Click Here To Visit Our Main Web Site

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Africa Report - Teaching


Pourd Out For Africa

Philippians 2:7 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

Pastor Don Schwarz
Luke 10:3:1 After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. 3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

One of the things I do in my work in Africa is equip the saints for the work of sharing the gospel. Today, so many professing to follow Jesus think this is an optional work. For example, about 98% of professing born again Christians in America have decided this is not something they want to do nor will they do. They still claim to be followers of Jesus, but Jesus tells His followers that He sends them out with the gospel. The harvest was great then and so it is today. There were few laborers then and there are few laborers today. So, when our Lord Jesus tells His followers to pray for Him to send laborers out into the field here is an important point to consider. Some might think that though they avoid going out into the field, they can pray to the Lord that He send others out. He doesn't ask those who refuse to go out to pray for laborers, no it is those who are obediently going out who are to ask the Lord to send others to help them. Those who refuse to go out with the gospel are in disobedience and do not have the authority in Christ to pray for others to go with the gospel. So here is a question: Is it appropriate for you to pray to our Savior for laborers? Though I would be very thankful if you came with us to Africa, you don't have to go to Africa to "go out". When you leave your home or church you are entering the mission field. So many are afraid to be out in the field as sheep amongst wolves. How can I say such a thing, and if it is true why wouldn't it be ok to be afraid of being sheep amongst wolves? First, statistics show that the overwhelming number of those who do not share their faith in Jesus avoid this glorious calling because of fear. Secondly, as sheep we need to be close to the Shepherd. Where is the Shepherd? He is out in the field of harvest waiting for His people to trust and obey Him and to walk in faith which is the opposite of fear. Sadly, while the Savior is coming many are perishing and most believers refuse to labor in the field. It is my prayer to our Savior, as a laborer, that you become the laborer our Shepherd called you to be! In an hour of fear and uncertainty this will give you a very wide place to stand with confidence in your Redeemer and your purpose for living at this time in history! For the rest of this article go to our blog as I finish explaining what Jesus told His followers. Mark 1:16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Our Lord tells His followers something very simple and important to understand. He found regular men doing a regular job and told them those days are over and new days have come! They will no longer be regular and normal because now they will follow Him which will be distinguished by the fact that He will make them fishers of men. The plain truth is that the disciples of Jesus are fishers of men. Yes, this is an analogy given to fishermen by trade. Yet regardless whether they are called fishers of men or men out with the gospel the meaning is the same---people who follow Jesus are fishers of men. Are you a fisher of men? If the answer is not then you are not a follower of Jesus. Thankfully, He offers forgiveness and repentance of sin, so that today you can be cleansed by our Savior and follow Him. One way you will know if you are is that you will have the desire to tell others about the Savior!

Praise and glory to our soon coming King Jesus!
I have given a link to an updated article of the investigation into the recent brutal rapes in the area we serve the Lord and the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Lord willing we will be going there in October.
http://modernwriters.org/news/africa/4795-hutu-rebels-deny-dr-congo-rapes.html

For more information about Pastor Don Schwarz or the ministry Poured Out For Africa please see our website. http://www.pouredoutforafrica.com/ Also, check out the on site videos and pictures from many countries in Africa. You can also contact Don and sign up for the monthly Poured Out For Africa newsletter.