Month of Prayer and Giving Day 26- Guarded by Peace
“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:5-7
The Christian having been justified by faith has peace with God (Romans 5:1). The Christian as much as it depends on him is to be at peace with all men (Romans 12:18). The peace Paul speaks of in his letter to the Philippians, though, is internal peace. The peace which according to Spurgeon – God causes.
Pastoral work – particularly in a planting or revitalising context – requires such peace. There is much work to be done. Often there are few if any other workers. Funds are required. But often at the end of the money there is still more month. Fellowship is longed after. Sadly, even our friends sometimes prove to be miserable comforters.
David Kelland – as anyone who knows him can tell you – is a teacher. However, he will be the first to tell you that during his years on the Shotley Peninsula he has been a learner. He has had to learn to start from scratch rather than having it all handed to him in a neatly wrapped package. He has to learn how to persevere through deep disappointment. He has had to learn how to plod on when at times the easiest thing to do would be to pack it in.
I am thankful that when a new training cycle for potential evangelists and church planters begins next month in London, Dave will be one of the primary teachers. I excited about this not just because he has a handle on how to exegete the Scriptures but because he has a deep reservoir of experience from which the men he is helping train can benefit.
Will you pray today for David Kelland? Will you ask the Lord to continue to grant him internal peace as he serves the Lord’s people at Peninsula Baptist Church? Will you ask the Lord to strengthen him physically as he has suffered from ill health recently? Will you ask the Lord to meet the financial needs of the small church as they seek to support Dave in his important work?
Will you pray for those men who will be trained in London beginning next month? Will you ask the God of peace to give them the peace of God in whatever situations they face in the years to come?
“Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.”
3 John 8 ESV
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