We constantly thank God for you, our partners, friends, and family, and ask God to bless you with wisdom, favor, spiritual understanding, overflowing love, health, peace, joy, and righteousness.
We could use a little extra prayer cover, right now. The first day of the Pacific Orientation Course has come and gone, and we have been delayed en route. Although our work permit has been issued, the visa paperwork has still not been cleared through the immigrations office in Port Moresby or the Papua New Guinea Embassy in Washington, DC, let alone express mailed back to us, along with our passports. Please pray that this process goes supernaturally fast, and that we will be able to change our restricted-change tickets when we get our visas. We have been in email contact with the POC directors, and we can arrive a few days late and make up the missed lessons, but obviously the longer the delay, the more difficult and stressful this becomes.
We feel like astronauts strapped in place, ready to launch, with all systems "go" except for the proper visas stamped into our passports, with the countdown at T minus 2 and holding. Nevertheless, we refuse to worry, since this is God's mission, and the battle is His, not ours. We have spoken to this "mountain" of a problem, and it must jump into the sea. In the mean time, there is no need to feel sorry for us being stranded on a Pacific island (Oahu), as we are staying with friends and able to do some work, some home schooling, some ministry, and some play. We do really want to get to Papua New Guinea, soon, though.
Sometimes when you need to pray and you seem to have run out of words to say, you just need to pray in the Spirit. Please spend some time doing that with us, now.
12 Keys to effective prayer for believers in Jesus Christ
#9 Pray in the Spirit.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. -- Ephesians 6:17-20 (WEB)
The Greek word "en" translated in "in the Spirit" as "in" can mean "in", "with", "together with", or "by".
But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. -- Jude 20 (WEB)
In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don't know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can't be uttered. He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit's mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God. -- Romans 8:26-27 (WEB)
For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly. Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up. -- 1 Corinthians 14:2-5 (WEB)
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. For you didn't receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" -- Romans 8:9-15 (WEB)
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. -- John 14:26 (WEB)
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" -- Luke 11:13 (WEB)
Jesus therefore said to them again, "Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit!" -- John 20:21 (WEB)
Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself." -- Acts 2:38-39 (WEB)
It happened that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples. He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
They said to him, "No, we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
He said, "Into what then were you baptized?"
They said, "Into John's baptism."
Paul said, "John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus."
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied. -- Acts 19:1-6 (WEB)
Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, "This is the word of Yahweh to Zerubbabel, saying, 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says Yahweh of Hosts. -- Zechariah 4:6 (WEB)
Jesus Christ is Lord!
Michael & Lori Johnson
Bible translation missionaries, Evangel Bible Translators
[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://eBible.org/mpj/
Cell: 214-724-1006
Overseas address:
SIL BOX 421, UKARUMPA EHP 444, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
USA address:
PO BOX 275, MESA CO 81643-0275
Support (mark "for the ministry of Michael & Lori Johnson"):
EVANGEL BIBLE TRANSLATORS, PO BOX 16715, IRVINE CA 92623-6715
