<![CDATA[Mission Senegal

<![CDATA[Mission Senegal - Blog]]>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:03:46 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Fire & Water]]>Mon, 11 Dec 2017 10:18:41 GMThttps://www.missionsenegal.com/blog/fire-water“Everything that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water.” (Numbers 31:23 – KJV)

Whenever the Israelites would win a military victory, the soldiers were permitted to “spoil” the enemy. In simple terms, they could take the property of the defeated foe and claim it as their own. God, in His wisdom, did require that any spoil be made clean before it entered into the home of the victorious soldier. In order for that cleansing to take place, God indicated the two elements that could make the cleansing possible: fire & water.

If the item was made of metal, and could withstand the heat of fire, it was to pass through that fire. The same object was also required to go through a cleansing of water, called the “water of separation”. For items that could not withstand the heat of the fire, it was still required to go through the cleansing of water.

These two elements seem to be the principle means by which God cleanses and purifies. On a large scale, we consider the planet earth. In ancient days, God “cleansed” the earth via the flood in Noah’s day. God also adamantly declared that He would never again bring that same judgment and cleansing by water, and sealed that Promise with the rainbow for all to see. Yet, there remains another cleansing and judgment of the earth. (2 Thessalonians 1:8 , 2 Peter 3:10-13) One day, in the future, God will judge the earth with fire. After this global event, we will enter the time of the “new heaven” and “new earth”.

Interestingly, it is the same two elements that God chose for the cleansing and separation of His people. When redeeming Israel out of Egypt, after the night of the Passover, the people passed through the Red Sea (water) under the direction of the pillar of cloud and fire. (1 Corinthians 10:1-2). When John the Baptist arrived on the scene to prepare the way for the Christ, he boldly declared, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11)

During the discourse of Jesus with Nicodemus, Jesus spoke of two aspects of the new birth; water and spirit. From John’s words, we understand that the birth or baptism of the Holy Ghost is symbolic of the fire of God. On the Day of Pentecost, when receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the 120 in the Upper Room were touched by “cloven tongues like as of fire”. This, no doubt, was to clarify the significance of this event in the minds of the recipients. They were indeed receiving the promised baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire. On the same day, 3,000 were baptized in water in the name of Jesus.

Today, God continues to utilize the same two elements to separate for Himself, the people of His name. We are still commanded to be born of the water and of the Spirit. We are still commanded, after repentance, to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Water baptism in the name of Jesus and Spirit baptism evidenced with speaking in other tongues continues to be God’s method of redemption. Water and fire continue to be the process by which the spoils of Christ’s victory are brought into the household of faith.

Even in our daily walk with God, we continue to permit the water and the Spirit to cleanse our lives. We are in constant need of being washed in the water of the Word. (Ephesians 5:26) Each day we strive in prayer and worship to be renewed in the fire of the Holy Ghost. (Titus 3:5)

“… according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5)

]]><![CDATA[A House Of Prayer For All People]]>Thu, 13 Jul 2017 15:13:10 GMThttps://www.missionsenegal.com/blog/a-house-of-prayer-for-all-people“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”
Acts 8:35 KJV

I have the feeling that the heart of a certain Ethiopian was broken. This royal servant was heading home after what would have had to have been a very disappointing trip to Jerusalem. It did have its highlights. As a proselyte, or convert, to Judaism he had the privilege of ascending the hills of Judaea and beholding the holy City of David. No doubt the kaleidoscope of faces, clothes and cultures had been fascinating. Being from Africa, he undoubtedly added color to that scene.

Yet all did not go as planned. Whatever his expectations, he soon realized he was a foreigner and outsider in more ways than one. The look of condescension from the locals had a strong and bitter flavor. Perhaps he thought his love for the God of Israel would have been enough to grant him access to God's house. He was so wrong.

As a Gentle, he was kept away from the inner courts of the temple. A Gentile could only stand outside of the Beautiful Gate and imagine, based on what he had heard, what it was like to enter into the Holy Place. He was literally left on the outside looking in.

