Global Walk by Feed the Hunger

Global

Walk

Perspectives from around the world

A D E V O T I O N A L B Y F E E D T H E H U N G E R PA R T N E R S

Global

Walk

Perspectives from around the world

A DEVOTIONAL BY F E E D T H E H U N G E R PA R T N E R S

Table of Contents 5

Day 1: Introduction | Joseph Williams, CEO Feed the Hunger

Day 3: Honor Where Honor Is Due | J.L. Williams, USA

7 11

13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29

Day 2: What Makes Us Free? | Charles Oloo, Kenya

Day 4: Jesus: The Light Who Gives Hope | Komivi Ayiboe, Togo Day 5: True Branches | Alex Goshu, Ethiopia

Day 6: Having the Zeal of Paul | Ezra Sargunam, India

Day 7: How to Increase Our Faith | Maxeau Antoine, Haiti Day 8: You Are a Holy Palace | S.S. Rai, India

Day 9: Are You Ready to Lose Your Life? | Wade McHargue, USA Day 10: Ask. Seek. Knock. | Lonnie Riley, USA

Day 11: Out of Bondage into God’s Freedom | Nigel Lewis, Jamaica

Day 12: A Unified, Sharing, and Serving Church | Ranjan Fernando, Sri Lanka Day 13: Who Not to Be at Church | Alex Goshu, Ethiopia

Day 14: The Fruit of Discipleship | Jennifer Foster, Brazil

Day 16: The Wilderness Journey | Shmuel Suran, Israel

33 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55

Day 15: Blessed Are the Hungry Feeders | Charles Oloo, Kenya Day 17: In a Time of Waiting | Lonnie Riley, USA

Day 18: What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do | Conrad Reid, Jamaica Day 19: Decision Determines Destination | Dil Tamang, Nepal

Day 20: Are You Ready for Battle? Part One | Mohamed-Ibrahim Yattara, Mali

Day 21: Are You Ready for Battle? Part Two | Mohamed-Ibrahim Yattara, Mali Day 22: Earnest Prayer | Philip Adhikary, Bangladesh Day 23: A Battle of Wills | Maxeau Antoine, Haiti

Day 24: Cooperating with God | Komivi Ayiboe, Togo

Day 25: Seeing God Equals a Transformed Life | Philip Adhikary, Bangladesh Day 26: You’re Supposed to Sow | Moses, Vietnam

Day 27: To the Next Generation of Believers | Ezra Sargunam, India

Day 29: Authentic Happiness | J.L. Williams, USA

59 63 65

Day 28: Has the Full Number Come In? | Shmuel Suran, Israel

Day 30: Appreciate the Time You Have Left | Wade McHargue, USA

Day 31: Light of the World | Jennifer Foster, Brazil

Day 1 Introduction

Joseph Williams, CEO of Feed the Hunger Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 One of the primary joys we get in full-time mission work is through the cross-cultural partnerships we have with faithful men and women serving the Lord both here in America and around the world. They really are some of the most incredible people you will ever meet. It is an honor just to know them, let alone serve alongside them in an equipping capacity. These kinds of partnerships have been the bedrock of this ministry for nearly 50 years. My father founded the ministry in 1968, building it over the decades around long-standing and Christ-centered partnerships. This book is dedicated to the memory of Dr. J.L. Williams and his legacy, which has deeply impacted not only this ministry, but also untold thousands of individuals, churches, businesses, and ministries the world over. In the spirit of partnership, I asked several of our current partners to write a devotional or two to share with you, our American friends, prayer partners, and supporters. Up until now, you have only heard from and been blessed by them through us, as we share what their ministries are doing for Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glory. This devotional compilation gave them a different platform to reach you. I told them to share whatever the Lord led them to write about and gave them no parameters. I was eager to sit back and watch the Lord bring together amazing messages through them, and He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t disappoint. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re about to read. The cumulative centuries of walking faithfully with the Lord and the years and decades of theological training, frontline mission experience, and persecution to varying degrees represented in these incredible servant-leaders is a humbling thing to comprehend. What you are about to read is not storytelling from the field, but rather the sharing of timeless wisdom by 17 current partners from 14 countries. Their ministry and job titles are withheld to keep the focus on their message.

We are all members of one body, as the verse above states. We often think of this in the context of the American Church in general and our specific church body in particular. Instead, especially as you read this devotional, I encourage you to see this verse in light of the worldwide church. We are part of something big. We will one day worship the Lord together with â&#x20AC;&#x153;a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and languageâ&#x20AC;? (Revelation 7:9). Until that day comes, these partnerships give us a glimpse of the power of unity, of serving together in the Body of Christ. And, hopefully, this month-long devotional will help you as you seek to know the Lord and serve Him in your sphere of influence. May God be glorified through this devotional and through our lives. Amen!

Day 2 What Makes Us Free? Charles Oloo, Kenya

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 God has blessed us with many things. We should celebrate His goodness to us because we are alive. We should also celebrate by enjoying the bounty we share in this good land, with oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams, plus beautiful vegetation of all varieties. As believers, we are also free from bondage. The people of God can give freely, talk, travel, and even spread the Gospel of Christ in total freedom. The Scriptures declare us free: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). If you study a map of the world, you can see how far the Bible has gone in bringing freedom. Jesus started it with His disciples and apostles. We have also witnessed through the study of history the amazing timetable of God in creating the great nations of the world like America and those in Europe. The Scriptures have also resulted in persecution around the world, which has indeed promoted the spread of the Gospel from Judea to the whole world, and in the end has brought freedom. Today, we see freedom in America because Americans decided to follow the teachings of the Bible. This nation is founded on biblical principles. Political freedom gives you freedom as citizens, while spiritual freedom makes you great free saints. Jesus made us free (John 8:36). So ask yourself: If the Son shall make you free, can you make others free from sin? We know freedom flows from the written Word and the Living Word, which gives us inspiration. The Lord Christ sets people free. Can you do that through your deeds? Can you do that through religious ceremonies or legalism? No. Nicodemus was set free from religious bondage (John 3). Zacchaeus was set free from his lust for money (Luke 19). You can also recall the lady by the well who was set free from immorality (John 4). Can the Spirit make us free? Yes!

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17). Remember, where there is the Spirit of the Lord, there is liberty. The fruit of the spirit demonstrates our freedom (Galatians 5:22–23). How free are you? Assess your deeds before God and mankind—what can you offer to God and mankind to be a good servant of God? Take advantage of your freedom.

Day 3 Honor Where Honor Is Due J.L. Williams, USA

“Those who honor Me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.” 1 Samuel 2:30 When I was a Boy Scout, the first thing I had to memorize was the Boy Scout Oath. We began every meeting by standing with the Boy Scout salute and reciting this oath as a reminder of the code of honor of scouting. It begins with a presupposition of honor to God and country: “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” The Bible teaches that, first and foremost, every person is to honor God as the Ultimate Authority in the universe. As our Creator and Sustainer, He alone is worthy of total honor and glory. There is no middle ground here. It is either honor or disdain when it comes to our attitude about God and His authority. It does not take a lot of discernment to see what the growing national attitude is in America. God is becoming more and more passé, old-fashioned, outdated, and irrelevant. Any serious belief in God and His restrictive rules and regulations is becoming irrelevant to modern life, especially when it comes to issues like sexuality and marriage! References to God have been reduced to vile invectives and negative descriptive verbs of profanity. He is given anything but honor! The most dangerous form of dishonor taking place in America today is the dishonoring of Christ. If you in any way dishonor Mohammed in word or deed you face the public scorn of Islamophobia. Say anything negative about gays and you are accused of homophobia. Raise any concern about immigration and you are disdained as un-American and suffering from xenophobia. Make any observation about any other ethnic group and you are branded a racist. Say or do anything that appears to denigrate women and you are branded a misogynist. But suggest anything about the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and you

are dismissed as a right-wing extremist and fundamentalist bigot! You are free to use Christ’s name as a swear word or vilify Him in any and every way, and no one will raise an eyebrow! In fact, you will probably be applauded. To dishonor Christ in any way is to dishonor God (John 5:18, 23) and put ourselves under His certain judgment if we do not repent. Ultimately, we will banish ourselves to hell if we do not humbly honor Jesus as the total incarnation of truth, the only route to God, and the only means of eternal salvation (John 14:6). While our highest honor is reserved for God, He also commands us to love and honor each other. Vertical honor always results in horizontal honor. One is a prelude to the other. Paul exhorts us: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10). Likewise, the writer of Hebrews asked others to “pray for us . . . to live honorably in every way” (Hebrews 13:18). To “live honorably” is not just the oath of a Boy Scout. It is the commitment and lifestyle of every authentic, mature follower of Jesus Christ!

