February 2005
Dear partners in the mission
Shortly
before Christmas 2004, I was working again at a sermon on Matthew 2 and Hebrews
4:12
(‘For the word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul
and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the
heart’). The theme of my
sermon was Christmas as God’s declaration of war against the forces of evil,
in the light of the war waged by the illegitimate king (Herodes) against the
legitimate King of the Jews (Jesus Christ).
The incarnate Son of God is this living and active Word, sharper than any
double-edged sword. While I was
pondering about the holy weapons which God uses today in His war, and which
example I could use to illustrate the point, I opened a letter written by one of
my many listeners from
Abidjan
(
Ivory Coast
).
Along with the letter itself, I found inside the envelope a copy of one
of the messages I had sent earlier to him in a parcel.
At first, I did not understand why he was sending back to me this
particular message, entitled “Saved by Grace alone”.
In his letter, he wrote that he had received my parcel on
March 24th 2004
, a date, he added, he would never forget.
After expressing his appreciation for the teachings he received through
these messages - which had led him to understand what Christian faith is about -
he concluded his letter by telling me what had happened on this very day:
March 24 was marked by heavy fighting in
Abidjan
, due to civil and
political unrest. As he was filing together the texts of the messages, a bullet
shot in the street came through the ceiling of his house, and pierced the file
in which he had just placed the message “Saved by Grace alone”; the bullet
did not hurt him, nor anyone in his home, but, almost like a divine finger,
pointed towards the message of salvation by Grace alone…
I then looked at the piece of paper, and noticed how the paper had been
torn at the bottom, My correspondent
concluded his letter by writing: ‘I am sending this copy to you as a proof
that we are really saved by Grace alone…”
As for me and my sermon,
I had been provided with a most striking example of the kind of weapon which God
uses today in the war He wages against evil: in His sovereign power, He can
divert the unholy weapons and bullets which the world uses to spread chaos and
destruction, and make of them instruments in His hands to point towards the
cause of His victory and our victory: Sola Gratia, By Grace alone.
Through this event, both my correspondent and I were brought together in
the realization of God’s amazing Grace…
As
I write to you on this 16th of February 2005, I am pleased to report
that tonight the first broadcast of Reformed Faith and Life in
Cotonou
(the capital of
the small West African country
Benin
) will be aired,
following the signing of a contract with the local Christian radio station.
In my previous newsletter I had mention the possibility of starting this
new range of broadcasts, and some of you responded immediately by providing the
necessary financial support in order to do so.
Many thanks to you and to anyone praying for the radio ministry of
Reformed Faith and Life. No doubt,
the proclamation of the Word of God in
Cotonou
will also reap fruit.
We are reminded by the great Reformer of the 16th century, Heinrich
Bullinger that “The preaching of the Word of God is the Word of God”
(Rom.
10:14
-17, Matt.
10:40
; 1 Thes.
2:13
).
For
the Word of God is living and active. Sharper
than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,
joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Nothing is all creation is hidden from God’s sight.
Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we
must give account.
In His name
Rev.
Eic Kayayan