Category: Faith

Good Friday prayer for my brothers

Originally written for my brothers in faith and discipleship Good Friday 2019.

God, I pray you would renew my heart again today. Move me to read scripture and pray with my family. Help me to be their spiritual leader, to teach and equip them for the great commission.

Motivate me to build a Godly household. Prepare us to share our faith. God, help us to be loving and bold in our faith.

God, open our eyes to see. Don’t let us be blinded by the “entertainment” and “pleasures” of this world. Give us a deep desire to know you more and desire your kingdom more than this world.

Forgive me of my daily sins of apathy, grumbling and discontent. Fill me, oh God, with hope and joy.

In Jesus Christ’s name I pray – Amen

Erwin W. Lutzer
“The Church in Babylon: Heeding the Call to Be a Light in the Darkness”

“Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:5-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/jer.29.5-7.esv

Family Safety and Security

Our Family’s Safety and Security
excerpted from “The Dobra Family Mission” 2010 Revision

Our King, Jesus, warns us that until His return we live in a cursed world and that we will have to face disaster.

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Matthew 24:6-7

Jesus tells us not to be alarmed, that wars and natural disasters will happen. We think our family needs to be prepared. For God’s glory, we need to be prepared to weather the storm, to rebuild, to care for others, and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those in need.

Disasters in General: Natural and Man Made

Be Prepared for the Storm!

As Jesus warned, the world is wicked and cursed. We can learn from the story of Noah the great need for God’s families to be spiritually and physically prepared for disaster.

Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. . . Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood. . . I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark— you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. . . Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
From Genesis 6 (see also: Acts 11:27-30)

Be Prepared to Rebuild the Church!

We can learn from Ezra that God’s families need to be ready to rebuild God’s Church, to care for, build up, and encourage God’s people for God’s glory!

Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. . . When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site.
Ezra 1:5, 2:68

Be Prepared to Rebuild the Community!

We can learn from Nehemiah that God’s families need to be ready to rebuild and defend their communities for God’s glory!

So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. . . Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work. . .” Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.
Nehemiah 4:6, 11, 13-15

If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed.
Exodus 22:2

Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
Proverbs 25:26

Be Prepared to Care for and Share with Others

We should always be prepared to care for those in need and we should always be prepared to share our eternal hope with any one, but especially with those in great need and distress.

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
From Matthew 25:34-40

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:16

Do Not Fear!

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. . . The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
From Mark 4:35-41

Persecution

Jesus also warns His disciples that we will face persecution of one form or another because of His name. We should learn from our brothers and sisters in the underground church in restricted nations where they are violently persecuted today.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”
Matthew 24:9-11

“Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.”
Luke 6:22

Proclaim the Gospel

Even in the face of persecution, the Gospel must be proclaimed!

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end willcome.”
Matthew 24:14

Endure to the end

Stand firm in the faith!

“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Matthew 24:12-13

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.”
Luke 12:4

We hope to live out our vision and mission to honor and glorify God and to leave a Godly legacy by being prepared, by rebuilding, by caring, and by sharing during good times and bad!

* See Safety topics in Appendix for more information.

** Read “Tortured for Christ” by Richard Wurmbrand for first hand account of persecution at the hands of the Nazis and Communists and the work of the underground church! www.torturedforchrist.com

Disciple Making and Kingdom Building in Africa

Reports of the spectacular growth of Christianity in Africa are well known. What is less known is how it is happening. Glenn has visited Africa and has reported on the growth of the church in the book he co-wrote with Jerry Trousdale, The Kingdom Unleashed. In today’s show the Pugcasters interview one of the leaders of this phenomenal movement. There were many remarkable things that they learned in the course of the interview–an important one being how Islam is growing in Africa through a combination of biological growth, conversion through marriage, business dealings with strings attached, and the building of mosques.

https://crosspolitic.com/podcast/the-theology-pugcast-disciple-making-movements-the-contest-w-islam-in-west-africa/

My show notes

Making disciples in West Africa

  1. Identify a community
  2. Research the community, get to know the culture
  3. Identify a “person of peace” … someone from the community to be a bridge into the community

Establish Access Ministries (5 pillars)

  1. Prayer and Fasting
  2. Service with a purpose, fill a need
    Education/vo-tech, clean water, health facilities, seed banks, government corruption/justice, business/jobs
  3. Every believer is a disciple, and every disciple is a disciple maker. “Who is your disciple?”
  4. Multiplication
    Church planting, small groups
  5. Partnerships
    When government programs fail. Involving people in their own development.

