So first, a willing mind. And we looked at that needs to be an honest ask of ourself. Am I willing to do what God wants me to do? And God, what do you want me to do? And it needs to be a humble acceptance. Yes Lord, speak, Thy servant heareth." And then it needs to be an honorable aspire to do exactly what God wants us to do without excuse. And so first was a willing mind. And then tonight we're going to look in 2 Corinthians 8.5. I'm just going to show you the verse, I mean the thought from the verse. Well Paul says, talking about the church there and churches of Macedonia, how they gave. He says, praying us with much entreaty, and this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord. So thought number two, all right, thought number one was There must be a willing mind. And then thought number two is we must first give our own self to the Lord. I'm willing. But it's not here my Lord send him. It's here my Lord send me. And there must be, so let me give you a couple of thoughts on this faith promise thought. We must give our own self to the Lord. There's a submission. Number two, there's a surrender. Now, a lot of times we probably would use that word interchangeably and they're definitely close synonyms, but they're not the same. A submission is saying, here am I. And a surrender is saying, not only here am I, but take me and use me. There's a lot of people who are submitted, but not surrendered, if you will. And so then the third point of this, give your own self to the Lord. a submission, a surrender, and then number two, a sanctification or a separation to that. First, give my own self to the Lord. I'm submitted to God's will, and now I surrender myself to do God's will, and then I set apart myself to do God's will. So as we challenge ourselves and our faith-promised thoughts through the night, through the nights, think on this. We must first give ourselves to the Lord and then unto us by the will of God. But submit not to me. Submit not to the pastor. Submit not to the missionaries that are coming. Submit to the Lord. First give ourselves to the Lord. Let's take our Bibles. I'll meet you in Philippians chapter four. We'll make our prayer to the Lord and ask him to help us tonight. Last night, the bridegroom is worthy, honor to whom honor tonight, honor to whom honor. And I want to present this thought tonight. The brethren are worthy. I've tried to take my leading Of course from the Lord. But I believe God has a leader. Given to us called the pastor. And as pastor has. Through the months. Sorted out what night we're doing what and it's changed that's all right. I've tried to take my leadership from the Lord through the pastor. And I knew that was going to have the Wasson family here tonight. I don't know them. I've shook their hand. Hope to get to know them, talk to them. But I used to be like they are, young, just starting deputation. going new places. You all know Kent Gossmeier. He's a friend of mine. And Brother Gossmeier, of course, was in our work in Mojave. And then I called Brother Gossmeier when we were going to turn the work over. He said, Brother Harris, Pastor Harris, he said, would you please let me get to England first before you start back on the road? He says, you're our worst nightmare. That we will be on deputation with someone like you. Meaning that how can we compete if Is some old guy like you out there and what chance do we have, the Walson family? It ought not to be about that. Too often it is, and that's part of the message tonight. But there are other missionaries outside our church that are worthy of our support. There are other missionaries outside our church that aren't worthy of our support. And I used to say as a young man that if churches of like precious faith, if a biblical church would only support biblical men, then there would be no dearth of meeting the need. But a lot of churches couldn't support me because they were being weighed down by supporting works that didn't need to be supported. And I want to make sure that we as a church are careful with the limited funds that God gives us. but there are brethren that are worthy. And as Pastor said, it's our goal to be able to support more of those this year and through the years. And I want to look at that. Let's make our prayer. Lord, thank you. May your name be honored and glorified. Lord, you receive glory in one place, and that's the local church. You don't share your glory. And so, Lord, I pray that as a local church, we would be mindful that all that we do honors and glorifies the King. In Jesus' name, amen. Philippians chapter 4 and verse number 13, these verses are very well known to us, but maybe we are too familiar with them to consider the context. Verse 13 says, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. We love that verse, don't we? Well, let me say, I love that verse. Amen. And then he says, Paul speaking, he says, notwithstanding, notwithstanding. What does that mean? Why would you say that after I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me, notwithstanding? There just seems to be an opposition right there. I can do all things through Christ, notwithstanding, seen in Biblical. In Spanish, I don't know how to explain that, but nevertheless, notwithstanding, I have somewhat against thee as, I was going to say apocalypse, but that's Spanish too. Revelation says, okay, notwithstanding you have done well. that ye did communicate with my affliction." Now Paul's speaking and he says, I can do all things through Christ. I have no problem. I am fully confident of that. But man, I thank you for your help because I've been hurting. And then verse 15 he says, now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. Let me give a discernment of the text just as an introduction, and then we'll get into the destiny of the thought. But