REJOICING IN GOD

TRIP TO LIBERIA: Three weeks to go. Most of my class notes are prepared. Just a few quizzes to prepare. Thank you to my wife Gloria for selling some paintings, plants and hand-made towels to raise funds for this trip, and thank you to those who have donated. If you would like to donate to this trip see tab above for information.

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: Algerian Christians suffer persecution in this mostly Muslim country but this indigenous church continues to grow. Pray for growing leadership for the Algerian church, for Christian families where the girls often have to hide their faith and marry Muslims, and for employment in a Muslim dominated culture.

ALGERIA IS IN NORTH AFRICA

The Return of the Seventy-Two - Luke 10.17-20 

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Jesus sent 72 disciples out to minister in his name. They returned with joy because even the demons were subject to them in the name of Jesus. The power was invigorating and exciting. Being a disciple of Jesus was the best. Jesus even acknowledge their ministry and power over Satan and over the enemies of Jesus. Jesus even gave them power over nature so that serpents and scorpions would not harm them. Wow. A life in Jesus to strive for, right?

But look at the last statement of Jesus. He tells his disciples that their joy should not be in the power and effect of their ministry, as good as that is, but in their relationship with him. The goal of salvation is to know God and Jesus Christ whom God has sent, John 17.3. see also Philippians 3.10, 4.4 and Romans 8.28-29.

We are to know God's power in our ministry and circumstances but our joy is to come from our relationship with God. If our joy is received from things and circumstances then our joy will depend on those things and circumstances; our relationship with God will become secondary to those things and circumstances; our focus will be on things and circumstances rather than God; when things and circumstances fail us then we will become bitter against God; and finally a focus on things and circumstances can begin to erode our belief in the Sovereignty of God.

 

 

Our joy is to be found in our relationship with God. He is to be our joy. His Goodness and Love to us are to be the source of our joy. No matter my things and my circumstances, God is my Joy. 

 

Good Articles This Week:
1) Assisted Suicide for Children

BIBLE HEROES

TRIP TO LIBERIA: I received my Liberian visa yesterday. Thank you to Diane and Ashley and the Bishop family for their help in this process. Continuing to prepare notes in what looks to be a very very busy month. Please pray for me this month and for donations to my trip. (see tab above for details on donations). Thank you to those who have already donated and are praying.

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: Algeria is 80% desert and 99% Muslim with 100,000 Christians (some estimate it may be even higher) with a majority from the Kabyle Berbers. There is an exemplary unity between the Berber and Arab and foreign Christians which provides a strong contrast and testimony against the backdrop of the animosity of those outside the faith. Pray for continued growth in the church in Algeria.

 The flag features two equal vertical bands of green and white with a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color boundary. The crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion).


I have two new bible heroes. My longtime bible heroes are Abigail and  Uriah because of their loyal character but this week I want to add Boaz and Ruth to my short list of heroes to emulate. I have been studying the book of Ruth in preparation for teaching with TLI in December in Liberia and my heart has burned within me with delight and praise (Luke 24.32). I admire the moral stature of Boaz along with his lovingkindness and faithfulness to Yahweh. I admire Ruth's courage and lovingkindness and devotion to Naomi. These are character traits I want to strive for.

I want to encourage you to slowly read the book of Ruth and to imagine what is taking place and to notice the character of those in the story as the story unfolds. Ask God to warm your heart with His Love and Lovingkindness to you as He fulfills His promises and shows you His worthy character through this story. God's steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 139).

 Good Articles This Week:
 1) The Old Covenant is Over; The Old Covenant is Authoritative
2) Pakistan Protests Delay Release of Asia Bibi

FIVE SOLA'S OF THE REFORMATION

TRIP TO LIBERIA: My flight is booked and my visa is on its return voyage from the Liberian Embassy in Washington DC. In just over 5 weeks I will be on my way. Class preparations will be my focus until then. Please continue to pray for me, our team of six, and the 85 Pastors we will be teaching.

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: Togo is a country deeply entrenched in darkness which has scarcely been challenged by intercessory prayer and the power of God in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even among professing Christians there is much participation in animism and voodoo rituals. Pray for Christians to break with these false beliefs and embrace the freedom of Christ. Pray for God to raise up Bible believing Pastors who speak and live truth in the power of the Holy Spirit.

 The country of Togo in West Africa.







The Five Sola's of the Reformation 
Halloween reminds me that it is October 31^st. October 31^st reminds me of Reformation Day. Reformation Day reminds me of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. And the Protestant Reformation reminds me of the Five Sola’s.

