The Sermon Praying For Georgia by Missionaries from Georgia
Sep 21, 2014
Praying For Georgia (35:21)
Referenced Scriptures: John 4:34; John 16:5-15
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The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
John 4:34
34) Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work.
John 16:5-15
5) But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?‘
6) But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart.
7) Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don‘t go away, the Counselor won‘t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
8) When he has come, he will convict the world in respect to sin, and righteousness, and judgment;
9) of sin, because they don‘t believe in me;
10) of righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you see me no more;
11) of judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.
12) I have yet many things to tell you, but you can‘t bear them now.
13) However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever things he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you the things that are to come.
14) He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you.
15) All things whatever the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it to you.
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Him that morning and your family and I will surely is one I and Ella is in as a result analysis is in you and Mary that he is in you that is real. I is an easier is he's leading Rusty, you may have. I pray the Lord or I will give you in your essay, you are in the DA will and will and figure out what is your your life as you desire to hear and you will learn as well, although it is saying today they learned in school and preschool and I played father friends a lot and we're thrilled that is plainly there is no as an eye he is not in Florida are and are reviewed in the day I will and in and you say he is him and he and I you a you are you and he is in an and he is is that we has announced that card on the back table. If you're interested, you can look at the Minoans, but it than challenging language and we have spent a lot of time and will continue to do so, learning language, the national religion of Georgia is Georgian orthodoxy and at so and so full of traditions, full of rituals to be Georgian is to be Orthodox. So for someone who might be interested in developing more of a relationship with God. They are not encouraged to do that. It is only the priests who has the ability to pray only the priest who can understand God 's word, and so we are praying and part of our mission. Our vision in Georgia is is dispelling match and living out to what it looks like to have a relationship with God Georgians are very relational. So the more time that we spend with them and just develop a relationship with them. They can see in reality, the peace of Christ the whole of Christ's and Intel are a lot of times when they need us and they here were from America just immediately. They think all that's why you're happy now if we were from America, we have hope to you is the Georgians, they have no hope they don't have any hope in their government. They don't have any hope that someone will comment and age, then, and so a lot of people just walk when fear and depression and the more and more people that we meet, we find that to be the case. You know, Georgians only one percent of the population are evangelical Christians, so he think about the parable of the I see no Jesus is seeking now one Georgia. It's the other way around. There are ninety nine who are lost annually one is found, and so we have a great task before us, all the believers in all the Christians we are working and praying that God will open doors of opportunity so we can share the truth of Jesus and I just wanted to share her testimony and you know you have prayed with us. You have been by our side, you have supported us so faithfully and God is moving in Georgia as exciting when you think about what's going on around the world today. There's not a lot of good news, but we made greetings from our church in Georgia with us this morning and news that God is moving in working and you know, we find that you know, even when it seems to be inconvenient. God is moving. I appreciate it. Sunday school so much this morning, we can draw so much from the Old Testament and stand on the promises of God. You know that even when times are hard when it looks to be discouraging when it's inconvenient that is often when God wants us to step out and we had an experience like that year and a half ago, we moved from the capital city to a smaller town in the country out in the East, and we lived in the home for about ten months when we found that we had to move from their and for us it was a very inconvenient time for many different reasons. It was an opportune time for us to move, but in praying you know, we were praying that God guide us. Lead us to a new place to live leaders. Where will have more opportunity to share about you or what you've done in our lives. Now is our prayer as we were preparing to moving through our move. God led us to one individual who really is open to the gospel, and had we not moved. We never would have met her and so this past year we spent investing building a relationship with her, you know sharing our life with her and her sharing him this past Easter she came to church with that which is really amazing that you know to do in Georgia. Anything that is not orthodox, the scene of the fact and they are not allowed to take part in anything that is not orthodox, but she was so interested. She came to church later the processor when she interrupted him and was asking questions. You know this one after another just so greener she's read her Bible and she had questions about what she had read and she had been to the priests to ask these questions and he told her questions were stupid and so was she. And so here she's coming to a church where God 's Word and God 's truth is being presented and she say wow, this is what I have been longing to hear and it's just a testimony to God 's faithfulness and you know, we saw her. Then a week later and she told us public. I been so excited all week. I feel like I discovered who Jesus really is and should always telling my university class. All that I learned about Jesus at your church. Now she's a linguistics professor that wasn't on her syllabus and she catches. I told them all about Jesus and I said, you know, our religion teaches us that God is high above and he's ready to punish us, but show me one example from the Bible where Jesus punished anyone said it's not fair. Read your Bibles and find the truth for yourself and sell it back. This is the miracle and we are praising God were still continuing to pray for her. She has yet to actually accept Christ as their Savior. But we know that God is ministering and working in her life, and it is through these open doors that we will continue to pray that we can walk through and let God 's light shine in this land, outdoor infinity. Okay, we had a video to show share with you just to give you a chance to see the people that we have grown to love. They have a hold a dear place in our hearts, and I'm on the land as well as a you can picture what were sharing not just some different things that have happened over the past three years that we have been in Georgia. God