If somehow he could have passed for a native born Israelite. Perhaps then he could have snuck in past the gates and into the courts. The deception would have been short-lived due to another matter. No, not the color of his skin, or the accent in his speech. He was a eunuch, and as such the Scriptures specifically excluded him from God's house. Even with a family tree showing direct ancestry back to Abraham, he would have never made it in. The "doorkeepers" of God's house literally checked everything to ensure the sanctity of Gods house was protected.

A seemingly chance encounter in the desert with an evangelist was about to change sorrow into joy. The sackcloth of double rejection was about to be replaced by a garment of praise and salvation. Philip joined himself to this man's chariot just as he concluded reading Isaiah 53:7-8.

"“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.” Isaiah 53:7-8 KJV"

Interestingly, Luke notes that Phillip, "began at the same scripture and preached unto him Jesus". So Phillip took advantage of not only the encounter, but the very text of the man's devotions to lead him to salvation in Jesus. Those simple words "began at the same scripture..." lead us to a heart changing experience.

Perhaps Phillip backtracked just a few verses to explain that "by his stripes we are healed". After all, the Eunuch's wounds were one of the barriers to his entrance into the presence of God.

Just a few short verses later, at the beginning of our chapter 54 we read, "“Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 54:1 KJV Good news tô one destined to remain childless.

Not much further we read, “Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.” Isaiah 54:4 KJV The shame this man felt in Jerusalem and the reproach of being castrated was about to dissolve in God's grace.
Phillip continues to speak to a man who had spent a small fortune on a futile pilgrimage with the next chapter of Isaiah, "“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” Isaiah 55:1-2 KJV

Now comes the best part. The crème de la crème. The icing on the cake.

“Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” Isaiah 56:3-7 KJV

Can you imagine with me what that message would have done to a Gentile eunuch, heading home from being treated as an outcast in Jerusalem? Can you imagine with me the joy that overwhelmed this man?

I don't have any proof, other than the sense of God's timing, but I would propose to you that it was right about here that the Ethiopian Eunuch looked up, and through eyes bursting with tears of joys, beheld a stream of water, in the middle of the desert, and proposed his own baptism! What could be better than a God-timed and God-ordained meeting in the desert.

As a brief aside, it was the eunuch that appealed for his own baptism. Phillip obviously understood, as all Christians must understand, that to preach to someone Jesus, means that you will preach baptism. Once cannot tell the good news, the Gospel, of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, without telling of its application, impartation and obedience through our repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost.

By the time the Spirit caught Phillip away and the meeting of these two had ended, a new season had dawned in this Ethiopian's life. Old things were passed away. All things had become new. He was a new creature in Christ. He was not even considered a person, was now part of the people and nation of God!

Rejoice my friends. Whatever you think has been keeping you out of God's presence is minuscule when brought into proximity with the grace of God. Rejoice O barren one! God's house is now a house of prayer for ALL PEOPLE!

]]><![CDATA[TRASH TALK]]>Wed, 08 Jun 2016 00:44:44 GMThttps://www.missionsenegal.com/blog/trash-talk

The AP story is fascinating!!

SIERRA MADRE, Calif. (AP) ‐‐ Trash talk hasn't been a waste of time for Kevin Inciyaki. At age 9, it's landed him notice and a job.
Kevin likes garbage and garbage containers and garbage trucks and garbage books and garbage videos. Early photos of him in the family scrapbook show him inspecting trash cans at Sea World.
He has a photo collection of ``garbage trucks of the world'' taken for him by family friends on trips abroad.
Kevin doesn't know what got his interested in the dirty side of life. Classmates at Bethany Christian School ``think it's kinda weird,'' he said.
In Hawaii, his brother wanted to go snorkeling, and when we asked Kevin what he wanted to do, he said, 'Follow the garbage trucks,''' Mrs. Inciyaki said Monday.
Sierra Madre public works officials who knew how much Kevin likes trash recommended him for a job with the University of California, Los Angeles. Now he's running a worm farm and collecting worm information as part of a waste management survey in Sierra Madre and Monrovia.
``It's been garbage since he was 2yearsold you have no idea what it's like having a child who has a passion for trash,'' said Kevin's mother, Marsha Inciyaki.

