Bible Quiz: Each week this blog will begin with two questions. The answers are at the end of the blog. Have fun!!
According To the Bible 1. There were certain symbols with which the church used to identify themselves as Christians. These were the cross, the dove and the sign of the fish.
2. The first sin had to do with sexual relations between Adam and Eve because it was God’s plan that they live in perpetual abstinence.
3. In betraying Jesus, Judas was, at least in part, politically motivated.
Dear Prayer Warriors,
Greetings from sunny St. Petersburg, Russia! It is -3 degrees Fahrenheit and snowing very hard.
Your Ministry of Intercession
Thank you for blessing our ministry in Russia. God the Holy Spirit makes a clear statement concerning your ministry of intercession in 2 Corinthians 1:11 by acknowledging “you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.”
1. “…you also joining in helping us through your prayers” – In God’s value system, those who truly commit themselves to the ministry of intercession for missionaries are equal as co-laborers with the missionary. They share both in the responsibility to be faithful laborers and in the rewards of that labor. We praise God for your decision to co-labor with us in the harvest fields of the world.
2. “…so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf” - The result of the ministry of intercession is, first and foremost, prayers of praise and thanksgiving to God. An intercessor can, therefore, through his or her prayers, give offerings of praise throughout the world. This is true in Russia. Pastors, churches, laymen and women are even today praising God for the blessings which your faith and prayers have bestowed on them.
3. “…for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.” - Not only that, but your intercession has a very real impact on our lives and ministry. We experience “favor” which we otherwise would go without - favor both in our walk with God and in our ministry - because of your faithful intercession.
Reformed Presbyterian Seminary Classes
There were 11 pastors taking my class on the Marriage Covenant. It was a great blessing to see their zeal for the Biblical teachings on marriage. The excitement of these pastors at discovering what the Bible had to say about their marriages, and their willingness to subject their marriages to the word of God was truly humbling. You could see the heart of Ezra in these men - “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). They will return home to study, apply and then teach on marriage in their respective churches. Pray for these men that the Word of God will direct and shape their marriages.
Reformed Church of St. Petersburg
In morning Bible studies, evening meetings, home evangelistic meetings and Sunday service – it was a privilege to be co-laboring with Pastor Volkov and his church in St. Petersburg. God blessed your prayers as I spoke on Luke 18 this past Sunday. These and the other messages are being posted on the GCI website and the GCI Sermonaudio page. The sermons are in English with Russian translation so they are accessible for English speakers as well as those whose primary language is Russian.
Logos Baptist Church
We had two evening sessions on marriage and ministry with this vibrant Baptist church. The pastor and his wife came to the second session with many questions concerning issues in their church. It is always humbling when pastors ask for Biblical counsel, and it keeps me on my knees before the Word of God.
Povlosk Baptist Church
I taught the Family Discipleship Seminar in this church last fall, and it is always a good sign when you are invited back to teach so soon. They are emphasizing prayer this spring and asked me to do a one day “Prayer Conference.” There were over 50 who came on a cold (-12 degrees Fahrenheit) and snowy Saturday for the one-day seminar on prayer. I began the seminar by telling them, “If you came here hoping to learn how to get God to go to work for you and perform miracles, you will be greatly disappointed. On the other hand, if you came here hoping to learn how, through prayer, to go to work for God as a laborer in His harvest fields, then you have come to the right place.” It was a very receptive and eager group. After lunch, we had more in attendance than in the morning. By the end of the day, over 60 men and women were in the church auditorium.
Home evangelistic meetings
Not only did a number of non-Christians hear a clear presentation of the gospel, but Ivan, a new Christian, became so excited about the gospel that he took a Four Laws Booklet as well as a devotional workbook on witnessing.
Bibles and Bible study aids for Russian pastors
Seminary students, pastors, pastors’ wives, laymen and women serving the Lord and the teenage children of these faithful servants all received Bibles, Bible study aids and Bible reference works. These precious volumes are not just handed out haphazardly but go to those willing to complete a 60 page devotional workbook or do Scripture memory work (memorize 36 evangelism passages or Romans 8). I praise God for the seriousness and zeal with which they approach the Word of God.
New Doors Opening – The Macedonian Call Continues To Resound
God opened many new doors to the far east of Russia as well as several outlying countries during this time. We have received several Macedonian Calls, and these need to be prayerful considered by us and by our board. No one “sends” us anywhere but our ministry is totally as a result of calls for help from churches, pastors and seminaries throughout the world. It is based on Acts 16:9-10 in which Paul states, “a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us’ . . . immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” We, too, have received calls from over 27 countries with more coming in. We, too, seek to go.
God has expanded and blessed your ministry of intercession, and we seek to be good stewards of the doors you have opened for us. Please continue to pray for the blessing of the Word of God, our personal strength and stamina, as well as the financial resources to fulfill the ministry which you so graciously empower through your faithful and sacrificial prayers.
By His mercy, II Corinthians 4:1 Rev. John S. Mahon Director – Grace Community Int. St. Petersburg, Russia
Answers to this week’s Bible Quiz 1. False - Nowhere in the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles or New Testament writings is there an example of these symbols. There are no Biblical instructions for the use of these symbols. There exist no first century primary source texts telling of the use or teaching about these symbols.
2. False - The first sin had nothing to do with sexual relations between Adam and Eve. In fact, just the opposite is true. It was God’s original and continuing plan that man and woman live apart from their parents, as husband and wife, enjoying a healthy sexual relationship (Genesis 2:24). It was God’s original plan for Adam and Eve to live together completely naked and without any shame concerning this state (Genesis 2:25). It was God’s original plan that this freedom of sexuality between husband and wife result in children (Genesis 1:27-28). Both Christ and the Apostles reaffirmed these truths for husbands and wives (Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31).
3. False - There is no indication that Judas was in any way politically motivated in his betrayal of Jesus. We do know that Judas was a thief (John 12:6). We also know that satan entered and possessed Judas in John 13:27. We know in Mark 14:10 that when Jesus refused to sell the expensive perfume and add it to the money box from which Judas stole, that it was immediately after this that Judas went to the priests and agreed to betray Jesus in exchange for money. No political motive is ever mentioned in relation to Judas.
Now ask yourself – what other things about the Bible do I believe which are, in reality, false? From now on when something is taught about the Bible your first questions will be – “Which Book, Chapter and Verse establish this?”
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