Parable of the Soldires and Red Shield Appeal

ok, everyone (except me) is getting sick of the footy stuff...

The Kingdom of God is like this:

One day a Salvo Officer asked his soldiers in his corps to some red shield collecting. He promised them Big Mac vouchers and a voluntary community work certificate. They all agreed to do it, and got started nice and early at 10am on Saturday morning.

Later on Sunday there was still many more doors to be knocked on so he asked some of the community people someone to do some red shield appeal collecting for him. He said that they would get a Big Mac voucher and a voluntary community work certificate. So they started at 12pm.

Then later in the day when there was only 1 hour left, the officer asked someone else with the same deal.

Then, with only one house to go he asked a young kid to do the final house, again at the same price.

When they all came in to get their Big Mac vouchers and Voluntary Community Work Certificates the officer started giving out the stuff to the young boy first, then the community people, and finally the soldiers. The soldiers were annoyed! "We worked all weekend and get the same ammount as them? What the?"

The officer repied, "Didnt I tell you thats what you would be getting? Have I decieved you or been dishonest? Or is your heart evil, because I am good?"

So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.

Who do you barrack for?

In case you havent noticed, I barrack for Port Power! You may have also picked up that I dont like Collingwood Football club. But, I still have friends who barrack for Collingwood!

Even more than that, I straight out tell people I hate collingwood, I say comments like, "Not Collingwood!" or "No Collingwood supporters here!" and guess what, they dont mind, they stick up for their team! Who we barrack for doesnt take away from our relationship. In fact, it improves it. It gives us something to talk about, something to debate. Something to look forward to. Every time they win they tell me and vice-versa! We tell each other. We agree to disagree without backing down from our own beliefs.

What bugs people is when you barrack for a team one week and a different one the next. What bugs many people in Australia is when you dont barrack for anyone!

This is the same with evangelism! You can tell people who you believe in, who you follow without 'hurting' people, or allienating them. I have friends who are atheist others who are muslim! You dont even need to be embarassed or ashamed! You can follow Jesus when everyone around you doesnt. You can even talk about it with people who disagree!

We need to be more like footy supporters. Not the ones that jump on the bandwagon. We need to be like the faithful Richmond supporters, because they havent won a game all year, yet theres still some who will openly tell people who they barrack for. They will openly discuss issues in their team and club! Do you do that about your faith? About your king? About Christianity? Do you barrack for Jesus all week or just when you have a few supporters around you?

"We have the power to win, the power to rule! Come on Port Adelaide aggression!" (Port Power theme song)

WE AS CHRISTIANS DO HAVE THE POWER TO WIN, THE POWER TO RULE! COME ON! SALVATION ARMY AGGRESSION! LETS SAVE SOME SOULS!!!!! BARRACK FOR JESUS IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!

(of course Jesus does the saving, but we save people by leading them to Jesus who saves them... you get the picture!)

Jesus calls people to repent

Luke 13:2-9

Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

The He told them this parable... (sorry jo in advance!lol)

A footy team selected a young bloke from the national draft. He started training with them, but after a while he still hadnt worked himself into the team. The coach got angry, "For three years now we've been waiting for this guy to break into them team, but he cant play any good! Get rid of him! Hes taking up a spot on our list which we could use for a better player!" Then one of the otherblokes said, "No, give him one more year, I'll work intensively with him, train him harder. If he plays well next year, that great! But if not, get rid of him, never to see him again!"

When I read that passage I thought of other people I thought that could apply that to. But, we all need to apply that to ourselves. Where are WE falling down? What part of our life is crap? What part of our life do we need to fix up? Get down on your knees with me and pray!

The lost son

The kingdom of heaven is like this...

One day a successfull Port Power supporter business mans son walked up to him and said, "Dad, I want to move to Collingwood. Give me my inheritance so that I may spend it over in there." The dad was not too impressed, but gave his son his inheritance.

Then the son moved to Collingwood. It was fun at first, drugs, alcohol and parties. Even running away from police was fun, it gave him a rush. He began going to the Collingwood footy games, he even started barracking for them. The drugs increasingly messed his brain up.

One day, after Collingwood recieved another thrashing, the boy was in the gutter with a needle hanging out of his arm. He thought back to home, where he use to watch the Power win game after game with his dad. So he picked himself up and caught the train back to Port Adelaide.

