Holy Boldness

I was reading in Act early this morning, how Peter and John were threatened to never again speak the name of Jesus. They prayed - not to be more politically correct so that everyone would like them - but for holy boldness to preach the Word, and that God would perform miracles, signs and wonders to confirm His Word.

And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:29-31 NASB

Lord Jesus, You promised that Your glory will cover the earth. May we be faithful to proclaim Your Word in these days, when many in the nations are being martyred for preaching the Gospel.

Strength to the Weary

Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Everlasting God, the Lord, 

the Creator of the ends of the earth

Does not become weary or tired.

His understanding is inscrutable.

29 

He gives strength to the weary,

And to him who lacks might He increases power.

30 

Though youths grow weary and tired,

And vigorous young men stumble badly,

31 

Yet those who wait for the Lord

Will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 40:28-31

ASK

Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession. Psalm 2:8

I heard KC IHOP intercessor Rick Rupp this morning, telling about the astounding things God is doing in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and many remote island villages.  There are houses of prayer springing up, and government leaders publicly repenting for idolatry and vowing to serve the one true God.

God has blessed Rick with teams of doctors, nurses, prayer warriors, and people skilled in setting up sanitary water systems in places that have never had these services. He will be returning to the islands next week for a few months.

It was so wonderful to hear the Good News of people coming to the Lord and even going out to help neighbors in remote islands.

He showed us video of the children who live in such meager circumstances, dancing and singing worship songs to the Lord, and treasuring their first Bibles.

God is going to finish what He started, and all the earth will bow before Him!

Promise

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

In Christ Alone

As you live this new life, we pray that you will be strengthened from God’s boundless resources, so that you will find yourselves able to pass through any experience and endure it with courage. You will even be able to thank God in the midst of pain and distress because you are privileged to share the lot of those who are living in the light. For we must never forget that he [God] rescued us from the power of darkness, and re-established us in the kingdom of his beloved Son, that is, in the kingdom of light. For it is by his Son alone that we have been redeemed and have had our sins forgiven.
Colossians 1:11-14

God has really been speaking to our Bible study group through this song recently. A member of our group is a young mother and wife who has cancer. The doctors have said there is nothing more they can do for her. Yet she is holding on to her faith in Christ and she has the most beautiful smile, even when she is too weak to sit or speak. Please pray for Esther and her family.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love,
What depths of peace
When fears are stilled,
When strivings cease.
My comforter, my all in all,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.