Posts Tagged ‘ Faith ’

Ministry Travels lesson: Forced to live in Prison Restroom but privileged to preach the Gospel

In the West, we are not as aware of what persecution against Christians is like. Pastors get comfortable, congregants are often apathetic (largely due to ignorance), and and non-regular attenders and non-Christians rarely care enough about to if they know of it to check. Many in our culture may even come across disagreement or inconvenience and think faith is not worth it.

Extreme persecution still happens. When people are so desperate for Christ that they willingly face violence and hatred but we prefer to stay comfortable, it shows the disparity as well as why Jesus said it is so hard for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom (Matthew 19:16-29; Mark 10:17-30; Luke 18:18-30). Even most of our poor and homeless are better off than half the world.

Let us pray for Jimmy’s work and that the pastors and others he teaches remain faithful and strong in the Lord.

Daniel

This is a report from the field.

Ministry Travels lesson: Forced to live in Prison Restroom but privileged to preach the Gospel

VerseD: 33:15

“If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here.”

Exodus 33:15, CSB

God loves us, and if He calls us to something then we can know He is with us. If we are wise, we know He is always with us, though we may be out of step with Him.

VerseD: Ezekiel 37:5

This is what the Lord God says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.

Ezekiel 37:5, CSB

God loves us and calls us to life in Him. He can revive us from spiritual deadness, and we have hope in Christ for the resurrection from the dead and eternity with Him.

VerseD: James 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.

James 5:16, CSB

God’s love for us is expressed through forgiveness, and He calls us to confess our sins even to each other so that we may join in Hisbloving work and bring healing to our relationships, our thoughts, our emotions, and our bodies.

VerseD: Matthew 7:7

“Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.”

Matthew 7:7, CSB

God loves us and wants what’s best for us. He calls us to seek Him first and foremost, and He will meet all our needs.

VerseD: 2 Chronicles 7:14

and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14, CSB

God loves us and calls us to repentance and to love Him. May we humbly accept our need for God and seek Him, praying for others out of love for God and their souls.

VerseD: Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1, CSB

God is love, which is why He created everything: to make people to share in His love. May we love the God who created us and this universe we call home.

VerseD: John 13:34

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.”

John 13:34, CSB

We love God, we love the people of the world with God’s love, and we love His Church even more with God’s love. We know we are His of our love for the Church grows.

VerseD: Proverbs 16:3

Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Proverbs 16:3, CSB

A life of holiness relies on Christ in all things, and this means walking according to His ways and seeking His will in all decisions and plans. By the Spirit He helps us live this holy life.

VerseD: Ephesians 4:32

And be kind and compassionate  to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

Ephesians 4:32, CSB

A life of holiness relies on Christ in all things, and He helps us to forgive and be kind and compassionate when others aren’t toward us, just like He did with us.