April 1st, 2009
    Pastoral Letter; March

    Dear Brothers and Sisters,

    Martin Luther wrote: “All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from theheart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked anddesired, although not in the hour or in the measure, or the very thing whichthey ask. Yet they will obtain something greater and more glorious than theyhad dared to ask.” 

    Prayer is currently the subject of our morning sermons. As I noted last week,prayer is one of the most difficult things in the Christian life; in fact,Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote that “everything we do in the Christian life is easierthan prayer.” There is no doubt that many of us can appreciate Lloyd-Jones’words. 

    But, like many things in life, those things which are most difficult often carry the greatest rewards. Note how many times the word “reward” is used in Matthew6 where we see our Lord teaching on prayer (see also Heb. 11:6). God rewardshis people. And as Luther notes above, sometimes he rewards his people withthings “greater and more glorious than they had dared to ask.”Those who praycan rest assured that even though they may not be aware of this, it isnevertheless true; but we must ask, for if we do not ask we will not receive.

     May God give us grace to seek him like never before in the power of his Spirit.

     Much love in Christ, 

     Mark 

Faith Presbyterian Church
2581 East 45th Avenue,
Vancouver, BC V5R 3B9
Canada
phone 604.438.8755
Morning Service 11am
Evening Service 6pm

Faith Presbyterian Church is part of the newly-formed Presbytery of Western Canada and is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Founded in 1976, Faith Presbyterian is located in the Killarney area of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Pastor Mark Jones studied at Wycliffe Theological College and Potchefstroom University in Johannesburg, South Africa. His MA was awarded in April 2007 in Church and Dogma History. Currently, Mark is engaged in PhD studies at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. His topic is the Christology of Thomas Goodwin titled "The Christ of the Covenant". You can read more about his thoughts and studies at his blog 'Thomas Goodwin'.