Author: WWNTBM

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Lives of Faith

Many of the morning sessions centered around Hebrews 11 and the eternal weight of glory lived out by men and women mentioned there. We were encouraged to allow the eternal weight of glory to impact our own spiritual journeys. To listen to the audio of the sermon, click on the sermon title. (Note: This will take you to our Uplift website. You may be asked to login using the username wwntbm and the password gospel.) If you would like to email the preacher and let him know how his message spoke to your heart, you can click the name below the title.

The Eternal Weight of Glory in the Life of Isaac
John O’Malley

Although Isaac was the son of promise, we know very little of his life in comparison to the lives of his father, Abraham, and his son, Jacob. Isaac stood in gap and passed on his knowledge of God to the future generation because God’s character was evident in his own life. He learned of God’s purity at his circumcision. He often rehearsed God’s promises with his own father. He saw God’s provision on Mount Moriah. He felt God’s peace as he meditated at the well Lahairoi. May the Eternal Weight of Glory motivate us to pass on the torch even when nobody recognizes our accomplishments.

The Eternal Weight of Glory in the Life of Jacob
Gene Krachenfels

Jacob’s life included many trials and contrasts, but his legacy was one of faith, and his knowledge of the eternal glory is revealed in the names of his sons. Reuben’s name references a son and points to the Person of Redemption in Christ. Simeon’s name, “hearing,” indicates the Preaching of Redemption. Levi’s name means “joining” and thereby shows the Peace of Redemption as we are made one in Christ. Judah sang forth the Praise of Redemption. Dan exemplified the Pardon of Redemption, as God judged our sins on the cross. Naphtali’s name refers to wrestling, and thus the Problem of the Redeemed, as our trials are not over at salvation. Gad’s name means “troop,” and points to the People of the Redeemed, indicating that the entire world can be saved! Asher’s name is a reference to blessed happiness, and reveals the Pleasure of the Redeemed through the great joy of salvation. Issachar’s name means “hiring” and thus shows us the Position of the Redeemed as servants. Zebulun was named as a reference to dwelling, and God has given the Promise of the Redeemed that we will dwell with Him eternally. Joseph’s name was Rachel’s plea for God to add to her, and reveals the Progress of the Redeemed, as we should continue to add to our faith and grow in grace. Jacob’s last son was given two names. His first, Benoni, indicates the “son of sorrow” and points to the Price of Redemption. But his second name, Benjamin, means “son of the right hand” and thus points to the Power of Redemption, as God is the author and finisher of our faith. May our view of the Eternal Weight of Glory allow us to leave behind a godly heritage.

The Eternal Weight of Glory in the Life of Abraham
Barry Goodman

The call on Abraham’s life showed God’s mandate and plan. Abraham’s life also reveals that there is a cost to the mission, as he was to leave behind his life and family. When he finally moved on from Haran, he faced a crisis in the menace of the people. He had moved from living with pagans in Ur, to being surrounded by pagans in Canaan. The crowd was the same, but his God was different, and therefore the affect of the crowd on his life was altered. The climax of Abraham’s life is revealed in his motive – he looked for a city! In the records of Genesis, Abraham was searching for a new city in Canaan, but the writer of Hebrews records for us that he was really looking for the eternal city. May our focus on the Eternal Weight of Glory remind us that this world is our passage, not our portion.

The Eternal Weight of Glory in the Life of Abel
Fred Daniel, Jr.

Abel’s life was cut short, but his impact endures. He left the testimony of his offering. He gave his best, by faith, in the right time and right manner that God had requested, and in so doing he acknowledged his sin. He obtained a testimony that he was righteous, as God Himself repeatedly refers to him as “righteous Abel.” God will testify of your sacrifices one day as well. Abel’s testimony is ongoing. His life bears eternal influence because of his giving. He came by faith not works, accepted revelation that was beyond his own will, and showed that sin will be severely punished. May our offerings to God testify of the Eternal Weight of Glory to those around us.

The Eternal Weight of Glory in the Life of Noah
Mike Renfrow

We learn much of Noah’s character in the Bible. He was an outstanding craftsman and had a wonderful family heritage. He was a man of patience and endurance and had a good wife who was willing to follow him as he followed the Lord. He was a man of faith in a culture that was depraved morally, deranged mentally, and dead spiritually. We know that his faith was attested to by others, authenticated by his works, and based on the Word of God. His faith was ignited by fear and moved him to be evangelistic. Noah’s life exalted God. Noah’s faith reminds us that God keeps His Word. Noah’s story proves that God is long-suffering. Noah’s salvation shows that God is just to judge the world. May our works preach to others the Eternal Weight of Glory and the benefits of serving the God Who keeps His promises!