 

Reformation Day is the anniversary celebration in some Protestant Churches of the nailing of Martin Luther’s 95 theses on the Wittenberg Castle Church door in October 31^st, 1517. Martin Luther’s aim to reform the Catholic Church with regard to the selling of indulgences led to a confrontation with the Catholic Church that fuelled the Protestant Reformation.  The Reformation was a return to the authority of the Bible which led to a renewed understanding of the truth of Justification by faith. The thrust of the Reformation is summed up in the five Sola’s of the Reformation.Sola is the Latin word for alone. Here are the five foundational Sola’s of the Reformation.
Sola Scriptura: Scripture Alone, was the foundation for the Reformation. Sola Scriptura declared that the Bible was the sole authority for truth and conduct. At the Diet of Worms, where Martin Luther was put on trial for his challenge to Catholic teachings, he declared “my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen." Sola Scriptura meant that all that the Church did and taught was to be supported by the authority of Scripture alone. The teachings and conduct of the Church were not to be based on past traditions, or the influence of the surrounding culture, or the teachings of men but on the Word of God alone. No teaching or conduct was to be added to the Church that was not authorized by the Word of God. The Reformation’s call of Sola Scriptura was a call for the authority of Scripture alone, condemning all that was not based on the absolute authority of the Bible. 
Solus Christus: Christ Alone. The Reformation called the church back to faith in Christ as the sole mediator between God and man. For the Reformers, Solus Christus, meant that salvation was through Christ alone. Nothing was to be added to Christ and nothing was needed for salvation but Christ alone. Solus Chrisus denied the teachings of purgatory and indulgences for the dead, the mediation of Mary and the saints, and sacramental salvation through infant baptism. As the Heidelberg Catechism teaches, “...either Jesus is not a complete Savior or they, who by a true faith receive this Savior, must find all things in him necessary to their salvation." 
Sola Gratia: Grace Alone. The heart cry of the Reformation was salvation from sin in Christ Alone through Grace Alone. Grace was the unmerited favor of God. The Reformers understood by the clear teaching of Scripture that salvation was not earned but given by God to undeserving sinners. The Reformers understood that God offered salvation freely to all because Jesus Christ stepped in, took the punishment upon Himself and bore the judgment due to sinners, and that with His own blood He paid for the sins which made them enemies of God and thereby satisfied God’s Holy Justice. Salvation was not to be worked for, earned or merited but to be freely received as a Grace from God. 
Sola Fide: Faith Alone. Faith was the hand that took the grace gift of salvation in Christ. The Reformers taught that a man was justified (declared righteous by God) by believing that God had provided salvation in Christ and that those who believed were justified by faith. Those who religiously worked for God’s acceptance could never be saved but those who received by faith the righteousness that God provided in Jesus Christ were instantly saved and received eternal life. As Romans 1.17 teaches, “In the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last”.
Soli Deo Gloria: The Glory of God Alone. The Reformation reclaimed a focus on God’s Glory. All that was done was to be done to bring glory to God. Maintenance and advancement of the institutional church was not their priority. Their priority was to lift up the Character of God and the Sovereign Purposes of God in all that was done in and out of the Church. Truth glorified God. Holy living glorified God. Honest secular work glorified God. Marriage glorified God. All of life could glorify God. The Reformation had a high view of God and placed God at the center of all things. Their desire to glorify God coloured all that they did and taught.
For me the five Sola’s of the Reformation summarize basic Christianity – The absolute authority of the Bible for truth and conduct; Salvation from sin in Christ, by Grace, through faith; and a life lived for the Glory of God.  God invites you to read His Word, receive His Gift of Salvation in Christ by faith, and to Glorify Him with your life.

Good Articles This Week:
1) The Pashtuns
2) "Gosnell" is this Halloween's Most Horrifying Film

THE SONG OF MOSES

TRIP TO LIBERIA: My Liberian visa application is being processed at the Liberian embassy in Washington DC. I leave in six weeks. Please pray for quick processing and return of my visa, and for funding (see tab above) for this trip, and for the preparations that are being made both here and in Liberia.

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA:  This week our focus is Togo, a thin wedge of land between Ghana and Benin, with a population of 8 million people. Over half of the population practice traditional African beliefs which are animistic, including fetishes, ancestor worship, magic and voodoo. Christians account for 29% (many are Catholic) and Muslims for 20% of the population but even many of these continue to hold their animistic practices. Togo is in great need of God's work of new birth and sanctification. Pray for Togo.

• Red for blood shed by Martyrs to gain independence
• White for hope, star of hope
• Green for the forests, agriculture, nature, and overall hope for the future
• Yellow for natural resources of the country

I want to encourage you to slowly read Deuteronomy chapter 32 at least a couple of times, over a couple of days, and sense the flow and the emotion of what Moses is saying in this tragic outline of Israel's history up to that point, and the heart of God for his people. This history of Israel is a warning to us to remain faithful and mindful of God in the blessings He has given to us.