As he the station, he saw his dad, he was running up to the V-line train, as the son stepped of the train the dad gave him a massive hug. He took off the collingwood scarf and beenie and replaced it with brand new Port Power gear. He even gave him the signed guernsey his dad had had from POrt Powers first (but not last) premiership.

The boys brother was mad. "Ive always barracked for Port! I even use to egg the collingwood cheersquad!" The dad replied, "You have always been with me! We will always be Power members. But your brother was lost, and dead, going crazy from drugs, and even a collingwood supporter!But now he is home and a POWER SUPPORTER AGAIN!

Jesus barracks for Port Power!

Im convinced that if Jesus was around these days He would barrack for Port Power! I have a great reason and after a few weeks at church talking about God-icadences so I think I can blog about this.

1) Port Adelaide is known as the working mans club. Alot of the people who were down and out use to barrack for Port and because we won so much it lifted alot of peoples spirits. I think Jesus would love that sort of thing...

2) We sung a song today at church which is clear evidence of Jesus' preferred team. "There's Power in the blood!" Obviously this speaks about Port Power in Jesus blood...

3) The year we won the Premiership was the first and only season Id prayed for the us to win! (true story!!!)

4) And today, Port Power beat the demons!

What more do we want? It is obvious that Jesus barracks for the Power! Its in His blood!

Anyway, in all seriousness tough, we are reminded today of the power in the blood of Jesus. Jesus death (blood) made an atonment for us all, that if we confess our sins God will forgive us!!! Also, the blood of Jesus is powerful because it is a reused symbol of Gods protection from the spirit of death. (read exodus) Im also reminded of Jesus complete victory over all evil!

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Revelation 1:6

Footy Show Muslim

Last night on the Footy Show they had Bachar Houli Essendon footy player because apparently hes playing pretty good and has nearly cracked into the team. But what the panel was more impressed with was his faith.

He is a proud muslim and wouldnt back down from some of his habits (like praying...) and even stood up to some club officials and was straight out with them telling them what was so important about his prayer time.

What stood out to me was the comments of people like Garry Lyon and James Bradshaw encouraging the bloke saying how commendable it was for someone to stick to their faith and be the only one amongst hundreds at the club. Even more they told him that they have adopted him as their own and are going to follow his carer on the Footy Show!

What does this say to us as Christians? It says to me that we cannot compromise. It says to me that we need to be truthful and not be a hypocrite! It shows me that we can be respected for what we stand for even when we stand amongst people who completely disagree with us.

I believe last night spoke volumes about integrity. If you believe something, live as though you do. Or perhaps the way we lives shows us what we trully believe. What do you believe? How do you live? What would they say about you on the Footy Show?

So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Matthew 7

Prophesy!

1 Corinthians 14:1-18

In 1 Corinthians 12:31 Paul tells us to seek the greatest gifts! And yes he is speaking about Spiritual gifts! The next chapter goes onto say that love is the gretest gift of all. And we would all agree! For without love what do we really have?

Then Paul goes on to talk about prophecy. Check this verse out 14:1 "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." Paul picks out prophecy as a gift to go after. We know we can all recieve this gift. God may give it to anyone! Paul highlights reasons for prophesy being so good.

It speaks spiritual truth, it is for "strengthening, encouragement and comfort." Paul also highlights that it is great for non-believers! I believe we all need this gift! I believe we can ALL access tis gift. And Im going to tell you how, but first, think about these things,

Jesus called Zaccheaus out of the tree by name! There are no records of him ever meeting him before, then followed by love he completely turned his life aound. Then Jesus with the woman at the well, Jesus knew her life! Once she realised this she followed Jesus and a revival broke out in the village!

Imagine someone who does not believe in God at all came into your church. Would they have any reason to convert to Jesus? What if someone spoke a truth into their life that was obviously supernatural? How much easier would that be?

Heres how I have been learning to do it. Im sure this is just one of many ways to do it!

1) Look at the promises of Jesus, (I will answer you when you pray Jer33:3, I am with you always, ask for bread and i wont give you a stone etc)
2) Hold God accountable to them
3) Have the persons best interest at heart (love them!)
4) Picture them in your head
5) Ask Jesus to join the picture
6) Pay attention to where Jesus is and ask Him why He is in that spot
7) Look at the whole picture and ask what it means
8) Ask if there is anything else He wants to say (it may be one word, or a memory, or testimony etc)
9) Tell the person what you saw etc
10) Tell them it is what you believe is from God, and that they should test it (you should test it first aswell.... but test with scripture, body of Christ, Spirit (fruits etc Gal5) does it all line up?) to make sure it isnt something you've made up.