The Eternal Weight of Glory in the Life of Joseph
Chad Estep

Joseph’s life of faith is summarized by his commandment concerning his bones. The one thing he clung to throughout his life was God’s promise to give his family the land of Canaan. He knew it was God’s plan for them to be in Egypt for a season. He realized God was using him as a means to get them there, and provide for them. Though he seemingly lost all control of his life at the age of 17, he willingly took his own hands off and chose to enjoy the journey, trusting that he would arrive safely at the end. Joseph was repeatedly elevated in his life, and each time he used the experience to elevate his God in the eyes of those around him. May our lives elevate our Savior, that others may see the Eternal Weight of Glory through us.

The Eternal Weight of Glory in the Life of Sarah
Michael West

As we study Scripture, it seems that at least a portion of the Eternal Weight of Glory is the revelation and knowledge of God Himself. Over a dozen times, Paul writes of his longing to see and know God. John writes of the day we will be with Him. It matters to God that we love Him and Him alone! Sarah’s story in Hebrews emphasizes that she herself received strength through faith. Until the point at which the Lord visits Abraham and gives the promise of their coming son, all Sarah has known of God has been through Abraham’s testimony. She listened for years to his tales of visions from God, but she herself never encountered God until that day. Although Abraham seemingly recognized he was speaking with the Lord, it is possible that Sarah, listening from inside the tent, laughed at these (apparent) strangers discussing her future. But then, as the Lord heard her laugh and spoke to her, and she realized for the first time Who it was making the promise. As she encountered the Lord for herself, she began to judge Him faithful. May we too begin to experience a portion of the Eternal Weight of Glory in our present lives, as we draw nigh and get to know our God!

The Eternal Weight of Glory in the Life of Enoch
Frank Camp

Enoch had a personal translation. There was a purpose for it, and much proof of it as countless others searched for him, but were not surprised that he was out walking with God! His translation was provided by God. Think of where you would like God to take you – today, tomorrow, and ultimately to heaven! Think of how others were affected by his walk and by his translation! Enoch also had a pleasing testimony that began with an experiential change which was also enduring. It was an exigent change – God took him without waiting for normal circumstances! His change was expectant – God’s plan for all is that we must come to God. Others were impacted as they observed his walk. Enoch preached the Truth. His message included the coming of the Lord and the condemnation on the ungodly. Others were changed as they listened to his preaching. May our life result in the Eternal Weight of Glory for other people, as did Enoch’s.

The Eternal Weight of Glory in the Life of Moses
Bill Wingard

God’s call on Moses’ life was provoking. He was not prepared, had not taught his family, and had not fully identified with God’s people through circumcision up to this point. But, Moses made choices. He chose the afflictions. He chose to follow God’s calling. Throughout his ministry he faced challenges. In many of those challenges, he plead for God on behalf of those causing him trouble. Though he was faithful in so many areas of his life, when the crisis of water came he made the wrong decision. As a result, his death was a private one outside of Canaan, and God refused him the greatest desire of his life. In his life, we see that decisions have long term consequences, they affect our families, and yet it is worth it all just to serve Christ. May we choose to suffer afflictions in this life, that we may see the Eternal Weight of Glory in the next.

 

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Sermons of Faith

These were the sermons preached during the evening services of Family Week. They were centered around the book of II Corinthians and the eternal weight of glory in Paul’s life. To listen to the audio of the sermon, click on the sermon title. (Note: This will take you to our Uplift website. You may be asked to login using the username wwntbm and the password gospel.) If you would like to email the preacher and let him know how his message spoke to your heart, you can click the name below the title.

Paul the Purchased
Danny Whetstone

Paul’s motivation is reflected in Acts 20:24, where he gives a four-fold outline of his ministry. He knew he had been purchased for a purpose. Nothing moved him. He planted his feet and steadfastly performed his duties. He counted nothing dear. He knew he was bought with a price, and therefore concluded that his life was dedicated to Christ’s will, so the most important thing he could do was what Christ desired. He longed to finish with joy. He knew this was a choice. God established his course, and when he factored God into the equation he could enjoy the journey in spite of the afflictions. He focused on the ministry. He had received it from God and was dedicated to God because he was purchased by God.