Day 4 Jesus: The Light Who Gives Hope Komivi Ayiboe, Togo

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.â&#x20AC;? John 8:12 One night a sailor was lost on the high seas after his boat was caught in a violent storm. It was very cold and black. He desperately swam for hours and was out of breath, when all of a sudden he saw a light on the horizon. The sight of this light gave him strength and hope, because he knew he would be saved if he could swim in the direction of the light. It had to be the mainland, where he could find relief and be saved. This parable is like each of us when doubt and despair settle in our hearts during difficult events in life. These difficult moments are dark moments, and it seems like we are walking alone. God in His great kindness had compassion and sent His only Son, Jesus, into the world for its redemption at the moment when mankind was in the throes of death because of sin (Isaiah 9:2). Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12). All who accept and direct their lives toward Jesus will receive His light. Doubt will flee, because light and salvation is in the Lord. As the sailor had to swim to the light to save his life, similarly, anyone who turns to Jesus will find not just life, but eternal life. To turn your life toward Jesus and to be enlightened by Him is to give yourself totally to Him without reserve, to entrust Him with every domain of your life. It is accepting Him as Lord, Savior, and Master of your life. His Word is the light on our paths (Psalm 119:105). He walks with us on our paths and is with us in the events of life. He will never leave us alone. So let us have that assurance and stand firm in the dark moments of life, because it is not drugs nor alcohol nor sex nor money that gives us hope. When we yield to fear and doubt, it settles in us. We choose to be defeated instead of turning to Jesus. Do not panic when worries invade our lives; Jesus dispels our doubt and despair.

A very sick old man always had a cheerful face, and when asked why he was merry instead of sad, given his state of illness, he replied that he had given his life and his disease to Jesus. He lived and shared his situation with everyone. The world offers us plenty of stuff, but none of it can offer us hope and life. The old man knew this. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have our lives and our eyes centered on Jesus Christ, Light of the World. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not walk in the dark and doubt. Jesus is close to us and is ready to lead our lives and give us hope. Are you ready to entrust your life to Him?

Day 5 True Branches

Alex Goshu, Ethiopia “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 For believers, a living union with Christ is absolutely necessary. Without it there is nothing. True salvation is evidenced by a life of fruitfulness. If we know and believe the teaching of Christ, God our Father is glorified, but we must take it further. God is also glorified in the fruit-bearing of Christians. As John says, no branch can even live by itself, let alone produce leaves and fruit. Cut off from the trunk, a branch is dead. Likewise, the vine’s branches rely on being connected to the trunk from which they receive their energy to bear fruit. Christians depend on being connected to Jesus for their spiritual life and their ability to serve Him effectively. The fruit we produce is that of the Holy Spirit. As Galatians 5:22–23 says, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Our source of life and spiritual fruit is not in ourselves; it is Christ Jesus in us. We can live rightly and serve Him effectively only if we are properly connected to Him in a faith-and-love relationship. When Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing,” it is an illustration of the vine and branches; it is not a thoughtless generality or careless simile. It is an absolute, stark reality. No believer can achieve anything of spiritual value independent of Christ Jesus. Jesus also reminds us that there are some who are in Him who bear no fruit. But these are not, as some would suppose, true branches that just happen to be fruitless. The reality is that all true branches bear fruit. Just as we know a healthy, living tree by the good fruit it produces, so do we recognize fruitless branches as having no connection to the true vine. This is why Jesus tells us, “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 16:20). Those who do not produce good fruit are not true branches, but are cut away and burned. The fruitless branches are identified as not belonging to the vine and are removed for the sake of truth and for the benefit of the other branches.

As each branch depends on the trunk, we need to depend on Jesus for everything, starting with our very life. In Acts it says, “For in him we live and move and have our being” (17:28). This includes our reconciliation with God through Him. No one can serve God effectively until he is connected with Jesus Christ by faith. Jesus is our only connection with the God who gave life and who produces in us a fruitful life of righteousness and service. May you be a true branch that produces abundant fruit for God’s glory.

Day 6 Having the Zeal of Paul Ezra Sargunam, India

“I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me— the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24 The volumes Paul churned out during his lifetime are worthy of universal praise and preservation. In his middle age, he declared that he counted as loss everything he erstwhile considered as gain for the sake of Christ. He went on to say that he deemed everything trash to gain Christ and to proclaim His Gospel. Paul never considered himself accomplished or said that he had attained the goal. Instead, he said that he was moving ahead in his journey of faith to take possession of that for which Jesus Christ took possession of him. He refrained from making tall claims that he had attained this or completed this task, but modestly said that he was doing only one thing: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,” moving toward the goal of winning the prize for which God had called him heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12–14). We all need the zeal exhibited by the Apostle Paul. His zeal stemmed from the love he had for Christ and His Gospel, which drove him to preach the Good News and plant churches, oblivious to his surroundings and in whatever state or stage he was in life. A man who vowed to destroy Christians and the church, after the Damascus visitation, rued that he would be doomed if he ceased to preach the Gospel! Each of us needs that kind of nerve. Paul didn’t consider his life dearer than his ministry. He said that his life was worth nothing to him, and his only objective was to reach the finish line, completing the task of preaching the Gospel assigned to him by Jesus Christ. He taught by example, standing by those who were weak and helping them by working hard without forgetting the words of Jesus Christ: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Paul further declared that he had never “coveted anyone’s silver or gold or

clothing” (Acts 20:33), which is something that those involved in the Lord’s ministry today would do well to remember. The early missionaries and church leaders were extremely passionate about winning people for Christ. The sixteenth-century Scottish theologian and missionary John Knox remarked, “Give me Scotland or I die!” American missionary John Hyde declared, “Give me souls, oh God, or I die!” And the Canadian missionary A.B. Simpson said, “The Christian is not obedient unless he is doing all in his power to send the Gospel to the heathen world.” “Here am I, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage pagans of the wilderness; send me from all that is called comfort on earth; send me even to death itself, if it be but in Thy service, and to promote Thy kingdom,” said the eighteenth-century American missionary David Brainerd. Woefully, people with a true burden for perishing souls like Paul and these missionaries are few and far between today. God wants us to get down to business. He calls us to action. We need to work toward this goal with a passion.

Day 7 How to Increase Our Faith Maxeau Antoine, Haiti

Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10:17 What do we usually do when our faith is weak? Even though we may agree as believers that faith brings life, do we care enough to exercise it? I have good news for you! You can have more faith than you can imagine. The problem is not your lack of faith—it is the fact that you don’t put into action what God has given to you. Paul says that we need to understand who we are in Christ, “in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3). When we choose expressly to fix our eyes on our loving and almighty God, to trust Him, He puts in our heart a measure of faith. Faith is a gift of God. The more we practice it, the more it is growing up inside of us. By learning to count on God in the middle of the trials and the difficulties of life, our faith increases. Sometimes, our moments of greatest tribulation are those in which our faith increases the most. We were facing a great tragedy on January 12, 2010 with the terrible earthquake. Hundreds of thousands of people died or disappeared, but He used it to make us stronger, and our faith grew. We can also develop our faith by meditating on the Word of God. When the truth found in the Bible keeps our mind busy, our faith will increase rapidly. The Bible confirms this truth in Romans 10:17: “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” When you look at the lives of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, you will be motivated. You will find yourself willing and wanting God to do the same in your life, just as He powerfully operated in many of their lives. For example, in normal reality, do you think that it is possible to have a child when the parents are around 100 years old? This happened in Abraham and Sarah’s life (Genesis 18, 21). Compared to their situation, our lives and challenges are nothing that God can’t manage.

