Harvest D.C.

For the next several weeks, God has given me the excitement to share with His church at Fairfax the importance of evangelism. You and I know that evangelism is the number one ministry God desires to see happening. Jesus taught His disciples a number of lessons on evangelism. However, sad to say, it has become the least active ministry of ministries in churches today! The reason: Satan.

Satan has kept God's children very busy. He knows how to keep them away from doing the "e-thing". He knows God's plan and does an excellent job by counter-attacking on His children bombarding them with self-centeredness. Satan puts "fear of rejection" in the hearts of God's children. Now, I am blogging this to you giving you a couple of simple verses that we need to put in heart.

"..on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Matthew 16:18 (niv)

Jesus is building His church. He laid the foundation (Eph. 2:20) and we're building on it. Jesus always keeps His promises. He said, "..I will build my church.." Is the Lord's church in your area growing? Are His children (members of the church family) in His church serving out the Lord's purposes (evangelism) and working in building His church? In Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.", indicates that if "Christ" is in you, He wants to use your life to build His church. He is NOT done with the work. He continues to build to this day!

Problem: if you're not reaching out to the lost souls in the world (especially D.C. or your area), you're preventing your Lord (Jesus Christ) in you from sharing the good news (gospel). You're not fulfilling one of five of the Lord's purposes [worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and mission (evangelism)].

Reason: fear of rejection, timing, too busy, it's the preacher's job, I don't have enough knowledge to share the good news, suppose they ask me a difficult question(s) that I am unable to answer, and it's not "my" gift. These comments/thought allows Satan, sitting on the throne of Hades, the opportunity to overcome you. But Jesus said, "..and the gates of Hades will not overcome it [while He is building His church!]." Church means a group of believers, ekklessia, the called out, saints. God is interested in men and women who is not easily swayed by the wind of negativity when they do all they can to share the good news with them, hence, not overcome by Satan's arsenals. So, suppose you do get a rejection, what do you do?

"And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them." Mark 6:11 (niv)

Of course! There will always be a rejection! They may not listen to you! You don't have to wring their arm to get them to "believe". That's not your job. It's God's business. You may lose a good friend because you told them the truth! Even your family may reject you because you have left their "religious tradition".

"Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?" Galatians 4:16 (niv)

Not only they become your enemy, they have turned themselves against the Holy One!

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28 (niv)

So therefore......

"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 28:18-20 (niv)

Jesus said, "I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." John 4:35 (niv)

Go and harvest D.C. and the rest of the cities in the world!