the discernment of the text in verse 13, we find the confidence and strength of Christ, the divine need. There's a divine need in our life to know that I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me. If you don't know that, you need to know that. Let me talk to our missionaries. If you don't know that, you need to know that. Quit looking elsewhere. I can do all things through Christ. Know that there's a divine need right there that I can do all things through Christ. Quit bellyaching, quit complaining, quit looking for some other source. I can do all things through Christ. So there's a confidence and strength of Christ. Just be confident. I can do all things through Christ. I don't know how you can't read that and find confidence there. I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me. So there's a confidence and strength of Christ. In verse 14, nevertheless, notwithstanding, you have done well that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now Paul's writing to the church at Philippi, and we find the commitment and support of the church. The commitment and support of the church. Notwithstanding, ye have done well. that ye did communicate, that means support, give to my necessity with my affliction. So we find the divine need and then we find the desire noted. I have no desire to live my life without the support of Gazadiel Baptist Temple. You know how many struggles that I have yearning for the support. I've got support, I've got such gracious churches, and you ought to know that now. And that's earned, and that's the grace of God. But I really don't care what church gave. I want to see if Cazado gave. I want to know because Addiel cares. There's been times when God hasn't chosen for Addiel to meet the need and it hurts. Not that you've done wrong. I'm just saying God's chosen sometimes for you not to meet the need, but it hurts. And I'm looking at myself and I'm examining myself and I'm wondering, But there's the commitment and support of the church, and that's the desire noted. Paul says, I thank God that you at Chippewa Pai, you supported me. Nobody else stood by me, but you supported me. And I'm so glad because that deal supported me. And then another discernment of this text in verse number 15, so we found the confidence and strength of Christ, the divine need, we find the commitment and support of the church, the desire noted, and then we find in verse 15, we find the concern and sincerity of the cost. Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, wherein I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me, no church. Do you know who wrote that? Does that even make any sense? That the Apostle Paul didn't have another supporting church other than the Church of Philippi? There's where you need that confidence. I can do all things through Christ. What's wrong with you, Paul? You only got one supporting church, the Church of Philippi? I can do all things through Christ. But man, nevertheless, or notwithstanding, the Church of Philippi stood by me. And we find the concern and sincerity of the cost. He said, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. But we find the determination needed. I can do all things through Christ. Now let's look at the destiny of this thought. 1 Timothy 5, verse 22 says, Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other man's... What's it say? Sins. Other man's sins keep thyself pure. The idea of laying hands suddenly on no man is not grabbing hold of their collar and say, buddy, guess what? Your number's up. That's not the laying hands that it's talking about. It's talking about the laying on of hands we're going to do on Wednesday night. But it's talking about the laying on of hands of saying, we're part of this. we're going to join with this. The Bible makes an admonition that we're not to lay hands on suddenly on no man. Because if we do wrongly, we will be partaker of other men's sins. In church, keep thyself pure. If biblical churches would only support biblical men, there would be no dearth of meeting the need. I want this evening And again, this missions conference, that's why the Lord's led me to give these faith promise thoughts that are constantly before you. All right? Think on these things through the week. But because I am your missionary, I walked out of the church this morning. I walked out of the school building this morning and I was on the phone call. And, but I had to keep going. And so I'm walking out and talking on the phone and Brother Watson and family had just showed up. And Brother Sean Elam was welcoming them. And I heard him say, and this is our oldest missionary. And I was carrying my stuff. And so he says, and this is our oldest missionary. Well, you know, okay. You're right. You ought to know you live with me. And so as the oldest missionary, the old guy, Pastor said that this is the first time that church has had all of their commissioned missionaries in one place. Pastor, that's not true. I was the only commissioned missionary for many years. We were all, well, nevermind, we weren't all here, were we? So, never all been here. I'm sorry, Pastor, we're still not all here. So, being that's who I is, I wanna help us as a church, you know, a subtitle, if you will, to this message. is how to biblically vet. It means to appraise, to verify, to check for accuracy, authenticity, suitability, how to biblically vet a missionary. All right, so I've gone slow, and now I'm gonna put it in a little higher gear, okay? So try to just hang with me, okay? How to biblically vet a missionary. If Biblical churches would only support Biblical missionaries, there would be no dearth of meeting the needs of Biblical missionaries. But we have been partaking of other men's sins. I'm not talking about necessarily Cazado Baptist Temple. I'm talking about Biblical