Treasure Bible Study Guide-Summer 2020

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Antioch, Tennessee—In response to uncertainties surrounding COVID-19 and subsequent social restrictions, SMG Oklahoma City and the National Association of Free Will Baptists, Inc., have mutually agreed to cancel the onsite meeting, scheduled for July 19-22, in Oklahoma City. “Unfortunately, because of the international impact of the coronavirus and lingering risks associated with the disease, it is not possible to gather in person this year for our annual convention,” stated Executive Secretary Eddie Moody. “In our discussions with Oklahoma City, we concluded it would not be safe to bring 5,000 attendees from all regions of the country into one place as early as mid-July.”

A streamlined convention (details forthcoming) will be offered online, according to Moderator Tim York. This is the first time in its 85-year history that the National Association will enact Bylaw 13 and conduct business through the General Board because the body cannot gather.

Moderator York noted, “Even though we are disappointed, we understand that God can use this situation for our good and His glory.” Eddie Moody adds, “While we may not gather physically in Oklahoma City this summer, I urge our leaders and churches to be more unified than ever as we minister to our congregations and communities. Who knows what doors may open to the gospel as a result of COVID-19?”

For additional news releases and forthcoming information about the online convention visit nafwb.org/convention.

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Treasure (PE119560) (ISSN# 8960038) Volume 9 • Number 4

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-chief Elizabeth Hodges

Managing

editor / Circulation

Phyllis York

WNAC BOARD Diana Bryant, Florida Janie Campbell, Arkansas Pam Hackett, South Carolina Amy Johnson, Indiana Jonda Patton, Kentucky Sarah Sargent, Ohio Tracy Payne, Oklahoma Khristi Shores, Oklahoma LeeAnn Wilfong, Missouri

CONTRIBUTORS Diana Bryant, Florida Sarah Sargent, Ohio Elizabeth Hodges, Tennessee Mandi Morgan, Spain Sarah Fletcher, Illinois Beverly Brantley, Tennessee

Studies June Faith

in

Adversity

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July Upside Down World

15

August Say Uncle

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TREASURE (ISSN# 8960038) is produced and printed quarterly by Women Nationally Active for Christ of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, Inc., 5233 Mount View Road, Antioch, TN 37013-2306. Copyright privileges reserved. 2020 Member of the Evangelical Press Association.

Inquiries Mail questions or comments to Treasure, P.O. Box 5002, Antioch, TN 370115002; treasure@wnac.org or online at wnac.org and through Facebook: Women Nationally Active for Christ.

In Every Issue Heartfelt Behind the Scenes Thirtysomethings Vision

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heartfelt

by Diana Bryant

As I write this, we are in the midst of an unprecedented 'lock down' with absolutely nothing feeling normal due to the COVID-19 virus.

People are having various reactions to our unusual situation; some fearful, some anxious, and others skeptical. Many have displayed a spirit of service; others are thankful for the rest. Some are navigating the times with an evident peace. Where does peace in the midst of storms come from?

When my daughter was very young, a couple in our church played the part of grandparents to our children. One Sunday we were all headed for lunch after service. Rachel had been playing in the nursery and as we prepared to leave, her only concern was riding with Sammy, her adopted grandpa. “Please let me go with Sammy!”, she begged. “Can I PLEASE go with Sammy?” After several minutes of her pleading, I relented and said, “Ok!” She promptly went to Sam, took hold of his hand, looked up at him, and asked, “Where are we going, Sammy?”

That picture of innocent trust has stayed with me all these years. I want to have that kind of trust in God. A trust that allows me to take His hand and be willing to go wherever He is going. I want all that matters to be that I am going with Him. Many times I want to not only know where we are going, but how we’re getting there, and what’s happening along the way.

It’s trust that produces peace. When we trust Him, the where, why, and how of our situation shouldn’t cause us anxiety and worry. We trust that whatever His plan, wherever we are going, we’re in His loving care. Peace is going with Him wherever He’s going!

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with Terry & Tammy Miller Church planting has been unique for us. We have a building and property from a revitalization work we helped close (an opportunity I wish to never have again). Yet, dawn follows darkest night, they say. Death comes before new life.

Much prayer, seeking answers in God's Word, and outreach preparation and renovation of the building has occupied our days and nights. We are seeing new life sprout! It is such a joy to see a new work beginning. Our Launch Service has come and gone—online! Because of COVID-19 and social distancing, launching a new work has definitely been different. A physical launch is still in our future.

