and move

halfway around the world to tell

somebody about Jesus. But just because

you're not the one going does not

exclude you from being responsible

>> that they might receive the gospel.

>> So when the Lord gave us a task to carry

out, then that makes the responsibility

of that task equal.

>> I'm as responsible for Scotland as the

Stout family is.

>> Would you agree? Amen.

>> I'm as responsible for South Dakota and

Nebraska as brother Jonathan, his dear

family is. Would you agree?

>> I'm responsible to see to it that the

Chinese get the gospel.

>> That's the uttermost part.

>> I'm responsible to see that every

country in the on the continent of

Africa gets the gospel.

>> The responsibility

it's equal.

Well, if the Lord's going to give us

something to do, give us a

responsibility to carry out, then I

believe that he gives us everything that

we need to get the job done.

>> Sure.

>> Amen.

>> It's been a long time since Jesus stood

on the mount called it

>> and it's been a long time since he spoke

those words. Lots of things have

changed. Technology has boomed since

those days. Would you agree?

>> Yes.

>> I'm going to be honest with you. It's

got a lot of bad things, I guess we

could say. And uh uh but I'm pretty well

thankful for the technology that we

have.

>> Yes.

>> Amen. It It's really a blessing. I'm

thankful for the radios that we can send

out signals across the world and we can

get the gospel out that way. Sure.

>> Amen. I I'll be honest and

got to be careful how I say it. But I

I'm thankful for the internet.

>> Amen. We can preach against it, but we

can also use it, I believe. Can we not?

>> I'm thankful for that.

>> When the Blocks do get back over yonder

and they can just click a button or two

on a phone and they can see them grandb

babies halfway around the world. I I

like that. Don't you? I'm thankful for

that kind of technology. But we ain't

always had that technology,

>> but we've always had the resources that

we need to get the job done.

>> That's right.

>> Amen. I'm not talking about the airways,

and I'm not talking about the worldwide

web, and I'm not talking about airplanes

and automobiles. I SAY WE'VE ALWAYS had

the resources that we need to get the

gospel to the world.

>> What resources have we always had? Well,

we've had God's word. Amen. Once they

finished pinning it down, God signed it

and sealed it. Amen. And we have the

word OF GOD. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS WORLD

is in need of. And isn't it a blessing

that we all can have a copy of it?

>> Yes.

>> Amen. It's not just for the priest. It's

not just for the preacher. It's for a

child of God. It's for everybody.

>> Amen. You can sit down and read it

anytime you want to. Isn't that a

blessing? Yeah.

>> Equal.

>> Amen. We've got the word of God. I'll

say this. Ain't you glad we can pray?

>> We all have equal access.

>> You'll never reach this world without

prayer. I promise you that.

>> Embound said prayer and missions bosom

companions. They can't be separated.

>> We got to pray.

>> It don't cost you a dime to pray. Might

cost you some time, but not a dime.

Amen.

>> Amen. We've got we've got access to the

throne room. Amen.

I don't know how close you are to any

high political power. Maybe you know the

governor. Maybe you're close companions

with him. I don't know about that or

not. If you do, what a blessing. You can

call the governor. He's so busy. He

ain't got time for you. Even if you do

know him.

>> Amen. And the president. Any of you know

him personally?

I don't think any of us,

he probably don't know us anyway. Amen.

And if we did, what if we could get a

hold of old Trump?

What would you like to ask?

What would you like to tell him? I'm

sure some of you like to tell him

something. Amen.

>> And if you could get a hold of him, let

me ask you, what could he do for you?

>> He might pay a bill for you, but he

ain't interested. He ain't got time to

pay your bills.

>> Amen. He He too busy trying to worry

about the US deficit. Somebody help me

right there.

>> Big deal. If you can talk to the

president, ain't going to do you much

good.

>> But I got news anytime.

>> Yeah.

>> Any moment. All we got to do is call on

him.

>> That's right.

