Dear Readers around the world! The entire Foreign Mission board prays that each of you would have a most Blessed New Year and that the light of the world, Jesus Christ, would be shining brightly in and through each of you!
This week our article is written by the late Reverend Andrew Mickelsen. He was truly a beloved Pastor from my childhood and he was a most faithful servant of the Lord for many years! Please Enjoy, John
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people
Israel. (Luke 2:29-32) The first thought revealed to us in this text is this: Simeon was ready to depart in peace for he had seen the salvation that God had prepared before all the people. What greater blessing could befall man than to be ready to depart in peace from this world of sorrow and sin and to dwell in the land of the righteous forever? This was the goal that Simeon had sought, and it is the goal toward which all true Christians
are striving. Is this the goal toward which you are
also striving, dear friend? If it is, let us examine how Simeon reached this goal.
The Holy Ghost had revealed to him that he would not see death until he had
seen the Lord’s Christ. When he saw the Savior, on whom all the promises of the Word
of God hinged, he was ready to depart in peace because he had believed those promises.
This is what happens to all who see the Lord as He is: full of grace and truth. They find
the peace of God that drives away the fear of death. Have you seen the Lord in this
manner? You may think this is impossible because He is not in the flesh as He was in the days of Simeon. But does not the Bible say, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people?
Therefore all may see Him. But do all know Him as their Savior? Great multitudes saw Him when He was here on earth, but did they know Him as their Savior? He performed
miracles and wonders that never had been seen before and He spoke as no one had ever spoken before. But Simeon knew Him though he only saw a babe in the arms of His mother. This teaches us that some requirements are needed in order to come to know the Savior when He appears to us. The Bible tells us that Simeon was just and devout, and the Holy Ghost was upon him. The definition for just and devout is one who is upright and impartial, devoted to studying and obeying the Word of God. Those requirements are necessary; namely, that we honestly and impartially study and obey God’s Word in the light and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Then we shall know the Savior whenever and wherever He appears to us. The natural eyes may see only a babe, or a Christian mother or father, sister or brother, but to the humble, sincere soul the Spirit reveals the Savior in and through them. The rationalist says that is foolishness. The atheist says that is superstition. The intellectualist brushes it aside as ignorance.
Apostle Paul says, The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (I Corinthians 1:25) Let us take St. Paul as an example. The Bible introduces him to us as Saul of Tarsus in the eighth and ninth chapters of the book of Acts. He had seen the Lord with His disciples, but did not know Him as his Savior because at that time he was not upright and impartial, although he may have entertained such thoughts about himself. He no doubt was sincere in his belief that he was serving God when he persecuted the Christians, but the Holy Ghost was not upon him, enlightening and guiding him.
Not until the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus in such brightness that his natural eyes were blinded did he know the Lord, and that not by sight for he was blind. He knew Him through the words of introduction revealed in His response to Saul’s question, Who art thou? when the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. (Acts 9:5)
Now, though Saul was blind, he received spiritual light and guidance to become upright, impartial and submissive, asking, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? (Acts 9:6) Jesus commanded him to go into the city and that he will be told what he should do.
Why did Jesus Himself not tell Saul what to do? Because He wanted Saul to know Him through His followers and His Word. Had He justified Saul on the way, he would never have come to know Jesus in His followers and would have taught men to seek and find the Lord in secret, as many teach today. This experience taught Saul to seek the Lord in His followers and to find Him in His Word. When he received the blessing of the Lord, he received his sight and the Holy Ghost by believing that the words which Ananias spoke to him were just as authentic as if they had been spoken by the Lord.
Therefore, Paul teaches, Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God, (IICorinthians 5:20) and To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave
any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ. (II
Corinthians 2:10) Note that Paul says, forgave I it in the person of Christ. Thus from
experience he says, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(Romans 10:17)
The light that shines from Jesus first enlightens the heart and conscience of man to take note of his utterly lost and condemned condition. Then it shows man what he must do to be saved. Therefore, Paul says, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance
of God, (Romans 3:23-25)
and also these words, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. (Ephesians 1:7) Now the sinner becomes aware of the grace of God in the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace.
