All is All That’s All

 All is All, That’s All

“And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.”

Acts 13:49

Sister Else Lund, is a unique, single lady who has given her life teaching the Word of the Lord throughout West Africa. She has served more than thirty-seven years under missionary appointment with the UPCI.  Many of those years have been spent in the nation of Ghana, but she has also taught pastors in Bible Schools in most of the West African nations.  She is now involved in a new phase of ministry called the International Teaching Ministry.  This lesson is dedicated to Sister Lund, who has a continuous focus and vision for training.  Like the lady who brought the alabaster box of precious ointment, broke it, and poured it over the head of Jesus, Sister Lund “…hath done what she could.”  (Mark 14:8)  Jesus said concerning the lady, “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.”  (Mark 14:9)  As this gospel is being preached in many West African fields, what Sister Lund has done in spreading the Word of God throughout the years is continually being spoken of.

In 1998 the nation of Ghana experienced an energy crisis, partly due to the lack of rains to fill the Akosombo Dam (the main source of power supply).  One day in a prayer meeting someone came to Sister Lund and asked in a complaining tone,  “What do you think of this power problem?”  Sister Lund responded, energetically,  “God has not seen fit to send the rains.  That’s all!” 

Students in the Bible School had heard Sister Lund say, “That’s all!” so often that it became her private trademark; often repeated among the students.  She would (and still does) throw up her hands and proclaim, “That’s all!”

Sister Lund’s trademark has now become the basis for this lesson.  The word “all” is not only one of Sister Lund’s favorite words; it is one of God’s too.  “All” appears nearly 5,500 times throughout the Bible or an average of five times per chapter.  Seventeen pages of references where the word “all” is used in the Bible were scanned in preparation of this lesson.

What Does “All” Mean

Dick Eastman, in an excellent, life changing, vision-stirring book entitled Beyond Imagination wrote,  “Clearly it is one of the most vital words in Scripture.  As someone wisely said, ‘All means all, and that’s all all means.’” 

To get a bigger understanding of this little word, let us look at the Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language to see how “all” is defined.  As an adjective, “all” means “the whole quantity of; the whole sum or number of; the greatest possible.”  As a pronoun, “all” means “everyone.”  As an adverb, “all” means “entirely, completely.”  As a noun, all means “everything, one’s total possessions.”  Sounds like, “all means all, that’s all!”

It All Starts Right Here...

“Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

(Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

“...For there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.  And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God...”  (Mark 12:32-34) 

Here you see the two greatest commandments ever given.  There is none any greater.  When we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and then love our neighbors (both near and far) we will want to take the Gospel to the entire world.

“I Repeat, I Meant All the World”

Bill and Amy Stearns in their book Catch the Vision 2000 wrote of an American poet named Carl Sandburg.  Carl had brought his roommate at college home for a visit.  Carl’s old auntie was hard of hearing.  When Carl introduced his friend to her he yelled, “Auntie, I want you to meet my roommate, Al Specknoodle.”  His auntie could not hear and just shook her head.  Carl tried once more,  “This is my roommate, Al Specknoodle.”  The old woman twisted her face and shook her head again.  The young man shouted, “Al Specknoodle.”  Finally the auntie burst into tears, “It’s no use Carl. No matter how many times you say it, it still sounds like Al Specknoodle.”

Bill and Amy then explained, “No matter how many times or how obviously God has announced His clear purpose on earth to bless every people, it seems His people never quite get the message.”  We always think that someone else will take the gospel to the lost.  It is someone else’s responsibility.  No, it is your responsibility or better still, it is the responsibility of all Christians in all churches among all tribes, in all nations, throughout all the world.

Centuries ago, John Chrysostom said,

 “We have a whole Christ for our salvation, a whole Bible for our staff, a whole church for our fellowship, and a whole world for our parish.”

The Whole Gospel to the Whole World

By the Whole Church

All of the Gospel

To All of the World

By All of the Church

“...The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”  Matthew 9:37-38) This Scripture outlines for us two great problems in World Evangelism.  First of all, there is a big, vast harvest.  Secondly, there are few labourers.

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest?  Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”  (John 4:35)  Jesus is saying here,  “Open your eyes!  The fields are ripe for harvest.” 

We, who have received salvation (Acts 1:8) are debtors to those who have never heard this Gospel before.  (Romans 1:14-16) There are two great groups of people in the world.

1.  There are those who have heard or who have the opportunity to hear.

2.  Then, there are those who have never heard or cannot hear because there isn’t a preacher.  (Romans 10:13-15)

What is the Color of the Missionary’s Feet?

In the Scripture mentioned above, we notice the beautiful feet of those that preach the gospel.  What color are the feet of the missionary?  Many people think that the missionary’s feet are white, but they can be any color. It is true that in the past most of the missionaries came from North America (or before that Europe).  But there is a shift in Christianity being experienced worldwide.  Most of the Christians today are found in the developing nations of the world. We are all responsible for taking the Gospel to all nations.

The Indigenous Church

The national churches in each country need to start focusing on evangelism and becoming established as an indigenous church.  This means that the church should be self-governing (the leadership is taken from among the nationals); self-propagating (nationals are evangelizing their nations); self-financing (as an adult church the nationals are financing the church).  But, it does not stop here.  The circle is complete when nationals are sent as missionaries to other countries.  The color of the missionary should be changing, or better yet, joining the present missionaries.  There should be black, white, red, and yellow feet marching throughout the whole world.

Evangelism is our primary purpose of being on the earth.  Spurgeon said, “Soul-winning is the chief business of the Christian minister; indeed, it should be the main pursuit of every believer.” 

Paul’s purpose in his daily life was to “save some.”

“...I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”                   (1 Corinthians 9:22)

The All-Nations Message

“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”        (1 Timothy 2:4)

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

“...For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ.”  (Romans 14:10)

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” What is sin?  “All unrighteousness is sin...” (1 John 1:9)

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”      (2 Peter 3:9)

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one for you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:38-39)

The All-Nations Commission

“...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you...”  (Matthew 28:18-20)

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”  (Mark 16:15)

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

(Luke 24:47)

“And the gospel must first be published among all nations.”  (Mark 13:10)

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”  (Matthew 24:14)

The Last Days

God has promised to do a great work among all the nations in the world in our day.

“Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.”  (Habakkuk 1:5) 

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh...” (Acts 2:17)