“Our Common Bond Has a Name!”
| Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” The entire globe – every nation and every soul – belong to God. And He would have everyone come into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (2Pe 3:9; 1Tim 2:4). I would compel you to know Christ, then share Christ. I’ve learned that if you really love people, you will tell them about Christ. If you love yourself more, you will be silent. (Read “By what authority do you speak?”) |
| This Independence Day, we would do well to remember and reflect on what really “united” us as a people. Without a shadow of a doubt, back at the founding of our nation, the single, most important thing that brought Americans together into agreement was God. Belief in God and acknowledgement of Him was the common bond that united us. And our Common Bond has a Name! His name is Jesus Christ! However, this God-bond is missing today as individuals, families, communities, and our nation are woefully disconnected from the LORD. As a result, and much to our shame, presently our United States of America are divided States. Confusion abounds in every area of American society – families, marriage, sex, religion, politics, entertainment, sports, business, law, education – as politicians, military leaders, celebrities, athletes, professors and educators, judges and lawyers try to make sense of things without God. Talk about a recipe for division, disagreement, and disaster! This division abounds in issues of morality, race, rights, privilege, equality, justice, history, national pride, etc. People get worked up to the point of outrage which ultimately leads to various forms of protests and riots. And, since everyone now is supposedly “woke,” some form of action must be taken! But the problem is, if we can’t agree – on the root of the problem or the solution – how can anything of possible significance be accomplished? We can’t agree on anything! Chaos and disorder are natural consequences of godlessness. – Read “Fog of War In the Church” Truly, the masses today, to include Christians, live godless lives. As such, Americans walk in great disconnect from and disagreement with God and each other. Without common ground, there isn’t much we can agree on as each of us has become our own little god. Whenever we disobey and disregard God, we are left to ourselves to define our purpose, meaning, dignity, identity, and value. Dr. Ravi Zacharias said that one interpretation of Genesis 3:22 “man has become like one of us” is that man must now act like God, and from within himself determine good from evil. And how’s that working for us? Today, we increasingly and cavalierly dismiss and disregard God. You want proof? Just listen closely to people moan and groan, gripe and complain today. You’ll hear their casual rants and ravings about the multitude of problems, BUUUTTT they never present a solution. They can’t. They’re godless. And all godless efforts and energies will fail. Fundamentally, believers are called to present God to the world (Mk 16:15; Jude 1:3), to be His ambassadors (2Cor 5:17-21). The world is desperate for this connection (Rom 8:19), however, the believer can only give what he or she has. Stated another way, the believer cannot give what he doesn’t have. To what degree do you have God? To what degree do you know Him? To what degree are you growing daily in Christ? So, what to do? What’s the solution? What’s my part in fixing things? You wanna make a difference? You wanna engage in the good fight? Start by knowing God. Not knowing of Him, but by knowing Him. There is a difference. Check out these four principles from “Knowing God” (J. I. Packer). 1.Those who know God have great energy for God, publicly and privately. (Dan 11:32) Me: I’ve found that, publicly, I cannot rest when I see God being disrespected and disregarded. Privately, I cannot minister to all these broken souls without first ardently and zealously bringing them before the Lord in prayer. 2.Those who know God have great thoughts about God. (Dan 2:20-22; Ps 145:3) Me: The Lord’s greatness is too vast for anyone to comprehend. Yet, He continues to reveal His majesty and mysteries to me in ways that keep me humble. In a sense, the degree to which I gain revelation of His truths and His power is the degree to which I bow before Him in awe, gratitude, and humility. Those who know God have allowed God to flood their souls with His enormous faith and hope. 3.Those who know God show great boldness for God. (Dan 3:12; Ac 5:29; Ac 20:24) Me: I’ve found that the more I come to know God, the more I must speak out and declare, “Jesus is Lord!” Any boldness I have for the Lord comes from personally experiencing His deliverance, salvation, grace, and mercy. Why am I so outspoken, confrontational, and provoking? It’s because I’ve known His hand, His word, His voice, and His leading. Those who know God cannot stay silent! (2Cor 4:13) 4.Those who know God have great contentment in God. (Dan 3:15-18; Rom 5:1; Rom 8:31-39) Me: I’ve found that I’m frequently “prone to wander” into doubt, fear, idolatry, flesh, etc., but with God there’s always that “reset button.” I eventually repent, come back to godliness and remember that there’s No Person, No Pleasure, No Pain, No Problem, and No Philosophy in my life that is bigger than God. (Read “The 5 Ps of Idolatry”) And in His presence, I am secure and I become content (self-rising, able to bear) once again (Php 4:11-12). So, what about you? Do you know Him or know of Him? I’ve found that it’s impossible to spend quality time in prayer and in His word without being affected and transformed. The extent and quality to which I’m in His presence (Word, Prayer, Works) is the extent and quality to which I experience Him. I’ve literally learned this! And, it’s transforming! Even to the point of no longer being silent. Real talk. Ignorance and misrepresentation of God triggers me! I can’t be silent around people who disrespect and distort the things of God, because the more I’ve come to know Him, the more I have to engage, explain, defend, and speak out on His behalf. “Don’t be talking bad about my Daddy!” (Lol!) – Read “Does God Need Defending?” SOLUTION: I submit to you that one of the quickest, most powerful ways to inject God into a situation or discussion is to pray together, right there, on the spot. Without asking for their permission, gently grab their hands and say, “You are so right! These are huge problems. Let’s take a few moments to pray and bring these issues to the LORD.” Here’s a sample prayer: Father, we are to (Rom 16:17) be watchful for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine of Christ; You told us to avoid people like that. Help us, LORD. (vs.18) Father, such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve. (Pro 4:23) Father, help us to carefully guard our hearts above all things because our hearts determine the course of our lives. (Jer 17:9) Father, our hearts are deceitful above all things, desperately wicked, and who can really know it? (Lu 6:45) O LORD, we do good things because of the good in our hearts, and we do bad things because of the evil in our hearts, but our own words reveal what is really in our hearts. (1Jn 2:16) O LORD, we know that everything that belongs to this fallen world – what our flesh desires, what we see and want, and everything in this world that we are so proud of – none of this comes from You, Father; it all comes from the world. (vs.17) We understand that the world and everything in it we desire and pursue is passing away, but those who do the will of God shall live forever. (2Tim 3:1) O God, You said the last days would be very difficult times. (vs.2) People will love only themselves and their money. People will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. People will consider nothing sacred. (vs.3) People will be unloving and unforgiving; People will slander others and have no self-control. People will be cruel and hate what is good. (vs.4) People will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. (vs.5) People will act religious, but they will reject the very power that could make them godly. You told us to stay away from people like that! (1Tim 6:12) Father, we will fight the good fight for the true faith, and hold tightly to the eternal life to which You called us! Help us know the difference between good fights and bad fights. (Eze 36:26) O LORD, give us new hearts, and put a new spirit within us. Remove our hearts of stone and replace them with hearts that are God-willed, not self-willed. (Ps 51:10) O Lord, thank You for creating within us new, clean hearts. Fill us now with only pure thoughts and holy desires, always ready to please You. (Col 3:1) O God, we have been raised with Christ, and we purpose in our hearts to seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Php 3:13) Father, we forget what lies behind and we will strain forward to what lies ahead, (vs.14) and we press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Jn 1:29) O LORD, we will tell people, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” In Jesus’ name, amen! – Read “Prayer is Our Chief Weapon! Use it!” The common ground that we so desperately need today, that will unite us today, is God. Without this Common Bond, everything we do is doomed to fail. God – His son, holiness, power, truth, salvation, love – is the Common Ground that will bring us back from division and chaos and into unity and order. Rare are those today who can publicly herald the true solution, Christ! Know Him! 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(Read “The Fruits of Persecution… and America”)
(Read “America is Good!”)
