EGM Times Sep_Oct_2023 Edition

EGM TIMES V O L U M E 11 I S S U E 5

S E P T E M B E R - O C TO B E R 2 0 2 3

EXPOSING | ENCOURAGING | EMPOWERING

Mastery of your call 09 Choosing to be the village 13 In the company of failure 21 The person of the Holy Spirit 25

WATCH THE STORY OF EGM

On December 14th, 2022, EGM Celebrated ten years of God's faithfulness!

We are grateful to God for helping us to share the story of EGM on how God led us a decade in saving the lost and igniting the saved with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

It is the impact of one yes to the call of God. As you watch this inspiring story, we want you to ask yourself what is holding you back from saying yes to the call of God in your life. Before it's too late, say YES to the call of God in your life, and He is faithful to lead you victoriously!

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Mastery of your call -Hannah Olapade

Choosing to be the village -Kayla Alonso

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#OPINION

-George Vilgi Oommen

All Bible references are from the New International Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation, King James Version. EGM Times is published by Elohim Gospel Ministries, USA & India. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

EGM Times has no subscription price and is supported through contributions worldwide. Because all EGM Times editions are preplanned, we are unable to accept unsolicited manuscripts. For more information or to subscribe, visit: elohimgospelministries.com President: Evg. Jacob Vilgi Oommen Chief Editor: George Vilgi Oommen Associate Editor: Gideon Pingkihan Content Editor: Effie Ochago Design: EGM Media

STAY CONNECTED elohimgospelministries.com egminspirations.com

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CONFIDENT ANSWERS -Jacob Varghese

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The person of the holy spirit

-Izu, Peace Benneth

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In the company of failure -Rachel Yarworth

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LIFE IN BETWEEN -Daya Raja

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Meet Our Writers Hannah Olapade, UK

Kayla Alonso, USA

Rachel Yarworth, UK

Izu Benneth, Nigeria

Hannah Olapade also known as Wunmi, is a Christian, wife and a mum who is intentional about living a purposeful life. Hannah is predominantly a worship leader who enjoys connecting to God through songs. She is a recording artist with her songs on major streaming platforms. Hannah also loves to teach and encourage others using God's word, she does this through her IG page (@hannahoofficial) and on YouTube (Speaking Grace TV), a channel she co-hosts.

Hannah's drive and passion for revival and kingdom expansion compelled her at such a time as this to propagate the gospel using her creativity according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Kayla Alonso lives in Minnesota with her husband and 3 children. She is passionate about helping families explore the Bible together. She can often be found at a local park, chasing toddlers with an iced coffee in hand.

Rachel Yarworth is the author of "Friend of God: The Miraculous Life of an Ordinary Person". She is passionate about introducing people of all ages, gender and background to simple relationship with Jesus, and loves hearing and sharing stories of how God has moved in people’s lives. Rachel lives in Worcestershire, UK with her husband Mike, their three miracle sons and their miniature labradoodle.

When not writing, Rachel can usually be found home educating her younger two boys, leading a home church, or going for long walks in the countryside. You can know more about Rachel by visiting the link www.rachelyarworthwriter.wordpress.com

Izu Peace Benneth, a biology student of Ignatius Ajuru University Of Education in Rumuolumeni, Portharcourt, Rivers State Nigeria. A Christian online content creator, inspired by The Holy Spirit, to reveal “His Person” to the world.

She loves God, and a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. She believes that knowing and fellowshipping with The Holy Spirit makes our Christian journey an easy one.

Izu Peace Benneth lives in Portharcourt, Nigeria, with her siblings, her older sister Faith and younger brother Desire.

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EDITORIAL Friends,

Welcome to another edition of EGM Times. I am happy to bring this edition to you with articles on different topics. Hannah explains about Mastering your call, Kayla shares about the importance of community and hospitality, Rachel writes about how God uses failed people and Izu shares about the importance of Holy Spirit in our lives. I thank each writer for sharing insights from the word of God. Each article will help you to understand the word of God more deeply.