is working he is he is moving everywhere you spirit is active in this world and has never since Jesus sent him, you know, and he is a working and moving and you know, despite anything that we share with you this morning about George, I don't place that you don't know too much about, but it's our life, and where God has led our family. We love living there. It's a privilege for us to serve in this way, it's not about us. This is God 's mission on this earth he's carrying it out as he is right here in Africa in Eurasia where we live in Australia in Asia everywhere in South America. He's carrying out his mission in lots of different ways by the same spirit that is here with us. And no, despite anything that we say our prayers that you don't do. We acknowledge his dirt are we in our faith activated to believe that God is working and he is trying to break into our lives. I'm very thankful of destroying worse this morning reminded again that I am so thankful that he got my attention that he got a hold of me. He's trying it on. I guide the young people that are here. He is trying to to get into our lives to be a part of our lives. You know, but we have to knowledge that we have a part to play right, you'll got does not force his way to our lives. We have to allow him to do. We have to be listening. Are we trying to find him like he's trying to find us know that is so key is our faith activated and so I just pray that you this morning. That is our prayer that aren't encouraged that the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart, you know everything. One of us come from different places we have different lives of different search things going on but I printed you are encouraged by what God is doing in the nation of Georgia. It is a joy for us to talk about Georgia to share what's going on there and pray that that's an encouragement to you in whatever your circumstance, your life is that God is working in moving in that your faith is activated and that you are a knowledge in God that he wants to be working and moving in your lives. I know that you know your experience experience that is wonderful. It's wonderful to and to have the knowledge of God our Savior just the hope that we have because I surely shared in the country where we live. You just walk around and people do not have that they've never been exposed to that. Okay and eight. They don't know that they don't have that but the same God that is here trying to break into your lives and our lives in trying to minister to us in and make himself known to us so that we know him and love him and serve him, he's trying to do that in one city that in Georgia as well to Georgians to people where they have been around for a long time there, their culture goes back thousands of years they've been a people group for a long time. They trace themselves all over back to one of Noah's descendents of so that they been around for a long time and God wants to break in to their lives and so that is our prayer is surveyed in Georgia that God would use our family and in different ways and that we could we. We can help people to acknowledge that he loves them that he is real, that we have faith and we need to put our faith in him, not in something else, not in another person, not an institution. We put our faith in a living risen Savior, you Jesus guide we explain to her girls and then Daniel have talks with our girls there nine at six years old and I just love telling them that Jesus is a real person flesh and blood just like us. It don't you have a long time ago. He died and he rose again he's alive again as aware as he literally. Where is Jesus right now he is at the right hand of the father. He is a real man availability looks like there is glorified body know how to change. But these are real person, a real man, and he is alive and waiting to come back for us and that we explained to start girls and but who has he sent to us. He has sent his Holy Spirit to be with us to to be that witness in our hearts and to continue and that's what I wanted to share a little bit about him, but is the one he's the agent. The Holy Spirit is the agent that is working all over the world and working in Georgia and so just want to share with you a few things. Howard house got moving. How is the Holy Spirit at work in Georgia and we have seen just this past lessee was this pad. This past year. This spring. There are some new church plants that are going on new churches in some areas of Georgia that were there has never been an evangelical witness before and never there. Maybe have been in Orthodox Church, but orthodoxy does not does not preach or teach a relationship with Jesus Christ as an Jesus being our sole means of salvation, faith in him this. There's never been an evangelical witness in some of these country of some of these areas in the country, and George is not a big place. They were only talking about the state of West Virginia that size of area and we have seen God established the new church plants that are going on right now and have been able to buy a property so they can have it as their home base. Because of historically among the church in Georgia when they haven't put, they don't have a lot of of buildings and churches that better owned. They are just a group of believers and there is seeking where can we meet while the also, that's big enough for the group to meet in and so they try and rent places that have their church and you know, as surely instead orthodoxy is is opposed to anything any group that is not Orthodox, so there's different things that people smashing in the Windows and I just was kind of of opposition harassment type things, and so the landlord doesn't want that so they could know you have to leave the also there's a top and around the money that how it has happened in Georgia for many years. So right now just the past two years they have had the opportunity again to be able to acquire. Maybe just a building or something to be there home base where they cannot be kicked out and they can be established and that there are two of those that have happened in an area in western Georgia that has never had an evangelical church before were thrilled about that. The guys opened the door. There's a group, a small group of believers that are there. The pastor himself. Still, though he traveled back and forth between the capital city in this area, and that's a good amine, what, what would it be five five hours or so that he would still need to travel back and forth. There is another lady that has moved out there. Another foreigner. That is, is that they are her church centers determine she's not American another country which is serving there as missionary and she has moved to this area, so it's awesome to see God has prepared hearts. There are hearts that are hungry with our friends that surely shared about. There are hearts that are hungry and that God knows he's the one that knows where those people are. We can't see them. We can see the guy does some were so thankful for that, either. Those are to their actually, I think seven church plants or churches that really are being developed, and to grow the unit wanted to be a education Center for Christian education something out. They have one Bible school in Georgia. One Bible school and for the whole country, and how they want to have different Bible schools in different areas and those are those are being done there on their