to see young people in the church and serving the Lord, amen, and being used of God. And I appreciate that I've gotten to know Brother Nadeem. But to become acquainted with the work in Bangladesh, to meet him, it's a blessing. Spent some time with him last night in fellowship and what have you. Really a blessing, a blessing to see what's going on in Bangladesh. And we hope our own work would be able to do something toward helping your work there in Bangladesh and as well as in New York City. You know, I was, again, so impressed by the multitudes and the need of the multitude. Amen? Now, you know, again, where I labor is a smaller group of people. They need the Gospel as well as anybody, but to see New York City, to see this surrounding, I mean, it's just people on people on people. And to drive in the traffic with your pastor. Wow. What an experience. Not to say anything about your driving, brother. Well, anyway. But quite a need. Amen? But you know when Brother Graff asked me to to come and preach the very first thing the Lord laid on my heart. You know, I wanted this to be, in a sense, a missions theme because I'm a home missionary and I want to have a missions heart. I've taught our people from the get-go that we need to be involved in giving and going and doing something for God to reach a lost and dying world. And we've been giving to missions from the beginning because I want them to see, you know, the great commissions for us. For all of us, for every New Testament Baptist church, no matter what the size, amen, we're doing what we can for God. But as Brother Graff asked me to come and preach, and better get a watch out, I'm a long-winded Baptist. But the Lord laid this passage of scripture on my heart, and I'd like to share it with you this morning, or this afternoon, I don't know where I'm at. Anyway, Nehemiah, I'll get it together here. Nehemiah chapter 6, let's start in verse 1. Here the Bible says, now it came to pass, excuse me, I'm sorry, let's stand as we read the Word of God. I knew I was going to forget that, brother. Nehemiah chapter 6, and let's start in verse 1. Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Gishem, the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built a wall, and that there was no breach left therein, though at the time I had not set up the doors upon the gates, that Sanballat and Gishem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. but they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease whilst I leave it and come down to you? And I want to focus on those words here where Nehemiah said this, I am doing a great work. I am doing a great work. I'd like to preach on the subject this afternoon. The great work of missions. Amen. The great work of missions. Let's pray. Father in heaven, Lord, I am so thankful, Father, for the privilege to be here today and to preach the Word of God. Father, I don't deserve the privilege of preaching the Word of God. I was a lost, hellbound, good-for-nothing sinner. But by Your grace, I am what I am. And Father, I enjoy this privilege and this opportunity. And Lord, I pray that You'd help me to preach. And Father, help Your people to listen. Father, help us to have the blessing of the presence of God. And may the Lord be lifted up and glorified, I pray now in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you. You may be seated. I want to talk again about the great work of missions, if you will, look over with me to Matthew 28, Matthew chapter 28. I don't desire to be repetitive, but yet as we talk about missions, we cannot leave off, if you will, the issue of the Great Commission. And the Great Commission is given to every local New Testament Baptist church, not to just the one where Jesus Christ started, but to everyone that came afterward. As a matter of fact, in Matthew 28, again beginning in verse 16, the Bible says, And then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, And Lord, I'm with you always, even in the end of the world. Amen. And so as we talk about the work of missions, we have to consider the Great Commission and what have you. But I so much appreciate Nehemiah and his testimony. You know, Nehemiah was a man that was burdened over the need to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. And as he was burdened, as he prayed and sought God for that matter, we find that God laid the burden on him and said, listen, I want you to go. And he went and God opened the doors, if you will, for him to go and do that work. And you know, Nehemiah, though it was just rebuilding a wall, if you will, Nehemiah looked upon it as the work of God, as a great work for God. And you know, I don't care what it is, if you're doing a work for God, doing a scriptural work for God, it is a great work for God. And particularly, and especially, when it comes to this matter of missions. And I want us to focus on this great work for God. I want you to first notice, if you will, that it's a special work. Now, as we look at verse 16, the Bible teaches that, and we see that it seems to me the Great Commission was given to just the eleven apostles, and yet there were more that made up the church than just the eleven apostles. As a matter of fact, if you will, look with me to Acts chapter 1. Acts chapter 1. And it is first and foremost a special work, if you will. This great work is a special work. In Acts chapter 1, and