Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer burden for those suffering in the floods and for the believers among them is heard, and we join you in lifting them before the Lord. We are praying for the families who have lost much, for those still being found, for the workers and rescue teams, for hospitals and all who are bringing help, and for the advance of the gospel and the hope of Christ in the midst of great loss. We are also praying as you asked for preparation and mercy for other regions that may face storms, earthquakes and times of war, and for more workers to be released into the harvest as Jesus described when He saw the crowds and had compassion on them.
It is understandable that such shaking events can trouble new believers and anyone who has not yet been grounded in the whole counsel of God concerning suffering and the birth pangs Jesus said would come. Scripture does not teach that faith guarantees we will avoid suffering or death. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. It is not blind. The person who walks by faith actually sees more, not less, because he trusts what God has said even when what is visible is painful and confusing. We are told that without faith it is impossible to please God, and many who are commended for their faith died still trusting the promises without having received them in full in this life. Others with the same genuine faith passed through torture and hardship. Having faith does not automatically mean we will be spared suffering. Often faith is shown more clearly in suffering than in deliverance, when we can say from the heart, Lord, Your will be done, and continue to trust Him whether He delivers or calls us to endure. That kind of trusting is harder, and it is precious to God.
True faith will also show itself in action, though works never create faith and cannot replace it. Faith comes first, by hearing the word of God and by receiving His grace as a gift, and then that faith moves us to live in a way that matches what we believe. If we say we believe and there is no change, no obedience, no love in action, that claim is to be questioned. A living faith becomes visible in what we do. So we pray with you for love, wisdom, unity, transparency and clear communication among believers and among those bringing relief, because those things are the natural fruit of a living faith at work. May God be honored as His people show their faith by deeds of mercy, by speaking the gospel faithfully, and by serving with integrity.
We take comfort that Jesus Himself lives to intercede for His people, and that He prayed that faith would not fail and that those who are restored would strengthen their brothers and sisters. We join that intercession for these believers, asking that God will keep them, establish them in the Scriptures, and guard their hearts and minds with His peace as they bring every anxiety to Him in prayer. We ask that what has been confusing about suffering would be worked through in the light of all that the Bible teaches, so that they may stand firm and then help others stand firm as well. We pray that no one would be moved away from steadfast faith by affliction, but that they would be more deeply rooted through it, since faith comes by hearing the word of God.
We also agree with you in asking the Lord to raise up humble servants who understand the times and who will teach the whole counsel of God, who will keep watch, warn, preach the gospel and make disciples as Christ commanded, living by every word that comes from the mouth of God. The Scriptures show that God has at times warned His people beforehand, as with Joseph who was given wisdom to prepare for famine, as with Daniel who was given understanding of what would come upon kingdoms and upon Israel, and as with Agabus who through the Spirit foretold a famine that came in the days of Claudius. Whether through the sure word of prophecy in Scripture or through the Spirit's guidance according to that word, our desire is not to be anxious but to be prayerful, alert, and faithful to proclaim this gospel of the kingdom as a testimony to all peoples, trusting God to accomplish His purposes and to bring about all for which creation groans.
May the Lord strengthen every believer who is suffering, provide for every need, comfort every grieving heart, equip every worker, and cause His name and His salvation through Jesus Christ alone to be clearly known.
It is understandable that such shaking events can trouble new believers and anyone who has not yet been grounded in the whole counsel of God concerning suffering and the birth pangs Jesus said would come. Scripture does not teach that faith guarantees we will avoid suffering or death. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. It is not blind. The person who walks by faith actually sees more, not less, because he trusts what God has said even when what is visible is painful and confusing. We are told that without faith it is impossible to please God, and many who are commended for their faith died still trusting the promises without having received them in full in this life. Others with the same genuine faith passed through torture and hardship. Having faith does not automatically mean we will be spared suffering. Often faith is shown more clearly in suffering than in deliverance, when we can say from the heart, Lord, Your will be done, and continue to trust Him whether He delivers or calls us to endure. That kind of trusting is harder, and it is precious to God.
True faith will also show itself in action, though works never create faith and cannot replace it. Faith comes first, by hearing the word of God and by receiving His grace as a gift, and then that faith moves us to live in a way that matches what we believe. If we say we believe and there is no change, no obedience, no love in action, that claim is to be questioned. A living faith becomes visible in what we do. So we pray with you for love, wisdom, unity, transparency and clear communication among believers and among those bringing relief, because those things are the natural fruit of a living faith at work. May God be honored as His people show their faith by deeds of mercy, by speaking the gospel faithfully, and by serving with integrity.
We take comfort that Jesus Himself lives to intercede for His people, and that He prayed that faith would not fail and that those who are restored would strengthen their brothers and sisters. We join that intercession for these believers, asking that God will keep them, establish them in the Scriptures, and guard their hearts and minds with His peace as they bring every anxiety to Him in prayer. We ask that what has been confusing about suffering would be worked through in the light of all that the Bible teaches, so that they may stand firm and then help others stand firm as well. We pray that no one would be moved away from steadfast faith by affliction, but that they would be more deeply rooted through it, since faith comes by hearing the word of God.
We also agree with you in asking the Lord to raise up humble servants who understand the times and who will teach the whole counsel of God, who will keep watch, warn, preach the gospel and make disciples as Christ commanded, living by every word that comes from the mouth of God. The Scriptures show that God has at times warned His people beforehand, as with Joseph who was given wisdom to prepare for famine, as with Daniel who was given understanding of what would come upon kingdoms and upon Israel, and as with Agabus who through the Spirit foretold a famine that came in the days of Claudius. Whether through the sure word of prophecy in Scripture or through the Spirit's guidance according to that word, our desire is not to be anxious but to be prayerful, alert, and faithful to proclaim this gospel of the kingdom as a testimony to all peoples, trusting God to accomplish His purposes and to bring about all for which creation groans.
May the Lord strengthen every believer who is suffering, provide for every need, comfort every grieving heart, equip every worker, and cause His name and His salvation through Jesus Christ alone to be clearly known.
