SHEPHERDS WITHOUT BORDERS LIGHTHOUSE BUGLE GLOBAL OUTREACH OCTOBER 2013 EDITION: MOTTO FOR OCTOBER : “FOR MY THOUGHTS AREE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS, NEITHER ARE YOUR WAYS MY WAYS, SAITH THE LORD”
TERRORISM AGAINST CHURCHES IN PAKISTAN : WOMEN,CHILDREN AMONG MANY KILLED IN CHURCH BOMB BLAST
"DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS, THAT IS PERSONALLY?" BY PROPHETESS SISTER MARY :
“Advancing the Gospel Through Persecution”: Naghmen Abedini
A POWERFUL VIDEO TESTIMONY : http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/advancing-thegospel-through-persecution/
BUILDING BRIDGES OF TRUST & UNITY BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS BY REHAN ALLAHWALA
U.S. Pastor disguised as destitute to his church & members refuse to help him Added by Ann Brown & MANY MORE HAPPENINGS SHAPING THE WORLDOF CHRISTIANITY TODAY!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS: PP 2-7
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: A MORE WHOLELISTIC GLOBAL APPROCHED: PP.2-7
”Advancing the Gospel Through Persecution” : PP-8-19
"DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS, THAT IS PERSONALLY?" BY PROPHETESS SISTER MARY BOLDEN : PP20-24
U.S. Pastor disguised as destitute to his church & members refuse to help him Added by Ann Brown : PP 25
Experiencing His Truth in Times of Great Tribulation and Storms BY Susan Clark : PP 26-28
ARE YOU BELIEVABLE AS A LEADER? POSTED BY KAREN ZEIGLER : PP 29-30
WORDS OF WISDOM WITH VALUABLE LESSONS FOR LIFE BY : Babsie Hannah V.D. Berg :PP 31-38
WAKE UP SLEEPING CHURCH! BY MAGARET MULLINGS : PP 39-42
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A New Mature and Extraordinarily Fruitful Priesthood is Emerging in These Last Days Added By: Susan Clark : PP 43-48
Joy By: Jeff Godsown PP 49-52
An Open Letter To The True Ecclesia... By Kenneth White PP 53-58
A WORD FROM: BY CATHERINE SKINNER PP59-60
"No Unity, No Peace,PP.61-64
BE WISE FOR WE ARE IN APPROACHING THE END TIMES PP 65-67
NEWS THE VINEYARD OF GOD ; PRESECUTIONS, MYTRYS , TERROR , LABOR AND HARVEST !!!!!!!
Pakistan Christian face persecution and terrorism for practicing their faith EVANGELIST FAVOR LIBERTY PP 68-69
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
NEWS THE VINEYARD OF GOD; PRESECUTIONS, MYTRYS, TERROR, LABOR AND HARVEST !!!!!!! EVANGELIST FAVOR LIBERTY ATTACK ON COPTIC CHRISTIANS IN EGYPT !!!!!!! PP 70-78 WHO ARE THE COPTIC CHRISTIANS??????? Editor’s Spotlight 79-96
NEWS THE VINEYARD OF GOD ; PRESECUTIONS, MYTRYS , TERROR , LABOR AND HARVEST !!!!!!! WOMEN
OF WORTH ACTIVITIES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE!!! EVANGELIST FAVOR LIBERTY PP 97-101
TH
REPORT OF DISCIPLESHIP/LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, ONITSHA, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 27 TH
29
SEPT. 2013ADDED BY WOLE GBOGBOADEPP.102-105
POPE FRANCIS FROWNS ON GREED; SUSPENDS BISHOP….PP. 107-110
AN APPEAL FOR ASSISTENCE FOR A FAITHFUL LABORER BROKEN TOOLPP.111
GREAT LEADERSPP.112
SPOTLIGHT ON LEADERSHIP TEACHINGS WITH KAREN ZEIGLER!!!
MUST BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT: ) BY KAREN ZEIGLER
(9 THINGS LEADERS
PP.113-114
CAN YOU LIGHT A FIRE UNDER YOUR PEOPLE & ENCOURAGE THEM AT THE SAME TIME? : BY KAREN ZEIGLER PP.115117
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WHAT IS THE MEGA-CHARACTER TRAIT OF GREAT LEADERS? :BY KAREN ZEIGLER PP.118-120
NO LEADERSHIP PAIN, NO LEADERSHIP GAIN :POSTED BY KAREN ZEIGLER PP.121-122
LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT WITH AMY SIMPSON : POSTED BY KAREN ZEIGLER PP.123-126
Terms & Conditions: BY JEFF GODSOWN PP. 127-130
WAIT !!! BY EVANGELIST FAVOR LIBERTY PP. 131
TAKING A CRITICAL LOOK AT OTHER RELIGIONS: RELASIONSHIPS , INTERACTIONS, NAGATIVE & POSITIVE IMPACT ON CHRISTIANITY AND OUR GLOBAL VILLAGE TODAY/ INTRO !!!!!!! PP 132
What Prophet Muhammad PBUH said about Christians!!! ADDED BY REHAN ALLAWALAPP.133135
Whose Islam? BY National Review's Happy Warrior : 136-138
SPAIN LATEST AFRICAN ARCHBISHOP: Submitted by the Office of ArchBishop Dr. Prince Nnams N. Kalu PP.139-144
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Our Sticky Situations BY Apostle Lee Ann Marino PP.145-147
Your Daily Sacrifice : By Joel McNabbPP. 148-153
An Open Letter To All Five-Fold Ministry Gifts To The Body of Christ: BY DR. LEONARD ROBINSON PP.154-159
STEPS TO HANDLE OVER THE BATTLE TO THE LORD Pastor Mubiru Senior Pastor
Disciples Christian Fellowship Church Uganda PP. 16O-162
Don’t lose your focus on who God is: Pastor Hassan Mubiru PP.163-164
“I Came Not...” By C. Elden McNabbPP. 165-171
INTRO: TEST & TESTIMONIES OF OVERCOMERS IN THE VINEYARD PP.172
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MYSELF (BABSIE HANNAH VAN DER BERG 173-175
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
My Auto Biography: CATHERINE SKINNER PP.176-191
AUTOBIO OF APOSTLE JESSIE STRIGGLES192-198
PERSECUTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH: TEST &TESTIMNIES! Evangelist Favor P. Liberty PP.199-202
Stroked BY: JEFF GODSOWNPP.203-206
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: A MORE WHOLELISTIC GLOBAL APPROCHED
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, We feel it is necessary to inform you about our new approach to advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Over the pass we have focus on distributing to Christian sites , social sites etc with no specific targets in mind than shepherds who we felt needed a voice, platform to interact and share inspiring messages etc. However after much prayers, we can to realize that nearly everyone these days are targeting the saved and not the lost or transforming their churches to money making organizations ; thus diluting the Gospel Truth to achieve their goals . Therefore we came to the following conclusions:
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1. We will target shepherds as usual 2. We will put emphasis on targeting the lost and register and share our publication on sites that are unchristian as well as Christian! 3. We will put emphasis on messages and testimonies directed in love to helping and teaching the word of god to drug addicts, Homo-bi-and hetro sexual, prostitutes, criminals, terrorist, prisoners, hospitals ,battle fields etc. 4. We believe in order to win a man over ; you must hear his /her side of the story; therefore we will run highlights and stories about other religions , what they believe and see if we can find paths of similarity that can help us reveal the Gospel Truth to them . 5. Lastly we are tire of begging for support to pay bills and rent and will encouraged our partners and friends to advertised their Ministry activities with us for a love offering of their choice every month . The magazine will remain free of charge to download or print online: All we ask is for you to pass it on . For those of you whose work we continue to share . if for any of the above reasons you want usto stop posting your work , we will understand. Once more we want to welcome you to this edition of the Shepherds Magazine which isfull of great messages of education, inspiration, entertainment and news about activities going on in the Christian world today! Who are we?
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The Shepherds Bugle is the voice of Shepherds Without Borders Lighthouse Ministries; which comes out once monthly to highlight messages, news, visions, projects, strength & weakness of the United Body of the Kingdom of God. Inspired Shepherds come together monthly to write message etc for the community of God chosen. Every shepherd chosen, charged, and called by God (YHWH) to care for His flocks is officially a member. Shepherds serve as an ambassadors of the Kingdom of God , advocates for petitioning God for mankind, administrators for the handling and distributing the truth of God's Word and they need a watch tower on the hilltop to help them not to crash against the stones of temptations placed in their path by the Devil. THIS MAGAzINE IS THE SHEpHERDS’ cONSULTANT FOR WISDOM AND direction when it comes to how the work of the Kingdom of God is being carried out in different places around the world. It is also a confronter of the evil practices that are carried out in the name of the kingdom of God. It is no respecter of any particular doctrine, tradition, color, language, social status, or geographical locations. It is the voice for the united kingdom of God's body of workers in the vineyard here on earth. This magazine is the discussion leader of any topic concerning the kingdom of God and the warfare of God's people. Here you will see and post the work you do for the kingdom; however it should be clear that every work you see here is the responsibility/views of the writer who placed it there and not
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always necessarily the views of everyone. It is a medium to serve as an encourager for the shepherds around the world who are striving to get the truth of God's Word out even at a risk to their own families and lives. As a spotlight, we intend to also serve as a ground inspector of the work of every ministry we can and highlight their strengths and weaknesses. Shepherds, we say a big welcome to you and your flocks. Let this place be a companion and knowledge dispenser, a place where you can rest and discover your God given talents, your historian where you can view the past and log the present, the nurturer of your visions, your opportunities spotter, and critic. I know many times when you are in the wrong and we speak about it, you might be hurt, go home and pray about it, and please come for a second look. Partake and make this place a home away from home. Make this place a secret corner for airing your views and questions that have been bothering you for a long time. Please allow Shepherds Bugle to help you develop your ministries and broken lives. GOD’S RIcHEST BLESSINGS BE WITH YOU ; Evangelist Favor P. Liberty: Editor In Chief
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”Advancing the Gospel Through Persecution”
FOLLOW THIS AMAZING TESTIMONY AND LISTEN TO THIS WOMAN LIVE ON VIDEO : http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/advancing-the-gospel-through-persecution/ NOTE: All rights to this story belongs to Samaritan’s Purse International Relief
The wife of an American pastor jailed in Iran said God is using her husband's imprisonment "for such a time as this." Naghmeh Abedini never thought she would have to face persecution for her faith again. She and her husband, Pastor Saeed Abedini, were subject to it when they were Christians living in Iran. Now, though, they are American citizens who live in Idaho with their two young children. But when Saeed traveled to Iran last year to help build an orphanage in his homeland, he was arrested and taken to Evin Prison, where he remains over a year later.
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The family has faced difficult times. Naghmeh misses her husband. The children miss their father. They have been praying for his release, and asking Christians in the United States and around the world to do the same. But during Saeed’s imprisonment, Naghmeh has grown stronger in her commitment to Christ. Naghmeh visited the Samaritan’s Purse international headquarters in North Carolina on Friday to talk about her husband, about the need for prayer—and about how God has used the persecution to advance the cause of Christ. She said she often looks back to the first time they were arrested as a reminder of how God can turn evil to good. Shortly after they met, Naghmeh and Saeed were ministering in Iran when they were taken at gunpoint, detained, and interrogated multiple times. As the situation worsened, the guard told Naghmeh that she could go home if she said she was a Muslim. However, if she claimed to be a Christian, she would be sentenced to prison, tortured, and killed. “For a few seconds, I was tempted,” she recalled. Then she heard the Lord say, “Don’t deny me, and I will protect you.” God gave Naghmeh the grace and strength she needed in that moment to maintain her faith. The guard grew angrier and accused her of being brainwashed. Then he took Saeed out to the courtyard as Naghmeh watched through a window.
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“I was praying. Knowing Saeed – that he came from a radical background like the guard – I knew he was sharing Christ with him.”
Finally, the two came back inside. The guard took their file, tore it up, and told them to go. As they were leaving, he whispered, “Can I have a Bible?” “God had us in that interrogation room for that particular man,” Naghmeh said. “If we had denied our faith, he never would have come to know Jesus.” Remembering God’s faithfulness that day has helped Naghmeh during Saeed’s current imprisonment. “When I stand up for my faith, He uses it.”
Read Franklin Graham’s statement on Pastor Saeed Abedini Naghmeh and Saeed exemplify surrender to Christ. From the time they came to salvation, God placed a desire in each of their hearts to proclaim the Gospel to the nation of Iran. Even their wedding in Tehran became an evangelical outreach with 600 people, including many Muslims, who received The Jesus Film and Bibles as wedding favors. Confident of their calling, Naghmeh draws her strength from God. “I’ve asked God, ‘Why now?’ and He said, ‘For such a time as this.’” And in a situation meant for evil, God is reaching millions of people with the message of His Son, including 30 of Saeed’s fellow prisoners who have accepted Christ. In fact, the longer Saeed has stayed in prison, the more people have had the chance to hear the Gospel. Naghmeh has had the opportunity to speak about Saeed’s imprisonment and his faith in Christ at the United Nations, on multiple national news channels, and on Iranian television – which was broadcast live to 50 million viewers. “There are people God wants to reach – even through this,” she said. September 26 marked one year since Pastor Saeed was imprisoned. Through beatings, torture, and pressure to deny his faith, he continues to be a witness for Christ.
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Naghmeh asks for prayers for her husband’s continued strength, his health, and his release. She also asks for prayers that God would use their lives to bring Muslims to Christ, pointing to Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” “That’s where our heart is,” she said. “Pray that we would go into the darkness and share Christ.”
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President Obama Calls on Iranian President to Release US Pastor Saeed Abedini 12:00PM EDT 9/30/2013 JORDAN SEKULOW/ACLJ http://www.charismanews.com/world/41182-president-obama-calls-oniranian-president-to-release-american-pastor-saeed-abedini
Pastor Saeed Abedini and his family. (ACLJ)
Fox News is reporting that a senior Obama administration official has confirmed that President Barack Obama called for the release of American pastor Saeed Abedini in the phone conversation he shared on Friday with Iranian President Hasan Rouhani. The source stated President Obama raised Pastor Saeed’s case along with two other Americans directly with the Iranian president.
According to the report, President Obama raised concerns about the imprisonment of Pastor Saeed and expressed our country’s interest in seeing the American pastor returned to his family. While Secretary of State John Kerry has called on Iran to release Pastor Saeed, this is the first time President Obama has spoken out about the wrongfully imprisoned U.S. citizen. On behalf of the Abedini family, we’re very encouraged that President Obama raised the illegal imprisonment of Pastor Saeed with President Rouhani. Friday's call is a significant step forward in this critical case. We’re also grateful to President Obama for calling on President Rouhani to put his promise of being moderate into action by releasing Pastor Saeed without further delay. Pastor Saeed's wife, Naghmeh, responded to the news. “This is the most encouraging news I have heard since Saeed was imprisoned one year ago," she said. "I am very grateful to President Obama for standing up for Saeed and for the other Americans who are held captive in Iran. This development is truly an answer to prayer. I urge President Rouhani, as I have done throughout this week, to release Saeed so he can return to our home and our family in the United States.
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In recent days, Iran has released 80 prisoners being held because of their beliefs. I pray that we can add Saeed to that list very soon.” Pastor Saeed, a U.S. citizen, has done nothing wrong and is imprisoned simply because of his Christian faith. If President Rouhani wants to start a new relationship with the United States, releasing this American pastor, husband and father now would send an important message to the world. Over 100,000 people have already written letters to President Rouhani urging Pastor Saeed’s release. Please sign a letter to Iran’s president today. BY KATHERINE WEBER, CHRISTIAN POST REPORTER October 11, 2013|12:14 pm The European Parliament passed a resolution Friday calling for Iran to release Pastor Saeed Abedini, who has been imprisoned in the country for over a year for his Christian faith. The American Center for Law and Justice has launched the largest campaign in its history to have Abedini released by sending thousands of letters to Iran's president Hassan Rouhani. The legal group announced Friday that in addition to this campaign, it has also successfully convinced members of the European Parliament to issue a resolution requesting Abedini's release. This effort was championed both by the ACLJ and its European affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice.
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The resolution states that the European Parliament "[i]s deeply concerned about the fate of Pastor Saeed Abedini, who has been detained for over a year and was sentenced to eight years of prison in Iran on charges related to his religious beliefs," according to a press release composed by the ACLJ's Executive Director Jordan Sekulow. The press release also states that the fate of Pastor Abedini is of great concern to members of the European Parliament, and the resolution reportedly has broad cross-party support. "The fate of Pastor Saeed Abedini in Iran is also a matter of deep concern to MEPs, who called on the government to exonerate and release him immediately." The resolution went on to call on the Middle Eastern country to ensure the right to religious freedom for all of its citizens, as well as the right for one to change their religion for whatever reason. Several influential political and religious figures have called for Abedini's release in recent months. In late September, President Barack Obama spoke with President Rouhani regarding Abedini's imprisonment, expressing his concern that the pastor has been held for over a year for his religious beliefs. Additionally, renowned evangelical leader Billy Graham addressed a letter to President Rouhani requesting Abedini's release.
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"DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS, THAT IS PERSONALLY?" BY PROPHETESS SISTER MARY BOLDEN :
GREETINGS. SAINTS OF GOD. I COME TO YOU AT THIS TIME TO POSE A QUESTION ON YOU....DO YOU KNOW JESUS AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR I HOPE THIS MESSAGE FINDS ALL WELL IN YOUR SOUL THIS DAY. I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE THE JOY OF THE LORD TO GIVE YOU STRENGTH IN YOUR SOUL. YOU SEE, IF YOU HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP BUILT UP WITH OUR LORD AND SAVIOR , JESUS CHRIST, ALL WILL BE WELL WITH YOU. AND NO MATTER WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD, WHICH WE KNOW IS ALL BAD MOST OF THE TIME, YOU CAN SAY, "BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL, AND ALLL THAT IS WITHIN ME, BLESS HIS HOLY NAME" REGARDLESS OF WHAT EVIL IS GOING ON ; MURDER; BECAUSE OF SOMEONE WHO IS ANGRY AT GOD AND THE WHOLE WORLD IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ANYONE THEY KNOW PERSONALLY, BUT THEY JUST WANT TO KILL SOMEBODY IT SOMETIMES IS WHAT IS CALLED A MURDER OF PASSION MEANING THAT PERSON HAD SUCH DEEP LOVE FOR THEIR WIFE OR GIRL FRIEND, SO THAT WHEN THE OTHER PERSON DIDN'T SHOW THEM LOVE BACK, BUT INSTEAD WANTED TO LEAVE THEM FOR ANOTHER LOVER, THEY DECIDED TO KILL THEM TO KEEP THEM FROM HAVING ANYONE ELSE IN THEIR LIFE ;SOME HAVE BUILT UP ANGER AND HATRED IN A PERSON ,SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WERE FIRED OR LET GO OFF OF A JOB AND THEN , THEY WENT BACK TO KILL EVERYONE WHO STILL HAD THEIR JOB OUT OF JEALOUSY AND ENVY AND STRIFE BUILT UP INSIDE THEM. THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT HAVE JESUS IN THEIR LIFE.
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A THIEF COMETH BUT TO STEAL, KILL, AND DESTROY THE PEOPLE OF GOD, THE BIBLE SAYS. AND WE ALL KNOW WHO HE IS BY NAME>SATAN OR THE DEVIL HOWEVER, SINCE HE IS AN EVIL SPIRIT AND NOT A HUMAN, WE DON'T ALWAYS RECOGNIZE HIM WHEN HE COMES ON THE SCENE TO ROB US. HE COULD BE OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR OR EVEN A FAMILY MEMBER HE COULD BE MALE OR FEMALE. HE COULD BE YOUNG, EVEN AS YOUNG AS 12 OR 13 YEARS OLD THESE DAYS JUST RECENTLY , HERE IN ATLANTA, THERE WERE CAR JACKERS WHO WENT AROUND TRYING TO STEAL CARS, EVEN WHEN THERE WAS A PERSON BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR, THEY WOULD STICK A GUN AT THEIR HEAD AND TELL THEM TO GET OUT AND THEY TOOK OVER THE CAR WHEN THE POLICE FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH ONE OF THEM, HE WAS ONLY A YOUNG TEENAGER ABOUT 15 YEARS OF AGE NOW, GO FIGURE WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT SUCH A YOUNG PERSON WOULD BE USED OF THE ENEMY TO COMMIT SUCH A CRIME AS THAT IT'S OBVIOUS ONCE AGAIN, THAT THOSE YOUNG TEENAGERS, EITHER HADN'T BEEN TAUGHT ABOUT JESUS, OR THEY HAD SIMPLY REBELLED AGAINST WHAT THEIR PARENTS TAUGHT THEM WHAT CAUSES A PERSON TO WANT TO VANDALIZE OR DESTROY PUBLIC PROPERTY EVEN CHURCHES HAVE BEEN VANDALIZED AND SACRED THINGS , SUCH AS CROSSES, HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND ALL BECAUSE SOME ONE WAS BORED OR JUST HAD HATRED FOR GOD'S PEOPLE AND HIS HOUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE GOING THROUGH A PERSON'S MIND WHEN THEY COULD EVEN GO TO A CEMETARY AND DIG UP GRAVE SITES OR THE HEAD STONE OF A PERSON WHO HAD LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS LEFT BEHIND WHO WERE TRYING TO HEAL OVER THEIR LOSS STILL, AND THEN NOT TO BE ABLE TO FIND THEIR LOVED ONES GRAVE SITE BECAUSE OF SOME EVIL MINDED , THOUGHTLESS PERSON WHO DIDN'T CARE TO DESTROY SOMETHING THAT WAS MEANINGFUL TO ANOTHER PERSON IT'S QUITE EVIDENT, THAT THAT PERSON WAS WILLING TO BE USED OF THE DEVIL AND DID NOT CARE WHO HE HURT THAT WAS STILL GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE. HE OR SHE DID NOT KNOW JESUS. THEY COULD HAVE HEARD OF HIM, BUT THEY HAD NO PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
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THEN, WE HAVE THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL "CHURCH GOERS" WHO GO EVERY SUNDAY MORNING, BUT STILL DON'T HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP BUILT WITH THE ONE THEY SAY THEY KNOW AND LOVE. BUT, REALLY, THEY ONLY KNOW OF JESUS , ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY HEAR THE PREACHER PREACH ON SUNDAYS, BUT THEY DON'T READ ON THEIR OWN AND HAVE NEVER REALLY ALLOWED THEMSELVES THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW WHO JESUS IS FOR THIER OWN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM SOME HAVE GONE TO THE SAME CHURCH; BEEN UNDER THE SAME PASTOR; SAT IN THE SAME PEW AND WOULD DARE SOMEONE ELSE TO GET THEIR SEAT BUT, YET ...THEY HAVE NEVER INVITED JESUS TO COME IN AND SUP WITH HIM, FOR HE SAYS, "BEHOLD , I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK; IF ANY MAN HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM AND WILL SUP WITH HIM." iN OTHER WORDS, CHILD OF GOD, HE IS ALLOWING EACH PERSON AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE HIM INTO THEIR HEART TO GET TO KNOW HIM PERSONALLY. WE EAT OF THE BREAD OF LIFE, DRINK OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT REGULARLY AND YET, DO NOT INVITE HIM TO BE THE LORD OF OUR LIVES. WELL, I'LL HAVE TO SAY ' YOU DON'T KNOW HIM...I DO FOR I HAVE INVITED HIM TO COME INTO MY HEART, AND TO TAKE CHARGE OF MY MIND , SOUL, AND SPIRIT AND YES...EVEN MY FINANCES I CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY, I HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. CAN YOU SAY THAT GET TO KNOW HIM , FOR JESUS IS WAITING ON YOU TO INVITE HIM ALL THE WAY INTO YOUR WHOLE PERSONHOOD. HE WANTS YOU TO BE OPEN WITH HIM AND NOT CLOSED. DON'T JUST "CRACK THE DOOR", WITH THE CHAIN ON THE DOOR OF YOUR HEART THAT KEEPS HIM STANDING ON THE OUTSIDE AND NOT BEING INVITED TO COME ALL THE WAY INTO YOUR HOUSE, WHICH IS BY THE WAY, THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO JUST GIVE HIM A "PEAK" BUT, DON'T MAKE HIM FEEL WELCOME OR FEEL AT HOME YOUR BODY DOESN'T BELONG TO YOU YOUR FINANCES DON'T BELONG TO YOU YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A TITHER, A GIVER, A SEED SOWER BY FAITH IN GOD.. YOU ARE JUST GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ONE WHO IS TO EXERCISE SKILLFUL , AS WELL AS GODLY WISDOM AND WISELY DISTRIBUTE, WISELY INVEST, AND WISELY SAVE MONEY.
