There are many ways to empower someone. We empower our children to succeed by sending them to school and college. We empower them morally by teaching them truth, helping them to know God. And we empower them physically by helping them exercise, eat right and get plenty of rest. But power for doing God's work ultimately does not come from these things. It comes from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit must empower us, or evangelism and discipleship in a church will founder. Sadly this was only mentioned, but not emphasized at all, in a recent conference I attended.
What would we have said? Only the obvious: that we must pray more and be more united in prayer, as the first century Christians, until the Spirit is given and the power to be his witnesses falls upon us afresh; and that we and our children can and should GO, not just think or talk or write, but also GO and preach and make disciples, heal the sick and help the poor, and do it all explicitly in Jesus' Name. HE must be lifted up if he would draw all men unto himself through our labor. [Jn 12:32]
Furthermore, we would have discussed that depending on the Spirit includes striving against temptation and sin. Far too little is said of this these days. If we do not teach the evilness of sin, how can we impress on anyone the need for a Deliverer? How will God be glorified if Christians live worldly, un-christlike, selfish lives?
I truly thank the Lord for this conference, despite the shortcoming. It is the simple truths that we must constantly reiterate, both to ourselves and our children. May God empower us all to do so. May God UNITE US IN PRAYER, for spiritual power, revival, strength, victory over temptation, and help in teaching our precious children the truths and values of Jesus Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment