Gaining Strength

How should believers in Jesus Christ be approaching these difficult days? In this message taken from the sermon given at Union Street Meeting House on December 31, 2023, Cheryl encourages us to "Look Forward to the Blessed Hope."

You are in a process of "becoming" what God intended you to be.  The Word of God is the promise toward you becoming who you are.

Jesus is the Word made flesh.  Once you give your life to Christ, He is working to conform you to His image. 

Today's episode is an interview with my friend, Eric Miller.  He and Casey, his wife and family have been serving in missions for about 20 years.  Listen today to hear how he went from a struggling believer to a missionary with burning heart. 

You can discover more about Eric and Casey Miller by connecting here 

Website     https://revivalcry.org/the-millers

Email Eric     info@revivalcry.org

Hearing God Through His Creation     https://a.co/d/8B3vJgi book by Eric Miller

Homeschooling Through High School for Success by Casey Miller     https://a.co/d/6TZ3AwL

The book of Acts records a time when the Apostle Paul saw that a man had faith to be healed.  What did he see?  How did he see it?

Listen to the message entitled Seeing Faith, previously recorded at The Orchard Bible Study in Milton, Delaware.

My friend Kimberly, a former hospice chaplain and widow, joins me today to offer hope to those who find themselves in the tumultuous waves of grief. 

Kimberly referred to Grief Share as a possible connection for helping you walk through grief. https://www.griefshare.org/ 

She also shared Scripture references. Use the links below to access those verses digitally. 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+2%3A12-13&version=NKJV  Job 2:12-13 highlight for us the gravity of grief and how our friends may help us simply by their presence. 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A4&version=NKJV Matthew 5:4  Cheryl referred to where Jesus teaches that those who mourn are blessed because they will be comforted.   Open your heart and receive His comfort.  

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations+1%3A2&version=NKJV Kimberly shared how even God grieved. Even though we are taught in Scripture not to complain, God never said not to lament.  

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+84%3A3&version=NKJV Psalm 84:3 helped Kimberly to realize the tender love of God for her, how He longs for us to draw near to Him and shelter under His wings.

"You just keep living until you are alive again," is a quote from a scene in the PBS series Call the Midwife.

We marvel at the transformation of insects.  There is something so encouraging about a worm becoming the lithe creature we call a butterfly. It gives us hope that we too can be transformed.  The hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the hope of transformation, that we personally be transformed . . . and then what? Bringing transformation to others and to the world around us.

There are about 435,000 missionaries serving Jesus in the field today.  77% of them are working in areas that are considered reached. Less than 3% are working among unreached people groups . . . . Pray!

There are 7,900,000,000 people on the planet, of them about two thirds DO NOT KNOW JESUS. . . . Pray!

Jesus asks us to pray for more laborers, "And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.  Luke 10:2 

They must be sent.  We must pray and be willing to give their ministries and be willing to go help bring in the harvest.

Many important statistics can be found here:  http://www.thetravelingteam.org/stats

An encouraging website (mentioned in the podcast) showing live data of decisions for Christ and those searching for discipleship materials is here  https://witnesstoall.com/

When God calls us to a particular work, He promises His Presence will be with us.

This message, as well as many others on Gaining Strength, was edited from a previous message delivered at The Orchard Bible Study. To hear the message in its entirety go to www.theorchardministry.org

I often refer to P. Bill and P. Carl.  These are spiritual fathers in the faith that regularly teach at The Orchard Bible Study.  They are Pastor Bill Sammons, Sr. and Pastor Carl Vincent.

How do you process anger? Is it possible for anger to be productive? Even Jesus got angry.  What are we to do with anger?

Reveal . . . God wants to reveal Himself to you.  Listen as Cheryl shares how this happens and how it can impact our purpose in life.

We are each in the process of being renovated.  In this message today Cheryl speaks about a much deeper process of renewing . . . getting rid of fear.

You are a portable container of the testimonies of God!

Psalm 71: 15-16   My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and of Your salvation all day long; for I do not know the sum of them.  I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.

What is it like to make disciples in a resistant region?  Let's hear today from Pastor Issahaku John who serves in Northern Ghana as he describes the work of his 22 teams in regions where Christianity is a minority religion.

Important Notes and Links

1. Pray for

• anointing for preaching and miracles
• protection of Gospel workers and new converts
• provision for the work
• breakthroughs in resistant areas

2. Tax deductible gifts may be sent for P. Issahaku to:

Abundant Life Worship Center: make checks to ALWC, mark the memo line Mission: Ghana, mail to 

6070 Hobbs Rd. Salisbury, MD 21804

https://www.alwc.org/

3. Missions

https://joshuaproject.net/countries/gh

https://www.ttionline.org/the-method/

https://renewoutreach.org/equipment/

4. Contact Gaining Strength

@gainingstrengthpodcast

gainingstrengthpodcast@gmail.com

Most of us acknowledge that because of what Jesus accomplished, we have received the gift of forgiveness.  But do we realize that healing should come in that same package?  Today we discuss the revelation that healing and forgiveness are the same gift.

Connect with me, give a comment, share a prayer request or ask a question:

@gainingstrengthpodcast

gainingstrengthpodcast@gmail.com

Paul instructs us that the Word of God is a sword.  Jude teaches us that we will need to contend for the faith. Let's work out with that "sword" day by day and grow strong in its use.  Let's be ready to contend with the Word of God against the assaults of an invisible enemy.

If the devil challenged Jesus concerning His identity and purpose, he will also challenge us.  If Jesus responded with the Word that was hidden in His heart, we must do the same.  We need to be established in our identity and purpose based on what God says about us.  The sure Word is the foundation of who we are as new creatures in Christ.  Let's put His Word in our hearts and let the Holy Spirit move through it to restore us. 

How important is Scripture in our lives?  The Word of God is a key for us.  It is a key that opens up who Jesus is and who we are.  Let's find ourselves and our purpose as we find Him.

Pastor Bill Sammons, Sr. joins us today to discuss discipleship and some of what is involved in making disciples.  We'll enjoy hearing some of P. Bill's life experiences and wisdom as it relates to fathering those in the body of Christ. 

Being a disciple of Jesus involves life change.  How does this change happen?  What are the impacts of such life change? Today we listen to special guests, Arleth and Gigi as they discuss the transformation of their lives as disciples of Jesus. 

Learning to swim is a metaphor for learning to trust God.  Learning to trust Him we grow in faith and become capable of accomplishing the works He has destined for us.  This often means walking through uncomfortable, even challenging circumstances, overcoming fear, and ourselves.  

Gaining Strength, what's it all about?  Today, I share a "Grand" experience about Gaining Strength as I faced a physical challenge.