5. MONEY IS NEEDED TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION

Matthew 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen."

The Master commanded that the good news be taken to all nations, and all nations be discipled. The plan given to His apostles was fulfilled by them in their generation.

Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

We are responsible to fulfill His commission. It must become our mission. Giving is intended to help those who go, meet their costs in going. Namely, your giving is spent on travel, housing, health, taxes (those who go pay tax both in their home country and in the country to which they go), administration, ministry costs, copiers, computers, fax machines, etc. In other words, your money goes to the nitty gritty of practical ministry.

Those to whom you give also give out of what you give, so that the gospel may reach the utmost parts of the earth. Fulfilling the commission is never free.

John 6:8-9 "One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, ⁹ There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?"

The boy had only five small barley loaves and two small fish. It was not a whole lot, but in the hands of the Master it was multiplied. The Master takes without criticism, our giving, which we think is not much, and makes it much to meet all the needs and more. The boy sacrificially gave his little all and received back all he needed, and like the rest of the multitude, was fully fed. Sacrificial giving in the Master's hand will bring multiplied blessing back to you.

Let us list some of the more blessed aspects of our giving:

Hebrews 13:16 "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

Philippians 4:15-19 " "Now ye 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. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. ¹⁷ Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. ¹⁸ But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. ¹⁹ But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."