hanks

Q48. (Ephesians 5:17-18) What is the primary temptation involved with drugs and alcohol? How can drug or alcohol use substitute for the "high" of the Spirit? How can being filled with the Spirit help us fend off the temptations of drugs and alcohol? It allows people to escape from the realities of life; helps them forget about their daily problems and lowers their inhibitions. In becoming high on both drugs or alcohol and the Spirit, there are similarities. In both conditions the person is under a power outside themselves; they can become highly emotional; and of course, their behaviour is altered. With drugs and alcohol, we lose control of our wisdom, understanding, judgment, balance, self-control, and the power to rationally assess everything. Being filled with the Spirit can help us fight the temptations of drugs and alcohol. There is no loss of self-control; for we know from Gal 5:23 that the fruit of the Spirit is, amongst others, self-control. So, under the influence of the Holy Spirit we do not lose control, we gain it. He stimulates the mind, the intellect, the heart, and the will. The fullness of the Spirit makes us more like Christ.

Q47. (Ephesians 5:15-16) Why does Paul exhort us to make the most of every opportunity? Why do we resist that? What must happen in our lives so we can be ready for the opportunity? We are to use our time wisely; remembering that wisdom is to be found in God’s will. We are to glorify Him by living a life in obedience to Him. Jesus Himself taught us to pray “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Mat 6:10b). His will is revealed in His Word. Here we will find general principles to guide us. We are to make the most of every opportunity for an opportunity missed is one that will never return. We are to reflect the power and glory of the gospel at every opportunity we may have. It could be doing good works, words of help, winning people for Christ, exposing evil, and all the deeds that we could do to glorify God. We sometimes become complacent and do not realise that time is short and that there is much work to be done. Once we recognise the enormity of the evil that is in the world today and that God will not always bother with us; and that the time of grace will soon end. It is then that we will be ready and look for opportunities to witness, worship, and serve.

Q46. (Ephesians 5:2-3) Why does Paul warn so strongly against sexual sin? Is sexuality part of our spiritual life or can it be (should it be) partitioned from our spiritual life? Paul warns strongly against sexual sin because he knows the power these sins have to disrupt and destroy the church. They are powerful destroyers of relationships; they confuse and tear down the climate of respect, trust, and credibility that is so essential for marriages and secure children. The warning that he gives, that we should abstain from sexual immorality, is needed today as much as in the first century of the church. The specific sin against which Paul warns is unlawful sexual activity, and in this section is probably the same as adultery. We might think that nobody gets hurt when we break God’s laws against sexual sin, but the truth is that somebody always gets hurt. In the case of adultery, spouses are devastated and children are scarred. God's laws are not arbitrary. We should consider ourselves dead and unresponsive to sexual immorality, impurity, ****, and evil desires. The warning in these verses is not against sex, but against sexual perversion. Sexual sin and perversion will drain our energies and turn our heart away from God. As Christians we should be open to true love - and to sexual intimacy - within the commitment to lifelong faithfulness. That is God's way. Sexuality is part of our spiritual life – God created it.

Q45. (Ephesians 4:32) Why is it so difficult to forgive those who hurt us? According to Ephesians 4:32, who is our example of forgiveness? What heart attitudes toward people are evidence of a forgiving spirit, according to verse 32a? Because of our egocentric attitude we regard any hurt as a personal attack, and our pride is hurt. Therefore, we must retaliate, and to get our own back seems to be the natural reaction. The greatest example of forgiveness is God Himself. The basis of His forgiveness is the work of Christ at Calvary. God forgives us, not because we forgive others, but solely because of His great mercy. The more we come to understand His mercy, the more we will want to be like Him. It is only when we realise that we have received forgiveness which we do not deserve, that we will we pass it on to others. If we are unwilling to forgive we must be careful that we have not become one with Christ. Our attitude toward others should be one of kindness; an unselfish concern for the welfare of others, and a desire to be helpful even at great personal sacrifice. At the same time, we should be compassionate; being sympathetic and affectionate towards others, and even a willingness to bear their burden.