Maybe I don’t know what it’s like to have a child who had a passion for trash.
Maybe you don’t know what it’s like to have a child who has a passion for trash.
But it’s very much possible that GOD knows what it’s like to have children who have a passion for trash.

1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Trash Talk – It’s quite a thing!

While they talked of their freedom they secretly lusted for slavery.
While they worshipped Jehovah in the dance, they also quickly bowed to Baal.

Paul pulls the lid off the trash can of Israel’s carnal life and we behold the worst that they had to offer.
The flies swarm and the maggots breed as the stench of their sin fills the air. Is it really that bad.

A TRASHY DIET:
Verse 6 simply tells us that they lusted after evil things: While God gave to them angel’s food, they lusted after the onions and garlic of Egypt. Feasting on the food of freedom, they hungered for the slop of slavery.

Manna was not good enough.
Heaven’s bounty was not good enough.
It took some of the world to spice it up so it was edible.

TRASHY WORSHIP:
Paul digs a little deeper and in verse 7 he reveals the next subject of his trash talk.
After seeing all that God had done for them, after the miracles, after the deliverance, after the salvation of their families and their homes...

They eat, they drink, they lust and make a golden calf.
They have church their way, after the lust of their flesh, rather than God’s way – after the spirit.

We want a glitzy god.
We want a flashy god.
We want a god that is into “cool” things.
We want a god that would look good in a palace.
We want a god that makes our heathen friends think that we understand their ways.
We want a god that is appealing to the outsider.

TRASHY MORALITY:
Paul pulls away the stench of carnal worship to uncover, in verse 8, even more putrid things.

When their view of God changed, their lifestyle changed.
When desires changed, their lifestyle changed.
Beyond, idolatry and covetousness, he found sexual immorality.
First they stole God’s glory and next they stole their neighbour’s wife. Evil communications corrupt good manners.

TRASHY FAITH:
Deeper yet, Paul uncovers the stench of a faith misplaced.
Deep down in Israel’s trash can was the reality that they “tempted Christ”.
How did they tempt Christ?

They refused to accept the good report.
They refused to accept the positive news of the spies.
Face to face with the positive and the negative, they chose the negative over and over and over again.

TRASH TALK: THE REALITY.
At the bottom of the barrel, we discover the worst thing of all! The most disgusting thing about all of this is simple.

We all have trash!
The Queen has trash.
The Prime Minister has trash.
The President has trash

Your home has a trash can because you have trash. You have a trash can because you have trash!
We know that as long as we are in the flesh, as long as we are in the world, we will have to deal with trash in our lives.
The reality is that the wheat will always be mingled with the tares.

It is not the tares that are my concern.
It is the reality that the tares can overcome the wheat that is my concern.

As long as we are this side of glory, we will be fighting the battle.

The faithful act faithless.
The sanctified act sinful.
The righteous act rotten.

TRASH TALK!!

Paul called it murmuring. (verse 10)
Perhaps we could call it a heart murmur.
Somewhere at the heart of Trash Talk, is an ungrateful spirit.

STOP THE TRASH TALK!
The only way to end the Trash Talk is to clean the trash out of our lives!
Today’s NIV has removed the word “saints” – it needs to stay!!
“Saint” and “Holy” come from the same word.

We are called to be holy, as we are called to be saints.
We are called to moral purity.
We are called to spiritual cleanness.

James told us in 4:8 to “Purify our Hearts”. That’s where the trash collects.
Take it out before it builds up.

Trashy Diet – out!
Trashy desires – out!
Trashy worship – out!
Trashy morals – out!

How To Take Out The Trash!

1 – PRAISE!
Nothing keeps the heart clean and the trash from accumulating like praise & worship.
2 – EXAMINE YOURSELF!
How did you get off track.
3 – REMIND YOURSELF THAT GOD LOVES YOU.
He is compassionate with our failures. He helps because He loves.
4 – INITIATE RENEWAL
Confess your sins. Confess your faults. Tell God about the trash!
5 – SEEK THE FIRE
Nothing gets rid of the junk in our lives like the fire of the Holy Ghost.

Seek His presence.
Seek His power.
Seek His glory.
Seek a fire from the altar to tough your tongue and make it pure.

6 – “TO BE LIKE JESUS”.
Make imitating Christ to be the minute by minute goal of your life.

