LET…. MY…. PEOPLE…. GO !!

Chapter nineteen

More money matters….

Your people live far below their potential. It simply is not true that, as a church signboard declared, “We can do more together”. An individual who submits to the “Spirit of truth” will accomplish much more than if he didn’t.

It’s impossible to submit to both the Holy Spirit and religion. One cannot follow two. That’s why he needs to be set free from you and the religion you endorse. He must learn to determine for himself how and where to direct his money. So. on behalf of all the multitudes of people you influence, I ask that you hear me….

Today the gospel message of Jesus Christ is going forth, via Facebook, from my residence in Kelowna, BC, Canada to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Malaysia. Some things just need repeating: Today the gospel message is going forth from my computer in the Bengali language to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Malaysia! By the end of the day I will have reached 13,000 people. That’s more than 300,000 per month. No, certainly not all will have read my gospel message, but there are positive indicators that many have.

The cost to me is less than $9 per day. That’s less than $300 per month. Many of your people invest more than $300 monthly into your church. I am not suggesting that the Holy Spirit will lead every christian submitted to His governance in the same way He has guided me. But He will, in time, lead everyone to be a soul winner. (Jesus: “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”) I submit to you – all evangelical salaried leaders – my gospel message (that many people are reading in their own language at this very moment)….

W H E R E  W I L L  Y O U  L I V E ?

This message is directed to those who do not know where they will live after they die. Perhaps you will respond, “I won’t live anywhere after I die! How can I? I will be dead!” But the Bible teaches you will never die. Never, never, never. Your body will die but you will live…. somewhere.

When you were conceived in your mother’s womb you were destined to live forever. Your birth date is not the day you came out of the womb; your birth date is the day you were conceived. Your real birthday is actually about nine months prior to the date on your birth certificate.

Again, your life began at conception and, again, you were destined to live forever. Those who died in their mother’s womb because of miscarriage or abortion are quite alive today yes, as alive as you are.

Every person killed by accident, disease, murder or suicide is a living person. Every soldier killed in action in each and every one of history’s wars resides somewhere.

You have never seen yourself. The mirror only shows the earth-suit that contains you. The invisible you lives inside that earth-suit, a body designed by God enabling you to survive and thrive on this planet. The Bible teaches us that God created you through Jesus Christ, His Son.

The Bible says, “All things were made through Him [Jesus], and without Him nothing was made that was made.” Jesus made everything and everybody. Jesus made you. You are Christ’s creation.

Can you comprehend that, according to the Bible, you were designed by God and created by His son Jesus to live on planet earth for a short time? And can you comprehend that when life on earth comes to an end you will live somewhere else? The most important question you can ask yourself is “WHERE will I live?” If you bear with me for just a little while you will fully understand that you can determine WHERE you will live your eternity.

The Bible teaches us there are two locations where every person will live forever and ever and ever. Yes, two locations. Not three or four or five or ten. Two. The Bible teaches you will spend the remainder of your eternity in one of these two locations. These two locations are opposite to each other in every way. Will you give this matter serious consideration? (Jesus: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”)

The Bible teaches that you are both loved and hated. You have a Friend and you have an enemy. Yes, you are thoroughly loved and yes, you are thoroughly hated. “Hated? me?” Yes you. The devil (a fallen archangel who rebelled against God) hates Jesus and everyone Jesus loves. Jesus said, “The thief [satan, the devil] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” The devil’s hatred for humanity is evidenced for all having eyes and ears. He loves perversion and hates righteousness. He loves destruction and hates harmony. He loves sorrow and hates laughter. You must fully realize that satan has a vast army of underlings – fallen, creepy angels – some of who have been assigned to destroy you and your loved ones. The Bible says we “wrestle against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness.” If that doesn’t scare you it should. Keep all this in mind as I reveal the two mentioned locations…..

There is a HEAVEN to gain and there is a HELL to shun. Heaven is where Jesus lives. Heaven is where His Father lives. Heaven is where the angels live. Heaven is where millions, perhaps billions, of people (saints) live. If you reach heaven you will never want to leave. You will never be sick, bored, disappointed, fearful, threatened, intimidated, assaulted or weary. You will be very, very, very happy.

All those who do not attain heaven will go to hell. If heaven is not your eternal home hell will be. (Love tells the truth.) The Bible calls hell the “lake of fire” and “the second death”. The instant you arrive you will be overwhelmed with remorse. deep, painful, everlasting remorse. You will never be hopeful, peaceful, relaxed, appreciated, befriended, healthy, painless or rested. You will be very, very, very UN-happy.

Hopefully you are now convinced that, according to the Bible,… You will live eternally.

You will reside in one of two locations. You are both loved and hated.

The location where you will live, heaven or hell, is up to you. You decide. Both Lord Jesus and satan can and do influence you, but only you decide who to follow, who to heed, who to obey.

Now let’s talk about Jesus….