When Jesus Comes to Church
Bill Wingard

Christ began in the midst of the church, but as we trace the various church ages into the modern Laodicean age, in Revelations we see that He is now outside the church knocking to be admitted. Moses saw God’s glory, and his face shone with its light. We have access to a far greater glory, as God desires to change us into His glory. When the Lord is present, there will be changes. Those changes only increase as we spend more time with Him. When the Lord is present, it is noised abroad. You can’t hide it when the power of God is in the room. It is evident to others when He is in the room, and even when He is en route. (Luke 18:36) When the Lord is present, we ought to be excited about it! When we have invited Him and are seeking to live in a way that we do not quench or grieve His Spirit, we can expect that He will keep His promises. God’s Eternal Weight of Glory can never be extinguished or exhausted. The key for us to be changed is to ask Christ to come into our life, both in salvation and in daily living.

Paul’s Treasure
John O’Malley

Paul faced afflictions, but he never weighed the value of life against his afflictions, nor did he weigh his afflictions against those of others. Instead, he measured them against the Eternal Weight of God’s Glory. This Glory affected his view of afflictions, and his view of the ministry. It also revealed his treasure – the Gospel. God placed this treasure in earthen vessels – clay pots – so that when others see us they will look at the treasure, not the pot. God did this for several reasons. First, so we can never take credit for any success. Second, so others can see Jesus in our living and in our suffering. And third, so when others see what God did in us, they will rejoice for the grace of God and desire that grace for themselves.

Paul the Preacher
Danny Whetstone

As Paul neared the end of his life and prepared for his death, he wrote to Timothy. Paul had Christ’s imputed righteousness, but also believed he had earned a crown of righteousness, and he looked forward to receiving it. Paul had preached in many locations. Even as he neared death, he wanted to continue preaching and ministering. Others had forsaken him, yet the Lord remained and gave him strength to continue preaching. In the midst of his trials he had confidence that God would deliver him. He knew whereof he spoke, for he had already seen a glimpse of the glory that was to come. His trials and afflictions mattered not, so long as he could continue preaching the gospel until Christ took him home. God knew what Paul would face in his ministry, and prepared him by allowing him to glimpse the future glory. No wonder Paul was encouraged to fiercely face every foe, as he ran the race set before him.

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Biographies of Faith

We heard three Biographies of Faith that helped us see how the eternal weight of glory influenced the lives of Old Testament saints. To listen to the audio of the sermon, click on the sermon title. (Note: This will take you to our Uplift website. You may be asked to login using the username wwntbm and the password gospel.) If you would like to email the preacher and let him know how his message spoke to your heart, you can click the name below the title.

A Biography of Faith: The Life of Rahab
Elwood Hurst

In the life of Rahab, we see more of God than we do of her. Despite her past, God was willing to use her. He put her in the right place at the right time to help the spies, and then once she was rescued He put her in the right place to marry Salmon and thus to be in the lineage of Christ. In her life, we can see the providence, power, and plan of God. In telling her story, God does not leave out the details of her past, yet He puts them all together to show forth the Eternal Weight of Glory in how He can change the life of a sinner.

A Biography of Faith: The Life of Gideon
Randall Jordan

Gideon’s life reveals that he questioned and sometimes doubted God, yet in the end, God counted him in the hall of faith! God found him in hiding, and took the opportunity to increase Gideon’s faith. As Gideon placed his gift on the rock, God blessed it and brought peace. When Gideon obeyed and reduced his army, God worked in a mighty way. In the end, even though God won the victory, He gave to Gideon the title of a mighty man of valor. Gideon’s life is evidence that when we step aside and allow God to work through us, God will allow the Eternal Weight of Glory to remove our doubt and change us into the person He desires.

A Biography of Faith: The Life of Jephthah
Mike Ward

Jephthah’s life makes for interesting reading. He was a man of valor, as was Gideon. He did not allow the view others held of him, as the son of a harlot, to dictate his life. Vain men were attracted to him, but he took them and molded them through his leadership to become a fighting force, and won many victories. He is famous for his vow. He allowed God to take vengeance on his enemies. There is much value we can learn from his life. He took a negative and made it a positive. His life shows again that God delights in using that which others find unusable. He could have easily given up, but he did not. Instead, he stayed true to his commitment to God. All of these lessons remind us how the Eternal Weight of Glory can be testified to in our lives.

