“We go to all the world, With kingdom hope unfurled, No other name has power to save, But Jesus Christ The Lord.” These lyrics may seem familiar to you as they have been brought once again to our attention a few years back by Keith and Kristyn Getty. they represent the core of everything we do here at Light City Bible Church, taking the good news of Jesus to the world.
The theme of the book of Matthew is that Jesus Christ the Messiah who was promised long ago is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Throughout his ministry the theme of Jesus’ sermons was his Kingdom. Matthew 4:17 tells us that “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” That message of good news has not changed for us today.
Because of King Jesus’ promise to build his church, against which nothing, not even the very gates of hades can impede progress, our hope in his Kingdom is grounded in absolute confidence. Out of that kingdom authority Jesus speaks the very familiar command “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB95).
Through intentionally making disciples, not just converts, we are building the Kingdom here and now. We call people to repent from their sin and from anything and everything that does not acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior and receive (by believing) the good news that he is the King. And what kind of king would he be if there were not some kind of display of his power? Repentance is one such display of that power. This is how we enter the kingdom.
In Wabash and the surrounding area the darkness may seem to prevail. But we have and are one with the King. We have the message. We have the good news. And king Jesus has granted us His authority to expand his Kingdom. Since his power is sovereign and since he is God we can expect his Kingdom to grow. The question is; will we be part of the growth? Will we be obedient to our king? Will we be intentional in making disciples, producing brand new, new creation citizens of the Kingdom of the King of Kings?
In light of these truths, the words of this hymn penned in 1929 by Frank Houghton are both encouraging and convicting all at once. I pray they are edifying to you and I pray for an opportunity to sing them together with you as soon as God allows.
Facing a task unfinished That drives us to our knees A need that, undiminished Rebukes our slothful ease We, who rejoice to know Thee Renew before Thy throne The solemn pledge we owe Thee To go and make Thee known.
Where other lords beside Thee Hold their unhindered sway Where forces that defied Thee Defy Thee still today With none to heed their crying For life, and love, and light Unnumbered souls are dying And pass into the night.
We go to all the world With kingdom hope unfurled No other name has power to save But Jesus Christ The Lord.
We bear the torch that flaming Fell from the hands of those Who gave their lives proclaiming That Jesus died and rose Ours is the same commission The same glad message ours Fired by the same ambition To Thee we yield our powers.
We go to all the world With kingdom hope unfurled No other name has power to save But Jesus Christ The Lord.
O Father who sustained them O Spirit who inspired Saviour, whose love constrained them To toil with zeal untired From cowardice defend us From lethargy awake! Forth on Thine errands send us To labour for Thy sake.
We go to all the world With kingdom hope unfurled No other name has power to save But Jesus Christ The Lord.
May this be our goal and passionate prayer.
SDG
Keith
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