Friday, February 7, 2014

1 Corinthians 2 (Geneva Study Bible)

1 Corinthians 2 G.S.B.

Chapter 2 2:1 And ¹ I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the ^a testimony of God.

(1) He returns to ( 1 Corinthians 1:17 ), that is to say, to his own example: confessing that he did not use among them either excellency of words or enticing speech of mans wisdom, but with great simplicity of speech both knew and preached Jesus Christ crucified, humbled and abject, with regard to the flesh.
(a) The Gospel.

2:2 For I ^b determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

(b) I did not profess any knowledge but the knowledge of Christ and him crucified.

2:3 And I was with you in ^c weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

(c) He contrasts weakness with excellency of words, and therefore joins with it fear and trembling, which are companions of true modesty, not such fear and trembling as terrify the conscience, but such as are contrary to vanity and pride.

2:4 And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of mans wisdom, ² but in ^d demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

(2) He turns now to the commendation of his ministry, which he had granted to his adversaries: for his strength and power, which they knew well enough, was so much the more excellent because it had no worldly help behind it.
(d) By "demonstration" he means such a proof as is made by reasons both certain and necessary.

2:5 ³ That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

(3) And he tells the Corinthians that he did it for their great profit, because they might by this know manifestly that the Gospel was from heaven. Therefore he privately rebukes them, because in vainly seeking to be noticed, they willingly deprived themselves of the greatest help of their faith.

2:6 ⁴ Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are ^e perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the ^f princes of this world, that come to nought:

(4) Another argument taken from the nature of the thing, that is, of the Gospel, which is true wisdom, but known only to those who are desirous of perfection: and it is unsavoury to those who otherwise excel in the world, but yet vainly and frailly.
(e) They are called perfect here, not who had already gotten perfection, but those who are striving for it, as in ( Philippians 3:15 ): so that perfect is contrasted with weak.
(f) Those that are wiser, richer, or mightier than other men are.

2:7 ⁵ But we speak the wisdom of God in a ^g mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], ⁶ which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

(5) He shows the reason why this wisdom cannot be perceived by those excellent worldly intellects: that is, because it is indeed so deep that they cannot attain to it.
(g) Which men could not so much as dream of. (6) He takes away an objection: if it is so hard, when and how is it known? God, he says, determined with himself from the beginning, that which his purpose was to bring forth at this time out of his secrets, for the salvation of men.

2:8 ⁷ Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it], they would not have crucified the ^h Lord of glory.

(7) He takes away another objection: why then, how comes it to pass that this wisdom was so rejected by men of the highest authority, that they crucified Christ himself? Paul answers: because they did not know Christ such as he was.
(h) That mighty God, full of true majesty and glory: now this place has in it a most evident proof of the divinity of Christ, and of the joining of the two natures in one in him, which has this in it, that which is proper to the manhood alone is confirmed of the Godhead joined with the manhood. This type of speech is called, by the old fathers, a making common of things belonging to someone with another to whom they do not belong.

2:9 ⁸ But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the ⁱ heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

(8) Another objection: but how could it be that those intelligent men could not perceive this wisdom? Paul answers: because we preach those things which surpass all mans understanding.
(i) Man cannot so much as think of them, much less conceive them with his senses.

2:10 ⁹ But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit ^k searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

(9) A question: if it surpasses the capacity of men, how can it be understood by any man, or how can you declare and preach it? By a special enlightening of Gods Spirit, with which whoever is inspired, he can enter even into the very secrets of God.
(k) There is nothing so secret and hidden in God, but the Spirit of God penetrates it.

2:11 ¹⁰ For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the ^l spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

(10) He sets it forth in comparison, which he spoke by the inspiration of the Sprit. As the power of mans intellect searches out things pertaining to man, so does our mind by the power of the Holy Spirit understand heavenly things.
(l) The mind of man which is endued with the ability to understand and judge.

2:12 Now we have received, not the ^m spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; ¹¹ that we might ⁿ know the things that are freely given to us of God.

