GREAT COMMISSION PART ONE

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After Jesus’s resurrection but before He ascended back to heaven, Jesus repeated His Great Commission five times. Christians are to reach cities, nations, and the world! Every Christian, not just church leaders, were tasked with the Great Commission.

“Go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt.28:19).

  1. “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark16:15).
  2. “Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke24:47).
  3. “As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you” (John20:21).
  4. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts1:8).

The first Great Commission verse in Matthew in its entirety is foundational and covers the most, so we will look at it.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the very end of the age!’” Matthew 28:18-20

Let’s look at each point that Jesus said:

  1. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”

“ALL authority… on earth” certainly has to include all civil authority on earth in all nations. If you truly comprehend the first thing Jesus said here, we can stop right here. No one should need any more than this to see Jesus’s Great Commission is a civil mandate for all nations on earth.

The words “all authority” are also translated as “all power.” And you don’t need ALL power or ALL authority on earth to be able to disciple a few Christians! But you definitely do need all power and authority on earth to be able to do what Jesus then commands us.

  1. “Therefore, go and teach all nations.”

“Nations” are by definition: “A group of people led by the same civil government.” Nations are NOT a group of churches or a group of disciples. Nations are civil governments. Therefore, this is Jesus’s civil mandate, to go and teach all nations, exactly as the verse says. The rest of the Great Commission Jesus tells us exactly how to successfully accomplish His civil mandate.

  1. “Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Contrary to what many assume, this sentence is NOT referring to water baptism for the New Covenant Believers, for a lot of reasons:

  • First, the context of the verse right before has no basis for being that.
  • Second, the pronoun in “baptizing them”, has to refer to a noun in the previous sentence. And in the previous sentence and according to the literal Greek, there is only one noun, and it is the word – “NATIONS”.
  • Third, but how do you baptize nations? In the Greek language, the word “baptize” is more often used in other ways than water baptism. It was used – “to immerse, to wash, to cleanse and even to overwhelm.” In fact, most of the time in the NT this word is NEVER used for water baptism new believers. For example, Matt. 3:11: Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Matt. 3:11: Baptism of fire, Matt. 28:19: Baptism of nations, Mark 7:4: Baptism of food, Mark 7:4: Baptism of cups, Mark 7:4: Baptism of pots, Luke 3:3: Baptism of repentance, Luke 7:29: Baptism of John, Luke 12:50: Baptism of suffering, Rom. 6:3: Baptized into Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. 10:2: Baptized into Moses, 1 Cor. 12:13: Baptized into one body, 1 Cor. 15:29: Baptized for the dead, Gal. 3:27: Baptized into Christ.
  • The ONLY time water baptism for New Covenant Believers was ever referred to in the New Testament was after Pentecost in the book of Acts. Moreover, every time it was used there for new Believers, the phrase – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – was NEVER said. The Book of Acts actually records what was said, and this is what was said every time: Acts 2:38: “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ”, Acts 8:16: “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”, Acts 10:48: “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ”, Acts 19:5: “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”

Contrary to what some may think, Jesus’s Great Commission was not talking about water baptism of New Covenant Believers, but rather to cleanse and overwhelm “all the nations” with the teaching and authority of the whole God-Head – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. So how then did Jesus tell them to cleanse and overwhelm all nations?

  1. “Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Jesus did not say, teaching them to “to know all” but “to obey all.” That is exactly what is required for all civil law – “to obey all” that Jesus commanded. One of the first things Jesus commanded was to “do and teach” all God’s Law in His “Sermon on the Mount” (Mat. 5:17-19).

  1. “And behold, I am with you always, to the very end of the age!”

BEHOLD! The end of the age has not yet come — so God’s new Jesus Family today can and is to still carry out Jesus’s Great Commission – His national civil mandate!

BEHOLD! Jesus is with us today — to carry out His national mandate!

“Therefore, go and teach all nations… And behold, I am with you always, to the very end of the age!’”

To practically go and teach any nation, which by definition is civil government, and to obey all that Jesus has commanded may seem impossible. But Jesus said:

“With God all things are possible!” Matthew 19:26

In the next post, we will look at how successful Christians have been with the task they have been given – The Great Commission.

For more information on the Great Commission and the church as God intended, visit Jim McCotter’s website, http://www.jimsbookstore.com.

