In this sermon, the speaker begins by acknowledging that humans have a tendency to make small things into big problems when they don't have major issues to wrestle with. He then expresses excitement about a book review series and a power pack of Christian literature that he has seen, emphasizing its value and the addition of new books. The speaker mentions his preference for giving full portions of preaching rather than short snippets, citing advice he received from a church planter in India. He also addresses the danger of the church becoming a spectator sport and emphasizes the importance of being led by the Holy Spirit with a vision and willingness to obey God, as described in the Bible.

I believe in the Lord's providence that he's brought us together. I'm not able to take as many meetings as I used to, so one of my prayers is that each meeting, small or large, might really count. And it's my prayer that this meeting will be this time together, this looking into the Word of God together, be a real blessing to you. I wonder how many of us really believe God wants to bless us tonight. Some people, they hear about me in advance, they think some don't even come, because they're afraid God wants to break them. And of course, sometimes his Word is a hammer, and it breaks us. But that's only because God wants to bless us, and God loves us. And I'm sure all of us sitting here tonight have different things on our minds. We don't live in a religious vacuum, do we? We have things on our minds. I got a lot of things on my mind. My older son is getting married next Saturday, and this makes me feel like maybe I'm going over the hill. And I have a lot of other things on my mind. But you know, it's wonderful when we think of God's Word, 1 Peter 5, 7, where it says, cast every care upon him, because he cares for you. And we can come now, as we open the Word of God together, with a sense God cares. God really cares. There's a lot of suffering and tragedy in this world. I'd just come back from two and a half months in Pakistan, and Nepal, and Bangladesh. When I was in Bangladesh, I went walking down the streets near where I was staying, in a very poor area. And I came to an area ten times poorer. I thought I was already living in a poor area. And these were Bihari refugees. India doesn't want them. Bangladesh doesn't want them. Pakistan doesn't want them. They have nothing. They live in these absolute ghettos of filth that you can't believe unless you see it. Waiting, hoping that Pakistan, of the three, Pakistan seems to be the best place for them, somehow gives them an open door. And everywhere I go, in this global village, this planet Earth, I see so much suffering. On the train, I spend most of the time in prayer and in correspondence. And I was reading a prayer letter from a friend in India, who's trying to help the poor. And a poor farmer that he was trying to help, some people who hated him just went into his farm with an axe and just cut him up in pieces and finished him off. Just a normal event in that part of India. You know, a lot of areas in India, it seems to go quite well. India isn't that militant a country, really, when you consider 700 million living there. But lately it's been destabilizing again, as it did in the partition, when hundreds of thousands of Hindus killed hundreds of thousands of Muslims and vice versa. And now the Punjab is destabilizing. And Indira Gandhi believes it is the greatest crisis she has ever faced in her time of being Prime Minister of India. And in many other parts of India, things are out of control. The police have no authority. Everything operates on bribe. Everything is corrupt. People are being kidnapped all over the place. People are being killed all over the place. Again, this is only in certain parts. I was reading an article about the destabilization of Bombay. Prostitutes being thrown from 10th floor windows of these new luxury hotels that attract all the multimillionaires from the Gulf who don't go to Karachi because it's too Islamic. They come to Bombay, where one of the largest prostitute populations in the entire world lives. Tens of thousands. Many of them kidnapped from Nepal. Everywhere we go in the world, we see so much suffering and so much evil. And it really is a challenge to us. Because, you know, son, sometimes we magnify our problems. We got some little problem at home. I've seen in my house the magnification of the dishwashing problem to the point where people were shouting at each other, people were accusing each other. I'm sure you've never had this kind of thing in your home. This is probably the result of an Anglo-American amalgamation. But we magnify our problems. We never had a dog in our home. I felt, you know, we're not going to have any dogs. The people in the world don't have enough to eat. I'm not going to have a dog. But as my daughter got older, 18 or 19, she had a number of different things she wanted. The various things she wanted, I thought the dog was about the best. So we compromised. And we got a dog. Now this dog throws us as a family into crisis. And, you know, no need to mention the gory details. But it's all very small. It's really very petty. And yet, it seems sometimes when we don't have a really big problem in our life to wrestle with as human beings, we take little things and we make them big. It seems to be part of human nature. Well, there are just a few sort of thoughts that are on my heart as we come here tonight to look into the Word of God together. After Les Wade gave this tremendous series of book reviews, I was especially excited about seeing this. I haven't seen this yet. It seems to have got heavier since I last saw this power pack. They've added several new books. It really is the most incredible literature bargain I have ever seen in Christian literature in working in it 29 years. And I don't think I'll mention my other items because this is obviously by far the best thing you can get, especially if he's going to give you this book free, with it. Yes, O.M., without apology, believes in literature. This may be the only time I've been taking meetings in Britain for 22 years. This may be my only visit with you, and I may not be able to get back. Britain is a bigger country than it looks on the map. A lot of churches. And therefore, I just believe that if we make this book table, see that beautiful map of the world back there? I hope you have one of those. If we make this literature a priority, we can turn this weekend into weeks of blessing in our own homes. I really mean that. And I say this carefully, that if you get something from this table that is not a blessing to you, I'd love to hear from you personally, really. I'd love to get a letter. Dear George, I'll give you my address, I have a little calendar I carry with me. I go around losing these. I have my address on them, here among my other tracts. This one's actually a bookshop in Jordan. They had the same calendar, I got it mixed up. But I've got them somewhere. But I'll give you my address, and you can write to me and you say, Look, I got this book from your book table, and this wasn't a blessing. I paid a pound for this, and it really didn't do anything for me. And if you could honestly write that to me, I'd be thrilled. Because I've been making this offer all over. Very few people write. Of course, people today, they don't know how to write much. And I will send you as a gift ten free books, worth about ten pounds. I have a great trust in God's people. The whole work of OM is built on this whole concept of trusting people. You know, if you trust people, they respond to that. So we hope you will take this material and make use of it. These maps of the world, the prayer cards, all kinds of books. And a lot of material is free, anyway, about all these different parts of the OM work. You know, one of the reasons I'm here, sitting over there in this blue, whatever you call that coat, Ray trainer. Ray's been on OM for many years. He's been twisting my arm for a long time to come here to Leeds. He even showed, you know, where it was on the map. And I heard of Bradford and York and other famous towns. I had heard of Leeds, of course, as well. But I haven't been here much. And it's good to see Ray here. And we know Ray is also thinking of the quantum leap down the road. I think you've just come off the ship. Is that right? Well, I just want to thank you for standing with him in prayer. Because OM is going where it is today. And the ships are going where they're going today. Reaching literally millions. Seeing thousands of people come to Christ. Churches being born. Tens of thousands recommitting their lives to Christ. That's without exaggeration. Because of churches like yours that have sent forth men like Ray. And I know others have gone from this church as well. And really, that's why I'm here. Above all else, just to really thank you. Because the key to world evangelism is a local church. But God in His sovereignty has raised up missionary fellowships as the arms of the church. Not para-church, unless you have the right definition of that. But as the arms of the church, as the fingers of the church, reaching out to the unreached areas. And if you don't understand how this works, I want to recommend a really exciting book. Book of Acts. You read that. And you will see how it works. As Paul was sent out by his church. And was used of God to pioneer the church in many, many nations in that day. Let's just pray now as we look into the Word of God together. Lord, we thank you for Ray. We thank you for what you've been doing in his life. And the life of his fiancé. Lord, we thank you for Ray. We thank you for others that have gone out from this fellowship to other parts of the world. Especially in a day when it's not so popular. In a day when Britain has become very introspective. And more nationalistic. And very inward. Lord, I thank you for this church that has a vision. And is not about to be stopped. In seeing that vision fulfilled. We thank you for this weekend of emphasis. We believe it's in your purposes that we're here together. Send forth others. Lead and guide in a very real way. For we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. Now I want to try to keep this very basic and somewhat simple. And I want to start in Acts chapter 1 and verse 8. I want us to think about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in world missions. Last mention that this new book of mine has just been published. I was actually