Everybody Needs Jesus

 So when they were together with him, they asked, "Lord, is this the time when you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

He said to them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Acts 1:6-8

Sadly, Jews and many non-Jews are still looking for what some of Jesus' disciples were still looking for just moments before Jesus ascended back into heaven.  People whose eyes are fixated on this world continue to miss the Messiah.  

Jesus is the Messiah.  He is the Son of God.  He is the Passover Lamb whose blood saves from death and damnation.  We can be sure that Jesus is the Savior because he fulfilled every Messianic prophecy of the Old Testament.  

The Bible gives no prophecy, or promise, about God restoring the earthly kingdom of Israel.  What Jesus did say was, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jews.  But now my kingdom is not from here." (John 18:36)

This is vitally important to understand.  The kingdom of God is not an earthly physical kingdom.  It is a spiritual kingdom.  That is why Satan works so hard to keep people focused on this world.  This life.  While Jesus' kingdom is not an earthly kingdom, he has given his disciples work to do in this life.  In our physical world.  We are to be his witnesses to the world.  It is the job of every Christian to tell people about Jesus, and what he has done for them.

Don't get distracted by geopolitics and social agendas.  This world, and all the nations in this world, will pass away.  Stay focused on the mission, the commission.  Be Christ's witness.  That is going to look different for each individual because we have all been given different vocational callings, but that is still the mission nonetheless.

Notice that the Great Commission was given to all of Christ's disciples of all time.  It wasn't just given to the 11 Apostles.  Being a witness of Christ and his gospel isn't the work of just pastors and those called into the public ministry.  It is the work of every Christian.  We all have been given a mission field.  There are numerous people in your life who need to hear about Jesus.  They are on their way to hell because they don't believe in him as their Savior.  They desperately need you!  

Tell them!

Talk to them!

They are dying!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  The one who believes in him is not condemned, but the one who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)

Thankfully, as Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live out this commission, this calling.  You are not alone when you witness Jesus to a family member, friend, or coworker.  The Holy Spirit will help you and guide your words.  This is also why it's so important to be in God's Word everyday.  God's Word is the means by which the Holy Spirit works.  

Know God's Word.  Speak God's Word and let the Holy Spirit work how he will.  We know that God's Word will not return to him empty.   It will accomplish its purpose.  So use it.

Now go with the Word of God and the Holy Spirit and be Christ's witness in your world.

God bless.

Jason Fredrick