Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
KENYA AND NIGERIA - MACEDONIAN CALL
G-d is good and works in mysterious ways. Whenever there is a need in the "Church" (I say this meaning the broader body of believers = church), G-d always hears the prayers of His people and finds ways and means to fill that need. Like the Macedonian Call the Apostle Paul received through a night-vision.
Paul had been travelling through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, where they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the Word, the Gospel in Asia and again they had come into Mysia and tried to go into Bithynia, "...but the Spirit did not permit them.". The Spirit of G-d knew of someone in Macedonia who needed Paul's message of salvation through Jesus the Christ. So during the night, G-d spoke to the Apostle Paul through this vision of the night. Paul saw a man of Macedonia. "A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying: "Come over to Macedonia and help us." " (Acts 16:6 - 10)
Paul immediate concluded that the Lord had called them to preach the Gospel in Macedonia and sought to go there quickly. They sailed to Troas immediately.concluding that the Lord wanted them to preach in Macedonia. they then went to Phillipi and on their first Sabbath, Paul and his group met at the river where a group of people had gathered together for prayer. Paul spoke to the women and a seller of purple goods named Lydia, accepted the Word of G-d and she and her house were baptized.
There going to Macedonia bore fruit. A work was started and G-d was moving in power. The rest of the chapter is wonderful reading and lends itself to many different thoughts and sermons. I however, would like to focus our attention to the things that led the Apostle Paul and his entourage to Phillipi. The way that that the Holy Spirit leads and guides His servants in the will of G-d. Having an open ear is what counts. Being in tune with G-d to discern his voice and leading is what walking in a close relationship with G-d, brings forth. Spending much time in prayer and fasting, learning to discern G-d's voice and understanding His leading.
During the past few weeks, I have had a certain uncertainty about the direction that G-d was leading us into. I had pastored a church in Louis Trichardt (now called Makhado), in the Limpopo Province some years ago. This was a mainly Black congregation with only a few White families as members. It was a very spirited congregation. The congregants united in the projects I proposed, raising funds for a Building Fund, for the purchase of land and to build our own Church building. These people worked together at all our street sales and what touched my heart more than once was their willingness to partake in the church program. During the year of 1993, we united with other congregations in our town in an effort to reach our city with Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke's plan of "Every Home For Christ". "The Jonah Project" was initiated and we as Fraternity in Louis Trichardt's churches, decided to implement the program to win "EVERY HOME FOR CHRIST".
The congregants of the church I pastored were so enthusiastic, that at every meeting and every door-to-door outreach, our people filled almost one half of the pews while the rest of the churches in Louis Trichardt would hardly fill two rows. This spoke of dedication and commitment. Commitment not to me as their pastor, but to the call of the Gospel - "Go ye..."
After moving on to plant other churches, operating in the office of an Evangelist for most of my ministry, I never thought that I would travel through Africa, preaching the gospel. I always had this dream of preaching in the Southern States of the USA. I must admit that every time I saw photo's of the masses, responding to the Gospel invitation, I would be moved by my emotions of the plight of the lost. The look of hopelessness in their eyes before they find the peace that Jesus gives.
I started receiving requests from pastor who wanted to join me on Facebook. It was there that a certain pastor asked me to come to Kenya and hold seminars for 200 pastors and open air meetings thereafter. I "cut and paste" a portion of the e-mail I received in my inbox today, February 5, 2012:
I have also since we first started discussing this event, been approached to visit Nigeria. Then came an invitation to Ghana and even to visit Pakistan. I need you to pray with me for the leading of the Holy Spirit for the dates, the things that G-d wants to achieve and for the finances for these outreaches. The church in Pakistan will support only 20% of the total costs of the outreach. The African churches are able to pay for taxi fares and accommodation but not the other costs These I will have to bear for my account.
I know that G-d will make a way. I also know that He works according to our faith and that all the cattle on a thousand hills belong to Him. Also All the silver and all the Gold belong to G-d. He is able to meet the need (not our greed). I can honestly say that I am not in the Gospel for the money. This is my love-offering but the word has very clear teachings about stewardship and finances in the Gospel for those who work in the Gospel are to live from the Gospel. My prayers are that G-d will open the floodgates of heaven, pouring out His favour upon the nations who are willing to accept His Son, Jesus the Christ as their Saviour and to see the Gospel message confirmed with miracles, signs and portents. May G-d usher in a new move, a fresh revival before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Your prayers and mine, mingled with faith and tears, can assist the churches in every region, to reach out to the masses so that we can "Plunder Hell And Populate Heaven" (Quote - Pastor and Evangelist Reinhardt Bonnke).
How can you help?
a) By telling as many intercessors and prayer warriors about this proposed visit to Kenya, then to Nigeria, Ghana and Pakistan;
b) Praying together with and for me that the Lord provide leading and wisdom through His Blessed Holy Spirit;
c) For Donors, Sponsors and Partners who will support this ministry financially to enable us to fulfill the Macedonian call and the Will of G-d.
If you are willing to partner with us, won't you join the following, subscribe for our newsletter in the Subscription box on the top left and also donate through the PayPal button or E-Mail me forMy Bank Details Here
Paul had been travelling through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, where they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the Word, the Gospel in Asia and again they had come into Mysia and tried to go into Bithynia, "...but the Spirit did not permit them.". The Spirit of G-d knew of someone in Macedonia who needed Paul's message of salvation through Jesus the Christ. So during the night, G-d spoke to the Apostle Paul through this vision of the night. Paul saw a man of Macedonia. "A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying: "Come over to Macedonia and help us." " (Acts 16:6 - 10)
Paul immediate concluded that the Lord had called them to preach the Gospel in Macedonia and sought to go there quickly. They sailed to Troas immediately.concluding that the Lord wanted them to preach in Macedonia. they then went to Phillipi and on their first Sabbath, Paul and his group met at the river where a group of people had gathered together for prayer. Paul spoke to the women and a seller of purple goods named Lydia, accepted the Word of G-d and she and her house were baptized.
There going to Macedonia bore fruit. A work was started and G-d was moving in power. The rest of the chapter is wonderful reading and lends itself to many different thoughts and sermons. I however, would like to focus our attention to the things that led the Apostle Paul and his entourage to Phillipi. The way that that the Holy Spirit leads and guides His servants in the will of G-d. Having an open ear is what counts. Being in tune with G-d to discern his voice and leading is what walking in a close relationship with G-d, brings forth. Spending much time in prayer and fasting, learning to discern G-d's voice and understanding His leading.
During the past few weeks, I have had a certain uncertainty about the direction that G-d was leading us into. I had pastored a church in Louis Trichardt (now called Makhado), in the Limpopo Province some years ago. This was a mainly Black congregation with only a few White families as members. It was a very spirited congregation. The congregants united in the projects I proposed, raising funds for a Building Fund, for the purchase of land and to build our own Church building. These people worked together at all our street sales and what touched my heart more than once was their willingness to partake in the church program. During the year of 1993, we united with other congregations in our town in an effort to reach our city with Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke's plan of "Every Home For Christ". "The Jonah Project" was initiated and we as Fraternity in Louis Trichardt's churches, decided to implement the program to win "EVERY HOME FOR CHRIST".
The congregants of the church I pastored were so enthusiastic, that at every meeting and every door-to-door outreach, our people filled almost one half of the pews while the rest of the churches in Louis Trichardt would hardly fill two rows. This spoke of dedication and commitment. Commitment not to me as their pastor, but to the call of the Gospel - "Go ye..."
After moving on to plant other churches, operating in the office of an Evangelist for most of my ministry, I never thought that I would travel through Africa, preaching the gospel. I always had this dream of preaching in the Southern States of the USA. I must admit that every time I saw photo's of the masses, responding to the Gospel invitation, I would be moved by my emotions of the plight of the lost. The look of hopelessness in their eyes before they find the peace that Jesus gives.
I started receiving requests from pastor who wanted to join me on Facebook. It was there that a certain pastor asked me to come to Kenya and hold seminars for 200 pastors and open air meetings thereafter. I "cut and paste" a portion of the e-mail I received in my inbox today, February 5, 2012:
The dates of the meetings are 19th to 22nd,April 2012.
The seminars will be from 9am to 1pm then open air meetings will be as from 3pm onwards, this will be for 4 days.
Our churches have got intercessors that will be able to pray for the meetings.Do you want to send some before the meetings? You can give us advice in any area you feel that needs changes,please you are allowed.
The cost of this meetings is 4000 USD, this is an everage meeting, but if we want to have a big meeting that we can advivertise on the radio and on the Television can cost 20000 USD.(Twenty thousand dollars)
The Hotel for your accomodation, there are some which are too cheap that costs 2000 kenya shillings per day, and at the Beach hotels it costs 9000 per day.
I have also since we first started discussing this event, been approached to visit Nigeria. Then came an invitation to Ghana and even to visit Pakistan. I need you to pray with me for the leading of the Holy Spirit for the dates, the things that G-d wants to achieve and for the finances for these outreaches. The church in Pakistan will support only 20% of the total costs of the outreach. The African churches are able to pay for taxi fares and accommodation but not the other costs These I will have to bear for my account.
I know that G-d will make a way. I also know that He works according to our faith and that all the cattle on a thousand hills belong to Him. Also All the silver and all the Gold belong to G-d. He is able to meet the need (not our greed). I can honestly say that I am not in the Gospel for the money. This is my love-offering but the word has very clear teachings about stewardship and finances in the Gospel for those who work in the Gospel are to live from the Gospel. My prayers are that G-d will open the floodgates of heaven, pouring out His favour upon the nations who are willing to accept His Son, Jesus the Christ as their Saviour and to see the Gospel message confirmed with miracles, signs and portents. May G-d usher in a new move, a fresh revival before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Your prayers and mine, mingled with faith and tears, can assist the churches in every region, to reach out to the masses so that we can "Plunder Hell And Populate Heaven" (Quote - Pastor and Evangelist Reinhardt Bonnke).
How can you help?
a) By telling as many intercessors and prayer warriors about this proposed visit to Kenya, then to Nigeria, Ghana and Pakistan;
b) Praying together with and for me that the Lord provide leading and wisdom through His Blessed Holy Spirit;
c) For Donors, Sponsors and Partners who will support this ministry financially to enable us to fulfill the Macedonian call and the Will of G-d.
If you are willing to partner with us, won't you join the following, subscribe for our newsletter in the Subscription box on the top left and also donate through the PayPal button or E-Mail me for
Thanks
Rodney
Thursday, January 19, 2012
LOOKING FOR MULTI-AUTHORS TO POST ON MY BLOGS
I have these two blogs. Christian blogs. The House of Mercy Ministries (http://www.houseofmercyministries.blogspot.com) and The House Of Mercy International (http://www.houseofmercyint.blogspot.com). Intended to be for a church I was starting but then felt led by the Lord to make them an Online ministry. I know that currently there is a lot of duplication due to some widget in Blogger that cross-copied the posts. This is the reason I need different content. To make each one unique. Any ideas will be appreciated and all suggestions will be considered.