(m) The Spirit which we have received does not teach us things of this world, but lifts us up to God, and this verse teaches us the opposite of what the papists teach: what faith is, from where it comes, and from what power it originates.
(11) That which he spoke generally, he confines now to those things which God has opened to us of our salvation in Christ: so that no man should separate the Spirit from the preaching of the word and Christ: or should think that those fanciful men are governed by the Spirit of God, who wandering besides the word, thrust upon us their vain imaginations for the secrets of God.
(n) This word "know" is taken here in its proper sense for true knowledge, which the Spirit of God works in us.

2:13 ¹² Which things also we speak, not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; ^o comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

(12) Now he returns to his purpose, and concludes the argument which he began in verse six ( 1 Corinthians 2:6 ), and it is this: the words must be applied to the matter, and the matter must be set forth with words which are proper and appropriate for it: now this wisdom is spiritual and not from man, and therefore it must be delivered by a spiritual type of teaching, and not by enticing words of mans eloquence, so that the simple, and yet wonderful majesty of the Holy Spirit may appear in it.
(o) Applying the words to the matter, that is, that as we teach spiritual things, so must our type of teaching be spiritual.

2:14 ¹³ But the ^p natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are ^q spiritually discerned.

(13) Again he anticipates an offence or stumbling block: how does it come to pass that so few allow these things? This is not to be marvelled at, the apostle says, seeing that men in their natural powers (as they call them) are not endued with that faculty by which spiritual things are discerned (which faculty comes another way) and therefore they consider spiritual wisdom as folly: and it is as if he should say, "It is no marvel that blind men cannot judge of colours, seeing that they lack the light of their eyes, and therefore light is to them as darkness."
(p) The man that has no further light of understanding, than that which he brought with him, even from his mothers womb, as Jude defines it; ( Jude 19 ).
(q) By the power of the Holy Spirit.

2:15 ¹⁴ But he that is spiritual ^r judgeth all things, yet ¹⁵ he himself is judged of ^s no man.

(14) He amplifies the matter by opposites.
(r) Understands and discerns.
(15) The wisdom of the flesh, Paul says, determines nothing certainly, no not in its own affairs, much less can it discern strange, that is, spiritual things. But the Spirit of God, with which spiritual men are endued, can by no means be deceived, and therefore be reproved by any man.
(s) Of no man: for when the prophets are judged of the prophets, it is the Spirit that judges, and not the man.

2:16 ¹⁶ For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may ^t instruct him? But we have ^u the mind of Christ.

(16) A reason from the former saying: for he is called spiritual, who has learned that by the power of the Spirit, which Christ has taught us. Now if that which we have learned from that Master could be reproved by any man, he must be wiser than God: whereupon it follows that they are not only foolish, but also wicked, who think that they can devise something that is either more perfect, or that they can teach the wisdom of God a better way than those knew or taught who were undoubtedly endued with Gods Spirit.
(t) Lay his head to his, and teach him what he should do.
(u) We are endued with the Spirit of Christ, who opens to us those secrets which by all other means are unsearchable, and also any truth at all.

Zechariah 5 (NIV)

Zechariah 5 (New International Version)

Zechariah 5

The Flying Scroll

1 I looked again—and there before me was a flying scroll!
2 He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a flying scroll, thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide. [a] "

3 And he said to me, "This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished. 4 The LORD Almighty declares, 'I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in his house and destroy it, both its timbers and its stones.' "

The Woman in a Basket

5 Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, "Look up and see what this is that is appearing."
6 I asked, "What is it?" He replied, "It is a measuring basket. [b] " And he added, "This is the iniquity [c] of the people throughout the land."

7 Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! 8 He said, "This is wickedness," and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed the lead cover down over its mouth.

9 Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.

10 "Where are they taking the basket?" I asked the angel who was speaking to me.

11 He replied, "To the country of Babylonia [d] to build a house for it. When it is ready, the basket will be set there in its place."

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Proverbs 7 NIV

Proverbs 7 (New International Version)

Proverbs 7

Warning Against the Adulteress

1 My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

3 Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding your kinsman;

5 they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words.

6 At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice.

7 I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment.

8 He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house

9 at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.

10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

11 (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home;

12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)

13 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:

14 "I have fellowship offerings [a] at home; today I fulfilled my vows.

