The world is starving. Spiritual fitness is at an all time low. Confusion reigns. Yet many churches across this country are full. Why? Some will say t hat it is prophecy: Amos 8:11-12 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: (12) And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
While the above scripture is true, it doesn’t excuse us from spreading the Word of God. If we just eat food and sit on the couch watching TV, no matter how good the food is, if we don’t exercise, we won’t be physically fit. We know that couch potatoes usually do not eat the best food. A person who starts out eating healthfully, as they develop bad habits, will usually eat fewer health foods, and more junk food. In turn, spiritual couch potatoes are the same way. Even if you love to read and hear the Word of God, if you stop sharing it, using it, and exercising with it, you will begin to allow the garbage of the world to slip into you.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (5) But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
Do you know what this “make full proof of” is? It is G4135 in the Strong’s and it means: to carry out fully (in evidence), that is, completely assure (or convince), entirely accomplish: – most surely believe, fully know (persuade), make full proof of.
So let me ask you: Have you carried out fully your ministry? Have you entirely accomplished your ministry or are you sitting on the spiritual couch?
Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
That is from the sermon of the mount, the first thing Christ taught after He was tempted in the wilderness by Satan. Note that this isn’t a suggestion it is a command and note WHY we are to do this: that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
In the prior verse, note that He called us: Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Do you want to be trodden under earth?
Turn to the parable of the sower. Luke 8:11-14 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (12) Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. (13) They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. (14) And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
You have all heard the word of God. Will you allow yourselves to be part of the above crowd or of this next group?
Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
And bring forth fruit with patience. How is your fruit?
Luke 8:16-18 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. (17) For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. (18) Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
This is much like the parable of the talents written in Matthew 25:14. I encourage you to read that and ask yourself if you are the one hiding your talent in the earth. We are all children of God: even those who claim they are not. Those who have been in darkness shy away from the light. Don’t let that stop you from shining that light. We know when we have been in darkness our eyes adjust to that darkness and the light hurts them, but that doesn’t stop us from flipping the switch.
“But what if I go out, use patience, and spread the word, and I get questions that I don’t know how to handle?” God will certainly send questions and events your way that you don’t know how to answer. He does this so that we can grow and go to Him and our fellow brothers and sisters to strengthen us. A plant that lives it’s whole life inside a greenhouse cannot survive outside. It is time for all of us to get off the couch and get outside.
