That's what I meant to say

Have you ever said something and wished you had put it another way almost immediately after you said it? And as you reflect, you can envision a lot better way you could have delivered it then you did. This is how I usually feel after I teach the Bible, especially after my Resurrection day message. As I reflect on the gospel message I gave last Sunday (see previous post about Easter) and evaluate how to better communicate the pure gospel of our risen Lord in biblical way, I think I would have done some things different if I had the chance to do it again. I would not and could not change the message of the gospel, and I am confident in God's leading to make 1 Corinthians 15 my main scripture, but I know my delivery of it could have been more succinct and to the point. If I had not had 6 pages full of proof text for each point I would not have needed to abandon my notes to just speak point to point from heart as the Holy Spirit reminded me of key verses. Soon after envisioned a more expositional (verse by verse) message from 1 Corinthians 15:1-10.


Here was the outline I used to share the gospel last Sunday.

I. THE FACTS OF THE GOSPEL (1 Corinthians 15:1-8) What did Jesus do?

• Christ lived a perfect life (Hebrews 4:15)
  
• He died for our sin (John 19:34)
  
• He was buried (Matthew 12:39-40)
  
• He was raised (Luke 24:34, Acts 1:3)
  
• He appeared (1John 1:1-3, 2Peter 1:16)
  
• He ascended to Heaven (John 16:10)
• He sent witnesses to the world (Mark 16:15)
  
• He will come again to judge the world (Acts 10:38-43. )
  

II. THE MEANING OF THE GOSPEL (1 Corinthians 15:17-19) Only the risen Christ can save from sin.

Why did Jesus die for our sins?

• God loves His creation but men loved darkness (John 3:16-20, Romans 5:8)
  
• God is holy gave us the ten commandments (Exodus 20:3-17)
• All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)
  
• We cannot justify ourselves under the law (Romans 3:19-20, James 2:10-11)
  
• The law leads us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24)
  
• Only one thing can take away our sin is the blood of the Lamb. (John 1:29, Hebrews 9:22)
  

III. THE RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL (1 Corinthians 15:56-58) Who will have victory?

• A summary (Acts 17:30-31)

• There will be a judgment (Hebrews 9:27)

Where will you go after you die? (Luke 16:19-31)

• Those who are Christ's enemies - Hell (Mark 9:43-48)
  
• Those who are Christ's and He is your Lord - Heaven (Revelation 21:3-4)
  

What must you do to be saved? Repent and Believe (Mark 1:14-15)

• Repent (Luke 13:3-5, Acts 17:30, Revelation 3:19-21)
  
• Recieve Jesus as Savior and Lord (John 1:12, Phil 2:10)
• Call upon the Lord in truth (Romans 10:9-16, Luke 6:46-47)
  

Final appeal:

• Be saved from this perverse generation (Acts 2:40)
• Be reconciled to God (2Corinthians 5:20)

Alter call

• Since you have heard the gospel, Is the Father drawing you to His Son for eternal life? (John 6:44)
• Are you willing to turn from darkness to light (Acts 26:18)
• Jesus died for YOU, are you ready to live a life of faith? (Gal 2:20)
• Present your bodies to God (Romans 12:1)

Tas Kungs patiesi augšāmcēlies!

The Lord is really risen!

Thank you all for praying for our Resurrection Sunday service in Ikšķile, Latvia. We had a great turn out, over 100 people came to the culture house for our Christian concert and evangelistic message. There were even a handful of kids that enjoyed the children's ministry. Lena was part of the children's ministry team as I preached the gospel to the adults from 1 Corinthians 15.

I felt the Spirit give me boldness to preach the gospel, why Jesus died for us on the cross and how His resurrection is significant to our salvation. I preached about sin according to the law, about God's righteous judgment, about what Christ did to save us, and about the need to respond to the gospel with faith and repentance, but no one wanted to pray to receive Christ as there Savior and Lord. However afterward I talked with two teary eyed teenage girls who were invited by a grandmother in our church, it seems one was convicted but was not ready to commit to following Christ and the other is a professing Christian concerned for her friends eternity. I am kind of discouraged that no one responded right then and there but I am encouraged that so many heard the gospel and seeds were sown. I am reflecting on how I could have done a better job as a sower of seed, but I also know that only God is able to make it grow and the response also has to do with the state of the hearers' hearts (as in the parable of the 4 types of soils). Perhaps it is better that they didn't spring up at this first opportunity, they need time to count the cost of discipleship. Perhaps the double edged sword of God's word was tearing up soil of their hearts so that the seed of God's word would take deeper root.

