The Narrow Door

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This is not a regular message; I’m not going to teach on a subject here. This is an extra message, it’s a call to action, a plea

 

Let me start by explaining grace. I’ve explained this before and will again, as it’s so important to understand. It is in the foundation of Christianity, as we are saved by grace through faith Eph_2:8

And that is all but meaningless to many people, as they don’t know what grace here means. I ask people, and all too often get a description of the sacrifice of Jesus being his grace that we need to have faith in. When you understand the meaning of charis, the word translated as grace, you see salvation in a different way. Now, don’t get me wrong here and make assumptions, causing you to go off on a tangent and stop listening to what I have to say here. If you want to call yourself Christian, you really need to know what it is, and, therefore, the meaning of charis, again, the word translated into grace, is. 

 

It’s translation in full is “the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in their life”. I’ll shorten that for simplicity when I put it back into the verse, so it’s “evidential divine inspiration” which means pretty much the same thing, just in 3 words, right?

 

So we are saved by the evidence of divine inspiration through faith. Now, don’t get upset with me on this, and I’m not going to be soft here, but if it isn’t obvious that God is on your heart, then have you really been saved or could you just be a pretend Christian?

 

So let's look at why it’s obvious evidence of divine inspiration. Well, that’s simple; we can see when a person has made that commitment. Firstly, their life changes, they walk away from sin and take on the fruits of the spirit Gal 5:16  So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will never fulfill the desires of the flesh. Gal 5:22-24  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things, Now those who belong to the Messiah Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.

 

And God’s influence isn’t just a small, part-time thing, it’s a full-on major change and drive in your ife. Picking up your cross Mat_10:38  The one who doesn't take up his cross and follow me isn't worthy of me. and Mat 5:14  "You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden. Christianity isn’t a minor part-time hidden personal secret thing; it’s a compulsive public thing.

 

So what happens w/ charis? I’m compelled to act. I’m so compelled that I haven’t got enough time. For all the things God wants me to do, so I’m here asking you to get involved, and not just for me, I don’t care about me. These are things God wants done, God wants you to be an active charis and therefore spirit-filled Christian. It’s time to find out what Christianity is about (if you don’t already know) and take up your cross, to walk the narrow path

 

Christianity is like a trade; our trade is to be fishers of men, and just like commercial Fishing, there are levels of knowledge and growth. I’ll describe this as both a trade and in Fishing terms. In a trade, you start as an apprentice, you know basically nothing in commercial fishing, you start as a deck hand, then you advance to a tradesperson or a lead fisher or a helmsman on a Fishing ship. Then in trade, you may become a master tradesman employing apprentices etc or the captain of a ship. The Same applies with our Christian walk; we start at an apprentice-like stage, where we learn about being a Christian, then we study ministry, and finally we go into ministry. Like a trade, noone is called to be an apprentice forever, we are to grow into some form of ministry ourselves even if that is a support ministry of other ministries like a church usher, but even if you are in a support role we are all called to disciple others, to bring them to a relationsip with God, We like tradespeople are all called to have our own apprentices.

 

We’re all called to do something (it’s on your heart)

 

Now, my first personal question for you - What have you done for God this week? Maybe Nothing - OK, maybe you’ve had a busy week. What have you done this month… This year? If you’ve been busy in the harvest or sharpening the harvesters' sickles, or feeding them or doing something for God, great. 

 

If you haven’t done much, I ask why? Knowing charis, knowing God on my heart, I’m compelled constantly, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to do even a fraction of what God wants…

So that’s one of the reasons I’m giving this message, the harvest is ripe and the workers are few, we need your help.

 

So, back to why. 

Why haven’t you? If you don’t know what to do yet, as you're a fairly new Christian, that’s fine, let's start moving you towards your calling, just let us know what that is and we’ll endeavour to help you get there. If you know your calling but haven’t seen the opportunity - here it is screaming at you. We are not called to sit there. Christianity isn’t passive. We are called to act.

