GO!
Luke 9:62 (KJV) 62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
There are over 4500 different faith groups in the world. This does not account for the sub groups. Some figures indicate that there are over 30,000 different faith groups when the splinter groups are considered. Out of all that the latest figures show that there are 2.1 billion Christians. We must note that these figures include all that in the least way consider themselves Christian. These figures include religions such as the Mormon's, Jehovah witnesses etc. There are 1.3 billion muslims. From these latest figures we also know that there are approximately 1.1 billion people whose religion is that no God exists or that God is some happy camper who loves us and accepts us no matter what we do.
So here is the question I must ask you. If there are, as the numbers indicate, twice as many Christians as there are non-Christians, why is the world growing darker instead of holier? If there are 38% more Christians than muslims, then why are we the "hate mongers" and everyone goes out of their way not to "offended" Allah? Mary and I keep up on both the worldly news and the Christian news everyday. All you have to do is watch the news to see that two groups are in the headlines continually and both are opposed to God. The muslims and the anti-God homosexuals etc. The only time the Christians are in the headlines are to expose some new form of hatred, or bias that the Christians have subjected the poor old world to this time. It seems that Christians are more interested in keeping their head in the sand than waking up and smelling the fire and brimstone headed their way.
What do I mean? Jesus said Matthew 5:14 (NLT)14You are the light of the world-like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. 15Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. 16In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Let's take this simple verse a part at a time. The first thing Jesus tells us is that we are the "light of the world". Ok, then if the world is growing darker who's fault is it? Who is the light? We are!! So if there are 2.1 billion Christians in the world and the world is darker than it has been since the times of Noah, what is the reason? US! Let's look at how Jesus described our light. He said it is like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. I have to suspect that Christians have dropped the ball on this one. Each day we receive prayer requests from people and some of them are Christians that are about to or have given up. Why? I have to ask myself. God told us, Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT) 8Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you." It seems that we have forgotten this. Just the other day Mary sent out a teaching simply encouraging our prayer warriors with this simple fact. The response of many shocked us. So many just needed to be reminded that the above is true. My friends if we are not there for our sisters and brothers in Christ how can we be there for the world? I am here to tell you with 2.1 billion Christians on this planet there should never be a time that a brother or sister is alone. Think about it, there are currently 6.5 billion people in the world. With 2/3rds in six countries. What that means is that 1 in 3 people in the world are professing Christians. This means that on a daily basis if you run into 12 people, 4 of then are professing Christians. If this is the case then explain to me why so many Christian bothers and sisters are reaching that point of giving up and why the earth grows darker not lighter.
My friends before we can go into all the world and preach the gospel of Jesus we must get back to the basics of our relationship with Jesus. It is a relationship with Jesus that will carry you through the deepest and darkest times in your lives. It is not your church, it is not your religion! Why do you think Paul said 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NLT) 9God will surely do this for you, for he always does just what he says, and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Or John said 1 John 1:5-7 (NLT) 5This is the message he has given us to announce to you: God is light and there is no darkness in him at all. 6So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are not living in the truth. 7But if we are living in the light of God's presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin. Notice what John said. "then we have fellowship with each other." Going to church each Sunday, singing and listening to the pastor preach 3 points and a poem is not fellowship with each other. John was talking one on one. Think about it my friends, be honest, when was the last time you reached out to another brother or sister and encouraged them? Even John when he was exiled on the island of Papmos had many visitors to encourage him.
Jesus said John 13:34-35 (NLT) 34So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." Oh! Yes, I know you will say that in this space I have gotten down on all of man's religions and dogma. But, I still love my brother and sister who want only to work for Jesus. If they love their religion more than Jesus, or if their religion is more important that Jesus, or their religion is a part of their way of life not Jesus then I cannot consider them Christians. You see my friends the word Christian came originally from the base of Christ. The Greek word means follower of Christ. Therefore, if following the words, deeds, life, ways, heart of Jesus is not your first concern in your relationship with God then you, My friends, are not a Christian by the Biblical definition.
I have to venture that out of the 2.1 billion professed Christians in the statistics that there are a far smaller number of true Christians who have a personal relationship with Christ. Those are the ones I am addressing today. Those are the ones who need to get back to the basics. Go back to Jesus' word and "love each other". Go back to encouraging your brother and sister in Christ. We cannot have our lights shine in all the earth if we cannot shine our lights with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
I cannot even keep track of how many Pastors, brothers and sisters and fellow workers for Jesus I hear from overseas. Most of them have the same problem, most of them express the same feelings. "Is there anyone out there who cares." They are giving everything they have to reach their world for Christ. Sometimes going without food, sometimes going without a decent coat, sometimes going without shoes walking for miles to reach remote villages. Working for Jesus without rest, and wondering if there is anyone out there that cares. Sadly, there are many workers for Jesus in our own backyard wondering the same thing. Let's get back to loving each other, so we can GO and love the world. Jesus is the only one who can give us the strength to turn the darkness back. I cannot do it alone and you cannot do it alone. Only a close personal relationship with Jesus. Remember what Jesus said. Matthew 18:19-20 (ASV) 19Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Notice Jesus said "in my name". He did not say in the churches name, in your religions name, in your pastors name, but in His name! You want to reach the world, you want to push the darkness back both in this world and your life? Then gather together in Jesus name and rock the world. Mary and I have seen it time and time again when the worldwide prayer teams gather together in Jesus name over a prayer request things happen.
Before we can GO in to all the world we must get back to basics and GO to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
God Bless Pastor A. J.