God is great and perfect and just and upright, unlike His children who have dealt corruptly with Him. God chose Israel and richly provided for her but Israel in gratification of her appetites forgot her God and turned from Him in scoffing rebellion and to the worship of idols. For this God must punish them. Those He once called his children are no longer his children (v5) and in anger receive disaster through foreign enemies, disease and drought.
But praise God, His wrath does not endure forever and He promises to punish once again the enemies of His people and restore His people when they realize their need of God and His Sovereign rule.
We serve both a Holy God and a God of Compassion. Let us learn to fear God and worship Him and be obedient to Him.

Good Articles This Week
1) Audacity of Gender-Reveal Parties
2) Euthanasia for children in Canada

LISTEN

TRIP TO LIBERIA: I will be traveling to Liberia December 6 to 15 with Training Leaders International to teach from the books of Ruth and Jonah and to encourage the Pastors in preaching. If you would like to donate to this trip see banner above on how to donate to my trip.

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: Corruption and bribery is widespread in Burundi and is worsening. As in most countries in Africa there is a great need for biblically trained leadership for the churches. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only answer to tribal enmity, and nominal shallow Christianity. Pray for this populous country to know their God and follow Jesus with wholeheartedness.

 White color of the X and circle represents peace, green represents the nation's hopes placed on future development and red symbolizes the suffering of the nation during its freedom struggle. The three stars in triangular configuration stand for the three major ethnic groups of Burundi: the Hutu, the Twa and the Tutsi.
  
Listen! Listen is a very important command in the Bible. Listening expects both hearing and obedience, like the parent who says to the disobedient child, "why don't you listen to me". In Psalm 81, God admonishes His people for not listening to Him. There is a sense of sadness in God's voice as He speaks to His beloved people because He must punish them for their unwillingness to listen to Him. "Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!" (v13, see also v11 and 8).

Shema Yisrael (Deuteronomy 6.4) means Hear Israel. This twice recited daily prayer is a call for God's people to hear and know and love and obey their God. As Christians we are often called to listen to God and to obey Him. Jesus often said, "he who has ears to hear, let him hear". The judgement of God on Israel was a removal of their capacity to hear (Isaiah 29.10; Romans 11.8). We are called in Hebrews 3 to hear God's voice and not to harden our hearts and live in unbelief. James exhorts us to be quick to hear and slow to speak. (1.19) Revelation closes with this plea, "The Spirit and the Bride say 'Come'. And let the one who hears say 'Come'.
We find in Jesus the perfect listener to God his Father. I love this verse from Isaiah 50.4-5, "The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward." These verses remind me of Jesus. Jesus heard and listened to his Father and then taught the people. "So Jesus said to them, 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
Are you listening to God? Do you hear what God is saying to you? God speaks as we read and meditate on His Word and spend time in prayer. God the Holy Spirit makes the Word alive if we are willing to listen not just to consider obedience but with the purpose of obedience.
Let us take a little more time to listen to God.

Good Articles This Week:
1) Canadian Win for Free Speech
2) Assessing Bruxy Cavey on the Atonement

ETERNAL-HEAVENLY PERSPECTIVE

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: The republic of Burundi is small but has the second highest population density in Africa with 11.3 million people. Burundi is 90% Christian (61% Catholic and 29% Protestant), almost 6% Muslim, with about 4% tribal religions. Since the 1990 conflict between the Tutsi and Hutu which claimed 300,000 lives, mutual respect and government representation have brought peace and stability to Burundi. Pray for growing peace and reconciliation for Burundi.

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

 Psalm 73.25-26

 In Psalm 73, the man of God is taking a hard look at the realities of life around him. He is having a hard time with what he sees. The arrogant and wicked are prospering. They are not suffering any pain and their bodies are fat and sleek. They don't seem to have any troubles. They are proud and wicked and full of follies. They scoff and speak with malice and threaten others with oppression. They speak against God and and others. They mock God's knowledge of what they are doing. They are at ease and increase in riches.

The man of God is discouraged that the wicked are doing so well while he is trying to live a holy life and do good and is being persecuted and mocked for it every day. The man of God is ready to throw in the towel, to tap out, and to join in "your best life now" of the wicked. It is just not worth all the effort of trying to follow God. God seems to be unaware and unconcerned. Have you ever felt that way?

What made the difference in this man of God? He looked up to God and reviewed those around him from a heavenly-eternal perspective. The end of the proud and wicked around him is ruin, death and eternal loss. The man of God also sees that his wrong perspective was one of ignorance and of animal desires.