Dear friend, has the light of Jesus enlightened you in this manner? If so, you are indeed blessed and you have the peace of God, which is the peace of a good conscience. My new year’s wish for you is that you keep faith and a good, peaceful conscience to the end of your journey. On the other hand, if you have not been enlightened, pray to God that the light of Jesus may shine into your heart and that He would give you strength to repent of your sins and to believe them all forgiven in the name and blood of Jesus. Then you also
will have peace in the new year that has just begun, and the Sun of Righteousness, which rose to its glory on the cross of Calvary, will warm your heart to sing His praise for the salvation of your soul throughout the new year.
May the peace of God be
in and with you all! Amen.
The late Andrew Mickelsen
"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isaiah 55:1
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Blessed Christmas Greetings!
Dear Readers around the world! The Foreign Mission desires and prays that each and every one of our friends would have a most Blessed Christmas season. Jesus our Friend Most Precious, is the entire reason for this season! Jesus is also the entire reason that we get together for this weekly reading, and is why we desire to even worship together one day.
What a force for unity Jesus has been even this year, has He not? We are separated by many miles, languages, cultures, traditions, and so many other things. However, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we can be one in Him.
What a difference the birth of Jesus has made in the world. Even people that do not yet believe in Jesus unto the Salvation of their souls, know about Christmas. There is no other figure in all of history that so many people know about. Even though many do not know him personally, He is so present that He is hard to miss. The fact that Christmas is celebrated so far and wide, must make many people at least wonder about Him at this time of year.
Even the calendar that we all use has the days of the week. Our maker, the one who created Heaven, earth, and all things, did all His work in six days and rested on the seventh. Calendars in all parts of the world have seven days per week. There is no escaping God’s greatness.
Also, we are now in the year 2009 AD. This date is related to the birth of Jesus Christ. Also, if you study the languages of the world, many words and sayings come directly from the Bible.
Have you ever wondered how a dog is a dog in all countries? What about a lion, tiger, elephant, cat, cow, or any other animal you want to name. They have the same name throughout the entire world. How is this possible? It is because of our Almighty God the Creator and Adam who named all the animals.
Now it seems like I have strayed away from the Christmas story. Not really, I do not believe. Can you agree with me that our Lord Jesus has always been and always will be? You can see in Genesis 1:26 that Jesus was with God even during creation, (note the underlined)
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
As time went on, it was not long when man fell into sin. Remember Adam and Eve partaking of the forbidden fruit. Our wonderful Creator cared so much about us His created, that we know and believe as it says in John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This is how much God loves us! In order to make this become a reality, God in His infinite wisdom saw fit that He would send Jesus into the earth. Yes, He sent His Son Jesus as a baby so no man can say he is not worthy to come to him. This event we know very well and study especially during Christmas time when we celebrate his birth.
I will not go into the whole Christmas story now, but I just want to point out a couple things.
Remember John the Baptist. He was a forerunner, or a messenger of Jesus Christ. I believe each one of us can also be a messenger through the Gospel of Jesus that now lives within us in the form of the Holy Ghost. Spread the Gospel of Jesus in your neighborhood, in your villages, in your country!
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is still as valid and worthy of praise today as on that first Christmas night when the angels proclaimed to the shepherd, Fear Not! The Lord is born! Oh that we could be the sounders of the trumpet to the lost and unsaved. Heavenly Father, use us as your mouthpiece to let them know of the Saving Power of the Lord Jesus!
The star showed the way to Jesus. The star lit the way for the wise men! Wise men today still seek the Lord. Are we willing to be used even as the star, to point the way to Jesus? The light that we have is not our own, and we know that scripture says in John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Jesus is our light. Dear Lord, even this Christmas season, let the Light of Jesus shine in us so brightly that He will draw all men unto him! John 12:32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Praise and thank God for the gift of Light, His Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Together in His love, let us raise our voices of praise and thanksgiving in two words that we all share in common, no matter what our language is!
Hallelujah, AMEN!
On behalf of the entire Foreign Mission Board,
May God grant you a most Joyous and Blessed Christmas!
John Ruotsala, Administrator
What a force for unity Jesus has been even this year, has He not? We are separated by many miles, languages, cultures, traditions, and so many other things. However, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we can be one in Him.
What a difference the birth of Jesus has made in the world. Even people that do not yet believe in Jesus unto the Salvation of their souls, know about Christmas. There is no other figure in all of history that so many people know about. Even though many do not know him personally, He is so present that He is hard to miss. The fact that Christmas is celebrated so far and wide, must make many people at least wonder about Him at this time of year.