Islam vs Christianity

Kingdom building

  1. Family multiplication
  2. Businesses
  3. Building (physical representation of the Church, claiming ground for Jesus)

Spiritual Warfare

  1. Battle in the spiritual realm first by prayer and fasting
  2. Believe! Has the church in America become blind to spiritual things?
  3. Need a supernatural worldview revival in the churches in America!

Fear of What is Coming Out of America

Like the church of Pergamum. (Revelation 2:12-17)

But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.

Revelation 2:14

Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing

2 Peter 2:15

Just War / Just Cause Theory

Liberty Man – Forefathers Monument

Just Cause Theory

“a three-step theology of resistance…

“The [1] first was prophetic denunciation of the civic evil. When the magistrate is defying God, then courageous men in the pulpit should be authoritatively naming what is happening, and denouncing it ( Matt. 14:4). The [2] second stage is for the believers to flee the persecution. Jesus said to do this — when you are persecuted in one city, flee to the next (Matt. 10:23). The [3] third and final stage is to take up arms defensively (1 Sam. 22:2). David’s men were armed, and were not cooperating with Saul’s tyranny at all, and would certainly have defended themselves if cornered, but David would still not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. So it is not permissible to undertake a revolution whereby the rebels seek to overthrow the existing authority. But taking up arms defensively is an option. And stating that you will refuse to comply if required by the tyrants to is also an option. This is why George Washington said that weapons were liberty’s teeth. This is why molon labe is an option. As the saying goes, when the government starts saying that you don’t need a gun, then you need a gun.

“In his magisterial Institutes, [4] John Calvin gave us another layer of protection against lawless anarchy. He taught that when the supreme ruler is resisted, it should be undertaken by the lesser magistrate, and that the people should not try to resist tyranny at the top as an inchoate mob. They should resist tyranny from the central government by means of submission to local authorities who are fulfilling their oath of office. Every lesser magistrate has the obligation (not the right, the obligation) to disobey unlawful orders from above. And, when they do this, the people have an obligation to rally behind them.

https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/s7-engaging-the-culture/assemblin-carryin-n-sayin-stuff.html

Just War Theory

“[W]e can evaluate whether… any decision leading to hostile action, is justified according to what is called “Just War Theory.” Over the centuries, Christian thinkers from Augustine to Aquinas to the Reformers—seeking to reconcile Christian teaching on the sanctity of human life with the Christian responsibility to love our neighbors by protecting them from evil—have proposed a set of conditions by which a violent act can be considered justified. These conditions deal with both whether war ought to be waged, as well as how war should be waged.

“[1] First, the cause for going to war and the intention behind it must be just. [2] Second, the war must be waged by a legitimate authority. [3] Third, force must be used as a last resort. [4] Fourth, force used in war must be proportionate to the threat. [5] Fifth, force must not target non-combatants, and finally, [6] there must be a reasonable chance of success.”

https://www.breakpoint.org/soleimani-the-u-s-and-just-war/

EDC (every day carry)

Barmen: the Church then and now

Tom introduces listeners to the Barmen Declaration of 1934. He then helps listeners understand what genuine resistance to the Nazis looked like at the time, and how many German churches had been coopted by cultural trends.
In our ideological age, cut off from both nature and nature’s God, totalitarianisms emerge to fill in the empty spaces in our heads and hearts. Classical Christian theism is what we need today, but most evangelicals don’t know what that is.