way another project that is now it is completed. The Bible project and has been going on for about three years almost four years now where the Georgians, okay there is a Bible in the Georgian language guy. There is a viable majority like much, but it is old. It is. There are a few different a few different translations versions of them, and they are old, they have lots of errors. I mean just grammatical errors and theological things as well work the Orthodox Church is maybe inserted some words of into Scripture throughout near when they translated into the Georgian language that type of thing so that Pentecostal church in Georgia, along with the semis of God, world missions they they began a it's it's it's not a new version of the Bible, but their transmitter was the right were looking for. Not like it's a new translation, but they're there. Read updating of the Bible, the Scripture by the got the rights to do this in the Georgian language, and they also were able to get a hold of the study notes from the Spirit filled life Bible Jack, capers, spirit filled life Bible, there's being translated into the Georgian language. It's already done like a set authority done next month or no in November is when the right is a been doing this work and editing, and just the team of people that God has brought together to work on this as this is a major undertaking an extremely serious. Okay, handling God 's word and it's it's in contemporary contemporary Georgian, it's not in the old Georgian war people don't even understand some of the words and what they don't even use it in their language and so where were thrilled about this. There have been a lot of there has been opposition against this for the past three years, but God is as help them and seeing everybody through those difficult times and like is that it's ready to be printed and distributed in starting in the spring, so, God 's word ready a study Bible first ever in the Georgian language here in the year fourteen first time they've ever had a study Bible were a Bible in their content in contemporary language, so this is huge and it will distribute to be ready to go out anywhere in the country or anywhere in the world that are a lot of Georgians that do not live in Georgia. They live in other parts of the world as so they are. This is huge and I mean, God 's word says in Hebrews 's word is alive and active in an it is alive and active, and it's going to be sent all over Georgia, where people can read in their own language about. You can read the Bible regards Wernick and speak to their heart, gave prayer request, attached to this is. We know that we don't expect that there is just like all great. Now we have a Bible in our language. Okay, the Orthodox Church is is is no probably not to be on board with that, but were praying that some way God will give them wisdom in how they present this wonderful gift resource that we have, to the country. How can they present that the church. The Pentecostal church, so that so that people will read it again and and want to read it and have a hunger with this or pray for wisdom in that and God 's favor in getting the Bible out that he said when his work goes out. It will accomplish what he wants it to do and that is transformation in people 's hearts and lives to Simon. I can remember your God transforming my life. Still, it's a daily thing for us so thankful for that and we have also an opportunity in Georgia right now for teaching English ice cubes open-door is probably one of the biggest open doors that we have right now is to teach English. Now I say, teach English. That's like the vehicle. The mode. The way that we can have an presence and interaction in people 's lives. That's what it comes down to. I am willing to teach English that gives me access on the anywhere in the country and teach English. Okay, and that's what gives me access to have a relationship with people on a regular basis. Get to know them. Georgia naturally mentioned is a very relational culture things happen on relationships, not because of you know you are who you know a relationship. So if we need to have relationships in order to be able to invest in people 's lives, and we pray and believe that the Holy Spirit can lead us to students who are hungry. I was so encouraged by that. I am hanging on to that story that surely shared in this university. Whether you go we. We had we had no idea, but when our friend was sharing about what she had heard about Jesus, the week before in church. She was sharing the inner University class. She said they were so interested they didn't want to leave that day and all of her classes, she said yeah they were that they were interested in. They were listening. There is a hunger God lead us to s'mores. Students like that we can have an interaction with them, and build a relationship with them. Just use teaching English to do that help us, so it's easy we have the opportunity and the University. Our colleagues in Georgia, there there right now they have the opportunity to reach out in the University as well. It's a huge open door and that is a prayer request. It's good to be a big part of our life. What we do go back to Georgia beginning next summer were here for this year and next July 's only hope to return and we will be involved in teaching English in maybe some different settings and bottom line is that will want students to know people to know about Jesus Christ, our faith in him. He is their God they say on the Christian new. George is a Christian nation, but they don't know Jesus or the power of his love until we there those are some open doors. We're thrilled about these things I miss the launching of this vital project. But will get back in Georgia and back into the swing of things and I just excited to see how that's can it out of the impact of lives and while John and Jesus said in John chapter four we call this the story of when he was talking with the woman at the well and his disciples unit went into town and they came back and he found Jesus talking with this woman and others of you holds the whole story, but one thing Jesus said when they were talking your in response to his disciples when they came back he said my work, my food is to finish the work that my father gave me to do that my father sent me to do. That's my food that is talking your and his disciples may or may not have really understood what he was talking about. But as we pray in Georgia. Shirley and I our colleagues, our leadership, we talk about the task in Georgia. It's a huge task in a little Georgia, let alone the world where we are. We are commissioned by Jesus. You were supposed to make disciples in the world everywhere as we go every single believer, but when we talk about that when we pray about it. We talk about finishing the task in Georgia in our area of the world. What does that mean that is that is God 's will is going to make disciples, everywhere like they said there's places in Georgia were. There's never been any evangelical witness. So what do we do finish the task in Georgia to in Georgia and we see these open doors that we have praise God for those open doors to walk through them and trust that the Holy Spirit will continue to lead and guide us leading guide us because we mean we totally rely on the Holy Spirit 's leading in our lives and in and in missions to read the book of acts they read the book of acts. I love reading it you