Even the calendar that we all use has the days of the week. Our maker, the one who created Heaven, earth, and all things, did all His work in six days and rested on the seventh. Calendars in all parts of the world have seven days per week. There is no escaping God’s greatness.
Also, we are now in the year 2009 AD. This date is related to the birth of Jesus Christ. Also, if you study the languages of the world, many words and sayings come directly from the Bible.
Have you ever wondered how a dog is a dog in all countries? What about a lion, tiger, elephant, cat, cow, or any other animal you want to name. They have the same name throughout the entire world. How is this possible? It is because of our Almighty God the Creator and Adam who named all the animals.
Now it seems like I have strayed away from the Christmas story. Not really, I do not believe. Can you agree with me that our Lord Jesus has always been and always will be? You can see in Genesis 1:26 that Jesus was with God even during creation, (note the underlined)
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
As time went on, it was not long when man fell into sin. Remember Adam and Eve partaking of the forbidden fruit. Our wonderful Creator cared so much about us His created, that we know and believe as it says in John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
This is how much God loves us! In order to make this become a reality, God in His infinite wisdom saw fit that He would send Jesus into the earth. Yes, He sent His Son Jesus as a baby so no man can say he is not worthy to come to him. This event we know very well and study especially during Christmas time when we celebrate his birth.
I will not go into the whole Christmas story now, but I just want to point out a couple things.
Remember John the Baptist. He was a forerunner, or a messenger of Jesus Christ. I believe each one of us can also be a messenger through the Gospel of Jesus that now lives within us in the form of the Holy Ghost. Spread the Gospel of Jesus in your neighborhood, in your villages, in your country!
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is still as valid and worthy of praise today as on that first Christmas night when the angels proclaimed to the shepherd, Fear Not! The Lord is born! Oh that we could be the sounders of the trumpet to the lost and unsaved. Heavenly Father, use us as your mouthpiece to let them know of the Saving Power of the Lord Jesus!
The star showed the way to Jesus. The star lit the way for the wise men! Wise men today still seek the Lord. Are we willing to be used even as the star, to point the way to Jesus? The light that we have is not our own, and we know that scripture says in John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Jesus is our light. Dear Lord, even this Christmas season, let the Light of Jesus shine in us so brightly that He will draw all men unto him! John 12:32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Praise and thank God for the gift of Light, His Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Together in His love, let us raise our voices of praise and thanksgiving in two words that we all share in common, no matter what our language is!
Hallelujah, AMEN!
On behalf of the entire Foreign Mission Board,
May God grant you a most Joyous and Blessed Christmas!
John Ruotsala, Administrator
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS
Dear Readers around the world! This week our article is written by one of our Pastors here in the USA, Pastor Phil Wilson. Please enjoy, and may the Lord Bless you and yours during this season and always!
The Joy of Christmas
It is difficult to look at the Babe, Jesus, lying in the manger, who possessed all
that is so endearing in a precious little one, while remembering the whole
message of the angel: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)
What message did the angel bring? The message of the angel bore our need for a
Savior, the promise fulfilled of a Savior, and what this Babe of humble Bethlehem must endure in being our Savior. What was given unto us that first Christmas day? A
reason to get together as a family, an excuse to lavish gifts on each other, a guide for our temporal lives, another helper in our life of goodness?
No, for unto us was born a Savior. It was not the poet’s intent, nor is it mine, to turn Christmas into Good Friday, but let us marvel in this: The plan of salvation, which was from the beginning, was set into motion with the first human breath of Immanuel.
After 400 years of no prophecy, the tender plant appeared out of a dry ground. The longawaited Messiah had come!
Oh, heavenly tidings of great joy could now be applied to the hearts of men!
But for this great joy to be realized, must this precious little Babe first be despised and rejected of men, must He appear before the chief priests, elders, and scribes,must He suffer in bearing our grief and sorrow, and must He die on the cross?
How much easier it would be if we could continue to think of that precious little
Babe of Bethlehem than to look at the suffering servant, but, by God’s grace, we can
look and still find joy. We have joy in this, that our sin debt has been paid, and death has been vanquished by the heavenly gift, enshrouded in mortal flesh but for a season.