Let us pray that the enemy doesn't steal the memory of this message but that God's Spirit will continue to convict the unbelieving world of sin, righteousness and judgment concerning Jesus Christ. So at the end of the day, after all the effort that went into the event, I am disappointed there were apparently no conversions and I wish I was a better communicator but then I look up at my God with assurance that His word will not return void (Isaiah 55:10-11) and our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Please also pray for us to have God's perspective as we prepare for our 2nd Sunday at the culture house in Ikskile. Thanks, good night. - Brenten

Palm Sunday

Here is a music video from our Palm Sunday service at the Russian speaking church in Ogre. The words to the song in English are:

"I will praise you, O my redeember, for you are worthy of all praise.
And if I don't praise Your name, even the rocks will cry out.
If I don't praise your name, even the Mountains will shout!"

I taught about the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled on the day He rode triumphantly into Jerusalem as King on a donkey and was proclaimed the messiah. The multitudes breifly recognized him as their King saying,

"Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; even the King of Israel. BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

All four gospels record this event; Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-34. Some OT scriptures that were fulfilled on this day were Daniel 9:25-26, Psalm 118:14-28, Zec 9:9, Unfortunately, the crowds praise was shallow and they changed their tune just a few days later when they realized Jesus did not come to set up a material, political kingdom but a spiritual heavenly kingdom by giving His life for the world.

How far does a dollar go?

Many missionaries are feeling the pressure of the falling dollar and are asking supporters to pray. We are asking you to pray too. God has been faithful to meet our needs so far and we trust Him to continue providing as He leads us forward. We also understand our responsibility to report our situation to those through whom God is providing.

How far does a dollar go? A year ago we could get .54 lats, now we get only .45 lats according to Yahoo currency exchange. Or to put it another way, if something cost us 1 lat here, it use to take $1.85, now it takes $2.20!

Since we cannot earn an income here, our support comes entirely from the US. Our biggest expense is rent, with the exchange rate it has gone from $800/mo to $950/mo: half of our current support level. So we are seeking to negotiate a lower rent or find another place to live, for example an apartment outside the city. Please pray for us.

Post Script: Another "interesting" factor in the economy here is the inflation of the Latvian economy at the rate of 16.7% a year - the highest in the European union! Meanwhile the cost of food has risen 5.8%.

Prayer Letter

Dear friends, family and praying Christians,

I am writing to ask you to pray for us because we are stepping out in faith to a new city where God is leading us to evangelize and plant a church. I am still teaching the Russian speaking church in Ogre, but we also desire to reach the Latvian speaking city of Ikšķile with God's word. Easter Sunday (March 23) we will be having an evangelistic event in Ikskile, Latvia at the Ikšķile culture center that seats 180 people. Our Bible study group is inviting the whole city to come hear the gospel and a concert. We also have reserved this venue the following Sunday to begin church services for new believers. Will you pray for us, please?

March Prayer Requests

1. CHURCH - Pray that God would speak through me on our Resurrection day outreach, to save souls and to add them to the church.
2. FINANCES - needs are increasing and support has been decreasing. Pray that we will have enough to cover all our needs and expanding ministries.
3. HEALTH - Lena, Caleb, Lily and I all have colds or coughs. Pray for us to be healed soon by God's grace.
4. LANGUAGES - our Latvian teacher may be getting another job soon, pray for God's will concerning our progress in speaking in Latvian and Russian.
5. MISSIONS - God is calling Dennis and Frank to Latvia in August for a short evangelistic trip.. Pray for others considering joining the team to have clear calling this month.

Financial support (checks or credit card forms ) can be delivered to:

Calvary Chapel Monterey Bay
3001 Monterey-Salinas Hwy
Monterey, CA 93940

*make checks payable to "Calvary Chapel" but attach a separate note saying "for the Powers Latvia mission"

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support!

Brenten and Lena Powers
Missionaries in Latvia
www.calvarylatvia.com