Refuge in the Word

Dear Weekly Readers! 

God’s Peace be with you! 

I am sure many of you have heard of the terrible storm that has hit the USA.   Many people have died, and billions of dollars of damage has been caused.   Millions of people are without power, and the weather is now cold.  There is much suffering.  In my area, the storm was not too bad.  We lost electricity for about 24 hours, but otherwise not much damage was done.  

Please pray for all the people suffering due to this storm.  Also, please pray for the elections that we have coming up next Tuesday.  We need Godly leaders.

May God Bless your week! John R. 

Refuge in the Word

Jesus is a pattern for us in everything.

We learn about Him in the natural and spiritual things of life. After Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, He immediately came up out of the water, and heaven opened to Him and the Spirit of God descended like a dove and rested on Him. The voice of God came from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

This voice is the Holy Spirit that lives within us. "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased"

is our spiritual foundation for both this life and for eternity, and was the introduction to what the Spirit was going to do next in Jesus' life. After He was baptized, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The Spirit of God may also lead us into a lifeless, barren and empty wilderness.

 In Matthew 4:2 we read: And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. Jesus spent this time thinking prayerfully about the meaning of the foundational words, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." God is able to reveal the meaning of those words. In fact, all Scripture is revealed in that statement. It is the great grace of God and the Holy Scripture that reveals why we are beloved and why He is well pleased with us.

As we are strengthened in the knowledge and understanding of those words, we become better prepared to meet the tempter (devil) when he comes against us. Like he did with Jesus in the wilderness, first he tempts us with bread (earthly things), saying, "Eat, and you will become fulfilled and satisfied." We know things won't satisfy. Jesus directed Satan to the Living God, and Satan immediately gave up.

Next, Satan brought Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and stated, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down and the angels will come to Your aid." Again Jesus said, "It is written, thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God." Finally the devil offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship him. Jesus again directed Satan to God's Word: "It is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve."

Satan fled from the Word of God. You and I take refuge in the revealed Word of God. Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is strengthened when we spend time in prayer and meditate on the Word of God. While preparing for service in the kingdom of God, we must first learn to live in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us grow in faith by learning more about the Living Lord Jesus. Then He will be best able to use us in the service of His kingdom.

May the Lord bless you, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

Pastor Ansten Tretten

Wait on the Lord

Dear Weekly Readers!

God has granted us with another week according to His Great Grace!  

Is it not amazing that with as complex of a world we live in, as delicate our ecosystem is, how tiny according to the scope of the entire universe our world is, that He has safely led us through another week?  Dear readers, God cares about you!

God knows our troubles and problems.  God knows what we have gone through in the last week, and what is ahead!  Let us trust in Him for everything!

Last week we began speaking about Isaiah chapter 40.  I would like to continue in that same chapter this week.  We will pick up in Verse 4:  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.  How has your life been?  Has it been perfect, without pain or suffering?  Do you sometimes feel very low, in a valley?  As though life seems to be very dark, full of worry and yes even doubt?  Does it seem like the path forward is just too hard?  

Let us remember what is stated in Psalm 23.  It says:  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Notice it says "through the valley of the shadow of death".  That means through, not just up to the valley.  You see, God will not leave us comfortless; He will lead us through the hard times, even when we lose loved ones, or we fear for our very own life.  He will lead us through!

David wrote this from experience.  He had many trials in his life.  Do you remember the Lion and the Bear?  How about Goliath?   God won these battles for David, just like He can and will win our battles if we turn everything over into His care and keeping!  We need not fear evil.  Jesus conquered death, hell, and the power of the devil when He died on the cross for our sin, and arose victorious!  The Lord Jesus is our mighty conqueror!  He HAS won!  Believe it!!

We also see in this verse 4 in our text that "the mountains and hills shall be made low"! This is very important to remember! Let us not begin to get proud and mighty in our own strength and abilities. We have absolutely no strength except that which is given of God. We have none! He has it all. Let us be humble and not proud!

Proverbs 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Our life here on earth is so very short. Verse 6:  All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field…  Verse 8:  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever!  We see how short we live!  Even the oldest and the greatest of all men are here on earth for only a very short time.  Like a wave of the hand!  Like grass, here, then gone!  But God’s Word shall stand forever!

Are we standing on the firm foundation of God’s Word today?  Do we believe in His promises for us?  Do we know and believe by faith that the blood of Jesus washes our sins away so that we are pure white and perfect in His sight?  Believe this, dear reader!  God’s Word says it is true!

When we believe in the Power of His Name and Blood, and are resting in the assurance of our salvation by the power of the Holy Spirit given to us by victorious, risen, and living Lord Jesus Christ, we have the victory!  The victory that has been won is ours!  May God be praised!

Let us wait on the Lord!  We read in our chapter 40 the last verse:  But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint!  Let us wait on the Lord for He shall give us strength!  Wait on the Lord.  The last shall be first!  Let us soar in joy, liberty and peace, knowing that Jesus has won the victory for us!  Be renewed today in your strength in the Lord Jesus!  He has made us more than conquerors!

Rejoice, and again I say, Rejoice! 

May God Bless your week!  John R.

Words of Comfort

Dear Weekly Readers!  

May  we know today the Power of God in each of our lives!

