Over the last few weeks, I’ve been spending time digging into John 15 in preparation for a series of messages I am scheduled to give at the National Conference for the Associated Gospel Churches of Canada.
In this wonderful passage, Jesus makes an amazing promise: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this is my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (15:7-8).
This is not a promise catered to our selfish desires (see James 4:2-3). It is conditioned upon abiding in Christ’s words, asking to bear fruit, and seeking the Father’s glory.
While studying John 15, I’ve been re-reading the biography of a man who took this promise seriously: George Muller. For decades, Muller relentlessly asked the Lord to provide for the needs of the orphans he served and the ministry he led (Scriptural Knowledge Institution). Muller’s primary motive was to bring glory to God through the provisions He received. God answered in amazing ways.
On Wednesday at our faculty and staff prayer meeting, I spoke about Muller’s example as we prayed for the needs of Heritage College and Seminary. We asked the Lord to use our current graduates and to send us more stellar students. We prayed that He would provide for the financial needs of the school and enable us to completely eliminate the school’s debt.
Later that afternoon, a man dropped off a cheque for $100,000 dollars toward debt demolition. (This brings us down to about $550,000!). We continue to pray that we will be able to pay off the remainder of our mortgage on October 1st (our mortgage anniversary date—when we can make a balloon payment without penalty).
May God help each of us to believe Jesus’ words and follow the example of George Muller. May we live a life abiding in Christ’s word, asking in Christ’s name and abounding in Christ’s fruit.
Rick and Linda Reed 