Missions, the heart of God
A recent baptism at Puthencavu, India.
When you receive power by the coming of Holy Spirit upon, "you shall be witnesses to Me, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth", said Jesus to His disciples. Acts.1:8.
When we study this passage carefully we understand that power of the Holy Spirit is needed to make believers, witnesses of Jesus Christ. And when we receive power, we will become witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea simultaneously; in Jerusalem and Samaria simultaneously; in Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth simultaneously. There is no option between Jerusalem and the ends of the earth; or between Jerusalem and Judea; or between Jerusalem and Samaria. If Jerusalem is our home-town or village, Judea is our neighboring town or village and Samaria is the neglected town or village and ends of the earth is all other places on the globe.
When the Holy Spirit comes upon us we will understand the purpose for which we are placed here by God. Then we will have no option but to be witnesses of Jesus Christ and to be disciple-makers for Him. Then the priorities of our lives will change. Our self will die, our grip on money will be loosened and we will honor God with our money, our time, and our entire lives.
Jesus Christ, the second Adam came to restore us the Kingdom that we lost in the first Adam. He went away to heaven after giving us the mandate to establish that Kingdom and also the power to execute it. We need to become witnesses of Jesus Christ without delay because God is patiently waiting for people all over the world to repent and enter the Kingdom that Jesus is coming to take charge of.2 Pet.3:3-9. "The fullness of the Gentiles need to come in" before He can sent Christ back again to establish His Kingdom here. Rom.11:25 The heart of God the Father is to magnify the name of His son by establishing this Kingdom for Him. He had asked His Son to sit at His right hand till He makes all His enemies His footstool. Psa.110:1. Peter himself exhorts believers to be waiting for and hastening the Lord's Second Coming.2 Pet.3:11-12.
Not only that we have to 'wait and watch for' His coming but also we have to hasten His coming! If we go the old fashioned way of winning people for the Kingdom, we are not going to succeed. We need to make believers disciples of Jesus Christ, if we are to win enough Gentiles for the Kingdom. If we make people disciples of Jesus instead of just believers, there will take place a multiplication process in the memebership of the Kingdom.
Jesus had also said, "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, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of this age", Matt.28:18.
Not only power of God but also authority of God is needed to make disciples of those who become believers through the witnessing that is done by Christians. We become victorious Christians when we execute our Lord's commands in our lives. Witnessing Jesus Christ and making others our disciples; both are needed to lead a life that would please our heavenly Father. We will be in a position to lead others to the Lord because of the presence of the Lord with us. His authority is available to all those who cherish His presence to execute His command.
Of course, when enough members come in "and when the gospel of this Kingdom is preached in the whole world as a witness to all the nations", then the end shall come. Matt.24:14. 'The word, "nations" in the quotation means "language groups". In India alone there are twenty three official languages and around 2000 dialects. William carrey had published parts of New testament in 23 Indian languages. There are many more languages into which bible needs to be published and many language groups which are yet to be reached with the "Good News" of the Christ's Kingdom. Let us strive with heavenly zeal to reach all these language groups of people with the Gospel!