The Assignment!

The Assignment!

Mark 16:15-16 AMP

[15] And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. [16] He who has believed [in Me] and has been baptized will be saved [from the penalty of God’s wrath and judgment]; but he who has not believed will be condemned.

The plan of salvation was made manifest at the same time the first sin happened. The cross brought shame to Jesus, but it sealed our redemption. By the resurrection of Jesus, He has also sealed our eternal life. All these events happened in front of the disciples at that time, and it is not a wonder that all of them who witnessed the resurrection became witnesses to His Person, Power and Presence. We who are alive today may not have physically witnessed His resurrection, but there is a strong witness in our hearts that we belong to Jesus, He is ours, and we are bound for eternal life with Him. What a future to look forward to.

However, as the verse above makes clear, there is an assignment all who claim to follow Jesus have been given. The One who died needs witnesses to the power of the cross, the limits of the grave, and the hope that His life is and gives. It takes personal experience to be able to speak boldly about what you have and hold. How can I be a witness to a thing I did not touch, taste, feel, see or hear? It is not a surprise that the verse above is directed at disciples, not the crowd. The crowd flows by numbers and popularity, not by conviction or personal experience. Those who follow have a clear leader: Jesus Christ, and His instruction is to GO. 

To go means to take steps in the direction of the work to be done. It cannot be by sitting in the dark, or folding your arms, expecting some one else to do it. The platform for the work is the whole world. As I cannot be present everywhere, it means I just have to take care of the corner where I am. I show off the Person and Presence of the God I serve, and let Him shine in and through me. I do not get to determine who hears the good news of Jesus; He died for all, so the message of love is for all. It is not a call to promote myself, but to point men in the direction of the One who saves to the uttermost. That is the good news: the cross has sealed life for me.

The verse above also makes clear what lies at the end of whatever decision I make. If I choose to believe in God, I stand to enjoy His salvation. I am saved from the penalty of God's wrath, the natural consequence of sin. I am also kept from the judgment thst is sure to come on the world. Again, I note that I am not asked to bring anything else, except my heart. He does not need my money; but He can use everything I have and hold to bring His purpose to pass. The person who does not accept this free gift is condemned: that is a statement of fact. There are two choices: life and death. The end of both has been made clear. What would I choose? Where would I end up? God's time of favour is here.

The Harvest!

The Harvest!

Matthew 9:37-38 AMP

[37] Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but the workers are few. [38] So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.

Just in the chapter alone from where the verse above is taken, Jesus had healed a paralytic man, had called Matthew the tax collector to follow Him as a disciple, raised Jairus's daughter from the dead, healed the woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years, restored sight to two blind men, and delivered a demon-possessed man. These were just the recorded accounts in one single chapter of the bible. You would think that all who saw these miracles would be glad for God's intervention in human affairs, but not the Jewish leaders of Jesus' time. They would rather hold on to their traditions, rather than allow God move among the people. 

There is this amazing testament to the effect and impact Jesus had among the people. It was recorded that Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages in Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and every kind of sickness, with His words and works both reflecting His Messiahship. What He did and taught were evidence of His ministry and assignment on earth. He was clear about His target, and He would not let anything at all dissuade or discourage Him. Just like Jesus, do I know why I have been planted in the place I am, and do I know what I have been gifted by God to do?

The one thing that Jesus will not compel is submission to Him. His heart is open with love and compassion, as we see in the verses just before the one above. When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion and pity for them, because they were dispirited and distressed, like sheep without a shepherd. These people had been led by men who were concerned first and foremost about control, not destiny. Pharisees and scribes were more interested in keeping their hold on men than in helping them find purpose. How can the blind lead the blind? This is why the prayer of Jesus here is instructive: there is a lot to be done. 

Divinity has to meet and help humanity. The work is so huge that just human effort and labour alone will not make a single dent. The harvest is indeed plentiful. The world is in such dire chaos, and only the Prince of Peace has the answers it needs. Those who also understand what is at stake are also few. However, there is a Lord of the harvest who understands all the dimensions to this great assignment. It is not one you can apply sticks and swords for, and it is also not one you can use PowerPoint presentations alone to fuly explain how the kingdom of God works. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict men, and to empower them for the work needed. It is His work; His earth; His mission field. Would we all join Him at His work? God's time of favour is here.

The Right Person!

The Right Person!

Proverbs 31:30 AMP

[30] Charm and grace are deceptive, and [superficial] beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord [reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], she shall be praised.

We usually quote the verse above in the context of a woman who fears God, and that would be correct, but I am sure we know that the principles laid out in the verse above apply to all persons, male or female. We are all taught how to present ourselves; we learn grooming, etiquette and accpetable behaviour as we grow. We are placed in the midst of families, and the society at large, so we can learn acceptable norms, and pattern our lives and character after these norms. We learn what is acceptable in society as we grow, and re-learning, unlearning and resetting so many ideas that make us fit into whatever society we have been planted in. That is the physical side to our existence. 

