Remnant Magazine by John Powell

REMNANT september 2011 Vol. 1 No. 6

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getting to the other side of your storm

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8 signposts on the

september 2011 Volume 1 | Number 6

Journey

REGULAR FEATURES: Questions of Jesus

Portraits of Christ

The Last Word 22 What Must I Do to be saved?

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JOHN POWELL Publisher | Art Director | Webmaster john@remnantmagazine.com Find this issue and more at www.RemnantMagazine.com Also visit my sister site: www.JesusCaresAboutYou.net Access on your mobile phone: www.JesusCaresAboutYou.param.mobi Dedicated to my sons Brandon and Caleb, to my Mom and mentor in the faith, and to

Jesus Christ

in whose name I cast this bread upon the water. www.remnantmagazine.com

give your Bible a workout

B1BLE

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Challenge Day

take 30-day the challenge! Follow this plan to read the entire Bible in 1 month.

Beginnings

BUILDING A NATION

Poetry and Wisdom

Prophets

New Testament

Genesis 1-11

1 Samuel 1-8

Psalms 1-8; Proverbs 1

Isaiah 1-8

Matthew 1-7

Genesis 12-20

1 Samuel 9-15

Psalms 9-16; Proverbs 2

Isaiah 9-16

Matthew 8-14

Genesis 21-28

1 Samuel 16-24

Psalms 17-22; Proverbs 3

Isaiah 17-24

Matthew 15-20

Genesis 29-36

1 Samuel 25-31

Psalms 23-29; Proverbs 4

Isaiah 25-32

Matthew 21-28

Genesis 37-45

2 Samuel 1-10

Psalms 30-34; Proverbs 5

Isaiah 33-39

Mark 1-8

Genesis 46-50

2 Samuel 11-18

Psalms 35-37; Proverbs 6

Isaiah 40-48

Mark 9-16

Exodus 1-11

2 Samuel 19-24

Psalms 38-41; Proverbs 7

Isaiah 49-57

Luke 1-6

Exodus 12-18

1 Kings 1-11

Psalms 42-46; Proverbs 8

Isaiah 58-66

Luke 7-12

Exodus 19-24

1 Kings 12-16

Psalms 47-50; Proverbs 9

Jeremiah 1-6

Luke 13-18

Exodus 25-31

1 Kings 17-22

Psalms 51-57; Proverbs 10

Jeremiah 7-12

Luke 19-24

Exodus 32-40

2 Kings 1-10

Psalms 58-64; Proverbs 11

Jeremiah 13-20

John 1-6

Leviticus 1-10

2 Kings 11-17

Jeremiah 21-26

John 7-12

Leviticus 11-20

2 Kings 18-25

Jeremiah 27-31

John 13-21

Leviticus 21-27

1 Chronicles 1-9

Psalms 73-77; Proverbs 14

Jeremiah 32-38

Acts 1-7

Numbers 1-10

1 Chronicles 10-16

Psalms 78-83; Proverbs 15

Jeremiah 39-45

Acts 8-14

Numbers 11-17

1 Chronicles 17-22

Psalms 84-89; Proverbs 16

Jeremiah 46-49

Acts 15-21

Numbers 18-27

1 Chronicles 23-29

Psalms 90-92; Proverbs 17

Jeremiah 50-52

Acts 22-28

INSPIRE

IGNITE

Psalms 65-68; Proverbs 12 Psalms 69-72; Proverbs 13

EMPOWER

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questions of

jesus

b y john powell

Do you love Me more than these things?

f Jesus was all you had, would Jesus be enough for you? Many precious believers are in love with the things of the Lord, but they are not in love with the Lord Himself. You are called to be with Jesus. That is your calling. That is the primary thing, the highest ministry. Going forth to preach or do anything else is of secondary importance. We should be with Jesus; after that, He might send us forth to preach. But before Jesus said, “Go into all the world” He said, “Be with Me.” (Mark 3:14). The call of the Lord is not more important than the Lord of the call. The work of the Lord must not replace the Lord of the work. No amount of ministering for the Lord will make up for a lack of ministering to the Lord. And knowing the Word of God does not necessarily mean that we know the God of the Word. Everyone wants to go and do something for God, but few people are willing to stay and do “nothing” for Him. There are many Marthas who are burdened with the work of the Lord, who are busy and laboring for Christ, who are careful and troubled about many things. But there are few Marys who just sit at His feet and hear His Word. Jesus said to Martha that only one thing is needful, and that is what Mary has chosen - just to sit at His feet and listen. What she hears will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:42). If you are dissatisfied and disappointed with your Christian walk today, it is only because of one thing: Jesus is not enough for you. Somewhere along the line, something else became more important than Jesus. Maybe you have become focused on the things about Jesus that are not actually Jesus Himself. There is only one solution. You do not need more of the Lord, because He has already given Himself completely to you already. You just need less of everything else. You need to love Him again “more than these things.” The resurrected Jesus that day on the shore worked another miracle for Peter, causing him to fill his nets with fish nearly sinking his boat. It was also a reenactment. It was Jesus taking Peter back to how they first met. Let Jesus do that for you as well. Remember. Remember what it was like to hear His Voice, to be so filled with passion and love for Him, that

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(Mark 8:5)

you wanted nothing more than to sit at His feet, and hear His Word. Remember when you were so infatuated with Him that you did not want to do anything else. Remember what it was like to just be with Jesus. Go back to when Jesus first called you to be with Him. Go back to the time when all you had was Him. Go back to the time before you were building churches, speaking prophetic words, witnessing to the unsaved, pastoring the congregation, teaching the people, leading worship, or involved in ministry. Go back to the time when there was no work, no ministry, no vision, no special calling - except Jesus calling you to be with Him. Remember when you said, “He’s all I need!” You may never know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have. —Corrie Ten Boom R

In this series, “Questions of Jesus,” we will take a closer look at some of the questions Jesus asked those who followed Him. Then, and now, He never asks a question He does not already know the answer to. He simply asks to see if we know the answer, and to cause us to look deeper inside ourselves.

