The evening news is enough to give anyone nightmares. Nuclear warheads loom on the horizon, governments are killing off their own people, one faith attempts to exterminate another. It’s neighbor against neighbor. And Evil prevails.

Sometimes we’re tempted to turn off the news and watch a re-run of some silly sitcom instead. Even so, we cannot fully escape the anxiety the current world situation rains upon us. We cannot miss it—Satan is alive and well on Planet Earth! As believers, we know that we are not supposed to worry and fret about tomorrow. We know that perfect love casts out all fear. And yet, we frequently feel powerless to hold anxiety at bay. We worry that we are losing the battle against fear.

Fortunately, it is not all gloom and doom. There’s good news in all of this: we have the choice of peace over anxiety.

Jesus is called the Prince of Peace because He reconciled all things to the Father through the blood of the cross. This means that if we are born again believers, we are reconciled to God and we have the fruit of the Spirit within us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It’s all in there, all the time. Even when Anxiety comes creeping in.

We have peace. It’s a part of being Christian. But how do we pull up that peace when the evening news is crashing down on us (or something else that may be troubling us even more)? Proverbs 16:7 tells us that when our ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even our enemies to be at peace with us. How can we fear an enemy that God has already reconciled to us? Our task is simply to go about our lives obeying all that Jesus has commanded. When we do, we are freed up to turn over our troubles to the Lord.

God actually invites us to cast all our cares on Him. And when we do, He promises that His awesome peace will “guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.” Imagine that! He guards our hearts and minds against anxiety. Having that kind of protection cannot help but increase our courage and our resolve. And our peace. If God is for us, who can be against us?

Jesus is our peace. God tells us that and Scripture bears it out. Jew and Gentile were brought together into one Church. Jesus broke down the barrier of the dividing wall and reconciled both to the Father so that in Him there is neither Jew nor Gentile.

Much of our insecurity stems from the fact that we put our trust in temporal things that we have no ability to control. We feel responsible to change that which we cannot change. But the mind is capable of choosing to trust God instead. We are not helpless victims of circumstances. As children of God, we are free to opt for the assurance of victory in Christ Jesus.

His was a story of persecution for his Christian beliefs in his native country of South Korea. The family he grew up in was rejected by other family members because of their faith. They lost everything the owned. They were followed by persecutors and abused. Eventually, they came to the States.

Growing up in a Christian family, Kwang Su Won had always believed in Jesus but there was a point in his life when it became his heart’s desire to serve the Lord in whatever way He called. For Kwang Su Won, it came about in the form of a vision.

Much like the Apostle John, Kwang Su Won was transported into the inner sanctum of heaven and from there he looked down on a small table covered in a red carpet. And in the middle of that carpet was a drinking glass, filled to the brim with water. Beside the glass was a tiny, little stickpin.

Suddenly, a hand entered the scene.

A voice spoke from heaven to Kwang Su saying, “You are the pin.” Then as Kwang Su looked on, the hand picked up the pin and dropped it into the glass filled to the brim with water.

As the tiny pin fell to the bottom of the glass, water overflowed the brim and ran off onto the red carpet, saturating it across the entire tabletop.

“You are the pin,” the voice continued. “I am the hand. Through you I cause the water to overflow.”

This is how God works in our lives. We are small and insignificant in the big scheme of things. Left to our own devices, we can accomplish very little, sometimes even nothing.

But when we allow God to use us as He sees fit, then great things are accomplished. Just as once His love enters our hearts it overflows onto everyone around us, so do the deeds we accomplish on His account. Our efforts are multiplied a hundred-fold so that through us the Father accomplishes great things. Of course He can do it without us, but He chooses to bless us by allowing us to participate with Him in His work.

Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” He consistently teaches that we are to humble ourselves and put the needs of others before our own. We are to treat them with the same respect with which we want to be treated. And when we do this, He promises to multiply our deeds at thirty, sixty and one hundred-fold.

Just as the pin in Kwang Su’s vision displaced a much larger volume than its diminutive size warranted, our efforts will have a much greater impact on the world than we can ever imagine. When we are doing God’s work, we have the full strength of His mighty power behind us. And we can do anything. In His name.

It’s not usually with a lot of fanfare or hoopla as one might expect. It can happen during our quiet time or even after we return from a mission trip when our hearts tend to be more in tune with His… at least for a while. What we fail to realize is that the mission trip doesn’t end when we leave the country. God’s work never ends and neither should ours.

