Matthew
5:14-16 (NKJV)
14
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a
lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify
your Father in heaven.
Jesus
described our light as being “… the light of the world”, that is a profound statement in and of itself! Our light is to have impact on the entire
world, it is possible because light is so different than darkness. Light illuminates the darkness and it reveals what is hidden. In this our light is Christ Himself!
We can have a huge impact on our world, nation, and community by allowing the light of Christ to shine through us. It takes vision to see how God sees, and to have a broken heart for humanity. The Father has called us all to a banquet (He could have just called it a dinner, but He wanted us to know that we are specially invited honored attendees) and this banquet is a celebration of our marriage to Him.
Since the large scale gospel outreaches of the 60's through the 80's were here in the United States, evangelism has been pigeon-holed into the Christian mindset of being big stadium events, and have dis-empowered most from ever taking on the role of being an evangelist. Just leave it to the big named Christian leaders and take potential converts to the event. But evangelism is more than large scale events and garnering big numbers of conversions, evangelism is face to face sharing about the hope that resides within you. The question is "what motivates you?"
Our country needs to awaken from it's sleep, and realize that the Christian faith is more than the rugged segregated individualism, it is about bridging relationships with others and building communities of faith around felt need and the love of God.
Below is a video about a man name Edoh from the West Africa country of Togo who did just that.
We can have a huge impact on our world, nation, and community by allowing the light of Christ to shine through us. It takes vision to see how God sees, and to have a broken heart for humanity. The Father has called us all to a banquet (He could have just called it a dinner, but He wanted us to know that we are specially invited honored attendees) and this banquet is a celebration of our marriage to Him.Since the large scale gospel outreaches of the 60's through the 80's were here in the United States, evangelism has been pigeon-holed into the Christian mindset of being big stadium events, and have dis-empowered most from ever taking on the role of being an evangelist. Just leave it to the big named Christian leaders and take potential converts to the event. But evangelism is more than large scale events and garnering big numbers of conversions, evangelism is face to face sharing about the hope that resides within you. The question is "what motivates you?"
Our country needs to awaken from it's sleep, and realize that the Christian faith is more than the rugged segregated individualism, it is about bridging relationships with others and building communities of faith around felt need and the love of God.
Below is a video about a man name Edoh from the West Africa country of Togo who did just that.
Click on the arrow in the center of the screen below to play the video.
The difficulty in our Western world for reaching the lost with the gospel is the passion people have for individual rights and privileges (focusing on the organism rather than the organization). Countries like Togo as in the video above can be reached with the gospel message more easily because there is more of a village or community focus. It is not so much about the "me" or the individual, rather it is the focus on the "us" as a community.
This video also illustrates the spiritual "power" that Edoh's father had over the entire village in which he lived by controlling the people by fear. Edoh recognized that his Christian teacher was protected by a greater power than either he or his father possessed. When Edoh met the illuminating power of Christ Jesus, he actively displaced all of the idols in his possession and burned them, thus allowing the reign of Christ to come mightily in power.
The early church model had a sole focus of reaching out to the known world as a community and not as sole individuals. Many went out two by two, but were connected to a much larger church community for support. The markers of the early church were that they were family with only one purpose, God's purpose!
How
could we not speak of the mercies of God so that others might know the savior,
and that we may build up and encourage one another with our testimony. We are of the house of Christ, and we can rejoice over what we have been given in Christ, we have authority to rule and reign in Christ as Kings and Priests unto our God.
The key to understanding the purposes of God for the earth is that He desires to revealed as above all and in all.
It really is God's deep love for His people that causes us to love one another. It is seeing each other that way God sees us, with dignity, respect, and compassion. That is the illumination of the spirit within us.
Blessings to you!
This video also illustrates the spiritual "power" that Edoh's father had over the entire village in which he lived by controlling the people by fear. Edoh recognized that his Christian teacher was protected by a greater power than either he or his father possessed. When Edoh met the illuminating power of Christ Jesus, he actively displaced all of the idols in his possession and burned them, thus allowing the reign of Christ to come mightily in power.
The early church model had a sole focus of reaching out to the known world as a community and not as sole individuals. Many went out two by two, but were connected to a much larger church community for support. The markers of the early church were that they were family with only one purpose, God's purpose!
Hebrews
3:1-6 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers
of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our
confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed
Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has
been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the
house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by
someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was
faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which
would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house,
whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope
firm to the end.
The key to understanding the purposes of God for the earth is that He desires to revealed as above all and in all.
Psalm
57:11 (TLB)
11 Yes, be exalted, O God, above the
heavens. May your glory shine throughout the earth.
The community of faith is of utmost importance by building the "we" of the Church of Christ, it is where the Church grows in common purpose in love as we function as one body with many parts.
1
Peter 4:7-11 (NKJV)
7 But the end of all things is at
hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above
all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude
of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards
of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as
the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability
which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus
Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
It really is God's deep love for His people that causes us to love one another. It is seeing each other that way God sees us, with dignity, respect, and compassion. That is the illumination of the spirit within us.
Blessings to you!
Stephen Barnett
God is good all the time―all the time God is good!
Deep, Deep Love
Words
and Music by: Terry Butler
Your
deep, deep love
Washes
over me
Your
deep, deep love
Fills
my every need
How
I long to hear Your voice call out my name
It
draws me to Your deep, deep love
Your
deep, deep love
Cleanses
all my sin
Your
deep, deep love
Brings
a peace within
How
I long to hear Your voice call out my name
It
draws me to Your deep, deep love
Lord,
my heart is filled with praises
For
Your goodness makes me sing
Jesus,
I’m forever grateful
For
Your love has done a work in me
Copyright
© 1996 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing. All rights reserved. International copyright
secured.
The music above is copyrighted by the respective artist(s) and is presented here for educational purposes only and not for profit.
The music above is copyrighted by the respective artist(s) and is presented here for educational purposes only and not for profit.
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