Where do we need LIGHT?

Light is required in darkness and not where they are already well lit.

Matthew 5:14-16

Ye are the light of the world. ... 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.

Burning Altar - Min Tir Ta Che

Check out my band Burning Altar's new single 'Min Tir Ta Che' a Mizo version of our original "Command Me Lord" from album 'Crown of Life' back in 1996.

https://youtu.be/qAEW5UTkCOI

Status of World Evangelization - 2011

The Great Commission

· “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations (ethne)”

Matt 28:19, a church (fellowshipping disciples) for every ethnic people group.

· “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”

Mark 16:15, the gospel for every person.

Resulting in God’s glory and kingdom filling the earth, “...worship from every nation, tribe, people and tongue.” Rev 7:9, Hab 2:14.

A Church For Every People – what is the status?

· 6,900 Unreached / Least-Reached ethnic people groups out of 16,600 total groups in the world. (“Unreached - Least-Reached” is defined as less than 2% evangelical individuals and less than 5% Christian adherents in the people group.)

· 3,800 of these Unreached / Least-Reached groups are small, under 10,000 in population, so the task isn’t as large as it first appears.

Countries with the most Least-Reached people groups

Country	Least-Reached Ethnic Groups
India	2,233
Pakistan	447
China	428
Bangladesh	372
Nepal	355

The Gospel For Every Person – what is the status?

· Bible translation: "About 82% of the world's population have New Testament Scriptures in their language. However, to complete the remaining 18% will require possibly as many as 2,200 new translation efforts."

· Christian radio broadcasting: Studies indicate Christian radio broadcasts are in the languages of about 91% of the world’s population.

· Jesus film: There have been approximately 6.5 billion viewings of the Jesus film and it is available in over 1,100 languages covering 95% of the world’s population.

· Status of the gospel for every person: Approximately 70% (4.6 billion) of the world’s population have heard the gospel in some form. 30% (2 billion) have had virtually no exposure to the gospel message.

Status Summary: A Church For Every People Group And The Gospel For Every Person

· A church for every people group: 6,900 Least-Reached groups out of a total of 16,600.

· The gospel for every person, estimates:

10%	true believers
20%	nominal adherents
40%	heard, no response
30%	virtually no exposure

Challenges of the unfinished task

· Spiritual challenge: More Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in the previous 19 centuries combined.

· People challenge: The remaining people groups and individuals tend to be in remote locations, have great language and cultural barriers, practice religious fundamentalism, and are the most resistant to the gospel.

· Political / national challenge: The countries with the most Least-Reached tend to be closed to Christianity.

· Church challenge: Only one out of ten cross-cultural missionaries labor among unreached people groups. Out of every $1.00 (one US dollar) of Christian giving to all causes less than one penny goes toward pioneer church planting among least-reached people groups.

Why are we to complete the task?

Not because it is our duty,

though it is.

Not because it will bring eternal life to many,

though it will.

Not because it will improve the living conditions of the poor,

though it will.

Not because it will improve stability in the world’s institutions,

though it will.

Not because it will improve environmental stewardship,

though it will.

Not because we will be rewarded,

though we will.

We should disciple the nations because

Jesus is worthy to receive their honor, glory and praise.

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” Rev. 7:9

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Rev. 5:12

My Source:

Joshua Project

PO Box 62614

Colorado Springs, CO 80962-2614 USA

(719) 886-4000

http://www.joshuaproject.net

Picture Source: Rock Pillar Ministries

A talk with a Hindu friend

(Please bear in mind that this post is written in a play type format and the words i use here are not the exact words used at the time of the conversation.)

It was back in 2005, the year I decided to follow Christ, I was approached by a man who frequented our church in Guwahati. We used to talk and I know his name, but will not use it here. He was from a Hindu family and was disturbed about how many gods we worship. He knows that we worship only one God but has heard of the Trinity and Jehovah Jireh – God the provider, Jehovah Rapha – God the healer, Jehovah Nissi - God our banner etc. He came to me after we had a wonderful worship. He was a banker living with his wife and three kids.

He: Why do you say you only worship one God when you have so many gods?

Me: (I was shocked!) We worship only one God and have only one true God.

