Pray for Turkey and the Middle East

Recently I heard a Turkish believer in Christ speak about the challenges of life for Christians in modern Turkey. While he was speaking I reflected on the origins of Christianity, I was reminded of the fact that Israel was the birthplace of Christianity and Turkey was the Cradle of Christianity. (see ruins of the Theater in Ephesus above)

Today both Countries are governed by systems that are less than friendly to Christianity. It seems that the words of Christ are still applicable today:

John 15:20 “… A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me,
they will also persecute you …”

Turkey is a tapestry of cultures and civilizations; it is the undiscovered jewel of Biblical history. Ancient civilizations existed in the fertile land of Anatolia for millennia. From the ancient Hittites to the Ottomans, Turkey has been not only the Cradle of Christianity, but also the Cradle of Western Civilization.

Old Testament patriarchs Noah, Abraham and Job all spent considerable time in this land. In the first century leading churches were located in Antioch, Ephesus, and the other seven churches of Revelation.

I am writing all this in order to motivate you to pray for Israel, Turkey and all the Middle East. I believe that the Lord has not forgotten this part of the world, and perhaps this is the time that God will pour out his Grace upon this Region so that many will be saved.

Paul Weresch

(For information on Biblical Sites in Turkey, see link below)
Troy - Biblical Sites in Turkey

Bad Hermeneutics or Blatant Con-man …

This week-end has been bewildering for many, devastating for many, maddening for many, and indeed, interesting for most. But, it is just one more week-end in the many throughout our history when the predicted end of the world did not happen.

The antics of self professed millionaire prophet, Harold Camping, have many of my friends in the quarry, picking out good throwing rocks … as well they probably should. However, as the last stone is piled upon one head, another will spring up. As long as there are naïve sheep who are willing to listen and follow, there will be false prophets.

Just for a moment, in Christian love, let us put down our rocks and reason together.

Harold Camping claims to have studied the Bible for 70 years. Yet the fact that he has ignored the admonition that, "no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only", Matthew 24:36, proves that either he is a charlatan or has studied with bad hermeneutics ... the process of studying the scripture.

If we are to be good sheep and follow the right voice we must remember that everything we need to know is written for us in the ENTIRE Bible … all we need is the Bible, ourselves and the Holy Spirit to get it right. What Harold Camping and his followers missed is, among others things, three basic rules for studying the Bible …

1. We must study with a humble heart. We must study with the mind set of getting something out of the scripture … not adding our own ego into the scripture. If you are willing to tear the Bible apart and select just scripture that supports your preconceived ideas, the Bible can support any craziness you think up … ala, Harold Camping. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to the wisdom written in those sacred texts.

2. We must look at the scriptures as written literally. When it says in the apostles that Jesus stepped out of the boat and walked on the lake, (Matthew 14:25) we can believe it was Jesus, it was water, and that He walked on top of it. It is literal … not allegoric.

When Jesus turned water into wine, (John 2:4-10) we can believe that it was real water turned into real wine … not an allegoric code that Jesus can take something of little worth and make it greater in value … although Jesus surely can and does do that very thing.

It may be a disappointment to many, but, the Bible is not full of codes … it is full of truths! It is true that allegory is used in the Bible but, it is thus identified. We should look for the naturally obvious, not a hidden code.

3. We should interpret normally. God meant for us to understand the Bible in the vernacular we are used to. For example, if you were to tell me your friend was as big as a barn, I wouldn’t be looking for a guy 60 foot wide, 120 foot long and 40 foot tall ... I would be looking for a really big guy!

When Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:8 that, "with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day" don’t pull out your calculators and slide rules as did Harold Camping. Just realize that God’s sense of time is infinite unlike ours which is finite. It just means a long, long time only known to God.

As for Harold Camping … stone him if you must, fellow Christian. Or … you might pray for him and his many followers. There are many of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are truly devastated today because they chose to follow the wrong shepherd. They need our attention.

If Mr. Camping is, as he claims, a believer, there is a proper procedure recommended in the Scripture for admonishment. If he is just the charlatan he appears to be … God will not be mocked … it is His job to handle the matter ... not ours. And, I believe, He is capable of it.