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B 1 BLE Challenge Day

take 30-day the challenge! Follow this plan to read the entire Bible in 1 month.

Beginnings

BUILDING A NATION

Poetry andWisdom

Prophets

New Testament

Genesis 1-11

1 Samuel 1-8

Psalms 1-8; Proverbs 1

Isaiah 1-8

Matthew 1-7

Genesis 12-20

1 Samuel 9-15

Psalms 9-16; Proverbs 2

Isaiah 9-16

Matthew 8-14

Genesis 21-28

1 Samuel 16-24

Psalms 17-22; Proverbs 3

Isaiah 17-24

Matthew 15-20

Genesis 29-36

1 Samuel 25-31

Psalms 23-29; Proverbs 4

Isaiah 25-32

Matthew 21-28

Genesis 37-45

2 Samuel 1-10

Psalms 30-34; Proverbs 5

Isaiah 33-39

Mark 1-8

Genesis 46-50

2 Samuel 11-18

Psalms 35-37; Proverbs 6

Isaiah 40-48

Mark 9-16

Exodus 1-11

2 Samuel 19-24

Psalms 38-41; Proverbs 7

Isaiah 49-57

Luke 1-6

Exodus 12-18

1 Kings 1-11

Psalms 42-46; Proverbs 8

Isaiah 58-66

Luke 7-12

Exodus 19-24

1 Kings 12-16

Psalms 47-50; Proverbs 9

Jeremiah 1-6

Luke 13-18

Exodus 25-31

1 Kings 17-22

Psalms 51-57; Proverbs 10

Jeremiah 7-12

Luke 19-24

Exodus 32-40

2 Kings 1-10

Psalms 58-64; Proverbs 11

Jeremiah 13-20

John 1-6

Leviticus 1-10

2 Kings 11-17

Psalms 65-68; Proverbs 12

Jeremiah 21-26

John 7-12

Leviticus 11-20

2 Kings 18-25

Psalms 69-72; Proverbs 13

Jeremiah 27-31

John 13-21

Leviticus 21-27

1 Chronicles 1-9

Psalms 73-77; Proverbs 14

Jeremiah 32-38

Acts 1-7

Numbers 1-10

1 Chronicles 10-16

Psalms 78-83; Proverbs 15

Jeremiah 39-45

Acts 8-14

Numbers 11-17

1 Chronicles 17-22

Psalms 84-89; Proverbs 16

Jeremiah 46-49

Acts 15-21

Numbers 18-27

1 Chronicles 23-29

Psalms 90-92; Proverbs 17

Jeremiah 50-52

Acts 22-28

Numbers 28-36

2 Chronicles 1-9

Psalms 93-100; Proverbs 18

Lamentations 1-5

Romans 1-8

Deuteronomy 1-10

2 Chronicles 10-20

Psalms 101-106; Proverbs 19

Ezekiel 1-11

Romans 9-16

Deuteronomy 11-20

2 Chronicles 21-28

Psalms 107-110; Proverbs 20

Ezekiel 12-20

1 Corinthians 1-8

Deuteronomy 21-26

2 Chronicles 29-36

Psalms 111-118; Proverbs 21

Ezekiel 21-28

1 Corinthians 9-16

Deuteronomy 27-34

Ezra 1-10

Psalm 119:1-88; Proverbs 22

Ezekiel 29-39

2 Corinthians 1-13

Joshua 1-12

Nehemiah 1-13

Psalm 119:89-176; Proverbs 23

Ezekiel 40-48

Galatians; Ephesians

Joshua 13-21

Esther 1-10

Psalms 120-134; Proverbs 24

Daniel 1-6

Phil; Col; 1,2 Thess

Joshua 22-24

Job 1-3

Psalms 135-139; Proverbs 25

Daniel 7-12

1,2 Tim; Titus; Philemon

Judges 1-8

Job 4-14

Psalms 140-145; Proverbs 26

Hosea

Hebrews

Judges 9-12

Job 15-21

Psalms 146-150; Proverbs 27

Joel; Amos; Obadiah

James; 1,2 Peter

Judges 13-16

Job 22-31

Ecclesiastes 1-6; Proverbs 28

Jonah; Micah; Nahum

1,2,3 John; Jude

Judges 17-21

Job 32-37

Ecclesiastes 7-12; Proverbs 29

Habak; Zeph; Haggai

Revelation 1-11

Ruth 1-4

Job 38-42

Song of Songs 1-8; Proverbs 30-31

Zechariah; Malachi

Revelation 12-22

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IGNITE

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JOURNEY b y WAYNE J ACOBS EN

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ou haven’t really had an adventure until you rent a car and drive alone through the backroads of New England. The roads twist and turn in directions you wouldn’t think possible. Even the locals can get confused. Last month riding with some friends, we tried to get from Route 140 near Upton to Sutton, Massachusetts without a map. Previous experience had warned me that even though it was less than 10 miles as the crow flies, it was almost impossible to get there from where we were. So, even though it violated the sacrosanct rules of manhood, we stopped to ask directions--four times! Each time we were given a confusing list of landmarks to look out for and turns to make. Then, in the middle of their explanation, each person we asked paused, looked at us quizzically and asked, “Where did you want to go again?” It got to be so comical we ended up exploding in laughter as the last man did the same thing, despite our best efforts to not to. We could barely choke out a ‘thank you’ as we pulled away laughing so hard our stomachs ached for the next 20 minutes. (Which, by the way, is why men don’t usually stop and ask directions. We know that the guy we’re asking isn’t able to say, “I don’t know!” and will offer nebulous directions to take you further away from him.) As bad as word-of-mouth directions can be, however, highway signs can be worse. In fact there are places you can end up driving west on SR 6 East. One interchange on Interstate 95 south of Boston will tell you to turn both west and east if you want to go to north to Manchester, New Hampshire. Sometimes the spiritual journey can be like that, can’t it? We think we know what God wants, but the markers we have used for confirmation, don’t seem to line up with that. What do you do then? Discount what God seems to be saying, and trust our markers? Only if your markers are God’s markers. Regretfully, however, I’m finding many of the markers we use are in direct conflict with Scripture and the model Jesus left us. The Markers We Use One of the most shocking lessons I’ve had to face in the last few years is how many of the signs I have used to affirm God’s will in my life were actually

