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Paul had gone to Jerusalem to preach the gospel. He was locked up in a cold, damp, dark prison cell. I’m sure that on his first night there, he was a discouraged man.

Why do I say that? Because of the Lord’s words to him: “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” (Acts 23:11)

The phrase “be of good cheer” could also be translated, “be of good courage.” In Scripture, whenever an angel of the Lord would appear and say, “Fear not,” it was usually because someone was afraid at that given moment. So I conclude that when the Lord himself told Paul, “Be of good courage,” He needed a special word of encouragement at that particular moment.

Acts 23:11 includes this important detail. “But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer...” The Lord stood by him.

Sometimes, it may seem as though the Lord is the only one standing by us. But if everyone else had abandoned Paul, Jesus was company enough. If all others despised him, the smile of Jesus was approval enough. Though his circumstances were less than ideal, I am sure Paul knew that it was better to be in jail with the Lord than anywhere else without Him.

Jesus is there in your prison as well. For some, it might be a literal prison cell. For others, it might be the prison of a hospital room or the prison of confusion or mourning.

Whatever or wherever that prison is in your life, Jesus is standing by you. And He is saying, “Be of good courage!”

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 9.09. Live for God, on purpose, standing strong in the Lord, who is your source and your strength!

Jack Belin

Following tremendous services last week, the 2009 WFA World Missions Convention continues this weekend! On Saturday we will experience a feast like no other! Our world famous Missions Banquet, with gourmet delights from around the globe takes place on Saturday evening at 5:30. Nowhere else will you find genuine international foods, prepared by our own international congregation! Great music and great fellowship will compliment the meal, before our special guest, Jack Belen, shares what he has seen the Lord doing around the world.

On Sunday morning, you won’t want to miss the phenomenal concluding service of the World Missions Convention! The Worship Choir and the WFA Vocal Ensemble have some fantastic missions music for us, and Jack Belin will continue his ministry with us, as well as assist us in receiving our annual Faith Promises.

Jack Belin is the Global Food Project Director for Convoy of Hope. Jack’s ministry includes 22 years of pastoral experience and 20 years of missionary work in Bolivia and Southern Asia. He has been with Convoy of Hope since 2002. You will surely be blessed by Jack’s engaging and dynamic presentation of the work that the Lord is doing across America as well as all over the globe.

Don’t miss this weekend’s special missions meetings! You will be abundantly blessed and challenged!

Cries from the Cross

I’m sure you have heard the expression “famous last words” used to refer to the parting thoughts of some significant individual before they passed away. Quite often, it is their last words that we remember most.

Of all the famous last words ever uttered, there are perhaps none more important that the final words of our Lord Jesus Christ as He hung on the cross. These “last words” of our Savior have deep meaning and dynamic application for each and every one of us.

As we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, we will be sharing a special series of messages beginning Sunday, March 8th.

March 8, 2009
The Cry of Pardon Father, “Forgive Them”
Luke 23:1-25,32-34

March 15, 2009
The Cry of Promise, “The Family”
John 19:25-27

March 22, 2009
The Cry of Provision, “Paradise Found”
Luke 23:32-33,39-43

March 29, 2009
The Cry of Pain, “Separation”
Matthew 27:45-49

Palm Sunday - April 5, 2009
The Cry of Paradox, “Thirsty Water”
John 19:28-29

Easter Sunday - April 12, 2009
The Cry of Power, “Shouts of Victory”
John 19:30; Luke 23:46-48

I am believing the Lord will speak clearly to each of us as He continues to cry out from the cross. You won’t want to miss a single week of this life-changing series of messages from God’s Word!

In a Plain Brown Wrapper

by Greg Cummings

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” – Romans 10:15

The song service is finished. The sermon begins. During the first three sentences, expectant faces look toward the preacher.

A single mother sighs, praying her children will let her make it through the sermon, maybe even listen. An older man in failing health turns up his hearing aid. Frustrated and angry with diminishing strength and energy, he searches to make sense of his losses. A closet homosexual sits saturated in guilt. A high school sophomore listens with an MTV-conditioned attention span. She is not trained to listen long. A successful business person caught in the depths of depression hopes for an alternative to suicide.

A Bible class teacher dealing with major failure clings to faith by a fingernail. A married couple, sitting together in the pew but hardly speaking at home, hopes for renewal of lost affection. A frustrated parent of an angry teen looks for confidence. A widow’s eyes fill with tears as her hand touches the empty seat beside her. A cancer patient needs a reason to suffer through another chemo session. The mate is desperate for strength to persevere.

A contractor, competing with kickbacks and cheats, wonders if his ethics are antiquated. A nurse, exhausted from a twelve-hour-pressure-filled shift, hopes for renewal. A lonely soul hopes for connection with others. New Christians listen to build faith. Long-time members hope for revival from spiritual lethargy.

