Friday, March 29, 2013
AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for the Dominion of Canada - North America
Published on Operation World (http://www.operationworld.org)
Canada
Dominion of Canada
North America
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 9,970,610 sq kmThe world’s second-largest country. Wide diversity of mountains, prairie grasslands and forests, but much is sparsely populated wilderness and arctic tundra.
Population: 33,889,747 Annual Growth: 0.96%
Capital: Ottawa
Urbanites: 80.6%
HDI Rank: 4 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Peoples: 156 (10% unreached) All peoplesUnreached Peoples Prayer Card
Official language: English; French Languages: 169 All languages
Religion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 24,424,341 | 72.07 | 0.4 |
| Evangelicals | 2,601,683 | 7.7 | 0.8 |
Challenges for Prayer
The large number of Bible institutes, colleges, universities and theological seminaries – committed to a biblical view of Scripture – are fulfilling a major role in strengthening evangelical witness. These are spread across Canada. Some are experiencing renewal and growth. Some are struggling with enrolment and support. Pray for the students and their teachers, that missions may be a central aspect of their education.Quebec is a unique region that has experienced in one or two generations the secularization and modernization that took France centuries to accomplish. While mostly French in language and culture, it is increasingly multicultural, with an Anglophone minority and growing immigrant communities. Pray for:
a) Political currents that swirl around the issue of separation from Canada. Although such sentiment has waned of late, it is never far from becoming prominent. Pray that Quebec might make a valuable contribution to the redemptive history of Canada.
b) The Catholic Church dominates Quebecois identity and culture (more than 80% self-identify as Catholic), but not attendance. Quebec’s church attendance rate is Canada’s lowest. There is a demonstrably low commitment to community activities; in particular, church and faith are highly personal and privatized.
c) Evangelicals in Quebec. Protestants are decidedly low in number and evangelical churches regarded as nearly cults. While Protestants are very mixed among French, English and immigrant cultures, there are also a significant number of practicing Catholics with evangelical beliefs. Pray for unity, fellowship and even collaboration.
d) Church planting needs to occur in much greater measure. To bring Quebec up to par with the rest of Canada in the numbers of evangelical congregations, 3,000 more churches must be planted.
e) Ministry vision to Quebec and beyond. Christian Direction/Urbanus partners with all denominations in the vision to have a spiritual impact on the whole Francophone world, starting in Quebec. French-Canadian evangelicals usually feel more affinity with other Francophone evangelicals globally than with Anglophone Canadian evangelicals.
For an additional 8 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 Canada.Hebrews 9 (New International Version, ©2010)
Hebrews 9
Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle
1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
The Blood of Christ
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,[a] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining[b] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[c] so that we may serve the living God!
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
16 In the case of a will,[d] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep."[e] 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
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2 Chronicles 30 (New International Version)
2 Chronicles 30
Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover
1 Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. 2 The king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month. 3 They had not been able to celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem. 4 The plan seemed right both to the king and to the whole assembly. 5 They decided to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. It had not been celebrated in large numbers according to what was written.
6 At the king's command, couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and from his officials, which read: "People of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your fathers and brothers, who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their fathers, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see. 8 Do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were; submit to the LORD. Come to the sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. 9 If you return to the LORD, then your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land, for the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him."
10 The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but the people scorned and ridiculed them. 11 Nevertheless, some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem. 12 Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the LORD.
13 A very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month. 14 They removed the altars in Jerusalem and cleared away the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.
15 They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the temple of the LORD. 16 Then they took up their regular positions as prescribed in the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood handed to them by the Levites. 17 Since many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean and could not consecrate their lambs to the LORD. 18 Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the LORD, who is good, pardon everyone 19 who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary." 20 And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.
21 The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great rejoicing, while the Levites and priests sang to the LORD every day, accompanied by the LORD's instruments of praise. [a]
22 Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites, who showed good understanding of the service of the LORD. For the seven days they ate their assigned portion and offered fellowship offerings [b] and praised the LORD, the God of their fathers.
23 The whole assembly then agreed to celebrate the festival seven more days; so for another seven days they celebrated joyfully. 24 Hezekiah king of Judah provided a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep and goats for the assembly, and the officials provided them with a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep and goats. A great number of priests consecrated themselves. 25 The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, along with the priests and Levites and all who had assembled from Israel, including the aliens who had come from Israel and those who lived in Judah. 26 There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place.
