Is the mission still remains undiluted?

We are all familiar with the great commission and its implication yet the challenges remain to what extent the Churches and the people are ardently obeying to God's demands. How effectively are we demonstrating the gospel and attracting people to Christ? The terms discipleship, great commission, evangelism & mission in many cases are replaced by activities, worships, events and programs. Is the mission of the Church (the good news) still centering around Christ mandate?

Let me draw your attention to some hard facts:

Unreached block         Non-Christian per 
                                       missionary

Tribal/other                   15000

Hindu                            175000

Unreligious                     80000

Muslims                       300000

Buddhist                      170000

Does the above given statistics disturb you? It is seen in most cases that the Churches focus on Christ mandate and the mission work within the four walls of the Church only. Yes, it is definitely agreed, provided it is also equipping the members to be able to demonstrate the gospel in the market places, work areas, schools and colleges? Think about it! The data and research from Joshua’s Project (A research center that provides data) are really intimidating and raises serious questions in our existence as children of God. It is also a matter of grave concern. How are we prepared to mitigate and create an impact among the dying souls in our nation?

Every other thing comes under our radar with high priority, except the mandate. Dustin Benge puts these words so powerfully and challenges us. - “Sunday by Sunday people are told how to embrace “the good life” have happy marriages, and raise nice children, but not how to be right with God. Biblical preaching is hard, Discipleship is hard serving other is hard, Evangelism is hard. Do the hard things!”

After Christ commissioned the disciples and all of us to preach the Gospel and make disciples it is recorded in the book of Mark this way, “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.”. Mark 16:20. Signs and wonders are just an accompaniment while the preaching of the gospel is kept as priority. Today many leaders make the signs and wonders as a priority drawing attention towards them, disregarding the gospel preaching.

Let’s not forget in most cases people who seek God to be free from debt, or expect their materialistic needs to be met, get healing from their physical ailments don’t find the need of God later, they actually abandon and will return only when the next need arises. The biggest miracle and signs and wonder that should happen is the transformation of life. And if you take note of the above verse it says, “while the Lord worked with them”. God works with us to transform lives and help people find eternity, to this extent God joins hands with us and works with us. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3: 9, “We are God’s Coworkers.”. God is working with us to help us reach out to the dying soul. Let me end this small article challenging all of us and putting these words of Reinhard Bonke. “So, our main task must be the implementation of Great Commission – the going, the making, and the discipling. The Church is a lifeboat, not a pleasure boat. Entertainers are neither needed nor wanted.".

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Effective Vs Ineffective zone!

“..since a live dog is better than a dead lion.".  Ecclesiastes 9:4 CSB

When God makes you (Mark 1:17), marks you (John 17:24) and starts using you (Philippines 1:6), He always does from your highest potential to complete what He has begun in you. Start operating from an effective zone and Influence everyone. There is a purpose that is tied to what you do, therefore how you behave in the process matters a lot.

When Bible talks about Lucifer it records, He was a shining morning star who received highest priority from God, but soon he miserably fell because of his ill attitude and pride (Isaiah 14:12). Till we are in the center of His will and move towards fulfilling the purpose for which we have been called we operate effectively. The slightest deviations or carnality could cater to the downfall and can force us to operate from an ineffective zone. 

Many leaders and pastors are maintaining a mediocrity and operating from an ineffective zone today. It doesn't bother them much because in most cases, it doesn't affect their livelihood. Samson is a good example who was called for a definite purpose and was operating from an effective zone, but slowly drifted to a point where he was becoming comfortable and was succeeding in what he wanted, and then he started operating from an ineffective zone, losing his credibility and the splendor God had bestowed upon him.

Whenever I happen to listen to the testimony of some amazing Christian leaders it gives me goosebumps, the way their initial ministry was on fire. But sadly, many couldn't sustain the vibrancy as comfort and selfishness slithered its way in, and they just survive thereafter. 

Therefore King Solomon nails it when he says, "..a live dog is better than a dead lion.". Ecclesiastes 9:4 CSB. To be effective like a dog is better than to be like a Lion yet lifeless. Mark how John Calvin put it, "A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.".  

