A Practice Run for the Great Commission :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard

Published on: by RR7 Category:General Articles

Matthew 10:1-5, Mark 6:7-13, 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Summary: Jesus sent His apostles to the local towns and areas to proclaim the Gospel message, heal the sick, and cast out demons. They put what they had been taught by Him into action. We need to do the same if we’re serious about our faith.

As we continue our journey through Mark’s gospel, we come to an episode that could be described as a “trial run” of what the apostles and those after them will be doing in fulfilling Jesus’ command to preach the Gospel to every living creature (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:8-11). Jesus has spent valuable time and effort to train these roughhewn fishermen and manual laborers to be the forthcoming leaders and teachers of what will become the church. The church was born on the Day of Pentecost (Acts Chapter 2) and will spread around the world and imbed itself in the annals of civilization as well as eternity (Matthew 16:18).

Now the apostles will put what they have learned into practice, but their beginning missionary journey will be limited to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” The chosen people of God need to hear the Good News of the grace and mercy of God He gave in the Scriptures and to receive the blessings He promised to them. The Gospel was to be given to the Jewish people first (Romans1:16-18) and then to the remainder of the world. The Lord Jesus told the woman at the well that salvation was of the Jews (John 4:22), and they had the right to hear it first.

As Jesus gives them their assignments and responsibilities, we obtain principles of the method of authentic, Christ-centered evangelism that seems to be missing today and needs to be reinstated if the last days church is to fulfill its assignment of telling others about the Lord Jesus and His power to redeem us from our sins.

These principles are:

1) Synergy– defined as “the principle of working together to produce an effect greater than the sum of individual efforts.” This simply means that two or more people working together for the same cause can do more than one person working alone. How is this relevant to evangelism? The Scriptures say that Jesus sent out His disciples in pairs of two to help and encourage one another. The Scriptures teach that two witnesses are more credible than one person (Deuteronomy 17:6). Teams of Christian workers can reach more people and cover more territory for the Lord’s cause. It’s a product of God-given common sense as well as His grace.

2) Support – The apostles were to depend upon one another as well as those who would provide for them while they were traveling around the region with the Gospel message. This practice was also supported by Paul when he was on the road with his ministry colleagues (1 Corinthians 9:4-14). The elders of the churches were to give hospitality to traveling missionaries and were being encouraged by the aged John in one of his final letters to fellow believers (1 Timothy 5:17-18; 3 John 1:5-8).

This type of hospitality and support for Christian workers is in effect today, with pastors being compensated for their work as they teach and preach the Word, but it is never to be seen or used as a means to gain wealth. Churches also provide support for local and international missions to spread the Gospel and care for those who are on the field.

3) Selection – Go where the people are, and stay there if they are willing to listen. However, if a city or town would not receive either the apostles or the Gospel message, they were to leave that area and “shake the dust of that place from off of their feet” (6:11). Do not cast the pearls of salvation before swine, who will trample the message of Christ under their feet (Matthew 7:6).

You will come across people to whom witnessing to them is a waste of time and effort. Excuse yourself and leave them to God, who will convict them at the Last Judgment if they do not repent beforehand. Paul did the same thing, preaching to anyone who was interested, curious, or willing to hear him out (Acts 13:42-44, 17:22-34), but he left when rejected (13:45-46). We are to tell people the Gospel message and leave the results to the work of the Holy Spirit. God is not helpless and can transform hearts at His discretion and for His glory when the seed is planted (Romans 10:14-15).

4) Subject – The apostles were given the foundational message for all people who heard the Gospel to repent (6:12) and receive the message of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 10:7). This message was not complicated. The main topic of any witnessing venture is to present the truth of the Word (Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5).

We are to avoid trivial topics and unnecessary arguments over man’s ideas or anything that takes out focus off the Gospel. In the pulpits of America and the world, true preachers of God’s Word are to teach the Scriptures to their congregations through exposition; that is, going through books of the Bible as the Spirit directs them so that the people know and practice the teachings and keep themselves protected from both deceiving spirits and false teachers. Paul stuck to the Scriptures and preached nothing but “Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). We are to do the same and not get sidetracked with worldly issues and meaningless subjects.

These principles worked then and work now; they do not need to be set aside for the newest trend or cause that has no bearing on the Gospel message. No pastor or church needs to concern itself with contemporary worldly issues and organizations that demand rights and laws but refuse to bow before the King of Kings and submit to His will and a transformed life on His terms. No church, agency, mission board, Christian school or college, nor any man called to preach the Word without apology or compromise should ever bow and submit to anyone but the Father, the Sovereign LORD God of Creation, in the name of the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Never settle for anything less, and keep focused on Him, no matter where He plants you or how He uses you.

If you have come across this message and others and you know you are not right with God, I ask you this day to surrender your life to Jesus, ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to save you, and to obey Him from this day on. This offer has been good since 33 A.D., but time is running out. Don’t put it off.

donaldwhitcharfd@gmail.com

www.realitycityreverend.com

Join me for “The Reality City Daily Review” weekday mornings at 10:00 CST on YouTube (USA). It will then be posted on Facebook and on my website. My main area of discussion will be on the basics of the Christian faith but will also deal with prophetic issues and other topics as the Lord impresses upon me to handle.

