Carli • Saved by Grace

PRAY FOR ETHIOPIA OVERVIEW: The gospel was first brought to Ethiopia in the first century, but many Ethiopian Christians still face persecution today. In southern Ethiopia, political unrest and the rise of Wahhabism, an extreme branch of Islam, among the Oromo people have resulted in a wave of attacks against Christians across the region. Eastern Ethiopia has one of the largest Somali populations in the world, and Christians there are persecuted by both their communities and their families. In northern Ethiopia, militants among the Ethiopian Orthodox Church persecute Christians outside their denomination. Several majority-Muslim tribal groups throughout Ethiopia also persecute Christians. Freedom of religion is guaranteed under Ethiopian law, and the national government generally works to protect the rights of Christians. But recent political unrest has created opportunities for large attacks on Christians and churches throughout the country. Still, many churches in Ethiopia continue to plant new churches and send missionaries to difficult areas. In November 2020, a civil war broke out in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, causing immense suffering and greatly affecting churches and pastors. MAJOR RELIGION: 59 percent of Ethiopians are Christians. Islam is growing, and Muslims now compose nearly 40 percent of the population. PERSECUTOR: Believers in the south and east face persecution, especially those who leave Islam to follow Christ. Some believers living in the north are persecuted by militants among the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and armed rebel groups attack Christians and churches. Voice of the Martyrs – Praying for Persecuted Christians in Ethiopia

Matthew – Jesus, The Messiah If you’re looking for a central theme in Matthew’s Gospel, perhaps the short answer is Jesus, the Messiah, bringing Salvation history to fulfillment. Strauss nailed it with this summary: Jesus doesn’t just fulfill some random prophecies here and there; He is the point of them. He’s the One tying all of Israel’s history together. He’s the One saving His people from their sins. You can’t overstate this: Matthew is showing us that the entire Old Testament was moving toward this moment. Matthew, more than any other Gospel, is shouting, “Wake up! This is your Messiah!” He’s constantly pointing back to the Old Testament and saying, “Look! Fulfillment!” It’s all over the place: Matthew 1:23 – the Virgin Birth, fulfilling Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 2:6 – the birth in Bethlehem, fulfilling Micah 5:2. Matthew is practically screaming, “How did you guys miss this?!” The structure of the Gospel helps drive this home. We start with the prologue, where Matthew shows Jesus’ Divine and Royal Lineage through Joseph’s story. Then, boom, right into His Ministry to Israel in chapters 4 to 11. Jesus is teaching, healing, and showing up the religious leaders who thought they had it all figured out. Then, starting in chapter 11, we get the rejection of Jesus by Israel but the growing acceptance by His disciples. This tension builds until Jesus heads to Jerusalem, confronts the religious leaders, and ultimately faces rejection and death. But Matthew doesn’t leave us there. Chapters 26 to 28 show that even though Jesus is rejected, He’s victorious. He’s the Messiah who conquers through His Sacrifice. And check out how Matthew writes. He’s concise. No fluff. He’s more of a reporter, documenting the facts, but when Jesus speaks, that’s where Matthew shines. There are five massive teaching sections. Why? Because the Jews wanted to know what you said, not only what you did. Jesus isn’t only a Miracle Worker—He’s a new Moses, laying down the Law of the Kingdom. Matthew’s Gospel has a super strong Messianic focus. But here’s the plot twist—the Messiah didn’t just come for only Israel. He came for the world. There’s a Mission to the Gentiles here too, which would’ve blown people’s minds. It’s like, “Hey, remember that whole Abrahamic covenant about being a blessing to the nations? Yeah, that’s still happening.” Matthew’s got some real "mission to the nations" going on. As you read Matthew, let this sink in: Jesus is the fulfillment of all those ancient promises, and He’s still fulfilling them today. He’s not just a figure from the past. He’s the King, the Messiah, and the Savior who still brings Salvation and Hope. #YouVersion

Let us look upon a crucified Christ, the remedy of all our miseries. His cross hath procured a crown, his passion hath expiated our transgression. His death hath disarmed the law, his blood hath washed a believer's soul. This death is the destruction of our enemies, the spring of our happiness, and the eternal testimony of divine love. ~ Stephen Charnock 1628~1680

Canada Grants Asylum to Iranian Christian Deported from the US 🔘 Praise God for Artemis’ new home! Pray for her new life in Canada. 🔘 Pray for her brother and other Iranian Christians seeking asylum.

