By JFK Mensah

JFK is a respected bible teacher and also serves Pioneers Africa doing mobilization while based in Accra, Ghana.

I knew all these, but here I was as a new Christian hopelessly caught in the web of sinful living. I could identify with Paul in Rom. 7:15,22,23.

‘For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice, but what I hate, that I do. ..For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.’

I prayed desperately. I fasted often. I wept before God. I devoured my Bible and memorized appropriate verses. I wrestled intensely.

I vowed to God that if I ever fornicated again, He should kill me. I hated the idea of being seen as a hypocrite, yet Christlikeness looked so impossible. My private life was not in sync with my reputation on campus. I read through Gal. 5:16-18 many times:

‘I say then: Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.’

Gradually I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. If I wanted to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, I had to compete according to the rules, Lk. 9:23.

I began to understand that the war against Satan, the flesh and the world only stops when the child of God falls dead. I needed to practice spiritual disciplines on a constant basis rather than irregular shots.

I needed a transformation through the habitual renewal of my mind. The fruit of the Spirit was character I had to build, not something I was to wait for God to suddenly infuse into my members.

Rom. 8:5-8 began to make sense to me.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Just as the law of aerodynamics is able to carry a plane full of people and cargo over and above the law of gravity to their destination safely, so also the law of walking and living according to spiritual principles is able to carry us above the power of sin in our lives and cause us to walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and self-control.

God’s divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness so that through His exceeding great and precious promises, we should become partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Pet.1:3-4.

I decided to take the promises of God seriously. I memorized and meditated daily on verses that assured me of God dwelling in me, 1 Jn. 4:15; Phil. 2:13; 2 Cor. 6:16; of Christ living in me and strengthening me from within-Gal. 2:20; Col. 1:27; Phil. 4:13; of the indwelling and empowering of the Holy Spirit-1 Cor. 6:19-20; Rom. 8:11; 1 Jn.4:4.

As I continued in this, my confidence and courage to resist sin, Satan and worldly lusts increased. I stopped reading pornography and put away the worldly magazines and seductive TV programs. I avoided the company of unbeliever friends who dragged me into such conversation. Then the victory over impure thoughts came easily. I could testify publicly.

I learnt how to begin each year by taking stock of my moral weaknesses and the flaws in my spiritual life and character. I spend each month tackling either a vice or building a virtue. My daily appointments with God for the Quiet Time became regular. My hunger and thirst for God and the things of the Spirit increased with each conquest.

The years have passed and I can see God giving me more grace to break away from besetting sins like anger, pride and bitterness that looked so formidable previously. It took me years of perseverance to stop biting my finger nails, but I am free now.

I am not yet perfect. I have not arrived as yet. But I agree with Paul that:

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor.3:18

By JFK Mensah

JFK is a respected bible teacher and also serves Pioneers Africa doing mobilization while based in Accra, Ghana.

One of the greatest shocks in my Christian journey was the discovery that after I was happily born-again, water-baptized and baptized in the Holy Spirit, I found myself still tempted to lust after girls! I was disappointed with myself. The ‘big’ sins like masturbation, fornication and stealing from my Daddy’s shop all dropped off easily, but the ‘small’ sins like impure thoughts and pornography clung to me.

Pride and anger visited me often and I continued in my old habit of biting my finger nails viciously. The more I fought , the more I lost. Worse of all, I started progressing as a Christian leader on the university campus. The scripture declares that God created man innocent and sinless, but with capacity either to sin or refrain from sinning, Gen. 2:15-16.

When Adam & Eve fell into sin, every part of their nature was affected. They died spiritually-separated from God, Rom. 3:23; their mind, emotions and will became warped and prone to evil. Gen. 6:5,6 is the most graphic description of sinful nature in the Bible.

And the Lord saw that every imagination of the heart of man was only evil continually. Gen. 6:5

David acknowledges that he was born in sin, Ps. 51:5 and that the wicked go astray from the womb and begin lying as soon as they are born, Ps. 58:4. This condition is universal, no matter our race, nationality or tribe. We understand Paul well when he quotes Ps. 53 in Romans 3:10-18 to convict all humankind that there is absolutely none righteous.

Man is not a sinner because he sins; man sins because he is a sinner. We steal, lie, cheat in exams and lust sexually because of who we are outside Christ. Just as the force of gravity affects every stone thrown upward and drags it back to the earth, so also the sinful nature in man drags him back into sin continually.

This condition makes Jesus Christ indispensable to every culture and kindred. Of all men who walked on this earth, Jesus Christ’s life is outstanding. The testimony of those who knew him best while He walked on this earth declared Him sinless.

Peter attests that Jesus knew no sin and no guile was found in His mouth, 1 Pet.2:21-23. John testifies of the same in 1 Jn. 3:5.

And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 1 Jn. 3:5

Both Paul and the writer of the book of Hebrews confirm this in 2 Cor. 5:21 and Heb. 4:15. As long as there are sinners who desire to be saved on this side of heaven, the salvation message of the church of Jesus Christ will continue to be relevant.

The angel Gabriel who announced His birth declared, “…And you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21.

Hurray! The new creation in Christ is a reality! Anyone who recognizes himself or herself as an incorrigible sinner on the way to eternal destruction can come to a compassionate Savior. The death of Jesus on the cross is the junction where the absolute holiness of God and His love meet.

God’s justice demands the death of the sinner but His mercy and grace provides a substitute in Christ. Paul reveals that God did not only forgive us our sins on the cross; the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ dealt a death blow to our sin nature also. God made the sinless Jesus to be sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ. 2 Cor. 5:21.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of Christ in Him. 2Cor.5: 21

By Andrew Scott

Andrew is the Vice President of Recruiting for Operation Mobilization USA.

‘You cannot be my disciple ….’ Jesus stated to those who gathered to listen. ‘Unless…’ I can imagine that the listeners waited with baited breath. With a readiness. A longing.

This is exactly what they wanted to be. They had followed him for some time now and were totally amazed at what this Rabbi from Nazareth could do. Now he was giving them an opportunity to join him.

An invitation to be part of the revolutionary mob, who would change the Roman dominated world. A ticket for the front row seat to miraculous stuff happening every day. They were ready for what would come after the ‘unless’ because this is what they wanted. Or was it?

Would they want it so bad that no matter what came next they would be willing to do it? Would they be willing to count the cost of obedience to the post ‘unless’ list? As it turns out most wouldn’t. In fact, most left and over the next months many of the rest would fall by the wayside.

What came after ‘unless’ proved too much for the once enthusiastic crowd. Sadly, it seems that it still is too much for most today.

Very few ever make it past the initial enthusiasm of the hand raised at a worship time; the walk up the aisle after the call to missions; the promise made to God after watching the video on suffering in Central Asia; or the commitment made at the last Passion conference.

I have personally attended many missions conferences at colleges, Urbanas and Passions and watched while hundreds stood to their feet in response to the call to join God in missions. I have to ask the question, ‘Why is the number going to give their lives not going through the roof?’

Did these students lie? Did they stand up just to please Louie? Are they ‘commitment less’? I do not believe so. In fact what I have seen and heard from this generation of students is quite the opposite.

What stands in their way in my humble opinion is firstly, the lack of support from Mission agencies (of which I am one) to help coach them through the obstacles.

Secondly, the students lack understanding of what it will take to fulfill what they just committed to. It is not my mandate to address the first one in this article but take my word for it that I am addressing it in my organization.

Let’s look at the second reason then. When the student stood, knelt, lay, whatever the prescribed formula was, they sincerely wanted to follow God. They were as enthusiastic as the crowd listening to Jesus, maybe even more so as Jesus did not have Chris Tomlin to warm them up.

They could begin to imagine themselves, even wish themselves in that village helping the AIDS orphans or in rural India helping to set up a micro business.

A day later they find themselves back at their campus sitting in class with 3 more years of study ahead.

