By Evangelist Victor Aina (11 Nov 2018)

Jesus died for the whole world and the purpose of His death was to redeem a people from every tribe, tongue and nation. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, (Revelation 5:9 NKJV)

And He gave us this commission: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16: 15-18 NKJV).

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matt 28:19).

The Greek word translated “nation” in Matthew 28:19 is Ethnos which means: a tribe of same habit, same tongue, and people group. We are not simply called to engage countries (political nations) but to make disciples of all nations (tribes, tongues, and people group).

Events in the previous weeks show that we don’t have the luxury of time on our side, so it’s important that we do all we can, before we answer the home-call of our Lord. All our thoughts and actions should be centered on eternity.

Current population statistics show that the current world population is estimated at about 7.64 billion. Of this Christians constitute 33%; Muslims 20%; Hindus 13%; atheists 14%; others 13%.

Today there are 1,347 known UNENGAGED PEOPLE GROUPS in the world today, located in 164 different countries (Unengaged means there is no known on-site, active church planting currently underway).

The current population in Nigeria is estimated at 198 million; of this 80 million are Christians, while 78 million are Muslims. Nigeria has a total number of 79 unreached people groups. Many groups are minimally engaged (under-engaged) and need adoption by churches – Nigeria Evangelical mission Association (NEMA).These statistics show that there is a need to protect the home-ground as we advance in mission. Northern Nigeria needs to be more evangelized and the most compelling mission is the middle belt in Nigeria.

Basic Evangelism 1-on-1 is dying in our churches these days. We need to be more concerned about evangelization agenda.

Let’s say we have about 60 million born again Christians in Nigeria, just imagine if Nigeria could send out 1% of the Christian population out as missionaries, that’s a total of 60,000.

God said in Habakkuk 2:14 that: For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Only a small part of the world is not covered by water. And God has said that the earth will be filled with God’s glory just as the waters cover the sea.

There is a calling of God upon the church and until we have this as our focus we are bound to lose our way. Mtt 5:13-16 says, Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Salt & light are agents of change but in different ways. Light pushes darkness away while salt adds taste to food. As salt, we are to be integrated into the system, mix with people and be a witness for Christ and influence the world for Christ; and as light we are called to transform & not be swallowed up, but to push evil away (1 John 2:15)

As the church we need to be the barometer of truth to the world just as salt arrests corruption and decay and sunlight kills germs and aids life.

Our saltiness must be maintained (Mark 9:50). One of the major causes of division is that people don’t have salt in them. There is no record that the elder son in the Parable of the Prodigal Son warned his younger brother that it was wrong to leave home.

Lk 11:35 NKJV take heed to your light

The Need To Trust In God’s Power

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matt. 11:29-30 KJV)

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. (Zech. 4:6-7 KJV)

Do not believe that your education, exposure, finance etc will make it more likely for God to use you more. It’s a lie. Most times it makes you look good & makes you think you are superior to others. God can use your education, finances etc when it’s surrendered to Him. Moses had his training from Pharaoh, he built a whole city, but at the Red Sea he could not build a bridge, his training could not help at the Red Sea.

We need God’s power for mission (without it nothing works). It’s the power of God that brings change not how long you hear. Paul spent less than one month in Thessalonica. The people there didn’t even have the Bible when he met them but the words Paul shared with them were engraved in their hearts (1 Thess. 1:5-7). They didn’t even have the Bible but the stories Paul told them was engraved in their heart.

The only thing that is going to matter is that the Almighty shows up.

Some trust in horses, some chariots but we trust in the Lord

Get involved  Matt 3:4-10

• Through prayers – Matt 9:36-38
• Give encouragement even if you can’t go (Deut. 3:27-28)
• Financial commitment/Invest in mission (Matt 6:19-21)
• Short-term trips to mission field (Matt 10:1-5)
• Make it a life style (Matt 28 :18-20)
• We are not asked to wait till we are ready for ministry. He makes you ready.
• Every believer is called to reap the harvest by using the gifts and the grace God has given us individually (John 4:35-38).
• What a great privilege it is to be called and used by God, and our calling is to follow Jesus’ footsteps in all we do.
• We can be sure to succeed in His commission to preach the gospel if we follow His will (John 15: 5-8 NKJV). John 5:30 says that without Jesus you can do nothing. You can’t do anything of eternal value outside Him (John 5:30).