you see all although references images to the Spirit, Holy Spirit, you know, doing something opening a door of a uniting people 's hearts, revealing Jesus Christ baptizing people in your Jesus said, you'll be baptized in the Holy Spirit with power to be my witnesses. That's happening all through the book of acts and has had been happening all through history has not stopped. He has not stopped doing that but we have a total reliance on the Holy Spirit in our in our day and age today and in all of life. Every single believer is brought into that commission of making disciples. Now I know we don't. We don't all participate the same way, but we are all called to participate in that. And you all here in different ways that you reach out through right here from this local church and the community, how you doing, whether it's your family. There are many ways that we respond to that. And we know that we are called to do that board what is my part, that's a question that I believe we should. We need to keep asking Lord, what is my part will you want me to do thanks to be a leader in all men. What we are leaders in our family got has given us a position of leadership, and nothing were the only leaders and to say that is a privilege and responsibility. Lord, how can I be a man. You called me to be at the main lead the way you want me to lead moms aunts, uncles, sisters, whatever position you are, whatever your sphere of influence is at your workplace wherever you go in the community guide post office. The grocery store on a stuff. Holy Spirit can guide us. There are neither read the Holy Spirit will guide us their spiritual encounters that that are our possible that are waiting to happen if we will have lies in where expected. I've heard it, but that the role of the Holy Spirit. I've heard it said this way. There are some things that are so that I oh, they should never be traded are some things that are so valuable, they should never be traded now. I grew up collecting baseball cards and got me my brother. We collected they spoke hard stratum back and forth. Sometimes now I know what cards that I have never valuable so valued. Why not going to let go of those are not penetrate them, UK. They are valuable enough to me. I'm not going to let go those but talking about here. Something the power of the Holy Spirit day of the said Jesus is literally. He is in heaven. He is active in our lives through his Holy Spirit he is interceding for us. He is awaiting to be sent back to come back to work. He is going to be our King for ever, never, never, he has sent his Holy Spirit. I want to read some verses from John chapter sixteen about what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit and the work and the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives a misery. John chapter sixteen of this is Jesus talking in the in the middle of this really big long conversation that he is having with his disciples, and this is right before right before he is arrested and goes through all of that suffering. This is when the city said in John chapter sixteen. I'm starting in verse five. He's talking now I am going to him who sent me. Yet none of you asks me where you going, because I have said these things, you are filled with grief, but I tell you the truth, it's for your good that is me, but I'm going away unless I go away, the counselor will not come to you, but if I go I will send him to you when he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment in regard to sin because men do not believe in me in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the father, where you can see me no longer and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. I have much more to say to you more than you can now bear but key, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own. He will speak only one years and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you all that belongs to the father is mine. That is why said spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you, Holy Spirit talking about the Holy Spirit be a need to daily remember that the Holy Spirit is at work and humility. That's how we relate to God. He is the one that bears witness in our hearts that we are a child of God that were saved, that we belong to Jesus belong to the family of God that my sins are forgiven, is the Holy Spirit and the power the Holy Spirit is what helps us to fulfill God 's mission in this world through our lives as we walk in obedience to Jesus. We walk in obedience to his Spirit is spirit continually reminding us and teaching us are tiny, aren't you glad that he's made provision for that, that we have a living spirit to walk with us and remind us in day-to-day when were going about our business while going about all kinds of things we have the living spirit of God to help remind us of things to help us as our fee are walking to help us as were working to help with his work as we see people who are in need. As we face things in our culture today that are very real and very important and very significant, and there are changes happening in our cultural around us in the overall you are all USDA see Jesus love you know that he was working on, what is what is the is Dallas him go at all. As you know to use viewing the two hello Nina is an say this is the man and if you own your own letter and I were Holy Spirit and the AEI. The room I saw the film whenever you are online review is in God is the one wall is where you are a you know if you have there is designed and is a you he is he will steer that will get a ad hoc here is the day all our behalf. Be sure in your desire is he is your will is in any of these is that you will so that there is an is a reminder to us all and will in the and my all day. This is only a guy 's will is a is in the eye and I love you I love your mind is will is as sad as I said, you him. The child of God. You are in that is an County who died easy and on a friend is a letter error, and I will him to work in is really led all day in my view you as you are go. The letter is that I see a NEDs enough is use him and he is now and will and that I go there is a fly. I is that in the and is is is is is is no way you you are and will you are as you are in a you yeah as soon as we saw a meeting is happening on an earlier or is not a you will Yahoo you were willing to his will you will you will receive holy and honor will review hundreds of people will want our in life you will ignite them, nor did that put their faith in you and they will love you. You will receive glory, that you are worthy of night. You deserve. I pray Lord God for people in Georgia. I pray for those of the people that are right here in the communities where we live what you would open their hearts and lead us let our paths cross with other people that are ready to hear about you that are ready to respond to you and their hardware got in and have put their faith in you, Jesus lead us. I pray guide and direct us fill us with your Holy Spirit. Newly every single day. Phyllis Lord help us guide to understand and remember what we have a part to play. We need to say yes to you and I thank you God for your faithfulness for your patience with us for your great love for your perfect love. Help us Lord, let us be that effective and productive witness for you because of our knowledge of who you are paid for your mercy and grace in our lives, Lord be with those who you