Answered Prayer Blesses Others

By Pastor Mark McAdow
I was so thrilled last Sunday morning when Lary Weeks shared with me the great news that our missing U.S. airman had been found and rescued from Iran! What a relief for him, his family and all Americans.

We genuinely believe and support “no man left behind” in our military ethos. Americans overall value life and are willing to expend the cost to save even one life. I remember I felt similarly when I saw the movie “Saving Private Ryan” many years ago. Our U.S. military goes to extraordinary lengths to recuse their own.

So did Jesus.

Jesus was on a “rescue mission” to save every one of us, even before we knew we needed rescued. “But God demonstrates His love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”- Romans 5:8. He saw our desperate need and our inability to rescue ourselves. We live behind enemy lines every day where Satan has been given opportunity to tempt us to live for ourselves rather than for God. Satan is a real threat but one who has been defeated by the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! “Greater is he who is in you that he who is in the world.”- I John 4:4. Each of us who have surrendered to Jesus have that hope!

Surrender is a terrible word in the military but a “wonderful” word in our spiritual life! To relinquish control to The One who created us and has our best interest at heart is a blessing. But to surrender to the  enemy is heartbreak. Satan “gas us” until we give our life back to Jesus. We live no longer for ourselves but for Jesus! Our ultimate safety is found in Christ and Christ alone.

We’re in a spiritual battle every day! We must put on our armor and defend our faith against the enemy. Our Willow View children are going to be learning about God’s armor in the coming weeks. Read Ephesians 6:10-18. I try to put on my spiritual armor every morning in prayer. I encourage you to do the same.

Tell your family, friends and neighbors, “We’re open this Sunday, too!” Looking forward to seeing you!

Love you,
Pastor Mark

PS: I began to tell you in this article about a fund at Willow View called “Answered Prayer.” When our folks receive a blessing – an answer to prayer – they can give a donation to the fund. We use those resources to help our own and others in times of need. Many people have been and are blessed through our “Answered Prayer Fund”– even today!