Outlines of Messages

Be encouraged because God is in control!

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‘Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: ‘Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert, he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance. All this took about 450 years.’ (Acts 13:16-20)

Stephen’s example

We notice that the introduction is of the same style as Stephen’s great message, recorded in Acts 7. Stephen had stood before the Sanhedrin, of which Saul of Tarsus was a member, and had recounted the history of Israel in order to try to awaken these Jews to an understanding of God’s love and concern, and of His sovereign direction of their nation. The Apostle Paul never forgot the power of that message. It had reached his own heart, had cut through all his egotism, and had planted a seed of faith in his heart which eventually resulted in his conversion. So here he is following the same tactics as Stephen.

God who is working!

Most of the history books center upon certain men who have done certain deeds, either great or foul. History as we usually read it is a study of the deeds and influence of men, but not this history. This history centers on God. It is God who is working! The Apostle points out eleven different instances of what God did.

1. God...chose our fathers.

2. And made the people great.

3. He led them out of Egypt.

4. God bore with them in the wilderness.

5. God destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan.

6. And gave them their land as an inheritance.

7. God gave them Judges.

8. Then they asked for a king and God gave them Saul.

9. And when he (God) had removed him.

10. He raised up David.

11. And finally, God has brought to Israel a Saviour, Jesus, as He promised.

The prophet Isaiah wrote the words of God: ‘I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please… What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.’ (Isa. 46:9b-11). The message of the Apostle culminated in the coming of the Lord Jesus Himself. The Apostle quoted John the Baptist’s witness to the fact that the One who came after him was so great that John said he was not worthy to untie His shoe.

When we face difficulties, we tend to forget God’s past faithfulness. We see only the detours and the dangerous path. We need to look back and see the joy of victory, the presence of our traveling Companion who has promised never to leave us nor forsake us! Be encouraged, He is in control!

Dr. Czeslaw Bassara (czeslaw7@eta; www.proword.eu)

 

Abram’s journey southwards to Negeb

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Genesis 12:9-10

Decision made without God

Abram moved southwards until he reached Egypt. He missed God’s goal. Is it possible to miss the goal God has envisioned for us?

God allowed for hunger to take place in Canaan. It seemed that God wanted the inhabitants of Canaan to realize how much they needed Abram’s testimony. The timing of the hunger in Canaan exactly when Abram arrived is amazing. Hunger in Canaan was first of all a test for Abram’s faith. Hunger in Canaan was not something unusual. Later we read about two other plagues of hunger (Genesis 26:1; 41:56).

During the time of hunger Abram decided to move farther southwards even to Negeb (opportunities to develop trade), and then even farther to Egypt (opportunities to develop rearing). It is interesting that Abram did not think about going back to Haran or Ur. Abram wanted to avoid the pain of hunger at any price. He lacked faith that God will take care of him even during the time of hunger.

One sin led to another sin. First he left Canaan, the place which God had marked out for him and later Egypt became a scene for a series of failings. Time in Egypt was not only time that was lost but it was a time Abram should be sorry for. Egypt in the Bible is a picture of sin. Abram was not called from one country of sin to another country of sin.

What did Egypt mean for Abraham?

1. In Egypt Abram lied about his wife (it was so called white lying). Sarai was Abram’s sister (Genesis 20:12). What kind of testimony was Abram was for his own wife?

2. Abram almost lost his life.

3. It was in Egypt where the shepherds of Abram quarreled with the shepherds of Lot.

4. Abram and Lot had to depart from each other. What kind of testimony did they bring?

5. In Egypt Abram took Hagar as his wife. Later she was a subject of many problems. Abram did not leave Egypt in Egypt. (We would not have an Israeli-Palestinian conflict if Abram never went to Egypt and never took Hagar as his wife.)

Many problems Abram faced had begun because he did not stay in the place God had called him to. God did not call him to Egypt but to Canaan. As God’s children we were not taken from the world of sin that we would return to sin. Abram lost his testimony in Egypt and for sure he was not a blessing for Egypt.

Lessons for believers:

- A call is directed to each of God’s children.

- Test of faith that Abram faced is a part of life of all believers.

- One has to look upon God rather than upon circumstances.

- Abram’s failing cause us think about our own failings and show us a need to put our life right with God if we do not want to experience spiritual ruin.

Time spent without fellowship with God is time lost for ever!

Dr. Czeslaw Bassara ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; www.proword.eu)

 

Why should we be involved in missions?

Matthew 28, 18-20;
Mark 16, 15;
John 20, 21;
Romans 10, 13-15;
Acts 13, 2-4.

It is a historical fact that nations without the Gospel have more poverty, crime, sickness, wrecked homes, illegitimate children, greed, corruption and wars than those who allow freedom for the Gospel to be preached.

Records show that in 6,000 years 14,530 wars have been fought.  This averages 2.6 wars per year.  It cost Caesar $.75 to kill one enemy soldier. It cost Napoleon $3,000.  In World War I we spent $21,000 for each enemy killed. In World War II it was $200,000.
Modern war is costing around $1,000,000 each.

Read more: Why should we be involved in missions?

Why do we need a mission to children?

The Apostle Paul in Romans 1, 16 declares that the Gospel is ‘the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.’ The final command of the Lord Jesus to us was ‘Preach the good news to all creation.’ (Mark 16,15).

1. The first and the most important reason why a mission to children is needed, remains the strong command of the Lord Jesus. Christians cannot avoid or get around His command. The Lord Jesus wants children to come (Mark 10, 14; Matth. 18, 14). Biblical evangelism means that we need to evangelize all people, including children.

2. Children have a spiritual need. Without the Lord Jesus they are spiritually dead. They have a problem of sin and must trust in the Lord Jesus.
 
3. Children are able to respond to the Gospel by their simple faith. Pat Verbal, children’s ministry author and consultant for the International Network of Children's Ministry, states  ‘that 75-85% of Christians today made their commitment to faith before the age of 15.’

Read more: Why do we need a mission to children?

What message today’s children need?

1. They need to hear about God

God is the source of salvation. Children need to know who God is and what He does.
Children will never understand their responsibility for sin without first having a clear picture of God.

It is why we teach:

• God made you (Acts 17, 23-29): you are responsible before Him.

• God has spoken to you through the Bible (1 Cor. 3-4): you are responsible to listen to Him.

• God is holy and just (Acts 17, 31): He must judge you.

• God is good and He loves you (John 3, 16): He made salvation possible for you.

Read more: What message today’s children need?