Finally the man of God with a heavenly-eternal perspective realizes that God is with him, leading and guiding him, with knowledge and understanding and the destiny of glory. He knows the true God of heaven. Those things which looked so pleasant from his wrong perspective are no longer his desire. He knows the weakness of his flesh and heart but he also knows that God is his strength forever.

What a beautiful conclusion to the despair of this man of God.

 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;

you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.

But for me it is good to be near God;

I have made the Lord God my refuge,

that I may tell of all your works.

Good Articles This Week
1) This is Augustine’s understanding of grace. Grace is God’s giving us sovereign joy in God that triumphs over joy in sin. In other words, God works deep in the human heart to transform the springs of joy so that we love God more than sex or anything else. …Loving God is being so satisfied in God and so delighted in all that he is for us that his commandments cease to be burdensome. Augustine saw this. And we need him badly today to help us recover the root of all Christian living in the triumphant joy in God that dethrones the sovereignty of laziness and lust and greed.
Quote from The Legacy of Sovereign Joy – the Life of Augustine.
2) Good News from Sudan

LIVING LIKE JOB

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA:  Even though Madagascar suffers from poverty, ecological destruction (80% of rainforest cover already lost) and political instability, the church is growing. The church is in great need of unity and deliverance of compromise with old beliefs, worship of ancestral spirits and witchcraft. Its greatest need is for biblically trained leadership. Pray for the church of Madagascar.

 The colors of the flag represent Madagascar's history, yearning for independence, and
traditional classes.





    


Thinking about Job this morning.
1) Job trusted God even though he was going through a very difficult trial where he lost all his belongings, his family, and his health, and was also being accused of sin by his friends. Job did not know why all this was happening to him but he knew God was in charge and trusted in God’s love to him. Job worshiped God. After Job had all his stuff taken away this is what Job said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” “Though God slay me, I will hope in him”. (13.15) Job also said, “For I know that my redeemer lives,…and after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God”. (19.25-26) Job trusted God through all his suffering and loss, even though he did not understand what was happening to him.

2) Another one of Job’s qualities was his steadfastness. Steadfastness means you keep on going and don’t quit. Job steadily moved forward no matter how difficult it was to keep on going. Sometimes in the Christian life all you can do is keep on going even though the future looks hopeless and the trial we are in seems like it will never come to an end. Job is known for his patience in suffering so that today when we see someone not quitting in their suffering we say he/she has the patience of Job. Job is mentioned in the book of James as an example of persevering in his faith through suffering.
3) Finally a lesser known quality of Job is his powerful prayer life. Job is mentioned along with Daniel and Noah, by God as a man of powerful prayer. Ezekiel (14.14,20)

Job is a good example for us to follow especially today in light of a fuller revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Trust, Steadfastness, Prayer - a good formula for a full entrance into God's kingdom.

Good Articles This Week:
1) Fuad's Story
2) Agent's Hunt Christians After Preacher's Visit

SET APART

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: This week we start praying for the 4th largest island in the world, the exotic island of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, off the East Coast of Africa. Madagascar is home to unique species of vegetation and 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on earth. Of Madagascar's 26 1/2 million people, 50% follow the traditional religion honoring Zanahary the powerful creator and family ancestors, 25% protestant, 16% Catholic, and 7% Islam. Pray for the growth of God's kingdom in Madagascar.

 
 Madagascar, fourth largest island in world and home to unique vegetation and wildlife




Just a simple reminder this morning about the word "holy". I was reading again this week how the primary meaning of the word holy in the Bible is set apart from the rest, and is used of any person or thing that is set apart unto God for His use or destruction. It also has as a secondary meaning which includes the idea of purity, to be set apart from what does not reflect the character of God's purity. So as God's people we are called to be set apart from the rest of sinful humanity unto God's own purpose to reflect His purity in our lives to His Glory. By extension this means that we are to separate from all sin which as 1 John 2.15-16 and James 4.4 explain is love for the world, described in terms of desire, pride and adultery.

 In our union with Christ we are dead to the realm and power of sin (Romans 6.1-11). Let us feed our minds on God's Word daily so that our minds might be renewed with understanding about who we are in Christ and about the will of God and our place of service in the body of Christ and in this world (Romans 12.1-8). Let us renew our spirits by often worshiping our God. Let us be holy unto God but not isolated from those who need to know the Savior, Jesus Christ. "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you had not received mercy, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2.9-10

Good Articles This Week:
 Thoughts on Revoice [This paragraph is particularly insightful:
I’ve discussed some of this issue in my blog post Gay + Christian. My main point was that it is inappropriate for a Christian to self-identify according to any pattern of sin or struggle. Paul proclaims this astonishing news: “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The compelling and controlling power of corrupted characteristics, desires, drives, and compulsions (sin) that used to characterize us begin to fall away in our union with Christ. No prior life, or identity, should redefine who we are in Christ, as Christians.
Revoice must realize that advocating for the use of such terms is not an insignificant thing. It is one charged with meaning, ripe for being continually misunderstood, and one which will encourage those who call themselves “gay” or “queer Christians” to further identify with, or long for, the broken and sinful characteristics associated with those labels.]