More Life NOT weary of Thy world, So beautiful, O Father, in Thy love, — Thy world, that, glory-lighted from above, Lies in Thy hand impearled: Not asking rest from toil; Sweet toil, that draws us nearer to Thy side; Ever to tend Thy planting satisfied, Though in ungenial soil: Nor to be freed from care, That lifts us out of self's lone hollowness; Since unto Thy dear feet we all may press, And leave our burdens there: But oh, for health, for strength! A life untainted by the curse of sin, That spreads no vile contagion from within; Found without spot, at length! For power, and stronger will To pour out love from the heart's inmost springs With constant freshness, for all needy things; In blessing, blessed still! Oh, to be clothed upon With the white radiance of a heavenly form! To feel the winged Psyche quit the worm, Life, life eternal won! Oh, to be free, heart-free From all that checks the right endeavor here! To drop the weariness, the pain, the fear! To know death cannot be! Oh, but to breathe in air Where there can be no tyrant and no slave; Where every thought is pure, and high, and brave, And all that is, is fair! More life! the life of heaven! A perfect liberty to do Thy will: Receiving all from Thee, and giving still, Freely as Thou hast given! More life! a prophecy Is in that thirsty cry, if read aright: Deep calleth unto deep: Life Infinite, soul, awaiteth thee! ~ Lucy Larcom 1824~1893

“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.30.5.KJV

But also, we should do all we can to share the good news of the Gospel of Grace to those who are yet unsaved; for the Gospel of Christ is the power of salvation to all who believe. May God give each one of us the opportunity to tell others that Jesus died for our sin, was buried & rose again from the dead & that all who believe on His name will be rescued from the wrath to come, as lawlessness engulfs the earth in the coming time of Great Tribulation. God bless you all.

Until He Be Taken Out Of The Way The word 'mystery' in the Bible is not talking about some mystifying enigma or something that is esoteric or eerie. A mystery in Scripture is a truth that has been hidden from previous generations & is only made known to the people of God, by direct, divine revelation & at God's appointed time. There are many New Testament mysteries that were hidden from Old Testament saints; truths that were to be revealed to the people of God through Paul & the other New Testament writers, during the 'Dispensation of the Grace of God' - the Church Age. Paul spoke of many mysteries including: 'The Mystery of Christ & the Church', 'The Mystery of the Gospel', 'The Mystery of Godliness', 'The Mystery of the Rapture', 'The Mystery of the Kingdom' & 'The Mystery of Christ in you the Hope of Glory'. In 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2, Paul explains about the Mystery of Lawlessness: "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” The mystery of lawlessness was at work in the days of the early Church & it continues to be manifested today. However, then as now, evil & lawlessness is currently being held back and suppressed by the One Who restrains evil; the Holy Spirit. But a day is fast approaching when the Restrainer of evil will be removed & unrestrained lawlessness will be loosed upon the earth. The mystery of lawlessness was already well established in the days of Paul & lawlessness continues to work its poison into the fabric of today's modern society. Nevertheless, it is largely hidden by governments, nations, communities, & individuals under a veiled pretense of a shrouded morality. It is lurking in broken legal systems & biased justice departments, & it pays lip-service to a form of godliness that is divorced from truth of Scripture & the fruit of righteousness. Down through the centuries, insurrections, anarchy, rebellion & lawless behaviour has been working to tarnish every individual, every society, every nation, every culture & every age, but God in His grace has always restricted the level of evil in the world. And during this current dispensation the Holy Spirit, Who indwells all Church-age saints, is restraining evil through the prayers, praises & presence of believers who are called to be salt & light in a dark & putrefying world of sin & lawlessness. The restraining work of the Holy Spirit will be halted, when the Church is removed at the close of this current dispensation. The Power that restrains evil will be 'unplugged' as soon as the Rapture takes place. Then the intensity of insurrections, anarchy, rebellion & lawlessness will spiral to hitherto unreached heights, as the floodgates of evil are flung wide open for seven years, during the coming time of Great Tribulation. Oh, the Holy Spirit will still be on earth to convict the world of sin, righteousness & judgement, for He is omnipresent, but His specific work of restraining evil through the prayers & praises of Church age saints will come to an end at the Rapture. And once the Restrainer is taken out of the way, the man of sin will be revealed. Once the Church is raptured, lawlessness will become unfettered & the floodgates of evil will be flung wide open. It is at this point that the lawless one is revealed. It is when the Restrainer is removed, that the Day of the Lord will be ready to begin. It is after the Rapture that the Antichrist comes onto the scene & he will confirm a covenant on earth which will usher in the seven year Tribulation & unrestrained evil will be unleashed in a God-hating, Christ-rejecting, sinful world. Morality & principles will crumble as anarchy becomes commonplace. Knowing this, we need to ask ourselves what sort of people should we be? What sort of direction should our lives take? Surely we should be careful to make ourselves ready for the return of Christ & at the same time, we should be holy in all our conversation & conduct as we look for the any day return of the Lord.