7/9/97 Are You The One?
(If it is welcome and a blessing, send it on to others,Lee)
I was in a place yesterday, where there were thousands of people. And I saw one outward indicator (a tiny gold cross around the neck) of Jesus (I am not saying the wearer was a Christian). I am also not saying there were no Christians. What I will say, is that as my wife and I walked around for 6 hours, wearing shirts that indicated our commitment to the Lord, I realized how dark the land is, how dry it is. No one ran up and said, "you know Jesus!!!". They moved to the sides.
Maybe I am getting used to how bold the young people in our area are getting. On both sides. Let me tell you, there is no apparent gray area in our town. If they are on the other side it is fairly noticeable. I also see that those proclaiming Jesus are stepping up to the plate.
I realize a shirt or a necklace does not indicate the depth of a person's Christianity. And so I will ask you, what does determine it? Is Jesus LORD over your life? Or are you just believing in Him? Is there light showing? And I realize many have a light that shows all over the church and our brothers and sisters. But have you opened the windows and let the light show into the streets, into the work place, into your school? There is a scripture that says, "if you confess me before men, I will confess you before my Father, if you deny me before men, I will deny you before my Father." Matthew 10:32-33. This can go deep. Many people know I am a pastor (though for some accepting it is a different ball game!), but the real question is do they know I am a Christian, a believer. This scripture needs to be a wakeup call for the church.
"Hello. What is a Christian? I don't know what a Christian is. I know you go to church upteen times a week, I never see you. But you never tell us what you do. I hear about your pastor (he studies 40 hours a week for a message"), your worship ("come and see our music, its awesome"), your programs ("bring your kids, come to our ladies/men meetings, our Bible study"), and your new church. I only live next door, please talk to me."
That conversation has been played many times. I have people I have talked to say they knew people in churches I have attended, even here and no one talked to them. The word witness, means "signpost", Show them the way!!! And when you look at the words from Jesus in Matthew, he seems pretty serious about it. The neighbor you may have complained about this morning, needs Jesus. Your worst teacher needs Jesus. Actually, can you think of someone who doesn't???
We are to be the salt, the light to this dying world. I encourage you to meditate on this. It has been burning in my heart more and more. Revival takes people, with hearts turned to the Lord. It takes commitment, doing what He has asked of us. It takes you and I. If you have been selling churches, programs, pastors, etc., you have been selling the wrong thing. Jesus said, "when I am lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." When you proclaim the name of Jesus, your friends, those you witness to will be drawn unto Him.
I have a friend, who is an associate pastor. One day he realized that he was a glass installer first (his job), and a witness second. He had to look at that. The rest of us need to look at that as well.
There have been people on this list who left, when Jesus' name was lifted up. That's life. Jesus said he would cause division (Matthew 10). Conversely, my mailbox is beginning to fill like my old business box. Jesus is the reason we live.
Today your words of salt and light could change a nation. You may have access to a future prime minister, or a future evangelist. You may say the words that release an intercessor from bondage. Someone has to tell them about Jesus, for them to be released...is it you? Your bringing the Gospel to a teenager might set your church on fire, and the school!!!
Do they know you are a believer, a follower of Jesus?
Selah.
Shalom.
We pray for you, each and every day. If this is an encouragement to you. Please tell us, and please email it to someone else. If you have a prayer request, please mail it to us. We want to stand with you, battling spiritual wickedness, seeing people made free. We want to serve our brother and sister.
In the Service of Christ for His Glory,
Lee Johndrow
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154 Paddock Road
Springfield, Vermont 05156
For those who support us in prayer and deed we appreciate it.
Thank you,
Lee & Tina Johndrow
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