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The Homegoing of Isamo Welles

January 19, 1941-June 15, 2017

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Isamo Welles played an integral part in the founding of WWNTBM and in the spread of the Gospel throughout Micronesia. Bro. Wingard first met Bro. Welles around 1970. Bro. Isamo heard him speak on the radio and wrote asking Bro. Wingard to visit Pohnpei. During that visit, the Calvary Baptist Church of Kolonia was founded and began meeting in the Welles’ home. Under Bro. Isamo’s leadership, Calvary went on to start five daughter churches on Pohnpei, as well as a TV ministry, Christian school, Bible Institute, and radio station. In addition, works in Kosrae, Yap, Majuro, and Jaluit grew under the sponsorship of the Calvary Baptist Church.

Isamo Welles was born on January 19, 1941. He attended school in Canada, where he graduated in 1968. He married Esther Joel on June 7, 1969. Together, they have six children: Kenneth, Glenda, Gordon, Shirley, Bruce, and Annette.

Bro. Isamo worked for a time with the Juvenile Delinquency Office, as well as for the US Post Office. In 1972 he was officially accepted as a missionary with WWNTBM. Due to his extensive influence throughout Micronesia and the Pacific Islands, Isamo Welles has become known to many as the “Apostle Paul of Micronesia.” In recognition of his efforts to assist the cause of missions, he was made an Honorary Member of the Executive Board of WWNTBM in June of 2002.

If you would like to contact the family, you can email Mrs. Esther, or mail cards to her home:
P.O. Box 2179
Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941
MICRONESIA

As a tribute to Bro. Welles, we are including the words to the song At Home In Heaven. Click below to listen to the Calvary Baptist Church choir sing.

At Home In Heaven

Right here I travel through this world of trouble and sorrow,
And sense I’m a stranger everywhere.
But up to heaven I will go some happy tomorrow,
And I’ll feel at home when I get there!

I know I’ll feel at home in heaven,
Abiding in a mansion of my own!
I’ll be no stranger to the angels,
For I shall know up there as I am known.
Sometimes I feel so sad and lonely,
Can’t seem to be contented anywhere –
But someday soon I’ll move to heaven,
And I know I’ll feel at home when I get there.

I often read of heaven and of its beauty, I ponder
And think of its treasures rich and rare;
For if I know about the things awaiting me yonder
Then I’ll feel at home when I get there.

Each day I praise the Lord for blessings that He has given,
And thank Him for all His tender care.
I want to stay in tune with all the glory of heaven,
So I’ll feel at home when I get there!

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From the Memo Board: July 2017

Dates to Know

July 4 – The Office will be closed for Independence Day.

New Board of Reference Member

We would like to welcome Pastor David Fulp as a new member to the Board of Reference of WWNTBM. Pastor Fulp and his wife, Lisa, are from Madison, NC, where he has pastored the Good News Baptist Church for 19 years. They have been in ministry for over 30 years, serving in several locations in VA and NC. Mrs. Fulp teaches at the Gospel Light Christian School in Walkertown, NC. They are parents of our missionary, Stephanie Germano, as well as a son, David II, who is also in ministry.

 New Baby!

Congratulations to Nick and Lindsey Stelzig on the birth of Elliana Joyce Stelzig. Ellie was born May 31, and she weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. The Stelzigs are on deputation to church plant in Boston, MA. They have one older son, Gabriel, who is 2.

Mark Your Calendars

Now is the time to begin planning to attend next year’s Family Fellowship Week. We will meet June 18-21, 2018, with Pastor Barry Goodman and the Faith Baptist Church of Shelby, NC. If you are planning a furlough in 2018, please be sure to arrange your schedule so you can attend this meeting. It is truly the highlight of the WWNTBM year.

Europe Encouragement Conference

You are invited to attend our WWNTBM Encouragement Conference in Germany. We will hold this conference August 20-24, 2018.

This conference is open to all World Wide families. We anticipate board members and missionaries from North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East who may come. There will be time for leisure, preaching, shopping, and fellowship.

The meeting will be held an hour and a half north of Munich, close to the area where Lisa Kendrick and Keith and Julia Klaus are serving. You will be able to fly into Munich and take a train to the conference location. More details will be available as we get closer, but we want you to begin making plans now to attend this unique event.

 

Reformers Unanimous

Memorial Baptist Church has a thriving RU ministry, seeking to help individuals break the chains of addiction. This week we heard testimonies from several in their church who have been impacted through this outreach and some quotes from their testimonies are included below. Further information about RU is available on their church website.