Q44. (Ephesians 4:29-32) What kind of "unwholesome talk" is common among us Christians? What three guidelines does Paul give us to measure the value of what we say? What is slander? How common is it among Christians? How can we prevent it? Unwholesome speech is corrupt speech and generally means conversation that is filthy and suggestive; this would include off-colour jokes, profanity, and dirty stories. But it could even include speech that is frivolous, empty, idle, and worthless. Paul deals with obscene and vile language in Eph 5:4 but here he is telling us to abandon profitless speech and substitute it with more positive and constructive conversation. Our speech should be more edifying in that it should result in building up our listeners. Also, it should be more appropriate in that it should be more suitable to the occasion. It can also be more gracious in that it should impart grace to our listeners. Slander is an abusive attack on another person’s character, or even lies spoken to damage the reputation of another. A person cannot entertain evil thoughts and thoughts about the Lord Jesus at the same time. If, then, an evil thought should come to us, we should immediately get rid of it by meditating on the Person and work of Christ. For example, In Php 4:8 we read, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.” (One of my favourite verses). You do not have to look very closely to find the Lord Jesus Christ in this verse. Everything that is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy is found in Him. If only we could concentrate on our Saviour Lord Jesus there would not be space in our minds for unwholesome talk.

Q44. (Ephesians 4:29-32) What kind of "unwholesome talk" is common among us Christians? What three guidelines does Paul give us to measure the value of what we say? What is slander? How common is it among Christians? How can we prevent it? Unwholesome speech is corrupt speech and generally means conversation that is filthy and suggestive; this would include off-colour jokes, profanity, and dirty stories. But it could even include speech that is frivolous, empty, idle, and worthless. Paul deals with obscene and vile language in Eph 5:4 but here he is telling us to abandon profitless speech and substitute it with more positive and constructive conversation. Our speech should be more edifying in that it should result in building up our listeners. Also, it should be more appropriate in that it should be more suitable to the occasion. It can also be more gracious in that it should impart grace to our listeners. Slander is an abusive attack on another person’s character, or even lies spoken to damage the reputation of another. A person cannot entertain evil thoughts and thoughts about the Lord Jesus at the same time. If, then, an evil thought should come to us, we should immediately get rid of it by meditating on the Person and work of Christ. For example, In Php 4:8 we read, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.” (One of my favourite verses). You do not have to look very closely to find the Lord Jesus Christ in this verse. Everything that is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy is found in Him. If only we could concentrate on our Saviour Lord Jesus there would not be space in our minds for unwholesome talk.

Q43. (Ephesians 4:26-27). Why did God give us the emotion of anger, do you think? How can anger be dangerous? How can we keep from sinning when we are angry? Is anger itself sin? At times we as believers may be legitimately angry against sin. We are not told that we shouldn't feel angry, but that it is important to handle our anger properly. If vented thoughtlessly, anger can hurt others and destroy relationships. If bottled up inside, it can cause us to become bitter and destroy us from within. We find many passages in the Bible where God was angry, 1Ki 11:9; 2Ki 17:18; Psa 79:5, and Christ was also angry, Mar 3:5; John 2:15-17. Aristotle said, “Anybody can become angry - that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not easy.” If we are angry for the wrong reasons we should confess and forsake it quickly. Confession should be made both to God and to the victim of their anger. There should be no nursing of grudges, no harbouring of resentments, no carrying over of irritations. We must not let the sun go down on our wrath. Anything that mars fellowship with God or with others should immediately be made right. So, anger that is a righteous controlled anger against an injustice is not sinful.

Q42. (Ephesians 4:17-19) Using Ephesians 4:17-19 as a basis, how would you describe (in your own words), the secular, non-Christian mindset of our age? Why are we tempted to conform to its values? We live in a world of selfishness. The secular world is only after the instant gratification of their desires, and has no consideration for other people. Mention the name of Jesus and you see their reaction; totally alienated. They all seem to be enjoying themselves, when in reality they are all seeking. Nothing seems to satisfy them. It is only when we get them to see through this facade that they realise that Jesus is the only answer. We are tempted because of our sinful nature. That is the desires of the flesh described in Gal 5:19-21: “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like”. If we try to overcome the flesh on our own, we will fail. We need to live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit.

6. What is the content of the angels' promise at Jesus' ascension? (Acts 1:10-11) The angels made a promise that our Lord Jesus Christ will come again to set up His kingdom on the earth. Mentioning that He will come back in the same way they had seen Him go into heaven. He ascended from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12), He will return to the Mount of Olives (Zec 14:4); He ascended personally, He will return personally (Mal 3:1); He ascended visibly, He will return visibly (Mat 24:30); He was received up in a cloud (Acts 1:9), He will come on the clouds of heaven (Mat 24:30); He ascended gloriously, He will return with great power and great glory (Mat 24:30).

5. How do Jesus' disciples respond to His ascension? (Luke 24:52) One could be inclined to think that instead of returning to Jerusalem with great joy, they could easily have mourned the loss of a true friend. But, after His ascension, they knew better, they had lost nothing and had gained much. One can only imagine the sight of Jesus rising to heaven, brought to the disciples the realisation that He is truly the risen Lord, no longer the Suffering Servant, but the Lord of heaven and earth. They also knew that they had been commissioned to carry out the great task of spreading the gospel, and that they were about to receive the power to do it. They had had Jesus with them for a while, and now they were going to have Him with them forever. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Mat 28:19-20). On top of this they were aware of the promise they had received, of His glorious return at the end of the age (Act 1:11). This realisation must have brought them great joy and they turned to praise and worship, praising Him as the they witnessed in the temple, in obedience to Him, proclaiming the risen Lord to everyone they met. They worshipped Him knowing that Jesus was God, they gave Him the honour He deserves, and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, there to await the outpouring upon them of the Holy Spirit. Also, by returning to Jerusalem they showed that they were obedient to His command.

4. What happens to Jesus when He ascends to His Father's presence in heaven? (Philippians 2:5-11) Jesus who had humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death was re-instated to His former glory. God exalted Him by raising Him from the dead and opening the heavens to receive Him and have Him seated at God’s right hand. Not only that - God has given Him the name which is above every name. God was so completely satisfied with the redemptive work of Christ that He determined that every knee should bow to Him, of course, this does not mean that all people will be saved, for those who are not willing to bow the knee, will one day be compelled to do so, and will face the wrath of God. We also read that every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord. Here again not everyone will be saved. Only those that confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead, will be saved, will be saved (Rom 10:9). To the rest Jesus will say "I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!” (Mat 7:23).

3. Extra Credit. How do clouds relate to Daniel's prophecy of the Son of Man? (Daniel 7:13-14). Daniel saw the Son of Man come among the clouds of heaven being presented to His Father. In the Old and New Testament, clouds were often associated with God’s awesome presence, His majesty, His power, and even His guidance. Clouds also accompany the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. So, in the same way that God was glorified and concealed in the clouds, so was Jesus on the mountain of transfiguration (Mark 9:7) and in His ascension to heaven, as the resurrected One was exalted to the Father, the clouds veiled Him (Acts 1:9). Having completed His work here on earth, Jesus looks forward to His ascension and His return to His Father (John 16:28). “He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence” (Heb 9:24b). And so it was, Jesus was welcomed into the presence of His Father, and is seated at God's right hand - with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him (1 Pet 3:22).

2. What hides Jesus from the disciples' view? (Acts 1:9). A cloud hides Jesus from the disciples view. What Luke explains is that Jesus leaves this earthly scene and enters heavenly glory. The cloud could be the cloud of glory (Shekinah) that is associated with the presence of God in the Old and New Testaments (Exod 40:38; Luke 2:9, 9:29). Our Lord’s Ascension marks the conclusion of His ministry here on earth in His bodily presence, and Him being exalted to the right hand of the Father. But it also means that from now on the responsibility of continue the work of Christ on earth is now placed in the hands of His disciples (Acts 1:1-2, 8). Our precious Lord will not let them be left alone, for they will soon be empowered by the Holy Spirit; working with His people on earth and helping them accomplish His purposes (Mark 16:19–20). We also have a clear promise that He will come back to set up His kingdom on earth: “He will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11; Luke 21:27).

1. What was Jesus' last act before He ascended? (Luke 24:50-51). He lifted up His hands over them in blessing. Nothing but blessing had ever come from those hands as He stands over His people to bless them. The blessing of Jesus is more than a mere gesture of well-wishing, it has inherent power within it. It is an effective imparting of wellbeing, peace, and power, to all whose hearts and minds are truly receptive. His blessing is absolutely essential for them and for us, if His work is to be carried on. In God’s work, His blessing means everything, and will have lasting spiritual impact. “If He has blessed you, you shall be blessed, for there is no power in heaven, or earth, or hell, that can reverse the blessing which He gives” (Spurgeon).

Q41. (Ephesians 4:12) What's wrong with the old model of the minister or pastor being the main worker in the Church? How does it hinder people in the congregation? How does it hurt the community? What is the purpose of pastors and teachers? Every Christian is commissioned to serve our Lord. We are given gifts to perfect or equip us to serve the Lord, and thus to build up the body of Christ. We cannot expect pastors to serve in such a way as to make people perpetually dependent on them. Instead, they should work toward the day when we as Christians will be able to carry on by ourselves. Every Christian is meant to be in full-time Christian service. In this way the church grows and expands and serves the community. So, if this does not occur it prevents the people in the congregation from growing spiritually as well as not serving the community as it could or should. The bottom line is then that pastors and teachers are there to equip, prepare and train us as believers to serve the Lord. I’ve heard it said that their task is; “For the perfecting of the saints for their ministry”.

Q40. (Ephesians 4:11) How could a person have the spiritual gift of pastor or teacher without having an official position in a church? What must a church do if its "senior pastor" doesn't have the spiritual gift of pastor? Who gives these gifts? I feel this occurs at most churches. There are specially gifted people who have been given the gift of caring for the spiritual needs of others, and they are not pastors. I was a member of a church were the pastor was more of a teacher and the elders had to take over the duties of a pastor. This only lasted for about two years and the pastor eventually left to go into a different ministry where he was more of an administrator. We received excellent teaching and the elders coped very well, but yet the church was not functioning as it should have. We needed a pastor. But I still feel that it is teaching which builds up the church. It is teachers who are needed most. Our Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit is the one that gives special gifts to each one of us; gifts that we can use to glorify our Lord and Saviour.

Q39. (Ephesians 4:11) How can we stir up the gift of evangelism among members of our congregations? What might be the earmarks of a person with this gift? How can we encourage and stimulate the Spirit-gifted evangelists in our midst? I remember doing a Bible course, at our church, on giving our testimonies. It helped us tremendously in becoming comfortable in speaking to others about how we came to Jesus. We practised and became more skilled and confident. Taking a similar course could then be a start in stirring others to evangelise. Helping them to realise that they have the gift to share the gospel with others. As believers we are told to bear witness to Christ and His good news, but the gift of evangelism is something more. This person may have a special gift of making the gospel particularly plain and relevant to unbelievers, or of helping people to take the plunge of commitment to Jesus, or of effective personal witnessing. They will be a person with a passion for spreading the message of salvation, one that realises the urgent need that exists in the world today, are perhaps the characteristics of a person with this gift. Evangelist need our support and we can do this with our prayer support, financial support, encouragement, and communicating with them, understanding their needs and concerns.

Q38. (Ephesians 4:11) If there were apostles today, what kind of function might they have? What needs do our congregations and regional groupings of churches have that an apostle might meet? How might we detect false apostles? (2 Corinthians 11:13; Revelation 2:2) Today, apostles would be the men who are directly commissioned by the Lord to preach the Word and to plant churches. They would be sent out into the world as Christ’s ambassadors and witnesses. They would have the power to perform miracles (2 Cor 12:12) as a means of confirming the message they preached (Heb 2:4). They would also be primarily concerned with the foundation of the church (Eph 2:20). This could apply to the many great Christians of today and of the past, but I feel that the apostles Paul mentions, are the ones that were personally chosen and authorised by Jesus Himself. Also, they had to be a witness to the resurrection of the Lord (Acts 1:22). So, in this sense there are no apostles today, but there are people with apostolic ministries who are doing pioneer missionary work, church planting, and so much more. We will detect any false “apostles” by their teachings and if they are hoping to make a good profit from preaching (2 Cor 2:17). These men who profess to be speaking for God come in sheep's clothing, giving the appearance of being true believers. “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Mat 7:16). They must be tested by the word of God. If their teaching does not agree with the Scriptures, "there is no light in them" (Isa 8:20).

