Archives by: Gary Hoag

Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

“Now that is the will of God which Christ both did and taught. Humility in conversation; steadfastness in faith; modesty in words; justice in deeds; mercifulness in works; discipline in morals; to be unable to do a wrong, and to be able to bear a wrong when done; to keep peace with the brethren; to love God with all one’s heart; to love Him in that He is a Father; to fear Him in that He is God; to prefer nothing whatever to Christ, because He did not prefer anything to us; to adhere inseparably to His love; to stand by His cross bravely and faithfully; when there is any contest on behalf of His name and honor, to exhibit in discourse that constancy wherewith we make confession; in torture, that confidence wherewith we do battle; in death, that patience whereby we are crowned — this is to desire to be fellow-heirs with Christ; this is to do the commandment of God; this is to fulfill the will of the Father.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) Sermon 4 On the Lord’s Prayer 15.

Thanks for your prayers. Preaching went great in Adelaide.

As I reflect on prayer during Lent and read through this treatise by Cyprian this excerpt stood out to me: “[Christ] did not prefer anything to us.”

It was the will of the Father that Christ would die for us.

So He did not prefer anything to us. He sacrificed everything. As I ponder this it inspires me to prefer nothing else next to Him. Not my will by yours be done, Lord.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. Titus 3:4-8

“But how great is the Lord’s indulgence! How great His condescension and plenteousness of goodness towards us, seeing that He has wished us to pray in the sight of God in such a way as to call God Father, and to call ourselves sons of God, even as Christ is the Son of God, a name which none of us would dare to venture on in prayer, unless He Himself had allowed us thus to pray! We ought then, beloved brethren, to remember and to know, that when we call God Father, we ought to act as God’s children; so that in the measure in which we find pleasure in considering God as a Father, He might also be able to find pleasure in us. Let us converse as temples of God, that it may be plain that God dwells in us.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) Sermon 4 On the Lord’s Prayer 11.

As we “venture on in prayer” we start to realize our sinfulness with the publican (yesterday’s post) and God’s kindness and generosity (today’s post). He eagerly welcomes us to come to His presence in prayer.

The Lord’s indulgence toward us transforms us in at least three ways: (1) He finds pleasure in us, (2) He considers us family, and (3) He considers our bodies as His dwelling.

I hope you see the implications of this. It means that His “condescension and plenteousness of goodness” toward us have a purpose. He wants us to remain connected and dependent on Him while being conduits of blessing for Him.

Thank the Lord today for His indulgence toward you and reflect on the implications of this for your day and for the rest of your life. And remember me as I preach this weekend in Adelaide, Australia. Thanks.

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14

“And let not the worshipper, beloved brethren, be ignorant in what manner the publican prayed with the Pharisee in the temple. Not with eyes lifted up boldly to heaven, nor with hands proudly raised; but beating his breast, and testifying to the sins shut up within, he implored the help of the divine mercy. And while the Pharisee was pleased with himself, this man who thus asked, the rather deserved to be sanctified, since he placed the hope of salvation not in the confidence of his innocence, because there is none who is innocent; but confessing his sinfulness he humbly prayed, and He who pardons the humble heard the petitioner.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) Sermon 4 On the Lord’s Prayer.

In today’s biblical text we find mention of the disciplines of Lent: prayer, fasting, and giving. We also learn that these disciplines must be practiced from a place of humility.

This lesson seems timely as we find ourselves 2.5 weeks into Lent.

Our temptation is to rationalize that we are doing great. We are giving, fasting, and not like the sinners around us. So we reason that we have arrived. We have ticked the boxes.

We cannot let that be us. There’s a different response we can have during Lent.

Let us instead follow the path of the publican. Let us allow these disciplines to remind us of our sin and our daily need for God. Now see how the disciplines emerge.

God, grant us your divine mercy, we fast from pride, and give our lives to you afresh today. Amen.

Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. 1 Samuel 1:13a

“And this Hannah in the first book of Kings, who was a type of the Church, maintains and observes, in that she prayed to God not with clamorous petition, but silently and modestly, within the very recesses of her heart. She spoke with hidden prayer, but with manifest faith. She spoke not with her voice, but with her heart, because she knew that thus God hears; and she effectually obtained what she sought, because she asked it with belief.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) Sermon 4 On the Lord’s Prayer.

It was a fruitful time in Perth. Jenni and I have safely arrived in Adelaide. I am turning my attention to the Lenten discipline of prayer.

Today Cyprian celebrates the example of Hannah and teaches us that she was a type of the church and shows us how to practice hidden prayer with manifest faith and belief.

This reminds me afresh to place my needs in the trustworthy hands of God.

The generous life calls us to put ourselves in a posture of perpetual dependence on God. This is not easy because often God places bigger challenges in our paths.

