The roof is on!! Just a few more steps, finishing the interior, and the building will be complete! This worship/ministry facility will be used for many purposes; a place of worship, training for pastors, conference center, school building, and a center for aid to the needy. We have about 2,000 to go. Contact us if you are interested in helping us complete this project. (searchandsee@att.net)
On Sunday evenings, our church is studying through the book of Titus. I am calling this series “Paul’s Recipe for a Healthy Church.” In keeping with that analogy, the first ingredient on Paul’s recipe is God-ordained Leadership. Healthy, Sound, New Testament churches must be led by men called and qualified to lead God’s church in their family, character, and calling.
This past Sunday evening, we learned why elders are necessary for healthy churches. It is due to their two-pronged ministry of the Word; instruction in sound doctrine and rebuking those who contradict (v9). At this point, Paul explains the nature of “those who contradict” and why they must be rebuked (vv10-16). It is a challenging word! The bottom line is that “those who contradict” sound doctrine either by teaching or living in opposition are not just opposing truth; they are actually opposing the Gospel! (cf v10, 16) The ministry if rebuking those teaching or living in error is then a Gospel issue. To rebuke those in error is to protect the church and attempt to restore or correct those who are blinded.
What prompted me to write this is that Dr. Al Mohler’s post today (8.18.09) is a prime, contemporary example of “those who contradict” and the dangerous implications of their false teachings. He is specifically addressing the message conveyed by today’s popular prosperity gospel teachers. The prosperity gospel is a false gospel. It is an exhortation for people to come to Jesus for reasons other than salvation from their sin and God’s wrath. It is a call for people to follow Jesus for reasons other than love for God, Christ, and His glory! The message of the prosperity gospel is that wealth and riches will make you happy, and God exists to make sure you have them. You only need to have enough faith and give enough money to “this” ministry!
In the end, Mohler concludes that the problem with the prosperity gospel is not that it promises too much, but that it promises too little! The prosperity gospel promises worldly, temporary, comfort! God, through salvation in Christ, promises eternal, abundant, joy-filled, satisfying, LIFE!
So with Paul in Titus, I say to all pastors concerning the advocates of prosperity - “they must be silenced!” (1:11) This is a salvation issue. This is a Gospel issue. This is a healthy church issue! Grip the Word men! Sound forth sound doctrine! And with the Word of Truth close the mouths of those who “for shameful gain” teach “what they ought not to teach!” (1:11)
I encourage you to read Dr. Mohler’s post!
Let me be clear from the beginning of this post so as not to be taken the wrong way. I believe that environmental preservation, conservation, and responsibility are all good measures if kept in their proper perspectives. I’m no “tree-hugger,” but I do try to be involved in responsible use and care of our natural resources. When I hunt, I do it not only for enjoyment but we also consume the meat. I am slowly replacing the light bulbs in our home with the “curly ones.” And I have a water system hopefully to be installed soon so as to not continually buy plastic water bottles (among other reasons). So I am certainly not anti-environment!
The reason I am not anti-environment is rooted in biblical truth. While I truly believe God supplied the earth with many natural resources, plant life, and animal life for our enjoyment, comfort, and benefit, I also believe that He calls us to manage these resources well by not being wasteful, neglectful, or indifferent. From the beginning of time, God supplied us with this wonderful environment called Earth, and He commissioned us to be caretakers of it, not destructive, littering, wasteful, unappreciative consumers! All of this eco-responsible theology is rooted in the opening chapters of Genesis. (1:28-30, 2:15-20)
Therefore there is some good to be found and observed in the current cultural “green” fascination. However, as believers we must be careful to maintain a biblical perspective on creation as well as any other issue and not get caught up in a popular movement that essentially distracts us from our main calling. In recent days, there seems to be a growing influence of “green” concerns among evangelicals that give the appearance once again of being swept up in the latest trend or fad. For example, a “Green” Bible has recently been published with such noted figures as Brian McLaren and N.T. Wright. The danger here is that environmental causes can become THE causes for evangelicals due to cultural influence, and that is nothing short of veering off track!
To be fair, there are moderate voices among evangelicals that approach this issue with biblical balance. I was pleased to find such an approach with a document produced by Jonathan Merritt for the Southern Baptist Convention. (I cringed a little when I read some of Merritt’s thoughts on homosexuality, but this document appears to be a good perspective on responsible care of creation without losing primary focus.)
I would simply caution my fellow “green” evangelicals:
None of this is meant to minimize the glory of God in the present creation (Psalm 19:1-6). The fact that this universe is God’s creation is exactly the basis for our stewardship of it. The point is that the ultimate purpose of creation is to glorify God. Our ultimate purpose, as part of God’s creation, is to do the same! We are not here to “save” the planet! We are on this planet to glorify God and “save” as many as we can (Jude 23) from the coming wrath of God upon all unbelievers.
So what would creation say to us about being “green?” I think the Earth would tell us to be respectful along the way, but foremost of all, “Send the Light, the Blessed Gospel Light!”
“Save the Planet: Have Fewer Kids” As shocking as I hope that sounds to you, that is the exact title of a news story that Yahoo! News ran on 8.4.09. A study released by Oregon State University concluded that one way to reduce your “carbon footprint” was to have fewer kids! Team member Paul Murtaugh was quoted as saying, “an added challenge facing us is continuing population growth (emphasis mine) and increasing global consumption of resources. When an individual produces a child - and that child potentially produces more descendants in the future - the effect on the environment can be many times the impact produced by a person during their lifetime.” Additional reasons that increasing population growth harms the environment are generation of more waste, more taxing of water supplies, more divorce effects such as two homes instead of one, and increasing obesity since food production is a major contributor to global warming!
If you are like me, by now you are either laughing at how foolish agenda-driven science can become or horrified at where agenda-driven science is taking us - or both!
The ridiculous end of this logic is that the planet can be saved if there were no more humans! If everyone will stop reproducing, eventually the human race will die off, and our planet will be free from this eco-destroying virus, homosapiens.
A couple of observations leap at me from this article. (1) The anti-biblical worldview that is at the heart of radical environmental preservation, animal rights, the pro-choice platform, and the cultural mindset that children are a bother and not a blessing has come full circle! They are now one-and-the-same cause! (Now, hear me well, I am for responsible care for our environment and animal life based on my belief in a Creator and His purposes for creation. I am in no way, however, inclined at ALL to pro-choice or the “children are burdensome” ideologies. Again, for the same reason. I believe in the Creator and His purposes for creation!) (2) In particular, the call to not have children - or to be fair - the call to have “fewer” children so as to save the planet, is in direct opposition to the biblical call to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea (that includes whales!) and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) Some earth-lovers may reply, “Population growth is the problem! The last thing we need to do is ‘be fruitful and multiply.’ We have ‘multiplied too much already!” The truth is one only reaches that conclusion from selective data. We do have enough food to feed the world; we just choose to waste it! Resources are here for our preservation; we are not here for the preservation of resources! Nobody wants to talk about the scientific data that suggests the earth goes through climate change every so many years! Should we try to be less harmful and poisonous to the environment? Absolutely, as best we can. Should the government then heavily tax our people to pay for “green” initiatives, go further in debt as a nation or family in order to “reduce carbon footprint,” or pursue radical agendas based on selective science? Absolutely NOT!
This all leads to a most interesting question. Why does the Lord say “be fruitful and multiply” and the world says “have fewer children?” It is because the ultimate end of God’s command to “fill the earth” with humans is His own glory! More humans result in more missions, which results in more worship! (Genesis 1:28, Matthew 24:14, Revelation 5:9,10; 7:9,10) The world’s agenda will always be anti-biblical, anti-God’s glory! But in the end, God will be greatly glorified by every single human that has ever lived on this “passing” earth! (Phil 2:10-11)
In the final analysis, what this agenda leads to may be a surprise to many people. Fewer children actually results in less joy! That’s right! For those of us who are striving to live a biblical worldview, this comes as no surprise. Whatever leads to God’s glory also leads to our joy as well! And children are a blessing from the Lord and a joy to parents who appreciate and love them (Psalm 127:3-5)! I have two children of my own, and my wife and I hope to one day have even more! I simply cannot describe the joy that overflows my heart when I play with them, hear them say “I love you Daddy,” pray with them at bedtime, or just have fun together. They are a blast! I take pictures, collect their drawings, and soak up as much as I can - And it is a joy!
So I say - “HAVE MORE CHILDREN!” For your joy and God’s glory! Psssss - it won’t kill the earth!
(This is the recent update of ministry in Myanmar. You will be amazed as you read these testimonies. The Lord is doing a marvelous work there. Please pray daily for Pastor J and his students!)
The Lord's healing Power
Dim is who came from the boundary of India for study at our seminary. Suddenly she began to be sick in fever after 15 days passed. Unfortunately her five senses were totally lost or finished away from her consciousness
and she could barely breath. When her friends and Bible students prayed for her, they cried with tears and they could not even pray for her properly because she was just like a dead man. Many peoples asked us that where you will bury her Kalay' cemetery or her village.