]]><![CDATA[The Cassandra Curse]]>Wed, 01 Apr 2015 13:52:47 GMThttps://www.missionsenegal.com/blog/the-cassandra-curse

In Jeremiah 40, we are told the story of a conversation between Johanan and Gedaliah. Johann was a soldier of that era, and Gedaliah was the governor put in place by King Nubuchadnezer. In this conversation, there is a dire warning given to Gedaliah, that a man named Ishmael is determined to kill Gedaliah. Both publicly and privately the warnings are given!

Surprisingly Gedaliah refuses to accept this warning, claiming that Ishmael, who is of the lineage of David, would never do such a thing. He even goes so far as rebuke Johanan for thinking such thoughts about Ishmael.

Yet, in spite of the fact that Gedaliah does not believe the advice of Johanan, Ishmael does come and does kill him. Whether Gedaliah chose to believe the truth of the warning or not, it could not change the reality of Ishmael's plans!

In ancient Greek culture, there is a woman known as "Cassandra". She was said to have red curly hair, blue eyes and fair skin. Her beauty was considered to be second only to Helen of Troy!

Because of her beauty, she caught the eye of the god Apollo, who was accustomed to getting everything that he wanted. When Cassandra rebuffed his advances, He cursed her with a gift of prophecy with a very cruel twist:

He guaranteed that she would always be right, but that no one would ever believe her.

Thus Cassandra is said to have foretold the destruction of Troy and other disastrous happenings, but while doing so, she was ignored.

While none today would claim the gift of Cassandra... There is a voice that is always correct!! The Word & The Spirit. As a minister of the Gospel, we are commissioned to be a vessel through which that voice may speak. Yet, at times, we feel the sting of the "Cassandra Curse!"

It is the Cassandra Curse that keeps the preacher awake in the middle of the night.
It is the Cassandra Curse that frustrates the will of God.
It is the Cassandra curse that tears the heart and soul out of every message preached from an apostolic pulpit!!

Every preacher has a solemn and divine charge:

To stand in the presence of God and humanity and to declare the WORD!
To sit across a table and counsel the WORD!

How often do we end up seeing that WORD rejected?!

Just like Johanan, we hear a "Gedaliah" tell us, “No - Ishmael would never kill me”.

"No preacher - there’s no judgment coming."
"No preacher - God does not care about these things."
"No preacher - Sin won’t change me."
"No preacher - I can handle this."

I do not want to be a part of a generation that has no love for the truth and therefore believes a lie.
I do not want to fall into the curse mentioned in Romans 11:8; "God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear".
I do not want to hear TRUTH preached to me and reject it because of vain tradition, or fleshly passions.

Therefore I pray!!

My prayer is that the Cassandra Curse would be broken in every pulpit.
My prayer is that the Cassandra Curse would be broken in every Home Bible Study.
My prayer is that the Spirit of Truth would work mightily to lead all men into TRUTH!

]]><![CDATA[Highway Safety]]>Mon, 23 Feb 2015 22:15:43 GMThttps://www.missionsenegal.com/blog/highway-safetyIsaiah 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

Just like the rules imposed upon us when we take a road trip on the paved thoroughfares of our cities, provinces and states, we are also expected to follow some rules when we embark upon our spiritual journey of service for the Lord Jesus Christ.

II Timothy 2:5 (ESV) An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

In spite of the attitude of those who oppose the "Rules of the Road" on the Highway called Holiness, it seems no one opposes the "Rules of the Road" that keep our streets, highways and super-highways safe.

No one views the yellow line as an enemy, a curse, or an impediment to their journey.
No one gets angry that there are guard rails between the road and the dangers that can be found beyond the limits of the pavement!

There are some signs that we will encounter and when we do, it is imperative that we obey!

STOP

There are times in our walk with God that we need to observe the stop signs.

Sometimes it is to stop and pray.
Sometimes it is to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.
Sometimes it is to wait upon the Lord.
Sometimes it is to stop in order to allow a fellow pilgrim to catch up so that we can travel together.

We need our times where we simply STOP!

YIELD

Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

No matter what we are doing, we must always be prepared to give God the right of way.