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THAT' S BEING A GOOD STEWARD, WHICH IS REQUIRED OF US ALL GET PERSONAL, CHILD OF GOD AND REALLY GET TO KNOW WHO JESUS IS AND ACCEPT HIM AS LORD, AS WELL AS SAVIOR. YOU WILL FIND THAT IT BUILDS UP COURAGE, TRUST, HOPE, BELIEF AND FAITH IN YOU. AND YOU CAN BE A BOLDER WITNESS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. AND WHEN YOU WATCH THE 5 OR 6 O'CLOCK NEWS WITHOUT BEING FEARFUL AND SHOCKED AT WHAT THE DEVIL IS DOING IN THE WORLD. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO SAY THAT YOU'RE NTO WORRIED BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CONTROL . THEN, YOU WILL SAY AS I DO....I'M MORRRE THAN A CONQUEROR AND AN OVERCOMER, TOO. I HAVE THE VICTORY IN JESUS' MIGHTY NAME. AMEN. LOVE IN CHRIST JESUS, PROPHETESS SISTER MARY
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U.S. Pastor disguised as destitute to his church & members refuse to
help him : Added by Ann Brown “This little unique true episode contains a very valuable lesson for life; and was added to prove how far Christianity these days have lost their salt. Christians today are luke warm, selfish, self centered and in most cases prejudice. Many who claim to walk in the footprints of Jesus Christ are in fact students of the worldly ethnics of Satan. Beware least one day you encounter Christ and turn Him away in selfishness!!!!!!!� Bishop Steven Liberty Sr. Photo:US Pastor Disguised As Destitute To His Church & Members Refused
To Help Him http://naijabizcom.com/2013/09/photous-pastor-disguised-as-destitute-to-his-churchmembers-refused-to-help-him/#.UkGsTIRB6oQ.facebook
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Experiencing His Truth in Times of Great Tribulation and Storms BY Susan Clark
Daniel, Man Greatly Beloved At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision...Daniel 9:23 When life has dealt you blow after blow, when the season is long and prayer has been constant yet there is no breakthrough, it's easy to believe one of the greatest lies the enemy of our souls tells us all: God doesn't hear you, He doesn't care about you...He doesn't love you. I wonder if Daniel felt that same way too; after all, he spent nearly his entire life in bondage. He was taken into bondage as a teenager and scholars tell us he was probably about 84 years old when this heavenly messenger visited him. Scripture reveals that Daniel understood that they were in captivity as a result of not heeding the warnings of the numerous prophets the Lord sent them calling them to return to Him. Daniel also saw great events that are still to come. While I love the study of end-time prophecy and timetables throughout history, it is not the focus of my personal, daily study. However, what I do need to know is that: 1) God is faithful to His Word. 2) There is going to be an end of all suffering and injustice. 3) Through the tribulations, I don't need to fear. 4) God hears me. 5) I am loved.
I see all this in between the lines of prophecy and images of glorious heavenly beings. Not only that, I see the persistence of our great God trying to convince us of His love. Three times Daniel was told he was greatly beloved...not just loved, GREATLY LOVED! Daniel 9:23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision. Daniel 10:11 And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Daniel 10:19 And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me." Truth in Times of Great Tribulation and Storms<!-- End PREVIOUS WORD BANNER--> Oh sure, there was much more said in these visitations to Daniel, things that have unfolded throughout history, and things that are still to come. But the greatest Biblical truth is also revealed here...we are GREATLY loved by God. We must not lose sight of this truth in times of great tribulation. How desperately we need to know we are loved in the middle of the storms of life!This truth is a lifeline to us. Therefore, it is the very message the enemy of our souls is trying to prevent us from hearing. Let's look at a portion of Scripture that may be a little more familiar: Daniel's great fast, in Chapter 10, and I'll explain. Several years have passed from the vision in Chapter 9 and the one in Chapter 10. Daniel has been in a season of prayer and fasting for three full weeks during the season of Passover (see Daniel 10:2-4) when a heavenly being comes to him in a vision. The messenger reveals that from the first day that Daniel began to seek the Lord, his words were heard. In fact, it was because of Daniel's prayer that the messenger was there. However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood God's messenger for 21 days.
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Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia." Daniel 10:1213 Do you see what the Prince of Persia is trying to do? He is trying to prevent Daniel from hearing the message from God. Beloved, we have an enemy in this world that attacks even the most pious person of faith. Scripture calls this enemy the devil (see Revelation 12:9), the father of lies (see John 8:44), the prince of the power of the air (see Ephesians 2:2a), satan, your adversary, the one who stands against you. He and his army are trying to prevent you from hearing possibly the greatest truth you need to hear today...YOU are GREATLY loved by God. Thank God that the works of satan were defeated by the Cross of Christ and that we have ears to hear what the Spirit of God is saying to us. Scripture reveals that Daniel was strengthened to hear the truth; "And he said, 'O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!' So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, 'Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me'" (Daniel 10:19). I believe the Holy Spirit is here today strengthening us to hear God's truth. We may be in the midst of hardships on every side, but His grace is here to strengthen us to stand in the days ahead. God is for us and He loves us. May we hear this truth today. Amen and amen. Tiffany Ann LewisDancing With the Flame of the Lord Ministries Email: tiffanyann@tiffanyannlewis.com Website: tiffanyannlewis.com
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ARE YOU BELIEVABLE AS A LEADER? POSTED BY KAREN ZEIGLER
The answer to that question matters because – True Believers Follow. Let me use a sports analogy to demonstrate. A high school basketball player, for example, who believes in his coach will do whatever that coach says. He believes the coach is right. If the coach says to change his technique in his shooting motion, he will do it even if it feels awkward and initially causes him to shoot worse. If the coach says to run four miles a day or lift weight for thirty minutes each day, he will do it even though it hurts.If the coach says to pass the ball more and shoot less for the sake of the team, he will accept the role. Why? Because the athlete believes the coach knows better than he does what makes a winner. When you truly believe in a person in authority, you follow that person in complete obedience. The athlete who does not truly believe in the coach will not fully follow. He may believe things about the coach – that he is a former NBA champion, that he is honest, that his name is Michael – but believing certain information and believing someone’s authority are two different things.
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
What are some of the key ingredients to being a believable leader? Your people know they can trust you Your people find you to be reliable – always doing what you say you will Your are honest with direction, with feedback, in all communication Your people have faith in your vision, it’s potential, it’s ability to be achieved and the important part they play in Your vision is more than talk, it is taking daily action You model believe in them so well they reflect that belief back You invest time in your people – from a simple text to a problem solving session. Your turn to chime in. What makes a leader believable? So believable you get excited at even the tough jobs?
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WORDS OF WISDOM WITH VALUABLE LESSONS FOR LIFE BY :
Babsie Hannah V.D. Berg A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists." "Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine loving a God who would allow all of these things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and un-kept. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"
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"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside." "Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me." "Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens is, people don't go to Him." - source: Useful info
WORDS OF WISDOM WITH VALUABLE LESSONS FOR LIFE BY : Babsie Hannah V.D. Berg 10 RULES FOR A BLESSED DAY 1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK . . . If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind, I will not respond in a like manner. 2. TODAY I WILL ASK GOD TO BLESS MY 'ENEMY' If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask God to bless that individual. I understand "enemy" could be a family member, neighbor, co-worker or stranger. 3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY . . . I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not spread gossip. 4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE . . . I will find ways to help share the burden of another person. 5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE . . . I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way. 6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING KIND FOR SOMEONE, (BUT I WILL DO IT IN SECRET . . . ) I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another. 7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS THE WAY I WISH TO BE TREATED . . . I will practice the golden rule. "Do Unto others as I would have them do unto me"- with EVERYONE I encounter.
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8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE WHO IS DISCOURAGED . . . My smile, my words, my expression of support, can make the difference to someone who is wrestling with life. 9. TODAY I WILL NURTURE MY BODY . . . I will eat less . . . I will eat only healthy foods. I will thank God for my body. 10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY . . . I will spend a little more time in prayer today. I will begin reading something spiritual or inspirational; I will find a quiet place (at some point during this day) and listen to God's voice. Luke 10:27 He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27 We learn three principles about loving our neighbor: (1) lack of love is often easy to justify, even though it is never right; (2) our neighbor is anyone of any race, creed, or social background who is in need; and (3) love means acting to meet the person's needs. Wherever you live, there are needy people close by. There is no good reason for refusing to help. Remember, today is a gift from God so treat it preciously
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WORDS OF WISDOM WITH VALUABLE LESSONS FOR LIFE BY : Babsie Hannah V.D. Berg
Spices of life There are spices that each of us need, Not found in any store... Yet it's within each one of us, To have plenty and more. They can't be bought by brand name, They come in generic form... We start accumulating our supply, Almost from day we're born. Try Kindness and Compassion, Use them when you feel the whim... Add Caring for that extra touch, That comes from deep within. Love is for all those special, It adds an extra zest, A Smile on top of Humble pie,
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Will make it taste the best. Understanding adds the flavor, To each relationship... It keeps a marriage standing firm, So that it does not tip. Friendship is beneficial, Humility a must... Keep some Hope that you can draw from, And a Faith that you can trust.
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WORDS OF WISDOM WITH VALUABLE LESSONS FOR LIFE BY : Babsie Hannah V.D. Berg God Accomplishes What Concerns You Psalms 138:7-8 David was a man who walked through trouble on a regular basis. His psalms express the struggles and disappointments he faced, yet in the end, he always turned his focus back to God. The key to his victorious attitude was his strong faith in the Lord. David was confident in God's purpose. That's why he could say, "The Lord will accomplish what concerns me" (v. . The only way we can walk through trouble and not be defeated is by keeping our focus on the Lord and His purpose. He has promised to do a good work in our lives, but sometimes the only way He can complete it is in valleys of hardship. He relied on the Lord's power. When troubles arise, we, too, can trust God to deliver us, but it may not be by escape. Sometimes He sustains us through the difficulty, walking with us every step of the way. David believed the promises of God. Throughout these two verses, he repeatedly reminds himself what the Lord will do. We also need to have some specific promises from Scripture that will anchor us in times of trouble. The truths of the Bible are our most valuable possession when the storms of life assail us. Self-reliance or advice from others will never equal the help God's Word offers us.
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God assumes responsibility for accomplishing what concerns you in times of trouble. Your job is to believe that He will fulfill His purpose, His power is adequate, and He'll keep every promise. When the trial has achieved His goal, He'll remove it. Until then, keep walking with your eyes on Him.
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WAKE UP SLEEPING CHURCH! BY MAGARET MULLINGS
May this Article not only Bless you but also challenge you to wake up! Much Love! Wake Up Sleeping Church! In early Morning Prayer meeting this past week while on my knees I felt a strong sleep wave was attempting to over come me, it was as if I was being engaged in a fierce battle! Then to my surprise between sleep and wake so to speak, behold I saw demons of every kind parading themselves in church. A dwarf demon boldly came over to where I was kneeling as if to taunt me! This reminded me of a dream some years ago seated in the congregation of the local assembly when suddenly an army of demons busted through the front doors of the church led by the chief demon, he was carrying a brief case, and had papers.
It looked as if they were specifically looking for someone, who they expected to be in the pulpit. They became so frustrated as they searched the pulpit and scanned the congregation but they were still unable to find who they were looking for. As I watched them from where I was sitting, one of the demons did an impersonation of one of my biological sisters, “Margaret! Where is Margaret?” I was able to see the demons but they could not recognize me! The Word spoke from Psalm 91(1)”He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (2)”I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God in Him I will trust.” Further more the Word continues in (7)”A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand: but it shall not come near you,” (8)”Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.” (9)”Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High your dwelling place,” (10)”No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;” (11)”For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you n all your ways.” The churches has fallen asleep and have become lazy and complacent about the things of Yahweh mean while the demons are in the church carrying out their evil assignments to derail and to destroy! Wake up sleeping church! The Word is speaking again this time from Luke 10:18-19 Jesus Christ is speaking, (18)”And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lighting from heaven.” (19)”Behold I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” It is time for the sleeping church to arise from slumber for the night is far spent and the second coming of Jesus Christ is even at the door! Demonic activity is increasing daily and the kingdom of darkness have become bold enough to carry out their wicked deeds in broad day light mean while the people of God have become bewitched in enchantments and steeped in carnality!
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In many churches all across the Globe in services you will find especially while the sermon is being preached, the demons are pinching the babies and making them cry. While young people and adults would get up and walk about! If you were to look in the spiritual realm you will see the distracting spirit is the master mind behind this! Look a little closer and you will see the witches and warlocks performing in the highest degree with their witchcraft, sorcery and divination. Jezebel and the Ahab spirits are having a field day! Wake up sleeping church, the demons are in the church! Away with carnality! It is time to cry aloud spare not! You and I must repent! For far too long the church has been doing things our own way! The Word is speaking from Isaiah 58 beginning from (1)”Cry aloud; spare not lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Judah their sins.” (2)”Yet they seek Me daily and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God.” (3)”Why have we fasted, they say, and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and you take no notice? “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers.” (4)”Indeed you fast for strife and debate. And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high” (5)”Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sack cloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, an acceptable day to the LORD? Wake up sleeping church for the demons are not just staying in the church, they are following you to your home and bringing havoc in families and destroying marriage relationships not to mention what is happening to our children and our nation! Wake up! Just as a seemingly sleep wave came over me and was trying to over come me while at early morning prayer meeting, you too may be experiencing similar or even more adverse manifestations of demons right where you are!
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This is a Red Alert! A Warning! Wake Up Sleeping Church! You and I must repent with godly sorrow! Now activate the fast which God has chosen, for Jesus said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This kind cometh out only by prayer and fasting.â&#x20AC;? Be relentless, persistent and consistent in your prayers! Keep on studying the Word, pray the Word. Become a doer of the Word walking in faith and obedience then watch as every demon scatters fleeing seven different ways from your home and the church you attend! Wake up sleeping church to do mighty exploit against the kingdom of darkness for the honour and glory of God! Wake Up (me too) Sleeping Church!
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A New Mature and Extraordinarily Fruitful Priesthood is Emerging in These Last Days Added By: Susan Clark
Preparation for Kings and Priests The pain of the past is our preparation for the future. That is the expression I heard from the Lord in a visionary encounter a few years ago. Like Joseph, we must reconcile ourselves with the past in order to make our future more fruitful. Though many aspects of the past season may have been unpleasant and difficult, they were nevertheless necessary to prepare us to function as both Kings and Priests. The agony of captivity clearly equipped Joseph for the ascension to the throne of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. Joseph demonstrated this truth in the naming of his sons.
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Genesis 41:51-52 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, "For," he said "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household. He named the second Ephraim, "For," he said "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." A new mature and extraordinarily fruitful priesthood is emerging in these Last Days in the order of Melchizedek. In order to posture ourselves for this we must reconcile in our hearts and minds the past season, no matter how difficult or trying, in order to be ready for what is coming. As the Scripture teaches, the Melchizedek priesthood consolidates the two offices of King and Priest. This Presence driven ministry will take us from Church Age into Kingdom Age, removing the leaven of human reasoning and tradition. The Church Age was a season of earnest or down payment but the Melchizedek priesthood is the promise for fullness. This grace is assured to God's people to usher in the great harvest and the Lord's coming. Part of that anointing is "godly jealousy" producing and unwavering devotion to God and His Word. In the Order of Melchizedek The concept of the Melchizedek priesthood is simply God as the Living Word fully occupying His people, the Body of Christ (John 1). Revelation 5:9 identifies a company of people who sing a "new song." In it they declare that the Lord is the only One worthy to take the sealed book and open it for His people. Those described in Revelation 5:9 are an overcoming bridal company positionally placed to function as both Kings and Priests. As I began to ask the Lord about the qualities these will possess one of the key attributes that has been highlighted to me is being jealous for Him. A Loyal Priesthood like Phinehas As A. W. Tozer once wrote, "within the fold of Christianity there are to be found increasing numbers of persons whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself. They are eager for spiritual realities and will not be put off with words, nor will they be content with correct 'interpretations' of truth.
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They are athirst for God, and they will not be satisfied till they have drunk deep at the Fountain of Living Water." There is emerging today those that Tozer prophesied about who are desperate for God with a holy jealousy. This reality is typified in the Old Testament figure of Phinehas. This loyal priest received a divinely issued covenant of peace because of his jealousy towards the Lord and his commitment to the Word. (Photo: A.W. Tozer) Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. "Therefore say, 'Behold, I give him My covenant of peace; and it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.'" Numbers 25:10-13 The Bible teaches that God's dealings with Israel are given as an example. The lives of the patriarchs and faithful men and women of old are adopted for our instruction in the ways of God and the different aspects of His Person and anointing. We see this truth especially exemplified in the life of Elijah and the anointing resident in his life that will also characterize a company of people in this generation. Likewise, many will begin to emerge in this hour with the "anointing of Phinehas" and enjoy personal covenants with the Lord. These will be priests providing to God's people inspired revelation of the Word by calling upon Him that He might show us great and mighty things which we know not. They will bear a heavenly "jealousy" and integrity by rightly dividing the Word of Truth without mixture or compromise. This anointing will produce in many a healthy ardor and "Zeal of God" for the Spirit of Truth; Furthermore, they will not shun to declare the whole counsel of God nor tremble at the fear of man (Acts 20:27). Mouth of Brass
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The name Phinehas means "mouth of brass." This is a depiction of those who will begin to "judge and discern the thoughts and intents of the heart" and help others identify the entanglements that so easily distract them (Hebrews 4:12). When the Living Word is present, all things are open and laid bare before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Nothing is hidden. This is not something to fear but embrace to facilitate maturity and purity of soul to access Heaven. The Bible depicts the revelation gifts unveiling the secrets of the heart so those who observe it will fall on their face and say, "surely God is in this place" (1 Corinthians 14:24-25). This manner of revelation is not rooted in suspicion, but genuine insight from the Lord and disclosure of divine secrets ministered in charity and faithfulness. This work of the "Phinehas anointing" will usher the Fear of the Lord back into the Church and pave the way for divinely granted repentance leading to the knowledge of the Truth. This will produce a more righteous Body with whom the Lord will become intimate and share His mysteries and power. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. Romans 13:10-11 The Anointing Released There have been two specific occasions in which I have witnessed this anointing being imparted to leaders. The first occasion took place several years ago during a MorningStar conference. On this unique morning, Bob Jones was taken into the realm of the Spirit. In the experience an angel approached who had been sent from Heaven with a unique commission for a specific individual. He disclosed that he had been released with the "anointing of Phinehas" to be imparted to one of our close friends, Bobby Conner. Bobby later confirmed that an angel visited him that morning and imparted to him "the spear ofPhinehas." Clearly, possessing jealousy for God is evident in the life of Bobby.
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On a separate occasion, Wanda and I were involved in a conference in Louisiana and were instructed by the Lord to release the "anointing of Phinehas" on a specific leader chosen by the Lord for this region. Since that time, this brother has told us that he is specifically aware of this anointing when it comes upon him. In his ministry, this anointing assists in releasing a quest for purity and righteousness among those being groomed for a significant release of anointing and authority. Eleazarâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;A Faithful Example In giving true expressions with a heart of jealousy towards God, we will then begin to ardently obey the doctrines of Christ. According to John 14:23: Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him." All those willing to make this commitment will begin to be adorned in fresh garments and endowed with the Spirit's gifts and anointing. These will then be delegated a commission like the one given to Eleazar. Eleazar, the faithful servant of Abraham, was sanctioned with the great responsibility of obtaining a bride for Isaac. He was given notable gifts, jewelry, clothing and oil to take to the one set apart to be the chosen bride of the promised son. In like manner, the Holy Spirit desires to impart to us the gifts, anointing and the Spirit's manifest Presence to prepare a bride for the Royal Seed of Abraham, the Lord Jesus. In order to flow in this great responsibility, we must also possess the faithfulness that characterized Eleazar. Great was his devotion and loyalty in the presentation of the gifts. He made certain that Rebekah fully recognized they were not from him but from the one by whom he was sent. Speak the Truth in Love Whenever we speak the Word of truth in love, it will have significant effect and will not return void.
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The present work of the Holy Spirit is to cleanse and nurture a Body of people to faithfully represent the Living Christ to this generation. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. Ezekiel 36:25-27 We are being delegated with a new heart fully devoted to God with jealousy. That will enable us to speak the truth in love allowing our words to be galvanized with charity. As the Scriptures point out, love never fails. Paul Keith and Wanda DavisWhiteDove Ministries Email: inquiries@whitedoveministries.org Website: whitedoveministries.org
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Joy
By: Jeff Godsown
Joy, what an amazingly misunderstood, misinterpreted word, now what could I possibly mean by that? Joy is a simple word, as is its meaning, but where it comes from and what it does is what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m referring to. JOY, n. 1. The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune,the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits. 2. Gayety; mirth; festivity. 3. Happiness; felicity. 4. A glorious and triumphant state. 5. The cause of joy or happiness. 6. A term of fondness; the cause of you. JOY, v.i. To rejoice; to be glad; to exult.
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JOY, v.t. To give joy to; to congratulate; to entertain kindly. 1. To gladden; to exhilarate. 2. To enjoy; to have or possess with pleasure, or to have pleasure in the possession of. [Little used. See Enjoy.] Some people are under the impression that joy comes from making others happy, while others think joy comes from making others miserable, so that the misery maker’s misery appears less. Some people find joy in having things or having money, which is a lifeless form of joy. When I first started my Christian walk, one of the things I noticed right from the start, the only time I felt joy was when I was talking about Christ. I had no Word in me yet, and hard as I tried, I could not understand the King James Bible to save myself. I had a habit of always trying to make others feel joy, looking for joy in what I was doing, never finding it though. When you made me mad, I found what I thought was a sense of joy in making your life very miserable, neither of these efforts brought lasting joy. It was odd to me, when I talked about Jesus, I wasn’t trying to make anyone happy, but I was happy, and when I talked about Jesus, I wasn’t trying to make others miserable to make myself happy. Oddly enough, I saw and felt the difference between everlasting joy and the temporal what I thought was joy, I chose the joy of the Lord and I’m glad I did! Here are a few scriptures that tell us where our everlasting joy can be found; Ecc 2:26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, andjoy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Psa 4:7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
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Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. 1Th 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: Psa 132:16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud forjoy. Isa 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap theirhands. Psa 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that areupright in heart. In each scripture and more can be found in God’s Word, the joy the Lord speaks of, always has a sense of peace with it. There is no peace found in temporal joy, as a matter of fact; temporal joy at cost to others will eventually come back to haunt you. The old, what goes round comes round cliché’; Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. If you sow rightly, then rightly you will reap; Hos 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. I know people who say they know the Lord, but the only joy they reap is temporal . They can only find joy in going out of their way, finding any reason they can to be angry, constantly sowing discord and misery, for their joy. This not only is not of the Lord, but it’s something the Lord doesn’t want done. If this is you, and in order to know if it’s you, you really need to be honest with yourself and accept what is being spoken about you, by those you have made enemies of.
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They see the real you and it ain’t pretty, because Christ doesn’t shine in you, not His love nor His light. There are many out there, but few if any will take this advice. Maybe you’re in a place that keeps telling you what a wonderful Godly person you are, here’s a thought, either they are also deceived or you’re just plain two-faced. We need to repent of our ways, our thoughts, and our actions, we need to seek the Lord sincerely, get intimate with Him, and seek the change He wants for us, Amen!!! None of us can afford to think anything about God has changed, affording an open heaven, Christ fulfilled the law, and He never did away with it. Seek Him while there is still time!!!
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An Open Letter To The True Ecclesia... By Kenneth White
The true Ecclesia, the true and holy church, is separate and distinct from this confused and drunken harlot that straddles the whole earth. The true church is the company whom Jesus described when He said, "My sheep know My voice and I know them, and they follow Me.â&#x20AC;? John 10:27. If any man will prayerfully read the tenth chapter of John, he will clearly see the vast gulf between the false church and the true, the false followers and the true, and the false ministries and the true. The true church is the habitation of God, and it is the true and almost invisible ministry that God hath set that is perfecting it upon the true foundation. Just as the ten tribes of Israel became lost to the eyes of the world after the Babylonian captivity, so also the true church has largely become lost to human view since the captivity began in the days of Constantine.
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God still knows what has become of the ten tribes of Israel, and God still knows the members of His true and holy church. This pearl of great price, though remaining hidden and buried from the prying, curious eyes of an unbelieving world, stands far beyond the comprehension of a church system that has worshipped and honored the works of its own hands. It is still known and loved of God as a treasure hid in a field. Century after century, year after year, day after day, and hour after hour it is the object of His continual care as He strengthens, establishes, and keeps each precious member. In His love He causes them to grow in stature by secretly feeding them the milk of the Word, the bread of life, the strong meat of revelation, and the rich corn and wine of the coming kingdom. With loving paternal care He unerringly brings them to sonship. The chastening rod of correction falls upon them until they suffer such dire loss in all things of the world that their sinking souls seem to be beyond hope of recovery. But in the greatness of their distress they learn to sing with the joy of God in their hearts, "The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.â&#x20AC;? Beneath the rod of His correction they learn to know true values. They come to know the transient nature of all earthly things,. They see them rise like a green bay tree, which, after it is grown, has no known value. They see them grow like the grass which today is and tomorrow is withered with the east wind. They see all earthly things as the flower of the field which blooms today but tomorrow is cast into the oven to wilt with the burning heat of summer. He makes their gold and silver canker and lose its value that men may see that only in Christ are true values to be found. Men of earth have no understanding of true value. They are much like Jonah who was very angry that God had destroyed the gourd, which grew up in one night and upon which he bestowed no labor, but was unable to see the value of one hundred twenty thousand souls whom God had spared from judgment by his preaching. Such is the understanding of carnal man.
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Those blessed people whom God is creating to bear the image of His son must sooner or later learn that they can depend only upon the Lord. our heavenly Father in His infinite wisdom knows how to teach His children that the man or woman who puts his trust in man will be utterly disappointed. He will soon learn the meaning of the words, "Cursed be he who maketh flesh his arm, but blessed is he who maketh God his strength.” The life of the great apostle Paul was lived beneath the shadow of the cross of Christ, but let no one think that this was a glorious experience for the flesh, for it was not. He knew the bitterness of unfaithful friends. Hear him as he says, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,” and "At my first answer no man stood with me.” He knew what it was to weep as he warned God’s people of false teachers. He was betrayed by friends and delivered up to prison and to the stocks. By the time the earthly life of this man of God was ended, God had taught him that only Christ was all in all....George Hawtin PART TWO : The moment we begin to see that we cannot trust ourselves, then our self righteousness begins to disappear. When we realize that we are made of the same substance as the worst of God’s enemies, we lose our power to criticize those who are our enemies. There are far too many men in the world who, like the Pharisee, thank God that they are not like other men, but far too few Christians who, realizing they are like other men, bow their heads and beat their bosoms crying, "God be merciful to me a sinner. ” By these methods then does the Almighty God deal with His elect and chosen though they be hidden from the eyes of a gazing world. It is this hidden gem that is the true church. This is the pearl of great price. This the treasure hid in the field. Men of the world and Christians likewise look on the vast fields of tares and imagine in their ignorance that it is wheat. They look on the pastures teeming with endless flocks of goats and they say, "Behold the sheep.”
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They look on the assemblies of Babylon with all her confusion of doctrines and traditions, her sects and creeds, her endless ceremonies, her bitterness and strife, and say, "Behold the church”, knowing not at all that the true church is one of God’s greatest mysteries. For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, but he is a Jew which is one inwardly, for circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” Rom. 2:28,29. As the true church is a great mystery and her members are known to God alone, so also is the true ministry a great mystery known and set by God alone. The ministries named by Paul in Eph. 4:11 are not to be confused with the vast array of reverends, right reverends, very reverends, doctors of divinity, priests, cardinals, bishops, and popes, together with a host of lesser lights in existence today. These for the most part are no more New Testament ministries of the church than the prophets of Baal were the true ministries to Israel and Judah. They are part of the confusion of Babylon. When, oh when, are people going to realize this fact and withdraw from all such confusion, settling in their hearts that he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit, but he who is joined to an harlot is one flesh? The true church and the true ministry are like the tabernacle in the wilderness whose boards of wood and gold were joined by five hidden bars, also of wood and gold. This is the true church with its hidden ministry, seen and known of God. Though the tabernacle in the wilderness had a value of $1,500,000 in gold, silver and precious stones, yet all was covered with badger skins so that no one knew the treasure beneath it. This is the true church; this is the treasure hid in the field. There is a ministry today known unto God It is for the perfecting of the mystical church till we all come to the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the measure and stature of Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Let us then approve ourselves as the servants of Christ in patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left; by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true, as unknown and yet known, as dying and behold we live; as chastened and not killed, as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things When the body of Christ is complete in the Spirit, it will have one faith, for all men moved by the same Spirit speak the same thing. The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God searcheth all things and reveals to us the deep things of God. There in one Spirit are we all of one mind, one faith, one body. The work of perfecting the body is given to these ministries. They will continue till we all arrive at oneness in faith and oneness of the knowledge of the Son of God,-till we attain maturity in Christ and are no longer babies but full grown men in Christ. This is the sonship and adoption for which the whole creation is groaning. This maturity is the fore-ordained purpose of God. It is the beginning of righteous government and the reign of Christ on earth. In it is the hope of all creation- that they might be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. With this maturity the will of God begins to be done on the earth as it is done in heaven. With it all nations come under a blessed and righteous government. It is the fulfillment of the prayer of Jesus Christ who prayed, "That they all may be one: as Thou, Father, art in Me and I in Thee, that they all may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou has sent Me.â&#x20AC;? This is the body through which God will reign in the millenial kingdom when the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the earth as the waters the cover the sea. This is the body that will subdue all enemies and bring all things under His feet.
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The last of all enemies that shall be destroyed is the most notabledeath itself Then, when death is defeated and all things are under the feet of Christ, He shall be subject to the Father that God may be all in all. By man came death. By man also comes the resurrection of the dead. oh, the depths of the wisdom of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! These five ministries will exist until unity is gained, until the full measure and stature of Christ has been attained and we no longer resemble babies, for the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all. Neither shall we resemble mariners on the sea, tossed to and fro with every changing wind of doctrine that blows. The things cleverly preached by unscrupulous and cunning men to draw away disciples to themselves will have no effect. Being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, let us hold with love to the truth, growing up into union with the Head, even Christ. Let no shifting device move you from the purpose devised in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind before the world was, for the purposes thus ordained of God, though long in fulfillment, are sure and steadfast, God counting those who have fallen asleep in death while waiting as though they still lived; for He will raise the dead in Christ to join the living when the time comes....George Hawt
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A WORD FROM: BY CATHERINE SKINNER "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the broken-hearted, to announce liberty to captives and to open the eyes of the blind. He sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of God favor to them has come, and the day of his wrath to their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel he will give: Beauty for ashes; Joy instead of mourning; Praise for heaviness; that they may be called the trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.â&#x20AC;? Isaiah 61:1-3 Prayer Father, when you were on earth, you prayed. You prayed in the mornings, you prayed at night, you prayed alone, you prayed with people. In your hour of distress, you retreated into times of prayer. In your hour of joy, you lifted your heart and hands to the Father in prayer. Help us to be more like you in this way, help us to make prayer a priority in our daily lives that we may give you what you require of us. 1. A Distinctive Cry 2. A Unordinary Praise 3. Outta Bound Worship.
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Only we can do this for ourselves Lord God, no one else can do it for us. Lord God you ask for a cry from my belly where the Holy Spirit makes intercession for me. You ask for a Radical Praise in the privacy of our home just between you and me. You ask for outta bound worship to where you have full reign within my mind, body and soul for my spirit belongs to you already. I surrender all, not my will but your will be done, O Lord, my Redeemer and my God. In Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Name. Amen!!! I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garment of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and a bride adorns herself with her jewels. As a garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. Isaiah 61:10, 11 Inspired by the Word of God Shared by Catherin Skinner 09-24-13
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"No Unity, No Peace, Know Unity, Know Peace, No Kingdom, No Unity, No Peace, Know Kingdom, Know Unity, Know Peace In the Midst of Division" Matthew 10:34 "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." But to the true disciples of Jesus He says, John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 16:23 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 20:21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. So how does peace come? Peace comes to those who have received Jesus in their heart. When you receive Jesus in your heart both the King and His Kingdom come into your heart. Paul the Apostle tells us that the Kingdom of God contains three spiritual elements, Righteousness, PEACE, and Joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17) The Church cannot walk in unity. The Church cannot walk in community. The Church cannot walk in brotherhood until the Church discovers and lives out what it really means to walk in the unity of the faith. No early New Testament Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher was void of an understanding that Jesus was the Anointed Messiah King who had come and preached, and established the Kingdom in their midst. They all became rooted and established in the faith, not as to what they were believing for, but as to the fact that they had now all come to believe Him. Jesus spent 3 1/2 years preaching, teaching and demonstrating the Kingdom of God. After His resurrection but before His ascension He spent 40 more days speaking to them of the things concerning the Kingdom.
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Jesus was galvanizing the brethren together in the unity of the faith, all believing the same thing, speaking the same thing, not only from the revelation of who Jesus was as the Christ, the Anointed King, the Son of David, as also being the Son of God, but also each having embraced the preached message of the Kingdom for they all preached it by this time just as Jesus did in the early days of His ministry. They didn't quite know what the Kingdom was. But, they preached the same Kingdom message Jesus preached, the same way Jesus commanded them to preach it, and they preached the Kingdom with a demonstration of the right now presence of the Kingdom as they healed the sick and cast out devils. These disciples did it without charge, acknowledging that they had freely received and so therefore they were freely giving what only Jesus could give them. And yet they still wondered according to Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel"? Here is my point, their unity was around the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and the preached message of the Kingdom. These disciples had received both the message and the messenger that made them to the have life that is the Father's, through Jesus Christ. It was these very same disciples that Jesus came preaching peace to. In other words, they had over time come to Know Kingdom, therefore Know Unity, and therefore Know Peace"
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You cannot know the fullness of the peace Jesus has for us and to us without knowing the Kingdom Jesus preached and commanded us to preach. The same message of the Kingdom that unifies also divides. Do not expect everyone to unify around the preached message of the Kingdom. For some, this very message will cause a variance, a sword between them, and many of your foes will be those of your own household. Know Kingdom, Know Unity, Know Peace In the Midst of Division"
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BE WISE FOR WE ARE IN APPROACHING THE END TIMES: Evangelist Favor P. Liberty
I was studying the book of Psalms 46 because my husband often quotes the last few verses during periods of storm . However what I found was deeper than periods of storm but an end time message ; road signs and indicators that the end was very near and during these periods of stormy weathers? conflicts , earthquakes,floods , rising tides, destruction here and there and brother selling out brothers for a gold coin or piece of bread . the Faithful in the LORD had nothing to fear . Please remember I did not go to a special school to study the Bible but depends on what the Spirit of God tell my heart as I pray . Therefore I belive every word I write but can never explain or debate it in earthly terms . " God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah."
(Verses 1-3) I had just come from praying and studying and was meditating when a voice asked me to listen to the news . What doe she news has to do with what I want to know; I ask myself , but I obeyed . Crisis in Kenya, bombing in Pakistan, rising tides and flood in China,brothers and sisters of the same country bombing and killing each other in Iraq and Nigeria and a war game of deceit which cost the lives of millions been played by superpowers ; while those in charge of God Holy Truth are been bought for silver and gold by Satan to compromise the Word of God . . It was a frightful picture but that is the little I can explain . But God Word is sweet to study for regardless how bad the situation ; His eyes remains on His own and He always assure them of victory over every circumstance . HOPED FOR THE FAITHFUL : " There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." (Verses 4-7) The word of God assure me that regardless of what is happening around us ; He is within a special place protecting His own . HE IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL AND KNOWS ALL THAT IS HAPPENING ; FOR NOTHING HAPPENS OUT OF ITS CORRECT TIME ! "Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire." (Verse 8-9)
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GOD IS ABLE TO PROTECT YOU BUT YOU HAVE A PART TO PLAY : THE FAITHFUL HAVE A COVENANT WITH THE GOD OF HOST; YES, THE GOD OF JACOB; TO OBEY, TO BELIEVE AND TO TRUST IN HIS WORD/POWER TO DELIVER YOU BY DAY AND BY NIGHT . I LOVE THIS LAST PART MOST AND REPEAT IT DAILY . " Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." (Verses 10-11) STUDY HIS WORD , TURN ON THE NEWS AND YOU WILL SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE BIBLE MEANS BY SIGNS OF THE END ! THEY ARE MUCH CLOSER THEN YOU THINK ! DON'T BE CAUGHT UNAWARE LIKE THE TEN VIRGINS IN JESUS PARABLE ! WOW ! THIS IS THE LONGEST MESSAGE I HAVE WRITTEN HERE AND I PRAY THAT GOD OPEN YOUR EYES WIDER THEN MINE TO SEE THE TRUTH !
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NEWS THE VINEYARD OF GOD ; PRESECUTIONS, MYTRYS , TERROR , LABOR
AND HARVEST !!!!!!!
EVANGELIST FAVOR LIBERTY
Pakistan Christian face persecution and terrorism for
practicing their faith
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Pakistan Christian face persecution and terrorism for practicing their faith CONTINUED
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NEWS THE VINEYARD OF GOD ; PRESECUTIONS, MYTRYS , TERROR , LABOR
AND HARVEST !!!!!!!
EVANGELIST FAVOR LIBERTY
ATTACK ON COPTIC CHRISTIANS IN EGYPT !!!!!!!
Coptic Christians Targeted in Egypt Violence COPIED FROM :
http://www.voanews.com/content/coptic-christians-targeted-in-egypt-violence/1730705.html
Coptic Christians run inside the main cathedral in Cairo as police fire tear gas during clashes with Muslims in this April 7, 2013, file photo.
Jamie Dettmer : http://www.voanews.com/content/coptic-christians-targeted-in-egypt-violence/1730705.html August 15, 2013 Egypt’s military-appointed leaders are not doing enough to protect Coptic Christian churches from a surge of attacks unleashed by Islamists since the government crackdown on protest camps set up by the Muslim Brotherhood, according to foreign politicians and analysts. They warn that the anti-Christian violence is being encouraged by top Islamists preachers overseas, including Sheikh Yusif al-Qaradawi, considered the spiritual father of the Muslim Brotherhood. Qaradawi has urged retaliation against the Copts for their backing of the military’s ousting of president Mohamed Morsi. Churches and Christian institutions as well as property owned by Copts have come under attack since the crackdown on supporters of Mohamed Morsi left hundreds dead, say Coptic leaders. Bishop Anba Suriel, the bishop for the Coptic Orthodox Church in Melbourne in Australia, wrote on his Twitter blog Wednesday there were “over 20 separate attacks on churches and Christian institutions all over Egypt.” “These attacks on the Copts are unprecedented in the modern era,” said Suriel, who complained on his Twitter feed that the international media is failing to report adequately on the attacks. Egypt’s state news agency has reported assaults on three churches in central Egypt, including the destruction of the Mar Gergiss church in Sohag on the west bank of the Nile. The city of Sohag has a large Coptic community.
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Christians a sizeable minority Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population, or well over eight million people. Hard-line Islamists blame Egypt’s Coptic Christian community for helping to oust Morsi, a prominent leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of Christianity’s oldest, founded in Alexandria around 50 AD. On Wednesday, dozens of Morsi supporters stormed the 4th century Virgin Mary Monastery in the Upper Egypt village of Minya, breaking its main gate and firebombing the building, according to monastery officials. The attackers, who carried gasoline bombs, chanted slogans in support of Morsi. Former Canadian justice minister Irwin Cotler, a human rights campaigner who co-authored a report on threats against the Coptic Church, has urged Egypt’s army to “provide more protection to the Copts.” He warns the anti-Christian violence by hardline Islamists is taking place within “a general culture of impunity.” The independent Mideast Christian News service has reported that several monasteries, churches, a Bible Society headquarters and Christian schools - Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Coptic - were attacked in Cairo, Upper Egypt, Sinai and the Suez, during a 48-hour period. State Department monitoring “We’ve obviously seen these reports and would express our deep concern about them,” Marie Harf, a U.S. State Department spokeswoman, told reporters. “Clearly, any reports of violence we’re concerned about, and when it involves a religious institution, we are concerned about that as well.”
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Egyptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Copts have faced increasing violence over the years, but since the Arab Spring ouster of president Hosni Mubarak, there have been more incidents of attacks and threats against the Coptic community. In January of 2011, a bomb attack on a Coptic Church in Alexandria left more than 20 people dead and more than 100 wounded. Last October, a Coptic protest over anti-Christian violence came under attack from the Egyptian military. Twenty-five people were killed and hundreds injured. Violence increasing since Morsi ouster But since President Morsi was removed from power by the military in early July, the violence has increased in frequency. The Coptic pope, Tawadros II, has received death threats and several Christians have been killed.
Coptic Pope Tawadros II says Christians felt sidelined in Egypt under Muslim Brotherhood rule. Last month, four Coptic Christian men were killed by residents in Luxor on the Nile and scores of Christian homes torched and looted, according to the human rights group Amnesty International. The group said security forces were at the scene but failed to stop the violence.
Amnesty urged the new Egyptian authorities “to break the pattern of failure to act and cover-up which has characterized successive governments’ responses to sectarian violence.” Jihadists have also been adding fuel to the sectarian fire, say analysts. Earlier this month, al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, said Coptic Pope Tawadros II wanted to establish a Coptic state in Egypt. And Sheikh Yusif al-Qaradawi, the Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader, posted an online video saying that Christians “were recruited [by Egypt’s military] to kill innocent Muslims.” Christian leaders are worried that Egypt’s new rulers will continue to be more focused on dealing with challenges to their own power than protecting the people and churches of a religious minority.
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A relative of 8-year-old Mariam Ashraf Meseeha who was killed late Sunday, mourns over her coffin during her funeral with others in Warraq's Virgin Mary church in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Oct. 21, 2013. Egypt's Christians were stunned Monday by a drive-by shooting in which masked gunmen sprayed a wedding party outside a Cairo church with automatic weapons fire, killing several, including two young girls, in an attack that raised fears of a nascent insurgency by extremists after the military's ouster of the president and a crackdown on Islamists. Photo: Khalil Hamra, AP
Attack on wedding is latest horror for Egypt's Coptic Christians: http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-egypt-church-shooting-
20131022,0,2360541.story#axzz2iVXOd6he
Gunmen kill four in the Cairo-area assault on Christians, who have borne the brunt of Egypt's escalating violence after a tumultuous summer. CAIRO â&#x20AC;&#x201D; It was nearly 9 p.m., but the Church of the Virgin Mary, the heart of the Christian community in a ramshackle neighborhood on Cairo's outskirts, was alive with activity. One elaborate Coptic wedding ritual was ending, and another was soon to begin. Relatives and friends of the couples crowded the church's entryway, spilling onto the sidewalks of a busy street that roared with traffic night and day. That was when the gunfire erupted.
The assailants were masked and riding motorbikes, witnesses said. In a span of seconds, they sprayed the celebrants with bullets and roared off into the night, leaving behind a welter of bleeding bodies and shrieking survivors. Four people were killed, including an 8-year-old girl, and 19 injured, authorities said, in the latest assault on Egypt's minority Copts. Coptic Christians, an ancient sect whose adherents have lived in Egypt for centuries, have borne the brunt of escalating violence in the wake of a tumultuous summer that saw Islamist President Mohamed Morsi deposed by the army and replaced by a military-backed interim government. After a bloody crackdown on Morsi's followers in the Muslim Brotherhood, some sought to make scapegoats of the Christians â&#x20AC;&#x201D; infuriated, in particular, when the Coptic pope, Tawadros II, appeared alongside army chief Abdel Fattah Sisi on nationwide television on July 3 to announce that Morsi had been removed from office. In cosmopolitan Cairo, though, many Copts still felt safe, especially when they were among their own. "We were waiting for our bride to come, and we were very happy," said Maria Helmy Atta, rubbing her grief-swollen face as she sat surrounded by other black-clad old women in the church on Monday. The bride was her granddaughter; together with a clutch of family members, the grandmother had just alighted from a minibus at the entrance to the church when the attack began. Atta's 8-year-old great-granddaughter, Rasha Ashraf Magdy, dressed in wedding finery, fell mortally wounded. So did the bride's uncle, shot in the heart. Church volunteer Emad Shawky, a lanky 19-year-old, ran outside when he heard the gunfire. "People were lying in pools of blood," he said. The next day, stains, only partially scrubbed away, could still be seen on the patterned concrete.
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No one claimed responsibility for the shooting Sunday night, which drew universal condemnation from Egypt's polarized religious and political leadership. The interim prime minister, Hazem Beblawi, called it a "lowly criminal act" and vowed that those who carried it out would be found and punished. Few of the mourners who crowded the church's battered wooden pews Monday had any confidence of that happening. Some were angry at the government for failing to guard the church, and others suggested that security forces might have been complicit in the attack. Others blamed the Brotherhood, and angrily shrugged off the group's denunciation of the shooting. Nearly all said they considered their Coptic sect, which makes up about 10% of the population and has long faced hostility and discrimination, to be a pawn in Egypt's ongoing turmoil. A visiting Coptic priest, Father Maximum Nemr, said both the Brotherhood and the government had used past outbreaks of violence to score political points. Christians said the police and army had failed to come to their defense in late summer when angry Morsi supporters rampaged in the Coptic heartland south of Cairo, torching churches and looting Christian-owned businesses. "The government let us burn, so they could show the world the Brotherhood burning us," Nemr said. Atta, the grandmother of the arriving bride, recounted that in the chaotic moments after the attack, someone thought to call the young woman, who was at the hairdresser having the final touches put on her ornate coiffure, in readiness for the traditional Coptic marriage crown to be placed upon her head. Don't come, the caller said. There will be no wedding. Not tonight.
In the church vestibule, a young boy in a turquoise T-shirt let out a shattering howl of grief, burying his face in the shoulder of a man who clasped the boy's head and tried to console him. Looking on, Father Justus Kamel, gray-bearded and tall in his black cassock, shook his head in pity. "It's a terrible thing, for weddings to turn to funerals," he said. laura.king@latimes.com Special correspondent Ingy Hassieb contributed to this report .
Egyptian security forces stand guard at a Coptic Christian church in the Waraa neighborhood of Cairo late Sunday, Oct. 20, after gunmen on motorcycles opened fire, killing a woman and wounding several people. Egypt has been on edge since a July 3 military coup ousted the country's Islamist president. Since the coup, Coptic Christians have been killed and their churches attacked by angry mobs. Mohsen Nabil/AP
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WHO ARE THE COPTIC CHRISTIANS??????? Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spotlight Copied from: http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/copticchristians.htm
A History of Coptic Christians in Egypt An Overview of the Coptic Christians of Egypt by Lara Iskander and Jimmy Dunn
Introduction
The word Copt is an English word taken from the Arabic word Gibt or Gypt. It literally means Egyptian. The Arabs, after their conquest of Egypt in 641 AD, called the population of Egypt Gypt, from the Greek word Egyptos or Egypt. The Greek word Egyptos came from the ancient Egyptian words (Hut-Ka-Ptah), one of the names for Memphis, the first capital of Ancient Egypt. In contemporary usage, the term "Coptic" refers to Egyptian Christians. Today, Copts form almost 13% to 15% of Egypts population though they are not ethnically distinct from other Egyptians as they are fully integrated into the body of the modern Egyptian nation.
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In 1992, there were over nine million Copts (out of a population of some 57 million Egyptians) who pray and share communion in daily masses in thousands of Coptic Churches in Egypt. This is in addition to another 1.2 million immigrant Copts who practice their faith in hundreds of churches in the United States, Canada, Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Holland, Brazil, and many other countries in Africa and Asia. Inside Egypt Copts live in every province though in no one of these provinces are they a majority.
History
The history of the Coptic Church in Egypt is basically the history of Christianity in Egypt, for the current Coptic Church is a direct evolution from those earlier times. However, it traditionally begins with the visit of the Holy Family to Egypt. Copts relate that the blessing of Christianity on their country goes back to the days when Jesus was a young boy. The holy family, consisting of the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph traveled to Egypt and lived there for some time.
Numerous traditions exist about the exact locations that the holy family visited and many take annual pilgrimages following this route (it is also a popular tourist route) However, historically it was Saint Mark the Evangelist, during the first century AD, who actually is considered to be the founder of the church. He preached and suffered martyrdom in Alexandria around the time that Nero ruled Rome. When St. Mark died in Alexandria in year 68 AD, his body was buried in the chapel at Beucalis. In the year 828, the remains were stolen and placed in the Venice cathedral. In 1970 the largest cathedral in Africa was built in Cairo, St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral. Before the cathedral was finished Pope Paul VI returned to Egypt the body of St. Mark. With much ceremony this was placed in a grave beneath the main altar. Nowadays, weekly meetings are held there where the pope addresses the crowds.
The early Christians of Egypt suffered considerably at the hands of the early Roman pagans, as did others prior to The rule of the Roman emperor, Constantine, who not only legalized their faith, but encouraged it as a Christian himself.
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However, in 451 AD the Fourth Ecumenical Council took place, and would divide the Catholic, or "universal" Christian church. The decisions of this council concerned the nature of Jesus Christ. The Chalcedonian definition states that Jesus Christ is indeed the Logos incarnate, the very Son of God "born of the Father before all ages." It affirms that the Virgin Mary is truly Theotokos since the one born from her "according to the flesh" in Bethlehem, is the uncreated, divine Son of God, one of the Holy Trinity. In His human birth, the Council declared, the Word of God took to Himself the whole of humanity, becoming a real man in every way, but without sin. Thus, according to the Chalcedonian definition, Jesus of Nazareth is one person or hypostasis in two natures - human and divine. He is fully human. He is fully divine. He is perfect God and perfect man. As God, He is "of one essence" (homoousios) with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. As man, He is "of one essence" (homoousios) with all human beings. The union of divinity and humanity in Christ is called the hypostatic union. This expression means that in the one, unique person of Christ, divinity and humanity are united in such a way that they are neither mixed together and confused, nor separated and divided. Christ is one person Who is both human and divine. The Son of God and the Son of Mary is one and the same person.
The decision of the Council of Chalcedon was not accepted by the extreme disciples of Saint Cyril of Alexandria,
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nor by those who came to be associated with them. These Christians, called monophysites, rejected the Chalcedonian Council on the basis that the council spoke of two natures, thus rejecting the old formula of Saint Cyril which claimed that in His incarnation, Christ has but one nature. The supporters of the Chalcedonian decision claimed and still claim that though their words are different from those of the holy father, their doctrine is exactly the same and is simply expressed with greater precision. The disagreement was never settled, however, and although many attempts at reunion were made in the fifth and sixth centuries - and again in recent years - the dissenters from the Chalcedonian decision remain separated from the Orthodox Church. Today, the so-called Monophysite Christians are in the Coptic Church of Egypt, the Ethiopian Church, the Syrian Jacobite Church, the Syrian Church of India, and the Armenian Church. These churches are often called the Lesser Eastern Churches or the Oriental Orthodox Churches. However, it should be pointed out that, officially, the Coptic Church has never believed in monophysitism the way it was portrayed in the Council of Chalcedon. According to a statement by the Coptic Church: "Copts believe that the Lord is perfect in His divinity, and He is perfect in His humanity, but His divinity and His humanity were united in one nature called "the nature of the incarnate word", which was reiterated by Saint Cyril of Alexandria. Copts, thus, believe in two natures "human" and "divine" that are united in one "without mingling, without confusion, and without alteration" (from the declaration of faith at the end of the Coptic divine liturgy). These two natures "did not separate for a moment or the twinkling of an eye" (also from the declaration of faith at the end of the Coptic divine liturgy)."
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This split in the church ended up taking the form of persecution against the Coptic Christians of Egypt. After having survived the persecution of the Roman Pagans, they were once again besieged, now by other Christians. Hence, when the Arabs invaded Egypt in the mid-seventh century AD, they met little resistance form the native Christian population. Contributions to World Christianity
The Coptic Christian church of Egypt has been responsible for at least several major contributions to the universal Christian faith. Perhaps best known is the founding of monastic establishments. Even before Christianity, it was not uncommon for young Egyptians to retire to the desert for seclusion, perhaps because of the harsh treatment of the Egyptians by the early Romans. Later, with the advent of Christianity, Christians also took to the desert for solitary spirituality and as this movement evolved over time, they sought out like minded individuals, eventually forming themselves into monastic communities. Hence, Egypt is known as the birth place of Christian monasteries. Another outstanding contribution was the Didascalia, the famous catechetical school in Alexandria where early Christian scholars labored to prove that reason and revelation, philosophy and theology were not only compatible, but also essential for each other's comprehension.
