On Saturday we heard from Alliance workers carrying out Acts 1:8 ministries. In each story—whether in a Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, or ends-of-the earth context—workers expressed doubts about what God was doing—either from the get-go or when things seemed to be going south. Yet, in each case, He remained true to His promise to bring forth fruit through even the most adverse and hopeless circumstances. As God whispered to one international worker who complained that the whole venture He had assigned her and her family was a terrible idea, You’ve not been listening to me. I do terrible ideas really well.
“Without the Holy Spirit, the inward and upper journey is just going to be a hard slog of frustration,” asserted John Stumbo after Gabriel and Jeanette Salguero’s stirring challenge on Friday night. “But with the Spirit,” added Gabriel,“comes fruit, power, knowledge, wisdom,” and everything else The Alliance could ever need to complete our inward and upward trek.
John’s presentation of the “Alliance World Tour 2.0” on Saturday morning quieted any concern that God’s Spirit ever took a break, became distracted, or withheld His power and presence throughout The Alliance’s 132-year-old assignment to take all of Jesus to all the world—further cementing His promise to be with us until the job is done.
The Spirit’s power and presence, however, is promised not only to His front-line workers but to every member of His Body. When doubts arise about our ability to discern God’s voice, carry out His plans—or even to be cherished by Him—He assures us that His ever-watchful Spirit indwells us through thick and thin—guiding and empowering us to be all He’s called us to be and to do all He’s called us to do. I’ll stay with you, I’ll protect you wherever you go, and I’ll bring you back to this very ground. I’ll stick with you until I’ve done everything I promised you (Gen 28:15, MSG).
The Day in Pictures
Seen and Heard
“Hallelujah! An ideology has been torn down by the blood of Jesus.”
Alfredo Gutierrez, Superintendent of the Alliance Southeast
“The fire will fall on our unblemished sacrifice. As we are that sacrifice, the fire of God will fall on us and flow through us to the nations.”
Mitch Kim, Wellspring Alliance Church, Wheaton, IL
“Jesus involves the community. He had them roll away the stone; He had them take off the grave clothes. He speaks the Word and He invites us to go before Him . . . to ask Him . . . to trust Him . . . and stand in amazement at what He does.”
Kelvin Walker, newly elected corporate vice president of The Christian and Missionary Alliance
Extras
Following are some additional items to remind you of today’s session.
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- Download The Alliance World Tour 133MB ZIP