Whatever we are doing, His will takes precedence.
Whatever we are doing, His Word takes precedence.

At any moment, I need to be willing to yield my plans, my feelings, my emotions, to Godʼs higher purpose.

When the Spirit invades my plans, I yield.
When the Spirit changes my plans, I yield.
When the Spirit directs me to someone unexpected, I yield.

DO NOT ENTER

There are places we do not go.
There are paths we do not take.

We flee from fornication.
We flee from the very appearance of evil.
We pray daily, “lead us not into temptation”
We turn away from those who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof.
We do not associate with anyone purports to be a Christian who is guilty of sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, a reviler, a drunkard, a swindler - in fact we are not to even break bread with that person.

WEIGHT LIMIT

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us

While the roads made by men measure weight by axle, God measures weight by the soul.
While the weight restrictions change by the season, It is always time to lighten the load of sin in our lives.

I do not want my soul to be encumbered.
It is not only a question of sin, but anything that hinders my walk toward God.

II Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

]]><![CDATA[What Will Your Sons Be?]]>Fri, 20 Feb 2015 01:13:44 GMThttps://www.missionsenegal.com/blog/what-will-your-sons-be

2 Samuel 8:15-18 And David reigned over all Israel; and -- David executed judgment and justice unto all his people. And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief rulers.

During his amazing life, David filled many roles:
He was a:

Giant-Killer
Lion-slayer
Bear-hunter
Sheep-keeper
Harp-player
Song-writer
Poetry-creator
Nation-ruler

Perhaps above all of these attributed, we find one that rises above all others:

David was a worshipper!! 

Here we read a tiny phrase, “and David’s sons were chief rulers”.
Yet they belies the true meaning of the actual verse.!
The Hebrew word for “chief rulers” is kōhēn: A masculine noun meaning priest. The word is used to designate the various classes of priests in Israel. These people performed the function of mediators between God and His people.
Some translation do a better job of communicating this truth...

ESV - and David's sons were priests
NET - and Davidʼs sons were priests.
NLT - And David’s sons served as priestly leaders.

Historically, all of the priests were to come from the tribe of Levi (Deut. 17:9, 18).
But David, from the tribe of Judah and not Levi, was radical in his approach of God:

He ate the bread of the priesthood.
He coordinated the moving of the ark, dancing before it.
He set up his own tabernacle, without any direction or commandment from God.

Where did David get the idea that he could break the rules and let his sons enter the priesthood? 

David lived in a very different realm of the spirit than his generation.
David moved in a prophetic realm and authority of the one who would establish the throne and the kingdom of the Messiah.
Perhaps there was something deep within the heart of David, that more than anything else, he wanted his sons to be worshippers.

More than killing bears and lions.
More than ruling nations and people.
More than winning battles and wars.

I want my sons to worship GOD!!!

WHAT WILL YOUR SONS BE??!

]]><![CDATA[Waste Not!]]>Fri, 14 Mar 2014 11:55:34 GMThttps://www.missionsenegal.com/blog/waste-not“Go down at once to the potter’s house; there I will reveal My words to you.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, working away at the wheel. But the jar that he was making from the clay became flawed in the potter’s hand, so he made it into another jar, as it seemed right for him to do. (Jeremiah 18:2-4)

God was the original recycler. Long before it became in vogue for those who care about the environment, God was setting the example. Rather than dispose of that which was not useful, Jeremiah records an amazing display of Gods's great grace! He chose not to throw away the clay, even though it refused to cooperate!!

God, in His Grace, does not reject that which does not conform immediately to His proposes. He will endeavor over and over again to form us and make us into the man or woman of God He has called us to be!!

"I will in no wise cast you out"!! (John 6:37)

Waste not want not may be a proverbial declaration in our society, yet it is the drumbeat of the Kingdom!! If we are willing to allow the Lord to do the work, he will take our broken, unproductive and sinful lives and remake them into something beautiful and glorious!

Some things may be lost and forever changed in the process. God makes us into "another vessel". Purposes and ministries may change. Circumstances and situations may change. Even our plans and dreams may change. In spite of that God still keeps as as a vessel that He can use in His kingdom!