I felt convicted by the “clamorous petition” comment.

God, help us silently and modestly entrust our desires and difficulties to you and through hidden prayer and manifest faith and belief watch you do the impossible. Amen.

At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world, and this took place during the reign of Claudius. The disciples determined that, according to their ability, each would send relief to the brothers and sisters living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. Acts 11:27-30

“When a king demands gold from you, no matter how much he wants—threatening to tie you up and hang you—you give him what he wants. Even if you are poor, he pays no attention to the means that different people have, but he seeks only his own gain. But God is not like this, for he asks only in proportion to our means.”

John Chrysostom (347-407) in On Fasting and Almsgiving.

Today marks the last post from this excellent treatise on fasting and almsgiving. It’s short and sweet.

We learn that earthly kings tend to try to demand an extra more from us without giving attention to our situation or resources. John Chrysostom tells us that our God is not like this.

Instead God only wants us to give in proportion to our means, which follows the pattern of the first disciples.

In today’s Scripture we see that the disciples collectively determined to send aid according to the ability of each one. Notice the collective and individual nature of New Testament giving.

They all reflected the same witness, that is, proportionate giving, though they gave different amounts. And the giving appears as timely. They acted immediately upon hearing of the need.

I was so encouraged yesterday. A good friend signed up to give $100 monthly to GTP. I mention this for two reasons.

Firstly, I am realizing as CEO that I should have encouraged monthly giving from the start. It flows regularly and proportionately from faithful stewards. And we need more of it to deploy staff in humble service.

Secondly, this giving comes at a time of need like the situation in the Acts narrative. In that sense, it’s timely. So, if you have sent support to GTP in the past, can I ask you to set up monthly giving here?

Your proportionate support will provide timely assistance. Thanks.

Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Ecclesiastes 11:6

“Give what you have to the poor and the Master will guard them for you with the greatest security. Do you not see what farmers do? Often, when they lack seed on account of their poverty, they pawn their clothes and receive what they lacked and entrust it to the earth. Even though they have often experienced unseasonable weather and have left their fields without reaping anything, they nonetheless entrust it to the earth in hope. Is the Master therefore not able to do what the earth does?”

John Chrysostom (347-407) in On Fasting and Almsgiving.

Here John Chrysostom connects almsgiving to what farmers do. They entrust seeds to the earth in hope of a harvest. Then he says so powerfully, “Is the Master therefore not able to do what the earth does?”

Can you imagine a farmer holding on to seed in the barn? It makes no sense right. That’s the person with material wealth that holds on to it. They will reap no harvest leaving it in the barn.

And they may, like the rich fool, be relieved of their duties. Don’t let that be you. Entrust your seed to God through giving and see what the Master does with it.

You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. Luke 6:36

“Why, then, are there poor people? Is God not able to rain down gold upon them? But the poor are with you so that their poverty might serve for you as a propitiation of sins. A great thing is man, but a merciful man is precious indeed. See how great almsgiving is? God identifies the merciful man with himself: Be compassionate, he says, as your heavenly Father is compassionate. We know that when death comes, your money remains here. Why, then, do you not send it there to yourself in advance, so that, on the Day of Judgment, the poor will stand by your side where you will have no lawyer or advocate. Pointing to their clothing and head coverings, the poor will snatch you from the fire. Even the sun rising over ice does not cause it to melt as much as almsgiving, which, when it descends on a multitude of sins, causes them to vanish utterly.”

John Chrysostom (347-407) in On Fasting and Almsgiving.

I am having sweet fellowship with Christian workers in Sydney (pictured above).

Meanwhile, for two years and counting the war has raged in Ukraine. While many have offered support, right now it seems that the only thing raining down on the Ukrainian people is unfriendly fire from Russian troops.

This has left numerous people poor, homeless, and internally displaced.

Jenni and I will head into Ukraine from 18-31 March 2024 as part of Ukraine: Project Structure. Click to read more about our strategic work there. We will help rebuild the structure of churches and ministries with standards while also caring for the needs of hurting souls.

This brings into view a tangible way you can “rain down” help during Lent.

To provide general support to GTP click here to give “where needed most” or to “Ukraine: Project Structure.” Or if you want to help the poor and internally displaced persons, we launched “Ukraine: Project Tiny Houses”.

This effort is led by GTP Country Coordinator Sasha Volyanyk, who has worked with YWAM for years.

You or your church can give $7,500 and build a Tiny House which provides shelter to those who have lost everything and helps connect them to a church and a network of support.

Read about the effort and give generously today. Sasha and other have built 174 Tiny Houses and counting.

The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9

“For whereas usury is a crime practiced by the heathen, with God it is praiseworthy. Will you not give to the poor? Consider who it is that begs of you through the poor man and attend to the dignity of the one who receives. Yes, the poor man receives, but it is God who is the borrower.

