Dear Friends,
Photo above: one of our students training at a new CFM mission station.
Funds are needed this week for feeding costs for our children, women being restored and trainees. Our account is empty.
A Sunday morning meeting, in mission stations all over the nation and surrounding nations. Adults and children in separate groups. The meek rule, shaping the future of any nation.
The Recent Coronation:
When the mother of James and John asked that her sons might sit at Jesus’ right and left hand in his kingdom, Jesus replied to them, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” It was his sufferings that qualified Jesus to be our king. He gave his life for his people and loved them to the end. Those who reign with him will also suffer with him, persecution by the false powers.
Psalm 2 may have been written on the coronation of David. David and the nations are warned that God has already installed his king over the earth: “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” The nations, to the ends of the earth, have been given to him. The kings of this earth are warned to, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” That is, any king who rules to restore and establish the weak will be blessed. Any king who rules on the behalf of the corrupt and oppressive powers will be crushed.
The Roman Emperor claimed to be the son of God, his birthday was called the gospel, good news to save the nations, and all were forced to put their faith in him. Paul wrote to Rome, claiming these honours instead for the one who suffered, who died on the cross of a slave. Paul wasn't ashamed of the true gospel/ power/ way of life, in the face of Roman power. Christ's way of life is the true power that shapes our lives and nations.
Revelation is a picture of the church on earth. Those who rule in Revelations 4 cast their crowns before the Lord, which means those who truly reign as kings on earth do so by serving. This was the vision - way of life from a renewed heart of faithfulness (pistis: Greek) - that the early church was bringing into the world.
Reigning Is Giving
A CFM missionary (left) reaching out to children and adults in a displaced persons camp. He started with nothing, now God is using him to make a difference for others. Start to serve others and your own needs will disappear.
Chapel Message at Wurin Alheri
1,000 fulltime students are soon going out for six weeks of practical service, many in mission stations around Nigeria. There is a strong undercurrent in the nation that promotes the use of ministry for personal gain. We must be vigilant to counteract this because this error easily finds receptive ground. People flock to it like moths to a candle.
From yesterday’s chapel:
* Don’t focus on getting but focus on giving. In Nigeria, there is so much opportunity to serve others in need of Christ. No one, no matter your background, is poor. If you think of others, you will never lack. We all have something to give, even if it's just the flip-flops on our feet. We are all blessed. "Give, and it shall be given to you.” (Luke 6:38)
* When Christ comes, we will not be rewarded for our anointing, titles or the number of people following us, but for the destitute we serve. “I was hungry, homeless, sick, and you healed me.” (Matthew 25:35-40) If we live to please men, our victory is short, a mere breath. If we live to please God, our joy is eternal.
Our students respond with love and care. It makes Wurin Alheri like heaven. When students learn that faith (pistis) means faithfulness, the faithfulness of a true king to serve, then they stop focusing on faith to get, and then they lack nothing.
A Muslim King
One of our mission station schools: adding three more classrooms. Parents do the work. Children from all backgrounds come, including Fulani. The Muslim king tried to stop us, but when our team loved him in return, he called for the school to be opened for all.
Israel, a Kingdom of Priests
Another set of bible college graduates about to pass out of classes and into six months of practical mission with CFM. The last set of graduates just returned from their mission fields around Nigeria. These above are about to follow them in more practical learning. They have all been supported by you as trainees and they are very grateful. They live out the love given to them.
Patience Wade is a recent graduate who just returned from her mission field, and spoke to our students at Wurin Alheri. She spent one month in one of our mission centres with four churches spread out in different villages. In the village Patience went to, she taught the scriptures daily. The people worshiped fish and idols and seriously lacked hygiene. She said she gave and she lacked nothing. Patience gave her whole heart and spoke of the need to build a centre for worship. God is building an army who are taking the initiative to see his work prosper and souls reached and established in Christ.
Fellowship centres going up all over Nigeria and surrounding nations. They send students to CFM. They gain a faith that serves and grows in joy, rather than takes. It’s fellowship through which people fall in love with Jesus.
In the prosperity of Israel's King Jeroboam II's days, Jonah was not interested in missions, and was angry with God's compassion on Nineveh (Jonah 4). Amos reminded the complacent in Zion and Samaria of God's care for the Philistines and Syrians, their enemies (Amos 6). Israel was called as a kingdom of priests, to pass on the faithfulness they had received (Hosea 11), but they didn't want to know. Now, the great commission is ours. (From Ruth’s Old Testament Class today.)
CFM’s hospital holding a clinic at a village outreach, some taking blood samples, others inside assessing blood pressure and other health signs.
The kingdom of God is the eternal kingdom. Earthly kings with the praise of men in the present age are nothing, unless through the love of Christ we humble ourselves to truth, as under-shepherds of the king of kings, giving our lives for the sheep, rather than fleecing them. Sharing a glorious eternity with those who are currently lost and hopeless, who are waiting for the good news to come through us, of the good eternal king Jesus, is everything.
Missions matters. Many needs are on the table this week. If you are able to support, please use the details below. Thank you!
Blessings. Love in Christ,
Kent, Ruth and team
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