I am appealing to you, if you are an author of a blog, or a writer who has experienced the Salvation through Jesus Christ, is born again and is living a sanctified life, to contribute my means of posting material that will tell of the Love of G-d and His Saving grace. If you have been saved and have a testimony that you must share, telling of the miraculous power of G-d that is able to save from the 'gutter-most to the uttermost', this must be shared. If you have been healed from sickness or disease, maybe delivered from demonic oppression or possession by the divine Hand of G-d, I'm asking you to please submit this material so that I can moderate it then post it on one of these blogs. This blog is to be for the Glory of G-d and the establishing of His Kingdom on earth. May this blog reverberate the Lord's Prayer: Thy Kingdom come, on earth as it is in Heaven. You see friends, it's not about you and I, but all about G-d.
There are so many thousands of wonderful people who have been hurt in church, now sitting at home with no-one ministering to their broken lives. Thousands more who have been disillusioned and myriads of folk who have never been to church before. Millions of people in the 10 - 40 Window over Asia who have never held a Bible in their hands, who have never heard the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ preached and taught in Love, who would surrender their lives to Jesus had they heard this message. The message of "No greater love than this..." Jesus laying down His life to take it up again. It's not a Gospel of death but of Life. He arose from the grave triumphant. Hallelujah. Jesus is alive.
We have been saved by G-d with a purpose. Called with a goal in mind. Commissioned to win the lost. Anointed and appointed to witnesses of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Called to lead souls to Christ and demonstrate the Power of G-d. Called to disciple the masses. Jesus said: " Follow me and I will make you fishers of men" not called to sit the pews warm and listen to all sermons but to "Go..into all the world....make disciples..."
Dit gaan oor die Evangelie wat bedien moet word sodat "..nie een verlore sal gaan nie maar dat almal gered sal word". Die wil van G-d is dat die wêreld gered moet word. Dat mense weer na Hom toe sal terugkeer, hulle harte open en hul lewens weer met opregte toewyding aan Hom sal toewy. (This is Afrikaans - let Google translate it for you).
G-d gave His only begotten Son so that all who believe in Him should not perish but have life eternal. G-d gave His very best. What will you and I give?
Please assist me with this task of reaching the lost, the cold, the back-slidden, the lukewarm BEFORE the Imminent return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ.
PRAY WITH AND FOR ME. YOUR PRAYERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT! PRAY FOR ALL MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL THAT G-D GIVE US OPEN DOORS TO MINISTER THROUGH.
If you have not surrendered your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ yet, have not accepted Him as your personal Saviour, not confessed your sin, won't you take a moment to pray this prayer prayerfully, out loud as though it was your own prayer?
Dear Father G-d, I come to You today, just as I am with all my faults and sins. I confess that I am a sinner. I cannot save myself and I need a Saviour. I believe that Jesus The Christ, is the Son of the Living G-d, sent to die in my stead. He who knew no sin became sin so that I could become the Righteousness of G-d through His death on the cross and through His resurrection.
I believe that He offers me Life Eternal with Him by me accepting His sacrifice and I ask you Father to forgive me my sins. I repent with all my heart and am sorry Lord that I sinned against You. Cleanse my heart from all sins and unrighteousness which I now rebuke and lay them at your Feet. I confess that You take away my many sins through the death of Christ, changing me to be a new man in Christ. The old sinful nature is now dead and I am alive in Christ Jesus, a New Creation. My sins are forgiven and You will never think of or to remember them any more. I accept that the Blood of Jesus Your Son, cleanses me from all sin and unrighteousness. Take hold of my hand and lead me in Your Ways, teaching me to hold to Your Word, the Bible, the Word of G-d. I am saved by Grace and not of myself that I might boast. I am now a born-again son. Thank You for saving my soul and making me whole. Help me to live for You from today forth.
Every fetter and chain is broken and I am free for Your Word says the the Truth, Jesus the Word, will set me free an if the Truth has set me free, I am free indeed. Amen an Amen
Thanks and G-d bless you
Rodney
Saturday, November 26, 2011
TO YOU by CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON
Dear Friends
Today I want to post a short portion out of the pen of the powerful preacher and successful minister of the Gospel, Charles H Spurgeon. I post this with permission and have not neither will I ever try to Change, Edit. Refashion or Alter his writings. I too agree with him, in praying and believing that somewhere, somehow G-d will attract the right person to read this posting so that your life may be forever changed. Changed by knowledge gained out of this Posting that our G-d's greatest desire is foe all men everywhere to be given a chance that being exposed to the Life-changing Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ through His sacrificial death and Resurrection, men (and women) will be saved. G-D'S WILL IS THAT NONE SHALL PERISH BUT ALL INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS HIS SON.
