DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT - FRIDAY: “IF IT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR JESUS… IT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR US!”

"There are a lot of Christians who are halfway fellows. They stand in the door, holding on to the Church with one hand while they play with the toys of the world with the other. They are in the doorway and we can't bring sinners in. And, until we get some of God's people right, we cannot hope to get sinners regenerated. Now they always accuse me of carrying around a sledge hammer with which to pound the church members. Yes sir, I do pound them, every time I come down, I knock one of the halfway fellows out of the doorway, and every time I knock one out I get a sinner in." - Mordecai Ham.
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And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. - Mat 4:23.

Many Christian leaders are so caught up with themselves with what they know, and how well they can exegete a passage of Scripture, or preach a sermon that will hold thousands of people spellbound, or build the biggest congregation at the expense of the small Churches, or write a book that will sit on top of the bestseller list, but not enough go around like the Master, proclaiming the gospel!

Is it any wonder that so many Christians are leaving the Churches? They have no one to emulate! In times past the man or woman who was in the pulpit, emulated Christ. They put into practice the things that were preached by the Pastors, who in turn, preached what Christ taught! Even the Apostle Paul got it right when he said… For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, - 2 Thess 3:7.

This is the first of the three tours of Galilee made by Jesus. He took with Him the four fishermen whom he had just called to personal service, Peter, Andrew, James and John. The second time the twelve disciples accompanied Him. On the third occasion He sent the twelve on ahead by twos and followed after them. He was teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom in the synagogues chiefly and on the roads and in the streets where Gentiles could hear.

A.B. Simpson is reported to have said that the gospel "Tells rebellious men that God is reconciled, that justice is satisfied, that sin has been atoned for, that the judgment of the guilty may be revoked, the condemnation of the sinner cancelled, the curse of the Law blotted out, the gates of hell closed, the portals of heaven opened wide, the power of sin subdued, the guilty conscience healed, the broken heart comforted, the sorrow and misery of the Fall undone." - M. Cocoris, Evangelism, A Biblical Approach, Moody, 1984, p. 29.

On so many occasions at worship time, we sing the song… “I wanna be like Jesus” or other worship songs that tell of our love for Him, etc; But that’s all we do is sing about being like Him, but I think that Jesus would want us to do the same thing as He did, get out and proclaim the gospel in the roads and the streets... And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. - Luke 14:23.

Matthew said that Jesus went around Galilee “…healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” None was too bad or none too hard, for Christ to heal with a word. The same goes for us, we have to believe what Jesus has told us and put it into practice…

And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." - Mark 16:17-18.

The strongest argument for the Gospel of Christ is the personal testimony of someone whose life has been changed by it. Charles Bradlaugh, an avowed infidel, once challenged the Rev. H.P. Hughes to a debate. The preacher, who was head of a rescue mission in London, England, accepted the challenge with the condition that he could bring with him 100 men and women who would tell what had happened in their lives since trusting Christ as their Savior. They would be people who once lived in deep sin, some having come from poverty-stricken homes caused by the vices of their parents.

Hughes said they would not only tell of their conversion, but would submit to cross-examination by any who doubted their stories. Furthermore, the minister invited his opponent to bring a group of non-believers who could tell how they were helped by their lack of faith. When the appointed day arrived, the preacher came, accompanied by 100 transformed persons. But Bradlaugh never showed up. The result? The meeting turned into a testimony time and many sinners who had gathered to hear the scheduled debate were converted.- Source Unknown.

So friends, "If it’s good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for us!" Let’s get to it! Let’s emulate the Master, let’s proclaim the gospel and let’s heal the sick!

Loving Father, I thank you for the example that Jesus sets me! Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to put into practice what He did. help me to proclaim the gospel and to heal the sick! In Jesus wonderful name and for His glory! Amen!