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markers inviting me to wander further from him. Like a traveler on a road, I would hear him calling me to follow him. But when I looked in the direction of his voice I would see signs warning of danger, risk and conflict. Turning another way I could see signs offering convenience, gratification and security. How easy it was to tell myself that the voice had come down the more appealing path. However, when I set out in that direction, I would find God’s presence growing more distant and my spiritual life more dry and empty. One does not have to twist Scripture far to think that following Jesus will lead down the most comfortable path, or the most popular, or the most financially rewarding, or the most secure. We never even consider that those who don’t know how much their Father loves them, seek those same things. So, like them, we pursue our own self-interest thinking it to be the way God works, but only find ourselves further from the depths of knowing him and missing out on the incredible adventure that comes by following the Lamb wherever he goes. They are false markers, leading us toward the American dream not to the kingdom of God. If we only obey his voice when its easy, brings us the applause of others or benefits us financially we will find our spiritual life dry, empty and boring. While it offers the illusion of joy, it cannot give us the real thing, where God inhabits our heart, freeing us from the tyranny of darkness and releasing us to true joy and freedom that can only be found in living life God’s way. Jesus warned us about that. He told us the life of the kingdom awaited those who walked a narrow road, apart from their own self-interest. Don’t forget that this is a kingdom in which everything works backwards from the natural way we would do things. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25) If you’re confirming his voice off of the wrong markers, you will be confused when he speaks to you and you’ll find your decisions taking you further away from the life in him you desire. So every once in a while it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at the markers we’re seeing on the journey we’re on. They will tell us whether our journey is

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drawing us to him along the narrow road, or back to the broad road of complacency and ease that we left on the day he touched our hearts and invited us to go on a journey with the Living God: Religious Busyness or Deepening Relationship? There is no end to the number of good things you can do in God’s name in our religious-based culture. Everywhere people are begging for money and volunteers and it is easy for the conscientious believer to get caught up in a whirl of wonderful activities and miss out on what it means to build a deepening relationship with him. It is true that the busiest people with religion, are often the most unfulfilled spiritually. Rather than being changed by his life, they are often short-tempered, demanding that others follow their example. They do not understand how religious activity can dull our hunger and distract our passion to know him. They pursue the latest program, observe demanding disciplines, seek out being ‘fed’ by teachers they enjoy, but never grow closer to the one who loves them so deeply. The surest sign that you are walking the road God has for you is an ever-deepening friendship with him where you grow to know his heart better and are increasingly transformed into his image. It is helpful to pause regularly in your journey and ask whether or not you know him better today than you did a month ago. If the answer is no, or you’re uncertain, then you might consider that you’re moving the wrong direction. He wants nothing more than for you to learn to abide in him every day, and doing that everything else on God’s heart concerning you will be fulfilled. Acclaim of Others or Being Misunderstood by Them? “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10) Wouldn’t it be great if everyone around you 10 |

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The sures that you are wa for you is an ev

with him where his heart better transformed in

could affirm God’s voice in your life and applaud you for following it? In the real world, however it is rarely true. People, especially those who care about you, often want the same things for you that your flesh does--back to that which is comfortable, safe and satisfying. They may mean well, but Paul knew that walking with an eye to the approval of others will always take you far afield of the kingdom. Jesus said the same thing. He said to take stock when men speak well of you, for that’s how they treat false prophets. He went on to say you are blessed when people lie, insult, and exclude you because of your obedience to him. He knew the same crowd shouting ‘Hosannas’ on Sunday would be screaming “Crucify him!” only a few days later. Even our Christian culture tells us that increased attendance, best-selling books, and growing audiences await those who obey Jesus. In fact, those who misunderstood Jesus the most were those most passionate about religion. You will even find other Christians calling you back to the broader road thinking they are helping you follow God. Don’t be fooled. He’s the only one we can follow. Even if that means you are misunderstood, God will be faithful to provide other believers at just the right moment to encourage you on the journey. Fitting in with Religious Leaders or Perhaps Disappointing Them In our day, many who claim to lead in the body of Christ are not much more than well-intentioned program managers. They have an organization to www.remnantmagazine.com

st sign alking the road God has

ver-deepening friendship e you grow to know r and are increasingly nto his image. run and personal goals to meet and often view people around them as simply part of that process. If we confuse a submissive heart with following their instructions, we will often find ourselves moving away from the path God has chosen for us. We all know how important it is to glean God’s wisdom from other believers, including those who might be further along the journey. However, make sure those are people who are on the journey to knowing God, not those imbedded in religious institutions and who have a vested interest in you doing things their way. Religious leaders are those who lead people into religion. Weren’t these types always at odds with Jesus? Did he put their directions above his Father’s? Of course not! But how can you tell the difference between religious leaders and mature believers God has put around you? True leaders won’t tell you what Father’s will is for you; they will instead help you grow close enough to Jesus to understand that for yourself. I find it curious that most of the latter I’ve met in recent years rarely waste their time in management positions of institutionized Christianity. Being Served or Serve? Isn’t it the natural inclination of our natural mind to get things in order the way we want them, even if we disguise that as doing what we think is best for all? When God’s leading seems to put you at the center and use others to help you get what you want--be suspicious. If, however, his tug on your heart leads you to lay down your life for someone else, helping them www,remnantmagazine.com

