Understanding the Times•Facing Fear with Faith Finding Faithfulness
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CHURCH OF GOD EvangelMARCH 2015 understanding the times • facing fear with faith finding faithfulness • prevailing through prayer march 2015 Contents volume 105 n issue 3 “I AM STANDING on the spot where the end of the world began,” were the words of a radio reporter after nuclear bombs devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the closing chapter of World War II. Those bombs were dropped 70 years ago, and the world still stands. Today, as Islamic terrorists strive to wipe out Christianity in villages, towns, and entire nations . as shooting sprees break out in schools and workplaces across the U. S. as Christian values are lambasted on movie screens, in courtrooms, in col- leges, and elsewhere . we wonder, Are we standing in the era when Jesus Christ will finally return and make all things right? such a time as this 10 Understanding the Times by Bobby G. Duncan Redemption draws near. 12 Finding Faithfulness by M. Darrell Rice Will Jesus find faith on the earth? 14 Fighting Fear with Faith by Mark L. Walker Who is in your boat? 16 Loving Boundaries by David Platt God knows what is best for us. 22 Burden Off My Shoulder by Susan I. Smith Jesus is my healer. columns 24 Prayer That Prevails by Doug Small 5 In Covenant, Mark L. Williams Desperate for divine intervention 7 On My Mind, Lance Colkmire 34 Church of God Chronicles, David Roebuck 26 A Resurgence of Religious Fervor by Lance Colkmire departments Interview with Edley Moodley 4 Ministry Snapshot feature 6 By the Numbers 8 Currents 28 It Happened in Cuba . and Beyond 17 GlobalConnect by James M. Beaty 30 Viewpoints The amazing story of Arthur W. Pain 32 People and Events EVANGEL • mar 2015 3 PUBLICATIONS MINISTRIES DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR MINISTRY SNAPSHOT M. Thomas Propes DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS The Riverside Church of God (Powder Springs, Georgia) bought, assembled, Terry Hart and gave away more than 200 bicycles as a Christmas 2014 outreach. MANAGING EDITOR Lance Colkmire CENTRAL DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Robert McCall CFO Wayne Walston PRINTING DIRECTOR Mike Burnett EVANGEL STAFF EDITOR Lance Colkmire EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Elaine McDavid COPY EDITOR Esther Metaxas GRAPHIC DESIGNER Bob Fisher EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATIONS BOARD Tony D. Cooper, Les Higgins, Ray E. Hurt, David W. Jarvis, Cheryl Johns, Antonio Richardson, T. Dwight Spivey If you have a ministry photo to be considered for this page, send it to [email protected]. INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Mark L. Williams, David M. Griffis, Church of God DECLARATION OF FAITH J. David Stephens, Wallace J. Sibley, M. Thomas Propes WE BELIEVE: 1. In the verbal inspiration of the Bible. CHURCH OF GOD congregations meet through- 2. In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. out the United States and in more than 180 other countries. To find a church and times of 3. That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the services near you, access the church website, Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven www.churchofgod.org, or fax your request to and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor. 423-478-7616. 4. That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God Publication of material in the Evangel does not nec- for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins. essarily imply endorsement of the Church of God. 5. That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. The Church of God Evangel (ISSN 0745-6778) is 6. In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, edited and published monthly. n Church of God and by the Holy Ghost. Publish ing House, 1080 Montgomery Ave., P.O. Box 2250, Cleveland, TN 37320-2250 n Subscrip- 7. Holiness to be God’s standard of living for His people. tion rates: Single subscription per year $17, Canada 8. In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart. $24, Bundle of 15 per month $17, Canada $28, Bundle of 5 per month $7.50, Canada $11.25 n 9. In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the Single copy $1.50 n Periodical postage paid at baptism in the Holy Ghost. Cleveland, TN 37311 and at additional mailing 10. In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, offices n ©2015 Church of God Publications n All and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. rights reserved n POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Evangel, P.O. Box 2250, Cleveland, TN 11. Divine healing is provided for all in the Atonement. 