The more we feed our spirit by the Word of God, the bigger our faith will be. By reading His Word, we cast out the doubt. Would you like to open your heart to God and by faith receive His power today? Ask God to give you a trusting heart, so that you will be able to grow in your life of faith.

Day 8 You Are a Holy Palace S.S. Rai, India

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 God created the first man (Adam, Genesis 2:7) and woman (Eve, Genesis 2:21–22), the ancestors of all humans. He created them with His own hands as His temple. Scripture says that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and that you are to honor the Lord with your body. How do you do that? By taking care of it, respecting it, and treating it as a valuable gift. That means you use your body to bring Him glory. As a physician and pastor, I do not hesitate to acknowledge the fact that in the world, people are perishing from incurable problems. The reason is explained in Romans 1:18–20. Allow me to share these verses and other Scripture passages to make my point clear: The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. We live in a fallen world, so some are sick. We also need to stand against temptation (Romans 6:12–14): Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer

every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. When you take care of your body, the temple, you are saying to God, “Lord, thank You for this gift of life. I am choosing to take care of myself, so that I can serve You with my whole heart, mind, and strength.” Keep your temple as a holy palace for the Lord (1 Peter 1:16). How do we achieve this? “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10–11). Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). Get proper rest and nourishment through fellowship, teaching, prayer, and communion (Acts 2:42). Honor the Lord with your heart, with your soul, and with your mind by taking care of your body. Enjoy the blessings that God has given you and thank Him for everything. May God fulfill His covenant with you in a wonderful way, just as He did for the Hebrew people in Leviticus 26:9–12. Have a wonderful life in Christ!

Day 9 Are You Ready to Lose Your Life? Wade McHargue, USA

“Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” Luke 17:33 One of the greatest revivals in recent church history came through a man named William Booth, who founded the Salvation Army. In spite of the distractions and obstacles of wealth, politics, work, indifference, coldness in the Church, etc., God moved in power and shook a nation through the Salvation Army. William Booth’s strategy was to put God’s power and grace on display by going to the worst part of the city, the darkest section, so that His light could shine for many to see. He would say, “Go straight for souls, and go for the worst.” This is what Booth did with his fellow “soldiers of the Cross,” and through the transformation of those rough areas of East London, he gained the attention of the masses and those in leadership. Thus, he was even able to see laws passed that affected all of England (and spilled over into America). Are you ready to lose your life for the Gospel? Not just read about the intensity of the book of Acts, but live it? Are you ready to stop living just a plain, comfortable life and step out on the water? Are you ready to give an account of your life to God? If not, then what will make you ready? Living out the American Dream? Will that satisfy you? Have you no concern for others to be saved? There is no way we can continue to sit on our couches and watch hours of television, watching the world go to hell around us, and expect to have the smile of God on our life and think we are ready for the Day of Accounting. We are deceiving ourselves. This is what Jesus tried to warn us about many times (Luke 12:15–21; 12:35–48). Are you ready to get radical and get a group to take the Gospel to the darkest part of your city? I dare you. If you stay in fear, then you are still trying to save your life and Jesus said that you will end up losing it. If

you belong to Jesus, you have already died, so there really is nothing to lose. If you take the challenge, I assure you, you will see the glory of God. You will come away with a bleeding heart full of the compassion of God. You will come back with a heavenly perspective; you will have a powerful testimony. Jesus came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10), not to create religious institutions and isolated saints. The command is to “go,” not “wait and hope they will come.” The ball is in your court. It is time to step out of the boat; it is time to take the risk; it is time for action. Your life and my life are just too short to live any other way. Friend, unlike William Booth and England in his day, God is bringing the nations to America. What a unique opportunity not only to see our cities impacted, but also the nations. On with it—for the sake of Jesus and for the glory of God!

Day 10 Ask. Seek. Knock. Lonnie Riley, USA

“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 Does God know what He wants to do in your town? Does God know what He wants to do in your life? In your family? The obvious answer is, “Yes.” Then, what is the problem? It is that we do not know what God knows. If we only knew what God knows, it would be a done deal. If He knows, and we want to do what He wants done, then how do we find out what He wants? The answer is found in Matthew 7. In this passage, we find the means through which believers can become aware of what God knows and wants to do in their specific circumstances. Jesus tells us to ask, to seek, and to knock. This is not saying the same thing in three ways, as many people think. Rather, it is a three-stage process of finding out what God knows and what He wants to do in our lives. If you are always asking what to do next, it is because you don’t know what God knows. Once you know what God knows, the answer to that question will be settled. Ask. What should we ask? How should we ask? How can we know if what we want is the will of God? These are questions believers often ask. When Belinda and I are faced with a need and want to know what God knows about it, as we pray we ask ourselves three questions: Is this prayer unselfish in nature? Does this prayer honor God? Is this prayer biblically correct? Seek. To seek is to look intently for something specific. It is to be alert to the possibility of finding it. It is to watch with purpose. When you seek/wait on God, you watch Him connect the dots of what He has already told you that He will do. Just as the woman expected to find the lost coin and the shepherd expected to find the lost sheep (Luke 15), so we must live each day expecting God to do specific things in and through our lives that only He can do.

Knock. Knocking implies action. After you see God connect all the dots, then you know exactly what to do next—it’s time to act. The faith principle is this: don’t do anything until you see God do something; then, when He does something, you will know exactly what you are to do. That is knocking. Ask. Seek. Knock. This is the process of prayer. This is how we learn what God knows, that what He knows is already a done deal, and that we must walk into that done deal. Once you are into the flow, the process keeps repeating itself. You receive an impression, which becomes a burden. You test the burden to see if it is of God. You wait and watch in anticipation of what God is going to reveal. In the beginning, the challenge is to wait. Later, the challenge becomes just keeping up. That’s how faith becomes a lifestyle.

Day 11 Out of Bondage into God’s Freedom Nigel Lewis, Jamaica

I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. Ezra 8:21 Life is a journey that is paved with all kinds of obstacles. Each year, we have no idea what is in store for us, so I exhort you to take a leaf out of Ezra’s book (Ezra 8:15–36) as he embarked upon the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem with the second wave of Jewish exiles. It’s a journey that was treacherous, with tragedy on every side. The enemy was seeking opportunity to avenge himself, but like every good leader, Ezra sought the Lord for direction and protection, and not just for himself, but for every member of his group. Ezra knew that the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem would be one that would pose many challenges: • The journey would be long and dangerous, as they were traveling on foot with precious cargo: silver, gold, copper, and priceless items that belonged to the house of God. This could attract thieves and enemies. • They were traveling with their young ones and elders; hence the journey would be slow. • Ezra, having already spoken confidently that “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him” (8:22), found it very hard to ask the king for military protection against enemies along the way. So, Ezra did the one and only thing that he knew best, which was to call for a fast and to pray. Ezra knew that afflicting their souls before God was the one sure way of getting God’s attention. Each new year that we face brings new challenges, both spiritual and physical. We may have had a rough year last year, and so we may be scared stiff to even think of what might happen this year. Like Ezra, I implore you to call a fast. Call your family, your church

or ministry, your friends. Afflict your souls before God. As we present ourselves before His throne, He is able to keep us from falling. As you journey through this year, the hand of God will be upon you. He will show you the right way (v. 21). He will deliver you from the hand of the enemy and from all your fears (v. 31). No doubt about that! God did it for Ezra and the Israelites, and He will do it for you. Ezra was able to make it to Jerusalem safely to do the work he was mandated to do. By the grace of God, may you move confidently into the future as well!

