GO Into All The WORLD

God has been putting many messages on my heart lately because the hour is late, time is running out, things are picking up exponentially; quickly to usher in the external short reign of Satan. And most are not ready. When you read the Word of God, most of His commands are crystal clear, no ambiguity, you don't have to wonder, "What does He mean here?" One such command is Jesus's GREAT COMMISSION to His followers in the chapters of  Matthew, Mark, and Luke, "GO therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES of all the nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the FATHER and SON and of the HOLY SPIRIT." Matthew 28:19. and again in Mark 16:15-16," GO into ALL THE WORLD, and PREACH the gospel to EVERY creature. He who believes and is BAPTIZED will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned."; and in Luke 24:46-47,"Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that REPENTANCE and REMISSION of SINS should be PREACHED in His name to ALL NATIONS, beginning at Jerusalem." I think one of the greatest heresies today is the direction given by many churches today. It is in some of the study type Bibles that have sidebars with information. It is given in classes on evangelism.  It is the direction to 'share your faith'.  Now I know that it's about semantics. But what does The Word say? Does it say 'share your faith'? Do semantics matter to God? You can bet your life on it. How about in Numbers Chapter 20 starting at verse 7. God had commanded Moses, to SPEAK to the rock in order for water to come out. "Take the rod; you and your brother. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water',  but a few verses later Moses had a different idea about getting water, in anger, he struck the rock with his rod.  Just like Moses and other people from the past and the people today think they can change a command to fit what they think, and they think it's OK with God. Was God OK with Moses doing something different? What's wrong with striking the rock instead of speaking to it, the water came out either way. What's wrong is Moses disobeyed God, pure and simple.  And he was punished for it.  Matter of fact throughout the Bible, it is shown over and over that God is NOT OK with changing any of His laws. In fact, there is a warning to those who add to or take away from this God given Bible, "For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If ANYONE adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, 'God shall TAKE AWAY his part from the BOOK OF LIFE, from the HOLY CITY, and from the things that are written in this book." Revelation 22:18-19.

Why are Christians today confused about what Christ wants them to do?  Christ did NOT tell His followers to, GO TO CHURCH when it comes to preaching to THE LOST! No where in the Bible does it say, "BRING THE UNSAVED TO CHURCH". Throughout the New testament, the disciples went OUT into the cities and countrysides; After Christ ascended back into Heaven, the disciples went OUT into the cities and country sides, spreading the gospel from town to town. Church congregations were planted in cities, but they were not the vehicle for preaching the gospel to THE LOST. The apostles went to the Synagogues and taught about Christ, The apostles taught about Christ wherever they went; the unbelievers did not go to apostles or to the places where the church members were gathering to "hear the word."  Christ went to the lost.  The lost came to Him, but at that time, for the wrong reasons as revealed by Jesus, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs"- Jesus told the many who were following them they should believe He was The Christ based on a number of proofs one of them being the great signs/miracles He was doing-Jesus is saying that these unsaved people were not following Him because they wanted to learn more about Christ- Jesus goes on to reveal the real reason they were following Him,"Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, NOT because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled." John 6:26.  Many churches today have 'programs' to reach the lost; They direct their members to invite their unsaved friends and family to a pancake breakfast, or a luncheon, or some churches offer free food after the service.  I am not saying these actions in of themselves are wrong. This message is about what Christ gave as the Great Commission.  He did not say to bring your unsaved friends and family to a church function.  Jesus said GO OUT INTO THE WORLD and teach them The Gospel.

