Jesus

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT HE IS?

Nearly 2.000 years ago, Jesus asked the question, "What do you think of Christ? Whose Son is He?" (Matthew 22:42). A person's answer to that question can determine his or her eternal destiny.

JESUS' PREEXISTENCE

The Apostle John declares Jesus' preexistence in John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jesus says He is "the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End" (Revelation 1:8). Jesus reigns eternally (Hebrews 1:8), and He exists before all thins (Colossians 1:17).

JESUS' DEITY

Jesus did not become God-He has always been God (John 5:18), and is the second Person of the Trinity. (Also see: "What We Believe: The Trinity.") Referring to His deity, Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I Am" (John 8:58). The preexistence of Jesus Christ and the deity of Jesus Christ are inseparable. It is impossible to accept one and deny the other.

JESUS' INCARNATION

The word incarnation means "in flesh." It denotes the act in which the son of God took to Himself the nature of humanity through the Virgin Birth (Matthew 1:23). John writes, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).

JESUS' HUMANITY

For Jesus to represent sinful humanity, He had to become a man. His Virgin Birth, which was essential for Him to be sinless, was prophesied long before it occurred (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:18, 23; Luke 1:34-35; and Galatians 4:4). Jesus experienced everything in life that we do: pain, suffering, thirst, hunger, sorrow, anger, and so on. However, Jesus was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

JESUS' DEATH

The penalty for our sins is death (Romans 6:23). Jesus died in our place and paid our penalty (Matthew 20:28; John 10:17-18; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18). Jesus' death on the cross laid the foundation for a righteous God to pardon guilty and sinful people without compromising His righteousness in any way.

JESUS' RESURRECTION

Jesus' resurrection assures us of our future resurrection. Because of His victory over death, we have victory as well. Without the resurrection, there would be no gospel message. His resurrection has been proven beyond a shadow of doubt (Matthew 28:5-8; Luke 24:39; John 20:27028). The empty tomb, the shape of His linen wrappings, and His appearances to many after His crucifixion were just a few of the credible evidences of His resurrection.

JESUS' ASCENSION AND EXALTATION

After His resurrection, Jesus visibly departed from His disciples into heaven (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9). His ascension and exaltation were necessary to complete the redemptive work of God. His work was not complete when He rose from the dead (Mark 16:19; Philippians 2:9; Ephesians 1:20-21; Hebrews 1:3).

JESUS' PERSONAL PRAYER

Jesus Christ will return to this earth and receive His church, the body of Christ, to Himself (John 14:4; Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7).
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Worship

WHAT IS WORSHIP?

God created humanity with a capacity to know, love, and worship Him. Worship is that place where the heart of God and the heart of His child meet.

Oswald Chambers said, "Worship is giving God the best He has given you." Worship carries the idea of showing reverence to God. It's an active, adoring response whereby we declare His worth, or "worth-ship". To worship means to bow down and pay homage to God: "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker" (Psalm 95:6).

WHO DO WE WORSHIP?

Jesus said, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve" (Matthew 4:10). People are not worthy of worship, and neither are the idols which people make. God alone is deserving of our worship.

WHY DO WE WORSHIP?

We worship not to get something for ourselves, but because God is the Lord and is worthy of our worship (Psalm 45:11). The Bible declares, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power" (Revelation 4:11). We worship God because of the splendor of His being. God always has sought after worshipers, and continues to do so. He doesn't need our worship, but He desires it-not for His benefit, but for ours.

HOW DO WE WORSHIP?

"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). Worshiping in spirit means giving God the homage of an enlightened mind and an affectionate heart. Worshiping in truth is to worship God according to the truth He has revealed in His Word, the Bible.

FORMS OF WORSHIP

Worship is not a "spectator sport" where we sit and watch others. Worship requires participation. We worship the Lord through our words of praise and exaltation of God; by giving thanks to God in all things; by blessing His name through living a godly life; and by sharing His love and with others. In short, we worship God with our entire life.

Worship is a sacrifice. The Apostle Paul instructed believers, "offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1 NIV).

We can make every day a worship experience when we yield ourselves to the Lord. God has created each of us with a mind, heart, and spirit-and wants us to use them for His glory. True worship is not lip service, but life service. Worship can be demonstrated in every area of our lives, every day of our lives.

EXPRESSIONS OF WORSHIP

We express our worship as we read the Bible (Psalm 119), pray give tithes and offerings, and offer praise through music. But the greatest demonstration of worship is through the lives we live.

RESULTS OF WORSHIP

True worship always magnifies God and our outlook toward Him. As God is magnified, everything else becomes insignificant. We begin to see beyond our circumstances and limitations, our fears diminish, and our spirits become refreshed.

SO WHY SHOULD WE WORSHIP GOD?

