48. Standing Between Go and Woe

Sermon 48 Standing Between Go and Woe

In the great commission to all the world Jesus says "Go ... preach . . . gospel."

Paul, in carrying out this commission says, "Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel." To the church in Galatia he said, "It an angel preach another gospel let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:7). He also states that the gospel is God's power to salvation to all who believe it.

With these guides to direct us and prohibitions to protect us, my brethren, as a people, earnestly contend that as the gospel is God's only saving power, nothing but the gospel must be preached. Then we contend with much zeal, there is no hope for man who hears the gospel, but will not obey it. While I rejoice to see many strong on the gospel, on the preaching, and on the obeying, yet I tear most of us are weak on the go. If God's command is just as positive to go as it is to preach the gospel when you get there, and it I do go and preach another gospel; Paul says I am accursed. Then on the other hand, it I am able to go or send a man and will not do either, is it not a violation of the word of God?

I find condemnation to those who preach another gospel, and to those who will not believe the gospel. Then the commission to the church—and this includes every member of the church—is world wide—go to all the world. But how am I to go?

Paul says we can not believe in Him of whom we have not heard, and we can not hear without a preacher, and he can not preach except he be sent. These questions here present themselves: (1) Who must go? (2) Where must he go? (3) Who must send those who go? (4) How must they be sent? The original call to go tell upon the apostles only, who had me commission given to them. Later they went to Jerusalem and set up the church of Christ, and this church Paul teaches, is the support and the pillar of the truth. In as much as Jesus says, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you tree" (John 8:32), and this church being the pillar or under support of this truth, then the "going" should be as serious a matter for every church to study as baptism is for the believer.

But all men have not the gift to preach, and as Paul tells us in the twelfth chapter of Romans that we being many have different gifts. Then when a man has the gift to preach, God requires it at his hands. But God does no more require a gospel minister to preach than He does a gospel church to send him out to preach. We are taught in His word that God has ordained they who preach the gospel shall live of the gospel. Also He has ordained one brother should not be burdened and another eased, but each must give as he has been prospered. It I have been prospered ten dollars, and I give as though I had been prospered five dollars, I become a liar to the Holy Ghost, Just like Ananias and Sapphira who gave a part and said it was all. God has made no provisions to excuse me in so doing. But in withholding from the Lord what properly belongs to him, I become selfish, and in becoming selfish I become covetous, and God teaches that covetousness is the sin of idolatry. So I make myself an idol worshiper and bring condemnation upon myself.

On the subject of going and giving as God has prospered us, some Bible references may do us good. In our diagram the pillar of the truth rests on seven foundation stones as taught by the apostle Paul in Ephesians fourth chapter. I must make up my mind at once. There is one body, and this one body is said to be the church (Colossians 1:18-24). Them as there is one church, and as this church is the pillar of the truth, and as the truth must be preached, and as the preacher must be sent, we conclude that this church is the only society God ever ordained to send out the truth. Each body has its own peculiar spirit dwelling in it to keep it active and alive. We are taught there is one spirit. As all living bodies perpetuate themselves in reproducing themselves, how essential it is for this spiritual body, the church, to send out the seed of the kingdom, the word of God, to bring fruit after its kind! If the church today could realize the teaching of Christ, that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and that all sacrifice that man makes is for his good and not for God, then we would have less trouble in getting men to do their duty.

It was a great sacrifice for Abraham to leave his country and kindred and journey to a country unknown to him; and still a greater sacrifice to be required to give his only son by Sarah his wife. Yet this sacrifice tested his faith in God, and his loyalty to God's commands, and brought a thousand fold reward in the end.

It was a great sacrifice for Moses to run away from Egypt, and lose the honor of occupying the throne, and no doubt the forty years of sheep herding in the wilderness brought many trials and hardships; yet these hardships made the man, and he became not only the greatest law-giver, but the greatest general this world has ever known. So we see all sacrifice made to advance the work God ordains at our hands brings its blessing with it.

I learn from Luke 6:38 that as I give it shall be given me, and this is why many do not enjoy their religious faith. A father once went to church and put in a penny when the contribution basket came by. At home he was complaining about the poor sermon he heard that day. His six-year old boy who saw his father put in one penny said, "Papa, you did not expect to get a good sermon for one penny, did you?"

This child had the correct idea. We only get out Of anything according as we put in. Paul says, we shall also reap sparingly.

Some may ask the question, "To whom must I give?" The Savior says, "Go and sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasures in heaven and come and follow me." I know of many brethren today with 5100,000 to S 600,000—more than they will ever need—hoarded around them. The cry of the poor, the wail of the orphan, and the need of the widow all go unheeded by them. Solomon says, "He that giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord." But many of my brethren accumulate riches for their children to spend in the service of the devil when they are gone, yet they heard not the call of the poor while on earth.

"Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Some men's sins go before to judgment' other men they follow after. Does my work stop at death? If not and I have given $500, or 51,000 during life time in the Lord's service, and leave 5100,000 behind to go into the service of the devil, by what process do I hope to be saved at the last day?

I turn to the word of the Lord and read in 1 Corinthians 9:7-14, that I am to give to preachers. Paul teaches that those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel. He also teaches that one brother should not be burdened and another eased. While the woe stands behind me if I do not go, yet the same woe stands behind all men who do not try to help send a man.

Then my brother or sister should ask themselves the question, am I a partner and In fellowship with the Lord in doing his commands? An aimless life is almost a worthless life. God tells us we must give as we purpose, ( 2 Corinthians 9:7). In all the business transactions Of lib which prove successful, men have some definite ideas Of what they will put into said business, and how much time they will devote to it to make it a success. So should it be in the church of God. It every member would have some purpose in mind and work to that end, we would accomplish much in the Master's cause.

I read in Deuteronomy 16:17 that all must give as they are able. Nine tenths of those who claim inability to do any thing forget that it is God's law to give as they are able. When we have money to spend for many of the useless things we buy, and then claim we are unable to help the many needs that are demanded by the church, we fall below what God expects us to do.

Our final thought is, we must give as we are prospered ( 1 Corinthians 16:2). The call comes to all church members—go and preach the gospel. Woe is me if I preach not the gospel.

In all armies the fighting force is only one part of the army. The base of supplies, the war equipage must be attended to by others. So it is in the church of Christ. The faithful minister rushes to the front with the sword of the Spirit, and makes the battle against sin and evil. God has ordained he should be supported while there, and the church, or any member of the church who falls behind and fails to do his part may be counted among the unfaithful servants at the last day, and cast into outer darkness.

Brethren, it is time all were aroused in this duty and go to work that all may have a right to the home of rest in the city of our God.