Dear Weekly Readers!   God’s Peace!

Words are so very important.  One small good word can encourage a brother.  Likewise, one small evil word can do much destruction.   Let us always be careful of the words we use.  Ephesians 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hears.

The below article by Pastor Wayne Juntunen gives a different but wonderful example of how very small words can change the meaning and importance of the subject being communicated!

Please enjoy, and my God Bless your week!

 

OUR COVENANT KEEPING GOD

Dear precious brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lord opened mine eyes to see something from His Word I had never seen before.  Yes, I have read the passage many times, but have not really “seen” the importance of a single word in the verse that is so important that it changes the emphasis of the entire event which it describes.  It is the little word “it” in Joshua 4:7.  God had given specific instructions to Joshua as to the manner by which His people with whom He had made His covenant were to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land.  There are many significant details in this event that are worthy to note.  But the one that struck me this morning as I was reading the passage is a part of verse 7 in chapter 4.  The phrase is as follows:  “…the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan…”

As often as I have read that verse, without thinking, I have put the emphasis upon the people so as to believe the waters were cut when the people passed over.  But that is not what the Bible says!  It says, “the waters were cut off before the ark of the Lord when it passed over Jordan.”  That “it” does not refer to the people, but to the ark!  As surely as soon as the feet of the priests touched the flood waters of the Jordan, the waters parted; not because of the priests, but because they bore the ark.  God had given the instructions as to how the crossing was going to be possible, but it was the presence of the ark that created the effect.  Why is this so important?  Simply and clearly it shows us that in God’s work of salvation, the emphasis is always upon what He has done, is doing, and will do! 

Yes, it is true that the twelve stones taken up from the dry river bed of the Jordan by a representative of each of the twelve tribes was to be set up as a memorial to future generations to testify that the Lord God “…dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over. (Josh. 4:21).  But that testimony referred to the effect or result of the fact that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan.  Without the presence and power of “the Ark”, Israel would never have made it into the Promised Land!

That Ark, as we all know, was the Ark of the Covenant that God instructed Moses to make and into which were place the Ten Commandments and upon which was the lid known as “the mercy seat” (Ex. 25:17-22).  The Epistle to the Hebrews in chapter 8 – 10 points us forward to Christ who is the fulfillment of God’s covenant.  Therefore, we know this Old Testament Ark was a “type of Christ.”  He is the Author and Finisher of our salvation.  It is because of Him and Him alone that we are not only saved but in and through whom we have life in abundance here, now, and forever!

God is faithful!  He has kept and continues to keep His covenant.  He puts no confidence in the flesh.  Not only has He begun the good work, within us but will continue to bring it to completion within us until we, too, cross over the Jordan of our death into the Promised Land of eternal glory.  All of this is because of His grace.  As Paul writes in his Epistle to the Romans, where sin abounds, grace much more abounds (Rom. 5:20).

Our response is the obedience of faith (Rom. 1:5; 16:26).  God has perfected his marvelous grace throughout the ages having spoken in these last days through Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection.  He has fulfilled and kept his covenant promises.  But if we do not take Him at His Word, all that He has promised and finished will be of no benefit to us.  How dramatically did God show His power as the Ark stopped the raging flood waters of the Jordan.  Had Israel feared the waters and not trusted God’s Ark, they would have never known the riches of His abundant blessing He had in store for them.  Has He not shown His power even more dramatically on Calvary’s Cross and the Garden tomb through the death and resurrection of our Lord? 

 God’s love for fallen mankind has never faltered or failed.  His love is stronger than death!  Dear reader, trust Him and sing, “Jesus love me this I know for the Bible tells me so.”  Then live in the power of that truth and walk by faith!

Pr. Wayne Juntunen

  THE CROSS OF CHRIST

What do we think and feel about the cross of Christ?
This week I want to examine what one of the greatest and most notable Christians who ever lived thought of the cross of Christ.
We can read about what Paul thought on this important question by reading Galatians 6:14  But God forbid the I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…..

So individually I would like to ask each of you, "What do you think about the cross of Christ?"

Paul begins our text by saying God Forbid.  In other words:  God, do not let this happen, or : God, allow me to NEVER Forget, or:  God,  stop me from glorying in something else, other than the cross of Jesus.   
These are such strong words from Paul! 

According to how the world sees things, Paul could have boasted about so many things, but he did not.
He could have boasted about his national privileges. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews.  He could have boasted he comes through his forefather Abraham, being in the right tribe, born in the right place, at the right time, etc.
He could have boasted in his own works, because he did so many things, even healings and wonderful missionary journeys.  He could have boasted in his knowledge, as he was schooled under the best teacher of his era.   He could have boasted in his graces. He was so loving, he was self-denying, so prayerful, so thankful.    

He never boasted in his churchmanship.  He started so many churches; he was a great church leader.
He could have gloried in his own personal conversion which was so exceptional that we read about it in the Holy Bible even today.

If Paul said, "God forbid that I should boast in anything whatever except the cross," should I dare to say, I have something to boast of? I am a better man than Paul?
Oh, let us beware of self-righteousness!   Be thankful, never boasting in ourselves!

  1^st Corinth 2:2 For I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified.

When Paul talks about the cross in this way, he was referring to the doctrine that Christ died for sinners upon the cross.   This is what Paul is speaking about!  The Doctrine of atonement, blood shed for sin! The Doctrine of substitution, where we do not have to die and go to hell, because Jesus died for us!   
He is speaking about the doctrine that says as in Col 1:14    In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.  (also in Eph. 1:7)

He is speaking about the fact the “without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.”   He is talking about the fact that   God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son! John 3:16
He is talking about the “ Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”   This is the Cross of Jesus Christ that Paul is referring to when he says he desires to Glory in nothing else!

A powerful verse says:  ( 1 Corinth 1:18)    For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which believe it is the power of God!  
  
What a revelation when we can see the cross as the POWER OF GOD!  The Love of God!  Our Salvation!  O what power it is!