Understand to what depths the Master descended to accomplish this, so that he might turn you back from cruelty and hatred: For you saw me hungry, and you did not feed me; thirsty, and you did not give me to drink; a stranger, and you did not welcome me; naked, and you did not clothe me. Will you not therefore give to Christ in his hunger?

Both you and the poor man together partake of his body from the altar table. You both likewise partake of his holy cup. Christ grants you to commune in his great and fearful mysteries, and yet you do not share your small and paltry things with him? Will you not give him thine own?”

John Chrysostom (347-407) in On Fasting and Almsgiving.

As I read through this ancient treatise on fasting and almsgiving, it moves me that the incarnation, God becoming flesh, aimed to turn us back from cruelty and hatred by showing us what giving generously to the undeserving looks like.

May God, this Lent, turn us back. May He change our minds and break our hearts to see that when we share, we will be both be blessed and be turned back from cruelty and hatred that aims to destroy us. Our very lives depend on whether or not we get this.

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17

“Surely you see the multitudes of poor people in the street, how they remain outdoors even though they are sick or naked? Some are younger, some are older, some of them are leaning on one another for support — how great is their misfortune! Give, therefore, to your fellow servants, so that you might have the Master in your debt, for he gladly becomes your debtor and pays back your investment with interest.”

John Chrysostom (347-407) in On Fasting and Almsgiving.

Tough times fall on everyone, old and young.

Today’s Scripture and words from John Chrysostom alert us to the fact that the LORD sees when we help those in need and will reward those who act generously: He gladly becomes your debtor.

God cares so much that we help others, He stands ready to replenish and reward the faithful.

This Lent, I want to give you that opportunity right now. Because GTP did not hit our year-end funding target, I learned that we have only about 60 days cash on hand.

This is a first for me as President and CEO. We’ve never been this low on cash since GTP started.

Rather than keep the need quiet, I humbly ask for help. Can you join GTP as a monthly giver today. Set it up here. Whether you give $10 or $100, your monthly support will keep the work going.

I am fasting and praying for monthly supporters. Seek the Lord and join us in the work at the level God leads you.

In obedient service to Jesus Christ, GTP multiplies faithful stewards and mobilizes peer accountability groups (like ECFA in USA) to build trust and grow local giving to God’s work.

Looking for partners to help make sure this work continues for months and years to come.

Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.” Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” Exodus 18:15-23

“Almsgiving is thus the wing of prayer. If you do not provide your prayer with wings, it will never fly. When, however, your soul sprouts wings, it flies immediately to heaven. How long will the love of money and the desire for possessions last? All those things, brother, last no longer than the present life. But you will say to me, “Say these things to yourself!” And indeed I do say these things to myself, and also to you, because this is advice for everybody. When I myself hear these things and amend my ways, then I am benefited by you. Even if it is a slave who says these things, I would still take the advice; and if it is a free man, I listen eagerly, because it is not a person’s station in life but the utility of the advice that makes me accept their words. For if that great Moses, who spoke with God, did not shun the advice of his father-in-law, though he was a barbarian, but to the contrary received his advice, which was confirmed by God, how much more should we? I am not telling you to give away everything you own, but from your surplus to give to the poor, so that your surplus may become the foundation of your salvation.”

John Chrysostom (347-407) in On Fasting and Almsgiving.

It’s my dad’s birthday today. Happy birthday Dad. Thanks for your sharing of your surplus all the years I watched you growing up. It proved to be the foundation of your salvation and mine too.

I saw you and mom help others in need, not so much with a hand out, but rather a hand up.

That shaped my understanding of life in God’s economy. I learned that each of us has been blessed to be a blessing. And when coupled with the words of Jethro, one person can’t do it all alone.

In today’s Scripture, Moses had to serve as the representative of the people before God.

And He also empowered others to share the load with him. This leads me to a request. The work of GTP continues to grow and the needs grow faster than we have resources.

Can you make a gift to GTP to deploy staff to grow stewards and set up peer accountability groups? Click here to give.

in the first four months of this fiscal year we will minister to workers in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Cayman Islands, Australia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Albania.

Lack of funding may cause us to postpone work in Brazil, Barbados, Grenada, Dominica, and Antigua & Barbuda.

Thanks for considering this need during Lent. Please see it as an opportunity to lay a foundation for your salvation and to give to help strengthen and empower others to grow as givers and to help ministries grow capacity.

Moses could not do everything. Ministry workers need our help like Moses did.

GTP shows them how to be good stewards who follow standards which builds out the administration and governance and positions gospel ministry to reach more people.

I wrapped up speaking and mobilizing workers in Melbourne and headed to Sydney today, city three of five on this trip.