Brazil: who controls the ‘lungs of Earth’?
01 Apr 2021
Those fighting to halt climate change call the Amazon rainforest the ‘lungs of Earth,’ and Brazil's current president has made his country a chain-smoker. A healthy Amazon is crucial for the fight against climate change. Human activity is pumping unsustainable amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, trapping enough heat to warm the planet and profoundly disrupt the climate. Trees, and the soils they grow in, store carbon that might otherwise reach the atmosphere, but cutting down or burning them releases more carbon into the air, making Amazon deforestation a problem for the entire planet. President Jair Bolsonaro has made matters much worse for the remaining 60% of Amazon tree cover. He deprived environmental protection agencies of funding and manpower, allowing farmers to cut and burn trees to open land for farms and cattle ranches. But now Joe Biden’s climate envoy is engaged in an international effort to raise $20 billion for Brazil's environmental protection agency, only to be given if deforestation is reduced.
Myanmar: murder and airstrikes
01 Apr 2021
On 27 March security forces killed over fifty protesters who defied a warning that they could be shot ‘in the head and back’ if they came out while the country's generals celebrated Armed Forces Day. ‘Today is a day of shame for the armed forces,’ said Dr Sasa, a spokesman for the anti-junta group of deposed lawmakers. Local media reported that around 3,000 people from Karen state have left the country and crossed the border into Thailand to escape the violence. Airstrikes that sent villagers fleeing into the jungle show the Myanmar situation is ‘much worse’, a humanitarian worker said. At least 114 people were killed by security forces on 29 March, including a five-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl. Despite the bloodshed, protesters returned to the streets. Citizens are living amid increasing violence. People are being beaten and shot; now they face multiple airstrikes. Myanmar has not had airstrikes there for over twenty years.
Nigeria: Christian missionaries kidnapped
01 Apr 2021
Eight Christians have been abducted while on their way to evangelise in Kaduna state. The group of members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God were travelling towards the town of Kafanchan when gunmen intercepted the bus, according to International Christian Concern and the Nigerian Tribune. Eje Kenny Faraday, a witness, posted a picture on Facebook showing the empty bus saying, ‘All passengers in the bus are just kidnapped along Kachia Road, Km 63 from Kaduna.’ The kidnappers have demanded the equivalent of £88,000 for their release. A search for the members has been launched by security agencies including the police and the military.
Curtis Hayes, a community activist running for city council in Charlotte, said, ‘We have some of the most horrific mass murderers of our time in custody without a scratch, but this black man who allegedly uses a counterfeit $20 bill loses his life. They have got to convict the former police officer accused of killing George Floyd by sitting on his neck for over nine minutes. The officer came to a situation which he should have de-escalated and given out a ticket in the worst-case scenario. Are we going to hold him accountable for his actions? This is a chance for America to show exactly what it represents: giving everybody liberty and justice. If you don't convict him, you're simply telling black and minority Americans that we do not care for you: this is a white America and you're going to get down or lay down. Now people are fighting for equality, but they could soon be fighting for revenge.’
The latest evidence of Iran concealing vital elements of its nuclear programme from the outside world suggest that even if there is a resumption of negotiations, the regime has little genuine interest in complying with the terms of any future deal. Iran's conservative-dominated parliament has ordered the government to start limiting some inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN-sponsored body responsible for monitoring nuclear activities. This came after the IAEA published a report revealing last summer’s inspectors found uranium particles at two Iranian nuclear sites that Iran tried to block access to. With the Biden administration seemingly keen to recommence negotiations with Tehran, fresh photographic evidence is emerging that the regime is up to its old tricks by attempting to conceal key elements of the Isfahan uranium enrichment facility from UN inspectors.
Pakistan: preparing for possible Easter attacks
01 Apr 2021
Christian volunteer security guards are preparing to defend their churches in the run-up to Easter. With world-wide concern peaking after Palm Sunday’s suicide bomb in Indonesia, William Arif Khan and his team of fifteen security volunteers at Lahore’s Sacred Heart Cathedral stressed the need for extra vigilance. ‘For the past twelve years, I have been leading young men dedicated to support the police’s security guards stationed at the cathedral. We don't expect any rewards. All of them have dedicated their holiday to the Church. They have metal detectors. The police have allowed us to keep some licensed weapons on church premises; but only my deputy and I are armed with a pistol. Everybody is afraid of the terrorists. But we stand for the One who protects us all. Our faith tells us that God won't let us down. We perform our duties with complete passion and avoid negative thinking.’
