Illustration: We love because He first loved us. (I JOhn 4:10)
Illustration:John Wesley traveled 250,000 miles on horseback, averaging twenty miles a day for forty years; preached 4,000 sermons; produced 400 books; knew ten languages. At eighty-three he was annoyed that he could not write more than fifteen hours a day without hurting his eyes, and at eighty-six he was ashamed he could not preach more than twice a day. He complained in his diary that there was an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5:30 in the morning.
Source Unknown.
Illustration: Some years ago a former American astronaut took over as head of a major airline, determined to make the airline’s service the best in the industry. One day, as the new president walked through a particular department, he saw an employee resting his feet on a desk while the telephone on the desk rang incessantly. "Aren’t you going to answer that phone?" the boss demanded. "This isn’t my department," answered the employee nonchalantly, apparently not recognizing his new boss. " I work in maintenance." "Not anymore you don’t!" snapped the president.
Today in the Word, December, 1989, p. 35.
1. Jesus initiated the free gift of salvation to every person when He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6) The Lord expects us to initiate opportunities with the power of the Spirit to bring others to a saving and growing faith in our Lord Jesus.
It is not enough to passively receive what He gives freely. "Freely we have received, therefore, freely give."
2. Jesus took the initiative in recruiting men for evangelism and disciple-making ministries. He said, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." (Matt. 4:19)
The Lord knew that by choosing the people who He would work with gave Him a great advantage over those who waited for anyone to be the leaders of His church.
3. Jesus took the initiative in healing people. It was said of Jesus, "He went about preaching the kingdom and healing every kind of disease and sickness."
The Lord looked for ways that He could make the most of every opportunity to bringing deliverance from pain, suffering and sickness.
4. Jesus began the Christian church when He said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18) By setting in motion the Christian church, the Lord set the precedents through His disciples that are being followed 2000 years later.
Follow His example in starting new fellowships where the Spirit leads you.
5. Jesus came to the disciples after they had failed to catch any fish one night and initiated a lesson they never forgot. He said, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break." (Luke 5:4,6)
When we initiate church planting or evangelism ministries in difficult areas, the Lord blesses us beyond our human imaginations.
6. Jesus introduced the art and science of evangelism to the world with Zacchaeus when He said, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." (Luke 19:5)
The Lord taught everyone that courage and diplomacy is required of someone who wants to reach people who are generally considered unreachable.
7. Jesus triggered a worldwide movement when He promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come to empower them for worldwide evangelism and church growth ministries. Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
The Spirit is in the business of helping initiate outreach ministries around our world. Are we following His prompting today?
8. Jesus sparked a wave of cross-cultural ministries. Paul, the apostle picked up on Christ’s command to go into all the people groups of the world from Matthew 28:18-20 and took the gospel to numerous Gentile communities where new churches were planted and grew to its present strength today.
Paul initiated many pioneer mission ministries through courage, creativity and using the gifts that God had given him to break new ground with the gospel.
9. Jesus began the transformation in men and women perception about their roles, identities and responsibilities before God. Until Christ men and women thought of themselves and their roles more along cultural and traditional lines that spiritually based.
The Lord freed people to think, believe and obey God rather than human norms.
10. Jesus instituted the church to be His primary means by which the world would come to know how the body of Christ should serve as an example for community service, love and cooperation. Paul wrote, "God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way." (Eph. 1:22,23)
The Lord is still eagerly using anyone who is willing to plant and grow His church-fellowship among thousands of communities that are yet to be reached with the light of His local church.
11. Jesus activated eleven men that willing gave their life in denying themselves and taking up their cross to complete the will of God in all dimensions of life. (Luke 9:23,24)
The disciples’ example forged the way for millions of others to enjoy the blessings of a God who opens doors that no man can close and closes doors that no man can open.
12. Jesus advanced the idea that it is not what is on the outside of a person that defiles them (Circumstances, rituals, laws, religions, problems, people etc) but it is what comes out of a person’s heart (Hate, envy, jealousy, lust, greed, laziness bitterness, anger etc.)
The Lord showed all teachers and counselors how to develop in their people the value of personal responsibility for individual actions.
13. Jesus innovated the way for all people to find forgiveness for sins of omission, commission, disposition and presupposition. We are promised, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)
The Lord always wants all people to take the initiative in seeking God’s forgiveness before trying to be justified in the eyes of others or ourselves.
14. Jesus wants us to take the initiative in reconciling with others. He said, "If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.
First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Matt. 5:23,24)
15. Jesus wants us to initiate the resolution of conflicts before they get blown out of proportion. The Lord said, "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge and you may be thrown into prison." (Matt. 5:25)
Preventive medicine is better than any cure.
Conclusion:In Christ We Have:
A love that can never be fathomed
A life that can never die
A righteousness that can never be tarnished
A peace that can never be understood
A rest that can never be disturbed
A joy that can never be diminished
A hope that can never be disappointed
A glory that can never be clouded
A light that can never be darkened
A purity that can never be defiled
A beauty that can never be marred
A wisdom that can never be baffled
Resources that can never be exhausted.
Christ is Lord and Savior! Praise Him!
Illustration: He was born in Columbus, Ohio, 1890, the third of eight children. At eleven he quit school to help with the family expenses, and got his first full-time job at $3.50 per week. At fifteen he got interested in automobiles and went to work in a garage at $4.50 a week. He knew he would never get anywhere without more schooling, so he subscribed to a correspondence home study course on automobiles. Night after night, following long days at the garage, he worked at the kitchen table by the light of the kerosene lamp. His next step was already planned in his mind--a job with Frayer-Miller Automobile Company of Columbus.
One day when he felt ready, he walked into the plant. Lee Frayer was bent over the hood of a car. The boy waited. Finally, Frayer noticed him. "Well," he said, "what do you want?" "I just thought I’d tell you I’m coming to work here tomorrow morning," the boy replied. "Oh! Who hired you?" "Nobody yet, but I’ll be on the job in the morning. If I’m not worth anything, you can fire me." Early the next morning the young man returned to the garage. Frayer was not yet there. Noticing that the floor was thick with metal shavings and accumulated dirt and grease, the boy got a broom and shovel and set to work cleaning the place.
The rest of the boy’s future was predictable. He went on to a national reputation as a racing car driver and automotive expert. In World War I he was America’s leading flying ace. Later he founded Eastern Airlines. His name--Eddie Rickenbacker.
Bits & Pieces, December, 1989, p. 22ff.