if you will, Look with me to verse 6. The Bible says, When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And if you go on a little further, he says here, And when they had spoken these things, verse 9, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they look steadfastly toward heaven, as they went, as he went, the old two men stood by them in white apparel, which said, which also said, you men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? The same Jesus, which was taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you've seen him go into heaven. Then returned they into Jerusalem for the Mount called Olivet. which is from Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. And when we come into the upper room, where both Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, the son of Alphaeus, Simon, Zelotes, and Judas, the brother of James, these all continued with one accord and prayer and supplication with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, with his brethren. In those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples and said the number of the names together were about 120. Now this is a great work, this work of missions and establishing New Testament churches. But it's not just a work for a special group necessarily within the local New Testament church. It's not just a special work for Brother Graff or for myself as pastors or what have you. It's a work that all of the members are called to, all of the members should be involved in. And it's a blessing to be involved in that great work, as a matter of fact, in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. You look with me over there. 1 Corinthians chapter 12. You know, sometimes we think, oh, the preachers, they're called of God. I count it a privilege. to be called of God, to preach the word of God. I do. And as Paul said, I magnify mine offense. And yet, folks say, you know, the church and the work of missions and establishing churches is a great work and a special work where all of us may be involved. In 1 Corinthians chapter 12, if you look with me over there, And beginning in verse 14, the Apostle Paul is writing the church at Corinth and he's using the illustration, if you will, of the body to illustrate the church. And he says in verse 14, For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not of the hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were a smelling, or excuse me, a hearing, where were the smelling? Can you imagine a whole church being a nose? I couldn't get that. And I would probably be the tip of the nose, right out there in front of everything in the way. But it says here, But now hath God set the members, every one of them, in the body, as it has pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee. For again, to head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor. And our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need, but God hath tempered the body together, having given a more abundant honour to that part which lack, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it, and one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members In particular, Paul was stressing the fact that we need each other, amen? In this great work of missions, this great work of fulfilling the Great Commission. You're needed, amen? You being in your place, doing your thing. I was talking to somebody earlier before I came to preach, and she was talking about the struggle with trying to reach out to people. And I told her, you know, I told her a reminder about the woman who brought the alabaster box and she broke the ointment and anointed the feet of Christ, anointed his head. And some stood back and said, what what made this waste, this great waste? And, you know, the Lord, you know, what's interesting that in the Gospels, the Lord had that story recorded of her for a memorial for what she had done. Now, what great thing had she done? Well, in the eyes of man, probably nothing. And yet the Lord said, she hath done what she could. Amen? And God blessed her. God saw that. You know, the Bible says in Hebrews 6, verse 11, that God is not unrighteous to forget your labor of love which you have showed toward His name. You know, God knows it. He knows you need to be involved. You need each other if we're going to get this great work, this special work, if you will, done for the Lord. If you will, 1 Corinthians chapter 1. 1 Corinthians chapter 1. And if you will, let's look at verse 26. Here the Bible says, For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world that confound the wise. God has chosen the weak things of the world that confound the things which are mighty and base things of the world and the things which are despised have God chosen and the things which are not to bring to naught the things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, that according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory of the Lord. You know, you say, well, preacher, I'm not much in this church. And I don't feel like I have many talents, and I don't know if I can do much. You know what? Do what you can. You know, God didn't call a bunch of wise men. You know, I'm not the brightest bulb in the patch, so to speak. I'm not the smartest guy on the planet. But God in His mercy and His grace chose to save me by His grace and call me to preach and give me the