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2 Chronicles 1 (New International Version)
2 Chronicles 1
Solomon Asks for Wisdom
1 Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.
2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel—to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families- 3 and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon, for God's Tent of Meeting was there, which Moses the LORD's servant had made in the desert. 4 Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 But the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the LORD; so Solomon and the assembly inquired of him there. 6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
8 Solomon answered God, "You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
11 God said to Solomon, "Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have."
13 Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the Tent of Meeting. And he reigned over Israel.
14 Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, [a] which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 16 Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt [b] and from Kue [c]—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. 17 They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels [d] of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. [e] They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.
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Proverbs 29 (New International Version)
Proverbs 29
1 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.
5 Whoever flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet.
6 An evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad.
7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
8 Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.
9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
10 Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to kill the upright.
11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
12 If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.
14 If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure.
15 The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall.
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.
18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.
19 A servant cannot be corrected by mere words; though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 If a man pampers his servant from youth, he will bring grief [a] in the end.
22 An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.
23 A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.
24 The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy; he is put under oath and dare not testify.
25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
26 Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.
27 The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.
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Psalm 88 (New International Version)
Psalm 88
A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.
1[a] [b] O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you.
2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
3 For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave. [c]
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength.
5 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
7 Your wrath lies heavily upon me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah
8 You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;
9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? Selah
11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction [d] ?
12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
13 But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Why, O LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me?
15 From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered your terrors and am in despair.
16 Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.
17 All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.
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Thursday, March 28, 2013
do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows
Matthew 10:29-31
29Aren't sparrows sold for next to nothing, two for an assarion? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's consent.30As for you, every hair on your head has been counted.31So do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.
AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for the Dominion of Canada - North America
Published on Operation World (http://www.operationworld.org)
Mar 28: Canada
Canada
Dominion of Canada
North America
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 9,970,610 sq kmThe world’s second-largest country. Wide diversity of mountains, prairie grasslands and forests, but much is sparsely populated wilderness and arctic tundra.
Population: 33,889,747 Annual Growth: 0.96%
Capital: Ottawa
Urbanites: 80.6%
HDI Rank: 4 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Peoples: 156 (10% unreached) All peoplesUnreached Peoples Prayer Card
Official language: English; French Languages: 169 All languages
Religion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 24,424,341 | 72.07 | 0.4 |
| Evangelicals | 2,601,683 | 7.7 | 0.8 |
Challenges for Prayer
The large number of Bible institutes, colleges, universities and theological seminaries – committed to a biblical view of Scripture – are fulfilling a major role in strengthening evangelical witness. These are spread across Canada. Some are experiencing renewal and growth. Some are struggling with enrolment and support. Pray for the students and their teachers, that missions may be a central aspect of their education.Quebec is a unique region that has experienced in one or two generations the secularization and modernization that took France centuries to accomplish. While mostly French in language and culture, it is increasingly multicultural, with an Anglophone minority and growing immigrant communities. Pray for:
a) Political currents that swirl around the issue of separation from Canada. Although such sentiment has waned of late, it is never far from becoming prominent. Pray that Quebec might make a valuable contribution to the redemptive history of Canada.
b) The Catholic Church dominates Quebecois identity and culture (more than 80% self-identify as Catholic), but not attendance. Quebec’s church attendance rate is Canada’s lowest. There is a demonstrably low commitment to community activities; in particular, church and faith are highly personal and privatized.
c) Evangelicals in Quebec. Protestants are decidedly low in number and evangelical churches regarded as nearly cults. While Protestants are very mixed among French, English and immigrant cultures, there are also a significant number of practicing Catholics with evangelical beliefs. Pray for unity, fellowship and even collaboration.
d) Church planting needs to occur in much greater measure. To bring Quebec up to par with the rest of Canada in the numbers of evangelical congregations, 3,000 more churches must be planted.
e) Ministry vision to Quebec and beyond. Christian Direction/Urbanus partners with all denominations in the vision to have a spiritual impact on the whole Francophone world, starting in Quebec. French-Canadian evangelicals usually feel more affinity with other Francophone evangelicals globally than with Anglophone Canadian evangelicals.