opposed to any more Verwer books because I'm not really a writer. And I couldn't figure out why Otter and Stotten launched secular publisher. Wanted to publish a Verwer book. And I finally found out. It's because they feel that I'm simple. Not in the same way some of you are thinking of that. But that my writing is not too complex. See, a lot of the books that are being published are written for university students. And they wanted a book that's written really more for someone in primary school. Because that's the average reading level of most people. I think it's 12 years of age, you know. The Sun. Daily Mirror. The Standard. Some of those other really in-depth, complex newspapers. And somehow they felt, this is where I am. Well, you can decide after you read my book. But you know, it is good to sometimes keep things a little bit simpler. Some of the new books on sanctification, they will definitely test your sanctification if you try to read them. We have a new book about church government and church life every month. Each book contradicts the book before it. Now some of the writers are even contradicting their own books. I've followed some of these men for the last 22 years since I came to this beautiful island. Islands are ships just come from the Isle of Man. They actually think they're an independent country. They may be. I haven't been there yet. But I've been following some of these people and their more recent books actually contradict their previous books. People do change, don't they? That's why, you know, somehow I just, I really prefer this book. I have a real bias toward the Bible. I wonder if any of you are in that camp. And I read other books. But I like to look into the Word of God and just see. And I think the Word of God can be understood by the average man sitting in the average church in Great Britain today and anywhere else in the world. My heart was so ministered to in Pakistan. I was among very simple people. Many of them were not even literate. Many of the Christians in Pakistan have never been born again. They're Christians. They're proud of their heritage. They're a minority community. But they've never been born again. Many of them want to be. So when we have evangelistic meetings, great numbers come. I always saw a lot of people coming to Christ. And living in their homes, drinking tea. I haven't drunk so much tea in a long time. Sort of almost part of the religious ceremony there. I was deeply moved by these beautiful Pakistani people. And maybe it's going to take me a while to adjust back to preaching in England. Acts 1E. But ye shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem and all Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth. Now these are just the final words before the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven. So I think they're very important. And I want you, not just tonight, we don't have much time. I want you to reflect on these words in your home. I want you to compare these words which are from the mouth and the heart of the Lord Jesus with some other scriptures that you will find. For example, look at 2 Corinthians 10.16. Thank you very much. 2 Corinthians 10.16. Paul is writing to the Corinthian church. You know, it's very interesting in England these days. Quite a few people are leaving the churches where they've been going for many years. Looking for, I guess, better pastures. I've also been following this movement for about 22 years. And it's interesting how history repeats itself. And how the judgment we give is the judgment we get. And how in some places, many places now, those who left one group to go to another group are now leaving that group to go to another group. And I'll tell you where some others are going. You know where they're going? Completely away from God altogether. There are a lot of bitter people in Britain right now who have been burned and hurt through heavy, out-of-control church situations. I mention this because one of the main books I've been selling all over the world is called Healing for Damaged Emotions. We find that 50% of the young people who come in OM have relatively serious damaged emotions. All kinds of things. An increasing number have experienced incest in their own home. Rape by a father, by a grandfather. Very much on the increase. Others have experienced deep hurts in other areas. And God has been healing people through that book, which is just a biblical exposition of what the Bible teaches about healing for damaged emotions. And I just believe with all my heart that the enemy is out to do everything possible to stop us from obeying Acts 1A. To stop us from really doing that which is on the heart and mind of God in these days. And if this was on the heart of Paul, 2,000 years ago, 2 Corinthians 10-16, how much more today? Look at these words. To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our own or to our hand. This was Paul's burden. I don't come here with OM's vision or George Verwer's vision. I come here with a desire to expound, to share what is very clearly written here in the Word of God. The Apostle Paul to preach the gospel in the regions beyond. You know, one of the people's groups we have in Pakistan, they're called the Baluchi people. The Baluchi. There