Sunday, May 5, 2002
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Sunday, May 5, 2002 |
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The charge By DR. KNOX HERNDON
Fayette County just had a fantastic and, in my opinion, spirit-filled National Prayer Breakfast at Grace Evangelical Church Thursday. The meeting is traditionally ended by pastors encircling and praying for and "laying on of hands" on elected officials. Implicit in any kind of prayer is requesting that God will hear our prayers and act, and that we as believers will be inspired by the prayers to act in God's name. I'm an old soldier and was exposed to both "offensive" and "defensive" language. God, in scripture, tells us to "resist evil" (defensive) and "do good" (offensive). The following poem, called "The Charge," has meant a great deal to me personally and to our little church. When we get "weary in well-doing." We bring it out and use it to inspire us to move out and act on the "Church's Charge" the last words given by Jesus to His disciples before He ascended to heaven, also called the "Great Commission": Go ye therefore & teach all nations.(Matt.28:19-20) Sounds pretty "offensive to me. CHARGE!!! "The Charge" written here was penned by a young black pastor in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, in the city of Salisbury. He wrote this moving portrayal of his life right before the communists overran his city and killed him. He knew martyrdom was near. He wrote:
I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. For my past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, cheap talking, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals. I no longer need prominence, prosperity, positions, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. For now I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power. My faith is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, and my guide reliable. My mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate with the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, let up, shut up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus, I must go until He comes, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He stops me. When he comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me, for my banner will be clear!
It is my prayer that the flame that the National Prayer Movement is carrying of Christians loving one another as witnessed at the prayer breakfast this morning will continue to burn in the hearts of all Christians everywhere. After the prayer breakfast, a local bread company handed out loaves of bread. We are taking that loaf of bread from that sweet spirited National Day of Prayer Breakfast and using it in our monthly communion service this Sunday. Love on in unity til Jesus comes. Watch and pray without ceasing. The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is pastor of His House Community Church (SBC). The Rev. Greg Mausz is senior associate pastor. The Rev. Dr. Lydia Herndon is the Sunday School superintendent, Bible study coordinator and teacher. The church is just below Fayetteville, on Ga. Highway 85, a mile south of Ga. Highway 16, just below the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church office and prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail KHERN2365@aol.com.
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