The Cross was in evidence before time:   In Revelations 13:8 … Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World  In Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God who cannot lie, promised before the world began.   

The Cross in Sacrificial Symbolism:   Read the story of the Passover! What a picture!  Read about the sacrificing of the Lambs in the temple…. Right down to the water and blood flowed from the side of the temple just as they flowed from Jesus side.    

The Cross is Life for us!  1 John 5  11-12 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.    READ 2 Corinth 5 :14-15! You will see life!

 The Blood Cleanses: Isaiah 1:18  Come let us reason together saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool!      

The Cross makes the believers exempt from judgment.      Romans 8:1 … No condemnation   Rev 2:11.. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.    Rev. 20:6  …on such the second death hath NO POWER.

The Cross gives us Power over sin: Romans 6:6  …Old man crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.   

The Cross is the subject Paul loved to preach about, and it is the subject he loved to dwell upon when he wrote to believers.
This is what Paul lived upon all his life, from the time of his conversion. He tells the Galatians, "The life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galat. 2:20.)

May we rest assured that Paul was right. Depend upon it, the cross of Christ—the death of Christ on the cross to make atonement for sinners—is the center truth in the whole Bible.
Let us not forget that all Christ's sufferings on the cross were fore-ordained. He was crucified "by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God." (Acts 2:23.)

Do not forget that Christ's sufferings on the cross were necessary for man's salvation. He had to bear our sins, if ever they were to be borne at all. “by His stripes we are healed.”      

Do not forget that Christ's sufferings were endured voluntarily Romans 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all…..

How can we love sin, when we remember that because of our sins Jesus died?   
The Cross of Christ is the only place in the history of the entire world that we can see where the Saviour of Mankind, the Diety, dies for the sinner, for the disciple!     In all the other world religions, man has to do things to please the Diety.  That is why Christianity is a FAITH, not a religion and it is set apart by the Cross of Jesus, by the fact the it is all done for us by Christ! 

The cross is the strength of a minister and the entire church! . 1 Corinth 1:18    For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which believe it is the power of God!       
Are you living in any kind of sin? Are you inquiring the way toward heaven?  Are you a distressed believer? Are you dying from a disease or cancer?  Jesus Christ won the victory over death, hell, and the power of the devil upon the cross!

Now I ask you again,  What you think now about the cross of Christ? 

 May you and I both say together… "God forbid that I should boast—except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!        

Dear Weekly Readers!

Let us remember one another in prayer throughout this week!

Again this week I have typed out a tract that has been used in our church in the USA!  You can feel free to print and pass it out as you see fit.       Also, if any of you feel inspired to write a Spiritual article, please email it to me at foreignmission@comcast.net

May God Bless your week!

 

Problems Too Great to Carry?

Many times in life our problems and cares in the world cause us great concern and worry. We try to make our own way, and do it all ourselves.

The Bible teaches us, “Cast all your cares upon Him (Jesus), for He cares for you.” (Peter 5:7).

Jesus said, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matt. 6:34)

The Lord shows us that “All things are possible with God” and that “Whatsoever you ask in Jesus’ name, believing, the Father shall give unto you.”  How important, therefore, that we bring all our problems, cares and concerns to the Father in prayer in Jesus’  name.

The greatest burden which we often carry is the guilt of our own wrongdoings toward men of God, and the consequences of them, which the Bible calls sin.  It is written, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us… Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”  (Heb. 12:12)

The consequences of in are twofold; The chastisement of the Lord and death, “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,  and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Heb. 12:6).    “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Remember the loving Saviour who looked down from the cross and prayed, saying, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” If you sins in this world are burdening you, may you by the grace of God bring them to Jesus, in repentance, that by faith you may receive the assurance of the forgiveness of all your sins through Jesus’ name and blood.

God had given such power unto the disciples to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins in His name beginning at Jerusalem.  (Luke 24:47)

The Mystery and Miracle of New Birth

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again”  John 3:7

There are many mysteries and miracles recorded in the Bible. The most important to our salvation is new birth, a spiritual birth through Jesus Christ. The importance of new birth cannot be overstated.

Jesus said, “…except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”  John 3:3, and  “…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” John 3:5

New birth is a mystery to those who have not experienced it. Nicodemus, a learned member of the Jewish Sanhedrin asked Jesus, “…How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”  John 3:4. Likewise, in our fallen state, we considered new birth a mystery.

We may have asked in our hearts, “How would it be possible for such a wayward and self-willed person as I am to be so favored by God as to experience new birth?”  We may have even seen and wondered how other hardhearted men had been miraculously broken and converted to Christ.

New birth is a miracle to those of us who, by the grace of God, have experienced it.  We have felt the calling of the Holy Spirit, convicting us of our sinfulness and felt the burden of sin on our conscience. We have cried out with broken heart, confessing and asking forgiveness and hearing a servant of God assuring us that our sins are forgiven in Jesus’ Name and shed blood. WE have then felt a miraculous release and a cleansing of the soul. Thus, while in our fallen state we pondered the mystery of this new birth, we now marvel at the miracle.

The need for new birth is a subject which is avoided by most people. It is most difficult for man to confront and confess his sinfulness.  Some view new birth as a gradual transition or as a learning experience.  Others think that it can come about without repentance, confession, and remission of sins.

The Bible teaches otherwise. It clearly states that there must be a repentance or Godly sorrow for sin. Jesus said, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” Luke 13:3

Confession of sin is also vital. “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”, 1 John 1:9

Also, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed” James 5:16.   Remission of sins must be received and believed. Jesus said to his followers, “Whose soever sins ye remit, that are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, that are retained” John 20:23.

In Romans we read “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” Romans 10:10

We have been given this great miracle of new birth and salvation by our loving God who did not spare His only Son from the death penalty for sin on our behalf. So then if we believe in Him we need not perish, but have everlasting life.