After that we immediately admitted her at clinic and general hospital.Tow of physician took out her blood for finding what disease is. but they could not found and she is brought back at our Seminary. At that time our students have fasting prayer time for two days and night. They earnestly prayed for her and suddenly she is fleshed and resurrected and now she is completely healed. She gave thanks unto the Lord and full of joy. Jesus is not only for our resurrection at the last day but now He is our resurrection even in our physical bodies in His word that He said to Martha I am the life and resurrection.Jesus is Lazarus's resurrection from his death which was already four days passed.
Soul Wining in Our jail ministry.
Nei is a Christian who had has nice family.Unfortunately he was imprisoned in the jail of Myin Chyan.At that time his wife remarried to other a Buddhist man. After two Months passed of his imprisonment, the Lord has strengthen him and he has preached and shared his testimonies to his friend who are in the jail into the jail.The Lord had inspired his preaching and most of the peoples believe and accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. And then they gather together worshiped the Lord with singing and praying loudly into the jail.
At that time the jailer rose up much angry and he sent him to That Kung which is near by new capital city of Myanmar and which is working somewhere outside the prison. They are over 800 peopls who are working somewhere out side the prison with chain. They have nice rest on Sunday.Nei share his testimonies and preach the Gospel there and 60 peoples accepted and believe Jesus Christ for their Savior and Lord.
And they have worship service on every Sunday. Nei is just a missionary as wel as Pastor in Jail. Nei is who really carrying the agony of Jesus in his daily life.Nei have no hope for deliverance from prison but his special hope is to be with Jesus soon.
When I read his letter, my heart was burn out with compassion and I prayed for him earnestly.
This is just his letter from the prison
Dear Joseph and Pardim
I am greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Firstly I would like to say my thanksgiving to you that unexpectedly I received the love gift which you sent me from my uncle who came to me for seing my situation.I gave thanks unto the Lord and I praised Him for His miracle providence just like Elijah.This is particularly precious for me.Thank you once again for sending Burmese Bible. Please pray for in your regular prayer. The below is my situation,
I was first imprisoned in the Jail of Myin Chyan. The Lord strengthened me and I have shared my testimonies and preached the Gospel and the peoples believe and accepted Jesus Christ and we worship Him in singing and in praising and in teaching loudly. At that time our Jailer rose up with much angry and he sent me only to That Kung which is working somewhere outside the prison. After two Months passed of my imprisonment in this jail, I again shared my testimonies and preach to my fried prisoners and some of the people accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord .The first time a few peoples accepted Him but now 60 peoples accepted Him and believe His as their personal Savior. We have special worship service.I am a leader for them.
Whenever I look my physical body, I am full of sorrow because my life is like an oxen who plunder daily.Even though my body has no hope, my inner being is still living with my Lord Jesus Christ and moving with Him daily. Though my body is perishing day by day, I am closer day by day to be with Jesus.For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.(Phil 1:21)I am hard pressed between tow having a desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better.Verse 23.
We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed, we are perplex but not despair,persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed.Always carrying about in this body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. We who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.So then death is working in us but life in you .(II cor 8:12)
Yours in His sufferings,
Nei.
Van' Testimony
He is sharing his testimony again on the platform of chapel on the new first week of fasting prayer for two days.
When I considered about the worldly things, there is no comfort in my life. Even if I gazed both heaven and earth unless my joy Jesus, there is full of tear for me. The Lord plan is very very wonderful. When I asked the riches,the trouble are more increased and when I asked good health, there is more increased sickness in my life. However the Love of the Lord is enough for me.The Lord is exceedingly good for He has given me His blessings what I did not ask and that His blessings is the trouble what I daily face in my life and that trouble cause the glory of God in my body.
Nyi went to Zi Syin Mah a village for preaching there and 20 peoples interested about Jesus Christ and he is now planing to continue leading them to Christ.
Pa Rual distributed 50 tracts and and now he is planing to preach to the unreached having like crusade.
................................To God be the glory...........................
Imprecatory prayers are found within a group of Psalms, also known as the Imprecatory Psalms. What am I talking about? The word imprecatory is an adjective that means “invoking evil or a curse.” Imprecatory Psalms are those which call for (pray for) judgment, death, curses, etc. upon one’s enemies or those who are the enemies of God. Psalms 69 and 109 are most known for their imprecatory material, but several other psalms contain these “judgment prayers” as well. For example, in Psalm 69:28 David prays this regarding his persecutors, “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.” It appears David not only prays for their death, but possibly that they would be eternally lost as well.