discover what Jesus is doing in them and freeing them to do it, then that just might be God’s will for you. Convenience or Risk? For those of us who regard God’s will lying down the path of least resistance, we find Paul’s words to the Corinthians to be quite disturbing, “ But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.” (1 Corinthians. 16:8-9) Open door--great conflict! What a perspective! When Jesus invites us to live by faith he invites us to live in the security of Father’s love with an eye to his wisdom, his power, his abilities, not our own. If as a believer you are not finding yourself in situations far beyond your own ability to handle, you’re probably not growing. Because he so desperately wants to free you from the bondage of self, he will invite you beyond what is convenient and secure in your natural mind. Remember, when he led Israel through the wilderness they grew so insecure that they preferred slavery in Egypt to living as free men and women in God. Regretfully many make that same decision today. On the other hand, look at the list of those who walked by faith. What faith led them to do almost always looked irresponsible to human wisdom. But it wasn’t, because they were learning to follow God and rely on him, not man’s ways of doing things. Though it took them into greater conflict, put them at incredible risk, and at times cost them more than they ever dreamed, it also took them into the very heart of God. They learned to rely on him and not themselves, and that is true security. When you’re looking at the sign that reads ‘Personal Security’ you’re looking the wrong direction. Turn around. Be willing to risk something so awesome at God’s leading that there’s no way it will work without him. That’s how God’s invites his people to live.

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Financial Security or Contentedness with God’s Portion? “The Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” “You cannot serve both God and Money.” “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” These words certainly don’t sound to me like following God insures upward financial mobility. Yet we easily pursue such ambitions thinking they represent God’s blessing. Paul warned us that only “men of corrupt mind?think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” (I Timothy 6:5). Isn’t it difficult for us to admit that the best financial decisions aren’t always the most Godly? How many people have not followed God’s voice, because they couldn’t trust him to provide for them, or because it didn’t make sense financially? God’s path doesn’t always draw us to financial gain, though he promises to take care of every need. If Paul had only made decisions based on how it would secure his financial future, I’m afraid he would have missed so much that God had for him. Instead he learned to be content with God’s provision and realized it might vary season to season. “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” He knew that God’s ability to “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,” had to do with the inner life of joy, not the securing of material wealth. Follow God, or follow money, but you cannot do both! Following Routine or Following Him? I like having clear insight into the long-range plan before I do anything. I want to know how it will turn out and what my contingencies are if something goes wrong. Jesus, however, is more interested in teaching us to live with a daily dependence on his voice, willing to follow him even if we have no idea what the outcome might be. There’s nothing more Jesus wants to teach us than how to depend on him every day, and follow him even when we don’t understand the outcome. There is nothing we want to learn less. We like being self-reliant, able to trust sound principles and routines rather than need to hear his ever-present voice. I’ve been working through this very thing with publishing decisions. I want a principle to guide

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me through ever future decision, rather than simply listening to what he wants me to write next, trusting he’ll make a way to make it available when we get there. Following him most often means we only see the next step, not the next ten. Follow anyway, and you’ll see the wonder of his plan unfold in ways you could never have contemplated. Shunning the World or Hanging Out with Unbelievers? There was a time in my life that I had no meaningful relationships with people who were not believers, and only knew other believers that gathered in the same group as me. I looked with suspicion on those who had too many friendships with people in the world. That’s what Jesus faced when he was constantly accused of hanging out with the wrong crowd – those who caught in sin or those who ignored the protocol of the religious crowd. Father’s heart had drawn him to be with the lost, helping them discover the joy of God’s life. So, don’t think when God invites you on opportunities to love those left out of his life that you are somehow abandoning him or his body. God has called us to be light in some of the darkest places. And the Point Is... Follow Him! Christianity is living in relationship to the Living God. You can’t do that if you’re not free to follow him wherever he leads you. Of course anyone who sets their course by running from busyness, trying to be misunderstood, offending religious leaders, taking absurd risks, living carelessly or finding company only among sinners will not necessarily be walking God’s pathway. In fact all of those can be used as excuses for arrogant and destructive behaviors against God and his people. But I am not writing to people like that. Ultimately Jesus has not asked us to live our life by following signs, but by learning to listen to his voice and to trust him in every situation. We can, however, find ourselves missing out on his life because we ignore his voice if it doesn’t align with our false notions about what living in God really means. These markers only have value if they free us to follow the Lamb wherever he goes, so that you can be like him in the world and available for all he wants to do in and through you. R

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VOL III / ISSUE 2 / FEB 07

GETTING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF YOUR STORM by Carter Conlon Everyone will experience storms during their lifetime. The storms we find ourselves in have a purpose, they have a reason, and they have a season. There comes a time in the midst of a storm when we finally go to our prayer closet and say, “Okay, Lord, I need to have my hands on something other than the oars in this boat. I’m tired of trying to make it to the other side.” The disciples experienced storms. The Scriptures give an account of a night when they found themselves in the midst of a terrible storm. They had been toiling and rowing their boat seemingly to no avail. Although the scenarios look slightly different in each gospel, the overall picture indicates that the disciples were afraid, thinking they were going to drown. When the disciples saw Jesus coming toward them, they opened their hearts to him and invited him into their boat. One of the scenarios in the Scriptures says that Jesus stepped into the boat and immediately they were at land. There are two possibilities here. Jesus either stepped into the boat, and they were miraculously taken from one location to another; or the other possibility is that the whole incident took place close to shore. It was dark, they were rowing, and they were lost. They may even have been close to the end of their journey, but there was still one problem— Jesus was not yet in their boat. Some of you are in the midst of a storm, just as the disciples were. You could be just feet from the shore, www.remnantmagazine.com

at the end of a particular journey, but the forces coming against you have been driving you back. This is because Jesus is not yet in your boat. When you invite Him in, you are not just inviting a minimum form of divine protection; you are welcoming the entire agenda of God.