May we thank and praise Him for this great personal gift and remain faithful and obedient unto His Holy Word.

God’s Peace!  Al Wuori

The Awakening Call

Dear Weekly Readers!

This week our dinner article is a little different. This is actually a tract for hand out! This was written by one of our pastors some years back. I thought I would share it with you. Perhaps you may want to print it off and hand it out to people you see in your villages. As we know, the acceptable day of grace is today! O that all sinners would repent and believe during the time of grace, rather than wait until the Lord comes again when it will be too late! May God Bless your week!
John R.

The Awakening Call

Everyone of us has at one time or another experienced some type of awakening call during the course of our lifetime. A Typical awakening for everyone each day is the awakening from sleep. Some hear the call of a parent or loved one informing them f the time to get up. Many must be reminded or called several times before getting up. Others jump up at the first call and are ready to start the day. Those who have no one call them must depend on alarm clocks, or perhaps by a telephone call when lodging at some inn while traveling. Even this type of call has its problems. People just hate to get up, so they will shut the alarm off or press a doze button to delay getting up.

There are, of course, other ways by which we are awakened to a need or some situation. Our automobiles at times will catch our attention when the engine begins to sputter and our glance at the fuel gauge reveals that we are out of gas. How about the siren and blinking lights of a traffic patrol reminding us of our speed? What about the past due notices we receive in the mail? They sure get our attention, don’t they? Well, we could go on and on, and I’m sure you get my point. This happens all too often in our secular lives. But what about our spiritual lives? Is there such a thing as an ”awakening call” from God?

If so, how does it come about and what purpose does it serve, you may ask? I suppose to one who has never heard the story of the creation or has just refused to give it his or her attention, it has no meaning. In spite of this, there really is such a call for His Word tells us that He doesn’t want any of us to perish (2ndPeter 3:9). The purpose of this call is to awaken you to the solemn fact that it is appointed for men once to die but after this the judgment (Heb 9:27), and in so doing get your attention. God wants you to know that we are sinners and that the wages of sin is death.

It is true that everyone must meet with a physical death because of the inherited sin of Adam and Eve. To the one who has forgotten the natural man’s destiny, it has a grim reminder. Once God has your attention and reveals to you your sinful condition, He also wants to let your know that there is hope for you to change your situation. The hope is in His Son, Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Isn’t this Good News to the one who has been awakened from this horrible nightmare of a condemned sinner? The life in store for this sinner who ignores God’s call or scoffs at this call is by no means desirable for it entails eternity with the devil and his angels in the lake of fire. The fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, ad whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death ((Rev 21:8).

The mechanism that trips the alarm of God’s awakening call in a man’s heart and mind if theWORD OF GOD. He wants to be heard with this message delivered to the Hebrews: The word of god is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit , and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb 4:12). Where and when does one get stricken by this word? This is a mystery that has no ready answer.

There are many factors which govern this answer. Some have been on the verge of suicide, and by picking up and reading a tract have been smitten by the “sword of the spirit,” which is the Word of God. One departed preacher told of his mother’s convicting words coming to him during a card game which led him to repentance. Others have heard the witness of a child of God or disciple of Christ. Perhaps some tragedy has taken away a loved one and at the funeral service the message delivered God’s convicting sword. God works in mysterious ways.

Whichever way God chooses to awaken you, dear friend, take heed. This is the first step in God’s plan of salvation. In other words, God is placing the conviction of sin into your heart to test your reaction. Is His word going to pierce your hard heart? The two-edged sword wants to break your heart to provide good ground in order that God’s Word would find a lodging place. This is a desirable condition for now the “Sower of the seed” (Matt 13) may be able to plant the seed of hope into your troubled heart. It is now that you need the absolving word of reconciliation to be preached to your listening ears and troubled heart. You need to find the “Keeper of the keys” of the kingdom of God.

These are the members of the royal priesthood who have received the keys of binding and loosing and the authority to use them (Matt 16:19). You see, they too, have heard the Good News, and have had their troubled and evil consciences cleansed with the blood of Christ contained in the Gospel message declared unto them. Jesus spoke these words to His disciples after His resurrection: whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them: and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained(until such time they repent) (John 20:23). In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus instructed His disciples that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47).

May God, our Heavenly Father, awaken those sinners receiving His call to their needs of a savior in these latter and crucial times. Have you received God’s awakening call? If God is calling you, why not answer the call by seeking the Lord while He can be found. Are you aware of the time on God’s time clock? In the days of Apostle Paul, He gave the Romans this warning. Now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof (Rom. 13:11-14). May He speak to your heart.

Pastor Rueben O Peterson

The Weekly Diner

Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

I am happy to report that the group of missionaries that the Foreign Mission of the ALC sent to Russia has safely returned home yesterday!

All such trips take much overcoming of obstacles! Still we desire to be obedient to our Lord when He said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Furthermore, we know what our Lord has saved us from, and we from His great Love, desire to share with others around the world!

The following very short article by Charles Spurgeon is an encouragement for all, both the missionaries and the ones whose needs are being addressed!

Please enjoy, and may God Bless your week!

"And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay."
Mark 2:4

Faith is full of inventions. The house was full, a crowd blocked up the door, but faith found a way of getting at the Lord and placing the palsied man before him. If we cannot get sinners where Jesus is by ordinary methods we must use extraordinary ones.

It seems, according to Luke 5:19, that a tiling had to be removed, which would make dust and cause a measure of danger to those below, but where the case is very urgent we must not mind running some risks and shocking some proprieties.

Jesus was there to heal, and therefore fall what might, faith ventured all so that her poor paralysed charge might have his sins forgiven. O that we had more daring faith among us! Cannot we, dear reader, seek it this morning for ourselves and for our fellow-workers, and will we not try today to perform some gallant act for the love of souls and the glory of the Lord.