1. He deserves it.
   Revelation 4:10 - "You are worthy O Lord to receive glory honor and power for you created all things and by Your will they exist and were created".
2. He desires it.
   John 4:23-24 - "the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit adn in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him".
3. He designed us for it.
   1 Peter 2:9 - "You are a chose generation, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of HIm who called you ourt of darkness into HIs marvelous light."
4. He demands it.
   Isaiah 43:21 - "This people I have formed for Myself. They shall declare My praise".
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What About Holiness?

Look at my holey jeans!! My brother held his pants with the holes in the knees as if they were sacred! Neither one of us knew what "holy" meant. If you wonder whether you need to know what holiness means, consider this: "Make every effort...to be holy, without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). Though holiness is essential to our relationship with God, it is difficult t define because its meaning is several layer deep.

THE PERSONAL LAYER
Holiness has to do with a Person: God. Holiness is not an attribute of God, it is His nature. Angels in the presence of god continuously sing, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). Why aren't they chanting "Love, love, love," or "Good, good, good"? What are they saying about God? Here is the key to understanding the first level of holiness.
The angels are saying something about the central feature of God's nature: His otherness or transcendence. God's awesome majesty is unparalleled by anything we can know or experience (Exodus 15:11). His splendor (Psalm 96:9), truth (Revelation 6:10), and moral perfection are beyond human comprehension (Isaiah 5:16). God is the "Holy One" (Isaiah 43:15).

THE RELATIONAL LAYER
God alone is the source of all holiness, so other things become holy only as they relate to Him. Therefore, at the next level, holiness is a relational word meaning "something that belongs to God". The Sabbath was holy because it was God's day. The temple was a holy building, Zion a holy mountain, Israel a holy people - all because they belonged to God. Belonging to God meant they were "marked off, separated, withdrawn from ordinary use" (W. Eichrodt) because of God's exclusive ownership.
The New Testament word "saint" or "holy one" simply means a person who belongs to God. The words "sanctify" and "hallow" mean to make holy. Through the sacrifice of Jesus we've been make holy so we can live in God's presence.

THE MORAL LAYER
If being holy means we belong to God, it also means we recognize His ownership and obey Him. This moral level of holiness requires us to "purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).
In the Old Testament, holiness includes ceremonial purity as well as right moral behavior (Leviticus chapters 11 and 19). The motive behind these regulations is, "Be holy because I, the LORD, am holy." Only by moving into God's sphere of holiness can we hope to relate to Him. Therefore, holiness has religious as well as daily application (1 Peter 1:14-16).

THE SPIRITUAL LAYER
Here is where many people distort their faith. The command of God is to "be holy," not "do holy things." You won't become holy by doing holy things - even "unholy" people can do holy things. Only after God has make us holy by His Spirit, word, and sacrifice of Christ are we really able to do what's right (Romans 15:16; Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 10:10).
R.C. Sproul reminds us we aren't supposed to conform to the world. But he says the answer isn't nonconformity - like wearing different styles of clothing or boycotting entertainment. The biblical response isn't to be non-conformed, but transformed (Romans 12:2). Holiness is a work of God that transforms our hearts leading us to integrity and complete devotion to His will.
Some Christians think holiness means flawless perfection. They tend to be legalistic and judgmental. But every church Paul addressed as "saints" also had to be told to give up anger, greed, theft, lies, gossip, and immorality. Like other aspects of Christian growth, becoming holy is a process that is worked out in our daily actions as we walk with God.
Our holiness is important enough to involve God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 10:10; 13:14; etc.). Because Moses underestimated the importance of standing up for God's holiness, he was barred from entering the promised land (Deuteronomy 32:51).
Holiness - which is also related to health and wholeness - affects our whole being; spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). God's goal is for your life to be wholly His.
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What About the Lord's Supper?

In a sense, every meal is sacred. We "bless" God each time we sit down to eat. But in the Bible, one meal is more important and meaningful than all the rest.

TALKING ABOUT THE LORD'S SUPPER
Formal churches refer to the Lord's Supper as "Eucharist" - which means "to give thanks." This describes what we do when we receive the Lord's Supper.
Independent churches cal the Lord's Supper "Communion" in reference to our communion with Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:16). This word describes what occurs during the Lord's Supper. It is in 1 Corinthians 11:20 that we find the term "The Lord's Supper."

THE USE OF SYMBOLS
Worship makes use of rituals and symbols to represent spiritual truth. Symbols put within our reach invisible and intangible realities. They're powerful tools for worship.
The ingredients of the Lord's Supper are simple; bread and wine. Jesus gave them new meaning. They are symbols of His body, which was "broken for us," and His blood which was "poured out for us." Thus the cross of Jesus is the key to our relationship with God.

THE CONCEPT BEHIND THE LORD'S SUPPER
Throughout history, God revealed Himself through great acts. As wonderful as these great acts were, they raise a problem for later generations. How can we have the same relationship with God if we haven't experienced the same events?
The answer is worship. Rituals re-present those events. Through rituals we bring into the present, events from the past. In this way, all the benefits of those events become ours. We don't try to relive the events, but encounter the God of those events.
The Lord's Supper enables us to receive the benefits of Jesus' death. We encounter God and seal a covenant relationship with Him (see Matthew 26:28).

