Why did God send prophets to the people?

Some people think prophets mainly foretold the future. But actually their main job was to challenge the people to turn back to God. Often the prophet's messages contained predictions about the future, but most of the messages were challenges to obey God and live right. God's prophets were willing to risk everything for him. Some of the most famous prophets were Moses, Elijah & Elisha, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Jonah. Some "less-well-known" prophets also wrote books of the Bible: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Even though these prophets spoke hundreds of years ago, their messages apply to us too, so we should listen to them and prophets of our generation of what they have to say.

'MEMORY VERSES'

I'm scared to let God really control my life. What if he makes me be a missionary to Africa?

Don't be afraid. Just trust me. (Mark 5:36 NLB)

To Encourage You

Stay tune for more 'Do the Right Thing', 'Amazing Facts', 'Sticky Situations', 'Memory Verses', 'Heroes and Villains', 'I Wonder....' and 'Life Then, Life Now'.

How to Respond to God's Leading

People communicate in many ways. What about God? Does He have an answering machine? How does He call people, how does He lead them, and how should they respond? Mary was a young woman when she was engaged to Joseph. One day the angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her that God had a special mission for her. The Holy Spirit would soon cause her to become pregnant, and she would give birth to God's Son, Jesus. This was of course incredible news and a bit frightening; people might think that she had sinned by getting pregnant before marriage. Gabriel assured her that God was with her. Mary said that she was ready to serve God and then responded with a beautiful song of praise and thanksgiving to God. Here is what you can learn from Mary's experience.

Step 1 - Be Available

From Luke's account, we don't know exactly what Mary was doing when Gabriel visited her. What's important is that God knew she was ready and willing to serve Him, wherever she was and whatever He wanted. Open your mind and heart to God's next assignment for you.

Step 2 - Be Amazed

The Lord of the universe had sent His messenger to an unknown young woman in a town called Nazareth. Mary was in awe. You may not receive an angelic visitor, yet the same Lord is ready to communicate with you through His Word. The Bible tells us what God wants us to do. It is truly awesome.

Step 3 - Be Appreciative

Mary could have responded "Oh, really?" or "Not me, Lord!" Instead, her heart filled with gratitude for what God was going to do through her son and spilled out with a song. Be thankful - God is at work in the world, and you are a part of His team.

'FUN FACT'

When you are called, the question is not about "when is the right timing" but 'when are you ready to take the first step of faith, trust Him and obey His call?'

Daniel Wong, Ministry Assistant of WHC

Zero Calories

In Ezekiel 3:1-3, God commanded Ezekiel to eat a scroll that contained a message for the people of Israel. In this vision, Ezekiel did what he was told. He found that it tasted sweet as honey! Although we wouldn't actually eat pages of the Bible today, we can develop an "appetite" for God's Word. This appetite comes when we spend regular time reading what God has said to us in the Bible. If you haven't already developed this habit, start it today.

'FUN FACT'
Coming to church is like going to a buffet. But this buffet is ZERO calories!

Timothy Naden Henry, youth of WHC