Thank you once again so much for all of your prayers! Below are the links to our latest prayer update.

Spring ’10 E-zine

The Church: A Manifestation of the Gospel

Today it seems there is no shortage of books on the negative aspects of the church. It should break our hearts to see the sometimes desperate condition of Christ’s church today! One related passage God has directed me to lately is Ephesians 3.

Paul writes the believers in Ephesus regarding the awesome Gospel, of which he now boldly declares to the Gentiles. He begins chapter 3 by explaining His ministry to the Gentiles in a way that shows the wonders of God’s mysterious plan of salvation…it is a Divine plan worthy of his suffering (vs. 1-7). In verse 8 we catch a glimpse of Paul’s broken humility as he considers himself the least of all believers. As an interesting sidenote, we see Paul’s growing humility throughout his life and ministry (from least of the apostles, to the least of the saints, to the chief of all sinners). He continues by relishing in his humble calling of proclaiming God’s majestic mystery of salvation. He goes on in verse 10 by glorying in the wisdom of God’s great redemption to all those partaking in the glorious Gospel! This redeemed people of God, the church, is proclaimed as the “manifold wisdom of God.” This Paul says is the awesome Gospel that he so longed for the Ephesian believers to comprehend with such awe, that it would propel their worship and lifestyle (vs. 14-19). Paul longed for the love of Christ to be rooted deep within the hearts of the redeemed. He had a passion for the church to experientially know the love behind the Gospel in such a way, that they would be “filled with the fullness of God” (vs. 17-19).

The church is to be a visual representation of the Gospel. Notice in verse 10 that angelic authorities even stand in wonder at the church’s representation of God’s redemptive wisdom in this world. How many of us can truly say that our church is a visual expression of the Gospel; the manifold wisdom of God’s redemption?
Before you proceed in criticizing your church as a whole, take a look inside. How are you contributing to the church’s Gospel manifestation? When people get to know you, do they stand in awe at the manifold wisdom of God’s redemptive work? We must train our minds to think in this way! Are our lives characterized by the evidences of the Spirit…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, etc. (Gal. 5:22-23)? Think about the way you react to circumstances in life. Do you respond in a way that manifests the wisdom of God’s redemption? Think about the way you conduct yourself at work. Do your ethics and interpersonal relations manifest the wisdom of God’s redemption? Think about the way you live everyday amidst your own family. Does your family life (as a parent, child, teen, spouse, sibling, extended, etc.) exhibit the manifold wisdom of God’s redemption? Although no one may see it, does your private life exhibit the manifold wisdom of God’s redemption? Now, carry this over to your involvement at your church. Does your particular presence and/or ministry at your church exhibit the manifold wisdom of God’s redemption? We as the body of Christ must train (and in some cases re-train) ourselves to view our lives and ministries in an Ephesians 3 way. The various ministries of our churches should reflect the glorious Gospel. The way our church services are conducted (everything from the greeting, announcements, worship, preaching, and closing) should reflect the glorious Gospel. They very philosophy, vision, and strategy of our churches should reflect this manifold wisdom of God’s redemption. The way that we as believers live within the weekly community of our churches should reflect this manifold glorious Gospel. Do you see it? Every facet of life and ministry should reflect the manifold wisdom of God’s redemption! How often do we think this way personally? How often do we in our churches think this way?

May we allow God to burn our hearts with the passion of Paul here in Ephesians 3! May we allow our Redeemer God to convict and transform the way we live and serve as His manifestation to this broken world of His awesome plan of redemption!

In His Grace,
Derek

This year seems to have much discussion revolving around the National Day of Prayer! My attention was recently directed to James 5 and I would like to share these truths with you. I believe the truths regarding prayer in James 5 are really convicting and potentially transforming!

James writes his self-named epistle to his fellow Jewish believers, now scattered from the current religious oppression. These believers underwent much opposition and unjust treatment from the Romans, the rich landowners, and those in positions of religious influence. It is in this context that James encourages his fellow believers to count these trials with the spirit of joy, anticipating God’s sovereign work of refining (1:2-4). Paul’s writing in Romans 8:28 also encourages this hopeful mindset.

