What would your reaction be if Jesus turned up at your place of work, the local social club, at your retirement home or was seen wandering around the streets of our towns and cities? How would you respond if Jesus tapped you on the shoulder and said I need you as one of the team that I am going to use to change the world? Would you be able to take it all in or would it just overwhelm you?

All this is happening before your mind goes into overdrive and words come out of your mouth that make no sense at all. Then the penny drops just who is with you and you begin to think what people will say if you take up His challenge? It will take us out of our comfort zone and will be beyond anything we have previously experienced and require sacrifices to be made.

Just as the disciples must have felt it will be like stepping out on an adventure without any preparation on our part but one in which we will have to put our trust in Jesus ways we haven’t done before. It is going to be an on the job learning experience with one to one tuition taught by our Saviour in a manner that cannot be replicated by anyone else. It will be so unique we will absorb His passion and vision which will become part of us that it will transform any reluctance or resistance we may have had.

It will be an introduction to the call to be part of the great commission that we find recorded in Matthew 28:19-20:-

“Therefore go and make disciples of the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these disciples to obey all the commands I have given you and be sure of this I am with you to the end of the age.”
(New Living Translation)

The world is on our door stop so let’s obey our Lord’s command for now is the time to become active in His Service.

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It may not be part of your mindset to think in the way the apostle’s did, they wrote great letters of guidance. When we come across passages like the words we find in 1 Peter 5v1-7 it is a reminder to us who have reached our senior years “Be shepherds of God’s flock.” For those who are younger there is the reminder “Young men be submissive to those who are older”. The section concludes in verses 6&7 where we find our attention drawn to the words “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Something we all need in these troubled times.

As we age we should not be thinking, I have done my bit and it is now up to someone else to carry on. We should be turning our thoughts to how as elders and witness for Christ, we can give guidance and leadership to those who have just started their Christian walk. From our life experiences we have much to give.

This may be something that is new to us or something that we haven’t done for a while on life’s discipleship course. It is never too late to start applying the way Jesus taught his disciples.

Through living out a discipleship life style we can share Christ to the world. So are we going to stand up and be God’s person? It is not going to be a stroll in the park and it will take us along unexpected ways. But in the end as we walk with our Lord, we will see things through His eyes.

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At the age of 94 Billy Graham has set out his vision of what he is looking to achieve. It is a challenge that we who are many years younger should be taking on. Those who are closer in age to Billy Graham should not opt out but look to what God is asking them to do.

After his birthday in 2012 Billy Graham wrote down what he wishes to see happen, God willing, in the coming twelve months. He is giving a lead and example to follow. When we take into consideration his age and his failing health, we must give him respect, because he has continued to proclaim the good news over many decades.

Why aren’t we showing the same passion as Billy Graham? A passion to reach our brothers who are living in a world that doesn’t take notice of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is no easy task to motivate ourselves to go out into a hostile land, but we shouldn’t give up. How about asking God to go with us instead of taking part in serious navel gazing and saying we can’t do it? Jesus taught his disciples on a one to one basis and he will do the same with us if we will let Him.

The current attempts by the state to restrict when and where we can share the gospel can be overcome through prayer and living our lives so they reflect our Saviour.

Billy Graham is living the vision God has given him. What about us? Is God asking us to spend time in His presence so that He can open our eyes to the wonders He has to show us? And light the flame in us to achieve the task He has given us. All we will be asked to do, is to raise our focus above the problems which surround us and focus on Him.

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God’s method of multiplication is very simple, it doesn’t use complicated formula, and there is no need to use a calculator or super computer. It is so simple that we either miss the point or try to add in complications which are just not there when you look at the original plan. We are very good at leaving it to others to get involved and not do it ourselves but when we look at Jesus’ script he stared with a one to one basis and then sent the disciples out two by two. Why are we not following these principals today? How can we think that we can improve on a flawless method that has stood the test of time? Christ has given us the great commission and he is simply asking us to obey, there are no ifs and buts when we are His service and we often prefer to sit on the sofa and slump in front of the TV instead of being active in His army.

Jesus in Matthew 4: 19 said “…Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” and then trained the disciples who though there is no direct reference must have been involved with the training of the seventy two who Jesus sent out in Luke 10: 1 and in verse 2 we find this instruction “…The harvest is great and the workers are few” why then are we so apathetic in going out to when our fellow brothers are with the life changing message we have been given to take to them.

The model we have laid out for us in scripture gives the clarity we need and the method to evaluate how to go out and serve a needy and hurting world. God’s design and call is for each one of us is for each one of us to take part in his great commission. It is not going to be without risks and it will take us well outside our comfort zone but we have the security that the Father is with us each step of the way. When we start going God’s way we fill him giving answers in ways we don’t expect. Remember we are on active service every time we step out of our front door.