ability to preach. Amen? You know, we don't preach because we're smart. Amen? Or because we're wonderful people. We preach as of the ability that God gives us. And let me say this, you as a member of this church involved in the great work of missions, it's a special work, a work that should be special to you and God specially wants to use you. Amen. What a blessing it is to be involved in that work. Secondly, if you will, as we talk about this great work of missions, it's a special work and you're involved, but if you will, It's a spiritual work. It's a spiritual work. If you will look back to Matthew chapter 28, Matthew chapter 28, a spiritual work. And folks, you know, sometimes I've seen and heard of people that can have, you know, I've heard of some churches that got everything so organized. I think they've organized God out of it. And I get a little concerned about that, but I think, well, whatever. You know, I want to be sure that what we're doing, we're doing as a spiritual work, if you will, in Matthew chapter 28. And there's nothing wrong with organization. As a matter of fact, God is not the author of confusion. Amen. He wants all things to be done decently and in order. But in Matthew chapter 28, it's a spiritual work. If you will, he says in verse 18, Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. He says, Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you all the way, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Now, what we see here is power. We see here might. We see here the involvement of God in this work. Amen? We can't do this without God. And that brings me to my first point on this issue of it being a spiritual work, that it requires the power of God. Now, in verse 18, he says, All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth, Power does mean authority, but it also means might and ability. And folks, we need the might, the ability, the power of God working through us if we're going to see this great work done for the Lord, if you will. In Psalm 127.1, we won't take the time to turn there, but the Bible says, except the Lord, build the house, they labor in vain that build it, if you will. Matthew chapter 3 and verse 11, there was the need for power. As a matter of fact, Holy Spirit baptism. Uh-oh, preacher. Holy Spirit baptism, right. We're talking about the empowering of a local church. John Baptist talked about it here. In Matthew 3 and verse 11, John Baptist said this, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me who is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear, he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. Now, we know that there's only one baptism, and that's water immersion in the Scripture. But he's speaking of the one-time fulfillment of the empowering of a local church for missions. We need the power of God. This is a spiritual work. If you will, look at Luke chapter 24. And let's look at verse 48, Luke chapter 24, and verse 48 here. The Bible says, and hear witnesses of these things. Again, this is the great commission given to the local church in a different fashion. He says to those individual church members, to that church, hear witnesses of me. And he says here in verse 49, and behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you, but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." And we find that enduing of power from on high and the fulfillment of the Holy Spirit baptism during the day of Pentecost. That's not the birthday of the church, but rather the time in which God empowered the local church for doing this great work of missions. You know, it's a blessing to be involved with a special work. It's a blessing to be involved in a spiritual work. What we do for God, we don't do on our own. Amen? The Bible says, Christ in you, the hope of glory. Amen? the Lord and His power and His ability. Folks, we're on our own a pretty wretched mess, if you will. Look at John chapter 15. John chapter 15. I try to tell people and remind them, you know, this Bible was written to the world for their salvation's sake, but it's also written to the New Testament church for our instruction. for our teaching, for our training. In John 15, verse 4, the Word of Jesus Christ talking to His disciples, really talking to His church, said this, Abide in Me, verse 4, and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine. No more can ye except ye abide in Me. And as we're talking about abiding in Him, we're talking about continuing with Him. Continuing His Word. Continuing obedience. and fellowship with the Lord, and he says, I am the vine, ye are the branches, he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can do what? Nothing. And folks, it is so imperative that if we're going to do a spiritual work, and this work of missions and establishing churches is a spiritual work, if you will, 2 Corinthians chapter 4, 2 Corinthians chapter 4 this afternoon, whatever, I'll get it right. Amen. Matter of fact, straighten me out when we get in the fellowship hall. I'm not sure what day it is. Amen. 2 Corinthians chapter 4, and if you will, let's start in verse 3. The Bible says, But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the God, little g God, amen, of this world, and that's speaking of Satan, has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." And what a blessing, folks, that we can have the gospel. We can understand it. Amen. But look at verse 7. But we have this treasure This blessed treasure of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ that shined in our hearts through the Word of God. And it says here, we have this treasure in earthen vessels. What vessels? He's talking about us, amen? We're earthen vessels. We're vessels of clay. We're not perfect. We're not all of what we are and ought to be. But God has chosen to use us, amen? And He's put that treasure in us. Now watch why. He says that. The excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. Glory to God that God uses any one of us to do anything. Amen? You know what? Sometimes we say, well, I'm not much. Amen? Who are any of us? Amen? We are what we are by the grace of God and His work in 2 Corinthians chapter 12. 