Changed through thanksgiving Written by Daniel Kolenda

download .pdf Holy Gratitude When Jesus walked upon the earth, multitudes of people were touched by His life and ministry. His Name became a household word because of the reputation of His miraculous deeds. Everyone was clamoring to be in His meetings because miracles and healings were happening everywhere He went. In Luke 17, we find the remarkable record of the healing of ten lepers. Like everyone else, they had heard the stories about Jesus. They had heard of the miracles that followed Him everywhere He went, and they had heard about other lepers that had been cleansed by His touch. They had no other hope for a cure as there was no medicine that could help their terrible plight. They knew if they had any chance at all of having a future, it would only come through an encounter with Jesus. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem and was passing through a village in the regions of Samaria and Galilee. The ten lepers heard that He was coming. What pressure they must have felt. Here was a potential source of healing, but could it happen for them? Or would it happen for them? Was this going to be a great testimony of victory and healing, or would their hopes be dashed in cruel disappointment? Because of the uncleanness of their disease, they were forced to stand at a distance from all the others who were following Jesus. But, these ten men began to yell out to Jesus, desperately crying “Jesus! Master! Have mercy on us!” When Jesus heard their cries and saw their desperate condition, He called out to them and told them to, “Go show yourselves to the priests” as required in the Old Testament law. They believed and obeyed. The Bible says, “And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.” (Luke 17:13-14) Can you imagine what that must have been like for these men when suddenly they began to feel the power of God surging through their bodies and saw new tissue and skin beginning to cover the horrible leprous sores that had covered them? They watched in amazement as their bodies began to be healed and saw the bodies of their nine friends be healed as well! Their lives were being saved. Their families and futures were being restored. Their death sentence from the horrible disease of leprosy was being reversed. Everything in their lives had now changed because of the miracle Jesus had just given them! Or had it? In verse 15, the Bible says that one of them, a Samaritan, when he saw that he had been healed returned back to Jesus and “with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His (Jesus) feet, giving Him thanks.” Only one of the ten that had received a life-saving miracle returned to give thanksgiving to the One who had just saved his life! Jesus received the praise and gratitude of this man but then asked the questions, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’ And He said to him, ‘Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:17-19) This was a remarkable miracle, but it is also a story that unfortunately reveals a very common characteristic found in human nature. It is the lack of gratitude for the blessings of God. Many people may be passionate in their desire to reach out to Jesus in order to receive a miracle when they are in some kind of trouble. They will make all kinds of petitions and offer God all kinds of deals if He will agree to give them what they want. Yet, the content of their heart is much like the attitude that Jesus found in these lepers. They might cry out for mercy in their appeal for God’s help, even as the lepers who referred to Jesus as “Master.” But once the kindness of God has been demonstrated and their need has been met, they simply go on their way as though they owe nothing to Him in return. This is exactly what happened in the hearts of nine of the ten lepers. True Transformation One of the men was different. He was a Samaritan. When he realized that the leprous sores that had covered his body and were taking his life were disappearing before his eyes, he returned to Jesus and, “with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.” (Luke 17:15-16). He had called Him “Master” before he received his miracle, but he returned to worship and glorify Jesus with thanksgiving as his “Master” after he received it as well. Many people will call Jesus “Master” when they need something, but how many will continue to treat .Him as “Master” by their worship and thanksgiving and surrender after they get what they needed? There were ten lepers who were touched by the power of God and saw their leprosy healed. But I believe that only one leper was really changed! This was the Samaritan who returned to give thanks by glorifying God in surrender to Jesus as his true “Master.” Of this man Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well.” Thanksgiving in our hearts is as powerful a transforming force as the touch of God that heals leprosy. A transformed heart that has truly been changed because of the touch of God is a greater miracle than a healed body. There were many people in Jesus’ day that saw and experienced for themselves the power of His miraculous touch yet their hearts were never changed! We can see this truth again and again throughout the Gospels. The greatest meetings Jesus ever had were in the cities of Bethsaida, Capernaum, and Chorazin. (Matthew 11:20-24) These three cities had