In August of 1743, John Wesley said: “You have nothing to do but save souls; therefore, spend and be spent in this work. And go always, not only to those who need you but to those who need you the most.” How do we do that, in this season, this time and place: in Franklin County in the twenty-first century? Can I suggest to you that we do not…we cannot…we will not…unless we have help. Perhaps the sin of the church over the past decades is that we have tried to fulfill the great commission on our own and we have failed miserably. So where does that help come from? Consider the words of Christ to his disciples in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…” Perhaps too reminiscent of 19th Century “shouting Methodist” for some, the fact is God working thru human hands makes for an effective team. Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, Peter, Paul (the list goes on and on) each were tremendously effective, not in their own power, but by submitting to God. It is the Holy Spirit of God that goes before us, prepares the way, and softens the hearts of those we shall witness to. It is the Holy Spirit that prepares us for our mission to the lost and dying of this world. Not you, not me…only the Holy Spirit. The question is will you submit yourself to be filled, led, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill Christ’s mission for the church? If not, are you prepared to spend your own strength hindering the Kingdom?
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