Living For Jesus

“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” —Mark 8:34-38

Only what's done for Jesus' sake or the Gospel's will matter when we get to eternity. What are you doing for God? Have you told anyone lately about the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ? There is still a great need for missionaries in all parts of the world! Eighty-percent of the people living in the interior of Papa New Guinea don't have any utilities and don't even use money. They barter crops and livestock with each other. The average ANNUAL salary in places like Afghanistan is about $140. In China it's about $300. In Papa New Guinea it's about $485. This is per year! You'd be shocked how many people in this world live on LESS THAN $1 A DAY. Would you believe 1,400,000,000? That is accurate. 

Oh how the world needs Jesus! If nothing else, you can support a Christian Baptist missionary who is serving the Lord on the mission field. There are so many ways you can further the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are many churches which distribute free tracts worldwide. I love leaving tracts everywhere I go. You can be intuitive and think of ways on your own to spread the Good News of Christ. There is something that every believer can and should do to help get people saved. I don't care how successful a ministry may seem, if the Gospel is not being preached, then they are a total failure in Heaven's sight (Matthew 7:21-23). 

By the way, there's a lot of phony so-called “Christian” TV and radio shows that beg for money and sugarcoat the truth as to not offend people. The truth needs to be spoken without apology. There is something that everybody can do for Jesus' sake and the Gospel's. Life is short, Hell is hot, and eternity is a long time. 

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,Only what’s done for Christ will last.And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.

~by British Missionary Charles T. Studd (1860-1931) 

If you want to serve the Lord, join a local Bible-believing church. I always recommend a Bible-believing, soul-winning, King James Bible only, people-loving, Independent Fundamental Baptist Church and get involved. Doctrinally, you won't find a better church than a fundamental Baptist church. Get involved and join a soul-winning program. Some churches have a Fisherman's Club for men (or a Lighthouse Club for the ladies). Jesus wants to make every believer a fisher of men! Mark 1:17, “And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.”

Soulwinning is every believer's responsibility. Luke 8:15,  “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Bearing fruit as a believer is God's intended goal for us. Pastor Dwight L. Moody wisely said, “It is the only happy life to live for the salvation of souls.” Proverbs 11:30, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” 1st Corinthians 9:16, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” Sharing the Gospel is not just for full-time Christian workers. Life is short, Hell is hot, and eternity is a long time. Somebody needs to warn the lost. We are the only Jesus that somebody knows. So if we don't witness to them, nobody else will!

Money always seems to be the biggest set back to getting more done for God. It's a shame. I sometimes wish I had a billion dollars to do so much for God. Then I stop and realize that if God wanted me to have a billion dollars, I would have it! No, God works in His own way, in His own time, and in His own sovereign plan. We are expected to do what we can with what God has given us. God asked Moses, “...What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod” (Exodus 4:2). A rod? God empowered Moses through that rod to deliver Israel from the land of Egypt. Moses brought the plagues upon Egypt through that little rod. 

God can use whatever is in your hand friend to do mighty things if it is yielded to Him. God needs not our money nor our talents, He needs our heart and obedience. Commit what you have dear Christian to God and start serving the Lord Jesus Christ. This is an adulterous and sinful generation. Will you tell others about Jesus Christ and be counted as a fool for Jesus? Or are you ashamed of your Savior? Don't deny your Savior and Creator—tell the Good News of Jesus far and wide for all to hear. 

My friend, do you know Jesus as your personal Savior? Have you been born again? Simply come to God as a needy sinner, receiving Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died, was buried, and bodily resurrected from the dead three days later (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). That is the 'GOOD NEWS' of Jesus Christ that saves even the vilest sinner, if you'll simply receive it as your own. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

What Is In Thy Hand?

(a life-changing MP3 sermon by Pastor Jack Hyles)