I was getting defensive and a little angry especially as he went on to speak about the Trinity and the other names of God he so misunderstood. I was furious when he added that we (Christians) were uncertain of the gods we had. Anyway, summing up all my patience and wanting to portray Christ, I managed to simmer down.

He: What about the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit?

God answered through me: Let me explain it this way by asking you a few questions. Is it okay?

He: Sure.

Me: What and who are you? What’s your name?

He: Be serious please.

Me: I am, now please answer me.

He: You know me.

Me: Alright, you’re a human, a banker and your name is Amit (fake name used here) right?

He: Like I said, you know me.

Me: What are you to your parents, wife and children?

He: A son, a husband and a father. (He was reluctant with a ? on his forehead)

Me: You’re also a friend, right again?

He: You guys are good friends allowing a Hindu to occupy your seat.

Me: Thanks, you’re always welcome in the house of the Lord.
Well, you’re just one person, but you are a son, a husband, a father who provides for his family. Not only that, but you’re also a banker and a friend to many. That’s six in one and I’m sure you are not just the six we have mentioned.

He: Chicco, I get it now, however you will never convince me to convert, just not possible for me to follow your religion. But I will use your explanation if my Hindu friends mock you guys again.

Me: Oh well, I did my part of being a witness and I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will not only convince but convict you to accept Christ.

We went on to talk about other things like how we Mizos are so good with music and that it was not his intention to question the Christian faith. I felt bad being offended. We had lunch and he paid. I left Guwahati two weeks after this conversation and have not contacted him since (I took no phone numbers or emails). May God bless him.

Nobody

This man from Pakistan says, he wants to hear the story of Jesus but there's nobody to tell him.

They are ready to listen, the field is ripe for the harvest, but the workers are few.

“Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35 (KJV)

Purpose of being Saved

The purpose of being saved

What is the ultimate goal of the church? “To get to heaven”, is the most common answer I get. Well, it’s true isn’t it? And the only ticket to heaven or to be saved is to believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection and confess He is Lord, – Romans 10:9. No doubt about it, I believe it. We cannot earn our way to heaven, we instead believe our way to heaven. Being saved is not a price or a salary; it is the gift of God – Ephesians 2:8-9.

Reading on, Ephesians 2:10 explains the meaning of being saved, it reads, “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. In other words, being saved means to do what Christ would do and not to do what He wouldn’t do. Accepting Christ also makes us co-heirs with Christ – Romans 8:17. If you’re an heir of anything, the responsibility of taking care of that ‘thing’ is also yours.

The first two paragraphs compel me to say, “Do not try to win salvation, however show that you are saved and of God’s workmanship by doing what God want you to do”. James 2:17 says, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead”.

So what’s the action gonna be? W.W.J.D (what would Jesus do?) One thing I’m certain about is that, Jesus would do what God wanted him to do. Jesus died and rose again for us because His Father (God) wanted Him to. Jesus wasn’t very happy about dieing on the cross, but obeyed His Father till the very end. God might want you to do this too, maybe He has other plans. The important thing here is obedience. 1 Samuel 15:22 - To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. (You might want to take some quality time with God and ask Him what He wants you to do. Make sure it’s God’s voice you’re listening to.)

The purpose of being saved is to do good works. Jesus told us to do a lot of things, among them is love. Love, not just for ourselves but even our enemies. Jesus knows the burden of having enemies and the joy of having none. He wants us to enjoy life, which is again one of the reasons he wants us to love everyone. (The two letters of John emphasizes love.) If you have love for others, you will be known as a disciple of Christ – John 13:34-35.

Why love? Well without it you will not be able to do what Jesus did. The main purpose of Jesus was to get us saved, all ‘peoples’ must be saved.

Jesus taught us how to pray in Mathew chapter 6. Lets look at verse10 “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This made me wonder, what is that will of God that is in heaven? The answer came from Revelation 7:9-12 - After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

The will of God in heaven which Jesus wants done on earth is to praise and worship God. Another question, a question anyone can answer; has this happened? Philippians 2:11 reads, ‘every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ Has this prophecy been realized? NO! If all capitals with an exclamatory NO! is the answer, what more can be said other then, The purpose of being saved is to bow down before the glory of God in accepting Christ as Lord and bringing people of other faith to do the same.