15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!

16 I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt.

17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

18 Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love!

19 My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.

20 He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon."

21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.

22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer [b] stepping into a noose [c]

23 till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.

24 Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.

25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.

26 Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.

27 Her house is a highway to the grave, [d] leading down to the chambers of death.

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Psalm 117 (NIV)

Psalm 117 (New International Version)

Psalm 117

1 Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.

2 For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.

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Thursday, February 6, 2014

1 Corinthians 1 Geneva Study Bible

Geneva Study Bible

1 Corinthians 1

Chapter 1
1:1 Paul, ¹ called [to be] an ² apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and ³ Sosthenes [our] brother,

(1) The inscription of the epistle, in which he mainly tries to procure the good will of the Corinthians towards him, yet nonetheless in such a way that he always lets them know that he is the servant of God and not of men. (2) If he is an apostle, then he must be heard, even though he sometimes sharply reprehends them, seeing he has not his own cause in hand, but is a messenger that brings the commandments of Christ. (3) He has Sosthenes with himself, that this doctrine might be confirmed by two witnesses.

1:2 ⁴ Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are ⁵ sanctified in ^a Christ Jesus, ^b called [to be] saints, with all that in every place ^c call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

(4) It is a church of God, even though it has great faults in it, as it obeys those who admonish them. (5) A true definition of the universal church, which is:
(a) The Father sanctifies us, that is to say, separates us from the wicked in giving us to his Son, that he may be in us, and we in him.
(b) Whom God by his gracious goodness and absolute love has separated for himself: or whom God has called to holiness: the first of these two expositions, shows from where our sanctification comes: and the second shows to what end it strives for.
(c) He is correctly said to call on God who cries to the Lord when he is in danger, and craves help from his hands, and by the figure of speech synecdoche, it is taken for all the service of God: and therefore to call upon Christs name, is to acknowledge and take him for very God.

1:3 ⁶ Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.

(6) The foundation and the life of the Church is Christ Jesus given from the Father.

1:4 ⁷ I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

(7) Going about to condemn many vices, he begins with a true commendation of their virtues, lest he might seem after to descend to chiding, being moved with malice or envy: yet in such a way that he refers all to God as the author of them, and that in Christ, that the Corinthians might be more ashamed to profane and abuse the holy gifts of God.

1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, ⁸ in ^d all utterance, and [in] all knowledge;

(8) He refers to that by name which they abused the most.
(d) Seeing that while we live here we know but in part, and prophesy in part, this word "all" must be limited by the present state of the faithful: and by "utterance" he does not mean a vain kind of babbling, but the gift of holy eloquence, which the Corinthians abused.

1:6 ⁹ Even as the testimony of Christ was ^e confirmed in you:

(9) He shows that the true use of these gifts consists in this, that the mighty power of Christ might be set forth in them, that hereafter it might evidently appear how wickedly they abused them for glory and ambition.
(e) By those excellent gifts of the Holy Spirit.

1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; ¹⁰ waiting for the ^f coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

(10) He says along the way that there is no reason why they should be so pleased in those gifts which they had received, seeing that those were nothing in comparison of those which are to be looked for.
(f) He speaks of the last coming of Christ.

1:8 ¹¹ Who shall also confirm you unto the end, [that ye may be] ^g blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(11) He testifies that he hopes that things go well with them from now on, that they may more patiently abide his reprehension afterward. And yet together in addition shows, that the beginning as well as the accomplishing of our salvation is only the work of God.
(g) He calls them blameless, not whom man never found fault with, but with whom no man can justly find fault, that is to say, those who are in Christ Jesus, in whom there is no condemnation. See ( Luke 1:6 ).

1:9 God [is] ^h faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

(h) True and constant, who not only calls us, but also gives to us the gift of perseverance.

1:10 ¹² Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ¹³ ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be ⁱ perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

(12) Having made an end of the preface, he comes to the matter itself, beginning with a most grave testimony, as though they should hear Christ himself speaking, and not Paul.
(13) The first part of this epistle, in which his purpose is found, to call back the Corinthians to brotherly harmony, and to take away all occasion of discord. So then this first part concerns the taking away of divisions. Now a division occurs when men who otherwise agree and consent together in doctrine, yet separate themselves from one another.
(i) Knit together, as a body that consists of all its parts, fitly knit together.