Lets live as though God really is alive and really does speak to us! God may not give you AMAZING weird things to say, but remember, God does speak to you, and will tell you saomething to say or do or pray. All of it is valuable and you never know how something seemingly so small can be so big for someone else! All of it can be a form of loving the person.

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. " 1 cor 13:2 Get out there! Love and prophesy!

Salvation of the World

If you were faced with the mission of getting the World saved, how would you do it? If you had the mission to see your family saved, how would you do it? What if your mission was to see your neighbourhood, or country saved, how would you do it?

I ask this question because It puts the mission first. "The main thing, is to make the main thing the main thing!" So often mission is something we do once or twice a week. Mission might be a section of the church like worship, or fellowship. But how often is it the whole thing?

How much of what we do as The Salvation Army is effective evangelism? Where do we see results? Where and how are people being saved? Please let me know because I want to learn from you.

Where are our travelling evangelists? Our Divisional, Territorial and International Evangelists? Where are the healing or prophetic evangelists? What about evangelistic crusades? Where are our evangelism classes? Evangelism schools? Evangelism confrences? When was the last time we as a Territory had Evangelism as a real and not just spoken priority?

Our mission is to see the world saved. Your mission is to lead as many people to Christ as you can. Dont beat yourself up for not evangelising, theres no time for that, instead write a list of all the names of people you know who dont believe in Jesus and get down on your kness and pray, then work out what the best way to get those people saved! One life at a time!

What are people doing Monday during the day or Tuesday night? I wanna do some street evangelism! Let me know if you wanna come!

Power Evangelism

Ive started re-reading a book written by John Wimber called "Power Evangelism." Ive only read the first chapter but already theres bits i really like...

Wimber gets saved, then begins to read the Bible. He then goes to a local church, he sits there and at the end he feels cheated! He says "I anticipated training in spiritual warfare and equipping for advancing the Kingdom of God. I envisioned Christians meeting together, singing, praying, recieving encouragement or exhortation from scripture, then dispersing throughout Orange County, California, to perform dramatic healings, expel demonic spirits, oppose evil authorities. Then, we would return later in the day with our new converts and reports of great miracles, overflowing with joy and worshipping God. It was a vision taken from the book of Acts."

Similar to what Catherine Booth says in "Aggressive Christianity!"

Imagine a church that got together to do just that. Got together to get Empowered bythe Holy Spirit, encouraged by each other, exhorted by Scripture, so that we could go out as an army conqering territory! Imagine going out seeing people healed, restored and freed! Then coming back together to celebrate our God who lives and loves!

Me and some friends do this every now and then, and have been meaning to go out again. If you are interested let me know! I'll post next time I know we're going out. Until then, live in the power and grace of our Lord Jesus, believe in His promises, trust in His power! Heal the sick, drive out demons, preach the good news of Jesus! Love God and love others! Amen!

ANZAC DAY

Well todays ANZAC day. Ive always been a big supporter of war heroes and armies fighting for justice, freedom and democracy etc. And today we say a big thankyou to those gone by who have stood up for our country and for other countries. Lest we forget!

But heres a question we need to think about, what does Jesus teach us?

I have been really challenged about the war issue. I was a supporter of the USA going into Iraq, Afghanistan and of Israel attacking Syria. I thought that those were good ways of trying to solve a problem.

But the more we look at it the more we see that war does not work. For thousands of years countries war, millions of people have died in war. We are fighting evil with evil.

How do Christians fight? How does The Salvation Army fight? How do we solve problems? We fight with the love of God. It is pro-active. Does Jesus tell us to pick up our guns and kill each other or to love and pray for our enemies? To turn the other cheek?

Yes, sometimes countries need to use force. Sometimes counties have had to fight for their freedom. But I am sure that if a country wants to succeed we need to be pro-active lovers of other countries!

Imagine if all the countries at war in our world, spent the money we do on fighting with violence and swapped it for fighting with love what would happen?

Im sure some people will disagree with me, and please comment, but also, look at your Bibles, what does Jesus teach? Does Jesus teach anything about this issue?