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This was the first Catechetical School in the world. The first great scholar who served as head of the Didascalia was Pantaenus, who probably ran the school for about a 20 year period between 180 and 200 AD. However, probably the most important theologian and prolific author associated with the school was Origen. The Copts Today After the invasion of the Arab Muslims around the middle of the seventh century AD, the church suffered a slow decline but around the middle of the twentieth century, it experienced an unprecedented revival. This spiritual renaissance had its start in the forties and fifties in the Coptic Sunday School movements in Cairo, Giza and Asyut. Inspired by the challenges they experienced in the Sunday School classes, young men consecrated their lives to God and joined the desert fathers. Today, many of the church leaders grew from that spirited revival. The Copts continue to have active youth groups that emphasize religious education as well as providing social interaction. Although called Sunday schools, these gatherings usually held on Fridays, are considered to be a very important religious element to all the Coptic families. Their children usually join at an early age and continue to participate in them throughout their adolescence. They involve diverse activities, both on the spiritual level as well as on the social side of their lives. Today, the Coptic church has spread throughout the world, with churches in many different countries. Under the patronage of the current people, the church holds a deep and profound interest in erasing the prior concepts of the church among world. The church today maintains communications with the Roman Catholic church, as well as others, and it is clear that the desire of the Copts is to be fully and unequivocally accepted as orthodox Christians by all members of the Christian world community.
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The Coptic Church of the diaspora is a new and dynamic development of the second half of the twentieth century. Recent missionary efforts of the Coptic Church in Africa have led to the establishment of numerous churches in Zambia, Kenya, Zaire, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. The Coptic Church is even spreading throughout the United States.
Organization
Pope Shenouda III The Coptic Orthodox Church's clergy is headed by the Pope of Alexandria, Pope Theodoros II. He was elected as the 118th Pope on November 4th 2012, succeeding the late 117th Pope Shenouda III. Pope Shenouda died on March 17th 2012. For hundreds of years Alexandria was the home of the Pope, but today his Cathedral is in Cairo. Both the Pope and the Bishops that regularly oversee the priests ordained in their dioceses and matters of faith, must be monks. As for the priests, they must be married and must attend the Catechetical School before being ordained. Today, there are over 60 Coptic Bishops governing dioceses inside Egypt as well as outside, such as Jerusalem, Sudan and Western Africa. The Holy Synod is the highest ecclesiastical body in the church and is responsible for the church's spiritual, ecclesiastical, structural, organizational and economic affairs.
It is made up of all the members of the Coptic episcopate, which today include seventy-eight metropolitans, bishops and the wakil albatrakiya, an archpriest representing the married clergy. Though this body has functioned since the fourth century, in 1985 a constitution for the Holy Synod was drafted, setting out its objectives, policies and procedures. To make it more effective, Pope Shenouda III divided the Holy Synod into seven subcommittees that deal with pastoral affairs, liturgical affairs, ecumenical relations, monastic affairs, faith and ethics, and diocesan affairs. The body of the Holy Synod convenes annually on the Saturday prior to Pentecost Sunday in the Chapel of Saint Antony in the Pontifcal Residence in Cairo. There are two other non-clerical bodies who participate in taking care of Church affairs. The first is a popularly-elected Coptic Lay Council, which appeared on the stage in 1883 A.D. to act as a liaison between the Church and the Government. The second is a joint lay-clerical committee, which appeared on the stage in 1928 A.D. to oversee and monitor the management of the Coptic Church's endowments in accordance with the Egyptian laws. Coptic Calendar The Coptic calendar has thirteen months, twelve with thirty days each and an intercalary month at the end of the year which has five or six days depending on whether the year is a leap year or not. The year starts on September 11th in the Gregorian Calendar or on the 12th in the year before (Gregorian) Leap Years. The Coptic Leap Year follows the same rules as the Gregorian so that the extra month always has six days in the year before a Gregorian Leap Year. The names of the months and their starting dates are as follows:
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Modern Pronunciation Start Date Start Date Leap Year Tout
11 Sept
12 Sept
Baba
11 Oct
12 Oct
Hator
10 Nov
11 Nov
Kiahk
10 Dec
11 Dec
Toba
9 Jan
10 Jan
Amshir
8 Feb
9 Feb
Baramhat
10 Mar
-
Baramouda
9 Apr
-
Bashans
9 May
-
Paona
8 Jun
-
Epep
8 Jul
-
Mesra
7 Aug
-
Nasie
6 Sep
-
The Coptic calendar, the oldest in history, originated three millennia before Christ. The exact date of its origin is unknown. It is believed that Imhotep, the supreme official of King Djoser C.2670 BC. had a great impact on the construction of the calendar. Coptic Sacraments Copts observe seven canonical sacraments: Baptism, Christmation (Confirmation), Eucharist, Confession (Penance), Orders, Matrimony, and Unction of the sick.
Baptism is performed few weeks after birth by immersing the whole body of the newborn into especially consecrated water three times. Confirmation is performed immediately after Baptism. Regular confession with a personal priest, called the father of confession, is necessary to receive the Eucharist. It is customary for a whole family to pick the same priest as a father of confession, thus, making of that priest a family counselor. Of all seven sacraments, only Matrimony cannot be performed during a fasting season. Polygamy is illegal, even if recognized by the civil law of the land. Divorce is not allowed except in the case of adultery, annulment due to bigamy, or other extreme circumstances, which must be reviewed by a special council of Bishops. Divorce can be requested by either husband or wife. Civil divorce is not recognized by the Church. The Coptic Orthodox Church does not have and does not mind any civil law of the land as long as it does not interfere with the Church's sacraments. The Church does not have (and actually refuses to canonize) an official position vis-avis some controversial issues (e.g. abortion). While the church has clear teachings about such matters (e.g. abortion interferes with God's will), it is the position of the Church that such matters are better resolved on a case-by-case basis by the father of confession, as opposed to having a blanket canon that makes a sin of such practices. Coptic Services The main Coptic Services, like those of most other Christian churches, are held on Sundays. The service usually starts at 6.00 am or 6.30 am and lasts from four to six hours depending on each church and its priests. Depending on the church (particularly the size of the congregation), there may be one or more priests, as well as a number of altar boys. Each may have a certain rank within that particular church.
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The service is composed of four parts. The first is the preparation prayer, called in Arabic the early morning prayer. This lasts only 30 minutes. .the alter boys go around with incenses while chanting in the Coptic language. The second part is for offering, at which point a prayer is said over the holy bread. This lasts for 20 to 30 minutes. The third part consists of the preaching mass. Here, the priests read sections of the Old and New Testament, as well giving a sermon. The name of this part dates back to the old Roman times when elder people wanted to convert to Christianity. They had to attend the mass as listeners only for three years as a trial before they could participate and have communion. In Arabic it is called " Kodass al Mowaezin". Kodass is Arabic for mass. The fourth part is the reconciliation prayer. This only lasts for 10 minutes when the priests give the people Christ's forgiveness and the people do so to each other The fifth part is the Believer's mass and it lasts for the rest of the service. This is when the congregation has communion, and is supposed to be only attended by those who have been baptized and who have confessed. This strict rule is now more found in small villages in Upper Egypt, but in Cairo, one must only hear the Bible reading to be able to have communion, meaning that one cannot enter very late to the service.
During the service women and men don't mix, they sit separately on each side of the church . Also during communion, they go to different chambers on the sides of the alter where the women cover their hair in respect of the ceremony. While the seating is separated for women and men during Sunday services and also funerals, during wedding they may sit together. Celebrations and other traditions Unlike the Catholic Church, Coptic Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January which was very recently made an official holiday in Egypt as a token of the nations unity. This date corresponds to the 29th day of the Coptic month, Kahk. The biggest Nativity service is held by the Pope in Saint Mark's Cathedral in Cairo. The Coptic language, now almost extinct, is only used in mass ceremonially. After the service, families go home to break their fast. Copts make special sweet biscuits for Christmas, which is the same Kahk as the Muslims make for Eid El-Fitr (little Bairam A kind of rare tradition is also found in the Egyptian Coptic Church. Holy bread, called Qurban, which is distributed after the service in the church. Qurban bread is round, decorated with a cross in the middle that is surrounded by twelve dots. The dots represent the twelve disciples of Jesus. It is very common for people visiting each other after mass to offer some and normally it can never be refused. The Copts have more seasons of fasting than Christians from any other tradition. Out of the 365 days of the year, Copts fast for over 210 days. During fasting, no animal products (meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs, butter, etc.) are allowed.
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On a more strict level, no food or drink whatsoever may be taken between sunrise and sunset as they should only break their fast after communion. Fasting seasons of the Coptic Church include, the Fast of the Nativity Christmas which is 45 days, the Fast of the Apostles, the Fast of the Virgin Mary, the Fast of Nineveh and of course Lent, known as the Great fast lasts 55 days. The Holy Week is most sacred to all Copts. On Holy Thursday, Egyptian Copts have a tradition of visiting and praying in seven Coptic Churches after mass. It is an event where families and friends gather and walk around from one church to another in commemoration of the Last Supper. Other then the fasting holidays, many Copts also fast on Wednesdays and Fridays all year. Many Coptic holidays vary as per date each year : 7 Major Feasts Christmas Epiphany Easter Palm Sunday Pentecost
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Ascension Annunciation 7 Minor Feasts Circumcision of our Lord Entrance into the Temple Entrance into Egypt Wedding of Cana Transfiguration Holy Thursday Thomas Sunday Other Special Dates Great Lent Fast of Ninevah Good Friday Christmas Fast Apostle's Feast St Mary's Fast St Mary's Feast In addition to these holidays, Copts usually participate in a number of pilgrimages. These pilgrimages, which are too numerous for the context of this article, usually have as their focus the tombs of the martyrs who were local spiritual heroes of the communities in the Delta and the Nile Valley.
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However, since the pilgrimage is a Coptic expression and desire to be close to Christ, the Holy Virgin Mary, as well as the various Coptic saints, many pilgrimages take place in locations thought to have been visited by the Holy Family on their travels to Egypt. Saints The worship of Saints is expressly forbidden by the Church; however, asking for their intercessions (e.g. Marian Praise) is central in any Coptic service. Any Coptic Church is named after a Patron Saint. Among all Saints, the Virgin Saint Mary (Theotokos) occupies a special place in the heart of all Copts. Churches
Normally found in every neighborhood is one big Church where all the residents of the area congregate. There, each family chooses a priest of confession who becomes the family's counselor. Egyptian Copts are known to be very religious. One rarely walks into a house without finding an icon or other depictions of the Virgin Mary or Jesus Christ. Found Inside and outside Cairo today are many old Coptic Churches and Cathedrals and several others belonging to different rites. Daher district is especially famous for the number of churches and chapels found there dating back to different times.
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The Virgin Mary Coptic Church in Zamalek, also called the Maraashly Church. The most famous churches in Cairo are the Virgin Mary Church in Zamalek and St Georges Church in Heliopolis. Both were built by wellknown Architect, Ramses Wessa Wassef. Also, another famous church is Al Adra Church (Virgin Mary) in Zaytoon. This got its exceptional fame from the events of April 2, 1968 when the Virgin St. Mary appeared to the crowds every night for over two months. The sightings were confirmed by thousands of Copts and Muslims. Hundred of miracles were reported. Right now there are two churches: the old small church where the appearances happened, and a newly built Cathedral. Of course, there remain many monasteries, including some that are very ancient. Probably the most famous of these are the ones located in the Wadi Natrun and in the Eastern Desert.
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It should be noted that among the Copts a small minority are in communion with the Pope of Rome; these Catholic Copts have their own organization and churches but share the rites and practices of the Coptic Church. There are also many Catholic Syrians, mainly Maronites One final note. Though much has been said about problems between the Copts and Muslims in Egypt, most of this comes from outside the country. Internally, most Copts and Muslims seem to agree that the two religions are very united in Egypt, and indeed, they share more than a few common customs and traditions.
NEWS THE VINEYARD OF GOD ; PRESECUTIONS, MYTRYS , TERROR , LABOR AND
HARVEST !!!!!!!
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WOMEN OF WORTH PREPARES FOR JESUS FESTIVAL IN Lagos Nigeria!!!
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Women of Worth in Bahawa Ipoure , Pakistan Conference !!!
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What WOW Coordinators Are Saying! Become a WOW Coordinatorwww.wowintl.net ADDED BY : MARILYN ORTON
PRESIDENT WOW INTERNATIONAL
Senegal…..Bishop Liberty. We have widely introduced and founded several chapters of the WOW fellowships in churches around Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. India…..Durga. My spiritual electricity went stronger to find that you have what we need for spiritual growth. Right now I don’t feel like my feet are touching the ground because of the desire that has been ignited in me by reading your webpage. Fiji…..Litia. I want to be involved in this ministry to assist women in Fiji in making an impact to the culture of my nation. The Gambia…..Kia. We have had three programs which helped to develop the local women in remote villages. Our plans are to bring the women of different churches together and bring a positive spiritual, physical and social change to our women. Ghana…..Joseph. We are happy to be A Member of WOW to help lift up the Word of God in our country.
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India…..Hosanna. I am heading 200 independent Dalit churches in Andhra and Tamilnadu. We would like to join in your great mission. India…..Jerusha. Praise God Hallelujah. Glory to God for this website. Thank you Jesus. This is a great blessing to me to join in this WOW Group and Start a WOW chapter. Cameroon…..Benon. Thank you for praying for our conference. Many people came from three countries, even Zimbabwe. Our church was full. Next year we are looking to have the conference outside of the church. Cambodia……Ran. Thank God for the WOW program. It is helping the hopeless women and bringing them to the Lord. Liberia.....Emmanuel. To God be the glory for the greatest exploit he is accomplishing through you in these last days. Having search your website, we deemed it necessary to be in partnership and to work with you in ministry to raise up godly leaders who will help to heal the wounds of God's people through the teaching of God's word. Togo…..Yawovi. I just started a church and we are growing. I desire to have a vibrant women ministry therefore I need your help. Please enroll me as a WOW coordinator in Togo.
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Malawi…..Martina. I just want to thank God for your heart. What I can say is on Thursday when I explained to our women’s ministry about WOW they were all happy and we are praying and fasting for your ministry because God affiliated us with purpose. Mombasa Kenya…..Joseph. I have received the book Made for Ministry today and am on the way to the city to do the photocopy. I am shocked by your sacrifice to my ministry because I didn't expect some money from you to make the copies. You have touched my life and the women of our church, May the Lord Jesus, and the almighty God bless your family and the ministry. Uganda.....Paul. Our WOW women are great women of God. They do different things in the kingdom of God. They preach the Word in most parts of the country teaching seminars, conferences and women workshops. They are believing God to do the following projects like piggery projects, poultry, and crafts. Zurich Switzerland…..Patrick. I am an assistant with other Pastors helping them to raise up woman in the Ministry. It would be an honor to work with Wow not only in this country where I am now but everywhere I have to chance go and in my Island Jamaica. Sri Lanka…..John. My wife is sharing the love of God among Hindus and your message goes to many homes and touches many people. All are blessed by the WOW program.
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REPORT OF DISCIPLESHIP/LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, ONITSHA, ANAMBRA STATE, TH
NIGERIA 27 -29
TH
SEPT. 2013ADDED BY WOLE GBOGBOADE
The program took place at Victorious City Church, Harbour Estate, Onitsha hosted by Pastor & Pastor (Mrs) Onyebuchi. Foundations of Christian faith and growth were some of the topics treated along with Discipleship such as, what does it mean to be Born again? Who is a Believer? Who is a Disciple? Characteristics of a true Disciple; The Baptisms a Christian must go through to maturity; Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pattern of kingdom prayer; How to study the Bible; How to raise Disciples; Disciple making Church; Family life of a disciple etc. Sixteen Churches were represented in the program to the glory of
God. Many participants asked questions mostly on fundamentals of the Faith. They were quite happy with the satisfactory answers which led us to many scriptures in the Bible.
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The Sunday worship service was great at Victorious City Church:Their choir led us in a wonderful worship that ushered in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence and every body was refreshed and imparted. The message was quite prophetic as the Lord touched many lives especially youths. The Church has raised many youths who are leading Campus fellowships and Churches in many towns in the Eastern part of Nigeria.
TESTIMONIES: Pastor (Mrs) Onyebuchi, summed up the various testimonies of the participants when she called for prayer of repentance for the Church of Jesus Christ for leading a lot of the sheep astray with faulty foundation through wrong doctrines, messages that only pamper the flesh. Furthermore, she asked participants to pray against selfish prayers going on in the body instead of us concentrating on kingdom prayer pattern that builds believers. We all repented and prayed forthe body of Christ.
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Apostle Bertram Agbanusi, I am so grateful to God for enlisting us in this end-time army of His. Discipleship is the panacea to the confusion in our local assemblies. May the Lord strengthen and protect you always as you go about His kingdom business and journey mercies. Most participants said they were greatly impacted and imparted by the program while some blessed the Lord for new things theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned at the program ranging from being born again, becoming a disciple, servant leadership to praying kingdom pattern prayer as well as studying the bible for life application. The leaders expressed their desire to have this program again. Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Glory Church: Pastor Nnanna Mbachu the host pastor and my son and his wife invited us to his Church on Sunday evening. At the Church, we shared fellowship and prayed with the brethren. It was a great evening with brethren some of whom are now in leadership position in the Church like bro. Ezenwa and sister who is a School Principal.
We visited the family of our brother, Obi and Uche Ezelonwun, a National leader of the Full Gospel Business Mensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Fellowship International who gave us testimonies of brotherly love among brethren for which we all glorify the Lord. Thank God for this family of God. Thank God for Evangelist E.C Christian, Pastor Tony Agbaniru and Pastor Ebeifenadi all in Onitsha and Asaba. Thank you all for your love and prayers. God bless you richly. PRAYER: Kindly thank the Lord with us for the great work He is doing in the nations through this Ministry. Thank God for raising intercessors and support for us trips. Pray for the next program in Arusha and Kilimajaro, Tanzania on 16th-21st Nov. 2013. Juba & Kajokeji, Southern Sudan, 22nd-26th Nov, 2013. Pray that the Lord will prepare the heart of the participants to receive with understanding the word of God and to live it so that they may be truly a blessing to others. Thanks for your prayer and support to this kingdom work. May the Lord reward you hundred fold here and with everlasting life in Jesus name. Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s servant, Wole Gbogboade Jesus loves you and so do I. JESUS IS THE ANSWER!!
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NEWS THE VINEYARD OF GOD ; PRESECUTIONS, MYTRYS , TERROR , LABOR
AND HARVEST !!!!!!!
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POPE FRANCIS FROWNS ON GREED; SUSPENDS BISHOP….
Pope Francis temporarily expels German 'bling bishop' over scandal linked to 'luxury’ residenceIt’s unclear how long Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst will spend away from the diocese of Limburg. At the center of the controversy is the 31-million-euro price tag for the bishop’s new residence. The pontiff has urged Catholic leaders to live simply — setting as an example his own humble lifestyle.
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BORIS ROESSLER/AFP/GETTY IMAGESGerman Bishop of Limburg Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst in the chapel of the bishop’s residence in Limburg, central Germany. He’s under fire for allegations that he also lied under oath.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis temporarily expelled a German bishop from his diocese on Wednesday because of a scandal over a 31million-euro project to build a new residence complex, but refused popular calls to remove him permanently. The Vatican didn't say how long Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst — dubbed the "bling bishop" by critics — would spend away from the diocese of Limburg and gave no information on where he would go or what he would do. It said his fate would ultimately be decided by the outcome of a church commission investigation into the expenditures. It said Limburg's vicar general, the Rev. Wolfgang Roesch, who had been due to take up his duties on Jan. 1, would start immediately and would run the diocese during Tebartz-van Elst's absence. At the center of the controversy is the 31-million-euro ($42 million) price tag for the construction of a new bishop's residence complex and related renovations. Tebartz-van Elst has said the bill was actually for 10 projects and there were additional costs because of regulations on buildings under historical protection.
The Limburg scandal has been front-page news for weeks in the country where Martin Luther launched the Reformation five centuries ago in response to what he said were excesses and abuses within the church. The perceived lack of financial transparency has also struck a chord since a church tax in Germany brings in billions of euros a year to the German church.
WOLFGANG RATTAY/REUTERS Pope Francis has ordered the German Roman Catholic prelate known as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;luxury bishopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to go on leave after spending some 31 million euros ($42.7 million) on his residence. The head of the German bishops' conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, had been particularly blunt in his criticism of the expenditures and the credibility problem it was causing the church. He has said the church commission would investigate the costs of the renovation, the financing and how decisions about the restoration evolved. Canon lawyers are to determine if Tebartz-van Elst violated church law regarding the use of church money, he said.The decision on the expulsion was taken after Francis met in the past week with Zollitsch and Tebartz-van Elst. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/pope-francistemporarily-expels-german-luxury-bishop-article-1.1493748#ixzz2idEcWAuA
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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/21/bling-bishop-limburg-meets-pope-sermon-greed Page | 109
Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, bishop of Limburg, in the inner courtyard of the palace, which has cost 10 times the original estimate. Photograph: Boris Rรถssler/EPA The scandal-hit "luxury bishop" of Limburg met the pope in Rome today. The question of the bishop's possible resignation remained unresolved as the Vatican confirmed that a 20-minute meeting between Pope Francis and Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst had taken place at midday, but gave no further information. Tebartz-van Elst arrived in Rome last Sunday on a Ryanair flight, but had been kept waiting for a week to meet the pontiff. Pointedly, Pope Francis had earlier in the day given a sermon in which he castigated greed: "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions," he said in the chapel of Santa Marta. The bishop of Limburg has been in the German media spotlight for allegedly spending lavish amounts of church funds on a new residence.
Before meeting Tebartz-van Elst, Pope Francis met a number of German clerics who know the bishop. Last Thursday, he received Robert Zollitsch, head of the German Bishops' conference, who had been very outspoken in his criticism. Before the meeting today, the pope also saw one of Tebartz-van Elst's allies, the Cologne archbishop, Cardinal Joachim Meisner. More figures from the German Catholic church have distanced themselves from Tebartz-van Elst over recent days. On Sunday, a representative of the Catholic church in Bavaria described the bishop resuming his work in Limburg as "rather unlikely". The dean of the church in Limburg told Spiegel Online that "trust in the bishop is gone, and I don't see how trust can be rebuilt again". There have been demonstrations outside the church for several days. The revelations about the Limburg bishop's palace – which is predicted to cost €31m (£26m), or 10 times the original estimate – have triggered a wider debate over the transparency of church spending, described by Die Welt newspaper as "a Catholic glasnost". In Germany, the church has organised its finances independently of the state since the Weimar Republic. Germans who are registered Catholics can only remain part of the church if they pay a religious tax on top of their income tax.
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Shepherds Without Borders Lighthouse Bugle Global Outreach is appealing to the Public in General to assist one of our bold writers ;Apostle Jessie Striggles of Bronx New York with a computer .Over the years she has brought thousands to Christ from the slums with the testimonies of her life and bold posting in the Shepherds Magazine . Her means of feeding the flocks have been crippled because her computer is broken down . This is a faithful servant who has serve God with her life ever since she finally embrace Christ and her sole wish is to help bring others who are lost home with her experiences. Your sacrifice in providing this tool for God's work will never be in vain; for God will restore ,replenish your purse according to His riches which area in heaven! Her telephone number is 1-347-961-1390. Her address is 1545 Rhinelander Ave, apt 6E, Bronx, New York. 10461. YOU CAN CONTACT HER DIRECTLY THROUGH HER PHONE OR DROP IT PERSONALLY AT HER HOME IF YOU LIVE CLOSE BY ! I TOLD HER YESTERDAY THAT THE SUN WILL RISE ABOVE THIS DARK SITUATION AND GOD IS ABOUT TO BRING HER BETTER THINGS ! I BELIEVE CHRISTIAN LOVE , SHARING AND FELLOWSHIP BRINGS POWERFUL HARVEST IN THE VINEYARD OF GOD ! Acts 2:42-47
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SPOTLIGHT ON LEADERSHIP TEACHINGS WITH KAREN ZEIGLER!!!
9 THINGS LEADERS MUST BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT: POSTED BY KAREN ZEIGLER
Whether you are leading a small business, serving in a charity, or leading in a large corporation the world is moving at a fast pace. A Super Fast Pace! And that which we set aside till later often doesn’t end up happening at all. That’s why it’s important as leaders to be intentional about those things that are critical to our success and the success of those we lead. Here’s my top ten things I believe leaders must be intentional about: 1. Personal Growth – the growth of your organization is directly linked to how well you have developed personally. John Maxwell writes about this Law of the Lid in his book 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
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2. Effective Conflict Resolution & Negotiation – if you are leading effectively you will always make waves with the status quo. Not handling these encounters correctly will taint your reputation and likely cause future problems 3. Reading – specifically areas listed in this post, as well as increasing the following skills sets – productivity, strategic thinking/planning, communication, problem solving, creativity. 4. Time management – over time we all learn various time management techniques but when life gets too busy those tricks and tips usually fall by the wayside. Take the time to put those tips that worked back to work or look for new tips in an area where you know you are wasting time or taking longer than necessary. 5. Social Media – leadership is about influence and there is no more powerful tool in our time for expanding our influence as leaders than social media. Come on – really if Grandma can have a Facebook account to keep up with the grand kids surely you can master social media. 6. Thought Management – It seems to reason that if “As a man thinketh, so is he” that “As a leader thinketh, so is his followers. We are daily bombarded with negativity and keeping positive is not something that you can be passive about. Passive is always overtaken, overwhelmed or over extended. 7. Habits - Hosea Ballou once said “A single bad habit will mar an otherwise faultless character, as an ink-drop soileth the pure white page.” Regardless if you consider your habits personal and unrelated to the arena in which you lead you are only fooling yourself to think that they will not have an impact. Be intentional about stopping the bad habits and implementing the good habits. 8. Encouraging Your People – without regular doses of encouragement your followers will cease to be your followers. 9. Developing Your People – the better your people become, the better your team becomes, the better your organization becomes. (These 9 things are not in order but if they were I’d rank these last two on this list as the #1 & #2) Now your turn. As a leader what are you intentional about?