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The Stranger stood in the shadows of the stadium
Unnoticed by the spectators as they walked by
So engrossed with expectation
As the clock counted down towards the hour
For the event that had been years in the planning to begin
He moved amongst them as their anticipation grew
Yet amidst all this passion He felt pain in His heart
Because the question that was unanswered
Had they come not to glorify the Father?
Or to praise the achievements
Of the athletes who were about to compete
Yet as the bell tolled and the ceremonies commenced
A thread was woven into the tapestry of the day
That there is a way which brings hope
Even when in each competition there is only one winner
Many will receive a blessing from taking part
And the accolade they had done their best
But as the excitement reached a crescendo
The realisation began to dawn
Each one was made in the image of the Father
And it was He who had given them the skills
To achieve the required standard
But it is only He who gives greater benefits
Than any winning any competition can
Why oh why are so many of God’s people
Lacking the desire to heed the call
To be passionate in living for the Father
In the same way as an athlete
Is when training to win a medal
So when are God’s people?
Going to turn back to Him
Humble themselves and pray
So that their land
Can receive healing from their Lord
Or are they going to be swept
Along with the tide
That is the Olympic Games?
Here for a while
But then gone for a time
Leaving memories which will fade
And a line in the record books
Yet the Father has something to give
That is greater than any medal
Or life expectancy
A gift that will last for eternity.

© Mike Bartrop 27.07.2012

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In Luke 2 v49 we find Jesus replying to his parents as recorded in The Message: “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be here, dealing with the things of my Father?” Jesus had put God’s work as his first priority. The question facing us is where do we put God in our daily order of priorities? And how honest are we going to be in answering it? Do we put him first in all things?

We have responsibilities to our family and employer if we are still working but do we sit down with our Father and sort out how He wants us to plan the activities we are involved in. Jesus knew His priorities but do we? And if we do are they in line with His?

To be able to make the right choice we must have clear and consistent communication with our Lord and know Him as our Father anchored by grace and mercy in his family. When we are sure of our position in Him we will find He will show us the order in which He wants us progress and how he will lead us to achieve them. As we follow Him and obey His commands He will show us the results that will be mind blowing.

Clarity of vision means clarity of purpose so that every time we step outside the front door we will recognise that we are going out and about on God’s business. As we make our journeys we are going to see how He is giving us constant encouragement as His agents for change.

Jesus knew His priorities and vision and through Him so can we. Are you up for the challenge that he has given?

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Billy Graham turned 93 in November 2011 and is still as passionate about telling people about Jesus Christ, his Saviour, as when he first started to preach at crusade style meetings in 1947.

He is struggling with failing eyesight and hearing, but his evangelistic drive has not diminished, he still wants to get the message across. Recently he has used modern technology to preach in Spain and Portugal, two countries he was never able to reach when he was active in ministry. He has also just published a book entitled, ‘Nearing Home’.

‘Nearing Home’ will have much to say to us as we move through our senior years and from it we might learn how Billy has been inspired and guided through his life of Christian service.

He is confident that God still has plans for him and we can take this as encouragement that God can still use us at whatever age we are.

As we move through 2012, we may wish to reflect that:

• There is no retirement when working for God’s Kingdom
• God sees us as valuable to Him in His service whatever our physical state or age is
• He wants us to finish strong through the strength He gives
• He wants us to teach our following generations, so that they can teach their children and thus pass the baton from generation to generation to generation.

That is our task and challenge for 2012, so are we ready to pick up the baton and be Christ’s messengers?

It will be interesting and encouraging to hear your experiences.

Buy the book on Amazon: Nearing Home – Thoughts on Life, Faith and Finishing Well

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How well do we listen to what God is saying to us, through His word, prayer or other people. So let us consider how we approach the Bible. Is it something we do prayerfully?

By approaching the Bible prayerfully we are saying to ourselves and God that we are giving Him our attention and wish to stay closely connected to Him, instead of the approach that often occurs when we rush in with so much on our minds that we are not able to focus on our Lord.

It is good to remember that when we ask God to speak through His word, it is not that He is reluctant to talk to us but that we have to take hold of His willingness to talk to us.
Once we have lowered our barriers we will find that He is willing to and has a great desire to bring alive His word to us.

The problem still is not that God doesn’t want to speak to us, but that we don’t listen well.

Let us consider that if we take a minute to pray before opening our bibles, we are telling God that we are ready for Him to speak to us and we are ready to listen.

This will be a discipline that has to put into practice; the need to pause and pray before we read God`s word.

It will be good to hear your experiences on this subject and also hear your practice so that we can encourage each other as we walk and share together, as a Band of Brothers, how God has spoken to us.

Every Blessing

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