Dubai Teaching Day Five

Wednesday, May 1, 2024
We learned that in Pakistan today, May 1, is Labor Day.  On this annual public holiday, it is a celebration of the labor workers. All schools and offices are closed and public transportation is closed. How do they celebrate? First, they do laundry and press their clothes, then they enjoy breakfast with one another. Several of our leaders were asking if we had laundry detergent ?! We didn't quite understand until they shared what this holiday is about. How fun to learn about other cultures and holidays. Interesting.  Do any of you do laundry to celebrate Labor Day?

This morning our team enjoyed a special treat in kitchen - Latte’s made special for us! Oh we enjoyed these as we are at the halfway point of our conference. Our team wants to thank you for all your prayers. We can feel them, and we are being strengthened by them each day. We can’t believe that it has already been a week since we began our journey.

We began our morning with Praise and Worship to our Lord and Savior Jesus.  Most of Pakistani worship comes from the Psalms. Our team loves to ask which Psalm they are singing, and then we sing and read along in our Bibles.
 Psalm 39 (excerpts)
“I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue. I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicket are in my presence. Then I spoke with my tongue, LORD, make me to know my end and what is the extend of my days. Let me know how transient I am. Behold You have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing in Your sight. My hope is in You. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Hear my prayer, O LORD and give ear to my cry, do not be silent at my tears; Turn your gaze away from me, that I may smile again, Before I depart and am no more.”
What a great reminder to know that God is with us! Silence is a soul killer. Our hope is found in God. We pray that you are daily talking with Jesus so that your soul can be overflowing with joy and hope.

After our worship time, Martin began his lesson on the Book of Daniel Chapters 7 through 12 and the framework of the end times. Understanding this book is pivotal to begin our work through Eschatology. Daniel is the beginning of a puzzle piece. Our leaders were reminded that in studying end times, we are detectives of the mysteries being revealed, and we let Scripture interpret Scripture being very careful to watch out for speculation and division. Topics discussed were Tribulation, Rapture, the Return of Jesus and Millennium Kingdom. We were reminded that as believers we need to be spiritually prepared. Our leaders were encouraged to continue studying God's Word along with the information on their tablets. 

After our tea time break, Jeremy taught a lesson on The Day of the Lord. We studied Scriptures from Zephaniah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Malachi, and Amos. We were reminded that this Day of the Lord encompasses quite a few details and is more than just one day. We were encouraged that Jesus is coming back just as He promised! The Day of the Lord is a day for the Lord to make His name known. It is both a day of God's Wrath and a Day of Blessing.

Next, AJ taught a lesson on Jesus' teaching of the End Times specifically with Scripture focus of Matthew Chapters 24 and 25. All of these lessons are building upon the big idea of the Day of the Lord lessons. Yesterday, was the Foundations of Eschatology - God's Nature, Plan, Covenants, Kingdom and Prophesy. Our leaders were reminded that we need not add to or complicate God's ways, only abide in them. We should live everyday as if Jesus is coming back today!

How many people can you fit into an elevator? Well, that is the fun game we play during our lunchtime as we all go down to lunch from our conference room in the elevator. If you have not been to the Middle East, these elevators are tiny! But it sure is fun getting to know our brothers and sisters. We also love the lunch time where we can talk and learn about each other and our cultures

After our lunch time, Jeremy taught the last lesson for today as we focus on The Day of the Lord. We discussed the Apostles' End Times Teaching to believers from 1 Corinthians 15:20-58; 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and 2 Peter 3. We were all reminded of our need for Love, Significant, Security and Protection that can only come from Jesus. 

After Jeremy's lesson, we had an afternoon breakout session with our FB and Pakistani men and our FB and Pakistani women. This was a time for encouragement along with any questions that might come up pertaining to living as men and women of God. 

Meet Shomar
We had a lovely testimony from Shomar today. He shared about his family. He is married for eleven years to his wife and has two young boys. This is Shomar's first time out of his country of Pakistan. He is overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to study and learn from the Leadership Conference. He is a school teacher and is feeling God's calling to ministry. Shomar is grateful for all that he is learning and is ready to take God's Word back to his country. He asked that we continue to pray for Pakistan and salvation for many.

One interesting activity that occurs five times each day in Dubai is the music from the surrounding mosques with the call to prayer. Each time we hear all the sounds, we are reminded that we, as believers are to pray without ceasing. May all of us as believer's call upon the Lord and pray without ceasing because Jesus is returning. If you know Him, do you share Him with others? Is your life a life of constant praying? Do you hear the call to prayer in your own life?
As we ended our day, we were all encouraged to live each day as if Jesus is coming today. Why? Because Jesus promises that He will Return!