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One of the highlights of almost all our trips to other places where we train, is the determination individuals have for the study and understanding of God’s Word. Even in places where the education experience is less than normal or none at all, they still show a craving to know what the Bible teaches and how to apply it to themselves.
There were times in the history of God’s people when a few persons stood out for their unusual desire and passion to know what God was saying to them through the written Word. Ezra 7:10 is one of those examples. Keep in mind the setting of the Israelites. They had just come through 70 years of exile, and most were very discouraged – except Ezra. “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10). This is followed sometime later with, “And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. So, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month” (Nehemiah 8:1–2). Have you “set your heart” to put God’s Word at the center of your life? If you have or if you will, God will use you to impact others and cause them to chase after God’s truth.
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In thinking about what to say in this blog, my mind went to conversations with some of our valued partners in other countries. Paul summarizes my feelings in these verses:
“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore, we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3–4). Let me summarize this in three questions I want to ask you:
If you cannot honestly say “YES’ to any of these questions, I strongly suggest you get with a godly man or woman and ask them to disciple you to be stronger in your walk with the Lord. There have been news articles lately indicating an increase in the sale of Bibles. This is very encouraging. In the work of NFI in some African and South East Asian countries, we have been shocked at the number of believers, and even pastors, who do not have a Bible. We are doing our best we can to provide Bibles where the need is the worst and invite any who are moved by this condition to join us in providing what we can.
Luke does not tell us where the Ethiopian eunuch acquired the scroll of Isaiah, but he did not understand what he was reading. Like this eunuch, there are also many who have a Bible but are unable to understand its meaning without someone to come alongside them to explain the meaning and context of what is being read. How thankful we are for the Holy Spirit who dwells in believers and who can unfold the meaning of all Scripture. Many Christians do not realize the value of His presence in them. We need to follow the model of the Early Church that took seriously the responsibility of discipling each other, particularly new converts or those who have never been discipled. This is not a time-consuming process. It only demands a heart for others and placing the right priority on this need. Are you willing? ““Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it” (Amos 8:11–12).
Can you imagine a time like this? The setting of these verses makes them applicable to Israel and a time of severe judgment. Even with that in mind, we should take from this Scripture a serious warning to any in the Church who treat lightly how available the Bible, God’s Word is to us. So many spend little or no time reading and meditating on its rich truth and miss its application. Have you adopted the attitude that Jeremiah had? “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by Your name, O Lord, God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16). Is this the way you feel about spending time in daily reading Scripture? When you do, the Spirit will give fresh insight, meaning, and application of God’s Word to your life. You will become more fruitful, and God will receive increased glory. Some of our most exciting work we see taking place today is in conditions of extreme hardship and poverty. We have mentioned in the past how God is working among the Hmong people of S. E. Asia. Many of these people are displaced because of persecution and live in refugee camps with conditions most of us have never experienced. In these conditions, God is moving to establish these believers in their faith and tools for survival.
Even more surprising is their desire to use God’s Plan for Young Disciples (GPYD), God’s Plan for little Disciples (GPLD), and God’s Plan for Toddler Disciples (GPTD) in the English language to train their children. We applaud their effort to combine two objectives in this request. One is to establish them early in the gospel so they can stand strong in the faith, and the other is to equip them with the English language as a tool to enhance their opportunities of getting employment. If you are interested in helping us print these resources in their country, please let us know. The NFI team was there last year and found their dedication to study and learning is much greater than what anyone could find here. Join us in prayer for these people; their spiritual growth, protection from harm, and success in providing for themselves. In just two days Randy will be heading to S. E. Asia. There are aspects of this trip that are going to require much prayer. Details will be shared at the appropriate time. That is why I posted the initial agenda now so you can join us in prayer. THANK YOU!!
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Corinthians 2:14). (The January dates are only for Randy) Jan 14-15 Travel to Thailand – Leaving the house at 4 a.m. for JFK and three flights over 27 hours, arriving in Chiang Mai just before midnight. Please pray for good rest and reflection. Jan 16-18 Training in Chiang Mai, Thailand – Our “Timothy” arrives from Myanmar and we have about 30 graduating God’s Plan for His Disciples (GPHD)and beginning God’s Plan for His Church (GPHC). Pray for these who are leading ministry to the Burmese in this part of Thailand. Jan 19-21 Training in Mae Sai, Thailand – Considered the gateway to the Golden Triangle (where Thailand, Laos & Myanmar meet geographically), we will introduce GPHD to 50 Burmese leaders. Please pray for multiplication of establishing believers in the gospel in this strategic city and for expansion to new people groups. There are times in the life of a missionary that are more difficult than others. Those who have dedicated themselves to serve by spreading the gospel to every known people group possess a certain determination to “press on” even when it may not be wise to do so.
Paul possessed that attitude. Even in prison, he found a way to connect with churches he had planted. “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:19–21). Imagine sending someone like that to go in your place. After a fourth back surgery and a five-day hospitalization in Bangkok, Thailand, I realized that my long trips were over. The disappointment was very difficult! What I did not realize was that God was preparing Randy to join our group and would be a much better member of our team than I had ever been. Over time, we realized that God planned the change long before we were aware of the need. It is so important that we trust our future to a Father who has infinite knowledge of our desires and the need of those we serve. That is why it is critical that we seek the interests “of Jesus Christ,” not our own! Last evening was our weekly time when the NFI team gathered via Zoom to pray for each other and the events ahead of us and thank God for the many things He has accomplished through this ministry. We usually begin with a Scripture reference that sets the tone for our prayer time. Randy started us with the following reference:
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). This was followed by each person expressing some character of God that we want worked out in us and displayed better. Here are a few of that were mentioned:
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up His cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24-25). God may let others be great but keep you small. He will let others do a work for Him and get the credit, but He will make you work and toil without knowing how much you are doing. Then, to make your work still more precious, He will let others get the credit for the work which you have done; this to teach you the message of the Cross, humility, and something of the value of being cloaked with His nature.
The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch on you, and with a jealous love rebuke you for careless words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over. So, make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own, and that He may not explain to you a thousand things which may puzzle your reason in His dealings with you. God will take you at your word. If you absolutely sell yourself to be His slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and let other people say and do many things that you cannot. Settle it forever; you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue or chaining your hand or closing your eyes in ways which others are not dealt with. However, know this great secret of the Kingdom: When you are so completely possessed with the Living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of heaven, the high calling of God.” By: G.D. Watson “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up His cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24-25). If God has called you to be truly like Jesus in all your spirit, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility. He will put on you such demands of obedience that you will not be allowed to follow other Christians. In many ways, He seems to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.
Others who seem to be very religious and useful may push themselves, pull wires, and scheme to carry out their plans, but you cannot. If you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent. Others can brag about themselves, their work, their successes, their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing. If you begin to do so, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works. Others will be allowed to succeed in making great sums of money, or having a legacy left to them, or in having luxuries, but God may supply you only on a day-to-day basis, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, a helpless dependence on Him and His unseen treasury. The Lord may let others be honored and put forward while keeping you hidden in obscurity because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.” (By: G.D. Watson) |
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