Preparation and Prayer to be Used of God

“Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?” Proverbs 15:11

The eternal souls of men for whom Christ died lie in the balance between Heaven and hell. God the Father sent Christ for us and for them and Christ has sent us to reach them. This is what we call the Great Commission.

“As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” John 20:21

Just what is the Great Commission? The Great Commission is a co-mission between our LORD Jesus Christ and His people — on a mission to win sinners to His eternal kingdom. Christ’s Great Commission includes not only the winning of lost souls but thereafter also to teach the Word of God to all men, especially to those Christ saves into His kingdom (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20).

Someone, to some extent, obeyed Christ’s commission and this is how you and I were saved. “But just what was Christ’s mission in the first place?” someone might rightly ask.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15

It would be utterly impossible to truly know and follow Jesus and not want to see other souls saved. It’s impossible to know Christ and not reach out to others to know Him. With this in mind, how many today do we see who claim to know Him and yet have no heart for participation in reaching lost souls for whom He bled to save?

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 31 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:13-16

If I truly possess saving faith, I will be actively seeking to save the lost for whom my Master died, and commanded me to “Go” reach (Mark 16:15).

What Excuse Shall Stand?

“A converter has to be alive to convert others. Dead people don’t have the chance to convert others!” Samina Lloyd

At the root, it is due to the wicked, soul-damning sin of self-idolatry that Christ and His work are neglected today. Such is the fruit of a Hell bound life of idolatry (Revelation 21:8).

Some complain of not having enough money to win souls.

“I can be rich without money.” David Livingstone

Some complain and excuse themselves from preaching Christ’s Gospel.

“Fever seems to forbid; but I shall work for the glory of
Christ’s kingdom—fever or no fever.” David Livingstone

Some in this wicked generation balk and murmur at what they consider a sacrifice—such as giving up a futile pleasure.

“People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa . . . It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege.” David Livingstone

Ask Yourself

Is the extent of my “Christianity” attending church services two to three times weekly? Is this what Jesus commanded of His people, of me in the Gospels? Is this God’s purpose for me on earth? Is this what we see in the book of Acts where the history of the early New Testament Church is recorded? A fresh reading of this book will reveal that the so-called “Christianity” we see today in America has little resemblance to that of the early believers.

Want to see just how many frauds, wolves in sheep’s clothing we have today in the modern church world? Here you go:

Think about how many times in churches the pastor is heard repeatedly instructing the people to ….

1. Join the church.
2. Go to a new members class.
3. Join the choir.
4. Be an usher.
5. Give to a building fund or some other frivolous project.
6. Attend “church” every Sunday.
7. etc.

Yet let’s compare. How many times do we hear pastors say:

1. Follow Jesus. In order to follow Christ, He commands you to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Him daily (Luke 9:23-24; 14:27).
2. Repentance is an absolute original Gospel essential (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30).
3. Jesus warns that if you are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of you (Luke 12:8-9).

I am merely stating this so that we can reevaluate our lives according to the command and pattern recorded in Scripture which is what we will all be judged by in the end (John12:48; Romans 2:16). We should recognize, as most Christians already do, that men tend to wane from the truth as they go on in traditions and in building their own kingdoms and lose sight of the LORD Himself and His precious precepts. Their organizations, their church business, their books, their programs, and their agendas take precedence over our LORD’s simple instructions to preach the Gospel. Were we not warned of this, especially concerning this final hour?

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1 Timothy 4:1

Those saved today must be taught what God’s Word says or they will very likely be swept away in the strong current of the false church and waste their lives feeding that beast and miss the call of God to participate in evangelizing lost souls, and helping believers learn His Word.

Did not our LORD tell us that traditions make His Word void? See Mark 7:13; Colossians. 2:8). The true disciple of Jesus must follow Him and He told us He is “the truth.” (John 14:6). To follow the truth is to reject following mere man’s religious tradition.

The Church revealed in the book of Acts obeyed God by being baptized in the Holy Ghost, preaching Christ, and they saw our LORD save multitudes (Mark 16:15-20). They cast out devils, went from house to house fellowshipping with each other, turned the world upside down, openly upbraided sinners when the Holy Spirit quickened, had dreams and visions, prayed in tongues as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance, prayed constantly and consequently walked in the power of God, etc. Is this not the fulfillment of what our LORD
sent us, His people, to do?

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:15-20

As Satan himself would have it, most of the new versions of the Bible, which come from corrupt manuscripts and were concocted by greedy, God-less men and women, either cast doubt upon or altogether remove this explosive Great Commission passage spoken by the Son of God in commissioning His people. Should we be surprised that the enemy of Christ and all souls would strategically attack this passage? Read it again in light of this question.
Many today sit back and wish for a “move of God” and they wait in vain. The LORD is waiting on them to render simple obedience, beginning with the obedience of humbly asking Him to use them. Those who are doing so are experiencing exploits being done by Christ through the simple obedience of His people just as He promised here in giving His Great Commission command to His Church.

Beware: A fresh reading of the book of Acts could change your life, especially if you will acknowledge that the same God – there’s only one – who moved then, is alive and well today, working among His people (Mark16:15-20; Hebrews 13:8). This may result in putting you on fire for Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, and living a true New Testament life – an adventure like no other! As an individual who will soon stand before the Almighty to be judged for what I did and did not do in my earthly life, I must remove myself from every trace of modern day religion, lukewarmness, and apostasy. I must reject all that does not resemble the New Testament Christianity recorded in Scripture. New Testament Christianity was all about loving God and preaching Christ and the Law in obeying the Great Commission – to edify the saints and reach the lost.

Here’s a taste:

“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” Acts 8:4

Notice here that there was a Church-wide effort to evangelize the unsaved – “they.” Persecution had hit Jerusalem and many of the believers were “scattered abroad” which means dispersed throughout the world, out from Jerusalem. Jesus foresaw this. Just before Pentecost when He filled His people with the Holy Ghost, Jesus said:

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

“Yes Jesus! Prepare me to be sanitary, holy, sanctified, cleansed and purified! Breaking and stripping anything out of me that is not of you! There is no other way to become a vessel of honor fit for the Master’s use!” Karen Cochran

YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, thank You for finding and saving me into Your eternal family. Please wash my sins away afresh in the precious blood of Jesus here and now and please fill me with Your Holy Ghost. Prepare and use me dear LORD. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

JESUS Tract Print-Ready PDF Free here.

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