F4S: December 2019

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” ~ Apostle Paul

We celebrate Jesus -- knowing Him! 
We celebrate all that He has done this year.. but there is more before us now with Him. 
We have this day, this moment.  We have the Holy Spirit to control us, believer.  Why live in the past or in the future?  There are people to befriend for Jesus today. 
“I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13 NLT).
It’s a good day to get past our old life, past our past lives in the world.. on into the future with Christ leading us moment by moment. We have today. We have now to let Jesus be our Lord and Savior. 
We cannot live in the past -- some might try. We cannot go back or be controlled by past mistakes or live in past victories. That was then, and this is now. 
So if you have blown it in past year in sin, just learn from it. Fail forward, not into more failure. Yeah, just don’t do it anymore. Avoid sin -- choose to hate sin. Learn from the Lord how He hates sin (it destroys people). Turn, trust, make changes in your thinking, in your behavior, in your attitude, in your speech, in your habits -- yes in your daily choices to avoid going down that road lame again. Learn from your mistakes. Come unto Jesus and learn of Him for He is meek and loving in heart. 
Not in the future, and at the same time, don’t live in past victories either. If God did something wonderful in your life in the last year, WONDERFUL. Be thankful for that. Express that gratitude to Him. But a new year is before you 2020 and with many new opportunities. So press on for what God has for you. Seek Jesus with all your heart -- seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. See Matthew 6:33-24. 
Paul talked about pressing on to reach the end of the race. You and I can by faith do that as well. 



Friday, December 27, 2019

Watching what's still going on in this world around us.. what would be good to be pre-thinkin' on as we enter 2020?

What one really believes inside will eventually be manifested in their outward behavior.
Yep, and inner false beliefs keep motivating those deceived by em.. into more and more crazy stupid destructive actions. Choose to believe what’s really so.
New Russian weapon can travel 27 times speed of sound…
image
It's no time to be afraid, confused, distracted or hateful towards people, but it is a time to wisely show love towards God first.. and towards all people. Yes, and to pray for them too. So much terror and many threats of it still. Walk circumspectly. 

Sadly some more ISIS terrorists have just reportedly beheaded 11 Christian hostages on Christmas Day in Nigeria.


image

The Bible says that God has established government and government is endued with God's authority to protect its citizens and punish those who terrorize them. Some Govs are far better on earth, but all have flawed leaders in authority here. We submit short of sinning cuz God is our highest Authority. 
Be encouraged in and praise the Lord all day long. You’re going to worship someone or something really. 
Seems like it's gotten stronger.
A storm is raging across American culture affecting so many families—and it’s fast trying to sweep away our once God-fearing land. I love the USA
Times of perplexity--religious fanatics still seek to annihilate us.
But in this time of trouble, we can still fervently pray and win. We can spread truth and see lives transformed! Remember when Jesus taught us.. You're either for me or against me, you're either gathering with me or scattering.. Follow me and I'll make you to become fishers of men. 
Rebel against temptation to sin, other sins, against this corrupt world system, against your old fleshly nature and against fallen angels (1/3rd rebelled and fell) -- those are your real enemies. Rebel not against God or flawed delegated authorities over you. Realize who they are. Obey short of sinning. Submit to authority for the glory of God. 
Love...always protects, so wisely protect those people around you by obeying the Lord (the Bible Jesus). 
The Bible is quite clear about why legitimate governments are established and the extent of their authority. From the apostle Paul we learn:
"The authorities that exist have been established by God" (Romans 13:1).
"There is no authority except that which God has established" (Romans 13:1).
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities" (Romans 13:1).
Perhaps most appropriate to the case of the terrorist attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon are the following:
"Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves" (Romans 13:2).
"Rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong" (Romans 13:3).
"He (the ruler) does not bear the sword for nothing" (Romans 13:4).
"He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer" (Romans 13:4).
We submit to legitimate authorities because they are duty bound to act against those who disobey the law and harm others. We also submit for the sake of our conscience. The terrorist attacks on September 11th were both unlawful and unconscionable. The United States government has both the right and the duty to God to pursue and punish those who committed these terrible acts and those who harbor them.
The Bible says that we are not to take punishment into our own hands but to defer vengeance to God through legitimately established governments.
Again the apostle Paul said:
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil" (Romans 12:17)
"Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath" (Romans 12:19).
The Bible teaches that vengeance belongs to God because only He knows perfectly the hearts of men and only He can temper vengeance and justice.
"It is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." (Romans 12:19).
"It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip" (Deuteronomy 32:35).
"It is mine to avenge; I will repay" (Hebrews 10:30)
"The Lord is a jealous and avenging God . . . . The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished" (Nahum 1:2-3).
God's vengeance is ultimate vengeance when He shall judge all mankind. But as seen above, He vests legitimate governments with the responsibility of being His present agents of vengeance, not individual citizens.
While it is the right and the responsibility of our government to respond nationally and militarily to these terrorist attacks, it is not our individual right to respond. It is equally unlawful and unconscionable that US citizens would retaliate out of anger against those with Arabic or Middle Eastern surnames or faces. God and those legitimately established governments have the responsibility for vengeance and retaliation, not citizens of the state.
The Bible says that the way to overcome evil is not through personal retaliation or hatred but through personal good and compassion.
One more time the apostle Paul:
"Do not be overcome by evil" (Romans 12:21)
"Overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21)
"He who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8)
Add to this the words of Jesus:
"Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matthew 5:39)
And read what the psalmist David said:
"Do not fret because of evil men" (Psalm 37:1)
"Trust in the Lord and do good" (Psalm 37:3)
"Do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes" (Psalm 37:7)
"Refrain from anger and turn from wrath" (Psalm 37:8)
"Do not fret-it leads only to evil" (Psalm 37:8)
David, Paul and Jesus understood God's command to Moses:
"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord" (Leviticus 19:18).
Undoubtedly during these days of anger and rage we will hear people quote God's Word inappropriately. Many appeal to the so-called "imprecatory psalms" (Psalms 35, 59, 69, 109, etc.) to justify retaliation. But these psalms were not motivated by personal revenge. Behind these cries for justice was the recognition of a divine moral governance in the world and a call for God to exercise judgment as well as grace.
While the psalmists were aware of the constant battle between good and evil, they had no concept of the future judgment where God will punish those who take the lives of innocent people and reward those who live godly lives. The only justice they could conceive was the "here and now" justice. We can see far beyond that.