Larry Abele - Editorial Team

Christ is Risen, So What? (Part 2)

Here we go again with the question: Christ is risen, so what?

Let me remind you of the words of the Apostle Paul: “And if Christ wasn't raised to life, our message is worthless, and so is your faith.” 1 Corinthians 15:14 CEV

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God gives repentance and forgiveness of sins to all people.

The most famous of the early disciples of Jesus, Peter puts it this way: “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree. Him did God exalt with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins." Acts 5:30-31 ASV

Prompted by the Holy Spirit in a Vision, Peter went to the house of Cornelius, a Roman military officer and said the following: "Cornelius, God has heard your prayers, … Now I am certain that God treats all people alike. … Jesus was put to death on a cross. But three days later, God raised him to life and let him be seen.”

Some Jewish followers of the Lord had come with Peter, and they were surprised that the Holy Spirit had been given to Gentiles. Now they were hearing Gentiles speaking unknown languages and praising God. Peter said, "These Gentiles have been given the Holy Spirit, just as we have! I am certain that no one would dare stop us from baptizing them." Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and they asked him to stay on for a few days.
Acts 10:31-48 CEV

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God secured our justification by raising Jesus from the dead. “He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” Romans 4:25.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we now enjoy personal fellowship with Christ. Matthew 28:20: “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have one who intercedes for us in heaven before God. Romans 8:34: “Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

Paul Weresch

Happy Mother's Day!

A Grafton, West Virginia Mother, Mrs. Anna Reeves Jarvis, thinking of mothers who had lost their sons in the Civil War, prayed that there would someday be a day to celebrate Mother’s. A mother’s day was first celebrated in 1876.

After gaining in popularity, by 1910, Mother's Day was celebrated in forty-five states, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Canada, and Mexico. Elated, Mrs. Jarvis’ daughter, who had continued to fight for the cause, told a friend, "Where it will end must be left for the future to tell. That it will circle the globe now seems certain."

On May 8, 1914, President Wilson designated the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day "for displaying the American flag and for the public expression of love and reverence for the mothers of the country."

Three mother’s of the Bible come to mind that made contributions to the society in which we live ... three women birthing a child under difficult circumstances and yet influencing the world beyond their wildest dreams.

The first woman is Hagar. We are familiar with the story in Geneses 16. Abraham’s wife Sarah, certain she could no longer bare a child, gave to her husband her servant, Hagar, to mistakenly help God fulfill His promise that Abraham would be father of all the Jews.

Hagar bore a fine son named Ishmael, who became the father of the Arab nations. Chapter 21 of Genesis, describes how afterward God miraculously gave Sarah a son named Isaac. Sarah, not wanting Hagar and her son around, abused her and had Abraham send them away ... banished to the burning desert.

Hagar, with their bread and water gone, placed her child under a bush so she wouldn't have to watch him die. She sat down at a distance and waited for death. Then Genesis 21:17 says "God heard the voice of the lad." and sent an "angel" to reassure her of His great promises (vv.17-18). He then provided "a well of water".

The second mother is Jochebed … who raised two sons, Aaron and Moses. The story is found in the second chapter of Exodus where Jechobed, a desperate and deliberate mother, put her 3 month old son, Moses in a basket and placed it on the edge of the Nile River to escape the wrath of a cruel and oppressive regime.

The daughter of the Pharaoh seeing that little basket floating in the reeds, decided to save him and then, unwittingly hired Moses' real mother, Jochebed, to tend to him. Moses was able to grow up in Pharaoh's palace. But from his real mother he learned faith and his true identity with the people of God.

Due to the dedication of his mother, Jochebed … who would not give up, who kept her faith, who used her creative imagination, who was able to teach her child and even got paid for doing it ... Moses was able to save his people.

The third mother was Mary, Fearful and Faithful (Luke 1). When told by an angel that she, a virgin would give birth to the Messiah, obediently proclaimed, "Let it be to me according to your word."

Mary’s response was the result of her faith in God. God wanted a godly mother to bring the Lord Jesus into the world. Mary, because of her faith and faithfulness, was able to be that mother. She was asked to make a great sacrifice, but she believed and trusted God. Her trust in God made her understand that whatever God asked of her was the best for her. Her example should speak to every mother with the message of faith and faithfulness.