In Short, to worship and to make worshippers is the ultimate goal of every Christian.

Psalm 150:6
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

26 are ready! Are you Game

God gave His only begotten son to save the world he dearly loves from eternal death. (John 3:16) Now, after 2000 years, God’s love for the world remains the same and therefore He has entrusted you to carry on the task that Jesus started. He has made you a son/daughter (2Cor 6:8). This then compels me to say, you and I are the only Jesus the world has in the flesh. Being co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17) also means taking responsibilities, one of which is the Great Commission and I dare say the most important because Matthew 24:14 says the end will come only after the Word is being conveyed to all people groups.

Are we willing to, ‘Bring the living Christ to the dying World?’

Do not be discouraged, it’s not that bad. Check out what Jesus said:

“Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”
John 4:35 (KJV)

Let’s see if Jesus is telling the truth.

Research shows that, in as many as the 67 countries represented in the 10/40 Window, 26 countries are now Gospel-ready and that 23 of them are connected to North-eastern Indians ethnically, linguistically, culturally, and/or geographically. Thus, making it easier for (us) NE Indians to connect or reach out to.
Let no Westerners think for a second that they’re out of the picture. India being a third world country we need your full support and not just financial support but especially spiritual support in prayers. We cannot deny the fact that you are more equipped in countless ways.
Let’s join hands and hit the devil where it hurts most. Let’s win souls.

The 26 countries ready for the Gospel:

Afghanistan, Algeria (parts of), Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India (parts of), Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya (expatriates), Mali, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Thailand, Western Sahara.
Let the games begin. Are you in? Are you game?

Stats taken from: (Numbers may vary)
http://home.snu.edu/~HCULBERT/1040.htm
http://www.joshuaproject.net/10-40-window.php
http://www.joshuaproject.net/great-commission-statistics.php

The Great Commission

The supreme task of the church is the evangelization of the world. We must fulfill the task assigned by Christ before He ascended back to the Father. It is described in Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:47-48; John 20:21; and Acts 1:8. The heart of World Missions is to fulfill the Great Commission.

Some great quotes by some great men of God:

"We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God." -John Stott

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't.” - John Piper

I wasn't God's first choice for what I've done for China... I don't know who it was... It must have been a man... a well-educated man. I don't know what happened. Perhaps he died. Perhaps he wasn't willing... and God looked down... and saw Gladys Aylward... And God said - "Well, she's willing." - Gladys Aylward

"A tiny group of believers who have the gospel keep mumbling it over and over to themselves. Meanwhile, millions who have never heard it once fall into the flames of eternal hell without ever hearing the salvation story." - K.P. Yohannan

"We talk of the second coming, half the world has never heard of the first." - Oswald J. Smith

"As long as there are millions destitute of the word of God and the knowledge of Jesus Christ, it will be impossible for me to devote my time and energy to those who have both." - J.L. Ewen

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell, I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of Hell." - C.T. Studd

“It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation.” - Paul in Rom 15:20 (NIV)

Did You Know???

Did you know?

• More than 90% of the world’s unreached people groups are found in the 10/40 Window, an imaginary rectangular area extending from 10 degrees to 40 degrees north of the equator and spanning the globe from western Africa to eastern Asia.
• There are approximately 12,000 people groups inhabiting the world today.
• 6,600 people groups have not heard the Gospel.
• In the year 100 AD, there was one Christian for 360 individuals.
• By 2007, there was one Christian for 9 individuals.
• In the year 100 AD, one church had to reach 12 different people groups.
• By 2007, there were 600 churches to reach one people group.
• 97.6% of the world’s missionaries work among the reached or evangelized.
• 2.4% of the world’s missionaries work among the unreached or unevangelized.
• 5.4% of all money given to Christian causes goes to Foreign Missions.
Of all money given to foreign missions globally:
• 87% goes for work among those who are already Christians.
• 12% goes to work among evangelized non-Christians.
• 1% goes for work among people groups in the unevangelized / unreached category.