Once again, I appreciate all the diggers gone past. I say thank you for what you sacrificed for us. God lead us in your love.

The Reaping

Saturday night I went and watched the movie "The Reaping." Its about an ex-missionary who after some terrible experiences looses her faith and turns to science to explian the un-explainable.

Isnt it interesting how people do that? There was a show on ABC last night and they said that God is used to fill in the gaps that science cant understand yet! They were saying that science is edging closer and closer to filling all the gaps meaning that there will be no need at all for God!

In the movie the plagues from the Exile come back (but in reverse order...) and shows just how scarey it would have been to be in Egypt when it all happend! You can fully understand how God had to harden Pharoahs heart so he wouldnt let the people go.

The Bible is clear as crystal that there is a supernatural world. I have seen and experienced it. So have millions of other people around the world. Im reminded of Jesus words to Thomas, "Blessed are those who believe without seeing!"

People are often wary of churches where there is supernatural occurences, Im wary of churches where there are none!

Dont wait for the inevitable time when you will see God to believe in His power, start believing today and see your world change before your eyes!

Immediate Results

i wanna talk about this quote by George Scott Railton from "Heathen England" (GSR in black, me in red)

1. The Army succeeds by aiming at immediate results. Who does this theses days? Who literally goes about evangelising aiming for people to be saved after 1 chat to you? Who preaches on a Sunday aiming for immediate results?We have always aimed at immediate and definite results, believing that the Gospel of Christ, properly preached in the demonstration of the Spirit, and with power, ought to prove, must prove, visibly as well as in the heart, its divine efficiency. Does this mean we're doing it wrong?What, indeed, can be the use of preaching, unless it secures some immediate result? Theres our answer! Especially must this question arise when the audience largely consists of those who are little disposed even to listen to the Gospel; who have never come under its sound before, and never may again. Wow! Do we even preach to those people anymore? Maybe thats one of our problems...

This is what Im waiting for. This is what I wanna have faith for. I can not wait for the time when we aim for immediate results! Im going to do a test and you need to hold me accountable to this. I want to preach the word in power, and aim for immediate results! Im scared. Excited but scared...

I cant do this on my own. No, otherwise it will just be my words! I need the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit needs to convict! The Holy Spirit needs to heal! The Holy Spirit needs to give words of knowledge! The Holy Spirit needs to give prophetic words! Hmmmm seems like the Holy Spirit will be doing more than me... How exciting! Lord prepare me!

Holiness

Last night went to the Greensborough Holiness meeting! It was great, really enjoyed it, especially Ray Rays preaching. I mean Major Raymond Fingers preaching...

He obviously spoke on holiness, spoke about humpty dumpty sitting on a wall, who hada great fall, and all the kings horses etc couldnt put Him back together again... Spoke of Jesus and prevenient grace (God working on us before conversion), spoke a bit about doctrine 5

"We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience, they lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall, all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God. "

This bit stuck out to me: We're all sinners even before we sin! What we do comes out of the heart. The sin we do comes out of the sinful heart... The love we do comes out of a loving heart... Interesting

we're all in need of a Saviour!
Thank you Jesus!

and a quote i found on anthony castles blog by Major Geoff Webb ""Holiness is not the inability to sin, but the ability to not sin."

Worship

Last night I went to our church's worship band practice and it was AMAZING! We were all so free and the worship was fun, not forced, and naturally flowed from our love for God! It was so good to be able to praise Jesus and not feel unconfortable about what other people might think! Im sure God loved it as the words and dancing sprang up from our hearts! God is moving in Plenty Valley! Hallelujah!

Also, I was surfing the net the other day and came across a REALLY good website. Its the Tooth & Nail Records Myspace.

Now, I love music thats a bit more grungey than pop, or your run of the mill worship band. (Im not saying theres anything wrong with them tho!) but I prefer a bit heavier stuff. Rock, Ska, Punk and even a little bit of Metal. Tooth and Nail records sign up Christian bands of the type of music I love!

Bands include, Thousand Foot Krutch, MXPX, OC Supertones, Relient K, Underoath, Anberlin AND HEAPS AND HEAPS MORE. Check out there site, cruise to their bands sites and listen to some of their music!

As long as it glorifies God, worships Him, I dont care what you listen to or sing. God looks at the heart not the style! Praise God we can worship Him freely in whatever music we like!

Sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Psalm 96:1

*when checking out the music i found it easiest to check out the different bands myspaces to have a listen...

Holiness

Firstly, check out the new CFAN website! Heaps of good teaching, pictures, videos, and pics! Look at their beliefs! Great to see HOLINESS in there! Only one i didnt like is the tongues...

This taken from Xanders blog:

Often Christians will scoff at the doctrine of holiness saying that it is impossible to have the sinful nature neutralized.To that, General William Booth replied:

If they (the scoffers) confess that, after some two or three disjointed, misapprehended texts of Scripture, they rely upon the fact that this unholy, inconsistant, Spirit-grieving life is the common confessed experience of Christians, and therefore nothing better is possible to me, i reject their authority. I won't accept the backsliding experience of any number of people as the standard of religious attainment for me. It is not what men are, but what God wants them to be; not what they actually possess and enjoy of purity and peace and power, but what Christ, the blessed Christ, with his agony and Blood bought for them; what the Father freely offers, and what the pleading, long-suffering Holy Spirit waits to bestow...If my lot is cast in Laodicea, am i to teach that it is the right and accptable thing before God and men not to be enthusiastic, not to be be eaten up with the zeal of God's house, not to be burning hot, but to be miserably, contemptibly lukewarm in His service?

Love it! God grant it to your army!

The Fear of God

Ive been reading through Matthew and Exodus in my devotion time, and I have come across a few passages that have really made me think...

I was reading Exodus 21 and there are various sins that required the death penalty. I kept reading and more and more crimes resulted in the offender being put to death. I saw this and thought "thats a bit rough isnt it?" Surely the punishment is too harsh.

Then I continued thinking, earlier in Exodus 20:20 God says, "Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin." So these terrible punishments are to deter us from sinning.

Furthermore, I also started thinking that Im too light on sin. Sin is bad. The apostle Paul says in Romans that "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ." That is what this Exodus passage was saying too, the wages of sin is death.

I continued thinking, in Exodus 19 God told the Israleites that if they beyed God they would be for Him a "Kingdom of priests and a holy nation." This is why the sinner couldnt be simply excluded or allowed to live in sinful rebellion. If Israelites were disobeying God they had to be gotten rid of so it didnt tarnish the rest of the Israelites. This reminds us of the sin of Achan in Joshua 7:10-26. So death was the way to have a "holy people."

Isnt it amazing that although sin came into the whole world through one man Adam which brought death, that through one mans death, Jesus Christs death, He paid the price for the whole world? Now, we can be a holy people, the wages of sin have been paid by God as He hung upon the cross.

God is good! Sin is bad. Hate sin. Get rid of it. Live in resurrection power today! Get convicted of your sin, repent, give your WHOLE life to Jesus and live in faith!

Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. Romans 5:18

long time no blog!

Firstly, HAPPY EASTER! He is risen! Sorry i havent blogged, been very busy!!!

Secondly, Plenty Valley is going fantastic! Ive been running a school holiday program the past 2 tuesdays and wednesdays. I only had a few days to prepare but it went really well. I had 22 kids there today which is great! Looking to build on them all... A quick story, one girl ws saying how her friend was 'Spiritual' so i kept probing. Her friend had seen a clairvoyant and was told she saw spirits. So I started speaking to her. As I did this a bunch of other kids gathered around. I sat down on the grass and the all followed, I then told them the story of the Gadarene demoniac. They all listened intently. It was great. They then told me theyd love to hava kids church! Amazing hey?

Thirdly, Easter camp was great! I chipped my tooth on friday (pictures coming soon...) but on the Saturday we invaded Mt Evelyn and no one could possibly have left there without knowing we were there and why we were there! We had people chalking the Easter message on the sidewalk, teams of people cleaning steps, parks, streets etc, video crews interviewing, people giving out easter eggs and my group, The Evangelists! We were all loving God and loving people!

Fourthly, Harold on Neighbours has been seeing a clairvoyant, perhaps his Corps Officer should hava chat to him about it! Also, on NOVA they were talking about their clairvoyant coming in too... Signs of a people made to worship God searching for truth but falling short of the glory of God! Lets bring them to the way, the truth, and the life, Jesus Christ!

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Purpose Driven Church Confrence

On Friday I got to go to the "Purpose Driven Church Confrence" down in Geelong. I was a bit apprehensive at first (didnt know whatthey were going to say) but it turned out to be exceptionally good!