Today I would like to draw your attention  to a couple verses  found in the Book of Isaiah and in the 40^th chapter.

Comfort ye, Comfort ye my people, saith your God.

The 40^th chapter is as it were the beginning of the Gospel story as written by Isaiah.   This wonderful book has 66 chapters, which is the same as the Bible.   There are 39 chapters before it, the same as the Old Testament, and  then 27 chapters after, including this chapter.  It is amazing how God has allowed this to be such a great picture to us, even showing us in this one book of Isaiah a glimpse of His complete Salvation story for us!

Comfort ye...

These words were written not only for God’s people of that day who Isaiah was surely addressing, but I believe a very much broader audience was intended, including each of us today.  Do you ever feel you need words of comfort? I know I do!  Are you ever worried about the future, wondering how there will be enough money to pay the bills or enough food to feed the family?  Do you have sickness in your family or children not believing in Jesus Christ as their Saviour?  Do you have neighbors and friends you love who are backsliding, or refusing God’s free gift of salvation?  The Word of God says be Comforted!  As Christians we have no need to be worried!  Apostle Paul said:  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; (2 Corinth. 4:8)

Who then should be comforted?  My People!  God calls His believers My People!  There is no getting around the fact that a true meaningful comfort is only available to those who are the ones believing by faith.  How amazing it is to be called by God, MY PEOPLE!  O what joy this should instill in our hearts!  God knows us, we are His!  We are a child of THE KING!  The one who made the entire universe and all that is in it!  We are HIS!  It says in 1 Peter 1:5 that believers are those:  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. There is no other power by which I want to be kept than by the Power of God!

Let us now look at who are the ones God calls MY People, the ones to be comforted!  The very next verse, Isaiah 40:2 says: Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.  These are the ones to be comforted, those who believe in the power of the cross of Jesus Christ! 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

It is so very clear that Isaiah is here talking about the Saviour, our Lord Jesus, who paid the price so that we can be saved.  We also know that God created all peoples, and that Jesus came to die for all peoples, but some people have not turned to Him in repentance unto faith.  In the first chapter of Isaiah it says this: ¹⁸ Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.¹⁹ If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:²⁰ But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Let us not be ones that refuse to be Comforted!  Also, let us not be ones that look for comfort in any other place than Jesus.  Let me give you a brief natural example of comforting words that do not work.  Let us say that a man owes the bank much money on his home.  The man gets hurt and cannot work, so he is many months behind on payments.  If we go to this man and say, be comforted, and tell him all will be fine, will he be comforted?  No, he will not be since we do not have the power to release him of that bill, only the banker does.  However, if the banker came and pardoned the debt, this man would surely be very comforted and  joyful!

Let us know and understand who is the one that has pardoned our sins!  Let us be comforted in the proper way, by the power of the Name and Blood of Jesus!  If we do not believe that our sins are washed away in the blood of the Lamb and that we are made white as snow, Lord, give us the strength to repent and believe in this Saviour and in all the redemptive work that He has done for each of us.  It says in Revelation 7:14:  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

It was for me He died!  For me!  O that each could believe this by faith, and be open and available to be truly comforted!  Lord allow us to believe Thy Holy Word and in Thy Son Jesus Christ for our salvation.

2 Timothy 1:8:  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God...

Today is the day of Grace!  Today is the acceptable day!  Come and Dine on the feast Jesus has prepared for His own!

Our space is filled up for this week, but if the Lord wills, I would love to share more from this wonderful chapter in a future week.

May God Bless your week!   John R.

Why Does Our Church Baptize Babies?

Dear Weekly Readers!

May the Grace, Mercy, and Peace of God our Father, and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you today and always!  May God grant even those reading that are not yet believers the Grace to repent (change direction from one’s own ways to the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Jesus Christ) and to believe by faith that through the Powerful Name of Jesus and by the Power of His Blood, Sins are Forgiven!

O what joy is available for those that are able to hear!  We know as it says in 1 Peter 5:7,   "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."  We can rest in this assurance. He cares.
Today I thought I would share with you a very brief article written by one of our board members. The topic is very fitting when we speak of Faith, and Repentance. The topic is Baptism.

We know and understand that this Sacrament of God has very deep spiritual and wondrous powers that our carnal minds cannot understand. It has a power that mere words cannot even express. We are so thankful that our God is so mighty and powerful that He can work in powerful ways through this Sacrament that we cannot understand with our carnal minds. Baptism is surely a big topic, but this short article and the links provided will give a glimpse into it. Baptism is surely a blessing and we are so thankful for it.

Have a blessed week!  John

Why Does Our Church Baptize Babies?

This is a very good question and worthy of a sound, biblical response. May God help me as I endeavor to respond to this question with as much clarity as I can.

Why do we baptize?

The Lord Jesus gave this instruction to His disciples, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:19-20). We baptize out of obedience to this command/instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Who is baptism for?

Our Lord Jesus taught His disciples the following: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16). Notice in this text that believing is the essential item for salvation (and not water baptism). We thus conclude that baptism is for the believer.

Do little children believe?

Jesus again taught His disciples: "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven… And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me…" (Matthew 18:3, 5-6). Jesus here gave the testimony that little children do believe in Him.