For our Launch Service, April 12, 2020, our family recorded a welcome, an interview, and worship music. We prayed together asking God to bless our efforts and bring glory to Himself. My husband preached Sunday morning, which was also recorded. Our son, Jonathan, edited and posted our Launch Day service to our church website and social media. The Lord answered our prayers.

The service touched hearts and has reached 1,300 viewers so far.

We pray many local contacts have been made, that we will see our building filled when we can officially open our doors, and many new people will be welcomed into the family of God and Waypoint Church, Fort Collins, Colorado!

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thirtysomethings

by Sarah Sargent

Quarantined Reflections You cannot go a day right now without hearing words like pandemic, unprecedented, and quarantine tossed around like a baseball on opening day. (Yes, I’m missing sports, too.) Here are some of my thoughts during this unusual time.

Maybe you can relate to a few of these feelings.

• I am grateful this happened in the year 2020 and not before 1991. We have the technology and resources to share the Gospel, communicate with our friends and families, and even work from the safety of our homes. We would be looking at a dark and lonely time without the technology we have today (Esther 4:14).

• I actually like taking time to rest. Who knew a weekend with nothing to do would be a good thing (Mark 6:31).

• I hope I never again take for granted the privilege to assemble together in the Lord’s house, fellowship with one another, learn His Word, and worship our Heavenly Father. I’m even starting to miss the people at church that get on my nerves (Psalm 122:1).

• I remember when people used to wish they had more time to spend with their families. Apparently, they didn’t really mean it as evidenced by Facebook posts on day three of social distancing/ quarantine (1 Corinthians 1:10).

• I tend to spend a lot of time on social media. I have never seen the Gospel shared so freely as I have over the last few months. I love scrolling through the various platforms and seeing our ministers and musicians share the good news of Jesus Christ. I love that members of my own family who have never heard my dad preach are now telling us they watch his sermon every Sunday (Matthew 24:14).

I am constantly hearing that everyone can’t wait for life to get back to normal. I don’t want to go back to pre-pandemic normal.

I love the things I’ve learned during this time. I want to use those lessons going forward. I hope churches continue to share lessons and devotions online. I also hope we continue to be kind and help each other in both little and big ways.

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JUNE STUDY

Faith in Adversity FALL 2019

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“...Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9b).

When I am troubled or under stress, my natural reaction is to hide away. I don’t want to be around people. I don’t want anyone to know about my problems. After all I am strong, and I am a faithfilled Christian woman and I can walk through anything.

Ah, wrong!!! I am those things at times but, at other times I am a feeble child needing someone to help me, but content to wallow in my pain and anguish, not wanting my peers to see me like this.

As women, we believe the falsehood strength equates spirituality, and weakness is a lack of faith. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that in my weakness His power is made strong. Only when we are at our weakest can God be the strength in us. Our faith is tested regularly—not to destroy us but to build our faith to a point of resting solely in Him. Do we cling tighter to Him when we are being tossed to and fro or do we retreat into our own strength or lack thereof?

Is that you? Do you have a facade you have to protect?

Would revealing the real you destroy the image you have created for yourself?

Faith in adversity looks like many different things. It is putting one foot in front of the other and walking on when troubles are heavy on your heart. It is prayers prayed and praise offered, even when we don’t feel like it. It is knowing in your heart that Jesus really can change your situation. It is relying on Him for answers When the cares of life and crippling pain come, what we do with our faith can have a mighty impact on our witness. Job is a prime example of how to handle adversity. We have the privilege of 8 treasure

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JUNE STUDY knowing how his suffering came because of the first two chapters of Job. We know God allowed this suffering because Job was such a fine upstanding follower of God. Job had friends and three of them came to comfort him. At the end of their visit, he declared they were “miserable comforters” (Job 16:2).

Faith in adversity applies to us as comforter as well as when we need comforting.

Job’s friends certainly had good hearts, or they would not have come from far away to be with him. They would not have sat with him in the wind, rain, heat, and night for seven days in complete silence. They would not have cried, rent their garments, or covered themselves with ashes and dirt.

But they leaned on their own

understanding to offer him words of wisdom. Of course, in their defense they had not read Job 1 and 2. They tried to blame Job for his troubles. Can you imagine being in the kind of pain Job was experiencing and having your dearest friends say it is your fault? Does that change how you deal with someone else’s grief?