As I type this editorial, thousands of people in Israel and Palestine are suffering from death and destruction because of a bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas. The world is divided on taking sides on this issue. In any conflict, it is the ordinary people who suffers the most. As a child of God, it is our duty to pray for peace in the world, care for the people who are suffering and for leaders who are governing us.

Happy reading. God bless you.

George Vilgi Oommen Chief Editor EGM Times

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Did you know?

Noah built the ark as per the specific directions from God. Genesis 6:14 to 22 provides insights into all the instructions God gave to build the ark. Noah was six hundred years old when the flood happened.

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Mastery of your call -Hannah Olapade

The world is full of many options when it comes to choosing goods and services, but our choices are influenced by various factors like quality, price, taste, size etc. we make choices every day. For example, I recently relocated to a new city and was in search of a vendor for a beautiful birthday cake. Thank God for recommendations from friends and the internet, I was flooded with different options.

We need to also realise that here on earth, we have been called to represent and express the love of Christ in various capacities. This may differ from person to person.

Some are called into ministry, media, politics, parenting, sport, music and many more. A call is an important assignment/instruction/burden from God.

“To dominate in any area God is leading or calling you, it is important to gain full mastery of any skill that would assist you in functioning effortlessly and efficiently.”

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Gaining mastery is important because the work of the master requires urgency. “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned to us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work (John 9:4).

To dominate in any area God is leading or calling you, it is important to gain full mastery of any skill that would assist you in functioning effortlessly and efficiently.

Back to my cake story, I was instinctively drawn to cakes that were presented well and it helped me in narrowing down my search. I never thought of contacting vendors who had poor cake presentation. Long story short, I had a very beautiful and tasty cake from a very creative vendor.

I want to believe so many people would rather opt for the best, like me. We are encouraged to incorporate this mentality as we diligently carry out the The dictionary defines “Mastery” as possessing great task of the master, give your best and be the best. skills, technique, authority and extensive knowledge of The world would only come to you and listen to a subject matter. you if you have mastered your craft.

Mastery brings glory to God’s name. Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven”. You are called the light of the world for one reason and that is to shine.

Another reason why mastery is important is that it promotes relevance. Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men (Prov 22:29). Mastery laced with excellence will catapult you from obscurity to visibility.

“Remember there is a reward not just here on earth but also in eternity.”

With mastery, you stand out and stand tall. Daniel 6:3 Then Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps because he had an excellent spirit. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

Now think of yourself being distinguished in your calling, the Bible encourages us stating we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us.

Amidst all the challenges that one could face like fear, intimidation, imposter syndrome, financial struggles, lack of resources etc. you can still shine!!!!!

Be of good cheer! Christ has overcome the world.

I want to share four ways to gain and maintain mastery.

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1.Have a solid personal relationship with God: There is a song

by Minister Dunsin Oyekan with the lyrics “Just one passion, one purpose, just to know you more and more, when I know you (God) I’ll find me” This summarises how I would love to explain this point. We must love, yearn and have a solid relationship with the Father. It is in the place of knowing God that he reveals his intentions for us. There is no call without knowing the father. Spending quality time with the father is of great essence.

2.Prayer: Investing quality time in prayer births the miraculous. Praying over our assignment is of the essence, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood.

3.Develop and Invest: It is important that we sharpen our skills, go to school, get training, be subject to mentorship, and acquire equipment that can help. Don’t stop learning, always be up to date. Have a beautiful network of solid relationships with like-minded people who would motivate you to be more.

4.Partner with the Holy Spirit: John 14:26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. The Holy Spirit should be our best friend, he is always leading us by providing life-changing ideas and formulas. Trust and obey His leading.

1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.

Life is a gift and it should be handled with intentionality. If the people of the world are putting in great efforts to produce excellent results how much more are we the children of Light? Ephesians 4:1 implores us to Live a life that is worthy of the calling we have received. Remember, there is a reward not just here on earth but also in eternity.

Make it your utmost priority to please God and to do his will.

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Last month, I completed reading a book on the life of Jimmy Carter, the thirty-ninth president of the United States. The book covers the president’s life in a detailed manner (biographies are one of my favorite book genres!). In one of the chapters, the book gives details of the Camp David Accord. The Camp David Accords, signed by President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in September 1978, established a framework for a historic peace treaty concluded between Israel and Egypt in March 1979.

President Carter went the extra mile to bring the two leaders from the Middle East to the negotiating table and made a peace deal. Many people at that time thought the attempt was a futile exercise. In the end, the accord was signed by Egypt and Israel, bringing peace between the two countries. President Carter is known for his quest for peace and is a champion of human rights. Even though many disagree with some of the policies and issues he advocated, no one can deny that President Carter loved peace and tried his best to bring peace to several conflicts. The Christian faith he had deeply influenced President Carter’s quest for peace.

#Opinion -George Vilgi Oommen

As I write this column, two major wars are happening in the world. One is happening in between Ukraine and Russia in Eastern Europe the other is in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas. I am not an expert in Geopolitics or international relations. So, I am not going to be the judge on who is right or wrong.

However, I am deeply sad and disturbed to see thousands of people suffering due to the conflicts. It is even more disturbing to see many Christians and Christian leaders endorsing a full-scale war as the first option to solve problems.

I conclude with a statement from Jesus during the sermon on the mount.

Mathew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” We need to pray and work towards peace.

village

Choosing to be the

-Kayla Alonso

A common idiom in the world of parenting is, 'It takes a village to raise a child.' It's the idea that parents need community in this crazy journey of parenthood. People to learn from. People to help.

Earlier this week, I saw a video while scrolling the internet. A new mom holding her fresh baby stared at the camera saying, 'they told me it takes a village…' She paused, then asked, 'so, is there a number I call? When does this village show up?' The video was joking but reflected a deep knowledge of what many modern American moms experience. The longing for the village…and the absence of it.

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We were made for community, and motherhood is a space where community is needed.

But motherhood is lonely for many, both in and out of the church. One study found that out of the mothers they interviewed, 90% experienced loneliness while caring for children under age 5 (1) There is a need for community in parenthood, and an apparent lack there of. However, what if Christian parents hold the key to ending this loneliness epidemic? If we, as Christian parents, choose to take up the cause of Biblical Hospitality within our communities, it is possible we could ease the burden of isolation within modern motherhood.

What is Biblical Hospitality?

Biblical Hospitality has become a bit of an overused trope within Christian women circles. We often hear it tossed around with recipes, and ideas for tables capes.

But when we peel away aesthetics, what might we find?

Peter speaks on the topic: “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling' (1 Peter 4:9, ESV) A call to care for each other with joy, and not bitterness.

Paul also urges the church: 'Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares' (Hebrews 13:2, ESV).

It is an obvious command to care for those in our community, even those we do not know.

Again, two verses are frequently thrown around with the idea of Biblical Hospitality. We know the Bible talks about it. However, how do we do this? How do we invite others into our lives and our homes in a way that introduces them to the transformative goodness of the Gospel?

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Hospitality for one another

Hospitality for the stranger

Peter encourages the church to not just show hospitality to each other, but to show it without grumbling. It can be easy to shrug-off the petition to show hospitality to one another. We can feel too introverted. Or maybe our house is too small. Or we aren't the best cook. But hospitality can be small. Often it is not about what we have to offer.

In fact, true Biblical Hospitality is not about us at all. It's the simple act of seeing the person next to us and choosing welcome.

Hospitality for the stranger is looking beyond our immediate circle. When we find our community, it can be easy to stick with the people we know. It's hard to put ourselves out there, and rejection can be painful. But what if we grew our faith communities to face outward? Linking arms with our friends and neighbors we choose to do life with.

We form a circle of friendship, but instead of our circles facing inward, we face outward, continually looking for others who also need community.

