All posts by Johnas

Reaching the unreached people groups with the the good news about Christ is our passion.

CHRISTIAN MATURITY

From the previous message (growth through reaching to others) shared by the Director. We shall turn to maturity.
Just as it has always been, maturity is subsequent to growth, we need to learn more about it.
Growth in his case, is for growing Christians. In my years of survice, I have realized that many Christians grow but fail to mature in their faith. Growth here, is the capacity to withstand spiritual difficulties and the ability to win the spiritual battles. Growth and maturity seems to be similar, but kinder different. Growth is about multiplication in numbers while maturity is ability to stand still amidist spiritual storms.
From the Old  Testament, we realisze how different servants of God showed maturity.
In 1 Samuel we learn much about young man  David, here we read, 1 Samuel 17:26 “… For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
In verse 45and 46 of chapter 17, David says to the philistine,” 1 Samuel 17:45
[45]Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
” …..[47]Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
David, young as he was, would really have no reason of fighting such a suoerior and might man Goliath, because, his work was to take care of his father’s flock unlike his brothers who were soldiers. He would really have no concern about  fighting, but what pained David was, ” insulting, cursing and taunting his God.” This deeply hurt and upset him to fight.
Which kind of a Christian are you?
Are you a Christian of “I go where the winds blow me, or you’re a Christian of defense?
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego would have no reason of being thrown into the fire, if they only minded of growth. Notice their speech to King Nabuchadnezzer here in Daniel,
Daniel 3:17-18
[17]If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
[18]But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Saved in Fiery Trial.
Evaluate how strong and defensive these men were to their God! This is maturity!
Immature Christians often break down when never a little hardship arise.
A heart for God is the basis of macurity for every Christian’s life.
Ask yourself, are you a growing and maturing Christian, only growing, only matured, or non of them? Where do really fit?
I don’t belief if many souls can be won to Christ through prayers alone, on the other hand, I don’t belief that without prayers, many souls can be won to christ. The two works hand in hand to bring about growth and maturity.

Let’s serve God and stand firm, we must mature!
Hallelujah!

Growth through reaching to others.

We have often times had alot of teachings about growth, sometimes this topic being handled by pastors, business men and in physical and biological studies. No wonder, the very topic shall be handled here, this may not seem too unique or different, but may be handled kinder different.

From our Bibilical study, we find that Growth is one another fundamental and elementary aspect of every Christian’s life. It’s not only about the church and Christianns growing physically and materially, but aswell, spiritual growth must mean much to every folloelwer of Christ.
It irritates me alot when I see this element of strength being driven out of many Christians’ lives.
To many pastors and church leaders of the leberial and modernistic churches, growth of the church in number and with meakness is too minor, their empansis being necessarily for wealth.
This isn’t  the grouth!
Reaching out to others with the Gospel is our number one responsibility, actually this being the great COMMISSION.
It’s such a tear shedding fact that, this element of the church has been driven out of sight of many fundermental Bible – believing churches and Christians.
All through the Bible, we come to realize that God needs all peoples to worship Him.
How then can all people worship Him? The Bible gives us an answer. Here we read,

Matthew 28:19-20
[19]Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
[20]teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. The Bible says, Go make disciples. Then Baptize then Teach.

What comes into your mind when you think of the word  MISSIONS?
Most of us are hard pressed to name more than the old faithful Great Commission. For years, our church culture has singled out this passage to be our mission and conference THEME to motivate those who go into the field. It’s no wonder that our obedience is low _who wants to hung their future on one verse?
The Bible has alot to say about this subject than just the Great Commission. We need to understand the concept of a Biblical basis for missions. Maybe saying, “Biblical basis _ is there one?”
Yes! In fact, God’s desire is to see His Glory covering the whole earth permeates. As a Christian, it’s vital that we see the world as God sees it. Let’s look at the Bible in light to God’s Heart for the world, and we will see that from Genesis to Revelation, He is backoning you, me and all of His people to join him in the mission field. The Bible is not a colletion of seperate books with no common theme or story, IT’S ONE BOOK WITH ONE THEME.
What do we learn from Jesus’ first words to his followers?

Matthew 4:19
[19]Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” We learn much from this scripture, Jesus wishing them to aswell be soul winners. Making Jesus known to others and bringing them to Christ is much more bigger than to you may think.
It’s everyone’s obligation and a fundermental element of growth.
Jesus telling the followers to make them fishers of men and the passions that they may aswell teach others about the kingdom of God reveals to us His basic mind to reach out to others. As we read the scriptures, we find that winning souls to Christ is not just your pastor’s ideas or your youth leader’s or your campus minister’s idea or even your personal ideas, it’s God founded.
Many Christians often neglect this, but we ought to see the world as God sees it.
Having a heart for the lost or unreached person, ought to be be everyone’s heart as followers of Christ.
Let’s have a simple study from these three men(Peter, John and the lame begger) , to discover how a heart and concern for others brings about growth.

Acts 3:2
[2]And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;

The lame had many people, everyday they carried him to the Temple gate to beg for money and alms, but no one had a heart and consern to enter him into the Temple for a worship;  neither did they share with him about Christ. Everyday, all the time, people passed him by, entering and coming out of the temple, but no one had a heart for him.
Exactly this is what most Christians behave today. Many are self minded Christians. This is not God’s wish to us,it contracts with the basics of Jesus’ coming and teachings in Luke 19:10 we see something, here we read,
[10]for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

In Acts 3:4,we see Peter and John rendering their time for a lame begger.
Here we read, Acts 3:4 “And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” The words” LOOK AT US” implifies something great.