2 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 7, here again the Bible says, unless I should be exalted. You know what's interesting? God did something special for the Apostle Paul to remind him of who was doing the work. He was involved. He labored, he said in 1 Corinthians 15, more abundantly than all around him. And yet God wanted him to remember some things. In verse 7, "...and lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelation, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure." What are we talking about? Pride. The possibility that there's pride, that we would look and say, look at what I've done. And then he goes on to say in verse 8, "...for this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me." And God said no. I'm not taking it away from you. I'm going to work out a good work in your life. And he says in verse 9, and he said unto me, this is God's response, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in mine infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities and reproaches and necessities and persecutions and distresses for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. You know what, folks? is and needs to be always in the Lord. The power of God needs to be upon us, enabling us, helping us. You know, folks, we have the privilege as Christians to come boldly to the throne of grace, whereby we can find mercy and grace to help in time of need. We need power. Not only that, it requires, as we talk about it in spiritual work, it requires some preaching. If you will look with me to Mark chapter 16. Mark chapter 16. And the verse will begin in verse 14. Mark chapter 16 begin in verse 14. Here again, the Bible in one sense, we're getting the Great Commission again. And afterward, he appeared to the eleven as they sat at meat and abraded them with their unbelief. Wow, quite a spiritual crowd here. With their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not on them which had seen him after he was risen. And He said unto them, okay, He said unto them, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. Let me remind you, the emphasis in verse 16 is on believing, putting your faith and trust in Christ, not in baptism. Baptism doesn't save anybody. If you're here trusting in some kind of a baptism to wash away your sins, you're mistaken. You've been deceived. Our faith and trust must be in the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. But he says here, one of the vehicles, the instrumentality, if you will, for reaching a lost and dying world is go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Preaching, it should be a premium. It should be of paramount importance to reaching the hearts of men. If you will, look at Romans chapter 1. Romans chapter 1. You know what? I don't know about you, brother. I love preaching. I love preaching the Word of God. I count it a privilege, and I don't feel like I'm the greatest preacher that ever lived, but I love to preach the Word of God. Amen? In Romans 1, and if you will, look at verses 15 and 16. Paul said this, so as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believe it. To the Jew first, and also to the Greek. You know, the Apostle Paul understood the power of the gospel message, but God chooses to use the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians chapter 1. 1 Corinthians chapter 1. And you know what? I don't know, brother, maybe you've seen this on people's faces, but I have people come into service. We have all kinds of visitors and I wish they would all come and stay, would all get saved, would all enjoy it and everything else. But I have people come in sometimes and they've got varied backgrounds and they'll be sitting back and I'll start to preach and their eyes will go. And all of a sudden they're thinking, what in the world have I gotten myself into here? And they're not sure what you know, and it's not that I'm a maniac or what have you, but you know, they do. They don't understand the importance of preaching. Matter of fact, most of them don't even know what preaching is all about. Amen. But in the first Corinthians chapter one, if you look with me there in beginning of verse 17, here, the apostle Paul said this for Christ sent me not to baptize. He's not saying that baptism is important, but there was some comparison, some carnal comparison going on here. He says, For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of money. In fact, let me stop here. I appreciate the gospel message that we heard this morning. It wasn't lofty. It wasn't flowery. It was down to earth. where