Day 12 A Unified, Sharing, and Serving Church Ranjan Fernando, Sri Lanka

“My prayer is not for [the disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” John 17:20–21 Let me share with you three ways that we as individuals and the Body of Christ as a whole should stand out in today’s world: A Unified Church (Ephesians 4:1–16) Christians are divided into many groups today. Certain differences could have been passed on to us through tradition. In my country, which has many religions and pluralistic traditions, it is important for all believers in Christ to affirm our unity. Paul admonishes us to keep the unity received by faith in the Triune God—the Father of all and over all, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who dwells within the body called the Church. As part of the Body of Christ, it is of the utmost importance for each of us to do our part, according to His calling, so that we edify the church as a whole and be unified. Build Your church, Lord. Make us strong. Join our hearts through Your Son. Make us one as Your body in the Kingdom of Your Son. A Sharing Church (Acts 4:32–37) We may wonder whether having everything in common is possible at present. In this passage, the believers were quite a large company. There was oneness—no possessiveness of individuals—so holding everything in common was not a problem. There was no needy person, and distribution was according to each person’s need. This oneness and sharing was on all, not just a few select ones or special ones. They also testified to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power. How many of our testimonies have great power? Those who hear our testimonies look for authentication by our lives and lifestyles. How may our lifestyles match our faith claims? Lord, help us in our materialistic, consumeristic, amassing cultures to learn the principles of sharing. A Serving Church (Mark 10:32–45) Jesus said, “Whoever wants to

be first shall be slave [or servant] of all” (v. 44). This is the key for servant leadership. Greatness is not in seeking after a position or power, but something realized through one’s sacrificial and selfless service. Jesus demonstrated His humility by becoming a servant and dying for our sins on the cross. We have no better example. Even after hearing from Jesus about His death, resurrection, and gift of eternal life, the disciples were passionate about their own needs. Instead of sharing His thoughts, James and John sought for privileged positions after this life. Jesus made it clear that without suffering it is impossible to have any part in His glory. The honor of sitting with Him on His throne is given to those who take up their cross and overcome the enemy. James and John were later willing to take the path of suffering. Am I willing to emulate Jesus’ servanthood? Father God, help me to follow the steps of Jesus, even if it means suffering and death, so that Your Name will be glorified through my life of serving others.

Day 13 Who Not to Be at Church Alex Goshu, Ethiopia

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 3 John 11 In the book of 3 John, Diotrephes is a church leader who was exercising dictatorial power in God’s house. In other words, this man was one who built his own kingdom in God’s Kingdom. He must have had need to lead the church of God, not in love, but by power and considerable influence, since he was able to exclude people from the church fellowship. He is mentioned in verses 9 and 10 as a self-seeking troublemaker in a local church. From John’s description, we can assume that Diotrephes was a leader, or at least an influential member, in the local church where Gaius was a member. Diotrephes was clearly abusing his position of authority. For some reason, he was jealous of the apostles and refused to allow them in his church. Instead of following the command for a pastor to be hospitable and not quarrelsome as stated in 1 Timothy 3:2–3, Diotrephes was inhospitable and pugnacious. Instead of seeking to be the servant of all, he loved to be in charge. In just two verses, we find six troubling characteristics written about him: • He loved to be first • He refused to welcome the apostles into the church • He maliciously spread gossip about men of God • He withheld hospitality from other believers • He required others to follow his poor example • He excommunicated anyone who crossed him We Christians need to be in the continual practice of doing good, not merely doing occasional good deeds. As Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” So, believers, love for fellow Christians and for other people is crucial. We need to lead in loving God’s people, but not by power. Care for others and love of Chris-

tians also need not be by emotion, but by love in action. Do we imitate Diotrephes by refusing to aid the spread of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s word? Church pastors are responsible for rebuking these kinds of leaders. We men and women of God should have no place for power-hungry, jealous, slanderous men who reject the apostlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; teaching. Rather, true ministers of the Gospel must be hospitable, self-controlled, upright, disciplined, and love what is good. We must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught. So, may we identify those in the church who have the spirit of Diotrephes and be wary of any semblance of that spirit in ourselves.

Day 14 The Fruit of Discipleship Jennifer Foster, Brazil

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 Three mornings a week, I hold a Bible study for the youth in our Amazon jungle church. I recall two instances that clearly demonstrate why we are called to make disciples—especially of children. The clothing of the children in the Amazon is very ragged and worn down, since it has literally been passed down through as many as 10 siblings. Once they complete a full Bible study course, the youth get to pick a shirt or pair of shorts from the clothing prize box. A little after dark one day, I heard a faint knock at my door. It was José, a 12-year-old who had acquired a pair of shorts from the box. With his shorts presented in his outstretched hands, he shyly said, “Missionary, I was wondering if I could trade my shorts?” And then, with the most humble expression I’ve ever seen on anyone’s face, he said, “I’d like to trade my shorts for a Bible. May I please trade these so I can have a Bible of my own?” Tears filled my eyes. This young man was willing to trade his most prized possession for a Bible! I promised José he could keep his shorts, and that the next time I was in the city I’d get him his own Bible. In Hebrews 4:12 we read that God’s Word is “alive and active.” God also promises us that His Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:10–11), as the case of José abundantly proves. What an excellent reminder to us of the power of the Living Word, the Bible. On another afternoon, a little girl came to my jungle home and asked me a simple question: “Will you come eat lunch with us?” After arriving and finding a seat on the floor, ready to begin the meal, I realized all eyes were on me. I was the guest of honor! After the meal, her mother pulled me aside and said, “Missionary, I want to tell you why you were our guest of honor today. My little girl has been coming to your discipleship course. Each day after class she

brings home that little Bible you gave her, sits down all of her brothers and sisters, and teaches them everything you taught her. They have all received Jesus into their hearts. Our home now has Light!” A little Light can make a big difference. In Matthew 5:14, Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world. We can be that light because He is the True Light, and we have been made in His image (Genesis 1:26–27). Your Light can make a difference. Today, why don’t you share the Word of God with someone, even if it’s just a verse or two? You never know, the Word you share may be even more valuable to them than their most prized possession.

Day 15 Blessed Are the Hungry Feeders Charles Oloo, Kenya

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. John 6:5–6 Many people may seem desperate, but they have faith in Jesus. The Lord stretches our faith in many different ways. The disciples are a good example of this during the feeding of the five thousand. They were asking Jesus where to buy food for the people at such a late hour, and how they were going to feed them all. This shows how our commitment and our faith can sometimes go up and down. Philip in particular couldn’t figure out how they were going to feed everyone. However, when the Lord saw the problem, He already knew how to solve it. The Lord always sees our problems before we do. Nothing takes God by surprise. Instead of Philip focusing on the problem, he should have focused on the power of Jesus Christ and had faith. With God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). Andrew found a boy with some food. Unlike Philip, he was finding a solution. The boy shared his five loaves of bread and two fish—the only food he had for lunch. Yet this was all that was needed to feed five thousand people who were hungry. I believe the little boy had abundant faith in God. He has often used small things to bless many. The boy is a symbol of faith, different from those who worship big names and titles, but who don’t give to the hungry. What can we learn? What can we do to bless others? When we give Jesus what we have, He multiplies it a thousand and one times over. We must be willing to obey before we are ready to be blessed. When the disciples make the men sit down, they are humble and waiting. Obedience takes place as they get ready to be fed by a child’s lunch. This shows the power of God in Jesus Christ at work. Jesus humbled Himself and gave thanks for the food, and the disciples

distributed the food in an orderly manner. Nothing can go wrong when we are with Jesus. He always brings order to our lives. What was the effect of the miracle? There were 12 baskets left over. Perhaps a portion was given back to the little boy. The people knew that Jesus was the Promised One. There are hungry souls all around us who need the Bread of Life. Jesus wants to use us and what we have to feed them. Sometimes we should ask ourselves, Why do we throw food in the trash can or discard our clothes, yet there is one person out there in need? Where is our faith? Jesus is asking. Let’s strengthen our faith, not through seeing miracles or as a result of being given some gifts. When we are faced with problems, all people— the rich, the poor, all of us—should turn to the Lord in faith.

