Weekly Message / Prayer Request

Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2 NIV

Last weekend as we were driving to Church, my daughter looked out over the Cascade Mountains and the rising sun and proclaimed in a flurry of excitement, “My grandma and grandpa live over those mountains! They live over those mountains! I am so excited to see them!!”

Now we have told her before that they live over the mountains, but this impromptu burst of excitement came so unexpectedly. My mind immediately reacted and I could not help but to think how much this speaks to the child-like faith of children.

For everything she knew about where her grandparents were; everything she realized about what was over those mountains; everything she could comprehend was based completely on faith. She did not know they were 2400 miles away. In no way could she even comprehend what that distance was. Instead, simply by faith, she knew they were over those mountains simply because she was told.

This is such a great picture of faith and hope because isn’t this what God is asking us? He gave us truth in the Word (Ephesians 1:13). He told us about our inheritance waiting for us (1 Peter 1:4). He shared a vision of what the New Heaven and the New Earth was going to look like (Revelation 21:1). He revealed His glory in His Son on the cross and was rose three days later to defeat death once and for all (2 Corinthians 13:4). He has promised us everything needed for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). He has given us eternal life (Luke 18:30). All of these are only a few promises we have been told; yet each of these are on the other side of the ‘mountains’ for all who believe.

But why do none of us say it with conviction? Why does none of us shout out like my daughter and proclaim these truths that lie over the ‘mountains’ like we should? Instead we struggle to put this truth out before even our own family at times. (I have struggled with this tremendously at times, presenting this hope, the truth with undeniable faith.) Instead, our beliefs become this personal thing which is not shared or even proclaimed. It lives within us and everyone can either find it for themselves or not.

Yet I do not believe that the Apostle Paul believed in this type of faith. He really believed that the truths we know over the ‘mountains’ was something to rejoice over which is why he said that we “rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Rejoicing is something that is external, ‘displaying a great happiness about something’ as the Encarta Dictionary says. This is supposed to be us about the truth.

Paul also goes on to say something even more profound about the truth. He says in a very familiar verse:

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word…” 2 Timothy 4:1-2a NIV

Within this familiar charge to preach the Word comes a significant message because the word used for ‘preach’ by Paul is the Greek word kerusso which literally means ‘to proclaim’ or ‘to herald’. Paul is telling Timothy it is not just about sharing the Word, but proclaiming it! One should give the same emphasis to the Word that one would give to proclaiming the arrival of nobility, or a King. We are to herald its truth!

So the over the next four weeks I am planning on building upon this idea of proclaiming the hope we have in Christ; proclaiming the truth which exists on the other side of the ‘mountains’.

The world is continuing to use the word hope for other ideas and is looking toward a different type of hope. What we are looking toward is something based upon the truth and is unchanging regardless to anything yesterday, today, or tomorrow.

This goes along with the Ephesians study rather nicely and I look forward to all the parallels; but regardless to the Wednesday night’s study, I look forward to this journey and considering together what is on the other side of the ‘mountains’ we can proclaim together!


Prayer requests

Bill M – praise God for his family and grandchildren, pray that his wife will heal from the back trouble she is having

Brett S – praise God for bringing him here to the group healthy and with energy, pray that he will continue to have some more good days of strength and health

Paul – praise God for the work he has, praise God for the home he has been given in Eastern Washington, prayer for continued guidance in doing the right thing

Ernie – praise God for his goodness, pray that Jerry will continue to respond to treatment from prostrate cancer, pray for Nathan who is in boot camp

David – praise God for His presence in his life, pray that He will reveal Himself more in his life

Ramon – praise God for continuing to have work, praise God for helping him finish a roofing job, pray that he can properly resolve things with an electrician which is giving him trouble over a billing problem

Richard – praise God for this church and how God is speaking through the ministries and pastors of Northshore, pray for a young man who is dating his daughter and how he wants to come to church with him

Gary S – praise God for his good health and the blessings he has been given, pray that he can find work and that his family will be strengthened

Tim D – praise God for his limitless mercy and glory, pray that he will have patience in finding the right job and waiting upon the Lord

Greg – praise God for being in his life and his continued blessings, pray that he can be a godly steward at his work

Mark – praise God for healing my family from a recent bought of sickness, pray that Mark can get back into a normal routine which includes more time reading the Bible and studying, pray that he can find opportunities to use his skills maybe even in a part-time position outside of work, pray that Mark and Beth can finally balance their budget

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

Continued prayer needs

Sky – praise God that the move to Bellingham has gone smoothly and he is now attending a school up there

Jimmy – pray that he will be able to walk more consistently with the Lord

Calvin – pray that the men of this church will become energized for God, pray for his brother which is dealing with a difficult custody battle

Carmine – pray for the troops which are serving overseas and for their financial health and security

Dick – praise for his new job that it is a good fit and he can be successful

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life


Future Meetings

Wednesday, February 25th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church in room C214 the academy wing

**** Wednesday, March 4th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church

Wednesday, March 11th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church

**** Wednesday, March 18th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church

Wednesday, March 25th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church



Group Happenings

Just started… “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 than 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


Ephesians Study Outline

Here is the outline of the study plan we are looking at covering while we study the book of Ephesians:

Part number
1. Ephesians 1:1-14 Salutation / Predestination, Redemption, Inheritance in Christ
2. Ephesians 1:15-23 Resources in Christ
3. Ephesians 2:1-10 New Life in Christ
4. Ephesians 2:11-22 Unity in Christ
5. Ephesians 3:1-13 The purpose of the mystery revealed
6. Ephesians 3:14-21 God’s Fullness for the Church
7. Ephesians 4:1-6 God’s Plan for Faithful Living in the Church
8. Ephesians 4:7-16 God’s Son Endows and Builds the Church
9. Ephesians 4:17-32 God’s Pattern and Principles for members of the Church
10. Ephesians 5:1-14 Walking in love / Living in Light
11. Ephesians 5:15-21 Walking in wisdom / Filled with God’s Spirit
12. Ephesians 5:22-6:9 God’s standard for Authority and Submission in the Church
13. Ephesians 6:10-17 God’s provision for His children’s spiritual battles
14. Ephesians 6:18-24 God’s appeal for prayer in the Church / Benediction

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