God is Faithful - Richard Yarrall - mission service to Latin America

Richard and Nancye Yarrall have served as missionaries to Latin America for nearly 50 years. Their ministry Latino people has been in Colombia and Los Angeles. Today he encouraged us that God is Faithful.

1 Thess 5:24. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.

 Three important things in the Christian life and the Faithfulness of God that Richard has learned over decades of ministry:

1. You must have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. To walk with him day by day

2. Be always in the Word of God; be guided by the word of God because the Word is powerful and sharper than any two edge sword.

3. Be guided by the Holy Spirit

The step of faith eventually becomes the walk of faith.

God is both faithful and He will accomplish what He said He will do. Only what is invested in eternity will endure.

2 Tim 4:6  We must live our life in the Light of Christ returning.

If God calls us, God is faithful, and being faithful he will do it. We can trust him to fulfill what he has called us to do.

Jonah 1: God without borders - Andrew S

We commence a short series on the Book of Jonah. Andrew brings us a rich overview of the power of the Assyrian nation at the time of Jonah and the severity of the Ninevites and suggests reasons to understand why Jonah acted in disobedience to God at the thought that Israel's oppressors might be forgiven and redeemed.

The text instructs us that the Lord God is the the God of the Jews and the Gentiles. Jonah is unique in that it is the only account of a prophet speaking to a Gentile nation for the benefit of the nation, and not for any benefit or instruction to Israel. It is a book of mission.

Andrew explains that the use of a great fish to deliver wisdom of salvation was completely in keeping with the mythology of the Assyrians who believed that all wisdom for civilisation came from seven sages who appeared from the sea. Assyrian iconography and sculpture depicts men in the form of fish giving teaching and instruction.

Andrew also parallels the account of Jesus in the boat in the storm in Mark 4 and Jonah asleep in a boat in a storm. Jesus is sleeps perfectly connected to the will of the Father while Jonah is detached and immune to his circumstances and his role for the salvation of the sailors. The parallel is drawn with out own lives as to whether we are connected or detached from God's will.