THE TIMELESS ELEMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
Today we stand between two great events - Jesus' first and second coming - and we're to live in the dynamic power of them. Somehow the Lord's Supper connects us to both.
Jesus designed the Lord's Supper for us who live in the middle of His two comings. He told His disciples, "Do this in remembrance of Me," but He also told them "I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes." Paul makes the same point when he says by receiving the Lord's Supper we "proclaim his death until He comes."
We don't have the resurrection or return of Christ in our grasp, but we do have the Lord's Supper. This is how Jesus presents Himself to us now and nourishes our spiritual life.

THE MYSTICAL ELEMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
It isn't enough for followers of Jesus to hear His teaching. His life must somehow enter us. This is what happens when we receive the Lord's Supper. Jesus enters us, not through the bread and the wine, but through faith.
The Lord's Supper provides us with direct access to God. Whenever we observe it, we treat it with reverence.
But remember, the Lord's Supper is for people who need help. It's for us who have weaknesses, pain, trouble, and fears. The Lord's Supper renews our hearts and refreshes our spirits. And it helps us become intimate with Jesus.
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What About Heaven?

Would you get excited about a vacation if no one could tell you where you were going, what you would do there, or how to get there? If we're going to be happy about visiting a new vacation site or moving to a new city, we have to have some basic information.

Christians would be more excited about Heaven if the information they had wasn't so vague. Our lack of enthusiasm for Heaven shows in our low level of spiritual growth. Why strive to go to Heaven or give up earthly pleasures if we don't know what Heaven is all about? Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21). Too many Christians store up their treasures here on earth.

WHAT HEAVEN ISN'T
The popular picture of Heaven is people in white robes, sitting around on fluffy clouds, playing small harps. The Christian picture of Heaven as an eternal church service is even less appealing. Heaven isn't an amusement park nor a retirement home; it isn't boring or silly.

People get the wrong idea when they interpret metaphors of Heaven literally. Heaven isn't "up" above the sky. In fact, Heaven doesn't occupy space in the physical universe. Theologian J. Buswell said, "I do not think that Heaven is any great distance away. If it were the will of God, we could see the face of our Lord Jesus Christ at any moment." Heaven lies in the very real, spiritual universe which God also occupies.

WHAT HEAVEN IS
Heaven is a city (Revelation 22:1-2). Heaven is a busy city where the gates are open and the lights are on twenty-four hours a day (Revelation 21:25; 22:5). Heaven is a secure city - no death, crime, grieving or pain exists inside its walls (Revelation 21:4, 8). Evil and occultism are banished from Heaven (Revelation 21:27; 22:14-15). A pure river flows through the city, and its waters are life-giving. Trees with medicinal leaves grow on each bank of the river (Revelation 22:4-5).

We shouldn't think of Heaven as a castle in the clouds; it's solid and real. Though Heaven isn't imaginary, we may use our imagination to fill in some of its inexpressible beauty (2 Corinthians 12:4).

The best news about Heaven is God lives there (1 Kings 8:30; Revelation 21:2-3). The inhabitants of Heaven enjoy the pleasure of seeing His face (Revelation 22:4). Heaven has no temple "because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (Revelation 21:22). Jesus promised to prepare a place for His followers in Heaven, then return for them so they could be with Him (John 14:3). Jesus is Heaven's treasure and there we will worship Him with unrestrained joy (Revelation 4:6-14). Even now, every encounter with Jesus is a taste of Heaven.

WHAT WE'LL DO IN HEAVEN
In Heaven we'll be busy doing a lot of the same thins we do now. There will be all the activities associated with city life as well as travel, social interactions, and magnificent worship. Imagine the joy of music, singing, feasting, and loving without threat of violence, theft, or broken hearts.

We will have "spiritual bodies" adapted for Heaven and eternal life
(1 Corinthians 15:35-49; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10). In the resurrected body of Jesus we have a preview of what our new bodies will be like (Philippians 3:20-21). Jesus ate, held conversations, explained, instructed, and traveled in his glorified body (Matthew 26:29, etc.). He was still interested in relationships, but He wasn't bound by physical restraints.

Our life in Heaven won't be completely different from our present life. You will be the same person your are now, and you will still be making progress in your knowledge of Christ (Ephesians 2:4-6).

YOU'RE INVITED!
Revelation 22:17 is a universal invitation. "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"...Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes , let him take the free gift of the water of life." You're invited to Heaven, but the question is, What does it take to get there?

Jesus Christ provides a "bridge" from death, into life (John 5:24; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 56-57). To get to Heaven the first thing to do is put your complete faith in Jesus; trust Him to remove the guilt of your sin through His death and strive to know Him. You should do this immediately, because time runs out (Luke 12:16-21; 13:23-30; Isaiah 55:6). As soon as you give your life to Jesus Christ, you become a citizen of Heaven and from that time on "our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
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Finding Hope At School

September 12, 2006 Vol. V Issue70 211,000

Subscribed
Do you remember what you felt when you first received Jesus as your Lord?

The assurance of salvation and hope for eternity were unexplainably wonderful gifts! Jubal has the privilege of leading dozens of children to Christ in the remote area of South India where God has called him to serve. Through his Bridge of Hope center and school, Jubal is able to touch the lives of children like Rohit, who had no future but poverty and hopelessness. Read Rohit's story here.

Thank you for your prayers for these children and their families who are finding hope in Christ for the first time. You are making an eternal difference in their lives! Yours for the unreached, K.P. Yohannan Founder & President

P.S. Did you know that if you are a federal employee, including serving in the military, you can make payroll deduction donations to GFA through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)? Just designate our CFC number: 2989.

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Worship and Study

Part 6 of 6

Obviously, one of the primary reasons universities exist is to develop the mind. But we will never truly understand the importance and value of higher education until we grasp two principles of faith. First, academic study is a spiritual discipline. It strengthens the mind, just as other disciplines (like fasting and prayer) strengthen other aspects of our being. It helps shape us into the image of Christ. It is not something we do as an afterthought the night before an exam, or as a filler when we are bored and can't find anything better to do. No, scholarship is a high and joyous purpose, because the pursuit of truth is a joyful and sacred journey, and it deserves the very best we can give it.

And second, learning is an offering and a form of worship. Imagine two students meeting on the sidewalk. One is holding a Bible, and is on the way to a Bible study. The other is holding a history textbook, and is on the way to the library. Can you understand that both students are on their way to worship God? I can praise and glorify God in reading an anthology of literature, or solving a difficult math problem. God is both the source of truth and the path into truth. In the simple act of studying the world, then, we ascribe worth to the Creator, which is the very definition of the word "worship." If you are like me, sometimes you wonder if you have anything at all that is truly worth giving to God. When the offering plate is put in front of you, your pockets feel empty. May I suggest that one of the greatest offerings you can ever give to God is your intelligence?

God in His sovereign grace has brought you to here. Do not miss this fundamental truth: attending Simpson is not just preparation for good thing later; it is a good thing in itself. It is a season of your life. Of course education is a lifelong process, but this is the purest setting you will ever have for focusing simply on learning, on acquiring facts, knowledge and intellectual skills. So let God be the Lord of this season.

God is worthy of everything you have. Worship him by learning; love Him with your whole mind.
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The Power of Education

Part 5 of 6

But there is and even broader truth behind the Great Commandment. We often think of the human mind strictly in terms of the individual. In other words, most of us only care about our own minds, and perhaps those of our friends, but not the minds of the billions of people on the earth. To be so narrow in outlook is to miss one of the most significant points of all to be co-creators, to steward the earth's resources, to apply our minds to solving problems. Human potential is a vast God-given planetary resource, and imagine what the world would be like if every single human was developed to his or her full potential.

The fact we can only imagine such a world, and do not actually see it, is witness to the monumental impact of sin. Human potential is clearly not operating at 100 percent of capacity in this fallen world. Instead, it is seriously underdeveloped, and this has always been the case. There are many reasons for this, including poverty, oppression, racism, laziness, drug abuse, inadequate education, and selfishness. It must grieve God to see the waste of his good gift!

Developing human potential, then, both in ourselves and in others is the call and duty of everyone who wants to be a steward in the Kingdom. And higher education is one of the best means we have to unlock this vast resource.
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What Would Jesus Think?

Part 4 of 6

Everyone of us can identify individuals whom we consider to be role models of intelligence. Perhaps it is a professor, or an author you have read. A frequent theme of our hymns and choruses is wanting to be like Jesus. We think of Jesus as a master teacher, a model leader, a true servant. But have you ever thought of Jesus as an intellectual? He was literate, he was an orator and storyteller. When he preached, he used illustrations from the natural and social world. He studied the ancient Scriptures. He debated with the religious leader, using historical texts and logical arguments. In fact, the passage we heard from Mark 12 is an excellent example of Jesus at his intellectual best. If we love God and want to be like him, then, we need to have the mind of Christ, to think after his thoughts, in other words, to think like a Christian.

I love the phrase "What would Jesus do?" While it may have been trivialized through overuse, it helps to guide my behavior and determine my priorities,. But here is another phrase to consider: "What would Jesus think?" ...about advertising, or 19th century philosophy, or voting, or global warming, or Islamic extremism? Christ want us to visualize the world through his eyes and his intellect, and through the lens of Scripture and faith. This, too, is what it means to love God with your mind.

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The Whole Person

Part 3 of 6

So the human mind is a central aspect of our identity in Christ, and part of what makes us the integrated beings we were designed to be. The truth behind "the Great Commandment" is that we are made as whole persons, body, mind and spirit. We simply cannot be effective if any of these elements are ignored or undeveloped.