Now there’s no getting around this point: these types of prayers are in the Bible! The question is: What is their role in our lives today? For at least two men, these prayers are to be practiced by believers today. In the July 14, 2009 edition of Western Recorder, page 10 carried this article: “Does God really answer prayers to do someone harm?” Of course, that question was not answered in that article! But the belief and practices of the two men cited were enough material to digest.
Wiley Drake, pastor of Buena Park Southern Baptist Church near Anaheim, CA and former 2nd vice president of the SBC, has openly prayed for the death of President Obama and in the past has prayed judgment upon Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Pastor Rick Warren, and separation of church and state activist Barry Lynn. In similar fashion, Gordon Klingenschmitt, former U.S. Navy chaplain, has prayed judgment upon Lynn and Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. Klingenschmitt’s reason - Lynn and Weinstein chided him for not identifying himself as a former chaplain on his Web site. (All of this information is taken from the article in Western Recorder.)
So are these men correct in their praying? Are we today still to practice imprecatory prayers against our enemies and the enemies of God as David did in these psalms? I don’t believe we are to practice imprecatory praying today. I believe these men may have good intentions (in the matter of being biblical? maybe?), but I also believe a biblical theology approach to this matter will bring great clarity and hopefully correction.
First, there is the issue of the divine inspiration of Scripture, including these psalms. What that means is that when David prayed and wrote these psalms, he was under the care and direction of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). As part of Scripture, these prayers are literally “breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). The result being is that these prayers by David were in line with God’s will. God’s will was for the judgement of these individuals, and therefore, these prayers were guided by the Spirit, given by God, and recorded by David. Our prayers are not so! Our prayers are not divine revelation! Our prayers are often NOT in line with the will of God. Yes, it is true we have the Spirit guiding us in our prayers as well (Romans 8:26-27), but not in the sense of bestowing revelation as in the case of David. Rather, we are given the Spirit in our prayer life because we DON’T pray right, so the Spirit intercedes for us and prays according to the will of God. David was praying right because he was praying in the function of developing revelation. We are not functioning in that capacity and should use much caution in praying any type of judgmental retribution for actions taken against us. We are too prone to pray from the flesh and/or from a spirit of retaliation when God clearly says, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” In saying that we are praying God’s will for judgement upon our enemies and God’s enemies, we are more likely to be praying in direct opposition to God’s will because He has directly commanded us NEVER to avenge ourselves!
Second, there is the matter of differentiating between descriptive revelation and prescriptive revelation. This error is committed over and over by well-meaning evangelicals who earnestly desire to follow the Bible. In other words, some of the Bible is merely describing events while other parts of the Bible prescribe behavior. Just because something is in the Bible, does not mean the Bible condones, commends, or commands that we imitate it. For example, David also had wives and concubines. Are we to follow that behavior? The Bible never condemns David for this as it does Solomon. Are we therefore to conclude that the Bible commends this model of the family? Of course not. Neither are we to assume that just because these prayers are recorded in the Bible are we to pray in this manner. In fact, the Bible actually calls us to pray in the opposite manner (as will be the next point). Here again is the matter of descriptive or prescriptive revelation.
Third, there is the matter of how Jesus taught us to pray in the NT. Some prayers are there as description while some are there for prescription, that is, imprecatory prayers and The Model Prayer. Jesus taught us to pray in this way, “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). So we are to pray for forgiveness based upon how we have forgiven those who have done us wrong. In fact, Jesus goes on to command us “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28). Not much room for imprecatory praying there!! Again, Jesus never commands us to pray for judgment upon our enemies, but He does over and over command us and teach us to pray for their good!
Fourth, imprecatory prayers against our leaders does not fit with the NT command to honor our leaders. (1 Peter 2:17) Now bear in mind, this is the same man who will be martyred by Nero!
Fifth, there is the issue of progressive revelation. With the coming of the New Covenant in Christ - everything changed! Indeed, all of the above reasons could fall under this category. The New Testament era, the beginning of the New Covenant era is the Gospel era! The Gospel is proclaimed, promoted, and expanded through sacrificial self-denial, not warlike revenge! President Obama does not need judgment, he needs a new heart! That should dominate our prayers for him. We will not advance Christianity through the death of our enemies but rather through their conversion!!!! That is not to say that we do not stand for righteousness, that is only to say we are to pray accurately.
Be careful to follow me here dear reader. I am not advocating passivity. I am not anti-war. I am not addressing any of those other issues here. I am only addressing the issue of prayer here. And when it comes to prayer concerning our enemies and God’s enemies, we do not need to pray for judgement. If they are without Christ or out of God’s will as a straying believer, they are already under judgment! We need to pray for their repentance, for their salvation. That is what they need! And that is Gospel praying - denying self and loving enemies - that is Gospel praying!