are four million of them. They have almost no churches at all. They have no Bible. In fact, these people, all Muslims, have no Quran. They have no Quran in their own language. A friend of mine is translating the New Testament into the Baluchi language and he's got two gospels. He showed me samples of them. And the Baluchi people that he's meeting with, some of them live in the United Arab Emirates across the Arab Gulf from Pakistan. They generally don't like the Pakistanis who are in control of Pakistan at present. Urdu-speaking people. They are so thrilled because Muslims believe in the Injil, the New Testament, to a degree. It's a bit of a controversy because their teaching is that it's been changed. But they're so thrilled, many of these people, that they have the Word of God in their language. Here is a whole huge group of people, four million. How many people do you have living in Leeds? How many people live here in Leeds? A million? Half a million. Can you imagine? Half a million or a million? Somewhere in between those two with no witness. No witness. Not one church. Not one missionary. Nothing. No New Testament. Even these gospels that have been translated, they haven't been distributed yet. There's hardly anybody in Pakistan who's working among these people. So who's going to distribute them? We're not into robots. You know, I come back and I started reading all the magazines coming out here in the West, technology, computers. It's a different world. Most people out there are still in agriculture. I think in the United States now that only 4% of the nation are in agriculture, feeding the other 96%. In these countries, 75, 80, 90% are in agriculture. The world today is a world of different worlds. And this is why movements like Operation Mobilization, like Red Sea Mission Team, like WECC, like other great missions, are more needed today than ever before. Because our world is so different from their world. And we have to be deprogrammed. I had to be de-Americanized. That's a long process. Not that anyone would ever arrive at such a thing. But I discovered when I first went to Mexico, that I was an ugly American. I was brainwashed into thinking my American way, that was the way to do it. That football means putting on an interspace galactic outfit and charging down the field, carrying the ball, and knocking other people down who get in the way. And when I got over here, I discovered that the football they play here, they actually use their feet. And I had to take off my helmet and take off all of this paraphernalia, which costs several hundred dollars, just to equip one character. Looks like a robot. And I had to learn what real European football was about. And maybe that's a silly illustration. But every culture is very, very different. Why is there so much difficulty in Britain right now, at least in London, between different races? It's getting hotter. It's getting heavier. People are getting killed. Because there are enormous differences in culture. And they clash. And so when we prepare men to go to Pakistan, to go to India, to go to the Arabs, to go to the Pashto-speaking people along the Afghan border, I've just been there recently, to go to the Nepali people, I'd love to send you a cassette tape, if you would like one and listen to it, a challenge I've given about Nepal, Bangladesh and India. I just recorded this in Karachi. And you can get it if you just write in for it. But if we prepare people for those countries, they have to go through a very intensive series of changes. World missions is a specialty type of work. And that's why local churches cannot do the whole task, any more than we could come back from the mission field and all of a sudden overnight start running your local church. We wouldn't know what to do running a local church in Leeds. God has raised up specialist men here. God has given anointing to some men and women. God has given gifts. And you know your own people. You work with them. You get to know with them. And of course, God isn't going to destroy all of your culture here in Leeds. You can be happy as an Englishman or an Englishwoman. Even as a Northern Englishman or an Englishwoman, which are very different from Southerners. I don't know if any of you Southerners are up here. People from Cornwall and Exeter and the regions beyond. But there's a great difference between Northern England. I have an outstanding friend in Manchester. OM is a Manchester-based movement. London is our international office. That's where I'm from. Peter Maiden is the director of OM Britain. He's in Carlisle, if you think you're far North. If you live in Carlisle, you spend your entire life trying to decide whether you're in England or Scotland. But I have friends in Manchester. They don't want anything to do with people in the South. One of them said, I really don't like to travel to London. But you can relax. You're in your own culture. And God does not destroy your culture. God doesn't wait for you to become some kind of new international evangelical cultural character before he works through you. Isn't that wonderful? You know, I feel God's people need to be more relaxed. A.W. Tozer says we get very religiously jumpy. Have you ever read any of A.W. Tozer? How many of you