Christ’s Promise

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 4, 5 January 1940, Page 5

Christ’s Promise

REV. S. C. FRANCIS ADDRESSES DELEGATES Jesus said “Go ye into all the world and make disciples of every nation.’’ What a commission for a group of humble Galilean peasants to receive! What a burden of responsibility to be laid upon the shoulders of anyone—especially upon this handful of men who were described as ignorant and unlearned men! What a commission for the Church to-day to receive—for this is tho commission that is given to the Church of 1940 —to the young men and women as you go. back to your churches and homes. What a tremendous commission in the face of conditions to-day. Humanly speaking it is an impossible task, said Rev. S. C. Francis, addressing delegates to the summer conference at Wednesday’s rally. Jesus knew the inadequacy of His disciples. He had lived with them for three years —yet Jesus said “Go ye into all the world.’’ But He did not only give them a commission but He assured them that behind them would be His authority. He also invested them with a power of a different kind which made all the difference. To-night I want you to bear in mind three things, first inspiring leadership, second adequate resources, and third the confidence of victory. Now tho question of leadership is a very important question in every campaign. The nations which have had great leaders have become great nations. A good leader is essential in every campaign, and the qualities of a good leader are to arouse faith in his followers, to have strong convictions, be absolutely sincere, possess strength of will and inflexity of purpose. To-day the world is crying out for leadership—inspiring leadership. We know we cannot compare Jesus with any other. Nevertheless we can think of our Mediator between God and man, tho Lord Jesus Christ as a great Leader. He knows the way and He attracts others to follow Ilim. Since Jesus Christ came to earth 2000 years ago, He has never been absent; He is a living presence and a living companion, lie is with us now, in this church, but wo may if we wish, turn a deaf ear to Him and His challenge. Our Leader commands our loyalty; He commands our obedience. In the Christian campaign we must listen to tho voice of Christ our Leader and do whatever He commands. Let us listen to Him now, and let us respond, “Here am I, send me.’’ The second thing needful for a successful campaign is adequate resources. In tho Christian warfare there is only one type of power that counts, and it is Spiritual Power—the Power that comes with the risen Lord Jesus Christ. It is spiritual power that will lay hold on weak men and women and send them out strong and mighty. It is the power that will lay hold on sinful men and women and send them out to win others to Christ. If you want to know’ the source of that power, you must look at the Cross. The Cross has this power to change and strengthen men and women and that power is given to us. Jesus claims our allegience, and we can justly claim His protection and His power. “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.” An army must keep its lines of communication intact, and the Christian Army must also keep its lines of communication intact through prayer. Prayer is our power house for the campaign. We may have excellent machinery in our churches, well run Bible classes and Sunday schools, but if we have not the power it counts for nothing. It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do. It is through prayer that we receive orders from our great Commander. It is through prayer that we receive reinforcement.

Finally, I want to say that we must have confidence of victory. It never occurred to the disciples that they were on the losing side. Jesus said that in the world we shall have tribulation. He did not promise us an easy time. But He also said “Be of good cheer, I have overcome tho world.” Tho disciples were sure they were on the winning i side. To-day it seems as though the forces of evil are tremendous; it seems that the forces of Christ are defeated. I want to say that to be a member of the Christian Church in face of the world situation to-day is to have a share in one of the most stimulating tasks which the Church has ever undertaken. The purpose of this conference has been to help you to realise what that task is —and what your share in it might be — and how you may be equipped for it. You remember that historic message which was sent from Foch to Joffre: “My centre is giving way, my right is falling back, the situation is excellent and lam attacking immediately.” It is in this gallant spirit that we must

do our work in the Church to-day. But first of all we must bo willing to give to Jesus Christ, our lives—every part of our lives. All the resources of God may be ours, but we must accept Him as our personal Saviour. Will you do that to-night Accept Him as your own Saviour and all the resources of the Eternal Son of God will be yours, and He will fill you with His Spirit, and give you His power.