Day 16 The Wilderness Journey Shmuel Suran, Israel

“But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors.” Deuteronomy 6:23 Moses spoke these words to all Israel in the fortieth year of the wilderness journey. I’ve often pondered God’s dealings with Israel during her wilderness journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, as the wilderness journey is a vital part of every believer’s life and experience. It took Israel forty years to accomplish an eleven-day journey (Deuteronomy 1:2)! They were an unbelieving and disobedient generation, found wanting in God’s sight. The wilderness journey is the school of the Holy Spirit in which they were taught by God Himself. Israel was His covenanted people, a generation that had been humbled and disciplined by Him. And although they had spent some of that time aimlessly wandering and seemingly out of the purposes of God, they had been forged by their circumstances into a spiritual nation, a spiritual army made ready by God’s grace for the conquering of the Promised Land. God had led His people through the wilderness for a particular purpose: “to humble and test [them] in order to know what was in [their] heart, whether or not [they] would keep his commands” (Deuteronomy 8:2). Moses discerned the ways and purposes of God in dealing with and guiding His people. Yet for the most part, the majority could only see the difficulties of their circumstances. On every occasion that they were tested, their reaction was determined by their own self-interests. Not once in their spiritual journey did they recognize that their circumstances were God-ordained to teach them to look to Him and to trust Him and His loving ways as their God and Father. At the beginning of my own spiritual wilderness journey forty years ago, I really didn’t know or understand that God was educating and training us for His eternal purposes. We must all go through our own wilderness journeys, learning the ways of God. We must learn how to take up

our cross daily, submissively, and patiently. One of the most important lessons that I learned was how to follow the path that the Lord chose for me, even when it contradicted my own will and desires. God has the right to choose for us anything that He pleases to do. And by submitting to His ways, you will learn things that you would otherwise have never known. And if you are willing to obey God and follow the path of His choice, you will be able to hear and recognize His voice more clearly in the future. And when you hear it, by Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grace you will obey it, even if it seems like He is calling you to paths that seem impossible in the natural. Something happens to you in the spiritual wilderness journey: it leaves a mark on you for the rest of your life. Perhaps no one notices the difference outwardly. Nevertheless, a deep inner change takes place in your life. And as you remember those years, you can only thank the Lord for leading you on the wilderness journey.

Day 17 In a Time of Waiting Lonnie Riley, USA

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 What does God accomplish through our waiting? The most important thing is that, if we will let Him, He will make our hearts right with Him. If our hearts are out of tune, we won’t do what He wants us to do no matter how many times or how loudly He speaks. So, in a time of waiting, God will lead us to surrender completely to His will and teach us how to release our dreams to Him. In a time of waiting, God teaches us to distinguish wants from needs. I am 100 percent convinced that if our hearts are right with Him, when we ask something of Him, He will give it every single time. But I am just as convinced that God will not give us what we think we want, but what we need to have a strong relationship with Him. In a time of waiting, He can help us learn that it’s not about us, but it’s all about Him. In a time of waiting, God matures our faith as we become more dependent on Him. God helps us understand what faith in Him really is. Faith is relational, not merely intellectual. God does not want us to have faith that something will happen—He wants us to have faith in Him who causes things to happen. In a time of waiting, God grows our confidence in Him as we learn to rest in the assurance that what He has promised He will bring to pass in His time and His way. In that process comes renewed strength. The prophet put it this way: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31—KJV). In a time of waiting, God teaches us to pay attention to His activity and become more aware of how He continually works in the world. I often wonder if, in my former life, would I have even noticed how God worked, or would I have been too busy making things happen to see the hand of God? Would I have slowed down long enough to recognize God

at work, or would I have moved on to another item on my agenda? In a time of waiting, God teaches us to act on what He places before us, no matter how insignificant those things seem. Waiting is not inactivity; it often is opening our eyes to see what is at hand that needs to be done and then doing it. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned that when God seems silent, He is still active in our lives and in His world. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned that when we respond to the seemingly little things He sets before us, our faith increases and our walk with Him deepens. And that deeper walk is the greatest reward of faith. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned that when we respond in faith, He turns the seemingly little things into big things that bring glory to Him and Him alone. In a nutshell, we learned that faith is not a leap into the dark, but a step into the light.

Day 18 What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do Conrad Reid, Jamaica

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12b If your car is giving problems, you call for a mechanic. If the plumbing at home is giving problems, you call for a plumber. If your grades are falling apart, you go to a tutor. But what do you do and where do you go when your life is falling apart? When things are out of your control and you don’t know what to do, what’s next? Today, my prayer is that God will re-enter your situation of life and that you will find Him to be real. Oftentimes for that to happen, however, God must put us through crisis situations. Such is the situation we find in 2 Chronicles 20 with King Jehoshaphat. In the previous chapter, there’s the story of a great national revival, a spiritual awakening. Then it says, “After this, [Israel’s enemies] came to wage war against Jehoshaphat” (20:1). We all know this principle: with every high, there is also a low; with every mountaintop, there is a valley; after every victory, there is always a letdown; and with every blessing, there comes a testing. You may not be in a battle right now, but you’re going to be in one tomorrow or the next day or the day after that. God allows, creates, and uses crises so He can demonstrate that He alone is God. Let me say that again: God allows, creates, and causes overwhelming circumstances in our life so that we can discover Him. In a crisis, you don’t need nice-sounding words. You don’t need high-sounding theological statements. In a crisis, you need to see the living God. I find so often that in crisis situations many Christians either abandon or forget what they were taught, and then they wonder why God is not real in their crisis moments. So, what do you do when you don’t know what to do? Notice these steps in Jehoshaphat’s prayer: 1. Turn to God first. Remind yourself who God is. He is bigger than the problem you are facing.

2. Talk to God about your situation. There is no problem that is too big and there is no problem that is too small to pray about. Ask God for help now. 3. Trust God to help you. When you’re overwhelmed, all you tend to see is the problem. You don’t look to God. You can’t be discouraged and focus on God at the same time. The battle is not yours—it’s the Lord’s! 4. Thank God in advance. You are giving thanks for the fact that you have passed the ball. You are thanking God in advance for the victory. If you thank God after the fact, that’s gratitude. If you thank God before it happens, that’s faith. When you allow God to solve your problems, it becomes a testimony to unbelievers; the world takes notice when the Christian lives by faith. So, are you facing a crisis and don’t know what to do? Are you facing a difficult circumstance this week? What do you do next?

Day 19 Decision Determines Destination Dil Tamang, Nepal

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4–5 How do you inquire of the Lord when there is no physical forerunner? First, let’s look at two biblical examples of a physical forerunner. The birth narrative of Jesus found in Matthew gives an account of the Magi coming from the East after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. They came saying, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2). The star did not continue appearing in the sky for them. If it did so, they would have been led directly to Bethlehem where the child was, not to Jerusalem. The same star did reappear, though, and they became exceedingly happy. They were wise, but needed a star to lead and guide them to reach the right place. We, the present-day worshipers, do not have any physical star to lead and guide us to the proper destination. The Israelites did not know the itinerary to the Promised Land, and leading a big crowd like that was not an easy job anyway. When they had just started the journey from Egypt, they were in desperate need of mighty powers to save them from the hands of Pharaoh and his army. Therefore, the Lord sent an angel ahead of them, and He Himself went as the pillar of cloud in the day and as the pillar of fire in the night to protect and guide them (Exodus 14:19–20). But we, the people of God at the present day, are not given any angels or the pillar of cloud or the pillar of fire to protect and guide us in our journey. As you read about yesterday, King Jehoshaphat of Judah was a mighty man with an army of well over one million (2 Chronicles 17:13–18), but he trusted in God and inquired of the Lord first before going to war (2

Chronicles 20:1–4). When three nations joined together to attack Judah, the king organized a national day of prayer and fasting and asked his people to inquire of the Lord first and to trust Him. Consequently, the Lord fought for them. As the enemy heard the army of Judah approaching them singing, they were thrown into confusion. The three armies began bickering with each other, then killing each other. By the time Jehoshaphat’s army reached the battlefield, there was no sign of a single survivor. The Lord Himself fought for them and confused their enemies, who killed each other. When there is no physical forerunner like the star for the Magi or an angel, clouds, and fire for the Israelites on their way to the Promised Land, God’s people are tempted to decide what they feel is good and comfortable for them. Since our decision determines our destination, we need discernment from the Lord as demonstrated by King Jehoshaphat. Let us join Moses, a great leader, in asking the Lord, “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you” (Exodus 33:13).