Therefore, in summary, we baptize in obedience to the Lord's command; we baptize those who believe, according to the Lord's instruction, and children do believe, according to the Lord's teaching.

So, we baptize all who believe, young and old alike. Some have reasoned in their minds that, because babies cannot understand this water baptism, they should wait until they are old enough to fully comprehend with their own minds. I understand that logic, but the Word teaches us: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness…" (Romans 10:10).

Faith is a God-given substance, not something that we develop by our own human intellect. God has given faith to children as well as adults. Faith is not a matter of the carnal mind. The Apostle Paul teaches us that "the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you…" (Romans 8:7-9).

The Apostle John has written in his first epistle: "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake" (1 John 2:12). And in verse 13 of that second chapter "…I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father."

The Lord has clearly accepted little children into the household of faith, and so do we! Therefore, we baptize them, not to become God's children, but because they are God's children. In the time of Jesus, even the disciples had similar reasoning as some today. "And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer (allow) little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God" (Luke 18:15-16).

Remember, also, that God commanded Abraham to circumcise baby boys at eight days old as a token of His covenant.

For further information on this subject, see the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ as taught in the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America, pages 15-17, or online at apostoliclutheran.org/doctrine.php.

Sincerely and in the spirit of prayer,  Pastor Scott Niemitalo

Dear Weekly Readers!

May the Peace of God be with you throughout the week. 
I ask for your prayers as next week our Foreign Mission board meets for our annual planning meeting.  We surely desire to do the will of God, so please pray to this effect.  We know that we are working in the Lord’s Vineyard, and only those things that He does through His Holy Spirit through each of us will be worthy. 
This week’s article is by Charles Spurgeon.  I may have written about this same verse some months ago, but since there is such a deep meaning I believe in this scripture, I am glad to share another revelation on this!

May God Bless your week!


 

"Behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague." Leviticus 13:13

---

Strange enough this regulation appears, yet there was wisdom in it, for the throwing out of the disease proved that the constitution was sound. This evening it may be well for us to see the typical teaching of so singular a rule. We, too, are lepers, and may read the law of the leper as applicable to ourselves.

When a man sees himself to be altogether lost and ruined, covered all over with the defilement of sin, and in no part free from pollution; when he disclaims all righteousness of his own, and pleads guilty before the Lord, then he is clean through the blood of Jesus, and the grace of God. Hidden, unfelt, unconfessed iniquity is the true leprosy; but when sin is seen and felt, it has received its deathblow, and the Lord looks with eyes of mercy upon the soul afflicted with it. Nothing is more deadly than self-righteousness, or more hopeful than contrition.

We must confess that we are "nothing else but sin," for no confession short of this will be the whole truth; and if the Holy Spirit be at work with us, convincing us of sin, there will be no difficulty about making such an acknowledgmentit will spring spontaneously from our lips. What comfort does the text afford to truly awakened sinners: the very circumstance which so grievously discouraged them is here turned into a sign and symptom of a hopeful state! Stripping comes before clothing; digging out the foundation is the first thing in buildingand a thorough sense of sin is one of the earliest works of grace in the heart. O thou poor leprous sinner, utterly destitute of a sound spot, take heart from the text, and come as thou art to Jesus

"For let our debts be what they may, however great or small, As soon as we have nought to pay, our Lord forgives us all. 'Tis perfect poverty alone that sets the soul at large: While we can call one mite our own, we have no full discharge."

Charles Spurgeon
 

Lord, Heal Our Land

Dear Weekly Readers!

May the Peace of the Lord be with you today. Tomorrow, September 11th, is a day that my country remembers all too well.  This is the day our country was attacked by terrorists.  I remember that in the immediate aftermath of this horrible event, many of our churches filled up with people who prayed and sang!  The entire country was drawn closer to God.

Now, however, our country has sadly once again turned away from God and is again in large part turned to the unimportant things in a greater measure, forgetting to worship God.

Lord, please heal our land.  We appreciate this verse in your Holy Word. 2 Chronicles 7:14:  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  Lord, allow this to happen in the USA!

The scripture we will look at today is in Mark Chapter 8:29:  But whom say ye that I am?

Jesus asked this question after being told that the people in the town of Caesarea Philippi said that He was John the Baptist, or Elias, or one of the prophets.

Have you wondered why they may have thought this was who Jesus was?  Do you think it could have been that they saw or knew of the great things performed by all these men, and then also by Jesus?  They were able to see Jesus as a great man, who could do all these miracles and wonderful things.

Of course we know that Jesus was such.  However, Jesus was so much more than this.  Jesus was Christ, the Saviour of the World.

Today also, so many people are willing to accept Jesus as a great man, as one who did many big things.  They will even say He was a great prophet, and any number of other things. Man is so willing to go for miracles, to look for signs, to desire from God all the good things to help them through this life.  How about the life after?  Are men as interested in being ready for eternity?  Sadly, so many are not. 

In Mark chapter 8, verse 31, we see Jesus beginning to teach His disciples that He will suffer, be rejected, and be killed.  He also said He will rise again on the third day.  This kind of talk was too much for even Peter to bear.  He rebuked Jesus.

