Thoughts for Life: #19 Answering Our Call

Andrew Murray- We consider it a great step forward when a congregation yields itself to the call to take part in the great work of evangelizing the world.

Yet this may come about from nothing more than a sense of duty and readiness to take part in all the activities of the Church. Believers must realize that missions are the chief aim of the Church, the one object for which every congregation and every believer exists. (Google image, Church gathering)

In preaching and in writing, in prayer and in Christian fellowship, all work within the Church should train her for her great calling—work on the mission field to win the unbelievers for Christ.

Dependence on the Holy Spirit is the first and essential element of success. By the Spirit, the church will be able to carry out its Lord's commands. When the Holy Spirit takes the place that was given to Him in the early Church, we may expect His power to be manifested as it was in those days.

"Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me . . . unto the uttermost part of the earth" ((Acts 1:8). These were the last words of our Lord on the earth.

The fullness of the Spirit will only be given in connection with the extension of the Kingdom. The power for carrying the gospel to those near or far depends on the measure of the Spirit's presence.

Every prayer for the power of the Spirit to be revealed should have as its aim the power to testify for Jesus. As the number of believers increases who pray for the Spirit, the church will become strong for preaching the gospel to every creature.

The School of Prayer

A close connection exists between these thoughts and our life of secret devotion. Paul spoke to believers of the conflict he had in unceasing prayer for the churches who were struggling among the world of unbelievers.

He asked them to strive with him in prayer for his work of preaching to the Gentiles. Prayer was not to be only for the supply of the needs of the spiritual life, but a training school for the exercise of the highest power available to us in God's service.

Prayer brings us into conflict with the powers of darkness and into fellowship with the cross. It stirs our strength to take hold of God and prevail with Him for his blessing on men around us.

Prayer causes believers to realize, amid their deep sense of unworthiness and helplessness, "I have power with God. He will listen to me. He will cause our mission work to triumph through the power of the cross on the battlefield in the world."

Let us test the effectiveness of our prayers by the influence they exercise on the fulfillment of the mystery of Christ in the world. Work can be done in the prayer closet that will count for eternity. There, the power can be received that will make itself felt wherever God sends us to establish His Kingdom on earth.

Let us not be afraid to say what Paul said of himself, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8).

We may count on God to lead us into the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles. Our prayer will be for the power of the Holy Spirit to permeate all that is being done for mission work in the Church and throughout the world.

(Chapter 9, pp. 46-49, italics added)

Receiving Power from God

by Andrew Murray
Copyright © 1984

by Whitaker House

Used by permission

www.whitakerhouse.com.

Let's pray-

Father, many believe it's a step forward when a congregation yields itself to take part in the work of evangelizing the world, and it is, but it may only come from a sense of duty, as part of the activities of the Church.

But we Believers must realize that missions are to be the chief aim of the Church, the object for which every congregation and believer exists.

In the preaching and in writing, in prayer and in our Christian fellowship, all work within the Church is to train us for our great calling, which is the field to win the unsaved to Christ.

Help us realize that our dependence on Your Holy Spirit is the first and essential element of success, for by Him, we will be partakes of His power as it was in the early days of the Church.

May we understand that our prayers for His power will be to reveal Jesus, so that our churches will become strong again for preaching the gospel to every creature.

As our prayers are for the power of the Holy Spirit to permeate all that we do in our churches for mission work in and throughout the world, we ask for Your help to make us aware of the importance we're making through praying!
We ask this in Christ's name. Amen.

Go: The Great Commission

[Thy Kingdom Come] Ben Levendusky

at CFC Madrid. Matthew 28

November 10, 2019

Today's Bible verses-

Luke 6:38 (AMP) "Give and it will be given to you.

They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed

down, shaken together, and running over [with no space

left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you

use when you do good to others], it will be measured

to you in return."

James 4:8 (NASB) “Draw near to God and He will draw
near to you…”

Psalm 55:22 (AMPC) “Cast your burden on the Lord
[releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be
moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).”

Today's quote-

~ Charles Spurgeon- "Come, Holy Spirit. You have often overshadowed us. Come, and more fully take possession of us. As we feel we are standing now right at the mercy seat, our very highest prayer is for perfect holiness, complete consecration, entire cleansing from all evil. Take our hearts, our heads, our hands, our feet, and use all of us for You. Take our substance; let us not hoard it or spend it for ourselves. Take our talents; let us not educate ourselves so that we may have the reputation of being wise, but let every mental gain be for the purpose of serving You better!"

Words of wisdom-

~ When we offer our efforts to God it sanctifies what was thought to be secular.
~ It's the manner in which we do what we do that makes it a spiritual activity.

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