| Agree with us in Prayer: a. For the Brig/Prison: God is bigger than any leader or official over this ministry. Join us in calling out to God to restore this class to 90 minutes. The additional 30 minutes are crucial to restoration and discipleship of these confinees. They are hungry for the Word of God and are praying for this increase in class time. Pray for all the souls (the leaders, the inmates, the guards, and their families). The battle for the souls of these men continues. I have a burden from the Lord for these souls in confinement. Join me in prayer for an increasing, godly stronghold over the prison population. Bind up demonic spirits of discord, hate, religion, bitterness, unforgiveness, shame, condemnation, laziness, indifference, procrastination, and pride. And loose a spirit of salvation, discipleship, forgiveness, humility, exposure, healing, deliverance, peace, restoration, unity, and cooperation! b. For continued increase at ZCDC (Churchplant). We continue to re-build. It’s the nature of ministry this far north on the island. Pray for the discipling and releasing of more laborers into the harvest here. Pray for our strength, wisdom, and resources as weekly we gather souls on Camp Schwab. We gather sheep and convert goats. Pray for mature, Qualified Families and Permanent Personnel to co-labor with us in this northern-most, remote area of Okinawa. c. For Zebulun Worship Team. Matthew, our worship leader is transferring very soon. The current plan is for Avery to begin leading the team. Pray for him as he steps up and allows God to use him. d. For our Believers to walk in increased discernment, wisdom, maturity, power, and works, that they are properly discipled, and that they bear much Kingdom fruit, now! e. Pray against retaliatory, unclean spirits from On-Base and Off-Base. Bind up demonic spirits of control, division, envy, strife, competition, lust, and fear. And loose a spirit of unity, peace, love, maturity, discipleship, and faith among Believers. f. For our current schedule (finances, resources, wisdom, strategies, and strength): – Sun: Share/Report Christians In Action ministries – Mon: Radical & Relevant (R&R) @7pm – Wed: Brig Christian Fellowship (BCF) @7pm – Thu: Publish Think On These Things Newsletters – Thu: Publish YouTube Videos (Channel: YahwehHasASon) – Fri: Sexual Integrity & Restoration (SIR) @9am – Sat: Zebulun Christian Discipleship Center (ZCDC) @6pm – See Facebook Live Ministerial Videos – Make a Donation |
(Read “We make disciples!”)
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| In closing… Saints, we love you and pray for you often. Also, thank you for taking the time to lift us up. Your prayers are vital. A legit burden from the Lord is bitter-sweet. On the one hand it’s heavy. On the other hand, it is the thing that enables you to keep going. You just cannot stop. There are times when I am wearied and exhausted, and I really want to quit. Seriously! But the burden literally compels me to keep going anyway. The Brig is a good example. I get so much setback and opposition from people that it has become quite discouraging and depressing. Practically every week, just leaving my house is so difficult. When I do get to Camp Hansen, I have to pull over in the Base Exchange parking lot and just cry and pray before I go into the Brig. I am tired of fighting. AAAHHHH!!! But that burden! It won’t let me stop! I think of the prophet Jeremiah when he cried out to the Lord, “Oh God, You have deceived me.” (Jer 20:7) But he goes on to confess that “It’s like a fire shut up in my bones. If I try to hold it in, I cannot.” (vs.9) I guess this is why Romans 8:18 brings me such comfort. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Some time ago, Jesus told me, “Just keep going, Nick. I need you to do this. I promise you, it will be worth it.” Oh well… pressing on… gotta try to make the most use of the time I am given. Much Kingdom fruit is produced every week. Just ask any of the men and women who are provoke and compelled into maturity. They are my seal! (1Cor 9:2) So, as you may know, being full-time missionaries in Japan isn’t easy. It’s expensive, remote, and quite taxing. Donations and support have been down, but you can help. Please consider partnering with us in these ministries through your monetary donations and support. When you do, much fruit abounds to your account (Php 4:17). Financial gifts and contributions can be made online through Christians In Action. Or, you can mail contributions to the address listed below. I declare that no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged! And any accuser who takes you to court will be dismissed as a liar! (Isa 54:17 The Message) <*{{{{>< In His promises, Pastor Nick & Sandy Guerra Contributions can be sent to: Dominic Guerra (Acct# 426) c/o Christians In Action, Missions International PO Box 25093 Fresno, CA 93729 ▪ Please ensure Acct #426 is annotated on your contribution so the funds can be allocated correctly. ▪ Please share/forward these newsletters at your discretion. Make a Donation |
| — Our Mission & Vision — “Gather Sheep & Convert Goats!” “Catch, Clean, & Release!” |