The Missionary and the Holy Spirit

Pray that God will fill the Slavic believers with a hunger for His Word: "Desire the sincere milk of the Word" (1 Peter 2:2), and a spirit of prayer: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thes. 5:17). Ask God to call many young men and women to serve Him sacrificially in places of leadership. Pray that some will choose to serve in other Slavic countries as missionaries. Intercede for the Christian leadership in Eastern Europe that they will withstand the powers of darkness and remain stable in their spiritual roles.

No Christian will be more active or more busily engaged in God’s service than the one who is truly guided by the living Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit stirs to action those dedicated disciples who have obeyed the Word of God and have prayed for direction to do the will of God.

The believer is utterly helpless without the enablement of the Holy Spirit. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves” (2 Corinthians 4:7). If the Holy Spirit does not work through the believer to accomplish God’s plan, then the labor is in vain.

The believer must live by the Spirit, be led by the Spirit and labor with the Spirit’s power. The Christian’s walk has to do with a daily Christ-like way of living. “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Colossians 2:6).

It is the Holy Spirit who stirs interest and awakens a soul to acknowledge bondage to sin and the sin nature. Conviction, repentance and faith must begin in an aroused heart. “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8). At the moment a believer is awakened, convicted, brought to repentance and regenerated, immediately the Holy Spirit baptizes that believer into the body of Christ and seals him until the day of redemption. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13).

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). The work of the Lord in the life of the believer depends upon the degree to which the Holy Spirit is in control and empowering. “Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). The Christian life from the very beginning to the end, from salvation to varied service, happens because of the work of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, pray for the missionaries of Slavic Missionary Service that the Holy Spirit will guide and guard them, as they serve the Lord in their own cities, as well as the surrounding towns and villages. For the next few months, many will be involved in leadership conferences, summer camping programs and evangelistic outreaches in various areas.

Every missionary needs spiritual discernment to understand where to put their energies and resources in order to see results and fruitfulness for God’s glory. “He who is spiritual appraises all things” (1 Corinthians 2:15). May the Holy Spirit strengthen the missionaries to share the Gospel, and may the Holy Spirit bring many to a saving knowledge after hearing the Good News of salvation.

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ... By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Hebrews 11:1,3

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).