>> Who's him? Oh, he's so much higher than

the president. AMEN. HAS A WHOLE LOT

MORE POWER THAN THE PRESIDENT. ABLE TO

DO FAR exceedingly abundantly ABOVE ALL

THAT ONE MIGHT THINK OR EVEN ASK. MY

GOD, WE CAN TALK TO HIM AT ANY TIME.

WHAT A PRIVILEGE we have to pray.

>> Amen.

>> I got to ask y'all a question. Y'all

think it works? Y'all be real with me a

moment.

>> Do we really believe prayer works?

>> If we do, why don't we do more of it?

Amen.

>> I mean, if we really believe that God's

in control, and and he told us that we

could come boldly before the throne of

grace, that we may obtain mercy, find

grace to help the time of need. If we

really can do that, and he can really

help us, WHY DON'T WE do more of that?

>> You reckon missionaries pray?

>> I I'd say most of them do.

>> Amen. and reckon a church prays. We

better. Let me tell you a quick story

and I'm I'll hurry. It's about 5 to 8

y'all. Okay.

Just just checking.

Brother Stout like this. He probably

heard it several years ago. There was a

missionary by the name of Robert

Moffett.

Robert Moffet had been called to the

continent of Africa.

He'd already been there for a little

while and became overwhelmed with the

task at hand.

He made a trip back home to Scotland.

And when he arrived back in Scotland, he

had one goal, one purpose. He's going to

go try to find some more missionaries,

recruit some more young men to go back

to Africa, help him take the gospel. He

would go into church services and he

would look out in the congregation. and

he'd see if there's any potential

missionaries, prospects, young men. He'd

look over the crowd and he'd pick out a

young man. He'd say, "Right there might

be one."

Everywhere Robert Moffett would go, he

would make the same statement over and

over and over. Here's what he would say.

Every morning I get up over in Africa, I

look out over the horizon, I see the

smoke rise from a thousand villages

that's never heard the name Jesus. He'd

say that everywhere he went. It was one

evening service that he had an

opportunity to go into a church and his

goal was to try to find some

missionaries. And he went into the

sanctuary that night and he looked out

over the congregation. Wasn't a big

crowd at all. And all there was seated

in the congregation was some women.

There was no potential missionary in the

mind of Robert Moffett in the sanctuary.

He said he almost ran out to see if he

could find another church close by that

might be meeting with a potential

missionary. But instead, God put it on

his heart to get up in front of those

women and and share his heart. He got up

in front of those women just like he

always did. He said, "Every morning I

get up, I look out over the horizon and

I see the smoke rise from a thousand

villages that's never heard the name

Jesus." Little did brother Moffett know

that there was a young man in the

building. He just wasn't seated in the

sanctuary. He was sitting in the organ

chamber. His job was to pump air into

that old organ as the ladies would play

play and sing. And he stayed in the

organ chamber and listened to the

missionary.

God smoked that young man's heart. After

a period of time, that young man ends up

heading to Africa to take the gospel of

Christ. You've probably heard that name

before. As a matter of fact, you've done

heard it tonight. That young man's name

was David Livingston.

Dr. Livingston. When Dr. Livingston

arrived in Africa, he wasn't welcomed

and he really wasn't wanted. And some

places he would go into was more

dangerous than others. And he went into

this one area. And the tribe that was

over that area despised the white man.

Did not want him there. And so word got

to David Livingston that they were going

to try to take the life of Dr.

Livingston and a couple others that was

with him.

Matter of fact, the plan was revealed to

David Livingston that on a certain night

after sunset,

this tribal leader and his men were

going to sneak in under the cover of

darkness and try to take his life. David

Livingston kept a journal and he made an

entry in his journal that evening.

Here's what he wrote. He said, "It is

evening now. I feel much turmoil and

fear in the prospect of having all of my

plans knocked in the head by these

savages who were just now outside the

camp." They said you could tell he was

scared. The words, the letters was being

written by a shaking hand, but he

continued to write. Here's what he wrote

next. He said, "But Jesus said, all

powers given unto heaven, given unto me

in heaven and earth, and lo, I am with

you always, even to the ends of the

earth." He said this, "This is the word

of a gentleman of most strict and sacred

honor." So that's the end of my fear. I

feel quite calm now.

