Monday

 

 

 

“Now to Him who is able to do

exceedingly abundantly

above all that we ask or think,

according to the power that works in us,

to Him be glory in the church

by Christ Jesus to all generations,

forever and ever.”

~Ephesians 3:20-21~

Randy Taylor of St. Helena Parish is going back to M.D. Anderson today. Please pray for Randy, his family, and the medical staff as they consider new problems and how to treat them.

Vacation Bible School begins at 8:30 this morning at FBC, Kentwood. Children from four years old to those who just complete the sixth grade are invited to attend.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
Monday, June 9, 2008

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Romans 12:5, NKJV).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the International Prayer Strategy Office, asking you to pray for isolated believers.

Have you ever gone to bed at night with the heaviness of loneliness in the pit of your stomach? Isolation is one of the hardest phenomena for the human psyche. We need a support system. Yet H and M, Mbunda believers in Western Zambia, have taken up the cross of isolation for several years now, as they have lived far away from their homes and families. After H and M believed on the Lord, they felt His strong calling to be missionaries to their own people and live in a remote area, where they have sacrificed much to teach Mbunda people the truth of Jesus.

In Morocco a young man huddled by the radio in his bedroom, tuning into the frequency that he has listened to every week for a year. On this program he learned the truth about Jesus, the Messiah, and accepted the invitation to follow Him. His family does not know of his decision, and he feels alone-knowing no other Christians. In the same city, S. furtively glances over his shoulder as he enters the address of a website. Six months earlier, he dreamed of a man in white robes proclaiming Himself as God’s Son and telling him to believe the Bible. S. struggled with questions about Christianity, and found this website one night at an Internet cafe. Questions satisfied, he trusted in Jesus; but S. has never heard of another Moroccan Christian. So he keeps his faith a secret and reads an online version of the Scriptures.

*Please pray for isolated believers that they will find fellowship in the Lord.

*Pray for national workers, H and M, that when they call out to their Abba Father, He will hear and ease the pain of their loneliness.

*Give thanks for your own church family and for the body of Christ around the world.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor

“LET EVERY SOUL be subject to the governing authorities…

For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Romans 13:1-4 NKJV).dynasty, Nepal’s newly elected government declared the country to be a Republic, abolishing the throne and deposing the reigning King. The precise nature of the new government has not yet been completely determined, as a new constitution is scheduled to be written. It will be different however from what has existed before.

Changes in government will take place in many nations over the next months. Elections will be held in the United States as well as in a number of other countries. People are understandably concerned whenever change comes. What will a new president, congress, prime minister, parliament, etc. bring about? Will peace continue? Will the economy be strengthened or will hard times prevail? What about personal liberties, human rights, environmental protection, international relations and a host of other legitimate concerns? Will our way of life continue as it is or will drastic change occur?

The fact is that all human conditions and institutions are temporary. “Nothing is constant except change” is a historic fact. We have no certainty regarding security or stability. But that does not mean that we must be fearful, pessimistic, or paranoid about our future. God is sovereign. He is in control. Whatever comes will be in accordance with his eternal will and purpose. That does not mean that we will always have the prosperity or freedom that we desire. He does not guarantee those things. But we will have circumstances in which we can serve him, and in which he can bless us. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

It is interesting that Paul wrote the book of Romans on his third missionary journey, probably only months prior to being arrested in Jerusalem by Roman authorities. He would spend more than 4 years in Roman prisons before being set free to preach again (as many New Testament scholars believe), but then would evidently be arrested once again and finally executed under orders from Nero (according to early Christian sources). The man who stated that those who do good have nothing to fear from government was put to death by that same government for preaching the gospel of Christ. Was Paul mistaken? Is this a conflict or an untruth? It depends on one’s definition of good or of fear. Jesus taught, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Paul himself considered that “to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). He saw no threat in the prospect of going to be with Christ in Heaven.

If our trust is in God, and our primary goals and concerns are spiritual, then our attitude toward government can be that of confidence. We will do what is right, what honors God and serves our fellow man. We will trust God to provide for us and to protect us eternally. We will not fear. This does not mean that we cannot or should not work and pray for good government that is sensitive to and supportive of human needs, and that promotes Biblical values. Certainly those things are greatly to be desired. But in places or times where those are not available we still may trust in God. For that we are grateful. (Michael E. Brooks @ http://www.forthright.net/field_notes/gods_ministers.html)
KneEmail: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Romans 13:1-4 NKJV).

Make this a great week!

Anna Lee