As the Gospel Rally Approaches

We sang the hymn “Must I Go and Empty Handed” in last Sunday’s Worship Service.  This hymn was written by Charles Carroll who was a journalist and lay evangelist before he was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1886.  He authored this hymn when he heard about a Rev A.V. Upham relate about a dying young man.  He had been a Christian for only a month.  He was thankful to the Lord for giving him salvation during his final hour but he was very sad.  He explained why: “I am not afraid to die.  Jesus saves me now.  But must I go empty handed?”  He grieved because he had no opportunity to serve the Lord or share Him with others.  The first stanza of the hymn and the chorus go thus:

Must I go, and empty handed
Thus my dear Saviour meet?
Not one day of service give Him
Lay not trophy at His feet?

Must I go, and empty handed
Must I meet my Saviour so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him
Must I empty handed go?

In less than two weeks’ time, we will hold our annual gospel rally.  It is an opportunity to do for our Lord what he cares about most: to save souls.  Have you identified whom you are going to bring to this rally?  Have you invited them?  Have you been praying frequently for their salvation?  Have you been praying for the speaker?  We must pray because this is a spiritual battle and its objective is to snatch lost souls from the strangle hold of Satan:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Eph 6:12)

Our Saviour’s greatest desire is the salvation of souls.  Therefore, love your Saviour who loves you so much that he died to save you.  How can you grief your Saviour’s heart by being indifferent to souls who are perishing?  You may not know how to preach.  But your can be a good testimony and invite them to this rally.

Love your loved ones: your husband, wife, parents, brothers, sisters and your relatives.  Jesus has very clearly warned us: “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).  If they do not receive Jesus as their Saviour, they will suffer the consequences of their sins: eternal torment in hell.  Give them Jesus.  Then they will receive real peace in this life and after that, they will spend eternity in heaven.  If you really love them, tell them the good news: Jesus can give them eternal life (John 3:16) and an abundant life (John 10:10).

The choir has been working hard.  They will sing two beautiful songs.  There is also a children program for those who are in K2-Primary 2 so that parents can listen to the message undisturbed.  The Lord’s messenger for that day is Rev Goh Seng Fong and he will preach on a very relevant topic: “What is Life?”  Pray and invite your relative and friends.  Let’s all work hard to save souls.