There is an author by the name of Robert Boyd Munger who wrote a book entitled, “My Heart – Christ’s Home.” It was actually a sermon he preached in 1954. Over 10 million copies of the book have been printed over the years, which makes it one of the most widely distributed sermons of the 21st Century.
Robert passed away in 2001. He will always be remembered for his gentle, humble, Christlike spirit as well as being a gifted teacher. Rod Denton recalls being a young seminary student in one of Robert Munger’s classes. After class one day, he asked Robert to be his mentor. They met every week for one hour and this was a time that Rod will remember forever. One time Rod recalls Robert asking him to pray for him. Robert said, “For some time we have been talking about the renewal of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life and I have come to realize that I am in need of a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit in my life. I believe that you are the person who should pray for me.” Immediately he got out of his chair and walked to the middle of the room in his office and invited him to lay hands on him and pray. This great man of God, well known across America, at the age of 80 wasn’t finished and humbled himself on his office floor for more of God. One of the greatest qualities a follower of Jesus is one who possesses a teachable spirit and humble heart. There should never be a time when we stop learning and growing. The attitude of a teachable heart is a prerequisite for more of the Spirit of God. This message begins with the Apostle Paul’s prayer found in Ephesians 3. I want to center in on verse 16 and the first part of 17 from the message, “I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit – not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength – that Christ may live in you as you open the door and invite him in.” One of the most beautiful thoughts is the fact that Jesus Christ Himself, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, will actively enter a heart, settle down and be at home there. Christ will make the human heart His home. Jesus said to the disciples, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him (John 14:23 ESV).” It was difficult for the disciples to understand what He was saying because it was impossible for this to physically happen. The same word that Jesus used here was used earlier in John 14:1-3: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” Jesus was promising them that just as He was going to heaven to prepare a place for them and would welcome them one day, now it would be possible for them to prepare a place for Him in their hearts and He would come and make His home with them. Munger mentioned in his book, “I have discovered through the years that when my thoughts are centered on Christ, the awareness of his presence, purity and power causes wrong and impure thought to back away.” So let me encourage you to do as Paul says in Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” By doing this, you are preparing a place for the Holy Spirit to live in your heart and direct your paths. Go to a safe place and humble yourself before the Father and ask for more of His presence in your life. Yes, He will answer your prayer as you seek Him with all of your heart. Joy in Jesus Pastor Mike
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Rev. Mike McClurgSenior Pastor, Findlay First Church of the Nazarene Archives
March 2020
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