The Conversion of An Extreme Terrorist

Article by David Youngren
I felt like I could not do anything more. I had spoken for forty minutes and the Pastors from all over Tanzania did not respond the way I had expected. It had been so open earlier in the week, but now I felt I was not getting through. So as I concluded the message, I thought that I missed it. Nothing was going to happen. Then I did something unusual. I just opened the Bible to Isaiah 53, and began to read. I SIMPLY just read the Word. When I started the second verse, it suddenly happened. As the Word declares, it's "not by might nor by power but by My Spirit".

The incredible presence of God hovered over the place. People began to sob seemingly uncontrollable as the presence of Christ was so strong. These precious Pastors were having an encounter with Christ. I looked over at my wife, Kim, who also was in tears in tears because to see these wonderful Pastors was a sight unlike any other. They were being changed as they had a revelation of God's incredible love for them.

After this session, we were able to impart the plan of God for in reaching their nation for God. As these Pastors returned to their cities, there was an air of anticipation. They had encountered more than a religious Jesus. They had had a new revelation of Christ, and now they also had strategy and vision to reach their nation. What will it take? Have you ever wondered what it takes to reach more than 1.6 billion people who have never heard the Gospel? Or how to reach 5 out of 6 billion people who have never responded to Christ in any way. It has been 2000 years since Jesus walked on this earth, and the Great Commission has not yet been fulfilled. What will it take to see the Great Commission fulfilled?

Everything begins with an encounter with Christ. For example, the Apostle Paul was a religious extremist, who had been trained in the most fundamentalist branch of Judaism. He was an accomplished known terrorist, who was persecuting the church. He spearheaded the brutal murder of a well known evangelist - Stephen. He led an international mission to Damascus to organize further terrorism against the church.

Then in a moment's time, he was transformed from an extreme terrorist to a believer in Christ. History records Paul as possibly the greatest ambassador of the Gospel ever. Unquestionably, he has had a greater impact on the church than any other person except for Jesus. What caused this complete turn around? It began with his encounter with Christ traveling to Damascus to plot further terrorism against the church. When Paul encountered Christ, he was forever changed.

I don't believe the reason why we, the church, have not fulfilled the Great Commission yet has anything to do with lack of technology, methods and strategies. We have the ability like at no other time in history. The greatest reason has to do with believers' lack of revelation of God’s grace. Once we have that "Damascus road" encounter with Christ, it will propel us to fulfill the mandate of God. If our efforts are based on mere strategies, wisdom and human effort, we will always fall short.

The Necessity of an Encounter

It's possible to believe in Christ; to have prayed the sinner's prayer; to have attended church for decades; to be a preacher of the Word of God; and to be a genuine believer in Christ without having had a true encounter with God’s grace. Many people know, believe and even follow the Bible. They do what isrequired of them as Christians. But such actions can turn into a form of religious duty, and can become like a chore. For example, we go to church and give in the offering because we want to do what is right according to the Word of God. However, our actions may not necessarily stem from the heart, but out of religious duty.

Religion is about our attempt to get to God. We consciously or unconsciously ask what must "I" do to please God. The Gospel, however, is not about what "I" can do to please God; it's about what "He" has done for us. Some assume, if it's about what He has done, it means I don't have to do anything. Which in some ways is true… But if we truly have had encounter with Christ, His life now is our life. He lives in me and through me to do God's will.

True faith in Christ is not another set of rules and commandments about what we must do. We cannot do it effectively in our own strength anyhow. A genuine conversion results in that Christ comes and lives in and through us to perform the will of God. When we have a genuine encounter with Christ, we are moved to fulfill the Great Commission not because of duty, but because Christ in us propels us to do it.

If Christ in us compels us to fulfill the Great Commission, we will not easily fatigue or quit. We will not be moved by the feelings of the day. We will walk in faith in Christ and do His will with a joy and contentment on the inside. The Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified (killed) with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

The Nature of an Encounter with Christ

What is a true encounter? Ephesians 3:17 encourages us to have Christ "dwell in our hearts by faith." Then Paul continues that to have Christ dwell in our hearts by faith comes when we are "rooted and grounded in love," which means that we comprehend and intimately know by experience the vastness of the love of Christ. A true encounter reveals in our hearts what Christ accomplished on the cross for us. It goes from mere head knowledge to an intimate and an internal awareness and heartfelt understanding of God's incredible love for us in that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.

It's when we cannot help but cry because we are enraptured in His love. It's when we truly understand that it does not matter what sin we have ever done, because in Him we are free. It's when the Gospel hits home and the light in our hearts (not just head) is switched on. We get it. "Christ died and suffered for me." It's when nothing else matters because we were destined for death, but God stepped in and took our place. Imagine if a car was coming toward you at a hundred miles per hour, and you had no way of escape. Suddenly out of nowhere someone steps in and takes your place. What would be your response? I’m sure you would be overcome by emotions for the incredible act of love demonstrated toward you. From that moment, you would always have a deep sense of love and gratitude for the one who gave his life for you. Out of love we would make sure that his family and loved ones would always be taken care of. Having a true encounter with God’s grace makes us realize and gain the amazing understanding of His love toward us. Such knowledge results in an incredible burst of emotions, which leads us to let Him live through us.

I was raised in a Christian home, and I have always gone to church and believed in Jesus. But at the age of 11, I had my first encounter with Christ. It's when I became born again. Over the years, I noticed that my life gradually became more of a religious duty. I did what I was supposed to do. I did it because that's what believers are supposed to do. But I did not have the joy. I seemed to struggle. It became about what I could do.

But when the Holy Spirit began to reveal to me the wonder of God’s Grace, I was transformed from the inside out. I knew I am blessed by Him. I did not have to strive or try to make things happen. I didn’t need continuous prodding and encouragement to do God’s will. It was not tiresome and did not feel like a burden. His grace in me propelled me to do His will. It was no longer my ideas of doing His work. It was Him working through me.

As we empower Pastors and church leaders, we do not just teach great principles to follow. Our goal is that every Pastor, leader and believer would encounter God’s grace. If people encounter Christ then they will never be the same again. After having a revelation of the cross, it's easy to teach principles of how to reach people for Christ. No longer does it seem like a chore, but now there is inner motivation and desire that want to reach others.

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