New York City had a tough time between 1804 and 1918. The following epidemics ran rampant during those years:

• Yellow fever (three outbreaks resulting in 445 deaths)

• Typhoid fever (one outbreak equaling 200 deaths)

• Influenza (one outbreak causing 12,562 deaths)

• Smallpox (two outbreaks resulting in 7,044 deaths)

• Cholera (six outbreaks equaling 13,210 deaths)

Imgaine there was an outbreak of Christian teenagers truly being, doing and saying exactly what God directed them to! The news might read something like this:

• Following God to the mission field (52 outbreaks resulting in 15,000 new Christians)

• Witnessing to friends at school (1,000 outbreaks equaling 25,000 spiritual conversions)

• Refusing to participate in drinking, drugs, premarital sex (20,000 outbreaks causing 13,659 nonbelievers to visit church)

• Speaking up in class against evolution, abortion and New Age (638 outbreaks resulting in 9,220 students researching what they believe and why they believe it)

What if . . . just what if you decided to start an outbreak for Christ? Would your class notice the difference? Would your school be the same? Would fellow employees at your part-time job take notice? Would your unsaved family members try to sneak a peek at your Bible?

We can rest assured that your friends, family, fellow employees, city and school would never be the same if you started and consistently participated in an outbreak for Jesus. How could you do such a thing?

Well, you could start a Bible club at your school before or after hours (yes, it's legal!), carry your Bible to school, invite non-churched friends to church and youth group, participate on a missions trip and recruit others to join you, share with those who don't know God the difference He's made and is continuing to make in your life, call 200 people and ask how you can pray for them-no strings attached, initiate a support group to raise money for the persecuted Church.

There are any number of things you can do . . . if you're serious about causing an outbreak for Christ. The best place to start is with your heavenly Father. Ask Him for specific direction. Plead for His guidance. And when He speaks, be willing to obey!

Know It!
You're on a first-name basis with the Lord of Lords. So tell someone! Don't be selfish with Good News; spread it around! Talk it, live it, be it, do it-and things around you will never be the same.

Read It!
Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-47; Acts 3:12-26; Acts 4:1-4.

Pray It!
If you don't want to be a couch potato, tell Jesus you don't want to be a Christian who simply sits through your relationship with Him.Do you want to make a difference? Let God know He can use you. Ask Him to show you specific ways you can begin an outbreak for Him.

Taken from Brio.com

~ Mandy ~