Day 20 Are You Ready for Battle? Part One Mohamed-Ibrahim Yattara, Mali

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10–11 Life on earth is marked by perpetual and ongoing battles. We cannot triumph without fighting. Alas, many Christians do not realize that they are on a battlefield and not on a playground. In every situation of life, we need preparation to win. We need a plan of battle—planning, organization, discipline, determination, etc. As Christians, we face three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world refers to the system around us that is opposed to God. The flesh is the old nature that we inherited from Adam, a nature that is opposed to God and can do nothing spiritual to please God. The devil is Satan, the master of the spiritual forces that back all evil in this world. By His death and resurrection, Christ overcame the world, the flesh, and the devil. We are involved in a lifelong war, so what is your battle plan to deal with these three enemies? In Ephesians 6:10–15, Paul gives us five instructions for effective spiritual warfare. We will look at the first two today and at the other three tomorrow: 1. Prepare Properly (6:10) Paul is not saying that the battle is for those who live in difficult places like the third world. He says brethren (KJV)—it’s you and me. Every Christian is called to fight; every Christian is a soldier of Jesus Christ. We live in a dangerous world and we have many spiritual enemies. But Paul reminds us that it’s only by the strength of the Lord that we can have victory. By ourselves, we do not have the possibility of overcoming Satan; we must count on the very powerful forces of the Lord, to call upon Him in prayer and obey His word. Then we will have the victory in our conflicts with the powers of darkness. 2. Take the Right Weapons (6:11a) You cannot stand up long in human armor. It’s like David trying to fight Goliath in Saul’s armor. Our

effectiveness in pursuing spiritual warfare depends in part on the equipment we are using. The tense of the verb indicates that this armor must be put on once and for all and be carried in a permanent way. Believers must never remove it, because they would be vulnerable to the attacks of the devil, who is disguised as an angel of light, because his specialty is to mislead and divide.Â He darkens the intelligence of men with twisted information that is always presented well. Let us not forget that there is someone who does not want you to succeed. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll study him more tomorrow. Believers are to resist Satan by putting on the whole armor of God. Never try to defeat the devil using human equipment. The devil is smart, but not omniscient; swift, but not omnipresent; strong, but not omnipotent. Since the enemy is invisible, the Christian soldier needs supernatural equipment to fight and win the battles. God has provided the armorâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it is up to us to wear it.

Day 21 Are You Ready for Battle? Part Two Mohamed-Ibrahim Yattara, Mali

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 Yesterday, we started looking at the Apostle Paul’s guidance for engaging in effective spiritual warfare. Today, we will look at three additional instructions: 3. Know Your Enemy (6:11b) You need to be able to stand “against the devil’s schemes.” The word rendered “schemes” (“wiles”—KJV) is from the word method. It means art, skill, and cunning. It occurs in the New Testament only here and in Ephesians 4:14. It is appropriately here rendered “schemes,” meaning cunning devices, arts, and attempts to delude and destroy us. The wiles of the devil are the various arts and stratagems he uses to make us feel bad or fall. Remember who he is. 4. Know the Battlefield (6:12) This enemy is not material, but spiritual. Our mind is the battlefield. The enemy tries to distort ideas and values that, like a rain of missiles, bombard us without stopping. We see today the proliferation of philosophies, paganism, and Eastern religions, as well as false gospels. It’s the New Morality, where it is prohibited to prohibit. For this reason we must continuously fight in order not to fall and make shipwreck the values of our faith. This world in which we live is an immense spiritual battlefield. Everywhere Christians live reigns a climate of war. Believers are constantly spied on and will be attacked if they lower their guard or are negligent in their walk with the Lord. We have a host of enemies and we must be alert. Who is going to win the battle in our mind? 5. Have a Clear Objective (6:13) All believers are to be mobilized for combat; there are no exceptions, and nobody must withdraw himself. The Scriptures describe us as pilgrims. We are in transit on earth, but with a mission to achieve. We must be witnesses of the grace of God by making known the person and the work of Jesus Christ around the

world. With this intention, we must adopt a humble and submissive attitude as described by Paul, yet we must also adopt the mental state of an athlete who gives the best of himself. We need to take up the “full armor of God,” because evil days are coming. In the evil day, in the day of danger and attack, we must stand and hold firm against the attacks and assaults. The greatest joys come from the greatest victories; the greatest victories come from the greatest battles; the greatest battles are won when they are fought in the power of the Lord, wearing the armor of the Lord, with the goal to resist the devil and his demons, standing firm. When the day of evil comes, we must take our stand. Stand like Joshua sending troops around Jericho. Stand like Gideon marching toward the Midianites. Stand like David facing the giant. Take your stand!

Day 22 Earnest Prayer

Philip Adhikary, Bangladesh So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Acts 12:5 No human power or influence could save Peter. There was no earthly help available—help could only be obtained by way of heaven. Therefore, those in the church committed themselves to earnest and persistent prayer. And God sent an angel, who “struck Peter on the side and woke him up” (v. 7). The angel led him past “the first and second guards and [they] came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it” (v. 10). Peter was freed from the prison. Perhaps there might be some iron gate in your life, blocking your way. You can’t find any way to get out. Like a caged bird, you often beat against the bars, but instead of helping your situation, you only become more tired and exhausted, and that causes you more heartache. However, there is something for you to learn, and that is the secret of believing prayer. Then, when you come to the iron gate, it will open as it did for Peter: “by itself.” It might seem that many of your loved ones have been bound by Satan and imprisoned by him for years, and they are waiting for their gates to be opened. Perhaps they will be set free in Christ when you pray earnestly and fervently to God in faith. In your prayers, above everything else, beware of limiting God—not only through unbelief, but also by thinking you know exactly what He will do. You must learn to expect the unexpected, beyond all that you ask and think. So, each time you intercede through prayer, first be quiet and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, how He delights in Christ, His Son, and about your place in Him. Then, expect great things. We need to remember that our prayers are God’s opportunities. Emergencies call for intense prayer. When the person himself becomes the prayer, nothing can resist its touch. For example, the prophet Elijah

bowed to the ground on Mount Carmel with his face between his knees, and he became the prayer. His entire being was in touch with God and was aligned with Him against the power of evil. Elijah’s evil enemies could not withstand this kind of prayer in human form—something that is greatly needed today. God is looking for great people like Elijah who will dare to prove the greatness of their God. “But the church was earnestly praying.” You earnestly pray, and then see what God will do.

Day 23 A Battle of Wills

Maxeau Antoine, Haiti “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 Life always brings surprises—at least in the opinion of people. What do you think is the reason? Is it by accident that peoples’ lives change tremendously? We have Someone whose will is always the best. His plans for our lives are in His hands, even though most of the time what happens in our lives surprises others and sometimes us. He is the one who knows the best for us. In Jeremiah 29, the prophet tells us that even though we don’t know what our lives will look like in the future, God knows our future just as He did for the Israelites. Anyone who trusts and believes in Him doesn’t need to be worried about tomorrow, because it is not our responsibility. In Matthew 6:25 Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” I have found that through God our needs in life are guaranteed to be met. Beloved, when we look at some believers’ lives—and you look at your own life—it is clear to see how God cares. When you are in a period of waiting, you need to wait for God’s timing and it will come. By seeing it happen, you will grow further in faith. I knew a man who was always angry about people making progress in life. He discovered that the more he acted angry toward them, these same people kept progressing all the more. He concluded that Christians progress according to God’s timing and nobody can stop it. Sometimes, though, we can’t wait for God to act. We try our ways and think that we can help God make it happen. We are mistaken. It is not our will, but His will be done “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). One day, I had in mind to buy a car. I prayed for that. I knew that God would give it to me. When I found one, I bought it because I thought it

was the will of God. I soon discovered that I was wrong in my decision. Anytime I started to drive it, the car would stop running after 10 minutes. I eventually had to sell it and lost some money in the process. If you stay in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s will, wait on Him, and count on His promises, your life will surprise others as well as you.

