When the flood waters started coming up his house, the National Guard came by in a boat. "Need any help?" they asked. "No," he answered, "I prayed and God will help me." So they left.

       The flood got worse. The water filled the second floor of his house, so he climbed onto the roof. A helicopter came over and dropped a ladder. "There's not much time left," the pilot yelled, "You'd better come with me." "Oh, don't worry about me" the preacher said, "God will come and help me." So he flew off.

       A few more hours passed and the preacher drowned. When he opened his eyes in heaven he saw God and asked "God!! I was waiting on You. Why did You let me drown?" And God answered "Well, I sent you a policeman, a boat, and a helicopter! What more did you want?"

       When it comes to missions it's not you or me that are drowning. There are over 6 billion people on planet earth and over half of them have not clearly heard the gospel. They are drowning. Why don't we go? Are we waiting for God to talk to us in a dream, "Gp to China?" Are we waiting for a special letter from God that says, "Go to Africa" Did you know that God has already sent three messages to you to go?

1. MARK 16 - THE CALL FROM UP THERE (HEAVEN) - "Go"
       The first call can be found in the great missionary verse--Mark 16:15. Here Jesus is with His disciples. They are just a few young men. And He looks at them and He says,

Mark 16:15

"Here's what I want you to do, Go into all the world and preach the gospel."

       Now do you think they understood what Jesus said? Or do you think they stood around and Peter asked, "What do you think Jesus wants us to do? What does 'Go' mean?" Do you think they said that? No, it was very clear. The word go means go--start moving.

       Now today His 12 disciples are not here. We are His followers. You and I are His disciples. And when we read God's word, it's just like the Lord is talking to us. And He is looking at every one of you. And He is saying, "This is what I want you to do. I want you to go." This is the voice of Almighty God talking to us.

       During World War II there was a famous poster with the picture of Uncle Sam and over the top it said 'UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU." And no matter how you looked at it the finger pointed at you.

       When I see this verse I see a picture of Almighty God. And over the top it says "GOD WANTS YOU." And no matter how you look at it God has His finger on you and He says "I want you and I want you to go and preach the gospel." The call from up there is "GO."

2. LUKE 16 - THE CALL FROM DOWN THERE (HELL) - "SEND"
      Now look at Luke 16:19-22. This is the story of the rich man and Lazarus."There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously (or lived in luxury) every day. But there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried."

       Rich people die. Poor people die. 100 years from today every one of us will be dead unless Jesus comes back first. Look at verse 23, "and in Hades he lifted up his eyes being in torment." Notice he is not sleeping. This is not just a dream or a nightmare. And when he opens his eyes he's in Hell. Did you know the Bible has more to say about Hell than it does about Heaven?

       And in Hell he lifts up his eyes. He has eyes. He can see. What else? He's in torment. He's hurting. He can feel. What else? Verse 24, "He cried and said, Father Abraham." He can speak. What else? Verse 25, "But Abraham said, Son, remember." He has a memory. Now look at verse 26, "And besides all this ... there is a great gulf fixed." He is separated from God. Now look at verse 27,

Luke 16:27

"And he said, I beg you...send Lazarus to my father's house."

He wasn't a believer but now he knows. He's saying, "God. I beg You, please send someone. For I have five brothers. And I don't want them to come here." Notice the answer in verse 29, "Abraham said, "they have Moses and the prophets; Let them hear them." He's saying, "Let them read the Bible, the books that Moses wrote, and the prophets." Did you know, for many people we can't say, "Let them read the Bible." Why? Because there are 2000 languages where not even one word of the Bible has been translated. They don't even have a Bible to read. They don't have Moses and the prophets. We need to send someone. The call from down there is "SEND."

3. ACTS 16 - THE CALL FROM OUT THERE (HUMANITY) - "COME"
       Now let's look at Acts 16:9. Paul is on his second missionary journey.

Acts 16:9

"And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him saying, 'Come over to Macedonia, and help us."