Rodney
"Quote"
(Charles H Spurgeon)
TO YOU
HE WHO SPOKE and wrote this message will be greatly disappointed if it does not lead many to the Lord Jesus. It is sent forth in childlike dependence upon the power of God the Holy Ghost, to use it in the conversion of millions, if so He pleases. No doubt many poor men and women will take up this little volume, and the Lord will visit them with grace. To answer this end, the very plainest language has been chosen, and many homely expressions have been used. But if those of wealth and rank should glance at this book, the Holy Ghost can impress them also; since that which can be understood by the unlettered is none the less attractive to the instructed. Oh that some might read it who will become great winners of souls! Who knows how many will find their way to peace by what they read here? A more important question to you, dear reader, is this – Will you be one of them? A certain man placed a fountain by the wayside, and he hung up a cup near to it by a little chain. He was told some time after that a great art-critic had found much fault with its design. "But," said he, "do many thirsty persons drink at it?" Then they told him that thousands of poor people, men, women, and children, slaked their thirst at this fountain; and he smiled and said, that he was little troubled by the critic's observation, only he hoped that on some sultry summer's day the critic himself might fill the cup, and he refreshed, and praise the name of the Lord. Here is my fountain, and here is my cup: find fault if you please; but do drink of the water of life. I only care for this. I had rather bless the soul of the poorest crossing-sweeper, or raggatherer, than please a prince of the blood, and fail to convert him to God. Reader, do you mean business in reading these pages? If so, we are agreed at the outset; but nothing short of your finding Christ Hand Heaven is the business aimed at here. Oh that we may seek this together! I do so by dedicating this little book with prayer. Will not you join me by looking up to God, and asking Him to bless you while you read? Providence has put these pages in your way, you have a little spare time in which to read them, and you feel willing to give your attention to them. These are good signs. Who knows but the set time of blessing is come for you? At any rate, "The Holy Ghost saith, Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts."
"Unquote"
If you need prayer and guidance, feel free to leave a message or comment and I will get back to you. Alternatively, you can e-mail me here.
Rodney
Rodney
"Quote"
(Charles H Spurgeon)
TO YOU
HE WHO SPOKE and wrote this message will be greatly disappointed if it does not lead many to the Lord Jesus. It is sent forth in childlike dependence upon the power of God the Holy Ghost, to use it in the conversion of millions, if so He pleases. No doubt many poor men and women will take up this little volume, and the Lord will visit them with grace. To answer this end, the very plainest language has been chosen, and many homely expressions have been used. But if those of wealth and rank should glance at this book, the Holy Ghost can impress them also; since that which can be understood by the unlettered is none the less attractive to the instructed. Oh that some might read it who will become great winners of souls! Who knows how many will find their way to peace by what they read here? A more important question to you, dear reader, is this – Will you be one of them? A certain man placed a fountain by the wayside, and he hung up a cup near to it by a little chain. He was told some time after that a great art-critic had found much fault with its design. "But," said he, "do many thirsty persons drink at it?" Then they told him that thousands of poor people, men, women, and children, slaked their thirst at this fountain; and he smiled and said, that he was little troubled by the critic's observation, only he hoped that on some sultry summer's day the critic himself might fill the cup, and he refreshed, and praise the name of the Lord. Here is my fountain, and here is my cup: find fault if you please; but do drink of the water of life. I only care for this. I had rather bless the soul of the poorest crossing-sweeper, or raggatherer, than please a prince of the blood, and fail to convert him to God. Reader, do you mean business in reading these pages? If so, we are agreed at the outset; but nothing short of your finding Christ Hand Heaven is the business aimed at here. Oh that we may seek this together! I do so by dedicating this little book with prayer. Will not you join me by looking up to God, and asking Him to bless you while you read? Providence has put these pages in your way, you have a little spare time in which to read them, and you feel willing to give your attention to them. These are good signs. Who knows but the set time of blessing is come for you? At any rate, "The Holy Ghost saith, Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts."
"Unquote"
If you need prayer and guidance, feel free to leave a message or comment and I will get back to you. Alternatively, you can e-mail me here.
Rodney
NEW ENROLMENTS - ELKANAH BIBLE COLLEGE 2012 (SOUTH AFRICA)
Tonight is Graduation night for our 2011 students. They will be rewarded for their hard work during the past semesters.I would personally want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to each student who applied the words of the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to Timothy in:
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We wish them God's richest blessings for the future, in their preparation for whatever G-d has called them for, that they would be the honed instrument in His Hand, bringing in the Harvest.
Invitations are extended to any and all interested persons who would like to enrol for the New 2012 year.
We offer various courses from First year to Doctorate degree to South Africans who would study at our various campuses. These students meet for one Saturday per month for almost the whole day.
Campuses are based in Boksburg (The Head Office), a campus in Silverton, Pretoria, Gauteng, in Vaalwater, Waterberg, Limpopo Province, Potchefstroom, North West Province and a new campus opening in Middleburg, Mphumalanga Province in January 2012.
To view the Elkanha Bible College website CLICK HERE
We wish Dr Vic Loubser success for this new endeavour and ask that you as an intercessor / prayer warrior, will carry this campus up in prayer for outstanding success.
We also have a Correspondence School which offers Correspondence courses from First Year to Third Year. All applications are welcome. Unfortunately at this time, courses are only offered in English and Afrikaans, but any person from anywhere across the globe, may apply.
I appeal to you, followers and visitors, to place our Bible College on your prayer list. We would also like to appeal to you for donations that we apply to helping many under-privileged students, in sponsoring their courses as they are called but do not have the finances to afford the Training. Our needs to build new campuses that will later become full-time or part-time education centres is a reality but finances are the set-back. We pray that G-d inspire you to assist us financially in any way possible.
Feel free to e-mail enquiries for course info or to Partner with us, to:
The Rector's e-mail address: CLICK HERE
Thanks for your time. G-d bless you.
Rodney (Tutor)
CLICK TO E-MAIL ME
Monday, November 21, 2011
PRAYER - THE CHRISTIAN'S DUTY OR LOVE OFFERING?
PRAYER - THE CHRISTIAN'S DUTY OR LOVE OFFERING?
Prayer. Time spent in the presence of G-d. Or has it become a difficult time for you?