Dear Mothers, whoever you are let God's peace rule in your life. Remember God rules in the world. He is sovereign, in control. However, He does not rule our "hearts" until we "let" Him. Hold on to your faith. Trust the Lord who upholds and sustains you and let His inner peace give you inner strength and inspiration. Though there will be many distractions and temptations to abandon your faith and give up, keep trusting God ... He is faithful.

Do make a commitment to live Godly life. You will be a blessing to your children (the future generations) and perhaps change the world for good.

Proverbs 31:28-29: "Her children praise her, and with great pride her husband says, "There are many good women, but you are the best!"

Paul Weresch

Christ is Risen! So what?

The cornerstone of Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Historically, without the resurrection, the conviction that followed it, and the transformation of the lives of the witness, Christianity could not have survived in the hostile environment of the first century of it’s existence.

While there are a number of apologetic devices that can be used to establish the historicity of the resurrection, let me point out that the eyewitness accounts under the anointing of the Holy Spirit provide ample proof of the resurrection to satisfy an honest inquiring mind.

Now to that Question: So what? Here are a few biblical answers.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus, death will never have any dominion over him and those that are His by faith. Romans 6:8-11 CEV. As surely as we died with Christ, we believe we will also live with him. We know that death no longer has any power over Christ. He died and was raised to life, never again to die. When Christ died, he died for sin once and for all. But now he is alive, and he lives only for God. In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God.

The apostle Paul states that Jesus’ resurrection is the guarantee of our resurrection. “But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life.” 1 Corinthians 15:20 CEV.

In his second letter to the Church at Corinth Paul writes: “In the Scriptures it says, "I spoke because I had faith." We have that same kind of faith. So we speak because we know that God raised the Lord Jesus to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life. Then he will bring us into his presence together with you. All of this has been done for you, so that more and more people will know how kind God is and will praise and honor him.” 2 Corinthians 4:13-15 CEV.

We are born again to a living hope because of the resurrection of Jesus.

Peter, one of the major eyewitnesses to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ writes: “Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us new life and a hope that lives on.” 1 Peter 1:3 CEV

Paul Weresch
(This discussion will to be continued in further blogs)

What is of “First Importance” to you?

Paul in speaking of the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the Corinthians said in his letter (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.”

Of First Importance!

Is the resurrection of Jesus Christ of first importance in your life? If it isn’t … or even if it is of “some” importance … today is the day to pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you through the steps it will take to make the significance of our celebration this Easter the most important thing in your life.

Once you have accepted, as Paul is suggesting to the Corinthians, that the resurrection and your reaction to it are the most important thing in your life … you will find all the other “important” things in your life are easier to achieve through Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah … He Is Risen!

Larry Abele – Editorial Team

10/40 Window or The Whole World?

A church in the U.S. has informed one of our missionary families that they will no longer be supporting them as they don't work in the so called' 10/40 window of the world.

(The 10/40 Window is a term coined by Christian missionary strategist Luis Bush in 1990 to refer to those regions of the eastern hemisphere located between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator, a general area that in 1990 was purported to have the highest level of socioeconomic challenges and least access to the Christian message on the planet.) This church no longer considers Europe to be a mission field.

This is staggering, especially when you consider that the vast majority of Europeans do not attend church, have never been to a church service, and have never heard the Gospel message preached by a Holy Spirit anointed preacher. Europe was Christianized (at times with the edge of a sword) in centuries past but not evangelized. There are still vast areas of Europe that remain unreached by the Gospel. There are tens of thousands of towns and villages that are devoid of any living Christian witness.

While I accept that Luis Bush’s emphasis on the “10/40 window” of the world may have served it’s purpose to draw the attention of the Church to a needy part of the world, as a missions strategy it is unbiblical and irrational.

The bible states; “Go into all the world”. (see Matt. 28:18-20. Mark 13:10) This command refers to evangelism and disciple making, not Christianization. God also expects us to preach this gospel to each successive generations until the Lord returns.

Please do partner with us and all that will proclaim the gospel to the world, but do not neglect other parts of the world just because their ancestors have been Christianized.