come out to the wilderness where Jesus had gone to rest because they were hungry for His power and touch. Jesus was moved with compassion saying that they were like sheep without a shepherd. He taught them, healed them of all their diseases, and supernaturally fed them with a boy’s lunch of two fish and five loaves. Thousands ate until they could eat no more. Yet, it was the same people that are referenced in Matthew 11:20 where we read, “Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.” Jesus went on to give a stinging indictment of them all, saying that if Sodom and Gomorrah had experienced what these people experienced, they would have repented and judgment would have been withheld! In reality, as difficult as it may seem, many, if not most of the people who were the recipients of Jesus’ greatest miracles may very well be in hell today! How could such a thing be? It’s simple. A miracle of healing will produce a physical change that will last only for a lifetime. The miracle of a changed heart that lives a lifestyle of gratitude and thanksgiving to God for what He has done is a miracle that will last forever in eternity! Ten lepers were touched and blessed, but apparently only one was transformed by the great power of thanksgiving that was in his heart. May we live in a state of continual thanksgiving to Jesus for all that He has done in our lives. May we never just seek His touch in our time of need and then go merrily on our way without taking the time to return and love and worship Him and give Him our best in return! When we come to Jesus like the leper, to thank Him and worship Him and to give back to Him out of the gratitude of our hearts, it is then that we will discover the true treasures of the Kingdom of God in our lives. Thanksgiving lived out every day truly makes Jesus the Master in our lives. Thanksgiving Opens the Gates The concept of thanksgiving is deeply rooted in scripture. The word “thanksgiving” and its derivatives are found in 137 different places spanning the entirety of the Bible. It represents a powerful spiritual force that for the most part, is largely overlooked by most people. Living a lifestyle of thanksgiving and gratitude to God can actually become one of most effective spiritual weapons that has the potential to release the richest blessings of God in our lives! In Psalms, we have a powerful example of this truth. The Bible says: “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name.” Psalm 100:1-4 Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.” This is a small scripture that carries a profound message! It is the revelation of a great spiritual principle which gives us the secret to entering into God’s treasure house of blessing! Thanksgiving and praise to God literally opens the barriers that separate the realms of Heaven from the realms of the earth and allows people to move into the presence of the Lord and all the blessings of God that entails. Most people pray out of a place of need or deficiency in which they are petitioning God to come and do something to change their present set of circumstances. Many people pray only out of fear and worry. Many more pray out of discontentment. If we really want to be honest about it, the prayer life of many Christians could best be described as a time of complaining to God about all the things in their lives that they are not happy about! This was the essence of the trial of the hearts of God’s people Israel while they were in the wilderness. The visible, manifested presence of God was hovering over them as a cloud by day and fire by night but that wasn’t enough for them! Heaven’s manna fell every morning for them to eat yet they whined for the cucumbers and melons they had eaten while they were slaves in Egypt. Fresh, clean water, something most had never had before, was supernaturally flowing from a rock, yet that was not enough to satisfy them either. God was taking them to a land of their own, but they constantly complained about their circumstances and accused Him of doing them wrong. Because of their heart attitudes most of them died in the wilderness. Their complaints and dissatisfaction against God aborted what He intended to do, which was to take them to a wonderful place that had already been prepared for them! They never made it to the place God had prepared because their lives were void of gratitude, thanksgiving, and praise. Their whining and discontent, which was actually an accusation of injustice against all that God was doing in their lives, ultimately closed the “gates” to all the promises intended for them that went back to the time of Abraham! We must ask ourselves these questions. “How much of my prayer life is spent in thanksgiving to God for everything that He has already done and given to me?” versus “How much of my prayer life is spent begging God to change the things in my life that I really don’t like?” The percentage that we can assign to those questions will, to a large degree, determine the amount of peace, joy, blessing, fulfilment, and victory or the lack of these things in our lives! Looking back we have so much to be thankful for and the grateful heart will be moved to stand in thanksgiving and praise to the one who has been our provider, sustainer, preserver, helper and comforter. Why don’t you take a moment, to pause, reflect on God’s goodness to you throughout the past year? Daniel Kolenda