So what about those churches who tell their members to 'share the gospel'? There are a number of churches who do go into the neighborhoods, the streets handing out gospel tracts, there are some who stand on street corners proclaiming the gospel.  But something is obviously missing.  The statistics of the number of true converts from these methods is very low. Now on the one hand, this would be expected because Jesus does tell us that "narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and FEW find it". But let's look at what the Word of God reveals about the effects of REAL evangelism.  First Jesus clearly identifies true believers in Mark 16, verse 17," And these signs will follow those who believe: In My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." These 'powers' came from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It was because of these signs/wonders and the teaching of the Gospel, that 3000 souls were added to the church body from the first message. "And the Lord added daily those who were being saved." There are many churches today who preach that these powers are no longer available. To have this belief you have to 'take away' from the scriptures. Some do go out and preach the gospel, but it is without the power of the Holy Spirit.  This is why churches have a hard time getting converts and getting its members to actually proclaim the gospel outside of a church service. The excuses are, "I don't know how", "I'm not comfortable", "I don't know enough" "Every Christian doesn't have to share the gospel that's only for preachers".  Now it is true that each member of God's family has a different role to play, some are teachers, some are preachers, some are healers, some are prophets, some are elders and deacons. But we have to go back to what did Jesus say? Did He say, "Only the teachers and preachers are to go out into the world." Many churches have "How to Evangelize" classes, there are numerous books/tracts/instructions on how to share the gospel. Some say, you need to have a 'story' of how you came to Christ-ALL of these are the instructions of man, man's opinions.  It is GOD who empowers His followers with all power and ability to do what He has called us to do. Paul stresses the importance of when preaching to the lost in 1 Corinthians 2:2, that it is Christ Crucified and Christ Crucified alone is the message, not your personal story. Where does it say that we are tell our personal story when trying to reach the lost? The only time anything of our own thought process that comes into play is when it comes to if you are asked why you believe as written in 1 Peter 3:5."But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear ".  But this is not to be the starting point of spreading the gospel. The power is in the written Word of God.

I will present the counter argument to the main arguments presented by the churches today about 'going to church'.  Again, no where in the Bible does it tell sinners to go to church to get saved. Research it yourself. Do not just go off what I or some preacher says. The verse that is used to promote the lie about 'going to church' is Hebrews 10:25, some Bibles translate this passage to state, "Do not 'forsake the assembling of ourselves', as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." Some Bible versions actually have, "go to church services".  It is this verse that they say, "Ha, see you are supposed to go to church."
But does the 'the assembling of ourselves' have anything to do with saving the lost? No. and Secondly, does this statement mean, 'go to church'?  You do not need to know Greek to find out the original words that are used to translate from the original Bible sources. There are free programs that are available to anyone with a computer and a desire to get to the truth.  There are those who believe you have to go to seminary or Bible college to be able to teach/understand the Word.  Please again, show me, where in the Bible does it say that MAN will teach you all things?  No, THE HOLY SPIRIT will teach you all things. But back to the issue, the original Hebrew word that the verbiage 'assembling of ourselves' is translated from is ''episunagógé".  It means 'a gathering together'. Now, you could assume that this means that church members should meet together because it is true that believers need to be together on this earth so we can support and exhort one another. The early church met DAILY in the houses, in the temples, they sold their possessions and lived communally. 'Corporate' worship was mostly in the houses.  But no where in the Bible did the early church members, 'go to church'. They fellowshiped one with another and they took care of each other's needs. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, an in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart." Acts 2:42-46. Now let's look at the words here in this passage starting at verse 44- 'Now all who believed 'were together'.  Is the original word ''episunagógé" used here in verse 44?  No, it is not. The original Greek words here are "én" which means 'agree' and "epi"- these two Greek words are translated in this verse 'were together', but these particular Greek words can have different meaning depending the context of the whole passage. But here it is CLEARLY not the "gathering together" that is mentioned in Hebrews 10:25.  The early church members, regularly 'met together' but it was not labeled as a 'church meeting, church service'. Sometimes it was hear Paul and other teaching, sometimes it was for a meal, sometimes it was worshiping, hearing a prophecy, disciplining errant believers, doing good works like caring for the poor/widow/orphans.  