1:11 ¹⁴ For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them [which are of the house] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

(14) He begins his reprehension and chiding by taking away an objection, because he understood from good witnesses that there were many factions among them. And in addition he declares the cause of dissentions, because some depended on one teacher, some on another, and some were so addicted to themselves that they neglected all teachers and learned men, calling themselves the disciples of Christ alone, completely ignoring their teachers.

1:12 Now ^k this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

(k) The matter I would say to you is this.

1:13 ¹⁵ Is Christ divided? was ¹⁶ Paul crucified for you? or were ye ¹⁷ baptized in the name of Paul?

(15) The first reason why divisions ought to be avoided: because Christ seems by that means to be divide and torn in pieces, who cannot be the head of two different and disagreeing bodies, being himself one.
(16) Another reason: because they cannot without great injury to God so depend on men as on Christ: which thing those no doubt do who allow whatever some man speaks, and do it for their own sakes: as these men allowed one and the very same Gospel being uttered by one man, and did loathe it being uttered by another man. So that these factions were called by the names of their teachers. Now Paul sets aside his own name, not simply to grieve no man, but also to show that he does not plead his own cause.
(17) The third reason taken from the form and end of baptism, in which we make a promise to Christ, calling also on the name of the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore although a man does not fall from the doctrine of Christ, yet if he depends upon certain teachers, and despises others, he forsakes Christ: for if he holds Christ as his only master, he would hear him, no matter who Christ taught by.

1:14 ¹⁸ I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

(18) He protests that he speaks so much the more boldly of these things, because through Gods providence, he is void of all suspicion of gathering disciples to himself, and taking them from others. By which we may understand, that not the scholars only, but the teachers also are here reprehended, who gathered flocks separately and for themselves.

1:17 ¹⁹ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: ²⁰ not with ^l wisdom of words, lest the ²¹ cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

(19) The taking away of an objection: that he gave not himself to baptize many amongst them: not for the contempt of baptism, but because he was mainly occupied in delivering the doctrine, and committed those that received his doctrine to others to be baptized. And so he declared sufficiently how far he was from all ambition: whereas on the other hand they, whom he reprehends, as though they gathered disciples to themselves and not to Christ, bragged most ambitiously of numbers, which they had baptized.
(20) Now he turns himself to the teachers themselves, who pleased themselves in brave and glory-seeking eloquence, to the end that they might draw more disciples after them. He openly confesses that he was not similar to them, opposing gravely, as it became an apostle, his example against their perverse judgments: so that this is another place in this epistle with regard to the observing of a godly simplicity both in words and sentences in teaching the Gospel.
(l) With eloquence: which Paul casts off from himself not only as unnecessary, but also as completely contrary to the office of his apostleship: and yet Paul had this kind of eloquence, but it was heavenly, not of man, and void of fancy words.
(21) The reason why he did not use the pomp of words and fancy speech: because it was Gods will to bring the world to his obedience by that way, by which the most foolish among men might understand that this work was done by God himself, without the skill of man. Therefore as salvation is set forth to us in the Gospel by the cross of Christ, which nothing is more contemptible than, and more far from life, so God would have the manner of the preaching of the cross, most different from those means with which men do use to draw and entice others, either to hear or believe: therefore it pleased him by a certain kind of most wise folly, to triumph over the most foolish wisdom of the world, as he had said before by Isaiah that he would. And by this we may gather that both these teachers who were puffed up with ambitious eloquence, and also their hearers, strayed far away from the goal and mark of their calling.

1:18 For the ^m preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the ⁿ power of God.

(m) The preaching of Christ crucified, or the type of speech which we use.
(n) It is that in which he declares his marvellous power in saving his elect, which would not so evidently appear if it depended upon any help of man, for if it did man might attribute that to himself which is to be attributed only to the cross of Christ.