Working together to provide welcome to those who need hope and friendship. What if we offered our number to the mom at the park with kids the same age? What if we reached out to the fellow parent in our kids' class for a playdate. Sometimes those connections will lead nowhere. However, those longing for community, generally will respond. And who knows if that connection may even be the start of God's work in our lives.

A few ways any of us can show welcome to the fellow parent in our church community is: -Sending a text to check-in.

-Send a pizza to the home in a busy season, so parents don't have to think about dinner.

-Inviting a fellow parent to hit up the splash pad or beach.

These things seem simple, but sometimes the trick is to do it without grumbling. It can be easy to play the host, while also whining about cleaning the house. I'm an introvert, and it can be easy for me to complain about how much effort it can take to reach out. But to show hospitality without grumbling? To shift the focus from what I am giving, to what is being given. It shifts the focus from what I have to offer, to the opportunity being opened for God to move in relationship and community. And that isn't about me and my efforts at all. It is about God and his glory.

Biblical hospitality can sound overwhelming, but it is simple. It’s keeping our eyes and hearts open to the people God has strategically placed in our lives. May we see where God is moving and choose to join him in his work. How will you show hospitality to those around you this week?

(1) Junttila N, Ahlqvist-Björkroth S, Aromaa M, Rautava P, Piha J, Räihä H. Intercorrelations and developmental pathways of mothers’ and fathers’ loneliness during pregnancy, infancy and toddlerhood--STEPS study. Scand J Psychol. 2015;56(5):482–8.]

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CONFIDENT ANSWERS

If I were asked this question a year back I would’ve told you John that we Christians must follow ‘evangelise only, no politics’. But I want to show you what changed my opinion. I hope this will be helpful to you and all of our readers. So thank you for sending in this question.

My main objection to Christian involvement in politics was that politics is irredeemably dirty thanks to the politicians. To be fair, my opinion was based on the political set up in India. It is true that politicians are no Mother Theresas but we need to concern ourselves with the structure rather than the players to find a wholesome Biblical answer. The reason being any institution that has humans involved will be marred with sin. If we don’t make this distinction we’ll run the risk of applying the same reasoning to say that marriage is not pursuable because of all the married people who cheat and divorce. For if positions of power over nations were inherently evil and opposed to God, then why would God place Joseph, Esther and Daniel in such positions in foreign lands?

Ralph Drollinger of Capitol Ministries comments that “while the primacy of Jesus’ mission is to convert the lost, the entirety of His message encompasses making disciples” (1). To be a disciple means to follow Jesus’ commands as it pertains to all walks of life. One cannot be a disciple of Jesus and not follow what Jesus says about marriage, government etc. So what does God make of human governance on earth?

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Romans 13 tells us that all governing authority has been instituted by God and that the rulers are God’s servants who are to ensure that moral behaviour is enforced. 1 Peter 2:13-14 echoes in agreement the role of civil authorities in ensuring suppression of evil and commending good.

In fact we read how God viewed King Cyrus and used him to bring about His sovereign purpose in the Bible.

So we see that governments and thrones aren’t inherently evil but those seated can be. Darius the Mede was used by God to proclaim His glory through an edict while King Belshezzar was weighed and found wanting.

This foundational understanding tells us that parties, governments and kings aren’t our saviours. They can be means for God to use to ‘save’ from certain instances. Hence we don’t place our trust in the princes of this world but in the King who channels their ways to where He pleases. Our allegiance then lies with God and affiliation with anyone who pledges allegiance to God. Our regula fidei is God’s word. Not party statements. Our Saviour is God. Not governments. As Pastor Samuel Rogriguez remarked, “we do not lean, [Left or Right] we stand on God’s word”(2). Standing on this rock foundation we will be the voice of conscience of the nation, as Martin Luther King put it.

I’ve raised the floor (politics isn’t inherently evil) and lowered the ceiling (government isn’t God). This gives us some space to work with. So why bother to engage in this field? Power. The power that policies and rules have over our daily lives is not insignificant. Consider for instance laws on freedom of speech and religion. It is through the right to free speech and freedom of religion that the lost can encounter the Gospel and choose to live their public lives as Christians. Countless nations have laws that clamp down upon freedom of speech.

Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen is one of the latest high-profile victims of ‘hate speech laws’. Her crime? Tweeting a Bible verse. North Korea remained independent of US intervention in rewriting the government and persecution and poverty abounds. South Korea, however, reaped the benefit of US political intervention and today the nation is one of the most active launchpads of global mission, housing the first international mission base of Campus Crusade.

This is the direct result of American Christian voters voting for representatives who value such essential human rights. For the voice of the conscience of the nation to bring change, it must speak to the conscience of the nation. And the only way for us to be able to point towards leaders of integrity is for such men and women to volunteer to be leaders championing the voice of the people. How God-honouring would it be if devout Christians were seated in positions of power using the laws to effect God’s will in the nation? This is why Colonel John Monroe, seeking to establish a just judiciary in the early 19th century Kerala, wanted Christian judges to assume the offices. Or consider the impact an elected British politician like William Wilberforce had in ending the evil of slavery in the British Empire. Expanding our perspective on loving our neighbour, Desmond Tutu said “As Christians, we need to not just be pulling the drowning bodies out of the river. We need to be going upstream to find out who is pushing them in.” Having the right laws in place will prevent such malicious shoves.

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“When the righteous is in authority the people rejoice” Proverbs 29:2 Politics, because of its influential status, is the stand upon which the light of the world must be placed. Politics, because of its ubiquitous presence, needs to be flavoured by the salt of the world. Politics can be wielded as a tool for God’s glory and for the furtherance of the Gospel just as a teacher, lawyer, bureaucrat or businessman wields their domains.

What we cannot do is remain politically neutral. Let me leave you John with this quote from the late Tim Keller.

“Those who avoid all political discussions and engagement are essentially casting a vote for the social status quo. American churches in the early 19th century that did not speak out against slavery because that was what we would now call ‘getting political’ were actually supporting slavery by doing so. To not be political is to be political … Nevertheless, while believers can register under a party affiliation and be active in politics, they should not identify the Christian church or faith with a political party as the only Christian one.” (3)

By, Jacob Varghese, Founder-Director, SAFT Apologetics SAFT Apologetics is a web-based Indian Christian initiative that aims to equip the believer defend their faith so that they may effectively evangelise. We work towards fulfilling our Vision to break the language and accessibility barrier and make apologetics resources within easy reach for all communities in India and beyond. We live out our Vision through our podcast, conferences, blog, YouTube channel and live speaking sessions. In short, we are creating an online library with an invitation to all to seek answers so that they may find the truth.

(1) Drollinger, R. (2023). Why believers should be involved in politics. Capitol Ministries. https://capmin.org/should-believers-be-involved-in-politics/ (2) We don’t lean, WE STAND! | By Rev. Samuel Rodriguez | Facebook. (2023, July 14). [Video]. Facebook. Retrieved October 7, 2023, from https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=113494681791045 (3) Timothy Keller, “Opinion | How Do Christians Fit Into the Two-Party System? They Don’t,” The New York Times, September 29, 2018, sec. Opinion,

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I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

-Philippians 4:13

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I N T H E C O M PA N Y O F

FAILURE -Rachel Yarworth

The first Bible verse that I identified with was Matt 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled” (NKJV) As a teenager, I had a simple faith: I had met God as a child in my bedroom, and I believed Him to be my friend, but it was a treasured secret that nobody else knew. My parents had been church-goers for a while, but they didn’t seem to know God as a friend like I did. Their religion seemed full of rules that I invariably failed to live up to, and I felt sure that if I told them I wanted to follow God, they would tell me I was too naughty.

So I kept my love for Him a secret and struggled through childhood and my teenage years without telling a soul.