7 Life Changing Prayers for Your Church

THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED AND GOD'S RESPONSE

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: Bible translation work is in progress for 18 languages. Only 8 Malian languages have a New Testament and only one has the entire Bible. Pray for these translators and for God to use His Word in Mali. Literacy is only 19% and life expectancy is under 50 years so pray for literacy projects and oral and radio ministries. Pray for work among students. Pray for Mali.

 Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu, Mali was built in 1327 of local clay and is still in use today, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.




This week my attention has been drawn to how God responds to the righteous and the wicked. In reading Kings and Psalms and Revelation, the theme is evident and consistent - God loves the righteous and hates the wicked, and God cares and blesses the righteous but abandons and curses the wicked. This truth is most prominent in Revelation as all people stand before God in judgement. The righteous, those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life, are ushered into God's eternal kingdom, but the wicked, whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life, are cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity.

It will do you no good to complain against the Holy character of God and His promise of wrath and judgement on the wicked for this is reality. No human-rights tribunal can change the Holy character of God into our self-centered view of righteousness and justice and reduce God's judgement to what we call "fair".
We the righteous before God know without a doubt that we are not or could ever be righteous in ourselves and by our works. We have humbly accepted the reality of our rebellion against God, of our sinful nature, of our inability to ever please God and be righteous before Him, and with worship and gratitude have accepted the offer of God's free gift of salvation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Christ is our righteousness so we make no boast of being better than others or make no claim of achievement. We are the righteous and blessed of God by Grace and by His mercy.
So if you are one of the righteous ones in Christ, rejoice and serve and worship and enjoy God and the hope that lies ahead. If you now see that you are unrighteous and unholy and a sinner before God, ask for the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God".

Good Articles This Week:
China Detaining Muslims: The Goal "Transformation"‎
How to Avoid a Wonderful Retirement
A Time to Pray for Idlib

NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST JESUS

MISSION TRIP TO LIBERIA: I have signed up for a teaching trip to Liberia from December 6 to 15. We will be teaching the books of Ruth and Jonah along with preaching training. Please begin to pray for these 85 Pastors mostly from Liberia but also from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: Praise God for unity and partnership among all protestants working in Mali, with a focus on the seven largest and most strategic peoples in Mali and West Africa. Pray for God to empower these workers and to prepare hearts for conversion under the Gospel message. For now population growth outpaces Christian growth. Mali is very poor and aided by Libya and Saudi Arabia which promote Islam. God can work in Mali. Please pray!

FLAG OF MALI

 Green stands for fertility of the land, Gold for purity and mineral wealth, and Red for blood shed for independence from the French





I abound with joy and praise to God in the truth and reality of Romans 8.1, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". In union with the death and resurrection of Christ the believer is justified, declared right with God and fully accepted by God without condition or reservation, even when he may sin. In union with the death and resurrection of Christ the believer is dead to law, and will never ever again fall under the condemnation of law. O, what glorious liberty is ours in Christ Jesus.
My friend, I ask you today, do you know this glorious liberty in Christ? Do you know and have you applied the truth of justification by faith and all its implications to your life? Do you understand that the Law has no more power over you to condemn you and that you have the Holy Spirit of life in you so that the righteous requirements of the Law might be fulfilled in you? Do you condemn yourself when in Christ Jesus there is no more condemnation?

 As Lloyd-Jones write, "You may and you should feel ashamed (when you sin), but you should not feel condemnation, because to do so is to put yourself back 'under the law'. If we are in this position, 'in Christ', we are there for ever; there is no condemnation, past, present or future". As we will learn in our Sunday study of Galatians "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" (5.1).
Ask God to enable you to understand and embrace this wonderful truth of justification and the resulting peace and hope (Romans 5.1-2) and no condemnation (Romans 8.1-4) that is the result. You will overflow with abounding praise to God for his marvelous salvation in Jesus Christ.

Good Articles This Week:
Why Gospel Proclamation Requires Social Activism 
Army Chaplain Squires Cleared

BACK TO SCHOOL

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: For the next few weeks I want to focus on the Republic of Mali. This is the country where a number of our Canadian peace keepers will be serving. Mali is in West Africa, a former French colony and where you can find Timbuktu. Mali is 95% Muslim, 2.5% Christian (mostly Catholic) and 2% Animist with freedom of religion. Muslims are in the North and Central region and the Christians in the South. Pray for a movement of God to enlarge His Church in Mali.

