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Logos Ministries Incorporated
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Volume 11 Number 1 - February 2003 Things We Don't Seem to Take Seriously LOOKING AT THE OPPOSITION I suspect that most people tend to think of hardship and pain as tragedy. We all agree that when we are “in Christ,” everything is different. Paul loved the Philippian church and spent a lot of time with them. In Philippians 1:12-20, Paul tried to explain his situation of being in prison. The Philippian Christians saw his incarceration as a tragedy. Paul saw it as an opportunity. In 1:13, Paul said, So that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole Praetorian guard and to everyone else, Philippians 1:13 The purpose of Paul’s ministry was clear. God called him to preach Christ. He was called to teach the Jews that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. In that task, he was being quite successful. As far as the enemy was concerned, Paul was far too successful. The apostle was placed in prison in an attempt to hinder and destroy his ministry. They wanted to disturb the progress of the Gospel and keep Paul from preaching to others. Paul’s enemies appeared to win that battle. Paul was in prison and could go nowhere to preach. Though Paul’s imprisonment was intended to terminate his ministry, in 1:14, Paul takes just the opposite view of what we might think. He said, So that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, And that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. Philippians 1:13, 14 Paul takes just the opposite view of what we might think. He remarked that many of the elite praetorian guard were accepting Christ and that many people from the royal family were placing their faith in Christ. Paul rejoiced in prison. He did not rejoice in his restrictions and the suffering that naturally attends such a life. He rejoiced that Christ was being proclaimed. He rejoiced that the plan designed to eliminate his witness backfired and became a highly effective witness to the grace of God. Opposition to the Gospel became a serious example for the many witnesses to the goodness of God. This was not a new scenario. Satan attacked God’s purposes in Job’s life. Satan, also, attacked Job’s purposes in serving God. He accused Job of serving God for what he got from God. He predicted Job’s defection when he was no longer rewarded for his obedience to God’s instruction. The purpose of Satan’s attack was clear. He denied God’s power to change a life. He falsely accused Job of using God. He falsely attacked Job’s devotion to God. He was not interested in establishing truth. He was interested in discrediting God as well as God’s servant, Job. Satan was permitted to inflict great losses upon Job. He was allowed to bring intense suffering upon Job. He even was allowed to subject Job to devastating humiliation. The final result was that God accepted Job and rejected the friends who accused Job of disobedience. Job did not curse God as Satan predicted. Satan was proven wrong. Satan’s purpose to destroy Job’s witness was turned upside down. It became a demonstration of God’s sovereign power. If you look at the story of Joseph, you see much the same thing. His brothers hated him. His father reprimanded him. He was sold as a slave. Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him. He was falsely imprisoned. The end result was that each betrayal placed Joseph just a bit closer to the place God wanted to use him. Ultimately, Joseph saved both Egypt and his father’s family from starvation. Jesus encountered the same thing on the cross. He threatened the business and power structure of the religious leaders. They tried to trick Jesus. They tried to catch him in embarrassing statements. They lied about him; gave false witness against him. They put him to death, but he rose from the dead. They attacked His integrity, but the world now knows that they lost their integrity. They thought to rid the world of such a Messiah. They really advertised his coming. We often are not able to see that God can turn opposition into blessing. What would have happened if Joseph had not experienced the adversities of his life? What would have happened if the Father had answered Jesus’ prayer to “remove this cup”? We often do not want to suffer for any reason. Many people want to serve God from a very comfortable position. The fact is that there are many times when God wants to use our struggle to demonstrate to a blind world that He can take our troubles and turn them into a blessing for all mankind. How do you pray when a difficult situation threatens to undo your very comfortable situation? Do you, as most do, pray for release? Or do you ask God to give grace and mercy in the midst of the struggle? Just a thought! BEEN BUSY! It has been a very busy Fall/Winter. In September I went to Haiti to conduct the student retreat and then taught a course in Introduction to the New Testament. We have 18 new students (twice what we received in the previous class.) These students are taking a course in English every morning. Now they are beginning to ask questions in class in English. In November/December I taught a class in the book of Mark as well as a course in Inductive Bible Study. While I was there, my wife, Ruth, cane to spend a week to see if she could stand the climate. Well, it was unusually hot, but she was a trooper. I will not be surprised if she comes to teach a course in Christian education. Our grandson, Jeremiah, came with her. We wanted him to see what missionary work is like in a 4th. World country. BUILDING A DORM While I was in Haiti in September/October, a group of ten people from the church we attend came down to rebuild a girl’s dormitory. They rebuilt it! This building will house 20 women students. In February, a work crew will come to paint the building; do finish plumbing, electrical and carpentry. They also will tile the showers. The building is scheduled for rededication in September. GONE TO KAZAKHSTAN! On February 1, I left for Almati, Kazakhstan. I will be there February 2 – 22. I will be teaching a course in New Testament Introduction. As you may know, this seminary has both Russian and Kazakh students and they are taught separately. I will teach the Russian class for two hours in the morning and the Kazakh class for two hours in the afternoon. This will be my fourth trip to teach in that seminary. TRINIDAD ANYONE! March 15-23, I will be attending a Caribbean area accrediting association meeting in Trinidad. The Haiti seminary is not accredited yet, but that must be done. There are two purposes for this trip. I need to make arrangements for my Haitian academic dean to get an additional degree. The second purpose is to meet with the presidents of the other seminaries in Haiti. I have been asked to head a distance education program to assist Haitian professors to get advanced degrees. The funding for this program appears to be in place, but participation by the other seminaries has yet to be finalized. We hope this will be accomplished while we are there. MEETING WITH THE BOARD On March 1, the Executive Board of Logos Ministries will hold its spring meeting. A major concern for this meeting will deal with one of the books I published. This past week, I received a request that I have someone translate and publish, in Spanish, the book “Discovering the Message Of Scripture.” This is a textbook teaching the reader how to do Inductive Bible Study. There are many unknowns – How much will it cost? Who would translate? I will be recommending that we pursue this project. God has blessed us in a host of ways. I believe God will take care of the needs and give direction for the challenges that lie ahead. WRITING, WRITING On the January trip to Haiti, I was able to complete four new chapters of the book, “Fashioned By Culture.” This is a sequel to the book “Did You Know This?!” This brings to 151 the number of pages in this book that are completed. While teaching in Haiti, I also was able to write two more chapters of the inductive study of I Samuel. GROWING IN PATIENCE In July, we sent a copy of my new book on the images of intimacy with God to a Christian publisher to see if they would be interested in publishing the book. We have been informed that the book was approved by the first of three readers, but have heard nothing since. This is usually a good sign. We will keep you posted. GOING BACK TO HAITI May 12 – 21, I will return to Haiti to conduct the graduation service for our third year class. While I am there, we will also do the preparation for the rededication of the girl’s dormitory, the student retreat and the opening of the fall trimester of the seminary. PLEASE PRAY. Many wonderful things are happening, but many more challenges lie ahead. We would appreciate your prayer with us concerning these challenges: We need wisdom in planning the distance education program. We need guidance in the decision process concerning the Spanish edition of "Discovering the Message of Scripture." We need guidance in writing the books now in process. We must have God’s will concerning the book on Intimacy with God. Pray for safety in travel. Pray for wisdom in planning seminary buildings. |
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