body-container-line-1
03.11.2017 Religion

All Out For Jesus

03.11.2017 LISTEN
By Fianoo Isaac Nevis

"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God". [Acts 20:24]

From the excerpt above, the apostle Paul is saying he has received a ministry and this ministry is testifying of the gospel of the Lord Jesus. In Acts 21, we are told of a story where the apostle was questioned of his going to Jerusalem but he said he was ready not to be bound only but to also die for the Lord. He was laying down his life because he wanted the word to reach far or scatter abroad. This was a place the man knew he was going to be imprisoned yet he wished to go there. In our dispensation, we are quick in selecting places where we termed are good, leaving the deprived areas. Doom awaits everyone who is in for better places in ministry. I am not saying the cities are not good to stay but we need to go to the rural areas too.

In Genesis 13, Abraham told Lot to choose any part of the land. Bible says he chose the better place; little did he know that was going to be his end. Abraham chose the worst of places yet he was fruitful. Again, if I am to submit to you the apostle Paul went to a place with Jesus yet while he was alive, he proclaimed he had fully preached the gospel. [Romans 5:19]

When we talk of going all out, we mean everything playing a part in the system within our limit; not some, not most, not certain, not much, not part and not many but all your abilities including your mobile phones.

Seven reasons why we need to go all out:
People are perishing.
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” [Romans 10:14]

From where we stand, we say people are gradually drifting away because there are no preachers. From the perspective of the Scripture, until ones goes out to preach people would be perishing. One day I was praying in my closet and the Lord said to me; the generation in which we are now have adopted the Cain way of living where we say am I my brother's keeper? Others are of the view that they work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Beloved it is good to work out your own salvation but there are a lot of people who need the salvation you have gotten. All you need to do is rise and take your place by sharing the gospel.

It is a command.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nation...” [Matt. 28:19]

Today, when people sleep and dream of some dead relative appearing to them and giving them some numbers while asleep, they wake up and they do not joke with those numbers. The first thing they do is to assume is a lotto number and they go and stake the number. But for us, we did not receive this word in a dream. The master himself gave the words out. This part of the bible is called the "Great Commission" but call it the "Great Omission". We have omitted this portion of the bible. This is a command and it is not negotiable so rise up and start spreading the good news.

The workers are few.
“Then he told his disciples, ‘The harvest is vast, but the workers are few.’” [Matt 9:37]

We are told that the population of the world is over 7 billion. How on earth would we reach all the people with very few workers? For the harvest to be cultivated, there is the need for people to join the train of workers in the kingdom. On account of Ephesians 4 the pastors are only to perfect the congregation for them to go out to preach.

God is not limited.
“And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” [Luke 14:23]

Some people all over the world try to limit God in numbers but God cannot be limited. Having a big congregation and it being full does not mean God is limited. On the basis of this text, there was a feast and the master tasked his servant to go and get people for this feast. The servant went and returned yet there was still room for guests and the master said all this spaces need to be filled with people so go back and get some more that my house may be filled. Adopt this strategy into our churches today. We need to go all out so that the spaces in our churches will be filled.

It is a necessity.
“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” [1Cor. 9:16]

When I talk of necessity I am referring to a requirement for the Christian life. I believe the apostle’s saying: “…woe unto me if I don’t preach…” meant a lot. I am trying to believe there are punishments if one refuses to go all out for Jesus. In order to escape this punishment, let us make up our minds to go with the gospel. Because the bible says it is a necessity does not mean we should go and gather people and say we are preaching to them. This preaching we are talking about can be done on a one on one affair.

We already have the anointing to go all out.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor...” [Luke 4:18]

I have had the opportunity to speak to quite a number of people on the subject and to speak the word to the world. These are people I genuinely know can do the work yet they were afraid to go because they thought they didn't have utterance. Then I told them; you have been given an anointing for that. The only reason why you do not see the anointing is because you are not putting it to work. Another group also have their own “hymn” (I am shy). The anointing kills shyness therefore stand on your feet with the word and go preaching.

Doors are opened when we go all out.
“Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord...” [2 Cor. 2:12]

Preaching and teaching is what we are supposed to do and this is not to share our own gospel but the gospel of Christ. I believe this is what so many people are missing in the church. Hence when they see their pastors flourish they tend to say he is using their money as a church. It's only in preaching and teaching the word of God that is when you get open doors.

Finally, I want to conclude by saying, as I was growing, Christianity was the fastest growing religion but now it is not. We have had other religions with us. Let us rise up to the task and glory awaits us. Matthew 21:43 “Therefore say I unto you, tyhe kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.”

Written by
Fianoo Isaac Nevis

body-container-line