March 2009 Newsletter

"Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)

Dear Brethren,

There are times when those who are gifted as encouragers need to be encouraged.  This is one of those times.  The global economy is in crisis.  Many missions and ministries have to make critical budget decisions because giving is down.  In our area, we are hearing of pastors who are looking for secular work because the churches they shepherd can no longer pay their salaries and I suspect that this is just the beginning.  It may be time for “judgment to begin with the house of the Lord” (1Pet 4:17) so that what is not directly advancing the cause of Christ around the world can be pruned out of the church (John 15:2).  Maybe now the church will rethink entertaining and get back to training.  According to the Scriptures the purpose of the Church is to “equip the saints to do the work of ministry” (Eph 4:12).  And what is ministry?  Ministry is encouraging men, women and children to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), so that through us Jesus can reach the billions of sin shackled human beings made in the image of God (Gen 1:26-28).  In this day, while too many churches are looking for numbers, Jesus is still looking for lost souls (Luke 19:10).  

Like many of you, we are struggling spiritually.  We are being bombarded day after day with stress producing “news”.  The political and economic news goes from bad to worse.  Nuclear war is an old threat that is rearing its head once again in Persia.  Are we to hope for an economic recovery or be realistic and do what we can to prepare for a new “great depression”? (Isaiah 9:16)  As believers we must remember that Christ Jesus has not given us a spirit of fear.  We have the Holy Spirit.  This is not the time to be afraid – this is the hour for renewed faith and trust in the Lord and His Word.  (Rom 5:1-5)

There is a lot of noise in our culture that is being generated by the devil (Eph 6:11) to try and keep our spiritual Man from hearing God’s voice.  The stumbling blocks that are being marketed through the media are being used to overwhelm our flesh (Matt 18:7).  As believers we need to stop and wait on the Lord so that we can hear His voice, the “still soft voice” of God that can penetrate the noise of the culture (1Kin 19:11-13).  If we wait – if we “let patience have her perfect work” (James 1:4) – our Lord and Savior will let us know what to do next.

From Genesis chapter three through Revelation chapter twenty, God’s concern is for lost souls.  That is our Father’s burden and that is what Jesus came to earth to do. (Luke 19:10)  So what should our response be in this time of political turmoil and economic upheaval?  Preach the Gospel.  (2Tim 4:1,2,5)

Before Joshua led the people into the Promised Land the Lord gave him this encouraging word.  “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, [the lost pagan idol worshippers], for the Lord your God is the One who goes with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you” (Deut 31:6).  This was the encouraging Word then – it is His Word for all who believe today.  We do not have to be afraid of what is coming or what is going down.  It is the Lord who promised to care for His own, and that includes all who believe.  It may be hard for us to keep track of a checkbook, but our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who knows the end from the beginning, knows what we need before we do. (Matt 6:8)   It is He who will do the providing (Gen 22:15) – we need to do the trusting (Pro 3:5).

“Blessed is the man whose hope is in the Lord” (Psalm 84:12; 146:5), and blessed are they who get their direction and guidance from God’s Word (Psalm 119:105).  “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)  God’s Word of encouragement to Israel then is our Word of encouragement now.