My point in drilling down on this is to call out the the heresy that you have to 'go to church' to be saved or that the lost are supposed to be brought to church to get saved.   Let's look back at the original Greek word in Hebrews 10 that the 'do not forsake the assembling of ourselves' comes from, ''episunagógé" . Now this word ''episunagógé"  is only found in TWO places throughout the Bible. Just two.  That other word combination for 'together' is found in 896 times in the Bible. As another writer on this subject pointed out, if you have a word that is only used a few times in the Bible, it must be really special.  Good and honest study of the scriptures means you do not take away any parts of the Bible; every verse, every doctrine, every interpretation has to be taken into context with the WHOLE Bible and surrounding verses, because it is very easy to misinterpret a single verse. In fact that is how we have so many different Christian denominations and sects. They all take one or two verses of the Bible and they create a whole new doctrine based on those verses; and their 'new' doctrine contradicts other scriptures in the Bible.  

Most churches today say you have to go to church based on the Hebrews verse. But does ''episunagógé"  say 'go to church'?  It does not, and if you look at the surrounding verses and the other place in the Bible the word is used, you get a clear meaning of the word ''episunagógé" .  You have to start at the beginning of Hebrews Chapter 10.  Was Paul talking about church gatherings in this chapter? No!  Paul starts this chapter off reminding us that the LAW could not SAVE us, it was just a shadow of the good things to come, that the commandments of the animal sacrifices was not enough to take away sin. This chapter is explaining the importance of how the New Covenant was brought into fruition by the shed blood of Jesus and that now our sins can be forgiven, but that does not give us a license to sin or live anyway we want; the ''episunagógé"  is the phrase for when Christ is returning to gather His people before the Wrath of God is fully poured out on this wicked world, The DAY OF THE LORD. This is commonly referred to as The Rapture.  Paul describes what THE DAY OF LORD is all about in 1 Thessalonians Chapters 4:16, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first... and that true believers are not of darkness, and God has not appointed His true believers to wrath." 1 Thessalonians 5:9. The Greek word ''episunagógé"  in found in chapter 2 verse 1 of Thessalonians, which is the one other place the word ''episunagógé" is found:  "Now, brethren, concerning THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST and 'OUR GATHERING TO HIM {''episunagógé" }, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled." This is the only other place in the bible that the word ''episunagógé" is found. The people who believe that Hebrews 10:25 means going to church here, but 2 Thessalonians is talking the catching away on the Day of The Lord, the rapture.  This is another example of 'adding' to the scripture.  The entire context of Hebrews is clear, Paul is talking about sin and missing out on the rapture, just has he explains about the catching up in 2 Thessalonians. There are plenty of verses that talk about the saints living together, working together for the faith, praying together, eating together, and worshiping together.  But no where is it written that the people who worshiped at Ephesus were saved but the ones worshiping at Phillip were not. The fact of who was saved was not based on a building or a specific congregation or denomination. Their single solidifying fact was Christ was the head of the church, and they were members of HIS body and the church members gathered together frequently in the particular places they lived. There was no 'holy' physical building that they met at a few times week because they understood THEY were the temples of God who happened to gather at various places-houses/temples/fields. 

Again, back to Hebrews 10:25.  Paul is saying here in Hebrews that believers should not continue to live a life of sin or they will miss out 'forsake' on the coming of the Lord, that the Lord will NOT take them from the earth to avoid the Wrath of God because they have continued to sin. Paul tells the believers starting in verse 19 to 'enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus...for us to draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works."  Believers are to live a life that is HOLY, but if they do not, Paul gives a warning starting at verse 25, "if you are doing evil, you will forsake the gathering of His People when He comes, which is the manner of some,{some live a selfish and sinful lifestyle}, but true believers are not to live like that but instead are to exhort one another{admonish, warn those as stated in 1 Timothy 5:20-Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.}, and so much more as you see THE DAY approaching. For IF WE SIN WILLFULLY after we have received the knowledge of the truth, THERE NO LONGER REMAINS A SACRIFICE FOR SINS!" vs 26.  

