Encouragement Can Help Others
Volume 11     Edition 01     21 Jan 2007
http://www.forministry.com/USWAIFCAISBCSB

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”   Hebrews 10:22

4 - EDITOR's CORNER  

Devam Etmek

(Keep On)

In May of 2006, my family and I arrived at Incirlik (pronounced in-jur-lik) Air Base , Turkey for a 2 year military assignment.  Life in a new country for the entire family became a very interesting adjustment for us all.  In fact, in many ways, we are still trying to adjust.  My lovely wife, Julee has adjusted well with many of the local nationalist customs and language, and easiest, I believe, of us all as she began trying to learn and speak common phrases and greetings with those she met throughout her daily routines.  Some simple comments we hear often are marehaba (mer-aar-baa; which means hello), Nasılsın (naw-səl-sin; how are you), and iyi günler (ē goon-lēr; good day).  The phrase “devam etmek” (dev-aarm et-mek) is Turkish for “keep on”, and is also the title of this study, which comes from an interesting phrase in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing” (we’ll go into that a bit more about that at a later time).

Life in a foreign country is sometimes a bit challenging.  The conveniences of the everyday nickel & dime store (today it’s better known as the dollar store), fast food restaurant varieties, or the medical treatments are not quit as easily obtained as stateside conveniences.  These are just a few simple of the many benefits our military personnel lay down in order to serve and protect our countries rights and freedoms today.  Those in hot zones and dangerous areas of highly armed conflict give up even more.  Some even give their life as their final sacrifice.  But of all that we have and don’t have, one of the hardest things missed is the ease and opportunity of fellowship and communication with our friends and family back home, with those in the warmth and security of their homes, towns, and villages.

During this “deployment” I am currently serving with my family, here in Turkey , the Lord is teaching me to “Keep On.”  No matter how harsh my circumstances might seem (or not seem) to be, that I must keep on, not to quite but press forward and carry on in the good fight, and finish the race with honor (Acts 20:24; 1 Cor 9:24; 1 Tim 6:12; 2 Tim 4:7; Heb 12:1).

ECHO / the Barnabas Ministries (Intl) focus is taking more of perspective view on the theme of “Keeping On”, and hopefully will be sharing that passion with the readers.  Devam etmek.  May we all keep on, pressing forward, and fight the good fight so that we might “endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb 12:1 NKJV).

“For this reason, as we are circled by so great a cloud of witnesses, putting off every weight, and the sin into which we come so readily, let us keep on running in the way which is marked out for us.” (Heb 12:1 BBE)

On a second note: ECHO now has all archived issues on line and available for your review.  You may view them at the (above) ECHO home page, or at a mirror sight (which hosts the .pdf files of volumes 1 – 8) http://www.freewebs.com/barnabasministry/.  You may also continue to view archived issues and updates at the main home page at http://www.forministry.com/USWAIFCAISBCSB

Your servant,

Daniel
Phil 1:6/ Isa 6:8

5 - PICTURE of the DAY!!!

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CONFIDENCE

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Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

Photo by Daniel
Belleville, IL – © October 2001
Barnabas Ministries/E.C.H.O

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“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”   Hebrews 10:22

6 - DEVOTIONAL

(1 John 4:20-5:5)

THE WITNESS… WITHIN!

This is He who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.  And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.

He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.  And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

When entering any form of restricted area, one must show proof of identity before access is granted.  In the military there are a number of ways this is accomplished; most common is proper ID cards with appropriate information.  Another way is by recognition, that is, when the sentinel knows the individual personally or recognizes the person wishing to gain entry, and the guard knows the member has the proper clearance.  There are other ways access is legally granted, but the point I’m trying to make here is that there is some way; somehow, we must have proof of who we are, a witness – so - to - speak.  Christ came to earth as a representative of the Holy Trinity and came to offer eternal life to all who believe and receive.  And to prove HE was who Christ claimed to be, the Father and Holy Spirit bore witness.

Christ was baptized (by water) and gave His life (and blood).  At the baptism, both the Father and Spirit gave testimony to the validity of Christ as the Son…

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.  And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Mt 3:16-17

And what’s so awesome is that as a believer in Christ, we have that witness within us as well.  “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1Co 6:19)

He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.  1 Jn 5:10

2 points here:

            BELIEVE: and have the witness inside

            BELIEVE NOT: and call God a liar (which indeed HE is not)

These things were written so that we may: (1 Jn 5:11-13)

1) know that we have eternal life.

Not just a good life, or a better life, or a life filled with clichés… but eternal life, life that will never end, and a life where we are able to spend eternity with our Heavenly Father bringing Him glory, honor, and praise!

2) continue to believe on the name of the Son of God.

What a blessed assurance… So easily doubt can creep in and taunt us, test us, causing us to question our salvation, hope, and assurance.  God has given us assurance so we may continue to believe and continue to             live according to His Word and will.

Remember, God has promised to never leave or forsake us (Heb 13:5).  With this knowledge, and the assurance of the Holy Spirit within us, may we continue to grow and walk in HIS strength, HIS light, HIS truth, HIS WORD and HIS love.  May we not waiver and doubt, but continue as we have the witness within!  May we continue to share that witness with others and may we continue to bring glory and honor to our God!

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“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands… and purify your hearts…”  James 4:8.

7 - NEXT ISSUE

Join us in the next issue, and share in the confidence of God’s truth as we continue in 1 John5.

8 - PARTICIPATION

Please feel free to share your stories of encouragement with ECHO.  Share your letters of hope, your favorite verses … a web link you enjoy or have been blessed by… etc.

----- Original Message -----
From: James
Sent: Friday, January 05, 2007 3:40 PM
Subject: Cherokee Indian

Not sure how true this is, but is a good illustration.....

jim

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Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?

His dad takes him into the forest blindfolded and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not take off the blindfold until the ray of sun shines through it.

He is all by himself.

He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience. Each lad must come into his own manhood.

The boy in our story was, naturally, terrified. Her could hear all kinds of noise. Beasts were all around him. Maybe even a human would hurt him.  The wind blew the grass and earth and it shook his stump. But he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold.

It would be the only way he could be a man.

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he saw his father sitting on the stump next to him - at watch the entire night.

"I will never leave you, nor forsake you."
- God (Hebrews 3:5)

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,
Sincerely yours,

Daniel
"Family For God"
  KEEP ON!
Philippians 1:6