Recent events in North Africa and the Middle East have taken the world by surprise. Current happenings are reminiscent of the fall of Communism in Europe in the late 1989. One encouraging thought is that all that has taken place in Egypt and elsewhere occurred nearly overnight. If God can do the politically impossible in a comparatively short time span then surely we can trust Him to do the seemingly spiritually impossible anywhere in Europe! How wonderful and exciting it would be if entire European nations were to be overcome by a spirit of conviction and repentance. "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Let us ask God for the salvation of Europe.*

Paul

* (Paraphrased from the ECM Update by Vincent Price)

Pray for Egypt ...

As the difficult situation continues on the streets of Egypt, pundits and politicians are filling the air with their specific type of "knowledge" … demanding this and that; setting up this solution and that solution.

The Lord of yesterday, today and tomorrow had much to say about this:

God told Isaiah to send a message to the people in Isaiah … The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled) … The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear. Isaiah 2:12, 17-18

And, in 1 Samuel 2:3 you read, "Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed."

If you read the story of Genesis 16 and 21:8-20 you will have some background into some of the troubles we face today in that region of the world … the story of Hagar and Ishmael.

There is definitely a war going on but it is God’s war … not ours. I doubt if God is going to put us in charge of a war if we haven’t even been able to complete the ONE task He has assigned to us ... that of spreading the Good News concerning His Beloved Son into all the world.

Unfortunately, this war has brought grief to millions of people in the Middle East, many who can trace their roots back to Ishmael, the son of Abraham. And, I know that God hears the voices of these helpless and needy people.

In the media, never once do you hear the one word that can mean everything in this tragedy … prayer! It is time we put aside our worldly arrogance, humble ourselves to God and pray!

And, pray for more than democracy … pray for the church to rise up and fulfill their commission … to proclaim the Gospel to the Muslims and Jews. We must pray that their eyes will be opened to the wonderful salvation of Jesus Christ.
Pray for Egypt, the church, all Christians and for all those in authority.

"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:43-45

And finally from the words of James …

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." James 3:13-18

Larry Abele - Editorial Team

For our United States friends ...

How to Pray for the Election

The midterm election is drawing near. Imagine the impact on these United States of America if every elected representative at every level of government in this nation was prayed for every day of the year! Imagine the impact on the quality of decisions made, on our communities and our land ... on each State, County and municipality.

We believe that every believer has the potential to transform the United States of America through the power of the Holy Spirit which is released in every prayer for this nation and it’s leaders.

How do we do it?

• Pray regularly for your elected representatives at every level. - Every prayer can be an invitation to the Holy Spirit to act in and through elected representatives according to the will and wisdom of God.
• Organize prayer events at your church.
• Ask individuals to volunteer to pray regularly for specific elected representatives so that every elected representative is prayed for every day of the year.
• If given an opportunity pray with your elected representatives remembering to:
a. Maintain strict confidentiality.
b. Respect their schedules: Be on time and keep meetings brief.
c. Focus on them and their needs.
d. Take no more than one other person to the meeting.
• Write to your elected representatives to let them know: that you are praying for them, that you encourage them as willing servants of the people

What to pray for the election

• That this election will serve God’s purposes for the United States of America
• That the United States of America will be a country whose elected leaders are
o individuals of integrity, discernment, grace, courage and conviction
o willing servants, people of vision, perseverance and character
• For wisdom, endurance and protection for candidates and their families
• That candidates will be filled with Integrity, courage, humility and grac
• That the Holy Spirit will guide and guard the thoughts and speech of candidate
• That every elector will cherish their right to vote, and that every elector will vote

What to pray for the nation

• Pray that the Holy Spirit will bring a spirit of individual and corporate repentance among Christians across our land
• Pray that Christians would have both grace and humility to demonstrate righteousness, justice, compassion and generosity
• Pray that United States of America will be a country that honors God
• Pray that United States of America will be a nation of diverse people accepting. forgiving, sharing and working together for a better United States of America
• Pray for the spiritual strength of the nation

So then, make a statement of (confess) your sins to one another, and say prayers for one another so that you may be made well. The prayer of a good man is full of power in its working. Jas 5:16

Paul Weresch