Day 24 Cooperating with God Komivi Ayiboe, Togo

When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” Matthew 9:28–29 It is true that God created us without us, but He does not save us without us. And there are certain things God does not intend to accomplish alone. He uses our cooperation in some of His projects to impact the lives of our brothers and sisters. Jesus, before curing two blind men, asked for their faith to believe (Matthew 9). If they did not add faith to their request for healing, they would not have been cured. God has no feet to visit a sick person in the hospital or a prisoner in his prison cell. It is our feet that God often chooses to use to visit our sick brothers and sisters and those in prison, bringing them the Word of God and the Gospel. In Mark 6, Jesus alone could not go to all the villages, so He sent out His disciples two by two. Jesus used His friends, His anointed ones, to work miracles. It is through our feet and our mouths that the proclamation of the Good News will come (Romans 10:14–15). In John 6, Jesus was able to feed more than five thousand people with the bread and fish offered by a boy. He could have commanded the loaves and fish to descend directly from heaven, but He instead chose to teach us that, through faith in Him, we are able to take care of our neighbors and meet their needs. It is good for us to cooperate with Him. God used Moses to deliver His people out of Egypt. He acted through a widow to feed the prophet Elijah. He Himself used a virgin named Mary to give His only Son, Jesus, to the world. God continues to use people to achieve great things for His glory and transform lives around us. Whatever be the smallness of what we give to God, He uses it to do great things. It is up to God how He decides to

use us to make His wonders known. We are merely His manual workers whom He uses and continues to useâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;if we are available and cooperative. Today, God still wants to use people to accomplish His will throughout the world. Happy are we if God wants us to cooperate with Him! He wants not only us, but also our spiritual and material goods, on the condition that we are available and obedient to Him. God wants to use you to reach the unreached (Mark 6:7). He wants to use your mouth to announce the Gospel to the lost. Whatever be your time, money, or anything else, God can use it to transform someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. Give Jesus your everything so that He can use it to help those around you.

Day 25 Seeing God Equals a Transformed Life Philip Adhikary, Bangladesh

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. Proverbs 29:18 When a person sees God, their life will always be transformed. We know of great people in the Bible who had seen God, and their lives were transformed. For example, Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. The angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire (Exodus 3:1–2), and there he was called to redeem his people from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. Jacob, though he had deceived his brother Esau, wrestled with God at Peniel, and his name was changed to Israel (Genesis 32:28–30). When Gideon saw a vision of God, he was transformed from a coward into a courageous soldier (Judges 6:11–24). And Thomas, after seeing Christ, was changed from a doubting follower into a loyal, devoted disciple (John 20:24–29). Saul, a persecutor of Christians, met Jesus on the road to Damascus and “suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him” (Acts 9:3). His name was changed from Saul to Paul, and he became the great Apostle of Jesus. We can also find wonderful testimonies in the history of missions. Many people since biblical times have had visions of God. William Carey, an eighteenth-century English missionary considered to be the father of modern missions, saw God and left his shoemaker’s bench to go to India. In the nineteenth century, David Livingstone saw God and left everything behind in Britain to become a missionary and explorer, following the Lord’s leading through the thickest jungles in Africa. There are thousands more who have had visions of God and today are serving Him in the uttermost parts of the earth, seeking the timely evangelization of the lost. How can we be a part of this mission to evangelize people who are

lost? We need to wait upon God, which is vital in order to see Him and receive a vision from Him. The amount of time spent before Him is also critical, for our hearts are like a photographer’s film—the longer the exposure, the deeper the impression. For God’s vision to be impressed on our hearts, we must sit in stillness at His feet for quite a long time. We must remember that the troubled surface of a lake will not reflect an image. Therefore, our lives must be quiet and peaceful if we expect to see God. And the vision we will see from Him will have the power to affect our lives more than a lovely sunset brings peace to our troubled hearts. Seeing God always equals a transformed life.

Day 26 You’re Supposed to Sow Moses, Vietnam

He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows. Isaiah 30:23 It is an honor and a privilege to share with you about this special verse in Isaiah. It is so special to me because I still remember it from a long time ago. I had a week of fasting and praying, and Father God gave me this precious verse. I would like to suggest to you that the Lord also taught me the meaning of this verse. Let me share the various parts of it with you: He will also send you rain—Father God will bless us by sending us rain. Spiritually, rain means the Holy Spirit. For the seed you sow—There are many kinds of seeds, including the seed of the Word of God, the seed of giving money, and the seed of prayer. There is a time to sow and a time to reap, physically and spiritually (Ecclesiastes 3:2b). Physically, for example, in Genesis 26:12: “Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him.” For a spiritual example, look to Hosea 10:12: “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.” In the ground—Spiritually speaking, this means or represents the heart of man. And the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful— When we sow the seed God has for us to plant, the Lord will bless us by sending Holy Spirit rains in our life. In that day—Our visions from the Lord and the dreams of the harvest will come true. Your cattle will graze in broad meadows—This is our legacy from the Lord, the effect of doing what this verse says. There will be a harvest.

I still remember when I witnessed to a classmate many years ago. At that time my friend was a teacher. When I told him about the Lord Jesus, he did not believe. After that he was in jail for fleeing abroad. In jail, he prayed that if the Lord would help him flee, he would believe, and the Lord answered. He became a Christian when he arrived in Canada. Ten years later on a Sunday morning at the local church, I saw a mother with two children. Her husband was my friend from Canada. She was very thankful to me because I had witnessed the Lord Jesus to her husband, and after that she and their children believed because of his witness. My friend and his family are now servants of God. Hallelujah! You reap what you sow. When you sow the Gospel, you will reap the lost people. A harvest will take place.

Day 27 To the Next Generation of Believers Ezra Sargunam, India

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15–16 As I have passed the torch in my ministry, I recall how our forefathers in the Old Testament like Moses, Joshua, Jacob, and Samuel shared worthy counsel with their successors through farewell words in their twilight years. During a respite in the fight against the tribes that had occupied Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites (Joshua 23), the aging Joshua gathered the elders and leaders together. He exhorted them to occupy the land God had helped them possess, fighting for them day and night and destroying their enemies, including the Canaanites who had besieged them. Joshua directed them to obey God’s commandments and remain firm, without swaying to the left or the right. He appealed to them to continue holding on to God firmly, as they had been doing all those years. Samuel, too, counseled the people of Israel at the end of his life. He said that he had been abiding with them since the days of his youth and was now old. He reminded them that he gave them a king (Saul), conceding to their demand. Samuel spoke simple advice to Israel: “If you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good!” (1 Samuel 12:14). What are my words of counsel for you? Evangelism and church planting must continue to be our heartbeat. The days of the “traditional church” have gone. God has given us the right to free the churches and see that they don’t get entangled in complicated ecclesiastical structures. Church planting is the birthright of every Christian. There are no restrictions. Today, it can be difficult to find believers burdened to see salvation come to the lost. We are evangelists first and evangelists last. Our obses-

sion should be to reach responsive people groups and disciple them in our lifetime. The people who are responsive today may not be responsive tomorrow. We should make an all-out effort to reach the lost for Jesus Christ. Our concern for the underprivileged and for those who are oppressed and suppressed should never diminish either. Merely liberating people from their political and social oppression is not evangelism. Neither is it the salvation that Christ offers. It is holistic: “Man shall not live by bread alone” (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4). Jesus said in Mark 16 to go into the entire world and preach the Gospel. Any church that does not take this commandment seriously—to preach the Gospel to those who haven’t heard it yet, baptize them, and save them from eternal condemnation—cannot call itself a Christ-following church.

