The year of 2018 has drawn to a close so very quickly. 2019 will be closed out before we realize it. The time to get busy in the work of God is NOW…as never before.
Our world is in turmoil, many nations are experiencing unprecedented upheaval. And yet, there are many who are hungry to hear of Jesus Christ. I know many of you reading this will doubt those words…but listen to Jesus. “The harvest IS plenteous.”
In our Sunday service here is what we uncovered…I find it fitting for the start of our new year.
In Psalm 60 David and the nation of Israel have suffered an unusual defeat. David’s army had gone from one triumph to another. Now they have suffered a defeat at the hand of the enemy, and David realizes that ultimately the problem is in their relationship with God.
Notice the problems that they faced. Verse one-God has cast us off, scattered us, and is now displeased. Verse two the earth is trembling, broken and shaking. Although this describes an earthquake, it could just as easily describe the political events that we see unfolding throughout the world today. Verse three-God’s people are seeing things that they do not want to even think about and are now astonished at the happenings in their world.
These three verses easily describe the world in which we live today. Not only do we face shakings at home, but in many nations around the world. I have never lived in a period of such uncertainty.
The tendency of the human heart is to look at all the problems and allow it to generate fear. And that fear in turn causes us to sit in discouragement and inaction. But that is not the lesson of this Psalm, or the action of King David. Let us learn from him.
Verse one: David cries out to God and asks him to turn back to the nation again.
Verse four: David then acknowledges that they need to set up their banner in order to display the truth. He ends the verse with Selah-pause and meditate on this
When we look at all the problems of our world today, and when you look at the troubles of your nation today, it is easy to be discouraged and determine to just sit down and wait for the end to come. That is not what David did! That is not what we should do!
David begged God for help. David then marched out in battle with a clear banner for all the world to see that he was standing for God.
This is not the time for God’s people to turn to the world for answers. Yet I see many churches that have turned to worldly ways in order to advance the work of God. David did just the opposite. He turned back to God and ask for God’s forgiveness and help. Likewise, if we would turn back to God in our churches and determine to get our hearts right with him, we would have his help.
Yes, we do live in a very dark day. Things that I preached about in the early 70s are now unfolding before our eyes. And things even beyond my thoughts are now happening as well. I am indeed astonished. But instead of setting here shocked and surprised at the happenings in our world, it is time for us to raise ourselves up, lift the banner of the gospel high and get out and reach our world.
We live in a world that is in desperate need of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet I fear that many churches have chosen to retreat within their four walls and sit and wait on the coming of Christ. It is time that we get up, go out into the world and take the gospel to every creature. It is a dangerous time in which we live, but it is also a time when the gospel can shine brightly if we will get about our business.
While churches are sitting and lamenting the fact that others do not want to hear the gospel, I find myself overwhelmed with the many open doors before me. I am presently working in five countries with multiple groups of people in each of these countries that are interested in hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The need for missionaries has never been greater. We need missionaries that will launch out into the deep and dare to reach beyond themselves, training men who will teach others also. We need men who are willing to lay their lives down for the gospel, and serious about doing the work of ministry.
In short, we need to be praying that God would raise up an army of committed Christians to advance the gospel from out of our churches. We need to pray that God would raise up an army of missionaries to go into all the world.
The days are short, the coming of Christ surely is near. Where are the servants that will take the gospel to those who need the Savior?
Thank you for your support and prayers. Nothing of eternal importance will be accomplished without serious, heartfelt prayer.
But please!! Pray for God to use YOU and to raise many more up in your church and beyond your church that the gospel of Christ will be made known.
And let me conclude with one question…from God himself, “Who will go for us?”
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A lot planned for release in 2019.