 

Think on 2 sides, what would you like to get from this group? eg maybe things like evangelism training or online prayer meetings, and on the other side, what would you like give, to do or run, like an online prayer meeting, etc. what can you do for other Christians or the unsaved

 

So right now, write a 2 part list

If a ministry or church could do anything for you (not personally but as a group that you think others would want to be involved in), what would that be, and not just one list a few? - just as some ideas, maybe you’d like Bible studies or youth groups, ministry training. I may be very busy, but we can organise anything Godly to happen. What has God put on your heart?

If you could be given any ministry (trained and placed in ministry), what would that be? What do you want to do for God? We will begin the process of helping you get there. But we can’t do anything if we don’t know what is on your heart.

 

Please stop and do both of those now, then I have a few other ideas for you

 

OK, so once you’ve created a list, I’d like you to put it in a comment on this video, fairly short 20 to 50 words would be good.

 

Great, now if you’re comfortable enough to do so, we’d like you to create a video, tell us something about your Christianity, how you made a commitment, or what you've been doing for God, or what you’d like to do, Doing this will encourage others and give them ideas of what they to would like from God, the church and the group as well, as what they too may be able to give.

 

Then I’d like you to tell us what you’d like to learn most (about God, Christianity, ministry or any other Christian topic). Please keep that list to the top 5 at most. And again the other side, if there is anything you’d like to teach or run, like the evangelism or charity arms of the ministry etc. Please let us know 

 

Now, if you’re not comfortable enough for that, then as I mentioned, that’s fine, though I’m here to challenge you. It’s my duty to God to challenge you, As I’m called to instruct Matthew 28:20, Luke 24:45, Acts 2:42, Acts 20:20, Romans 15:14, 2 Timothy 2:2 and many more. And you are called to get out of that comfort zone to pick up your cross Matthew 10:38 16:24: , Mark 8:34: , Luke 9:23:  14:27:  Galatians 2:20 etc, and carrying a cross is a public thing, also 2 choices declare God before men or deny, wich are you going to do face the pain of carrying your cross publicly or deny God? Also Mat 5:16  In the same way, let your light shine before people in such a way that they will see your good actions and glorify your Father in heaven." So live Godly, but How can they know that this is from God or maybe you’re a Buddhist? You have to make them aware of your Christianity with those Godly actions.

 

God on you heart compels you to learn, to grow, then to evangelise and teach others.  

 

What can you do for God?

 

How to do something valuable for God.

Understand  2-fold growth: both revival (spiritual personal growth, and evangelism, growth in congregation size). Commit to a personal revival and then evangelism (at any chance)

Research Ministries to find one (new or old, recently launched or established doesn’t matter - what matters is their stance and 2-fold growth) that shows 2-fold growth on true charis as doulos, if new make sure it’s showing those traits (as the congregation growth won’t have started yet *depending on how new), If it’s established the evidence should be clear.

Commit to the Church that you like, but a focus on revival > evangelism on “true” charis as doulos should be high in your consideration.

Make yourself available to them, let them know what you can do and discuss a suitable path.

If you have chosen well, they will have many teachings on revival and evangelism. Delve deeply into those messages, learn the true heart of God, the true message, and real charis

Become what you’ve now learnt about..

Use every contact (person or contact opportunity) to deliver God's message. If that doesn’t take all your spare time, create contact opportunities by expressing “true” charis as dulos, to social and information groups eg., Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Quora, etc.

Why? The meaning of Charis isn’t pasive, it’s compulsive, You’ll know you have it when you are driven to grow in knowledge and Godlyness and teach all you possibly can.

 

What to avoid.

Hypocrisy (e.g. don’t evangelise if you go to the pub, as those who see may then use that against Christianity)

Anything that detracts from your good standing (confrontive arguing, misinforming)

Any ministry that doesn’t stand on true charis as doulos for 2-fold growth. If you see something non-Biblical or sinful in their leader, leave, find a new ministry that is doing what God seeks.

Anything that distracts you from the work God has for you.

 

If you’re not doing something valuable for God, are you really a Christian, or are you just kidding yourself by going through the motions? As far as this group is concerned there has been very little input from just about everyone. I need you to get active here, to shine your light even if it means carrying your cross. But it’s not for me, this is all for God. You can start by writing a list of things you want to post here and then start creating those posts.

 

OK, so I’m finished, it’s now up to you, are you doing these things? are you going to do these things?