Why would Peter do this?  Do you think that this is the reaction that the flesh has to the cross of Jesus Christ?  The flesh is more than willing to accept the good things, the gifts from God, all those things for this body and for this life.

The Cross of Jesus Christ however, that is what is rejected of men.  "The carnal mind is at enmity with God," the scriptures tell us.  Man has such a hard time being able to believe in Jesus Christ the suffering, dying, victorious Saviour.
 
Oh, never let us, nor the Christian church turn from the cross of Christ Jesus.  Rather let us be like Paul as quoted in Galatians 6:14:  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Jesus then said to Peter, "Get thee behind me Satan."  

Let us not forget the Cross of Jesus.  Here Satan, with the help of the flesh of Peter, was hoping to stop Jesus from dying for the sins of man.  Satan is always looking to deceive and to divert our eyes from the most important matters.

Jesus did go to that cross.  He brought all of Peter’s sins there, He brought all of our sins there, and they were nailed to the cross with Jesus.  Jesus is the Christ.  The Cross is where the price was paid for our atonement.


The rest of this chapter speaks about us taking up our cross and following Jesus.  We must deny ourselves, be willing to put Christ first in our lives.  We must be willing to follow Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life.  No man comes unto the Father but by Him.

Let us follow Jesus today, never turning away from the glorious work on the cross. Daily let us look to Jesus!  1 Corinthians 15:31:  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

We know and understand from scripture:  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Romans 6:8.

Now, whom do you say that Christ is?  Your answer to this question is known in heaven above!  God knows all things!

May God Bless your week!   John R.

Some Biblical Passages to Ponder

Dear Weekly Readers!  

Please read and meditate upon the scripture and thoughts laid out for us today by a guest Pastor.  

May God Bless your week!    John R.

SOME BIBLICAL PASSAGES TO PONDER

The 13^th chapter of St. John’s Gospel is packed with several powerful incidents.  What stands out at the beginning of this chapter is the depth of Christ’s love.  We read:  “Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end."  Not for one second of time did Jesus ever cease to love his own. 

The depth of this love glistens in verses 3-5:  “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.  After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.”  This King of the Universe who has been given authority to do anything he desires, humbles himself to wash the disciples’ feet! 

Has it ever dawned on you that Jesus washed Judas’ feet, too; all the time knowing that he was going to betray him.  Jesus never stopped loving Judas!  Even in Gethsemane’s Garden when Judas led the Roman soldiers to take Jesus, our Lord called him “friend” (See Mt. 26:50).  Jesus knew Judas would betray him (Read vs. 21).  When we read that Jesus “became troubled in spirit”, the meaning of this phrase is describing “the agony of love”.  Just to say it was so difficult for our Lord that he was in agony over it.  His heart of love was breaking for Judas.  Would to God we could all love others like this! 

Today whenever we sin, we grieve our Lord because He lives within us by His Spirit.  He feels the pain we do to ourselves when we stray from Him, but he never stops loving us.  Anyone who is cast into hell on the day of judgment can never blame God.  If we harden our hearts to God’s love, we suffer now because of it, and we will suffer eternally, if we do not repent and return to Him.  God is more ready to forgive than we are ready to admit our sin.

Having told the Twelve of this awful fact of Judas’ betrayal, “the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake” (vs. 22). (People always reclined on mats lying on their side with their bodies extended away from the table while being propped up on their left elbow and reaching for the food on the table with their right hand.)  Reading vs. 23-26, we can picture John with his back toward Jesus, his head being on the Savior’s breast.  Peter would be lying on his side behind the back of Jesus.  Quite likely when Jesus spoke of a betrayal, John lifted his face towards Jesus, and in doing so Peter could get John’s attention to ask the Lord who was going to betray him.  Jesus told John, (vs. 26), but he  was the only one of the other ten who knew. 

We read in Lk. 22:14-16  when the hour had come to eat this Passover, he said unto them, “With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” This was, truly, our Lord’s Last Supper, and to comfort the puzzled and sorrowful disciples, Jesus drops this hint of an absolutely incredible future.  He was going to eat a Passover with them again.  This Passover would be such a glorious one it would be “out of this world”, metaphorically to be sure but, also, literally.

This would be a Passover of all Passovers.  The Passover the Jews and, even, Christ and his disciples celebrated, going all the way back to the first one, looked back to the deliverance from Egyptian bondage and, most certainly, from death wherever the blood of the lamb had been applied to the entrance to each house.  The Passover Christ would eat with his disciples in the future can be identified, I believe, with the marriage supper of the Lamb.

This new supper will commemorate not only the deliverance from death but, more importantly and meaningfully, the inauguration of eternal life when our soul and spirit will be reunited with our new bodies that will never decline, diminish, or deteriorate.  It will be a glorious feast of deliverance from living in this world to living in the eternal realm of a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness will be the mode of life for everyone who has been washed of their sins in the blood of the Lamb.

Prayer

Dear Weekly Readers!

May the peace of God be with you today! 

Today I bring a very special prayer request before you, asking that you would sincerely pray for a dear pastor who is suffering terribly with an unknown health problem.  Pastor Sylvester in Kenya has a growth on and in the back of his head that is growing and causing many problems.  Pastor Sylvester knows the Bible perhaps better than any person I have ever met.  He is such a wonderful man and is so faithful in the Lord’s vineyard. 