The big mistake Job’s friends made was trying to help him with their own understanding.

After listening for a very long time, Job answered them in Job 12: 3-9. Job did not elaborate on his own understanding, he simply pointed them to God. All of us have been on both sides of this situation, those needing comfort and those doing the comforting. You may even be in one of those situations right now.

If you are a comforter, what do you feel is your role in helping your friend/family to cope?

How does that line up with God’s word?

We don’t always have answers for those suffering. Sometimes they just need our presence and not our pretenses. We are all flesh and blood. Without God’s presence, we could be spouting empty maybe even harmful words.

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Just as in Job’s time, there will be many well-meaning people who tell you how to handle the adversity that has come your way. There are self-help books and television

psychologists who claim to have all the answers. Paul said in I Corinthians 2:5, “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Does your faith depend on what the people around you have to say about your adversity? Why or why not?

We must learn to lean on Jesus. First and foremost, we must run to Him. In I Kings 19, Elijah listened to all the voices around him, wind, earthquakes, fire but God was not in those mighty voices. Verse 12 says, “And after the fire a still small voice.” God was there, not in a showy or imposing way, just quiet and all powerful.

Sometimes during our storm, we call out to God and try to hear Him through the raging thunder and the crashing lightning, but we cannot hear Him. Yet, when we get alone with Him and whisper His name, there He is, a still small voice assuring us He is there and we are going to get through it.

We see God’s glory on every hand. We can look around and see His power and dominion, 10 treasure

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yet in the throes of anguish we forget. We forget what He has already done for us. We lament, whine, and twist our hands as we go through the bitter valley.

Pain blinds us.

If we lift the veil to see the sunlight on the other side, we can begin to move toward healing, strength, and acceptance. The acceptance that alone we are not able to bear this burden. But we have never really been alone at all, have we?

I love the song that says, “You hear me when I call; You are my morning song; though darkness fills the night, it cannot hide the light. Whom shall I fear? The one who reigns forever, He is a friend of mine. The God of angel armies is always by my side ("Whom Shall I Fear" Chris Tomlin, 2013).

JUNE STUDY Where do you look for God? Do you expect to find Him in the thunder?

Do you seek quiet time with Him to just listen? Sometimes we need to be the listener and not the talker.

Can you share a time when God touched you in a valley and gave you strength to walk out of your storm?

In Psalm 89:9 David writes, “Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.” When I am amid adversity, it literally feels like waves washing over me. If you have been to the beach and stood in the waves and rocked back and forth as they tossed you around, you understand that feeling.

Complete and utter helplessness. But if Christ is your Lord, He will either calm the raging sea or hold you while you walk through it.

I Corinthians 1:9 assures us, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Our faithfulness to God lies in His promise of faithfulness to us.

Because we know He's got our back, we can push through the adversities of life with confidence knowing He will never let us fall.

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How has God held you in the past?

If He has been there for you, can you trust Him with today’s worries?

Trust is the basis for all our peace. Do you find that trusting Jesus brings comfort to your spirit? “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Can you remember a time when your path seemed dark and you had to trust God to lead you through it?

Lamentations 3:22-23 gives us hope in God’s compassion, “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

Mercies, compassion, faithfulness—those are the promises to the child of God. Compassion and mercy: new every day.

Why is mercy so important in a storm? What does mercy look like to you daily?

There is no wrong or right way to feel when troubles come. We all feel differently because we are different. For the faith-based woman our actions should all be the same. We should draw up close to the fire, be still, and listen because He will speak to us.

Sometimes in a still small voice. Sometimes through the hugs from a friend. Sometimes in calming our spirits as the storm rages. You can rest assured though, spirit-filled warrior of Christ, He will not be too far away to help you.

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JUNE STUDY Let your faith shine because those who are watching you will be encouraged and strengthened to move forward, too. See it’s not about you, it’s about Him. Your troubles will glorify Him when you remain faithful during the trials. He is faithful so we can be faithful, too.

Last May 5th, my sister had a mini stroke. That is what I thought when they rushed her to the hospital, but the first report after the MRI threw our world into a tailspin. She had a brain tumor. Upon more testing they found she had lung cancer also.

She was 63, my middle sister, and the one person in my life that could make me laugh until an accident occurred (yes, that is what I mean). She was a funny, wonderful person and you would have loved her if you met her.

