Day of Prayer and Fasting
God’s Church has been hit hard in recent weeks with sickness and other assorted trials straight across organizational lines. Throughout the history of believers in God, fasts have been called in order that the faithful might humble themselves while petitioning God for His miraculous intervention. We believe that now is one of those times. As one, let’s set aside this Sabbath, October 16, 2021, as a day of petitioning God in fasting and prayer. Let’s humbly ask His divine intervention for all His begotten ones who are currently in hard trials.”
Weekly Update
How many times through the years have we been so very thankful for God’s calling that it shocked us to our spiritual senses so that we could press forward in our lives for the prize of the upward call that awaits us in Christ? Countless times! We have an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance reserved for us who are kept by God’s very power, that, by faith, will not fade away! We continually need to reflect on these priceless truths and now, especially so.
Speaking of these truths, the Apostle Peter said, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials” (1 Peter 1:6). We are now in such a season as Peter describes. Assuredly we do have grievous trials of various sorts: health for some and seemingly insurmountable circumstances for others. Peter says, “if need be”, because these trials work a priceless function in our lives. The Apostle James said that the testing of our faith produces patience and that we are to let patience have its perfect work. Its purpose is so that we can become spiritually complete – just like our Father and our Elder Brother.
Peter put it this way: “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:7-9). The trials that have befallen us in recent weeks have been allowed by God to test our faith and to perfect us, so that our salvation will be complete in the end. Let us faithfully follow the examples of the apostles, and all of the faithful before us, to a glorious new life awaiting.
Marshall Stiver