MASS BAPTISM OF 12,000 PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA

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A recent massive gathering of Christians across California reportedly broke a record when participants collectively held the world’s largest-ever baptism. Baptize California, an event that unfolded over a Saturday and Sunday at various locations throughout the Golden State saw a historic number of people immersed at individual churches and during a main-stage event at Huntington Beach. The two-day extravaganza showcases countless examples of life change and spiritual renewal, featured speakers, worship music from leaders like Sean Feucht, and more. According to preliminary numbers, there were over 6,000 people baptized at the Huntington Beach location, alone, with an additional 6,000 people immersed in churches across the state. “You can smell another Great Awakening in the air like rain before it hits,” Pastor Francey, who founded the event said. “God lit a match! If God can do this in the church in California, it can — and it will — happen in the rest of America!”

“It was a surreal and extraordinary day!” Francey told CBN News. “It felt like we were living in the pages of the book of Acts!” And the individual stories coming from Baptize California are truly incredible. Francey shared just one such story, telling CBN News how a Satanist accepted Jesus and “immediately got water baptized.” “You could see the change immediately,” he said. The preacher said 1,000 people accepted Jesus at Huntington Beach, with thousands coming to watch the event unfold. “The crowd steadily swelled to — at one point — as much as 14,000,” Francey said. “Hundreds of churches linked arms to accomplish what happened.”

Remarkably, this prompting happened before the Asbury University revival took form — and before Francey found out about “Jesus Revolution,” the feature film about Greg Laurie’s life and the Jesus movement. The movie, which made more than $52 million at the box office, sparked mass intrigue and spiritual fervour in many nationwide. All of this was confirmation for Francey that God was at work. Just weeks after Baptize SoCal took place May 28, 2023, and broke baptism records, Laurie’s own event inspired by “Jesus Revolution” — also held at Pirate’s Cove — shattered the Baptize SoCal record, with over 4,500 baptisms.  Francey’s vision went well beyond his Baptize SoCal efforts. He said he also felt God call him to expand the efforts, which brings us to Baptize California, this year’s endeavour. With the success of Baptize California, Francey is already planning to launch Baptize America next year, setting his sights beyond California. “Now we are gearing up to do this and unite the church all over America,” he said.

This good news of the “gospel of the Kingdom” needs to be read in the context of Jesus’ warnings about the state of the world in the end times. It will be like the days of Noah when lawlessness abounded “and you will be hated by all nations for my names sake“.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:9-14

THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE MILLENNIUM

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The Kingdom of God has several phases. One important but neglected Kingdom phase is the Millennium as it is a future transition phase on this Earth. Much of the church teaches that the millennium is being fulfilled today and yet the Bible teaches that it follows prophesied events that are yet to occur: worldwide tribulation, cosmic signs, the wrath of God, the rescue of God’s people, and the judgement of nations. Testimony of the millennium is found in both testaments of the Bible. The Old Testament prophets tell of a future time when Israel’s prophesied Messiah will rule all the nations of Earth. It is a time very different from our present age and the coming eternal state with a new Heaven and a new Earth. The New Testament tells us how long this intermediate period will be – one thousand years.

Since the Fall of Man, God has enacted a plan to bring this rebel planet back into conformity with His universal kingdom in which His will is perfectly done. Part of this plan is for His Son, Jesus, the Messiah, to rule the nations, including his enemies from Jerusalem. Israel is restored, the nation God established for His purposes. Jesus and the Saints will rule the nations with a rod of iron (see Psalm 2: The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed, Psalm 110, and Rev. 2:26-27).

“The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron…” Revelation 2:26

Jesus must fulfill the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenants and rule over the planet that rejected Him. When this phase of the Kindom is completed this world will be destroyed. The rest of the dead are raised to face Jesus at the White Throne judgement. God creates a new heaven and new earth where only the righteous will dwell, at which time Jesus will hand over the Kingdom to God the Father.

THE WHOLE WORLD LIES IN THE POWER OF THE EVIL ONE

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The world has no knowledge of this truth. The Evil One/Satan is the great deceiver. He disguises himself as an angel of light.

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14

Christians are born again and now belong to the Kingdom of God. It is why we pray to our Heavenly Father: “Your Kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.”

“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” 1 John 5:18-20

Just as Paul was sent by Jesus to bring people to a knowledge of the truth about Satan we are also sent by Jesus who has made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit to indwell our spirit and empower us to do the work God has assigned us to do.

“I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” Acts 26:18

Just remember Philippians 4:19

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.“

Jesus made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the third person of the Trinity to indwell our spirit and be our Counsellor, Teacher, and Comforter. He produces the fruit of the Spirit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, kindness, and self-control. He also provides the gifts of the Spirit for ministry. Below is a list of the spiritual gifts referenced in the Bible with their essential meanings.