The world is constantly inventing; genius serves all the purposes of human desire: cannot faith invent too, and reach by some new means the outcasts who lie perishing around us? It was the presence of Jesus which excited victorious courage in the four bearers of the palsied man: is not the Lord among us now? Have we seen his face for ourselves this morning? Have we felt his healing power in our own souls?

If so, then through door, through window, or through roof, let us, breaking through all impediments, labour to bring poor souls to Jesus. All means are good and decorous when faith and love are truly set on winning souls. If hunger for bread can break through stone walls, surely hunger for souls is not to be hindered in its efforts.

O Lord, make us quick to suggest methods of reaching thy poor sin-sick ones, and bold to carry them out at all hazards.

Charles Spurgeon

Come ye to the waters!

Dear Weekly Readers!

The prayers of the Christians in the USA are with you again this week!
It is so wonderful that when we read God’s Word and we see very clearly see that there will be people in Heaven from…….. all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palms in their hands; Revelations 7:9

What a day that will be when our Saviour we see in that beautiful city of gold!

Today let us look into the Old Testament. We will look at just a few short parts of Isaiah 55. Isaiah was such a wonderful writer and such a great prophet.

Leading up to this chapter 55 in Isaiah, The 53rd chapter is very much a prophecy of Jesus that was to come when it says the He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief ..V3…… Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; V4 and so forth.

The 54th chapter is promises for the children of Israel, God’s children. V 14 Says in righteousness shalt thou be established; etc.

The 55th chapter is Gospel (Christ) and an evangelistic chapter. The whole Bible ties together so wonderfully, and Isaiah is surely no exception.

This chapter begins with the word HO! In other words, pay attention, listen carefully! In our country we might say, hey! Listen! Everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.. Do you find yourself thirsty for God’s word?

Do you find yourself in need of God’s word and what Jesus has to offer? If so, the good news is you have a very blessed invitation! COME! COME ye to the waters! Come and drink!

What and where are the waters found? In John 7: v 37 & 38 Jesus said. If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Now we know where to find the living water! By believing in Christ Jesus by faith, we come to the water! Come without money and without price.
There is nothing that we pay, nothing we must accomplish in order to merit salvation. There is no amount of work that we can do, no amount of religious penance that we can pay, no amount of making pilgrimages to certain religious sites that will help us to be redeemed!

The living water is without price because it is so valuable that it is priceless. There is no price high enough that would begin to approach what salvation through Jesus Christ is worth! This is truly the pearl of great price, this salvation through Jesus Christ.

This living water, which is the Holy Spirit, (John 7:39) that is ever flowing for the believer!

Notice that is says if you have no money come, buy and eat. How can we buy without money? In our life here on earth that seems impossible. If we buy, we must have money. Here it says, buy without money. We must remember that our redemption has already been paid for by Jesus Christ suffering and shedding His precious blood for us. It is Finished, Jesus cried from the cross! The price has been paid in full! It is free for the thirsty sinner, but it was a very expensive price that was paid by Jesus.

How great love the Father has shown unto us when He sent His only Son to die for us sinners! He sent His only Son to die so we can live! What a great price was paid! Now this is offered to everyone that thirsts!

Come! Come! Come to Jesus while He is near. We wants to give Life and Life more abundantly!

Verse 3 says, Incline your ear and come unto me: Do not come to show your face, come to listen. Come to hear! So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17
What a wonderful promise of grace fulfilled if we are thirsty, we come to the waters (Jesus), we incline our ear (listen), and we hear! Then v 3 says, and your soul shall live!

Could there be a more clear and simple gospel message written? And to think this was written hundreds of years before Christ! What a good, merciful and loving God we have that would love his people so much as to allow these glimpses of His love and plan! Long before Jesus came, as well as now to us so many years after His work on the cross has been completed, Jesus is calling Come!

Dear Sinner, and we are all sinners, gone like sheep to our own way. If you are thirsty today, what a blessing this truly is! If we come, listen, hear, seek, then His promises for us are so true! Matthew 7:7 …see, and ye shall find…


Verse 12 of this ch 55 of Isaiah explains the real life application and results of the promise and reality made to all those that are obedient to the call! For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace;

Believe today dear reader, in the wonderful saving work of Jesus Christ!

May God Bless your week!
John R.

Keeping the Faith

Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Blessings to you this week!

By Faith are we saved! We know this from scripture. The below article is about keeping this most important substance of all! Please enjoy this article written by Pastor Ron Holmgren! JR



Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all
your things be done with charity. 1 Corinthians 16:13-1

Closing remarks of a letter or message sometimes can be overlooked. We have heard the contents of this letter and have taken note of them. We try to conform or use
the information to better ourselves, and this is good.


But Paul here would not leave to us just a list of marching orders. He knows how important it is that everything he has written in the letter must be shored up with a foundation that will stand in the testing of the future. He gives us five imperatives. They are given to protect us from falling away from the faith.

I have used some thoughts from RCC Lenski, from his commentary on this
passage of Scripture. Paul would have us be watchful. We must keep our eyes open and be on guard so that we would not be surprised by the things that would erode our faith.

We are to stand fast in "the faith," not like a dead post driven into the ground but like a tree that has roots and lives.
We are to act like men. This attribute of men is used for all of us. Men, women and children are to live this way. We can take our place in the family of God with the assurance of one
who would not give the enemy any quarter to destroy our faith.

Be strong; show strength! We are not helpless in this faith. We are offered all that we need for the walk of faith. Our bodies need food and water to be able to continue doing our tasks.

So, too, have we been given the nourishment for our faith.
Keeping "the faith" requires watchfulness, firmness, manliness, and strength. But it also requires love. This fruit always comes after faith.
Never separated, but always following faith, is love. Faith produces love; not the opposite.

God bless us and give us these attributes to keep us walking in faith. This faith has an object, and it is Christ Jesus Himself.

Pastor Ron Holmgren
Hockinson, Washington

Stewardship

Dear Weekly Readers!

This week we will feature an article written by a great missionary that many of you know, Alvar Helmes! Please enjoy!

