Are you also going to leave?

Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” John 6:67 NLT

I was wondering how could people leave the most expected person in history they had an opportunity to see, the Messiah who was predicted thousands of years ago by the prophets. The same Jesus came in flesh, dwelt among the people and did so many miracles like never before, yet people chose not to follow Him after a point of time, and the Bible says, "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.". John 6:66 KJV.

If you observe most of the people in the Bible came to Jesus when they realized He could heal them from all their sickness,  provide them with good food, and most importantly had a wrong view that Jesus is going to overthrow the Roman empire and form His own government. When their assumptions were not becoming a reality, people walked with Jesus no more. For some, when their needs were met, they failed to come back like in the case of ten lepers being healed by Jesus but only one returned to thank him (Luke 17:17). Some thought Jesus can be used to solve the property issue among the brothers and when Jesus hit back saying 'who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?' I am sure they might have been disappointed too.

Don't you think such reasons are so real even today? People come for all of their personal reasons, basically they want to be made happy, in their language blessed with good money, to live in abundance materialistically, all their suffering to disappear immediately, sickness to go away immediately and want to live long on this earth. And yes, they don't want their illusion about who they are to fade. Most of us want to be good Christians without being reminded about the responsibilities in the mission. Some are willing to throw some offering and expect you to go happy. Is it all about Christ and His Mission?

In addition to this I have listed some reasons why Christians are not revolutionary and why they are like a season:

> They are simply born in Christian family and become part of the system.

> Being a Christian is just a compliance to meet Christian schedule which makes them happy.

> For some, the parents and others whom they respect were not able to model an exemplary life and in some cases their lives have not challenged them to be an effective witness. 

> Visiting God when there is a need and for personal blessings.

> Many come for healing, once it is taken care they are gone. (Like in the case of 10 lepers, 9 left)

> Church going is only a ritual.

If you heard this let me remind you once again, "For our forefather Church was a commitment, for our father Church was an inheritance, for us Church is a compliance, for our children Church is a nuisance." We all want our situation to change - Receive healing, get a new job, persecution to end, lockdown to be lifted. We all forget, God does not take these sufferings away, He transforms them. Even Jesus wanted the cup of suffering (the cross) to be removed, but God used it to transform the world. Many are used to visit God for being blessed, with wrong connotation.

In your journey to lead people some will just come with so much of excitement, some with great commitment, some with dedication to serve along with you, soon to realize all of their excitement has disappeared and they are done with you. Today with modern social platform people have a better way of showing their response. Some would ignore your message and some would never read it nor respond. We have an option to follow and unfollow based on our convenience and we use the same to follow Christ.

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Presenting Gospel was never a choice but mandate- 2

I am desperate to see a revival in my time and in my generation. I am sure there are many who feel the same too. How do we make it a reality is a million-dollar question? Many parts of the world including our country. we have already heard about the sweep of the Gospel in their villages and county, but the big question remains, are we personally swept with the revival? If it is so, does it make us restless, and are we desperately reaching out with the Gospel to our Non-Christian friends and in our sphere of influence.

The Gospel is not an occasional message reserved for the Christian festive seasons but it is a daily business, do we realize that? Martin Luther states, “We need to hear the Gospel every day, because we forget it every day.”. We need to be reminded that since we have heard the Gospel it is time now, that we carry it faithfully to the people outside who have no clue as to what it means to have Christ in their life. Paul in Colossians 1:5-6 CSB Says, "…You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, *the gospel that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace.”. Paul emphasizes on the effect of the Gospel. When the true Gospel invades a person, it keeps bearing fruits and grows all over the world. After your salvation experience you don't just become a good believer, you grow to an extent that people all over will get Gospel through you, in other words you become a revolutionary.  Does this describe your current status?

 It is said wherever Paul went there was a revolution, the ones who heard and responded too were revolutionaries.  In Acts 17:4 it says, “Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.”. And it is recorded that the people from outside were jealous to see how the work of the Lord was manifested and growing (Acts 17:5). The wicked men from market place formed a mob and started a riot, thus attacking Jason’s house and hurting him and the people with them. Interestingly this is how they tagged the men, Acts 17 6, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too.”. Wow, I think it is a compliment.

Today Christians and Christian leaders have created multiple choices around them. If they want, they respond or just shut themselves and mute from all communication if they have someone with the strong passion urging them to share gospel. It can be as simple as that. Christians don’t want to be disturbed, they don’t want to be told, they don’t want to be reminded. You ask them to pray for their cities and for their country, they will send a Big “thumbs up” and “folding hand” symbol assuring of their prayers. But are people honest to the salvation they have received? Are Christians in true sense obeying the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and being a witness for Christ (Acts 1:8). Can we seriously rise up and sweep the nation with the Gospel? May we all pray this prayer seriously, a prayer of Wesley L Duewel written on 24^th September 1964, taken from Malachi 3:1

Come suddenly again, O Lord; Your temple waits for You today.

Come in accordance to Your Word; come suddenly even while we pray.

O blessed, blessed Holy Ghost, bring the revival we need most.

Most graciously our hearts prepare for Your great work in this our day.

Help each of us to do our share; remove each hindrance from Your way.

O Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire; descend in all Your holy fire.

We need You more than we can tell; we need You more than we can say.

Our worldliness and sin dispel; come, cleanse and fill us all, we pray.

O Holy Ghost, come on us now as we in need before You bow.

We pray, Lord, light the flame once more of Holy Ghost revival fire.

Come now as in the days of yore; for You we wait with great desire.

Come suddenly upon Your own and make Your holy presence known.

Come suddenly and do much more than we can do in months and years.

We plead Your mercy o’er and o’er; we praise You that revival nears!

Come, Holy Ghost, descend today! Come suddenly on us, we pray. 

You can check the first part Here

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