Prayer was always considered to be the heartbeat, the pulse, the Breath of Life to the Christian disciple. A special time. A time of expression. A time when we meet with Father, Son and Holy Ghost. A time of worship, praise and thankfulness. Lifting up the Name of Jesus. Lifting Him high so that others may be drawn to the Father through Christ Jesus. A time of refreshing. Times of renewal. A time of penance for ourselves and for our friends, relatives, nation and others in need. Oh our need to be in Him in prayer!
That precious place here we experience joy in the Lord. Crying, weeping, confessing the sins of our nation and our own, our leaders and our people, whose hearts have waxed cold and sin crept into their lives. Being sorry for the state that we as what was once referred to as a G-d Fearing people, now but a mere shadow of what once was. A time of calling on the Lord for forgiveness, petitioning, interceding, laying our burdens at His feet. Our churches and their leaders needing guidance from on high, needing to realize our deep dependence on G-d in making a difference to our world. A positive difference. Turning the hearts of the people back to G-d. We need to be revived in our own hearts FIRST! Turn our own hearts back to G-d. Allow the Holy Spirit to show us what we look like to Father. Removing the log out of our own eye before telling our brother to remove the splinter out of his eye?!?
But - through time and our rushed lives, we seldom get to spend quality time in His Presence. Our first love is lost. Our zeal and fervour have waned! You hear it in the "dead sermons preached by dead preachers falling on the ears of dead congregants" (Leonard Ravenhill referred to this in his book "Why Revival Tarries"). Moses spent time with G-d on the Mountain and when he returned to the children of Israel, was asked to cover his face because the Glory of G-d shone forth from it, blinding those who looked upon him. Oh Lord, that we would return to that first love and be changed into Your likeness. That Your Shekinah Glory be seen on us.
To many, the prayer meeting at the local assembly is not a time of prayer, but singing and preaching. In Afrikaans we advertize the midweek Prayer meeting as a "Biduur", directly translated as Prayer (Bid) Hour (uur). I have knelt beside some brethren who are leaders in the assembly and listened to their 3 minute prayer. When we allow the Spirit of G-d to start praying protracted prayers through us, the spirit of prayer falls on people who submit to and desire to be in conversations with G-d. This spirit of prayer will fall on one, then another, and another until many are moved by this but where prayers are stifled and suppressed, people don't breakthrough into the Divine Presence of G-d and no special meetings occur. Many folk cannot even recite the "Our Father" prayer taught by Jesus as a model for us to pray by.
Prayer can be taught but only when you personally take time to seek the Lord, does it become effectual, fervent and filled with passion and fire. An old chorus rings out:
" Lord bring back, bring back those happy days,
when the Holy Ghost fell on every place
and the Love of G-d shone on every face,
Lord, bring back those happy days"
I want to open a page where we can write out our prayer requests. A place where concerned Children of G-d can unite in prayer, confession, raising our petitions, in repentance outside of the walls and barriers that separate us through dogma and teachings. We can hold our own dogmatical views yet be one in spirit and love. We can pray together that G-d's Will and Purpose be achieved and the Kingdom of G-d be properly established without losing our identity. In Christ Jesus, we have become one body.
Please feel free to post your requests so that many others can join in praying for your request and please remember to let us know when your prayers have been answered so that we can thank the Lord for answered prayers and be strengthened by your testimony that G-d can and always will answer prayer.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Prayer. Time spent in the presence of G-d. Or has it become a difficult time for you?
Prayer was always considered to be the heartbeat, the pulse, the Breath of Life to the Christian disciple. A special time. A time of expression. A time when we meet with Father, Son and Holy Ghost. A time of worship, praise and thankfulness. Lifting up the Name of Jesus. Lifting Him high so that others may be drawn to the Father through Christ Jesus. A time of refreshing. Times of renewal. A time of penance for ourselves and for our friends, relatives, nation and others in need. Oh our need to be in Him in prayer!
That precious place here we experience joy in the Lord. Crying, weeping, confessing the sins of our nation and our own, our leaders and our people, whose hearts have waxed cold and sin crept into their lives. Being sorry for the state that we as what was once referred to as a G-d Fearing people, now but a mere shadow of what once was. A time of calling on the Lord for forgiveness, petitioning, interceding, laying our burdens at His feet. Our churches and their leaders needing guidance from on high, needing to realize our deep dependence on G-d in making a difference to our world. A positive difference. Turning the hearts of the people back to G-d. We need to be revived in our own hearts FIRST! Turn our own hearts back to G-d. Allow the Holy Spirit to show us what we look like to Father. Removing the log out of our own eye before telling our brother to remove the splinter out of his eye?!?
But - through time and our rushed lives, we seldom get to spend quality time in His Presence. Our first love is lost. Our zeal and fervour have waned! You hear it in the "dead sermons preached by dead preachers falling on the ears of dead congregants" (Leonard Ravenhill referred to this in his book "Why Revival Tarries"). Moses spent time with G-d on the Mountain and when he returned to the children of Israel, was asked to cover his face because the Glory of G-d shone forth from it, blinding those who looked upon him. Oh Lord, that we would return to that first love and be changed into Your likeness. That Your Shekinah Glory be seen on us.
To many, the prayer meeting at the local assembly is not a time of prayer, but singing and preaching. In Afrikaans we advertize the midweek Prayer meeting as a "Biduur", directly translated as Prayer (Bid) Hour (uur). I have knelt beside some brethren who are leaders in the assembly and listened to their 3 minute prayer. When we allow the Spirit of G-d to start praying protracted prayers through us, the spirit of prayer falls on people who submit to and desire to be in conversations with G-d. This spirit of prayer will fall on one, then another, and another until many are moved by this but where prayers are stifled and suppressed, people don't breakthrough into the Divine Presence of G-d and no special meetings occur. Many folk cannot even recite the "Our Father" prayer taught by Jesus as a model for us to pray by.