For an additional 8 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 Canada.Hebrews 8 (New International Version, ©2010)
Hebrews 8
The High Priest of a New Covenant
1 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.
3 Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."[a] 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.
7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said[b]: "The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people.
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the Lord,'
because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."[c]
13 By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
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1 Chronicles 29 (New International Version)
1 Chronicles 29
Gifts for Building the Temple
1 Then King David said to the whole assembly: "My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God. 2 With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, [a] stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities. 3 Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: 4 three thousand talents [b] of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents [c] of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, 5 for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the LORD ?"
6 Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king's work gave willingly. 7 They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents [d] and ten thousand darics [e] of gold, ten thousand talents [f] of silver, eighteen thousand talents [g] of bronze and a hundred thousand talents [h] of iron. 8 Any who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the LORD in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
David's Prayer
10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, "Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15 We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 18 O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. 19 And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided."
20 Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king.
Solomon Acknowledged as King
21 The next day they made sacrifices to the LORD and presented burnt offerings to him: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. 22 They ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the LORD that day. Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the LORD to be ruler and Zadok to be priest. 23 So Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the officers and mighty men, as well as all of King David's sons, pledged their submission to King Solomon.
25 The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before.
For more text press: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?...
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Proverbs 28 (New International Version)
Proverbs 28
1 The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
3 A ruler [a] who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.
5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
6 Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8 He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.
10 He who leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11 A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding.
13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14 Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people.
16 A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.
17 A man tormented by the guilt of murder will be a fugitive till death; let no one support him.
18 He whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall.
19 He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
20 A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good— yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22 A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.
23 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.
24 He who robs his father or mother and says, "It's not wrong"— he is partner to him who destroys.
25 A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
26 He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.
28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
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Psalm 87 (New International Version)
Psalm 87
Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.
1 He has set his foundation on the holy mountain;
2 the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are said of you, O city of God: Selah
4 "I will record Rahab [a] and Babylon among those who acknowledge me— Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush[b]— and will say, 'This [c] one was born in Zion.' "
5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her."
6 The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: "This one was born in Zion." Selah
7 As they make music they will sing, "All my fountains are in you."
Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.
1 He has set his foundation on the holy mountain;
2 the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are said of you, O city of God: Selah
4 "I will record Rahab [a] and Babylon among those who acknowledge me— Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush[b]— and will say, 'This [c] one was born in Zion.' "
5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her."
6 The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: "This one was born in Zion." Selah
7 As they make music they will sing, "All my fountains are in you."
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Wednesday, March 27, 2013
What Makes the Gospel Good News?
What Makes the Gospel Good News?
Association of Biblical Counselors
Association of Biblical Counselors
by Steve Clay
I’ve been reading, thinking, and praying much about the meaning of the Gospel. As a biblical counselor I believe the gospel is the central element of change. By that I mean that the gospel is necessary in order to change the heart from its natural pursuit and slavery to sin toward the pursuit of things pertaining to Christ. The gospel is good news. But what is the good news? And what is it that we are believing when by faith the gospel applies to us all that is necessary to be changed?
Commonly understood, from 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as God’s appointed means of salvation to those who believe. And this is good news. But what is the peril from which a believing person is saved? And, what is it about this salvation that really changes a person?
While I intend to talk not so much about the mechanics of change, I do want to show that the gospel has power in the human heart by virtue of being rightly understood. Right understanding of the gospel has powerful implications in regard to our growth in the Lord. John Piper’s book,God is the Gospel, is very helpful here. After having discussed many facets (implicit benefits and essential components) of the gospel, presented in various texts from the New Testament, Piper’s conclusion is astounding. He writes:
If you embrace everything . . . about the facets of the gospel, but do it in a way that does not make the glory of God in Christ your supreme treasure, then you have not embraced the gospel. Until the gospel events of Good Friday and Easter and the gospel promises and justification and eternal life lead you to behold and embrace God himself as your highest joy, you have not embraced the gospel of God. You have embraced some of his gifts. You have rejoiced over some of his rewards. You have marveled at some of his miracles. But you have not yet been awakened to why the gifts, the rewards, and the miracles have come. They have come for one great reason: that you might behold forever the glory of God in Christ, and by beholding become the kind of person who delights in God above all things, and be delighting display his supreme beauty and worth with every-increasing brightness and bliss forever. (pp. 37-38)
My takeaway from this is that what changes us is delighting in Him in whose image we are being remade. Delighting in divine grace propels us toward Christ. It is not a pursuit of a “must do” list of Christian duties that moves us toward change, but rather submitting ourselves to the one we love to serve. Application of the gospel in the process of changing the heart of the believing sinner is not simply changing beliefs (though that is involved), but rather ever-increasing changes of affection—that is, what the heart delights in.
