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Special Missionary Report Titus 2:11; 3:4-7 Robert L. Watt December 17, 2017
Text: Titus 2:11; 3:4-7 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 3:4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Introduction: In previous messages I have focused on spiritual gifts, including the spectrum of colors and what am I doing with the light I have been given. We looked at encouraging like Barnabas and the spiritual gift of encouragement/exhortation/comforting (orange). Today I would like to look at the spiritual gift of showing mercy (green) which was illustrated earlier by the medicinal plant Artemisia annua. Rom. 12:8, 15: he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. But as I was thinking of this subject, a number of analogies came to mind that are appropriate to the Christmas story as well, and I want to share those with you today.
Introduction: I will briefly update you on some Artemisia-related aspects of showing mercy on the last trip to the DRC in October (clinical trial at Rwanguba Hospital; Hope Pharmacy Ituri in Bunia), but more importantly we will turn our eyes to the greatest display of showing mercy as we relate all of this to the Christmas story. God is rich in mercy (Eph. 2:4). Christmas is when the grace, love and mercy of God appeared to all (Titus 2:11; 3:4-7). They were fully demonstrated when the baby Jesus became a sinless man in order for Him to die for our sins on the cross of Calvary.
Introduction: Jesus came and was born on Christmas day for the express purpose of dying! He paid the price with His blood for our redemption. This is grace: getting what we don t deserve (eternal life). When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, God exchanged His righteousness for our sins and declared us justified even when we were still sinners! This is mercy: not getting what we deserved (death and eternal separation from a holy God because of our sins). God showed us His mercy by sending Jesus to where we were dead in our sins in order to save us. When we recognize our need of a Savior and accept God s gift of salvation, He gives us a spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit.
Introduction: One of these spiritual gifts is showing mercy, just as God did for us in the person of Jesus. The plant Artemisia annua illustrates a number of these aspects of showing mercy, especially as we look at the Christmas story and the mercy God showered on us, just as He wants us to do using the spiritual gift of showing mercy. We will quickly look at five of these aspects today.
Body of the lesson: Let s focus on one way that the spiritual gifts are manifested, as illustrated by Artemisia. Green (Showing Mercy) 1. The Artemisia annua plant appears to be nothing special: be humble! Isaiah 52:13-15; 1 Cor. 1:27; 2 Cor. 8:9 Jesus born in a stable, feeding trough for a bed (hardly the palace of the King!) His family came from Nazareth (can anything good come from Nazareth?)
Green (Showing Mercy) 1. The Artemisia annua plant appears to be nothing special: be humble! Isaiah 52:13-15; 1 Cor. 1:27; 2 Cor. 8:9 Jesus born in a stable, feeding trough for a bed (hardly the palace of the King!) His family came from Nazareth (can anything good come from Nazareth?) Door of humility to enter tradition birthplace of Jesus at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
Door of Humility, Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem
Green (Showing Mercy) 1. The Artemisia annua plant appears to be nothing special: be humble! Isaiah 52:13-15; 1 Cor. 1:27; 2 Cor. 8:9 Jesus born in a stable, feeding trough for a bed (hardly the palace of the King!) His family came from Nazareth (can anything good come from Nazareth?) Door of humility to enter tradition birthplace of Jesus at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus
Philippians 2:1-5 (NKJV) 2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus
2. The Artemisia annua plant grows where it is needed most: be available! Worldwide need; in Africa it grows best where malaria is most prevalent We are needed where planted (Matt. 5:13-16) God so loved the world that He sent His Son to where we needed Him most Malaria is an African problem that can be solved by Africans transforming the Artemisia plant that grows in Africa into Artemisia tablets made in Africa distributed by African pharmacy personnel to cure malaria as a demonstration of God s love
3. The Artemisia annua plant s use involves risk: be different! (Rom. 12:1-2) Jesus and family fled to Egypt; see God s protection when King Herod tried to kill newborns Not talking about risk of toxicity for Artemisia, but the risk of jealousy, greed, and fear of change Fear of change from HIV/AIDS protocol led to its use for malaria by Dr. Daddy God moment Risk of failure ( death of a vision ) is possible if the protocol is not followed 100% clinical trial on hold for now until problems resolved; transform impossible situations into great opportunities!
Dr. Pamela Weathers, WPI Artemisia researcher for 25+ years!
Artemisia annua growing in Africa to help Africa!
Where the Artemisia Tablets are made in Kampala, Uganda
Artemisia Tablets
Artemisia Tablets Used In The Malaria Clinical Trial
Rwanguba Hospital where malaria clinical trial is being conducted
Dr. Daddy and clinical trial patient
Mother and clinical trial patient
4. The Artemisia annua plant works most effectively in synergy: be helpful! At Jesus birth we see the working together of all characters; gifts of 3 wise men (Matt. 2:11) which represent the three great offices that He fulfilled during His earthly ministry: Prophet, Priest, King Jesus is now ascended to heaven; Father sent the Holy Spirit to complete His ministry; spiritual gifts Artemisia has about 22 natural ingredients all working in synergy and harmony; problems if not Hope Pharmacy Association (HPA): synergy of church, CPFI, Plesion to show mercy; 3-leg stool
HPA & HPI Church (CE-39) Plesion CPFI-DRC
4. The Artemisia annua plant works most effectively in synergy: be helpful! Evangelism works the same way: one plants, another waters, and God gives the increase Significant Muslim population in Uganda from era of Idi Amin Literature published by Emmaus Bible School, Bob & Sue Cullen, Kabale, Uganda Given literature and encouraged to give this to some in Pascal s family; help Soulait and others Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
With Bob & Sue Cullen, Kabale, Uganda
Bob Cullen printing Christian literature at Kabale, Uganda
Sulait and Pascal
Sulait, Mubarak & Sarah
5. The Artemisia annua plant s success will lead to opposition: be vigilant! Christ s birth was for the purpose of dying and defeating Satan; His work is still being opposed Death has been vanquished (and so could malaria!); Christ has overcome the world Success could revolutionize malaria treatment don t be proud (Prov. 16:18; 22:4); there is hope! Availability of affordable, quality, essential medicines and supplies for the needy population (Hope Pharmacy Ituri HPI); expect opposition from others in the DRC pharmacy swamp
With Mandro and son John (architect, builder) at site of proposed new Hope Pharmacy Ituri, Bunia
Application: 1. Be humble like Jesus Christ 2. Be available like Jesus Christ 3. Be different like Jesus Christ 4. Be helpful like Jesus Christ 5. Be vigilant like Jesus Christ