The Tribune

By MINISTER KEITH EVANS

Isaiah 60:1-3 says, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and Kings to the brightness of thy rising."

Over 1,500 churches in New Providence and crime is still a major concern. It seems like a new church is opening up in our country every day. As a disclaimer, I do support the robust growth of the kingdom, and the expansion of the kingdom of God, but don't open up another ministry to make money, or to use people, please don't!

The criminal element in Nassau seems to be wreaking havoc at all levels of society. Grand Bahama has had it share in the mischievous misbehaviour of our young people, too. The Church is supposed to be the conscience of a society, but are we? A beacon of light on a hill and the salt of the earth. Now's the time for all the churches to get outside of their four walls and bombard the streets strategically and purposely with the glorious gospel of Jesus.

Another conference on how to make more money conflicts with Scripture. Too many people are hurting and dying while we are fighting for positions and titles in the Church. Children are being molested, young men are being gunned down, and we fighting for the pulpit to inflate our egos? Where did this narcissistic spirit come from? Imagine if all 1,500 of the churches in Nassau rallied together and go over or down the hill preaching about the mighty Saviour?

The result would be like Great Awakening with George Whitfield, John and Charles Wesley. We have become too complacent with just having church. There's no real conviction to reach the lost, let alone carry out the great commission in our streets! The LGBT people have gay pride month and they're marching in the US and other liberal countries, and are seeking to march in the Bahamas in the foreseeable future. But the Christians are sitting in church in anticipation for their Boaz, and Ruth talking about wealth and marriage. Just in case you have forgotten, the Church isn't a building made with human hands, but the spiritual edifice built by the risen Saviour on the day of Pentecost.

We have lost focus and redirected our attention towards the megastar preachers on the Christian networks. Everyone wants to live rich and go through nothing, then escape in the Rapture to Heaven! While our brothers in China, the Philippines and the Islamic nations go through tremendous persecutions nonstop. Paul was decapitated, Peter crucified upside down with his wife, and people today are leaving their churches because somebody didn't shake their hand!

The Bahamas' population is only 400,000. The salvation of this island nation is achievable. It breaks my heart to see the amount of young men going to prison while we go live on Facebook to preach about sowing financial seeds to build a new sanctuary. We're doing this while members sitting in church don't have food in their cupboards and with their light off.

The book of Acts was called Acts because the first century Church acted upon the revelation bequeathed to them at Mount Olivet. Acts 1:8: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

OK, Pastor and Bishop, you have 400 members in your cathedral, but do you have 400 saved members? It's not about the beautiful cathedrals, or the expensive chandeliers, or the stained glass windows, it's about winning souls! It's about being obedient to the Holy Spirit and submissive to Him. It's about living a holy and consecrated life, fasting and praying consistently. Now's the time to snatch our Bahamas out of the devil's maniacal grip. Are you ready?

• For questions and comments e-mail kenazevans242@gmail.com or keithevans242@gmail.com.