churches in general and the needs not met. So how to Biblically vet a missionary? Let's see, I've got six points. Now that doesn't mean I've got only six points. I've got six main points, okay? But we'll go through them. Number one, simple discernment. Simple discernment. The Bible says in Luke chapter 15 verse 56, Jesus is talking to the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Scribes. He says, you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it that you do not discern this time? What Jesus is saying there is, open your eyes. And the first way to biblically vet a missionary is to go in with your eyes open. So you need to examine, and then number two, under number one, so you need to examine, but then you need to exercise. Hebrews 5.14 says, but strong meat belonging to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. How is that you do not discern the time? Open your eyes. So there's an examination. Open your eyes. And then there's a exercise. We have to have our senses exercised to discern both good and evil. You need to exercise your good senses. And so number one, we need to have simple discernment. When we have a missionary come through, pastor's already tried to do some weeding on them. was very, very tight on my weeding when I was pastoring and still am as a missionary pastor down in Magdalena. And it's amazing. I had a man come and said, hey, I got your name. And this is the Mexico office. The guy come and said, I got your name from so-and-so. And so that helps discern. And I said, okay. And I knew that that, So-and-so didn't have the same biblical standard that I would have as far as vetting a missionary. And so I said, now, I don't know where you are or who you are. I said, we only support local church missionaries. And he says, yes, absolutely. And I said, so you're only out of a local church. You're not out of any organization. You're not out of any type of parachurch or parasite. Amen. No, no, no. He shows up at our church. He puts his prayer card out and it has some organization. I said, pick up your stuff. You lied to me. Well, I knew that if I told you, you lied to me. Well, can I preach? No, you're a liar. I'll give you a love offering. We're going to take care of you. And I'm going to tell my people why you're here, but why you're not preaching. And I'm going to tell them it very simple. You lied to me. If you want to stay for services, you're welcome. If you want to just go back to your motel, hotel, you're welcome. But I'm going to have a liar preach to my people. Simple discernment. A lot of that can be determined beforehand, but sometimes things kind of sneak in, but just keep your eyes open. And so examine and then exercise number two, how to biblically vet a missionary to, to appraise or verify check for accuracy. Authenticists, I can't speak. Let me go to a different language, but then you wouldn't hear, would you? Okay. Authenticity, that's still not right. Suitability. All right. How? Number two, scriptural doctrine. Hello. The Bible says in Isaiah 8.20, to the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this, it is because there is no light in them. Acts 2.42, and they continue steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in pairs. Scriptural doctrine. Romans 6 verse 17 says, but God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you. Scriptural doctrine. The Bible says, in 1 Timothy, "...as I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, etc. Knowing this, that the law is not made for the righteous man, but for the lawless and the dishonest." disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners and for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers and manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. and how to biblically vet a missionary. So we look for simple discernment, then when we look for scriptural doctrine, 1 Timothy 4, 6, if thou put the brethren remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, wherein to thou hast attained, Titus 2, 7, in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works, in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity. Just look at their doctrine. I find out what they believe about the Bible. They don't believe what the Bible teaches about the inerrancy, infallible, inspired Word of God and its preservation. And a use of a received text in their language then no, they don't have sound doctrine. If I look at a man and I find out, what do they believe about the local church? And then I'll look at their practice through communion and find out what they believe about the local church. And if it's not closed communion, it's not local church. And I'm not going to support anybody and this church doesn't support people who don't have sound doctrine. And doctrine means teaching. It's not all this Baptist doctrine like we kind of want to think about or Bible doctrine or some of these others. It's just basic doctrine, basic teaching. So how to biblically vet a missionary is we're looking at his sound doctrine. We're looking at his simple discernment. And then number three, how to biblically vet a missionary, we want to look at his sanctified distinction. 2 Corinthians 6.17 says, Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. 