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CAN YOU LIGHT A FIRE UNDER YOUR PEOPLE & ENCOURAGE THEM AT THE SAME TIME? : BY KAREN ZEIGLER
The answer is yes! And apparently I do it pretty well. I received an email from my dear friend who is a professor at Edison State College where I spoke yesterday (cliff notes from speech here). It was a thank you for speaking to her students and she took the opportunity to give me feedback. In her kind words she said “You have an ability to light a fire under them while being an encouragement. ” I get this pretty frequently. I received an email from another individual who I coach from time to time. Her request “I need a session of “Karen kicks (insert name) butt back in shape”. And to be honest, I really really enjoy giving women a kick in the pants and encouraging them – especially in the area of leadership and pursuing their purpose. Yet while I was basking in the glory of this seemingly natural gift, I discovered as looking through my Coaching materials from my certification, that it’s likely more of what I’ve learned and practiced than actually what I’m naturally gifted at. Regardless of whether it’s natural gifting or learned or a combination it’s certainly a sweet spot for me. I like to be there. I guess it’s why I coach. But what about you? Your natural gifting as a leader may be somewhere else? I believe with the right tools you can still light a fire under your people and encourage them at the same time. My prayer is that as I share the coaching model below that you will keep a copy of it handy. Review it before you have employee meetings and even keep it out so that you can keep yourself on track and not miss a step. Surely you are past having to look like you have it all together. It’s a great tool to help those you lead (and even those you love) to be a better version of the uniquely created individual they are.
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1. Listen - actively listen to what is being said and what is not being said. Allow the individual to fully express themselves. 2. Understand - donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t offer immediate solutions. Seek to understand their perspective and their emotions about the topic. Ways to demonstrate understanding include: paraphrase back what you heard; ask a question; ask if they meant what they said; ask how they would handle the situation in the future or how they would like to handle it now; share what is obvious to you; admit when they have lost you. 3. Empower - confirm a strength or that they are on the right path, that you fully understand where they are coming from and if necessary what your perspective or experience is on what has been said. Ways to empower: acknowledge them; make them right in every way that is possible; share your inklings; give your point of view; draw a conclusion 4. Recap - restate where you are and what has been learned for clarification. Ways to recap: include the real problem, the source of the problem, the symptom of the problem; the real vs. perceived opportunity in the problem; truth vs. facts; the degree of commitment to resolve; the degree of priority of this problem; thereal win for the individual 5. Challenge - what if any action should the individual take (when possible let them make this decision. Things to consider or discuss: why is the action important; what will the action accomplish; how will they benefit from he action; do they own, believe in or are willing to carry out the action; what other commitments or conflicts could be obstacles; will the action support their values and longer goals What about you? How do you light a fire under your people and still encourage them? I know the leaders here would love to hear from you on the topic as well.
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WHAT IS THE MEGA-CHARACTER TRAIT OF GREAT LEADERS?
:BY KAREN ZEIGLER Last night I spoke at Becoming a Confident Woman in Leadership (If you’re in SWFL we’d love for you to join the next one). I find it interesting that after hours of preparations for a speech I always learn even more after the talk than before. It’s a blessing and a curse being a Thinker – sometimes the brain just doesn’t shut off. The title of the speech was “Stop Looking at Her” and we talked a lot about the death trap we as women leaders often find ourselves in. The minute she catches our eye and the comparison start. You know the ones – looks, brains, connections, possessions, life style, career, perfect family – you name it. It’s a long and winding path to no where. But most importantly it takes us off the path God has planned for us. We lose our focus on our goals, our dreams, and ultimately our purpose. To stop the distraction of comparison its important that we implement a new way we look at other women. Not as competition, the enemy or any other negative label that you can think of but instead, as a woman. Just like ourselves. Beautiful, with a life that has it’s own struggles, tragedies and insecurities, a woman who has a path and a purpose that she is on as well. Instead of being knocked off the path of our purpose we can tap into the mega-character quality that set the greatest leader of all time (Jesus Christ) apart from the rest. The quality that you don’t see much of in the books on character and John Maxwell only briefly mentions in his post The High Road Principle. Yet it is the single character quality that attracted thousands to Christ and is still attracting them today. I call it a megacharacter because it encompasses several character qualities into one. What is this mega-character that can increase your impact and your influence as a leader?
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GRACE
And taken from glimpses into the leadership of Christ, here is a great picture of what grace looks like and how you can apply it in your leadership. G - GIVE GENEROUSLY. Being a leader who adds value means that you are giving people something they don’t have before their interaction with you. From time, resources, encouragement, wisdom to financial contributions. Christ gave all – we are to give from all we have as well. R – RESPECT OTHERS. Often times leaders fall into the trap of thinking themselves as better than others because of their position. Christ showed a gentle kindness and respect for everyone even prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers, etc. We can show respect for all people regardless of position or status.
A – BE ACCEPTING OTHERS. Even when we disagree with someone’s view point we can still accept and receive what they have to say in a way that does not degrade them as a person. Accepting and acknowledge an individual shows that you are mindful of them as a person regardless of differing view points. Christ rejected no one. C – CARE FOR OTHERS. As leaders it’s important to not just be about the work at hand, what you can do for people and what they can do for you. People have needs, worries, goals and dreams. It’s important to tap into those on a regular basis so that they understand that you care. The reason crowds flocked to Christ was that he cared for them. Whether they were hungry, poor, hurting, sick – he always to the time to show that he cared. E – ENCOURAGE OTHERS. Life, work, ministry are all full of obstacles, tough patches, dry seasons and challenges. Even when working in the area of their passion and purpose people can easily become discouraged. Christ understood life was difficult, that it was a struggle but he was always an encouragement because he reminded them that life on this earth was not all there is. He encouraged them to keep pressing on, keep moving forward. Yes there are many character qualities that we can embrace and seek to improve. While honesty, diligence, dependability are all great qualities there is one that we as leaders are emboldened to embrace. See to it that no one misses the grace of God…Hebrews 12:15 So women leaders – let’s put aside the comparison that degrades each of us and take on the mindset of grace that will have a far greater impact on those we lead, our purpose and our lives. Your turn to chime in? How do you see comparison affecting women leaders today? Of the women leaders you are attracted to, do they exhibit this mega-quality? If you liked this post, you may also enjoy: Excerpts from Upcoming Book - Revived! (talks about Adding Value) Are You Texting Away Your Reputation? Top 12 Character Traits of a Christian Leader
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NO LEADERSHIP PAIN, NO LEADERSHIP GAIN :POSTED BY KAREN ZEIGLER
No Pain, No Gain. The clicheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; has been around the gym for years, yet the the truth of experiencing pain in our muscles is what strengthens them can also be applied to leadership. There are key areas that if we choose not to work out, work at, challenge ourselves in that we will not become stronger leaders. Here are at least 4 of those areas we can consider our leadership gym if you will. The place we need to go out of our way to go to, do the hard work and get better, faster, stronger in handling.
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P – People. In order to gain strength and progress as a leader we must be willing to engage in the hard conversations. Communicate effectively, resolving conflict quickly. I suspect unless you’re a hermit you encounter at least one of these a week if not a day. But I find as a coach that people’s most effective strategy is – avoidance. Leaders aren’t avoiders. Take the time today to read an article or pick up a book that will help you grow in this area. Then take what you learn and practice, practice, practice. Embrace the pain of the hard conversations and then you can relish the gain. A - Action. Specifically taking action to move outside your comfort zone. The faster you push through the pain of stepping outside your comfort zone the faster you will gain ground as a leader. I – Ignorance. Also considered lack of knowledge. It is highly likely that your specific talent or knowledge may be what landed you in a leadership role. However, a mastery of a single issue will not keep you in that leadership role. Depending on what type of leader you are you may need to know about handling personnel, profit/loss, product development, just to name a few. Learning a new subject while balancing work and life is hard work. It’s a pain that must be embraced to see the resulting gain in your leadership. N – Negate the Negative. Negativity runs the gamut. Three issues leaders need to address here come to mind. 1. Negative thoughts – which may go as far and seeking counseling to deal with the negative voices from your past that still exist today in your mind. 2. Negative environments – from clutter to health hazards our environment play a huge role in our progress and productivity. 3. Negative People – nothing more freeing than resolving or reducing to the minimum your exposure to interactions with negative people. While none of these three negative areas are easy – it’s a pain that will result in much gain. Your turn to chime in. What else do you find in the leadership gym? Those task or areas that give you a good workout but leave you a stronger leader for having made the effort.
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LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT WITH AMY SIMPSON : POSTED BY KAREN ZEIGLER Excited to be bringing to you today a new featured post here at Karen Zeigler for Women in Leadership. As Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been thinking about how I can add value to you as a woman in leadership, the thought occurred to me that it would be extremely helpful to be able to peek into the lives of other successful women in leadership via an interview and to share those with you. By taking the time to learn from them and the path they have already traveled, we can set our selves up to go further, faster and perhaps with fewer bumps in the road. So today is the first of what I hope to be a weekly occurrence.
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Today’s interview is with Amy Simpson. Amy Simpson is the author of Troubled Minds: Mental Illness and the Church’s Mission (InterVarsity Press). She also serves as editor of Christianity Today’s Gifted for Leadership and marriage and parenting resources for Today’s Christian Woman. She lives with her family in Illinois. You can find her at AmySimpsonOnline.com and on Twitter @aresimpson. Below are the questions and responses from my chat with Amy when we sat down together this week. Tell me about your leadership responsibilities? Over the last two years I have been redesigning my leadership responsibilities and refocusing where I invest those skills and talents. Formerly, I was a VP at Christianity Today and I began to feel God’s nudge that He had different plans for my passions of determining direction, influencing conversations and coaching. While I enjoyed my career I felt it was difficult to be “present” in the lives of my daughters. Technically I was there but mentally I wasn’t. At 10 and 13 I recognized that my days of influence were growing shorter by the day and that was my catalyst to step down from VP and to step into my current roles as author and editor. The common threads of directing, influencing and coaching still exist because it’s what I love to do. It’s just directed in a more meaningful and purpose driven way. What do you find most rewarding about being a leader? I love seeing other people grow. For me, it’s super rewarding to be a part of the process of helping facilitate positive change. I enjoy seeing individuals growing in knowledge and strength – doing things that didn’t feel they could do. Coaching people through that process. I particularly enjoy this as an editor with new writers. Do you feel the challenges are different for women leaders vs. men? Yes, there are several. The first couple that come to mind include: 1. Women are often condition to take a backseat. In addition, those that have the desire to be a leader are chastised for being assertive. These two behaviors often result in women being easily dismissed.
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2. Often women are trying to lead in areas where they are structural limited. I.e., organization places limits on what a woman leader can or cannot do. This often leads to women leading in ways that don’t necessarily fit who that woman is. So yes, women face several external and internal obstacles that men do not face. The biggest obstacle of which I believe to be cultural characterization of women. There exists a dichotomy of either innocent, precious, fragile & morally superior yet weak and in need of protection and special handling. Or inherently evil hyper-sexual, temptress that are good for nothing but their sexuality. Both of these images are very destructive to God’s image in women and their potential. Not only is it destructive to women, but also destructive to our partnership with men and what we could accomplish together. And not just inside marriage but what we could accomplish in healthy partnerships with men outside of marriage. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced and what did you learn from it? Discovering and continuing to embrace the idea that God has something for me to do and that something is never about me. It’s not about me looking better or being happier – it’s always about Him. Keep ego in check, daily surrender, my service is to Him and not to other people. Letting go of frustration that you should be achieving more success than you are. God’s success is not our success. Being content living God’s version of success. When you look across the growing landscape of women in leadership what observations do you make that would be helpful to women looking to be better leaders? Women need to be aware of generational dynamics. We have a huge generation of Americans who are aging out of their profession. And an even larger generation coming behind. We are at crisis point. It is important to recognize that we all need each other. Other women – baby boomer, generation x’rs need to be investing in the millennial woman. Recognize that they need us and they are looking for us to invest in them, helping them grow and mature. Helping them know themselves, know Christ and their purpose.
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What is the difference you believe women bring to the leadership of an organization? Even though God did not make all women the same. He did make us male and female and He showed us very clearly that we are to be partners. Any organization that discounts the necessity of women in leadership is doing a disservice to God’s kingdom and to some degree rejecting God’s plan. What legacy do you hope your leadership leaves? I hope my leadership leaves healthy and well functioning leaders in its wake. People who lead out of a sense of calling and as an expression of how God is leading them. Your turn to chime in. I’m not sure about you but I found so many points on which I agreed with Amy about women in leadership. What are your thoughts? Would also love to hear from you on questions you’d like me to ask during these interviews or women in leadership you would like to see interviewed. Feel free to comment below with those or email me directly at Karen@karenzeigler.com.
KAREN ZEIGLER
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Terms & Conditions: BY JEFF GODSOWN
With almost all, if not all contracts we enter into, before signing or agreeing to the contract, one must or rather is supposed to agree to the terms and conditions of said contract. Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it funny, not in a laughable sense, but in an odd sense that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take the same care with the contract we enter into when we become Christians? Rather than causing us to agree to terms and conditions we generally donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand because most of it is written in legalese, which very few comprehend but are afraid to admit it, God allows us the privilege of our entire life; to examine the contract He set before us. Some of us say I do to the contract without ever finding out the requirements of the contracts, probably for the same reason as with an earthly contract. We are not really smart enough to understand what the meaning is, but unlike the legalese that earthly contracts are written in, the contract with Christ is very easily explained and understood, we just need to ask the Holy Ghost. 1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
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Without the King Jimmy figure it out with no ease wording: 1Jn 2:27 But as for you, Christ has poured out his Spirit on you. As long as his Spirit remains in you, you do not need anyone to teach you. For his Spirit teaches you about everything, and what he teaches is true, not false. Obey the Spirit's teaching, then, and remain in union with Christ. Clear understanding of God’s truth, can be gained through seeking the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, which ever name you prefer. So here we are and maybe wondering along the lines of Christ’s commandments, the two commandments He spoke of thinking this is all that is required; Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment. Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Kindly note verse 40, where it says hang all the law, that law would be a portion of the contract, the first part being love. Let us look at the matching verses; Luk 10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? Luk 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. Here again in verse 26, we see the word law, or contract, not only that, but we see where Luke the scribe wrote a more in-depth definition. Luke spoke of giving your entire being to God’s law of love. Just a thought in this but; if we come in man’s idea of love, then that love is missing so much and is dependent on the terms and conditions of man at that moment. Joh 5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. Joh 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
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In other-words; man’s love is cruel and has expectations based on man’s temporal feelings, and ends without reasonable cause. God’s love has no dependency on our feelings, has minimal expectations, and does not end without good cause, again the cause is not based on man’s feelings. We may be asked to love on a continual basis, the very person who seems to go out of their way to make your life miserable, while they actually have no clue, or refuse to acknowledge their torment of you. Some are of the mind that Christ’s coming and going was to do away with the law, but even Christ Himself said this is not true; Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Now the scary part of these scriptures; Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Here’s where we get to the point of this; though we do not do terms and conditions with foreknowledge of written or e-contracts, we do put hidden agenda terms and conditions on each other. Even worse, we refuse to follow the terms and conditions God set before us that we might go to heaven to be with Him. We even have the audacity to try to put terms and conditions on God. I have some bad news for those of you who choose this path, and the bad news actually come from the good news of God’s Word. Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. We seriously need to repent of doing things on our terms and our conditions and do things according to God’s terms and conditions.
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We also need to stop one even more important thing, we need to stop dictating to God what love is, seek Him for His love, so we stop using our feelings to put terms and conditions on people. Let us each examine ourselves, stop trying to put terms and conditions on others, it quite frankly is not our job. We may be the only Holy Bible many people see, so do we want to show them the living proof of God’s truth, or mans’ failings, the choice is ours. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, I hope that is everyone’s goal, Amen!
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WAIT!!! : BY EVANGELIST FAVOR LIBERTY
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I have not posted a Word for some time now because the Spirit of God had been refreshing my soul in silence ; while I pour out my prayer to Him for my family Members, friends, and our various Ministries which are yet faithful to the Call of the LORD without fear or favor ! While waiting upon the Lord the Spirit whispered to my soul ; " THE PROBLEM IS MY DEAR , MANY ARE WEARY TOO SOON FROM RUNNING THE RACE OF LIFE BECAUSE THEY TRY TO DO IT BY THEIR OWN STRENGTH. MANY START OFF WELL WITH POWER AND MIGHT BUT FALL BY THE ROAD SIDE BEFORE LONG, CAPTURED BY THE SNARES OF SATAN WHICH ARE LAYING BY THE WAYSIDE . MANY BEGIN THE WALK IN ERNEST BUT ARE SOON FAINT BECAUSE IT IS PHYSICAL LOGIC, REASON AND THE EYES OF MEN HOLD THEIR GAZE !(whatever this means) MY CHILD; LIFE JOURNEY CAN BE VERY BEAUTIFUL IF WE WAIT FOR THE INSTRUCTIONS OF OUR GUIDE ! IT IS NOT OUR PORTION TO EVEN STEP UPON THE DEVIL TRAP FOR THE FEET OF THE FAITHFUL ARE MEANT TO BE FAR ABOVE THE EARTH OUT OF THE REACH OF PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS. While seeking a verse to interpret this part during my studies I came across the Prophet Isaiah "40:3" ...."They shall mount up with wings as eagles...." WOW! GOD IS FAITHFUL !" IT IS NEITHER YOUR PORTION TO BE WEARY OR FAINT BUT TO SIMPLY WAIT UPON THE LORD TO GUIDE YOU TO YOUR DESTINATION ! YOU WERE BORN TO FULFILL A DIVINE MISSION AND MANY FAIL TO REACH THEIR FINAL GOAL BECAUSE THEY RELY TOO MUCH UPON EARTHLY THINGS! FOCUS YOUR EYES UPON THE LORD AND WAIT ! HE WANTS TO BE EXALTED IN YOUR LIVES "! Really I do not know if this message is meant for me or you but I have already claimed it ! I hear it in my soul as I called upon the LORD for you and I !
TAKING A CRITICAL LOOK AT OTHER RELIGIONS: RELASIONSHIPS , INTERACTIONS, NAGATIVE & POSITIVE IMPACT ON CHRISTIANITY AND OUR GLOBAL VILLAGE TODAY!!!!!!!
BUILDING BRIDGES OF UNITY BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS BY REHAN ALLAHWALA ”There is so much distrust and suspicions between Christians ,Jews and Muslims and in many cases this lead to acts of terror among other things ; when the faithful of both sides think they are doing the right thing . Yet the three major religions on the earth have a common root; fraternal Grandparent which is Father Abraham. All celebrate his life and claim to be descendants but find it impossible to live as one family. The question is usually asked if there can ever be a way to actually dwell in peace on this earth; Muslims Christians and Jews. The truth is it is only possible if we carefully take time off to interact in love, study each other scriptures and find common grounds that unite instead of divide us . Here is the ernest attempt of a Muslim trying to find a bridge of unity “.Added by : Bishop Steven Liberty Sr. CEO Shepherds Without Borders Global Outreach
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What Prophet Muhammad PBUH said about Christians!!! ADDED BY REHAN ALLAWALA
St. Catherine's Monastery, Sinai, Egypt A Picture of Prophet Muhammad's Letter to St. Catherine's Monastery Dr. Muqtedar Khan | 08.22.2010 This article was published in the Pittsburg Post-Gazette [03.25.2007], Daily News Egypt [03.09.2007], AltMuslim [03.03.2007], Pakistan Link, Middle East Window, Turkish Daily News [04.10.2007 ], OpEd news [03.19.2007], Ikhwanweb [02.11.07], and many other places.. Article also available in: English | Indonesia | | ارد و | ع ربيFrançais Muslims and Christians together constitute over fifty percent of the world and if they lived in peace, we will be half way to world peace. One small step that we can take towards fostering Muslim-Christian harmony is to tell and retell positive stories and abstain from mutual demonization. In this article I propose to remind both Muslims and Christians about a promise that Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) made to Christians. The knowledge of this promise can have enormous impact on Muslim conduct towards Christians. Muslims generally respect the precedent of their Prophet and try to practice it in their lives. In 628 AD, a delegation from St. Catherine’s Monastery came to Prophet Muhammed and requested his protection.
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He responded by granting them a charter of rights, which I reproduce below in its entirety. St. Catherineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Monastery is located at the foot of Mt. Sinai and is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest monastery. It possess a huge collection of Christian manuscripts, second only to the Vatican, and is a world heritage site. It also boasts the oldest collection of Christian icons. It is a treasure house of Christian history that has remained safe for 1400 years under Muslim protection. The Promise to St. Catherine:"This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses.Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world)." The first and the final sentence of the charter are critical. They make the promise eternal and universal. Muhammed asserts that Muslims are with Christians near and far straight away rejecting any future attempts to limit the promise to St. Catherine alone. By ordering Muslims to obey it until the Day of Judgment the charter again undermines any future attempts to revoke the privileges.
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These rights are inalienable. Muhammed declared Christians, all of them, as his allies and he equated ill treatment of Christians with violating Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s covenant. A remarkable aspect of the charter is that it imposes no conditions on Christians for enjoying its privileges. It is enough that they are Christians. They are not required to alter their beliefs, they do not have to make any payments and they do not have any obligations. This is a charter of rights without any duties!The document is not a modern human rights treaty but even thought it was penned in 628 A.D. it clearly protects the right to property, freedom of religion, freedom of work, and security of the person. I know most readers, must be thinking so what? Well the answer is simple. Those who seek to foster discord among Muslims and Christians focus on issues that divide and emphasize areas of conflict. But when resources such as Muhammadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promise to Christians is invoked and highlighted it builds bridges. It inspires Muslims to rise above communal intolerance and engenders good will in Christians who might be nursing fear of Islam or Muslims. When I look at Islamic sources, I find in them unprecedented examples of religious tolerance and inclusiveness. They make me want to become a better person. I think the capacity to seek good and do good inheres in all of us. When we subdue this predisposition towards the good, we deny our fundamental humanity. In this holiday season, I hope all of us can find time to look for something positive and worthy of appreciation in the values, cultures and histories of other peoples
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Whose Islam? National Review's Happy Warrior October 21, 2013 http://www.steynonline.com/5809/whose-islam The "war" part of the war on terror is pretty much over, and we're now fighting it culturally, rhetorically. Which is not something we do well. Take the British prime minister and his traditional nothing-to-do-withIslam statement, issued in the wake of the Kenyan shopping-mall carnage: These appalling terrorist attacks that take place where the perpetrators claim they do it in the name of a religion: They don't. They do it in the name of terror, violence and extremism and their warped view of the world. They don't represent Islam, or Muslims in Britain or anywhere else in the world. Same with the Muslims who beheaded a British soldier, Drummer Rigby, on a London street in broad daylight. On that occasion, David Cameron assured us that the unfortunate incident was "a betrayal of Islam. . . . There is nothing in Islam that justifies this truly dreadful act." How does he know? Mr. Cameron is not (yet) a practicing Muslim. A self-described "vaguely practicing" Anglican, he becomes rather less vague and unusually forceful and emphatic when the subject turns to Islam. At the Westgate mall in Nairobi, the terrorists separated nonMuslim hostages from Muslims and permitted the latter to leave if they could recite a Muslim prayerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a test I doubt Mr. Cameron could have passed, for all his claims to authority on what is and isn't Islamic. So the perpetrators seem to think it's something to do with Islamâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and, indeed, something to do with Muslims in the United
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Kingdom, given that the terrorists included British subjects (as well as U.S. citizens). It was a busy weekend for Nothing to Do with Islam. Among the other events that were nothing to do with Islam were the murder of over 85 Pakistani Christians at All Saints' Church in Peshawar and the beheading of Ricardo Dionio in the Philippines by BIFF, the aggressively acronymic breakaway faction (the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) from the more amusingly acronymic MILF (the Moro Islamic Liberation Front). Despite a body count higher than Kenya, the Pakistani slaughter received barely a mention in the Western media. You'd be hard put to find an Anglican church in England with a big enough congregation on a Sunday morning to kill 85 worshipers therein, but in Peshawar, a 99 percent Muslim city, the few remaining Christians are not of the "vaguely practicing" Cameron variety. Viewed from London, however, they've already lost: One day there will be no Christians in Peshawar and the city will be 100 percent Muslim. It may be "nothing to do with Islam," but it's just the way it is: We accept the confessional cleansing of Pakistan, as we do of Egypt, because it's part of "the Muslim world." Nairobi, on the other hand, is not, and a murderous assault on an upscale shopping mall patronized by Kenya's elite and wealthy secular expats gets far closer to the comfort zone wherein David Cameron "vaguely practices": In a "clash of civilizations" in which one side doesn't want to play, a shattered church has less symbolic resonance than a shattered frozen-yogurt eatery. On this side of the Atlantic, meanwhile, the Canadian branch of the Islamic Society of North America lost its charitable status after it was revealed to be funding all that jihad stuff that's nothing to do with Islam. This presented a small problem for Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal party, son of Pierre, and on course to be the Queen's dimmest prime minister of her six-decade reign: Where David Cameron is a silky, slippery deceiver who surely knows better, young Justin seems genuinely to believe the mush he serves up. Asked to explain his recent photo-op at the now-discredited ISNA, he replied:
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"Part of my job is to speak with as many Canadians as possible and talk to people about the kinds of shared values we have." I don't suppose M. Trudeau really means he "shares values" with terrorism supporters, but he does get to the heart of the problem: To put it at its mildest, there seem to be insufficient "shared values" between Western societies and a not-insignificant number of young Muslim men who are nominally and legally citizens thereof. One survivor of the Westgate mall said, "I don't understand why you would shoot a five-year-old child." But what's to understand? The child was shot because he was not Muslim. Five-year-olds died at All Saints' Church for the same reason—because, even in a town that's 99 percent Muslim, a non-Muslim kindergartner is a provocation. Crazy, huh? Yet it is not inconceivable that the man who executed the fiveyear-old at the Westgate mall was one of those "British subjects" or "U.S. citizens." That's to say, he's not some primitive from the fringes of the map but someone who has grown up in the same society as Justin Trudeau and decided that Justin's "shared values" are worthless. To be charitable to Mr. Cameron, he is trying to point out that very few Muslims want to stare a five-year-old in the eye and pull the trigger. But, likewise, very few of them want to do anything serious—in their mosques and madrassahs—about the culture that incubates such men. The prime minister is betting that all the clever chaps like him can keep the lid on and hold things to what, at the height of the Northern Irish "Troubles," cynical British officials privately called "an acceptable level of violence." A combined weekend corpse count of 150 is, apparently, "acceptable"—or at any rate not sufficiently unacceptable to prompt any reconsideration of a British, Canadian, and European immigration policy that makes Islam the principal source of Western population growth. But don't worry: As John McCain says of our Syrian "allies," "Allahu akbar" simply means "Thank God." Thank God for that.