The letters began to straighten up as he

wrote that.

They waited and they waited and they

waited. All night long they waited. No

sleep that night. Nothing happened. He

wrote it off as the Lord and it was a

little while later. David Livingston

came in contact with that very tribal

leader.

As a matter of fact, if you'll study

history, this is pretty interesting. If

you'll study history, David Livingston's

only been given credit of winning one

man to the Lord.

Just one.

I brother Brian, I searched and I've

looked and that's all I can find. Just

one convert. Guess who it was? That

tribal leader. That tribal leader in

turn led all of his people to the saving

knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Him and that tribal leader became close

friends.

They sat down and they began to discuss

some things over a period of time and

the subject got brought up when David

first came into that area. David asked

him a question. He said, 'I hear when we

got here, you didn't want us here.' And

he said, no, we didn't want you here. He

said, I even heard that you had plans to

sneak in under the cover of darkness and

take our life. He said, we did. He said,

I've been wanting to ask you, why didn't

you? The tribal leader testified this.

He said, "We showed up at your camp that

night with the intent of sneaking in and

taking your life." He said, "But when we

got there, there were 47 armed soldiers

standing guard with swords drawn." That

tribal leader said, "I've been wanting

to ask you about them soldiers and where

they went." David Livingston said, "We

know nothing about soldiers. We don't

have swords." And the tribal leader

said, 'We know what we saw and we even

counted them. There was 47 soldiers. He

wrote that off as the Lord. And it was.

Some time went by and David Livingston

had a whole lot of health issues.

Battled malaria on numerous occasions

and it took a toll on his body and his

heart. As a matter of fact, when David

Livingston dies, he died in Africa. And

those Africans cut his chest open,

pulled out his heart, sent his body back

to Scotland, said, "You can have his

body, but his heart belongs in Africa."

David Livingston had to go back home for

some medical purposes. While he's back

home, he went into one of the churches

that supported him. And he shared what

had been going on and what had happened.

And he told the story that night of how

those savages was going to sneak in

under the cover of darkness. How he ends

up leading that tribal leader to the

Lord. They became close friends and even

told the conversation that he had with

the tribal leader about those soldiers

standing guard.

Soon as he got through, there was a

young man in the congregation come

running up to David Livingston. had a

prayer journal in his hand. He said,

"Dr. Livingston, I've got to ask you a

question." He said, "That night that

those savages was going to sneak in

under the cover of darkness and try to

take your life." He said, "Would that

have happened to on January the 14th,

the year was 1856?"

David Livingston had to take a step back

for a moment and think, but then he

concluded. He said, "Yes, that's exactly

the night that it was. How would you

know that?" and trembling and tears

running down his cheek, he pointed to a

page in his prayer journal. He said,

"Dr. Livingston, I've got recorded in my

prayer journal on the evening of January

the 14th that 47 men met at church that

night to pray specifically for you and

your safety.

>> Does prayer really work?"

>> Say, "Preacher, I don't believe that.

It's for believers only."

>> Amen.

>> Hey, that ain't nothing for my God. We

have access to the throne room.

>> We've got the word of God. We've got

prayer. And we've got the Holy Ghost.

>> The Holy Ghost is so important in

reaching the world with the gospel that

even though Jesus wanted them to go to

the uttermost, he told them, he said,

"Tarry in Jerusalem. Don't go anywhere

until the promise comes. Don't go

anywhere. Don't do anything until the

power comes.

>> What was the power? What was the

promise? It's the Holy Ghost.

>> The Holy Ghost. Acts one, he said, "Wait

in Jerusalem." And then Acts two, guess

what? The promise comes. The power

comes. It's the Holy Ghost. My, there's

so much confusion about the Holy Ghost.

>> Can I help you real quickly? The Holy

Ghost was not sent to make me and you

feel good.

The Holy Ghost job is not to make

goosebumps pop up on our neck. And the

Holy Ghost is not to pump tears down our

cheek. Let me tell you what the Holy

Ghost is for. IT'S TO EMPOWER THE CHURCH

TO BE WITNESSES UNTO HIM.