Q37. (Ephesians 4:7-10) Who gives spiritual gifts? Can our "natural" talents be related to our "spiritual" gifts? How? What is the difference between a natural God-given talent and a spiritual gift? The ascended Jesus gives believers spiritual gifts. Each believer is given at least one spiritual gift (1 Cor. 12:1–12), no matter what natural talents they may or may not possess. A spiritual gift is a God-given ability to serve God and other Christians in such a way that Christ is glorified and believers are edified. It is a gift used for the unifying and building up of the body of Christ. For believers there is no difference between our talents or spiritual gifts, since both are given by Christ and both are used for His glory. Unbelievers do not receive spiritual gifts, but by the grace of God they may receive natural talents which are blessings that are not part of salvation. Here, all are not created equal, because some are smarter, or stronger, or more talented than others. This is part of God’s common grace given to all people and is not restricted to believers or to the elect only. The elect receive saving grace. We must take comfort in the fact that whatever gifts we have received, either great or small, they are to be used as He requires.

Q36. (Ephesians 4:3) How much energy must we expend on Christian unity? What is "the bond of peace"? How do we strike at peace when we are intent on argument and dissension? We are told to make every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit, and as Pastor Ralph mentions ‘this is a command’. It is a command we must obey! Unity does not happen by accident; we are too self-centred, selfish, and proud for this to happen, it takes hard work and diligent effort. It might take years to build unity and peace in a congregation, but just a single act can destroy these efforts and create warring factions. One selfish person can stir up strife among many. One member teaching false doctrine can split a congregation. It is fragile and easily broken. To keep the unity of the Spirit means to live at peace with one another, and it demands that we make every effort to keep this unity. “The bond of peace” is the glue which binds us together in spite of all our natural differences. The Holy Spirit has made all true believers one in Christ; this is a basic unity that nothing can destroy. With the proper altitude toward God and His Word, and the proper altitude toward one another there will not be any room for arguments and dissension. This is the unity taught in God’s Word by the Holy Spirit.

Q35. (Ephesians 4:2) Why are patience and humility so important to preserving unity? What happens to the reputation of Jesus Christ when we have right doctrine along with a sense of arrogance towards those who disagree with us? How are we to be both "gentle" and to "fight the good fight of faith"? Patience is our ability to control our selves so that we don’t become quickly irritated and angry or even lose our temper when confronted by opposition or adversity. All which can, of course, destroy the unity of the church. It is self-restraint which helps use not to retaliate too hastily when wronged. We have to learn how to live with each other and show others the same patience God has with us. Humility like patience is also important in preserving unity. In the same way as Jesus came to serve, so must we commit ourselves to serving others, and forget our own selfish ambitions that cause conflict in the church. Remembering that God opposes the proud (Prov 3:34). If only we will remember that our entrance into God’s kingdom is not based on our merit, but strictly and simply on the grace of God. Once this has sunk in we realize that we have nothing to be proud of, but everything to be humble about. Pride is just the opposite, and pride promotes disunity, while humility promotes unity. The Bible says in John 3:30, “He must become greater; I must become less”. A forgiving and charitable spirit is characteristic of the Christian life, not one that is argumentative, provocative, or explosive. However, we have to careful about false humility; it is so easy to put on an outward show of humility but still have a heart full of pride and arrogance. Then again the Scriptures tell us that we are not to be so patient that we never rebuke, caution or encourage. The spirit that is patient is the spirit of love: love for God and love for people: bearing with one another in love. Our fight is against all evil in the world, and that found within ourselves. The gentleness spoken of here is power under control, which allows us to fight the good fight, and become angry with anyone who dishonours our Lord. This reminds me of Col 3:12-15 which offers a strategy of how to live for God day by day. We do this by imitating Jesus Christ, His kindness, humility, meekness, and patience; letting love guide our life; letting the peace of Christ rule in our heart, and always being thankful. Jesus Himself said “… I am gentle and humble in heart …” (Mat 11:29), and it is only through His strength that we are able to preserve the unity. On our own it is impossible.

Q34. (Ephesians 4:1) According to verse 1, what is the standard of our behavior? What is the "calling" to which God has called us? True Christian behaviour involves surrendering our hearts and yielding our bodies to Christ. We are to be beacons of light in this dark world, by using our spiritual gifts to advance His kingdom, and in this way bring glory to our heavenly Father. We are called to be one people, a single family of God, and to be a holy people, distinct from the secular world, set apart to belong to God. To be called by God out from the world, from darkness, from damnation and into the body of Christ is the highest calling possible. We are to behave as one body; concentrating on the things that unite us: one Lord, one faith, one Spirit, and one God. We remember that we are made children of God through His grace only, and that we should endeavour to do everything in our power to live lives that are worthy of our calling. What motivates and stimulates our behaviour in attempting to live worthy lives is the grace by which we have been saved. We are called to follow Jesus, to be like Him and also to bring glory to Him.