What He might bring to mind are the people we met while traveling on the mission trip. The people we sat by on the plane for long hours. Or, the ones who observed us and our actions in the airport while waiting in between flights. The hotel workers, cab drivers, etc., the list goes on and on. What are they seeing? Are we to be on mission for God with all the people we encounter? Yes!

Then sometimes God brings people to mind that you met in a country that had nothing to do with the mission trip. People you have an instant connection with in spite of the language barrier or culture. When this happens God continues to bring them to mind over and over again, especially during prayer time. These are the ones who are lost and need to be constantly prayed for so that they will come to know Christ. They are living in godless countries where Jesus is never spoken of and God in His mercy brings them into our paths so we will pray for them. And, He continues to bring other Christians in their paths, so they will pray for them too. He is offering them His grace as fairly as He does everyone because He loves everyone.

This is missions from God’s perspective. We don’t see it at the time it is happening but when we look back at the people we have met, he puts a burden on our hearts for those He specifically calls us to pray for. Their faces never leave our minds and our hearts become broken for them. No, we never shared the Gospel with them, but someone will. It is God’s mission for us to pray for them and how He brings them to Christ is His work.

Praise God for the times He won’t let us miss out on the work He is doing by reminding us of the people and opportunities He puts in our paths everyday!

Martin Luther was speaking of the Gospel of John when he wrote these words. He is also credited with saying that if we should lose all the books of the Bible except two—John and Romans—Christianity could be saved.

Truer words may never have been spoken. The Gospel of John is a special book, with its intimate portrait of Jesus from the perspective of one who loved Him and lived in close proximity with Him, one who ultimately gave his life for Him. John wrote the fourth and last gospel of Jesus, “…that you may know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that knowing, you may have life in His name.” This was his purpose and so he proceeds to lay out a Biblical proof as to the deity of Jesus, through the signs and the witnesses of Jesus, God, John the Baptist and the disciples, as well as the scriptures themselves.

There’s an old story that claims an agnostic was challenged to study the Gospel of John for himself. The challenge was accepted and the agnostic began a detailed analysis of the book, albeit an radically skeptical one. At the conclusion of his time in study, the man is reported to have said, “The one of whom this book tells is either the Savior of the world or He ought to be.”

Mahatma Gandhi, noted political and ideological leader of India during her bid for independence, is reported to have given credit to Jesus of Nazareth as being “the greatest teacher who ever lived.” Yet Gandhi did not advocate Jesus as the Son of God. It would appear that perhaps Gandhi never read the Gospel of John.

How could any intelligent being consider a man who called himself God, who claimed to be one with the heavenly Father and who possessed all the attributes of deity—the man John describes in his gospel—how could anyone accept such a person as a great teacher while at the same time not believing what that man claimed about Himself? Jesus either is who He said He is, or He is a liar. And if He is who He said He is, He is the Son of God and the One who has come as the Savior of the world.

Some of the best-known and most-loved quotes from Scripture are lifted from the pages of John’s Gospel. Some of our deepest theological teachings are found in this book. Our most intimate description of who Jesus is and what He has done are contained within the covers of this book.

Live the abundant life. Receive what Jesus intended for you to have. Read the book of John and enjoy!

What is this garbage that hangs from the courtyard gate of one of the more well-to-do households in this small Southeast Asian community?

Early that same morning, I was awaken by the monotonous, repetitive clang of a bell and the mournful chanting of a solitaire denizen of the pre-dawn streets. As I lay shivering in the mountain air wishing I’d pulled the window shut before retiring the night before, I followed the wailing with my ears as it moved closer and closer, then faded away into the distance.

Why was anyone roaming the streets and making such a racket at this unfashionably early hour?

Long-robed Buddhist monks serpentine through the crowded streets of Yangon, their saffron robes brilliant in the morning sun. Each carries a bowl in cupped hands, outstretched from the waist. As passersby approach, they place small parcels of soup, meat and vegetables into the monk’s bowl.

The outstretched bowls, the pre-dawn chanting, the plastic bags dangling from courtyard gates—these are all a part of the alms-round for the Buddhist monk who has nothing to eat other than the gifts of food that are collected in the early morning hours.

What might appear at first glance to be a strange—if not completely unhealthy—practice among the Buddhist might actually be a spiritual blessing for all involved.

To the monk, the ongoing continual teaching is that he can never depend on Self to provide for all his needs. This is also the lesson we would do well to learn. Our daily provision comes not merely through our personal efforts and skill, it comes from the Lord. It is His grace that sustains us from day to day, and not our work alone.

