This is How God Called Me to Missions in 1977
In 1977 I was making, perhaps through momentum of earlier choices, decisions
that truly changed life direction for me. And this was no small decision, even
though it took a while for the weight of the decision to be felt. I was
inbetween two summer school sessions, and the invited speaker, Evangelist Ron
Comfort, had just returned from his first ever trip over-seas to a
third-world country for a series of meetings. The world of missions
became a reality instead of theological fact for him. He was making statements
similar to this "Young people, if 10-15% of the professed believers of the world
only are out trying to reach 95% of the lost sea of humanity
-- THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG with this equasion! You need to
volunteer tonight to be a missionary whether or not God ever calls you to a
foreign 3rd world country! Volunteer and leave the equipping and sending and
enabling to HIM.
There was no escaping this very reasonable conclusion except neglect or outright
rebellion was found in the heart.
The following is a copy from my spiritual diary for July 20-21, 1977. This thumbnail ...
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From Our Riverside Rest
Home Service handout in 2014, portion:
Introduction: In reading through the Bible for devotions, I have been
noticing how God responds to Cities and Nations and their respect of Law and
government. And I was reminded of July, 1977 when God was greatly working in my
Life that year. Ps 33:12 says that “the Nation whose God is the LORD” is
blessed! So, in thinking of both America, and Missions, I would like to give you
my devotions for a special day that year, when I studied this very psalm. That
day changed the rest of my life, and it could do the same for you as well!
This outline is from July 21, 1977 in my Personal devotions Journal for 1977;
reading for that day, Ps 33-34. On the previous day, Tuesday, in Chattanooga,
TN, in an evening revival service, in between two summer school sessions of 30
days each, I responded to an invitation by the evangelist, Ron Comfort, that I
would be willing to be a missionary, should God lead me in that direction. The
very next morning I read:
"Psa 33:8 "Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world
stand in awe of Him. I had been focusing of missions verses in a Bible reading
schedule that ran for 1 year.
A Missionary Hymn
I. A Prelude in Praise vv. 1-3 [prelude=a preceding event...introduces what
follows, thus:]
Introduction:
A. Foundation:
Psa 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is
beautiful.
Psa 33:2 Praise the LORD with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of
ten strings.
Psa 33:3 Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
1) v.4[a] [the] Word of God.
2) v.4[b] [the] Works of God.
Psa 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth.
Psa 33:5 He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness
of the LORD.
Psa 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them
by the breath of His mouth.
Psa 33:7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the
deep in storehouses.
vv. 4-7
II. Worldwide missionary call to Fear God.
A. v. 8 [the call]
Psa 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let
all the inhabitants of the world
stand in awe of Him.
B. v.9 [the] Source of Power.
Psa 33:9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
1. v10 Because of the heathen's evil counsel.
Psa 33:10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the
plans of the peoples of no effect.
2. v11 Because God has given us correct "counsel," v11 "to all generations."
Psa 33:11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart
to all
generations.
Universal observation of man, and his works: 12-15
Psa 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen
as His own inheritance.
Psa 33:13 The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.
Psa 33:14 From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the
earth;
Psa 33:15 He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.
3. Because He delights in using the weak and powerless. vv 16-17
Psa 33:16 No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not
delivered by great strength.
Psa 33:17 A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its
great strength.
4. Because He promises us deliverance and preservation if we trust in Him.
vv18-22.
Psa 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who
hope in His mercy,
Psa 33:19 To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.
Psa 33:20 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.
Psa 33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His
holy name.
v21 - You cannot be happy unless you are trusting in Him, doing His will.
Psa 33:22 Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.
[Post message] "Actions:"
- 1. FMF [Foreign Missions Fellowship] Meetings
- 2. Pray
for Missionaries Daily
"[Both] By Faith" [I was beginning the next Monday a second 4 week summer school
session in which a week's worth of regular class assignments was to be done
nightly and FMF meetings were 30-40 minutes nightly, thus ONLY 'by faith' would I be
able to attend the meetings!] Evening reading: Romans 8:1-11 [I was reading through the Bible in one year in
both morning and evening sessions.]
Principle 7A Section of Applications: God's
Call to Missions
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