The other area when one can be ineffective is when one’s motive is settled for gain alone. Picking the story of Laban and Jacob we notice at one-point Laban's attitude changes. it says, “and Jacob saw from Laban’s face that his attitude toward him was not the same as before.". Genesis 31:2 CSB. Many are today like Laban affected seriously with selfish motives for a gain, and their whole ambition thereafter is to build personal security. Soon their perspective and their financial dealings are affected and they start operating from an ineffective zone.

God wouldn't allow us to perform and operate from an ineffective zone very long. The best indicator is (this works in most cases), if a meeting or a deliberation is set for us to minister and then the same is cancelled or gets procrastinated, I first assume God thinks I am not ready for it. Well there can be a genuine reason for such postponement or delay. Yes! May be in some cases God allows the barrier for his sovereign reasons, but it is better to do a personal spiritual check to see if you are operating from an effective or ineffective zone. God will not allow you to operate from an ineffective zone always.

Let me close with this verse, 

"I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.". Philippians 1:6 CSB. Let's be careful to remain in Him and allow God to mold us and use us effectively for His glory.

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What is it, you want to look back on and celebrate?

I have asked this particular question to many leaders, pastors and to people who claim to be Christ's disciple is - 'What is it you want to celebrate when you look back? In most cases, invariably the response was always in terms of programs, activities and events.

In the story of the prodigal son, the father celebrated the return of his son who happened to be the cause for all the mess, but made a conscious decision to return back to his father. In heaven there is a celebration every time over one sinner who repents than ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance (Luke 15:7). The ninety-nine people are already the righteous ones or maybe even good Church goers, but a successful crowd without repenting their sins. If you notice here, rejoicing was not about the quantitative accomplishment, but it's the one on which the impact is highlighted and becomes the reason for celebration.

Celebration becomes meaningful over a fulfilled expectation, when the goal is set and reached and then over an outcome achieved. The truth of the matter is that with or without a goal, people are going to work hard to get somewhere. But the question is, are they getting where they want to go? Paul makes it very clear when he says this, “So I do not run like one who run aimlessly or box like one beating the air.”. 1 Corinthians 9:26

Clarify the outcome: The most important thing in Christian walk of life and in ministry is to clarify your end goal or end win. A defined goal having definite outcome and impact enlisted will give you a purpose and keep people on proper track not allowing them to operate in random.

Have a clear roadmap: Basically, what I am saying is to have a well-defined steps to reach the end goal. Not Programs. Your programs should take people somewhere, not simply use up their time. Ask yourself, where do we want our people to be? What do we want them to become? Is our programming designed to take them there?

Exit strategy: One day someone else will be doing what you are doing. Whether you have an exit strategy or not, ultimately, you will exit. So, embrace the inevitable and prepare now for the future. And more importantly prepare second line leadership who can do better than you and sustain the work you have created.

Monitoring and Evaluation: Everything will look good if you don’t have a mechanism to evaluate what you are doing. We can all be in this thing called “Feel-good factor”. You feel good about what you are doing, you measure things to make it look good. Paul says, that such people who measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves lack understanding (2 Corinthians 10:12)

If you look carefully in the Bible you will know that to a larger extent all the celebrations were the accomplishment and impact, not events and program in itself. May God sharpen your perspective to define what you intend to celebrate and move toward the goal.

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Reopen the wells!

“Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham and that the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died. He gave them the names his father had given them.”.

This is a passage where it talks about Isaac digging the wells and reopening it once again which was closed up by the Philistines. Isaac had a right to these wells by reason of the old covenant between his father Abraham and the king. Hence when his claim was resisted, he abandoned the well. Every time he dug and opened the closed well, they strove and claimed it. And finally, the Bible says, “he dug another, and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Rehoboth.”. (Genesis 26:22).

In this new year I challenge you to look into the closed wells of your life. What are the gifts left unoperated? What are the services that you did effectively for the Lord have you abandoned because of people's resistance? God has graciously extended a year in your life and it is worth taking a stock of all that is left abandoned. You may have so many reasons as to why you have abandoned, and that’s ok. Can you reconsider reopening the wells that give fresh waters? Look unto the Lord for his help and mercy in this new year.

In order to dig and unearth the closed wells the first step would be to dig out all the trash and the dirt that closed your potentials and your ability to connect to God. Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 says, “Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new unleavened batch, as indeed you are. For Christ our Passover let us observe the feast, not with old leaven or with the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”. Paul reiterated this because the little deceptions, little insincerities and little subtleness can spoil the purpose for which you have been called and further block the wells of your life. Find out how with new fresh commitment in your personal life and in your ministry, you can accelerate to have power and influence to transform many lives.