The church will do well to learn this lesson from the potter: don't throw away the clay. We are all vessels of clay that are the continual handiwork of God. When things go wrong, our primary guiding principle must be to keep the clay!!!

]]><![CDATA[Life's Work]]>Thu, 06 Mar 2014 10:06:35 GMThttps://www.missionsenegal.com/blog/lifes-workActs 13:23-25 “From this man’s descendants, according to the promise, God brought the Savior, Jesus, to Israel. Before He came to public attention, John had previously proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. Then as John was completing his life’s work, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the One. But look! Someone is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on His feet.’

In the HCSB version, it speaks of John completing "his life's work". As I ponder the ministry of John the baptiser, the cousin of our Saviour, I see a great prophet who died much too young. Only six months younger then Jesus, and unlike the Lord, his ministry ended with his untimely death at the hands of Herod.

Can we look at a life of 31 or so years and talk about a "life's work"? We live in a day where adulthood seems to be found later and later in life by so many. John lived in a very harsh day where responsibility and living conditions caused childhoods to be abandoned early and maturity grew in places that were hardly ready for its arrival.

Yet the few years that John gave to his ministry, that of preparing the way for Jehovah, were the accomplishment of his "life's work". It is not always the number of years nor the visible evidences of success that mark a "life's work". After all, even John has questions about his ministry as he faced death in the dark confines of prison.

Somehow we must all be encouraged to seek first His kingdom and righteousness. Somehow we must all strive do be and do our best for the Lord each and every day. Somehow we must apply ourselves to putting flesh and blood onto the perfect will of God.

No one can promise to us a long life. After all, "life is but a vapor". Yet whether I live just a few short years or live a long and healthy life, I can accomplish just like John, "my life's work"!!

Put your hand to the plow. Seek and do the will of God each and every day. Live life in such a way that regardless of the moment that God calls you home you will hear Him say, "WELL DONE"!

]]><![CDATA[Temporary Resident]]>Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:40:16 GMThttps://www.missionsenegal.com/blog/temporary-residentTEMPORARY RESIDENT

1 Peter 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: KJV
(And if you call upon Him as [your] Father Who judges each one impartially according to what he does, [then] you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence [on the earth, whether long or short].) AMPLIFIED

Hebrews 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: KJV
([Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise.) AMPLIFIED

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. KJV
(These people all died controlled and sustained by their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfillment of [God’s] promises, only having seen it and greeted it from a great distance by faith, and all the while acknowledging and confessing that they were strangers and temporary residents and exiles upon the earth.) AMPLIFIED

A sojourner is one who dwells in a foreign country, a temporary dweller not having a settled habitation in the place where he currently resides. The Bible identifies every believer as being in that category. No matter where you find yourself today, if you are a part of the church, you are only there on a temporary basis!

After arriving in Togo, it took me forever to obtain my Carte de Séjour! Being Canadian, things were not simple like they were for my American passport holding wife and daughter. For whatever reason, Togolese law will not stamp any long term visas into the passports of Canadians. So, instead of an inexpensive and simple process of getting a one year visa, I had to undergo the lengthy, complicated and expensive process of obtaining a “Carte de Séjour”. In essence, this is the first step of becoming a permanent resident in the country.

I would have preferred simply getting a visa extension every 6 months or so, because we have no intention to reside here in Togo for the long term. We are here to teach in the Bible College which serves several nations in French West Africa, while we await our North American deputation. Let it be understood, that we are not just “putting in the time”, but truly feel that this is the will of God for our lives at this juncture. We are investing in multiple West African nations at the present time through our ministry and believe that the seeds we are sowing presently shall return to us as a great harvest in Senegal (and beyond)!

Because we knew that our stay here was never intended to be permanent, we took great caution in choosing what we would bring with us from Canada and what we would not. It has affected us in what items we purchased for our home and what we did not. We bought a good washing machine, but a cheap coffee maker. We have avoided buying anything that was not an absolute necessity ~ beyond food, soap, toothpaste and the like!! We still smell good, we still dress well, but we are not investing money into a whole lot else!