Prayer can be taught but only when you personally take time to seek the Lord, does it become effectual, fervent and filled with passion and fire. An old chorus rings out:
" Lord bring back, bring back those happy days,
when the Holy Ghost fell on every place
and the Love of G-d shone on every face,
Lord, bring back those happy days"
I want to open a page where we can write out our prayer requests. A place where concerned Children of G-d can unite in prayer, confession, raising our petitions, in repentance outside of the walls and barriers that separate us through dogma and teachings. We can hold our own dogmatical views yet be one in spirit and love. We can pray together that G-d's Will and Purpose be achieved and the Kingdom of G-d be properly established without losing our identity. In Christ Jesus, we have become one body.
Please feel free to post your requests so that many others can join in praying for your request and please remember to let us know when your prayers have been answered so that we can thank the Lord for answered prayers and be strengthened by your testimony that G-d can and always will answer prayer.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. (All quotations from the KJV)
Keywords: (Pray, prayer, Praying, Holy Spirit, led by the Spirit, effectual, fervent, fire, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, walk in the spirit, repent, repentance, waxed cold, first love, God s Will, Jesus, prayer hour, prayer meeting, singing, psalms and hymns, worship, praising God, Christian duty, steward, stewardship, refreshing, renewal, congregants, sermon, dead sermons, congregants, local, revival, penance, petitions, thankfulness, glory, Shekinah, Shekinah Glory, Moses, Job, assembly, shine, shone, shining, Biduur bid, Kingdom of God, G-d,)
HOW DO WE DISCERN THE CRY OF THE GENUINE AND THE FALSE FOR BIBLES?
During the past couple of weeks, my inbox has been crammed, bombarded with mail mostly generating out of West Africa, (well-known for the amount of 419 and other scams in various forms), this time with a "Christian" appeal and flavour to them. Below I have copied and pasted my reply to one of them which seems a little different from the other two I also copied and pasted for your review and feedback.
We do not want our Christian giving and duty as stewards of His finances, to be abused. Neither do we want to sow our seed in unfruitful ground. As stewards, the investment must bring forth fruit and interest for the Master and His Kingdom.
Was I rash? Am I judgemental? I think not. Wouldn't like to be classed as that? Was I wrong in sending the e-mail response like I did? Let me know what your take on this is and how would you have responded?
I would much rather have flown into Nigeria with boxes of Bibles, visited the different churches and seen that these precious Bibles were handed over directly to the recipients, not for the glory, but knowing that the donations of good people went to the actual person intended by the giver. Not being in the position to do that, I have to research and spend time in prayer for absolute guidance. Will you join me in praying for discernment and that G-d speak to me (us) through His Word and Spirit?
Here is my reply:
"Quote"
Dear Brother Godswill
I have received your e-mail with much joy, that you were able to discover my small blog amongst the billions of blogs on the Internet. I hear your appeal and my heart is greatly touched and moved by the cry for the Precious Word of God. Truly, we are living in the last days! Just as God spoke through the prophets of old that:
Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Amos 5:14 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.
Amo 5:15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Amo 8:12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
The last days signal sinful, evil days. Days when Priest and Prophet imbibe in liquor and prophesy through strong drink (Liquor) and wine, but not out of the mouth of the Lord. People running to and fro as knowledge increases, just look on the Internet, yet the true Word of the Lord G-d is scarce. G-d sending a hunger and a thirsting after both the written and Spoken Word of the Lord without finding them.
I have empathy to your appeal and because I know that spiritual growth is dependant on getting the masses to read the Bible in their own languages but how do I discern who the true disciples and the false disciples are? My inbox has been flooded with requests for Bibles (mostly all in Giant Large Print for the elders and elderly folk), just as your appeal came to me. I have copied and pasted two other requests below so please read all the way through to the bottom of my reply.
What struck me was that in quite a few of the letters was that the content of the letters were the same or very similar and especially these two below, same address but the writers are different.
Where does this leave me? What are we to do about this? When we distribute Bibles, money, clothing and/or food to the destitute, the poor, the unemployed, those living in areas behind the Bamboo curtain and Middle East, we want to know that the seed is sowed in ground that will yield a harvest for the Kingdom of G-d. To sort through the genuine appeals and those of scammers becomes difficult. You may not believe it but even in this "free" democratic South Africa, we have many people both young and aged who have NEVER owned their own Bibles!
I personally have met many folk during our crusades and outreaches, who have asked me for a Bible of their own.
I am dismayed and appalled that there are people who will go to any lengths to scam churches, ministers and/or ministries for Bibles etc, for their own greed. I do not imply that you are crooked. If I have offended you, I apologize and ask forgiveness but you will have to convince me that my suspicions are ungrounded and you are the "Real Deal". I do not want a visitation from G-d to be misunderstood but I will definitely pray long and hard for an answer from Father about this.
I will post this in my blog and appeal to other Christian readers to pray with me that we can either know the truth and reach out in support of your cause or be warned by G-d to not allow the evil one to abuse the giving of well-meaning Christian brethren. Is this OK with you?
In His and to your service
Humbly I remain
Rodney
RODNEY G SPRAY (PASTOR)
Baroody Najwa Raja
Reply-To: useh600@9.cn
To: @jussieu.fr
Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original
Dear Brethren in Christ,
I am very happy to write you this letter as I pray and hope you willanswer my writing for the holy bibles for myself and the christianlepers that are with me." I want to brief you little about myself. Sir i was born to the familyof a chief priest - a well known idol worshipping family, and marriedto the daughter of another such family. we had four children, andlived their idol worshipping life happily. Then everythingchanged.