>> A lot of things are being done in the

name of the Holy Ghost.

>> Let me tell you how you can find out if

it's the Holy Ghost or not. Is Jesus

being witnessed?

>> Is it pointing to him? If it's not

pointing to Jesus, I have a doubt it's

the Holy Ghost.

>> If it's pointing to a man and making a

man look good, mark her down. Ain't the

Holy Ghost.

>> No. No. Holy Ghost is our power to take

the gospel to the uttermost.

>> Amen. We've got the resources. You have

the same access to these as any of us

do.

>> That's right.

>> Responsibility is equal. The resources

are equal. I've got two more and it's

five after y'all. Okay.

I believe the rewards be equal.

What do y'all think? I I can only

imagine.

I don't know it all about the

future judgments. And

what what I do know enough scare me a

little bit. You know, I know this.

There's going to be one called the great

white throne judgment. And and I know

this. I think we'll be there, but I

don't think I'll be judged. What y'all

think?

>> Amen. Amen.

There's another judgment.

The judgment seat of Christ.

We'll be there for sure.

>> And our our works are going to be tried

yet is by fire, right?

>> I'm nervous about that one. Can I be

honest? I really am.

And I do believe that according to the

scriptures, there's rewards

that we can gain.

>> Maybe y'all are a lot smarter than me

and that wouldn't be much. But but from

what I understand, I think there's five

different crowns we can win.

And I'm gonna be honest with you, and

I'm I don't want to say this arrogantly

by no means, but I sure want to win a

crown.

>> I really do.

Not not so I can put it on and parade

around heaven and say, "Look what I

did." No. No. Matter of fact, if we do

win a crown, it it won't even go on our

heads.

>> No. No. If we win a crown, you know what

we're going to get to do? We're going to

get to cast them at his feet.

>> He's going to be crowned with many

crowns. And there's only going to be one

worthy to be crowned when we get on the

other side. And it's not going to be me

and you.

>> But I'll be honest with you, I don't

want to stand around and watch everybody

else casting crowns at his feet as good

as he's been to me.

>> The way he's blessed me, the way he's

helped me, the way he's saved me, I WANT

TO HAVE SOMETHING. I WANT TO HAVE

SOMETHING to cast at his feet.

>> I hope I have a reward

>> or two. You can only imagine how it's

going to be for some of these

missionaries.

I mentioned David Livingston.

when you get a chance, I don't know how

much reading you do, or when you get a

chance, why don't you find you a story

or two about William Kerry?

Or better yet, how about Adinum Judson?

I don't know if you ever heard some of

those names. Adam Judson was the first

American missionary that left American

soil and served on foreign soil. First

one. Ah, man. If I get telling stories,

we'll be here till 9:00.

Adam Judson left the states as a

congregationalist missionary

sent out of a congregationalist church

to preach a congregationalist doctrine.

They believed in infant baptism.

But when he left the states, he's going

to have a fourmonth boat ride from here

to India. He's initially going to go to

India. That's where he thought he was

going to go serve. He gets to India, the

door's going to be closed. He's going to

end up in Burma. Long story short, but

when he gets to India, he expects to get

to work with William Kerry. William

Kerry is not congregationalist. He's

Baptist. He believes in baptism by

submersion.

>> He thinks they're going to be a problem

when we get there. I better know why we

believe in infant baptism. So, for four

months on the boat ride, all he studies

is the word of God about baptism.

How many of you know if you'll just

study the word of God, it clears up a

whole lot of misunderstandings about

doctrine?

>> Amen. Leave out all the outside

influence and just look at the

scripture.

>> By the time he gets to India, guess

what? He no longer believes in infant

baptism.

>> Right.

>> Amen.

>> That's right.

>> He ends up getting one of William K's

associates to baptize him and his wife.

When they get to India, they become

Baptists. Yeah,

>> Luther Rice was another missionary that

was going with him. They get there and

they're supposed to be starting

congregationalist churches. They're

supposed to be preaching a

congregationalist doctrine. They're

being supported by congregationalist

churches. What are we going to do? We're

going to resign.

