First United Methodist Church Elgin

Just this week, I saw an interview Eric Metaxas made with Remi Adeleke, a Nigerian immigrant and an ex-Navy Seal. His story includes being ousted from the Navy Seal program for repeated failures to pass some of the rigorous skills tests required of a Seal. He confesses that he was not able to perform at a high level because of his lifestyle outside of camp. When he finally decided to rid himself of that, he was re-admitted, and he became a successful Navy Seal. In the Gospels, there are over 30 instances where Jesus prayed including the one found in Luke 9: and Jesus took Peter and John and James and went up into a mountain to pray and as He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered. (NKJ) Jesus is consistent in finding time alone to be with the Father because you find that He either leaves in the evening to pray or He rises early before the sun is up. The disciples and the early Church learned this discipline well and kept it as He had commanded them in Matthew 28:20. Prayer is like a Navy Seal requirement for two reasons: 1) Jesus commanded it and 2) without it, you will drown in the sea of worldliness. As Remi kept failing to swim long distances and hold his breath in stressful underwater conditions, so a disciple of Jesus fails to mature without the holy conditioning of prayer. But it is a discipline, something that is self-imposed. Because Jesus was faithful in prayer that one night, the Father surprised Him with His glory! Who knows what holy surprise awaits us if keep praying!

See You In Church!

April 1, 2020

In Accounts of Revival, John Gillies chronicles the history of Christian   revivals from the early centuries to the eighteenth century. While there have been  both great revivals and times of spiritual slumber, the Lord has faithfully kept a   remnant in anticipation of the new outpouring of God. Rev. Horatius Bonar, the editor, writes the following lines: The multitude has always slept…ten thousand times He has spoken and still He speaks…but there has always been a little flock awake. Such is the manner of a godly revival. The arrival of the Spirit of revival will happen suddenly whether on a person, a prayer group or upon a crowd, but the hope and prayer for that day will wake time. This is well-founded in the words of the prophet Isaiah who writes, he that believeth shall not make haste. In a godly revival, there is no “hurry-up offense”, no “just add water,” or “just microwave it.” There is no substitute for praying without ceasing, for supplication, for fasting and for hoping. There is no quick way to revival except to knock in prayer at the Master’s door until He opens!  The Spirit of revival is none other than the precious cornerstone, Jesus of Nazareth!The Lord said, My sheep hear my voice…and follow Me. He is beckoning the little flock to walk with Him in hope- amidst all our duties-until we come to the day of revival!Let us walk in hope.

See You in Church

May 1, 2017

Just in the last few days, a line of thunderstorms hit our area and brought with it some tornados. One of the homes hit was of our very own Kathryn Mullins. As we walked the property we came upon a very large and tall tree that was completely defoliated. More than that, the top half was stripped clean of bark and now appeared smoothly green. The twister had acted powerfully upon the tree. The Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians about Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us. Paul has come to know that as we submit to the Lord, He is capable of granting us an amazing transformation through the Spirit of God. Ultimately, His power will bring us closer and closer to the likeness of Christ Himself. But He adds, above all we ask or think. It does not matter where we are on the Christian path, God wants to outdo our expectations! Lent is both an active and passive experience. It is a continuation of the everyday life of a Christian- prayer, reflection, repentance, reconciliation, joy. When the Psalmist says, Wait on the Lord, he encourages us to seek and expect the mighty wind of God to swirl around us and then leave us looking different!

See You in Church

March 1, 2017

Dr. Kevin Watson, Professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies at Seattle Pacific University, was asked recently what could bring renewal to the Wesleyan movement today. His answer was simply to return to the small Wesleyan groups. When the class meetings and the smaller accountable groups were the bedrock of Methodism is America, the movement grew exponentially. It behooves us to return to watching over one another in love as the mark of our congregation. John Wesley never said, Be imitators* of me, even as I am of Christ, but he could have. The discipleship strategy and the theology behind it that he established come from Jesus of Nazareth himself who taught the twelve. It was a form of discipleship carried forward into the first century of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America age until it was abandoned. But Mr. Wesley believed that isolated disciples make for weak disciples. Therefore, accountable fellowship was the answer; a constant encouragement via the small group meetings. A synonym for power in the Church is godliness. But, how do we get it? Why not re-take the tested and true Wesleyan approach to godliness? This is, in fact, our general objective for the year. It will require prayer, patience and participation on the part of those who want to want to grasp all that the grace of God offers you. Let us follow Mr. Wesley, an imitator of Christ. Let us watch over one other in love! *The word “followers” in verse one is more properly, “imitators”.

“See You in Church”

February 1, 2017