Unreached People Groups

 

In this modern world, it seems impossible that there are still people who have never heard the gospel of Christ (Acts 4:12). They have had little to no opportunity for outreach and evangelism (Revelation 15:4).

An unreached people group is one that has less than 2% of Believers in their country and has no church planting capabilities or Bibles in a language, which they can understand.

Jesus told His disciples to go out into all the world and to preach the gospel to every nation (Matthew 24:14, 28:18-20). Christians in every succeeding century have followed suit.

Of course, America and England sent out the most missionaries so far. However, in today's spiritual climate, other countries are now sending missionaries to England and America, due to our lack of faithful, committed Believers. Churches are continually closing here.

We are afraid to speak to our friends, relatives, associates and neighbors about the difference that Christ makes in our life, and how God's unconditional love provides us with so many benefits both now and in eternity (Romans 15:21; Psalm 67:1-3).

The Apostle Paul is a great example to us, since he took several missionary journeys covering large land areas and started over 50 churches to carry on the ministry of spreading God's Word to the masses (Romans 1:5).

God calls all Believers, even today, to reach as many people in our area of influence and to plant as many churches as there is a need, in order to take as many people to Heaven with us as we possibly can (Revelation 5:9, 7:9-10; Mark 13:10; Acts 13:45-47).

Prayer:

Father God, as we go about our day, remind us to preach, saying that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and then to heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead and cleanse the lepers (Luke 24:45-47; Matthew 10:8).

Help us to be strong and courageous, because wherever we go, You are there with us and in us (Joshua 1:9). Move by Your Holy Spirit in the lives of people we know and those unreached people groups all over the world, so that the soil of their lives will be ready to receive the seeds of the gospel, which we commit to spread as sowers of Your Word (Matthew 13:18-23).

Thought for the Day:

All the ends of the earth shall remember what Jesus did and turn to Him, and all the families of the nations of the world shall worship before Him.

- Psalm 2:8, 22:27, 67:5-7, 98:2-3

Growing Weary

If we live an honorable life, God will use it to silence the foolish accusations, which ignorant people make against us (1 Peter 2:15-16). We know the truth that will set them free, but they do not want to hear it. They label us as intolerant for insisting that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Do you ever get weary of witnessing to people who will not listen? I recently grew weary and prayed about what to do.

The Lord reminded me that when we plant a seed in a garden, it takes a great deal of work and care before we reap the fruit. We rope off an area, remove the weeds and till the soil into rows. We fertilize the soil and then plant the seeds. It takes weeks for the plants to sprout and then a few months before the plants produce any fruit. We continue to water, pull weeds and keep the plants safe from obstacles to their growth. Yet, only God can give the increase.

The Lord pointed out to me that witnessing takes the same care and labor of love as gardening. A one time or another, we are tilling the ground, or planting a seed, or watering; however, only God gives the spiritual increase too, and only a few can actually harvest (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). This gave me the faith to continue sharing Christ with everyone around me. If we do not give up, we will eventually reap a plentiful harvest in God’s timing (Galatians 6:9). God resists the proud, but has mercy and gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).

God calls everyone to take part in His gardening process. If we liberally sow God’s truth in the lives of our friends, relatives, associates and neighbors, we will reap a hearty harvest; however if we sow stingily, we will reap sparingly (2 Corinthians 9:6). We are not obligated to share God Truth with anyone; but as a good steward, we cannot help but invest in God’s Kingdom, which brings us His rewards (Matthew 25:14-30).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us not to become weary of working in Your Kingdom, because You promise that we will reap a harvest if we keep on sowing (Galatians 6:7). Help us to follow Your gardening laws. Give us the wisdom and strength to continue with patience as we ready the ground, fertilize and water, plant the seeds, and then wait for You to give us the harvest. We know that You do not desire that anyone should die in their sin, but that everyone should come to know You in an intimate, personal relationship (2 Peter 3:9).

Thought for the Day:

God gives us His grace to allow Jesus to accomplish His work in and through us (2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 2:10).

 

 

 

Answering The Call

 

Read: Matthew 13:19-23

 

“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one.” - Matthew 13:38

 

In His parable of the sower and the seed, Jesus pointed out four types of soil that receive the seed. He likens the sower to one who shares the gospel story and the soil as the types of people who hear the gospel.

 

1. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and gives no regard to it and does not take it seriously, then Satan comes like a bird and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the one who received seed along the wide pathway that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13).