We're going to send word back that we

don't want their support. We're going to

be preaching a Baptist doctrine. We're

going to be preaching about submersion

and we're going to

>> start Baptist churches. Yeah.

>> Luther Rice goes back to the States and

starts going up and down the East Coast

in Baptist churches preaching missions

and trying to gain support for a Baptist

missionary.

>> Adaram Judson's going to spend over six

years in Burma before there's one

convert.

He's going to suffer greatly. He'll

spend at least two years in a prison

being abused and and treated and

tortured. Unbelievably,

can you imagine how the judgment seat's

going to be for somebody like Anan

Judson?

He translated the Bible into the Burmese

language and they're still using that

Bible today.

>> Thousands have become to know Christ

through the sacrifice that I am Judson.

>> I just wonder how judgment day is going

to be for some of that crowd. Yeah.

>> But then I thought about this. What's

judgment day going to be like for us?

>> Well, preacher, I've I've not been to

Burma. You don't have to.

I'm not going to India. You don't have

to.

Preacher, I've not even been called into

missions. You don't have to be. You be

faithful and do exactly what God wants

you to do where you are. And I promise

you this, the rewards will be just as

equal for you as they will for anybody

else.

God, help me to just be faithful where

I'm planted.

>> Help me, Lord, just do what you want me

to do where I am.

>> Rewards are equal.

>> I got one more.

Probably I'll quit, but uh

I think I better share it with you. I'm

a little nervous, though.

I like y'all pretty good. I hope the

feeling's mutual.

May not be after this one though.

Responsibility is equal.

Resources are equal. Rewards are equal.

All of that's equal. Don't you guess the

requirements ought to be equal.

I' I've not asked brother Charlie

specifically on how many missionaries

y'all support.

But but I need to ask y'all this. Y'all

wouldn't just take on anybody, would

you? I mean, just somebody comes in here

and says they're a missionary, you ain't

going to jump on board just anybody,

will you? I mean, there's there's

probably some things that you would

expect. You want them to preach the

right doctrine.

>> Amen.

>> We we ain't going to support

congregationalist missionaries, are we?

>> So, we got some requirements.

>> Amen.

Not even thinking about doctrine. I

think there's some other requirements

that we have of our missionaries.

Some of them are unspoken.

Some of them are unwritten, but yet

they're still there. Let me throw out a

couple real quickly and see what y'all

think. First of all, would not we

require a missionary to be faithful?

>> I mean, I don't know. It seems like we

hold them to a high standard.

And I guess rightfully so. Is that fair?

>> These missionaries that are here, they

know that.

>> They know that their children's living

in a bubble

>> and everybody's watching them. Amen.

They know their families are on display

everywhere they go and people's going to

pick them apart. They know that.

>> Is that not right?

>> They know that. There's just some

requirements that churches have of

missionaries. And one of those

requirements would be that they at least

be faithful. I'm not going to support a

missionary that don't go to church all

the time. What about y'all?

>> Right?

>> I mean, at least get out of bed on

Sunday morning, go to the house of God,

EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT PRESENTING NOWHERE,

GO TO CHURCH.

>> AMEN. That's a pretty well given, is it

not?

>> Well, if we're going to expect and

require missionaries TO BE FAITHFUL, WHY

DON'T WE HAVE TO BE FAITHFUL?

>> AMEN. Let me just put it this way. Don't

be the one to bring up the motion to

drop a missionary for not BEING FAITHFUL

WHEN YOU ONLY come to church every now

and then.

>> Amen. It ought to be equal.

>> Sure.

>> We expect them to be faithful. That's a

pretty well easy one there.

But I think also we expect them to be

fruitful.

>> Yes.

>> I think I mentioned this. When you

support a missionary, it's an

investment.

>> Oh, yeah.

>> Is it not? It's an investment. And if

you're going to make an investment, you

hope to have a return on that

investment.

