Every Creature Commission

“The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were.”  – JFK

“And he said unto them, ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’” Mark 16:15

 
We know that Jesus was the Great Dreamer of all dreamers. When He said preach the gospel to Every Creature, was it merely a generic wish, or was it the Dreamer’s command — that every person would have the gospel preached to them? We cannot take casually the commands of Christ.
Seventy-three years ago, a young Canadian Pastor named Jack McAlister was apprehended by the divine vision of Mark 16 – to reach every home in the world with the gospel. He took Jesus’ words at face value and founded the ministry of Every Home for Christ. Today thousands of believers are carrying the gospel door to door with a vision to reach every home. Millions have been saved and thousands of Christ groups (home churches) have been formed to preserve the harvest. Arguably, this ministry has been the most successful missions movement in the world. And who fuels it, but everyday common indigenous workers, who risk their lives because they’ve been gripped with the simple gospel – Jesus saves.
 
Now, a new generation arises. A spiritual son of mine, Tanner Peake, Vice President of International Ministries at Every Home for Christ has been apprehended with finishing that task – the ‘Every Creature Commission.’ He is launching the Oikos (Greek word for home) vision – that every home in the world would receive the gospel presentation through a personal witness or the receiving of gospel literature at their home. The goal is to reach every home in the world in the next 20 years. Even as today’s quote declares – there are skeptics and cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities of such a goal. When I look through National Geographic magazines and see the stacked high rises of Hong Kong or the great populations of the slum communities built on top of one another in cities and on mountains, it’s impossible.

Hudson Taylor the great missionary to China said, “There are three stages to every great work of God; first it is impossible, then it is difficult; then it is done.”

Jesus said, “all things are possible to them that believe.”

Goeth said, “Dream no small dreams, for they have no power to move men.”

Surely Jesus did not dream a small dream, and we refuse to dial down and limit His horizons. Jesus gave us a prayer that turns impossibilities into possibilities. He said, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Lou’s translation: “Therefore, I command you to beg me, the Lord of the Harvest, to ekballo laborers into the harvest fields.” As an older man, I want to stand behind a new Joshua who says it can be done. What I bring to the table of possibility is this dynamic prayer. Those fasting with me today, all over the world, would you take up this prayer – for the finishing of the task? Pray “Ekballo” with faith and persistence for the ‘Every Creature Commission to be fulfilled. I want us to pray that God would thrust forth tens of thousands of indigenous workers into the harvest of every unreached people group and into Every Home.
 
Prayer
Lord, we believe Your word, that you want to reach every creature. And Lord, there’s no way to measure every creature unless we reach every home. We are overwhelmed with the obvious realities of the impossibility of this task, but you gave us this scripture as the antidote to this impossibility.  Therefore, we have courage to pray the prayer you gave us – Lord of the Harvest, hurl forth laborers into every home, every refugee and nomad tent, every slum dwelling, every houseboat, and every high-rise apartment. I pray for this Oikos vision to find tens of thousands of fellow dreamers who will put the dream in action. May this great dream move men and women all across the globe. May you breathe on this vision, and may it multiply beyond all that we could think or imagine. For Jesus, You are worthy of every creature’s devotion. In Jesus’ name. Amen.