The Devil is all about Numbers
The Devil is all about Numbers
1 Peter 5:8 NLT Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Why am I so obsessed with numbers? Two reasons: Because of the Great Commission, “preach the Gospel to every creature…” and because of 1 Peter 5:8. Our enemy is vying for souls that we should be passionately trying to reach. Each person on earth is a target of the enemy and he wants to devour them.
Okay, that builds a fire of urgency under me. Am I just wanting numbers for ego or for the Kingdom? I believe in my heart that if we sit around and try to justify our ineffectiveness, regardless of the size of our church, (that is often determined by the size of our town or other issues), we are in essence saying to the devil…I’m big enough, you can have them.
Don’t feel condemned by this….don’t feel inept…get fired up for those whom Jesus died for. An USA Today article headline said, “Young adults less devoted to faith.” It goes on to state that a high percentage of young adults are avoiding church and faith in Jesus. Question: Can we just sit by? Are we going to listen to those who tell us, “numbers are just a pastor’s ego wanting to be stroked?”
Give me your thoughts –
Billy
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Comments
Judson Bartels
Well spoken, Pastor Billy! Numbers matter to God… he has a book by that name.
Dave Mathieson
I see what you’re saying, but not every pastor takes the long view, unfortunately. For their sakes, look at it like this: the word you quoted says ‘every creature.’ ‘Every’ is unquantifyable. Let’s just get out there and do the work and let Him keep the tally; after all, they’re His, not ours.
John Atkinson
Loved Chris Hodges talk on this last week at the ARC Conference! In my opinion numbers absolutely matter, because each one of them is attached to a person. Clearly ego has to be checked, but thats necessary in all areas of leadership not just in the numbers! Great discussion topic thanks! John Atkinson
Thanks John for your comment. Chris did a great job sharing his heart about growth and reaching souls.
Dayvid Teague
Billy: Once again you speak from the heart. Jesus said it’s all about you seeing your part in the Kingdom and doing what you have been called and commanded to do. We are told to go and to keep on going and if we won’t go we are missing the heart of our commander. I think we express the depth of our love for Him when we determine to do all we are able to advance the Kingdom and this means loving and leading people to a saving knowledge of what Jesus did for us. If we feed the poor and don’t attempt to feed into their souls we have failed to see the cross clearly. And we are all poor until we have received the grace of salvation.
Patrick Sheets
Was Jesus into numbers when he saw the masses of people that were like sheep without a shepherd? He wasn’t satisfied with 99.
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