Tests, Trials, and Tribulations :: By Jim Towers

Published on: by RR7 Category:General Articles, Jim Torres “Towers”

Our earthly life is full of tests, trials, and tribulations; it is something we all have to endure in one way or another. Many times, these are the consequences of bad decisions and or bad habits, but you can be sure to encounter them. No one can escape this harsh reality.

Albeit unbelievers often have “serious” setbacks since they have no scruples or guidelines in their lives. Sex, drugs, alcohol, and bad behavior overtly permeate and overtake their lives. They just can’t help themselves. In fact, this thing referred to as “sin” seems to be hard-wired into our very genes. The unregenerate know that what they do is bad for them and that eventually they will pay the piper, but they just can’t help themselves. They have no self-control.

College degrees, doctorates, and popularity do nothing to diminish the inclination to fall into temptation and sin. I know a couple who were both lawyers and were well thought of by friends and neighbors. This couple decided to one day quit their law professions and go into the ministry. They went through the proper training of their denomination, and both were ordained. Within three years, it was discovered that the male partner was a pedophile and had a laptop full of child pornography. This in spite of the fact that he had two lovely daughters yet in college. He was convicted and sentenced to hard time in prison. If it could happen to them, it can happen to anybody. One day you’re riding a crest of popularity, and the next, your world falls apart. The wife and two girls were devastated, to say the least.

I would say “he had it coming,” but I know all too well that evil can befall us all. I thank God that I’ve been transformed by the renewing of my mind, and I hope you have been too. “Born again” Christians have God-given guidelines and the promises in the Bible to keep them sane in an ever-increasing deterioration of our world.

Christians are not exempt from such things and are as susceptible to trials and tribulations just like anyone else. The difference is that we have Jesus to lean on when things go wrong in our lives.

Jesus had it right: “In this life you will have many trials and tribulations, but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.” Now this could mean that He is ever present to help us in any situation and trial through the Holy Spirit, our “spiritual helper.” Therefore, we have self-control and spiritual discernment. Yes, we can – and do sin – but sin can be overcome with the Holy Spirit’s help. So don’t despair, and don’t dwell on your difficulties – instead pray.

More often than not, the “bad things” that come into our lives are a testing of our faith – perhaps to see what we’re really made of. Most of the patriarchs of the Bible were put into trials. Job was a man who lost everything he held dear. His wife, family and possessions were taken away in one fell swoop, and he questioned God about it. Why God, what have I done to deserve this fate? And Job had done nothing deserving of such calamity. Job was being tested by Satan. God said you can do anything to him but don’t take his life. Even his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” His friends turned against him too and even became his (tongue in cheek) accusers.

And so, it is with us – to the point where we would welcome death. But Job prevailed and showed himself to be faithful to his creator. All things were restored to Job: a beautiful and loving wife, fine children, and more possessions than he had before.

Joseph was another one. The trials he went through were extraordinary. Falsely accused of rape by the Pharaoh of Egypt, he was imprisoned for years.

The Apostle Paul also had his trials and tribulations as well; he was imprisoned, stoned, and left to die. He was whipped more than once, shipwrecked, and bitten by a poisonous serpent. In other words, he had gone through hell for his faith, something most of us would never do.

These were true men of faith, not some church-going couch potatoes unworthy of being called Christian.

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s suffering, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

There is so much that can be said on this topic, but be careful what you wish for. During the time my wife left me, I prayed and cried, and cried some more for losing my two children to her, whom she took with her to live in another part of the country with her lover. Twenty years later after her lover had been incarcerated on drug charges, I saw her. The poor soul was a wasted mess of a woman but still as mean as a junkyard dog. Today, she is a hypocritical Jehovah’s Witness living in squalor. I thank God that we never reconciled.

Having said that, I expect to get some blowback about voicing such callous statements, but truth be told, I’ve always treated her with kindness and courtesy, knowing that we all make many mistakes. I’ve even prayed for her salvation. She was and continues to be a victim of bad choices.

Dear Friend, if you are going through a dark period in your life, you must continue to trust God; His timing is impeccable, and the results are worth waiting for. “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD” (Psalm 27:14). One day we will all be at rest, and life will be so joyful in heaven that we will not even remember the trials and tribulations we had to go through in the here and now.

Books

The Authoritarian Moment, a book written by Ben Shapiro, is a must read for those who have been living under a rock for the past fifty years. In those fifty or more years, the radical left has altered our country beyond recognition, and the thing I personally detest the most is their disregard for the things of God, abortion and sexual perversion. Ben lays it all on the line with his political insight and encourages us to fight back. The subtitle is “How the Left Weaponized America’s Institutions against Dissent.”

YBIC

Jim Towers

Write me at jt.filmmaker@yahoo.com or visit www.dropzonedelta.com or my website www.propheticsignsandwonders.com