How Long, O People of God?

Acts 17:6 - ...These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

Acts 19:10 - ...And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heared the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

In the days of the early church, God moved among and through His people in such a way that all of the known world at the time was impacted - everyone heard the Gospel preached. And this all happened in a few short years. Yet today, we as churches struggle to make an impact in one small community, over a period of many years. What is the difference? Why are we not seeing the same power in ministry? Is it perhaps that our lives are not consumed with the Gospel? Could it be possible that the declaration of the Gospel does not have the number one priority in our lives? Have we become distracted by other things? It is time for us to seek the Lord for the power that was seen on the day of Pentecost! This power, however, does not come at a low price - it demands an absolute abandoment to the cause of Christ. Are we willing to give up all of our dreams, ambitions, loves, possessions...absolutely everything to see this world...turned...upside down for Jesus Christ?

At the beginning of the summer the Lord gave me the following poem.


HOW LONG, O PEOPLE OF GOD?

“Dead to sin” means death in Christ
To every worldly pleasure;
“Alive in Christ” means life through Christ
Of fruit beyond all measure.

Unclean hands in God’s pure light
So stands His Church in shame,
His presence showing each man’s sin
Each man as blind and lame.

The foe, through crafty, sly deceit
Has quenched the Church’s fervor
But Christ has said, The gates of hell
Shall not prevail against her.

Yielded souls now Christ requires
To do the work He’s promised.
The “greater works” will be displayed
As He is sought through conquest.

How long, O people of God
Will you labor in your sins?
Will you rob Christ of the glory
Of the vict’ry He did win?

Now repent and turn to Jesus.
Trust His work at Calvary.
Plunge into the blessed, cleansing stream
Of the blood of victory!