West Africa - Republic of Mali

Today most students return to structured learning. We educate our children so that they may might learn to think and make decisions for themselves, in order for them to have the knowledge needed for future work in order to sustain themselves and their families, and for them to learn social skills.
As God's people we are born-again in order that we might grow both in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Knowledge is a basic component of spiritual maturity. When we add to this knowledge Christ-like attitudes, wisdom and love, which become part of our nature as we learn to walk in the Spirit, we are equipped for service and a full entry into the eternal kingdom. (Read and meditate on 2 Peter 1.3-15 and 3.18 this week)
I want to encourage you in this new season of learning to grow in your knowledge of God's truth by:
1) Determining to consciously and carefully read a portion of God's Word every day and perhaps even to make some notes to yourself of what you learned.

2) Join a formal Bible Study group and make sure to do your reading and study during the week to prepare for the next class.

3) Take time to pray every day. Begin with worship and communion with God and then pray for others. Make a prayer list

4) Be aware of how you can serve others in the name of Jesus Christ and do 

 

  
Many students would choose not to go to school if that choice was available. The future would bring profound regret over that decision. Many Christians choose not to participate in the struggle to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and therefore show little spiritual maturity. A Christian does not coast to spiritual maturity nor is spiritual maturity absorbed by osmosis. You need to choose and then fight against those circumstances that hinder true knowledge and spiritual maturity, but remember God and His resources are there to help you even  when you show the smallest desire to grow. So make some choices this week - not too many - and then pursue those choices in the power of God.

Good Articles This Week: 
How to Choose Good Books 
Let me add to the list above "Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur" by Frank L. Houghton 
Church Growth God's Way 
Will you become a Crossroads Mentor?

HE... YOU... SURELY...

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: In this last week of prayer for Tunisia please pray for a disillusioned youth (over 25% under 15) who are apathetic about spiritual things; for the women who have more freedom than other Muslim countries but are still hard to reach with the Gospel; and for the Berbers (nomads) whose ancestors were Christians. Finally pray for the Gospel to be established and to grow in the city of Kairouan, the fourth most holy city in Islam.

 The great mosque of Kairouan built in 670 AD.






Here are seven promises from the well known and popular Psalm 23. Because the LORD is my shepherd:
1) I shall not want - God will provide all I need.
2) He restores my soul - by leading me to refreshment.
3) He leads me in the paths of righteousness.
4) You will comfort me as I face trials and death.
5) You provide abundantly in this evil world.
6) Surely goodness and mercy are always with me.
7) I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Good Articles This Week:
 Judging Others.

STAYING IN REST

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: After over a hundred years of missionary work in Tunisia the church is finally beginning to grow even as Islam is experiencing new vitality. The church is not recognized by the government and is not allowed to own property. Leadership is gradually developing as churches meet for worship and discipleship with most believers having less than 15 years in the faith. Pray for the church and leaders in Tunisia.

 Red background represents blood shed in defending Tunisian independence. White circle represents peace, with symbols of crescent and star as a reminder of belonging to Islamic Ottoman Empire.

 


Are you aware of what God is working on in your life at this time in your spiritual walk? This awareness helps us to work with God and helps us to notice the resources and lessons that He places in our path toward His goal of making us like Jesus His Son. In my life at this time God is working on patience and rest in Jesus. So I was very much encouraged by the devotional in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers on August 20th. It stated in very clear words the process that I was learning from God in the area of walking in rest. Here is the devotional:

Christ-Awareness

By Oswald Chambers

…and I will give you rest. —Matthew 11:28

Whenever anything begins to disintegrate your life with Jesus Christ, turn to Him at once, asking Him to re-establish your rest. Never allow anything to remain in your life that is causing the unrest. Think of every detail of your life that is causing the disintegration as something to fight against, not as something you should allow to remain. Ask the Lord to put awareness of Himself in you, and your self-awareness will disappear. Then He will be your all in all. Beware of allowing your self-awareness to continue, because slowly but surely it will awaken self-pity, and self-pity is satanic. Don’t allow yourself to say, “Well, they have just misunderstood me, and this is something over which they should be apologizing to me; I’m sure I must have this cleared up with them already.” Learn to leave others alone regarding this. Simply ask the Lord to give you Christ-awareness, and He will steady you until your completeness in Him is absolute.

A complete life is the life of a child. When I am fully conscious of my awareness of Christ, there is something wrong. It is the sick person who really knows what health is. A child of God is not aware of the will of God because he is the will of God. When we have deviated even slightly from the will of God, we begin to ask, “Lord, what is your will?” A child of God never prays to be made aware of the fact that God answers prayer, because he is so restfully certain that God always answers prayer.