2 Thessalonians 3.6 says, Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. Titus 1, 7-9 says, For a bishop must be blameless as a steward of God, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre, but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate, holding fast the faithful word as he had been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 1 Peter 1, 15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy. in all manner of conversation, because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy. And let me say that standard hasn't shifted. It's still where it's always been. Man, everything seems to have shifted, but the book hasn't shifted. And we need to stand. As a church, we need to stand. As a person, as a member of this church, you need to stand because this church needs to stand. And if you don't stand where this church stands, this church will soon fall. And your missionary stands there. For 40 years, I've stood there. There needs to be sanctified distinction. Let me give you three areas, but I've got, there's seven words here, okay? Or six words, but it's three areas, okay? There needs to be sanctified distinction. Sanctified means set apart, holy unto God. Separated from, separated to. There needs to be sanctified distinction as a person, as a partner, and as a parent. Talking about family. There needs to be sanctified distinction. If a missionary comes through and he's not sanctified as a person, I'm sorry, but we don't support him. If he's not sanctified as a partner, as a, and I don't like to use that word, but it matches my alliteration, all right? But sanctified as, what do we call it? Husband and wife, there we are. Let's just use the biblical term, all right? As a couple, they're not sanctified. No, I'm sorry. If they're not sanctified as a parent, no, I'm sorry. but we stand upon these truths. And then number two, there needs to be sanctified distinction as a peer. So we talked about family, now we're talking about friends. And then number three, there needs to be sanctified distinction as a preacher and as a pastor. I need to be separated unto God and from the world as a person, as a peer, but as a preacher. And that's how we biblically vet a missionary. Do they live a sanctified, holy, wherefore come out from among them, be separate, saith the Lord, life. Biblical churches would support only biblical men. There would be no dearth of meeting the need. Number four, how to biblically vet, to appraise, to verify, to check for accuracy, authenticity. I just thought I had to quit those last ones. I can't get them. Suitability. Number four, there needs to be a sure and the same direction. Which way are you headed? Because we're not headed that way. We're headed this way. We're headed toward the cross. And we preach Christ, crucified, risen, coming again. There needs to be, the Bible says in James 1.8, a double-minded man. It's talking about a man of double-minded means focus. He's unstable in all his ways. Way back in 1986, when Cazadel Baptist Temple ordained and commissioned me, they invited my dad, he's not a member here, but they invited him to be part of, just gracious to my dad, thank you. And I knew my dad was going to ask me one question, I've told this before, and so those who are old like me know this. And those who don't know me aren't old, they don't know this. I knew my dad was going to ask one question and he waited all the way to the end and he finally asked it. I was waiting for it. I prayed about it because I did not want to hurt my dad. I knew the answer my dad wanted and I knew it's not the answer I could give. My dad's question was, son, if this church decides not to ordain you, what are you going And I knew the answer my dad wanted. My dad wanted me to give the answer, bless God, God called me to preach, and I'm going to preach. But show me that in the scripture, and I'll show you you don't know local church doctrine. And I said, Dad, I know the answer you want me to give. You want me to give this answer, that God's called me to preach, and bless God, there's nobody going to stand in my way. I'm going to preach. I said, but that's not the Bible answer. I said, these men of this church say, Brother Harris, we don't believe that it's time for you. What am I going to do about it, Dad? I'm going to step back and I'm going to recognize the hand of God. I'm going to rectify, if I can, why I'm not qualified and I'll try again later date. Now, bless God, I'm going to preach. but I'm going to get my life in order to do so. A double-minded man, where's your focus at? Draw nigh unto God and he will draw nigh unto you, James 4, 8. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. How to biblically vet a missionary that comes through. My apologies to the Walson family. I'm not preaching about you. You just happen to be the ones God sent this way. But everyone that comes through, we need to vet them. We need to say, are these missionaries that we as a local church can support? And they need to have the sure and same direction. They need to know which way they're headed and it needs to be the same way we're headed. Number five, lay hands suddenly upon no man. And how to biblically vet a missionary, 1 Corinthians 15.33 says, be not deceived, evil communications corrupt good manners. And may I ask you why we believe that for our young people but we don't hold it to our missionaries? Number five, they're social or supporting demographics. Now, listen carefully, because that's the only time you'll ever hear me say social and demographics, probably in your lifetime. I could care less about demographics, except when it comes to this idea. People used to ask me about the demographics of Bullhead City. I said, let me look that word up. I'll tell you about it. Well, what's the demographics? I don't know. I just know God called me to go, and so I went. God knows who's there. So I went. What's the demographics of Magdalena? You really want to know? I don't, so I just went. I mean, I kind of knew and I went one night and I said, Lord, I'm going to go and I'm going to stay at this hotel and I'm going to get on my face before God while my family is sleeping. And I'm going to pray through the night. And you got to give me a verse. You got to give me your word. You got to give me your promise. I got to put my finger on it, that this is where you want me to be. And I'm not asking for