The Bible tells us that Jesus entered humanity through the body and the obedience of a virgin. Jesus, “the only begotten Son of God”, became a man because only the death of a man, a sinless man, could be just and adequate payment for man’s sins. Only such a sacrifice could satisfy God’s righteousness which decrees that sin must be nullified by the death of a sinless man. Jesus, who “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin”, became that sacrificial offering. Jesus explained it this way….

“God so loved [the people of] the world that He gave His only begotten Son [Himself], that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” That is the gospel, the good news (news that is very, very, very good). It is important to know that Jesus died for you PERSONALLY. The apostle Paul wrote, “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved ME and gave Himself for ME.” Like Paul you can declare, “the Son of God. loved ME and gave Himself for ME.” Jesus continued to say….

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (Jesus came to rescue you, not to condemn you.) “He who believes in Him is not condemned.” (You will not be condemned to hell if you entrust yourself to Jesus.) “But he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (If you refuse to believe in, trust in, rely on Jesus you will be condemned.) “And this is the condemnation” (judgement is based on this fact), “the light [Jesus] has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (If your love for sin is greater than your love for truth and goodness you will reject the light [Jesus] and suffer the consequences.)

Now let’s talk about the Holy Spirit….

Jesus called Him “the Spirit of truth”. His importance cannot be overstated: men were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the Bible. the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead that resurrection morning…. nobody comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ without His intervention.

Before returning to His Father in heaven, Jesus said of His replacement, the Holy Spirit, “When He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness.” These words reveal that the Holy Spirit was and is convicting you of your trespasses against a holy God. He is constantly nudging you to Christ and Christ’s great salvation. So far you have stubbornly resisted that prodding. (Love tells the truth.)

So let’s recapitulate what the Bible teaches…. You will live eternally.

You will reside in one of two locations.

You are both loved and hated.

There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.

Both the Holy Spirit and the devil are influencing you. You alone decide your eternal location.

Sadly, most people will choose hell by not choosing heaven. Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me.” Refusing Christ is refusing heaven; refusing heaven is choosing hell. Again, most people have chosen, choose and will continue to choose hell.

Both Jesus (through the Holy Spirit) and the devil (through his vast army of deviants) contend for every person’s eternity. The devil wins many; Jesus wins comparatively few. Does this surprise you? Why, you may ask, does the devil win so many? The answer is simple: the devil fights dirty and Jesus doesn’t. Your enemy lies, cheats, coerces, confuses, manipulates, threatens and entices.

The Bible teaches that you are now travelling on one of two roads, one leading to happiness and the other leading to remorse. Because you have refused the beseeching (wooing, beckoning) of the Holy Spirit, you are at this very moment on the road to hell. Should you die suddenly you will go straight to that awful place Jesus warned us about.

The Bible teaches the Holy Spirit “bears witness” to truth. (“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit.”) While the lies of the devil – passed on to you through the media, books and magazines, acquaintances and teachers – have power, truth has more power. The Holy Spirit, right now, “bears witness” that the words you are reading are true words, Bible words. But nonetheless….

Nonetheless most reading these Bible words will not embrace them. Tomorrow perhaps. Of course, ‘tomorrow perhaps’ probably means never. (Love tells the truth.) Why would one embrace Jesus Christ tomorrow if he/she rejected Him in the past and rejects Him today? And who can guarantee a tomorrow?

And now let’s talk about you….

Will you be your best friend or worst enemy? Will you enrich yourself immeasurably or harm yourself immeasurably? Jesus Christ extends to you an invitation to a life superior (very, very, very superior) to the one you are now living; will your response be YES, JESUS or NO, JESUS? (He considers a non-reply a refusal.) Remember, neither Jesus nor the devil designate your eternal home; you do.

Should you be one of the few reading these Bible words who will make a decision for Christ as your Lord and Saviour (and Teacher and Shepherd and King) I strongly suggest you make my website – www.larryjones.ca – a component (factor, inclusion) of your new life in Christ. Because….

Because I have had fifty plus years to learn from my mistakes. And because unlike almost every christian preacher/teacher I am not attached to a religion. (I am not a religionist.) And because I have not been indoctrinated by a seminary or Bible college. And because Jesus Christ is my “first love”. (I love Jesus more than money, religion, family, ministry and fellow christians.) And because I strongly endeavour to be led by “the Spirit of truth” in all of my writings (including this posting). And because I want to influence you to always be faithful to Christ and never succumb to religionists (those who have given themselves over to “commandments of men”). And because there will be times when my library of books, articles and videos will be needed encouragement. And because I will never hint for financial support (and I have nothing to sell). So…. I suggest you keep my website close-at-hand by storing it in your memory. To help you memorize, repeat it out loud a few times, larryjones.ca…. larryjones.ca….. larryjones.ca Will you do that?

And now let’s talk about SINCERITY….

Jesus hates insincerity and Jesus hates lukewarm. (Jesus: “I wish you were cold or hot.”) Jesus is passionate about you and would be slighted if you are apathetic to Him. He gave you His all; hopefully you will give Him your all. Your commitment to Christ must be SINCERE. If you decide to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior do so earnestly. Okay?

