Wednesday Word, December 30, 2015: Gospel Giving
Have you ever heard of Selina Hastings? No? She was the affluent and influential Countess of Huntingdon, England. Selina referred to herself as the Lady who was saved by the letter ‘M.’
Of 1 Corinthians 1:26 “ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:”
She would say;
”Blessed be God, it does not say ‘any mighty,’ ‘any noble’; it says ‘M-any mighty,’ ‘M-any noble.’ I owe my salvation to the letter ‘M.’ If it had been “not any noble,” where would I have been?”
She was wealthy and powerful indeed. However, instead of living a decadent lifestyle, when the Lord saved her, she began funding the ministries of gospel preachers like George Whitfield and John Beeridge. Humanly speaking, if she had not made the financial investment, men like Whitefield would have been unable to perform their fruitful ministries. God has always used people to invest financially in ministries for the furtherance of the gospel.
But enough of Selina Hastings. What about the women who financially supported Christ’s ministry? Yes, you read me correctly! There were people who funded Christ’s ministry. Indeed, our Lord’s ministry was financed by the free will gifts and contributions of people to whom he had ministered.
At the beginning of chapter 8 of Luke’s gospel we read:
“Soon afterward Jesus went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.”
It was faithful women who supplied for the financial needs of Jesus and his disciples. As givers, they were a crucial part of His ministry.
Ministry costs money. This principle is so obvious it seems almost silly to state, but many people don’t appear to realise that. We, however, thank God for each of you who have made our ministry possible through your giving and prayers.
2015 has been a year of tests and opportunities. Here in Europe opposition to God's Word is at boiling point. Perhaps, however, the invasion of radical Muslims will bring us back to the cross.
In 2016, we will be re-launching the Gospel Truth Radio Broadcast. This is a tremendous tool for reaching the lost and establishing the saints.
We will also be developing an Internet channel for short and direct gospel messages.
We will continue evangelising in Ireland and establishing the saints here.
With God’s provision, in 2016, we will also journey to Nepal to work with the Nepalese Indigenous Church Movement. A Gospel Conference for 300 pastors is being arranged for me to speak to later in the year.
Of course, we remain committed to our pastors in India and to our orphanage in Karnataka.
By God’s grace, we will also continue to produce The Wednesday Word and carry on writing Christ centred books.
All of this cost money. The only way we can do any of these things is through support from partners. If you would like to be a part of this please see the links below.
Again, we thank all of you who have given and prayed for us.
Happy New Year!