May God Bless your week!

Stewardship

The word "stewardship" is derived from the word "steward." The dictionary definition of "steward" is: a person morally responsible for the careful use of money, time, talents, and resources, especially with respect to the principles or needs of a community or group.

This word has regularly been used in Christian circles (and with good reason) referencing how we should be good stewards of our money, time, talents, and resources in serving the Lord. As a group of churches, we must collectively be good stewards of these gifts from God. The time, talents, and resources perhaps are easier to understand and carry out than the issue of money.

Time: God created time and we are stewards of it; this is the most precious resource we have. We need to order our time according to God's purposes and values, or redeem the time wisely as Ephesians 5:15-16 says: See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

We can all understand how time impacts us and how easy it is to waste the time that God has allotted to us. Too often we find ourselves involved in pursuits that are not beneficial to the kingdom of God here on earth, or to our wellbeing. Of course we need time for relaxation and exercise that is beneficial to us, and we spend time caring for and supporting our families and maintaining our homes, but we can all, I'm sure, think of incidents in our lives when we have later thought that what we did was surely a surely a waste of time, and more beneficial things could have been done.

Talents: The talents we possess have been given to also be used for His kingdom. The talents have not been given to us equally, but no matter what talent God has given us, it should be used for His glory. It doesn't matter if our talents are used on simple tasks or on more complicated ones. They are to somehow be used in the furtherance of the kingdom of God according to the abilities and capabilities given to us. It is for each one of us to be aware of the talents that we have and to use them beneficially in His work here on earth. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Resources: In addition to the resource of time, God has also given us other resources to draw upon in this life. These could be things that lie ready for use or can be drawn upon in time of need. We also have what are commonly known as "inner resources" that provide a source of strength or ability within ourselves, sometimes beyond what we thought we even possessed. It is something we turn to in critical times of need, praying to seek from Him as written in Ephesians 3:20-21: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Money: And finally we come to the issue of money, which is the most difficult to deal with. Somehow it hits a sensitive spot with us when it is discussed as a need in the church so that God's work can be carried on. We can think that whatever money we have earned is ours to do with as we please—we worked hard for it; therefore, we'll spend it as we wish. But this is not the biblical expression of the use of money.

In the Old Testament, the Jews were obligated to give the firstfruits of their labor (literally their money) to the priest in the temple (house of the Lord). It is commonly thought that this amounted to ten percent.

The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. (Exodus 23:19)

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase. (Proverbs 3:9)

The firstfruits in the biblical sense of the Old Testament is the first produce, the first receipts of labor, the first income that one receives in the year. It is the fruit of our labor before it is committed or applied elsewhere. In other words, giving financially to the Lord's work should be the first item considered. In a sense, the firstfruits can be considered to be a form of tithing.

The New Testament is silent on the amount of tithes that a Christian should be giving to the church. Romans 12:8 says ...he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity (or liberally). In other words, giving should be done willingly, not grudgingly.

Giving to the Lord's work should be done thankfully, always considering the blessings that God has bestowed on our lives.

The biggest "giver" of blessings was God Himself. John 3:16 reads: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son...

Where would we be today without the gift of the Son? Where would we go for consolation when needed? Where would we go for help in our trials and temptations? The true Christian values God and His Word above all things. We express that value by bringing the fruit of our labor, whether it's called firstfruits or tithe, to the Lord.

...He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

Alvar Helmes
Battle Ground, Washington

Grace Greater than our Sin

Dear Weekly Readers!

As you know my time is very tight while on this journey visiting churches here in America. Therefore, I am calling upon articles written by friends in the faith! Today our article is by brother David Impola! May God Bless you all this week! John R.

"Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt... Points to the refuge, the mighty cross… Whiter than snow you may be today… Will you this moment His grace receive? Grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace that is greater than all our sin."
(Julia H. Johnston)

A s the selected lines from the song "Grace Greater than Our Sin" express, our God is ready to pardon and His grace is immeasurable. As one precious brother in Christ said, "It is
not the enormity of a man's sin that condemns him, but the rejection of God's grace condemns him."

The devil likes to go fishing in the sea of grace to dredge up our past sins, to cause
us to be discouraged and lose our focus on Jesus Christ. The devil has only one purpose toward the children of God. As Jesus makes known: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy... But Jesus reassures us: ...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

May we rejoice and praise God for the revelation of Jesus Christ in saving us
from our sin. Apostle Paul says, That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the
breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

When we comprehend God's love, it motivates us to reach out to others with the desire that they, too, would come to know His love. God has comforted us not for our comfort alone, but
also that we would be comforters to others in need. The blessings we receive from God, we pass on to others. 2 Corinthians 1:4 instructs us in this way: Who comforteth us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

By grace may our faith be exercised in the milk and meat of His Word. Apostle Peter has good instruction for us as Christians: According as his divine power hath given unto us all
things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that
by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and
to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness
charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-8)

"O happy day when we shall stand, amid the heavenly throng, and sing with hosts from every land the new celestial song, the new celestial song." (Wilhelm A. Wexels)

Constrained by the love of God,
Dave Impola
Everett, Washington

The Weekly Diner

Dear Weekly Readers!
God’s Peace!
This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. We were able to commemorate in our services about the wonderful event that took place about 2000 years ago, when the Holy Spirit came to 3000 souls in one day on that first Pentecost day.
In our lives as Christian today, we are led by this same Holy Spirit of God that came down, and has filled the heart of each repentant person when they have believed! Acts 2: 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
I love how God’s word is so sure and so solid. Notice that it says SHALL receive the gift of the Holy Ghost upon repenting and believing in the name of Jesus for remission of sins! We are grafted in, we are in Christ and He in us!

Again in Acts it says:
Acts 3:19 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
We can again see that repentance is essential. Mankind must repent of his sins, and believe the Gospel, and then shall the refreshing of the Holy Spirit of God come to dwell in the heart.