37320-2250. (USPS 112-240) 12. In the Lord’s Supper and washing of the saints’ feet. 13. In the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years. MEMBER OF THE EVANGELICAL PRESS 14. In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked. ASSOCIATION AND THE INTERNATIONAL PENTECOSTAL PRESS ASSOCIATION 4 EVANGEL • mar 2015 IN COVENANT mark l. williams general overseer peace in a troubled world N THE HEARTS of most people, Then there are the challenges, per- there is a deep hunger for peace. sonal tragedies, health crises, and losses In Hebrew, the word for “peace” is that you and I have experienced and shalom—a sense of wholeness, com- many are living with now. pleteness, security, salvation, well-being For many today, there are ques- IIin the presence of God through His cov- tions without answers, sickness without enant. In Greek, the language of the New health, portraits without paint, and flow- Testament, “peace” is predominantly the ers without perfume. Deep inside there “Let not word eirene, which carries with it many is a lonely heart, aching to be loved and of the definitions of shalom, but adds to longing for hope. your it a sense of rest and tranquillity. Here is good news: God has sent His We look at our world and it seems Son to bring peace to a world filled with heart be all of creation is groaning and travailing. violence and corruption, oppression, and Internationally, our world is filled with darkness. troubled, tension and maelstroms of all kinds. We It was for a time of gloom and despair see peril written in the headlines and on that Isaiah predicted, “The people who neither the faces of world leaders. walked in darkness have seen a great In recent months, we were shocked light; those who dwelt in the land of the let it be over multiple assassinations by radicals shadow of death, upon them a light has in Europe. We watched in horror at news shined” (Isa. 9:2).* Zacharias declared, reports of the Taliban executing school- “The Dayspring from on high has visited afraid” children in Pakistan, and of ISIS aggres- us; to give light to those who sit in dark- sively moving in northern Iraq and Syria. ness and the shadow of death, to guide (John 14:27). We saw tensions escalating between our feet into the way of peace “ (Luke Israel and Hamas at Gaza. In Nigeria, 1:78-79). extremists detonated bombs killing The peace foretold by the prophets hundreds of people, and abducted 276 and fulfilled in the Gospels is more girls and women from a school. We have than a pact, a contract, an accord, or an seen Ukrainians fighting back over Rus- armistice. Peace is a person—the Prince sia’s annexation of Crimea. We felt panic of Peace, Jesus Christ. This peace “sur- over Ebola virus ravaging through West passes all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). Africa, and listened as the World Health This peace is “perfect” (Isa. 26:3). Jesus Organization declared a world health achieved this peace through the blood of emergency due to the spread of polio to His cross. 10 countries of the world when it was on Peace with God. Peace with others. the verge of being wiped out. Inner peace. Jesus promises it to each of Here in the United States, our His followers: hearts have been torn over the death Peace I leave with you, My peace I give of unarmed black men and youth that to you; not as the world gives do I give to sparked waves of protests and, in some you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither cases, violence and looting in the streets. let it be afraid (John 14:27). We were dismayed at the shootings of police officers in New York City and * All scriptures are from the New King attacks in other places. James Version. EVANGEL • mar 2015 5 BY THE NUMBERS CHANGING BORDER APPREHENSIONS ABSENT MOM OR DAD ABOUT 229,000 MEXICANS were apprehended by the U.S. Border LESS THAN HALF (46%) of U.S. kids younger than 18 Patrol in fiscal year 2014 compared with 257,000 non-Mexicans. Taken years of age are living in a home with two married parents together, total apprehensions of Mexican and non-Mexican unauthorized in their first marriage. This is a marked change from 1960, immigrants (more than 486,000) were up 16% over the previous year. when 73% of children fit this description, and 1980, when These numbers are dramatically different than in 2007 when Mexican 61% did, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of apprehensions totaled 809,000, compared with just 68,000 non-Mexi- recently released survey (ACS) and census data.