What happens to those who continue to live in sin and reject the saving faith of Jesus Christ? They are and will be under the bondage of Satan; they will NOT BE CAUGHT UP IN THE AIR WHEN JESUS COMES; they will believe the lawless one's signs and lying wonders; that they are under unrighteous deception because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they may be saved; And that for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonian 2:11-12. Unsaved people are condemned.  They will suffer the Wrath of God.  This is one of the main points of the Gospel.  Why do the lost reject the truth? Because they don't believe that they will have to suffer any of God's wrath, either because they believe He doesn't exist, or He is really is not that mad, that everyone gets to go to heaven, that a loving God would not hurt people. None of these reasons are true. 

1. God IS REAL- the heavens declare His glory -Psalms 19:1; 

                   2. God IS ANGRY ABOUT SIN- the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience because of their fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desires, and covetousness/idolatry- Colossians 3:5. 

3. GOD DOES NOT SEND EVERYONE TO HEAVEN- Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for hem. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened.  And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.  And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.  The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.  And ANYONE NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. Revelation 21:11-15

This message will be rejected by most because we have too long been deceived about this issue. But I am to tell the truth in love. I am not really saying anything that has not been said by others. And people know in their heart that something is very wrong with the church system today.  Statistics show that people are leaving 'organized' religion in droves.  That church buildings are being shut down.  There should be no wonder, because what kept the early church members together, that emboldened them to preach the gospel even though they were being put in prison, thrown to lions, cut in half, hanged, crucified, skinned and boiled alive is because they had the genuine, true Holy Spirit living and demonstrating His power within them and they were a REAL family who spent quality time together.  The Word is clear that it is impossible for ANY of God's true children to be taken from Him. IMPOSSIBLE for someone to truly taste and experience the power of God and to then say, "Nope, I don't want it." "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and Put Him to an open shame." Hebrews 6:4-6.  Unbelievers have more discernment about the churches than the 'believers'.  

The lost are outside (and inside) the church buildings.  They are in the clubs, the bars, the restaurants, the neighborhoods, the concerts, the schools, the colleges.  They ARE NOT coming to a church building. Christ has told all of us who believe on Him, to tell this message to every creature in all the world. Are you willing to look into your self and believe the truth? Yes, we as believers should congregate together, but it should be more than Wednesday night bible study and Sunday or Saturday worship service. There are a large number of people who do just that.  Superficial, no Holy Spirit, just country club/social gatherings that slap on the Christian label but the real Christ is no where to be found. This does not apply to all church bodies. Take of this message what you will.

 My prayer is it challenges you in the name of Jesus to look at your own standing with Christ; Together with the Holy Spirit we can reach those God has chosen for ever lasting life. It is not our place to pick and choose who to share the gospel with. Jesus tells us to tell them the gospel, if they don't believe, 'shake the dust off your feet' and move on the next person.

There is going to be a Day of Judgment, and God will judge everyone who has ever lived, His wrath is going to poured out on all the wicked and ungodly. The Good News  is Believing in Jesus saves us from the righteous wrath of God. But that is not all, He gives us a new heart and mind NOW, and we receive some of His blessing from heaven NOW and are equipped to be able to live a life that is holy and acceptable to Him NOW.
1. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is real, He lived and died and rose from the grave.
2. Believe that you are a sinner, repent-turn from your sins and realize and accept you need Jesus.
3. Confess that Jesus is your Lord and God
4. Find a local Bible preaching church that does obey the commandment for water baptism for the remission of your sins and to identify yourself with Christ.
This is just the first step to a lifelong journey of growing in truth and love with the God who created this earth and everything in it, including every human being that has ever lived.
Bible verses related to this post: Matthew 28:19, Revelation 22:18-19, Luke 24:46-47, Numbers 20; Matthew 7:13; Acts 2;47; Acts 2:41;1 Peter 3:5; Acts 2:42-46; 1 Timothy 5:20; Thessalonian 2:11-12; Psalms 19:1; Revelation 21:11-15;Hebrews 6:4-6; Matthew 10:14; John 14:26

Resources: http://biblehub.com/greek/1997.htm