Isaac Mwaniki

Delivered in Royal Tabernacle Church, Kilifi
Date: 8th February, 2009

Introduction
Around two thousand years ago, one of the greatest events of all history took place. Christ, the creator and sustainer of all the universe came to dwell among men. This event was unprecedented in such a way that it became the benchmark for defining time. We know time as before, BC and after Christ, AD.

This was a major thing. It was also very humbling. Imagine a potter deciding to be a pot for a while. How would the potter communicate with the pot? They are at different levels. However, the Lord of all Universe came and dwelt with his creation. The story ends with the creator being murdered by the created beings.

It was a major sacrifice on the part of our Lord. It is one experience in history that I am convinced that we need to explore. We need to ask ourselves two questions,
1. Why did Jesus come?
2. Why did Jesus die?

How we answer these questions, I am convinced how we engage the world in the cause of mission. I am further convinced that we cannot be effective in a walk with Christ if we are not clear on these questions.

One person in Scripture seems to have an answer to these questions. This is the most influential man in the New Testament after Jesus. This is the man Paul. Paul was born and brought up in a well to do family. He thus accessed very good education. One of the striking things about Paul was his commitment to his causes. Paul was never nominal. Paul was at the extremes.

He was a very serious persecutor of Christians until The Lord met with him and changed him. This was not in a crusade or in a service. Paul was on his way to do what he did best; persecuting the Christians. I think he was too bad that The Lord himself had to meet with him. He did not delegate the initial encounter with Paul. The Lord ensured that he confronted Paul.

The nice thing is that when Paul came to the kingdom, he served God with the same zeal. He became very passionate for the cause of Christ. He was even willing to lose his life for his new found faith. He says, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me —the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace”. This is passion.

This is what I call transformation. Paul sets out thus to explain the mystery of Christ utilizing the many gifts God had given him. We need to explore what gave Paul such passion to be willing to lay his life for Christ’s cause.

2 Corinthians 5:11 – 21

Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Why did Jesus die?
Paul tells us that Christ died for all. This is a very profound truth. Christ died for us while we were still sinners. He died for us and in effect we all died. He goes on to say that he died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for who died for them and was raised again.

What does it mean, “not to live for themselves?” we live in a very selfish and self centred generation. We hardly know anyone who does not live for themselves. We live in a world where we would rather involve God in convenient areas of our lives. Why is it this way? I am convinced that it is because we have never purposed that it is no longer us who live

God should bless us, provide for us, protect us etc. Not living for ourselves means that we release our lives to God’s control. This means that all aspects of our lives are released and opened up to God. It means that our intellect, our resources, our friends, our plans, and even our dreams are released to God. It is very cheap and short sighted to live for ourselves.

Christ died for all. This, my friends means exactly that. It means that every person deserves to know Christ. Christ did not only die for the people who appear to be near the kingdom. There are some people that we look at and we do not think Christ died for them. Thanks to the media, one of the worst people in the world today is Osama. Can you believe that Christ died for him? He died for all. The implication here is that every person deserves to be told about the saving power of God.

Paul tells us in verse 16 that, “So from now we regard no one from a worldly point of view.” What Paul is essentially saying is that we do not let the present condition of people affect how we view them. He mentions about how they had earlier regarded Christ. We view all people despite their character as being important to God.

We appreciate that transforming power comes from the Lord. We need to be reminded that salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne. Some of us see no use in sharing our faith with some people because they appear very bad. My friends, transforming power comes from the Lord. Don’t doubt that God will do his business. It is important for all of us to take God at his word in this. There are many examples of people who did not look like possible candidates for the kingdom of God until the Holy Spirit came upon them. Remember Peter, Paul, the apostles, myself...... this brings urgency to our evangelistic endeavours. Paul tells us that once someone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old is gone and the new has come.

This perspective of viewing all people as being important to God is a point of view developed as we get closer to God. Paul attributes his passion to two things. These two I believe are what we need to work on.

1. Fear of God – Paul says, “since then we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men”. The context of the verse 11 can be best captured in verse 10 which says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad”.