USA: attacks on Asian-Americans
01 Apr 2021
Hate crimes involving Asian-American victims soared in New York city last year. Officials are grappling with the problem as new incidents occur. ‘I’ve never cried like that before,’ Maggie Cheng said, after seeing security footage showing her mother being shoved to the ground on a crowded street. ‘To see my mother get thrown like that, she looks like a feather, a rag doll.’ The attack, which gained widespread attention on social media, was one of four attacks in a day against Asian-American women in New York. Concerns intensified after an Asian man was stabbed on Thursday night near Chinatown. Asian-Americans make up 16% of the population of the city: it is feared that the wave of racism and violence against them during the pandemic is surging again. The attacks are random, fast and furious, stoking a lot of fear and paranoia. Many Asians are not leaving their homes.
The Passover was and still is a time to “remember.” This feast was a time to remember God’s great acts of salvation when God set his people free from slavery in Egypt. During Passover the Jews remember with sorrow the bitter suffering of their ancestors. During Passover the Jews remember with humility the sprinkled blood of the lambs, blood which protected them as the angel of death passed through Egypt, blood which caused judgement to “pass over” their homes. During Passover the Jews remember with awe the power of God, how the Living God parted the Red Sea so the liberated people could ‘pass over’ to the other side and escape the pursuing armies of Pharoah. And during Passover they remember with gratitude the gracious gifts of God, how God miraculously provided manna from heaven and the flesh of quail, so the people could survive in the Sinai desert.
And the Passover feast was and still is a time to “renew hope.” Hope is always future orientated. It is the joyful expectation of God’s goodness coming our way! If God had delivered and provided for us in the past, he will certainly deliver and provide for us in our future!
Let’s review the events of the night of Passover. Yahweh delivered his people Israel, his firstborn son out of Egypt for the purpose of worship. After a series of plagues against Pharaoh’s refusal to release God’s people, the tenth and final plague brought a death angel over Egypt to kill every firstborn male, except in houses whose door frames were smeared with lamb’s blood. When the angel saw the blood, he ‘passed’ over’ that particular dwelling, leaving the firstborn unharmed. This plague marked a turning point in Israel’s history as an event that triggered Israel’s exodus from Egypt. The deliverance from Egypt was a new beginning for the nation of Israel.
Each household was to take a one-year old male lamb, without defect. Neighbors were to share if the house was too small to consume an entire lamb. The blood of the lamb was to be drained into a basis (Exodus 12:22), a hyssop branch was to be dipped into it, and the tops and sides of the door frames were to be painted with the blood. This would be the sign that they were placing themselves by faith under the protection of the blood of the sacrificed ‘passover’ lamb. Next they were to roast the meat and eat it with the bitter herbs and bread without yeast. They were to be careful not to break the bones of the lamb. The bitter herbs were a reminder of the bitter service that the Israelites endured under Egypt’s heavy hand of slavery. The journey was to be made quickly, so there was no time for the dough to rise (Exo. 12:17-20). Foreigners were permitted to join them if they put themselves under the sign of the covenant of circumcision in order to participate (Exo 12:38).
Celebrating this meal was to be a lasting ordinance to ‘remember’ what God had done for Israel, and also impress it on their children. They were to celebrate this feast when they entered the promised land, which would be another forty years later. Only Joshua and Caleb would have been among those who had witnessed the exodus (Exo. 13:5).
Likewise after they entered the land, they were to be careful to consecrate to God the firstborn of every womb in Israel, whether human or animal understood in light of Exodus 4:21-23, and Israel as God’s firstborn son. The sacrifice of the passover lamb would be a reminder to Israel that their life came from death. It is also a picture of redemption and the price that was paid for their deliverance, the sacrifice of the firstborn Egyptian sons, since it was this catastrophe that led Pharaoh to call for Israel’s release (Ex. 13:14-16). The consecration of the firstborn would be a foreshadow of the once and for all sacrifice and substitutionary death of God’s beloved son, the Lord Jesus.