Being a temporary resident changes your priorities!
The furnishings in our home are a part of the rent. The bed is not as comfortable as we would like, but we are just temporary residents. The dining room table is pretty worn, but we are just temporary residents. The chairs and sofa in the living room are not as plush as what we have had before, but we are just temporary residents. There are many changes we would like to make, but will not, because we are just temporary residents.

I have to wonder what would happen to many in our world today, and more specifically in the North American church, if everyone would begin to have the mindset that we sing about: “This world is not my home… !”

We sing about heaven being our eternal home, but stockpile earthly goods like there will not be anything in the stores tomorrow.
We dream about a mansion on golden streets, but invest heavily in mansions that won’t last beyond the life span of our grandkids, should the Lord tarry.
We preach about investing in eternal matters, yet our balance sheet leans heavily toward temporary returns.

I am certainly not railing against owning a home, a car and comfortable clothes. I am saying that our perspective on these matters must be constructed through the lens of being a temporary resident. Should our lives be so consumed with filling our houses, and then our storage houses with more “stuff”? Should we pursue the buying the biggest and the best of everything, rather than meeting our needs in the manner of a good steward of God’s blessings?

Live life to the fullest. Be a witness and do the work of an evangelist. Count your blessings, and give thanks to the One who provides from his riches in glory. But in all that you do, always remember, you are just a temporary resident!

]]><![CDATA[Blessed Blindness]]>Tue, 31 Dec 2013 08:46:33 GMThttps://www.missionsenegal.com/blog/blessed-blindness

The younger of the twins approaches his elderly father. Deception is in the air, as he does his best impression of his older brother’s voice, hairy hands and cooking. With his mother’s help, they are endeavouring to ensure that the father’s blessing does not fall into the hands of the “wild son”, whom we know as Esau.

We can delve into the debate about the deceptiveness of Jacob and Rebecca’s scheme, but the reality is, God loved Jacob and hated Esau. Furthermore, Rebecca had received a direct word from God that the elder would serve the younger! The objective of the plan was not to bring about evil, but to ensure that Isaac did the right thing; that he accomplished God’s will.

“But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus…” (Hebrews 2:8,9)

This is one of those moments in Bible history where the entire plan of God hangs in the balance. If Esau gets there first, or if Jacob does not succeed, the blessing will altar the flow of the Messiah’s bloodline. The redemption of humanity, both Jew and Gentile, hangs on this one moment of time.

Jacob approaches his father having done his best to fool his father’s senses. I am sure that he did his best to change his voice, but his father’s keen hearing, undiminished with time, detects the voice of Jacob. Jacob’s taste buds affirm that this was indeed the meal he had requested and longed for. His nose, attuned to the familiar scents of those around him, detected the odour of a man familiar with the fields, hard work and tending to livestock. His touch testified that this was indeed his “hairy” son, Esau.

However, age had weakened his most important sense, his eyesight. In fact, he could no longer see at all. Like many blind people, he was more dependant on his other senses. In this critical hour, he no doubt lamented, “if I could only see”. Yet it was his blindness that ensured that God’s plan for humanity would not be derailed. From that time forward, when one spoke of the patriarchs, it would be “Abraham, Isaac and JACOB”.

In this critical moment, Isaac’s blindness was his greatest blessings. Not seeing ensured that the blessing would be given to Jacob and that God’s plan and Word would move forward. Isaac’s blindness ensured that the will of God would be accomplished. What a miracle - BLESSED BLINDNESS!!

Joseph saw his brothers bowing down to him in dreams and visions. What he did NOT see was their hatred, their betrayal, being stripped of his precious coat, being sold as a slave, being lied about in Potiphar’s house, being thrown into an Egyptian prison and then forgotten by the man he helped! BLESSED BLINDNESS!!

Looking over the course of time, I am convinced that Jesus only could accomplish the will of God without being smitten by a case of Blessed Blindness! He saw everything that there was to be seen pertaining to the cross, and yet willingly partook of the cup!

In your life, don’t always thank the lord for what you CAN see, but also for the things you CAN’T! Many times I can only see the promises and not the problems. Many times I can only see the blessings and not the bitter trials. BLESSED BLINDNESS! We are still a people who “see through a glass darkly!”

“But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus…” (Hebrews 2:8,9)

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