have ever read anything of this great writer? Raise your hand. I tell you, this man has got arrows with triple heads on them. And he points out that God knows all about us and he loves us still. He loves us still. So, Paul said, the ends of the earth, the regions beyond, that's one of the reasons God has raised up Operation Mobilization. We have 200 people now committed to the Muslim world alone. A miracle in the 20th century. We have 300 committed to India alone. That's 500 people between Istanbul and Bangladesh. I tell you, we need your prayers. And I believe there are unlimited possibilities if strong, dynamic local churches like yours will link up with fellowships like O.M. who have 20, 25 years of experience on the field, whose leaders speak many times these languages fluently. Pushti, Urdu, Nepali, Hindi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Canaries. Between us, we speak about 75 languages. Usually, most of us only speak two or three languages. And as strong, dynamic local churches with, first of all, a vision for God, with, secondly, reality and fellowship with one another, thirdly, in obedience to scriptures as such living local churches team up with movements like O.M. that I believe have proven themselves in these past 25 years. The possibilities are without limit. To plant churches among the Baluch, to plant churches among the Patans, to plant churches in Turkey and in the Arab world, to plant churches in Nepal and Bangladesh. When I was recently in Bangladesh, and I'm a little hesitant to share this, because it's not good if it goes into print. We don't know when there's tape recorders around and people typing things up. But in Bangladesh, we may be on the verge of a significant breakthrough among Muslims. Heads of families, whole families, all Muslims, coming to Christ, worshipping together without running for their lives. Muslim converts traditionally have to run for their lives. As you can read about in this Dr. Saeed book. He's a very unusual convert. Here's a group that are coming to Christ and remaining in their own culture. And it seems to be working. Now, Bangladesh is different than Saudi Arabia. I don't think this will work in Saudi Arabia. If you think Muslims are all the same, you've never studied anything about Muslims. There are hundreds and hundreds of different streams and divisions within Islam. There are books about that on the table. We are on the verge of a breakthrough in Bangladesh. But we need your prayers. We need more workers. We need people who will take what the Bible teaches about world missions and world evangelism, and really obey. Now look at another scripture. Look at Romans 15.20. Romans 15.20. Yea? So have I strived... That's a strong word, isn't it? So have I strived to preach the gospel not where Christ was named. Not where Christ was named. Lest I should build upon another man's foundation. Now let's make this clear. This is not to be everybody's particular calling. You may be called to live and to work in Leeds. No problem. Praise the Lord. But if you're called to work in Leeds, you should at least respect and believe that others are going to be called to lead Leeds. It's not putting one against the other. It's not saying one is more important than the other. We don't need division between home missions and foreign missions. We can't afford any divisions in the body of Christ. We are too small as it is. We are too divided as it is. We need to respect one another. We need the ability to compassionately disagree and move together. But if Paul would say this 2,000 years ago, should not the whole body of Christ say this today? Not in terms of them personally feeling they are like Paul, they must go to a totally unreached group, but of sensing this is part of God's plan. And then be sensitive to any in the church who may, as Paul, have this particular vision. Because the average young person, without encouragement from the church, without the prayers and the support of the church, will not make it to an unreached people's group in the ends of the earth to learn a language and to fall into the ground and bring forth a new living church. The average person just isn't that way. As one member suffers, we all suffer. I've seen churches that have been hit by division, and when they were hit by division, the first thing that went was the missionary budget and the missionary emphasis. I talked to the pastor, the pastor said, Look, we're in a survival pattern. We don't even know if we're going to be here a couple of months from now, much less still think about world missions. You know, the Corinthian church that Paul wrote those words to that we just read, they were in a survival pattern. They had every kind of problem you can think of. Young men were going to bed having sexual relations with their mother-in-laws. I mean, that's not really the way to get on with church life. Some people say, We believe that the church today should be like it was in the New Testament. Had they read the New Testament before they said that? When are we going to learn that the church is not a clinic for super saints? Or, let me put it in a better term, the church isn't some kind of special club for super saints, but it's a clinic for sinners. If you're looking for