Wk 58
November 10, 2006 To The Ends of The Earth
Verse for the week:
And they said unto me, the remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven Nehemiah 1:3-4
Quote for the week:
You’re not a Christian in the full sense of the word until your heart is broken by the things that break the heart of Jesus. – Roberta Hestenes
People Group of the week:
The Japanese people of Japan (the largest unreached people group in the world)
*Links to website don't necessarily imply endorsement.
Pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters everyday, but especially this Sunday on the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church.
Apostolic Missions Committee Member to pray for this week:
Akito Inoue (Tokyo, Japan)
Apostolic Elder to pray for this week:
Willis Ehnle (Shioda, Japan – Retired) and YOUR OWN!
Apostolic Christian Missionaries to pray for this week:
Our brothers and sisters in Japan – Willis & Lois Ehnle, Akito & Marie Inoue, Andrew & Jana Klaus, their families, and others
Other News:
Lately I’ve been trying to piece some things together. These last few Ends of The Earth emails have been great - talking about the need for emotions, the bondage of the restavek children in Haiti, and praying in love for the unreached. And then I heard a brother speak that just tied it all together.
Our church’s doctrine of faith has this to say about the believer’s purpose, “The primary purpose of a believer’s life is to glorify God.” So I’ve been thinking about glorifying God, our purpose, the enormous needs that exist in our world, and the unique way God has made each of us. Borrowing from the wisdom God has given to others, here’s how I believe this all comes together.
First, what makes you glad? How does God use you best? God has built you in a special way and you feel joy when you live that out. It may be teaching, construction, nursing, building relationships, business administration, encouraging, hospitality, and the list goes on. It could be general, specific, or a combination of a few things.
Second, what makes you sad? What needs in our world break your heart? Maybe it’s hurting and abandoned children in impoverished countries, victims of natural disasters, people without God’s Word in their heart language, the young Pakistani man in your class who just needs a friend, 1.2 billion people in bondage to Islam, young girls being raped for profit, over 125 million Japanese in need of Christ, incarcerated young men and women, and again, the list goes on.
God is glorified when we use the specific gifts and talents He’s given each of us to meet the needs that break our hearts (and His heart). Nehemiah is a perfect example. He wept over the plight of Jerusalem. Instead of just being sad, Nehemiah used his gift of leadership, his connections to the king, and his ability to unite and motivate people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah found his purpose and God received glory!
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Prayer Points for the Japanese of Japan
· Ask the Lord to call laborers to go to Japan and share Christ with the Japanese.
· Pray that Christian businessmen will have open doors to share the Gospel with the Japanese.
· Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Japanese toward Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.
· Pray that Japanese Christians will have opportunities to share the love of Jesus with their families and friends.
· Pray that Christian radio and television broadcasts will be effective in reaching the Japanese.
· Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Japanese bound.
· Pray that God will raise up teams of intercessors to stand in the gap for these precious people.
· Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Japanese.
"Purpose is finding out how God uses you best where the need is the greatest." - Richard Sharp