SO HOW SHOULD A PERSON RESPOND?

Turn, trust, know, worship, follow the Lord of Love. 

"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." John 10:9 

Good idea. Let's wisely show the world in these desperate days... what the love of God is like. Thoughts, attitudes, listening to people, seeing real needs, good deeds, uplifting words, loyal in a healthy church, ongoing friendship with people! 

The discipline of love in the face of adversity is what distinguishes the Christian from other people (John 13:35). This is a time for us not only to show Christ's love to our brothers and sisters in Christ, but also to others who need to feel the warmth of that love in the cold aftermath of loss. (Thanks Anon.)

Choose to get and be in the will of God, rather than illegally out of his will. You want His blessing on your life right. It's too dangerous for you outside.. and too hurtful to others as well. 
image
Rebel against temptation, sin, this corrupt world system, your old fleshly nature and against fallen angels -- those are your real enemies. Rebel not against God or flawed delegated authorities over you. Realize who they are. Obey short of sinning. Submit to authority for the glory of God.  

Sunday, December 22, 2019

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. Acts 1:8-9

Liney's out ministering to lots of children today. The place where it happens.. I call it the lion's den rather than the lamb's pen -- she's an awesome bride! There are some wild boys in there and she enjoys this. : ) 

What have you been up to lately? I've been looking forward to us getting a brand new follow up tool for our Global Media Outreach missionaries (it's called Path and they are in the final testing of it now). Also been fighting off a flu or something this week. 

What's beyond cool: Our church had 676 people come to Jesus in the last couple weeks (..of course each were one was brought to church here). Decisions to repent, to pray and to receive Jesus by faith (and 808 Start Bibles were given to them, lots of baptisms too. Yay!Love it.. Him! All praise and glory to God.

What's greater than that happening here? Nothing! 

 Choose to be humble, faithful, and word-full. Proclamation of God's truth always follows the empowering of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:8-11 and context). This passage tells us to go tell--get to work in the will on God. 

He came to seek and to save the lost, and He sends us.

There are approximately 7000 (6860 at last count) known languages in the world.

It is so imperative..yes, essential that people connect with the Living Word of God in their own heart language ..for real encounter and regeneration / transformation to occur (John 3:3).

“Without the Bible, world evangelization would not only be impossible, but actually inconceivable.” ~ John Stott

Jesus said: "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31b-32

The full Bible is available now in 531 different languages, giving 4,924 million people access to Scripture in the language they understand best. The New Testament is available in another 1,329 languages, reaching another 634 million people. At least one book of the Bible is available in a further 1,023 other languages, spoken by 243 million people.

Why need we be done with time-wasting lesser things? Currently there are still 6,700 unreached people groups (literate and illiterate). The total number of people groups is over 16,000. 

Over 40% of the people groups of this world are listed as unreached. And about 42% of the population of the world lives among unreached people groups. Have you yet heard.. really heard.. His Message and responded? Hear now

Among all the needy peeps living... God also wants to reach the non-readers of this world – that's over 5.7 billion people.

A lot of missions work has been aimed at the literate world, only 1/3 of the earth’s population. The remaining 2/3 have only recently being focused on.

Oral learning cultures are highly relational and stories, songs, chants, poems, proverbs, dramas and dances are the way they can hear the Good News of the Gospel. Facebook.com/shareJesus