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SPAIN LATEST AFRICAN ARCHBISHOP: Submitted by the Office of ArchBishop Dr. Prince Nnams N. Kalu
Know Our Archbishop Better Dr. PRINCE NNAMS N.KALU,is a Nigerian Born Missionary Based in Spain, He is the Presiding Bishop and Primate of Great Achievers International Church & Ministries Inc., He accepted Jesus in his life in 1976 at Assemblies Of God Church, were he was Baptized in Water and received the Holy Spirit baptism. He was called by God at an early age and after training and mentoring under the Assemblies of God Nigeria, he then graduated from the following Institutes: Endtime Theological Seminary, Lagos, Nigeria; Rivers Bible College( Now Pentecostal Theological Seminary), Pilgrims University, USA; Zoe Life Theological Seminary, U.S.A. He received his call into the ministry while preparing to enter into University to study Medicine; he forsook his dream carrier of becoming a Medical Doctor and entered into fulltime ministry.
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He attended PILGRIMS UNIVERSITY, ABA, Nigeria, where he was trained for the work of the ministry. He Obtained a Diploma In Nursing Training Program in 1987, He obtained a Diploma in Theology (Dip.Th) in 1994, and Bachelor’s Degree in Theology (B.Th), in 1997.He was Ordained into full time Ministry in 1996. He obtained a Master of Arts in Christian Education and Religious Studies from The Zoe Life Theological College, Philadelphia-U.S.A. He was Ordained as an Apostle in the year 2005 by UK WORLD EVANGELISM CHURCHES AND MINISTERIAL COUNCIL, London. He holds Two Honorary Doctorate Degrees, Doctor of Philosophy In Ministerial Counseling & Management ( Honorary Causa) from Rehoboth Christian University College U.S.A. African Campus in 2001, Doctor Of Divinity (Honorary Causa) from Pilgrims University Burlington U.S.A. in 2006. He obtained His Advanced Diploma in Theology from Assemblies of God Rivers Bible College, Eleme Port Harcourt an Affiliate of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. He obtained Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Business Management (Ph.D) from Vision International University U.S.A.He has been into missionary work in the French countries like Cameroun,Lome Togo and Ghana since 1988. Dr. Prince Nnams Started his Evangelical and Deliverance ministry in the year 1986 as a non-denominational Prayer Ministry. After working as a missionary for a number of years in Cameroun and Lome Togo, the Lord gave him the vision of GAICM, an evangelistic outreach ministry. In 1996 he followed God’s instructions to establish a ministry base in Lome, Togo. In 2002, Great Achievers International Church was birthed. The Lord instituted the name ‘Great Achievers’ for their church based on the belief that through the saving and healing knowledge of Jesus Christ, all lives will remain “evergreen”.
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Prince (Dr) Nnams is the General Overseer of Great Achievers International Church & Ministries Inc with Headquarters in Valencia, Spain.
He is a man called and specially anointed to set the captives free, an Apostle of Deliverance to Africa, Europe in particular and the world in general. An outstanding teacher and preacher in Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance Ministry since 1988 with undeniable testimonies, signs and wonders following his ministry in Nigeria, other African countries, Europe, the Middle East and U.S.A The church is growing steadily and new branches are being established in Spain, U.S.A.,Philippines, India as well as Nigeria. He has worked with different churches and ministries before he receive a Mandate from God to start GREAT ACHIEVERS INTERNATIONAL CHURCH in the year 1996. He is a dynamic man of God and a Fire brand Preacher with deep revelationary insight of the word of God, God endowed him with the power and Anointing of the Holy Spirit with a special Commission and Message of restoration to the destiny of our Generation.
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God has used him to establish many souls in the body of Christ. He is not just a preacher, but an Apostle raised by God for this generation. Many who were sick, afflicted, barren and oppressed by satanic forces have received their miracles as God confirms His word through the mouth of His servant as he preaches the Gospel in different countries. He is the Presiding Bishop and Primate of GREAT ACHIEVERS INTERNATIONAL CHURCH & MINISTRIES Africa and Europe. The Founder/Chancellor, ACHIEVERS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, The President of APOSTLE NNAMS WORLD EVANGELISTIC OUTREACH, He is the President United Nations Councils of Churches & Ministerial Fellowship. He was Consecrated a Bishop on the 20th September 2008 by YESHUA EMBASSY NETWORK OF CHURCHES INTERNATIONAL INC U.S.A. He was recognized and appointed AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE by the Universal Peace Federation and The Interreligious International Federation for World Peace. As an Apostle by calling with great and deep insight into the scriptures, he has traveled around the world preaching the uncompromised gospel of Jesus Christ with signs and wonders following. With a great prophetic and healing anointing, the messages and crusades are filled with the power of the Holy Ghost and the mighty presence of God as the result of prayer and anointing that leads believers to new levels of faith and ability to receive from God’s faithfulness. An overflowing of God’s grace, zeal and strong dedication for God’s work is very visible in his life. He is married to Rev (Mrs.) Ugoeze D. Nnams, a woman of God with a powerful Prophetic anointing; they are blessed with Six Children.
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Presently, he lives in Spain, where he serves as the presiding Bishop of the church. [10/18/2013 11:54:25 AM] DR. McDekons: Dr. Prince Nnams Nmecha B.A., M.Div., L.H.D., D.D., D.Min. Th.D., Ph.D In every Era, God has men on errand. Apostolic Bishop Nnams Nmecha stands out among his peers. He is an Educationist, Academician, Apostolic Teaching Prophet. He is the Founder/ Presiding Bishop of Great Achievers International Church & Ministries Inc., He is the International President/ Chancellor of Achievers International University College & Theological Seminary and An Author with 8 books under his Belt. Dr. Prince Nnams Nmecha stand tall as one of God's mightiest timbers in the forest of gospel ministry. The foundation for his consistent ecclesiastical excellence can be easily traced back to both his familial roots and early Christian childhood training in the Assemblies of God Church. Never deterred by life's unexpected challenges, Prince Nnams calmly and yet with 'God- Assurance' continues to embrace God's perfect will for both his life and ministry. Dr. Nnams Prophetic and Deliverance ministry endeavors commenced with his acceptance of God's will for his life as he was humbly ushered into the gospel preaching and teaching ministry in February 1986. He is also the Founder and ; * Chancellor-Great Achievers Institute & Theological Seminary * The Governor:- Kingdom Builders Apostolic Network & Ministerial Fellowship -* President : Global Impact Compassionate Organization: (a foundation supporting the less privileged and pastors in the Rural areas.)
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His energetic, informed, compassionate and humorous demeanor has enabled him to effectively communicate God's message of power, love and deliverance to those in need of a breakthrough.
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Our Sticky Situations : BY Apostle Lee Ann Marino So look upon your old sin nature as dead and unresponsive to sin, and instead be alive to God, alert to Him, through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 6:11 (TLB) I found a homemade Twix bar recipe online and I wanted to try making it. I don't know why, since it's so much easier to just walk the 15 minute stretch to the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market up the street, or say 10 minute walk to Harris Teeter and buy a bag. I think it sounded like a challenge at first, and I like to have stuff that's made without a lot of preservatives and things of that nature. So I set out this afternoon, all the while packing for my trip to Tucson this week and cleaning the kitchen, to make these homemade Twix bars. The recipe has three steps: the bottom shortbread layer, a caramel layer, and a top chocolate layer. Sounds easy enough, right? All was going fine until the caramel, because I made two substitutions in the recipe when I got to it. In place of dark corn syrup, I did a brown sugar/water mix, and in place of sweetened condensed milk, I used evaporated milk. It wasn't coming out bad, but it wasn't coming out right, either. It was runnier than the recipe described it to be, and I kept trying to thicken it some by adding more sugar.
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I finally got frustrated after the third addition and turned the stove up slightly so it would boil and then I could cool it and let it cook to as thick as it was going to get, then pour it over the shortbread layer and refrigerate it to cool. Having to refrigerate it meant it was going to get harder anyway, right? I turned away for a very, very short period of time - if it was for two minutes, it was a long time. It was just long enough to clear out the sink and put a dish or two in my dishwasher. When I turned back around, I discovered caramel boiling over the pot and onto the stove top. Quick thinking, I turned it off and started to clean up what can only be described as a sticky, icky mess. The caramel had boiled over and under the burner, under the catch-all pan under the burner, and ran over top of the stove, as well. Fiona ran in the kitchen, hoping some would run off the stove so she could eat it. I just stood there, shook my head, and started to clean it up. A two-minute turnaround caused me nearly 45 minutes of cleaning up a messy situation. I was truly grateful to God that I was standing right there and that the situation had not been made worse by walking away or not realizing the pot was boiling over. As I was cleaning up the mess (which, believe it or not, was not my worst kitchen disaster ever!), God began to reveal to me about the often sticky and icky situations we get ourselves into. How many of us just turn our head for that one moment, only to have a mess form in that quick, short period of time? After the sticky situation has been made, how long does it take for us to clean it up? Standing in that kitchen today, I was very aware that the second we stop paying attention is the moment we "boil over" and mess comes forth. There is a reason the Word alerts us to being aware, prepared, and alert at all times. Many messes we find ourselves in could be avoided if we would simply sit up, pay attention, and stop turning to the right or left to do something else because we are bored, frustrated, or otherwise uninterested with the task at hand.
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What is God calling you to focus on, right now? Where is He calling your attention? What is distracting you, or what distractions do you face? Remember, that little tiny diversion - the one you don't even think can matter - can wind up causing you a lot of trouble, clean-up, and hassle later on. (c) 2013 Lee Ann B. Marino. All rights reserved.
Your Daily Sacrifice
By Joel McNabb “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Heb. 13:15-16). How many of you awake in the morning with a song or a good thought on your mind? We go about our daily routines, thinking about life and all we have to do. Some people know exactly what they are going to do from the time the alarm clock goes off, and they set about doing it day after day. One day seems just like another. As Christians, we too have our own daily routines. If it were not for the fact that we go to church on Sunday, there would not seem to be much difference between us. We have to eat, go to work, and get the children off to school day in and day out. Recently, I asked our congregation, “Do you wake up singing a church song?” I said that this hap- pens to me most of the week. It makes me think of God and all He has done for me. There were some that said they do. Others had to think about it. Then I asked, “What is the first thing on your mind in the morning?” I let them think about it for a while. We who are born again should wake up thanking the good Lord that we are able to see another day and be in our right minds. This should be our first thought, regardless of what else we have to do that day.
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The prayer that Jesus taught his disciples is the manner in which we ought to pray. He said, “Give us this day our daily bread.” We are to have contact with God every day: a person- al relationship with our Lord. Since God has given to us, so ought we to give back to Him: our daily sacrifice, that should be as automatic as breathing. For “in Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Can we say with the psalmist David, “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psa.119:97)? When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, after His baptism by John the Baptist, the devil came to Him. He didn’t come as a little redhorned devil with a tail and a pitch fork on his shoulder, poking him saying, “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” It was all in Jesus‟ mind. Our thoughts are where the devil tempts us, and Jesus was just like us. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). Jesus said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” When the forty days of his temptation in the wilderness was over, the devil left Him, but it was only for a little season. He came back time and time again to tempt Jesus. We live by the word of God, and we cannot truly live without it. “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). Taking time to read from the Bible every day is part of our daily sacrifice. It is one way we can offer some time to the Lord. Did you know that if you just read three chapters a day, you could read the Bible through in about a year? Now that doesn‟t seem like very much, to ask to receive life from God. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11:29).
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On Mount Sinai, God gave Moses the Law and a pattern with which to build a tabernacle for the Lord. He also told Moses to set up the priest- hood. He chose Aaron and his four sons to be the priests, giving them duties that were to be performed daily. They were to keep the candlestick and its lamps burning continually, making sure every day that there was oil in the lamps, so that they would not go out. If the word of God is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path,” (Psa 119:105), then we should read the Bible every day to keep our lamps burning. In the New Testament, after the Day of Pentecost, the saints continued steadfastly in the apostles‟ doctrine and fellow- ship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:47). Also, they were daily with one accord in the temple. This daily study and prayer continued in the days of Paul‟s ministry. He and Silas were in a town called Berea in the synagogue of the Jews, where they found more noble saints than those in Thessalonica, because they heard the word of God with an open mind, and searched the scriptures daily, to see if the things that they were told was true or not. I wonder if Christians today, after hearing the preacher on Sunday morning, are going home and searching to see if their preacher was correct or not. It takes men and women who have an honest heart to look into the word of God daily to make sure they are not being deceived. A lot more preachers today would have more questions to answer if their congregations were more like the Bereans. Under the Law of Moses, in Exodus 29, the priests were to take two lambs in their first year and offer them day by day continually, one in the morning and one at evening, as a daily sacrifice to the Lord. Besides these offerings and keeping the lamps burning, there was the sweet incense and the daily meat offering.
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These represent something we should do as Christians today in our daily sacrifice to the Lord. I believe they are our prayers and praise. In Hosea 14:2, we are to “render the calves of our lips.” The offering of our praise goes right along with the way Jesus said we should pray, “hallowed be thy name”, acknowledging our Heavenly Father every day and praising Him, praying that His will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. After we have entered into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise, we ask our Lord to take care of all our needs. There is an old song that says, “Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right.” “Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily” (Psa 86:3). Our Lord Jesus came to earth to offer himself for the sins of man, a fulfillment of the true daily sacrifice (the two lambs offered daily, morning and evening). The High Priest had his men came to the garden of Gethsemane at night, to have Jesus tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. All night long Jesus was on trial. He was brought to the palace of the High Priest and, when they could not find anything that he did wrong, they brought false accusations against him. Then the High Priest spoke, “I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” That was all it took. “The High Priest rent his clothes saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death” (Matt. 26: 6367). When morning came, the chief priest and elders took counsel on how they could put Jesus to death, because they were under Roman rule, and they couldn’t carry out the sentence themselves. So they bound Jesus and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor, who could find no fault. Pilate sent the case to Herod, seeing Jesus was from Galilee. Herod was happy to see Jesus, because he thought he might see a miracle done by Jesus. He asked Jesus many questions.
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The priest that brought him stood up and vehemently accused him. And Herod, with his men of war, set Jesus at naught, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him back to Pilate. Neither he nor Herod found anything worthy of death in Jesus. Pilate, being the politician that he was, came up with a solution that was his way out. He could release a prisoner at the feast. He brought a murderer, and set him and Jesus before the people, so they could choose who would be released. The people chose the murderer over Jesus. Pilate asked them three times to be sure, willing to release Jesus. The people and the chief priest got louder, saying, “Crucify him, crucify him.” And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And the rest is history. Jesus was beaten, a crown of thorns placed on his head, and taken to Mount Calvary and nailed to the cross at nine o‟clock, the time of the morning sacrifice. He hung there in shame and disgrace for six hours, and at the evening sacrifice, three o‟clock, He said, “It is finished: and he gave up the ghost” (John 19:30). Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice, offering Himself for us. Now we do not have to offer an animal sacrifice for our sins. “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:22). We can offer ourselves a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1). The old song comes to my mind, “Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid, your heart doth the spirit control?” Our daily sacrifice is nothing compared to what Jesus sacrificed for us. Are we willing to devote some time during our day in thanksgiving to the Lord of our salvation? “He paid a debt he did not owe, we owed a debt we could not pay, we needed someone to wash our sins away.” Jesus offered his life for us. What are you willing to offer today? Could you take time to pray, read your Bible and think about the Lord. I encourage you to be a living sacrifice, devoted to be- coming more like Jesus. You will find that the cares of this world will be an easier burden, and your life will have fullness.
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At this time of the year, let us remember the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x;s death and the price that was paid for us. And let us be resolved to offer our daily sacrifice. The Lord be with you throughout all of your day, and bless and keep you is my prayer.
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An Open Letter To All Five-Fold Ministry Gifts To The Body of Christ: BY DR. LEONARD ROBINSON
Do not endeavor to preach to people about the Kingdom of God if you have not yourself so studied the Kingdom of God that its reality has not begun to transform you. We can use words like "Kingdom, and "Royal" and "Dominion" and still not understand what these words are to mean in our own lives. Until you personally make the Kingdom of God and righteousness the object of your pursuit, the priority of your life, and you are submitted to the reign of God without religious pretense, you will drag the Kingdom into your religion like putting new wine in old wineskins. Whatever you think you know about the Word of God, however you were trained by whomever, if you were not trained according to the truth of the Kingdom you were trained by truths (many) that were contained in the misconceptions of man's ideas about the will of God. By becoming childlike you return to the place of being teachable and expectant of your Father's care. By becoming teachable you become open "again" to the knowledge the Father has for you concerning His Kingdom. Jesus told His disciples that it was given unto them to know the mysteries of the Kingdom.
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These mysteries are also given unto you too, to know but we confuse mere Bible knowledge (which puffs up-makes one to be proud (in the negative sense) having only learned what religion taught) yet this is not the knowledge of the Kingdom Jesus gave His disciples, a message that marked the beginning of Jesus ministry before the cross and the same Kingdom message and purpose He taught [after] the cross. Until you go back, relearn Jesus and see the Kingdom message He preached and how He delegated "that" message to be preached by His disciples and you begin to preach it too, its virtually impossible for you to understand the full dimension to which God wants you to walk in and manifest His glory. The mysteries of the Kingdom are hidden from the religious folks. Which are you? The mysteries of the Kingdom are hidden from the proud and puffed up, which are you? Are you broken, humbled and still open to learning from God or are you one who can only learn from God what you "think" He is already teaching you? Are you a true disciple of Jesus Christ or a disciple of your Pastor, your Apostle or Bishop? Do you place following man over following Jesus in a mistaken belief that following man you are following Jesus? How much do you know about the preached message of the Kingdom and Jesus commandment that we would preach the same? Are you an Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, or Pastor and Teacher? If so, then you are under commandment of God to know the doctrine of the Kingdom of God just as Jesus preached it because when He gave gifts He gave them to men who were highly developed in the Kingdom of God and righteousness as coming from the Father through His Son.
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Every five-fold minister knew the Kingdom through and through because before Jesus released the gifts to them they all had lived a life with Jesus of preaching the same message He preached and they did it in a demonstration of power. And one of the most interesting things I found in Acts 1 is that they asked Jesus as to whether the Kingdom would be restored at this time. In other words, all the while that they were looking for a political Kingdom and they were preaching the Kingdom they did not understand that they were preaching a spiritual Kingdom. So they were being used of God to preach the Kingdom but didn't know themselves the full implication of what they were doing. Okay, so what about you? If you are not preaching the Kingdom at all, but are preaching all kinds of biblical truths calling it the anointing of God (and it is) how much [more] effective would you be in ministry if you disciplined yourself as a disciple and preached the same Kingdom message Jesus preached? Jesus Himself said that you shall know the truth and that the truth shall make you free. Let me leave you with this to ponder. When Jesus tells His disciples that they will know the truth and the truth shall make them free, Jesus is saying that they are going to function from a realm of being unrestricted, unrestrained and free to move about because they are now knowing the truth and making priority what Jesus makes priority. So where are you really at in all of this Kingdom stuff? Are you fighting the doctrine of the Kingdom because I preach it, or because Dr. Myles Munroe or someone else is preaching it? Are you bound by religion and tradition not even realizing the urgency, power and priority of the Kingdom message?
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Have you concluded that you already know all there is to know in the Bible? Are you one who relies on your gifting as validation of God's approval? Don't do that! There is so much more God wants you to know and it all starts not with the New Birth but with the preached message of the Kingdom. If you are a five-fold minister and do not know the doctrine of the Kingdom of God as John, Jesus, Peter, Paul, James and the Apostle John preached it, but you only know the doctrine of salvation then you have yet to have studied to show yourself approved a workmen that need not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. Never, ever allow your gift to be the end all and be all of your service to God the Father. Your gift is a good and perfect gift that has come down from the Father of lights in whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. But your gift alone, and/or your experiences with God don't signal God's approval. You can have 10 people in your Church or 10,000 and still, all the while of being used of God, not be approved of God. (Matthew 7:21-23) What say you of this Kingdom message? Will you repent for having made gods out of leaders and your denomination, organization and/or institution? Are you ready to go from glory to glory as being more than an emotional experience in what we've perceived is you and I being in the presence of God? Are you truly ready to go to deeper depths and higher heights?
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Let the process begin!!! Make the study of God's Kingdom and righteousness your number one priority. Recognize that God is able to get to you the messages He most wants you to know, even if He has to use me here on Facebook to give you the heart of the Father. Ask God to give you discernment to know you. See the areas where you are not walking in Spirit and in Truth for having rejected the preached message of the Kingdom of God and repent. Lastly, walk by genuine faith. What do I mean you say? God gives to everyone the measure of faith because its going to take faith to really "believe" that immense richness to which God wants me to walk in the restoration of His original will for man. Its going to take real Bible faith to believe that the dominion that was at the first, the Kingdom has been restored to me. (Micah 4:8) Its also going to take real faith for you to exercise the courage not only to study the Kingdom, but to preach what you find. Take this scripture with you on your new journey into the rediscovery of the Kingdom that has been hidden in plain view: Philemon 1:6 That the communication of the faith may become effectual [by] acknowledging of every good thing that is in you in Christ Jesus. Paul said this in Romans 14:17 "The Kingdom of God is not meat or drink but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
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These are three spiritual elements that make up the Kingdom within you. Righteousness Peace, Joy, Study the Kingdom, digging deep and pulling out the treasure found in a field, the pearl of great price, truth of the Kingdom which is as a grain of mustard seed, the least of all seeds, that the Kingdom like leaven (yeast) will take you over fully. Truly, only then by keeping Jesus commandments concerning the preached message of the Kingdom do you become Jesus disciples in deed, and come to know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (unrestricted, unrestrained, free to move about. Dr. Leonard Robinson, Kingdom Vision Ministries International, Inc. Kingdom Vision Radio on Blogtalk The Kingdom Church at Cheltenham Mall, School of The Kingdom, Kingdom University- TV 267-357-9816
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FIRST STEP TO HANDLE OVER THE BATTLE TO THE LORD
Pastor Mubiru Senior Pastor Disciples Christian Fellowship Church Uganda It is the will of God always for us to win any battle in life but before any victory there’s steps to be taken and if you do not take these steps God is not mad at you, you remain his beloved son and daughter just you may not win any battle. Battles, challenges, problems, crisis will be coming not sent from God but because we live in a fallen world no difference whether you build your house on the rock or on the sand so we should know what to do when they come. II CHRONICLES 20:1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. When the bible says that after this it was after the prophet a seer spoke to Jehoshaphat about how wrong he was and how good he was and he said the wrath of God is upon you, it was very simple and very near to the minds of king Jehoshaphat to think that oh this is God’s wrath upon me but before a seer came back to tell him it is not God’s wrath he refused to fear and to live under conviction for what happened in the past which would be thought to be the result of what is happening right now. Jesus said twice to his disciples don’t let your heart be troubled in the same chapter John 14:1, 27 , always there’s something you can do instead of blaming yourself fear or be troubled and here Jesus Christ establishes a principle, You are the one in charge of letting your heart to be troubled or refuse to be troubled.