Podcast: https://crosspolitic.com/podcast/the-theology-pugcast-the-barmen-declaration-saying-no-to-cultural-accommodation/

Here’s the wiki page for the Barmen Declaration–https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barmen_Declaration

Highlights/Outline of this Episode

The Barmen Declaration

1934 Germany, 139 delegates of the churches meet to declare the true aligence of the church and encourage resistance to false allegiances and the political evil of national socialism. (Yes, socialism, the same godless ideology we are facing today in America.)

False allegiances

  • Turned from the true God
  • Political symptoms are related to the sickness of theological liberalism
  • Theological liberalism is embraced in order to make the church more relevant, attractive
  • Resulted in “domesticated,” “accommodating,” and effeminate church

Resistance to evil

  • Godly relevance (truth) is not always popular
  • The movement started from the Barmen declaration had to go underground
  • Grace and salvation give you the freedom to proclaim unpopular truths no matter the worldly consequences
  • Stop following the godless culture in order to be relevant
  • Build a Godly culture in the church and our households

Podcast: https://crosspolitic.com/podcast/the-theology-pugcast-the-barmen-declaration-saying-no-to-cultural-accommodation/

Socialism, Communism, Marxism https://ministry.family.blog/america/socialism-marxism-communism/

Prayer of Hope

A prayer of Hope in times of danger, distress, and terror.

July, 2016

I was feeling great sorrow and distress over the turmoil in our nation and world. It is obvious God has been pulling away as we have been pushing him out. The acts of terror, racial and police violence, and political uncertainty and division.

But, Christ is in me, the hope of glory! (Colossians 1:27)

In my Scripture reading and meditation today:

1. I prayed from the Psalms “I am weary from grief; strengthen me through Your word.” (Psalm 119:28)

2. I was both encouraged and challenged that when God had twice revealed plans for the ultimate destruction of Israel, twice he relented after the intercessory prayer and pleading of the prophet Amos. All is not lost, but we must plead and pray and repent! “‘Lord God, please forgive! How will Jacob survive since he is so small?’ The Lord relented concerning this. ‘It will not happen, He said.” (Amos 7:2-3)

3. I marveled in the hope of glory! “God’s mystery—Christ. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.” (Colossians 1:2b-3)

So, have hope, do not be deceived and be thankful! (Colossians 1:4,7)

Pray

“O Lord, whose power is infinite and wisdom infallible… let us dwell in Your most secret place under Your shadow, where there is safe protection…

Help us to be entirely dependent on You for support, counsel, and consolation.

Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit for every purpose of our Christian life.

In Jesus Christ’s name we pray – Amen!”

Prayer adpated from the “Puritan Prayers: Refuge”

Reading plan From the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings for Year C, Monday (July 18, 2016): Psalm 119:17-32; Amos 7:1-6; Colossians 1:27-2:7.

Prayer for Healing

“Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, You became man and died on the cross for our salvation. You healed people of sickness and affliction through Your love and compassion. Visit me, Lord, and grant me strength to bear this sickness with which I am afflicted, with patience, submission to Your will and trust in Your loving care. I pray that You will bless the means used for my recovery and those who administer them. Grant that my sickness may be to my spiritual benefit and that I may live the rest of my life more faithfully according to Your will. For You are the source of life and healing and to You I give praise and glory, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.”

“My Orthodox Prayer Book” by Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Rev. Theodore Stylianopoulos

See Healing https://ministry.family.blog/2020/01/05/healing/

Healing

God can and does heal

  • Remember all the times Jesus healed and even brought the dead to life
  • I have seen people healed from health afflictions after earnest prayer in our small group

15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 5:15-16 (ESV)

But does not always heal

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,[a] a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 (ESV)
  • To keep Paul from becoming conceited, or trusting in his own ability and righteousness, rather than in God’s grace and power.
  • So that Paul’s weakness would bear witness to God’s greatness.

We can’t always understand His ways

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:33-36 (ESV)

But we can trust that all things are for our good and His glory

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 (ESV)

And even death cannot separate us from His love!

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

Truth

Veritati adhaereto
“Stick to the truth.”

 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:31-36