Debaters want a convincing argument. Condemners want a reason to feel superior. Tired church volunteers long for a boost. Frazzled church staffers need a shot in the arm. Elders need power to persevere through the pressure. Deacons need to be uplifted.

...everyone listens intently, wondering, “Is there a word from God for me today?”

The confused seek wisdom. The guilty seek forgiveness. The sad seek help. The mad seek release. The glad seek rejoicing.

The preacher stands.

For three sentences everyone listens intently, wondering, “Is there a word from God for me today?”

Who dares to rise to preach in the face of such need? Who can meet such a multiplicity of expectations?

God can. Only God can.

God speaks through the preacher’s faltering words, stiff outlines, and overused illustrations. God speaks through his words, his tears, his personality, his humor, his gestures, his spirit. God uses unworthy vessels to anoint hearts, persuade minds, lift spirits, comfort pain, and enlighten understanding.

The power in preaching is not the preacher. It is God. God speaking through a man, gives a beautiful gift in a plain brown wrapper.

God has a word for you. Shhhhh. Listen.

The Difference Between Religion and the Gospel

by Mark Driscoll

Religion says, if I obey, God will love me. Gospel says, because God loves me, I can obey.

Religion has good people and bad people. Gospel has only repentant and unrepentant people.

Religion values a birth family. Gospel values a new birth.

Religion depends on what I do. Gospel depends on what Jesus has done.

Religion has the goal to get stuff from God. Gospel has the goal to get God.

Religion sees hardships as punishment for sin. Gospel sees hardship as sanctified affliction.

Religion is about me. Gospel is about Jesus.

Religion believes appearing as a good person is the key. Gospel believes that being honest is the key.

Religion has an uncertainty of standing before God. Gospel has certainty based upon Jesus’ work.

Religion ends in pride or despair. Gospel ends in humble joy.

as seen in Rocky Henriques’ February 16, 2009 issue of “The Timothy Report,” www.timothyreport.com

Give God a Tithe of Your Income

“Bring... the whole tenth of your income.” – Malachi 3:10 (AMP)

Whether you believe tithing to be an Old Testament law or a New Testament truth, one thing is certain: giving God the first tenth of your income demonstrates that He’s first in your life. To those who practice tithing, God promises two things:

1. His blessing. God said He will “Open for you the windows of Heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10 NKJV).

A farmer, who was a faithful tither, was prospering while others around him were barely getting by. When one of his neighbors asked, “What’s your secret?” he replied, “No secret, I just shovel it into God’s bin and He shovels it back into mine – but God’s got a bigger shovel!”

By tithing, you partner with God. Think what God’s blessing could mean to your business, your family, your ministry or your future – your possibilities are out of sight!

2. His protection. “I will rebuke the devourer... he shall not destroy” (Malachi 3:11 AMP).

“What’s the devourer?” you ask. Anything that devours your blessings. The dishwasher breaks down for the third time in a month. The children are sick and have to be taken to the doctor all the time. The day after the warranty runs out on your car, the transmission goes.

One of the Hebrew words for tithe is charam, which means “marked for destruction.” Your tithe literally becomes a force in the hand of God to destroy the works of the enemy. It puts a hedge of protection around you.

“Is God after my money?” you ask. No, He’s after your lack! He wants you to be blessed and protected every day of your life.

Perspectives!

One day, a financially comfortable father decided to take his son to the country, with the purpose of showing him how poor people live, and that the son could understand the value of things, and realize how fortunate they were.

They stayed overnight at a very humble family’s farm for 1 day and 1 night. As the trip ended, and during their return home, the father asks his son:

So what did you think of the trip?

It was great, dad!

Did you see how poor and needy some people have to live?

Yes!

And what did you learn?

I saw that we have one dog in the house, but they have four. We have a huge swimming pool, but they have a river that never ever ends. We have imported lamps in the patio, they have the stars. Our backyard ends at the fence, but theirs goes on and on into the horizon. Especially though, dad, I saw that they have time to talk to each other and live as a family. You and Mom have to work all day, and I hardly see you both!

As the conversation ended, the father remained silent, and his son added: Thanks Dad, for showing me how rich we could be!!

The Last Impression

A Sunday school teacher was giving her class the assignment for the next week.

“Next Sunday,” she said, “we are going to talk about liars, and in preparation for our lesson I want you all to read the Seventeenth Chapter of Mark.”

The following week, at the beginning of the class meeting, the teacher said, “Now then, all of you who have prepared for the lesson by reading the Seventeenth Chapter of Mark, please step to the front of the room.”

About half the class rose and came forward.

“The rest of you may leave,” said the teacher. “These students are the ones I want to talk to. There is no Seventeenth Chapter in the Book of Mark.”

It’s going to be a great weekend here at WFA as Jack Belin returns to share with us at our World Missions Convention. There is never any lack of energy and excitement when Jack is around, and I’m sure he will be quite excited, as this will be his first ministry since undergoing his recent surgery. Don’t miss this weekend!