"Much prayer, much power."

I have been considering this quote from Slavic Gospel Association founder Peter Deyneka: "Where there is much prayer, there is much power. Where there is little prayer, there is little power. Where there is no prayer, there is no power." It has brought me much conviction about not praying enough for this ministry, and other evangelistic outreaches, that they would bear fruit in the conversion of souls. Now I know that God is not obligated to bless a ministry in this way, just because we pray, as if that were some magical formula. However, I wonder if God is not waiting for us to step out in faith and pray bold prayers for the regeneration of many people. There is an enormous foundation of men and women of faith throughout history who were prayer warriors, who had enough faith in their mighty God to pray bold prayers, and God, by His grace alone, saw fit to answer in ways which even they could not imagine. Our God does not change, He is still the same as He was when He orchestrated those history and eternity-shaping events through the prayers of His people. I assume much, and I pray that few of you needed to hear this, that you have been pouring out your heart for the people whom we have the opportunity to give the gospel, whose eyes are blinded to the glory of our Savior, and do not worship Him who is infinitely worthy of their worship. But I know that I am probably not alone, because I know that my heart is not the only one which can become spiritually lazy, and fail to pray without ceasing. I exhort anyone who reads this to take a minute after you finish it to consider the evangelistic ministries that you know of or are involved with, and lift up the unbelievers with whom they will have the opportunity to share the glorious gospel of Christ, and pray that God would see fit to cause many people to be converted. I will join you.

Because of the Cross,

Alex

Reminder

Hey everybody! Just a reminder that we will be having our meeting for the month this next Wednesday, the 11th of November. The lesson will be on the Trinity and the deity of Christ, and I will explain why on Wednesday. Bring your Bibles and be prepared to think and worship together!

Because of the Cross,

Alex

Reminders

Hey 4SGM Team! For starters, due to the Men's Retreat, we are pushing our regular Friday back one week, and going out this week. After that, we resume normal schedule. Also, we will be having our monthly training meeting next Wednesday, the 14th of October. The chapters will be 37 and 38, which are two parts of one whole subject: faith. Hope all of you can come!

Because of the Cross,

Alex

Exhortation

Isaiah 40:9-Get yourself up on a high mountain,
O Zion, bearer of good news,
Lift up your voice mightily,
O Jerusalem, bearer of good news;
Lift it up, do not fear
Say to the cities of Judah,
"Here is your God!"

Reading this verse makes me want to get up and preach, not really because of the exhortation to get up on a high mountain, but because of the message being declared from that mountain. The message is "good news," and God is the subject of it, it is one of future deliverance. What other message is described as "good news" in the Bible? Hint, it's in the New Testament, permeating the whole, and is even contained in the title of four books of the New Testament. The gospel! The euangelion, or good news! This message is also one of both present and future deliverance, from sin and death. God is also the subject of this message, specifically God Incarnate who came down to earth to dwell among us, and die on the cross, butchered in our place, bearing the wrath of His Father in our place. You are all bearers of this good news, called to declare it with your voice "mightily." So say to the people that you talk to tonight and whenever you share this good news, "Behold your God!", when you speak of the holy wrath of God towards sin; but also remember, if you get there, that you can say to those people "Behold your God!", when you show them God Incarnate, the Lord Jesus Christ, hanging upon the cross of Calvary bleeding for their sins if they will repent and believe in Him. Pray for the people we declare this to, because they will think this glorious good news foolishness if the Holy Spirit does not work in their hearts to see it for what it is, to see Christ for who He is.

Because of the Cross,

Alex

Exhortation

On this day that we are, Lord willing, going out into the streets of downtown Fort Worth to share the gospel, I would like to give an exhortation and an encouragement. I want to exhort all of you who read this to be in prayer, for us and for our hearers. For us, that would proclaim the truth with love and boldness, and glorify God. For our hearers, that they would be convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit and saved, whether then or in the future. For an encouragement, let us look to the gospel, where God did all that was necessary for us to be saved, and remember that God does the saving, whether we effectively answer someone's argument or not. Look at every person you talk to as someone who could one day be worshipping with you in heaven, and explain to them what is necessary to get there. Above all, meditate on the glories of God in the gospel yourselves. I hope y'all are as excited to get back out there as I am!

Because of the cross, Alex

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Evangelism downtown on for this week

Alright, we are definitely going out this Friday night. We will not be the following week, and every other week after that. I hope y'all are looking at other ways that you can be part of this year's focus on ministry to the community, now that we are scaling back. Also, be meditating on Pastor Dan's message from this Sunday to fuel your passion to proclaim Christ's excellencies.

Because of the Cross,

Alex

Reminder

We are meeting this Wednesday, August 19, for our last meeting of the summer before school starts for most people. After this, we will most likely move back to a once-a-month meeting on the second Wednesday of the month. What all that will entail has not been decided concretely, but will be soon. For this week, read chapters 31 and 33 and we will discuss them. Look forward to seeing y'all there!


Because of the Cross,

Alex