GOD ANSWERS PRAYER ISSUE NO. 188
JULY 18th, 2008
LUKE 18:1 “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not lose heart,”
COLOSSIANS 4:2-3a “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ…”
EPHESIANS 6:18-19 “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints---and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make know the mystery of the gospel, who which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
PSALM 66:19-20 “ but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me.”
Dear Friends,
Hi. Emie and I hope all is well with each of you, and pray for God’s loving, powerful, and unique blessings upon you, your families, churches, and ministries. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” ---EPH 3:20-21
There is no situation or difficulty or challenge, or problem that cannot be touched by the hand of God through prayer. Our God Is Able! What is impossible for man---is most certainly possible with God.
• [Abraham hoped (in what appeared to be hopeless in the natural) and became the father of many nations]
• [Jesus prayed & blessed the little boy’s 5 loaves and 2 fish, they were multiplied & 5 thousand men + women and children ate & were full---and there were 12 baskets full of fragments left over.]
• [Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord divided the waters, and his people crossed over on dry ground to safety.] 1. Rom 4:17-21, 2. Mt 14:19-21, 3. Ex 14:21-22
• [During a time of drought and famine, Elijah visited a widow who was preparing a last meal for her and her son, but at Elijah’s request she 1st cooked a small cake for him; afterwards her oil and flour lasted until the drought stopped.] 4. I Kings 17:8-16
These are but a few testimonies in the Bible about God’s ability and willingness to bring the miraculous into the lives of His people. Abraham, Moses, and Elijah, were all men who believed and trusted in God and they were men of prayer and fellowship with the Lord. When the angel Gabriel came to see Mary and gave her a word from God that she would conceive child by the Holy Spirit and give birth to Jesus who would be called the Son of God, she responded in Luke 1:38 …“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” She simply believed God.
There were miraculous births, provision, and deliverance for the people---given from the same God we serve today: our God Who Is Able---to do all that he promises to do. Our part is to seek the Lord’s will for our lives, obey Him, fellowship with Him, pray to Him---and believe Him. Then in regards to the areas we petition the Lord for help--God will then bring it to pass.
“For with God nothing will be impossible.” ---Luke 1:37
I just got back yesterday from a good but challenging 3 day trip to Biliran Island. During the typhoon that hit the Philippine several weeks ago, only the building (which is used for parsonage, dinning area, and children’s Sunday school) at the Culaba Church received significant damage. Its roof was destroyed and other areas received damage. I (with 3 other men) took 38 sheets of galvanized roofing (which is much cheaper in Tacloban) on the top of the old multi-cab (the only vehicle we had that was set up to carry the roofing), along with other materials, and drove to Culaba. The mountainside road crossing over to Culaba is pretty rough going and the multi-cab was not running well (somedays it will die right on the road), but we managed to barely make it over the hills and to Culaba just as it got dark. Getting there by dark was important, as there have been robberies on some of the roads recently and two gruesome murders in the past 2 months. The island goes though periods of being pretty safe and then every so often times of a high crime rate. We thanked God for a safe trip.
The next morning, which was Wednesday, I stayed until noon to see the construction started properly. They were digging holes so they could put in 6 concrete pillars on which they will place solid native wood posts on to start reconstruction of the whole building so it will be much stronger and long lasting. There were 3 volunteer church workers and a skilled carpenter and assistant. One of the volunteer workers is Josan, the teen-age boy whose life we helped save a couple of years ago when he was dying in the hospital. He still helps on the praise and worship team also.
We started traveling to another church we have on the island in the town of Caibiran. About 3 miles form town on the rocky road, our tie rod broke and on the left front tire the body collapsed upon it. I managed to get a motorcycle ride to town and found Pastor Nick. He was able to find a mechanic and they went out to where the multi-cab was broke down and was able to get it repaired enough to get to town where we had 5 welding rods of welding done to strengthen the front steering and hopefully make it strong enough to make it back to Tacloban.
We fellowshipped with Pastor Nick and his family that night and helped provide a good chicken dinner for his family of 5 kids (4 sons and a daughter) and us. The next morning we went to visit Pastora Fely at the Cabucgayan church and had breakfast with her. Then from there we traveled a few kilometers to the Church in Looc and visited Pastor Teddy’s wife Gina and their youngest kid. From there we went on to the church in Palarao, Leyte to see Pastor Rico and some of his members who were working to put a concrete floor on their church. We had provided the cement and they were supplying the sand and gravel from a nearby creek via water Buffalo and cart transportation. And finally we proceeded back home to Tacloban. I was able to pray with all the pastors we visited on this trip and the churches. They were encouraged by the visit and it was a blessing to fellowship with them. Most of them are pastoring the only Christian Church in their area
The first part of July we had missionary friends Ray & Suzie Ruddy from Australia come and visit us. They were able to minister to our local church, to the Eternal Life Ministries Int’l monthly pastors meeting, to children at our weekly feeding outreach, and they attended and ministered to The Zumarraga Island Church during their 3rd anniversary. Friends of theirs from Australia had donated enough funds to give ½ sack, (55 lbs) of rice to the pastors of all 16 churches. As rice prices have almost doubled here in the past 4 months, the pastors greatly appreciated the “Rice Blessing”. We were also given some financial help to buy materials for the Church parsonage in Culaba. All their ministry, helps, and the warm fellowship we had with Ray & Suzie---was a real blessing.
We send to you our special thanks for your prayers, encouragement, and financial investments in the ministry outreaches. You are helping lead people to Jesus, exhort and encourage fellow Christians, and help the poor in a variety of ways. God bless you always, and may He abundantly reward you for your help.
In Christ’s love,
Gordon & Emie
PLEASE PRAY: For God to give us the health, strength and wisdom to more effectively serve Him and to do what he put us on this earth to do. Also please pray for God’s continued anointing, protection, provision, and clear direction in all areas of life. Pray also Emie and I can have a nice anniversary celebration and mini-vacation during our upcoming 16th wedding anniversary. Thanks.