This is a year of opportunity, may we all seriously find ways to enrich our relationship with God and find ways to open up the areas where we were once effective for God in carrying out the great commission (the sole purpose of every individual). Be refueled by God’s sovereign power once again and be a well that is capable of giving fresh water always.

Consider the massive number of people who have little or no access to the gospel. Are you comfortable with such darkness? What will you and your church do about it?

Population: 7.67 Billion

Population unreached: 3.19 Billion

% Population in unreached: 41.6%

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You are almost close!

In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that he is near — at the door. Matthew 24:33.

The world is in utmost confusion, Christians are the focus everywhere. All religions, governments and political parties want to eliminate Christians from the face of the earth. Let's see some statistics that bring home this truth both internationally and nationally:

According to world watch list 11 persons are killed daily for their faith. If you follow the world news 215 million Christians faced persecution in 2018, and it was estimated that 245 million will suffer in 2019, according to Open Doors — a 14% increase, that represents 30 million more people abused for their faith. This means that "1 in 9 Christians experience high levels of persecution worldwide" (world watch list 2019)

Accordingly to Wikipedia, In August 2017, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) ranked India’s persecution severity at “Tier 2” along with Iraq and Afghanistan.

Over the past seven years, India has risen from No. 31 to No. 10 on Open Doors' World Watch List, ranking just behind Iran in persecution severity. As of 2019, USCIRF repeatedly placed India as Tier-2 in minority persecution. India estimated Christians, 65,061,000 and it is in the 10th place of Persecution severity.

Coming to our nation, India; Persecution Relief has recorded 330 incidents of hate crime against Christians in 2016, 440 incidents in 2017, 477 incidents in 2018 and till September 2019 they have recorded 349 incidents of Christian Persecution against Christians in India.

What does it all converge to, nothing but a sober reminder His coming is almost close. If you notice Jesus while training his disciples and sending the disciples to share the gospel and about the kingdom of God, He was almost preparing them for intense persecution and warned them not to give up, because of what they are going to face. Observe Jesus' saying,  "Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul;  rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.". Matthew 10:28 CSB. You and I may try fighting against persecution by every means, but honestly you cannot do away with persecution.

Let me remind you once again on some basic facts: watch out to hold on to your faith till the end for Jesus said, "But the one who endures to the end will be saved.". Matthew 10:22 CSB

Life is going to be extremely difficult Matthew 24:21; 10:22, John 16:33 & I die daily 1 Cor 15:31.

Love of many will grow cold, as a result, hypocrisy and superficiality will be rampant. Matthew 24:12 & 1 Timothy 4:1-3

Even the elect and spiritual giants will fall prey to deception Matthew 24:24

You will cease to exist in this earth one day, for sure. Hebrew 9:27.

Only if you are prepared will hear the sound of the trumpet and be gathered to meet him ( in rapture) Matthew 24:31.

You will be surprised either being taken up or left behind. Matthew 7:21-23 & Luke 17:35

The coming of the Lord is very very near. Matthew 24:33, James 5:8 & Revelation 3:11.

But do you have a hope in what you go through? Definitely yes! Because we will be soon reaching a place where neither tears nor any pain exists (Revelation 21:4). And most importantly we will reign with Him for ever and ever (Revelation 22:5).

May the Lord help us to stay watchful and stay blameless. You have a mission;  fulfilling the great commission.

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Truth vs Camaflouge

Every other encounter we have is hardly original. Duplicity is the word that describes this age, including relationships. Fakeness is rampant that we are lost in it. We all wish that people at some point just present themselves as they are during the encounter with each other. We are going to end this year soon. Year after year passes by, but are we seriously intentional to live the original image of God with divine nature and characteristics of God or just making our way with our list of agendas, programs and events that keeps our spirits high and satisfying, because we have nothing to lose.

Working with so many Church leaders and getting close to understand their ministry and their future of their ministry is a greatest privilege and a responsibility God has given to SHEFA ministries. As we develop Ministry blueprint and a roadmap for Churches and organization to follow, some have taken their (church) plan seriously and started working towards it meticulously and witnessing significant measurable results during the course of their journey. Some are not able to do much on it merely because there are already so many things on their list which leaves them overwhelmed. Some are, as I usually say, “Victim of emergencies”.

