PLUS

Acts 6:7 “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

The church of Acts saw miraculous growth. The growth rate was large in Acts 2, and accelerated thereafter. In fact, Christian growth was described primarily as additive in the early part of Acts (Acts 2:41, Acts 2:47, Acts 5:14) and primarily as multiplicative in the latter part of Acts (Acts 6:1, Acts 6:7, Acts 9:31, Acts 12:24). They started growing exponentially.

What triggered the change in growth rate from additive to multiplicative? It is tough to pinpoint the genesis of this change. Yet, it happened as the church faithfully endured persecution.

We may be sensing persecution on the horizon for American Christians; some of our fellow citizens are already enduring hardships because of their faiths. We also must recognize that Christians in other lands are being actively and violently persecuted because of their faithfulness.

Should we welcome persecution? No! Should we remain faithful if persecution comes our way? Absolutely yes! It may be a part of God’s plan to trigger an exponential spread of the gospel of Christ. PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD REMAIN FAITHFUL IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION. Our faithfulness in the face of persecution may be what is required to bring about Christian exponential growth in this land.

SET YOUR ALARM: If you’re alarmed (that a woman’s right to choose has caused 30 million US females to be aborted), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!

Acts 2:41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

The faithful perseverance of Adoniram Judson is encouraging and challenging. Not only did he fail to see a single soul saved until his sixth year on the mission field, but he only could claim 18 converts by his twelfth year. Yet, there was a moment where fruit started pouring in to his account. What triggered that moment? We don’t know, though his continued faithfulness was a necessary prerequisite. What would have happened if he quit just prior to that moment? We don’t know, though we can surmise that God wouldn’t have used him to bring about the subsequent nationwide Christian legacy that persists today.

There is a moment where faithfulness produces a disproportionately large reward. It happened in the book of Acts, it happened in nineteenth century Burma, it has happened during American revivals of time past, and it can happen in America today. What will trigger that moment? We don’t know, though our continued faithfulness is a necessary prerequisite. What will happen if we quit just prior to that moment? We don’t know, though we can surmise that God wouldn’t use us to bring about a nationwide Christian legacy that would last for future generations.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO STAY FAITHFUL UNTIL THE REWARDS COME RAINING DOWN. Don’t quit! We may be minutes away from our faithfulness producing a disproportionately large reward.

II Samuel 24:24 “And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt-offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.”

Speaking from first hand experience, Adoniram Judson said:

“There is no success without sacrifice. If you succeed without sacrifice it is because someone has suffered before you. If you sacrifice without success it is because someone will succeed afterwards.”

Things that are valuable and precious come at a cost. So it is with our money and with our ministry. As Christians prayerfully and faithfully serve the Lord in today’s America, we may be sacrificing without apparent success. Dismay not! The price you are paying is valuable to God; the sacrifice you are offering is precious to Him. Moreover, that suffering and sacrifice is paving the way for success even if that success exceeds our limited perspective.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO WILLINGLY SACRIFICE, PAVING THE WAY FOR ETERNAL SUCCESS. Nationwide repentance and revival is going to come at a cost. We must be willing to pay its price.

SET YOUR ALARM: If you’re alarmed (by a land that is diminishing the value of life, from its beginning to its end), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Adoniram Judson served faithfully in his adopted nation for nearly forty years. Especially in the early years of his Burmese ministry, prospects for success seemed dim and dreary. Yet, success in God’s calculus doesn’t mean fruit; instead, it means faithfulness. Using this metric, Judson was successful from the moment he set sail for Burma in 1812.

The faithful though weary Judson once said “I feel it is my duty to plog on while daylight shall last.” Sometimes, our faithfulness seems like we are plogging on. In today’s America, it is easy to grow weary in well doing as we are countered by secularism and ungodliness at every turn. Yet, in due season we shall reap if we faint not.

Like early nineteenth century Burma for Judson, there is daylight left in twenty-first century America for us. The nation is not yet consumed in total darkness. As long as there is a sliver of light left, then we must plog on. PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO PLOG ON IN WELL DOING. We will reap, as long as daylight lasts and we remain faithful.

II Chronicles 15:7 “Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.”

Adoniram Judson, nineteenth century missionary to Burma, was determined to remain faithful to his calling through doubt and discouragement. Even though he didn’t see a single convert in the first six years of his ministry, he continued on faithfully. By the time of his death, he left behind dozens of churches, thousands of Christians, the first-ever Burmese-English dictionary, and a Burmese translation of the Bible. The fruit came because he didn’t leave. Through the challenges of his ministry, Judson said “I will not leave Burma until the cross is planted here forever.” Two centuries have passed since his arrival in South Asia, and the gospel of Christ continues to thrive in his absence … all because he didn’t give up.

Judson’s work was rewarded because he was strong in the Lord and refused to let weakness overcome him. His dogged determination to serve Christ, even in the absence of visible progress, allowed God to use him in a mighty way.

American Christian, your work will be rewarded if you are strong, faithful, and determined. Your prayers will be rewarded if you are similarly strong, faithful and determined. Your work to return this country to its Christ-centered foundation may not yet have yielded any visible fruit. Your prayers for nationwide repentance and revival may not yet have produced any visible progress. Yet, God will work through us if we remain strong, faithful, and determined. He will produce amazing fruit if we stave off weakness, doubt, and discouragement. Indeed, He is already working though we may not see it. Don’t give up on Him. The moment we give in to weakness may be the moment before God’s Spirit is ready to sweep over this land.

PLEASE PRAY FOR STRENGTH, FAITHFULNESS, AND DETERMINATION TO REMAIN COMMITTED AND PRAYERFUL. Our work shall be rewarded!

NOTE: Last week on Twitter and Facebook I kicked off a new PLUS campaign – IF YOU’RE ALARMED, SET YOUR ALARM! This week’s thought – If you’re alarmed (by an American citizen being jailed for sincerely held religious beliefs), set your alarm (to pray for our nation).