Blessings or Wrath?

I was trying to think about the New Year and what message of significance we might consider as God's children and just as important, God's Church! Jesus told the disciples in Acts;

Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

The key to understanding this passage is to realize that Jesus was not just talking to the disciples but also to every believer! This tells us that Jesus was also talking to New Horizons Baptist Church!

You have heard me say often that "every time we see a message of growth in the 1st Christian Church" we see attached to this statement the truth that 'God', not 'us' grows the church! And this is true - but what we forget is that God uses His people for that growth.

Ok, you may say that I'm only talking 'numbers' but then Jesus also describes the verse we call the great commission in Matthew;

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
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."

So isn't Jesus concerned with 'numbers'? I look at the word "Go" and quickly understand that our command is to "Go" - simply put but mostly missed is the next command: "and make disciples...teaching them". Yes, we are to be God's witness in growing His church so that through us, His people, He is able to disciple those we reach for Christ!

Our passage for Sunday was going to be that of Ezekiel 36:16-27. The prophet Ezekiel is telling the nation of Israel that He was about to bring the nation out of wrath and into a new age of blessing. Remember, they had been taken into captivity because of their sinful ways.

What principle might this say to us? Am I saying that failure to be used of God to grow His kingdom (including His church) is sinful? Why not ask God? Am I saying that failure to represent Him by bringing others into His church might produce His 'wrath' or 'judgment' or His 'lack of blessing'? Again, why not ask God?

We have all been so blessed by God! Regardless of your life's present condition, you are blessed! In other words, you are significant in representing His kingdom! If we could really grab on to the truth of all He has done for each and every one of us, it would bring such an 'excitement' that we could not be contained!

I am calling on our family to be a family that realizes their 'significance' in being a 'witness of God' to the point that it brings 'excitement'! I want to challenge our family during the year of 2011 to be a family that realizes their significance and excitement in being a 'witness of our Lord Jesus Christ'!

So, will I see you next Sunday? If you realize your significance in being used to represent our Lord I will! As to our main passage of Ezekiel 36:16-27, read it, study it, and ask God to bless you with the significance of it regarding your witness!

Pastor Steve!