are calling, Lord uses in their lives transform their hearts for the Lord, you have already done everything to forgive their sin, they just need to know and they need it submits to you and put their faith in you, Jesus heal their hearts break down the walls and help us to walk through this open doors that you give to us if I give you the glory, the honor for what you're doing in the nation of Georgia, I give you glory and honor for what you're doing here in these communities around Windber inherent in Pennsylvania. Thank you Lord the glory is all yours continue to use us and guide us. We love you Jesus. We need you so thankful that you sent your Holy Spirit to us Him that morning and your family and I will surely is one I and Ella is in as a result analysis is in you and Mary that he is in you that is real. I is an easier is he's leading Rusty, you may have. I pray the Lord or I will give you in your essay, you are in the DA will and will and figure out what is your your life as you desire to hear and you will learn as well, although it is saying today they learned in school and preschool and I played father friends a lot and we're thrilled that is plainly there is no as an eye he is not in Florida are and are reviewed in the day I will and in and you say he is him and he and I you a you are you and he is in an and he is is that we has announced that card on the back table. If you're interested, you can look at the Minoans, but it than challenging language and we have spent a lot of time and will continue to do so, learning language, the national religion of Georgia is Georgian orthodoxy and at so and so full of traditions, full of rituals to be Georgian is to be Orthodox. So for someone who might be interested in developing more of a relationship with God. They are not encouraged to do that. It is only the priests who has the ability to pray only the priest who can understand God 's word, and so we are praying and part of our mission. Our vision in Georgia is is dispelling match and living out to what it looks like to have a relationship with God Georgians are very relational. So the more time that we spend with them and just develop a relationship with them. They can see in reality, the peace of Christ the whole of Christ's and Intel are a lot of times when they need us and they here were from America just immediately. They think all that's why you're happy now if we were from America, we have hope to you is the Georgians, they have no hope they don't have any hope in their government. They don't have any hope that someone will comment and age, then, and so a lot of people just walk when fear and depression and the more and more people that we meet, we find that to be the case. You know, Georgians only one percent of the population are evangelical Christians, so he think about the parable of the I see no Jesus is seeking now one Georgia. It's the other way around. There are ninety nine who are lost annually one is found, and so we have a great task before us, all the believers in all the Christians we are working and praying that God will open doors of opportunity so we can share the truth of Jesus and I just wanted to share her testimony and you know you have prayed with us. You have been by our side, you have supported us so faithfully and God is moving in Georgia as exciting when you think about what's going on around the world today. There's not a lot of good news, but we made greetings from our church in Georgia with us this morning and news that God is moving in working and you know, we find that you know, even when it seems to be inconvenient. God is moving. I appreciate it. Sunday school so much this morning, we can draw so much from the Old Testament and stand on the promises of God. You know that even when times are hard when it looks to be discouraging when it's inconvenient that is often when God wants us to step out and we had an experience like that year and a half ago, we moved from the capital city to a smaller town in the country out in the East, and we lived in the home for about ten months when we found that we had to move from their and for us it was a very inconvenient time for many different reasons. It was an opportune time for us to move, but in praying you know, we were praying that God guide us. Lead us to a new place to live leaders. Where will have more opportunity to share about you or what you've done in our lives. Now is our prayer as we were preparing to moving through our move. God led us to one individual who really is open to the gospel, and had we not moved. We never would have met her and so this past year we spent investing building a relationship with her, you know sharing our life with her and her sharing him this past Easter she came to church with that which is really amazing that you know to do in Georgia. Anything that is not orthodox, the scene of the fact and they are not allowed to take part in anything that is not orthodox, but she was so interested. She came to church later the processor when she interrupted him and was asking questions. You know this one after another just so greener she's read her Bible and she had questions about what she had read and she had been to the priests to ask these questions and he told her questions were stupid and so was she. And so here she's coming to a church where God 's Word and God 's truth is being presented and she say wow, this is what I have been longing to hear and it's just a testimony to God 's faithfulness and you know, we saw her. Then a week later and she told us public. I been so excited all week. I feel like I discovered who Jesus really is and should always telling my university class. All that I learned about Jesus at your church. Now she's a linguistics professor that wasn't on her syllabus and she catches. I told them all about Jesus and I said, you know, our religion teaches us that God is high above and he's ready to punish us, but show me one example from the Bible where Jesus punished anyone said it's not fair. Read your Bibles and find the truth for yourself and sell it back. This is the miracle and we are praising God were still continuing to pray for her. She has yet to actually accept Christ as their Savior. But we know that God is ministering and working in her life, and it is through these open doors that we will continue to pray that we can walk through and let God 's light shine in this land, outdoor infinity. Okay, we had a video to show share with you just to give you a chance to see the people that we have grown to love. They have a hold a dear place in our hearts, and I'm on the land as well as a you can picture what were sharing not just some different things that have happened over the past three years that we have been in Georgia. God is working he is he is moving everywhere you spirit is active in this world and has never since Jesus sent him, you know, and he is a working and moving and you know, despite anything that we share with you this morning about George, I don't place that you don't know too much about, but it's our life, and where God has led our family. We love living there. It's a privilege for us to serve in this way, it's not about us. This is God 's mission on this earth he's carrying it out as he is right here in Africa in Eurasia where we live in Australia in Asia everywhere in South America. He's carrying out his mission in lots of different ways by the same spirit that is here