30/12/2020
The Challenge- growing season
It is called the great commission: ”Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you always even to the end of the world.”(Matt28:19,20). This is the commission that Jesus gave his disciples going out into the world teaching the gospel to all who wants to listen. He mentioned to them to teach what he has taught them.
What exactly did Jesus teach them? The disciples were simple folk most probably not highly educated and he knew that all, even the children could understand simple things, but if you start talking in a high language, it is challenging to understand. He even while referring to children, said that the Kingdom of Heaven composed(Matt19:14). He came for everybody but never wanted anybody to be left out. That is why He used simple language and understandable ways to explain what is essential to know.
Most people live close to the earth and at some stage in their lives planted some seeds. Therefore Jesus loved using parables(riddles) referring to the soil, seed, growth, weeds, vines, pruning, and grafting. It is all terms clearly understood by the disciples and the followers of Jesus. They were simple folk living close to the earth. It is the same terms that we will employ to take you on this journey. It will be understandable and easy to follow.
In 2021, we would like to challenge you. This is however, a different challenge. It is not an easy sugar, egg, and tabasco challenge which is over in five minutes, but a whole year challenge. This is a real challenge, and even the Word says that many will run the race but not all will get the prize(2 Corinthians 9:24). This year we want to encourage you to grab hold of a few people around you to join you in the race.
The challenge will be to grow as a disciple and take others with you who are not saved yet. The challenge will be a season of growth for you but also a season of cultivation, planting, and growing of those that you tag along. The idea of the challenge is to bring those who you tag along to the stage of harvest. The challenge will be to get them to follow you throughout the journey to the point where they can join your church and be baptized, leaving the world behind.
You are most probably wondering who to tag along? This will be an interesting portion that will make the challenge a real challenge. The ones to tag along are your neighbours, the familiar guy scratching in your dustbin in the mornings, the fuel attendant, house worker, packer, parking attendant, security or cashier at your local grocer, or even the drunk or beggar on the corner. This will mean that like Jesus, we will this year be serving many more people around us, who tends to serve us.
Preachers, pastors, evangelists, and prophets are praying for revival. Revival is not something given by GOD. It is God using His church to go out as disciples to make disciples. You are an instrument in God’s hands. He created you for a time such as this. He created you with purpose. Your purpose is to be a disciple to go out and preach that the Kingdom is at hand. Because of you, the harvest will be so great that the labourers will be too few.
Remember- He promised that He will be with you always till the end of days(Matt28:20)