>> Paul was writing to the church at

Philippi. I think I mentioned this

Sunday. At one time, the church of

Philippi is the only one that's helping

him financially, and he's thanking them

for it. But he says this, "It's not that

I desire a gift, but that fruit might be

added to your account.

We want fruit added to our account.

>> Preachers doesn't say he's going to take

on these two missionary families. He's

going to be making an investment. He

expects them to be fruitful.

>> That's right.

>> Amen.

>> Well, let's look at this. Fruitful.

What's that mean? Well, let me clarify.

Some missionaries are going to have the

opportunity to write back some prayer

letters and they're going to get to tell

you that hundreds have come to Christ.

>> I think that's pretty fruitful. What do

y'all think?

>> Amen. I like to support a missionary

that's leading hundreds to the Lord,

writing back every every three months

and said we've got another 240. The next

three months there's another 175. That's

a ble man. That's fruit right there.

>> But what about and I don't want to pick

on brother Brian, but he knows this. But

what about brother Stout? He's going

over to Scotland.

And I'm just going to go ahead and tell

you, you're probably not going to get to

read no prayer letter. Now, I'm not

saying God's not able, Lord.

>> I know you can. And I hope it happens,

but there's a chance he's not going to

get to write no prayer letters that says

we've seen 120 saved since our last

prayer letter. I doubt that's going to

happen.

It's probably not going to be real good

out where you're going. At least not

hundreds.

>> I hope so. Please don't get me wrong. I

hope so. And I know God can.

>> But But what if Brother Stout gets over

there and he he's wrote back a year, AT

LEAST FOUR LETTERS OVER A YEAR, AND HE'S

NOT GOT TO TELL YOU ABOUT ONE PERSON

COMING TO GOD.

>> WELL, I don't guess we need to support

him. That's not no fruit. Hang on.

Hang on.

I I believe I believe the fruit's looked

at in different ways than way we look at

fruit.

>> I I think if brother Stout's over there

just preaching the gospel and letting

him spit in his face and laugh at him

and mock at him, I still think that's

pretty good fruit right there.

>> Amen.

>> We expect them to be fruitful. They may

not win a whole bunch to God, BUT AT

LEAST TRY.

YEAH,

>> AT LEAST TRY.

>> YES.

>> WELL, I guess you know where we headed,

don't you?

>> Don't be the one to make a motion to

drop a missionary for not being fruitful

when you hadn't passed out a gospel

track in six months.

>> Amen.

>> You may not be able to win a bunch to

God, but at least try.

>> YES.

>> WE EXPECT THEM TO TRY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. WHY AIN'T YOU TRYING?

WE WON'T EVEN GO ACROSS THE STREET, MUCH

LESS ACROSS THE SEAS. WE WON'T EVEN

KNOCK ON A NEIGHBOR'S DOOR THAT WE'VE

KNOWN ALL OF OUR LIFE, MUCH LESS GO INTO

COMMUNITY THAT DON'T WANT US THERE.

>> RIGHT.

>> IT OUGHT TO BE EQUAL. IF WE EXPECT THEM

TO TRY TO WIN SOMEBODY TO GOD, SHOULDN'T

WE TRY?

>> EQUALITY.

Y'all okay?

>> Well,

we expect them to be faithful.

We expect them to be fruitful.

And we ain't going to talk about this

one much, but I'm going to bring it up

anyhow. We expect them to forfeit some

things.

>> We do.

>> We won't talk about it much, but but

it's there.

>> Yeah,

>> it's there.

They're already

I I done heard them yesterday. We was

talking yesterday, last night. They done

sold their house. Brother Brian, y'all

y'all got a home here still? Nope. No

home here.

They done forfeited a home in the

States.

A pretty big forfeit right there, is it

not? They've been living in a camper and

they've been living in a red van with a

trailer pulling behind them.

Amen.

Pretty big forfeit right there.

>> Yeah.

>> And then then they going to go they

going to go out west and it's that's

about a foreign field over the out there

and they going to go to Scotland and

they ain't going to be a Walmart

everywhere and ain't going to have all

this fancy stuff that where she used to

and they given up quite a bit.

you know, and and we expect that.

