Slavic Missionary Service

Pray daily for pastors in the Slavic countries (as well as your own) that they will have wisdom and power from God to preach the Word effectually and to care for all of the saints. Pray that the convicting power of the Holy Spirit will accompany the preaching of God’s Word throughout all lands. Ask God to stir up Christians to use their God-given freedom to the fullest advantage in making known everywhere the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

Churches are full of people who make religious professions yet underneath have no renewed heart before God, “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). They still are enslaved to sin and follow the appetites of the flesh. The gift of God’s grace saves from sin’s penalty and its power. Grace makes spiritual liberty a reality in the believer’s life. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). But liberty in Christ is never to be used as a license to live selfishly, sinfully or worldly.

Freedom in Christ involves love not license - the desire or impulse to serve the Lord righteously and to serve others respectfully. “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). There is never any reason to excuse sin in the life of a Christian. Freedom in Christ involves the leading of the Holy Spirit not the lusting of the flesh. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Freedom in Christ involves producing spiritual fruit that pleases God not practicing sensual or selfish acts that please the flesh. Always the believer must determine whether attitudes and actions are controlled by the Spirit or by the flesh. “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). Submitting to the control of the Holy Spirit will result in the production of spiritual fruit in the Christian’s life. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

The child of God is exhorted to “walk” in the Spirit and be “led” by the Spirit and “live” by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 18, 25). Fellowship with God is guaranteed when the Holy Spirit is given control to guide the Christian’s faith, feelings and footsteps. “Whatever you do” must always be generated and guided by God.

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). “With good will render service, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord” (Ephesians 6:7-8). “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17). “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23).

May God help each SMS missionary in whatever they do to glorify, honor and please Him. Let this be the desire of every Christian who is led, lives and walks by the Holy Spirit. “But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).

Blessed is the man you discipline, o Lord, the man you teach from your law.

Psalm 94:12

The Lord will resume His dealing with the nations, as well as with the Chosen nation, when He has completed the church in this Age of Grace. God is working today “to take out” of the nations “a people for His name” (Acts 15:14). Ask God to empower every witness that is proclaiming this message of love to sinful men. Pray continually that the Holy Spirit will convict men of their need of Christ. “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).