If we try to overcome our self-awareness through any of our own commonsense methods, we will only serve to strengthen our self-awareness tremendously. Jesus says, “Come to Me…and I will give you rest,” that is, Christ-awareness will take the place of self-awareness. Wherever Jesus comes He establishes rest— the rest of the completion of activity in our lives that is never aware of itself.

 

 I find the insight about rest in this devotional particularly helpful and confirming in what I have been learning in my personal walk with God.

I encourage you to ask God to make you aware of what He is doing in your life and then to work with Him to be conformed to the image of Jesus in you. 

Good Articles This Week:
The Unreliability of Islam as seen in the Hajj
Jesus Loves Toronto Chinatown. Pray for this event this week.

YOU ARE DEAD TO SIN

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: Tunisia, in Northern Africa, where the once famous powerful city of Carthage (home of Hannibal and the elephants who attacked Rome) once ruled is home to 11 1/2 million people 99% of which are Muslim with less than 1% Christian, most of which are Roman Catholic, with less than 2,000 evangelical believers. Pray for this small church and its leaders in Tunisia.

MAP OF TUNISIA

 I have been spending many hours studying and reading on Romans 6. Understanding the teaching in this chapter is essential to the Christian's progress in holiness. Romans 6 is a powerful argument based on the truth of our union with the death and resurrection of Christ and the results of that union in our redeemed lives in relation to sin. I have found that the key to understanding this chapter is the realization that verses 1 to 11 are not declarations of our spiritual experience but declare our position before God in Christ. Verse 11 is the summary truth of our position before God, "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." This is a fact and upon the acceptance of this fact the experience of our response to sin begins as outlined in verses 12 to 23.
I once thought Romans 6.11 was a truth I had to force myself to reckon as true in my experience by concentrated faith and continued positive thinking. I had to make it true in my life in order to live a holy life. Now I know that verse 11 is who I am in Christ. I am dead to sin and alive to God as an irrevocable fact in the sight of God. Knowing who I am before God in Christ, I no longer need to allow sin to reign in my body and can offer my body in holy obedience to God which leads to righteousness, holiness and eternal life.
I would highly recommend Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones commentary on Romans 6 and 7 as essential reading for Christian growth.

As Christians we know very little about the teaching of our union with Christ and reflect very little on this wonderful truth which in turn minimizes our spiritual growth.
What fullness of life we have received by grace from our loving God in Christ.

Good Articles This Week:
Getting Unhitched from the Old Testament
What Christians and Pastors Can Learn From Jordan Peterson
Our Persecuted Brothers in India

MAJESTIC LORD

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: In this final week of prayer for the nation and the church of Nigeria please pray for godly and trained leaders for the church and mission organizations. Pray for leaders who live out what they preach, and for unity among various denominations and independent churches.

 "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" Psalm 8 begins and ends with these God exalting words. LORD is the name of God, "Yahweh", and Lord signifies God's Sovereignty over all his creation. Yahweh is our sovereign God.
God's majesty is exalted in three ways: 1) In His empowering of the weak over God's enemies, verse 2. 2) In His care and concern of mankind, verses 3-4. Even though God is the mighty creator of heaven and earth and the angels, He still is mindful of his human creation. 3) In His giving of dominion over his creation to man, verses 5-8. Even though man is created lower than the angels, God has given to man this command to rule over His creation.
"O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

Good articles this week:
Revoice: Seeking to define LGBT+ Christians 

Renewed Persecution in China

LESS TALK, MORE ACTION

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: Nigeria is a wealthy country represented by the green bars on its flag. The white bar represents peace in a country with much division and persecution of Christians by Boko-Haram and Hausa-Fulani herdsman (16,000 killed since 2015). Nigeria also has one of the largest prayer movements in the world with dynamic church growth. Pray for maturity and continued growth for these persecuted Christians.

NIGERIAN FLAG

I hope it is your common experience that as your read your Bible certain verses stick in your brain and then bounce around in your head for days, sometimes weeks, and help you grow in your relationship with God and in your daily living. 1 John 3.18 is vibrating in my mind these days, "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." This verse exhorts me to put my confession of love into action. As one commentator writes, "Love is not sentiment, but deeds".
I find this same teaching in James 2.14-17, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." We can also find this teaching in 1 Corinthians 13, Matthew 25.31-46, Ephesians 2.10 and a number of other places.

When reading about the final judgement one would expect that the standard of acceptance would be faith in Jesus Christ but Revelation 20.12 teaches us, "And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done." (see also Matthew 16.27; Romans 2.6; 2 Corinthians 5.10; Revelation 22.12) True love and faith is expressed in actions and truth. Works and deeds cannot earn salvation, but works and deeds that reflect true faith and love will be rewarded with salvation. Words and Talk are great but the proof is in the doing.