Piper is right. While the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, what makes it good news is that it provides a means whereby we can get to God, whom by the very grace He freely gives changes us to delight in Him. Spiritual disciplines, in this context, become a means to a pleasurable end—that is, knowing God and enjoying Him both now and forever.
We need to rethink what we are asking people to do when encouraging them to embrace the gospel. Consciously we are asking them to consider that God is the object of the longings of their naturally rebellious and deceitful hearts. In application to our own hearts we are acknowledging the same. Faith, not works, is the means by which we come to know God, taking Him at His word that the end of our pursuit for pleasure, safety, meaning, and life will only be found in Him. Our precious Savior died to this end, that He might bring us to God.
Considering this gospel reality reorients us to a different view of heart change, one that makes Christ the center, because we love to behold His glory, rather than a duty-oriented approach that centers on self. The gospel is God—He is the good news. To live with and enjoy Him is essence of life.
AFWIS Join Operation World in Prayer for the Republic of Cameroon - Africa
Published on Operation World (http://www.operationworld.org)
Mar 27: Cameroon
Cameroon
Republic of Cameroon
Africa
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 475,442 sq kmOn the continental "hinge" between West and Central Africa Semi-arid in the north, grasslands in the centre, rainforest in the south.
Population: 19,958,351 Annual Growth: 2.29%
Capital: Yaounde
Urbanites: 58.4%
HDI Rank: 153 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Peoples: 291 (6% unreached) All peoplesUnreached Peoples Prayer Card
Official language: French; English Languages: 279 All languages
Religion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 10,737,593 | 53.80 | 2.4 |
| Evangelicals | 1,804,104 | 9.0 | 4.3 |
Challenges for Prayer
Leadership and discipleship training in the churches are urgent needs, as Cameroon’s churches struggle with shallow and biblically illiterate Christianity. Today’s spiritual mess has its roots in a failure in theological training. Pray for:a) Godly leaders, well trained in the Scriptures. Some church leadership is more noted for pride, power struggles, disunity, moral failure and misuse of funds than for holy living. Pray for the provision of born-again, godly staff for the nearly 20 denominational and interdenominational theological schools in Cameroon. Pray also for a spiritual revolution in these theological faculties and seminaries that will bring new life and biblical standards to churches so long deprived.
b) Pray for lay training programmes that will introduce the Bible to Christians. For many, the pastor’s sermon is the extent of their interaction with Scripture. There are increasing numbers of modular-training programmes, aimed at poorer, bi-vocational pastors and church members. Pray also for the two Christian universities that aim to provide quality academic education within the framework of a Christian worldview.
The growing missions vision and networking are bearing fruit:
a) Greater evangelical cooperation to reach the unconverted. Specific initiatives:
i Christian Missionary Fellowship International (CMFI) is a Cameroonian mission with remarkable ministries in prayer, missions and publishing, all having a global impact.
ii Cameroon for Christ, launched in 1996, involves many denominations and churches in research and evangelism of the 2,400 villages of the north.
iii Mission BINAM is a network targeting the idol worshippers of West Cameroon Рespecially the Bamil̩k̩. It remains very active in evangelism and works with Inserv and GMI to train researchers for church and mission needs in Cameroon.
b) The growing involvement of Cameroonians in cross-cultural missions. Dozens of indigenous denominations and churches send missionaries to the north and to neighbouring lands. CMFI has sent and supports dozens of missionaries in 60 countries. CCCI and the Full Gospel Mission send Cameroonians abroad as missionaries, and the Baptist Seminary has a training track for Cameroonian students in Bible translation.
For an additional 8 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 Cameroon.Hebrews 7 (New International Version, ©2010)
Hebrews 7
Melchizedek the Priest
1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Jesus Like Melchizedek
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:
"You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."[a]
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever.'"[b]
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely[c] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
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