with us. And no, despite anything that we say our prayers that you don't do. We acknowledge his dirt are we in our faith activated to believe that God is working and he is trying to break into our lives. I'm very thankful of destroying worse this morning reminded again that I am so thankful that he got my attention that he got a hold of me. He's trying it on. I guide the young people that are here. He is trying to to get into our lives to be a part of our lives. You know, but we have to knowledge that we have a part to play right, you'll got does not force his way to our lives. We have to allow him to do. We have to be listening. Are we trying to find him like he's trying to find us know that is so key is our faith activated and so I just pray that you this morning. That is our prayer that aren't encouraged that the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart, you know everything. One of us come from different places we have different lives of different search things going on but I printed you are encouraged by what God is doing in the nation of Georgia. It is a joy for us to talk about Georgia to share what's going on there and pray that that's an encouragement to you in whatever your circumstance, your life is that God is working in moving in that your faith is activated and that you are a knowledge in God that he wants to be working and moving in your lives. I know that you know your experience experience that is wonderful. It's wonderful to and to have the knowledge of God our Savior just the hope that we have because I surely shared in the country where we live. You just walk around and people do not have that they've never been exposed to that. Okay and eight. They don't know that they don't have that but the same God that is here trying to break into your lives and our lives in trying to minister to us in and make himself known to us so that we know him and love him and serve him, he's trying to do that in one city that in Georgia as well to Georgians to people where they have been around for a long time there, their culture goes back thousands of years they've been a people group for a long time. They trace themselves all over back to one of Noah's descendents of so that they been around for a long time and God wants to break in to their lives and so that is our prayer is surveyed in Georgia that God would use our family and in different ways and that we could we. We can help people to acknowledge that he loves them that he is real, that we have faith and we need to put our faith in him, not in something else, not in another person, not an institution. We put our faith in a living risen Savior, you Jesus guide we explain to her girls and then Daniel have talks with our girls there nine at six years old and I just love telling them that Jesus is a real person flesh and blood just like us. It don't you have a long time ago. He died and he rose again he's alive again as aware as he literally. Where is Jesus right now he is at the right hand of the father. He is a real man availability looks like there is glorified body know how to change. But these are real person, a real man, and he is alive and waiting to come back for us and that we explained to start girls and but who has he sent to us. He has sent his Holy Spirit to be with us to to be that witness in our hearts and to continue and that's what I wanted to share a little bit about him, but is the one he's the agent. The Holy Spirit is the agent that is working all over the world and working in Georgia and so just want to share with you a few things. Howard house got moving. How is the Holy Spirit at work in Georgia and we have seen just this past lessee was this pad. This past year. This spring. There are some new church plants that are going on new churches in some areas of Georgia that were there has never been an evangelical witness before and never there. Maybe have been in Orthodox Church, but orthodoxy does not does not preach or teach a relationship with Jesus Christ as an Jesus being our sole means of salvation, faith in him this. There's never been an evangelical witness in some of these country of some of these areas in the country, and George is not a big place. They were only talking about the state of West Virginia that size of area and we have seen God established the new church plants that are going on right now and have been able to buy a property so they can have it as their home base. Because of historically among the church in Georgia when they haven't put, they don't have a lot of of buildings and churches that better owned. They are just a group of believers and there is seeking where can we meet while the also, that's big enough for the group to meet in and so they try and rent places that have their church and you know, as surely instead orthodoxy is is opposed to anything any group that is not Orthodox, so there's different things that people smashing in the Windows and I just was kind of of opposition harassment type things, and so the landlord doesn't want that so they could know you have to leave the also there's a top and around the money that how it has happened in Georgia for many years. So right now just the past two years they have had the opportunity again to be able to acquire. Maybe just a building or something to be there home base where they cannot be kicked out and they can be established and that there are two of those that have happened in an area in western Georgia that has never had an evangelical church before were thrilled about that. The guys opened the door. There's a group, a small group of believers that are there. The pastor himself. Still, though he traveled back and forth between the capital city in this area, and that's a good amine, what, what would it be five five hours or so that he would still need to travel back and forth. There is another lady that has moved out there. Another foreigner. That is, is that they are her church centers determine she's not American another country which is serving there as missionary and she has moved to this area, so it's awesome to see God has prepared hearts. There are hearts that are hungry with our friends that surely shared about. There are hearts that are hungry and that God knows he's the one that knows where those people are. We can't see them. We can see the guy does some were so thankful for that, either. Those are to their actually, I think seven church plants or churches that really are being developed, and to grow the unit wanted to be a education Center for Christian education something out. They have one Bible school in Georgia. One Bible school and for the whole country, and how they want to have different Bible schools in different areas and those are those are being done there on their way another project that is now it is completed. The Bible project and has been going on for about three years almost four years now where the Georgians, okay there is a Bible in the Georgian language guy. There is a viable majority like much, but it is old. It is. There are a few different a few different translations versions of them, and they are old, they have lots of errors. I mean just grammatical errors and theological things as well work the Orthodox Church is maybe inserted some words of into Scripture throughout near when they translated into the Georgian language that type of thing so that Pentecostal church in Georgia, along with the semis of God, world