DEVOTION OF THE MONTH – JANUARY 2013

A LETTER OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM A PASTOR IN AFRICA WHO HAS RECEIVED MANY OF THE OCF BIBLES

2013 is here! This will be a year of many new challenges, as well as opportunities. Are we ready to take them and to use them for the extension of Jesus Christ’s Kingdom here on earth? Christians are saved, born-again believers in Jesus Christ who have been given a mandate, a purpose, and that is to take the Gospel to the nations. It can start with sharing with your neighbors. This year should be more fruitful and effective than our previous years. But that will mean making decisions and changes to enable us to make a greater impact. Jesus Christ has need of YOU!

The world is quickly self-destructing, and with it there is a growing anti-Christ spirit at work in many places. That means that Christians are more and more being influenced to compromise, to keep our mouths shut, don’t be so narrow-minded, there’s more ways to God than one, a God of love does not send people to hell, etc. The world does not know that their only hope of salvation is through hearing the Gospel, putting faith in the word of God and receiving Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, Friend and Master. The message Christians have been commissioned to carry to every nation is the only hope for a lost world. Where people will spend eternity is determined on where they stand with Jesus. That in itself should be sufficient motivation for every Christian to want to be a witness for Jesus right now!

Let us be encouraging one another to be more involved in getting the Gospel out to the peoples. Our experience is that if we put Christian literature and materials into the hands of the peoples (even in their own languages) the Holy Spirit takes it and uses it to speak to their hearts. We are receiving scores of testimonies as to the power of the Gospel message from your materials that us leaves us amazed at the desire of the Lord to touch people with His truth and love. The Apostle Paul said: “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes . . .” (Romans 1:16). The power of the Gospel is available to everyone who believes! “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” (see Romans 10:8-17). Let people answer God’s call on their life today. Do not delay any longer.
Remember us this year as well!!
~ Pst Timothy O.
Christian Bible Church
GPO Box 3016
Benin city
Edo State
Nigeria