people are at. Folks, people are sitting here on earth looking for the gospel message. They need to hear it in terms that they can understand. He says here in verse 18, For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. Do you understand? I remember when I sat in the services the day I got saved, you know, I didn't think of it as foolishness, but I've had people sit in my preaching and they're probably going like, what is all the fuss about? I mean, what's there to get stirred up about? I mean, we're in church here and you're all stirred up about this Jesus and this salvation. And they think, well, you know, what's the big deal? You know what, folks? You and I who understand the gospel of Jesus Christ and the importance of preaching, it's not foolishness to us if we're saying this because someone took the time to preach the gospel to you and I. As a matter of fact, ladies, you can preach. Now watch it, preacher. Not from behind the pulpit. But you know, you have an opportunity to take the Word of God, preach, proclaim the truth to your friends, to your neighbors. Tell them what great things the Lord has done for you. Amen. Folks, preaching is so important. He goes on to say here in verse 19, for it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God. And it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. You know, it's interesting that he was writing to a Greek church, if you will. It was made up of people who had gotten saved out of wicked lives and what have you. There was a prevailing Greek philosophy, philosophers. They were all talking about how wise they thought they were. If you look at Acts chapter 17, as Paul went to Athens, And he said they were so filled up with their own so-called wisdom that they couldn't embrace the simple gospel truth and be saved. But God has chosen to work through the preaching of the gospel. You know, we don't need seminars to get people saved. We don't need sermonettes. What we need is good old-fashioned, Holy Spirit, God-filled preaching to reach a lost and dying world. We're talking about a spiritual work, if you will. Thirdly, It requires the perfecting of the saints again in Matthew chapter 28. You know, folks, it's not just enough that people get saved. What a blessing. You're secure in Christ. Amen. The Bible says that God has given to us eternal life. Amen. And we shall never perish. But that's not enough when it comes to doing this great work for God. We have to go beyond that. We need to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord. In Matthew chapter 28, again, if you will look with me to verse 19 and 20 he says go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. But it doesn't stop there. You get them saved by the grace of God, scripturally baptized, made members of the local and testament church, but that's only the beginning. It's the beginning of a transformation that God wants to do in the life. He says, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I've commanded you. You know, those all things require much teaching and preaching. Look, if you will, with me to to Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians chapter 4, you know the work of the church and missions and establishing churches, this great work is a spiritual work. It requires power, it requires preaching, it requires the perfecting of the saints, if you will. In Ephesians chapter 4, beginning in verse 11, here the Bible says, and He gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists And some pastors and teachers, watch this here, he's talking, he's writing to the local New Testament church at Ephesus. He says, he gave these different offices for the perfecting of the saints. And when we talk about perfecting, we're talking about the maturing, the growing up, if you will, the completing of the work of God in the life of God's people. It says, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, Till we all come in the unity of the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, not without sin, but we're talking about maturity. Amen? And you know what, folks? A pastor is almost like a dad. We're trying to help you to grow up. Amen? To be mature and functioning adults. Amen? For the Lord. Unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. by the slight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." It requires, if you will, a perfecting of the sanction. Again, 2 Peter chapter 3. 2 Peter chapter 3. You know, the Bible likens us as we get saved to a new babe in Christ. And let me say this, this maturing process, it takes time. You know, when I was there when all three of my children were born, and they didn't come out ready to walk. ready to talk, although my daughter, I think, was a little close to that already. When she started talking, she never stopped. She's like her dad. But the reality is that they have to learn to talk, they have to learn to walk. You know, we don't expect a baby to be an adult, amen? We expect that they need to grow. In 2 Peter 3 and verse 18, the Apostle Peter said this, but grow and graze. And in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to Him be glory both now and forever. And folks, this growth requires something very special, if you will, 2 Timothy chapter 3. 