Pastor's Corner: Pray to be used for His purpose

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ,

“I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak of God without fear.” — Philippians 1:12-14

Paul does not say being in prison is a wonderful, great experience, sought after or much desired. He declares, the Lord God used his imprisonment for Christ to accomplish great things. Folks learned Paul's imprisonment was for Christ. Everyone associated with the prison became "hearers" of the Gospel. Many became believers in Jesus as Lord, brothers in Christ.

Many of the believers grew in boldness sharing the Gospel without fear.

What do people learn from us? What are folks hearing from us? Do we share good news?

What fruit is borne by our experience of hardship?

We do not suggest that bad things, by nature, become good things. We testify that God accomplishes great things, especially in the midst of that which is bad.

John Wesley struggled much of his life with difficulties. He often had bad experiences. Yet, God worked great things through his faithfulness and the faithfulness of his church.

Wesley's May 1738 Journal includes these entries:

"I had continual sorrow and heaviness in my heart: Something of which I described, in the broken manner I was able, in the following letter to a friend:

"O why is it, that so great, so wise, so holy a God will use such an instrument as me! Lord, 'let the dead bury their dead!' But wilt thou send the dead to raise the dead? Yea, thou sendest whom thou wilt send, and showest mercy by whom thou wilt show mercy! Amen! Be it then according to thy will! If thou speak the word, Judas shall cast out devils.

"I feel what you say, (though not enough,) for I am under the same condemnation. I see that the whole law of God is holy, just, and good. I know every thought, every temper of my soul, ought to bear God's image and superscription. But how am I fallen from the glory of God! I feel that 'I am being full of all abominations: And having no good thing in me, to atone for them, or to remove the wrath of God. All my works, my righteousness, my prayers, need an atonement for themselves. So that my mouth is stopped. I have nothing to plead. God is holy, I am unholy. God is a consuming fire: I am altogether a sinner, meet to be consumed.

"Yet I hear a voice (and is it not the voice of God?) saying, 'Believe, and thou shalt be saved. He that believeth is passed from death unto life. God so loved the world that the gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'

Do you sense Wesley's struggles and doubts? Do you hear his anguish? He doubted and wondered about his fruitfulness and faithfulness, yet we regard him as an amazing saint of God!

Jesus calls us, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:7-11) Jesus is for us, especially in the difficulties and hardships, he wants us to call to him, to confess our need, and receive his salvation and glorious presence.

May we take heart! God's Holy Spirit continues to commune with our spirits to convince us of God's work in us for salvation, purification, perfecting us and completing us; all while we engage in ministry which God uses to accomplish great things!

Pray earnestly and fervently for God to use each of us in his perfect way to accomplish what He desires for his glory and the salvation of many souls!

In Jesus.

Rev. Paul Wier pastors at First United Methodist Church of Fairbury