My wife came back from the city where he had gone to buygoats for our annual festival. She came back to inform me of hisencounter with a man of GOD that told him about Jesus Christ and itwas the first time she was hearing of that name. she also told me theman of GOD said we should accept Jesus Christ as our only lord andpersonal saviour. We never really understand what it means to accept Jesus Christ asour only lord and personal saviour until two months later, April25,when my Wife encountered this man of GOD again and he accompany myWife back to the village, that he now taught us what it means to acceptChrist as our lord and saviour. On the 10th of May, 1994, we were baptized and started our home fellowship.
(READ THIS STORY AND COMPARE IT TO THE STORY BELOW - SAME STORY -DIFFERENT PASTOR?)
It was then that the troublestarted. The villagers including my Wife's dad abducted my Wife and sacrificed herto their gods, and that same night they came to our house in the middleof the night and set our house ablaze, and I lost my 2 sons and daughterto the inferno. It was only a miracle that I managed to escape that night with myonly surviving son, but by the time the villagers got to know aboutwhy we were running from our village, they too planned to use us forrituals, and they believed we are accursed for believing in JesusChrist. But God had a purpose for me in life, and made one of theelders in the village to have compassion on us and let us escapebefore the day we were to be used as sacrifices to their gods. We eventually settled in O. Leprosy Centre where we were receivedwith open arms. We were free from all the disturbance as the lepersare rejected people in our society back here. I was afraid to preachthe gospel again as I was afraid of death. But on October 27, 1999,God spoke to me in my dream that I should not be afraid of death, fordeath is the gateway to eternity in Heaven for we thebelievers...that HE preserved me and allowed all those persecutionsto happen to me so I can serve him.... by the next day when I woke up I realise for the 4 years I have been with the orphans, none of them haveever heard of the gospel, and none of them knew anything about our Lordand Saviour Jesus Christ. So I started to preach the gospel of Jesus tothem. Initially they refuse to listen as they believed nobody loves or careabout them and that Jesus I talk about is no different. But aftermuch preaching and praying for six months, I was able to convert 10 of them for Jesus Christ.
Today I am happy to say we are 163 innumber, and we now have a church that is called Ugbelilighe Leper Community Bible Church We have been serving and doing the work of GODdiligently even with all the hardship and untold neglect from the membersof the larger society. We don't even have a church building, and we useunder trees for our worship and services, but our major problem is theholy bible for 20 Elders in the Church and they are old and they can onlyread the GIANT PRINT BIBLES.Please do send us the Giant Print Bibles assoon as possible so that Souls will have God's Word to study. May God Bless you For the work you do for the cause of the kingdom In Christ.
Evangelist Baroody Najwa Raja
Ugbelilighe Leper Community Bible Church
19E Ugbelilighe Avenue GOP-Uje 8950 , Benin City, Edo State , Nigeria. LOOK AT THIS ADDRESS
_Maamoun Roueida Fouad
Reply-To: useh50@9.cn
Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original
Dear Brethren in Christ,
I am very happy to write you this letter as I pray and hope you willanswer my writing for the holy bibles for myself and the christianlepers that are with me." I want to brief you little about myself. Sir i was born to the familyof a chief priest - a well known idol worshipping family, and marriedto the daughter of another such family. we had four children, andlived their idol worshipping life happily. Then everythingchanged.
(HERE AGAIN - THE SAME STORY AS THIS ONE ABOVE BUT DIFFERENT PASTORS? WHICH IS TRUTH AND WHICH IS THE LIE? ARE THESE BIBLES BEING SOLD FOR PROFIT? WHY THE GIANT PRINT BIBLE SPECIFICALLY?) Rodney
My wife came back from the city where he had gone to buygoats for our annual festival. She came back to inform me of hisencounter with a man of GOD that told him about Jesus Christ and itwas the first time she was hearing of that name. she also told me theman of GOD said we should accept Jesus Christ as our only lord andpersonal saviour. We never really understand what it means to accept Jesus Christ asour only lord and personal saviour until two months later, April25,when my Wife encountered this man of GOD again and he accompany myWife back to the village, that he now taught us what it means to acceptChrist as our lord and saviour. On the 10th of May, 1994, we were baptized and started our home fellowship.
It was then that the troublestarted. The villagers including my Wife's dad abducted my Wife and sacrificed herto their gods, and that same night they came to our house in the middleof the night and set our house ablaze, and I lost my 2 sons and daughterto the inferno. It was only a miracle that I managed to escape that night with myonly surviving son, but by the time the villagers got to know aboutwhy we were running from our village, they too planned to use us forrituals, and they believed we are accursed for believing in JesusChrist. But God had a purpose for me in life, and made one of theelders in the village to have compassion on us and let us escapebefore the day we were to be used as sacrifices to their gods. We eventually settled in O. Leprosy Centre where we were receivedwith open arms. We were free from all the disturbance as the lepersare rejected people in our society back here. I was afraid to preachthe gospel again as I was afraid of death. But on October 27, 1999,God spoke to me in my dream that I should not be afraid of death, fordeath is the gateway to eternity in Heaven for we thebelievers...that HE preserved me and allowed all those persecutionsto happen to me so I can serve him.... by the next day when I woke up I realise for the 4 years I have been with the orphans, none of them haveever heard of the gospel, and none of them knew anything about our Lordand Saviour Jesus Christ. So I started to preach the gospel of Jesus tothem. Initially they refuse to listen as they believed nobody loves or careabout them and that Jesus I talk about is no different. But aftermuch preaching and praying for six months, I was able to convert 10 of them for Jesus Christ.