This infilling of the Holy Spirit that we commemorate this time of year is not only an historical event, it is who we are in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is only by the power of the Holy Ghost that we are able to do or say anything that is good and acceptable in sight of God.
1st Corinthians 12 v 3 ……: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Here God’s Word sets us straight on where our strength lies; it is in the power of the Holy Ghost, the third person of the God Head! This Holy Ghost is made available to us by and through the completed work of our Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus made the promise that He would send the Holy Ghost, and what our Lord Jesus promises, He will do!

Now our Lord Jesus invites us to come as thirsty beggars seeking Him!

John 7 Verse 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

When Jesus was here on earth, He was not yet glorified. Now that Jesus has suffered, bled, died, and arose victorious over sin, death, hell, and the power of the devil, He has opened the way for us! He is risen to heaven, is glorified, and has sent the comforter, the Holy Ghost to dwell within those that have truly repented and believed!

Dear reader, if you have not repented yet, or have not stopped and turned from sinful ways, do so today! Call upon the Lord while He is near! Repent and turn to the Lord! Call out for mercy and forgiveness, and you will be assured by a Christian and from God’s Word, that by the name and blood of Jesus Christ, you can believe that your sins are forgiven and blotted out!

The promises of our Lord are perfect and true for all that truly repent and turn to Jesus! You Shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost! You shall Never Thrist again, because out of your belly shall flow rivers of Living water!

Dear Christian who may be reading this, be encouraged to keep sharing God’s Holy Word with those you come in contact with. The time is short, the day is far spent! Many people die each day without Jesus as their Saviour. It is very urgent that they hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the salvation of their souls!

May God Bless your week!

John R. FM Administrator

The Weekly Diner

Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace!

I will endeavor to write a few words for the Diner myself this week. Starting next week, I will be traveling throughout the USA for two months. I will surely attempt to keep an article coming to you each week, but prayerfully they will be written by other willing writers, since my time will be very scarce! The reason for the trip is to raise awareness of what The Foreign Mission of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America is involved in around the world. We are so thankful that God has seen fit to use us for His Service. Therefore, we want to share what God is doing around the world with others in the USA. We do so with the prayer that more people here in the USA will join us in the effort to bring the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to all people!

We know that all of the spreading of the Word that God wants done, will get done. We just want to be willing servants, ready to be used as tools in His workshop! We totally rely upon our Lord for strength to go on and for the faith to believe. We desire to give all honor and glory unto Him!

This week I went to the funeral of an 85-year-old man. At the funeral, a story was told about what this man’s great-grandson. This little boy had been playing when he overheard his mother talking about the coming death of her grandpa.

The little boy came running and asked, “Does your grandpa believe that Jesus died on the cross for his sins?”
The little boy’s mother told him, “Yes, he does.”

With that the boy let out a big “whew” (a sigh of relief), and went back to play!
The only thing that little Christian boy needed to hear was that grandpa believed that Jesus died for his sins. That boy knew that this meant that grandpa would be going to heaven where everything is joy and happiness forever! Oh the faith of a child!

I pray that each one reading this today would also know that we are saved because Jesus died on the cross for us! Our sin debt is paid in full! The work is over; it is finished; it is accomplished.

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Colossians 1:20

The important example that this elderly man left us was that a person needs to believe by faith in this life! We need to be reconciled during this time of grace, to believe the Jesus suffered, bled, died, and rose again for our justification. Do you believe this, dear reader? Prayerfully you do, but if you don’t, then you still have time. The Lord has allowed the world to keep going on; therefore, today if you hear His voice, call upon the Lord! “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

We know that these days are truly the last times; evil, sin, wickedness, death and destruction are all around us. Furthermore, we do not know how many more days each of us has left upon this earth—even if the earth should still stand for another thousand years! It is up to us to watch and be ready for the Great I AM to come calling! “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24: 42
We have a song that we sing in English that goes: He is coming again! In power and great glory, He is coming again!

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18
“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4: 15-16
Let us all share about this Jesus, for we know that Scripture says: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

May God bless your week!
John Ruotsala, FM Administrator

Planters and Waterers

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

May the abundant grace of God be upon us today as we rejoice and be glad in this new day that the Lord has made! May the peace of God that comes from the apprehension and the reception of His grace and mercy into our hearts be our experience in this new day of thankfulness, excitement and opportunity as we live in Him, being that which He has made us to be.

As we prayerfully meditate upon the Word of God which is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart, we remember the writings of the Prophet Isaiah (ch 55) who was given to write in his day that the Word that goes out of the mouth of the LORD would not return unto me( HIm) void, but it shall accomplish that which I (He) please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I (He) sent it. To illustrate that truth, in the previous verse, he had compared the absoluteness of this promise by comparing it to the natural occurrences of our weather, saying, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, but it..

The effect of the Word that is sowed into good ground will bring forth fruit as Jesus said in His parable in the 13th chapter of Matthew, saying, But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. It is similar to that which Isaiah wrote concerning the desired effect of the preached Word (upon the messinger) that goes forth from your mouth today as messengers of the LORD, "For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

We notice that the Word has two effects: It provides seed to the sower and bread to the eater. As planters and a waterers of the Word of Life, may we be reminded that it is our responsibility to plant and to water, but that the Lord promises to take care of the increase, the increase of and to faith in Christ. May we never forget that. I remember as a young man listening to our minister say, "Don't sow the seed one day, water it for a while, and then take the sickle and began to harvest." I have never forgot that counsel. Let us be patient so that the Word will be able to work freely in the hearts of those to whom we are ministering to, praying for the increase of the Word into their hearts so that their lives would be transformed from within as a result of the Word bringing life to them. The Word is the seed and it is an incorruptible seed. When that Seed is planted, and It is watered, and when the LORD gives It life, It will blossom and bloom. When we are ministering the Word either in preaching or in visitation, may we see with the eye of faith the cypress instead of the thorn, the myrtle instead of the briar as we wait for the Spirit of the LORD to enter into the minds, into the hearts and into the souls of those to whom we are bringing the grace of God in Christ Jesus.