Day 28 Has the Full Number Come In? Shmuel Suran, Israel

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. Romans 11:25–26a For the Apostolic Church of the first century, one of the great mysteries revealed by the Holy Spirit was the incorporation of the Gentiles as fellow citizens of the commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:11–15). That God had saved Gentiles was revolutionary to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem and Judea. The Gentiles were not asked to be circumcised or to keep the Torah of Moses, nor were they asked to convert to Judaism (become Jews). But “by faith alone” in Israel’s Jewish Messiah Yeshua, they became fellow citizens with the Jewish believers. Each age has its hidden mystery reserved by God for His people. The inclusion of Gentiles into God’s salvation plan of history was reserved by God until the first century of this era. As we approach the close of the age before the glorious return, or Second Coming, of Yeshua the Messiah, the mystery of Romans 11 is unfolding before our eyes! God’s salvation plan for both Jew and Gentile is coming to its completion. The hardening of Israel is slowly transitioning to an end, and the full number of Gentiles is to come in, until finally “All Israel will be saved. As it is written: the deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins” (Romans 11:26–27). The Apostle Paul said, “Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25). The word “until” implies a time limit. The truth is that at some predetermined time there will be an end to Israel’s blindness and hardening. God is dealing with Israel as a nation in a way He has not done since the rejection of our Messiah. Hundreds of thousands of Jews have come

to recognize Yeshua since the 1970s. The Holy Spirit sovereignly was poured out and revealed Yeshua to many from my generation and each following generation. God had mercy upon me—blessed be the Lord! These were the beginnings of a spiritual awakening among ordinary people and a greater consciousness that we are living in the time preceding the Messianic Era. Each year, more Israelis are coming to know Yeshua as their Messiah too. As the Jewish people find Yeshua as our Messiah, and as believing Christians find their relationship to Messianic Jews and congregations, the Messianic blessing of Romans 11 will come to that part of the Body of Messiah. There will be a final redemption or national salvation of Israel and the Jewish people. God will melt the hardening, remove the blindness, and the remnant of the Jewish people will come to a saving knowledge of the Messiah, Yeshua! May God use you as watchmen on the walls who never give Him rest “until the full number of the Gentiles has come in” and He establishes Jerusalem as a praise in all the earth. Until then, reach the lost!

Day 29 Authentic Happiness J.L. Williams, USA

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.” Matthew 25:21–23 Happiness is one of the most persistent aspirations of the human spirit. It is consistently one of the highest priorities that people give for their lives. To “be happy” is a goal of virtually every normal human being. Obviously, millions of Americans have not been successful in the “pursuit of happiness.” Happiness has eluded them. The very fact that there are so many millions of Americans who are addicted to alcohol and drugs proves that they have not found lasting happiness. Depression and suicide rates sadly show the deadly level of unhappiness with which millions of people live and die. Authentic happiness only comes from God. As our good and gracious Abba Father, God wants His people to be happy. He is not some celestial Scrooge who wants His children to be miserable! He loves to give good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13). That is His nature. Heaven is a place of eternal happiness beyond description or comprehension. Paul quoted this from Isaiah 64:4: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:9–10). So if heaven is a place of eternal happiness beyond our wildest imagination, God gives us small foretastes of it here on earth. But it only comes His way. The bottom line is this: happiness only comes by living for and serving others, especially those who are most needy. Jesus lovingly lured His disciples with the ultimate reward of eternal heavenly happiness. This eternal bliss was reserved for those who selflessly ministered to the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and the prisoner. To them Jesus said the Father would one day say: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Therefore, happiness is a choice. It is a choice to serve God by serving

others. Happiness is a by-product. Serving is the root; happiness is the fruit. We only find happiness when we quit looking for it. When we seek God and His glory through serving others and meeting needs, happiness abounds in our lives! I am eternally grateful that my parents taught me this principle when I was young. They said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Son, if you want to be happy in life, give yourself to a cause greater than yourself. Serve other people. Live to meet needs. Look around; the happiest people you will ever meet in life are the ones who are serving others. And the most miserable people are the ones who want everyone to serve them!â&#x20AC;? I have sought to live my life by that very simple, but profound Christian philosophy. And I certainly have not done it perfectly or consistently. But whenever I have done so, serving others has made me one of the happiest people on earth! Truly, I am a happy man! Life doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get any better than that!

Day 30 Appreciate the Time You Have Left Wade McHargue, USA

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 Here in Psalm 90 we find the only psalm attributed to Moses, the man of God. It is glaringly apparent what Moses emphasizes in this psalm: the brevity of life. This is demonstrated through his description of our earthly lives as a watch in the night, like grass, and like a sigh. In light of this truth, the application is made in verse 12. It’s a prayer he prayed—and a prayer we should pray—that God would teach us to number our days. For what reason? In light of remembering the brevity of our lives, we will be less likely to squander our time and more apt to redeem the time and use it wisely. Paul said it this way in Ephesians 5: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (vv. 15–17). In light of this I would exhort you in two ways. First, make Psalm 90:12 a personal prayer. I testify to you that I made this my prayer years ago, and I have been gripped (not in fear, but in a sobriety of spirit) about the brevity of my life. It has brought a wisdom to my heart, but also a prayer for Father to use me and make my time count for His glory. I’ve been asked many times by different people, “How is it you’ve seen so much accomplished (for God’s glory) in such a relatively short time?” When I hear this, I know it is Father answering my prayer, this prayer of Psalm 90:12. Few in the Bible can compare with the intimacy in which Moses walked with the Almighty. So, make this your prayer for some days and pray it in faith knowing it is His will. He will truly answer. The second application of this prayer of Moses is what Paul wrote in Ephesians, to “not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (5:17). This points us to where we know the will of God is, which of course is the Word. Our lives make sense in light of eternity, in the

revelation of the brevity of our lives, when we actively seek His will by meditating and memorizing the Word of God. This was the exhortation given to Joshua (Joshua 1:8–9) and to David (Psalm 1), and it is what Jesus declared would reveal who are truly His disciples (John 8:31). If we want to live wisely, we must make sure we are spending more time reading the Word than reading the news of this world. As C.S. Lewis stated, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.” We must remain wise and ready to give an account to Him as we make His Word our daily bread, our daily meditation.

Day 31 Light of the World

Jennifer Foster, Brazil “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14–16 “You are the light of the world.” As I read these words from the book of Matthew, my heart began to sink. Feeling as though my light was as dim as a light could be, surrounded by darkness, I began to wonder how I could be the light of the world. How could I, a young, single, white female fulfill this light mandate when I knew the darkness, faults, weaknesses, and struggles within me? Thoughts of how big the world really is began to overwhelm me. While walking on this earth, Jesus said that He was “the light of the world” (John 8:12). John also tells us that “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). And as beautiful as these Scriptures are, the more I read, the more hopeless I began to feel. Desperate to understand how to be light like Him, I cried out to the Lord, “You are Light. In You there is no darkness. Jesus, You are the Light of the World. You brought salvation to all. But I’m not You! How can You tell me that I am the light of the world?” Then, a still, small voice spoke inside of me: “Genesis 1.” I turned to see where this was going. As I did, my eyes fell on the answer to my question: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). There, in black and white, was my answer! I can be the light of the world because I have been made in the image of God! The very DNA of God, Light Himself, has been weaved into every fiber of my being. I can be the light of the world because His light is in me! Amidst all the darkness, struggles, weaknesses, and failures, we have been made to be light. We are His light, and even a little light can make a

big difference. A single candle burning on a dark night can be seen from 30 miles away. Maybe you feel your light has been dimmed due to family struggles, financial difficulties, or unfulfilled dreams. Take that little light to the Light of the World and let Him reignite a bonfire within you. You have a light burning inside of you, and darkness can never overcome your light. You are the light of the world! Go shine your light.

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