2 Timothy chapter 3. And let's begin, if you will. In verse 13, the Bible says, and the Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, said this, But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived, but continue thou. You know, folks, there's all kinds of deception out there today. Our people and you need to be prepared to understand the deceiver and the deception so that you can grow. He says, but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and has been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them, and that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise. Not a wise guy, amen, but a wise, mature Christian unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Folks, all the things that we need we find in the preaching of God's Word. If we're going to help them to... You know what, folks? They need to be more than bathes in Christ. And it goes on that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Let me say this. Never take this as just instruction to Timothy. These are words of instruction to all of us. Amen. There are some specific applications, but we're talking about the fact of a spiritual work. It requires, if you will, power preaching and the perfecting of the saints. And lastly, but not the least, it requires prayer. If you will look at Philippians chapter four, Philippians chapter four. And verses 6 and 7. You know, the Apostle Paul, take some time to look through the epistles. Maybe you've been challenged to do this, but pay attention to all the different times and different forms in which we find the Apostle Paul talking about prayer. It's replete through the Scripture, his mentioning and teaching on prayer. In Philippians chapter 4 and verse 6, the Bible says here, be careful or anxious, if you will, for nothing. He says, but, now watch this, but in everything, By prayer, he says, and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Folks, prayer is such an important issue. The Lord Jesus Christ said in Luke 18 and 1, he said, I would that all men pray always, and not to faint, if you will, look with me to Ephesians chapter 6. Ephesians chapter 6. And you know what? We're not talking about some little form prayer. We're not talking about going through the motions. Prayer is you and I pouring out our heart before God, telling Him our needs, telling Him our burdens. As the Bible says, cast thy burden upon the Lord. Amen? It's a place of unburdening ourselves. It's a place where we can call out to God and say, God help me! Amen? Help me to do what I need to do. Help me in my fight, if you will, and what have you, concerning sin. And help me to do what the Lord would have me to do, if you will. Ephesians chapter 6, and look at verse 18. And a lot of times when this is talking about the armor of God, and we're supposed to be strong in the power of the Lord, amen? Not in the power of our flesh. You know, what can this flesh do? Nothing. Nothing right on our own, amen? But in Ephesians chapter 6, and sometimes I don't know why it is, but I've heard preachers talk about the armor of God, but they'll leave out verse 18. As if it's not. a part of the armor. I'm going to tell you something. It's an important part of the armor. He says, praying always, he says, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. He's saying pray for each other, pray always. And then watch what he says here in verse 19. And for me, Paul's saying pray for me. Why? That utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to speak, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds, that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak. Now, I don't know what Paul looked like. I have a picture in my mind. I have a picture of him as a little guy. And I mean a little, bold lion. Amen? Now, the Lord may correct that when I get to heaven. Probably will. As a matter of fact, somebody said, you know, you don't look like what I expected, brother. Well, amen. I don't know if that's good or bad. But the reality is that I don't know what Paul looked like, but Paul had enough sense to realize, you know what? I need your prayers. And I think of him as a bold preacher. And yet he said, listen, pray for me. Why? He said that I may open my mouth boldly to speak as I ought to speak. Amen? What a blessing. We need prayer. James chapter 5. James chapter 5. I appreciate the Word of God. I appreciate, you know, the fact that there are folks here that want to hear it. Amen. And want to listen. Look at James chapter 5. And look with me to verse 16-18. The Bible says here, Confess your faults one to another. That means you go to a little booth. No, we're not talking about that. And pray for one another that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Oh, we're saying, okay, you've got to be somebody special to have effectual fervent prayer, right? No. And you know why? Look at verse 17. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are. And he prayed earnestly that it might not rain. And it rained out on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again. And the heavens gave rain and the earth brought forth fruit, her fruit. You know, the reality is this, that the apostles and, if you will, the so-called great servants for God were made of the same stuff that you and I are made of. Amen? They had temptations, they had trials, they had difficulties, discourages, all those kinds of things, and yet they had access to the throne of grace. They had access to a God that cared and wanted to meet their needs and bless them. Folks, He's there for you and I as well. Amen. You know what? You say, well, what can I do for God? You know what, folks? You remember in Luke chapter 2? We won't take the time to look there. But in Luke chapter 2, there was a woman named Anna. who was in the temple. She had been a widow for some years, and she maybe thought, I can't do anything, but I can pray. And she was in the temple. She was saved by the grace of God, looking for her Lord to come. Amen. And the mother Mary and Joseph brought in Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law and what have you. And she saw him and took him up in her arms and spoke about this Jesus. Now she had been praying for folks around her and what have you. This is a special, if you will, and a spiritual work. It requires, if you will, power, preaching, perfecting of the saints. It requires prayer. Never sell prayer short. Sometimes I think the devil fights prayer harder than he does any one thing. Because I think he trembles at the sight of one of his children in prayer. And lastly, if you will, as we talk about this great work. And folks, you know what? It's the greatest work being done on the face of the earth. This work of missions. You know, folks, nothing can change the human heart like the gospel of Jesus Christ, and not just our heart, but our entire life. As Brother Graff mentioned, as the Bible says in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, end of verse 17, Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Amen? A new creation. All things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. Amen? The Bible says in Ephesians 2, verses 8-10, it says, For by grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, but as a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. But don't stop there. For we are His workmanship. Whose workmanship? The work of God. Amen? We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works. And one of the greatest works you could be involved in is the work of missions. Amen? This great work for God. Lastly, it is a sacrificial work. Look at Ephesians chapter 5. Ephesians chapter 5. And let's look, if you will, to verse 25. The Bible says this, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with a washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. Let me say this. There's no institution on the face of this earth. You know, the home is dear to God. But even more dear to God is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the only institution that God said He loved and gave His very life's blood for. You know, He didn't just die for our sins on the cross of Calvary. He died, if you will, to save us as a body, as a vessel to use to reach a lost and dying world. He saved us to change us. To make us, you know folks, make us something we couldn't be without Him. Amen. If you will look with me to John Chapter 21. No, let's look at Luke Chapter 9. Luke Chapter 9. You know, it's interesting that sometimes, if we're not careful, we can get so caught up in plans and programs, and trying to make all this stuff work, and I'm not against it all, but I'm going to tell you something. Somehow, I think, in our modern Christianity, we've lost something. We've lost the truth that to live for God and to serve God is a life of sacrifice. It's a life of sacrifice. And you know what? It's not a bad thing. You know, sometimes people don't like sacrifice. I've got to give something up. I got to do something that maybe I don't want to do or whatever. In Luke chapter 9, and let's look at verse 18, Luke chapter 9 and verse 18, the Bible says, And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him, and he asked them, saying, Whom say ye that I am? And they answered and said, John the Baptist some, but some, Elias and others, say that one of the old prophets is risen again. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God. And immediately charged them and commanded them to tell no man that thing, saying, The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised again the third day. Folks, Christ gave himself. Amen? Sacrifice. Look at verse 23. And he said unto them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged if he shall gain the whole world and lose himself or be cast away? Now the apostle Paul talked about keeping under his body, keeping under his objection, lest when he had preached to others, himself should be a castaway. Paul understood what it was to sacrifice in service to God and doing a work for God. Folks, when it comes to being involved in this great work, it's going to require some sacrifice from all of us. Amen? All of us, from the preacher all the way down. You know, sometimes people like to see the preacher sacrifice, but sometimes they're not as willing to sacrifice, if you will, with him. But it is true for all of us that it requires great sacrifice. It requires us to sacrifice what we will for the will of God. Amen. What we want for the wants of God. In John chapter 12, John chapter 12, look over there with me. John chapter 12, let's begin in verse 20. Bible says, And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship of the feast. The same came, therefore, to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, now what's this? Sir, we would see Jesus. Now, they wanted to see him with their eyes. Without doubt, they wanted to be in his presence. The