Dr. Jim Denison wrote:
Our best Christmas gift for hurting people is helping them experience Christ. Who do you know who needs the Jesus you know? How will you give them what has been given to you?
What trials and tempests are you facing personally? Will you name them and bring them to the One who came at Christmas just for you?
The hymn writer offers us the hope our storm-tossed souls need:
In the world’s despair and turmoil
One firm anchor still holds fast,
God is on his throne eternal,
He alone the first and last.
Who or what is your anchor today?
I love the writings of Ed Setzer! I pray his message is very useful to you! Please, Team Jesus, carry out THE GREAT COMMISSION! Now is the time!
FROM CHURCHLEADERS:
Note: This article is taken from one I wrote for the Christian Post where I encouraged believers to celebrate and share Christ rather than argue about how unbelievers approach the holidays.
Research has borne out the fact that Christmas is a great time to share Christ. In 2008 Lifeway Research did a study for the North American Mission Board. The results showed that among the top five times of life when American adults are open for considering matters of faith Christmas tops the list. In fact, 47 percent of respondents indicated openness during the time of yuletide cheer.
Sharing Christ at Christmas: What the Stats Say
I am getting replies like these……”I don’t go to Church anymore,” I beleive in a higher power,” “I am agnostic,” “I will have nothing to do with organized religion,” “I worship at home,” I watch pastors on the internet,” “I am an ashiest,” “I don’t get anything out of Church,” “My church became to political.” That’s just a handful of comments I get as I minister around New Mexico. As we have reported through out the years we are falling away from God in America rapidly. As you know, we have become a godless Country. We are in very deep Spiritual Warfare. More proof from this report out today, more and more “Nones”
What’s Your Religion? in America, a Common Reply is “None”
It is a very tough time for Pastors in America. My Dear Sister June Gomez of New Beginnings Church in Albuquerque. posted this about her Pastor Richard Mansfield:
My Pastor said this today, “There’s so much pain in the pews.” We see people asking for prayer or help every day on social media. But he and his wife see it face to face every day and all day long. He hears the devastating things people are going through and he encourages them, He holds them and loves on them to try to bring comfort or just let you know he’s hurting with you. I know he can’t possibly leave work at work, I know he takes this pain home with him. Pray daily for your Pastors and their family, they get tired and discouraged too.
TRUTH! JUNE GOMEZ! Thank you for sharing.
Help Me Understand: Spiritual Warfare—The Devil
What does the body of Christ not understand about THE GREAT COMMISSION? IT IS A COMMAND, TO GO! GO!
Love this post from Pastor Don Kimbro!
“The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields” (Matthew 9:37-38).
I have been a pastor for more than forty years. In the process I have started churches, led existing churches, mentored new believers and pastors, shared the gospel on the mission field, taught Arabs in Israel, worked for a well-known parachurch ministry to prisons and have started several new ministries, including one as a chaplain to auto racers. Zoom. Zoom.
But there’s one thing I have learned that stands out above everything else and that is that the ministry of the church is first and foremost to proclaim, teach, preach and share the gospel wherever we are and wherever we go to every person who will listen.
I don’t believe there are any exemptions to this calling. It is not the sole domain of the offices of the church, the apostles, prophets, evangelists or pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11-12). It doesn’t make any difference whether you are male or female, young or old, rich or poor, professional or blue collar, sophisticated or otherwise, a new believer or old salt, married or single, retired or just beginning your career. If you are a true believer and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s calling on your life is to spread the good news about what Jesus did for you through his death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-11).
These final instructions were on the heart of our Savior as he met with his disciples during the forty days he was on the earth between his resurrection and ascension into heaven. His mandate to them was what we call the Great Commission or evangelism, which is winning the lost by preaching the gospel. The specific directions consisted of five different statements Jesus made in this regard and which he commanded his disciples to inaugurate after his departure. And they did. Aren’t we glad!
Here are those five statements Jesus gave to his followers, first in Jerusalem, then in Galilee and finally at the Mount of Olives. I call them the Message, the Model, the Magnitude, the Method and the Means.*
The Message
And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things. — Luke 24:46-48
Notice the emphasis on repentance and forgiveness of sins and proclaiming that message to all nations.
The Model
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” — John 20:21-23
Notice the emphasis on sending out the disciples and receiving the Holy Spirit and to teach God’s forgiveness and judgment.
The Magnitude
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
— Mark 16:15-18
Notice the emphasis on going into all the world and preaching to everyone and the signs that would follow those who believed.
The Method
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. — Matthew 28:18-20
Notice the emphasis on going to all nations, baptizing and making disciples by teaching them his commandments.
The Means
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. — Acts 1:8-9
Notice the emphasis on receiving the power of the Holy Spirit to witness and then going to the end of the earth to do it.
Every true believer and every church that exists is commissioned to follow in the footsteps of these first disciples. We have been given our instructions. How are we doing? Maranatha!
*Dr. Marvin J. Newell, Commissioned, pp. 23-25.
To help us walk closer with God and to know Him better.
