From the very beginning, when God said, “Let there be light,” His light has always been life, truth, hope and salvation. It is man who invited spiritual darkness into God’s pure creation by his choice to rebel against the light of God.

But there is hope, for darkness cannot overcome the light (Jn 1:5). In God’s almighty and sovereign purposes, He sent a Light to shine into man’s darkness – His only begotten Son, Jesus. In Him is life and the life is the light for all people (Jn 1:4).

This Light is in His Person, the living Word of God, made flesh for all to see and know (Jn 1:1,14). And for all those who believe in Him – The Light of the World – His life and the light of absolute truth resides within each one of us.

This mighty fact gifts us with three more incredible truths about Jesus:

1. He is the constantly present Guide of each Christ-follower, through every dangerous night journey. He is present with us by His Holy Spirit (Rom 8:14) and He has given us His eternal and unchanging Word for practical, life-saving empowerment and strength. His exceedingly great and precious promises (2Pet 1:4) are designed for our personal and everyday use.
   
   
2. His Word gives us strength, and is an unconquerable weapon against darkness (Eph 6:17). More than just a defensive weapon, it also prepares and equips us to be more than conquerors as His holy ambassadors. Thus, we can bring the light of the Word and of His Word into a world languishing in darkness (2Tim 3:15,16).
   
   
3. As His Word lights our path and thoroughly equips us for every good work, we are also being prepared for what awaits every true follower of Jesus. For the dawning Day toward which we travel is coming soon! This is our eternal Day when every manmade lamp will be laid aside, as we enter the forever presence of the Living Word of God, face to face through eternity (Rev 22:5). Hallelujah!

As we pray and lift our voices this month, may we be freshly encouraged by the Living Word, and the Life and Light of Jesus, given to all who will receive Him.    

INDIA AND WORLD MAP SEMINARS
India, a nation of 1.4 billion people – with more than 300,000 “gods” (evil spirits, demons) being served by those living in darkness and deception – is in a time of great spiritual, social and cultural upheaval.

Radical Hindu groups (Hindutvas), with support from the government’s official political party (BJP), are attempting to purge India of all religions other than Hindu. This assault is especially focused on Christians, with the burning of churches, homes and businesses, as well as beatings, rapes and murders.

In spite of this persecution, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is advancing and increasing in India, with the work of the Holy Spirit convicting hearts and revealing God’s love for all people. There is a great Harvest being reaped in India, to the glory of God!

Into this tense environment, World MAP is traveling from Feb 26 - Mar 18 to conduct four seminars. We will be serving a new-to-us but rapidly growing network of churches who are doing a tremendous job of preaching the Gospel and planting churches among the unreached of India. One challenge is that many who are being sent as evangelists and pastors are fairly new Believers.

Please pray for:

• A mighty and significant outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the seminars and upon the pastors and leaders present.
• Pastors’ hearts to be prepared, for spiritual hunger to arise, and that nothing would interfere with them gathering for the seminars.
• Powerfully anointed and clear teaching of the Word of God at each seminar. 
• The binding up and casting down of every demonic strategy that seeks to oppose, disrupt or lessen the effectiveness of these important seminars.
• Health, safety and unhindered travel for the team and all participants.
• Divine peace, wisdom and grace to descend upon India during their upcoming election season in April/May.
• The continued advancing of the Gospel throughout India, where there are more unreached people groups than any other place in the world.
• Even more revival and salvations for the churches already established in India.

Arise, shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you (Isa 60:1).

Therefore: Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven (Matt 5:16).

Shining forth His Light and Word with you,
Dr. Frank and Wendy Parrish,
World MAP