“He gave!”
| “So long as we imagine it is we who have to look for God, we must often lose heart. But it is the other way about. He is looking for us.” (Simon Tugwell) Read “God is pursuing you!” |
| The Christmas season is upon us. We would do well to recall John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, He gave.” Selah. What’s actually occurring here will melt your heart like wax, if you let it. I mean, imagine the reaction you have when receiving an unexpected gift, a compliment, or favor. It’s common and natural to feel an urge to return the gesture… to give back. I recall vividly, years ago, when Sandy and I would walk through the mall with our babies in their stroller. People, mostly moms, would swamp us with “oohs” and “ahhs” and compliments over the babies. Every time, I felt the urge to return their kind comments with kind words over their children. And even if their baby was ugly, I still felt compelled to say something, like, “Aaannndd look at your baby. He’s soooo… uh, er, big.” (Lol! C’mon! It’s a joke. Besides, you know what I’m talking about. Haha!) Also, I often experience this “give/give back” dynamic when I get home after 10 PM from late ministerial outreaches. I walk in the door, give Sandy a kiss (sometimes dance with her), unpack my briefcase, sit down and try to catch a breather. Before I know it, and without having asked, Sandy is placing a wonderful, hearty, hot meal before me. She does it every time. And, for the record, throughout our thirty-plus years of marriage, I have never required of Sandy, nor asked her to bring me a meal. She just does it from her giving, loving heart. To this very day, her giving still melts my heart. Her labors of love remind me and drive me to somehow, someway love her back. (Honestly, there are times in our marriage when Sandy and I are trying to “out love” each other. (Lol! Read “Sandy makes me love her.”) Have you heard about the “pay it forward” phenomenon that often takes place at drive-thru windows? Some customer will start a campaign by paying for the customer behind them, which motivates the next customer to give, and so on, and so on. I read somewhere that a record was set at one particular Starbucks with almost 700 acts of “pay it forward.” This is the power of giving. (Seriously tho’, I often wonder who was the 700th guy who broke this chain. Lol!) To expound, in Maximized Manhood, Doctor Edwin Louis Cole submitted that, “Love gives. Lust gets. Love gives at the expense of self. Lust gets at the expense of others.” Now, imagine the measure of God’s giving at the expense of Himself through the gift of His son. Honestly, to this day it still makes me cry in deep gratitude and humility when I reflect. Understand that every action is preceded by thought, so what was God thinking as He proceeded to give His son? What was His motivation for giving? There’s no conclusion except God’s love for the pinnacle of His creation and His longing to restore that relationship with them. This is love! This is the good news! Receive His gift of love, forgiveness, and salvation! Then share it with a lost, confused, hurting, and dying world. This is also love. Finally, perfect love will compel you to give with no strings attached. Ever seen a guy randomly hold a door open for a gal? Then, she walks through and doesn’t thank him. Then he gives her the ugly face. (Lol!) I’ve learned to ask these guys, “Why did you hold the door for her? For the ‘thanks’ or because it’s the right thing to do?” (Their faces tho’.) Winston Churchill said something like, “You make a living out of what you get. You make a life out of what you give.” Receive Christ and give Christ! This is love! (Read this Aloud over Yourself and Someone Else) I declare that ____ knows that on the night of Jesus’ birth (Lu 2:10) the angel spoke and said, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (vs.11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Rom 1:1) ____, is a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God! (Mk 16:15) ____ knows Jesus said, “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” I declare that (Lu 4:18) the Spirit of the Lord is upon ____, because he has anointed him/her to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent ____ to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised! (Eph 6:19) I pray that utterance is given unto ____, that he/she may open his/her mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel. (Rom 1:16) ____ is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because he/she knows it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (1Cor 9:16) When ____ preaches the gospel, he/she cannot boast, since he/she is compelled to preach. Woe to ____ if he/she does not preach the gospel! Finally, I declare that (Ac 20:20) ____ will keep nothing back from the world that is profitable, but he/she will show and teach the world publicly, the things of God. (Ac 20:24) ____ will consider his/her life worth nothing compared to finishing the race and completing the task the Lord Jesus has given him/her – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. In Jesus’ name, amen! – Read “Agonize the Good Agony” – Make a Donation – Remember to Share this Newsletter |