Consider basketball: to play well you must be physically well conditioned. You must have skills important to the game, such as jumping ability and eye/hand coordination. And you also need analytical skills, to understand the structure of the game, and its strategies. One cannot excel in basketball unless all of these skills are well developed and working together. Imagine a player who has great endurance, but can't dribble or handle the ball well; or a player with a solid understanding of the game and strong skills, but who is out of shape physically. Neither athlete is likely to make a lasting contribution to the team.

Unless our potential is fully developed, then, with all component parts working together, we will never achieve maximum impact in sports or any other endeavor. This applies to the life of the mind, too. The full value of our minds can only be realized through disciplined learning. We can't hold back some parts of our intelligence from the control of the Spirit Nor can we use our minds only some of the time, or only in those areas where it is easy to do so. Higher education is tough work, but nobody said serving God would be easy.

Returning again to Mark 12, note the important modifiers in the commandment about our minds. Christ said to love God with ALL your mind, not just part of it; and to love God with all YOUR mind, not someone else's. In other words, think fully, and think for yourself; in so doing, you will be expressing your love for God.
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The Importance of the Mind

Part 2 of 6

But how important is it, really, to develop our minds? Does a Christian need a sharp intellect to serve God? No; even a child can serve God. But consider the automobile: how can a car run efficiently on an engine that is badly tuned, or composed of inferior parts, or not large and powerful enough for the chassis? Or how can a computer operate properly when its memory is insufficient to run the software?
The mind is a wonderful and powerful tool, by far the most important one we posses. We use it to navigate through daily life, to form opinions, to draw conclusions and solve problems. And as we use our minds, a remarkable thing happens: our character is being shaped. Learning makes us certain kinds of persons. What we read, and talk about, and think about, forms who we are. In the company of great truths, and rigorous intellectual pursuit, we flourish.
John Calvin once said, "The mind of man, though fallen and perverted from its wholeness, is nevertheless clothed and ornamented with God's excellent gifts." The mind is a gift; and like every other such gift, it is from God; it is good; it is to be fully developed; and it is to be used in service. In Luke 19, Jesus tells a parable about a nobleman and his servants. The point of this disturbing story, as described in verse 26, is clear: those who develop their gifts please the master, and those who ignore or bury their gifts will have them taken away. So we are dealing with a very serious issue.
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What Does It Mean to Love God With Our Minds?

Part 1 of 6.

It is not
too hard
to under-
stand most
of this passage.
To love God
with our
whole heart
(kardia) means
to have no
idols, no
wavering, no affairs with other gods; in other words, total captivation to Him. To love God with our soul (psuche) means with our entire being, our whole person. And to love God with our strength (ischus) means to serve without growing weary or giving up, holding nothing back. But, what does it mean to love God with dianoia (our mind, our intellect)? What is "intellectual love" for God?

In his book Reaching for the Invisible God, Phillip Yancey tells the story of Frank Laubach, the man who founded the modern literacy movement. His lifetime goal was to think continuously about Jesus. Yancey describes how he practiced this discipline with increasing success, keeping a log of how often he thought about God. He gradually got to the point where on his best days, he thought about God every few seconds. But is this what the passage means? Do we "love God" by thinking about Him?

Unfortunately, many Christians think that our intelligence is somehow not honoring to God. Intellectual activity is seen as being "worldly," and an intellectually strong person cannot possibly be spiritually strong. As a result of this serious error, some Christians do not even try to develop their minds, defaulting instead to simplistic thinking and emotionalism. This is a dangerous posture to take, and it creates a poor testimony: non-believers assume that to be a Christian one has to give up thinking, and when they hear us using God's name, they assume we are either praying or preaching. There is double sin at work here: to be against intellectual activity is an insult to God, since our gifts and abilities all come from him; and it is poor stewardship to not develop and use every gift we have by His grace. In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis, commenting on Jesus' teaching that we will never enter the kingdom of God unless we become like little children, said: "Christ never meant that we were to remain children in intelligence: on the contrary...He wants a child's heart, but a grown-up's head."

To love God with our mind, then, means to love God by thinking. The human mind is a good gift from the Creator. To think is a godly thing to do.
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What About Prophecy?

Predictions! Which do you trust? The weather report? Tabloid headlines? Whether silly or serious, predictions are intriguing. Why? Because our knowledge of events is normally restricted to the past and present. The future is a mystery.
Prophecy isn't prediction Prophecy is divine communication, the revelation of God's truth. Some Bible prophecies contain predictions which fall into four categories: fulfilled in the past, fulfilled in the present, fulfilled in the future, and dual fulfillment (partial fulfillment with more yet to come).

THE "LAST THINGS"
Eschatology is the "study of last things," events which have to do with the end of human history. Since earlier predictions have been fulfilled with astounding accuracy, the remainder seem certain (2 Peter 1:19-21). Prophecy has been called, "history written before it happened" because God knows "the end from the beginning" (Isaiah 46:10).

