It doesn’t matter, really, how great the pressure is; it only matters where the pressure lies. See that it never comes between you and the Lord – then, the greater the pressure, the more it presses you to His breast. (J. Hudson Taylor, from Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secrets)

In this lesson the question is asked, what stands between a called and equipped church and the evangelization of the world? Or, if the church has it all and can do it all why has the gospel not been preached to all the nations?

First, does the modern church know its position in Christ and potential in Christ? John 15 is the central chapter on teaching on abiding in the Vine. Believers who abide have the very life of Christ flowing into them; the potential of Christ becomes their own personal potential. The culmination of this passage is verse 16:

You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.

Abiding qualifies the believer for fruit bearing; it positions a person to fulfill his/her appointment or destiny. With observable fruit production seemingly low the conclusion could easily be made, no fruit is the direct result of no abiding. How well are you abiding? Are you bearing fruit? How about those with whom you are in fellowship, do they live the abiding lifestyle?

If believers are not abiding in the Vine, what are they abiding in: The most worn out excuse for not living up to our obligation is, “I’m busy.” That expression, as truthful as it may be, is an indictment that the believer is abiding in the world not in the Vine. Whatever comes into a Christian’s life and replaces the priority and centrality of Christ is idolatry. Those are strong words. For many believers Christian duty is what has replaced Jesus. For others their career, their family or their preoccupation with recreation, sports, or their “own” free time. Since we are bought with a price our life is no longer our own. Our sense of freedom is at the expense of the multitudes without Christ.

Abiding is recognizing “It is no longer I who live but Christ” (Gal. 2:20). It is a person under the Lordship of Christ. This person realizes, “Without Him I can do nothing,” and yet “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

The believer who is abiding in the world has not come to know personally the joy of surrendering to Jesus or the peace that accompanies the decision to live with long-term priorities. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). When a Christian lays down his/her life to Jesus that is the ultimate expression of love.

Another question must be asked, “If Jesus is not willing for people to be lost, why then are His people so willing? First a few Scriptures:

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (II Pet. 3:9) Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (I Tim. 2:4). Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

Jesus died for all and stands desiring for all to be saved. If it is God’s will for all to be saved there must be a divine strategy for each generation to fulfill that will of God. The gap between those being saved and those who could be saved is enormous. Each lost person will miss heaven based upon his/her own decisions. But each believer carries a responsibility to the Lord for the lost. The reality of that responsibility may or may not motivate a person to action.

How can a Christian, who obviously loves God, be casual or calloused about the fulfillment of the Great Commission? How can any Christian use their time, talent, and treasures as it pleases them with wanton disregard to those outside the Body of Christ? Are we convinced of the possibility of eternity in hell?

But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him (I John 3:17).

Logic would say, if I say I love God and if I have the potential to help and I do not then I am a liar and the truth I do not have abiding in me. If such conviction ran throughout the Body would there be any change? What will it take for Christians to rise up and spend their lives on the building of the Kingdom of God?

This update was posted on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pm and is filed under The Mission Field.