missions they they began a it's it's it's not a new version of the Bible, but their transmitter was the right were looking for. Not like it's a new translation, but they're there. Read updating of the Bible, the Scripture by the got the rights to do this in the Georgian language, and they also were able to get a hold of the study notes from the Spirit filled life Bible Jack, capers, spirit filled life Bible, there's being translated into the Georgian language. It's already done like a set authority done next month or no in November is when the right is a been doing this work and editing, and just the team of people that God has brought together to work on this as this is a major undertaking an extremely serious. Okay, handling God 's word and it's it's in contemporary contemporary Georgian, it's not in the old Georgian war people don't even understand some of the words and what they don't even use it in their language and so where were thrilled about this. There have been a lot of there has been opposition against this for the past three years, but God is as help them and seeing everybody through those difficult times and like is that it's ready to be printed and distributed in starting in the spring, so, God 's word ready a study Bible first ever in the Georgian language here in the year fourteen first time they've ever had a study Bible were a Bible in their content in contemporary language, so this is huge and it will distribute to be ready to go out anywhere in the country or anywhere in the world that are a lot of Georgians that do not live in Georgia. They live in other parts of the world as so they are. This is huge and I mean, God 's word says in Hebrews 's word is alive and active in an it is alive and active, and it's going to be sent all over Georgia, where people can read in their own language about. You can read the Bible regards Wernick and speak to their heart, gave prayer request, attached to this is. We know that we don't expect that there is just like all great. Now we have a Bible in our language. Okay, the Orthodox Church is is is no probably not to be on board with that, but were praying that some way God will give them wisdom in how they present this wonderful gift resource that we have, to the country. How can they present that the church. The Pentecostal church, so that so that people will read it again and and want to read it and have a hunger with this or pray for wisdom in that and God 's favor in getting the Bible out that he said when his work goes out. It will accomplish what he wants it to do and that is transformation in people 's hearts and lives to Simon. I can remember your God transforming my life. Still, it's a daily thing for us so thankful for that and we have also an opportunity in Georgia right now for teaching English ice cubes open-door is probably one of the biggest open doors that we have right now is to teach English. Now I say, teach English. That's like the vehicle. The mode. The way that we can have an presence and interaction in people 's lives. That's what it comes down to. I am willing to teach English that gives me access on the anywhere in the country and teach English. Okay, and that's what gives me access to have a relationship with people on a regular basis. Get to know them. Georgia naturally mentioned is a very relational culture things happen on relationships, not because of you know you are who you know a relationship. So if we need to have relationships in order to be able to invest in people 's lives, and we pray and believe that the Holy Spirit can lead us to students who are hungry. I was so encouraged by that. I am hanging on to that story that surely shared in this university. Whether you go we. We had we had no idea, but when our friend was sharing about what she had heard about Jesus, the week before in church. She was sharing the inner University class. She said they were so interested they didn't want to leave that day and all of her classes, she said yeah they were that they were interested in. They were listening. There is a hunger God lead us to s'mores. Students like that we can have an interaction with them, and build a relationship with them. Just use teaching English to do that help us, so it's easy we have the opportunity and the University. Our colleagues in Georgia, there there right now they have the opportunity to reach out in the University as well. It's a huge open door and that is a prayer request. It's good to be a big part of our life. What we do go back to Georgia beginning next summer were here for this year and next July 's only hope to return and we will be involved in teaching English in maybe some different settings and bottom line is that will want students to know people to know about Jesus Christ, our faith in him. He is their God they say on the Christian new. George is a Christian nation, but they don't know Jesus or the power of his love until we there those are some open doors. We're thrilled about these things I miss the launching of this vital project. But will get back in Georgia and back into the swing of things and I just excited to see how that's can it out of the impact of lives and while John and Jesus said in John chapter four we call this the story of when he was talking with the woman at the well and his disciples unit went into town and they came back and he found Jesus talking with this woman and others of you holds the whole story, but one thing Jesus said when they were talking your in response to his disciples when they came back he said my work, my food is to finish the work that my father gave me to do that my father sent me to do. That's my food that is talking your and his disciples may or may not have really understood what he was talking about. But as we pray in Georgia. Shirley and I our colleagues, our leadership, we talk about the task in Georgia. It's a huge task in a little Georgia, let alone the world where we are. We are commissioned by Jesus. You were supposed to make disciples in the world everywhere as we go every single believer, but when we talk about that when we pray about it. We talk about finishing the task in Georgia in our area of the world. What does that mean that is that is God 's will is going to make disciples, everywhere like they said there's places in Georgia were. There's never been any evangelical witness. So what do we do finish the task in Georgia to in Georgia and we see these open doors that we have praise God for those open doors to walk through them and trust that the Holy Spirit will continue to lead and guide us leading guide us because we mean we totally rely on the Holy Spirit 's leading in our lives and in and in missions to read the book of acts they read the book of acts. I love reading it you you see all although references images to the Spirit, Holy Spirit, you know, doing something opening a door of a uniting people 's hearts, revealing Jesus Christ baptizing people in your Jesus said, you'll be baptized in the Holy Spirit with power to be my witnesses. That's happening all through the book of acts and has had been happening all through history has not stopped. He has not stopped doing that but we have a total reliance on the Holy Spirit in our in our day and age today and in all of life. Every single believer is brought into that commission of making disciples. Now I know we don't. We don't all participate the same way, but we are all called to