  • The Gift of Wisdom – the gift to make choices and give leadership that is according to God’s will.
  • The Gift of Knowledge – the gift to comprehensively understand a spiritual issue or circumstance.
  • The Gift of Faith – the gift to trust God and inspire others to trust God, no matter the conditions.
  • The Gift of Healing – the wondrous gift of using God’s healing power to cure a person who is ill, wounded, or suffering.
  • The Gift of Miracles – the gift to display signs and miracles that give credibility to God’s Word and the Gospel message.
  • The Gift of Prophecy – the gift to declare a message from God.
  • The Gift of Discerning Spirits – the gift to recognize whether or not something is truly from God or by righteousness.
  • The Gift of Tongues – the gift to communicate in a foreign language you do not have experience with, to converse with those who speak that language, and a heavenly language that enables you to let the Holy Spirit speak for you.
  • The Gift of Interpreting Tongues – the gift of interpreting the speech and writings of a different language and translating it back to others in your own.
  • The Gift of Administration – the gift to keep things ordered and in agreement with God’s principles.
  • The Gift of Helps – the gift of a desire and capacity to always help others and do whatever it takes to achieve a task.

DID JESUS COME TO START A RELIGION?

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No, He did not. He came to set up a Kingdom and the only prayer He taught us to pray is

“Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be your name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven“… only then do we ask for our daily needs.

“And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:29-34

Next on God’s agenda for His Earth is for Jesus to set up a Kingdom on Earth where Jesus and the glorified Saints will rule and reign for 1000 years. God’s Word tells us exactly how Satan’s rule comes to an end. He is bound in the Abyss for most of Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom. He is released at the end and is still able to raise an army like the sand of the sea to come against Jesus and the Saints. I am reminded here of the time before God destroyed all of mankind except Noah and his family.

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.” Genesis 6:5-6

How many churches are preparing believers for Jesus’ coming Millennial Kingdom on planet Earth? I would say very few, they are not even preparing them for the coming tribulation. The seven churches in Revelation represent the church in each of the last seven years prior to Jesus’ return and God pouring out His wrath upon an unrepentant world with the Trumpet (7) and Bowl (7) judgments. Also, the six seals show us what will happen on Earth during the last seven years. Let us look at the Sixth Seal and the Sixth Church.

SIXTH SEAL: The celestial signs in the sky that precede the Rapture of the Saints and God pouring out His wrath upon the Earth. The Rapture happens at the trumpet blast and the opening of the seventh seal.

“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:12-17

SIXTH CHURCH (Church of Philadelphia – Philadelphus means “love of the brethren“) This is the church that God is going to rapture

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name… Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:7-8,10

The seventh church (Laodicea means “judgment of the people,”) This is the church God is going to spit out of His mouth. They will face the wrath of God but note, that God still calls them to repent (Rev. 3:14-22).

“They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6

WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

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Did Jesus expect everyone to understand His parables about the Kingdom of God?

Most people assume Christ used this method of teaching (parables) to make the truth more easily understood. Jesus, Himself said the opposite is true.

“And the disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ He answered and said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them, it has not been given… Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand'” Matthew 13:10-13

“But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” Matthew 13:16-17

Jesus did not expect everyone to understand His parables about the Kingdom, either in His days on earth or now.

It is interesting that Jesus quoted the prophecy from Isaiah (approx 700 BC): “And in them, the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand.” Matthew 13:14-15

Jesus then explained the Parable of the Sower. The sown seed was “the word of the kingdom”. Next, He gave the three most common reasons most people don’t understand what He called “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven“.

  1. Jesus gave the example of a person who is so deceived by Satan that he lacks the spiritual depth even to grasp the meaning of the message.
  2. Next, He gave the example of one who “stumbles” at the word when “tribulation or persecution arises“.
  3. Then comes the example of the one “who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful“.
  4. Finally, “this is the one who hears and understands it” They understand Christ’s teachings concerning the Kingdom of God. The person who hears and believes the message then acts on that information to produce abundant spiritual fruit.

When one repents in faith and receives the gift of God’s Spirit (Acts 2:38), he begins a Spirit-led life. Through His Spirit, as Paul explains: “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13 Also, we need to constantly ask our Lord: “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths” Psalms 25:4

Jesus promises these believers:

“What will they then do? “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations” Revelation 2:26

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” Revelation 3:21

Do you want to reign with Jesus in His coming Millennial Kingdom on earth? If you do then make sure you are walking according to the Holy Spirit producing abundant spiritual fruit.