A PROPHETIC CALENDAR
The prophecy of Daniel contains a time-line of prophetic events. Within the framework of "seventy sevens," an outline of history moves toward the fulfillment of all "vision and prophecy" (Daniel 9:24-27). This time-line depicts a succession of world governments up to God's eternal kingdom under "Messiah the Prince" (Daniel 7:13-14). But the time-line is broken by a space Jesus called the "times of the Gentiles" (Luke 24:21) during which salvation is offered to the world (see Romans 9-11, especially 11:25). When the time-line resumes, God will return His favor to Israel and history will quickly come to a close. When Israel became a nation in 1948, many people felt it marked the beginning of the last period of history.

END TIME EVENTS
The Great Tribulation. The Old Testament refers to a final "judgment day" bringing an end to evil but, also salvation to God's people ("The Day of the Lord," Joel 3:14-17). Though judgment days occurred in history (Isaiah 13:6,9) an ultimate day became a central theme. During this day of darkness and disaster (Ezekiel 30:3; Amos 5:18-20), described by Jesus as "great tribulation" (Matthew 24; 2 Thessalonians 2; Revelation 6-13 & 15-18), the whole world suffers and God's people are severely persecuted. Another feature of this time is widespread deception (Matthew 24:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:3), culminating in a blasphemy called "the abomination of desolation" - a shrine to the evil world leader, or "Antichrist" (Matthew 24:15; Revelation 13; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12).
The Rapture. Christians who are alive when Jesus returns will be "caught up" to meet Him "in the clouds" (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This is a sudden event and instant transformation (1 Corinthians 15:50-54; Philippians 3:20-21). Much speculation shrouds the "rapture" and there's debate among Christians as to when it will occur. Biblical evidence supports a "pre-tribulation" rapture.
The Return of Christ. Jesus' promise to return for His followers is the New Testament hope (John 14:3; Acts 1:9-11; etc.). This is His parousia ("coming" like the arrival of a king), apokalupsis ("unveiling, "Revalation 1:7), and epiphania ("appearing" in which He "shrines forth," 2 Thessalonians 2:8). It is also the day of resurrection for all believers (1 Corinthians 15:21-23) and judgment on unbelievers (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).
The Millennium. When Jesus returns He will begin a thousand-year reign. The earth will be a paradise without violence or sorrow. At the end of the millennium sin resumes briefly, and then is abolished forever. (Revelation 20:1-10).
The Judgment. At the end of time, all humanity appers in God's court (Revelation 20:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Those who know Jesus as their Savior are listed in His "Book of Life," but the actions of everyone else are found in His "books" (Revelation 20:12). Though believers in Jesus escape judgment, the quality of work is tested (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

APPLICATION TO OUR LIVES
When studying prophecy, it's easy to misuse and misinterpret scripture. Too often people believe they've found a match between predictions and specific, current events. We shouldn't be dogmatic about our discoveries and we shouldn't exploit the fear people feel when hearing about these things for the first time. Christians need to be humble; there's more to the end times that we don't know than what we do know.
Peter asked, "What kind of people ought you to be, "knowing the world will come to and end? He answers, "You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God..."(2 Peter 3:11-12). This is the message of prophecy: worship God (Revelation 19:10), live "upright and godly lives in this present age: (Titus 2:11-14), and keep watching for Jesus'return (Matthew 24:42-44).
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What About Baptism?

Water. We drink it, cook with it, swim in it, and bathe in it. We also use it in a Christian ritual; Baptism. But the value of water in Baptism is in symbol, not substance.



BAPTISM IS A SPIRITUAL RITE-OF-PASSAGE
Spiritual life involves constant progress. That is marked by transitions from one level of faith to another. Baptism is the mark of our most important transition.
The ritual of Baptism duplicates the model of Jesus Christ when He was crucified, buried, and returned to life. When Christ rose, His body was different than before. He was free from the limitations and pain of mortality. This is the transition from death to life.
The Christian life follows His pattern. We "sacrifice" our lives by giving them to God. Our old lives, with their wrong actions and evil desires, are "buried." God then gives us a new life, inspired and energized by His Spirit. Baptism represents this three-stage process. We believe in Jesus and join Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism is our rite-of-passage into the Christian life.
If we're willing to be baptized, we're ready for the sacrifices and joy of following Jesus.

THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE
Something happens in baptism we cannot see or control. It is the invisible work of God's Spirit in the person being baptized. We tend to exaggerate the external rite of Baptism and miss the more important spiritual part.
Baptism is a physical act, but isn't "magic." When people of genuine faith are baptized as and act of obedience to Jesus, they are "initiated" into the Church, God's spiritual community on earth (1 Corinthians 12:13). Their Baptism becomes a powerful witness of God's forgiveness, the end of their old life, and the beginning of their new life in Christ.

THE PHYSICAL RITUAL
The act of Baptism involves being submerged in water - or sometimes sprinkled - to symbolize the death, burial, and resurrection which we share with Christ (Romans 6:3-7). As the person being baptized is immersed, the minister pronounces the words, "In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." In this way we "act out" our new allegiance to God and identify ourselves with His people.

