Thoughts on Christ and His Word

While reading John Piper’s book “Don’t Waste Your Life” I came across the story of America’s first overseas missionary – Adoniram Judson. He was determined to take the gospel to the people of Burma in Asia. Before he went he asked the father of Ann Hasseltine for her hand in marriage. He did through a letter in which not only was he asking to marry his daughter but for her to be his missionary partner in far away Burma. This is what he wrote… “I have now to ask, whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean, to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of him who left his heavenly home, and died

What are things you like to be full of? Chocolate cake? Fajita steak? Baby-back ribs? The other day I was filled with a California Club Pizza from California Pizza Kitchen . It was great. But now let's get spiritual. God wants us to be filled with His Spirit. God knows we need the Spirit in order to do effective ministry and live our lives the way God wants us to. In Acts 1 Jesus told the apostles to wait until they received the power of the Holy Spirit before they started ministering to the people. "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:4-5, 8 Filling preceded Ministry. Fullness precedes Fruitfulness. Are you filled with the Spirit? If