One of the Most Important Duties of Christians is to Help Spread the Gospel of Christ around the World!

Romans 10:15b.         as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

‘Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!’ Oh my faithful brethren, those words of King Henry V from the Shakespearian play of the same name, do ring like a familiar battle cry this very cold winter Monday morning, as we return for the umpteenth time, (smile) to the battleground of the work world for another week of fierce encounters, and hopefully many successes. 

Yes, my fellow believers in Christ Jesus, my fellow Christians, we must keep on keeping on with the difficult, but very rewarding task of living for Christ, and thus drawing others to Him by the godly example that we set in our everyday lives. That’s the ONLY way others will get to know, believe, and trust in Him for salvation and eternal life. It’s the job, the Great Commission, that Jesus gave the disciples and subsequently all believers to do, when He ascended back to heaven. 

Listen to Him declare it. ‘All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and earth. Go ye therefore and teach (make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ (Matt. 28:18:20) 

Oh my people, that’s as clear as it could be! And why did Jesus want us to do that eh? Because it was a part of His major purpose for coming to earth as He told the Jewish leader Nicodemus. ‘For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.’ (John 3:17) But since He could not stay on earth forever as a human being, He recruited us, His followers to assist Him, giving us the Holy Spirit as Guide, Helper and Comforter. 

Remember what Peter says: ‘The Lord is not slack concerning his promises, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’ (2 Pet. 3:9) Yes, the Lord did promise the Second Coming of Jesus, but He also desires that all who trust in Him should come to salvation, so He’s patiently waiting for the right time. 

Remember though, He can only wait for so long, and when the appointed time comes, all who don’t believe in Christ Jesus will suffer eternal separation from the Lord; the worse fate than can ever befall a human soul. That means we have to get going while the going is good, especially amongst our friends and family members, because we obviously don’t want to be separated from them for eternity. And there are also many others all around the world who have never heard of Jesus and His good news. Therefore, we also must help as many of those people through sharing our time, talent and treasure. 

It’s like Bruh Paul says in his letter to the Roman church. ‘For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias (Isaiah) saith, Lord who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ (Rom. 10:13-15) 

Yes my people, we cannot make others believe in Christ, but it’s our duty to ensure that His gospel is preached to all parts of the world. So, although the Monday morning is somewhat chilly (smile) we need to make the godly effort to get out there and mix and mingle and show the unbelievers how wonderful it is to be a follower of Jesus Christ. And to help us do that, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn seeking divine aid. 

And here’s a big surprise; something for our new Scrip-Bit family members; this is the old version of our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. I recently found it amongst a pile of papers, and did not even remember it, because it’s been so long ago since we used it. And yuh know what? I like it. (smile) So, since it also admirably suits our purposes, is very apropos for our current situation, let’s use it. 

Altogether: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank You that this Monday Morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose, keeping lives and families together. 

We also thank You Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm You’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing Your powerful, protective spiritual armour. 

We surrender our all to You, and humbly ask that You let Your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all Your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further Your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen!’ 

Wow! Doesn’t it sound like it was made for today? It surely does! But like in all partnerships, both sides have to do their parts. Christ has already done His, it’s now our turn to hold up our end of the bargain. So, let’s get out there and give it our best shot nuh! Much LOVE!

…the Christian’s duty is to sincerely live for Jesus…and faithfully reverence Him as Lord and Saviour… 

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Salvation calls for Repentance and Faith in Jesus Christ!

Acts 16:31.       And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house (household).

And it’s a good Wednesday; an early morning shower followed by mostly sunshine, with a few devilish clouds hanging around to try and make things difficult, but the blustery wind will make short work of them, and send them back to their evil lair. (smile) And Glory be! The temperature is already up to 21 at midday. You can’t ask for better than that at the end of October. 

But today, we have something even better than the warm weather to share; that’s ‘HOW “YOU” CAN BE SAVED.’  And hopefully you will remember the old Bible tract from the Leviticus Church in Jamaica, New York we used last week that told us ‘ETERNAL LIFE IS A ”FREE” GIFT.’ Well, the same tract is also telling us how to be saved. I guess we can call it ‘Christianity 101.’ So let’s check it out nuh. (smile) 

And it begins by saying, ‘The Bible calls for “REPENTNACE TOWARD GOD,” with a reference of Acts 20:21b. But let’s look at the context of that scripture. It’s where Bruh Paul is in Ephesus talking to the church elders about when he first came to them, in humility, letting them know all that had happened to him: ‘And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Acts 20:20-21) 

So, the basic necessities for being saved, are to repent before God, and have faith in Christ Jesus. And what’s repentance, you ask? The tract gives us this definition. ‘Repentance’ is a change of heart which causes you to turn from your way of life toward God, accepting the Bible facts that you are guilty as a sinner before Him, and that you are unable to deliver yourself from the punishment of hell, due you because of your sin.’ And all of that is very true my people. You cannot be saved without acknowledging your sins before Almighty God, and your inability to help yourself. 

Then the tract continues: ‘The Bible also calls for “FAITH TOWARD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.” And they again reference Acts 20:21b, which we can see also calls for faith in Christ Jesus. And what is faith? The tract explains: ‘Faith is putting “your complete trust in Jesus Christ,” as your only means of clearing your guilt and delivering your soul from the punishment of hell.’ And that’s the gospel truth friends! Sincere and total trust in Jesus is the ONLY way to achieve salvation. And the tract references Acts 16:31a for that scripture. 

The context for that though is when Bruh Paul and Silas were in jail in Philippi: ‘And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands (chains) were loosed.’ (Acts 16:25-26) 

Obviously with all the commotion the jailer woke up, and when he saw what had happened was about to kill himself, ‘But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he (the jailer) called for a light, and sprang (ran) in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house (household).’ (Acts 16:28-31) 

And there’s a happy ending to the story, where the jailer and all of his family accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour, and were saved. Yes, our great God sometimes moves in mysterious ways to bring people to Him. But let’s get back to the tract, where it continues: ‘If you will receive Jesus Christ in to your heart, “by trusting Him to save your soul,” you will become a son of God and spend eternity in heaven.’ 

They reference John 1:12 for corroboration, but I will attempt to put it in some context by quoting the verses around it. ‘He came unto his own (His own things or domain as the Creator of all), and his own (His own people, the Jews) received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power (the right) to become the sons (children) of God, even to them that believe on his name. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.’ ’ (John 1:11-13) 

And continuing, the tract declares, (steups!!!) ‘GOD PROMISES He will save you if you will trust Jesus Christ as “your” Saviour. And they quote Romans 10:9 to confirm that promise. But as always, I’ll add to it with some surrounding verses. ‘That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed (put to shame). For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ (Rom. 10:19-13) 

I have to chuckle at the many times in those verses that Bruh Paul tried to pound into our hard and stubborn hearts and heads, the necessity for calling on God and belief in Christ for salvation. And having said it all, the tract then closes with this heartfelt plea: ‘PLEASE ACCEPT THE “FREE GIFT” OF ETERNAL LIFE GOD IS OFFERING YOU.’  

Oh my fellow believers, I cant say it any better! And I do hope that having reviewed and refreshed our minds and spirits with what it takes to be saved, that our faith will grow even stronger in the coming days, because we need great faith to handle the trials and tribulations of this evil and ungodly world. Now let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. 

As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And it’s also been promised, that if we endure right down to the very end with Jesus, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. So let’s plan to meet there nuh! Much LOVE!

…if being saved by Jesus is already so glorious…no wonder our minds cannot comprehend the future glory…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien