Christians: A new year - and time is running out

It's 2009 and the days are diminishing until Jesus' return. World events show us it won't be long. Let's make this a year for a new (yet old) approach in the Christian faith.

People are perishing daily, and many don't know Jesus. Now is the time to get busy; to trust God and venture out in faith with the gospel, leaving the comfort of the church.

It means taking God at his word, believing what He says, and stepping out in faith as a result. God´s promises are set in concrete, and here are some:

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10, (see also v 13).

"I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20.

"Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4.

"For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of love, and of power and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7.

There are many more such promises in the Bible. Why then are "believers" so timid? Why are they so afraid of even giving out a gospel tract, let alone preaching the gospel to every creature, as Christ said to do?

Once we take hold of God's promises, believe them and act upon them, fear will vamoose. We will do great things for God. It is not complicated - in fact it´s very simple.

Faith in action is the key to David´s defeat of Goliath; the key to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego coming out of the fiery furnace (Daniel 3); and Jesus´ disciples and apostles doing mighty supernatural deeds. How many pastors today believe three thousand souls could be added in a day, as in Acts 2:4? Those stalwarts of the Bible believed they had God´s backing, and acted on that belief. They trusted God!

When today's believers - as the infantry in the body of Christ - begin to really trust and believe the Bible; when they move forward in active faith - it will revolutionize our society as it did in Acts. Backing us we have the artillery of God´s Word which in spiritual conflict will shatter satan´s demonic trenches in the enemy line.

The Apostles Paul, Peter and Silas have passed away, yet nothing is different. Today's Christians have the task now as the apostles did then.

Sure, we live in a different age, but human nature is no different than 2,000 years ago. People need God as much now as then - if not more so! Hebrews 13:8 tells us Jesus has never changed. What He did then He will do now.

While we sit timid and unbelieving on church seats once a week it will never happen. When we trust, believe and act in Jesus´ name, non-Christians who see it will abandon any other beliefs they have, without hesitation.

They will see Christ in action, and will follow Him.