Good articles this week:
You'll never wish you did less
Joshua Project: Least Reach in the World
[Pray each day for a different people group. Download link to your computer or phone. Also access by clicking banner at top of page]
Long Term Christian Prisoners in Pakistan

PLEASING GOD

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: The Federal Republic of Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa with 186 million people, 41% of which are under 15 years of age, with a life expectancy of under 48 years. The country is evenly divided at 49% Christian and 49% Muslim, with most Muslims living in the North of the country where Christians are often persecuted and killed. Corruption is a massive evil at every level of society and undermines economic stability. Pray for the church in Nigeria.

Our graduating class at Bible College chose 2 Corinthians 5.9 "...we make it our aim to please him" as our class verse. Since that day I have made this my life verse. In chapter 5 Paul is writing about how our earthly body will be clothed one day with our heavenly body. For now we walk by faith but one day we will be with the Lord Jesus. So Paul writes, "so whether we are at home (in heaven with Jesus) or away (still here on earth), we make it our aim to please him." Ephesians 5.10 exhorts us to "try and discern what is pleasing to the Lord." When Paul prays for the Colossian church (1.9-10) he writes, "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him..." And then in 1 Thessalonians 4.1 Paul writes, "that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more." From these verses we understand that it was Paul's passion to please Jesus and God and that he prayed and taught others to make this their aim as well. From the above verses it is also evident that knowing and doing the will of God with willingness and joy is what pleases the Lord.

 I find the fact that I can please Jesus encouraging. The reality is that I am nothing and have nothing with which to please God with in myself but I can please the Lord with what He has done in me and with what He has given me. I have all I need to be able to joyfully and passionately please Jesus and my Father. Many of you will relate to the young child who asks for money to buy their mother or father a present and having made the purchase with joy and pride gives the precious gift. The parent receives the gift with great pleasure even though they have actually paid for it. It is not the value of the gift but the joy of the parent in seeing the willingness and desire of the child to give the gift, and the joy that the child has in giving the gift that pleases the parent. It is not the burden of a rule kept but the desire and joy of a willing heart that pleases most of all. And so, though I have nothing to give to God in myself, I can willingly give of what God has given to me and please Him and be fulfilled and pleased myself in the giving.

Good articles this week:
Pray for Andrew Brunson in jail in Turkey
Leviticus supports homosexuality - modern text is wrong

THE NO AND YES OF GRACE

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: Many Pastors and missionaries work in Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, but few are working in the interior. Much work is focused on the nominal Christian minority and little on the Muslim majority. Pray that the indigenous church might be set free by the Holy Spirit from the restraints of fear and lack of confidence; pray that Christians might minister powerfully and effectively to their fellow Gambians.

The Gambia flag. Blue for the Gambia river. Red for equator and Savannah. Green for forest and agriculture. White lines symbolizing peace and unity

Titus 2.11-14 has always been a favorite. Verse 11 reminds us that the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people. This reminds me of John 1.14-17 "...from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Verses 13-14 remind us that Jesus Christ is returning in glory and that he gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. The salvation mentioned in verse 11 is from sin, and unto holiness and good works as those who belong to Jesus Christ. As believers we should have no doubt regarding the goal of our salvation. We are not called to compromise with sin or to live as close to the world as possible and bend the holiness of God to appease man, we are called to be holy as God is holy.

 

Verse 12 teaches us what the grace of God does in the believer. The grace of God trains us to live in this present evil age and to wait for the return of Jesus by denying certain things and by pursuing other things. We are to deny ungodliness. Ungodliness is all impiety, irreverence and wickedness, a dishonoring of God's glory and majesty. This is the main sin that calls the wrath of God to be poured out in Romans 1.18f and leads to unrighteous behavior. Then the grace of God trains us to deny worldly passions whether they come from our own inflamed self-focused desires or as temptations from this sinful world. Romans 6 teaches us what God has done for the believer in our union with the death and resurrection of Christ and how we are to respond in denying the worldly passions of the body and to serve God in holiness. While denying ungodliness and worldly passions we are to pursue a sound mind trained by the Word of God as Romans 12.1-2 commands. We are also to pursue righteousness through upright actions and attitudes and good works in loving service to God and others. Finally we are to pursue godly lives which exalt the glory and majesty of God in all we think, say and do.
If you belong to Jesus, he is coming back for you. Until he comes live in expectancy of his coming saying NO to ungodliness and worldly passions, and YES to a sound mind, righteousness and a godly life. The rewards of God's grace are waiting for you, 1 Peter 1.3-9.

Good articles this week:
Pornography is Morally Acceptable
What is Wrong With a Little Porn When You are Married