 

CfaN Prayer Initiative for your breakthrough

This year we want to pray for breakthroughs in various areas of your own life. By “breakthrough” I mean a victory in an area of your life in which you have been struggling for a while. An insuperable wall that towers up in front of you is suddenly demolished; a seemingly invulnerable obstacle is suddenly removed from your path; the sea that stretched out menacingly before you opens up and suddenly you can walk through without getting your feet wet. We pray that there will be a breakthrough … ... in your relationship with God and your life as a Christian ... in your mission and calling and in your health ... in your family and your relationships with others ... at your workplace and in your finances ... in your church fellowship and home group ... where you live and work Are there any areas on that list where you need a breakthrough? Areas for which you have been praying for a long time and which lie heavy on your heart? Areas where you are attacked over and over again? Let there be an end to it! God bless you! Yours in the love of Jesus, Evangelist Daniel Kolenda

   

The Remedy for Our Sins

For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. - (James 2:10)

Only one has walked this earth who kept the Ten Commandments perfectly, and that was Jesus. Everyone else has fallen short.

We have broken the Ten Commandments in more ways than we realize. We have taken the Lord’s name in vain. We have had other gods before Him. We have lied. Perhaps we have stolen or have committed adultery or even murder. At the very least, we have lusted or hated. Yet the Bible says that if we stumble in one point of the law, we are guilty of all of it (see James 2:10).

Why, then, did God give us these commandments? They were not given to make us righteous. They were given to show us that we are not righteous. They were given to show us that we fall short of God’s standards. They were given to show us that we need help. The commandments drive us into the open arms of Jesus, who died on the cross for all our sins.

The Bible says, “He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). What that means is Jesus took the penalty of the commandments that say, “The person who sins is the one who will die” (Ezekiel 18:20). He died in our place and absorbed God’s wrath that should have come upon me and upon you.

Maybe you need to repent of some sin. God will forgive you—but you have to admit your sin, stop making excuses for it, and turn from it. The Bible says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9).

There is a remedy for our sins. There is forgiveness—if we will turn from that sin and believe in Him.

The Gospel is the living water by Reinhard Bonnke

NO NEUTRAL SOURCE

The Live Saturday and Sunday Services started like any other service in the past, but there was a huge package of surprises in the unfolding. True to The SCOAN culture, the service was inundated with interesting testimonies of healings, breakthroughs, mending of relationships and deliverance from demonic attacks. As can be seen from the accounts rendered hereon, the Anointing Water which is one medium God has so endowed the man of God, Prophet T.B. Joshua with to foster his ministry of healing and deliverance from evil influences has continued to bless people in every area of their needs. Encouraged by the great testimonies resulting from the use of the Anointing Water and the Anointing Stickers, Prophet T.B. Joshua decided to further bless the congregation, indeed the world with yet a new branded Anointing Water and a pair of Anointing Stickers with an improved booklet that explains the nitty-gritty and the origin of these blessed products. After a powerful and inspiring sermon delivered by Wise man Harry on the subject ‘No Neutral Source,’ Prophet T.B. Joshua addressed two major issues dealing with peoples’ misconception of appearances as opposed to true godliness. In summary he said that ‘Faith is of man’s spirit, not of his flesh or body’. Then, came the big surprise: Prophet T.B. Joshua spoke briefly of his upcoming 50th Birthday which falls on June 12. He said that God had inspired him to bless the people in a very special way to mark the occasion and he went ahead to distribute the new branded Anointing Water and a couple of beautiful Anointing Stickers freely to all. God Almighty and the heavenly hosts endorsed the release and confirmed that the prophet’s action was indeed ordered from above. This was evidenced by uncontrollable manifestations of people that came in contact with the Anointing Water and the Anointing Stickers even before ministering them. Indeed, God is still with us.
Sermon By Wise man Harry
Life is a warfare. In a warfare, there are many battles to fight. When you look at people today, you will see that some are battling with their bills, some with their sickness, while some are fighting to make it in life. It takes the grace of God to realize that the way you fight these battles determines who you are before God. Just as there are two sides to a coin, so also there are two sources in this world: God and satan. Whether you believe it or not, there is no neutral source because there is no neutral kingdom. You can become great in life, in terms of position, money and fame, but the source of your greatness will be either from God or satan. Genesis 14:14-16,21-23. This is all about Father Abraham and his determination to make God Almighty his only source.
To be great born of God is to derive your resources from God, while to be great born of satan is to derive your resources from satan.
When God is the source of your strength, no one can be against you. When God is the source of your strength, you and God are majority. Abram, with the help of God, was able to defeat his enemies and recover all the goods and set the captives free.
One thing we need to remember is that Satan’s greatest interest is to overthrow our relationship to God as a Father. To do that, satan always uses our situation. This is why we should not be misled by our situation. Our situation could be poverty or sickness. Outward affliction and poverty are the great arguments satan uses to disturb the children of God. Therefore, as children of God, it is better to live poorly on the fruits of God’s goodness than to live plentifully upon the products of our own sin. Remember that everything big starts little. If anything big starts big, it calls for concern. Those who fail to take these tiny steps cannot trust God and understand the basic truth about faith.
Testimonies:

CHRONIC CASE OF BEDWETTING HEALED

Mr Awallu Gaboh, a muslim had the problem of bedwetting and frequent urination for twenty years. It all started when a spirit being possessed him, which came and made love to him. The problem had made it impossible for him to get married or visit friends. His relations and friends could not understand why he would not marry. He visited several herbalists in search of solution but to no avail. Then, a friend of his gave him the Anointing Water which he ministered on his male organ and all over his body. When the spiritual wife attempted to force herself on him, he noticed that a very powerful ray of light was covering him and preventing the lady from coming close to him. After many attempts, she gave up and left. Since then, he has been free from the chronic case of bedwetting of over 20 years. Being a muslim, he said it was the first time he had entered a church (The SCOAN) but as he saw the way Prophet T.B. Joshua had treated people from all religions, he felt welcomed. He said that Prophet T.B. Joshua was sent to everyone regardless of their religion. He also changed his mind concerning getting married, stating that it was now possible.
BARRENNESS AND ALCOHOLISM STOPPED
Mr Abu Abdulazeez from Benue State had been childless for many years after marriage. The medical report stated their diagnosis of bacterial infection but his wife often told him that a certain spiritual man used to sleep with her and make love to her in the dream. Mr. Abdulazeez who is a military personnel, had the problem of addiction to alcohol for thirty-one years and could drink more than three cartons of beer in a single day and to worsen his situation, he always spent time in the company of his colleagues who were also habitual drinkers. After each drinking spree, he would usually lose his cell phone and end up being helped home in a state of stupor. He had attempted to quit the habit on his own but could not. He was always late to work on account of the drunkenness. On one occasion, he sleep-walked into an unfamiliar bush due to the effect of alcohol until he was saved by a man who told him that he had travelled close to Kogi State very far away from Abuja, his planned destination. He was also in the habit of returning home late at nights. He had lost three of his cars due to accidents resulting from drunkenness. One fateful day, he visited a friend and joined them in watching Emmanuel TV. He was astonished to see cases of drunkenness being delivered through the prayer of the man of God, Prophet T.B. Joshua. He joined in the prayer by placing his hand on the screen of the television. He invited his wife to place her hand on the television and she did. As soon as she placed her hand, she fell down and started manifesting. Soon after, his wife conceived. For himself, he tried to visit his former beer parlour where he ordered for a bottle of beer but it tasted of bitters and he had to spit it out. Since then, his addiction of 31 years stopped. Today, the wife is pregnant. Mr Abdulazeez does not visit beer parlours anymore and they now enjoy a very peaceful home.

YOUNG MAN DELIVERED FROM DEMONIC KINGDOM AND DISCONNECTED FROM SECRET CULTS

Mr Innocent Oluchi Chidozie Ochia – Imo State, Nigeria was an active member of some number of secret cults for many years. He is a graduate of Federal Polytechnic, Nekede in Imo State. He was an ardent church goer and a choir boy until one of his relations introduced him to various brands of drugs. They were into the music industry and those drugs were supposed to make him feel good and bold while on stage. Ironically, the influence of those drugs erased every passion for the things of God and he developed apathy to Christian music. He could consume large doses of those drugs every day and had to spend much of his pocket money in acquiring them. On one occasion, he had concealed himself behind the counter of a bar, smoking his weed and playing music very loud. Three beings appeared to him right there and one of them said that it could pick up his thoughts. He did not believe the being, and spoke in silence to test him. The beings responded correspondingly to prove that they could actually read his mind. They told him that they could discern that he wanted to be famous and that they could help him get to the top of his career. He asked to be helped. One of the beings stripped off and to his surprise, he saw that it was tattooed from the neck to the groin region. They started an initiation process and were making noises as if in a sex orgy. He could not stand the sight any longer and decided to walk away. He was threatened with premature death in four days if he walked out on them. He, however, tried to submit to the initiation. Back at the Polytechnic, his life took a different form. He could hear voices and interpret lyrics that he never was part of their making. He became fearless. He had no money but could get just whatever he wanted so long as he was dressed in a peculiar spiritual fashion that those beings had recommended. When he sang on stage and off-stage, he could hold people in trance and those who were unable to stand the situation had to run away. The drug addiction got so bad that he had to be sent to rehab. His academic career started diminishing. He never prayed and refused to pay his tithes any longer. He preferred to do his chores on the Sabbath day instead. He hated the things of God. Incidentally, he was invited to The SCOAN to witness the testimony of one of his aunts who had been delivered from demonic influence. He felt very uncomfortable in the church and would rather have some cigarettes and alcohol. During prayer by Wise man Daniel, he was arrested and felt the separation from the spiritual beings that had tormented him. The pain he felt on his leg also disappeared after he was touched and prayed for by the wise man. He advises the youths in particular that if they would make Heaven, they should avoid worldly affections such as smoking, doing drugs, drinking and lustfulness – telling them that Jesus Christ was not a womanizer or a drug addict.
He now enjoys reading the Bible and is eager to receive the Word of God that will inspire him.