Jesus, you are welcome to speak to me, to challenge me, and to overturn my ideas and direction. I believe that if you can hear what the Holy Spirit is saying, you will open your heart and ask Jesus into the midst of your situation. “Jesus, you are welcome to speak to me, to challenge me, and to overturn my ideas and direction.” The moment you do this, you are going to be secure. The storm has accomplished God’s desire to produce in you a desperation for Him and His will. The same Christ who stood in the disciples’ boat and commanded the wind to stop, the waves to be still, is now in your boat and is able to speak into your life. ■ THE JOURNEY

The Bible mentions another storm in Acts 27. I liken it to a journey in the life of a typical Christian. Paul was on board a ship headed for Rome. He was in the divine will of God moving towards an end the Lord had desired for his life. Traveling on the ship with him were many people who were not

spiritually minded. They liked the fact that they had a man of God in their ship even though they themselves were not yet hearing from God. Their lives were moving in a direction that was going to bring them to shipwreck; but there was in them a deep inner stubbornness which prevented them from hearing what God was speaking through Paul. In Acts 27:9–11, we read: Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. Here Paul warned them their journey would be disastrous, because it was not ordered of God. Maybe you too are contemplating a journey not directed by Him. If you are in a place where truth is being preached, God will speak and caution you about heading in a direction that is not beneficial to you. For instance, we have stood behind this pulpit and said, “Turn off ungodly television. It will not only hurt your journey, it will eventually take away your spiritual eyesight.” We’ve spoken about marriages that have been destroyed, children’s lives that have been wounded, because husbands and wives will not cease

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GETTING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF YOUR STORM

flirtatious behavior in the workplace; thinking that no harm will come from it. They come to the house of the Lord, claiming to be walking with God, but the voice of the Lord comes and says, “You must not continue in this direction.” God knows the end result will only bring destruction.

Some people are on a self-induced and self-absorbed course that has the name of God on the bow of the ship, but it is destined for disaster. ■ WHOSE VOICE WILL YOU HEED?

Then there are some reading this message who are on a perilous journey, because they choose to believe a religion they have contrived, more than the things spoken through the Holy Spirit. These people are on a selfinduced and self-absorbed course that has the name of God on the bow of the ship, but it is destined for disaster. God will challenge all religion that has no compassion for the lost. Like them you have a decision to make: Either believe what the Holy Spirit is speaking or continue on this journey of your own making and eventually come to ruin. Let me give you an example of this in Luke 10:25, when a lawyer came to Jesus and asked him, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself (v.27).” Then the Scripture said, “But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, and who is my neighbor (v.29)?” His question was: What must I do to inherit eternal life? Or, in other words, what is the evidence that 14 |

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I am on a pathway which is bringing me to the life God has destined for me, both in time and eternity? In his answer, Jesus spoke about a priest who headed off to do his duty in the house of God. On his journey he came across a man who had been left for dead by the side of the road. Instead of tending to this broken man, the priest crossed over to the other side of the road. A Levite, who is a type of a worshipper, also did the same, passing by this wounded, bruised, and bleeding man. The priest and the Levite had built a form of religion they thought was sufficient to carry them into everlasting life, but Jesus was saying in this parable, “This is not sufficient. If the journey you profess to be on is of God, but you do nothing to minister to fallen men, then you don’t possess the heart of God.” The answer Jesus gave to this young lawyer is a challenge to you as well. You need to ask yourself if you are really on the right journey, are you moving in the right direction. Do you possess the true heart of God? ■ THE SOFT WIND THAT BLOWS

This kind of leading, by a soft wind, is best illustrated in the life of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15. This young man was working in his father’s house, but did not yet understand his father’s heart. One day he went to his father and said, “Give me my inheritance.” You can almost feel the soft wind that led him out of the house and out of his father’s work. I can’t help but think of the multitudes in the house of the Lord who have an inheritance in Christ, but they come to the Father and utter the same cry as the prodigal son: “Give me my inheritance so I may go out and continue to enjoy my life and have a good time with my friends. I am now a child of God, for which I am grateful, but there are still so many of my plans, ambitions, and dreams before me. I have a destiny to fulfill, but I can’t do it without your inheritance. Now that you have set me free and forgiven my sins, I ask you to give me a portion of your life; however, I don’t want the whole burden.” This, then, is the measure of the deceptiveness of their self-made religion.

Continuing in Acts 27:12-13: And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

The father, of course, gave the prodigal what he asked for, seemingly without argument. This is the amazing thing about the grace of God. As with the prodigal son, God lets you go, even though your ship is headed in the wrong direction. Your life is moving into a place of storms and great difficulty but God, in His grace, still goes with you.

There are many today who are following this soft, south wind that requires nothing of them and even has an appearance of being godly. It is almost like putting your finger to the wind and whichever direction seems to bring the least amount of resistance to your ambitions, plans, and wishes is the direction you take.