As we enter James’ fifth and final chapter, he again again addresses those struggling under various trials. Although we don’t know his exact situation, the immediate context of the earlier verses of chapter 5 seem to indicate a trial of oppression under the rich landowners (5:1-6). James then encourages the oppressed to presevere through their current hardships in verses 7-12.

Now to the prayer section. Verses 13-18 direct the reader’s focus vertically to their new direct Divine access through prayer. James calls the attention of all believers here; the suffering, the cheerful, and the sick. They are encouraged to bring their burdens to the feet of their Redeemer in prayer. There is an emphasis on the effectual prayer ministry of church leadership as well as the simple faith of all believers. Verse 16 calls all believers to bear one another’s sin struggles in a spirit of confession and mutual edification. These sins are then linked to God’s work of healing (whether a reference physically or spiritually, we’re not specifically told). It is in this context that James declares the well known statement, “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Verse 18 gives an Old Testament example of this in Elijah’s prayer regarding a famine. Elijah’s faith and effectual prayer is seen in 1Kings 17-18 as he prays for the coming and completion of judgement through a famine. It is this same type of faith and results that James refers to in his call to prayer for the scattered and struggling believers.

As I mentioned at the outset of this article, I believe these truths to be very pertinent to our present situation. So as we enter this time of national prayer focus, let us draw our attention to the awesome gift of faith and access through intercession to the Creator and Sustainer of all things! While we may not find ourselves in the exact situation and undergoing intense oppression from our governmental authorities as the Christian Jews in James’ time, our nation is definitely not heading in a great direction! Furthermore, we all go through (or will go through) trials at some point(s) in life. How often do we really bring our feelings and the petitions of our hearts to our God with this James 5:17-18 type of faith? God desires us, the righteous in Christ, to come before Him in earnestness and faith. Think about that for a moment! We, as believers in Christ, are considered righteous in God’s sight! We have the very righteousness of Christ! How awesome is that! Ok, anyway, that was a bit of a sidenote. But, you see, the righteous whom James refers to in verse 17 is us Christ followers! So God says here that the prayers of a righteous person (that would be you and me as believers) have access to much power–a power that brings about real results. Think about that…the powerful Creator and Sustainer of all things promises His redeemed children His power in answered prayers! Look at the early church in Acts and how they prayed. Prayer was continually a priority throughout the book of Acts and one can see the mighty hand of God working. Think of Peter’s imprisonment and the church’s earnest prayers and his miraculous deliverance. Outside of Scripture think about George Mueller and his faith in God’s mighty hand. Regarding missions, I think of the modern day example of a guy surnamed Brother Andrew and others like him working in restricted nations today. My point is this: we still serve the same mighty God, the very Creator and Sustainer of the universe. It is His awesome power that we have available in our prayers! Do we (do I?) have this kind of mindset and faith everytime we (I) go to prayer? I would have to admit that I frequently take this for granted and forget the awesome God we serve and the precious gift of intercession that we have been given! Furthermore, do we truly have the kind of open honesty, care for others, and edifying spirit within our churches? So often our prayers are weak and kept to ourselves. How many times have we sat through church prayer meetings half-heartedly engaged and not willing or even desiring to open up to our fellow brothers and sisters about our struggles and requests?

Well, much more could be said regarding these truths, but I trust God will use His Word here in James 5 to convict and transform your passion toward prayer! As you enter this National Day of Prayer, remember these truths and pray to our great God in a bold faith that He will accomplish His sovereign purposes in our nation! As you enter your church’s next prayer meeting, remember these truths and pray with a passion for your fellow blood-bought brothers and sisters in Christ! Finally, as you enter your private time of prayer with the God of the universe, remember these glorious truths and pray with wide-eyed adoration and unwaivering confidence in God’s mighty power!

In His Grace and all for His Glory,
Derek

PS: Check out a few interesting related videos from YouTube below: