Weekly Message / Prayer Request

Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints…” Ephesians 1:18 NIV

One of the difficulties I find about writing this message each week is finding the right topic. Many times after I pray I find there are multiple things which could be said, with each one equally as important as the other. Other times much of what could be said is best left unsaid and should only be brought before the Lord.

So it is a difficult challenge, but one which I believe has produced fruit because of prayer and the Holy Spirit. And I feel very honored and humbled by the opportunity God has presented me in this endeavor.

As we approach the Christmas season, I definitely find myself in the category of having too many things to write about. Yet in the middle of all these topics—giving, ministering to others, thanksgiving—I find one central theme at the root of all of them… our Lord Jesus Christ.

See nothing else truly matters. If we desire to show others how people can give, I believe we should show them Jesus. If we desire others to minister unto those who are in need, I believe we should connect them to Jesus. If we desire people to understand why we have so much to be thankful for, I believe we should give them Jesus.

Once people have Jesus and allow Him to work in their lives, everything which is good and true will eventually manifest itself out from their life. This is the transformational power of Christ. This is because Jesus will equip people ‘with everything good for doing his will’ (Hebrews 13:21 NIV) and has already provided those who believe everything which pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

That is why I opened the message from Ephesians 1:18 because this truly is my prayer. I believe that Christ is everything to a believer. We do not need Christ plus philosophy; or Christ plus politics; or even Christ plus religion. We who believe have been given the fullness in Christ (Colossians 2:10 NIV), not something partial needing something else to complete our fullness. All we need is Christ because He is everything and can transform everyone.

So when the eyes of the heart are enlightened by Christ through the Holy Spirit, then true hope will be revealed. This will empower those to give, to minister unto others, to be thankful. This true hope is the greatest empowerment to face any trial of any kind. This is truly what I believe needs to happen, especially as the world becomes even darker and more challenging.

What makes this message more important than ever is that many of these trials are already here or are soon to come for many people, inside and outside the Church. Yet, through Christ, our sufferings in this world are only temporary…

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10 ESV

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10 NIV

This is another great promise God has promised us who are in Christ. I just love the English Standard Version (ESV) which says He will ‘restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.’ Or the New International Version (NIV) which says He will ‘restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.’

Christ is the center of this promise. All we need is Christ and regardless to the sufferings we all face, we will be restored to even a greater standing in Him. And this standing will be rooted in the truth of God and upon a rock which will never fail.

Therefore let us make this season a season where we share Christ. Nothing is more important or more transformational in this world then the power God has given each one of us who believe. Because sharing the wealth of God which is already inside each of us, is the greatest gift anyone could ever share…


Prayer requests

Brett S – pray that he will be able to stay strong in the Word and continue to come back to this fellowship

Calvin – pray that the men of this church will become energized for God and become the backbone for the church, home, and family

Richard – pray for reconciliation with his brother, pray that God will help him remove any anger he may be feeling at times

Ernie – pray for wife who is having some health problems and is not feeling well, pray for granddaughter who is having some financial problems

Dick – pray for continued strength during these times of uncertainty

Stephen G – pray for strength in teaching kids at school so they may learn and become better students

Steve S – pray that he will be able to trust more in God

Tim D – pray that he will be able to continue doing devotions with his children

Paul – pray that God will guide him during the moving process and allow everything to go smooth, pray that His purpose will be made clear over in Prosser

Mark – pray that Ephesians 1:18 will be realized in the hearts of men here at Northshore and that people will become energized to follow the Lord, pray for continued financial discernment during tight times, pray that I will continue to find strength in the Lord

***Pray that Northshore can continue to make an impact in the local community for our Lord Jesus Christ


Continued prayer needs

Greg – pray that his family will all find and keep a Godly mind, pray for all the churches who are being persecuted from those against Proposition 8

Nelson – pray for the President-elect that he will be a man of God, pray for his brother Bob

Tim W – pray for wife who is going to Germany to visit parents who may not be doing well, pray that a great deal of success came from the auction which happened on Saturday night

Bill M – praise God that everything has been healed from his prostate surgery, pray that he will continue to remain healthy and return to the group next year

Ramon – pray that God will continue to heal his wife Tina and give her strength in the coming days

Larry Miller – pray that he will be able to find work, pray that he will be able to strengthen the marriage ministry at Northshore

Vince – pray that he can be a Godly example to others

Sky – pray that the move to Bellingham will be smooth and he will be able to attend school up there to pursue some of his goals

Kevin – pray for his youngest daughter and her boyfriend that they make smart choices, pray for exwife

David – pray that he will be able to serve in the children’s ministry and make a difference in the lives of kids

Ralph – pray that he will be able to surrender to God in everything

Tim H – pray for his wife to find her ministry

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

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

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

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

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

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, December 3rd, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church in Room C214 on the Academy side of the Church

Wednesday, December 10th, 7:00-9:00 pm, (Monday meeting) regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church

**** Wednesday, December 17th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church

Monday, December 29th, 7:00-9:00 pm, the annual Christmas/New Year Meeting (Monday meeting) with the location to be determined

**** Wednesday, January 7th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church


Group Happenings

Coming in January 2009… “Ephesians: The Wealth of God in us”— A study through the book of Ephesians, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, so we can discover all we have been given by God…

As the world continues to tell all of us all what we do not have and what we are lacking; as each one of us continue to struggle through tough economic times; as the Church continues to face new challenges; I believe there is no better time then to truly discover all we do have as Christians. We have been blessed beyond measure through our Lord Jesus Christ and by Him have access to all of God's promises.

By studying all the topics covered in the book of Ephesians together in this fellowship of men, my prayer is that all of us will truly come to understand that we have "The wealth of God in us".

Pray that this study will be a tremendous blessing to each one of us, a blessing to the Church, and an opportunity for the Acts 2:42 Men's Fellowship to continue the calling God has placed on all of our hearts...

I invite you to invite others so that through this study, we can minister unto others and share the love of God.

God bless and I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.

In Christ,
Mark


Meeting Topic Schedule (for the rest of 2008)

December 3, 2008 - Abiding in Christ (Tim)

December 10, 2008 - The Coming Messiah (Mark)

December 17, 2008 - The Arrival of the Messiah (Tim)

December 29, 2008 (Monday Meeting) - Blessings -- here, now and tomorrow (Mark)


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