Month: August 2013

Morning Reading: Acts 19:1-7 NLT – Holy Spirit received

Reading: Acts 19:1-7 NLT

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers.

image

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

“Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.”

Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”

As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Fill us with your Spirit. Overcome our ignorance, or bad theology, so that every believer who has been baptized in your name may experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit… with all the gifts and blessings that entails. And may your Spirit bear good fruit in us… love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. All to the glory of God. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Holy Spirit, You are welcome here” – Jesus Culture (Kim Walker – Passion 2013)

Morning Reading: Acts 18:23-28 NLT – training a new generation

Reading: Acts 18:23-28 NLT

After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers.

Got teacher? Got Bible? Got impact! Uganda 2011 - wwcs.org
Got teacher? Got Bible? Got impact!
Uganda 2011 – wwcs.org

Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism.

When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.

Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the brothers and sisters in Ephesus encouraged him to go. They wrote to the believers in Achaia, asking them to welcome him.

When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God’s grace, had believed. He refuted the Jews with powerful arguments in public debate. Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – Thank you for raising up preachers, teachers and evangelists in every generation, in every tribe and nation… people who are compelled by your Spirit to reach people for Jesus. Holy Spirit – open their hearts and minds to the Word of truth found in Scripture… immerse them in your Word. Continually correct any false impressions or cultural biases they may have and give them the wisdom and courage to apply your Word with clarity and power to the world i which they live. Lord Jesus – you are Lord of all… reign in the hearts of all your people wherever they may be today. And, call forth your people like a mighty army to advance your Kingdom throughout the world. To God be the glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Shine” – Matt Redman (Passion 07)

Which countries send out the most missionaries? And the top 5 faiths in the world

Kate Davis - Uganda

rodi's avataragnus dei - english + romanian blog

Photo of Katie Davis – see her story here – The story of Katie Davis: The high school senior who went to Uganda to teach kindergarten for 10 months and stayed to be mom to 13 orphans and to serve the people of Uganda

The Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary calculates that Christians sent out approximately 400,000 international missionaries in 2010. And nearly half of the world’s top missionary-sending countries are now located in the global South.

The CSGC reports that “of the ten countries sending the most missionaries in 2010, three were in the global South: Brazil, South Korea, and India.” Other notable missionary senders included South Africa, the Philippines, Mexico, China, Colombia, and Nigeria.

However, the United States still tops the chart by far in terms of total missionaries, sending 127,000 in 2010 compared to the 34,000 sent by No. 2-ranked Brazil.

View original post 88 more words

Please pray for Christians in United Arab Emirates – World Watch List #26

Peanut Gallery: I’ve fallen behind Open Doors’ posting of their weekly World Watch List update. So the plan is to post an update on Monday and Thursday until I catch up (they are on wk 30). Of course, you can go directly to their USA (here) or UK (here) website any time for the latest information and much more.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (Wikipedia) – World Watch List #26 (Open Doors UK)

united_arab_emirates_mapPopulation: 8.1 million (400,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Federation
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism

Around 80 per cent of the population here are expats. The constitution provides for some religious liberty, but the law denies Muslims the freedom to change religion. Muslim-background believers may be pressured to return to Islam, hide their faith or leave the country. Non-Muslim groups can worship freely in dedicated buildings or private homes, but the government restricts the development of worship facilities for foreign Christians. Open evangelism is prohibited, but Christians in the country have many opportunities for Muslim–Christian dialogue.

PLEASE PRAY:

  • There are very few local believers. Pray for opportunities to meet for fellowship
  • That Christians will make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel
  • For Open Doors partners providing support and training to expat Christians.

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS:

UAE womanThe United Arab Emirates is one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf. The constitution provides for religious freedom on the condition that established customs, public policy or public morals are not violated. Expats enjoy some freedom but also face restrictions, especially migrant workers from developing countries. Evangelism is prohibited, but non-Muslim groups can worship freely in dedicated buildings or private homes. However, the government places restrictions on the development of worship facilities for Christian migrants.

Muslim-background believers suffer the most persecution. All citizens are defined as Muslims and the law denies Muslims the freedom to change religion under penalty of death. To avoid death, social stigma or other penalties, converts may be pressured to return to Islam, to hide their faith or to travel to another country where their conversion is allowed.

Though the Arab Spring did not have much effect in the United Arab Emirates, the latest developments in the Middle East have led the local people to question what good leadership is.

UAE-kidsTOP TEN THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE UAE (what life is like for Christians)

  1. Around 80 percent of the population here are expats
  2. The constitution provides for some religious liberty, but the law denies Muslims the freedom to change religion.
  3. Muslim Background Believers may be pressured to return to Islam, hide their faith or leave the country.
  4. Non-Muslim groups can worship freely in dedicated buildings or private homes, but the government restricts the development of worship facilities for foreign Christians.
  5. Open evangelism is prohibited, but Christians in the country have many opportunities for MuslimChristian dialogue.
  6. Though there are some expat Christians, there are very few indigenous believers.
  7. The constitution and laws are fairly new, as the UAE gained its independence in 1971.
  8. The UAE is often seen as one of the most Westernized and liberal countries in the Middle East, but there are still a great number of restrictions for religious minorities.
  9. Since 2006, the standard weekend has been Friday and Saturday. This was established as a compromise between the Muslim holy day (Friday) and the Western weekend (Saturday and Sunday)
  10. Emirati typically wear a kandura, which is an ankle-length white tunic. Many Emirati women wear an abaya, which is a black over-garment, covering most parts of their body

Homily Redux – give them Jesus

Peanut Gallery: Fr Bob made an important point yesterday.

“If you  want to leave your kids an inheritance, give them Jesus.”
(my summary paraphrase)

Here’s my summary outline of the homily –

  • Stuff is no substitute for you
  • Stuff doesn’t last
  • Jesus is forever
  • If you love them, give them Jesus

And here are links to the day’s readings:

I’m sure there are a variety of other teaching points that can be made from these passages of Scripture, but I think Fr Bob zeroed in on the most important:

  • For myself – Give me Jesus
  • For my family and friends – Give them Jesus

In the end… nothing else matters.