To make a long story short, Susan lived another nine months and I spent many hours with her, taking her for chemo and other doctor appointments.

We talked about a lot of things many frivolous, but one thing we discussed at length was God’s unfailing mercy and faithfulness. Susan witnessed about Jesus to everyone she met. I felt ashamed in her presence because I lacked her faith in the face of this adversity.

I asked her how she was able to move on this way and she said “trust."

Trust was the answer.

Because if I truly trusted Jesus, then I had to know this was His plan. He was working for good in her life and for instruction in mine. I slowly began to accept and even embrace what God was teaching me as we walked through this storm together.

I had not called out to Him in trust and obedience but in pain and bewilderment. I learned over this course of time how to walk through adversity and keep my faith intact. I hope that I have been able to share it with you as well.

What is your first reaction when you get a call that throws your whole world into chaos?

Do you have a close friend that you trust?

Would praise be a fleeting thought during this time or difficult to do?

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We all need a game plan when we are blindsided. It helps to have our minds already made up about what to do when adversity comes. No one likes the thought of weathering a storm. Once we realize that the valley is where we grow and the valley is placed there by a loving, caring Father Who is interested in helping us grow, we can face the storm with confidence.

What would be your first line of defense in a coming storm?

Who would you surround yourself with to help carry this load?

Is it ok to ask for help? If not why?

What Scripture is your fighting verse? Keep it handy because God made it special to you for a reason. Hang onto it and know that His Word never fails.

About the Author: Beverly Brantley

Adversity, which looks and feels like such a determined enemy, can become a valuable ally. Only you can decide which it will be. —Joni Eareckson Tada

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STUDY OCTOBERJULY STUDY

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I was standing at our kitchen sink washing dishes in Uruguay when the phone rang. It was our Vonage phone, which meant it was someone from the States. I immediately knew something was wrong. It was too early; we were three hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. I heard my sister’s voice and my fears were confirmed. I dropped to my knees as I heard the news that my grandmother had passed away suddenly. Three days prior to that phone call, we had gone in for an ultrasound (I was six months pregnant) and received the news that something was wrong with our baby’s kidneys.

A few months later, we welcomed our little one; then 12 hours later, she stopped breathing. Over the next few months we slept little, as she needed constant monitoring. Then there were kidney tests. She eventually developed RSV which meant breathing treatments and respiratory therapy every two hours around the clock.

A review of our finances forced an early return to the States.

Another phone call saying, my mom had a bad mammogram. She had surgery followed by treatment. In the meantime, our little one was losing weight causing us concern. To add to everything else, I had a spot on my foot that needed an immediate biopsy.

I found myself constantly holding my breath, waiting for the next phone call, the next bad report, questioning, "what next?" I felt like my world was upside down.

The truth is most of us will eventually face times where we feel our world is upside down. It doesn’t have to be from major events.

Often this feeling comes from unexpected challenges—the rare big ones or a culmination of many small ones.

For example, you wake up late because your alarm didn’t go off; you are out of milk so your coffee isn’t good; your gas tank shows 'empty' so you have to stop for gas; but you are already behind schedule. Traffic is backed up. You arrive late to work and 16 treasure

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JULY STUDY find a last-minute meeting scheduled in an hour and you must give a presentation. Walking to the meeting, you spill your now cold, mediocre coffee on your new pants suit and all this before 10 A.M. Your day is flipped upside down before it even begins.

How do you respond?

How do you handle these interruptions? Irritably, impatiently, angrily? Or gracefully?

Another important question when you find yourself having one of these days or (months) is why do you feel like your world is upside down? Do times like these frustrate you because you aren’t in control? Or because it is a change in your normal or a change in your plans?

God Is In Control We should remain faithful because the Bible teaches us “…that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). We should find comfort knowing God has a plan. As believers, we can trust that things are working together. We don’t always understand all that is happening and why, but we can find comfort. We can know He has a plan. We can trust in His sovereignty. But if you are like me, you want to understand the plan; you want to know what God is doing. We should be faithful because our difficulties may be His mercies, His protection, or His provision in disguise.

Let’s look at a few possible scenarios: 1. Think about Esther. Esther, a young Jewish girl, was forced to enter a beauty contest and ultimately marry the king. Then, her SUMMER 2020

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husband signed an edict that would have annihilated all Jewish men, women, and children. She found herself in an overwhelming predicament. Ultimately, God used this situation to place Esther in a position to save the Jewish people.

