WE CAN'T GO IT ALONE (Part Two)

Dear Pastor,

Last month we looked at a biographical sketch of William Wilberforce, who had been called and commissioned by our Lord to accomplish two objectives: (1.) Suppress the slave trade and (2.) reform society, culture, morality, i.e., all social problems. He and his young friend William Pitt were both elected to Parliament around the age of twenty. They each had different gifts and talents that were complementary to each other.

Wilberforce had a unique ability to draw men to himself; both he and Pitt were Christians and both were anti-slavery. Realizing the task at hand would be extremely difficult without help, Wilberforce enlisted a core group of men to help. They roomed together in a large house, prayed and worshiped together, ate together, communicated, and planned together. Wilberforce had the uncanny ability to share credit with his friends and colleagues and was quite gifted to work with disagreeable people and maintain a relationship with them. So much can be accomplished if we don't care who gets the credit! This group of men was first known as the saints and afterward the Clapham Sect.

It took William Wilberforce twenty-eight years to accomplish his purpose and calling in life. Just three days prior to his death he received word that slavery had been abolished.

Dear Pastor,

I have been reading the biography of William Wilberforce. He was born in England in 1759 to upper echelon wealthy parents. He was educated at Cambridge and graduated about the age of twenty. By the age of twenty-one he and his college friend, William Pitt the Younger, had been elected to the House of Commons in England. He had, as a young boy, been introduced to Christianity by an aunt and uncle who were devout Christians. They had been greatly influenced by the teachings of John and Charles Wesley. However young William really came to know the Lord when he was twenty-four years old. Christianity was popular with the common man, but not the elite. His grandfather told him he would not leave him a penny.

Shortly after his decision to give it all up for Christ, he wrote these words in his diary, "God Almighty has set before me two great Objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners." This being his mantra, Wilberforce altered the course of Western Civilization including the United States of America. In using the terminology, "Reformation of Manners", he was speaking of reformation of society, culture, morality, ie, all social problems. Young William, for many years, had become aware of the evil of the slave trade. Over time he became assured of God's call on his life to propitiate the justice and righteousness of God.

He surrounded himself with like-minded believers and formed a Christian community commonly known as the Clapham Circle. They lived in a large twelve bedroom house where their community lived together, prayed together, and shared life together. Wilberforce knew and believed two things: (1.) He was willing to share the credit for all that he did with others, and (2.) he had an uncanny characteristic and ability to work with disagreeable people. He was able to see the world problems through God's perspective, yet very few saw what he saw. He quickly came to the conclusion that the battle was the Lord's.

Dear Pastor,

As I sit down to write to you it is Pentecost Sunday in America and I believe Pentecost is next Sunday in Romania. Not only is America just starting to recover from COVID 19, but now is under attack by terrorists proclaiming to be protestors. Our constitution certainly provides for peaceful protesting, but not destruction, looting, and vandalism. Please be praying for America! Judy, (my wife), and I have joined our hearts with the worldwide prayer movement known as Unite 714. (2nd Chronicles 7:14) Go to Unite 714.com for the particulars.

What is meant by A Hinge Moment in Life? From a spiritual perspective it is a point or point in time in one's life that results in a life-changing or life-altering event. An encounter with life or in life that results in a new direction or a change in direction of one's life; an experience, with such impact, that it has the potential to change one's beliefs, his thought life, and his character. It would be such an encounter that is remembered forever.

There are potentially many different events that could trigger such a life change, for example:

Dear Pastor,

Good morning, from America and ServingHIM! Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord! (2 Timothy 1:2)

I believe we are in about the seventh week of COVID-19 in America and currently, it appears that the intensity of this pestilence is beginning to wane, for which we are truly thankful. Yet that underlying fear that has been so prevalent in these past weeks is still present, and though the fear of the virus is not as great, the fear of the immediate future is still before us. As it is in your country, so it is in America! Many have lost jobs and pay or have taken pay-cuts and are working part-time. There is a great concern, anxiety, and fear of the future.

Not only is there fear of the disease itself but being quarantined and unable to provide for their families is very troubling. Fear and panic are manifested in the hearts of many in America by greed and hoarding. These are times that try the hearts and souls of men. Satan uses circumstances of life to produce fear, and fear, if embraced will promote panic and chaos. In Romans 8:6 Paul writes, “The mindset on the flesh is death, but the mindset on the Spirit is Life and Peace.” Recall that Gideon found peace in the presence of God.