WHO SHOULD BE BAPTIZED?
Every Christian needs to be baptized and should try to make it one of their first spiritual acts. (Matthew 28:19) The rest of our Christian life depends on our willingness to obey Jesus and go with Him through death into new life.
Jesus commands us to be baptized because He wants to mark us as His own, fill us with His Spirit, make us members of His church, and have us grow in God.

BAPTISM IS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE
Jesus does something special for you in Baptism by recognizing a point in time when you leave the old life and enter the new. Through Baptism He brings you another step closer to God's design for you.
Our church celebrates Baptism as an act of worship. The whole church is involved. We sin pray, and seek to draw close to God. When you're being baptized, it's good to know God is near and, on the other side of your Baptism, the church welcomes you into a more complete, Christ-ordered life.
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Monsoon Floods

September 15, 2006 GFA Responds to Floods Archives My Account 211,000 Subscribed. Last month I sent you an urgent message asking for prayer for the victims of the monsoon floods that have ravaged vast regions of India. Today I write to you to let you know that the rains have continued and many more lives have been lost and entire villages destroyed—yet in the midst of it all, our GFA Compassion Services missionaries and volunteers are sharing the love of Christ in real and dramatic ways. I encourage you to read the stories from India that will not only give you "the big picture" of how these unprecedented floods are bringing much destruction to India, but also how our missionaries and pastors are serving others, even when they themselves have been impacted by the raging waters. And when you do read the stories and see the pictures, please pray for the missionaries, their families, and those they are serving so sacrificially in the name of Jesus. Yours for the lost in Asia,K.P. Yohannan Founder & PresidentGospel for Asia
P.S. Any gift you can make to GFA Compassion Services will help us bring the Good News of Jesus to these suffering men, women and children.
About Gospel for Asia: learn more about GFA.

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What About Prayer?

A twelve year old boy decided he didn't like the way the postal service handled his mail, so he wrote a letter to his congressman. He was shocked when two federal agents showed up at his door! He didn't know his letter had such power. Most Christians have never guessed the tremendous power they have when they touch God through prayer.
THE BASIC IDEA BEHIND PRAYER
Prayer is a spiritual conversation. Our prayers aren't helped by making them sound religious or eloquent. Prayer is a
conversation, we speak and listen. Through prayer we reach God, who can change our lives and circumstances. That's why people pray.
CONFESSION
The first prayer we need to learn is confession. Wrong actions create blockages in our prayer life. We confess our sin to be rid of it. Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." The Bible assures us of forgiveness if we confess our sin to God. We also confess weaknesses and the tendency to sin. God transforms our attitude and behavior to promote our spiritual development.
PETITION
A petition is a request for yourself. It covers basic needs. Through petition we ask God for help in all the affairs of our lives. No request is too small. God would rather have you relying on Him for everything, than not trusting Him for anything. Jesus taught us to make our requests "in His name." He provides us access to God. He is the "one Mediator" between God and humans.
INTERCESSION
Intercession is a request for someone else. We are able to help people by praying for their physical, emotional, or spiritual well-being. We can pray nearby or from miles away. We're to pray for Christian leaders too, and members of the church, so their lives will be always oriented to Jesus. The secret of intercession is to pray as seriously and energetically for someone else as you do for yourself.
PRAISE
Praise is an acknowledgement of God's goodness, greatness, and "loving kindness." The Bible tells us to give God thanks for everything. And it is very important to thank God when He's answered your prayers.
FRIENDLY CONVERSATION
Perhaps the most satisfying prayer is when you want to communicate with God without asking for anything. This is sometimes called "fellowship" or "communion." It is a form of prayer that is intimate and satisfying.
OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY
We believe anyone can develop an effective prayer life. We want you to feel comfortable talking to God, and pray so well it becomes a "second language."
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Missionary Dragged Away at Bus Stop

Would you choose to go into a situation that could place your life in danger? A native missionary named Jackson did. Read his story here. Since graduating from a GFA Bible college in 2004, Jakson has faithfully labored for the Gospel in an area of Rajasthan, North India, where many pastors have been attacked and churches destroyed. Recently, Jakson was attacked as he stepped off a bus. Read the rest of the story here. I am continually amazed at the deep commitment of so many of our native missionaries like Jakson. Like the Apostle Paul's declaration in Acts 20:24 that he did not count his life dear to himself, their lifestyles reflect an all-out abandonment to Christ and His call. Through your prayers for these faithful men and women, you share in their labors. For this, I am deeply grateful. When we get to heaven, we will clearly see how it was worth it all. Yours for the unreached, K.P. Yohannan Founder & President About Gospel for Asia: learn more about GFA
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Journal Update, Beg. 8.6.06