2. Consider Joseph. Joseph was betrayed and sold by his brothers, falsely accused by his master’s wife, thrown into prison by his master, and forgotten by the cupbearer. His life was flipped upside down for years. Read Genesis 45:5-8. Why was Joseph’s life turned upside down?

Can you think of a time in your life when a tough situation or a major change was actually God’s provision or protection for you?

What we preceive as chaos may be for our protection or provision.

God Draws Us Closer Read Matthew 16:21-23. Before this Peter had declared that Jesus was the Son of the Living God; He was Messiah. He had placed his hopes and dreams in Jesus. He also likely still believed the present-day teachings that the Messiah would come more as a conqueror to overthrow the government. Now, Jesus was saying that He was going to die. His friend, his master, and the one he had given up everything to follow was going to die. Peter didn’t like it.

He rebuked Jesus. However, Jesus sharply rebuts Peter. He says his mind is not on the concerns of God but on the concerns of man. In the middle of hearing the bad news, Jesus wanted Peter to see the bigger picture, not focus on the earthly.

Or you may remember that Paul had a thorn in the flesh.

But notice what he says about it in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. This difficulity taught Paul to rest in God’s grace, to glory in God’s strength. In the middle of life’s chaos, we need to rest in God’s grace, His glory, and His strength like Paul.

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JULY STUDY After my husband, Neil’s, sophomore year at Welch College, he spent two and a half months in India. He was with Carlisle Hanna for a few weeks, and then he and a friend went to South India for several weeks. After this he took a year off from college and taught at the Free Will Baptist school in the US Virgin Islands. His year was a rough one. He had never taught before, and he faced discipline issues, spiritual challenges, few resources, and long hours. Then his brother attempted suicide. Life was complicated.

Neil was praying for the situation to improve, begging God to make a difference, when he realized that maybe God wanted to transform him through the situation. Neil’s perspective and prayers changed and he began to grow spiritually.

Sometimes, God uses difficulities in our lives, even those where we feel our world is upside down, to bring us more in line with His plan and His will.

Can you think of a time in which God used a topsy-turvy situation to draw you closer to Him?

Are you presently in a situation in which you need to change the way you are praying? How should you pray about your situation?

God Gets Glory 3. Let’s consider David. Dutifully, David left home to check on his brothers serving in the Israelite army, which was currently having a showdown with the Philistines. The Israelites were cowering in fear beneath the taunts of the Philistines and their giant, Goliath.

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and best of the Philistine army, yet he was too little to even fit into the king’s armor. So, he faced Goliath with no armor and five smooth stones. Notice what David says in 1 Samuel 17:46.

on the project. Now, we had to find a time to meet with her.

Later that day, we received a phone call from a British guy in Madrid whom we had met several months earlier. He said an

This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel (I Samuel 17:46).

This situation occurred for deliverance of the Israelites from the Philistines sure, but also so that ALL the earth would know there is a God in Israel. God wants His name to be exalted.

Due to field requirements, when we transferred to Spain, we had to study Spanish culture.

Our lives were very busy: fulltime university work in Spanish, three kids in school with homework and afterschool activities, work at the church, teaching English classes, and to top it off, Neil started having health problems. We were stressed.

Then, one of our classes announced a 15-minute presentation and research paper as our final exam. A Chinese girl from our class asked to work with us 20 treasure

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American professor who taught at a Chinese university had contacted him about a student who was studying in Alcalá (where we lived) and was severely depressed and suicidal. The British guy asked us to find this girl and help her. Here we were, overwhelmed by a completely full schedule and were now expected to locate one student out of approximately 26,000. Then, he told us her name.

It was the same girl who asked to work with us on the project! We did everything we could to help her emotionally and spiritually. One day she was at our house and Neil felt compelled to pointedly ask her, “Do you believe there is a God?” She answered, “I do believe

JULY STUDY there is a God. I just don’t know his name.” We were able to share His name with her. The changes in our schedule, the placement of people around the world, and the project were all part of a plan to exalt the Name above all names.

God's Thoughts Are Higher Than Ours When I think about the Bible and people in it whose lives were turned upside down, I immediately think of Job. In the beginning of chapter one, he had everything a person could want. By the end of chapter two, he had lost everything. In other words, he had lost status, family, riches, and health.

To our knowledge, he never finds out why. When God answers him, God asks him a series of questions, such as the one in Job 38:4, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.” God is teaching Job there are things man simply can’t understand. There are situations we can’t understand as well.

Isaiah 55:8-9 states that His thoughts are not our thoughts.

Neither are our ways His ways. His ways are higher/better than our ways and his thoughts are higher/better than our thoughts. So, when we don’t understand, we choose to trust.

I’m reminded of the second and third verses of the hymn, “The Solid Rock.”

When darkness seems to hide His face I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way He then is all my hope and stay SUMMER 2020

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We serve a God who is in control. We serve a God who is working things together. We serve a God who has a plan. A plan that could be for our protection, to draw us closer to Him and align our will with His, or for His exaltation. We serve a God whose thoughts and ways are higher than ours. We serve a God who is faithful, so “when all around my soul gives way—He then is all my hope and stay.”

About the Author: Mandi Morgan and her husband Neil live in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, where they assist pastor José Manuel in the Esperanza Church. They also teach English classes through the University of Alcalá and encourage and help the church with multiple outreach opportunities. They have three daughters, Emma, Aubrey, and Sofia.

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Say Uncle Higher Thoughts

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Cry uncle. What mental picture does that phrase suggest? A taunt from an unwanted challenger? A bully who twisted an arm or pinched some skin? A chant from arm wrestling onlookers? Crying uncle means we’re ready to quit. We’ve reached our limits. We’re done. We acknowledge our weakness and admit defeat. And on that declaration hinges an unspoken hope for release.

Reality is, the blessed life we aspire to as believers involves trials and challenges. The heart of the Gospel is a cross. The Apostle Paul spoke frequently of both joy and suffering. His writings offer hope and encouragement for our wrestling. How did Paul silence the uncle? How did he move from “pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life” to “thanks be to God who always causeth us to triumph in Christ”? The Book of 2 Corinthians provides an overview of Paul’s struggles and his pathway to victory, a victory that can also be ours for silencing the uncle in our spirits and giving us strength to endure.

The influence of your uncle truly is a relative thing. Earthly family can play a major role in how you face difficulties. Medical and mental health professionals recognize that childhood events greatly determine resiliency.

ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) tend to lower ability to rebound or endure.

Personality bent plays into resiliency. A “strong-willed child” may possess greater reserves. Spiritual family also factors into holding power.

Do you maintain a close relationship with your Father?

Do you have supportive Christian brothers and sisters?

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How long have you lived as a member of God’s family? Healthy family connectedness increases strength and fuels our joy.

Where’s Your Uncle?

On a scale of 1-10, rate your resiliency.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Would you rate your personality bent as strong-willed, compliant, or complaining?

On a scale of 1-10, rate your spiritual family connectedness With God 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 With Christian brothers and sisters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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Encountering the Uncles The Uncle of Past Little is written about Paul’s early life. Considering the opportunities he was given as a young “rabbi” at the feet of Gamaliel, his childhood may have been idyllic. However, his early adulthood yielded plenty of fodder for the uncle of past. Imagine how uncomfortable Paul must have felt during his initial introduction to the early church, knowing that believers everywhere were talking about his past and expressing skepticism about his testimony. Paul’s writings give indications that his past held potential to haunt him. Imprisoned in Rome, did the uncle of past echo reminders of Agabus’ prophetic warning against going to Jerusalem or Agrippa’s declaration that he would have been free had he not appealed unto Caesar?

Read 2 Corinthians 11:30-33. Why do you suppose Paul mentioned this incident in relation to his weakness? Do any former defeats or decisions activate your uncle of past?

The Uncle of Perception Perception proved a major problem in Corinth. Paul was perceived as weak. He was demoted in the eyes of the Corinthians who began to exalt and follow some “super apostles.” On the flip side, Paul could have definitely put on the pride. Were his impressive credentials a source of inner conflict? Did these boasts of others hit a familiar nerve and incite an area of sensitivity?

Read 2 Corinthians 10:12-16. Which is more an issue for you— people pleasing, comparison, or pride? Does the thought of measuring up to self-expectations or the expectations of others threaten your joy and endurance? Is perception your uncle?

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The Uncle of Pain Finding perspective and purpose in pain can be difficult. Physical pain can chip away at our endurance, cause to question our faith, and consume our very being. A read through of 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 reveals that physical pain was a frequent traveling companion for Paul. In addition, Paul suffered plenty of emotional hurt.

