Have you ever been to a movie and sat through to the end of the credits of that movie. In order to bring to you about 2 hours of entertainment there were literally HUNDREDS of people who gave of their time, their strength, their passion, their skills, there expertise, there team effort, their personal touch, and their sweat and tears. Sometimes the credits for a major motion picture run for minutes at the end of the movie.
And then come the acknowledgements of all the cities, counties, countries, establishments, and so forth that contributed to ‘making this film possible’; any of which had they not been available the film itself WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.
When God decided to start the Church of Jesus Christ he began with a handful of people who were willing to follow Jesus Christ. He put on quite a spectacle with a limited cast, a limited crew, a single director and producer; He had a small location to work with, and a whole lot of ‘extras’ for the back drop. The film was a success! It was a good first film, and the story line stuck. The film has been replayed. Adaptations of the film have been made all over the earth. The characters were a hit, and all received their rewards for their outstanding performances. We know their names by heart, and their deeds have not been forgotten. The film has been immortalized in HIS-story (history)..
Yet, we so often forget that that was only the FIRST FILM. The greatest story every told, the greatest book ever written, the greatest stage production turned best seller turned film was just the FIRST WORK OF THE AUTHOR! He never had it in his mind to only write ONE ACT, or one book, or one play, or one show. He always had it planned more like a trilogy, or long running series. He is writing an EPIC not a one hit wonder!
Now the question you have to ask yourself is this: Do I want to be in the sequel? That is right. The casting call has gone out to everywhere. God needs more actors, more sound technicians, more miracle workers. God needs more institutions to ‘support’ HIS PRODUCTION. He is not interesting in making ‘their films’; He is interested in making HIS films. He needs settings; is your church a viable backdrop?
He wants to DRAW MEN in! Men don’t just ‘show up for church’ any more than they just ‘show up for the movies, or show up for the theatre’. They are drawn in by the TRAILERS! God needs artists who can conceptualize what He is offering; He needs marketers who can sell people on the GOODNESS of the message in the film; He needs POETS, PROPHETS, KINGS, FARMERS, CITY DWELLERS, PIONEERS and a whole lot more support actors. He needs more technical crew too; people who do not need to be in the limelight, but who are one hundred percent committed to the final film. He needs lighting technicians, and sound technicians, and script writers and assistant directors; as well as financial backers for the success of the film. He also needs his distribution team ready and waiting too.
He already has His leading man (His Son), and there already exists the leading lady (The Bride of His Son). People do not come to see the gaffers, after all, but the superstars. It is with them that we are wowed and awed and marveled.
The first film was called: THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND HIS NEW CHURCH. The second film will surely be called: THE MYSTERY OF JESUS CHRIST AND HIS ENDTIME CHURCH. I received my casting call in my spirit mailbox and intend to answer it. How about you??
Original Copyright: © Anthony J. Massotti Th.M., Th.M. 1/15/2006