Dear Lord, hear our prayers for this wonderful man!  We want to see him again, not only in heaven, but also in his country of Kenya. 

Please, dear readers, if you can help financially for this dear pastor, let me know by emailing me at foreignmission@comcast.net.

   

There are so many issues and problems in this world.  Also, please remember to pray for one of the Foreign Mission board members and his family.  Two of his young daughters, ages 14 and 16, were in a terrible auto accident last week.   One of the girls is still in very serious condition.   Let us pray for the girls of Shane and Patti Juuti.   For those of you who have been visited by either Carl Niemitalo or Richard Juuti, these are their grandchildren. 

 For this week, let us look into scripture about this topic of prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.

Let us continually pray.  We understand and know that we must do our work, we must eat, sleep and do many other things in this life.  Still, the Bible says pray without ceasing.  Let us be in a continual state of knowing that God is over all, that Jesus is on the right hand of God, praying in our behalf.  Let us always be subject to the will of God, to His power over our lives!  Let us be humble, never demanding, yet present with the Lord, knowing that He is above all and in all!  When we possess the Holy Spirit, the comforter, then we can begin to understand how we could possibly pray without ceasing, because God Himself in the form of the Holy Spirit lives within us doing such things.

 James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Have you ever felt your prayers do not work?  The Bible says otherwise in the above verse when it says it availeth much!     Let us believe this by faith.

   

Let us pray one for another.   It is so easy, it seems, to forget this, or to spend our time trying to make gains against one another. When we are praying for one another, it is so very much harder to hold ill will toward each other.  Prayer brings us together in Christ, who is our healer and is the great Physician!

 How did the Apostles feel about prayer? Acts 6:4
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Let us follow their example and carry on as they did.

Jesus taught us how to pray.  He prayed the Lord’s prayer and He instructed in John 15:16
 ….. that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

We see many other examples of Jesus praying in the Bible, such as in Matthew 14:23

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Jesus went away to pray.  Jesus is Almighty and All Powerful!  Yet, He needed to pray.  Let us take this as a lesson to us on the importance of prayer.  Many times Jesus went away alone to pray.  He prayed so earnestly for you and me in the Garden of Gethsemane that in Luke 22:44  it tells us:

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Thank you, dear Lord, for giving us such a wonderful and beautiful example of prayer, and for showing us how much you have loved us!

 

Let us take this to our very own hearts and love one another as the scripture instructs.  John 13:34-35

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

James 5:16
….and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.

Have a Blessed Week in Prayer! 

To the Unsaved

To the Unsaved

Urho Coponen

I want to greet all the children of God with greetings of grace and peace through our Lord in heaven. I have an urge to write to the unsaved. I tremble when I think that you may not be saved before Judgment Day comes, when the Lord will tell you that you must go into everlasting hell fire.

 

Dear reader, if you are not saved, think for a moment of the everlasting suffering you will have to endure. Repeat this in your heart—everlasting, everlasting. Sometimes when I think of this after I go to bed in the evening, I cannot fall asleep. I remember many of my own relatives who are not saved and of the millions who do not seem to care. The Lord Jesus says there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth forever. Dear unbeliever, hell was not made for you, but for the devil and his angels.

God created us in His own image and wants all of us to enjoy everlasting joy in heaven with Him. He put us on this earth for only a short time. He breathed into our nostrils the breath of life and gave us a plan of life by which we could go back to Him after living our time on this earth. How many of us live according to His plan?

He gave us His Word and commandments, but not one person has been able to keep them. The devil, who is also on this earth and wars against God, is jealous of God's children and tells them God's Word is not true.

 

God said to Adam, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17) Because Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command, we are partakers of original sin. God did not go back on His Word: thou shalt surely die. Not one person could change His verdict. God Himself had to justify sinners and save us from everlasting death. His only Son was born into flesh and walked this way of life, fulfilling the Father's will, suffering the penalty of sin in our stead and dying for us in order that we might have eternal life.

Dear sinner, think of what our sins have done. Jesus took all the punishment for us because of our disobedience. Although He made a way for us, how many take heed of the exhortation to repent of their sins and believe them forgiven in the name and shed, atoning blood of Jesus? The power of the keys was left to His children here, whereby that which is loosed on earth is loosed in heaven and that which is bound on earth is bound in heaven. Jesus said, Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. (John 20:23)

 

The devil tries to darken the minds of men so they would not see their sinfulness. When God awakens a person's conscience, the devil is there to preach that there is nothing to it, that one might as well enjoy this world for there is no hereafter. He tries also to change God's plan of salvation.

Dear reader, if you have not repented of your sins, pray that you can acknowledge your sinfulness and receive forgiveness before it is too late. Jesus is coming soon. If you do not have the assurance that your sins are forgiven, Judgment Day will be a terrible day for you.

Let us who are saved follow our Lord Jesus. When we cannot walk, let us crawl. When Jesus see us growing too weak, He will take us in His arms and carry us, as long as we hope and believe.

The devil shoots his arrows at us from the left and from the right. Sometimes we become wounded in the battle against the world, the devil and our own flesh. When we are wounded, let us go and show our wounds to a brother or sister who will pour the blood of Jesus into those wounds and we shall be healed. Then we can go on again with our sins forgiven. 

