Where is Jesus?
In 1994 South Africans elected a new Government, Nelson Mandela became the President, The evil of apartheid ended and everything seemed to be new, positive and optimistic.
Twenty five years later and nothing could be further from the truth. It is very difficult to find anything to be optimistic about.
The reality is that the Government does not represent the people of the Country. The wholesale looting of the State coffers has left the Nation groaning in poverty, corruption, filth, apathy, hate and lawlessness. The guilty parties are known but have not been brought to justice. South Africa is in so much trouble that it’s difficult to know where to start.
But we must start.
Our primary problem is that we have lost the Fear of the Lord. Our State is a lawless mess with leaders who don’t realize that they are going to face judgement. God will not be mocked and He will judge evil men who steal from the poor. Our leaders have suppressed the Law to such a degree that consciences have become numb.
Where is Jesus in South Africa?
When Jesus gave us that Great Commission, He said “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost”
When Jesus saves us, when we are converted, when we are transformed, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, Christ comes to dwell within us. Paul reminded us :-
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20 NIV
As believers, Christ lives within us! When Jesus gave us that Great Commission, He said that we must go and do something, not sit around waiting for others to do something. Jesus is within us and we have been given all power and authority to fulfill our Commission. It is time to realize that we are not waiting for Jesus to do something. Jesus is waiting for us to do something.
Dear Christians, what are we doing?
Every week we fill the pews and type our messages on social media, but when do we GO? Where are we spreading the Good News?
Our primary duty as followers of Christ is to GO, to all nations, and this includes our broken Nation, our disillusioned Nation, and to baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and The Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything that Jesus commanded. Are you busy with that or are you caught up in Church meetings?
The reality, the truth, is that no man-made system or device will lead our Country out of darkness and into the light. There is no Political Party, no Trade Union, no Corporate entity and no Sports Team that can save us from destruction. There is only one Way, one Truth and one Life and that is Jesus Christ.
Being born-again means transformation from the inside out, it brings a new heart and new desires, new standards and new vision. We are the heart of this country and as we are reborn, as we are transformed, a small part of the Nation is healed. As more are transformed so will the Nation be transformed. There is no other way, there is only Jesus!
If you want to change this Country you need to be transformed and then lead others to Christ. It is as simple as that. Before I was born-again I had no interest in poor people, in prisoners, in taxi-drivers, in other cultures. And only Jesus could change that. When I came before him with Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10) that led to repentance, and I put my trust in Jesus Christ, He did exactly that. He broke my heart and put a fire in me to share His Word. I saw people as I had never seen them before.
This is not a strange concept for anyone who has come to Christ and been born again and I am certain that, if you are a believer, you will have your own Damascus-Road story. I am also sure that you understand exactly what I mean because this is what God does when we Repent and Believe. Filled with the Holy Spirit you are unstoppable and should find every opportunity to spread the Good News, to bring another sinner to the Saviour and to Persuade Men. One by one, ten by ten, one hundred by one hundred we must bring men to the mirror of God’s Law that the Law may teach them and bring them to Christ (Galatians 3:24).
Jesus commanded us to be Fishers of Men, you must GO and fish, you must GO to the lake, the river or the sea of unbelievers. They will not swim to you, you must GO and you must find them and you must persuade them.
Every Christian is an evangelist. I am convinced of this and will spend as much time as possible teaching people how to persuade men – to use what God has planted inside of them. To equip them to speak His name and spread His Good News, that as many as possible may be spared from the coming Judgement.
Where is Jesus in South Africa?
He is in you and with you, by the Holy Spirit you have all you need to Go. You need to urgently share this fact with as many as you can.
GO.
“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
2 Corinthians 5:11 KJV
JOHN ISRAEL MINISTRIES 