Gtcotr/ss030412
Historical setting for Acts 20:22ff
Acts 20 NKJV
22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
23 "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
24 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
The Kingdom of God and 21st Century Christians are being bombarded by the forces of hell through the worldwide media in an attempt to form public opinion against the Church for one reason and one reason only ...
The forces of hell and their many prophets are scared to death of the life changing power of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ.
How can I know this? Even some sworn enemies of Christianity know more about this than the Christians do. One example:
Sheikh Ahmad Al Katani, well known leader of Islam and noted scholar of Islamic Law in Libya and president of an Islamic organization specializing in graduating Imams and Islamic preachers, is definitely concerned
A transcription of an Al-Jazeerah television interview between Maher Abdallah and Shiekh Ahmed Katani on an episode of “Islamic Law and Life”, quotes Katani saying:
“… well there are now 1.5 million Churches whose congregations account for 46 million people. In every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Christianity. Everyday, 16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity. Ever year, 6 million Muslims convert to Christianity. These numbers are very large indeed.”
(http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles6/AlJazeerahAfrica.php)
He goes on to say:
(In Zaire) “There are half a million Muslims targeted for Christianization on a daily basis. There is a horrific absence of Muslim effort in the field. There is no Arabic or Muslim (missionary) presence in Africa, except on a token level, nothing productive.”
“… in one year, these Christian missionary organizations collected 194 billion dollars. The national budget of all Arab countries combined don't equal that number. So what is a single Muslim organization in Libya or Egypt or in Kuwait to do? This type of matter should be planned and done collectively. Take another issue, the Christians and the missionaries in particular take a child from his infancy to a school, and from the school to an academy or from an academy to college. If the child ever gets ill, then there is a hospital that they have prepared for him where Jesus will heal him. They deal with him from childhood to adulthood so he never leaves Christianity. As for us, all that happens is that a Muslim humanitarian organization provides some aid for a while as a result of some catastrophe, and I know tens of people like this who convert to Islam a result of the aid, but when the need is gone they revert back to Christianity or to paganism; meaning we are not organized.”
“I will give you an example and proof that would make the Muslim missionary dangle his head with shame. Kenya's population, for example, is thirty million people, a quarter of whom are Muslim. In all of Kenya, there are 900 mosques compared to 25 thousand Churches. Do you see this great difference?”
Katani made the point in this televised interview on Islamic Law and Life, that Christian Churches do make a great difference. Indeed they do. By the way, the people in, behind and the target listeners for this interview are dead set against Christians witnessing to Muslims about Jesus but they are 100% in favor of Muslims attempting to convert Christians to Islam.
Even in all of this, Islam is but a single blip on the radar when it comes to the world’s desire to limit the witness of the Christian Church. Even our own US Congress voted Jesus out of our schools and other public forums. Islam is not the Church’s enemy but rather the Church’s opportunity. Islam is but one opportunity for the Church to be a witness to the love, mercy, forgiveness and grace of God through His only Son, Jesus.
Those who do not know Jesus, do not love Him. Those who do not love Jesus do not serve Him. Those who do not know, love and serve Jesus cannot comprehend Him. Those who do not understand Jesus often want to destroy His Church.
Matthew 11:12 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”
You see, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force. If we want to be a witness, at times we must do so with strength and unfailing resolve … but always motivated by love. (2 Corinthians 6:3-10)
Even many main line Christian denominations bow to the gods of empty religion, social acceptance, political correctness, and interfaith worship. It is a sad testimony that some who are standing in America’s pulpits today will not dare to speak the loving truth, even in a kind voice from the best of motives, because they fear offending someone skewed sense of tolerance.
It is more critical now than ever before in the history of the American Church that the true followers of Christ:
· Stand up
· Speak up
· Refuse to Shut up about the love, the kindness, forgiveness & resolve of the Lord God Almighty and the One True Redeemer of mankind, Jesus the Messiah.
All around the globe people are paying the ultimate price for nothing more than declaring their singular faith in Christ & Christ alone.
It used to be that the persecuted Church was a phenomenon only heard of in far away & distant lands of undeveloped & savage countries. Today however persecution has found its way the Western world and has now established its voice even in these United States of America, this land of the free, home of the brave, one Nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
My dear friends, saints of God and all those listening today, it is high time that we, as Believers in Christ, put on the armor of God and join the ranks with the other brave souls around this globe who have already enlisted in the army of God, as soldiers of the Cross, prepared to live and give their lives for the cause of Christ.
Do not be deceived – Seldom will a person die for something which they are unwilling to live for.
I believe the Church is stronger and healthier than it has ever been on planet earth. Do not believe the propaganda this world and the forces of hell are spreading about the Church.
· God is alive and well on planet earth
· The devil and his prophets are scared to death and tremble in His presence
· The Church has this world by the tail and we are shaking the hell out of it
· Every Believer is needed on the front lines to win this battle for the Lord and the generations to come
There are Three Essential Elements every 21st century Christian must have in order to claim and maintain victory in these critical times.
1. An Unshakeable Faith in the Gospel
a. The Death
b. The Burial
c. The Resurrection of Christ
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel … by which also you are saved … that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
2. An Unquestionable Loyalty to the Church
a. The Body of Christ
b. The Bride Christ
c. The Family of God in the earth
3. An Unquenchable Thirst for Souls
(To Reach, Teach and Keep)
a. From Conversion
b. Through Discipleship
c. To Support throughout life
We must have an unending, unashamed and unafraid love for the lost, especially those who are sitting in the darkness of a false religion
In conclusion, I’m on a recruiting mission today and this morning I am asking for volunteers. If you would be willing to join the army of God and become more than just a believer on your way to heaven, but become a solider of the cross – one who is growing in Christ and committed to taking others to heaven with them, then I promise to train you, to equip you and to lead you to victory after victory over the enemies of your soul and the enemies of our God both in your personal life and throughout the Kingdom of God's Dear Son as we go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that He has commanded us.
And I assure you that God will be with us always … even to the end of the world. And we shall testify of the Gospel of God’s grace.
Bow your head & answer this question are you ready to volunteer … are you ready to be a solider of the cross? Let's pray...
Boot camp will begin with personal and family discipleship classes. Watch the bulletins, look for your letter in the mail and listen to the announcements made during our services each week for the dates and times convenient to you.
I guarantee you, this world will never be same in Jesus Name.
Won't you stand as we get ready to go out to a lost and hurting world with the Gospel of God’s grace.
Be a part of the “Un-Crowd”: Unshakable, Unquestionable, Unquenchable