SON OF A POPULAR NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS AND MUSICIAN DELIVERED FROM DEMONIC KINGDOM

Mr Samuel Freedom is the son of Camilla, a renowned Nollywood actress. He said he came to The SCOAN after his mother had been delivered of evil attacks and connection to the marine kingdom. He says that in a prophecy given to her by Prophet T.B. Joshua, his mother was asked where her son was. She responded that he was in Enugu and the man of God said he should be brought to The SCOAN. Previously, he had been practicing house to house evangelism and praying for the sick with signs following, though he had never been delivered himself. He confessed that during that period, he had an affair with a lady from the same church where he worshipped. Thereafter, his spiritual life took a downward turn. He experienced some career failure and stagnation. Nothing was working for him; he became depressed and often heard a voice telling him to commit suicide. He began looking for alternatives; he started listening to worldly music and doing street dance. He formed a dance group and they wanted to create new moves. They researched online and found different demonic signs which they formulated into dance moves. He would have dreams where demons would teach him dance steps. He would then in turn teach others how to dance in that way. He wanted to get money; so, he searched on the internet and found the Illuminati website; he read everything on the website and saw the face of the master of the Illuminati. His first experience was an encounter with the master in a dream. The master appeared in the form of a serpent and then later transformed into a human being, giving him instructions. Thereafter, he started using some of those signs that represented Illuminati in dance steps on stage, but participants never got to know that those dance steps were glorifying demons and initiating them into the kingdom of darkness. The more the people adopted the dance steps, the more they were tormented by demons. He had a shirt with the Illuminati insignia, which he usually wore especially on stage. He had a computer game known as Prince of Persia which he always played during the day. At night, he would see himself as the character from the video game, the Prince of Persia, flying, fighting and doing everything the character in the game was doing. He was in the habit of masturbating even though he detested the act and would regret it later.
He eventually came to The SCOAN and was delivered after prayer from Wise Man Christopher. He no longer has the urge to masturbate, smoke or drink. He advised parents to keep objects of bad moral influence away from their children. He advised youth not to download worldly music on their phones. His advice to pastors was to run to God for mercy for He is a merciful God.

NIGHTCLUB DEEJAY IS NOT WHAT I WAS CALLED TO BE

Pastor Philip Onyekachukwu of Prince of Peace Ministries International and brother of Ms Camilla, the popular Nollywood actress, said he had received a call of God and then when his finances were down, he backslid to become a nightclub Deejay. He said he was not properly taught how to maintain his walk with the Lord. He could not pay his school fees and had to abandon the ministry. He had a dream where two women put their hands inside his chest after
which he became sick. He went from one place to another in search of a solution to his sickness which doctors were unable to diagnose. Later, he returned to being a pastor, though he acknowledged that he did so without being delivered. Consequently, he experienced setback in his ministry. He said that the church would grow and then later scatter. He would also hear voices rebuking him, telling him he was never going to make it and that the church was going down. He came to The SCOAN where he was prayed for by one of the wise men and received his deliverance. He said after his deliverance, he no longer heard negative voices and also the pain he had in his body was gone.

NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS WENT THROUGH THOROUGH SCREENING

Mrs Camilla, a Senior Nollywood Actress for 29 years said she didn’t have a hand in how, where and when she was born. She decided who she wanted to be when she came to The SCOAN. Many of her colleagues had discouraged her from coming to The SCOAN. She said, “Many of them are scared of coming to be screened by the Holy Ghost”. According to the actress, she was delivered at The SCOAN and also received a prophecy concerning her son. She brought him to The SCOAN together with her brother (Pastor Philip Onyekachukwu) for deliverance. She said she came for God to change her spiritual occasion from sin to holiness and she got it. She encouraged all to seek the face of God.

