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Thank you for standing with us in the work here in Sweden.

Right now, we are going through the book of Daniel and Hebrews on Sundays. Last Sunday I preached about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were pressured to give in and worship Nebuchadnezzar’s idol statue or die. We don’t face such dangerous challenges currently, but at the same time, the pressure is all around us to give in. In our day, there are not many who worship idols of metal and wood, but the idols of the heart are everywhere. Everything, even if it’s not bad in itself like family, ministry, friends, etc. can be an idol if it takes God’s place or gets the wrong proportions. It seems the pressure from society is everywhere to bow our knees to idols and the opinion of man. Daniel’s friends knew their God, they knew his faithfulness and sovereignty. Even if it might have felt like Nebuchadnezzar was ruling, they knew that it is God who removes kings and sets up kings and that he is the ruler of the universe who is on his throne.

In this time that we are living in it is crucial that we know our God, so when the time comes that there would not be a hint, not a doubt, but that we would stand firm when temptation comes. For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego they did not hesitate at all, but willingly faced death with the conviction that “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

The Lord rescued Daniel’s friends, but even if he would not have done that, they still would not worship Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. In the Bible, we have many examples like at the end of Hebrews 11 where people would face torture and death for their faithfulness to God. I think the apostle Peter is alluding to this passage when he says: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Pet 4:12).

May we not be surprised when fiery trials come and in preparation for that, may we focus on growing in our relationship with our Lord Jesus so that we may be ready and faithful for that time is coming.

Please pray for us here in Sweden. We clearly can sense that tough times will come. Pray that we would be faithful and in preparation would grow strong in the Lord and the truth of the gospel. Also, pray for the raising up of future leaders to pastor and plant churches in our country. Pray for the first weekend in November when we’ll do a conference for people from three different cities who are gathering to study the word of God and who would like to see churches planted in their cities.

Pray for growth in holiness, humility and for people in their surroundings to be delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Col 1:13).

Pray for “lighthouses” of the gospel in those cities and for mature leaders.

The family is doing well. We just had a birthday party with my relatives celebrating the birthdays of three of our kids, Lydia turning 12, Elisabeth turning 7 and Samuel 4. We thank God for blessing us with 5 wonderful children. Pray that we would be wise stewards of them and that they all would come to a saving faith in young years. Right now, we are going through the gospel of John in our family worship.

Thank you for partnering with us!