Today I am happy to say we are 163 innumber, and we now have a church that is called Osesegheghie Leper Community Bible Church We have been serving and doing the work of GODdiligently even with all the hardship and untold neglect from the membersof the larger society. We don't even have a church building, and we useunder trees for our worship and services, but our major problem is theholy bible for 21 Elders in the Church and they are old and they can onlyread the GIANT PRINT BIBLES.Please do send us the Giant Print Bibles assoon as possible so that Souls will have God's Word to study. May God Bless you For the work you do for the cause of the kingdom In Christ.
Pastor Maamoun Roueida Fouad
Osesegheghie Leper Community Bible Church
19E Ugbelilighe Avenue GOP-Uje 8950 , Benin City, Edo State , Nigeria. SAME ADDRESS DIFFERENT PASTOR?
On 11/20/11, Godswill Ayazekor
Greetings in Jesus name,
May this letter finds you blessed in Christ. I am writing from West Africa and it is a blessing getting to you in the other part of the world. It is my prayer that you become a friend of me and the local church here. I got your email when I surfed into the web site and I know that it is God’s arrangement.
By His grace I am a Believer bought and washed by the Blood of Jesus Christ. I am married with three children. I am a pastor of a small local church non denominational or affiliated to anybody. The church was founded in 2006 and now has about 30 members. I gave my life to Christ in 1987 when I was still in the high school at Zaria. A campus fellowship student by name Femi was my roommate at school and his life of faithfulness unto Christ and his prayer and teaching me the Bible led me to Christ. This Brother told me then that he sensed that God was going to use me for His cause. I was never ready to hear that because my dream or thought was never in the ministry but to finish my studies and get a nice job. Five years after school and already working I started having the stronger urge and sensing that God was calling me but I kept on putting it off my heart because my job and life was sweet to me and I felt I needed nothing else.
One day a guest speaker was ministering in our church and he singled me out in a crowd of over a thousand and told me that God has called me to the ministry and cannot hide. After he left I told my pastor that I have accepted and my pastor and other elders of the church prayed with me. I immediately joined and headed the evangelical outreach of the church and I saw many coming to Christ in the outreach. I let go of my job in 2005 and returned to Edo my State. I joined a small local church and was assisting the pastor as the second pastor. In January 13th 2007 a pastor of a little church of about five families in my area walked up to me telling me that he is leaving the state to his home state where the Lord has asked him to go and start the work. He said he has been praying for over a month that the Lord has asked him to tell me to take over the little church he founded 2006. I have not had relationship with this pastor before now so it amazed me. He asked me to pray to ask the Lord. I did prayed and without wasting time I knew the Lord ask me to hold that little church and that was how I became the pastor of this church called Victory Chapel. The church is a growing church and we meet at a temporary rented building. We are earthly rich but rich in Christ, riches that will last for eternity.
2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”. The reason why I am writing is to appeal for your assistance in the area of a Study Bible which will be of help to me in my research and study of the bible as well as lesson preparation as a pastor, and bibles for our aged members. These items are very scarce here. I need The Dakes Annotated Reference Bible. It is a very good study Bible for ministers of the gospel. A pastor friend here got his from www.christianbook.com where it was purchase for him by his cousin abroad. I checked the site and also found it there. Please help me for it. There are many in our local church who do not have bibles and cannot afford to buy. I want to specifically make a request for the elderly ones who cannot work and earn money to buy for themselves. There are 12 of such very old fathers and mothers in our church who read and understand English and they are very devoted. Please on their behalf I request that you send them 12 Bibles the very big letters which is the super giant print 18 point type would be preferable for them because of their sight. They also have this kind of bible at www.christianbook.com. We would also appreciate used bibles provided the pages are complete. Thank you for considering this request. And as you help to meet this kingdom need the Lord will bless you finance abundantly. If you send the bibles through post office a registered postage the bibles will get to us safely. I was told at the post office that EMS postage or insured mail is safer. My home and postal address is 498 Upper Mission Road-Glpo 5870, Oredo Local Government, Edo State, Nigeria.
(AGAIN THE PLEA FOR GIANT PRINT BIBLES FOR THE ELDERLY / AGED. WE KNOW OUR CHRISTIAN DUTY IS TO HELP WITH BIBLES AND LITERATURE BUT HOW DO WE DISCERN THE TRUTH FROM THE LIES?
Please write when you get my mail. I do not have full access to internet but I can check at least three times weekly especially after church on Sunday like today. Ecclesiastes 11:1 "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days"
Continue to be obedient and the Lord will honour you in His time. Exodus 19:5, the Lord spoke to the children of Israel through Moses saying: "Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:..." The Lord bless you and keep you in His perfect love.
In His Service,
Godswill Ayazeko
498 Upper Mission Road-Glpo 5870,
Oredo Local Government,
Edo State, Nigeria "Unquote"
G-d bless you for taking time to read this. We are duty-bound to spread the Gospel message about Salvation through the Sacrificial Death and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living G-d, but there are evil people out there who are robbing us of a real blessing because by doing things like this, they make us wary to support ministries and close our hands, hearts and pockets to the genuine brethren who are in dire straits. You may respond by e-mail, by clicking on my e-mail link or leave a comment in the box below.
Shalom / Peace
Monday, November 14, 2011
Building Cross-links to your weblog or web site
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Jimmy Swaggart Music, Books and DVDs - Advert
100362.gnrbp.com
Jimmy Swaggart and his Golden Gospel Piano - Music CD's and DVD's - Preaching and Teaching CD and DVD's
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