Water, Please!

Sometimes complex problems have simple solutions. Free Methodists could double their giving to World Missions with two simple words – “Water, please!” If every time we went out to eat we simply asked for water instead of our favorite soft drink, tea or coffee we could divert those monies to World Missions and more than double our giving.

Many people are familiar with John Wesley’s advice to early Methodists – “Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”  Most people understand the first and third admonitions, but the second is rarely understood. “Save all you can” means to be as frugal as possible. If you can get by with less—do it! This opens the door to greater generosity.

Some older Free Methodists can remember the days when the wearing of jewelry was discouraged. Many of them think it was a sign of being worldly. In one sense it is, but not on appearance, but on losing touch with the mission of Christ. Early pioneer Free Methodists could not see their way clear to spend on themselves what they could give to the poor.

The problem is not that we don’t have the money to give. The problem is we choose to be self-indulgent. Our own appetites serve as an enemy to the gospel. Why not engage in some practical act to decrease self-indulgence? It can be as simple as saying, “Water, please!”

Victory Over Sin

“There is no reason why every believer should not have immediate victory over sin. There should be no divorces among God’s people…because the incredible power of the Risen Christ who lives within us is present to give victory over all the difficulties that you are facing — whether it is in the marketplace, in your marriage, with your children, in your church or community.”  Henry Blackaby on Prime Time America aired March 27, 2008. You can listen to the broadcast here:  The interview begins about minute 47.

 

This quote was given in response to a question by the host as to the characteristics of the power of the ressurected life. Dr. Blackaby’s immediate response was the conext tells us that Christ defeated sin and death and hell. He went on to state the quote above. The whole conversation was in the context of Dr. Blackaby’s book, “Experiencing the Ressurection” and was particularly in relation to Ephesians 1:18-20 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. NIV

 

I was half-tuned into the conversation until that moment. I thought of how far “the church” is from that reality. The local church I attend is far from that reality. The church in Corinth was far from that reality. Even the church at  Ephesus was far from that reality. So is Blackaby promoting a pipe dream? One of the things Blackaby stated in the conversation was “people know what to believe, but they often don’t experience what they say they believe.”

 

I can’t transform the church, but I can do what Christ calls me to do. So pertinent questions for me:  Am I experiencing the reality of the power of the ressurection? Am I leading my family by that experience? Am I actively engaged with at least one other person who is not living in that experience? Can I be an encouragment to him or her?