2. THE UNFINISHED TASK AND THE RETURN OF CHRIST

3.  The unfinished task as the topic suggests that there is a set task which the Church (the body of Christ) is expected to engage in and finish. What is the task and how far along is the Church in completing or finishing the task. Jn. 17:18 – “As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world”. (NKJV)

4.  In the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, He went on to commission the church for this purpose. Matt. 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. For this purpose the church was born. The Church exists only for missions (making disciples of all nations). According to Emil Brunner, ‘The Church exists by mission as fire exists by burning.’ If there is no mission, then there is no church! God’s plan for the world is not that the Church will be saved. God’s plan is rather to use the Church for the salvation of the world. The act of making disciples which does not take the form of missions is still born. Missions is the process of making more disciples to participate in missions. Hence, the Scripture Matt. 9:37-38 – “…. The harvest is truly plentiful but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of harvest to send out laborers into the harvest.” Who are the laborers? THE CHURCH. The Church is only faithful to her lord when she is turned outward, toward the world to finishing of this task. Here below is a graphic illustration of the world’s unreached peoples group – The percentage of people that have not heard the gospel of salvation.

5. WORLD – AFRRICA – NIGERIA  From this illustration, you can see that the task is far from completion because the Church has abandoned the task and consequently the harvest is wasting away in the field. The Church as a body has metamorphosed into a self serving institution. The Church has turned in upon itself. The goal of the Church originally is to be better able to reach out to others. These are the words of Kwame Nkrumah in 1957 as Ghana became independent: “The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked to the independence of all Africa.” We can also learn from this as a Church that, ‘Our Salvation as Christians is meaningless unless it is linked to the Salvation of all mankind.’

6.  The Church is not an end in itself; it is a minister to the world for Jesus sake. As the church sleeps and slumbers, the coming of our Lord and Saviour is delayed. Matthew 24:14 – “And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nation, and then the end will come.” Only when this task is finished will our Lord Jesus Christ come in glory. The disciples of Jesus Christ confused and agitated came privately to Jesus on Mount Olives and asked Him this very important question in Matthew 24:13: “….Tell us when will these things be? and what will be the sign of your coming, and the end of age ?” The return of Christ will be surrounded by so much confusion as written in Matthew 24:4-26. Jesus turning to his disciples answered them saying: Matthew 24:4 – “Take heed” (KJV &NKJV), “Watch out” (NIV) “Don’t let anyone deceive you”. (NLT) Jesus warned that there will be widespread deception and the approaching calamities will shake our faith even the very elect shall fall away. Jesus asked us to be vigilant so as not to be deceived by false prophets and teachers claiming to be Christ or claiming to have met with Christ. He also warned that the miracles that will be performed will not be genuine but only aimed at deceiving the people, even believers. WORLD – AFRRICA – NIGERIA

7.  Matthew 24:15 talks about the abomination that causes desolation referred to in Daniel 9:24; 11:31; 12:11. This could mean that the antichrist will oppose God so to proclaim himself god. It could also mean any deliberate act to mock and deny the reality of God’s presence. There will be much suffering and fear but in Matthew 24:31, Jesus assures us that God will take care of believers even in these perilous times and lead them to salvation. There will be hostility towards believers but what is most important is for believers to stand firm, endure hardship and actively engage the in spreading the gospel to all the nations of the world. The return of our Lord Jesus Christ will be visible to the whole world. It will be a global event. Both the good and bad, the believers and unbelievers will see Him. Matthew 24:29-31 – “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other.” WORLD – AFRRICA – NIGERIA

8.  When He returns, according to words of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:46 – “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when He comes will find him so doing.” (NKJV) The Church exists only for mission (soul winning) and blessed is that Servant whom when his master returns will find him in the field winning souls. Are you in that number? The Church should wake up to its responsibilities, unite and tackle the task given to us by our Lord and Master Jesus Christ which is soul wining for therein lies our salvation. Sister Udokanma Uzor Ref: Applied Theology 1, A.C. Krass, Daily Guide 2013. WORLD – AFRRICA – NIGERIA