Sun 6:00a Guatemala City

Yesterday (Sat)
Awesome!!! Last night as I shared about how to build a family that will last for generations, emphasizing fathers helping their kids learn to hear Jesus’ voice directly in their hearts through prayer; and rewriting and memorizing Bible stories to tell their kids and grandkids in fun and powerful ways. God’s presence came and moved hearts. This particular church has been known for its emphasis on eschatology. At the end of the service the Pastor’s wife confessed they had gotten off track and exhorted the congregation to return to the simplicity of the gospel.

2 Chronicles 31-33
31 – Prospering in the right context: “And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.” What benefit is material prosperity if it doesn’t come in this context: serving the Lord with all our heart in love with His Word?!

32 – The blessing of a mentor: King Hezekiah had a brother and a mentor who walked with God (the prophet Isaiah). When it appeared that insurmountable odds where against him (the Assyrian threat), all it took was Isaiah’s presence with him, his prayer and encouragement to help Hezekiah realize that he was actually on the favored side of the problem. Hezekiah told the people, “…there are more with us than with them. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles” (v7-8). Hezekiah’s faith was based on God’s mission.

33 – God can turn the most wayward children: Manasseh was only 12 years old when he became king of Judah. He went totally crazy in the occult, worse than the Canaanite nations before Israel. Tradition says he sawed Isaiah in half. So God had the Assyrians take him off to jail. When his world came crumbling down around him, he repented and the Lord had his throne restored to him. “Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.” Though Manasseh received forgiveness and personal blessing, the effects of his sins on others was tragic. He had poured out so much innocent blood in Jerusalem that no matter how much folks repented after that, though they received personal forgiveness, the blessing was only temporary. God couldn’t forgive the city and was forced to destroy Jerusalem to keep His Word, leaving it desolate for 70 years—for the sins of Manasseh.

There is more than one reason why the Church has to stand actively against social injustice. Not just for the temporary blessing, but for preservation of future generations.

Prayer Power…
Father, raise up this generation of Christians in Guatemala to learn your stories, sharing them often with their families, feeding their children with your Word, and standing against the social injustice all around them. It’s Your mission Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 138 – God will perfect that which concerns me! (v7) Lord, grant me the grace to change what can be changed and to trust You with the rest.