Weekly Message / Prayer Request

Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship

“When he flees to one of these cities, he is to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state his case before the elders of that city. Then they are to admit him into their city and give him a place to live with them.” Joshua 20:4 NIV

There is this road near my childhood home in Dover, Ohio that I always find very interesting. Every time I go home to visit, I always have to travel this road because it is the only way you can find your way back into the neighborhood where I grew up and my parents still live today.

This road is not interesting because of its historical value or because of any landmark that you will see. In fact it is a very typical road with rather normal houses you would find anywhere in the state of Ohio. But I find this road is interesting because of the number of times you enter and exit the city of Dover during a mile long stretch of roadway. You will literally enter the city of Dover three times and exit the city twice with each “significant” change of jurisdiction duly marked by a small sign that is easily missed by most travelers.

Now I am not sure why the city limits is drawn this way along this particular road (it would make sense to make the city limit boundary the road itself); but it clearly shows how the world we live in today is different from the first century.

Unlike today, cities during the first century had their jurisdiction clearly marked by city gates. When you entered the city you would have to pass through one of the city gates. When you left, you would have to do the same. So the city gates became where the centre of business, justice, and where community life took place. They essentially became the public square.

So when we consider this passage regarding the ‘cities of refuge’, I believe it takes on a very significant meaning when you set it beside the context of what the city gates were during the time of Joshua. Because the Lord was not just calling people to state their case why they should be admitted into one of these ‘cities of refuge’ in private; the Lord was calling people to make a public declaration before the elders, right there before the gate leading into the city.

This is essential to understand because the gate before each one of us that leads into heaven is much more of the first century kind. And we must realize that today we all find ourselves right there before that gate…

For it has been quoted quite often that we are all ‘in the world, but not of this world’ as Christians. Therefore none of us should be surprised about how public our lives really are because we are there before the gate just like everyone else. But we always remember that our public declaration on why we should be admitted through the gate must be different from those who do not believe.

The scriptures bring us a clear warning directly from our Lord Jesus Christ about how different our declaration should be:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few will find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 NIV

Brothers, may each one of us realize that Jesus Christ is our ‘city of refuge’ and that we can only enter through the narrow gate. Let us not be deceived into believing that we can enter through the wide gate simply because is marked by religion or self-righteousness. These can only cause us to stumble in the eyes of the Lord.

But let us find the narrow gate which is found by complete faith in Christ. Let us ensure that we are basing our hope on the things not of this world, but firmly planted in the truth.

Therefore my prayer is that we can encourage one another before this gate; pray together before this gate; stand beside one another before this gate; in order that all of us may come to the saving faith required to be admitted in through the gate which leads to life…


Prayer requests

Ernie – pray for wife who is having some health problems with her leg

Steve S – pray that he continues doing good in his life and in the lives of others

Bill – pray that he will be able to lose some weight to help with the prostate condition, pray for making the best decision on treatment

Larry Miller – pray for wife Sandy’s mother who is hospitalized with a ‘mass’ found on her pancreas, pray that her father may have peace during this time

Paul – pray for continued blessings

Gary – pray for wife who may have to have surgery to help correct a health issue, pray that the Lord can help fill this feeling of emptiness

Vince – pray that his wife can become closer to the Lord and walk with the Lord more often

Greg – pray for cousin who is having kidney problems, pray for a good time in Hawaii

David – pray that he will learn more about joy and be more joyful daily

Mark – pray that I will continue to learn how to love my wife better with her love language, pray that the men of this group continue to walk together with Christ as their lantern

Brett S – pray for healing of liver disease

Tim – pray that he can continue to learn to love God more each day

***Pray as Northshore begins a new chapter in its ministry to people who desperately needs to hear the gospel message


Continued prayer needs

Sky – pray that he will be accepted into the RN program at college for this fall

Kelcy – pray for all the pastors and leaders within the Church

Ramon – pray for Brett S who has a liver disease which is progressing and needs treatment or possible transplant, pray for Brent who is being pressured to get married

Kevin – pray for wife that she may find happiness, pray for the Middle East and all of the difficulties they are having

Dick – pray for gluttony issues, pray for strength to deny self by helping him submit to the Lord

Bill – pray for God’s spirit to bless all of the kid’s in the Royal Family kid’s camp and to support the counselors

Carmine – pray that he can find ways to lower his blood pressure which was very high recently

Monte – praise God for a new job that he has been blessed with

Keith – pray that their youngest daughter will be able to do well in college, pray that Nate will be able to find a job

Craig – pray that he will become more diligent in his Bible reading, pray that all pain will be removed someday from his body

Bret – pray for rest, pray for a the right relationship with a girl he recently met

Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life


Future Meetings

Wednesday, July 23rd, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church in room C214 on the academy side of the church. (I will most likely be leading the group again unless something comes up with the family)

Wednesday, July 30th, 6:30-9:00 pm, barbecue, shortened meeting at Northshore Christian Church

Wednesday, August 6th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church


Group Happenings

July 30th, we are going to have a barbecue at the church for the group starting at 6:30pm. Each person will bring their own ‘steak’, ‘chicken’, ect. to throw on the grill. But we are also asking that everyone will bring something to share like a side dish. We will discuss details at the next meeting on the 30th


Memory Verse

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NKJV