New Testament Reading: Luke 14
Old Testament Reading: Jonah 4
I believe we are on the verge of many who have not known God being swept into relationship with Him in the coming months. The message we preach (the gospel, story of Jesus life, death, and resurrection and it implications for our lives) will bear fruit. It is inevitable.
(God is even using those of you who are reluctant laborers like Jonah to see the gospel change people's lives. Isn't that great? God will use you to bring salvation to people even if you don't feel like! Just be prepared for some "fish swallowing" experiences! Haha!)
The real question is will we be prepared to receive a surge of new lovers of Jesus into our midst? Will we open up our lives, homes, and hearts to those who will need to be loved, taught, and healed?
Jonah cannot. He preached the message, but he could not handle the harvest. In 2005, God spoke to me clearly in a vision. He said, "Build me a structure that can contain the coming revival." We have been laboring to do that for the last 5 years. Now comes the test. Will God's love have filled and expanded our hearts enough that we can welcome in hundreds of new believers into our church community with love, grace, and diligence? Are we prepared to teach people what it means to be a follower of Jesus (Matthew 28)?
Jonah cannot because he despises the cultural differences between him and the people he has preached to. He cannot see beyond their sin. He cannot see God's grace. Grace is getting what you do not deserve. Thousands will come into the kingdom still carrying the wounds and baggage of past sin. Grace means they receive unconditional love and friendship from both Jesus and his church as they seek to turn to God.
Why? Because God love's them. Ask for and allow God to fill your heart with His love. Jesus, fill me with the love of the Father. Holy Spirit, pour out the love of God into my heart, today!
I believe we are on the verge of many who have not known God being swept into relationship with Him in the coming months. The message we preach (the gospel, story of Jesus life, death, and resurrection and it implications for our lives) will bear fruit. It is inevitable.
(God is even using those of you who are reluctant laborers like Jonah to see the gospel change people's lives. Isn't that great? God will use you to bring salvation to people even if you don't feel like! Just be prepared for some "fish swallowing" experiences! Haha!)
The real question is will we be prepared to receive a surge of new lovers of Jesus into our midst? Will we open up our lives, homes, and hearts to those who will need to be loved, taught, and healed?
Jonah cannot. He preached the message, but he could not handle the harvest. In 2005, God spoke to me clearly in a vision. He said, "Build me a structure that can contain the coming revival." We have been laboring to do that for the last 5 years. Now comes the test. Will God's love have filled and expanded our hearts enough that we can welcome in hundreds of new believers into our church community with love, grace, and diligence? Are we prepared to teach people what it means to be a follower of Jesus (Matthew 28)?
Jonah cannot because he despises the cultural differences between him and the people he has preached to. He cannot see beyond their sin. He cannot see God's grace. Grace is getting what you do not deserve. Thousands will come into the kingdom still carrying the wounds and baggage of past sin. Grace means they receive unconditional love and friendship from both Jesus and his church as they seek to turn to God.
Why? Because God love's them. Ask for and allow God to fill your heart with His love. Jesus, fill me with the love of the Father. Holy Spirit, pour out the love of God into my heart, today!
"And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left?" (Jonah 4:11)
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