 

2. The second person received the seed on a stony heart. These people hear the Word and immediately receive it with joy; yet they do not put down roots, because the soil of their heart is too shallow. Their enthusiasm only lasts for a short while. When tribulation or persecution arises because of their newborn faith, they immediately stumble and fall away.

 

3. The third type of person receives the seed of the gospel among the thorns. They hear the Word, but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and they fall away and become unfruitful.

 

4. The final type of person receives the seed on good, fertile soil. They hear the Word of God, believe it and obey it. They immediately start to bear fruit: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty fold. This is the doer of the Word. They delight in the life-giving Words of the gospel. They continue producing fruit in greater and greater quantities as they mature in the Lord throughout their lives.

 

I thank God for tilling my soil until I came to the place where I could hear and receive the call of God on my life. I want to be a doer of the Word and not merely a hearer who deceives him/herself into thinking they are born again. If anyone goes to one Bible study after another Bible study, but does not practice what they hear, they are like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and immediately forgets what he looks like. They do not retain the important features of the Word. God calls us to practice, as well as receive the Word.

 

People who represent the unfertile types of soil are shallow, they walk the wide path of destruction and they follow the ways of the world. They all stumble in their sins and end up in darkness for eternity (Hosea 14:9). There would be no necessity for the law, if there were no sin and no need for punishment for it (1 John 3:4). However, if there is no sin and no hell, then Jesus died in vain to save us from it? So, why did He take the penalty of our sins upon Himself? In spite of adamant denials from sinners, hell is a very real place. He died to save us from it.

 

God’s ultimate desire is that the good lives of the people who represent the fourth, fertile type of soil will silence those who foolishly condemn the Gospel without realizing what it can do for them. These scoffers never experienced its power like we have. Therefore, as we live as those who are free to do only God's will at all times, our light shines. Then, those caught in the darkness of this world will see our good works and will realize their need to glorify our Father in heaven (1 Peter 2:15-16). The fruit of God’s Spirit, which thrives in the soil of our fertile lives, will then blossom in their hearts as well (Galatians 5:22-23).

 

Prayer:

Father God, till our soil until we are fertile and broken enough to receive the seed of Your Word. Nurture us as our Vinedresser and prune us until we are bending with the weight of the fruit hanging from our branches (John 15:1-2). Help us to prove, by the way in which we live and bear fruit, that we have repented of our sins and turned only to You for our salvation. Let the fruit of Your light within us consist of all goodness, righteousness and truth (Matthew 3:8; Ephesians 5:9).

 

Thought for the Day:

Give God absolute control over every facet of your life and trust in His unfailing love and unchanging character (Psalm 119:41; Hebrews 13:8).

 

Fertile Soil

Read: Mark 4: 14-20

In the parable in Mark 4:14-20 the farmer sows the seed of the Word of God. The seeds fall on four types of soil: upon the path, among the thorns, within the rocks and then on the good soil. The main emphasis of this parable is that the seed needs a place to send down its roots. If the ground is hard, thorny or rocky, there is no room for the roots. Only in the garden of prepared soil can the plant take hold and grow to full maturity.

Unless people avail themselves of the spiritual food provided in every Bible teaching, evangelical church they will wither up and die like the first three seeds in this parable. This is why these churches also offer Wednesday and Sunday night Bible studies, as well as extra classes for men, women, children and youth on Sunday mornings and during the week. The only way to withstand the winds of adversity or the scorching trials and temptations we encounter in this life is to have our roots sunk deeply into spiritually fertile earth.

Jesus said that we know His disciples by their fruit. If people are to produce fruit, they need good, rich, tilled, fertilized soil. Many churches are barren wastelands with nothing nutritious to offer the Believer. They focus on providing glitz and glitter to attract people, and then they supply only spiritual junk food, rather than wholesome provisions.

Once we receive God’s Word with conviction and repentance, we are ready to receive the proper nourishment. God raises up an army of teachers with every generation - those who faithfully sow the seeds of the truth of God’s Word. Find a Bible teaching, evangelical church, prepare your soil and start blooming.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, cause a hunger to blossom in our soul to search for and to find a disciple-making church. Provide us with teachers who share Your Word after seeking You in prayer. Lead us to a caring and loving fellowship of Believers. Even in these end times, please keep a remnant of these spiritual places where we can go and feast upon Biblical principles and in turn bear much fruit.

Thought for the Day:
A true relationship with the Living and Holy God is not a one-time event or a single prayer. It is a lifetime commitment.