It is not a grievous thing which God has revealed to us, for we know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (I John 3:5)
Enjoy the Christmas season as you gather with family and friends, sharing in
the natural gifts that we have been given. My prayer for your time spent, as well as
mine, is that we would use that time wisely; that we would read and reread the
old, old story of Jesus and His love, sing the carols of old, and teach our children what it cost for God to give us of Himself, and what it means to us as recipients of that gift.
The Christmas season gives us an opportune time to share the story of Jesus with
many: the clerk at the store, the bell ringer, the mailman, and our neighbor. As we may be caught in the hustle and bustle of busy malls and shopping, placed under the
burden and stress that the world has to offer at this time, and bombarded with “Happy
Holidays,” let us reply with infinite joy in our hearts.
We have already received the greatest gift offered to mankind. We have a Savior, who now reigns in the heavens and in the hearts of the believers.
He can be your Savior,too. What greater gift could be received or given?
In God’s peace,
Pastor Phil Wilson
Ridgefield, Washington
The Joy of Christmas
It is difficult to look at the Babe, Jesus, lying in the manger, who possessed all
that is so endearing in a precious little one, while remembering the whole
message of the angel: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)
What message did the angel bring? The message of the angel bore our need for a
Savior, the promise fulfilled of a Savior, and what this Babe of humble Bethlehem must endure in being our Savior. What was given unto us that first Christmas day? A
reason to get together as a family, an excuse to lavish gifts on each other, a guide for our temporal lives, another helper in our life of goodness?
No, for unto us was born a Savior. It was not the poet’s intent, nor is it mine, to turn Christmas into Good Friday, but let us marvel in this: The plan of salvation, which was from the beginning, was set into motion with the first human breath of Immanuel.
After 400 years of no prophecy, the tender plant appeared out of a dry ground. The longawaited Messiah had come!
Oh, heavenly tidings of great joy could now be applied to the hearts of men!
But for this great joy to be realized, must this precious little Babe first be despised and rejected of men, must He appear before the chief priests, elders, and scribes,must He suffer in bearing our grief and sorrow, and must He die on the cross?
How much easier it would be if we could continue to think of that precious little
Babe of Bethlehem than to look at the suffering servant, but, by God’s grace, we can
look and still find joy. We have joy in this, that our sin debt has been paid, and death has been vanquished by the heavenly gift, enshrouded in mortal flesh but for a season.
It is not a grievous thing which God has revealed to us, for we know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (I John 3:5)
Enjoy the Christmas season as you gather with family and friends, sharing in
the natural gifts that we have been given. My prayer for your time spent, as well as
mine, is that we would use that time wisely; that we would read and reread the
old, old story of Jesus and His love, sing the carols of old, and teach our children what it cost for God to give us of Himself, and what it means to us as recipients of that gift.
The Christmas season gives us an opportune time to share the story of Jesus with
many: the clerk at the store, the bell ringer, the mailman, and our neighbor. As we may be caught in the hustle and bustle of busy malls and shopping, placed under the
burden and stress that the world has to offer at this time, and bombarded with “Happy
Holidays,” let us reply with infinite joy in our hearts.
We have already received the greatest gift offered to mankind. We have a Savior, who now reigns in the heavens and in the hearts of the believers.
He can be your Savior,too. What greater gift could be received or given?
In God’s peace,
Pastor Phil Wilson
Ridgefield, Washington
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Prayer
Dear Readers around the world! This week I feel led to ask all of us around the world to be united in prayer. We know that the world of God says in James 5:16… The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Since Christians know the power of prayer, it is a wonderful thing when we can pray one for another. The first most important desire and prayer that Christians have should always be as it is stated in Romans 10:1
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
The people of Israel are God’s children. All people are God’s children, however not everyone has repented and believed yet. God created all people, and He desires that they would be saved! We truly desire that all would be saved. Jesus died for all! Please pray that more and more people would be become believers in the complete redemptive work of our Lord Jesus during the time of grace.
There are so many things that we can prayer jointly for! Imagine; Christians from all corners of the world praying to God in Heaven in Jesus name for the same things. I will list a few common items here.
Please pray for:
• The Apostolic Lutheran Church of America and it’s leadership and boards, and congregants.
• The Foreign Mission of the ALCA and its board and administrator.
