July 28th 2019
Are You Planning To Participate In Applying The Great Commission?
Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
There are two paths available to all of mankind, one of these paths or roads leads you around and around in this world and does not take you anywhere. All people following a worldly religion are running around on this endless path that leads to hell, when they finally leave this mortal world. The most important accomplishment in this mortal sinful world is for you to find this narrow path or road that does not end when you die and leave this mortal world! Are you on that hard to find road? Are you absolutely sure your immortal soul is going up that path that leads to heaven, when you die, and your mortal body is left behind to decay back into the dust or ashes as it was created from by God? God sent His Son to this earth to create the narrow path or road that all those who choose to follow Jesus will be placed on that narrow path. That is the only way anyone can find this allusive path!
John wrote for us what Jesus said about this somewhat hard to find narrow path. Jesus told His disciples that this narrow path would be established by Him, and He would meet those who chose to follow Him, when they die, and He would direct them to the end of this path to a place we call heaven. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:2-6). Take note also that Jesus plainly tells us that this is the only way any member of mankind can find their way to heaven! Jesus said, “No-one comes to the Father except through me.”
So, in this lifetime we need to get on the narrow path by believing that Jesus Christ is in fact the Savior of this world. Peter wrote about the patience or the Lord in allowing mankind to find Him and come to believe that Jesus is their Lord and Savior, which puts them (us) on that narrow path. Remember, that most people will choose the wide path that is leading them to destruction. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:15-18). This patience Peter refers to here is that God allows us our entire mortal lifetime to decide to follow Him by taking on Jesus as our Lord and Savior. This is of course, required for any member of mankind to enter heaven when they pass from this mortal life.
Paul wrote about the patience shown by God for us to accept our salvation, and that God desires for all people to be saved, and thus, He continues to work with us, so that we may decide to obey His commands during our earthly lifetime. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13, NLT). It seems to me that this is the idea behind followers of Jesus to try and become more Christ-like every day. The saved will have to also become members of the Body of Christ, so that their growth will only be possible if they become partners to obtain the full blessing of Jesus Christ in this quest to become more Christ-like. I do not believe anyone can accomplish this task as an individual. You must be yoked to other believers, and you must meet with them on a regular basis. I believe this is what Jesus was telling us in the following statement. "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:19-20). Remember, when Jesus sent out the disciples, He sent them with another disciple. Christians are not meant to work alone, and they are not meant to worship alone! What do you think about this idea of togetherness?
I believe Christians must attend a church of their choice on a regular basis, else they may have extreme difficulty in becoming more Christ-like. I do not believe, becoming more Christ-like is a solo accomplishment! What do you believe about what the Body of Christ actually means? Are you planning to participate in applying the Great Commission? These Bible verses are referred to as the Great Commission. Then the eleven disciples (Apostles) went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:16-20). Based on other Scriptures, all these Apostles did find their way to the narrow path, even though at the time of Jesus ascension into heaven, they were part of a group referred to as “but some doubted.” Doubt is a problem of mankind, forgiveness through grace is Christ-like, and is free gift!
Jesus is depending on all His followers to believe in and work on the Great Commission. If we do not work on this together, then we will be allowing many people to continue going down the wide path of destruction and end up in hell when they die! If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are on the narrow path that will lead you Jesus, and Jesus will accompany you to the place in heaven He has prepared for you! Believe it and rejoice, you are on the correct path, and Jesus will come and take you with Him when you die! Do you know anyone who you believe is not that narrow path? Can you try to tell them about the fact that Jesus wants them to follow Him, and that He is the only way to get on the narrow path that ends in heaven?
Tell them, Jesus loves them! This I know, for the Bible tells me so!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
There are two paths available to all of mankind, one of these paths or roads leads you around and around in this world and does not take you anywhere. All people following a worldly religion are running around on this endless path that leads to hell, when they finally leave this mortal world. The most important accomplishment in this mortal sinful world is for you to find this narrow path or road that does not end when you die and leave this mortal world! Are you on that hard to find road? Are you absolutely sure your immortal soul is going up that path that leads to heaven, when you die, and your mortal body is left behind to decay back into the dust or ashes as it was created from by God? God sent His Son to this earth to create the narrow path or road that all those who choose to follow Jesus will be placed on that narrow path. That is the only way anyone can find this allusive path!
John wrote for us what Jesus said about this somewhat hard to find narrow path. Jesus told His disciples that this narrow path would be established by Him, and He would meet those who chose to follow Him, when they die, and He would direct them to the end of this path to a place we call heaven. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:2-6). Take note also that Jesus plainly tells us that this is the only way any member of mankind can find their way to heaven! Jesus said, “No-one comes to the Father except through me.”
So, in this lifetime we need to get on the narrow path by believing that Jesus Christ is in fact the Savior of this world. Peter wrote about the patience or the Lord in allowing mankind to find Him and come to believe that Jesus is their Lord and Savior, which puts them (us) on that narrow path. Remember, that most people will choose the wide path that is leading them to destruction. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:15-18). This patience Peter refers to here is that God allows us our entire mortal lifetime to decide to follow Him by taking on Jesus as our Lord and Savior. This is of course, required for any member of mankind to enter heaven when they pass from this mortal life.
Paul wrote about the patience shown by God for us to accept our salvation, and that God desires for all people to be saved, and thus, He continues to work with us, so that we may decide to obey His commands during our earthly lifetime. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13, NLT). It seems to me that this is the idea behind followers of Jesus to try and become more Christ-like every day. The saved will have to also become members of the Body of Christ, so that their growth will only be possible if they become partners to obtain the full blessing of Jesus Christ in this quest to become more Christ-like. I do not believe anyone can accomplish this task as an individual. You must be yoked to other believers, and you must meet with them on a regular basis. I believe this is what Jesus was telling us in the following statement. "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:19-20). Remember, when Jesus sent out the disciples, He sent them with another disciple. Christians are not meant to work alone, and they are not meant to worship alone! What do you think about this idea of togetherness?
I believe Christians must attend a church of their choice on a regular basis, else they may have extreme difficulty in becoming more Christ-like. I do not believe, becoming more Christ-like is a solo accomplishment! What do you believe about what the Body of Christ actually means? Are you planning to participate in applying the Great Commission? These Bible verses are referred to as the Great Commission. Then the eleven disciples (Apostles) went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:16-20). Based on other Scriptures, all these Apostles did find their way to the narrow path, even though at the time of Jesus ascension into heaven, they were part of a group referred to as “but some doubted.” Doubt is a problem of mankind, forgiveness through grace is Christ-like, and is free gift!
Jesus is depending on all His followers to believe in and work on the Great Commission. If we do not work on this together, then we will be allowing many people to continue going down the wide path of destruction and end up in hell when they die! If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are on the narrow path that will lead you Jesus, and Jesus will accompany you to the place in heaven He has prepared for you! Believe it and rejoice, you are on the correct path, and Jesus will come and take you with Him when you die! Do you know anyone who you believe is not that narrow path? Can you try to tell them about the fact that Jesus wants them to follow Him, and that He is the only way to get on the narrow path that ends in heaven?
Tell them, Jesus loves them! This I know, for the Bible tells me so!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
|
|
|