Are we growing?
Good morning brothers and sisters. Is the kingdom of God growing or shrinking? I guess that depends on who you ask. But when I ask that question, let me be clear, I am not asking if you are getting bodies in your church. I am asking are people really committing to Jesus Christ. One can have 10,000 church goers inside their building but only have 10 true followers of Christ. See, what I am asking. I don't care about the number of people, I care about the lives being truly changed and living an honest Jesus life. And the only way that the kingdom of God can grow, is by Jesus Christ Himself. We are just the obedient workers. We don't always get to see the outcome. We just have to plant the seed. Let's take a look at Mark 4:26-29. 26- And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27- and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. That is our first sign that we do not grow the seeds. We just plant or scatter them. Because sometimes a smile or kind word, a listening ear, a hug, is where we scatter the seed. But let's continue one. 28- For the earth yields the crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, after that full grain in the head. See here He explains that all Christians have a job. Some scatter, some waters, some pulls the weeds, some helps break the soil around plant so that it can grow. See we all have a job. This is why it is the most extreme importance for you to have a personal relationship with Jesus. And not the one just on Sundays. This is also the reason that we should not be divided. We all have preferences but not divided over GOD'S WORD! It belongs to Him. And when we are in conflict over scripture, we take it to the Lord together. We don't fight and split. This is what confuses the world. But let's look at the last verse. 29- But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." The harvest is now. We should be seeing an outpouring of the love of Jesus as the world goes into chaos. We should show the world the calm in the storm. We should be honest about what it means to be a Christian. We lay out the facts with love, grace and mercy and we let Jesus take care of the rest. My question to you today is this: are you growing in Jesus? Repent, refresh, revive! Rise up children of God, rise up!