This is how we must live as fellowers of Christ. These two men, Peter and John, had alot of things to handle, many people to teach and pray for. Infact, they wouldn’t take their time for this one lame begger, but because of a heart and consern for him, they spent their time for him.
Giving time to begger, freed and saved his life. His freedom made all people around to recognise the love of God through his servants.
This was a miracle as many teachers and preachers often say.
Yeah, it was a miracle, but this shouldn’t drive us from its cause; aconcen and a heart for the begger. This is growth. Everyday a member is relieved  and added to Christ, Growth is said to have occurred.
We should keep away with overpious talk and teachings that God is not intrested in numbers as many say? Growth is about multiplication. Multiplication in what! In numbers of course!
In numbers, there are souls. Take an example, if you went out for a ministry trip and found no one, to whom would you preach. And whom would you convert to Christ? None of course.
On a function, every calling card with address, represents a person, likewise Church attendance. Everyone in a church is considered a soul, either righteous or wicked, in him/her is a Soul.
We need to critically notes here how the growth is explain by the Holy Spirit.

120 saved from the upper room…Acts 1:15, And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,

3000 saved in a single survice…Acts 2:41
[41]Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

5000 taken only for the men… Acts 4:4
[4]However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand….

Multitude (singular)…Acts 4:32
[32]”Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul”…

Multitudes (plural)…Acts 5:14
[14]And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudesof both men and women.

This greatly affirms to us that our thought and ideas that God is not inrested in numbers is wrong, so such thought should be driven out of our minds. God is interested in numbers aswell. A Christian not intrested in numbers for God is always stunted, why? Because he/she will never mind of going out into the fields to share the the Word with others, he will never give time for the unreached, either in prayers, sending,welcoming and going. These are God’s works.
You ought to reach out to others and tell them to reach out to others too.

We love you ALL.

RESTORATION.

Restoration is a state of returning something to its former state/condions. Or returning to its former /original place.
Many times of my survice with God, I have come to realize that God’s passion is seeing all people serving Him. One’s downfall  from His presence touches Him that’s why He asks ” Do I take pleasure in the death of a weaked?” We find an answer “rather than that he should turn from his acts and live”
Restoration is one another foundational and basic element for all Christians whose faith has slumbered, many times people after falling, feels no more to raise again back to God. No! This isn’t a solution, very fast you ought to raise, there is more another chance! Run to God and tell Him “OH FATHER, AM BACK AGAIN.” He is a father of mercy.
In Luke 15,, we see Jesus using a parable to reflect the heart of the Father (God).
Here we read ” Luke 15:11-32
[11]Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.
[12]And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me. ’ So he divided to them his livelihood.
[13]And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
[14]But when he had spent all, there arose a seveire famine in that land, and he began to be in want.
[15]Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
[16]And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
[17]“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
[18]I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
[19]and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’
[20]“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
[21]And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
[22]“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
[23]And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;
[24]for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
[25]“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
[26]So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
[27]And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
[28]“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.
[29]So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.
[30]But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
[31]“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
[32]It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found. ”
In verse 32 of the opening chapter, the father says to the elder son “It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found. ”

In Ezekiel 18:23, we can deeply discover God’s idea on restoration.
We read ” Ezekiel 18:23
[23]Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?

What do we discover from these scriptures? What do we really learn!
We find that God needs us back to Him .
How are you moving on with your God? How is your relationship with him?
Is your love for God still strong as it was at the begibjimg. Realize it!
All long after the boy mistaking to his father, he realizes his mistakes and say ” I will raise and go to my father.”.
Its about realizing and restoring all the gone ones: our love with God, relationships, His prences in our lives and more.
It’s a bout remembering and repenting. “

Revelation 2:5
[5]Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent ” (Revelation 2:5)
Raise, remember the last times when you were at the picks, and turn to God. Maybe you used to intercede for the sick, you used to visit and share and encourage your fellows,, maybe you used to preach /teach and you could see people devoted to God just through your preaching/teachings.
Nevertheless! It isn’t too late, God needs you back. You can still do it! Remember the heights you have fallen and turn back. He is a merceful God.
Many times we have given much time to he devil. Giving him chances to control and drive our lives.
Lets turn to Genesis 3 and learn something, we read, Genesis 3:1
[1]Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

In the same way, Satan still asks us the very  quentions today, “will God really accept you? Is  He really with you? Will it be so bad when you give in for this one time? Is fasting and Bible reading really important?
Before you come to know it, you’re caught between doubts and disbliefs.
Stop listening to such, stop! Don’t give time to the devil. We see that if Eve had not given anytime to the serpent, it wouldn’t be able to confuses and mislead her, but just giving time to listen from it, resulted into fall of man.
Remember how much you used to pray when you were sick, when you wanted school tuition, how you prayed when you wanted a baby, a job, job promotion. Remember the covenants you made with God. Raise once again with strength and dust off yourself. God’s arms are open for you.
“Hope the message has been touching.

Welcome home, let’s serve together.


                                                      M W JOHNAS

CAN WE REALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO EFFECT?

About 2.9 Billion people in the world are still unreached with the Gospel today, while the total Evangilcals worldwide are about 546 Million people. Nearly 2,000 languages have no Bible translations.
What comes into your mind as a Christian when you hear of thiis?
Which step can we really take? What’s is your opinion. Can we really have something to effect? How can we do to see that these people hear and accept Christ?

Infact, what do you understand by,
1. THE UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS (UPGs)?
  2. THE UNREACHED UNENGAGED PEOPLE GROUPS (UUPGs)? and
  3.THE WORLD CHRISTIANS (WCs)?
Let’s together discuss something about these

Acts 13:47
[47]For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
Acts 26:18
[18]to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Paul’s Post-Conversion Life

Hello world!

Hello world!

It’s our pleasure to have you. Let’s together discover God’s heart, God’s world and God’s work and discuss on how we can really be able to mobilize, train and send workers into the fields.

We’re called to call others to Christ.