• The United States so that it would turn toward God for strength and directions
• All the churches, pastors, and congregants that the Foreign Mission of the ALCA is in fellowship with in the following countries: Guatemala, South Africa, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, India, Russia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Sri Lanka,
• Pray that the word would be preached in truth and purity in all these countries.
• Pray for Foreign Mission of the ALCA’s work being done in China, Kenya, Pakistan, Haiti, Napal, Malawi, Vietnam, Congo, Mexico. Pray that the missions can expand further into these countries.
• Pray that the Foreign Mission in the future would be able to work in a greater way in even more countries as God leads. It surely is our desire to be obedient to the Word of our Lord Jesus when He said, “ go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
• Pray for mission work in your own neighborhoods and outback areas. Not all mission work has to be foreign, close to home is just as important.
• Pray for all Christian missionaries everywhere.
• Pray for the health and safety of all of God’s people in all of the countries listed above, as well as others not listed here that I may have forgotten to list.
• Pray for the children, young people, elderly, and infirm.
• Pray for the financial condition in the USA, that it would improve so more people can afford to support Foreign Mission work in the Lord’s Vineyard.
• Pray that the people in the USA as well as in all the countries that the Foreign Mission works in; would be lead to give financially to the church from their first fruits of God’s blessings. Remember the widow’s mite!
• Pray for all the other servants in the Church worldwide! The ladies in the kitchen, the cleaning people, and all those other so very important jobs that are so appreciated in God’s eyes.
• Pray for humbleness.
• Pray that we would not have envy.
• Pray that we would not be covetous.
• Pray for unity. Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
• Pray without ceasing. 1 Thes. 5:17
• Remember God word says: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20 Pray for the unbelievers and backsliding.
• Pray for contentment
• Pray for Peace and Joy! (not only in this season but all year)
I need to stop due to length. We each have our own items that we can add to this list!
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 Thes. 3:1
May God Bless your week!
Since Christians know the power of prayer, it is a wonderful thing when we can pray one for another. The first most important desire and prayer that Christians have should always be as it is stated in Romans 10:1
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
The people of Israel are God’s children. All people are God’s children, however not everyone has repented and believed yet. God created all people, and He desires that they would be saved! We truly desire that all would be saved. Jesus died for all! Please pray that more and more people would be become believers in the complete redemptive work of our Lord Jesus during the time of grace.
There are so many things that we can prayer jointly for! Imagine; Christians from all corners of the world praying to God in Heaven in Jesus name for the same things. I will list a few common items here.
Please pray for:
• The Apostolic Lutheran Church of America and it’s leadership and boards, and congregants.
• The Foreign Mission of the ALCA and its board and administrator.
• The United States so that it would turn toward God for strength and directions
• All the churches, pastors, and congregants that the Foreign Mission of the ALCA is in fellowship with in the following countries: Guatemala, South Africa, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, India, Russia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Sri Lanka,
• Pray that the word would be preached in truth and purity in all these countries.
• Pray for Foreign Mission of the ALCA’s work being done in China, Kenya, Pakistan, Haiti, Napal, Malawi, Vietnam, Congo, Mexico. Pray that the missions can expand further into these countries.
• Pray that the Foreign Mission in the future would be able to work in a greater way in even more countries as God leads. It surely is our desire to be obedient to the Word of our Lord Jesus when He said, “ go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
• Pray for mission work in your own neighborhoods and outback areas. Not all mission work has to be foreign, close to home is just as important.
• Pray for all Christian missionaries everywhere.
• Pray for the health and safety of all of God’s people in all of the countries listed above, as well as others not listed here that I may have forgotten to list.
• Pray for the children, young people, elderly, and infirm.
• Pray for the financial condition in the USA, that it would improve so more people can afford to support Foreign Mission work in the Lord’s Vineyard.
• Pray that the people in the USA as well as in all the countries that the Foreign Mission works in; would be lead to give financially to the church from their first fruits of God’s blessings. Remember the widow’s mite!
• Pray for all the other servants in the Church worldwide! The ladies in the kitchen, the cleaning people, and all those other so very important jobs that are so appreciated in God’s eyes.
• Pray for humbleness.
• Pray that we would not have envy.
• Pray that we would not be covetous.