“My freedom no longer belongs to me, it belongs to others, so I can help them as I was helped.” Bill Davis

“Turns out, God knows what He is doing in our lives!” Jessica Davis

“I asked God if I could make myself vulnerable to Him, and found that I could.” Chloe Loring

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Prayer & Dates: July 2017

July Prayer/Praises and Special Dates

Click the link above to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for July. Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document. Once you have logged in, click on Files, Shared, then Headquarter Happenings, then scroll to the month you would like to view. This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.

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Family Fellowship Week 2017 Quotes

“God hold us to that which drew us first, when the cross was the attraction, and we wanted nothing else.” Amy Carmichael

“God evaluates not our failures but our faith.” John O’Malley

“God does not wait for us to be qualified before He calls us to His service.” Barry Goodman

“See how Providence, in dispensing its gifts, observes a proportion, to keep the balance even, setting crosses and comforts one over-against another, that none may be either too much elevated or too much depressed.” Matthew Henry

“Death is never the last word in the life of a righteous man.” Fred Daniel, Jr.

“Too many Christians are like porcupines – they have many fine points but you can’t get close to them!” Mike Renfrow

“What I need to know most is Him, and when I know Him, it will cause me to judge Him faithful.” Michael West

“If we think God is late, we are in too big of a hurry.” Dwight Williams

“The reproach of Christ is honorable, but that does not make it easy to bear.” Bill Wingard

“When you know you have been dispatched by heaven, it takes a lot to stop you.” Danny Whetstone

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Prayer & Dates: June 2017

June Prayer/Praises and Special Dates

Click the link above to download a PDF of prayer requests and praises as well as the birthdays and anniversaries for June. Note: You will need to login to SecureCloud in order to view this document. Once you have logged in, click on Files, Shared, then Headquarter Happenings, then scroll to the month you would like to view. This step protects people with WWNTBM in restricted access fields.

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From the Memo Board: June 2017

Dates to Know

June 19-23 – The Office will be closed for Family Fellowship Week.

July 4 – The Office will be closed for Independence Day.

August 20-24, 2018 – Encouragement Conference in Germany.

Encouragement Meetings

Have you joined one of our encouragement meetings yet? We have had some great feedback from those who have attended, or who have listened to the recordings. We invite you to join in and be uplifted!

Weekly meetings, geared primarily towards those on deputation, are held each Friday at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). Meetings geared primarily towards those in a field-based ministry are currently being held twice each month. These are scheduled for 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on the second Tuesday morning of each month, and for 9:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on the fourth Tuesday evening of each month. Questions about how to join one of the meetings may be directed to Laura Cmaylo.

The upcoming schedule of meetings is as follows:

Tuesday, June 13th – 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, June 27th – 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 11th – 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, July 25th – 9:00 p.m.

Uplift Podcasts

Last month we announced our newest website – uplift.wwntbm.com – where we publish podcast of our weekly and bi-weekly meetings. We have finished uploading all prior podcasts, and have streamlined the site. Check us out and subscribe to these podcasts to be encouraged and stay connected. Users will need to log in to the site in order to protect the content, so that any material shared in meetings will be confidential within the World Wide family. The username is wwntbm. The password is gospel. Be sure to check back frequently to be edified and uplifted!

New Baby

Congratulations to Stephen and Charity Jenney on the birth of their newest baby, Noah Charles. He was born on May 1, and weighed 9 pounds 6 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. The Jenneys are on deputation to go to the Southwestern United States. Noah is their 3rd son, and joins his brothers Judson (2) and Samuel (1).

 

 

 

 

New Missionaries

Stephen and Anelly Villarreal have been accepted with World Wide as our newest missionaries to Mexico. They are sent out of the Temple Baptist Church in Laurens, SC, with Pastor David Johnston. Bro. Villarreal grew up in Mexico, where his parents are missionaries. Anelly (pronounced Áhnalee) is also from Mexico. They graduated from West Coast Baptist College and had their civil wedding ceremony this past month. They will have their religious ceremony in August. Their plans are to go to Mexico to serve as furlough replacements for his parents for one year, before returning to the US to begin deputation. Pray for them as they begin their new life and ministry together!

 

Smothers Wedding

Congratulations to Joel Smothers and Noel Ring, who will be married on Saturday, June 10! Joel has already been traveling on deputation with World Wide. Noel grew up in Brazil where her family continues to serve as missionaries. She has been teaching at the Puerto Rico Baptist College for the past two years. Please be in prayer for this young couple as they begin their life together, and as they raise support for their future ministry in Brazil. They plan to work with the Dickens family.