There are reasons why we are not taken away from the earth as soon as we are born again. We are left here on earth in order to impact and affect the earth the right way. As part of our earthly phase, we take care of our bodies, as we should, knowing that our bodies are the temple of God, in which He seeks to dwell. You do not treat carelessly that which has been given to you in trust. You do not handle with levity the valuable treasure that has been entrusted into your hand. We have a duty to nurture that which is given to us, and that is where charm and grace are important. Esther the queen knew the importance of this; there was a place for proper outward preparation,  before she could stand before the king.

The warning, however, is to know the place and limits of charm. It helps to open doors and give access tto great men, but it appears that it is not enough to rely on the outward alone. As we know, there are doors external preparation will open for you, but only the inner preparation will sustain you when those doors close behind you. The external is great, as it gives a beautiful first impression, but after a great first impression, what else have I got? The verse above makes a reference to superficial beauty; as great as it is to present myself the right way, I must know that the outer is temporary, and only that which is tied to the fear of God lasts forever. 

The verse refers to a woman who fears the Lord, reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect. This is relevant to anyone and everyone who makes an approach to God in the same way. What does the fear of God lead me to? It keeps me grounded and humble; I seek to please and honour Him in my daily choices and decisions. I make it a duty to relate with God regularly, not when the occasion calls for it. I do not seek to turn God into a dispensing machine, only coming to Him when I need a thing or two. If I seek God the right way, He will also back me up. What treasure awaits the one who fears the Lord. Do you? Do I? God's time of favour is here. 

Ambassadors!

Ambassadors!

John 20:21 AMP

[21] Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives].”

We can read about the account of the death and resurrection of Jesus, and appreciate the sacrifice that brought us all we have now, but picture the disciples at that time. They had met and closely followed a Master who did mighty miracles before them. The dead were raised back to life, the lame walked, the blind had their sight restored, and many souls were converted. They believed their Master was beyond reproach or shame, so it must have been very hard for them to accept that He could be arrested and treated like a common criminal. Peter said so, and Jesus rebuked him for trying to stop the plan of God for the whole of mankind. 

Jesus was indeed arrested and put to death, but thank God that this is not where the story ended. Jesus was raised to life, defeating the power of sin, death and the devil, and securing eternal life for all who would come to put their total faith in Him. The disciples could not fully understood the impact of what Jesus did, and fear had made them go into a locked room. They were hiding from the Jews, but that did not stop Jesus from appearing before them, and pronouncing those immortal wrods: "Peace be unto you". Nothing can limit the One who gave His all to secure an eternal inheritance for me. No scheme of man, or the machinations and powers of hell can limit the power and effect of what Jesus has done. 

The verse above refers to the legacy that Jesus left for His disciples, and it has to be our hearts' comfort. His Peace is not subject to my convenience or acceptance; it is always available, whether I embrace it or not. It is not subject to the world's manipulation, because it is not first and foremost of physical quality. There is no experience on earth that can fully explain the effect of the Peace that only Jesus gives. It is an inner Presence; it is the Person of Jesus, who introduces Himself as the Prince of Peace. He has the capacity and capability to give of that which He is. As we know, a man can only give you out of that which He has. 

For the disciples then, Jesus gave His Word of assurance of His Peace and Presence. It is still the same message for the disciple today. He is the same God yesterday, today and forever. Dispensations may change, but God's demand for lives that will show off His power has not diminished. He is always ready to supply all that we need for life and Godliness, and we must embrace His grace. As the verse above also makes clear, being His disciple means being His representative. Wherever I stand, I proclaim publicly the identity of the One who lives inside me. He seeks men He can send to impact the world for Him. Can He count on me? Can He count on you? God's time of favour is here.

The Gift!

The Gift!

Acts 2:38 AMP

[38] And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We read of the promise of a special gift that was promised by Jesus just before He left the earth. We read of the account of the Holy Spirit coming on the apostles, in fulfilment of that promise. We then see men who had been afraid in the recent past, due to events of the cross, the pain of losing the Master that they had known, the general hostility of the Jewish leaders of that time, and the non-challance of the crowd which did not even know what it had been given. Whilst God was at work in the lives of the people gathered in the upper room, there were people who were focused on power, position, possession and performance. What a mess life would have been without Jesus. 

The gift came, and timid men became bold. Men who once denied knowing Jesus stood up in front of people and spoke so boldly of the Master they had all abandoned at His hour of need. Men who had been witnesses to His power, the miracles that He performed, the amazing lessons that He taught, and the lives that He touched, were all glad to speak to other people about Him. It takes someone with personal experience to be able to speak so boldly about what he has seen, felt, heard or personally encountered. You cannot fake the experience. Someone else cannot tell you about it. The question then is: 'Do I know Him on a personal level?

The verse above is from the first Sermon of Peter after the Holy Spirit had come. He spoke about Jesus; a simple message, but backed up by the power of God. This is the impact of the Holy Spirit. He takes the very ordinary and turns it into the amazingly extraordinary. He takes simple words, and after breathing on them, He uses the vessel and the words to change the lives of men. He convicts the hearts of men, and turns their hearts back to Himself. That is the clear message in the verse above. God cannot work with a heart that He has not first worked on. For it to be a vessel in His hand, the heart has to repent, and turn to Him. 

