F11 No One Else
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F11 No One Else
This lesson was inspired by our co-worker Marcela Zedníčková.
In the Czech Republic, roughly 0.3 % are evangelical believers (optimists say 0.5%). That seems desperately low. But let’s take it the other way around. If there is 0.3% (or 0.5%) of the evangelical population here, in a country of ten million it means 30,000 (or maybe even 50,000) people who know Jesus personally! The percentage is tiny, but if these people are inspired and equipped, it will be wonderful force of disciples of Jesus! How can I put it more strongly? Only and only people who know Jesus personally can bring the message of Him to others in our country! No one else!
1. God’s promise
The prophet Habakkuk writes, „The earth shall be filled with knowledge of glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.“ (Habakkuk 2:14) This vision of God is confirmed by a number of other texts. „God reigns over all nations… The leaders of the nations are gathered to the God of Abraham – they are his people!“ (Psalm 47:9-10) The Lord also reigns over the Czech nation! And we wish that the Czech lands and Slovakia would be filled with the knowledge of His glory…!
2. God already did it in the first century
Something similar had already happened in a large area in the time of the first church: „Paul took the disciples away with him, and had discussions daily in the school of Tyrannus. This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.“ (Acts 19:9-10)
Later, the Apostle Paul writes that happened „in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and all around as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.“ (Romans 15:19) Paul’s summary is shocking to me: „but now, there is no place left for me in these regions!“ (Romans 15:23)
3. God has already done it in the Czech Republic
There are certainly times in the history of the Czech nation that could be an encouragement to us. Historians calculate that before 1620, 80-85% of the Czech lands were non-Catholic and many knew Jesus personally. Unfortunately, after the „Battle on the White Mountain“, many had to hide or flee abroad; from them later came the Moravian Brethren, who laid the foundations for world mission – they carried Jesus to other continents so that His name would become known there.
4. God does it even in our times
In the 1960s, Mao Tse-Tung began „Cultural Revolution“ in China. He expelled foreign missionaries, and imprisoned or eliminated local Christian leaders. Vast majority of evangelical activities went underground. There were roughly two million Christians in China at the time. In the 1980s saw partial relaxation came, and despite 25 years of very severe persecution, there were about 60 million Christians in China! Similarly intense numerical growth is happening in Southeast Asia in recent decades, and is taking off also in the United States and other parts of the so-called Western world.
5. God wants a movement here, now, through me.
I am sure that God wants to start His movement even here, now, through me. Even through you!
Experts carefully study spiritual movements in history and in the present in various places around the world. Movements are said to begin when four streams of multiplying families of God (small churches) begin to function in a particular area, and there are at least four generations of these informal groups in each stream. The essence primarily are rapidly emerging generations of ordinary disciples and generations of new simple communities around the Word of God and around living Jesus…
I think about the map of the Czech Republic, I pray, and I am sure that a similar movement may soon arise here! Think with me! What if there were four streams of small active families of God in each of our fourteen counties! It would take 56 teams (14×4=56) going out there to unbelieving people. The movement is said to start once there are four healthy reproducing generations in each stream.
I’m reviewing the Discovery groups that have sprung up in my area over the last few years, and it seems real to me! 0.3% of evangelicals in the country seems small, but 30,000 people who know Jesus is enough to make it happen! Only those who know Jesus personally can bring Him to others in our country. Are you already part of this movement? Will you help spread it to more and more people? Your own ministry to unbelieving people is an essential step. And if you practice Bridges to People with your believing friends and use the suggestions here, it will be another contribution…
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for doing even greater things than I have seen and experienced so far…