This past week we launched our Trinity Mount Barker Prayer Network. Even as the structure and names were being put together, we had our first request for prayer – and our first answer to prayer! No sooner had I been told that the Prayer Network was up and running that I heard that the first prayer need passed onto the network had been graciously answered by God. We shouldn’t be surprised, though! The Scriptures tell us that “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16).
As we saw in our Foundations teaching series earlier in the year, what matters about prayer, more than anything else, is the God to whom we pray. In Matthew 7 Jesus tells his disciples, that just as they love to give good gifts to their children, despite their own sinfulness, their heavenly Father will give good gifts to those who ask him (Matthew 7:11). All around that particular section, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes it clear what some of those “good things” are; Being salt and light is good. Storing up treasures in heaven is good. Taking hold of eternal life is good. Seeking God’s kingdom above all else is good.
I’m sure we have all been shocked and saddened by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, not to mention the ongoing radiation threat from damaged nuclear power plants. Coming so soon after the Christchurch earthquake last month, it is easy at times to feel overwhelmed by the human toll, the scale of destruction and the huge cleanup and rebuilding operations required.
It is good to spend some time reflecting on the enormity of these issues and how clearly they speak of a creation groaning (as in Romans 8:22) and out of step with its creator as a result of human sin. I have been struck by the number of apparently non-Christian journalists saying how if we are to learn anything from these tragic events, it’s that we are not in control in our world and that something is not right. Surely we were not made for life like this!
Well the Bible agrees. This is not the life for which God intended us, and it’s not the life in store for those who trust in God’s provision and his solution for sin. We who place our hope in Jesus look forward to the day when God himself “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
In the meantime, we feel sad. We feel something of the weight of suffering. We may feel helpless. Probably the best thing we can do, especially at a distance, is to pray for Japan and for its people. I have some friends serving as missionaries in Tokyo; Owen and Sarah Ames have been in Japan with their family for a number of years. Earlier this week I asked them to let us know some things we can be praying for. Their suggestions are below.
Pray for a speedy resolution to the nuclear issue. Already authorities are issuing warnings about how to protect against nuclear fallout.
Pray that the ongoing aftershocks will not distress people.
Panic buying has started – no petrol, bread, candles, hardly any nappies or rice. Pray that will still be able to buy necessities.
Pray for peace of mind and that we entrust our fears to God.
Pray for protection, a sense of calm and wisdom as we hear various news reports and gain information about what essential services remain affected and what, if any, steps we need to take in every situation that arises.
Especially pray for Japan! The church is very small here, but please pray that it will demonstrate God's love as it extends helping hands to the thousands and thousands in need over these next weeks and months.
Pray for the missionaries in Japan too, that we will show God’s love and compassion to those in need and have opportunities to witness to many. Pray for those suffering the devastation and loss of life of friends and loved ones caused by both the earthquake and tsunami.
Service of Prayer and Remembrance - Japan & New Zealand Earthquakes The events we have witnessed from Japan over the weekend have been sad and sobering. The nation is dealing with a tragedy of epic proportions, especially as a result of the tsunami triggered by the earthquake measuring 8.9. Nations and peoples around the world are responding generously and willingly with assistance and support in what is a massive recovery task ahead for the Pacific nation. Alongside this there have been many calls for prayer for this country: for its citizens, for the massive rescue and recovery effort that has begun, and for all who are dealing with the grief of loss of life and livelihoods.
In two weeks time we have the opportunity to benefit from a terrific training resource, the Equip training weekend. Equip runs from Friday evening, 25th March and Saturday 26thMarch at Concordia College, Highgate. The aim of equip is to train Christians both in skills and also in understanding and thinking about the Christian faith.
In recent weeks we have been highlighting three of the Equip subjects as being particularly beneficial or interesting; Church, Baptism & The Lord’s Supper with Peter Adam, principal of Ridley College, Melbourne, aims to help us see ourselves more as God sees us, not just as individuals, but as members of God’s people, Christ’s church. Peter is one of Australia’s leading Bible teachers and theologians and over the weekend, will take participants through what the Bible says about baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
There’s one line of dialogue in John 7 that has got some people quite perplexed! In verses 6 - 8 Jesus tells his brothers that he’s not going to go up to Jerusalem with them for the Feast of Tabernacles, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right … You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.”
But then in verse 10 John tells us, “However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.”
