BrianIngraham.com | ASPIRE

Sorry I haven’t updated sooner. I seem to be having one of those ’slow brain’ weeks. I was looking at Stephen Irwins blog at our staff picture and noticing that only half of the team are now missionaries. A year ago I think it was all but one were missionaries. It is great to see more britishness not only on the leadership team, but also in very significant roles. Evelyn runs the childrens ministry, Andy leads worship, Dan and Tony (among other things) open the services every week. Next year I am aware of a few other Brit’s who are going to join the team. It is exciting to have so many people who want to help this church move forward from both this island and the new world:-). God is moving.

I am a huge fan of biographies of godly people over the ages. I am currently reading “George Muller: All Things Are Possible,” (First published in 1901) given to me by Scotty. I am usually not so concerned about what they eventually accomplish, but I am incredibly interested in what pieces God put in them to make them the mighty people of faith that they become. Here are some fantastic building blocks God put in George Muller early on in his life as preparation so that he could do what God would call him to do.

1. Prayer and Reliance on God’s Intervention: “Prayer, on the knees, both in secret and in such companionship of believers, was henceforth to be the one great central secret of his holy living and holy serving. Upon this corner-stone of prayer all his life-work was to be built… Prayer for direct divine guidance in every crisis, great or small, was to be the secret of his whole career.”
2. Cover-to-Cover Bible Reading: One of the yearly forming steps in his life “was the discovery of the preciousness of the word of God.” “During the last 20 years of his life he read it [the Bible] carefully through, four or five times annually, with a growing sense of his own rapid increase in the knowledge of God thereby.”
3. Reading of Missionary Biographies: Muller read the life of A.H. Franke who lived 100 years previous to Muller and modelled his ministry after his. Also starting in the year of his conversion “He now began to read missionary journals which kindled a new flame in his heart.”
4. Any Cost Commitment: Muller almost walked away from his life calling because he fell in love with a Christian woman who wasn’t interested in ministry. Ultimately, after much pain, “He gave up the girl he loved.” This decision was not the last dealing with the issue of self-denial in the following of Jesus.
5. Shaped by Waiting: Early on Muller rushed into several mistakes via ‘lot casting’ for divine decision making. “The flesh is impatient of all delay, both in decision and action…God is often moved to delay that we might be lead to pray, and even the answers to prayer are deferred that the natural and carnal spirit may be kept in check and self will may bow before the will of God.”
6. Other People: “Such vacillations in Christian experience were due in part to the lack of holy associations and devout companionships. Every disciple needs help in holy living, and this young believer [Muller] yearned for that spiritual uplift afforded by sympathetic fellow believers.”
7. Simple and Certain Faith: “…And so God gave him from the outset a very simple, childlike disposition toward Himself… In faith and in the filial spirit, he always continued to be a little child.”

Let’s not be idiots! These are consistently found in the DNA of people of real faith. If we want to be mighty people of God let us learn from the people who have gone before us. Which of these seven things need to become more prevalent in your life?

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within. — Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

At four AM I came to the honest realization that I, and my family, were far to sick for me to preach that day. I thought about calling Carmel or someone to help with my wife and children and their fevers. But then I thought about how I couldn’t say 4 sentences without breaking out in a gagging, coughing fit. I was just too sick to preach. The thing that sickened me most was that we had four baptisms scheduled that day, lots of visitors, and I knew Justin would be disappointed:-) “God is sovereign even over this.”  “He knows,” I told myself and fell back to sleep.

The service itself was really great. During the “In His Dust” video I felt God saying, “This was My plan.” And I had to smile, I am glad God is doing what He wants with His church.

When the time came for the baptisms I was so thankful God allowed me to be there. I was able to look at Gary and hear him say how much he loved Jesus, and tell him how excited I am that the pursuit of obeying God first seen in his brother is now clearly seen in him. I was able to look Andy and Julie in the face and thank God for the gift of this couple, divinely placed by God in our church to help us worship God better. I was able to look at Peter and see a man who 6 months ago hadn’t been to church, but since has dedicated his life to God, powering through the pages of the bible, and committed to walking in obedience to Him. Four amazing people.

God humbles me by bringing such wonderful people to Re:Hope. I am convinced God is at work bringing together a special group of people to do something significant in our city. Calling us to believe in Him, his Word, and Prayer. God Reigns!