God delivers: Hewa woman are set free

Sunday morning our church gathered together in prayer for 4 Hewa women condemned to die. They along with their children and grandchildren were facing the reality of a "head witch's" decision that the measles outbreak was their fault and they must be killed because of it.

First Baptist Church joined with countless other believers all around the world in praying for their rescue and for this to turn to an occasion for gospel clarity and an embracing of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This morning we received this update:
 
"According to Lutheran missionary Anton Lutz, the message from the missionary and government delegation was well received. In the end, the local commander declared all suspects free and banned the sorcery courts.

ABC news in Australia is reporting that at the meeting not only were the women released, but a ceremony was held where the “head witch” turned over a stone declaring she would not be involved in this kind of activity again.

Praise God for a favorable outcome for Susana, Kontas, Mifila and Helen; their children and their grandchildren!

Please continue to pray for the Hewa people who have not yet and heard or believed God’s Word. Please pray for other villages and people groups in Papua New Guinea who have similar practices.
The youth coordinator for the Western Highlands provincial government of Papua New Guinea, Ruth Kissam, said earlier this month that violence against women accused of witchcraft is a national emergency and it is  creating a refugee crisis in some parts of the country."

Let us be reminded of the importance of prayer and the intense need for the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world - we can make a difference.

Mark 11: No faith / No Figs

As I read Mark 11 today I spent some time considering the truths behind the fig tree: you know, the cursing of the fig tree that had no fruit.
What lies behind this?
What are we to make of it?
Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?
I feel like one of the disciples left scratching my head. I feel right there with Peter in verse 21 when he asks Jesus about what that is all about.

And what was Jesus' response? "Have faith in God."
Ok...   Then Jesus describes what it looks like to have...

"After darkness, light!"

The transfiguration moment had to be one of the most amazing moments for Peter, James, and John. Jesus, the light of the world, becoming radiant - intensely white - His greater glory shining through and God the Father declaring His Son's identity and His authority.

God's Word (the Bible) tells us of Jesus  (The Living Word) is exalted by God the Father through the spoken word. And they were able to see it all. Impacting. Unforgettable. The kind of moment that can

Heart problems?

How's your Heart? How often do you focus on having a healthy heart? Whether it's the physical heart beating in your chest or the spiritual one that gets suffocated in self and longs for
more of God, we tend to give them limited attention. We tend to focus on the surface. How many made a new years resolution to get a healthy heart? OK, maybe the guy who just had the quadruple bypass.

Jesus pinpoints this in this passage. God sees many people who talk a good walk, but

Mark 4: Ears to hear?

"He that has ears to hear, let him hear." - Jesus

Some just cannot hear. Some just will not hear. Some are resolved in remaining hearing impaired. It may be a "what I refuse to hear, I cannot be held responsible for" mentality. It's largely a spiritual impairment. Like trying to talk football stats and reviewing the latest games with someone who has zero interest in the game. Paul refers to them as "natural" as opposed to "spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:4). They cannot hear because they are truths that are only understood through the spiritual guidance of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise they appear as just foolishness.

We need the Spirit at work helping us as we read God's Word and discern the climate around us. If you are having trouble getting something from the Word. You have hearing trouble today. Really on the Spirit. Ask God for wisdom. He supplies and will help you advance beyond the seedling stage to a fruit bearing plant: a follower of Christ that leaves Christ's footprint wherever you go.