The God of the Impossible

“The Israelites could not conquer Canaan if they could not get to it, and getting to it required taking an impossible path–across the raging Jordan River. We too are sometimes called in our ministries to do what seems impossible. We must prepare to walk the impossible path by clinging to God’s promises. His presence makes the impossible path a road you can take.” Author unknown

If you today are facing a seemingly impossible task, meditate on these words by Frank Garlock:

I don’t know how God hangs the world on nothing,
Or how He keeps the planets each in place.
I cannot count the sands upon the seashore,
Nor can I count the stars that float in space.
But God can do what seems impossible;
God controls eternity.
My mind can never comprehend it,
But God in heaven cares for me!

“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27

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Featured Article: Questions God Asked Hagar

Bro. Keith Klaus (missionary to Germany) shared this devotional on Uplift, our weekly podcast. We trust it will be a blessing to our entire missions family. It is taken from a series of messages he has recently preached in his church on “Questions God Asks of Man.”

God always asks questions not for information, but to get mankind to respond to Him. (Genesis 16:1-6)

The story begins with a promise from God to Abraham. Initially, Abraham simply took God at His Word and believed that He could and would do something special. However, as time went on and they had no son, Abraham and Sarah did what most of us do. We think on God’s promises and identify the “problems” with His plans. There is no indication that Sarah believed God as Abraham had. So as she thought of the “problems,” she also presented her own solution. From a human perspective, her solution worked – at least initially. God often does allow our solutions to work, even if they go against His plan. But, those solutions often have consequences that we are not prepared to deal with.

As trouble grew between Hagar and Sarah, Sarah chose to blame Abraham. Abraham put the responsibility back on her to find another solution to the current crisis, and Sarah chose to respond with harshness. The result was that Hagar fled from home.

Enter God. He finds Hagar in the desert and asks her two critical questions. “Where are you coming from?” and “Where are you going?”

The first question God ever asked Adam was, “Where are you?” But here, He already knows where to find Hagar. He knew she was in a place of turmoil. God asked Jacob, “What is your name?” but here He called Hagar by name because He wanted to have a personal conversation with her.

There are two other instances in Scripture where God asks, “Where did you come from?” Both times He was addressing Satan in Job 1:7 and 2:2. A similar question is recorded when Christ met Nathanael, and Nathanael asked Christ, “Where did you find me?” Of course, Christ knew where Nathanael had come from–Christ had seen him before Philip had called him.

These two questions are applicable to those on deputation or in missions! We focus often on where we came from, whether we list our home country, or our home state, or the last meeting we were in before we arrived at the current location.

The second question, “Where are you going?” is equally important, but notice that Hagar did not answer the second question. She focused on the first. There was much she could have said. She focused on the pain. She was engaged with the current problems she faced and was overwhelmed with the burden. Perhaps she intended to return to Egypt. If that was the case, there is good chance she did not even know how to get there. There was a slim chance she, as a pregnant woman alone in the desert, would survive the trip.

We too must identify where we are coming from. Think of where God has brought you. Understand the history of how He has led you to this point. But then, as with Paul, you must look forward. Put the past in the past and press forward.

Hagar did not answer the second question. All she knew was that she decided to leave her troubles behind. Every decision brings results. Her decision put her in a desert alone, perhaps unaware of where she actually was at the moment. Abraham and Sarah’s decisions had affected her plans. Our decisions will affect others as well.

We may find ourselves, like Job, in a situation where we don’t know what is happening. Yet God always knows! (Job 23:10) Job was comforted when he realized that he didn’t need to know the answers, so long as he knew that God knew! God takes an interest in you as well!

Notice the angel’s response to Hagar: “Return. Submit.” Probably nothing He could have said would have been more discouraging. He told her to go back to a place of difficulty and humble herself before her harsh authority.

God does call us to go. Those of us in missions focus on always going and moving towards future ministry. But now came a call to go back, and stay in a hard place. Plant your feet. Obey. Let God use the time to sand off the rough edges and work His plan. Yet, that call did not come without a promise!

The Lord had heard Hagar. He promised to bless her! Even though the long term, still ongoing consequences of Abraham and Sarah’s decisions has resulted in much turmoil throughout the world, we must not lose hold of the fact that Ishmael’s birth was a blessing from God to Hagar and a fulfillment of God’s promise to her.

We can rest in knowing that when God calls us to stay in a difficult place He promises to be with us, and He will keep His promise and use those difficulties to perfect His will in our lives.

If this devotional has been a blessing to you, please contact Bro. Klaus and let him know!