you to say nothing bad is ever going to happen to you. None of your kids are never going to be killed. None of your family are going to be this or whatever. But God, all I need to know is that you want me here and I'll come. And God said, I want you here that night in Psalm 91. And so I said, Lord, I came and I found out a lot of demographics and they're not sweet, but we need to know if we're going to biblically support missionaries and not add and be partaker of other men's sins, We need to look at their social demographics in this area. Number one, the synopsis. The word synopsis means, what's that mean? Summary, including, put it all together and kind of shake it and this is what comes out. The synopsis of his friends. Who's his friends? Who's his intimates? And when you're biblically vetting a missionary, you need to find out, who's he friends with? And I'll tell you how he is. Who's he hanging with? Because evil communications corrupt good manners. When they're hanging with people that have a different doctrine than we do, then I'm telling you, they have different doctrine than we do. the synopsis of his friends, his intimates. And then number two, we need to look at his social supporting demographics and find the source of his finances, his income. He who holds the purse holds the strings, moves the puppet. I forget where I was, I forget the context of it, and somebody was talking about supporting churches, and whoever was talking about it, I don't even remember who it was, they said, man, you need to talk to Brother Harris, I guarantee you he'd never accept support from that church. You mean there's churches you don't accept support from? I'm not saying every church I accept support from is down the line and I would be a member of it like I am of Kazaddale. And a lot of them, I have to say now, you know, we have a difference here of philosophy or path, but I want you to know it. And if you want to do something about it, then you, you know, but there's others that I'll say no. Well, let me say, I'll not say, I have said. And we need to find the source of his finances, his income. And we find out what he's accepting support from this one and that one. And, you know, you go through it. Just look at it. Man, we live in a day when you can look up everything and find out at your fingertips. And I'm just amazed that people aren't looking for this stuff because I'm computer illiterate and I happen to know. And I'm thinking, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Look where this is coming from. Look where that's coming from. You can't take support from ungodly churches, quote unquote. You can't take support from ungodly organizations, and you can't take support and not be affected by it. Social demographics, the synopsis of his friends, his intimates, the source of his finances, his income, and then the surety of his focus. What's his interest? A double-minded man, again, is unstable in all his ways. I'm not saying that a missionary can't have interest. I've got a yellow one out there. But that's the second one I've had because the first one, I said this to Brother Hodnet, the pastor's told you why I don't have it. And I could have said, I don't care what they think. In fact, their $40 a month doesn't bother me. Even though I had very little back then, but there's gotta be some line where you have to say, you know what, you can't order me around that way. My pastor doesn't have any problem with it. But I told Brother Hodnet, here's the answer. My prayer, those many years ago when I was the only, missionary from Cazadel Baptist Temple was that there would be other missionaries behind me. And I could not afford, as a representative of Cazadel Baptist Temple, to put my nose up at those churches that had problems. But I had to be willing to say, not a problem. I don't need it. And that's why I have a second one. Because God in his time, But what's the surety of his focus and what's his interest? And there's a problem when somebody has an interest that supplants what the focus it ought to be. Somebody has an interest. I've always wanted to be a pilot. I don't know if you knew that about me. And I've had opportunities to be a pilot. As late as 15 years ago, my pilot license was paid for. But I declined. My dad said that the biggest mistake he made when he went to Africa in 1950 was he took his tools. Because God didn't call him to build, God called him to preach. He went out there and everybody wanted him to build. And he had to build for years before he could lay aside and say, no, I'm not doing that. God called me to preach. I'm not against having a pilot's license. That's not the point of this. I believe there is a need. I mean, they don't have roads. If they're going to reach the multitude, and God wants them to have a pilot's license, and I'm all for having a pilot's license, and God called me Alaska, and my heart's still ticking pretty good, then maybe I can get a pilot's license. That's all good. I have a yellow Jeep. They witnessed it. They said, we saw a yellow blur go by. I said, I saw your hands and I waved at you. I mean, I wouldn't speed too fast because they don't have license plates on it, but anyway. But what's your focus? There ought not to be anything. that ever takes my focus off of Him. My life is to serve Him. Number last. You ready for this one? Number last. Galatians chapter 1 verse 13 says, For ye have heard of my conversation. What's that mean? What's it mean? Manner of life, lifestyle, where I live. For you have heard of my conversation, Paul says, in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and wasted it. And then in 2 Timothy 3.10, in contrast, he says, but thou has fully known my doctrine. manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what persecutions I endured, but out of all of them the Lord