(This is an email I received from my friend Pastor Joseph in Myanmar. It gives a history of his seminary ministry and its recent opening for the new school year. Please be in prayer for Pastor Joseph and his students as they are daily facing troubles and persecution and hardships. They are faithfully persevering though, and the gospel is going forth.)
How Bible school Ministry running?
When I have began Bible school ministry in prayer for a month, I first
asked for renting home and three students. As soon as a month passed,
The Lord opened the door and I immediately entered into my room for
taking some loaves to give for renting rate a month. At that present
hour a voice told me just like saying of a man’ voice that hi Joseph
you have nothing why are you planning to begin Bible school ministry?
After a few minutes I realize that apostle Paul said that we walk by
faith not by sight (II Cor 5:7). And then I have began Bible school
ministry.
When I begun and continued Bible school ministry, the storm has been
beating me even this present hour that sometime banishing home and
land for three years, sometime fasting frequently and homeless,
sometime insulting and criticizing in saying that Aha,Aha look at him
how he is stultified and is doing his work, he is like riding two
horse. But I consider that the sufferings of this present times are
not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in
us(Rom 8:18) and that trouble caused the glory of God in our bodies.
When I have been closed the door, the Lord opened a window for running
again Bible school ministry besides others mission of Emmanuel
according to the word of Jesus that All things are possible with God
(Mt 19:26).
Unexpectedly more people came for study at our seminary.
Yes, we have announced that our seminary would be opened in June 10.
Unfortunately nothing was happen up to June 10. At that day some
people came for study to us but they left immediately.
Nevertheless the Lord opened exist for me when I was in the cave of
trouble and now our students are 40 who came unexpectedly from
different places and now they are occupied.
Why did more people came to our seminary?
Because the Lord has many peoples to be His disciples or His servants
to send them into His harvest as the harvest truly is plentiful but
the laborers are few in Myanmar. Though it is the future, it is
already in me. I am just like a pregnant concerning vision and dream.
When I played, I played with them, when I eat, I eat with them. Where
ever I go, I go with them. I and those are indivisible. If I perish,
they would also perish with me. If not, I must beget them one day for
Christ. For to me to live is Christ (Phi 1:21).
How the Lord revealed His mighty things to the poor
In your state Bible students may be self-supported but our students
are not like that because of poor and low land. If there is a charge
for them to give meal fee or school fee or monthly fee, it is no easy
for them.
However Jesus was sent to preach the gospel to the poor on earth Luke
4:18 and I too am sent to preach the Gospel to the poor for the Lord
want to reveal His mighty things to the poor to see what many prophets
and righteous men desired to see but did not see it and to hear but
did not hear it(Mt 13:17)
……………………..To God be the glory…………………...................
I usually never do such a thing as recommend a music band. Mainly because I hardly ever listen to music and stay pretty much out of the loop when it comes to the industry. However, about a month ago, through a series of unpredictable circumstances, I listened to the album “Tonight the Stars Speak” by the band The Glorious Unseen. I was immediately moved and captivated by their songs. Not so much the style of music or the ability of the artists, though I appreciate both, but for the lyrical content of their songs.
FINALLY - contemporary music with sound theology!!! The theme of this particular album is clearly the glory of God. Could there be a better one? Each song is scripturally informed and very much edifying! I enjoy every song on this album for that very reason. The chorus to the song “Forever Holy” is a great example of my observations of their ministry. It reads:
This is what makes my head spin -- You’re forever holy.
God of all creation pour your life into me.
This is so overwhelming -- You’re forever holy.
God of my salvation clothe me in your glory.
See what I mean? And it only gets better. They are to release a new album soon titled “The Hope that Lies in You.” I look forward to hearing it as soon as it is released!
Take a listen. You’ll be refreshed in spirit.
The Prayer Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ!!
1. The Morning Prayer: Mark 1:35.
2. The Evening Prayer: Mark 6:46-47.
3. The Night Prayer: Luke 6:12.
4. The Special Prayer: Luke 3:21.
5. The Public Prayer: John 11:41.
6. The Prayer in suffering: Matthew 26:41-44.
7. The Prayer on the Cross: Luke 23:34, Luke 23:46.
Prayer Encouragers!!
Morning prayer leads to evening praise.
Prayer is an appointment with God.
Prayer releases God's power.
Prayer reveals secrets.
Prayer heals broken bodies.
Prayer shows God's will.
Prayer brings victory.
Prayer changes things.
Prayer leads to God's guidance.
Prayer teaches humility.