1:19 ²² For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

(22) The apostle proves that this should not seem strange, seeing that it was foretold so long before, and declares further that God often punishes the pride of the world in such a way, which so pleases itself in its own wisdom: and therefore that it is vain, indeed a thing of no value, and such as God rejects as unprofitable, which they so carefully laboured for, and considered to be so important.

1:20 Where [is] the wise? where [is] the ^o scribe? where [is] the ^p disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

(o) Where are you, O you learned fellow, and you that spend your days in turning your books?
(p) You that spend all your time in seeking out the secret things of this world, and in expounding all hard questions: and thus he triumphs against all the men of this world, for there was not one of them that could so much as dream of this secret and hidden mystery.

1:21 ²³ For after that in the ^q wisdom of God the ^r world by wisdom knew not God, ²⁴ it pleased God by the ^s foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

(23) He shows that the pride of men was worthily punished by God, because they could not behold God, as they properly should have, in the most clear mirror of the wisdom of the world, and this wisdom is the workmanship of the world.
(q) By the world he means all men who are not born again, but remain as they were, when they were first born.
(r) In the workmanship of this world, which has the marvellous wisdom of God engraved on it, so that every man may behold it.
(24) The goodness of God is wonderful, for while he goes about to punish the pride of this world, he is very provident and careful for the salvation of it, and teaches men to become fools, so that they may be wise to God.
(s) So he calls the preaching of the Gospel, as the enemies supposed it to be: but in the mean time he taunts those very sharply who had rather charge God with folly than acknowledge their own, and crave pardon for it.

1:22 ²⁵ For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

(25) A declaration of that which he said: that the preaching of the Gospel is foolish. It is foolish, he says, to those whom God has not endued with new light, that is to say, to all men being considered in themselves: for the Jews require miracles, and the Greeks arguments, which they may comprehend by their intellect and wisdom: and therefore they do not believe the Gospel, and also mock it. Nonetheless, in this foolish preaching there is the great power and wisdom of God, but such that only those who are called perceive: God showing most plainly, that even then when mad men think him most foolish, he is far wiser than they are, and that he surmounts all their might and power, when he uses most vile and abject things, as it has appeared in the fruit of the preaching of the Gospel.

1:26 ²⁶ For ye see your ^t calling, brethren, how that not many wise men ^u after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]:

(26) A confirmation taken from those things which came to pass at Corinth, where the church especially consisted of the lowly and common people, insomuch that the philosophers of Greece were driven to shame when they saw that they could do nothing with their wisdom and eloquence in comparison with the apostles, whom nonetheless they called idiots and unlearned. And in this he beats down their pride: for God did not prefer them before those noble and wise men so that they should be proud, but that they might be constrained, whether they wished to or not, to rejoice in the Lord, by whose mercy, although they were the most abject of all, they had obtained in Christ both this wisdom as well as all things necessary to salvation.
(t) What way the Lord has taken in calling you.
(u) After that type of wisdom which men consider to be important, as though there were none else: but because they are carnal, they do not know spiritual wisdom.

1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which ^x are not, to bring to ^y nought things that are:

(x) Which in mans judgment are almost nothing.
(y) To show that they are vain and unprofitable, and worth nothing. See Romans 3:31

1:29 That no ^z flesh should glory in his presence.

(z) "Flesh" is often, as we see, taken for the whole man: and he uses this word "flesh" very well, to contrast the weak and miserable condition of man with the majesty of God.

1:30 But ^a of him are ye in Christ Jesus, ²⁷ who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

(a) Whom he cast down before, now he lifts up, indeed, higher than all men: yet in such a way that he shows them that all their worthiness is outside of themselves, that is, it stands in Christ, and that of God.
(27) He teaches that especially and above all things, the Gospel ought not to be condemned, seeing that it contains the principal things that are to be desired, that is, true wisdom, the true way to obtain righteousness, the true way to live honestly and godly, and the true deliverance from all miseries and calamities.

1:31 That, according as it is written, ^b He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

(b) Let him yield all to God and give him thanks: and so by this place is mans free will beaten down, which the papists so dream about.

AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for the Pacific - World

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

Feb 06: Pacific

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Pacific

World

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Geography

Area: 8,515,800 sq km
6.3% of the world’s land surface. There are 25,000 islands scattered over 88 million sq km of ocean; this is larger than the combined areas of Africa, Asia and Europe. It comprises one continent (Australia), two large land masses (New Zealand and Papua New Guinea [PNG]) and 26 smaller island states and territories. The smallest territories are grouped with related states in the country section: Christmas Is, Cocos Is, Norfolk Is with Australia; Johnston Is, Midway Is, Wake Is with Guam; Niue, Pitcairn Is and Tokelau with Cook Islands.
Population: 35,838,336 Annual Growth: 1.30%
Urbanites: 70%

Peoples

Languages: 1,250

Religion

Largest Religion: Christian

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	26,526,812	74.02	0.9
Evangelicals	6,382,078	17.8	1.7

Answer to Prayer

Renewal of the Pacific Islands vision for mission and prayer. The South Pacific Prayer Assembly and Deep Sea Canoe Movement are recapturing this great 19th Century heritage. In recent years, New Zealand has had a good record in sending out missionaries. Other nations such as Fiji and PNG are seeing more significant sending movements occur.
For an additional Answer to 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 Pacific.

Zechariah 4 (NIV)

Zechariah 4 (New International Version)

Zechariah 4

The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees

1 Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. 2 He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."
4 I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"

5 He answered, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I replied.

6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.

7 "What [a] are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!' "

8 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.

10 "Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. "(These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.)"

11 Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"

12 Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"

13 He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I said.

14 So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to [b] serve the Lord of all the earth."

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Proverbs 6 (NIV)

Proverbs 6 (New International Version)

Proverbs 6

Warnings Against Folly

1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another,
2 if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth,

3 then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor!

4 Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.

5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!

7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,

8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-

11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. [a]

12 A scoundrel and villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth,

13 who winks with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers,

14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up dissension.

15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:

17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,

19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Warning Against Adultery

20 My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
21 Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.

22 When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,

24 keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.

25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes,

26 for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?

28 Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?

29 So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.

30 Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.

31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.

32 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.

33 Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away;

34 for jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

35 He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.

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Psalm 116 NIV

Psalm 116 (New International Version)

Psalm 116

1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.

2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave [a] came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

4 Then I called on the name of the LORD : "O LORD, save me!"

5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.

6 The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.

7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.

8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,

9 that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

10 I believed; therefore [b] I said, "I am greatly afflicted."

11 And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars."

12 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.

14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

16 O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant [c] ; you have freed me from my chains.

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.

18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,

19 in the courts of the house of the LORD— in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.

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Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Zechariah 3 (NIV)

Zechariah 3 (New International Version)

Zechariah 3

Clean Garments for the High Priest

1 Then he showed me Joshua [a] the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan [b] standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"
3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you."

5 Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.

6 The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: 7 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.

8 " 'Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. 9 See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes [c] on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.

10 " 'In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,' declares the LORD Almighty."

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Proverbs 5 (NIV)

Proverbs 5 (New International Version)

Proverbs 5

Warning Against Adultery

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight,
2 that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.

3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil;

4 but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.

5 Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. [a]

6 She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.

7 Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.

8 Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house,

9 lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel,

10 lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man's house.

11 At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.

12 You will say, "How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction!

13 I would not obey my teachers or listen to my instructors.

14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly."

15 Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.

16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?

17 Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.

18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

19 A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.

20 Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?

21 For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.

22 The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.

23 He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.

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Psalm 115 (NIV)

Psalm 115 (New International Version)

Psalm 115

1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

2 Why do the nations say, "Where is their God?"

3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.

4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.

5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see;

6 they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell;

7 they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats.

8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

9 O house of Israel, trust in the LORD— he is their help and shield.

10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD— he is their help and shield.

11 You who fear him, trust in the LORD— he is their help and shield.

12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron,

13 he will bless those who fear the LORD— small and great alike.

14 May the LORD make you increase, both you and your children.

15 May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

16 The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to man.

17 It is not the dead who praise the LORD, those who go down to silence;

18 it is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore. Praise the LORD.

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Tuesday, February 4, 2014

AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for the Needs of the Church in Europe

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