Lastly, may we be so filled with the promise of the LORD as to the sureness of the eventual effect of His Word, that we would be enabled to go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. This is what it means to live in the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, for in that knowledge we see souls as through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and that which He desires them to come to know for themselves. May the Lord bless each of us as we continue to labor together in the vineyard of the LORD. Be encouraged that the work that you are doing is bearing fruit unto the LORD. He said it is and therefore, we believe it! And as you minister, may you be filled with the abundance of the joy of the LORD.

May the grace of Jesus be upon you this day in your labors.

Pastor Orval Wirkkala

The Weekly Diner

Dear Week Readers! God’s Peace be with you!

The compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ is very evident as we read through the Holy Bible! This week’s article by our guest author reflects on examples of such. Let’s continue together in reading and prayer as we get closer to Holy Week.

May God Bless your week! John R.



THE SILENCE OF GOD

We often read in the Bible from Genesis through Revelation of God speaking. Everything that was created came about because God spoke. The Bible tells us—God spoke and it was so. Throughout the Bible God either spoke directly to individuals—Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Prophets, Mary, Joseph, the Apostles, etc—or he spoke through events, circumstances, signs, and wonders. He speaks both words of judgment and condemnation and words of mercy and forgiveness. God speaks through His written Word.

Most powerfully and clearly, God has spoken through His incarnate Son, Jesus. We who have been called by God are, also, to speak for Him. How grateful we can be that God has called apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to proclaim His Word! The Bible tells us “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:15). All of us are missionaries. May we all be encouraging, supporting, and praying for those especially called to be missionaries carrying the Gospel “to the uttermost parts of the earth.” May God continue to speak through all of these precious brothers and sisters in the Lord!

There are times, though, when God is silent. We ought not to be surprised if God is silent when people continually resist the Lord. After King Saul had been disobedient to the word of the Lord. God was grieved with him, yet Saul sought God’s help in his battle with the Philistines for “…when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets” (1 Sam. 28:5, 6). Saul then turned to using witchcraft for guidance and help. How tragic when God hides himself from us that we would turn to demonic or man-centered methods for help.

But there are times when God is silent when he bears the horrible pain of our sin. This is most powerfully portrayed by the Savior, Himself. The Prophet Isaiah uttered this heart-rending truth: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). I cannot help but believe that when our Lord was being so severely and savagely beaten by the Roman scourge, as painful as that was, he uttered not a word.

Then there is a time when God is silent because men’s hearts have become so hard and defiant, no word from the Lord can penetrate. One such time took place at Calvary when our Lord was nailed to the cross. We are probably familiar with what is called “The Seven Words from the Cross.” But in the midst of those words which our Lord spoke, there was silence. It was in connection with the two thieves who were crucified with him “one on the right hand and one on the left” (Mt. 27:38).

The penitent thief who had a fear of God in his heart, but like the “Prodigal Son” had lived a wasted, rebellious life, knew by faith who Jesus truly was and cried out: “…Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Luke 23:42). His cry for mercy touched our Savior’s heart, “and Jesus said unto him, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43). This man, though having wasted his whole life, was granted forgiveness and that very day would enter into the world of the righteous dead.
But to the impenitent thief, there was only silence. While mocking Jesus and, at the same time, wanting deliverance from the consequences of his sin, he was truly and tragically forsaken. For him there was no word, only separation from Life, for only in and through Christ is there Life. He is the only door to the Father’s House.

Dear friend, the door of grace is still open! Perhaps God has spoken to you in many ways and at many times. I urge you, let not the voice of the Good Shepherd fall on deaf ears! Today is the day of salvation! Now is the acceptable time! Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, lest you die in your sins! A solemn reminder comes to us in the hymn—“God calling yet! And shall I give no heed, but still in bondage live? I wait, but He does not forsake, He calls me still, My heart awake!” Jesus is tenderly calling today. He is calling, “Come Home, come Home!”

The Weekly Diner

Dear Readers:

May the Grace, Mercy, and Peace from God our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ be with you today and always! Amen.

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matt. 4:19)

Recently as I was passing a small pond on my bicycle, I noticed that there was a tree that had fallen into the water and was sunken. Because it was a sunny day, I was able to see it and other things on the bottom of the pond. As I thought of this, I remembered when fishing as a youngster that I often would get my hook caught on such things. This was inconvenient and often caused extra work. I would much rather have been able to keep fishing and not have to deal with the tangles caused by the obstructions. Perhaps a nice, sandy bottom with no rocks, sticks, trees, roots, or other obstruction would be a nicer place to fish. I did not know at the time that the fish live where the obstructions are because there they can find food and shelter.

As I continued to ponder this, the thought came that sometimes we would like fishing for souls to be easy as well. We would like all of our plans to go perfectly with no problems or struggles. But this is not reality! When we are true fishers of men, the servants of our Lord Jesus, we quickly find that all is not perfect. The devil places snags in our way to try to stop us, just as he did with the Apostle Paul. As in natural fishing when the fish are hiding under the logs, behind the rocks, or in the fallen trees, the lost souls are found where the fishing is the hardest. These lost souls can be in the slums, in the gutters of drunkenness, filled with evil spirits, or even dwelling near the edge of death. They might be in a faraway place or living close to us.

Dear Christian, do not be discouraged when the going gets tough. That could mean the lost ones are very near. Keep fishing! The fishing is best in the hardest places to reach – that is where the lost souls are found.

If you are not a believer, God is calling you! A Christian is ready to reach out to you in love. May God grant you the desire to repent and turn from your sinful and dead-ended ways. Are you living in the mud of the bottom (dirty) places today? Are you tangled in the deep and dark sins of this world? Perhaps you have started to hear the call and can feel the heat of the sun (Son) already starting to melt your heart. Keep seeking the Lord. The Bible promises that if you seek, ye SHALL find.