To the one who gives, there is a responsibility to see that the monks are healthy and well-fed. It’s a hear-see-participate reminder that God uses the ordinary person to provide for those that serve. The saffron robes and alms bowls that are visible just about everywhere, the mournful wailing up and down the streets outside the window as one sleeps, and the tying up of one’s own little parcel of food before sitting down to partake of the meal—these activities take the eyes off Self and focus instead on the One we serve.

It might be good if we were to adopt a similar practice here in America. A lot is gained from continual giving as opposed to writing out a check once a week, or once a month. Instead of just a periodic reminder of our relationship with God, we have a daily, constant focus on serving Him.

Jesus taught that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Constant giving changes the heart. Can you imagine the benefits we would see around the world if Christians everywhere took upon themselves the responsibility of supporting their preachers, teachers and other minsters of the Gospel?

God is good and multiplies our efforts a hundred-fold. Together, we can change the world—He just wants to use us in whatever way we are willing.

As you work through this day, why not contemplate the ways in which you can serve the Lord by serving others. Do you know someone who needs food, clothing, companionship?

Now is the time to offer your body as a living sacrifice. Put yourself on the alter, helping God by helping others.

The first question we need to ask ourselves is “What does it mean to deny self?”
□ Read John 13:37-38. What does Jesus predict that Peter will do in denial of Him?

□ Read John 18:15-18, 25-27. What is involved in Peter’s denial of Jesus?

What does it mean then that we are to deny self in Matthew 16:27-27?

□ Read Luke 23:26, 44-46. What is the outcome of crucifixion on the cross?

Keeping in mind that Step 1 is ‘denying self,’ what does Jesus mean by Step 2 ‘taking up our cross’? How do you understand death on the cross?

Step 3, according to the Matthew 16 passage, is to follow Jesus. Using your word study tools, look up the Greek word translated “follow” and record below.

Literally this word would mean to be in the same road with; i..e., to accompany or to walk in His footprints. In light of this understanding of “follow,” what do you think Jesus means by “follow me” in the Matthew 16 passage?

□ Read Romans 12:1-2. Explain how this passage and Matthew 16:24-27 are similar.

God always requires us to die to self. Sometimes He may even call us to die physically for the cause.

“Eighty and six years I have served him. How then can I blaspheme my King and Saviour? Bring forth what thou wilt.” And with those words, Polycarp was burned at the stake for refusing to burn incense to the Roman Emperor. (Polycarp, 69-155 A.D., when asked to deny His Lord.)

Sometimes people are intimidated by the use of the term inductive study, but in reality it’s a way of thinking we use each day of our lives as we put together facts to come to a conclusion. Observe and conclude—it’s as easy as that! We call our particular method of inductive study the Easy-to-Learn Inductive Study Method because of its user-friendly format. As we like to say, it just makes a whole lot of sense!

We are currently conducting a Bible study on the Gospel of John using this Easy-to-Learn method that we developed. For details on the class, please contact Word Within International, Inc. at 918-671-3442.

Free Bible study material is available on our website, . We have audio and video lessons on the site, as well as a number of Easy-to-Learn Inductive Bible Study workbooks that can be downloaded to your computer free of charge. Our teaching videos can also be accessed on God Tube and YouTube. Just search for Gail Knox to find the current video on the book of Habakkuk.

Word Within International is also involved with an indigenous ministry in Southeast Asia, where Gail has taught numerous seminars on how to study the Bible. Our students are primarily pastors and evangelists from the remote areas of that country who take the teaching back to their home villages. God led us to partner with this particular ministry with teaching, as well as financial support.

You can read more about the Southeast Asia ministry on Page one of this issue of our newsletter at www.wordwithin.org.

Our primary teacher is Gail Knox.

If you are interested in having Gail come to teach or speak at an event, please contact us at 918-671-3442.

There’s an old story about the man walking along the shore of the sea when he comes upon a stranded starfish about a dozen steps from the water’s edge. The man stoops, picks up the starfish and hurls him into the sea as far as he can throw.

An observer comes up to the man and asks why he just did what he did. The man replies that he is trying to save the starfish population.

“With so many starfish being washed up and dying every single day, how can throwing one back into the water make any difference?”

The man replied with a knowing smile. “It makes all the difference in the world to the ones who get thrown back.”

In like manner, we may be called to make a difference in the life of a single person. If we choose not to respond to the call, the person may be lost forever. Paul put it this way in Philippians 2:15:

“…so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”

Shine like stars in the universe—that’s your calling! Pretty awesome, huh? We are to be the light on the hill that serves as a beacon pointing the way to Christ. It’s not just through what we say, but also how we live our lives. God wants us to so order our lives that those around us will take notice and want to live like us.