delivered me. Number last, number six. You biblically vet a missionary by standing decisions. My dad said, look at his track record. Look at his track record. I was in a missions conference one time in Columbus. I was there because that church supported my dad. It's an independent Baptist church. They asked me to come. My dad said, they're going to ask you to come. Would you go? I said, yeah, I'll go. It's an independent Baptist church. In that missions conference, they had a man that was a medical doctor on our field in Africa. This is before everybody had the DVDs. Well, not everybody has them because I don't have them, you know. Someday. I don't even have the slides anymore. I just... In fact, I don't even have prayer cards. Way behind. But he had... That old reel-to-reel movie projector thing? Man, big dollar production back then. Now, my dad had $1,200 a month support. This is in the 80s. He had been in Africa for 36 years. I happen to know at that time this missionary was making over $100,000 a year. Now he was paying for the medical part, but that's not, that was being paid for on separate things as well. My dad built the house that they lived in and they literally snubbed the nose at the best house in the Central African Republic because it wasn't good enough for him. They lived there because there was no better. And he was going to be there that night and they were having like an international dinner and they were going to show this presentation. And so the pastor came to me and said, Dr. So-and-so is here and he's going to show a presentation. I'd be interested in what you think. And I already knew all this backstory. And we watched that presentation. Man, what a heart grabber. And that's where I was born, Ipi. I was born there. This man was born there. And he showed the purpose of medical missions is to preach the gospel and to reach these people and he showed all these horrible things that I saw all the time. Leprosy, ulcers to the bone, dysentery, little bloated starving kids, their bellies as big as this, but their arms are just, there's nothing there. Just cheeks drawn in and eyes, sockets. And then he would show, we have these hospitals so that we can preach the gospel. And then he would go where somebody was going bed to bed and sharing the gospel, but he didn't show who was doing it. And he'd show services where they'd have the people in the courtyard and somebody was preaching the gospel, but he just conveniently never showed who was preaching the gospel. I happen to know that that person going bed to bed was my dad. And I happen to know that person preaching in those courtyards was my dad. And I happen to know that nobody ever went bed to bed or preached the gospel unless my dad was in town. We didn't live there. We lived a hundred kilometers into the jungle. And I also happen to know that many times my dad came home saying and weeping and crying and just broken hearted that Dr. So-and-so won't let me in the hospital. A Baptist missionary hospital with a Baptist medical doctor won't let me in the hospital to preach the gospel. And yet he has this amazing portrayal. It's my dad. And the pastor came to me and the pastor said, Brother Harris, what do you think about that? And I said, Pastor, I think you need to check his track record. And he says, that's what your dad says. I said, well, then that's where I get it from. How to biblically vet a missionary is we need to check, don't just believe him. There's two sides to the story. Check his track record. You have heard of my conversation, but thou hast fully known. There's a, and I got four points here and we're done. Standing decisions, there's a full proving of his past. Thou hast fully known. There's a full proving of the past. There's a full proving of the parts. Thou has known my doctrine. Thou has known my manner of life. Thou has known my purpose. Thou has known my faith. Thou has known my long suffering. Thou has known my charity. Thou hast known my patience. Thou hast known my persecutions. Thou hast known my afflictions. There's a full proving of the past. Thou hast fully known. Don't just take an overall view and an acceptance and what seems to be good. Check his track record. And then make a full proving of all the parts. And if the whole of the sum doesn't add up, there's a reason why the whole of the sum doesn't add up. There's a full proving of the past, there's a full proving of the parts, there's a full proving of the perseverance. He says, I endured. I endured. There's a full proving of the perseverance, what someone's willing to go through to serve God. And it's not on again and off again and off again and on again. It's somebody that's willing to say, I have endured the persecutions. And then this one. We're talking about standing decisions, how to biblically vet, to examine, to appraise, to verify, to check. There's a full proving of his praise. Catch it. But the Lord delivered me. Did you catch it? I made it through the rain, as the songwriter tried to tell you. It's not about you. It's about Him. I am full up to here. When I get full up to here that's a full thing of missionaries who want to use their persecutions to glorify either themselves or their ministry. It's not about you. It's not about your ministry. It's about Him. And there's a full proving of His praise. Where is His praise going? And if we have a missionary come through and his praise is going to me, me, me, me, me, my, my, my, I, I, I, thanks for coming. And I want to challenge us as missionaries that it's not about me. It's not about I. It's not about what I have endured. It's about, but the Lord delivered me. And when we have success, It's not about me, it's about Him. I think I've said this. If biblical churches would only support biblical missionaries there would never be a dearth of meeting the need.