On Sunday our coworker taught the Pal church about Jesus’ last mandate to
his disciples: They should wait in Jerusalem to receive power through the
Holy Spirit to go out and preach God’s Word. Now, our friends here in the
village have always chased after power – power to make their gardens grow,
power to control spirits to hurt or help others, power over sickness and
death, power to become rich, influential “big men” – but they have come to
realize that the Holy Spirit doesn’t offer that kind of power. This
realization has caused some to turn away in their pursuit of those things,
but the majority of the people in our village have become hungry for what
the Holy Spirit does offer: communion with God, help to overcome temptation,
a deeper understanding of God’s Word and His character, the boldness to
stand up for God and what He says is good, the desire to obey God and do
what is right, and the transforming power that saves us through faith when
we hear His Word.
And we get to watch it happen! After the message on Sunday, several men
stood up and spoke out of a place of deep feeling and conviction – some so
deep that tears were imminent – and said things like, “We need to take this
seriously! We don’t just gather here for no reason. We want our hearts to be
like good soil for God’s Word to fall on – free from rocks and thorny weeds
and birds so that God’s Word can produce fruit in us. When we sing songs in
church we don’t just sing them for our own enjoyment. We need to think about
what the words are saying and what God has done for us! His Word is so
sweet, and hearing it has saved me!” It’s an amazing thing. Please pray for
the Pal church – your brothers and sisters – and ask God to continue to work
in their hearts, making them more like His Son.
On a personal note, we are happy to report that my medicine is working so
well that my appetite is back, my energy is better, and I am feeling good.
Thanks for praying about those things.