Seven People You’ll Meet in Heaven:

And what they teach you about transforming your world for God

January 18: Amy Carmichael: Looking for a Chance to Die

“One can give without loving, but one cannot love without giving”

Acts 20:35  In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

Focus:  Christ changes the world by presenting his gift to the world through you.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

1.       Dying to your pride

Amy Carmichael was born in a small village in Northern Ireland

parents were devout Presbyterians.  She was the oldest of seven children.

As a child she wish she had blue eyes instead of brown. She was disappointed that God did not change her eyes.

Amy had a heart for the shawlies, mill girls who wore shawls instead of hats. In order to minister to them, she founded the welcome evangelical church in Belfast. It began as a Sunday morning class for the shawlies. The work grew and grew until over 500 were attending. She continued the work there until she felt God call her to Manchester England to work with the shawlies there. 

She would be one of the last people one would consider for missionary work. He suffered from a nerve disease which made her body week, brought her immense pain, and put her into bed for weeks. However, in 1887, she heard Hudson Taylor speak. She heard God's call to missionary work. She applied to China inland Mission but her health made her postpone her missionary career.

She later traveled to Japan where she served for 15 months, before afriends health required her to return to England. She had been disappointed in Japan , so few the missionaries had a heart truly serve God. It was after this, she discovered her life's work in India. It was here that her brown eyes allowing her to fit into the culture in which she would serve her life's work.

--Christ uses your weaknesses to show His strength

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

but he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

What is your weakness? What DC is keeping you from serving Christ?

        Are you brave enough? Are you the right age? Do you have enough money? Are you educated enough?

God's power is made perfect in your weakness. We see our weaknesses as obstacles. When in fact, they are opportunities for God.

What do you boast about?

Paul boasted of his weakness. He wanted people to see that his life was lived to the power of Christ not through his own abilities.

Christ is not looking for the perfect. He is looking for the person who is willing to be used despite their weaknesses.

--Be faithful in little and God will give you the increase

Matthew 25:23

his master replied, well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!

God is measuring your service by how you were faithful in the place, with a talents, with the resources, he has given you now.

It is not the size of the task that matters, but the pleasure of the King.

Be faithful in small things.

        With their possessions, your family, relationships, abilities, time. 

2.       Give yourself a chance to die.

Amy first noticed in India Hindu temple children, young girls dedicated to the gods and forced into life's of prostitution, many his young as six years old. She began a Fellowship 30 miles from the southern tip of India that would become a sanctuary for over 1000 of these children.

Following Hudson Taylor's example, members of the Fellowship wore Indian dress and the children were given Indian names. Amy dressed yourself indeed close, DYED her skin with coffee, what travel long distances to save children from suffering

she founded both the home and school for the rescued children. The children were raised to be nurses, teachers, and evangelist.

a lady from England wrote her a letter, who is considering a life as a missionary, she asked: what is missionary life like? Amy answered: missionary life is simply a chance to die.

In Japan she had to words written all over her, yes Lord.

In India, she handstitched tapestry with the word Rabboni.

She became known as the rescuer of India's children.

First child she saved was a young girl who she called her Pearl Eyes.

        This was in 1901. She met opposition for interference and Hindu customs and was often charged with kidnapping.

        She and the other women who work with her decided not to marry to rather devote themselves to form in the Christian character of the young girls they saved.

In 1918 she "for boys the children of temple prostitutes 

--Be all things to all people when it does not compromise Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:22

to the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

What are you willing to be that others might come to know Christ?

This verse is not a license to do whatever we want, or to excuse sinful actions.

This verse is a call to identify with people.

Set aside our opinions, or personal preferences, to truly give up part of ourselves in order that others might come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

It is taking the moment to ask the question: am I asking Christ to bless my plans or am I living my life in a way which I am part of his plans.

It is setting aside my own personal culture and choosing to compromise my culture while never compromising biblical standards.

--Practice losing your life that you might find it.

Mark 8:34-35

they called the crowd to him along with his disciples and he said: if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

When was the last time you denied yourself? When is the last time you took some money, your time, or something you own and instead of doing what you wanted with it you used it to bless someone else.

When was the last time you took a cross? How often do you deny your own wishes? Do you always have to win?

Culture ask us to save our own lives. To fulfill our own needs, to take care of ourselves first, to value our own needs and wishes above all else.

In this we pursue relationships, our work, the raising of children, our impact on those around us. And in finding our lives, we've actually lose them.  The paradox of Christian living is that when I give of myself for the sake of Christ, not simply for the sake of giving but in giving for Christ, I truly find my life.

3.       Giving your all to whatever you do for God.

In 1931 Amy was injured in a fall. She fell into a hole on a construction site. She severely broke her leg, dislocated her ankle, had twisted her spine. The surgery left her bedridden most of the rest of her life. She said God allowed this to answer for prayer to find a more effective way to lead the Fellowship. She served for 56 years without a break. She wrote 50 books. She never returned home She died in India on January 18th, 1951 at the age of 83. Exactly 58 years ago to this day. She asked that no headstone be put over her grave. The birdbath contains a single word, Amma… which means mother.

--Love God with everything you have to give.

Luke 10:27

he answered: love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.

You need to love God with all your passion: what are your passions? Where does God fit them?

You need to love God with your character: what is your character? Does it reflect Christ?

You need to love God with all your effort: what do you put your effort into? Are your efforts done for the love of God?

You need to love God with every thought: what do you think about? What do your thoughts say about Christ?

And if you long for your neighbor is a reflection of what you think of yourself; what kind of person would your neighbor described you as?

--Live your life in a way that counts for eternity.

                  Matthew 6:33

but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Where does the King rule in your life? What are the standards of right a wrong that you use? On what do you depend for what you need?

Only three things last for eternity: God, the Word of God, and people.

If this is what is most valuable, how does your life reflect value?

4.       How do you give yourself a chance to die and live for Christ?

--Choose to embrace His Kingdom and His salvation.

--What weaknesses are keeping you from serving God?  Do you believe God can show His strength despite these?

--Make a list of 3 things God has entrusted to your care:

--What is something you can do this week to show your faithfulness to God in how you care for these three?

--What is something you want that keeps you from being effective for God?  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you give it up.

--Choose a secret act of kindness in which you can love and give, without receiving anything back in return.