In the Book of Acts (Acts 5:28) the apostles were accused of filling Jerusalem with their doctrine. That was quite a compliment because Christ’s last command to the church just prior to His ascension into heaven was to be witnesses unto Him throughout the whole world including Jerusalem (the place where they were at the time). In Luke 24:47, Jesus said, “… beginning at Jerusalem.”

I believe in world evangelism. We support 140 missionaries monthly. We sponsor a good number of world missionaries through Shawnee Baptist Missions. Shawnee Baptist College has a missions department and a number of our students are preparing for the mission field. However, a plane trip doesn’t make you a missionary.
A missionary will fail miserably if he doesn’t faithfully practice every creature soul-
winning. If a so-called missionary isn’t winning souls at home he will most likely waste away doing religious work on a foreign field but not reaching souls for Christ.

I said all that to say this. YOU and I who are saved have a responsibility to reach the world including our Jerusalem. Many churches have a strong missions program to reach distant parts of the world but are not reaching their Jerusalem. That is only partial obedience and that equals disobedience.

1. To Fill Your City, You Must Realize His Authority

What He tells us to do obviously carries with it His authority for the doing of it. Christ’s command is His authority. He said, “all power is given unto me,” (Matt. 28:18) and then commanded us to “Go.” When I tell a staff member to carry out some order, that is their authorization. Be careful how you “USE” authority. We have authority to do His will, not our will in His name.

2. To Fill Your City, You Must Recognize His Ability

When we look at the task at hand it might seem insurmountable. I am reminded of a quote I heard. “If what you are doing for God doesn’t require a miracle, you aren’t doing enough.” God is not depending on our ability… He wants our availability. We as God’s children, because of His great ability and because “nothing is too hard for God,” should have lofty and challenging goals of reaching the masses of people in our own areas.

When God allowed us to acquire the college campus across the river just six miles from our main church location, I knew immediately that we should begin having services there. I now have the privilege to preach on both sides of the river. This gives us a far greater advantage and opportunity to saturate or “fill” our Jerusalem. Just this week we had the opportunity to knock on several thousand doors spreading the Gospel through tracts and personal invitations. I have received reports of several precious souls saved already through this saturation effort.

If you will make yourself available to God, He will inspire the ideas and open the doors for you to fill your Jerusalem with His doctrine.

3. To Fill Your City, You Must Restore Our Anticipation

As we exercise faith in His authority and ability we must anticipate that He is going to use us in a great way. Get ready for the blessings. The Bible says, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.” (Eph. 3:20-21)

Jim Elliott said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” There must be a spirit and attitude of expectancy. That is what faith and hope are all about. I am expecting God to do what He said He would do.

It doesn’t have to work just like I had thought it would. It doesn’t have to be easy. It probably won’t be easy. If you are allergic to work it will probably never happen to you. However, if you believe God and He hands you a lemon, MAKE SOME LEMONADE. We don’t have time to pout and doubt. Instead, let’s grin and win. Let’s go and grow. God did not leave you on planet earth to abuse you but to use you.

4. To Fill Your City, You Must Receive The Application

Knowing we have His authority and ability and being prepared with anticipation to do His will, we must now APPLY ourselves to the task. It is easy to say, “God can.” Faith says, “God will.” Commitment says, “God can and will through me.” “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil. 4:13) “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (Ecc. 9:10)

There is a price to pay of personal involvement. We must get beyond theory and into practice. Run those bus routes. Survey those subdivisions. Choose a city block and make it your mission field. Sharpen your soul-winning skills. Have an every house campaign. Freely distribute gospel tracts. Do everything humanly possible to fill your Jerusalem with His doctrine.

Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing if the worse thing the liberal religionists, the dead orthodoxies, or government officials could say about you was, “YE HAVE FILLED YOUR JERUSALEM WITH HIS DOCTRINE…”