LETTER FOR MARCH 1991
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Dear Friends,

Have you any the spiritual longings for your self and for our church? Or are you satisfied with things as they are?

Having asked such a question I know there are no black and white answers, no straightforward reply, which does justice to the state of God's kingdom amongst us. It is a source of great wonder and gratitude that we see and acknowledge God is already working amongst us. God has blest us as a church more than many. Some struggling fellowships would feel that if only they could see people coming to the Lord in the way God has blessed us, they would be so happy and joyful. God has given us a loving fellowship where we feel the love of God's family around us.

But when we look at ourselves we have to say that there is so much more needed until Christ is formed in us in all his fullness. When we look out on our parish we must feel that comparatively little has been achieved when so few know Christ and his love, or acknowledge him as Lord and Saviour.

When you read the promise of God given through the prophet Joel in Joel 2:28, 29, what does it do for you? "I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days". Without understanding all the details, there is something spiritual here which is great and marvellous, and doesn't it create longing in your heart?

When we see in Acts 2 what it meant practically in history, when God did pour out his Spirit, surely we say from our hearts -- "Lord, pour out your Spirit on us today". At one sermon crowds of people came to hear, and over 3,000 were changed by the sermon as God powerfully worked in their lives, and not only that, it continued after because God added to church daily those who were being saved.

We know nothing like this today. In fact our church life is so different. We work hard in various different ways and with many organisations, yet people don't come in large numbers to hear the word of God, and of those who do come, few believe. When we have witnessed to our faith we have often been discouraged because we may as well be speaking in a foreign language for all the good we achieve. People just don't seem to see the truth, let alone receive it.

What a difference in Acts 2. They waited. They prayed. They did nothing else. Then God sent his Spirit. Their fears were removed. They spoke for Christ. Without any invitation campaign or advertising, people came to listen. As people heard the word of God, there was massive effect. People were "cut to the heart and said what shall we do". God spoke to them. God convicted them of wrong. God caused them to cry for mercy. Then when they were told that they would be forgiven and receive the Holy Spirit simply by believing in Jesus, this message was immediately clear to them, and they trusted Jesus, and their lives were changed, and they rejoiced in forgiveness.

I am not suggesting that we should not work. All the work which has gone into the mission is right. But this does tell us that our effort, however well done, can't achieve blessing, but that when God pours out his Spirit, then he gives blessing in abundance. It is easier to work than prayer. It is sometimes easier to trust in our own effort than trust in God.

The trouble is that we settled down to accept the "mercy drops" from God of normal Church life today, and feel that there is no more to expect or hope for. Yet God promised in Joel, that after the Saviour had died and risen and purchased salvation, that he would pour out his Spirit on ALL people. The promise is of an abundant harvest of people being saved and believing in the Gospel. The promise is not just "mercy drops" but abundant "showers or torrents" of blessing.

My desire in all things is that we should hunger for the blessing promised by God to Joel, which is so abundantly illustrated in Acts 2. That we should get so hungry for it that we storm the gates of heaven in earnest prayer that God will, in mercy and grace, give such blessing today, and in our church and parish particularly. There must be no motive of self pleasure or glory in our prayers. We must just have the motive of love for those who are "without hope and without God in the world", and a desire that God's love may be made known. But let us have this desire. God indicates in his word that when we seek him with all our hearts, he responds in love and blessing and answers prayer.

Blessing and salvation to people comes only from God. People have no will to repent or desire Christ. People have no will to receive Christ in themselves. We choose simply what we desire and understand. In our natural human condition we do not love God, or hate sin, or fear hell. In our natural state we love the world and the flesh. The Gospel can be preached; the open invitation to believe and receive eternal life be offered freely, but nobody in their natural state will choose it.

God must pour out his Spirit. God must change the natural disposition of our sinful hearts. God must call with his irresistible love. God must open our understanding, and change our desires to run after him. Otherwise all our working and witnessing will result in nothing. We can achieve nothing. Only God can achieve and give blessing.

In Joel God has promised this marvellous promise to bless in abundance. Let us turn to him in great earnestness and desire in prayer for this blessing, at our Mission and in the days ahead.

Your servant for Christ's sake,