In 2 Corinthians 2:1-4, we sense the depths of his anguish.

Read these two passages and list any descriptive words or phrases that come to mind. Has the uncle of pain ever knocked on your door or threatened to take you down? Are you there now? How do you respond?

The Uncle of Preoccupation Oswald Chambers wrote, “Spiritual exhaustion is never the result of sin, but of service” (My Utmost for His Highest, February 9).

Although exhaustion may not result from sin, our approach toward it may result in sin. Are you prone to worry? What preoccupies your thoughts when you are tired? Paul’s proverbial plate was piled high with travel itinerary, tent-making toil, and teaching opportunities. Second Corinthians 2:12-13 and 11:28 offer insight into Paul’s struggles with preoccupation. Yet he did “not lose heart.”

Has the enemy enlisted the uncle of preoccupation in his attack plan upon you?

Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. How is taking every thought captive an effective defense strategy for this uncle?

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Identify Your Uncle With which one of these uncles do you most identify? Does your uncle have a different name? If so, write it below.

Uncle cries rarely happen randomly. Uncles typically follow a distinct pattern that begins with doubt. Doubt fuels discouragement. Discouragement brings disillusionment. Disillusionment leads to despair. Despair yields defeat. Although Paul experienced doubt, discouragement, disillusionment, and even despair, defeat was not his destination.

DOUBT: Paul countered doubt with declaration (2 Timothy 1:12).

So can we. Find and speak a declaration of truth (relevant Scripture for your situation).

DISCOURAGEMENT: Paul countered discouragement by enumerating blessings and investing in others’ lives (Philippians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3; 2 Timothy 2:2; 4:11). Count your many blessings; include people God has used to bless your life. Prayerfully consider spiritual mentoring as investment.

DISILLUSIONMENT: Paul countered disillusionment with affirmations and factual realities (Philippians 3:13; 2 Timothy 4:7; 2 Corinthians 1:7-9). Trace God’s hand in your life. Revisit the things you know are certain about yourself, your faith, and God’s work.

DESPAIR: Paul countered despair with encouragement and hope (1 Thessalonians 3:7; Philippians 1:20; 2 Timothy 4:17, Romans 15:4). Speak encouragement into the lives of others; allow God to strengthen and encourage as you hold on to hope. Do a word study of hope in Paul’s writings for encouragement.

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Eight Insights for the Uncles From 2 Corinthians, we can glean at least eight tools or insights for silencing uncle cries.

1. Wholesome Renewal (2 Corinthians 4:16; 7:5-6; 6:14—7:1).

Paul experienced outward conflicts as well as inward emotional turmoil. He accredited his perseverance to daily inner renewal. As we spend intentional time in the presence of Christ, reading the Word and allowing the Spirit to speak to us, we gain new perspective and strength for holy living.

Godly choices make for contented lives.

"Peace is not the absence of trouble; it's the presence of Christ.

—Judah Smith "How's Your Soul" (YouVersion.com 2. Focused Hope (2 Corinthians 1:10; 4:17; 5:5-6, 11, 14).

Paul’s hope of deliverance kept him going in the midst of trials beyond his ability to endure. Fueled by holy awe of God, the Spirit’s promise of Heaven and the compelling love "While other worldviews of Christ, he remained hopeful. lead us to sit in the midst Paul recognized that his courage of life's joys, foreseeing the and boldness emerged from this coming sorrows, Christianity solid hope and from the realizaempowers its people to sit in tion that no matter what befell the midst of this world's sorhim on earth, Heaven would rows, tasting the coming joy." be better. He rated his troubles —Tim Keller as light in comparison to the "Walking with God Through eternal weight of glory. Eternal Pain and Suffering, p. 31 perspective allows us to endure (desiringgod.org) and remain hopeful in seemingly hopeless times.

3. Effective Grace (2 Corinthians 1:12; 4:15; 6:1-3; 8:9, 12:9).

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AUGUST STUDY the gospel with others. Recognizing this responsibility, he urged the Corinthians not to take God’s marvelous and abundant grace for granted. Remaining smug in our own salvation denies others of the unmerited grace we have so freely received. Effective grace means placing no obstacles in other’s lives that would hinder their salvation. A mindset of keeping our lives in check—not for the approval of others, but for the salvation of others—opens doors for the gospel and quells the uncle cry. The realization that God has lavished His grace upon us serves to keep us gracious and humbled. Gracious living involves not only humility, but an acceptance of our weaknesses. It’s about balancing thorns and third-heaven experiences, believing His grace is sufficient for whatever we face.

