It's important that people be fed useful things. I'm not just talking food here either. We all need a little soulfood. This last sunday, people got soulfood and physical food to meet their needs. The Living Waters Church provided some physical food in the form of hotdogs, and we also handed out our food bags, but more importantly, we all had a heaping helping of the word of God. We're studying 1 and 2nd thessalonians so we can have our faith strengthened in times of doubt. This last weekend, we covered the first couple of verses of chapter two.
Do you face opposition to the spread of the Gospel where you work, or live, or play? Sometimes, like in the middle east, this opposition is overt, and people face really hard choices about being obedient to the Gospel or to man's teaching. Paul faced similar opposition when he preached the Gospel for the first time in the city of Philippi. Listen to what Paul says:
1Th 2:1-4 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. (2) But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. (3) For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, (4) but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. --ESV
The Christian has a different reason for doing what he does. Our theme for the book of 1 Thessalonians is "God Rewards Faithfulness" and the "Shameful treatment" of Paul at Philippi is recorded in the book of Acts, chapter 16. Take a moment to read it, and think about how God rewards Paul's faithfulness in this chapter. I'll give you a hint, someone gets jailhouse religion, and it ain't Paul and Silas! ;)
Man, it's a great story! And it displays that you really don't need to know all that much to become a christian.
I hope you will follow along in these great books as we study the fact that God rewards faithfulness!
Prayer List::
Please add these to your prayer list!
James Poynter: To help me get off the street and get a good job
Ronald Hollis: For happiness and Love in God
Tammy Hollis: For the family
Bruno Groom: Family and health
Doug Loasur: Need more prayer in my life
Felix Gonzales: Pray for myself
Mo : Pray for my Children Erin (3) and Anthony (10)
Adrian Navaro: I need God to save me
Eric Cartwright: yes, wife, kids, and granddaughter, forgiveness, freedom
Carroll Hawkins: Need to use phone to call boss
Jersey: My Grandmother
Jesse Beam: Family
Ninyo Hammon: Yes
Garrick Mitchell: Pray for my Family
Ericka Johnson: Pray for Tuesday job interview
Tony H: For a good woman
Thank you! The prayer requests are important because people read them, and sometimes that's an answer to prayers. Ronald Hollis' brother found Ron when he requested that we pray for his family! PTL...
Ya'll have a good week, also remember my family and I as we travel next weekend to Jacksonville to speak to Starrett Rd. Christian Church about the work that BASIC does in Orlando. Thanks and God Bless!
GB HOYT
Your Positive Activist.
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