The basic gist was that God has given His church a purpose and if we follow His purposes a) we'll be healthy and b) we'll grow...

They had some great points on how to grow a church/evangelism...
1) Know what you are fishing for
2) Learn to think like a fish
3) Go where the fish are
4) Find the fish that are hungry
5) Use more than 1 hook
6) Fish for the kind of fish you caqn best catch

I like that thinking, it validated alot of thoughts Ive had lately...

Alos spoke about small groups etc. I was leaning quite heavily towards house churches with a prayer or celebration service before the onfrence but thats all changed now... sort of...

Purposes of the church:
1) Worship
2) Evangelism
3) Fellowship
4) Discipleship
5) Ministry

So small groups will work really well for some of those, and corporate works well for others...

Preached last night. Think it went well... Pray something of what was said sunk in and that the Holy Ghost continues to convict...

Holiday program starts tomorrow! Busy busy busy, especially with Easter camp coming up! Im helping organise an evangelism thing on camp, and Im doing the early morning knee drill! So Ive got lots to do.

Gods timing keeps amazing me, Ive been re-reading the old testament and i just so happend to be up to the Passover passage! We've got a passover meal at church tomorrow... timely.... God is good

and when He sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, the LORD will passover the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. Exodus 12:23

"this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you" Luke 22:20

Hallelujah. Pray the blood.

Army advances!

Good news people! I heard about this the other day but thought Id blog it, taken from New Frontier publications:

When William Booth died, The Salvation Army existed in 56 countries. With the opening of this new outpost in Saipan, that number officially doubled, as Saipan became the 112th nation to fly the Army flag.

Hallelujah!

Also, went to a Purpose driven church confrence today, fantastic but more about that later!

Immediate results

Ive been challenged recently about how fast we expect people to be transformed by the gospel. I hear people talking about how "it takes time" for someone to be saved. How people wont accept the gospel straight away, you need to show them this and that first. I get confused because I know revival can sweep through a place terribly quickly and I look at The salvos fast rise but look at us now and wonder, what did they do that we dont? What is the difference? I found this interesting passage which talks about why The Salvation Army was succeeding...

by George Scott Railton from "Heathen England"


1. The Army succeeds by aiming at immediate results.
We have always aimed at immediate and definite results, believing that the
Gospel of Christ, properly preached in the demonstration of the Spirit, and with power, ought to prove, must prove, visibly as well as in the heart, its divine efficiency. What, indeed, can be the use of preaching, unless it secures some immediate result? Especially must this question arise when the audience largely consists of those who are little disposed even to listen to the Gospel; who have never come under its sound before, and never may again.


II. The Army succeeds by making the most of the converts.
When people are converted, as in the Apostles' days, so now, they not only love and bless God, but it is easy for those who have given them a hand, and lifted them on to their feet, to lead them about the city anywhere — marching, singing, praising and blessing God, where "all the people" can see them. The people always did, and always will, run together wondering at such a sight. Upon the principle of utilizing every convert to proclaim the glad tidings to others, the Army has always diligently acted, and therefore at every station it has opened, a band of men and women have been organized and trained daily to attack the kingdom of the wicked one, and daily to expect to gain recruits for the ranks.


III The Army succeeds by teaching converts to be Holy.
Not content with merely setting before sinners the way of salvation from the guilt, power, and punishment of sin, the Army has constantly pointed out to its converts that full salvation which Jesus has been expressly declared to offer to His people, so that they "being delivered out of the hand of their enemies, — might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of their life.”


IV. The Army succeeds by teaching its hearers to do their utmost towards
meeting the expenses of the work.
The cost of hiring the buildings used, and of maintaining the officers and their families in the circumstances they have been accustomed to as working people, has been increasingly contributed to by those who have attended the services, and only supplemented by the liberality of Christian friends throughout the country, who have appreciated the opportunity of helping those who were thus diligent in helping themselves; so that, during one year, more than £12,000 are received from the poor, as against £4,000 given by the rich: We think it a vastly important test of the value of any work done amongst the poor, to what extent they themselves help to keep it up.

wow! Imagine if we did all that as an Army. Im going to try to work out how I can do that where I am now! Please, join with me in faith as we try to rekindle the coals!

6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 1 Timoth 1:6-7