Does Jesus Christ Reign Supreme in Your Heart?

Dear Weekly Readers!

Please enjoy this week’s article written by a David Impola from Washington, USA.

    

I desire that you would pray for the Christians in America, as well as their children, that Jesus would always remain the Rock of our Salvation.

May God Bless your Week.  John R.

Does Jesus Christ Reign Supreme in Your Heart?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  John 14:6

In the past as we considered our status with God, being convicted of our sins by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, we became beggars of His grace. This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3) How has it been since then? Have we become so much better that perhaps we aren't in need of God's grace as much? My experience, even as Apostle Paul's was, is that I feel I am a greater sinner in need of more grace. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (Romans 7:19)

The fact of the matter is that we always were great sinners from day one, but we were not fully aware of it. As life goes on, the Holy Spirit magnifies in a greater measure the depravity of our flesh. Apostle Paul cries out, O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord... (Romans 7:24-25)

 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36) For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

May we continue to pray and praise God that He gives us more grace to believe our many sins forgiven in the name and precious blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. (2 Peter 3:18)

The living church of Christ on this earth has always been looked upon as weak and beggarly. The children of God are looked upon as insignificant by the religious world's standards. The devil, with his agents, may whisper: "Psst! Follow me. I know of an easier way." The ever-abiding Spirit of God within us will soar to life telling the devil to go away! Jesus Christ is my Rock. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (Psalm 18:2)

 Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me… (Psalm 28:1) He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.(Psalm 62:6)

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast… (Hebrews 6:19)

Oh, how blessed it will be when our King, the Lord Jesus Christ who reigns supreme in our hearts and our lives, shall say,…. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from thefoundation of the world. (Matthew 25:34)

Sad, sad, it will be for those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Their false confidence and security in their own efforts to appease the wrath of God will not work. Their righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

(Proverbs 16:25) The Lord will say to those who do not have the seal of promise, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41)

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

"Awake! The voice still soundeth,

'Tis now the accepted hour;

The grace of God aboundeth

To save from sin's dread power.

Make haste, implore Christ's favor,

Thy sins confess, and bow Before Thy Lord and Savior;

The accepted time is now." (Frans Mikael Franzen)

Christian Fellowship

Dear Weekly Readers!

Please enjoy this week’s article which was written by Pastor Orval Wirkkala.  

May God Bless your week and keep you and yours safe!  John R.

 Christian Fellowship
  
Some time ago, an older woman in our congregation who is young at heart shared with me of how much she is enjoying reading the Bible through in a year in a chronological manner. She is using a reading plan that attempts to place the Bible books in the order that the events occurred in history. She particularly told me that what has really struck a chord with her is being able to read the psalm (s) that is/are attributed to the events of the lives of the Old Testament believers. It has made such people as Shepherd Boy and King David more real to her as she has come to know him through not only his experiences but also through his testimonies. For example, the 57th Psalm that we are considering in this article has been connected to the time in David's life when he was hiding in a cave from King Saul, who was seeking to take his life. What he wrote gives us insight into his heart and mind; in times of fear and in times of confidence.
 
As we read through this psalm, we are able to see that David experienced uncertainty and fear of the future in his life as he fled from the attacks of King Saul, which were brought about as a result of Saul's jealousy of David's popularity with the people. He cried out: "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee, yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities over past". (pass by) He then goes on to say "I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. (avenge in favor of, do good, show favor) and "He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth." The experiences of the mountains and the valleys of our lives are seen in this Psalm, but in and through these experiences we are encouraged to call upon our God, to trust Him as we go through even the valleys of life, to praise Him for the deliverance that is coming and to rejoice in His mercy and truth at all times! May we have the assurance today that David likened to being "in the shadow of thy wings."
 
Many of us have favorite hymns or songs, which are meaningful to us because they are linked to times of crisis in our life. We may enjoy many hymns or songs, but the special ones that have ministered to us (and continue to do so) are the ones that the Lord has used to reveal Himself to us when we have been struggling. We are tempted to think that we have gone out of the will of the Lord when trouble comes, but that may not always be the case, for in these times of crisis the Lord is able to reach us because our need is so great that we have nowhere to look but up. Even though we may look down at times, (look away from God's provision of grace and truth in Jesus Christ) nevertheless our face again and again is lifted up so that we may look in faith towards the only One who is able to bring us help in our time of need. When in the midst of fear and uncertainty, we are enabled by faith to behold and believe the promises of our Lord towards us, we then from the heart break forth in praise and worship, saying, Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth!!
 
In your times of crisis, how has the Lord ministered to you? Through the Word, through song, through prayer, through a person or ??? Share your experiences of faith with someone, for in doing so you will bring renewed blessing to yourself and encouragement to them. For in the confession of our weakness and in the acknowledgement of our need for the help of our brother or sister, we are strengthened in ourselves, we are drawn closer to one another in Christ and thereby the fellowship that we are a part of is strengthened.

Be encouraged today through the experience and testimony of David, which He received from his/our God.

In Christ,
Pastor Orval Wirkkala
　

One Flesh

Dear Weekly Readers!

Please enjoy this week's article written by Jorma Pesämaa from Finland. This article is about the very important topic of marriage.