■ BEING DRIVEN, NOT LED

When you are out of the will of God, the soft wind changes into a tempestuous storm and now you are being driven, not led. You see this in Acts 27:14: But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. In verses 16 and 17 the www.remnantmagazine.com

TIMES SQUARE www.tscnyc.org

Scripture says, And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. When you are on the wrong journey in life, you become driven at home, at work, and everywhere you go. You are also driven in the house of God. You find yourself in the middle of a tumultuous storm and you start under-girding your ship. You read books on how to do this, or how to do that, how to get out of this, or how to get out of that. You listen to every tape you can find on the topic. You are desperate to get through your storm because you are afraid. However, there is a day coming when you will start throwing out your books, tapes, and all this undergirding, just as it says in verses 18 to 20: And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship. And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship…all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. In other words, you will get to the point when you cast out your own plans, and no longer rely on your own ability to get you through the storm. You will get a sinking feeling in your spirit: “I am not going to make it. My ship is going down.” Finally, you will get to the place where you say, “God, what are you speaking to me? I’ve charted a course I thought was right.” It could be your dreams or your visions that you have tried to keep alive, but God says, “No, this thing has to die before I can come and speak.” God has always been with you, willing to speak, but you have not been willing to listen. This is evidenced in verses 21and 22, as Paul, representing the voice of God, rose up and said, Sirs, ye www.remnantmagazine.com

CHURCH

GETTING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF YOUR STORM

should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.

that you have not ordained for me. Lord, I thank you that in your mercy you are willing to send a storm to stop me in the midst of my journey, and to cause me to cry out to you.”

■ THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD

■ COMPLETELY SATISFIED IN GOD

Paul did not leave them without a hope; he said in verse 25, “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” There comes a time when this is what it is all about: “I believe God!” We need to have the same faith as Paul had where we can say with our confidence in Christ, “I’ve stopped trying to reason and figure it out. I believe if He leads me, He will keep me; if He calls me, He will empower me; if He asks me to do something, He will give me every resource I need so it can be done in the manner that brings honor and glory to His name. If He’s called me on the journey, then He is going to be faithful to me. I live until God says I don’t. It’s over when God says it’s over. Until then I live for Him, I move in Him.” Paul said, in essence, “I have my being in Him. It is Christ and Christ alone. It is all Christ; everything in us and through us is Christ.”

The amazing thing is that in His mercy, God sends us into a storm... The amazing thing is that in His mercy, God sends us into a storm to get us to the point where we realize that it’s not by might nor by power, but by His Spirit alone. We are to yield to God and say, “Lord, do you want me to go to Tanzania? Then send me to Tanzania. Do you want me to go to the Bronx? Then send me to the Bronx. God, I am so tired of my own plans; I am tired of my own dreams sending me on a journey

Paul had been down in the bowels of the ship communing with God. Everyone else had been busy trying to figure out how to get through the storm when Paul stepped out into the middle of the ship and said, “Be of good cheer, for I believe God!” Everybody on this ship must have stood back for a moment and thought: “Here is a man who is on a journey that none of us would want to go on, but he is the man who has the Word of God! He not only has the Word of God, but God has given him everyone who sails with him!”

Paul was a man who, according to human reasoning, was going on the most distasteful journey of his life. But he was completely willing to follow God even unto death, not only to Jerusalem to be arrested, but now to Rome, and to Caesar. Paul was willing to go to prison, to do whatever God asked him to do. He was completely satisfied with the life that Christ had given him. He was on a totally different journey from everyone else. Nobody on this ship could understand it. Nobody walking by their own abilities and their own will could remotely begin to understand Paul’s journey; and yet, he is the man with hope and life. His course is set, he has his spiritual compass in his hand, and by the Spirit he sees the end. His eye is singly focused; his whole body is full of light. It’s this man, Paul, who says, “Jesus, you are welcome on my boat, you are welcome into my life.” They have Paul in a physical boat, but it is not the physical boat that is

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CHURCH

GETTING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF YOUR STORM

It’s not that Paul didn’t go through hard times. Remember the Scripture where he said, For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life (2 Corinthians 1:8). Paul went through storms himself, and knew difficulties and trials. However, somewhere along the line, he made the decision, “Jesus, you are welcome to be in the center of my storm. You are welcome into my boat.” In the natural it looked as though the Apostle Paul had lost his ministry and his credibility; but it is this same Apostle Paul on a journey with God who writes much of the New Testament while in jail.

You may not like the journey God has you on right now.

give them to you because they will see your steadfastness in the midst of their storm; they will see a light in your eye when their eyes have become dim. They will see a rock under your feet when they are sinking in quicksand, and they will see you standing in the midst of the same opposition and difficulty that faces every man, woman, and child, ever born into this world. You, however, will be standing with purpose, with an objective, and with words of hope to a dying generation! You know what your life is about! You know where you are going! And God says, “Not just you, but I will give you all those who sail with you! I will pour out of you living water for those who are thirsty! I will make your life a compass for those who are confused in this darkened generation!” God says, “I am going to send you on a journey and it’s not going to be your journey any longer—it’s my journey. All you have to do right now is to invite me into your boat.”

Folks, you may not like the journey God has you on right now. Initially, it might be incredibly distasteful, but if you will obey God, he will bring your children, your grandchildren, your sons, your daughters, your neighbors, your friends, your entire family, to safety in Christ. It will not just be you who will be saved, but all the people who sail with you! He will

This message is an edited version of a sermon given in the sanctuary of Times Square Church in New York City. Other sermons are available by visiting our website www.tscnyc.org or calling 1-800-488-0854. You can also write to: Times Square Church, Tape Ministry, 1657 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. You are welcome to make additional copies of this sermon for free distribution to friends. However, for all other forms of reproduction or electronic transmission existing copyright laws apply. This sermon cannot be posted on any website or webpage. However, you are free to provide a hyperlink from a website to the Times Square Church website by notifying Times Square Church in writing.

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REV. CARTER CONLON Carter Conlon is senior pastor at Times Square Church, where he has been on the pastoral staff since 1994.

TIMES SQUARE CHURCH Times Square Church was founded in 1987 by Pastor David Wilkerson, author of “The Cross and the Switchblade.” It is an interdenominational church located in the heart of New York City.

Founding Pastor Rev. David Wilkerson

Senior Pastor Rev. Carter Conlon

Tel: 212-541-6300

Fax: 212-541-6415

Church Location: 237 West 51st Street, Between Broadway & Eighth Avenue

Mailing Address: 1657 Broadway, 4th Flr. New York, NY 10019

e-mail: info@timessquarechurch.org

WEEKLY SCHEDULE OF SERVICES Sunday

10:00AM 3:00PM 6:00PM

Tuesday

7:00PM

Church Service

Thursday 7:00PM

Intercessory Prayer

Friday

Church Service

7:00PM

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carrying him. There is an unseen vessel taking him on his journey. In actuality he is in the hand of God and there is an evident split between the physical and the spiritual world.

Daisy Petal Christianity

EMPOWER

b y W AY N E J A C O B S E N

He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. He loves me not. The little girl stands in the backyard chanting as she plucks petals one by one from the daisy and drops them to the ground. At game’s end, the last petal tells all; whether or not the person desired returns the affection. Of course no one takes it seriously, and if children don’t get the answer they desire they take another daisy and start again. It doesn’t take long even for children to realize that flowers weren’t designed to tell romantic fortunes. Why should they link their hearts’ desires to the fickleness of chance? Why indeed! But it is a lesson far easier learned in romance than in more spiritual pursuits. For long after we’ve put away our daisies, many of us continue to play the game with God. This time we don’t pluck flower petals, but probe through our circumstances trying to figure out exactly how God feels about us. I got a raise. He loves me. I didn’t get the promotion I wanted, or I lost my job altogether. He loves me not! Something in the Bible inspired me today. He loves me! My child is seriously ill. He loves me not! I gave money to someone in need. He loves me! I let my anger get the best of me. He loves me not! Something for which I prayed actually happened. He loves me! I stretched the truth to get myself out of a tight spot. He loves me not! A friend calls me unexpectedly to encourage me. He loves me! My car needs a new transmission. He loves me not! I have played that game most of my life, trying to sort out in any given moment how God might feel about me personally. I grew up learning that he is a God of love, and for the most part I believed it to be true. In good times, nothing is easier to believe. In days when my family was healthy and our relationships a joy; when my ministry thrived and both income and opportunity were increasing; when we had plenty of time to enjoy our friends and were not burdened down with need; who wouldn’t be certain of God’s love? But that certainty eroded when those times of bliss were interrupted with more troublesome events. Then I wondered how God really felt about me. I couldn’t understand how a God who loved me would either allow such things into my life or wouldn’t fix them immediately so that I or people I loved wouldn’t have to endure such pain. He loves me not! Or so I thought on those days. My disappointment at God could easily turn two directions. Often in my pain and frustration, when I felt like I had done enough to deserve better, I would rail at God like the Job of old, accusing him of either being unfair or www,remnantmagazine.com www.remnantmagazine.com

For your personal journey In the past, when you received bad news, or found yourself suddenly in the midst of a trial, did you feel that God didn’t love you, or that He was punishing you? How about when you received good news, or when something good happened to you? Did you feel only at that time that God loved you? Does your understanding of God’s love for you waver, depending upon your current circumstances? What can you do to change your perception of God’s love for you? unloving. In more honest moments, however, I was well aware of the temptations and failures that could exclude me from his care. I would come out of those times committed to trying harder to live the life I thought would merit his love. I lived for 34 years as a believer on this perilous tightrope. Even when there was no crisis hanging over my head, I was always wary of the next one God might drop on me at any second if I couldn’t stay on his good side. In some ways I had become like the schizophrenic child of an abusive father, never certain what God I’d meet on any given day - the one who wanted to scoop me up in his arms with laughter, or the one who would ignore me or punish me for reasons I could never understand. R

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it has been said that we can be that we are of no

hea

but, can we also become s that we are o

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ecome so earthly minded

avenly good.

so heavenly minded of no

earthly good?

become worldly minded.

Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;mark 16:15

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portraits of christ

alpha & omega

b y john powell

I am the Alpha and Omega. (Rev. 22:13)

lpha and Omega are the first and last letters respectively of the Greek alphabet. The symbolism is explicit, as Jesus Himself describes, “I am the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” Jesus was before all things, and when all things have passed away, He will be left standing. It’s a little hard to comprehend that Jesus could rise from the dead and walk out of His tomb. That He will live on for eternity, as will we, is a difficult concept yet we readily accept it. What’s even harder to comprehend however is that, before Jesus put on mortal flesh, before He became a baby floating inside the womb of Mary, He existed. Paul stated that Jesus was before all things, and all things were created by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16-17). And Jesus Himself stated, “Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58). One look at Jesus’ hand and you will see the hand of a man, the rough calloused hand of a carpenter. His outstretched hand calmed an angry sea, healed a blinded eye, and cleansed a temple. But it is also the hand of God. This hand established the ocean’s boundaries, carved majestic peaks, flung the stars into space, and put a song in the sparrow’s throat. It delivered the nation of Israel from Egypt and opened the Red Sea. This hand sent a raven to feed Elijah, a fish to interrupt Jonah’s getaway, and fingered a message of judgment on the wall of Nebuchadnezzer’s palace. Jesus is our Alpha and Omega, the Lord of our beginnings and endings. He is there at our conception, know-

ing us before we are even formed in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5). And at the end of life, even death itself cannot separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). He is there at the start of a new day, and He is there when the shadows grow long and the day somes to an end. He is with us in all our beginnings, when we are growing up, when we start college, when we start a new career, and when the first baby comes along. And He will be there in our endings, when our child leaves home, at retirement, or when death steals a loved one. We can take comfort in our Alpha and Omega, knowing that He is in control our lives from our beginning to our end. R

In this series, “Portraits of Christ,” we will take a closer look at some of the many names of Jesus used throughout the Old and New Testaments.

