Why Go?


THE FOUR CALLS

The question, “Why will I seek first the kingdom of God?” may be answered because you heard the four calls.

1. The CALL from ABOVE

When Isaiah’s sin is purged he begins to hear the call of God.  We may need to confess our sin before God (1 John 1:9) to be able to hear His call.  Can you hear God calling you to join Him in the harvest fields?

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah 6:8

2. The CALL from BELOW

If we could open up Hell we would hear the cries and calls from the Lost dead.  They would be calling out to us to go and warn our families.  The question is sometimes asked, “If the gospel is true what about my Hindu father, mother, grandmother, etc who has died without Jesus”?  I would tell such a person that if they could speak to you now they would cry out to you to repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ alone.  They would want someone to warn you of the place where they are.  Can you hear their cries?

The rich man said to Abraham “I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.” Luke 16:27-28

3. The CALL from WITHIN

The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts us of sin, instructs us in righteousness, and burdens us for the Lost.  He gives us God’s burden for a lost world.  Only as we are sensitive to His leading will we hear His call.  But once we hear Him we will not be able to escape His call.  Do you share His burden?

“Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, 

I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.” 1 Corinthians 9:16-17

4.  The CALL from WITHOUT

God is the One who is seeking to save the Lost.  He is the One who draws people to Himself with conviction of sin.  As God is at work among a people they begin to call out for someone to share with them the Good News of Jesus Christ.

“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.  And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”  Acts 16:9-10

~ source John Charping

Greater Works

Jesus said because He was going to the Father we would be able to do “greater works” (John 14:12). How is it possible to do greater works than those of Jesus?

  1. Greater works are possible because the Spirit of God is now always present. Jesus said it was good that He went away so that He would send the Spirit to His followers. Unlike Jesus in bodily form, the Spirit can now be with each of us personally, at all times.

  2. Greater works are possible because the Son of God is now always praying. Jesus, now at this very moment, is seated at the Father’s right-hand where He ever lives to make intercession for us. He is our Advocate!

Because of the eternal ministry of the Son and the Spirit we can do works greater than even those accomplished by Jesus when He walked the earth.

Help is on the Way!

Widely considered to be the oldest book in the Bible, the book of Job tells the story of a man who lost his health, wealth, family and friends. Despite his grief Job stubbornly held onto his faith in God, declairing “I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth” (Job 19:25).

Note: a redeemer is someone who pays a price to set something or someone free. Job expected just such a rescuer to come for him. He probably didn’t fully realize it but he was longing for and looking for the coming of Jesus Christ!

Every Christian today can be as confident as Job, as we now anticipate the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

  1. A Personal Redeemer, “My Redeemer”

  2. A Living Redeemer, “lives”

  3. A Coming Redeemer, “He shall stand at last on the earth.”

The Antichrist

Here are five characteristics about the Beast / the Man of Sin / the Antichrist.

  1. He defies God

  2. He deifies himself

  3. He deceives the world

  4. He dictates to all the nations

  5. He will be destroyed by Christ.

Source: Ron Dunn

Forty Years of Ministry

Forty years ago today, on October 16, 1983, I was ordained to the gospel ministry at North Hills Baptist Church in Vallejo, California. Kneeling beside me during that Sunday night service was Brother Lonnie an African American pastor. What a joy it has been to serve the Lord and be a part of God’s big forever family. Most of the men who were a part of my ordaining council have gone on to the Lord. Pray that I stay faithful to the finish. It has been so good to know the Lord and serve him these many years.