• Pray for unity. Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
• Pray without ceasing. 1 Thes. 5:17
• Remember God word says: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20 Pray for the unbelievers and backsliding.
• Pray for contentment
• Pray for Peace and Joy! (not only in this season but all year)
I need to stop due to length. We each have our own items that we can add to this list!
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 Thes. 3:1
May God Bless your week!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Password
Dear Readers around the world! We are now entering into the Advent Season! We are so thankful for Jesus, that this time of year is quite exciting. However all who are Christians have the right to be joyous and at rest in Jesus all year long, not just in this season.
Yesterday I experienced computer problems in my office. The internet stopped working. For no real reason that I could tell, it just stopped working. The thing was, the computers still worked, the cables were all hooked up and everything seemed in order. I surely could not tell by looking or inspecting why the internet stopped working. Since my job demands that I always have internet access for communications around the world, this was quite a problem.
I earnestly set about to try to correct this problem. I spent a total of probably 6 hours on the phone during the course of the day and evening. I talked to people as far away as India and the Philippines that work for the customer service departments of these major companies.
Finally at the end of the day, a nice lady in the Philippines was able to enter the correct code numbers in the proper places in the multiple levels of internet security and set up, to make the internet work again. During this lengthy call I was able to share about Jesus, and she promised to come to our services in the Philippines in March. God is Good!
I tell you this story to make a point about Jesus, who is our passage to heaven. You see, even though a person may look good on the outside, and even though they seem to be doing all the correct things, this does not mean that they are saved. The good appearance and the works that they are doing will not amount to eternal salvation. Man can never work his way to Heaven. Ephes. 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
No, dear reader, without the Lord Jesus, no flesh shall be saved. In the picture about my computer, codes were needed to be put into my computer in order for it to work. Likewise, Faith of and in our Lord Jesus is the only way to heaven. Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Dear Reader, share with all whom you know about this passage to heaven. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If there is someone reading this today that does not know the way to heaven yet, the Holy unerring Word of God has the answers. Please turn to the Holy Bible and read it, and listen to the preaching from truly believing Christian preachers in accordance with Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Dear Pastor and readers, remember that God’s Word teaches us in 2 Cor. 4:5
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
Also Jesus said in Luke 24:47
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
We have been given the password and codes to get to Heaven. Jesus Christ is the Way! Let us pray together than many would yet come to faith before it is too late! Let the calling voice of our Lord be heard in our day and in this Advent season!
May God Bless your week! John
Yesterday I experienced computer problems in my office. The internet stopped working. For no real reason that I could tell, it just stopped working. The thing was, the computers still worked, the cables were all hooked up and everything seemed in order. I surely could not tell by looking or inspecting why the internet stopped working. Since my job demands that I always have internet access for communications around the world, this was quite a problem.
I earnestly set about to try to correct this problem. I spent a total of probably 6 hours on the phone during the course of the day and evening. I talked to people as far away as India and the Philippines that work for the customer service departments of these major companies.
Finally at the end of the day, a nice lady in the Philippines was able to enter the correct code numbers in the proper places in the multiple levels of internet security and set up, to make the internet work again. During this lengthy call I was able to share about Jesus, and she promised to come to our services in the Philippines in March. God is Good!
I tell you this story to make a point about Jesus, who is our passage to heaven. You see, even though a person may look good on the outside, and even though they seem to be doing all the correct things, this does not mean that they are saved. The good appearance and the works that they are doing will not amount to eternal salvation. Man can never work his way to Heaven. Ephes. 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
No, dear reader, without the Lord Jesus, no flesh shall be saved. In the picture about my computer, codes were needed to be put into my computer in order for it to work. Likewise, Faith of and in our Lord Jesus is the only way to heaven. Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Dear Reader, share with all whom you know about this passage to heaven. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If there is someone reading this today that does not know the way to heaven yet, the Holy unerring Word of God has the answers. Please turn to the Holy Bible and read it, and listen to the preaching from truly believing Christian preachers in accordance with Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Dear Pastor and readers, remember that God’s Word teaches us in 2 Cor. 4:5
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
Also Jesus said in Luke 24:47
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
We have been given the password and codes to get to Heaven. Jesus Christ is the Way! Let us pray together than many would yet come to faith before it is too late! Let the calling voice of our Lord be heard in our day and in this Advent season!
May God Bless your week! John
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