We expect them to give and we even take

it to another level.

I just know we do.

Let me tell you a story. I don't mean to

be all stories, but I pastored for 17

years.

And the last 10 years, I pastored my

wife's home church where she grew up.

It's a good church. It really was. and

had some good men. Had a good missions

program.

Brother Todd, I don't know if it was a

Wednesday night or a Sunday night. We

was having a missionary come

and uh Brother Todd, Miss Abby went to

school out there at that church. We out

in the middle of nowhere, we miss Abby.

You don't just happen to drive by the

church I pastor. You just don't. It's a

dead end right up the road. and we we

way out in the middle nowhere.

And so that sun, I believe Sunday

evening, me and some of my men standing

on the front porch fellowshipping before

service and we got a missionary coming.

We wasn't smoking, we just

fellowshipping, I promise.

And about that time, the porch is right

on the side of the road. The parking

lot's beside the church.

And so a a nice

y'all ready? A real nice vehicle went in

front of the church and pulled in our

parking lot. Is a nice nicer than

anything that was already sitting in her

parking lot. Had an out ofstate tag on

it. Is that the missionary?

Which confirmed when six kids crawled

out. No, I'm just kidding. I don't

remember how many there was.

But sure enough, it's the missionary

family

driving a nice,

real nice vehicle.

One of my men, one of my best men, he

made a statement. It just come out.

He said, "Man, if he CAN AFFORD TO DRIVE

OUT, HE DON'T NEED OUR SUPPORT."

That's what he said.

I thought, "Wait a minute. What? What?

What's he supposed to drive? Oh, yeah. A

missionary vehicle. It's supposed to

have the bumper dragging the road.

Sparks flying up. If not the bumper, at

least the muffler. It's supposed to be

black smoke pulling out the tailpipe.

It's supposed to miss every other lick.

And they're SUPPOSED TO REALLY PRAYING

TO GOD THAT THEY CAN get to the next

church without it dying on them.

>> That's the missionary vehicle.

>> That's what they supposed to drive.

Bless God. They going to use our money.

They better suffer for it.

>> I know the church. I know the

missionary. It was brought up in a

meeting. I vote. We dropped so and so.

They said, "Why do we need to drop them?

They were able to go on vacation last

month. And if they can go on vacation,

they don't need our support."

>> I know it. We expect them to give up

everything. We expect them to forfeit.

>> Amen.

>> What about that? Well, I just Y'all know

where I'm going, don't you?

>> If we're going to expect them to give up

some stuff, why shouldn't we give up

some stuff?

>> But preacher, they're going to reach the

world. Yeah, they're going on our

behalf.

>> Amen. They're going so we get to stay at

home.

>> Amen. We can't give up a cup of coffee

or or a couple of sodas a week that

might put something in offering plate.

So, help them go. Amen. I'm telling you,

if we're going to expect them to give up

SOME STUFF, WHY SHOULDN'T WE BE EXPECTED

TO GIVE UP some stuff?

>> Amen. EQUALITY.

I'M telling you what's happened. We've

got a whole bunch that's heavily

burdened while others are at ease, and

we're wanting THEM TO SUFFER EVEN MORE.

>> That's good.

>> Oh, help us, Lord.

>> Why can't we that are at ease

take some of that burden off of them?

>> Yes. and roll that over on us.

>> How can we do that, preacher?

>> Well, we're after something that they've

got.

>> They're after something that we've got.

That's what the text was.

>> That their abundance may be a supply for

their want. That their abundance may be

a supply for our want. What's a

missionary got that we need? They got

fruit.

Once a church got that the missionary

needs, we got the finances.

>> Amen.

>> Equality.

Equality.

We've got some some little old widows

that's doing without a lot of things so

they can put something in the mission

offering.

Missionaries, don't you forget that.

>> Yeah.

>> Amen.

>> God help us. Don't forget that. There's

some that's really giving up some stuff

that might put some gas in our vehicles.

I thank God for them.