It is the sign of total surrender; repentance means I recognize the folly of my old ways, and know that only God can keep me focused on what He wants me to do for Him. The Holy Spirit is the gift from God for the times we are living in now. The Holy Spirit will not compete for attention with sin in my life. He wants my all, so He can also give me His all. The clear message for us all is: 'do not let the free gift of God go to waste in your life'. God will not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill, but He will definitely demand an account from me for what I do with this gift. I surrender now, so I can reign with Him. I reject Him now; it is eternal loss. God's time of favour is here. 

Call!

Call!

Joel 2:32a AMP

[32] “And it shall come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Will be saved [from the coming judgment] 

Acts 2:21 AMP

[21] ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord Jesus] shall be saved (rescued spiritually).’

Romans 10:13 AMP

[13] For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord [in prayer] will be saved.”

Three different passages of the Bible, with words pronounced by three different people.  Three different verses from three different writers, but the same message. Different generations and dispensations, but the same message. It is clear that we are dealing with a God who will not lower His standards for anyone. We deal with a God of consistency in what He says and does. What He called sin under Adam is a sin under Peter, and is still a sin in our own generation too. That is why God can be trusted to keep His Word. That is why men and women of old held on to Him, and they were not disappointed. Have you met this God? 

As mentioned above, God introduces himself to every generation. He leaves his handprint and footprint all through creation. He makes clear that He is the God of all creation, and He seeks men who will sincerely seek Him too. 

That is the goal of creation: that the created may seek out and worship the Creator. If we look and consider deep enough all the things that surround us, we will see clearly the hand of God in everything. We then have a choice to make: Do we embrace this God, the Creator of all things, or do we pursue our own devices and schemes? We must note that whatever action we take has both earthly and eternal consequences. Consider well before you act.

As it has been made clear several times, God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. He wants to consider who He is in the light of the information He has provided, and He waits for my response. I can be sure that if I choose Him, I have no earthly or eternal regrets. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Those who chose Him in Joel's days saw the hand of God move mightily. This was the time when Joel prophesied about the coming of the Holy Spirit. Peter was privileged to experience the Holy Spirit, and his first Sermon following that encounter led to the conversation of 3,000 souls. 

Paul also had an encounter with this same God, and He wrote to His audience too about this God who seeks men to submit to, worship and serve Him. The promise in all the verses is the same: there is a God willing, ready and able to answer ALL who call upon His name. You see: God is not looking for ready-made vessels; He is able to take just about anyone, clean him up, equip him, and then launch him out into the world for exploits and impact. As I have now come to know who God is, and what He desires from me, am I willing and ready to call? Salvation lies at the end of my call. Judgment and eternal separation are at the end of my silence. Would you call? God's time of favour is here. 

Light 2!

Light 2!

John 8:12 AMP

[12] Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

As it was always the case, Jesis always had a crowd following Him. It is also important to note that the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes and teachers of the law were also always around Him. It was not that the leaders liked or loved Him, but they saw Him as a threat to their dominance, influence and control over the people. These leaders used every chance and opportunity they had to oppose Him. You have to have a clear sense of purpose in order to focus on what God has assigned you to do. There will be distractions along the way; there will be people who pretend to like you but will seek ways to harm you. Not everyone in your circle is on your side. 

That was very obvious in the chapter from where the verse above is taken. The scribes and Pharisees, in their hypocrisy, brought a woman who had been caught in adultery before Jesus, seeking His view on the right punishment. Yes, the law prescribed death to anyone committing adultery, but only the woman was brought. The scribes wanted to find a way to trip Jesus up, but the Wisdom and Power of God would not be defeated. In His wisdom, He did not excuse the sin, but He went to the root of all humanity, asking anyone who was without sin to be the first to cast a stone in judgment. What a way to put us on notice that we need help.

Of course, in a moment of true honesty and sincerity, all the accusers left. They all knew that they were not without sin, and Jesus too, in His mercy, was not going to add to the woman's condemnation. He simply charged her to go, and sin no more. That is a message of hope to everyone struggling with sin. Sin and judgment will not be the final word in your life, if only you take advantage of the offer of life that has been made. This gift is of and from God, and it is available for anyone, no matter the weight of the past, the pressure of the present, or the uncertainty of the future. The One who offers is the One speaking in the verse above.

As He addressed the crowd then, so does He address us all today: I am the Light of the world. There is darkness all around, but in and by me, you have guidance, direction, hope and peace. The world cannot generate this kind of light: you cannot give what you do not have. The world is under the control and influence of the devil, and he is not able to help anyone attain the Life that is in Jesus. You access all He gives by total surrender. The verse invites us all to follow Him. It is a matter of freewill; God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. Be sure that He is able to keep to the end anything that is committed into His hand. Are you His? Does He own you? God's time of favour is here.