They took refuge under that blood. And in responding to God in this unusual way, they were delivered from the judgment of the Lord. As God declared to them,
“I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you…This is a day you are to commemorate for the generations to come” (Exodus 12:12b-13).
To apply this to our generation, we must be clear that in the midst of an unprecedented plague bearing down on us, God calls us to refocus like never before on celebrating the eternal Passover that’s already been provided for us in Jesus! The final solution for healing the scourge upon our land right now necessitates the same ultimate strategy: God’s plan that requires a Lamb. God has a plan for a Lamb, and a Lamb for his plan!
For hundreds of years since that original Passover, Jewish families have celebrated a Passover meal together. The family patriarch repeats the age-old question: “Why is this night different from all other nights?” Actually, “different” is an understatement. It was a miraculous night! It was a night overflowing for them with grace and mercy from their covenant-keeping God, Yahweh.
For us as Gentile believers, our Passover is not an event on a calendar. For us, our Passover is a PERSON. Paul put it succinctly in 1 Corinthians 5:7,
“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the Festival”
In any time of crisis or impending judgment, the life of a Jesus follower remains a festival. Every day, we joyfully proclaim the promise of God’s gracious gift of deliverance, healing, and wholeness found in the Lord Jesus Christ! He’s our Passover lamb—our covering, our refuge, our shelter in times of storm.
Notice, God promised Israel that wherever he saw the blood of a lamb spread over a household, the plagues of death would intimidate no longer; the fears of death would haunt no more. Those who would bring destruction would be forced to “pass over” all who were abiding in the place of divine safety.
Today, Jesus brings similar good news to all of us. He embodies the same kind of promise, but the promise is now found in himself as he becomes for us the only shelter we will ever need. For all who are abiding in Jesus, every day is Passover! Every hour we remain “covered” with his blood, his life, his righteousness, his rule, his promises, his triumphs, and above all, his love.
And this Passover, incidentally, is scheduled to go on and on unceasingly—forever! “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19). An eternal festival of praise lies ahead for all of God’s people.
Here is the link to a devotional I wrote called, ‘Beholding the Lamb,” that you may want to read, study and pray through this passion week!
http://ipcprayer.org/images/Behold-the-Lamb-2020-Devotional.pdf
Let’s continue to focus on Jesus our Passover Lamb ‘remembering’ our deliverance and provision found in Christ and ‘renewing our Hope’ in Him alone!
For the Glory of the Lamb,
Jason Hubbard
Let’s declare these promises of his shed blood over our lives, our homes, our families and our churches!
We have protection under the covering of the blood.
“The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:13, ESV).
We have salvation, forgiveness and redemption in the blood.
“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22, ESV).
“For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28, ESV).
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7, NIV).
There is life, healing, and provision in the blood.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5, NIV).
“He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was none feeble (sick) among His tribes.” (Psalm 105:37, NKJV).
There is cleansing in the blood.
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7, NKJV).
There is justification in the blood.
“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9, NKJV).
There is sanctification in the blood.
“Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate” (Hebrews 13:12, NKJV).
There is peace under the covering of the blood.
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:19-20, NKJV).
There is washing in the blood.
“…and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5, NKJV).
There is overcoming in the power of the blood of the Lamb.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (Revelation 12:11, NKJV).
There is accessibility in the blood, allowing us into the presence of God.
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19, NKJV).
Therefore ...
- Through the Blood of Jesus I am redeemed out of the hand of the devil.
- Through the Blood of Jesus all my sins are forgiven.
- Through the Blood of Jesus I am justified, made righteous, just as if I had never sinned.
- Through the Blood of Jesus I am sanctified, made holy, set apart to God. My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, redeemed, cleansed, justified and sanctified by the Blood of Jesus.
- Through the Blood of Jesus every curse for disobedience is broken.
- Through the Blood of Jesus every blessing of obedience is mine!
- Through the Blood of Jesus I am heir and possessor of all the spiritual riches of my Father's eternal Kingdom.
- Therefore, the devil has no place in me, no power over me, no unsettled claims against me. I overcome the world, the flesh and the devil through the Blood of Jesus!