| Aerial view of the Camp Hansen Brig. We’ve been preaching the gospel, baptizing, and discipling men and women here since October 2000. (Read “Finding ‘God’ four times in the Brig” |
| Praise Reports: a. Hours ago, I received several notifications that Brig Bible studies have been approved to resume as soon as possible. It seems a prisoner was requesting baptism and insisting that I baptize him. However, the prisoner was incorrectly informed that I am not authorized to conduct baptisms. FYI: I’ve been conducting water baptisms in the Brig for over twenty years. Consequently, the overreach by certain personnel was brought to the right people’s attention and corrective action is being taken. Thank you so much for your prayers! b. Also, with the ongoing rapid construction of the flight-line and other buildings on Camp Schwab, we expect a mass migration of US military personnel to the Henoko/Schwab area in the next 2-3 years. In preparation for that move, I will be looking for property to purchase for the church. I have been ministering on Okinawa since October 2000, and we’ve been ministering faithfully in the Henoko/Schwab area since June 2012. There are no other churches in the city of Henoko. This is a prime opportunity for us to begin looking, buying, and building. And, it’s an opportunity for you to assist in a pioneering work that has the potential to impact many following generations for Christ! Please consider partnering with Christians In Action in this endeavor through your prayers and your finances. – Donate Here (Annotate #773 on your Contribution) |
| This is Zebulun Christian Discipleship Center. ZCDC! We make disciples here! Check out my archived newsletters. www.zcdc.wordpress.com |
| Agree with Us in Prayer: a. For the Brig/Prison: Pray for all the souls in the Brig — the inmates, the guards, and their families. Bind up spirits of bitterness, unforgiveness, shame, condemnation, and pride. And loose a spirit of salvation, discipleship, forgiveness, exposure, healing, deliverance, peace, and restoration! As the mid-week Bible studies are about to resume, pray for the re-gathering of the prisoners. b. For continued increase at ZCDC (Churchplant). Pray for Rebuilding and Gathering in the midst of COVID and other opposition. Pray for my strength and wisdom. There are many new souls on Camp Schwab, so pray for the gathering of sheep and the conversion of goats. Schwab is a very unique area with an extreme operational tempo and a high turnover rate. Many service members are here only for a 6-month deployment, so our time together is very short. Try to imagine the challenges of rebuilding a ministry every six months. It’s not for every missionary, but it’s what we do! And, we make disciples! So, 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. To God be all the glory! We have a lead singer, but now we’re praying for more singers and musicians. d. For our Believers, that they walk in increased discernment, wisdom, maturity, power, and works, that they are properly discipled, and that they bear much Kingdom fruit! 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 – 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 – Facebook Live Video Broadcasts |
| Sandy and I honestly realize that it’s a privilege to serve the Lord full-time. That He would call us to love, to share the gospel, to disciple, to restore, to confront, to bring glad tidings… well, it blows our minds. We just love the Lord. We fear Him. And we want to serve Him. We deeply look forward to hearing Him tell us, “Well done, my good and faithful servants.” (Make a Donation – https://cinami.org/missionary/guerra-nick-sandy/) |
| In closing…Saints, thank you so much for your prayers! They make all the difference in the world. We provoke! We expose! We involve! We immerse! This is my method and approach in ministry. It’s unorthodox and intimidating to many, but it’s only offensive to those who, for whatever reason, misunderstand. Love compels me to candidly and directly engage people. Lives are at stake now, hanging in the balance, and Christians need to engage now! How frustrated would you be knowing fully that there is a life-and-death struggle going on, yet many on your team are too immature, indifferent, and ignorant to be involved?!! (Read “Fog of War In the Church”) We could use your help. Being full-time missionaries in Japan is hard work and very expensive. Please consider partnering with us in these Kingdom works through your financial support. Donations can be made online at Christians In Action. Or, you can mail contributions to the address listed below.I declare that when you preach the gospel, you know you cannot boast, since you are compelled to preach. And you would be in agony if you didn’t preach the gospel! (1Cor 9:16) <*{{{{>< In His hands, Pastor Nick & Sandy Guerra Contributions can be sent to: Dominic Guerra (Acct# 426) c/o Christians in Action Missions International P.O. 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!” |