participate in that. And you all here in different ways that you reach out through right here from this local church and the community, how you doing, whether it's your family. There are many ways that we respond to that. And we know that we are called to do that board what is my part, that's a question that I believe we should. We need to keep asking Lord, what is my part will you want me to do thanks to be a leader in all men. What we are leaders in our family got has given us a position of leadership, and nothing were the only leaders and to say that is a privilege and responsibility. Lord, how can I be a man. You called me to be at the main lead the way you want me to lead moms aunts, uncles, sisters, whatever position you are, whatever your sphere of influence is at your workplace wherever you go in the community guide post office. The grocery store on a stuff. Holy Spirit can guide us. There are neither read the Holy Spirit will guide us their spiritual encounters that that are our possible that are waiting to happen if we will have lies in where expected. I've heard it, but that the role of the Holy Spirit. I've heard it said this way. There are some things that are so that I oh, they should never be traded are some things that are so valuable, they should never be traded now. I grew up collecting baseball cards and got me my brother. We collected they spoke hard stratum back and forth. Sometimes now I know what cards that I have never valuable so valued. Why not going to let go of those are not penetrate them, UK. They are valuable enough to me. I'm not going to let go those but talking about here. Something the power of the Holy Spirit day of the said Jesus is literally. He is in heaven. He is active in our lives through his Holy Spirit he is interceding for us. He is awaiting to be sent back to come back to work. He is going to be our King for ever, never, never, he has sent his Holy Spirit. I want to read some verses from John chapter sixteen about what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit and the work and the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives a misery. John chapter sixteen of this is Jesus talking in the in the middle of this really big long conversation that he is having with his disciples, and this is right before right before he is arrested and goes through all of that suffering. This is when the city said in John chapter sixteen. I'm starting in verse five. He's talking now I am going to him who sent me. Yet none of you asks me where you going, because I have said these things, you are filled with grief, but I tell you the truth, it's for your good that is me, but I'm going away unless I go away, the counselor will not come to you, but if I go I will send him to you when he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment in regard to sin because men do not believe in me in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the father, where you can see me no longer and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. I have much more to say to you more than you can now bear but key, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own. He will speak only one years and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you all that belongs to the father is mine. That is why said spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you, Holy Spirit talking about the Holy Spirit be a need to daily remember that the Holy Spirit is at work and humility. That's how we relate to God. He is the one that bears witness in our hearts that we are a child of God that were saved, that we belong to Jesus belong to the family of God that my sins are forgiven, is the Holy Spirit and the power the Holy Spirit is what helps us to fulfill God 's mission in this world through our lives as we walk in obedience to Jesus. We walk in obedience to his Spirit is spirit continually reminding us and teaching us are tiny, aren't you glad that he's made provision for that, that we have a living spirit to walk with us and remind us in day-to-day when were going about our business while going about all kinds of things we have the living spirit of God to help remind us of things to help us as our fee are walking to help us as were working to help with his work as we see people who are in need. As we face things in our culture today that are very real and very important and very significant, and there are changes happening in our cultural around us in the overall you are all USDA see Jesus love you know that he was working on, what is what is the is Dallas him go at all. As you know to use viewing the two hello Nina is an say this is the man and if you own your own letter and I were Holy Spirit and the AEI. The room I saw the film whenever you are online review is in God is the one wall is where you are a you know if you have there is designed and is a you he is he will steer that will get a ad hoc here is the day all our behalf. Be sure in your desire is he is your will is in any of these is that you will so that there is an is a reminder to us all and will in the and my all day. This is only a guy 's will is a is in the eye and I love you I love your mind is will is as sad as I said, you him. The child of God. You are in that is an County who died easy and on a friend is a letter error, and I will him to work in is really led all day in my view you as you are go. The letter is that I see a NEDs enough is use him and he is now and will and that I go there is a fly. I is that in the and is is is is is is no way you you are and will you are as you are in a you yeah as soon as we saw a meeting is happening on an earlier or is not a you will Yahoo you were willing to his will you will you will receive holy and honor will review hundreds of people will want our in life you will ignite them, nor did that put their faith in you and they will love you. You will receive glory, that you are worthy of night. You deserve. I pray Lord God for people in Georgia. I pray for those of the people that are right here in the communities where we live what you would open their hearts and lead us let our paths cross with other people that are ready to hear about you that are ready to respond to you and their hardware got in and have put their faith in you, Jesus lead us. I pray guide and direct us fill us with your Holy Spirit. Newly every single day. Phyllis Lord help us guide to understand and remember what we have a part to play. We need to say yes to you and I thank you God for your faithfulness for your patience with us for your great love for your perfect love. Help us Lord, let us be that effective and productive witness for you because of our knowledge of who you are paid for your mercy and grace in our lives, Lord be with those who you are calling, Lord uses in their lives transform their hearts for the Lord, you have already done everything to forgive their sin, they just need to know and they need it submits to you and put their faith in you, Jesus heal their hearts break down the walls and help us to walk through this open doors that you give to us if I give you the glory, the honor for what you're doing in the nation of Georgia, I give you glory and honor for what you're doing here in these communities around Windber inherent in Pennsylvania. Thank you Lord the glory is all yours continue to use us and guide us. We love you Jesus. We need you so thankful that you sent your Holy Spirit to us