7. Have you ever met a powerless Christian? What kind of waiting is necessary to receive spiritual power for ministry? How diligently and obediently are you willing to wait for and seek this power from the Spirit? No, I don’t think there is a powerless true Christian, since all Christians have been indwelt with the Holy Spirit. To me powerless means completely powerless, zero power; I think a backslidden Christian might have limited power or near zero power but cannot be powerless. The Holy Spirit is given at the moment of salvation (Eph 1:13). Every true believer receives the Holy Spirit as a sign that they belong to God and that they will be kept safe by God until the time they receive their glorified body. So, the Holy Spirit indwells believers permanently. This indwelling is in contrast to the filling of the Spirit (Eph 5:18). This can be a continuous process or a moment-by-moment process. To be filled with the Spirit we have to confess and put away all known sin in our lives (1 John 1:5-9). Also, we should yield ourselves completely to His control (Rom 12:1-2). This involves the surrender of our will, our intellect, our body, our time, our talents, and our treasures. Every area of life must be thrown open to His dominion. It also involves knowing His Word: reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of God. To be filled with the Spirit also means we must be emptied of self (Gal 2:20). I feel that the closer we are to the Lord, the more we are aware of our own complete unworthiness and sinfulness (Isa 6:1-5). In ourselves, there is absolutely nothing we can be proud of (5:8). The believer who is filled with the Spirit is occupied with Christ and not with self.

6. The first apostles were eyewitnesses by definition (Acts 1:22). In what sense are we witnesses? What evidence are we aware of about which we can speak authoritatively? Of what are you a first-hand witness? We are witnesses in a sense that we point people to Jesus Christ and tell lost sinners how to be saved. As true believers we have been filled with the Holy Spirit, and it is through His power that we are able to witness. And have been given the mandate to speak authoritatively about His Word and the message of repentance and forgiveness. We need this power for witnessing, and for holy boldness in reaching others. We might be highly talented, intensively trained, and widely experienced, but without spiritual power we are ineffective. We cannot be witnesses for Jesus in our natural strength but only in the Spirit's supernatural power. As we share the gospel, we must pray that God would open the person’s mind to the truth of His Word. But in the end it is only He that can impart sight to spiritually blind eyes. Having a personal relationship with Jesus, we are first-hand witnesses to what we know about our Lord. We know all about His loving care, His peace we experience, His disciplining us, His guidance in times of need, His loving kindness in times of sorrow, and the fact that He is always there for us.

5. What steps should we be taking in our communities to see that the gospel is carried to every people group in our midst? (For example, Korean, Hmong, Vietnamese, Puerto Rican, Muslim, Chinese.) What steps should we be taking to carry the Gospel to every language of every people-group on earth? How can we facilitate this work? Before we can carry the gospel message of repentance and forgiveness of sins to other groups, we must wait to receive power - the power of the Holy Spirit. Without this power we will be ineffective. We will also need to have a working knowledge of the group’s language. This might cause a delay since it can take time to learn a new language. To fully understand the gospel, it’s obvious one needs the Word in one’s own language. It has been forecast that by 2038 the Bible will have been translated into every language of every people-group on earth (Wikipedia). Wiki also states that as of Sept 2020 the full Bible has been translated into 704 languages, and that the New Testament into an additional 1551 languages. But there is a lot of work still to be done. As of Oct 2019, it was estimated that there were 3969 languages without any Bible translation at all, but many of these are likely to never need a Bible because they are very similar to other languages, or spoken by very few people. But when it comes to people-groups/ethnic groups I’ve read that in the early 1970’s half of all ethnic groups had never heard of our Lord Jesus, but that has been reduced today to about 20%. Which still means there is a lot of work to be done. If I take my country South Africa as an example; we have twelve official languages, and it is said about 3000 ethnic groups! How can we facilitate this work, worldwide? I’ve discovered a beautiful App which I’ve downloaded on my phone, it’s called “Unreached of the Day”. It gives me a daily reminder of an unreached ethnic group I can pray for. As an example, today 29th Jan 2022, I was to pray for Hui in Malaysia. The app comes with statistical data, a bit of history, outreach ideas, Scripture focus, prayer focus, and even with a map showing the location of the ethnic group. What an exciting opportunity to do something for these lost souls.