422 -- Every Kindred, Every Tribe

March 25 (3/25) in Godsfield -- Acts 3:25

(For Better or Verse: Each day in 2025 I will begin this Godsfield e-mail with a Bible verse that corresponds with the month (chapter 1-12) and day (verse 1-31) it is sent. This month features a lot of third chapters! Those with eyes and ears, let them see and hear.)

Acts 3:25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

This was such an exciting time for the children of the prophets, that time in the Book of Acts. The Hebrew people who saw Jesus fulfill the prophecies of the Scriptures (it was not the Old Testament yet, because the New Testament was just then happening.). The Children of God were only now believing Jesus is the Messiah, yes, but just days from having discovered what the Messiah is not (an army general and military king) and what the Messiah is -- Savior of every heart that believes.

They do not yet understand how thoroughly inclusive the Messiah is -- Paul and Peter and the others will have great revelations to see Gentiles in the Kingdom with them -- even though Scripture revealed God's purpose for His chosen people to be a light to all the nations.

Here it is, the Holy Spirit reminding -- and for most, revealing -- that every kindred, every tribe on this terrestrial ball, would be ascribing majesty and crown Jesus Lord of all.

Paul would later write that there is no distinction, among sinners and the saved, regardless of nationality. (Hey, that was just two days ago in these devotions!)

This statement comes at the end of Peter's sermon -- his first temple gig -- and I wonder if he realized how remarkable are these words God was speaking through him: Your descendants will bring the Lord to everyone on Earth, and they will be your brothers and sisters because of it.

I suspect Peter did not yet think in those terms, but God did; He had all along.

Last night, Mansfield Foursquare Gospel established a setting for the prayer warriors to offer their incense of prayer, an evening sacrifice of repentance, rejoicing and resolve.

Following several songs of worship (How is it that the familiar songs still come across as new and fresh and distinctive, whether contemporary from the last 10 years, 50 years, 200 years?), the congregation was blessed by each visitor, and stories that link kindred to one another are frequent, and then an extended period of prayer for the other congregations represented were offered according to requests made.

The prayer warriors in each body of believers come to the March of Prayer and offer themselves as living sacrifices throughout each service, but when given the open invitation, all Heaven breaks loose! Tonight was such a night, although in a tender, reflective way, and Godsfield was blessed.

The richness of the March of Prayer is in the journey from one host to the next to the next, because God orchestrates pacing along the way.

Tonight begins the concluding seven days -- Abundant Life, Avenue, River, Faith, Fusion-Lex, Gracepoint-Lex, Storyside. Each unique, all in union.

Jesus as the Hub.

Love ya,

Paul