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Heart to Heart From God’s Heart to Your Heart

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bible Promises When you

are afraid Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait I say, on the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14).

“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteouness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.” (1 Peter 3:12-14).

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” (Isaiah 43:2). “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27).

“The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:6).

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.” (Psalm 31:24).

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1).

“But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” (Proverbs 1:33).

“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7).

wasteth at noonday.” (Psalm 91:4-6).

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” (Psalm 27:1,3)

Visit the new JesusCaresAboutYou.net On your mobile device: jesuscaresaboutyou.param.mobi

Devotionals • Quick Studies Bible Promises • Heart to Heart Blog Psalms with Commentary and much more!

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last word

The

INSPIRE

b y john powell

What’s in your bags? Let us lay aside every weight. (Hebrews 12:1)

n airport is a great place to go people watching. As you watch the sea of people bustling about, you’ll notice that almost everyone has a bag or suitcase. Some people have only a small bag strapped to their shoulder, some drag a suitcase behind them, and some have so many bags they need a porter and cart to carry them all. I suppose that if you could look at the world around us through spiritual eyes, if you could see the things which are invisible and hidden from view, you would see a scene very similar to an airport. Whether in your neighborhood, in the office, at church, at the mall, or wherever you go, you would see people dragging baggage behind them. You might be surprised to learn that some of your friends even carry a bag or two. What is in the bags you ask? Over there is a woman smartly dressed in a business suit. She cheated on her husband, a cheap one-night stand, while away on business trip, and the guilt is about to tear her apart. She wants to tell her husband so badly, but she’s afraid. So she tucks the guilt into her suitcase and carries it around with her. Over here is a young Bible college student. He’s popular and looked up to, but no one knows his secret life, spending hours alone in his dorm room viewing pornography. No one knows how many times he’s cried himself to sleep at night, wishing he could stop. How can God forgive me of my lust? I’m so dirty and ashamed. So instead of going to God with his sin, he stuffs it in his bag and carries it around with him. And over here is a middle-aged man with graying hair. In his bag is a life-long collection of regrets and failures, his back bowed from carrying such a heavy burden for so long. He married the wrong person. Chose the wrong major. Got involved with the wrong people.

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Accepted the wrong job. Turned right instead of left. Life now seems to offer nothing but dead ends and there’s nowhere to turn. And what about you? Do you have a bag or two that you drag around with you? What’s in your bag? What is it that you refuse to let go of? Is it anger? Bitterness? Lust? Guilt? Regrets? Disappointments? Failures? Questions? You don’t have to carry around that bag anymore. “Come to me,” Jesus extends the invitation. “All of you who are weary and burdened, come to me and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus dared to look into the leathery faces of farmers and fishermen and offer them rest. He looked into the lonely eyes of a prostitute and the cynical eyes of a zealot and the disallusioned eyes of a religious leader and made this promise, “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29). They came out of their homes and businesses and synagogues and brought him their burdens, and Jesus gave them not religion, not doctrine, not systems, but rest. Are you weary from carrying your burden? Bring it to Jesus. It is no small wonder that Calvary was located on the old garbage dump of Jerusalem. It is the place to bring your trash, your refuse, those things you are tired of holding on to. Come and lay your bags at the foot of the cross. You have everything to lose, and everything to gain. R www.remnantmagazine.com

What must I do

to be saved?

his is the most important question in human existence and one whose answer is clearly outlined in scripture. In order to be saved we must first realize our true state of sinfulness before God and know that He alone can save us, cleanse us, and give us eternal life. Scripture tells us that Jesus is the only way and we can not have access to God through any other means. In fact, in John 14:6, Jesus plainly stated, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” God loves you! God loves you so much that he made a way for you, through the shed blood of his son so that you might be able to spend eternity with Him. “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life” (John. 3:16). Man is a sinner, and sin has separated him from God! You may think you are a good person but being good is not enough! Every man has sinned and there is none that is righteous before God! “For there is not a just man upon Earth, that doeth good and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). “For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Jesus Christ is the only remedy for sin! Jesus Christ is the only remedy for sin. We can not be good enough to get into heaven, nor can our good works get us there. There was no other way for God to erase the effect of sin except by blood. The shedding of Christ’s blood indicated that the penalty for sin had been paid; a perfect sinless life had been sacrificed for the lives of all who have sinned. “. . .Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22) “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God . . .” (I Peter 3:18).

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“Neither is there Salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). You must receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior To be saved, a man must confess that Jesus is Lord, while acknowledging in his heart that Christ must have full rule over his life. This confession of Christ as Lord assumes that it is Christ who will work and fulfill His own righteousness within man, as man is unable to attain righteousness of his own accord. Jesus calls this experience the “new birth.” He told Nicodemus: “. . . Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3). We invite you now to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name” (John 1:12). Pray this prayer and mean it with all your heart Dear Lord Jesus, I realize that I am a sinner and have broken your laws. I understand that my sin has separated me from you. I am sorry and I ask you to forgive me. I accept the fact that your son Jesus Christ died for me, was resurrected, and is alive today and hears my prayers. I now open my heart’s door and invite Jesus in to become my Lord and my Saviour. I give Him control and ask that He would rule and reign in my heart so that His perfect will would be accomplished in my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. Congratulations! If you prayed this prayer in all sincerity, you are now a Child of God. However there are a few things that you need to do to follow up on your commitment. 1. Get baptized ( full immersion) in water as commanded by Christ 2. Tell someone else about your new faith in Christ (including us!) 3. Spend time with God each day through prayer and Bible reading 4. Seek fellowship with other followers of Jesus.

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Pray for

America

“We are becoming the type of nation we used to send missionaries to.” —william

b e n n e t t , f o r m e r s e c r e ta ry o f e d u c at i o n