>> We got some though

y'all. Okay.

It's a little tough to preach, but

>> we got some just ain't hard giving up

nothing and complaining about

everything.

>> Yeah.

>> Don't throw nothing at me. All right. If

you do, make sure it's King James Bible.

All right.

Hey man,

quality.

>> Yeah.

>> How's the balance?

>> How's the scale tonight? How heavily

burdened are you? Are you really

struggling that you might get the gospel

to somebody?

I know some that is.

Those of us that ain't,

I'll take some of that struggle off of

them.

Maybe we ought to struggle a little bit

oursel to try to make sure that

somebody's getting the gospel.

>> Amen.

>> Amen. Oh, help us, Lord. Father,

you know our hearts tonight,

there are some that are heavily

burdened.

Lord, their burden is they're trying to

get the gospel to somebody. They want to

see somebody saved.

On the other hand, Lord, there's some

that's not carrying no burden at all.

Don't seem like

sometimes even picking apart those that

are heavily burdened.

Lord, would you work in our hearts just

for a few minutes tonight? Help us.

Help us Lord that this might this might

be equal

quality. I know, Lord, the

responsibility is equal. I know that,

God.

Even for one that never leaves America,

God, they just as responsible as those

that's going.

And I know them resources are equal.

I know the rewards will be equal.

God, help us with them requirements.

Lord,

if we're going to expect it out of them,

let it be expected out of us.

have your way in our hearts.

Please help us as only you can. God,

whatever you do, we'll thank you for it.

Let's all stand. Some's done. Come.

You mind the Lord tonight?

I tell you what, if nothing else, let's

pray for them that's going. Let's pray

for them that's given up.

Let's pray for them that's doing

everything they can just to get get

Jesus to somebody. At least pray for

them.

And then let's listen to the Lord. And

Lord, is there something we could do?

Is there something I can do to take some

of that off of them?

What more can I do,

Lord? You mean really I I could give up

something that

I could help a little more?

You listen to the Lord tonight. Let him

talk to you.

Let him talk to you tonight.

Equality

that there may be equality.

Equality.

Quality.

Feels like he's a little dampened spirit

tonight or heavy spirit. And I didn't

intend that necessarily, but I think

it's good.

Think it's all right. God working on our

hearts. Help us, Lord. I know we can do

more.

I know I can do more.

I can go more and give more. I know. I

know we can.

I know we can. I know we can.

I know we can.

Father in Jesus name,

Lord, I want to say thank you.

Thank you for the word that you sent for

us tonight.

Thank you, Father, for the burden.

Lord, I'd have never known the blessing

of serving you, God, if I'd never

embraced the burden.

Lord, you weighed heavy on my heart

tonight, God. There's more to be done.

And Lord, would you help our church,

God? That's what this meeting's been

for. we take on these missionaries going

to be a blessing to these missionaries.

And Lord, I have complete confidence

that they're going to do their job in

the field.

But Lord, why are we failing in our

field?

Why would we sit at ease in Zion?

God the preacher noted the spirit

tonight. Lord, it's very evident.

God, would you break our hearts for

Stokes County?

Lord, would you break our hearts for

this community?

Give us a hunger and a thirst for souls

more than just to come sit in a pew and

pray, but Lord, to go outside the doors

and ask people to come

to take it seriously.

And Lord, I pray God tonight, Father,

you'd help us to embrace this sermon

tonight. And I thank you so much for the

messenger minding you. And I thank you

for giving us another chance. Lord, I

give you praise for it. You're so good.

Lord, I love you. I thank you for what

you've done, for what you're going to

do, for how you've blessed us. And Lord,

we ask it all in Jesus name. Amen.

>> Thank you for joining our service today.

We'd love it if you join us in person

the next time you are able at Meadows

Baptist Church. Our physical address is

2988

Stewart Road in Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. Our service times are Sunday

school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning

worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday evening

worship at 6:00 p.m. and Wednesday

evening Bible study at 7:00 p.m. For

more information, visit us at

meadowsbaptisturch.com.

Thanks again for tuning in.