THE TRUTH ABOUT TATTOOS REVEALED

John Bosco from Cameroon gave a testimony of how he had a tooth problem and a woman had advised him to apply snuff tobacco as a solution to the problem. The effect of the tobacco made him feel high in spirit. He became addicted to it and eventually became very sick and lost a lot of weight. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis and gastric ulcer and reached rock bottom in life. One night, he had a dream whereby he saw the man of God, Prophet T.B. Joshua in his dream who prayed for him. Soon after the dream, he had a full recovery from his sicknesses and was restored back to his original self. To add to his blessing, he was also offered a good job from an offshore company with good pay and his life experienced a dramatic turnaround for the better. He was so overjoyed at the healing and blessing he received that he asked himself what he could do to

say, “Thank you”. He then called a tattoo artist and asked him to design a tattoo for him written, “Jesus Is Lord, T.B. Joshua My Prophet”. He had the tattoo inscribed across his shoulder. As he developed interest in studying the Scriptures, he came to a portion in the Book of Leviticus 19:28, which spoke against the act of putting marks of any sort on the body and immediately regretted doing the tattoo. He was so disturbed in his mind that he sent an email to the man of God, Prophet T.B. Joshua asking what he could do. The prophet then invited him to The SCOAN.
After sharing his experience, the man of God addressed the issue. “Just see it as one of those things on your body, not for God. If you see it like that, press forwards to serve God in Spirit and in truth. Don’t see it as a way of pleasing God. Don’t let it disturb you anymore. Put it behind you. Since you can’t remove it, leave it and continue to serve God.”
Prophet T.B. Joshua further said, “Faith is of man’s spirit, not of his flesh or body”. He advised the man that he should see the tattoo as something for his body and not for God. He said now that he had realized it was wrong, he should put it behind him and seek God. He said the tattoo had no meaning to God and is not to please God. He also advised Christians who already had tattoos and wanted to remove them, not to have them surgically removed as this was a trap of satan, which could lead to other skin complications. He concluded by saying that when we worship God in Spirit and truth, whatever we have put on our body is nullified.

MODIFY YOUR CULTURE TO SUIT CHRIST’S IDEOLOGY

Deacon Daniel Emoghawei came to The SCOAN and received a prophecy. Prophet T.B. Joshua asked him about his wife and had spoken concerning the conflict at home and the spirit of anger. Today, Deacon Daniel Emoghawei came back together with his wife to confirm the prophecy. He explained that the cause of most conflicts in the house was regarding his wife’s clothing and makeup. As a deacon, he didn’t like to see his wife with revealing clothes and heavy makeup. He further told the prophet that even on their wedding day, they had fought concerning the same matter. Apart from that, according to the husband, the wife had the spirit of anger that caused her to argue and get angry unnecessarily. His wife also spoke, complaining that they would always quarrel and never agree on anything in the house. She further said that her husband would beat her and this had heightened the tension in the marriage.
Listening to their story, Prophet T.B. Joshua expressed his belief from God’s point of view that God is Spirit and that those who want to worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth. Therefore, for God to hear, help or answer us, we must talk to Him in Spirit but the problem people have is that many have not been dealing with God in Spirit but in the natural.
Prophet T.B. Joshua explained that there was nothing wrong in putting on makeup but that our ideology and culture must be modified to suit Christ’s ideology. He added that if someone has the spirit of lust, whether he or she applies makeup or not does not make any difference because it is a spiritual matter and can only be resolved through being delivered.
He asked them what their position was concerning the marriage. They both said that they still loved each other as husband and wife but just wanted the conflict in their marriage to stop. Prophet T.B. Joshua encouraged the couple that there could be no understanding without misunderstanding. He said that if you ask any successful couple today about their experiences, they would tell you that they passed through the shadow of death before they arrived at a successful marriage. T.B. Joshua concluded by advising, “There is a time to fight and there is a time to embrace each other. No matter what happens, God has something to say, even in a broken situation. Therefore, we should always ask for God’s opinion concerning all things”.
The new brand of Anointing Water was officially launched. People were falling under the anointing of God upon receiving the new Anointing Water and Stickers. Inspired by the Spirit of God, Prophet T.B. Joshua gave out The New Anointing Water and Stickers for free to the congregation both inside and outside the auditorium as his 50th Birthday gift and in dedication to the blessed memory of his mother on the occasion of this year’s Mothers Day celebration.
The man of God, Prophet T.B. Joshua gave the grace for the congregation to receive the rebranded Anointing Water and Stickers for the first time after their official launch today. Excitement and shouts of joy rented the atmosphere as the long-awaited release was announced by the prophet. As soon as the Anointing Water and Stickers were given out freely to the congregation, people began to shake, roll on the floor and vomit out dangerous substances that had been lodged in their system, under the power of God. They hadn’t even opened the packaging before Jesus Christ began to work in their situation. Mrs Towoju from Kwara State, Nigeria was among many who after merely receiving the New Anointing Water and Sticker received a miracle. She came out to testify that God healed her of a stroke after merely collecting a bottle of the Anointing Water along with the Anointing Sticker. Glory be to God!
Ifeoma had suffered serious headaches but immediately the Anointing Water and Sticker were given to her, just by merely touching the packaging, caused her to fall under the anointing of God and receive her healing. Upon getting up from the floor, she realized that God had performed the miracle. No more headaches!

