One of my senior Indian co-workers never used the name of God alone when speaking or witnessing. He always said "the Living God—"the Living God says . . ," "the living God sent His only Son," "the living God answers prayer." He felt it must always be clear that the God about whom we witness is like no other god or concept of God. (Google image, How to pray for missionaries).
For these who have had so little opportunity to know Him, the living God is willing to demonstrate His reality. One of the ways He chooses to do this is through answered prayer. Pastors, evangelists, and other believers in many nations are seeing God prove His miracle power in answering the needs of the people to whom they are witnessing.
Each month I receive reports from our evangelistic teams telling how non-Christians have come to them, asking for prayer for special needs. As God proves His living reality, the word gets out that the Christian's God answers prayer. Again and again this opens the door for the gospel, and many are saved. As I read these reports, I often feel I am back in New Testament times.
For example, there are accounts of the miraculous healing of illness and infertility. Though we hold no healing campaigns, when such requests for prayer are made, our teams honor them. Many non-Christians, seriously ill for prolonged periods of time, have as a last resort come to our missionaries. They report that they have made pilgrimages from temple to temple, but have gotten no better.
When prayer is offered by some member or members of our team, healing comes. This dramatic occurrence often leads to the evangelization of whole families as they become convinced that Christ is God and that God answers prayer.
Every home in India wants a child. Often the couple has prayed and made offerings in the pagan temples, sometimes traveling great distances, all in vain. Again and again we hear their pleas, "Can your God help us?" The team goes to the home, holds a prayer meeting, and asks God to bless that home with a child.
And repeatedly there are reports that, in due time, a child is born and the whole family turns to Christ. Our co-workers never hesitate to accept such a challenge to prove that Christ is God.
One of the most dramatic proofs of God's sovereignty is in the casting our of demons. In these ancient societies, the non-Christians are very conscious of the reality of demons. In the case of longstanding instances of demon possession, it is widely known that the pagan religions and religious leaders have been unable to help.
At times the demons cause the indwelled persons great distress. In desperation these demon-possessed people are brought to our evangelistic teams, and their non-Christian friends and relatives plead for any help our Jesus can give. When the demon is cast out, one or many of the amazed onlookers turn to Christ.
These kinds of supernatural answers to prayer, in which Christ encounters and defeats satanic forces, are often called "power encounters." Christ proves He is alive by answering prayer as no other god can do.
(Chapter 16, pp. 125-126, italics added for emphasis)
"Heavenly Father, You promise to provide for all my needs, therefore, help me to see Your Kingdom perspective by refocusing my focus on You. Help me to see what You have already provided. Help me not to be anxious about tomorrow, because You are already there in my every tomorrow. Help me to know the difference between my wants and my needs. Enlarge my vision and my understanding to see how You are working. Help me to remember that nothing is impossible for You and Your grace is sufficient for all my needs. Help me to not miss how You are working in every day of my life. Thank You, Father!"
Lisa Baffaloe
Today's Bible verses-
We may want to take revenge for something said or done, but as Christians, God wants us to let him douse the flames burning within us. Jesus has the power to take care of it, and doesn't need our help. Keep traveling on the path with Him, and trust Him to take care of the hurt within you.
Today's guest post-
Take Time to Rest
Andrea Merrell
"Down the hallway and through the church foyer, I hurried as if going to a fire. Two steps into the sanctuary, someone grabbed my arm. “Slow down. You look like you’re in attackmode.”I was at it again. Focused on the tasks before me as the pastor’sadministrative assistant. Oblivious to the people around me who needed my attention. And also unaware of my own need to stop and take a deep breath to keep myself from getting stressed out . . . "
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| Blue buckeye Edith Smith's farm |
Amen!! Just what I needed to read this beautiful day the Lord has made 🙏🏿
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