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Some of the believers when coming to any crisis and feel any conviction they start to think oh the Holy Spirit is convicting me of what I did wrong what they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know is that the Holy Spirit can only convict none believers and He convict them one sin which is unbelief John 16:9 but long time lies you carry in your heart rises whenever you step into any problem or a challenge. In this first step you must understand that it is never Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s will for you fail, suffer or be troubled this is to say that God did not sent that problems, challenges, battles, to test you or to teach you something, God does not tempt anyone James 1:13 when you accept the deception of the devil that God is the one going against you or planned that situation you are giving devil a place to fulfill his plans. Devil is not God and he is not capable of bringing every challenge, crisis, problems although he may bring some but most of the time believers invite him as soon as they see a problem actually most of the believers honors the devil more than anything on earth, they think he is everywhere doing everything to them. Some of the things may happen without sin and devil just because we live in a foreign world and some of them happen naturally but no matter which way or what cause we can still win when we maintain right perspective about Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s will and plan for our lives Jeremiah 29:11 not to harm you but to give you un expected end. Wait for the second part tomorrow. We are standing believing victory this week of $80,000 over the challenge of continuing giving hope to the hopeless by getting enough land to generate enough income join this prayer and fasting by taking ten minutes every day of this week to pray for us or visit the link and help with any amount God laid on your heart to give towards this ministry onwww.wepay.com/donations/lastingsolution ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD Your fellow soldier in the Lord Jesus Christ Pastor Hassan Mubiru
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SECOND STEP TO HAND OVER THE BATTLE TO THE LORD:
Pastor MubiruSenior Pastor Disciples Christian Fellowship Church Uganda In this session we are going to cover more truths about how you can hand over to God every challenge, battle and crisis in your life and our focus today is on what you should do because you can. Secondly donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lose your focus on who God is. II CHRONICLES 20:2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi. 3. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Whatever they told Jehoshaphat caused fear but he refused to be controlled by fear instead of doing any negative decision he prepared his heart to seek God, I believe as a king he had people to rely upon battle planners, other friend nations would be the first thing to think about but instead he set himself to seek God. Whatever you think to be more helpful in any situation is a bit far from you and seeking that in first place it is ignorance and blindness at it is best God is very near to you than anything or anybody in this life he is never far from you. MATTHEW 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: We are not the ones encouraging ourselves to but God is the one telling us to ask, seek, and knock and he gives us a clear reason for asking, seeking, and knocking MATTHEW 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. I believe you are among everyone who can ask and receive who can seek and find knocking and it is opened. The problem with majority of the believers God is not their number one they always turn to him when other things, ways, failed. He is a spare tire not a steering after allowing all the negativism around to control their speech, minds and actions after failing then they remember God.
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Don’t lose your focus on who God
is: Pastor Hassan Mubiru
II CHRONICLES 20:6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? The prayer of King Jehoshaphat in this crisis has something great to teach us how to pray when crisis comes, some believers when crisis comes instead of praying they begin to complain against God and their short comings in what they call prayer they lose right focus about who God is. God is not in the process of becoming God he is already what he is he is the great IAM before he does anything about your problems. The way you know God does not affect God but the way how you receive from God Jehoshaphat says before nothing notable happens to any of his enemies You are god of our fathers, you are God in heaven, you rule over the kingdoms of the heathen, in your hand there’s power and might and non is able to withstand you. No problem should defile your knowledge about God, he still so good to you and your situation does not reflect his plans for you, who God is are not found in any other thing than his word what his word says it is the truth about him not you circumstance. If the devil succeeds in corrupting your minds with wrong impression about God he wins over you it is handing over to him your battle. God is not the one who came to steal to kill and to destroy but the devil does God’s plan is to gives you abundant life John 10:10 Before any victory take place that which God is must remain in your minds. Before God told the children of Israel to pray and seek him he said to them I know the thoughts that I think towards you thoughts of peace not of evil to give you an expected Jeremiah 29:11 It is always impossible to seek and find what you don’t know, it is a waste of time to seek God if don’t know who God is.
All seeking will end in confusion because we were fool enough to seek what we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know, It is impossible to seek God whom you understand and fail to find him everyone who seek finds him everyone means everyone. God bless you tomorrow I will continue from here. I ask you again to stand with us in prayer and fasting this week we believe to get $80,000 to get this project start which is focusing on providing hope to 3000 orphaned/needy kids. With God all things are possible visit the link and do whatever God leads you to do:www.wepay.com/donations/lastingsolution In Christ Pastor Hassan Mubiru
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“I Came Not...”
By C. Elden McNabb
I come to you in this month‟s newsletter to talk about an insidious error which has gradually eroded the faith which Christians once had in the word of God. This doctrine casts such aspersion upon the Old Testament that very few Christians even bother to read it anymore. The Old Testament is minimized by terms such as History, and poetry. It is these things and more, because every incident is written in such a way that it also is prophetic of some future event in the Grace Age and beyond. When Moses described the events of the creation of Eve at the end of the sixth day, he was prophesying about the ultimate creation of the “The Bride, the Lamb‟s Wife” at the end of the age.
And did not the prophet say, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). In the book of Hebrews, Paul showed that even all of the things pertaining to the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and the rituals of the worship were prophesying of the things of the Grace Age. Jesus came into the world to accomplish certain things. Paul declared that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15). And Jesus said, “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10) There are other things which Jesus did not come into the world to do. For one, Jesus, who Isaiah called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6-7), declared, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword” (Matt. 10:34). When Jesus was presenting His prelude to replacing the Law of Moses with the Law of Faith He said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17). From then until now the status of the law has been one of foretelling of coming events and the various works which God has planned for the Grace Age. The Law of Moses, as religious ritual, has been set aside, and the Law of Faith has replaced it, as the guide for living. Then, with all that Jesus said and did about that, He still required His Jewish followers to keep both the Law of Moses, and the Law of Grace until the Temple was destroyed, in A.D. 70. The Law of Moses no longer had anything to do with the forgiveness of sins, but rather had become a vast store of prophesies waiting to be fulfilled. The blood of Jesus became the only source of redemption, but the Law was kept in the forefront of the move of God, so the constant fulfillment of those Old Testament prophecies would be easily seen and understood.
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Luke told us that Jesus said unto His disciples, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to en- ter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he ex- pounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself (Luke 24:25-27). As Jesus fulfilled His volume of prophecy, His Apostles were also fulfilling theirs. For example, the Twelve Apostles of Jesus were a direct fulfillment of the twelve sons of Jacob. Jacob had six sons by Leah, two by Rachel, two by Bilhah, and two by Zilpah. Jesus had had six apostles who were foreshadowed by the six sons of Leah. He had also three sets of two brothers each. That is, Peter and Andrew, James and John, and James the son of Alphaeus and Judas the brother of James (Luke 6:14-16). Perhaps the most remarkable of all was Judas Iscariot‟s betrayal of our Savior in fulfillment of Zechariah 11:7-14; specifically verses 12 and 13 (Matt. 27:9). And when Peter and the other disciples replaced Judas in the office of The Twelve, Peter quoted Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8 as their commandment to replace him. He said, “Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us ... must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection” (Acts 1:20-26). The Apostles Paul and Barnabas declared that they were fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah 49:6 (Acts 13:47). Again Paul claimed that he had a “Dispensation of God” (a volume of prophecy) which God had given to him for “the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colossee” to fulfill with him (Col. 1:25).
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Years later, at the council concerning the circumcision, James, the brother of Jesus, referred to the prophecies by Moses and Amos. He cited Amos 9:11-12, to justify His decision to “Lay upon [the Gentiles] no greater burdens than those four, “necessary” commandments, because at the end of the Grace Age, a group of Gentiles will “Build again the Tabernacle of David [The Throne of David], which is fallen down;” and set it up in preparation for the coming of our King (Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 16:1-5). Having done that, James invoked the words of Moses to prove his right to pass sentence in the matter, saying, “Wherefore my sentence is, ... For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day” (Acts 15:15-21). How many times I have heard ministers deny the obvious meaning here! James had been “anointed of God” to sit for that season as “a faith- ful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over His household, to give them meat in due season” (Matt. 24:45). Jesus went further, in that passage to state plainly that just such a man would be ruling over His household when He returns. He said, “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when He cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that He shall make him ruler over all His goods” (Matt. 24:46-47). Where are you people who believe these words of Jesus? How can this straightforward statement, al- though a parable, be construed to mean anything else but that God will have an anointed man leading and feeding His flock when Jesus comes in His glory. In his effort to make this truth perfectly clear, the Apostle Peter wrote about his experience together with James and John when they saw Jesus transfigured with Moses and Elijah. He said, “We have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
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For He received from God The Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excel- lent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from Heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount” (2 Peter 1:16-18). This passage is wonderful by it- self. Peter essentially said, “We saw the transfiguration. We did not make it up.” This was not an effort to “look good,” or to make Jesus appear greater than He is. This happened. We get to hear a wonderful report concerning a marvelous event in the life of our Savior and coming King. What a testimony! I am sure that those humble Apostles rehearsed that event with the saints of God many times. However that was not the main purpose for which Peter was rehearsing it in this epistle. Read it carefully, together with the next three verses, and learn a very important truth about what God intends to do at the end of the Grace Age. The testimony which we have just read was deliberately written to make a comparison of the dependability between the New Testament account of prophetic fulfillment and the original Old Testa- ment prophecies themselves. So Peter was saying, “I have told you the truth, but „We have a more sure word of prophecy.‟ It is more sure than his testimony, and that of James and John. And we need very much to continue to take heed to Old Testament prophecy “as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19-21). So there is some very important prophecy about an event of great enlightenment at the end of the Grace Age, which Peter called “the day.” It is a time which we must anticipate by believing some prophecy in the Old Testament. Peter explained that there would be a man called the “Day Star,” who will arise in the hearts of the believers. You want to believe that is Jesus, but how can it be Jesus? He has already arisen in the heart of all who have been born again.
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The only logical explanation is that it is the same person who Jesus told us about in Matthew 24:47. You may well ask, “How can that be?” I will ask you, “How can it not be?” Is your pastor telling you that you need to be watching prophetic fulfillment, so you will know when “the day dawns?” Or is you pastor telling you that you cannot know any- thing about when that day is coming? Peter thought that we need to be watching diligently to “see that day approaching,” and that our hearts should embrace whoever that anointed prophet, the Day Star is. Perhaps you have overlooked a very important Bible subject, which is prophesied of in Jeremiah 49:19 and Jeremiah 50:44. God said the same thing twice, very close together. That means it is very important. He said, “Who is a chosen man that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?” God had every intention to send someone to announce the coming of Jesus shortly before His arrival. I know that you have been ill advised about the meaning of Matt. 24:35-36, but even if it did mean what is being preached about it, it only meant that no one knew it at that time, not that God could not tell someone when the time is at hand. Remember Amos 3:7. “Surely the Lord God doeth nothing, but He re- vealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.” Do not let anyone beguile you of that truth. In 2 Peter 1:19-21 Peter concluded his admonition saying, “Know- ing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
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Peter‟s testimony was not a cunningly devised fable. Neither did the prophecies which are given to us in the Law of Moses and in the prophets come to us “by the will of man.” The Prophecies of the Old Testament are sure, because they were given by the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, and they are being fulfilled all around about us today. In the time of the lives of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, there began a great surge of the fulfillment of prophecy, which continued for about a hundred years. So likewise, as the coming of our King draws near, another great surge of prophetic fulfillment has begun. It is high time that we Christians all wake up and begin an avid search of the scriptures, lest the Cry, “Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him,” be made, and not realizing the truth of it until “the door is shut,” we are caught in the pouring out of the wrath of God, and can save ourselves only by martyrdom. That may seem like a blessed way to go, but I assure you that finding the door, and entering it by faith in the word of God will be a much more blessed thing to do. Entering the ark by faith, in Noah‟s day, was a much more blessed way to go than dying in the flood, and later having Jesus come to your prison and preach to you, and give you another opportunity to believe (1 Peter 3:19-20). What did Jesus‟ disciples say? They spoke the truth of the Word of God. What did Jesus say? Jesus is the Truth, and never spoke anything but the truth. Jesus is coming soon. Believe it, and go in to the marriage, and live
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TEST & TESTIMONIES OF OVERCOMERS IN THE VINEYARD
Because of the powerful response we received from our Global audience after reading the testimonies of powerful over-comers: we are rerunning a few of these stories and encouraging others who have survive life battles through test and testimonies to come out with their stories. It could be the life jacket for a drug addict, victim of abuse, prostitute, etc Bishop Steven Liberty Sr.
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MYSELF (BABSIE HANNAH VAN DER BERG
My real names are Maria Sophia van der Berg. Babsie was my nickname over all the years and today everybody knows me as Babsie or Mommy Babsie. I was born in Kimberley, a town in the North Cape, South Africa, in 1960. I grew up in a Christian but very poor house. My parents did not believe in the Holy Spirit manifistations. I was like the black sheep in the family. Nothing that I have done was good enought for them. After I write matrix I went to the army. There I slip away from God. I was drinking a lot, use drugs, smoke 90 cigarettes a day, was swearing like no man can ever swear, in other words I was a bad girl. In 1984 I married Christo. He was divorce for almost 9 years and had 2 sons. Christo and Schalk. At that time I stop using drugs but still drinking and smoking. Nobody except Christo knows about my drugs not even my parents. In 1985 I had a miscarriage, and in 1986 I lost a twin, one girl and a boy. I hated God at that moment . In 1987 my life change when my little girl Elmarie was born. In 1989 I had a miscarriage again and the doctors told me I will never have children again. I did not believe them and I was starting to pray to God. I repent all my sins and was a Hannah who was begging for another child, and give my life to Jesus in 1989. In 1991 I became pregnant again. My Blommetjie Blom Blom, Christa was born.
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In 1997 at 11h30am I was baptize with water and the Holy Spirit. In 2005 I started with my pastors and end at 2007. It was a hard path to walk, but with my Lord I have run the race and finished it. I then do my International Evangelism of Reinhardt Bonnke and finish in 2008. My promise to God was that I will help others that walk the same road that I did. I promise God that I will do His command in Mat 28, to go and make disciples. I promise that I will be a light in the world for my Jesus. I promise God that I will tell only the TRUTH, and that is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That He died for my sins. That He rose again and will come soon to fetch His Bride. In 2011 my son Schalk was diagnose with bone marrow cancer. It was a long and painful journey of prays, faith, believing in the healing power of our Lord and Savior. He is now healed in Jesus Name. He is using no more medicines. He is going for a checkup now and then it wil only be to see Jesus Christ , healing power. He is a father of 2 lovely daughters and I am proud to have them as my granddaughters. Their names is Marochelle and Meliska.My husbands other son Christo has write us off but my God is in control. He had a daughter. We only saw her on a photo. I have the honor to wed my own daughter Elmarie. I am now a grandmother of a lovely baby girl called Anke Venicke. Christa became a beautiful young lady. The path that you as a mother must walk, is a long and prayerful path. I believe that when Jesus told John there is you're mother and to Mary there is your son, did God know how tuff it for a mother will be. That she must keep on her knees and pray. I met some spiritual children also. Some of them are pure but some of them just use u as a ticket to think they will become rich. But I can only told them about Jesus. I thank God today that I am not rich in worldly things but that I am rich, because my Abba Father is the King of all kings.Today I am not ashamed to be a child of God. I am not ashamed of the Gospel, Jesus Christ.
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This is my testimony and that it is by Gods grace and honor that I am here today to be a grand mother of 4 beautiful grand daughters.God change my name from a bitter Babsie to a highly favored Hannah. Praise God for not let me go and take me out of the dumps of the world. All I can say to the mother out there is to never give up on your children or your family. Pray, pray and pray. Never stop praying. The Word of God said that there is power in prayers. Come to the feet of God. Without Him we cant do nothing. Without Him there is no tomorrow. There is only One Way and that is Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He is Yesterday, today and for Ever the same. What He have done for others, He can do for us. He can open the windows of heaven and give you all the riches and the glory. He sees every tear of a mother. He catch it up in a golden bucket and one day He will give you a crown. He will heal the pain and give the Light in the days of darnkness. "Be still and know that I am God", that is what He said to the mothers. That means, do Abba Father's work, and He will sort your things out. God bless you Your sister in Christ Babsie van der Berg
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My Auto Biography: CATHERINE SKINNER
November 09, 1954 Do you believe that you can change? I cannot change my past however, I can voice on what my present and future will be like! “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 I was born on November 09, 1954 to Clay Alan Armstrong and Evaline Walker at St. Mary Hospital in Tucson, Arizona. I can remember when I turned 1 year old and was given a black puppy for my first birthday. I was playing in the middle of the floor with my big sister Mary when the door open ,I looked up and saw my cousin in the door with this small black puppy and he started running toward me. In (fear) of the puppy, I jump up and ran into my aunt’s bedroom and tried to climb in her bed.
The bed was so high that my little legs could not reach it so I was hanging upside down and the puppy was licking I me in the face as I cried so hard from fear. Finally my grandmother Lola came and got me and took me into the kitchen with her while baking. I never like that dog and my grandmother kept him until I am not sure which one passed first. Abigail Over the years from 1-5 my grandmother played a very important part/role in my life she was my Abigail. I can still hear the words my grandmother spoke to my mother about me. Evaline you better mind what you say to or how you treat Catherin, for she is Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s child, chosen of your children. Granny would read her Bible to me daily up until the age of 5 when we moved to Yuma Arizona. I would sit down at her feet while she smoked her asthma medicated cigarette, as she read I would listen very closely to what she was saying even though I did not understand them, but they settle within my heart. Several months later I remember meeting a man just before we left going to Yuma. I never forgot his face because there was some special about him that lit-up within my heart. The picture of his face stayed with me even until this day. That man was my father Clay Alan Armstrong. I did not see him again until I was 28 years old. The great disappointment My life began to spiral downhill after moving to Yuma, Arizona. This is when all my struggles began, I had to grow up and grow up fast. That innocent little 5 year old girl was lost/abandon because now she had to help raise her siblings. My mother gave her life back to God when I was 5 years old. She met a man named Roger and they got married. I grew close to Roger and consider him to be my dad since I felt the only Dad I have was God, and I could not see him. Roger taught me how to survive in life and open door to many avenues I never expected to journey.
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Roger was a lot of fun, his birthday was 2 days before mines and I thought that was the neatest thing. I learned to love Roger more than any man I ever met. Even after the great (disappointment). What disappointment you ask? Well Roger would go out and get high and bring pills that looked like m&mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called red devils, white crosses, heroin and marijuana into our home and hide them in the top of the closet alone with playboy magazines. My mother did not know this for several years until one day she went out of time to Tucson, to pick up my aunt. While gone a neighbor of our came over and was trying to get in the house to eat some of the apple pies my mother had made before she left. I told the girl which was 16 yrs. old and I was 8 yrs. old that she was not allowed to come in when no adult wasn't present. When my stepdad came home she went and met him at the car and told a lie, that I chased her around the house with a butcher knife. God is my witness I never did that, but after what happen to me, I wished I had of!! My stepfather called me into his bedroom and told me to strip, I refused to and he began to hit me with a telephone cord across my back, I then took off my pajama shirt and he starred at my bosom. I was crying I felt so a shame and violated because my mother had never whooped me like this. My siblings came in the room and told our stepfather not to touch me again. Afraid to tell my mother what had happen because I thought she would think I did something wrong. My aunt that came back with my mother from Tucson saw the whelp across my back and told my mother. She then called me into the bedroom and asked me what happen. At first I lied and said I fell out of a tree, she then told me if I tell another lie I was going to get a whooping. I lied because I thought that she would believe me because my stepdad believed the lie the girl told him on me. So I told her the truth about what happened and my sister and brother verified that what I said was the truth. We were very close even to this day.
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After that my mother put my stepfather out, we still stayed in Yuma for another year after that. I still loved Roger, although I was greatly disappointed in him and still looked at him as my dad. I hated what he had done, but I forgave him because I knew it was not him that was doing this but the demons /drugs he was taken caused him to react like he did. The call of God Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: During this time of my life from the ages of 5-13 God spoke so clearly to me about things, showing me thing that was going to take place or just how to do something so simple that they called me a witch and gave me the name witchy may because I said it was going to happen and it did. God had spoken to me just before leaving Yuma that He was going to give me a husband at the age of 9. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know anything about a husband, but what I saw with my stepfather and mother. I really didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay it much attention. We finally moved back to Tucson in the summer of 1964 when I met a boy, which took my heart, and we both asked God to give us to the other as husband and wife. We started school that fall and became best friends. My mother kept us in church for as long as she could. 6-7 days it seemed like a week! I was in the choir; we went to all kind of conventions, counsel meetings, fasting and praying all the time until I was 12 yrs. of age. One day while my pastor was preaching I heard a voice calling me, I asked who was calling me and everyone said not me. Then I heard the Pastor say you hear the Holy Spirit calling you by name want you come? God is calling you to be baptized.
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Afraid at first but I answered the call and I was baptized in Jesus Name on August 1, 1966. I remember this day very clearly because one of my girls friends in church introduce me to her arranged husband to be and I told her that we him and I was going to have a beautiful child. Several months after my baptism I went to church and left early coming home a male cousin came over and began to try and molest me. I would fight him off by biting, scratching and streaming out for help but no one was there to help. Finally my mother came home from church and I told her what he had been doing to do to me and that he has been trying to do it for a while now. She only slapped me and told me I was lying. I hated her and him for what they had done and said to me. (Struggling) from within about what had happen when I was 8 I did not want to repeat that again. I felt that my mother blamed me for her marriage ending to Roger whom she now had two children by. So I became rebellious and rebelled against whatever my mother told to do. I hated her and felt that she could not tell me anything. Although she would always tell me that I could be anything I wanted to become and do whatever I put my mind to doing. She saw so much of herself in me. Eventually I ran away from home and ended up in the streets, doing all kinds of drugs, which I was familiar with from my stepfather taken them when I was younger. Now I had to deal with these demons over and over again for many years. At the same time I left home I had left the church as well. I walked away from everyone and everything! Angry with God for allowing me to go through this, not understanding that all this was ordained by God for me to experience that I may testify about it someday. Dens of Demons Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God also believe in Me. John 14:1 Eventually I ended up in juvenile, then to Good Shepherd Delinquency School for girls at the age of 13-14,
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I was sent later on sent to Long Beach CA to live with my cousin which was like a second mom to me for a year, then told by her husband told her I had to come back to Tucson and live with my mother. I had gotten arrest in Long Beach CA where my cousin husband was the Chief of Police. I went to jail for a mistaken identification of Angela Davis at the age of 15 Well that wasn’t going to happen, me living with my mother again because of how I felt about her at the time. I was placed on a bus and came back but never went to my mother’s house. I stayed with family and friends; got pregnant at the age 16 was placed in Florence Quitten School for unwedded mother in Phoenix, Arizona where I learned the truth about where babies come from. While in this school I began to search for the man I met when I was 5 years old because I had been told he was my father. On May 5, 1972 I had a 5 lb. 5 oz. baby girl born at 5:15 pm at St. Luke’s Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Because my pregnancy was such a mystery to me I named her Misty. Several months after she was born again I still had to fight those demons of molestation, rape, physical and verbal abuse. I was beaten almost to death while a stranger tried to rape me. He pulled and held a gun to my head, cutting my clothes off and beat my legs at the same time trying to make me open them. I fought with everything in me and asked God please do not let this happen to me. I was able to get away from him finally grabbing the sheet to cover myself as I got away. I ran down the middle of a swimming pool with the sheet wrap around me, a man called the police and I was taken to the hospital. I can still hear the words when the doctor said that I wasn’t a virgin, but there was no semen within me. The police officer said that she was one of them that like to be beaten in order to have sex. This man had never seen me in his life and how could he come to that conclusion! My eyes were beaten closed so that I could not see. I lost my selfesteem, and thought the only way I could take control of what was happening to me was to be the aggressor that way I could take their power.
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By the time my daughter was 6 months that November 1972 I married a man I did not love just to give us some kind of security, only to be abused both physically and verbally again. During those two years I went to modeling school, then my husband became very abusive always keeping my eyes blacken if another man looked or spoke to me. I got pregnant and had another beautiful baby girl Christy born December 14, 1973 at 12:15 am at Tucson General Hospital. While pregnant with Christy I tried to divorce her father, but the courts would not allow me because I was pregnant, but they did grant me a legal separation. After the birth of my daughter and during that time of separation I got pregnant again but this time it was not my husband. On February 15, 1975 at 6:45 pm I gave birth to my third daughter Tristy which is my husband now child. Three months after my third child was born I moved back to Long Beach CA after I got my divorce on March 3, 1975. We lived in Long Beach, CA for four year. During my stay in Long Beach, I experienced being kidnapped and rape thrown out on the side of the freeway supposedly left for dead. I thank God, that even though all this evil happened to me that I was still alive and was thrown out just a block away from where I lived. By this time I was introduced to new drugs and began to use them to block all the memory and pain of what I had been through. Finally we moved back to Tucson, Arizona in 1979. My life is out of control Drinking and drugging my life began to spiral downhill although I tried to build myself esteem up it was constantly torn down by others and choices I made. In 1982 I was rerolled in Lamson Business College for Computer Programming. One weekend I went to this club after cleaning house for hours and met a man that reminded of this man I saw when I was 5, I asked him did he know a man name Clay Armstrong, because he was my dad, he then asked me which one.
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I told him who my mother was and he knew then it was his oldest brother. He took me over to his auntâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house and told her who I said I was. She then showed me a picture with three men on it and to pick out the one I said was my dad. I chose the right man. They both told me he was Clay Jr. I later found out that my grandfatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name was Clay also. That November of 1982 I got to meet my father and grandfather when I was turning 28 yrs. old. On November 17, 1983 I married again only this time because my daughters like him and I still wanted to do what I thought was right in the sight of God and best for me. Well again I made a mistake in marrying the wrong man. This man had a child by another woman while we were together, that part did not bother me for I felt that that I had reaped what I had sown. The fact that he kept it a secret and beat me when I wanted to go out so that I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go with a black eye. Well little that he knew I was use to them and went anyway. Later he forced me to marry him or else he was going to kill us both. So I married him then left him and moved to Seattle WA. in 1984. There I continued to use drugs, he came up there and stayed with me got on welfare with me and told me that he was contributing. I lost total respect for him as a man almost a person. I then took my two daughters and moved back to Tucson in March 1986 divorced once again, connected with my best friend married him July 12, 188 in prison. He got out after 2 years I still continue to use drugs because by now I am out of control, the demons where too strong for me to battle alone. I would cry out to God to help me, but it seem like he did not hear me. I started to work as a Caregiver in private duty homes, nursing home, trying to give what I could not get. Love, comfort, compassion, respect, so much pain reaped within me I did not know what else to do. I thought that if I would sow good things I would eventually reap good things in my life. Still out of control with the drugs and drinking I started to get cases.