8.6.06, Well off to church to see our family again. It is so good to be back! We took the box of little booklets to share and it was good to see all our friends again. Pastor Dave gave a great sermon as always. We had sandwiches after the service because it is softball day. What a great time of fellowship! We went to Harley-Davidson to hand out more tracts and little booklets. After the softball game, Gunny and I went bowling and had a blast!
8.7.06, Had our bible study this morning and got some stuff done. Went to Monday night prayer meeting and it seems that Jason & Cindy's son, Donny, might be demon possessed. The boy is only 10 and wrote a suicide note. He is now being diagnosed in Bloomington, IN. The church has set aside a date to pray and anoint oil on him when he comes home. We layed out some more prayers to our Father and then discussed church issues. Pastor Dave liked the fliers we made so we will be making copies of those and handing them out. Saturday is set aside to help Jason & Cindy move into their new home. We prayed and read before bed.
8.8.06, After our morning coffee, Gunny checked his email and he received one from Pastor Dave regarding us spending some time at the church to do small jobs and ministry work to those who need it. We are excited about it and have tentatively set aside Thurs. afternoon. Pastor Dave and his wife Tammy offered us the use of their little guest house for a week if we cannot stay at the park during our week out. We are praying about it. I updated mom and dad on my journal entries while Gunny read.
8.9.06, We went to see a lawyer today regarding filing bankruptcy and it is not a good idea. So we found Christian Debt Relief and beginning in Sept. we will be paying them for debt consolidation. This is what the Lord wanted and we are pleased with it. Went to bible study at church and we are in Psalms. Had some great fellowship afterwards and Gunny practiced on his harmonicas while Rich played the guitar. It sounded good. I sang a song with them and now they want me to start singing! I will need to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide my voice for this. smile.
Bye for now.
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Journal Update Beg. 8.2.06

8.2.06, Made it to Clinton, IN and it was very hot. Our A/C in the trailer has been making this awful noise and we just don't know what to do about it. At least it works! Gunny called Racheal and Jaclyn to let them know we were here. Racheal has been sick so won't graduate from corpsman school until 8.18.06. Josh, Jaclyn and baby Cutdy are doing well and considering moving to AZ in the winter. That sure would put them close to us and I could see that baby more often! Whatever is the Lord's will, let it be so. I said a pray3er to God to give us strength and endurance with the heat and storms and when we woke up form our nap, the A/C was not making anymore bad noise! Praise the Lord! (It has been fine ever since.) I started reading K.P.'s book, "Reflecting His Image".
8.3.06, Our bible study this morning was on 'Fellowship with the Body of the Church'. Very good! Went into town, got a P.O. box and also got 2 great books to read from mom & dad. We also got a whole box of little bible pamphlets and cannot wait to share them with all! Stopped and bought some green tomatoes and corn on the cob. I decided to read "Jerusalem Countdown" right now instead of K.P.'s book. This is by John Hagee, whom we both love to listen to on TV and is one sent by mom and dad. Thank you God for a good day.
8.4.06, Got 6 loads of laundry ready to take to town where there are more washers and dryers than at the park. Gunny and I both read while we did laundry. I notice that throughout the day that the Holy Spirit is constantly with us. It's a good feeling and brings a sense of peace and calmness to the day. I than God everyday for all that he has given us and for bestowing us with the many blessings we have received and see day to day. I know truly that He is in our lives and I praise Him for that.
Bye for now.
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Journal Update, Beg. 7.31.06

7.31.06, It is going to be a scorcher today! No sitting outside with coffee this morning. We started in "First Steps" in our bible study in the "New Believers" bible from Calvary Chapel that Tina gave me for Christmas. We sure do love it! we read on 2 sessions this morning. The first, 'How to Study the Bible' and the second - 'Pray'. It really opened my eyes and heart to prayer. I know what faith is now - it was like a light bulb clicking on inside of my head. Praise the Lord! All this time I wasn't realizing that God answers our prayers before we ever pray! We are to thank Him first and then pray. It gives me a feeling I cannot explain except for the joy that it brings me. And now I also know that the Holy Spirit will help me pray when I can't think of the right words to say. Amen! This is how I should pray if this time occurs: "Lord, here is my problem. It looms ever larger in my path, so I am putting it into Your hands. I am not going to worry, Lord. Instead, I am going to trust You. I am even going to thank You in advance for what You will do, because You know what You are doing." I love it! This prayer will help me to experience God's peace. When I learn to do this, then I will be ready to totally put others first, after God of course. Gunny and I got some stuff ready to go back to Clinton, IN. Gunny read on his book by K.P. for awhile and we called it an early night.
8.1.06, Even though I was up at 0430, I could not sleep, we left for Clinton at 0821. Right before we reached Shelbyville, IN the port side rear tire on the trailer went flat. We had the Lord with us and the tire change went smooth. We found a Discount Tire in Greenwood, but they won't have our spare until tomorrow. So we went to Hooter's for lunch and won a free lunch. Then we got a room at Travelodge and got 10% off our dinner at Denny's and also got a coupon for one free game of bowling! We figure as long as we take on this world step by step while listening to the Lord, we know He is leading us in the right direction because that is His choice. It was a pretty good day after all.
Bye for now.
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