Weekly Message / Prayer Request

Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship

“Because God has loosed my cord and humbled me, they have cast off restraint in my presence. On my right hand the rabble rise; they push away my feet, they cast up against me their ways of destruction. They break up my path; they promote my calamity; they need no one to help them. As through a wide breach they come; amid the crash they roll on.” Job 30:11-14 ESV

Much of our life exists within the “background noise” of this world. It is sometimes very hard to distinguish which is the voice of the Lord when we live within a very crowded room. We hear people talking about the latest “new” thing. We hear people talking about the latest complaint. We even hear people talking just so their voice may be heard…

In this crowded room of ours, there are even people there to remove us from the path of righteousness. They push our feet, bring forth devastation, and promote catastrophe causing us to fall away from the mission God has given us. It has happened in my life, because I have lived within this crowded room at times with work, hobbies, relationships, idleness, ect. allowing my ears to be filled with mindless rabble.

Paul gave instructions to Timothy to “avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene…” (2 Timothy 2:16-17 NIV). Essentially, I believe that Paul was warning Timothy to stay away from the crowded room so that he may not fall prey to such deception.

So this morning, we find ourselves within the book of Job. A book which has more “background noise” than any other book of the Bible and describes what it is like to live in a crowded room better then what I can even put into words. For the life of Job is filled with more catastrophe then anyone of us has ever experienced. He lost everything, including his entire family.

Here in the opening passage (Job 30) of this message, Job found himself going through mental conflict over the difficulties of his present losses and circumstances. He found himself complaining about the great disgrace he has fallen into, from a place of high honor to a place of lowly repute. Instead of words about how great God was in His providence, Job was filling his words with moaning over the people who were causing strife in his life.

And what I always find difficult about the book of Job is that it correctly describes my life as a sinner. It reminds me of my past in great detail when I would fill my ears with mindless rabble and carry on the complaint of the day. The crowded room became my focus, not God.

Paul gave the people of Colossae some words of instruction on how to focus through the crowded room toward God when he said:

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7 NIV

“Background noise” is something which can never be eliminated because it involves everything within our everyday life. The crowded room is just part of the world we live in. Changing our circumstances and the culture we live in is not the answer because God has always said we are to be in the world, just not of the world.

Therefore our focus must be how to live in Christ, how to be rooted and built up in Him, and how to keep our faith as we were taught. This is how we remain on mission for the Lord even while the crowded room is trying to push us off course.

That is why I believe our focus in Acts 2:42 over the next year should be the gospel. That is why I believe we should spend every meeting taking our time to understand how everything we study in the Scriptures relates to the gospel—because the gospel changes everything to everyone.

And I believe if we do this and understand how every topic, how every Scripture verse, how our fellowship, how our prayers, are all rooted in the message of good news for everyone; then I truly believe our rudder will be so deep that no “background noise” within the crowded room will be able to detract us from serving Him…

Join me on this journey. Join me in prayer as we begin to set forth a course which will take us straight into the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ…


Prayer requests

Bill M – pray for his treatment of cancer with his final doctor appointment and that he may come to a final decision about what direction he should take

Ralph – pray for his youngest brother who is paraplegic and his having trouble with his wife

Ernie – pray for his brother’s health, pray for his 21 year old grandson who has cancer and may he find the best treatment possible

Tim D – pray that God’s will can take place in his life and His will be done

Steve – pray for the forgiveness of his sins, pray for the cleansing of his mind

Gary – pray for strength as he works through all the various stresses of life, pray for the health of his wife

Tim W – pray for mother in assisted living in Everett who has been sick recently

Paul – pray for guidance at home, pray for an open heart, pray for safety during travel this week
Vince – pray that God can protect him financially and through his health problems

Greg – pray for Timothy Nelson who is continuing to have some heart trouble

Ramon – pray that God will continue to give him strength

Tim H – pray for his wife to find her ministry

Craig – pray that he will become more diligent in joining with others in fellowship, pray God will comfort him during times of loneliness

David – pray that he will be able to witness in Phoenix to others when he is there visiting

Mark – pray for the health of family, pray for continued strength

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


Continued prayer needs

Joe – pray for all the military members who are in harms way for their safety and quick return

Kevin – pray the Lord will guide him in making the right decisions on a job path, pray for the government and all of the leaders in this country

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

Larry Miller – pray for wife Sandy’s mother that she continues to remain healthy, praise God for healing her of her recent illness

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

Brent – pray that he will find clarity and guidance for finding the right person to marry

Brett S – pray for healing of liver disease

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

Carmine – pray that he can deal with the stresses of work

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

Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life


Future Meetings

Wednesday, September 3rd, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church in Room C214 on the Academy side of the Church.

Wednesday, September 17th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church

Wednesday, October 1, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church


Group Happenings

September 10th is going to be a kickoff barbecue for the Men’s Ministry. More information can be found in the bulletin. Please make sure to RSVP with EmilyV@northshorechristian.org

Remember, we are going to be going to the fall every-other week schedule starting in September. But always know that I stand beside all of you 24/7 as we continue on this journey together…

But, there has been a call by a few brothers to meet every week. Tim Dressler has volunteered to come lead a group of men on the same night as CTL. So we are going to discuss this on Wednesday to see how many men are interested in CTL and see who would be interested in meeting every week. Pray about this opportunity…


Memory Verse

“But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” 2 Chronicles 15:7 NKJV