Bible says here, Philip cometh and telleth Andrew, and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He says, He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there shall also my servant be. If any man serve me, him will my Father honour." The fact is that this world needs to see the Lord Jesus Christ. And let me say this, they can see Christ in the pages of God's Word. But you know, we used to sing a song years ago in the church that you're the only Jesus some will ever see. You're the only words of life that some will ever read. The fact is, is that you know what? If Christ is going to be seen in us, we're going to have to sacrifice ourselves and all for Christ that He might be glorified in us, if you will, Romans chapter 12. Romans chapter 12 this afternoon. Amen. Romans chapter 12 and let's look at verses 1 and 2. Paul said something that's a blessing and a challenge to us all. In Romans chapter 12 verses 1 and 2, Paul said this, I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. Now watch the wording, a living sacrifice, holy. Acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service and be not conformed to this world, but be a transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Now, folks, God wants us to prove to this world that there is a God and that his will and his way is perfect. As the scripture says, that cannot be accomplished in our lives unless we give ourselves as the living sacrifice. Let me say this, that's not easy. And I don't know that that comes overnight. You know, we've got to learn to surrender and sacrifice everything to God for the cause of Christ and folks, for the good of other people. You know, I said this often that whatever glorifies God is always good for us. and ultimately good for others. Amen. We're talking about sacrifice in this great work, if you will. Second Corinthians, chapter four. Second Corinthians, chapter four. And believe it or not, I'm almost done. Amen. Second Corinthians, chapter four. As a matter of fact, I'm looking for the looking underneath me. I don't see the outline of the trapdoor, but I know it's there. Second Corinthians, chapter four. And let's look at verse eight. The Bible says we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. We are perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken. Cast down, but not destroyed. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. What is he talking about? Sacrifice? Death? Death to self, that Christ may live and His life be manifest in our life. He says in verse 11, For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you, we having the same spirit of faith according as it is written, I believe therefore have I spoken, we also believe therefore speak, knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus and shall present us with you, for all things are for your sakes. that the abundant grace through the thanksgiving of many be redound to the glory of God. Now watch verse 16 as well. For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. Now watch verse 17. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." You know, the Apostle Paul looked at all that he had suffered and sacrificed for the name of Christ, for the great work of missions. He looked at it as a light affliction. Look at 2 Corinthians 11 and look at what Paul went through for the cause of Christ, but not just him. You know what, folks? They had an eternal vision before. The Bible says, without a vision, the people perish. Paul had an eternal vision of seeing many souls come to Christ, as many as God would use him and the churches that he started and what have you. He had a vision of seeing them saved by grace, seeing their lives changed. He had a vision of great things, of great work. that God not only did in His heart, but what He wanted to do in the heart of every human being on the face of this earth. He was willing to endure anything and everything. And He said, for your sakes. Amen? You know, we're talking about sacrifice. And you know, sacrifice used to be the norm of the Christian life and service for God in the local church, if you will, Nehemiah chapter 6. Nehemiah chapter 6, and verse 3, the Bible says, And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. You know what? Nehemiah would not lower himself. to give in to the enemies in order to continue to do the great work that God had given him to do. Now, he was building a wall. And you know, sometimes people look at us from the outside and they think, what are you people doing? What's all the fuss about? What's all the hullabaloo about? I mean, what's the big deal? But I want you to understand something. I hope you understand this this morning, whatever time it is. We are doing We're doing a great work. We're involved in the eternal work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that was near and dear to His heart. Amen? And you know what? You're involved in that work. You say, well, it's an overwhelming work. You know what, folks? There's nothing impossible with God. We can do what God's called us to do, but never lose sight of this. We are doing and involved in the great work of missions. It's not just your preacher. It's not just me. It's every single one of you in the pews today who are saved by grace, members of this church, giving, going, sharing, witnessing, loving a lost and dying world. Amen. Let's pray.