the perfect church, where all the gifts of the Spirit are operating, where everybody's flowing in one heart and one mind, where all the leaders are in seventh heaven, the perfect church, if you're looking for that church, forget it. I can save you a lot of trouble. Because when you get there, it won't be perfect anymore. Amen. Oh, what a need there is in these days to focus on the Lord Himself. Not movements, not this group, not this man, not this wind of doctrine, not this emphasis. To focus on the Lord Himself. And then, of course, many of these things can be incorporated. Well, this was the burden of the Apostle Paul. The regions beyond, the ends of the earth. And he clearly points out to us in Acts 1.8, if you can go back there again, that this will happen as the Holy Spirit takes control of our lives. Someone once said, the Holy Ghost brings a holy go. Now, we know the Holy Spirit brings many things, right? First of all, the Holy Spirit, when we initially receive the Spirit at conversion, because the Bible says, if you have not the Spirit of Christ, you have not Christ. So when we initially receive the Holy Spirit at conversion, we're born again. And there's the sealing of the Holy Spirit. And I'm sure most of you have read some of these great books about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. And we're baptized into the Holy Spirit. Now this, of course, we don't have time to get into, is something the Church doesn't exactly agree on in terms of vocabulary. Once we start talking about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and we talk about these things, suddenly we've got the vision. But I always remember the words of Billy Graham. I noticed a couple of his books on the table. I tell you, these books have been such a blessing to me. I've read both of them a couple of times. But he said this, I don't care how you get it, just get it. What's he talking about? The reality, the daily, seven-day-week reality of the Holy Spirit. So the Holy Spirit, of course, brings many things. We know the Holy Spirit brings fruit. He, third person in the Trinity, living in us, what a great mystery, but it's true, brings fruit, the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians chapter 5, verse 22, fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. That's beautiful. Without that, you don't go very far in your Christian life. And then we know the Holy Spirit brings gifts. I was listening to a teacher just the last couple of days. I'm often listening to cassettes. I used to be just a bookworm, now people are accusing me of being a tapeworm. But what a blessing I get out of these cassettes. When I turn sideways, some people think I have one. But really it's more of a metabolism problem. But I was listening to a Bible teacher, and he was pointing out to me some gifts of the Holy Spirit and from the Holy Spirit I've never even heard of before. And I've been studying the Holy Spirit for 29 years. I guess I must be a poor student. The Holy Spirit gives many gifts. So we need to be saved and indwelled by the Spirit. We need the fruit of the Spirit. We need the gifts of the Spirit. And we read also about the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Men who minister the Word of God, they need the anointing of the Holy Spirit. And then we need guidance. You study the book of Acts, and you'll see specifically how the Holy Spirit guided people. Look for example, just for a moment. Chapter 16 in Acts, verse 6. Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden by the Holy Spirit... Whoa! Did you see that? Forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the Word in Asia. The forbidding ministry of the Holy Spirit. After they were come to Myseia, they attempted to go into Bethany, but the Spirit allowed them not. This is the guiding ministry of the Holy Spirit in missions. Paul was one of the first missionaries. How was he sent out? Look at chapter 12, or chapter 13. A group of five men were waiting on God in prayer and fasting, ministering to the Lord. Acts 13, verse 2. Look what it says. You know, I'm so glad the brother said I was going to finish somewhere around 7.30 to quarter of 8. Boy, I really appreciate it. That was the greatest news I had since I got to Leeds. Because, you know, I heard this 7.30 thing and I was a little nervous. Because, really, I like to give a full portion. I learned this in India. Working with Bhaktsingh of India who planted a few hundreds of churches. He says, brother, when you preach, give them full portions. No snacks. Full portions. I was in an Anglican church in Birmingham last week. They said, you can have 21 minutes. 21 minutes? I can't get my book reviews finished in 21 minutes. Anyway, I'm glad we got another meeting. But look at verse 2 here in Acts 13. And they ministered to the Lord and fasted. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Wow! Separate me, Barnabas, and Saul, for the work unto which I have called them. Because, you see, some people are saying, Well, look, we're not interested in any of these parachurch groups like O.M. I know you don't teach that, but many do. We will take care of evangelizing the world. We will. We don't need any of these extra groups. They even say, what's the biblical basis for these groups? Do you know, history shows the largest church planting groups in Africa, Asia, South America, what other continents do you want me to name? They were missionary societies. They were the groups that planted thousands and thousands of churches. And when the churches were planted, they pulled back and moved into new territory. We have planted 15 churches in France. When we do that, we move out and move on. At the arms of the church, as a missionary fellowship, we move on. Brothers and sisters, you cannot separate a local church from fellowships like O.M. any more than you can separate the chicken and the egg. And let's not argue over which came first. We need one another. Half the world is waiting out there to get the gospel for the first time. Half the world is waiting for their first track, their first even gospel poster. We can't afford division back here in the home front. We can't afford that kind of analysis that leads to paralysis. We can't afford to major in minors. We need to emphasize that which Christ emphasized, that which Paul emphasized, that which the Word of God emphasized. We need to not think that we in the church are the directors of world missions. The Holy Spirit, the blessed Holy Spirit of God is the director of world missions. And we as the church should be upon our knees, listening, fasting and praying for the Holy Spirit to give the next command. In this case, the Holy Spirit said, separate me. Barnabas saw for the work unto which I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they being sent forth by the local church, what does it say in your Bible? The Holy Spirit departed unto Cilicia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. Isn't it interesting in a day when the Holy Spirit is being emphasized more than ever before? And praise the Lord for much of it. Praise the Lord for the renewed emphasis on praise. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord for the renewed emphasis on worship. Praise the Lord for the renewed emphasis on body life, ministering to one another in the power of the Holy Spirit. We also need that emphasis on the Holy Spirit as the director of the worldwide missionary enterprise. And if the Holy Spirit is the director, I want to get in on it. And I know you do as well. May God bless you. As you search the Scriptures, as you read the book of Acts, and see if these things be so. And I know as you do, God will give you a vision. And you will no longer sense that you're on the periphery of this great work of world missions, just listening to a few missionary speakers from time to time. But you will get a sense that you are part of God's great strategy for world evangelism. When I was on my way to Wales recently, somebody gave me some cultural orientation for Wales. They said, don't talk about football in Wales, talk about rugby. And I've been trying to remember ever since how many players in rugby. Is it 15 or 17? Any Welsh people here? 15 or 17 in rugby? Okay, we'll take 15. Somebody gave me this illustration that the church is so much like a Welsh rugby game. With 15 or 30 players on the field in desperate need of rest. And thousands in the grandstands in desperate need of exercise. What a danger in the church today that God's people become just spectators. It becomes a spectator sport. What's the next special meeting? What's the next big summer festival? Who's the latest new singing half-converted cowboy coming to town? What's the next film we're all going to see? What's the next big event that we can go watch? Indwelt by the Holy Spirit. With a vision of God. With a desire to obey Him wherever He leads. Whatever the cost. That's the Christian faith I read about in this book. That's what I've tried to follow by His grace through much failure these 29 years. And I say this just in closing. When the Holy Spirit is in control, when the Holy Spirit is doing the directing, things happen. Churches are born. People are saved. The work goes forward. And what an exciting, great privilege to have even a tiny part in what God is doing in the world today. Let us pray. Father, we thank You that we are, we are in the field. In the field of combat. We are soldiers called to go to the uttermost parts of the earth. Called to send people to the uttermost parts of the earth in obedience to Your Word directed and guided by the Holy Spirit. Father, we think of those words in Hebrews 5. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. And we would pray, O Lord, fill us even tonight. And we may be Your men, that we may be Your women. We may go where You want us to go and do what You want us to do whatever the cost, wherever You lead. Lord, we thank You for the wonderful things that You're doing all over the world. Yet as we look out at half the world that's still waiting to hear even for the first time we want to get up out of our seats and move in a fresh way into the field of action. Father, continue to bless, strengthen this congregation that they may have their eyes upon You. That Your vision may be their vision. That Your love may be their love. That they would know the indwelling and the guiding and the anointing and the filling of Your Holy Spirit. For we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.