Our Savior is Jesus Christ, not government. Government is not designed by God to provide our ultimate hope. It is to corrupt the mission of the church to think government can advance the cause of Christ. Throughout history, the church was often the strongest under repressive, pagan regimes. Our trust must be in the Lord. He is Lord over government. Only He is the Savior of the world. Our goal is evangelism. Though I understand the context is different, there is nothing in the Bible of the Apostles trying to overturn Rome. No calls to civil disobedience. Our primary goal is to see people transformed by the Gospel. Jesus Christ changing hearts is the greatest way to change a culture. As Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Mt. 24:14). Human government is only a picture of Christ’s reign.
Randy Smith

70 SECRETS OF POWER

70 SECRETS OF POWER F O O T ================================

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READING

70 SECRETS OF POWER

PRAY Make me conscious of your presence as I study the Scriptures today, dear Lord. —————————————————————- READ Acts 4:23-37. —————————————————————- THINK Notice the apostles’ prayer in verses 29 and 30. Is there an example we should follow? —————————————————————- FOCUS Do you wonder just why the early Church was so lively and grew so quickly? Here are two of its secrets: 1. PRAYER. Peter and John went straight from the meeting with the leaders to share the news with their friends. This was the natural thing to do, and we do the same. But are we quick to do the thing they did next? Together, they shared it all with the Lord. Note the background to their praying: TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN GOD. He is the One who is in charge of all things (24); who has spoken through the Bible (25,26); who sent Jesus Christ (27); and who is in control even of his enemies’ actions (28). TOTAL COMMITMENTS TO GOD. They could have asked to be protected against their enemies; they could have asked for those enemies to be destroyed; but they did neither. Notice again what they asked for (29,30). 2. CARE. They not only cared about God and his word; they cared about each other. They had a plan of ‘social action’, and it began by sharing their possessions among each other. However difficult it may be to operate like this in church today, there are still needy members in every church. They need someone to love them, teach them, encourage them or give them hospitality. In what way could you show care to someone in your Christian fellowship? We live in a world of great inequalities: what should we be doing in response to 1 John 3:17,18? —————————————————————- PRAY Pray for those who are busy caring for human need around the world through relief organisations.