Jeremiah 16 (New International Version)

Jeremiah 16 (New International Version)

Jeremiah 16

Day of Disaster

1 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 2 "You must not marry and have sons or daughters in this place." 3 For this is what the LORD says about the sons and daughters born in this land and about the women who are their mothers and the men who are their fathers: 4 "They will die of deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried but will be like refuse lying on the ground. They will perish by sword and famine, and their dead bodies will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth."
5 For this is what the LORD says: "Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal; do not go to mourn or show sympathy, because I have withdrawn my blessing, my love and my pity from this people," declares the LORD. 6 "Both high and low will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned, and no one will cut himself or shave his head for them. 7 No one will offer food to comfort those who mourn for the dead—not even for a father or a mother—nor will anyone give them a drink to console them.

8 "And do not enter a house where there is feasting and sit down to eat and drink. 9 For this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Before your eyes and in your days I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in this place.

10 "When you tell these people all this and they ask you, 'Why has the LORD decreed such a great disaster against us? What wrong have we done? What sin have we committed against the LORD our God?' 11 then say to them, 'It is because your fathers forsook me,' declares the LORD, 'and followed other gods and served and worshiped them. They forsook me and did not keep my law. 12 But you have behaved more wickedly than your fathers. See how each of you is following the stubbornness of his evil heart instead of obeying me. 13 So I will throw you out of this land into a land neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you will serve other gods day and night, for I will show you no favor.'

14 "However, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when men will no longer say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,' 15 but they will say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.' For I will restore them to the land I gave their forefathers.

16 "But now I will send for many fishermen," declares the LORD, "and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks. 17 My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes. 18 I will repay them double for their wickedness and their sin, because they have defiled my land with the lifeless forms of their vile images and have filled my inheritance with their detestable idols."

19 O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, "Our fathers possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good.

20 Do men make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods!"

21 "Therefore I will teach them— this time I will teach them my power and might. Then they will know that my name is the LORD.

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AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for the Republic of Mozambique - Africa

Published on Operation World (http://www.operationworld.org)

Home > Sep 08: Mozambique

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Sep 08: Mozambique

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Mozambique

Republic of Mozambique

Africa

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Geography

Area: 799,380 sq km
The Zambezi and 24 other rivers divide the 2,800 km-long land and make north-south travel difficult.
Population: 23,405,670    Annual Growth: 2.35%
Capital: Maputo
Urbanites: 38.4%
HDI Rank: 172 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 62 (15% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: Portuguese, understood by less than 30%    Languages: 53 All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Christian

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	10,878,955	46.48	2.6
Evangelicals	2,606,512	11.1	5.4

Challenges for Prayer

Unreached peoples are still more concentrated in Mozambique than anywhere else in southern Africa. But this is rapidly changing, since many are responding to outreach. Most existing outreach is through Mozambican missionaries and pastors. Challenges for prayer include:
a) The Makhuwa. Mostly Catholic-animistic (interior), Muslim (coastal) or a mix thereof, these six northern peoples represent nearly 40% of Mozambique’s population. There is a remarkable ingathering of Makhuwa into the Kingdom as a result of preaching, aid and miracles. Iris Ministries, Churches of Christ/Christian Churches, AIM, IMB, NTM and others work among them. Pray for the many thousands of new believers to become solid disciples in biblical churches.
b) The Yao of Niassa Province, along the shores of Lake Malawi, are 96% Muslim. Only about 2% are Christian of any kind (mainly Anglican, Catholic and Assemblies of God, African). Many Christian resources are available (GRN, the JESUS film, radio, literature) and several groups work among them.
c) Other northern/coastal Muslim peoples, Islamized centuries ago by Swahili traders (Mwani, Koti, Makwe, Swahili, Ngoni, Makua-Mwinika). These may be the least responsive of Mozambique’s peoples. Bible translation is in progress for Mwani, Koti, Ngoni and Makwe. NTM started work among Makua-Mwinika in Zambezia province.
     i Mwani believers are very few, despite AIM ministry, Scripture portions, oral chronological stories, the JESUS film and GRN recordings being available.
     ii The Koti are staunchly Muslim, but there is a very encouraging breakthrough among them, with perhaps 20 churches and 1,200 believers. The True Way movement remains focused on this group, despite greater responsiveness from neighbouring groups.
     iii The Muslim Ngoni expelled all priests after independence, and have had no exposure to the gospel since. The few remaining believers left the area due to social pressure.
     iv The Makwe live in the extreme north of Mozambique and are one of the forgotten peoples in remote places.
d) The animistic peoples of the Zambezi valley, especially the Sena, Tawara, Nyungwe, Lolo, Kokola, Manyawa, Marenje and Takwane. The Church among the Sena people is growing quickly in most areas.
Expatriate missionaries have a vital but sensitive role to play, particularly among the unevangelized. There is a great need for missionaries in this open and spiritually responsive country. Pray especially for these issues:
a) Hard conditions such as travel difficulties, widespread disease, hot and humid weather, poor infrastructure, very active spiritual powers. A real calling is necessary in order to persevere. Workers must be willing to sacrifice and suffer as the national Church has done for decades.
b) Relationships between missions and churches are often very fragile. Foreigners must learn to serve and truly partner with the national church where it exists; the spectre of colonialism must be avoided. Tribal languages must be learned, since only a minority understand Portuguese.
c) Churches too often see foreign agencies as a cash cow to finance their every need. Money, being so scarce, can be a hugely divisive and destructive issue that needs to be handled with wisdom.
The greatest needs are for all levels of leadership training, initiating youth and children's work, aid/relief, medical programmes and grassroots business development. Major mission agencies: Nederduitse Gereformeerde, NTM, SIM, YWAM, CCCC, IMB, Convenção Das Igrejas
     For an additional 6 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

More Information

The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Mozambique.

Charles Spurgeon - All of Grace (4 of 13)

Charles Spurgeon - All of Grace (4 of 13)

Description:

C.H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), "the prince of preachers", presents the message of salvation--man's need and God's unique provision--simply and sincerely, for honest seekers and zealous witnesses alike. A Moody Classic.

From the Back Cover:

In All of Grace, C.H. Spurgeon outlines the plan of salvation in such clear, simple language that everyone can understand and be drawn to the Father. Any attempt to please God based upon our own works brings self-righteousness and coldness of heart. It is the free grace and mercy of God that makes the heart glow with warmth and thankfulness for God's love.The heartfelt goal of this dynamic classic is summed up in Spurgeon's final cry to the reader, "Meet me in heaven!!""Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." -- Revelation 22:17

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Proverbs 8 (New International Version)

Proverbs 8

Wisdom's Call

1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3 beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:

4 "To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.

5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.

6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.

7 My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.

8 All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.

9 To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

12 "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.

13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.

15 By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just;

16 by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. [a]

17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.

19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.

20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

22 "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, [b] , [c] before his deeds of old;

23 I was appointed [d] from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.

24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;

25 before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,

26 before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.

27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

30 Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,

31 rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.

32 "Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.

36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."

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Romans 16 (New International Version, ©2010)

Romans 16

Personal Greetings

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon[a][b] of the church in Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.
3 Greet Priscilla[c] and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.

5 Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.

7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among[d] the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.

9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

10 Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.

15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord's people who are with them.

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.

17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

21 Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.

22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city's director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. [24] [e]

25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from[f] faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

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