REPENTANCE ESSENTIAL FOR JESUS COMING KINGDOM

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“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:1-2

“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15

“No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3,5

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

“Repent, therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,“ Acts 3:19

“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this, he has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31

We are called to live holy lives that honor God. Our decisions either fuel the fires of revival or quench the Spirit— we either rejoice in God and walk in His Word or grieve the Spirit by disobeying. The choice is ours.

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT

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Tribulation is ahead for Born Again Believers who uphold Biblical inerrancy and therefore God’s moral values. Moreover, the apostasy we see playing out in the world today was prophesied by God to occur in the “end times” prior to Jesus’ return to this earth.

Clergywoman marrying two males

The sanctity of marriage was established in the beginning, in Genesis. Gay marriage is law in many countries in total opposition to God.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24

Homosexuality is an abomination to God who made males and females and defined their roles and the institution of marriage. They along with many other sinners will not inherit the kingdom of God.

“Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

The following Scripture shows us that Paul and those with him experienced intense tribulation when they went to Asia. What is important for us to note is what God did in response. Also, note Paul’s request for prayer and why; “so many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many”.

“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction (tribulation) we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On Him, we have set our hope that He will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

We should not be fearful of the coming tribulation. Why? Because God will comfort His children who are in any affliction or tribulation.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

BELIEVE AND OBEY, BOTH NECESSARY

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There is no doubt Jesus accomplished all we need to be righteous before God our Father. Salvation is available for all those that repent of their sins and believe in Jesus as both our Saviour and Lord.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,” Romans 1:16

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” Romans 3:21-22

“We are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” Romans 3:24

“And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:50

It is a done deal, however the following verses also indicate that Jesus calls us to action.

“And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:19-20

“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.“

“To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:59-60

“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

Jesus has put us in right standing with our Heavenly Father and made it possible for our Father to send the Holy Spirit to enable us to live the Christian life, to be our Counsellor, our Comforter and Teacher so the question now is are we truly obeying His call to follow Him and to do the good works He has prepared for us?

PERSECUTION COMES WITH THE TERRITORY

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What an entire generation of Christians do not understand is that refusing to align your language, choices, and actions with scripture is a blatant denial of Christ Jesus. Attacks on the doctrine of scripture are attacks on the Kingdom of God. Likewise, if we deny His word, we also deny Him. We cannot claim Jesus as our own and also continue to endorse the world’s philosophies. As the years continue to pile up in our postmodern society, so do the excuses Christians make about why they are willing to deny Jesus and His doctrine.

We would all do well to meditate on Jesus’ warning in Luke 9:62. He says, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Here, Jesus is reminding us all not to “look back” at the worldly life we left behind. In doing so, we err like Lot’s wife did in Sodom – not trusting God’s provision. When we take our eyes off the prize and look back at the world we left behind, we declare ourselves unfit for the kingdom of God.

Christians, a day is coming when you will be forced to make this very decision: plow forward or look back.

“But false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 2:1

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:9-13

God’s word warns us of many last days false prophets and teachers and apostasy in the church, all evident now and proof we are living in the last days. Prepare your heart now, you will be tempted to deny your Lord and Saviour. You need to consider the cost of following Christ but also the cost if you turn your back on Him. Your eternal destiny is at stake. We need to be prepared to lay down our lives for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Remember, that it is “He who endures to the end that shall be saved” Matthew 24:13

Let us meditate on the apostle’s words. “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” Philippians 3:8-10

While our current persecution might be light, in comparison to what other brothers and sisters are experiencing in the world, it is still persecution. The doctrine and truth of God’s Word is being put to shame in our culture. It is time for you to decide if you will heed the call. Will you follow Christ or is the cost too much for you to bear? Far too long has the church been idle, ignoring this question. Will you take the yoke and plow the field for the Kingdom of God? Yes, there will be a cost for following Christ. But in such work, you will find joys and wonders of which you never dreamed. Pray that when you are forced to decide between plowing forward or looking back, you will choose the yoke of Christ. Pray that you will be a faithful slave of Christ. It is time for Christians to start owning that title.

Much of this post is taken from the article entitled Doubling-Down on Christian Persecution: The Cost of Following Jesus  JANUARY 19, 2021 by Jack Lee http://www.patheos .com