Community Well in Mozambique

I remember attending a service in Toronto, by a noted teacher on signs and wonders. I am not of the persuasion that these ceased with the early church. I accept the statement of Jesus, in John 14:12, ‘Whoever believes in Me, will also do the works that I do, and greater works than these will that person do because I am going to the Father …”. I have seen people healed and even been used by God to bring healing to others. I came expecting to find myself in the presence of God, among others of such mind, and finding people set free. The only dilemma, on this night, was that the service started around seven and the speaker never got into his message until after nine. The “in between” time was spent on fund raising. People started trickling out, myself included.

How different from the churches in Macedonia, to whom the grace of God was given, even in the midst of oppressive tribulation and deep poverty. It seems rather strange, almost contradictory the way they expressed their situation. “Much ordeal in tribulation,” yet “abundance of joy”; “deep poverty,”  yet “the richness of their liberality”. What brought them to this place? Why would they not just hunker down, pull within themselves and forget the rest?

What do you do when things are tough and trials are hard? This is not about your inability to buy what you want or go on that next vacation. It’s about the bare bone necessities of life: food, clothing and housing. The coffers are low, the cupboards bare and the clothes washed daily.

The answer, in understanding the Macedonians, is really in verses 3-5. They went beyond what Paul or anyone would have expected them to do. “According to power/ability, I witness, and beyond power/ability, of their own accord, with much encouragement, imploring us to let them share in the grace and fellowship of this ministry to the saints.” There is a famine in the land of Israel. Those that they had never met, yet brothers and sisters in the Lord, were suffering from hunger. The church in Macedonia understood poverty and lack. They knew what it was to suffer. They knew what it was like to put a child to bed, crying because of hunger. They knew that to simply stand on the sidelines, without lifting a finger to help, was not love.

Yet what could they do when their own needs were so great? The key is found in vs.5: “They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us through the will of God.” That order is significant. First to God, then to us. So how does this work? It begins with prayer: “Lord Jesus, what would you have me to do? How would you have me share in meeting this great need?” Secondly, one must listen to the voice of the Spirit. Just because someone prays does not mean that person is actually listening. Make this between you and God. How many times have people heard from God, shared with another and been talked out it by the negativity and doubt of the other. Thirdly, let this be a love gift, a grace gift as you give of yourself to God and to others. “What would you have me to do, you to do, and help us to walk in Your grace”.

Blessings!

Believe Great Things From God; Attempt Great Things For God (William Carey)

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