Missionary Commissioning Service for Arif Khan

The point: Pray earnestly and intelligently for God's blessing to be used for His global purposes, not consumed upon ourselves.

Martin uses ancient Israel's failure to be an instrument for God's glory to the nations as an example of how turning inward leads to spiritual decline and idolatry, applying it to the church.

Surely in the initial petition, in the exhortations given, and then in the glorious affirmation of faith at the end of the psalm, you see this intimate connection between the blessing of God upon his people and the spreading of the knowledge of God among all the nations. And when Israel forgot that her mission was to be an instrument in God's hands to display to the nations. And when Israel forgot that her mission was to be an instrument in God's hands to display the knowledge of the true God, she turned inward upon herself, and she eventually turned away from her God to serve idols. And so it...

2:37 - 3:19 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin provides a detailed historical account of how Arif Khan came to be connected with Trinity Baptist Church and its Muslim Outreach Ministries. He traces Arif's conversion…

Martin describes a hypothetical guided tour of the church facilities, where a visitor would encounter a 'Muslim Outreach Ministries' sign, prompting questions about the church's connection to Arif Khan and Pakistan, setting up the historical sketch.

a guided tour through the facilities, he would soon become aware that there is a Trinity book service, there is a Trinity pulpit, a tape and radio ministry, but somewhere in that tour he would come across a room with a sign on the outside that says Muslim Outreach Ministries. And if the person is at all observant and interested in what's going on, he would want to know what's the connection between Muslim Outreach Ministries and this guy Khan, Arif, Arif, Arif, however you pronounce it, Khan, that we hear prayed for almost every Sunday night, and often in other connections we hear about the go...

26:06 - 26:49 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin provides a detailed historical account of how Arif Khan came to be connected with Trinity Baptist Church and its Muslim Outreach Ministries. He traces Arif's conversion…

Martin shares a humorous anecdote about Arif Khan, Frank Barker, and Alan Dunn forming 'AFA' (Arif, Frank, Alan) as their 'missionary society' when asked 'Who are you with?' in Pakistan, illustrating their collaborative work.

Kalamehach is now broadcast twice every week, going out by shortwave, and a potential listening audience of tens of millions. Thirdly, he has continued the annual Pastors' Conference, which began in 1990, and, God willing, will continue even into this fall. And I may apprise you of a little incident that we have a good laugh about. When one attends any kind of a gathering of pastors or missionaries in Pakistan, one of the first questions people ask you is, Who are you with?

38:31 - 39:07 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin provides a detailed historical account of how Arif Khan came to be connected with Trinity Baptist Church and its Muslim Outreach Ministries. He traces Arif's conversion…

Martin describes the severe legal and social dangers faced by those in Islamic states who listen to the gospel, profess interest, or own a Bible, highlighting the vital importance of Arif's radio and correspondence ministry.

But then, fourthly, he has continued and has expanded extensive correspondence that grows out of primarily the radio contacts. Put yourself in the place of someone in an Islamic state where if you are in Islam, by law, it is illegal for you to listen to the gospel, let alone profess an interest in it, let alone...

39:54 - 40:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Have a biblical perspective on the significance of God's work, counting it a privilege to spend time in His presence witnessing His work, which alone has eternal significance.

Martin contrasts the three hours people spend foolishly hollering at Giant Stadium with the privilege of spending a couple of hours in God's presence witnessing His work, emphasizing the eternal significance of the latter over fleeting worldly pursuits.

Amen. I was tempted to give a word of apology for the many things and the length that the combined elements have resulted in. But when I think that probably 50,000 people sit outside in the rain and inclement weather and holler their heads off like fools for over three hours at Giant Stadium, God have mercy on us. If we don't count it a privilege to spend a couple of hours in the presence of God, witnessing the work of God, which alone will have any significance when Giant Stadium and all of New York goes up in smoke at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

85:44 - 86:26 Read in full sermon