God did not give us salvation just for the sake of being saved; He chose to save us so we could be His witnesses to others. We are needed in the Lord’s army if the Gospel is to reach the far corners of the world.

It is said, God doesn’t want any to be lost, but all to come to repentance. That means there’s a big job out there waiting for us to do.

In the book of Ezekiel, God tells us that if we don’t warn others of their wickedness and they die in their sins, their blood will be upon us. But if we warn and they still die in their sins, their blood will be upon themselves. It’s time we get to work and accomplish what we were created to do.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl… Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

You can make a difference. Just let your light shine like a star in the universe.

Persecution is nothing new to the believer. Sometimes the attack is blatant and vicious; other times it is more subtle, such as suffering the loss of a job or a life-long friendship because of one’s views regarding Christ and salvation. All kinds of persecution have survived down through the ages, ever since the days of Jesus. These definitely continue on in our world today.

In the United States, we are fortunate to experience mainly subtle persecution. Very little has erupted into out-and-out violence against Christians. But we know it is coming. The Bible warns us to expect it.

There have been several revolutions in Middle Eastern nations over the past few months, mostly involving the uprising of a people against a brutal dictator. While the overthrowing of a dictator is usually a good thing, sometimes the government that emerges is as bad, or worse, than what existed under the dictatorship. Sometimes the object of hatred simply changes from one people to another.

We’ve seen a lot of that hatred towards the Coptic Christians in the months following the uprising in Egypt last February. Young girls are now forced to wear head scarves in school, men have been tortured, women raped, churches burned. More than 100,000 of the most wealthy believers have already fled the country in anticipation of what the future may bring. Experts forecast that if things go wrong in Egypt, it’s going to be a bad signal throughout the middle east.

Most recently, we heard the head of Libya’s National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil announce: “We have adopted Sharia as principle law… Any law that violates Sharia is null and void legally.” Among other things, Sharia law gives men the right to have up to four wives without the consent of the first wife; at the same time, it imposes vast restrictions on women’s rights in Libya.

This appears to be the trend line of the Middle East in immediate history and gives cause for concern for the direction “liberated” nations will head in the future. As Christians, we need to be keenly aware of the dangers and ready to defend our faith. We may not be under violent and physical persecution at this time here in the United States, but God has warned us that it is coming. We must be ready. We must stand on the Word of God.

I was blessed with a gifted algebra teacher when I was in school who managed to make the material easy and exciting for our entire ninth-grade class. His teaching changed my life and I now believed I could make the same difference in the lives of these women. That first day, I showed up with a burning desire to teach algebra to what I knew would be a hungry-to-learn and wildly enthusiastic audience.

It didn’t turn out quite as expected.

The math teacher asked a favor. Would I take on a class of remedial math students and teach them fractions—how to add, subtract, multiply and divide non-whole numbers. I wasn’t even sure I remembered how. And how do you make fractions exciting?

Of course I complied with her wishes and immediately began working on a lesson plan in my head at the same time I was introducing the subject to my new students. I am quite sure the words from my mouth came directly from God.

I took them back to that day in arithmetic class when they first couldn’t stay up with the others. Most likely it was at the introduction of fractions. Realizing they were not understanding as well as other students caused them to feel inferior and dread going to school. Playing hooky became more and more frequent. One day they dropped out altogether. And it went downhill from there, finally ending inside the walls of a prison.

Disinterested eyes began to flicker. They were relating. Young girls and older ones scooched to the front of their chairs; bodies leaned towards me. The women were totally engaged.

“What if I told you I can teach you everything you need to know about fractions in four two-hour sessions? What kind of difference would that make in your life?” Hands shot up as each wanted to tell her story.

“Then let’s get started.” You could feel the excitement mount in the room.

Together we created the whiteboard “pie” and divided it into segments. We undertook a new language and mastered addition—all on that first day together. The change in countenance as women gained confidence was nothing short of miraculous. Light bulbs were going off all over the place!

In subsequent sessions, we covered subtraction, multiplication and division—how they are the same and how they are different, all reduced to simple, basic steps. One of the students told me afterwards: “If someone had taken the time to teach me like this when I was in school, my entire life would have been different.”

Just think of it. One something that you do for another can change that life forever. It could mean the difference between a life of crime and one of good works.

This is the way it is when you share the gospel with a friend, family member or a stranger. You never know but what your words might be the ones that change that person’s life forever. We owe it to everyone we meet to give them the opportunity to know about Jesus and to make the decision for themselves.

After all, somebody did it for us.