Introduction: These verses prophecy the world-wide spread and success of the Gospel. It is incredible to consider that 2000 years ago there was only a little band of 12 apostles, and a few thousand followers of Jesus, and today about 10 percent of the world's population claim to be evangelical Christians (US Center for World Mission). There are 11,500 "ethnolinguistic" groups of people in the world, and 95% of those people groups have strong growing churches. The world is becoming more urban, and there are about 4000 cities in the world with populations exceeding 100,000 people. Of those 4000 large cities, about 98% have strong growing churches. In 1975 there were about 37,000 missionaries being sent out from North America. By 1988 the number had risen to 75,000 missionaries from North America. (I don't have more recent statistics.) In 1980 there were 13,000 non-western missionaries. By 1988 their number had increased to 36,000. Since 1988 new missionary organizations (Gospel for Asia, for example) have been formed all around the world that are literally planting thousands of new churches every year. Christian Missions, the spread of the Gospel, is a tremendous success. There are reasons why the Missionary Endeavor absolutely MUST be successful:

I. Missions MUST succeed because it is Jesus will to save people from all nations.

• A. He commanded his disciples to take the Gospel to every nation (Acts 1:8).
• B. We are included in that command.
• C. He declared that He had other sheep (John 10:15-16), and had to get them into the flock.
• D. The Gospel succeeds in even the hardest circumstances. Take the Sudan, for example. Share the story of Betty Cridland and Mary Beam with Sudan Interior Mission.

II. Missions MUST succeed because it is not possible for any of God's elect to be lost.

• A. Many of us were taught when we were children that the salvation of the lost depends on our own faithfulness, or our ability to persuade people to receive the Gospel.
• B. But the Bible informs us that the success of the Gospel depends on God's election and God's power. God decides who will be saved, and God makes sure that they do indeed get saved.
• C. See Ephesians 1:3-6.
• D. The most atheistic people get saved, because it is God's will and power, not ours. Consider Paul the Apostle. Consider this example of a Chinese army officer (share the story). (John 6:37).

III. Missions MUST succeed because the Church is the Bride of Christ, and He will see to it that His Bride is perfect and complete in every way (Ephesians 5:25-27). Every part of the Body of Christ is important, and He won't be satisfied with leaving any of His people out of it. And remember the story of the good shepherd. He had 99 sheep, but he insisted on finding the single lost sheep. 99% is not good enough for Jesus. ALL of the elect must by saved. Even criminals get saved, because it is the will and power of God. Consider this story of the gangster in the Phillipines (share the story).

Conclusion: The success of missions does not depend on our own planning, or financing, or faithfulness or anything. It does not depend on us. It depends on the will and power of God. Therefore Missions MUST succeed. It is God's will and plan for Missions to succeed. God is putting forth His powerful arm to make Missions succeed. The Gospel WILL spread from shore to shore, to every kingdom under the sun, and people from every nation will acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It is our joy and privilege to join with God in His great missionary enterprise. Let's join in, and support our missionaries with our prayers and our giving. We are assured of success. Amen.