THE WEEKLY

This Sunday, we enter into our fifth week of journeying through our Sermon Series, "Numbers - In the Wilderness.”  I have been loving this series, I have never fully realized until now how filled the Book of Numbers is with both conviction and encouragement!

This weekend we will dive into Numbers, Chapter 16. Read ahead to prepare yourself for Sunday! (And if you have even more time, read this powerful sermon on Numbers 16 from Charles Spurgeon from 1860 - The High Priest Standing Between the Dead and the Living. Numbers 16 is an action-packed and wild story filled with earthquakes, fire, and plagues.

Yet despite all of its craziness, It amazes me how God can use a story written 3,500 years ago in the wilderness of the Middle East and make it so relevant for us here in 2022.  For in Numbers, Chapter 16, we read about Moses and Aaron interceding on behalf of the people of Israel.  In Numbers 16, verses 22 and 45, Moses and his brother Aaron fall on their faces, begging God to have mercy on the people.

As we watch the events of our modern world unfold this week, it feels like Moses and Aaron’s response is appropriate for us as well.  In the mounting anxiety and chaos of our world, we have the privilege and opportunity to intercede (pray) for our neighborhoods, nation, and world. I came across an article written by Jim Dennison, a Pastor in Texas, who gives us some helpful ideas on how we can pray and act:
Ways Christians Can Respond to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. 

ONE: INTERCEDE FOR OUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS IN UKRAINE
78 percent of Ukrainian adults, some thirty-five million people, are Orthodox Christians. On their behalf, you and I are to “keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). Let’s ask God to protect and provide for them and their families. And let’s pray for God to use their faith and witness in this crisis to lead many to himself.

When we pray for our fellow believers, we join Jesus in his intercession for his church (Romans 8:34). As Janet Denison writes, “We should pray for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine like Jesus would pray for them—like Jesus is praying for them” (her emphasis).

TWO: PRAY FOR ALL LEADERS
Paul wrote, “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions” (1 Timothy 2:1-2a, my emphasis). We are to pray for this outcome: “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (v. 2b).

To achieve this result, we should therefore pray for repentance for Vladimir Putin and others who are instigating this horrific conflict, remembering that what God did to transform Saul the persecutor into Paul the apostle, he can do with anyone who turns to him (Acts 9:1-25). And we should pray for Ukrainian, European, and American leaders to have divine wisdom, courage, and perseverance as they respond on behalf of those they serve.

THREE: SEEK WAYS TO HELP THE VICTIMS
Jesus taught us that how we treat those who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, or imprisoned is how we treat Him (Matthew 25:35-40). War always creates such victims. Look for ways you and your church can help those in danger and the millions of refugees who are expected to flee Ukraine in the coming days.

***Calvary is partnering with Oleg and Marina Reutki, who are in Moldova (the next-door neighbor of Ukraine). The Reutki’s have gone all in this week in providing food, clothing, transportation, and supplies to the thousands of Ukrainian refugees pouring into Moldova.  Here is a video of Oleg from earlier this week:

You can financially support the Reutki’s work with Ukrainian refugees by giving to the Reach Fund at Calvary and making it a note in the Memo field that it is for Ukraine. In the next 7 days, we are hoping to raise $5,000 for the Reutki’s ministry with Ukrainian refugees through New Hope Eurasia. I encourage you to prayerfully consider donating.

FOUR: OPPOSE OUR GREATEST ENEMY
Jesus described Satan as “the thief [who] comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). As a result, wherever we find theft, murder, and destruction, we can know Satan is at work. He uses people and nations as his instruments of malice, but ultimately “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ... the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Christians are called to the front lines of this spiritual battle, a conflict we can win only on our knees.
Will you wage war on yours today?

Additional Prayer Resources:

• “How to Pray for Ukraine” (written by our friends at Radical - part of David Platt’s ministry. You may remember David spoke at our 2021 Reach Week on Matthew 28:19-20 "The Goal of God and The Goal of Your Life."
• “11 Ways to Pray During the Crisis in Ukraine” - SEND International, the agency that supports Calvary Missionaries, Steve & Jenny Meeker and Andy & Nadine Spradley also has produced a great resource on how to pray.

What happened when Moses and Aaron fell on their faces and prayed/interceded for the people in Numbers 16?  You will have to come on Sunday to find out!  Kidding, kidding, (sort of)…
God ultimately heard their prayers and He responded. 

In the same way, may the Lord hear our prayers.

“Oh Father, show your mercy and grace in this Ukraine crisis.
May you fill this chaotic world with your peace. 
May the name of Jesus be glorified .
In Jesus name, Amen.”

-Matt Doan, Reach Pastor.