4. Intentional Measures (2 Corinthians 1:11-14; 2:17; 10:1012; 8:18-23). Paul strove to be authentic with the Corinthians. This was the so-called complaint that his adversaries brought against him—that he was one thing in his writings, and another in person. In our world of social media saturation, the need for authenticity remains forefront. Paul sought to live above reproach. He took up an offering by committee. He authenticated his team partners and traveling messengers, and explained changes in his plans to visit the Corinthians. He clarified why he did what he did. Intentional measures on our part keep us accountable, and accountability often keeps us in the race when we feel misunderstood or invalidated and are tempted to concede defeat.

5. Balanced Perspective (2 Corinthians 12:15-16; 7:8-13). How do you respond to criticism? Or how do you react when your words cause others grief? Paul shared that he grieved at having to correct his spiritual children, yet he also realized the value of grief and godly sorrow. Paul also felt the weight of undue criticism. He examined these claims and took them into consideration, but did not let them disparage him.

6. Open Hearts (2 Corinthians 6:11-12; 7:2). Often our tendency when we are down, frustrated, or discouraged is to isolate. Yet Paul shared that he had opened wide his heart to the Corinthians and encouraged them to make room SUMMER 2020

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for us in your hearts. Vulnerability involves risk. Yet, as we share our burdens and open our hearts with others, we find mutual encouragement.

7. Abundant Generosity (2 Corinthians 9:6-7, 11-13). Paul commended the Corinthians for their giving and offered them perspective. Whether it’s time or funding, we often abundantly receive as we generously give. Sharing a meal, visiting a shut-in, participating in a special offering can build encour"The measure agement and hope as we recognize of a life, after all, is that the God who provided the renot its duration, but sources we give, can abundantly its donation." supply all our needs in the same —Corrie Ten Boom way. Paul described giving as both a priestly ministry and a partnership. Recognizing our calling and realizing the results of our giving can both generate praise to God and fuel our fire to carry on.

8. Restorative Plans (2 Corinthians 2:5-11; 5:19-20, 13:11).

Paul’s goals included restoration and reconciliation. He saw the role of believers as ambassadors, making appeals and pleas for reconciliation with God among those blinded by the god of this world. Paul’s plan also included restoration among believers. In Corinth, this meant reunification with a brother who had sinned and suffered consequences. Paul preached forgiveness, and he entrusted the Corinthians in their determination—whomever they forgave, he would also forgive. Unforgiveness, Paul reminded, is yet another enemy ploy. Paul’s final greetings in this letter include admonitions for restitution and unity.

How close are you to an uncle? Have you already been there?

Then use that experience to encourage someone else (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). Are you currently headed down that road? God calls us to live differently. We can follow in Paul’s footsteps, choosing the path that draws us closer to a Father rather than an uncle.

About the Author: Sarah Fletcher, former editor for WNAC and her husband, Keith, live in Johnston City, Illinois, where he pastors Johnston City Free Will Baptist church. Sarah is a licensed professional counselor.

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VISION by Elizabeth Hodges

“In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:34).

These words of Jesus paint a realistic picture of the life of a believer. It is not all moonlight and roses. Troubles, trials, chaos, and confusion will be part of our lives. Each day will have its own measure of evil. Yet, this world is not our home. The writer of Hebrews describes Abraham’s journey stating, “by faith he sojourned in the land of promise, …he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (11:9-10).

Is our first response to turn to the Lord in these difficult situations? Jeremiah reminds us, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (33:3). The Psalmist adds, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (56:3). Paul said, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). Many times we turn to the Lord after we have exhausted all of our own resources, when we should turn to Him first. “He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

Paul challenges us to “set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). Too often, we miss the fingerprints of God on our lives because we are busy, rushed, or tired. Does observing creation help focus our hearts and minds on God? Enjoy the changing of the seasons, the beautiful variations of flowers and birds, the sunrise and sunset on the commute to work.

Thank you, God, for allowing us to observe Your creative ability amidst a chaotic world. Help us to follow the admonition of Isaiah, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (26:3). You are a great God. SUMMER 2020

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