Remember in the Bible account when the fishing nets were full, Jesus said to bring Him the fish. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. (John 21:20) Remember to always point to Jesus and lead the sinner to Him. Jesus is the Savior; He keeps calling and calls even today: Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. (John 21:12)

Dear pastors and believers, be encouraged during the hard times and hard work of fishing for souls! The fish are not yours; they belong to the Lord. As believers, we are only poor fishermen beggars showing other poor souls where to find the food, the answer, and the remedy for the pain of sin and shame.

Jesus Christ, yesterday, today and forevermore!

JR

The Weekly Diner

Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace and Blessing be with you this week! Today our article is written by Pastor Wayne Juntunen. Please enjoy what the Lord has revealed to our brother!


Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, whoever you are and wherever you are, a word from the Lord has been brought to my mind that He wants to share with you. I pray that it will be written as He desires. The actual words are recorded in Ex. 17:12, “…Moses hands were heavy…”

There was good reason for Moses’ hands to be heavy. Israel was locked in battle against the Amalekites. This battle occurred after the Israelites had left Egypt and were traveling through the Wilderness of Sin. The Amalekites must have first attacked the stragglers—the weak and weary who were farther back from the main body of the Israelites. We read in Deuteronomy 35:17, 18, “Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; how he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.”

Another battle with them occurred when Israel had pitched their tents at Rephidim (Ex. 17:8). Moses counseled Joshua to choose men to fight with Amalked and he would stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand (Ex. 17:9) Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill with Moses and as long as Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, but when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed (Ex. 17:11). So in this see-saw battle that lasted throughout the day, Moses’ hands became heavy. So Aaron and Hur had Moses sit on a stone and they “stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” (Ex. 17:12, 13).

So what does this mean? Let us remember when the Israelites prayed, they lifted up their hands to the Lord. Here are but a few examples—(Gen. 14:22; Dt. 32:40; Ps. 25:1; 28:2; 63:4; 134:2) I believe Moses was in the spirit of prayer during this battle with the Amalekites. And so long as he was praying, Israel prevailed. When Aaron and Hur held up his hands, Israel was victorious! In essence, all three were engaged in prayer throughout the duration of this battle.

This is the word the Lord has brought across into my heart. We cannot expect to win any battle against any foe, no matter how great or small the foe may seem, if we are not faithfully engaged in prayer. It is the spiritual leadership of any family, congregation, mission field, ministry, or religious institution who are to be ceaselessly praying! I have this saying posted on the door of my study—“You can do more than pray after you prayed. But you can not do more than pray until you have prayed.”

To ceaselessly pray means we must begin our day with prayer. This time of morning prayer is to be given to spending time with the Lord. It is during this time that we are enjoying his presence. It is basically what James tell us in his epistle—“Draw nigh to God and he will draw night to you” (Ja. 4:8). This is a time of adoration, praise, and thanksgiving, confession, reading and meditating on God’s Word, letting him speak to us through his Word to receive food for our soul, a time to spend in intercession for others, and making our requests know. Then throughout the day, we need to be briefly requesting the Lord to guide and help us in every conversation, every task that needs to be done, every emergency that comes up, every need that we may have. Thus throughout the day we are in constant communication with our Lord.

So long as our hands are lifted up; that is, we are praying, the Lord will be in charge and we can be resting in him for “in quietness and confidence will be your strength” (Is. 30:15). There will never be revival in our own hearts, our families, congregations, or ministries so long as we are unwilling “to give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name” (Psa. 29:2).

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, begin now to spend more time in prayer! The radiance of Moses was due to the 40 days he had spent on the mountain with God. But that radiance was disappearing in time. But in the Acts of the Apostles, we read that when Peter and John had been arrested for preaching about the resurrection from the dead through Jesus, that Annas and Caiaphas and many of the family of the high priest “took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:1-13). It is as plain as the nose on our faces, that the more time we spend with Jesus, the more he will become visible to others. Help us, dear Jesus, so that your love for us will radiate through us to draw multitudes to you!

May God Bless your week!

The Weekly Diner

Dear Weekly Readers!

May the Peace of God be with you today and each day!

I want to thank each of you that have prayed for our recent missionary journey around the world. God has heard your prayers and has safely delivered us home.
It was truly a wonderful trip, one on which tens of thousands of souls heard the Word of God preached.

It is my hope and prayer that the Holy Spirit would add a blessing and would reveal the Holy Word of God in the hearts that have heard not only on this trip, but wherever and whenever His Word is preached.

It is only through the Power of the Holy Spirit, that the words we speak have any worth. There is nothing we can say or do of ourselves to help anyone. Everything is totally the work of our Almighty God, and to Him goes all Praise, Honor, and Glory.

We know that preaching the Word of God is the method that the Lord uses in our time so that souls would be saved. No Glory to man, it is the Word of God by which faith comes.

Romans Chapter 10: 13-17
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Dear Reader, if you are a pastor, preach the true, full, and complete Word of God. Dear Reader, if you are not a pastor, still use the Word of God for your source of strength at all times, and share the Word as God leads you to do so.

During this trip just completed, we experienced first-hand several ways in which the devil tried his very best to stop the Word of God from going forth. We experienced delayed aircrafts, power outages, other groups trying to overtake us with competing noise, sicknesses, tiredness, empty feelings, mosquitoes, a roadblock, and who knows how many other unseen attempts by the devil to stop the furtherance of the Gospel.

However we did not experience anything as extreme as the Apostle Paul did:

2 Corinthian 11 v 23-27
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.


The Word of God comes to us again and says in Romans 8 v 31-39

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yes, we deserve nothing but punishment, but when God is for us, who can be against us!

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Go Forth by the Grace of God and in His Faith………

Ephesians 2: 8 -10

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

All true believers are His Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus! Let us go forth in obedience and do what He would have us to do. Walk as He would have us to walk!

May God Bless you bountifully this week!