GO..AND PREACH THE GOSPEL!

 

GO..AND PREACH THE GOSPEL!

Mark 16:15

[15]And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

For the life of me and the sanity of my mind, I keep on struggling with the setup and the status-quo going on in the world today: as far as the Church is concerned. Every time I compare the way our Founding Fathers, the Apostles conducted  themselves: in this same world we live in today: the more I see the great divide and contrast between us. I'm forever astounded at the no-growth and the lack of discipleship towards winning the lost. 

Common World Statistics

1. Current world population sits at 7,7 billion people. 

2. 2.8 billion are those who identify with Christianity 

3. Therefore: 7.7 - 2.8 = 4.9 billion are none-christians

Let's just factor into these numbers and try to navigate wisely and root out some weeds. Of the 2.8 billion population of the world identified as christians; numbers are crunched inside one giant melting pot of general Christianity. By general, I'm referring to different hierarchies with reference to orthodox, unorthodox, and different movements or persuasion types of christian setup. 

You are probably aware of what I'm talking about here in the context of our previous Expositions. I pointed it out to you, that the Early Church, led by the Apostles didn't subscribe to any particular doctrine except being focused on the Person of Christ. The Bible calls this, The Doctrine of Christ! 

2 John 1:9

[9]Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Remember what Jesus said to Nicodemus? Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Within the 2.8 billion Christians in the world, millions or a billion plus are not born again as Jesus prescribed as the basic condition of becoming one. 

John 3:7

[7]Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Ye must be born again; You must be born again, said Jesus to Nicodemus and to you and me, today. We're part of the 7.7 billion people alive in the world today. 

Church Membership to most people who call themselves Christians, means less than carrying out Jesus Command recorded in bold letters of Mark 16:15. The Church of today is not living according to the ordinances of Christ: we're lost in following after ordinary men instead of following The One. 

What is the Will of God for the Church today? Did God give a different Command to the Early Church to that of the Church of today? Did God promise to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh more than once? Is there a thing we call the refilling or to rebaptizing with the Holy Spirit? What about Pentecost, how many times did the Early Church experience it? 

Let me shock you with the following verse which most of you are familiar with. 

Ephesians 4:11-12

[11]And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

[12]For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

How many of you are aware of the fact that the very fivefold ministry listed above didn't really add to five in total? How so, you may be asking. 

First of all, the reference to "some prophets" did not carry the same weight and the real office and calling which the Old Testament Prophets had in terms of the message contents of heralding the Birth and Coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ: to be fulfilled in the New Covenant. In the Early Church, the Apostles were the ones who Christ ordained to build His New Testament Church. Remember what He said to Simon Peter? Feed my sheep… 

I don't have time and space here to extrapolate more on this treatise for you to understand the Scriptural concept regarding "The Prophets" in paradox with what Apostle Paul refers to as "some prophets": when writing to the New Testament Church. I have nonetheless referred to this mega difference in most of my previous Expositions. 

The fact that the so-called "prophets" of today have no business with the Christ we serve and worship under the New Covenant: is not my opinion or heretical teaching, but was concluded by Apostle Matthew, the man who wrote the Gospel of Matthew. 

Matthew 11:13

[13]For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

I have read and studied at least the whole New Testament Bible, and have never found any disagreements with Matthew's assertion this was not the case. The Apostles agreed that the Era of the Prophets and Law ended with the Birth of Christ! Period. Therefore, in the light of this revelation, the ministry of the prophets no longer apply to the Era and Dispensation of the New Testament Church. Read Hebrews 1:1-3.

Secondly and surprisingly true: The Ministry of the Apostles or Apostleship, ended when the Last of the Original Apostles died in the Island of Patmos. That Apostle was John, the Revelator: the man who wrote the last Book of the Bible. From that day to our days, Jesus did not appoint anybody else to lead the Church as our Founding Fathers, the Apostles did. 

Many false and self declared apostles appeared and some were heaped with the title of being Apostles even without seeing themselves as such. One such man was John G. Lake and many others. Careful, I'm not insinuating that John G. Lake was a false apostle. All I'm saying is that maybe, just maybe he didn't see himself as one. 

Some Biblical Facts about Apostles

1. They were all called and appointed individually, by Jesus Christ in Person. 

2. They always had the Power to Perform Signs and Wonders. 

3. They were the Only Authorized Voice of Authority and Leadership of the Church. 

4. They never occupied positions of leading local churches as pastors or bishops. 

5. They were scandal-free and led lives which reflected the Image of Christ. 

6. They all suffered persecutions and untold pain for Christ. 

7. They were all murdered for their faith in Christ saving one. That one was Apostle John: who died a natural death, in the Island of Patmos. 

So yes, out of the Fivefold Ministry, only three are operating and relevant today. The Ministry of the Apostles and Prophets have been retired by God: for the same reasons I just highlighted for you. Today we follow the Leadership and Examples of the Apostles through the Written Word of the New Testament Bible: exactly the same way the people under the Old Covenant followed the Law of Moses and the Prophets. 

Individuals who refer or characterize themselves as 'Prophets and Apostles': do not understand the New Testament Bible! 

