Spreading the Word

We can be sensitive to the hand of God and recognize that He is positioning us to do ministry in His name. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth in 1st Corinthians 16:
7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.
8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.
9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.

We are part of a body of Christ that stretches around the world.  We can be ready to do Christ's work around our neighborhood as well as around the world, acting in tandem with our partners in ministry to share the love of Jesus.  We can be confident that He is orchestrating circumstances, opening doors, and opening hearts so that people may come into a saving knowledge of Him.  We are part of God's plan to reach people with His love. 

+++++

We can be confident in God's ability to open doors for the gospel to be shared.  Paul asked for prayer to 
that end in Colossians 4:
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,
4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

A relatively small congregation in the state of Indiana is reportedly touching thousands halfway around the world through its generosity, even though worship attendance has been diminished due to COVID.  The Christian Post reported on Plymouth Baptist Church, which is located in Northern Indiana, which had begun to pray regarding how it could partner with a foreign missions work.  Executive Pastor Doug Dieterly, according to the article, "...asked the church to pray for a connection to a Christian work in a foreign country, and members readily responded, having gone through Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God several times as a body. One of Blackaby’s primary principles is to be open to seeing the Lord’s activity in unexpected places and join Him there rather than starting a ministry on our own and trying to get Him to bless it."

A visitor to the church named Adam introduced the congregation to the work of a missionary working in Pakistan referred to as "Paul," whom he supported.  Paul had to leave the country, and ended up staying at Adam's home. Paul came to church with Adam and heard Doug lead a 12-week Experiencing God study. The article says that Paul "...asked Dieterly if he could get copies of the study in Urdu to take it with him to Pakistan."  Unfortunately, there was not a translation into Urdu.

Paul basically said, no problem, and he set out to translate the Bible study.  Adam made a connection with a pastor, Rafiq, and his daughter, Sana, in Pakistan and the church sent copies of the study to them; Doug then led them through it via video conference calls.  The Christian Post reports: "Within a few weeks of finishing, Rafiq called the executive pastor and explained he had 22 pastors and Sunday school teachers from the churches he had planted who wanted to go through the study but needed materials."  

The price tag: an estimated $3500, which was about 3500 more than the church had on hand.  But, God provided through a tent sale, and the first set of materials were made available.  Then, another 20 requests, another $3500, another move of God's hand.  The article was released in mid-November, and at that time, another 100 wanted the Experiencing God training.  And, another Southern Baptist church in California has another ministry partnership in Pakistan that would likewise desire the training materials in the Urdu language.

Henry Blackaby says to find out where God is working and join Him in His work.  The church in Indiana stepped out in faith, God provided the resources - human and otherwise, and His Word is spreading through the faithfulness of His people.  We can consider what incredible things that God can do through the obedience of His servants.

People are hungry - to experience the Word of God and to see the presence of God.  Rather than isolate from the world during the coronavirus plight, this church and those partnering with it continued to have a "go" mentality, and God is continuing to do His work to meet the needs of people.

Jesus came into the world to spread His love, and He has placed us in this world in order to multiply it. We cannot save people from their sins, but we can introduce them to the One who can. We are His representatives, and multiplication is His specialty.