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“So, if you are feeling a failure today, broken and grieving over your own inability to make yourself good enough for God, I want to encourage you that you are in good company.“ Consequently, my relationship with God was a bumpy ride. When my prayer requests were answered as I hoped, I was thrilled by His evident love – and when He saved me from harm more than once, I delighted in the awareness of His protection. But when other prayers seemed to go unanswered, and the chaos of adolescent hormones surged devastatingly through my fragile lack of confidence, I had no wise counsel from a mature Christian to help me find God in the storm. I so badly wanted to do what was right but failed so often. I imagined He had written me off long ago like someone crossed off Santa’s “nice” list.

But eventually, I went to college and met people who could explain that Jesus had paid the price for all my wrongs, and I started to hope once more that God did have a place for me in His Kingdom. And when I was given a Bible and started to read it, and then came across Matt 5:6, it felt like God had got a highlighter and written it over my heart. It was me, hungering so badly for righteousness… and Him right there: not writing me off for failing but promising to fill me with righteousness. Never had I felt so entirely understood and answered.

Over thirty years have passed since then: thirty years of more failures than I would like. But what I have learned since then is that my imperfection puts me in good company. I cannot find a single place in the Bible where God used a perfect candidate to reveal His goodness (other than Jesus Himself, of course!)

In looking for someone to eloquently intercede with a tyrant leader to liberate a nation, God chose an outcast with a speech impediment![ Ex 4:10] Moses’ weakness apparently made Him perfect for the job.

When He needed someone to establish a righteous kingdom and demonstrate His heart to the world, He chose the murderous adulterer, David![ 2 Sam 11:2-17] And when picking someone to lead a new family of believers, He chose a man who was so fearful he had publicly denied Christ three times![ Matt 26:74,75] Peter was just who God wanted.

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If it were me, I would have picked people like the Pharisees. They were the ones who loved God’s Word, who devoted their lives to following it and helping others to follow it, who set themselves apart to serve only Him. But the trouble was, they thought they were righteous. They didn’t accept they needed a Saviour, or His mercy and grace. Just like in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector[ Lk 18:9-14], they thought they had it all sorted when the only way to God is through acknowledging our failures and need for a Saviour. God picked Moses, David, Peter etc, because they were failures who knew their own weakness – because they humbly and repentantly gave it all to God, and depended entirely on His grace.

So, if you are feeling a failure today, broken and grieving over your inability to make yourself good enough for God, I want to encourage you that you are in good company. He delights in revealing His treasure through earthen containers[ 2 Cor 4:7]… to perfect His power in our weakness[ 2 Cor 12:9]… to choose us!

God cannot work in those who think they have no need of Him, who think they’ve got this Christian life sorted, with their impeccable church attendance, perfect prayer lives and excellent Bible study habits. He’s looking out for the weak, broken and repentant who know they are dependent on Him for ALL righteousness. And the best thing is – when we know we need it, and we seek Him for it, He promises to fill us with it!

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THE PERSON OF THE

HOLY SPIRIT Izu, Peace Benneth

My name is Peace, I am a young adult who struggled with serving God. I grew up in a Godly home and I knew their was a God, He created the world, everything in it and that it was an obligation to serve Him. Growing up, I really delighted in service, I remember vividly the times I used to sing and recite Bible Passages with so much excitement in my local church. But along the line I fell off, I found it really hard to fit in. It got to a point I wasn’t interested in Church activities anymore not until I had an encounter with The Person of The Holy Spirit.

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NOW WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? - The Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit in a man, (John 14:17).

- The Holy Spirit is a Person.

In accordance with the Bible, The Holy Spirit is referred to as “ He” (John 14:16).

- The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Bible As seen in, (2 Peter 1:21), (2 Timothy 3:16).

HOW DO WE RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT The Holy is received by believing in The Gospel of Salvation.

What is the Gospel of Salvation?

In accordance with the Bible, (John 3:16; Romans 10: 8-10).

The Gospel of Salvation is God’s truth. (Jesus died, was buried and rose from the dead to save us).

Once a man believes this Gospel, he becomes saved and is sealed with The Holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13).

This simply means that he becomes marked as God’s own.

WHAT DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT DO? As promised by Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit Convicts (John 16:8) The Holy Spirit makes an unbeliever come to the realization that all sinners/ unbelievers are deserving of judgement, (Romans 1:18).

The influence of The Holy Spirit in an unbeliever's life will lead him/ her to the realization that he/ she is guilty of sin and that God is merciful and just to forgive if only him/her surrenders his/her life to God by acknowledging Jesus and His finished work on the cross of calvary, (John 3:16-18).

The Holy Spirit constantly reminds a believer of his/ her new nature in Christ, (Romans 8:14).

The presence of The Holy Spirit in a man enables him to live in a Christ-like manner, to live as God’s child.

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MY STORY The Holy Spirit has really been a wonderful Person to me, He has helped me a lot.

Prior to this time, at times I found it really difficult to forgive, love and live in peace with people, but because of the help of The Holy Spirit inside of me I’ve been able to see that love is my nature (Galatians 5:22-23). As I believed the Gospel and received The Holy Spirit, He taught me how to love the way God loves and to live the way God lives.

The Holy Spirit calls men into Ministry According to (Matthew 3:16-17), Jesus began His Ministry of Reconciliation after The Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove.

It was The Holy Spirit that announced Jesus to the world through diverse miracles, signs and wonders.(Matthew 4:23-25).

So ,it is The Holy Spirit that performs miracles through believers, (once we receive Him we become His vessels) (Mark 16:17-18), ( Matthew 5:14-16).

N/B: He is still in the ministry of calling men today.

So if a man wants to grow as a Christian and become better with loving people, The Holy Spirit can help him/her.

Also if a man is struggling with addiction, fear and sinful acts e.g fornication, The Holy Spirit can help him/her because He enables a believer to live above sin. (According to Psalm 27:1) God is light and when He indwells a man, darkness (old habits) flees from that man. (Romans 6:16).

The Holy Spirits Comforts (John 14:16 &26) (John 16:7).

As seen in (Proverbs 18:24), The Holy Spirit is a believers friend.

He helps, encourages, strengthens, guides, leads and counsels us.

The Holy Spirit Emboldens Being Bold simply refers to the act of being fearless, courageous and brave.

So in accordance with God’s word, The Holy Spirit dwells in every believer, (Timothy 1:7), and if God’s Spirit which is The Spirit of power ( boldness) makes His abode in a man, their would be an absence of fear in that man.

(Acts 4:7-10), Peter, a disciple of Jesus was known to be fearful, weak and unlearned but after he received The Holy Spirit, he became bold . The same Peter that once denied knowing Jesus was bold enough to witness Him.

The Holy Spirit Teaches/ Instructs (John 14:26) The Holy Spirit teaches us in so many ways namely: Through the scriptures, Sermons, books, Gospel songs, and Christian movies.

He inspires us with creative ideas just as He inspired the Holy men who wrote the Bible.

He can make you a wonder to your world, all you need to do is go to Him for ideas. (Proverbs 3:5-6) He makes men of exploit.

So in order for a man to be an effect soul winner/ witness of Christ, he/she must have The Holy Spirit.

(1 Thessalonians 2:2)

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N/B: He is trustworthy, you can rely on Him.

The Holy Spirit helps us in prayer (Acts 2:1-4) He enables us to pray and also intercedes on our behalf.(Romans 8:26-27).

The Holy Spirit is God that dwells in a believer and enables the believer walk in the Consciousness of Jesus Christ. Ministry can’t be done without the help of The Holy Spirit.

LIFE IN BETWEEN

Darkness does not always mean Evil -Daya Raja

I live in a serene locality in Kerala surrounded by trees, birds and fields. When it is the rainy season, frogs’ croaks fill our environment which also means snakes could be very much around. Growing up in a surrounding like this, whenever I stepped out of the house as a kid, my grandmother used to shout, ‘light ittodi?’ which translates to ‘did you switch on the light?’ Her concern was safety.

She wanted to ensure that there was nothing in the darkness that could endanger me before I stepped out. Over time, this became a habit for me- I would always switch on the light before stepping out in the evening.

I think this is an analogy for how most of us operate. We associate darkness with danger. The underlying assumption is that there could be something in the darkness that can threaten us.

We like to know what lies ahead and around so we can make informed decisions. In short, we like to be in control. In this effort to know and be in charge, I wonder if we have come to define darkness as purely evil. I am not meaning to say that darkness cannot be dangerous, of course it can be.

But darkness and the sense of not knowing is not always evil.

Technically, shouldn’t God appear in a bright white cloud because through the scriptures he says that he lives in unapproachable light ?

(1 Timothy 6:16) Interestingly, God didn’t. That particular day he showed up in thick darkness.

In one of the all time famous Psalm, David says, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.’’

(Psalms 23:4) In dark places, we do not know what is around and ahead. It is unfamiliar. Our world knowledge and network cease to be of help. Rightfully, situations like this evoke fear. However in a dark place of uncertainty where one should be normally scared, David says, he is not. You see, he had zero control over what he was surrounded by or heading towards, but was absolutely certain that God was with him and that realization removed fear.

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When we read Exodus we also see that Moses met God in thick darkness.

“The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.” (Exodus 20: 21) Isn’t that ironic? Technically, shouldn’t God appear in a bright white cloud because through the scriptures he says that he lives in unapproachable light ? (1 Timothy 6:16) Interestingly, God didn’t. That particular day he showed up in thick darkness.

David says he wasn’t afraid of the dark valley because God was with him and Moses met God in thick darkness. What I am getting at is, as we navigate through life we tend to make assumptions about circumstances and jump to conclusions on what is good and what is evil. Or what is safe and what is dangerous. Based on these conclusions we decide whether to engage in a situation or not. But that might not always be divine explanations or God’s directions. When we refrain from engaging because something looks scary on the outside, chances are, we might be missing out on God. God is gracious enough to let us know his ways, but he is also mysterious.

Though prior experiences and frameworks are helpful, it cannot always be useful in helping us understand good and evil. Our best friend when it comes to a scary or dark situation is God himself. Approaching him with humility and the situation with curiosity will help us know if it is God beckoning us to himself through an uncertain path or it is evil trying to trick us.

As we navigate through life, I pray that God will help us discern the thick clouds and dark valleys we are confronted with. God bless.

Daya Raja, Bangalore Daya thinks it’s absolutely cool to be known by Jesus.

She deeply appreciates nature, art and silence. Her dream is to fall in love with Jesus and humanity every day. Daya can be reached at dayaraja95@gmail.com

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Dear friend, Thank you for making it to the end of this edition. We hope you got more insights from the word of God from this edition.

If you are reading this and have not experienced the love and power of God, we encourage you to embrace His love – offered as salvation through Jesus Christ. In His unending affection for us, God has a lot in store for your life and longs to have you as part of His family.

We also encourage you to rededicate your life to God if you were born again but drifted away from the call. Make the following prayer and accept Jesus as your savior: “Lord Jesus, I come before you today. I acknowledge that I am a sinner, and my sins have separated me from you. Today, I believe that you are the son of God and that you had me in mind when you got crucified and died. I believe that you are resurrected and seated at the right hand of the Father. I accept you today as my Lord and savior. Thank you for paying the price for my eternal redemption. I am now the righteousness of God in Christ. I now ask you to fill me with your spirit. Amen.”

Congratulations on surrendering or rededicating your life to God. You are now a new creation in Christ. We encourage you to join a family of believers (church) in your area, and we pray that you get established in your faith through studying the word by the grace of God. We at EGM Times team love you and would like to hear from you. Send your feedback, comments, and constructive criticism to egmtimes@elohimgospelministries.com. See you in the next edition.

God bless you!!!

Team EGM Times

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memory lane

On February 2022, the first post is published in the Instagram page of EGM Times magazine. The post was a blurb from the column of Daya Raja.