“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones (His Children, us, You) should perish.”
(Matthew 18:12-14)
As Jesus taught us this urgent message, surely He also meant that it is God’s will that not even one of His Children be ignorant of the Gospel of Jesus, as He made clear in many of His teachings.
I was blessed this week to teach a wonderful Bible study group in Orlando, and I shared with them the story that you are about to read. Some of you have heard it before.
Early in our ministry, I was asked to speak at a church an hour and a half away from home. It was a very nice church, whose members, unfortunately, were steeped in the inverse Gospel. Meaning, that they had been immersed in the works religion, which teaches that your relationship, salvation, and blessings are based on what you do, not what Jesus did.
As I poured out the Gospel of Grace, not Works, they were not buying. It was like I was speaking to a brick wall. I could hear the crickets.
However, there was one young man in the very back pew who I noticed was taking notes furiously on a legal pad.
After I closed, there were, of course, the perfunctory “Good sermon, Pastor,” from folks who didn’t agree with, let alone remember it. Then the young man in the back came up with his legal pad. “Pastor, he said, I hope you have some time because I have some questions.”
An hour later, his questions having been answered, we said goodbye.
In the car on the way home, I had what I am sure none of you have had, a pity party. I asked Jesus why He sent me to a church full of stone-cold crickets.
Jesus replied, ‘Excuse me, but did I call you?’ My shaky, very timid reply was, ‘Yes, Sir!’ Jesus replied, ‘Then would you mind if I choose where we go?’ Again with the shaky, timid reply, ‘No, Sir!’
Then Jesus asked me this question, which I will never forget, ‘How could you know if that young man with all the notes and questions is not the person that I created you for?
My timid, shaky reply was even more timid, ‘I couldn’t!’
Jesus replied,’ That is exactly right! So, never, ever judge the quality of your ministry by the quantity of it!’
Thanks to your overwhelming, faithful, and generous giving, through our work on social media, and the genius of our social media marketing director, Bianca Farish, since God brought me back to life, we have taken the uncompromised Gospel of the Love and Truth of Jesus to hundreds of millions of people, here and all around the world. When Bianca reports these numbers to me, I shake my head and thank Jesus for sending us.
Frankly, it is overwhelming, but, as huge as those numbers are, to this day, I still seek the one. I am always conscious of and looking for that ONE that God created me for. So, I try to share the love of Jesus with everyone I come in contact with, friend and foe alike.
God has called each of us to deliver His message. That is why He made us a part of this team. So, as you see a stranger, maybe in the grocery store, and think, I am going to tell that person how loved by Jesus that they are, don’t hesitate for one second. Remember His teaching to me, that person could be the one.
I believe that in today’s uproarious world, starving for love and Hope, The One is even more important to our King.
THAT IS IT, FOLKS, END OF TEACHING!
You are our Golden Givers. Your overwhelming generosity has made our work possible for more than twenty-five years now. In that time, thanks to you, we have delivered the love, Hope, and joy of the Gospel of Jesus to many millions of folks all over the world, who now more than ever need to know it!
WE CHERISH AND ARE ETERNALLY THANKFUL TO YOU!
One of our tools for reaching the world, starving for the Love of Jesus, is Podcasting. With your help, we have produced sixty Holy Spirit-inspired podcast messages. By clicking the link below, you will be directed to our Menu from which you may select the teaching of your choosing.
Our most recent postings are a fantastic series of teachings on how to study the Bible, beginning with the Book of John.
https://open.spotify.com/show/
You can help us grow our footprint and expand our reach by liking, sharing, commenting on, and subscribing to them.
Love, Thanks, and Blessings,
Pastor Allen
Throne of Grace
2590 Sandy Court
Marietta, Georgia 30066
