We have churches full of people who have learned about Christ with their mind but have never met the Man! They know about the house of God but they do not know God—that is, not until they go through a crisis and learn to trust Him, to lean on Him.

No, salvation is not a matter of learning about Jesus but of eating Jesus. Can you say Amen?

We may be thirsty and hungry, partly in our mind but primarily in our heart. We need Jesus. We need to eat His flesh and drink His blood. First we must believe, and then the belief must move us to eat Him and drink Him. If it does not, it is not true belief but a head knowledge, a mental assent, a philosophy. In this case there is no salvation in it, no eternal life.

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. (John 6:37,38—NIV)

The above passage has a great deal to say about evangelism and missionary work.

In the first place, the Lord Jesus stated that all whom the Father gives Him will come to Him. This tells us that evangelism is not to proceed blindly. If a person's coming to Jesus depends on the gift of the Father, should we not then go to the Father to find out whom He is giving to Jesus?

Is it common today for the work of evangelism to proceed without anyone hearing from the Father? Isn't it true that no verse of the Scriptures can be applied correctly except as the Holy Spirit guides us, whether the verse has to do with our own moral correction or with the work of the ministry?

I think the blind are following the blind today. I think the churches are filled with people who have been proselyted to a religion—people whom the Father has never given to Jesus.

If I am correct in this, when the Holy Spirit restores the message of righteousness and holiness to the ministers of our country, the "mixed multitude" will flee. They may profess faith in the blood. They may claim to be born again. They may speak in tongues. They may serve in the ministry. But the Lord never knew them. They will not accept the demands of discipleship. They are "religious Christians" and do not know Christ nor does He know them.

It is scriptural for us to preach the Gospel to every creature. If we do this faithfully the Father will give to Jesus those whom God has appointed to eternal life. But if we use all kinds of marketing techniques and talents to "draw them in" we may build a large church but many of the members may be more of a liability than an asset to the actual Kingdom of God.

It seems to me that a pastor whose primary goal is to increase the numbers in attendance could be led away from what Christ desires for the locality. Perhaps I am incorrect in this.

To be continued.