Hi all
I've been away so please forgive the lack of communication. George has, though, penned some words about recent evenings out, a little further down.
There's a growing sense that we need to step back from going out this Monday and Tuesday, so that instead we can devote the whole of both evenings to prayer. Whether we pray outside, prayer-walking, or inside isn't yet decided but there is a sense that we have to pray and reinforce that firm foundation for our future work outside. Of course we pray every time we go out, every time we come back and very often while we're out as well. BUT there are times when we feel we need to spend the whole of an evening devoted to prayer, thanking Him for what He's done for us and for our work, seeking renewal and guidance too. It's our relationship with God and trust in Him that gives us the strength to GO and Do. We need that as surely as we need water to drink.
Here's a question. If you feel that you're being called OUT to where the people are, do you wait for God to tell you where, specifically, or do you just GO? Bear in mind, please, it's not as though Going is a new and radical idea. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations", seems pretty clear to me.
I strongly suspect there are very many good people who wait for the registered letter, BUT I wonder if that's right - are they missing the point? I'm no theologian but I strongly suspect that if God lays a burden on you to go out to people where they are, it's a little like the sergeant major telling you to jump. You don't ask 'when?'. You probably don't even ask 'how high?' You just drop everything else you're doing and JUMP!
From experience (speaking as someone who for many years ignored God), just GOing is all that He asks to begin with. It starts small - like giving someone a glass of water - then grows. I have the confidence in Him to reassure anyone who is called and Goes in obedience, that they'll never regret it. If you really want a close relationship with God and to SEE him working, then just GO! Almost inevitably there will be sacrifice involved of one sort or another - but just GO and see what happens. God will either be with you (or not). If He's laid something on your heart it'd be quite a surprise if, after GOing, you were to return disappointed.
How do I put this more plainly... GO!
http://www.livingwaterunity.org/music-program/Hymns/here-i-am-lord.htm
Much love
John
From George...
It is so easy to get distracted and knocked off course! Earlier this week I had a really good night with Outside Light but I had also been feeling discouraged that gospel conversations weren't always resulting in the outcome I wanted. Then Phil reminded me this is not my job, I have been tasked with proclaiming the truth not achieving results, not the way people react. It is a bit like working in a restaurant and being told to peel the potatoes and then getting upset that people aren't eating the carrots.
Jesus told us to GO into all the world and proclaim the gospel, that's it, he does the rest! Thanks for the reminder, Phil.
Last Monday I had a really clear gospel conversation and the boy asked me for the next bit to the story, "I really want to know the next bit, what do I have to do.." I pray that he went home that night and got on his knees and prayed.
If anyone reading this feels that they are being called to GO and proclaim, as the Bible asks us all to do, then there are some dates you might like to note down for your diary... as below.
These are primarily for outreach and equipping - so just need the people now!
11th Oct - 10.00am outreach at St Johns (meet at church - go out and talk to people)
12th Oct - 11.30 am equipping session and valuable teaching
1st Nov - Outreach, at St Johns (meet at church - go out and talk to people)
16th Nov - Asif Mall, sharing your faith with Muslims @11.30am St Johns
GeorgePS from John - anyone who hasn't been on one of these training days might like to give it a try. It's easier than you think to talk to strangers and to share the Gospel with them. Again this isn't something that I thought would come naturally, but really it's not that hard
Hi all
I've been away so please forgive the lack of communication. George has, though, penned some words about recent evenings out, a little further down.
There's a growing sense that we need to step back from going out this Monday and Tuesday, so that instead we can devote the whole of both evenings to prayer. Whether we pray outside, prayer-walking, or inside isn't yet decided but there is a sense that we have to pray and reinforce that firm foundation for our future work outside. Of course we pray every time we go out, every time we come back and very often while we're out as well. BUT there are times when we feel we need to spend the whole of an evening devoted to prayer, thanking Him for what He's done for us and for our work, seeking renewal and guidance too. It's our relationship with God and trust in Him that gives us the strength to GO and Do. We need that as surely as we need water to drink.
Here's a question. If you feel that you're being called OUT to where the people are, do you wait for God to tell you where, specifically, or do you just GO? Bear in mind, please, it's not as though Going is a new and radical idea. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations", seems pretty clear to me.
I strongly suspect there are very many good people who wait for the registered letter, BUT I wonder if that's right - are they missing the point? I'm no theologian but I strongly suspect that if God lays a burden on you to go out to people where they are, it's a little like the sergeant major telling you to jump. You don't ask 'when?'. You probably don't even ask 'how high?' You just drop everything else you're doing and JUMP!
From experience (speaking as someone who for many years ignored God), just GOing is all that He asks to begin with. It starts small - like giving someone a glass of water - then grows. I have the confidence in Him to reassure anyone who is called and Goes in obedience, that they'll never regret it. If you really want a close relationship with God and to SEE him working, then just GO! Almost inevitably there will be sacrifice involved of one sort or another - but just GO and see what happens. God will either be with you (or not). If He's laid something on your heart it'd be quite a surprise if, after GOing, you were to return disappointed.
How do I put this more plainly... GO!
http://www.livingwaterunity.org/music-program/Hymns/here-i-am-lord.htm
Much love
John
From George...
It is so easy to get distracted and knocked off course! Earlier this week I had a really good night with Outside Light but I had also been feeling discouraged that gospel conversations weren't always resulting in the outcome I wanted. Then Phil reminded me this is not my job, I have been tasked with proclaiming the truth not achieving results, not the way people react. It is a bit like working in a restaurant and being told to peel the potatoes and then getting upset that people aren't eating the carrots.
Jesus told us to GO into all the world and proclaim the gospel, that's it, he does the rest! Thanks for the reminder, Phil.
Last Monday I had a really clear gospel conversation and the boy asked me for the next bit to the story, "I really want to know the next bit, what do I have to do.." I pray that he went home that night and got on his knees and prayed.
If anyone reading this feels that they are being called to GO and proclaim, as the Bible asks us all to do, then there are some dates you might like to note down for your diary... as below.
These are primarily for outreach and equipping - so just need the people now!
11th Oct - 10.00am outreach at St Johns (meet at church - go out and talk to people)
12th Oct - 11.30 am equipping session and valuable teaching
1st Nov - Outreach, at St Johns (meet at church - go out and talk to people)
16th Nov - Asif Mall, sharing your faith with Muslims @11.30am St Johns
George
PS from John - anyone who hasn't been on one of these training days might like to give it a try. It's easier than you think to talk to strangers and to share the Gospel with them. Again this isn't something that I thought would come naturally, but really it's not that hard
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