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Finally I caught a case in January 1991 for passion of marijuana was placed on probation had to do in/outpatient rehabilitation. I continued to use drugs on June 6 1993 I got arrested for possession of cocaine was placed in jail for about 6 days then released and set for trial. On December 31, 1993God spoke to me and told me to never put a pipe in my mouth again. I felt a sharp pain in my heart as if he was saying if I did I would die of a heart attack. I remained clean and sober from both drugs and liquor. My trial started January 1994 it went on for about a week. Finally I was sentence to 5 flat yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first offense and 3 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; probation after I completed my prison sentence in Arizona Department of Corrections State Prison with a $2800.00 fine. I cried and trembled at the thought of going to prison. I repented to God for breaking his laws and to the judge that had just sentenced me for breaking the laws of the land. I feared it more than I did God because of what I saw on TV about them and the things that went on within the walls. I talked to God and asked him why did he deceive me and allow me to get all this time. He told me to read the Book of JOB and the fact was they wanted to give me 21 years, but He (God) only gave me 5 years. Prison to Praise â&#x20AC;&#x153;Behold I am send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmful as doves. Matthew 10:16 Have you ever had a dream or vision about something only to have it come true? When I was 12 years old God showed me a vision, which I did not understand at the time. It was when I smoked my first cigarette and joint along with drink of beer. He showed me a prison that had not yet been built. Manzanita Unit for Women Prison. I was 38 when I was sentence to prison and when I entered the gates of Manzanita that vision flashed before my eyes I could see it very clearly and understood what God was showing me while I was a child/teenager.
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I remember God telling to read JOB. I was given a Bible the night before I left jail on my way to prison. It had Roman 12:1, 2 marked for me to read and read I did even though at the time I did not understand it. I could remember when I would do drugs I would try to read my Bible, only I could not understand what God was saying to me. After 7 days in jail was sent to Perryville Prison in Good Year AZ. There God spoke to me again and reminding me that Greater was He that was within me than he that was of this world. So terrified of the unknown, I stayed close to God and spoke with him all the time for guidance. While in prison, facing my worst nightmare I developed a personal relationship with the Trinity. Daily I would read my Bible and attend church services while in prison so that I could get to know God for myself. I have talked to God since I was a child (even in my motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s womb) so it was easy for me to commune with Him. God told me to trust him, I was so hurt by what had happen to me I asked him how could I trust him when I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even see him? I have placed my trust in man whom I could see and look what happen to me. Pondering over what God asked of me, I thought what else did I have to loose, I have lost everything. Drawing close to God I developed a faith that what so strong, I was amazed. I thought I could never trust again. I began to experience the demons in prison, but of course I was in Satan playhouse the den of demons where everything went on. God had placed angels around me to protect me as I walked my journey through the prison walls. I met so many hurting women, even men. God started showing me thing about them and revealing my assignment where they were concerned. One of the women there saw how my face lit up every time I got a letter from my husband.
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I can still hear her words to me, if your love for God is as strong as your love for your husband you will be a powerful woman in God. So I asked God that question was my love for him greater or equal to that of my husband. God began to reveal things to me about myself as well as others. I was about to have a nervous breakdown, so I thought when God told me he wanted what I wanted more than anything in this world. My husband! God reminded me when I was 33 I said that if I married my best friend I would never divorce him not even for God. Well, I had honestly forgotten I made that statement 5 years earlier. So when God asked me for my husband it was one of the hardest things I had to ever give up. He told that if I took my hands off him and gave him to Him that he would give him back to me. I cried and obey him and got the divorce paper. Because of my obedience God did not allow the divorce to go through only to prove to me as He did with Abraham and his son. My love for God was greater than that of my husband. God began to speak to me in dreams and vision about what His plans for me was and what He wanted me to do for him. I drew closer and listened very attentive to what God was speaking and showing! Amazing things that blew my mind and can still see them to this day. He created a clean heart within me and revealed to me that when I was 12 and He had called me to be baptized that I was baptized with Water and Fire/Holy Spirit. I could remember coming up and speaking in an unknown language. I did it both times I was baptized at 12 in church and 33 in the county jail. I was amazed by these two ages because of the age of Jesus when he started out and completes his ministry. WOW From March 3, 1994 t0 December 20, 1996, God taught me all about himself. What it meant to be loved and honored by Him. He would write the scriptures upon my heart and help me to memorize them.
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He would cause a situation to occur so that I could understand the meaning of His Word and how to apply it, live it, and speak it. The Holy Spirit would speak and reveal things to me and I would obey and watch them manifest right before my eyes. God told me that he was going to teach me the Fruits of the Spirit but it wasn’t going to be easy. Still learning them today!! I would write tablets of letters to God every day and did it for years to come down the road. Boxes of letters, love letters to God, prayer request. Etc… After being told what to do and shown a vision about my release obeying God, I started speaking to those mountains and calling those things as though they were and saw them come to pass. One Saturday I decided I wasn’t going to go to church service that day, and then one of the women came and told me the Rev. Ann said for me to get there for God has something for me. Out of obedience I got up and went to church. I was then told that God has called me to be an Intercessor to pray on the behalf of the wickedness of his people. I had never heard of such a call nor did I understand it. However, I did know how to pray since I was a little girl and could talk with God so easily about anything. I learned how to see, hear, smell demons and call them by name. The Holy Spirit would use me to cast out demons from the women; I would sprinkle Holy Water around my bed day and night. By some I was called a Jesus freak and by others I was asked to pray. I was thrown in the whole lockdown because I would not quit speaking in tongues and sprinkling the holy water. What I represented intimidated the staff and other inmates so the tried to remove me. What they didn’t know was I was happier in lockdown because it was there that I really got to know God for Who He Is. I was sent back to Perryville from Manzanita Unit where God continued to use me and reveal things to me. Finally my mother came up from Seattle WA with my youngest daughter and grandson. We prayed and God told her that if she came He would release me. She came that September 1996 and I was released that December 20, 1996.
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Whatever, I asked God to do he did it as long as I obeyed him. I saw why so many women were hurting and how the enemy had a stronghold on their lives so that he could hurt God. I asked God to make me a blessing and not a curse. Since I had ran away from home at such a young age, I wanted to help teenager, unwed mother, drug addicts, and prostitutes. I wanted a house so that I could help those that struggle with these demons as I had. Finally after 2 years and 10 months God open the doors of prison and walked me out. Spiritual Stumbling Blocks Believe not every spirit - Whereby any teacher is actuated. But try the spirits - By the rule which follows. We are to try all spirits by the written word: To the law and to the testimony! If any man speaks not according to these, the spirit which actuates him is not of God. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:1, 4 After being released from prison, I waited for God to guide me in the right direction of where He wanted me to be. A couple of weeks had passed and God placed me in a church where my assignment was to take place. I had already come into alignment with God, and agreement about the assignment. Little did I know that I was going to fight more demons in church than I did in prison! My spirit was free within the prison walls for I knew what I was facing. Only to learn that other struggle was about to take place! When God takes you to new levels you have to deal with new devils. Man-Amen! So I stepped out on faith trusting God to make the way clear for me to do that which He had given me. My relationship with God was so strong and intimate people were jealous of it. Through dreams and visions, speaking to my heart and mind God grew within me. For I was His Holy Temple, there He could abide as I abide in His Word.
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Several months after I had got out of prison God began to purge me from all the demonic dealing that took place within my body, all the molestation, rapes, and abusiveness. He taught me how to give Him a radical praise in the privacy of my own home. How to reverence Him for Who He Is. I remember quoting this scripture and did not know it existed. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Only God knew why those words came out of me. Philippians 4:10, 11 God proved himself and Word to me, love grew for others so easily and yet resentment stirred its ugly head at times for those that struck out at me. Learning the Fruits of the Spirit was not easy just like God said it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going to be, but yet through all the pain and suffering I am still learning each one of them at a time. The Plan of God God started blessing me through pain and suffering! Yes, I said pain and suffering in order to prove to me that there was nothing too hard for Him to do. I was in 3 car accidents in 1 year still here today to tell about it. I was instructed by the Holy Spirit what and where to do and go. Several months after I got out of prison God gave me a job, in fact several jobs and assignment. He blessed me with several apartments, cars and finally a home built from the ground up. He gave me a position with Habitat for Humanity Tucson on the Board for 6 years and made me President of the Home Owners Association of the 14 homes where I live. My best friend came home from prison and we remarried. God ordain the most beautiful wedding for us. His promised was if I gave him to Him He would give him back to me.
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For years I walked with God as Enoch did. Only to disappear in the distance of His will in the last 7 years. Because of the spiritual abuse from leadership, and my past being held against me, leaders trying to hold me back because I obeyed God instead of them. I finally lost my passion to serve in the house of prayer and worship. The place I felt and said I must remain for there was my intimacy filled with God. I personally feel that I am out the will of God, but only He knows that I am right where He wants me to be. Satan may attack my body but he cannot have my life. I know it’s not about me, and all this that I am experiencing is for His glory and good pleasure. I pray that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable unto God, my Lord, my God, and my Redeemer Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The God of Peace in the midst of storms! My struggles today are not my struggles of my past for I have been redeemed from them; my struggle today is I do not want to deal with new demons. Know that every time God takes you to another level you will have to encounter new demons. . Don’t get angry at God. Use the problems to strengthen your character and to bring glory to God. No matter how powerful trouble crush, God’s hold is more powerful. Those of you who are reading this my prayer for you is that you too will learn to trust God with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding but acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your path. Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you as well. There is nothing to hard or difficult for our God to do. He will supply all your needs according to riches and glory through Christ Jesus. Amen
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Truly my latter years have been greater than my former years. The blessing of the Lord makes rich and He adds no sorrow with it. Amen!! Again I ask you do you believe you can change. Inspired by God Written by Catherin Marie Skinner Copy rights reserved
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AUTOBIO OF APOSTLE JESSIE STRIGGLES
I feel an urgency to get to the Valley of my Life. There are so many people hurting, thrown, forgotten, depressed, oppressed, devastated and ready to give up. I want to encourage you through my Valley Experiences; so you will know that God is no respector of persons - he did it for me; he will do it for you. My mom died the same week I graduated at 17 yrs old & my father when I was barely 19. I am the 3rd child of 10 living children. That sounds great right? Well, it really should be; but sadly it almost buried me. You see I was the backbone of my family since I was 17 yrs old financially. I pour thousands of dollars into my heart (my family). In my late fourties; I became what the Doctors called clinically depressed; because they could not find a history of drugs or alcohol. I knew something was wrong with me - but I couldn't expain it. I called repeatedly for help; but I had no medical insurance; so they wouldn't take me. By the time the insurance was on I was already at at my lowest point. I couldn't explain to anyone; so I close my door from family & the world.
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Yes; I was walking the streets with just the clothes on my back. I was homeless. I had gone to my sister's house the one that Ispent the most money on and was told I couldn't stay. Well; I was going to make it so I thought as long as I got a place for my youngest son to sleep - because he had a job; but his cousin told him that my sister said no - for him to stay out of it. He couldn't stay at his brother's house; because his brother thought it was my youngest son fault for what happen to meSo my son slept in a car in the basement & went to work everyday. He really was confused; but I could keep up a face around him. I took him to S.C. so he could be with family - while I came back to New York to take my life. Well; as it was the family in S.C. didn't know or receive him; so he was fighting his own battles; while I did indeed attempt my life. I was very angry why the doctors would save someone that had no one or had nothing to live for or no place to live. I told you I was the 3rd of 10 living siblings. I came to know that some of them had waited all their lives to see how the mighty falls. It didn't matter what I had done for them. Rumors of crack, lies, backstabbing & betrayal led me to understand a lot. You see the one that I had done the most for (even giving her money for her son; but he was young; plus I know now he never received any of it. Every rock in my life was gone; my father, my mother and most of all my husband. Where would I go. God met me right where I was and took me for His very own. He put me back together again (His way), took out what He wanted to take out-- put in what He wanted to put in and began to teach me. He wanted to see that He could trust me to tell others of my story & how He is a mind regulator, a heart fixer, a provider, comforter, friend, mother, father, sister, brother. . . The Holy Spirit said "I will teach you" and He did. Getting up again is what I know you can do with Jesus. You are never too old and it is never too late as long as you have a mind set to do better. I didn't say within your physical ability because I know people that are immobile-- yet have the tenacity to keep going straight ahead. It is a great inspiration to see them. Never Give UP-Never!
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My Dear Bishop - there is so much that has happen since that website was published. My Ministry is thru the hardship, rejection and pain that I had to go thru; but now I know God was preparing to do the hard work. To do the Hard work for the Kingdom of God - I HAD TO ENDURE MUCH; THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO WALK OTHERS THRU!!! Today I take NOTHING FOR MY JOURNEY!!! The picture of me on my website is when I was a Senior Directors for MaryKay Cosmetics - earning that postion within 2 years of joining. Develop 3 offspring Directors & earning a custom made pink cadillac with my name inscribed on the dashboard!!! I had earn 3 cars in 2 years. My down fall came and I lost everything including my home of 30 yrs. DEPRESSION - clinically depressed. Too many close deaths, too much of supporting my family financially and training over 130 ppl. from Massachusetts to Florida. Teaching a leadership class in Dallas, Texas on how I had done in 2 yrs what others could not do in 15 - 20 years. I don't mention that on my website because I felt the FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW WHEN I SAW SO MUCH PAIN IN THE HOMELESS, BROKEN AND DOWNTRODDEN!!! When I was driving my Pink Cadillac - I would be stopped by the ppl at the shelters and they would tell me how proud they were of me as a black women. People would get upset with me for talking to them.
I became one of them - they were so kind to me. GOD HAD ME ON A MISSION BECAUSE HE KNEW MY HEART WAS ALWAYS FOR THE HURTING. to be cont'd
Part 2!!! God was preparing me for a GREAT MINISTRY OF SERVING THE PPL; FOR I ALREADY HAD THE VERY HEART OF JESUS - GIVING TO EVERYONE IN NEED; NEVER LOOKING DOWN ON ANYONE!!! I stayed in the shelter for 5 1/2 months, studing the ppl around me. Many were NOT on drugs - they were just like me; a lapse moment in time would seperate them from their homes & children. Though we has plenty of food in the shelter - I would go to visit the soup kitchen to experience what was going on there. They did indeed serve soup & bread to everyone that walk thru the door. They had a storage room of clothes & food that you could take with you. I HAD TO DO THE SAME after I got my apt in the Bronx, New York - by choice!!!! I wrote a journal in the shelter that I have today â&#x20AC;&#x201C;
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ending every page with THANK YOU JESUS!!! I walk thru the neighborhood and would meet ppl; that wanted prayer and I would pray for them right there on the corner or bus stop. It made me feel good because they saw something inside of me that made them ask me for prayer. I know many success stories - but ppl are reluctant to share! A SETUP BY GOD!! I was sitting at my computer & my house phone ring - it was a Prophet from another State that kneew me and ask would I pray for a lady. That lady name is Bernella Thomas on fb. He shared nothing with me and clicked her in - I could see suicide on her & the curse and hurtful words. The Prophet scream & the lady was crying. I can post her name because she told everyone on the conference line - if it was NOT for Apostle Striggles - she would not be alive today because she was going to take her life that very day. La-toshia Sims shared a story of rape, abuse for many years is why she is always on my status. My nephew called me one day - he was convince his friend was going to commit suicide and ask me to speak with him. My nephew was very quiet & his best friend was over the top of how he had to go NOW!!! I allowed him to do it & when he would take a breathe - I would say - I UNDERSTAND! He did indeed hang up the phone. I told my nephew - rest assure ur friend is venting and is not going to commit suicide. My nephew wasn't sure. 2 weeks later I called the number for the young man and he said to me - I was just talking about you and why didn't you tell me you were a Prophet? I told him - my title was NOT important at that time. He was now a completely different person. Bishop - my personal story of being almost rape at 5 yrs old, but God had my dad show up in time; but I didn't know anything to tell him; and I didn't know when I was born - I had to have surgery - so surely if this grown man had rape me - I would have NEVER had children. I was raped years later though. Anger, rage I endured but NOT in front of my sons. My Ministry is named Jessie Striggles Ministry register with the State of New York - yet I AM STILL STANDING is the name of my personal ministry. In other words â&#x20AC;&#x201C;
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all the hell I went thru of near death experiences - I AM STILL STANDING!!! I never take collections - if ppl leave anything - that is find. I even pack up food from my house & give to them. I take time to walk slowly with the ones that have wheelchairs or walkers - earning their trust. One lady fault hard to get off of herion & crack; she was loud & would cuss loudly - I stuck with her. She would come crying to my door - that some of the guys were putting crack in front of her. I cleaned her up - prayed for her & fed her. She loved to be prayed for. OMG - we are missing it because we don't think they love the Lord - they just think - the Lord has forgotten them. I was slowly able to get her to quit cussing - at least when I was around. I mention her because she is NOT on fb - her name is Diane McClean. Last but NOT least - I CAME FACE-TO-FACE with a real live demon possess person. I was attacked with blows to the head repeatedly. His eyes were coal black - every blow God let me know He was there - a scripture popped into my head. I had NEVER been hit by a man. All blows to my head - one side to the other. The last scripture was THE WAY OF ESCAPE HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE!! It would take 22 hrs before it manisfested. I prayed that I would die - I never slept. He fell asleep and the devil said plunge him with the butcher knife. The Lord said & who wins in that situation. OMG!!!! When he woke up & looked at my face - he couldn't believe he had done that. God said I cushion the blows so the damage he thought he was doing was lighten. The very 1st punch close my left eye immediately. The DA wanted me to press charges & I said ONLY IF U R GOING TO GET HIM HELP! I never press charges - I came face to face with the man many times after & even talk to him as if nothing happen. He is who I minister to and about. I don't walk in fear even after that. I am an eagle-eye Prophet & an Apostle of God. I will end my story there Bishop! If anything else you need to know - inbox me!!!! I never buy myself a thing. When I am a guest speaker - all proceeds go to the needs of the ppl.
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MY PAIN BECAME MY PASSION - MY TEST BECAME MY TESTIMONY!!!! When I fell - non of my family would help me, not even for one night. I recycle cans & bottles for 3 years early part of my Ministry. TO GOD BE THE GLORY - ONE DAY HE SAID STOP ENOUGH!!
PERSECUTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH: TEST &TESTIMNIES! Evangelist Favor P. Liberty
I was meditating about the cost of being a Christian who upholds the TRUTH and very concern about why people of darkness can easily afford their bills, meals, and implement their goals, visions, desires as they want it and those who put all their heart, mind and soul in upholding the TRUTH go through extreme difficulties just to survive from one day to the next. Where then is our God that evil dominates the world so much and the righteous persecuted? As I prayed and meditated over this situation, the Spirit whispered this message to my confuse heart. My Child do you know the most difficult part of being a light, dwelling in a dark world among a majority that have surrender their birthrights to Satan for a piece of gold or silver ?
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What I am about to disclose to use is the answer to the question; why are so many fleeing from the light and embracing the dark. The Kingdom of darkness offers a lot of materialistic gains to subdue the weak; while the Kingdom of God offers test and testimonies to build the faithful for everlasting life. The cost of upholding the TRUTH in a dark world is persecution and many rather avoid it to take the easy way out; therefore they end up compromising their faith. The Truth is my child the fuel that keeps that fire glowing brighter is persecution for the sake of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kingdom. Because of the Truth your best friends will turn against you. You will be subjected to all manners of uncomfortable situations and numerous times your very life will be in danger. To a large extend they will withhold from you resources and help that could expand your light , and do all within their power to bring about your downfall and ruin. They will be times you will not be able to afford your bills or even get a bowl of meal to eat simply because you are not a part of their darkness. Yet, that does not mean that darkness has overtaken your light. It happened to many before who cried like you do today; yet in the end they live to see evil defeated and was victorious in the end.
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WHY DOES BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD AND RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE? Darkness cannot stand the presence of the light and is rendered powerless whenever the light is present. Most of the time those carrying the light are shown counterfeit reflections of the very substances of the earth that God own and are rightfully their inheritance by the dark powers or even offered short term comforts in exchange for their souls. Even Christ whom we follow was tempted with powers, kingdoms, silver and gold but refused and withstood the test. The price He paid for that was death on the Cross of Calvary. Little did Satan realized that persecuting Christ even to death would not get rid of Him but placed Him in an eternal position to destroyed His Kingdom and finally himself one day in the end. Do not be confused child for after the test is the testimony! Let’s review some scriptures written about righteous persecutions: “For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed,and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:That makes a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate,and turn aside the just for the thing of nought.” Isa.51:12
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“He that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey:and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him.” Isa.59:15 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 9
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And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. 11
Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 12
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mark 13:9-13 TO BE CONTINUE IN THE NEXT EDITION…. 13
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Stroked
BY JEFF GODSOWN Stroked, what a strange word to wake up to, the kind of word that you think you didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t catch correctly the first time around, so you ask God to repeat the word. Stroked Rubbed gently with the hand. Sort of the motion one uses to pat a pet, showing them you care about them. This word actually has nothing to do with the rest of this teaching as it stands in meaning, but everything to do with this teaching in whole. Put the word stroked together with the word egotism, and therein lies the message. Egotism Primarily, the practice of too frequently using the word I. Hence, a speaking or writing much of one's self; self-praise; self-commendation; the act or practice of magnifying one's self, or making one's self of importance.
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A deplorable egotism of character. The body of Christ today, has too many egotists in it; we all know them, people who are so self-oriented and so self-involved that they are clueless to the needs of others. Egotist One who repeats the word I very often in conversation or writing; one who speaks much of himself, or magnifies his own achievements; one who makes himself the hero of every tale. We have seen them, we have heard them, we even see them when they make stupid declarations of their importance to anyone they come in contact with. These same people are in need of a constant egostroke, otherwise they become brutal towards others leaving them feel small in their wake. The Word of God tells us; Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. There is nothing in this scripture that tells us to stroke our egos, nor is there anything here to indicate our own self-importance, above another. This scripture tells us we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to have our egoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stroked, but we are to rather care more about the well-being of others, long before ourselves. 1Th 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. This goes right along with the scriptures that precede 1Th 5:13; 1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 1Th 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; Esteem 1. To set a value on, whether high or low; to estimate; to value. 2. To prize; to set a high value on; to regard with reverence, respect or friendship. When our minds are not biased, we always esteem the industrious, the generous, the brave, the virtuous, and the learned. 3. To hold in opinion; to repute; to think. 4. To compare in value; to estimate by proportion. [Little used.] ESTEE'M, n. Estimation; opinion or judgment of merit or demerit. This man is of no worth in my esteem.
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1. High value or estimation; great regard; favorable opinion, founded on supposed worth. To esteem has nothing to do with blowing smoke up someone’s overeducated blessed assurance! Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Edify 1. To build, in a literal sense. [Not now used.] 2. To instruct and improve the mind in knowledge generally,and particularly in moral and religious knowledge, in faith and holiness. 3. To teach or persuade. [Not used.] There are far too many out there who think they’re all that and a bag of chips in God’s house and some who think so highly of themselves, they grab up titles as if they were precious jewels. People have taken on titles, yet know little or nothing of God’s Word and were never ordained by God, for any title. God knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts, so He alone knows our true value, and whether or not we should have a title. That’s not the end of this though, too many people need to constantly have their egos stroked, but stroking isn’t God’s Word based. When we consider others better than ourselves, we remain humble before God and the same is true about esteeming and edifying. Those who remain humble in God’s eyes, are those who seek God constantly, wanting with everything inside them to have God pleased with them, never worrying about what man thinks. These same people don’t go around verbally or emotionally attempting to beat people up, or demanding some unwarranted respect, from those they consider being lesser in value. Humble people are generally the first to help, the last to seek praise, and have a well rooted and growing understanding of who God is. These same humble people, are the ones who take time to read and study God’s Word, doing all they can to become as intimate with Christ and our heavenly Father as is possible.
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Though it’s highly unlikely that those who need to be stroked will read this, or even consider the value of this message, if just one does and takes it to heart, they may actually repent and get saved. This is something we who know or desire to know the Lord with all intimate value, should pray for. Some of you may wonder how will they know and hear; the answer is simple, preach the gospel of good news to them. We must have the truth of God’s Word in us in order to do this with an authoritative nature. If these who need to be stroked hear the truth of the gospel enough, they just might repent, and if we are Spirit filled, hearing from God, then the words we speak will be His directly and will address the problem appropriately and righteously. Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; If all these people who need to be stroked don’t understand, then maybe they will understand this; 1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. See, it comes down to something very simple, the fruit of a true Christian is that they love, even if it’s tough love, even if it’s hard love, they love for the sake and salvation of the soul. If they don’t know God, then do you suppose God as the Word doesn’t know them? Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. God’s message to all has been a continual repent and be saved, in all His warnings and I’m pretty sure that God is not wasting His breath or time on those He already knows, will never change. There is still hope though for those who take heed and repent of their wicked ways, and finally turn to God, Amen! Now let us all seek all of God with all that we are!!!
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IN OUR NEXT EDITION WE WILL BE EXAMING THEHISTORY OF CHRISTIANS IN PALESTINE, SYRIA,IRAQ,IRAN AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH JEWS AND MUSLIM! WE WILL BE PUTTING OUR SPOTLIGHT ON MESSIANIC CHRISTIANITY, BELIEFS ETC! ….