As I begin my second weekly devotional I am convinced by the “signs of the times” that now is the time we should be about
our Father’s business.
What business you ask?
Romans 15:16 NIV ‘To be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God,
so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.’
Me, a minister and a priest? When did that happen?
1 Peter 2:9 KJV, ‘But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show
forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.’
Can I get another witness?
Revelation 5:9-10 KJV, 9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals
thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and
nation.
10And hast made us unto our God kings and priest: and we shall reign in the
earth.’
Yes! The hour is getting late! Unless you have been secluded
somewhere without a TV, radio and newspapers you have heard of the wars and
rumors of wars. We have all been affected in some way by what is happening on
this earth. Famines are killing millions. Pestilences (locust swarms, bird flu,
etc.) are making the rounds. Earthquakes are causing tsunamis that kill hundreds
of thousands. Volcanoes are erupting. Apostasy abounding with millions turning
away from their faith. False teachers leading many from the truth. The very
obvious and rapid increase in lawlessness. These are things we have been told
for 2,000 years will happen.
Jesus asked if he would find faith on the earth upon His return. Our
Father's business is to be priests of His gospel and snatch the lost from the
gates of Hell! We were not given the seal of the Holy Spirit when we accepted
Jesus as our Savior to continue in unrepentant sin and watch as the lost go on
their merry way in ignorance and arrogance. Christ gave us the commission
(commandment) to GO and PREACH the gospel to all tongues and nations. (Matthew
28:19-20).
I’ve heard the excuses, and there are a multitude of them as to why we
can’t go out and preach the gospel. Many even have some merit in the way we are
taught in today’s world. The problem is we have suppressed the Holy Spirit whose
work is to form and shape our hearts into the likeness of Jesus. Faith begins
with an attitude of the heart. We are called to come out of this world and be
transformed. Our hearts must belong to Jesus, not to the things of this world.
John 14:15-18 KJV,
15'If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And I will pray the
Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for
ever. 17Even the Spirit of truth; who the world cannot receive, because it
seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you,
and shall be in you. 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to
you.’
I have read where there are now approximately 3 billion people on
the earth who have not heard the gospel, some I’m sure right in our own back
yard. What can I do I have heard asked?
You can walk in Faith to live your life so that Jesus can be seen in you;
you can plant the seed of the gospel, and you can water the seed. Not all of us
were chosen to be preachers but all have received gifts of the Holy Spirit to
glorify God. For it is written: I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave
the increase.
Luke 6:46 KJV, ‘And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things
which
I say?’
I have heard my Pastor say more than once that his greatest fear is to
hear someone who he had known stand before God and say he had never heard the
gospel even though he knew many Christians and even a Pastor. Is any ridicule we
could endure on this earth not worth seeing a soul spending eternity in Heaven
rather than an eternity in Hell? If we desire the heart of Jesus who was willing
to sacrifice His life so none would be lost can we not suffer some ridicule for
His sake?
I know there are many who live the godly life daily and I assure you your
reward awaits you upon His return. Continue to fight the good fight, your race
is almost over, you have run it well and fulfilled God’s plan for your
life.
Yes! Now is the day we should be about our Fathers business; ask Him
today to place those in your path that He would have to hear His word for He has
promised that It will never come back void.
Ephesians 3: 16-19 KJV, 16‘That He would grant you, according to the riches of His
glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. 17That
Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in
love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and
length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth
knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of
God.’
The Apostle John tells us in the book of Revelation that standing before
the throne of God there was a great uncountable multitude that had come out of
the great tribulation. I have even seen it written and heard it said more will
come to faith during the tribulation than have come to faith before the rapture
of the church to be with the Lord.
My prayer is that by my actions or words those who rejected the Lord
before the rapture will remember me and by faith receive Him then. Although they
will suffer greatly during the tribulation it will be as nothing compared to an
eternity without God.
To achieve our purpose and gain a closer relationship with Christ we must
walk by faith.
We must not suppress the Holy Spirit but show ourselves workman worthy of our
hire. Stepping out on faith to do the things He asked us to do is showing we are
becoming like Him and worthy to become co-heirs of all that is
Christ.