May God bless your week.

ONE FLESH

“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” (Ephesians 5:31)  

It is truly amazing that a Christian marriage unites a man and a woman as "one flesh!" Still, our reason questions: "Is this only an allegory, or does one really need to take this literally?" A person who desires to give even the slightest amount of glory to God has to conclude that the idea of one flesh is greatly emphasized in the Bible. God stated these words already when the first couple was married. Our Savior Himself used these words more than once when speaking about marriage. The Lord's apostle also writes about becoming one flesh when teaching the congregations. God desired to institute marriage with the intent that it would be a help and joy for a person. In Proverbs it is written beautifully …Rejoice with the wife of thy youth …Be thou ravished always with her love. (Proverbs 5:18-19) Still, because of our corrupt flesh the "marriage happiness" for many turns to the "marriage problem." A spouse seems to have so many faults; this attitude makes love grow cold and makes the mind bitter.

A worldly-minded person's solution to get out of this dead-end is often divorce—and later finding a new spouse. Reason again concludes: "I did my best to fix things; now it's best to put a stop to this relationship." But a person who takes God's Word into account looks for another solution. He or she remembers Jesus' words about marriage: What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Mark 10:9) A horseman can exchange a horse for a new one when problems start to arise with the current horse. Although I'm sure nobody bearing the name of a Christian thinks quite this lightly about changing spouses, the threshold for divorce seems to have gotten lower.... Let's not be led astray! The "one flesh" instituted by God is still valid. May we remember that the Bible places adultery and whoredom in the same category as other heathen sins.

The apostle vividly describes caring for a marriage in his letter to the Ephesians: So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies… For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it… (Ephesians 5:28-29)  Surely no man or woman actually hates their hand, foot or some body part so much that they would like to amputate it—no, not even if there are bad deficiencies and ailments. Rejecting a member of our own body is simply not an alternative or solution to the problem. No. If some body part is somehow handicapped, one wants to sacrifice all his wealth and energy to take care of it until it is better. In the same sacrificial way, spouses are to take care of each other so that their "one flesh" is restored.

Let it be mentioned that there have been special cases in the history of Christianity where a Christian has had to move separate from their spouse because of, for example, verbal abuse or physical violence. Being separated is milder than divorce in the respect that one is waiting for the situation to improve and doesn't want to break up the marriage. Paul also spoke about a marriage so bad that, for some reason, ended in divorce. In that case, the divorced were to remain single so that the possibility to return to the marriage was still there, and reconciliation was still the goal. And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband… (1 Corinthians 7:10-11)

So, God's Word firmly unites spouses as one flesh. Because of our corrupt flesh, not one marriage is without trials. There are faults in every Christian man and woman—God knew and knows this. As the medicine, as the fountain of power and love, He offers Christ's example in His Word—Christ's sacrificial love and unending forgiveness. May this medicine be enough for us as well!

“Another would have rejected me,
And given reasons to flee,
But me, You endure, and continually bear;
My debt You know—You paid it on Calvary there.”
(Zion's Song)

God Is Faithful to His Promises

God's Peace!

The 104th Apostolic Lutheran convention that was held last weekend was a real time of blessing! Thank you to everyone who prayed for that time. I hope everyone will enjoy this week's article by Pastor Travis Seppala.

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. 
(Genesis 17:1-8) 

When examining the life of Abraham and the many descendants who followed after him, it becomes very evident that these people were in no way perfect. Instead, the Bible tells of people who made mistakes, who often lacked trust, and who proved to be undeserving of the promises of God.

Abraham and Sarah tried to take matters into their own hands and ended up with Ishmael, Hagar and conflict. Jacob and Esau fought over the birthright. Joseph was betrayed and sold into slavery by his own brothers. Upon being rescued from Egypt, the Israelites were quick to worship idols rather than God.

Time and again this chosen people turned their backs on God and proved to be unworthy of the promises made to Abraham, and yet, through it all, God remained faithful to these promises. Even when they were in captivity, He watched over His people and raised up men like Daniel, Nehemiah and Ezra. Though they did not always seek after Him, God continually made Himself known and still held to the covenant He had made with this people.

In doing this, God clearly demonstrates that His promises and His Word do not depend upon the ability of the human race to be found worthy of them. What is evident in the Scriptures is that Israel was never really able to demonstrate a worthiness of the promises. Rather, what is revealed is that God remained faithful even when His people were not able to do the same. God is faithful even when His people lack faith and break the covenants.

His promises do not depend on us; we depend on His promises. This is something that is all too easy to lose sight of: people can easily think that God's grace and forgiveness depend on their good behavior and righteousness. What the Scriptures show is that though people fail on a regular basis, God continues to remain faithful and, ultimately, it is because of HIS faithfulness that He sent His Son. The promises of God are fulfilled by Him through the work of Christ Jesus, and though one does not have to be righteous to come to Him, one does have to come to Him in order to be righteous.

Pastor Travis Seppala

Our Christian Walk

Dear Weekly Readers!

Please enjoy this weeks article written by Shane Juuti! 

May God Bless your week! 

 

John

Dear brothers and sisters in faith, I pray that this short portion of Scripture will bring you joy in the simplicity of how our walk should be.