The instant you make a SINCERE decision for Christ there will be several occurrences – a long list of incredible, amazing happenings: you will INSTANTLY pass from death to life (Jesus: “I have come that they may have life”)…. your name will be recorded into the “Book of Life”…. you will be delivered from “the god of this age” (satan) you will be transferred from the road to hell to the road to heaven. And more….

You will INSTANTLY become an adopted son/daughter of the living God (“we should be called the children of God”). you will actually become a new creation (“old things have passed away; behold all things have become new”) you will be an heir of God (“heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ”) you will become justified, as if you have never sinned (“You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus”). you will actually become “the righteousness of God” in Christ Jesus”. Jesus will become your shepherd (“The Lord is my Shepherd”), your teacher (“One is your Teacher, the Christ”), your protector (“I will never leave you nor forsake you”) and the Holy Spirit will take up residence within your earth-suit (“your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit”).

But there is a price attached to this great salvation God has provided for you. (Love tells the truth.) Christ is free and Christ costs. “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Friends may not admire or appreciate the new you. Brace yourself for exclusion, criticism, even ridicule. (Jesus: “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”)

So now you have a decision to make: YES, JESUS or NO, JESUS.

(I strongly suggest you read this message again. And again and again. Print it out and keep it nearby. Okay?)

To date I have posted this message in 7 languages, reaching about 100 countries. The next languages could be urdu, japanese, and german. In the past 4 months I have reached over 2 million people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, some days investing $9 and other days $14. (Again, I am not saying 2 million read it, but simply that it appeared on their computer, cell phones, etc. Also, a percentage of people reached are repeats.) It is my intention to post this message, through Facebook or other social medium platforms, every day for the rest of my life. Why not?

When I get to heaven I will meet many thousands (millions?) of people who will recognize me as one who helped influence them to escape the eternal anguish of hell. We will rejoice together – laugh and sing and jump up and down and enthusiastically praise Jesus.

My computer skills are more limited than most; what I do most in your assemblies can do, even those who may have to seek professional help to get started, as I did. Also, I want you to know I am not an evangelist (that is, an Ephesian 4:11 evangelist – one given a special gifting to evangelize). And yet Jesus calls me to evangelize, just as He calls all His redeemed ones to evangelize.

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At the end of the last chapter I wrote about the brochure I had delivered through Kelowna’s newspaper, Does Jesus Want Us To Tithe? In that brochure I wrote about our dear brother-in-Christ, William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army and titled that part of the brochure….

FINANCING THE GREAT COMMISSION

William Booth (1829-1912), founder of the Salvation Army, had a vision. He writes, “I saw a dark and stormy ocean.” There were “multitudes of human beings shrieking and cursing and struggling and drowning” in the terrifying water. And he saw “a mighty rock” rising out of the turbulent seas. Around the base of this rock island was “a vast platform” where christians were gathered.

Booth was puzzled and distressed because even though some were earnestly involved in rescuing the terrified people, most christians “did not seem to have any care, that is, any agonizing care about the poor perishing ones who were struggling and drowning right before their eyes.” They were so involved with their “professions and money saving and pleasures and families and community and gatherings and religions” they had almost no concern.

Their prayers were directed, not for the miserable drowning people within view and hearing, but toward themselves.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, this vision is a sad synopsis of the spiritual condition of the world we live in! WE are the christians socializing and playing church on that “vast platform” overlooking lost humanity! This is what religion has made of us! This is evangelicalism! This is your local church! The bulk of evangelicals’ giving is spent on buildings and salaries, Christ’s GREAT COMMISSION getting leftover change. This is immoral!

Paul wrote (Rom.1:14): “I have a great sense of obligation to [unsaved] people.” When we were first “born of the Spirit” a similar “sense of obligation” pressed upon our hearts. Do you remember? But somehow this concern and duty switched from the unsaved to the saved, from them to us. Buildings and salaries trumped the gospel. And our hearts became crusty.

But it doesn’t have to be that way for you! You can do better, much better! You don’t have to follow the crowd. Love people but don’t follow people. Follow Christ, not Christians. Perhaps you have swallowed the lie that you are incapable of dispersing your own givings. “You need us!” it is implied. But in truth Jesus is ALL you need. Since you are accountable to Jesus…. since you will be judged by Jesus doesn’t it make good sense to manage YOUR resources YOUR way YOURself?

You can be one of the relative few on that “vast platform” rescuing those drowning in that “dark and stormy ocean.” Seriously consider a JESUS BANK ACCOUNT whereby you regularly make deposits. How regular? How much? That’s between you and Jesus. To whom do you write checks, etcetera? That’s between you and Jesus. This account will revolutionize your christianity.

Consider: Had you opened a JESUS ACCOUNT five or ten years ago, regularly FINANCING THE GREAT COMMISSION, multitudes would have had their names added to the “book of life”, saved from that place we get squeamish talking about.

Consider: Though you can’t get your money back, you can start over. Wisely managing a JESUS ACCOUNT, your future will be bountiful…. hundreds, perhaps thousands in heaven rejoicing with you for the part you played in their salvation.