After appreciating that God will judge all men, and at that time nothing will be reversible, we have no option that persuade men. The fear of God motivates us to share the gospel with others even when it appears odd to do so. We need to know the God is a God of justice. All soul that sis will perish. God’s faithfulness extends to him taking people to hell. Hebrews 9:27 tells us, “It is appointed for a man to die once and after that face judgement.”

Paul, out of the fear of God was willing to go to any lengths to communicate the gospel. He tells them, “If we are out of our minds, it is for the sake of God”. This is not a statement you would associate with a learned man. Paul was essentially willing to go to any length. This might be the last day that neighbour has to hear about God.

I know some churches teach that after death there is purgatory. My friends, we need to be fully convinced that after death, there is only judgement. As we join with other Kenyans affected by recent calamities, we need to be moved by the many people we lost, some of them in sin. Fearing God should make us share the good news with others.



2. Christ’s love – Paul tells us that he was compelled by Christ’s love. When two people are in love, they begin to have a similar outlook to life. They actually begin to think alike. I have known people who could even contemplate the question their lover would ask. Christ’s passion for the lost was clear. He was willing to leave all comfort of heaven to come and be with us. As we come more intimate with Christ therefore, we become more passionate about a lost world.

Love compels people to do many things. Some people have been known to kills because of love. Paul says that he was compelled by Christ’s love. I am told that love cannot be hidden. It means therefore that as we get closer to the Lord, we should begin to be moved by what moved the Lord. People in love are not ashamed of being associated. It is very surprising how some of us don’t have anything to do with the Lord.

Whenever we come across a good venture, we share it with others. It is surprising how reluctant we are to share the BEST venture which is to know Christ. Christ’s love should compel us to action.

To me my friends, one sure way to determine people who are developing in their walk with Christ, it is in their zeal to share the Gospel. It is a paradox that we have people who are spirit filled, speak in tongues but have not shared their faith with anyone.

Why did Jesus come?
Paul gives an easy answer; reconciliation. Reconciliation is “ending of conflict or renewing of a friendly relationship between disputing people or groups.” It is a reunion. Christ came so that we could be reconciled to God. This has been God’s business since the beginning. God is in the business of reconciling the sinful world to himself through Christ.

Through Christ’s death, the penalty for all the sins we have committed was paid. I actually dare say that a penalty of all the sins we will ever commit has already been paid. We are therefore allowed to re-establish our connection with God.

As Christ left to go to heaven, he committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. The sole aim of all endeavours in ministry should be reconciling the unsaved world to Christ.

We should therefore be Christ’s ambassadors of this message of reconciliation. Who is an ambassador? It is an official representative of an organisation or a movement. This is somebody sent by their country or kingdom. In the earthly systems, an ambassador cannot be arrested in their country of posting even if they break an offence in it. They cannot be tried in their country of posting. Actually their residence is recognised as a part and property of their sending country. If you run there, you cannot be arrested. The ambassador is on duty 24 hours. He does not report on duty, he is always on duty. All the ambassador says anywhere and at any time is believed to be the position of the sending government on the matter.

What does it mean to us to be Christ’s ambassadors? Our lifestyle should at all time communicate Christ. We are always on duty. Even when not conscious, we need to know that people are observing us. The today’s generation is looking for something that works. They need to see it in us. When Jesus came to the world, he came to bring God’s kingdom here. He became Immanuel (God residing with people). People need to see this God in us.

Evangelism should therefore be an outflow of our life. Some of us feel more comfortable sharing far from where we are known. However in the long run, sharing with people who have observed you becomes very powerful.

Some of us wonder what we should say. If you lack nothing else to say, share your story and then tell the people that it can happen to them. Let people know that God wants them in His kingdom. What is the gospel? It is the good news that while man is seriously separated from God, God has provided a way back through His son Jesus Christ.


Conclusion

After trying to build the case, God is asking, “Who will go for us?” Some people like responding by telling God, “Here I am send somebody else”. God knows about anyone else. He needs you.

But God has not also left you to your own devices and fears. He sent the Holy Spirit to energize us to proclaim the Gospel. In the entire New Testament, I see the coming of the Holy Spirit associated with three things: transformation that lead people to develop a passion to share the gospel and then signs and wonders as people witnessed.

Are we willing to go and be fruitful?

May our love for Christ and fear of God propel us to be available to be used by God to proclaim reconciliation to all people we come across.

God bless you all.