• WHO SHOULD GO?
• BY WHAT AUTHORITY?
• HOW SHOULD IT BE FINANCED?

1. WHO SHOULD GO?
      THE CALLED- "Seperate me Barnabas and Saul for the work unto which I have called them." Acts 13-2b.
      Paul and Barnabas were sent out from the church in Antioch to reach the Gentile world. They began what is known as the first missionary journey. They proceeded across the Mediterranean Sea to the area known as Galatia. They came to another town called Antioch, and there preached Christ, created a riot, and were thrown out of town. But they didn't quit. They proceeded father into Asia Minor (Galatia in particular) to a town called Iconium. In Iconium they were using their spiritual gifts. (See Acts 14)

   The Exhibition of Spiritual Gifts:

     A. The gift of preaching

     Acts 14:1 "And it came to pass in Iconium that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake..." Here they exercised the gift of preaching, which is a spirit given ability to declare the gospel with clarity and power. Not everyone has that gift, but they had it and they used it.
     Acts 14:21 "And when they had preached the gospel to that city (Derbe), and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch." Again they are exercising the gift of preaching.
     Acts 14:25 "And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia." They had the Spirit of God to preach the gospel with power and with effect.
   

     B. The gift of teaching

     Acts 14:21-22 " And when they had preached the gospel in that city, and taught many... Confirming the souls of the disciples..." The only way to confirm someone is to establish them in the doctrine of the Scripture. So they exhibited the gift of preaching and the gift of teaching.

     C. The gift of exhortation

     This is the gift of exhorting people. Sometimes it's called publicly; sometimes it's exhibited on a one-to-one basis during counseling. It is the ability to encourage someone to pursue a certain course of action. They preached, they tought doctrine, then they encouraged people to follow what they had learned.
     Acts 14:22 "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."

     D. The gift of administration

     This is the ability to put the pieces together to make things function. Acts 14:23 "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whome they believed." After they had gone through those cities the first time, they organized the church in each city on their return visit.

   
   

2. BY WHAT AUTHORITY?
     THE CHURCH Acts 13:1-3 "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers;...As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."
     Acts 14:26 "And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they have been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled." Acts 15:40 "And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brothern unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches."
     There is no authority under Heaven recognized any higher than the church of God. He gave the church the "Keys" (authority) and what we bind on earth will be bound in Heaven. Matthew 18:18 The scriptures know or teach no such doctrine as boards, associations, or committees, ordaining or sending out missionaries.

3. HOW SHOULD IT BE FINANCED?
     THROUGH A LOCAL CHURCH. It has become a gross concern to me as to why our mission work has been in the most part been unsuccessful. In my honest opinion, a young minister leaving his home, job, and close relationship with his church and church people has assumed a most trying and difficult task, almost to despair. When you go to a new field, you are invading Satan's territory. Therefore, with no pastoral experience, he will spare no end in disrupting or completely destoying you. If it be by those who attend, this brings tension from within and without as well. If you are not receiving support from home and other churches, Satan is going to use this to weaken or destory your faith, at least in the trust that you had put in people to support you. And how do we support through the church? By our pastors and teachers preaching and encouraging our people to "bring the tithe into the storehouse that there may be meat..." for all.
   
   Eugene Brown, Director Words of Hope Ministry

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