For most the stresses and strains, distractions and attractions, escalating student debt and parental pressure to get a job and pay it off will be enough to make them bury the dream that God birthed in their hearts a few years back in large stadium where His presence and voice felt so real and compelling.

Sadly, most resign themselves to this death as if it is inevitable and even ‘the right and logical thing to do’ in light of their current circumstances. The question then is, ‘Is this disobedience to God?’ I would propose that it is.

Some may argue that this is a bit harsh. After all they have to pay off their debt. Shouldn’t they listen to their parents? Maybe it was not God speaking to them in the first place.

Their girlfriend/boyfriend that is now their fiancée really did not have the same call to missions and so as in any relationship you need to compromise some things.

Hmmh… all of these sound great and all have an element of truth to them. But when Jesus said, ‘You cannot be my disciple unless….’ He was laying out that there was a cost. A price to be paid. A bar to be reached. A standard to be met.

Let’s be reminded of Jesus words – Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Jesus did not leave anything to the imagination or for second guessing. ‘Giving up everything’ has something pretty complete and comprehensive about it.

As a 23 or 24 year old we should listen to our parents advice but if it goes against what we believe God has told us to do – Jesus makes it pretty clear who we should listen to and follow.

When it comes to choosing potential life partners God has given us only one guideline – find an equal yoke. This means someone who shares your life passions and dreams as a Christian – not someone who will pull you from them.

If we allow anyone (even if you scored the homecoming King or Queen) to pull us from the dream that God birthed in our hearts then Jesus says we cannot be His disciple.

When we look further in Luke 14:28-33, Jesus uses a great example of a man wanting to build a tower and a king going to war. My paraphrase is – if these guys want to accomplish their plan/dream then they will sit down and think through what it will take to see that happen. If they don’t, then they are foolish and will fail. The very next verse is,

‘In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.’

In other words, if you are not willing to put steps in place to achieve your dream and then sacrifice everything in order to accomplish the dream then you cannot…….you know the rest and you’re a knuckle head on top of it – OK my paraphrase again.

This is strong stuff. No wonder so many of those listening to Jesus left Him. What about you? Are you ready for what comes after the ‘unless’?

Ready enough to sit down and make some plans to ‘build that tower’ to ‘win that war’? Ready enough to sacrifice everything in order to see the plan through.

To finish college as passionate about God and His call on your life as you were when you stood at that event with open hands saying, ‘Yes Lord, send me’? To graduate and be ready to leave for the ministry God laid on your heart as a Freshman? To have no ‘anchors’, whether debt or unequal relationships, holding you back?

I fully accept that it is very difficult not to accrue debt and to avoid distractions. Actually there is very little that is easy about following Jesus – the ‘taking up your cross’ part sort of gives that away.

It is much easier to live as you wish, do as you want and flow with the crowd – at least for now. But if you are serious about living out what ever Jesus puts after the ‘unless’ then I would like to give you some practical pointers which I have benefited from that will help protect you from some typical downfalls and raise your chances of fulfilling the call at the end of college.

Stay Connected to the source of your life

Take time to read and reflect on John 15. Before you work, the plan you need to understand that ‘apart from (Jesus) you can do nothing’.

So it is vital that you take responsibility for your spiritual growth – persistently pursue maturity in Christ, feed your mind and heart with godly things.

Exhale the world’s junk by breathing in the Word. Understand that unless you are connected to the Source of life you will lose your ability to live the life. A good friend of mine says it this way – we need to stay Constantly Connected, Desperately Dependent.

Address unholiness in your life

We all struggle with sin in some way. It is vital that we wrestle with sin and overcome it by the power of God. So often we settle to live with the guilt which leads to feelings of unworthiness to serve which leads to inactivity.

Instead lets respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit when it comes and Recognize when we have done wrong; take Responsibility for it; Repent from it; Renounce Satan and his attempt to sideline you.

Let’s keep short accounts with God on this and live in the fullness of His forgiveness and grace so that we are ready for what ever He calls us to do.