And he (Jesus) sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?  And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. (Mark 14:13-15)

A beautiful picture of a Christian's walk can be easily overlooked in the great depth of this Scripture. The man bearing the pitcher of water gives much insight into our Christian walk. Here is a man, it would appear, who was simply going about his daily tasks. Unbeknownst to him, Christ was using him in a powerful, most important way: to lead someone to the house where the Passover was to be eaten.

All he was doing was carrying a pitcher of water. The Passover is the natural picture of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross that we also remember in Holy Communion; we spiritually partake of this when in repentance we come and have the blood of Christ struck on our hearts. We see that the room was all prepared.

The man with the pitcher no doubt knew this, but the text gives no indication that he had done anything to prepare it. Spiritually, the disciples show how Christ works in hearts to direct people to find this prepared room.

Again, the man with the pitcher had no idea Christ had sent someone to look for him or that he was doing something to lead someone to his master's house.

Let's take example from this man. He knew the room, and the feast was prepared. He didn't worry about trying to get the right people to come. Christ was giving those ones the directions they needed. He was simply going about his life but, on the spiritual side, visible for all to see, was the fact that he was bearing the living water of the simple Gospel message.

So, when we are to sow the seed on all ground, why was he not splashing water on all he met? Because it shows the subtle difference between the seed of the Word, and the living water of the Gospel. His walk showed that he believed the Gospel of the forgiveness of his sin for himself, and people could observe that he was forgiving also. This type of walk sows the seed of the Word on every type of heart we come in contact with, and has the power to draw people.

We know that splashing water on people, no matter how hot and thirsty they appear to us, causes anger or, at the very least, annoyance. If someone asks though, they are most thankful for even a small drink of water. If we start telling people about the truth of forgiveness it very often causes contention, but if a heart is thirsting for forgiveness it is most thankful for the Gospel message.

It is a difficult task for us as humans to simply walk with the love of Christ showing in the forgiveness we have for others, trusting that God prepares everything else. The feast is prepared; He sends the ones who are seeking. He will have us in exactly the right place at the proper time to lead them there, and He will provide the right words to speak if He decides to use us.

May God grant the peace to trust that it is so simple to each and every one of us. Amen. ~

Shane Juuti,

Alberta, Canada

Assurance of Salvation

Dear Weekly Readers!

God’s Peace!

   

We are now only a little over a week until the start of our annual ALC convention!  Please pray for these four days of services and meetings!   May Jesus Christ be lifted up!

This week our article is by Pastor Ron Holmgren.

   

May God Bless your Week!  John R. 

We too often look in the wrong places to find assurance that we are God's child. It is common for the "sons of Adam" to look within, perhaps searching for some feelings we have had after some spiritual experience. Or we might think that if we look for some "fruit" or "work" we will be sure of the work of God in our heart. 

Some look for some charismatic gift of the spirit. Or we might look back over our life, or at least the years since we have been a Christian, to see if we have progressed in our Christian walk. That must be a sure way to determine if God favors us. In doing this we either despair because we are never good enough or we begin to think lofty thoughts about ourselves.

But these are not the places where we will find true assurance. We must look to that "more sure word of prophecy" that Peter spoke of. There we will find the Gospel—the good news—that we so desperately need.

Luther found this to be true after so many attempts to assure his fearful heart. But when he finally found peace in the "external promise of Christ" (apart from us and our contributions) he wanted to remain there because he saw how solid that foundation was.

Read how he put this in his own words:

God will not have us rely on anything else, or trust with our heart in anything that is not Christ in His Word, no matter how sacred and full of Spirit it may be. Faith has no other foundation on which it can endure… We must seek Christ in that which is the Father's, that is, we must simply and solely cleave to the Word of the Gospel, which shows and reveals Christ aright to us. If you would effectively comfort others and yourself, then learn in this and other spiritual temptations to say with Christ: Why are you running to and fro, tormenting yourself with fearful and distressed thoughts, as though God had no more grace for you and as though Christ were not to be found, and refuse to be satisfied unless you find Him in yourself and feel holy and without sin? 

That will get you nowhere; it is all toil and labor lost. Don't you know that Christ is minded to be present and to be found nowhere but in that which is His Father's and not in that which you or all men are or have? The fault does not lie with Christ and His grace; He indeed is and remains unlost and can always be found; the fault lies in you, that you do not seek Him right, namely, where He is to be sought, because you are judging according to your feelings and expect to seize Him with your thoughts. 

But you must come here, where there is neither yours nor any man's, but God's business and rule, namely, where His Word is. There you will meet Him and hear and see neither wrath nor displeasure, as you fear, but only grace and cordial love toward you… But it means a struggle for the heart to get there and take hold of this; first it must crash and experience that all our notions of seeking Christ are futile and in vain and that in the end there is no other choice than to turn away from oneself and all other human consolation and trust only in His Word. (Martin Luther)

God help us to see this clearly and in his Holy Word find the hope that our hearts long for, found in the proclamation of the Gospel heard in the preaching of God's Word, and in the receiving of the Holy Sacraments wherein the same Word is, and Christ alone is found. We have an external hope that is not based on us or on some changing and uncertain foundation.~

Pastor Ron Holmgren,   Hockinson, WA