Someone who is an ardent visitor in a particular Church made this statement which made me melancholic, “I don’t want to be entertained at Church, I want to encounter God”. Let’s not forget there are many who visit the church with brokenness, pain and with a deep desire longing to be comforted by God’s word, but return home disappointed. Do we even realize it? I am reminded of the passage where some Greeks who were going to worship at the feast, visited Philip and said, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”.(John 12:22) There is a deep longing in people to encounter God but the question is, are we able to present Christ correctly? Be watchful, not to douse people’s longing with activities that are irrelevant to the vision and goals of the Church.

How serious are we? How organic is our worship? The most heart rending statement I heard by a lay person commenting on a Church leader / Pastor in one of the major programs is this, "The Pastor’s and the Church leadership don’t care about structured sustainable program that is aligned with the vision and mission of Church because they have nothing to lose". There are many Churches instead of modelling the vibrant early Church are making things so comfortable and leaving the people unprepared. Josh Buice puts it point blank, “Dear Pastors, tomorrow people will gather before the pulpit to hear the glories of His word expounded. You can’t afford to speculate nor can you afford to entertain. Lastly, your calling demands that you avoid veiling truth in mystery when God has unveiled it in his word.". Preach and minister sincerely and with a burden.

Can we seriously retrospect as we come to the end of this year and see if we still hold on to the dual image, camaflouging our way through? Or we replicate the true image of Christ. Fight against dualism, superficiality, form of godliness (2 Timothy 3:5) and be original

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Vision - A blindsided reality!

It gives me a surge of motivation when I get an opportunity to write on my favourite topic “Vision”. I have written many articles on this topic. I trust it was a blessing to those who read the same. I have done a number of seminars related to vision, eg. ‘Understanding the vision’, ‘culminating to finding the vision’, why vision fails? how to keep your vision moving? how to develop a strategy and a roadmap from the vision? and how do I monitor my progress? The people group in my seminars included Pastors, Bible college students, young people and Church members.

Penning my thoughts down about my long association working with Churches (close to 60 denominations and more) in India, I found the Churches that really made significant impact among its congregation and in the community are the ones who were successful in finding what their vision is and able to articulate the same and follow the roadmap ardently. And most importantly these are the people who were able to quantify their progress and able to articulate the success not in terms of the many programs that the church is doing but in terms of measurable impact the Churches have created as the result of the programs and activities. I do come across disagreement, mainly out of convenience, that we don’t need to put this meticulously and follow a management style. What such group fail to understand is that the Bible is full of Strategies (Approaches & Methodologies) and more importantly Bible talks about planning, calculating, finding right counsel and so many other necessary factors that the Bible endorses completely.

We are so close to the coming of the Lord and you will all agree that much has to be done. Mere church activity without creating vibrant discipleship has less lasting impact. It is high time that we concentrate on the lost souls that we witness in our society, schools, colleges, work places, business areas even in Churches. It’s time to stop overfeeding our Church members, but train systematically on the core of discipleship that is found in 2 Timothy 2:2-3 “What you have heard from me, in the presence of many witnesses commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus”. How effective are we in sharing the gospel? One of the problems today is that we are not successful in presenting Jesus in a correct shape. How many of our members know how to share the gospel and what to share?

It is time to take a giant leap towards evangelistic work. Let me again use one of my favourite quote which goes this way,  “If you practice the great commission and share about Christ you are an irritant, and if you practice great commandment and talk about the love of Christ,  you are interesting, but if you do both great commission and great commandment together, you are irresistible.”. Enough of programs, activities and celebrations. If you follow the book of Amos, you would notice God using some strong words in the book of Amos 5:21-24 “I hate all your show and pretense- the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies…..”. Time to revolutionise things for God. 

Just want to leave you with a fact. In India we are still 2.30% though Christianity's presence is seen for 2000 years. Hinduism has reached London only 200 years ago and has achieved significant impact that their current population is 5%. This goes with the world Christian population too. The number of Churches has grown, denominations have increased, fund collection had increased too, but we still are not exactly where we ought to be. Are our statistics indicating something? Ponder over it!

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