Form Constructive habits

It is so easy to waste time during your college years. Between Internet, Movies, hanging out until the wee hours etc. Nothing wrong with any of these things if done in moderation. Be careful how you spend your time.

Start setting boundaries in your life which allow you to have the time to do the important things first. This does not come easy but if we are not willing to apply self discipline in these areas then we are probably not going to stay the course.

Choose the Simple Lifestyle

Probably the biggest obstacle to students moving out on cross cultural missions after they finish is student debt. It is the greatest vision killer and the vortex into which most get sucked into leading them further and further away from fulfilling their vision.

I have heard frightening numbers. Some are due to the college the person chose and some are due to undisciplined spending for 4 years.

If you are serious about serving in missions then you need to come up with a plan to keep your debt to a minimum if not eradicated completely. It may mean picking a college of less prestige.

It will involve making daily decisions on where you drink coffee and how much, the clothes you buy, frequency you watch movies, housing, transport to name a few. It may also mean finding a job while you study and pay as you go. This may take a year longer to finish college but get you out to the field 5 years earlier.

There are a couple of great courses out there which can help you a lot in setting good financial practices – Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey and Crown Financial Ministries.

Bottom line is that the simple lifestyle is a daily choice which is not easy now but will lead to a faster track in achieving your God given vision.

Form Kingdom Building Relationships

Dating – Be very careful who you date. Remember God has only one standard for your partner. It involves their standing with Him and their standing with you. If they do not measure up on any one of them, get out of there. Do not ask someone to walk through this stage of life with you who is not ready to carry the yoke of service to God with you.

Friends – Among the many friends you no doubt will have during college make sure you prioritize finding and building deep friendships with those who share your burden for the lost. It is they who will encourage you when you start to lose the vision.

Ministry partners – Get connected to a church local to your college. Build relationships with the leaders and members. Keep connected to the church you grew up in by visiting when you go back and communicating with them while at college.

You will be laying the foundation for your financial and prayer support for when you are ready to leave. Too many college students disengage from home churches and never connect strongly with a church near their college. They end up with no support base to stand with them in their vision.

Engage with the world and what God is doing in it Continuing to inform your mind and engaging your heart in the big issues around the world is critical to keeping the flame alive.

Sign up for mission news letters covering the issues and /or regions you are interested in. Start a monthly prayer group and engage others in these issues through prayer. Visit the region at least once during your time in college to gain greater understanding and deeper engagement in the culture and issues. Start to contact mission agencies inquiring about the key needs in these regions. Begin exploring where you can fit.

Bring others with you

Walking a path is much easier if you have friends to walk it with. Share your passion and vision with others and invite them to join you on the journey. Bring them with you on your STM trips, to the prayer gatherings. Be infectious. It helps you stay contagious.

Conclusion

Remember Jesus said to those looking on ‘You cannot be my disciple unless….’ Are you ready to do whatever comes after the ‘unless’? No matter how painful. Inconvenient. Uncomfortable. Un-cool.

If you are then get ready for the ride of your life because Jesus also said to His disciples ‘I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these.’

By Steven Haack

Steve is a student leader at Hope College.

God was moving in awesome ways at the Abandoned Devotion Gathering at Hope College on Friday, November 12. After pressing into God for almost six hours, people were wondering how the time had gone so quickly!

Spirit-led prayer on many different topics highlighted the evening. The prayer times were well balanced with sets of worship songs, inspirational video clips, and convicting messages from Ryan and Kelly Shaw as well as Hope College students.

By the end of the evening, there were 7 people that signed the Message Bearer commitment card, and almost 40 others interested in further exploring the SVM2 vision and how it might pertain to their lives individually and as a community.

A few students in particular shared testimonies during open mic time of how God spoke to them right then and there about their future in cross-cultural ministry. Besides these people, it was evident that the Lord was moving in many other hearts as well.

Conversation afterwards indicated a desire to seek God more intimately and passionately than ever before. It would not be surprising to see more gatherings like this at Hope in the future with a continued growing interest in what God is doing on a global scale. There is hope at Hope.