Chambersburg Bible Church

January 15, 2009 12:36PM (EST) - Brother Royden Saul writes: “We appreciate you standing with us during this calamity, but we know that you have been praying for us even before that, and it is because of your prayers that we escaped death on Tuesday. We had just arrived in Port-au-Prince from Bassin, when the earthquake hit, and are unable to return to Bassin at this time.

The situation here is a nightmare, as bodies are being found and more are still trapped inside buildings. Yesterday, many of those who were trapped inside the rubble have stopped calling for help. Many of the workers have stopped pulling bodies out because of the bad smell. Everywhere you go, you can smell the bodies, which they have piled on the side of the roads. Maude, (my mom)’s brother was killed when his building collapsed, but we have not yet found his body in the debris. Wife and baby were pulled from the rubble with injuries. All communication lines are down in Haiti.

The streets are full of homeless people with no food, shelter or water, and they are becoming desperate, and have started to riot, stealing everything they can find. Please pray for our safety as we try to help those who we are able. We have been going to some dangerous areas, searching for those who we can help. The gas in our truck is almost empty; and it is impossible to find fuel.

We are living in our yard, even though our house is still standing, but it is dangerous to be back inside because of aftershocks.

We are still searching for food and water; businesses are closed, and many owners and staff are dead. The little money that we had in our pockets on Tuesday is running short and the banks are all closed. Yesterday we were able to purchase some formula for some babies.

As far as the ministry is concerned, our campus was preserved. At this moment we will continue with the school and feeding program as long as our resources last. Only God knows what the future holds….

We are sending this in a hurry, so if you can forward it to anyone that we missed, we would appreciate it.

The Sauls in Haiti

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January 14, 2010 3:34 PM (EST) – Dr. Curtis Young, Vice President of Field Ministries, received a phone call from Royden Saul, a missionary we support through IPM in Haiti. Dr. Young spoke with Royden, who stated that he, his wife Danielle, and his parents Lucien and Maude are all safe, but the situation is dire, as the various news reports have been indicating. Dr. Young indicated that Royden was crying as they spoke together on the phone. Royden said there are dead bodies everywhere.

When asked about the circumstances just before the disaster, Royden said that the family had just arrived back home to Port-au-Prince and were starting to unload the truck when the earthquake hit. They were literally thrown into the air, and were unable to continue unloading the truck. There is far too much damage to their house, and it would be very dangerous for them to stay inside, so the family is sleeping outside. Royden indicated his deep concern for an uncle (Maude’s brother) who was trapped somewhere, and as of the time of the call, they did not know if he is alive. The whole family was in tears and could not talk long as there are so many others who need help.

Dr. Young was able to pray with Royden, asking God to provide the food and water and help they need. He asked Royden to keep IPM informed of how relief funds and materials can be provided to them. IPM is urging supporting churches and individuals to send disaster relief funds to the Saul families through IPM by designated gifts to the “Lucien Saul Disaster Relief”.

Please continue checking the IPM website for further updates.

www.ipmworld.org

Text: Revelation 22:12Revelation 22:12
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  

Topic: Christ’s return for his Saints is imminent!

We must be living our lives with the expectation of the Lord’s imminent  return upon our minds. His return  could happen at any time, nothing  is preventing it from happening. We often say that, eschatologically speaking , “it is the next thing on God’s calendar” (although we know that God is not bound by time).

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We hold to a dispensational view of eschatology, which allows us to understand that there are no prophesies that need to be fulfilled before the rapture of the Church. The following is a  brief review of the eschatological events following the return of Christ for his Saints:

• Following the rapture of the Church, Israel will sign a covenant with antichrist, initiating the period referred to as the “Tribulation.”
• 3 ½ years into the Tribulation, antichrist will break the covenant with Israel, marking the beginning of the last half of the Tribulation, which is referred to in Scripture as the “Great Tribulation” and the “Time of Jacobs trouble.” In this time, God will pour out His wrath upon the earth.
• The Battle of Armageddon will conclude the Tribulation period, which will end in the destruction of the Armies of the earth and the casting of the Beast and false prophet into the Lake of Fire. Satan will be bound for 1,000r 1,000
  Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se za?ne z ¹! Vrstica ⁰ ne obstaja!
  years in the pit of the abyss
• The end of the Tribulation will issue in the Millennial reign of Christ upon this earth, in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and covenants. This reign will be a righteous reign where Christ will “rule with a Rod of Iron.”
  • At the conclusion of these 1,000e 1,000
    Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se za?ne z ¹! Vrstica ⁰ ne obstaja!
    years, God will loose Satan for a time, leading to the final struggle between the unrighteous man and God at the battle of Gog and Magog
  • Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity
  • The Lord will then judge all unbelievers, small and great, from all of time at The Great White Throne Judgment and they will be cast into the Lake of Fire.

Investigate the scriptural teachings of the imminent return of Jesus

• The “Watching” Passages
  • Romans 13:11-12Romans 13:11-12
    11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  
    
    • Our salvation is nearer than when we first believed
      • Time of accounting for the saved
      • Time of judgment for the lost
    • A time to awake from slumber
      • Because our salvation is nearer than ever before
      • Because we have no right to sleep when there is work to be done
      • Because the days are evil and the enemy is at work even as we sleep
• 1 Thessalonians 5:6-81 Thessalonians 5:6-8
  6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. ⁸ But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.  
  
• 1 Peter 4:71 Peter 4:7
  7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.  
  

• The “Hoping” passages
  • Titus 2:13Titus 2:13
    13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; glorious...: Gr. the appearance of the glory of the great God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ  
    
  • James 5:7-8James 5:7-8
    7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be...: or, Be long patient, or, Suffer with long patience ⁸ Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.  
    

Christ’s disciples often approached him with various questions regarding their relationship with Him and with questions regarding spiritual living. In this passage, we see them asking Christ about increasing their faith. Often we call out to God, looking for his movement in our hearts to increase our faith in His Word. Christ did not directly answer that question in this passage, but rather provided an illustration to teach that once redeemed by the Master, we are to be in the business of serving Him. This is the exercise of our faith, and our growth comes out of our service.

We are saved through faith (by grace alone) and therfore walk in faith (through grace) in our daily lives. Colossians 1 admonishes us to serve the Master who redeemed us from the slavery of sin. We must not be satisfied with giving God a prominent place in our lives, we must give him the preeminent place in our life.

Luke 17:5-10Luke 17:5-10
5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. ⁶ And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. ⁷ But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? ⁸ And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? ⁹ Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. ¹⁰ So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.  

Mid-week Minutes is a weekly summary of Pastor’s Bible Study from the mid-week Prayer Service.