There are no "men or women of God" in today's Church.. The New Testament Bible calls All of us: Little Children and Sons of God. There are no "men of the hour" for this generation as there never was even in the days of Abraham and Moses. Hello, it's always been about The Lord God Almighty with everything pointing towards Christ. 

John 13:33

[33]Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.

Galatians 4:19

[19]My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

1 John 4:4

[4]Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Romans 8:14

[14]For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

1 John 3:2

[2]Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Oh LORD, how I just love your Word, it is sweeter than honey to my tongue! Hello church members, Jesus called His Disciples: Little Children. Apostle Paul called the Galatians: Little Children. Apostle John called the Church: Little Children. Apostles Paul and Peter called the Church: Sons of God! 

Hahaha, your so-called men and women of God cannot teach you what they don't know but: will break a leg in order to program and hoodwink you into believing that they're the 'best thing after Christ'. And this lie forces you to bow down before them and follow every God-forsaken and God-cursed instruction they leach upon you. 

You are a slave of men and not of Christ…

Finally, let's relate to our image above and our central verse of Mark 16:15. Please observe. 

Go..to All the World and Preach the Gospel: is God's Will for the Church today, this very hour! 

Jesus Christ, Our LORD and Saviour, Commanded His then Disciples who later became His Anointed Apostles after His Resurrection: To GO and Preach the Gospel…the Apostles passed the same baton to the present day Church or Body of Christ. 

Acts 1:8

[8]But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

We all know what happened fifty days after Jesus Ascension, the Holy Ghost came down upon the Apostles and all that were gathered in the upper room, the same place they had the Final Passover with Christ. They were about one hundred and twenty Disciples, praying and waiting for the Holy Ghost. Wow, and what a day this was; when Peter took his appointed position and led from the front: as he preached his very first sermon without fear and doubt. And told all the pilgrims and the religious leaders who thought they had killed Jesus dead and. He told them in their face. 

Acts 2:22-24

[22]Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

[23]Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

[24]Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Where was Peter when he preached this fiery sermon? Was he inside the temple or synagogue? Was he preaching the Gospel from the comfort of a state of the art auditorium and under the spotlight of TV cameras and surrounded by happy and clapping audience followed by oohs and aahs of endless drowning amens? Did the religious leaders who crucified Christ come forward and accepted Jesus along with the contrite crowds or gnashed their wicked teeth against them as they did to Jesus? 

Look at the image above and observe the crowds gathered in this auditorium, which drove from near and far: just to listen to the one man show and live entertainment: in the name of service to God. What do you think happens after the service in this mega church is over? I will tell you. 

Everyone goes to their cars, drive back home, have lunch or supper, kick their shoes off and relax by watching TV or do whatever: till the next service appointment with the man of God. 

Tell you what, if you drove past this church, you'll find the streets around it jammed to capacity with hardly a space to drive through. One would think there was a revival going on if you didn't know today's setup of things in our modern church. You'd think that God had captured every heart in this town with the Gospel. You're forgiven for believing that all the local bars and shebeens are empty and closed due to the loss of patrons they suffered because of the presence of the mega and super church in the area. 

But hell no, life outside is just as rosy and filthy just like the Devil wanted it to be! 

Can you imagine all the thousands of people ignoring the thunderous arrival of the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost: without the Spirit pulling them towards the upper room, where the Disciples had gathered? It was impossible for the 120 to stay indoors as the Spirit began to move: they found themselves wandering outside, dancing and praising God without fear. 

Why then is it possible for the world and sinners, outside our churches to be able to ignore us as if the Church doesn't exist? Are we under the same influence the Early Church experienced or we're just deluding ourselves and competing against each other without any real revival changing our generations? 

2 Corinthians 10:12

[12]For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

This is the image and character of the Church of today: super or small. We're good for nothing in terms of Jesus Command as recorded in Mark 16:15. We're nothing but just a number. We compare ourselves with others and regard them as our opposition and adversaries. We measure ourselves by the same measure and deceive ourselves as doing the Will of God. 

Imagine if all the thousands seated inside this mega church and wasting God's time listening to the blah blah of one entertainer and clown in chief: could instead walk out and spread throughout their neighborhood with Bible in hand; and Preach the Gospel to every soul within their reach? Won't there be revival in this city? 

The same scenario of church going is repeated all over the world without any effort to fulfill God's Will of Preaching the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the world. Oh, how happy the Devil must be for succeeding in keeping today's Church docile and harmless to his kingdom. We're out of sync, out of date and our firmware expired hundreds of years ago.  

God didn't find it wrong for the Early Church to spend more than 95%, wandering outside in their neighbourhoods Preaching the Gospel and Winning Souls for Christ! They never had super domes and mega church buildings and yet God continued to add thousands of souls daily, to the Church! 

Why or why is it considered sinning by your leaders if you missed their service on Sunday or day of worship: and ventured out to preach the Gospel? Don't they understand Christ's Great Commission for His Church? 

The world around us will never change for the good of the Kingdom of God, till we learn to march willingly and obediently: to the drumbeat of Jesus Supreme Command for the Church… 

Mark 16:15

[15]And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.