Vision of Pastors, Ministers & Christians in Hell. Why they missed the Narrow Door.

Vision of Pastors, Ministers & Christians in Hell. Why they missed the Narrow Door.

6 Messages to the Church

Miraculous Healing and Divine Invitation to Heaven
by Pastor Brani Duyon
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Introduction:
In May 2006, a servant of God was brought to Heaven to meet with the Lord Jesus and receive a revelation of 6 messages.  Brani Duyon @ Efendie, age 52, a Dusun ethnicity.  He serves in the Borneo Evangelic Church, Kota Belud, Sabah (in East Malaysia) as an Elder.  He had served as Pastor in Melangkap Baru, Kota Belud, and later became the Church Leader at the SIB Bayayat from 2005-2006.

On April 21st, 2006, my wife and I went to West Malaysia to attend the wedding of our son.  Unfortunately after one week, I had a sudden stroke.  I was immediately brought to the medical centre in Malaya University where the doctor examined me.  He told me that there was a rupture of blood cells in my brain and I immediately needed to get an operation. 

I was in comma for one week after the operation and in intensive care unit for 1 more month.

There were many servants of God who came to visit and pray for me, including the former SIB Sabah President - Pastor Taipin Melidoi, his assistant - Pastor Datuk Arun Selutan, and also Pastor Michael.

I once dreamed of a heavy rain pouring on me.  I interpreted this dream as the answers to the Pastors who had prayed for my recovery.  Praise God, with His power I recovered sooner than expected. 

One midnight, during the third week of May 2006, I felt very strange.  I could not go to sleep, while the other patients had slept soundly.  During this time, I had my mind only on Jesus.  I remembered in Isaiah 43:26 “Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence."  I kept thinking of these words because I wanted to focus my mind only on the Lord Jesus.  I could feel the strong presence of God at that time. 

Then I started to pray in the spirit.  After praying, I tried to sleep again but I just could not.  Then I leaned back in my bed.  Suddenly I felt as though someone was tapping on my back and stroking on my head.  This happened for a while.  I felt something amazing flowing into my body.  I believed it was a father’s love to his child.  I wondered who this person was.  When I turned to face him, I was amazed to see that he was a young and handsome man, well-built, tall with a long hair down to his neck.  And he was wearing a white dress.  I asked him, “are you the Lord that I have been thinking of?”  He only shook his head.  Then I asked again, “if not then who are you?” At last he started talking to me “I am a messenger from Heaven.  Jesus told me to come to you for good news.”

Now I realized that he was the Angel of God, so I asked him, “what is the good news you want to tell me?” He replied, “tonight you will go to Heaven”.  Immediately I felt very calm and peaceful even though my body was sick.  I felt as if I did not have any pain.  I had fully recovered from my sickness the moment the Angel told me that I was going to Heaven.  Then I said to the Angel, “I’m ready to follow you to heaven.  I can’t wait to see my Lord.”

While we were walking I saw my earthly body was left on my bed.  After we walked out of the hospital, I saw an amazingly big and tall horse.  “We will ride this horse,” said the Angel.  The Angel helped me onto the horse, since it was so tall.  Then I asked the Angel, “can we go to Heaven by riding this horse?” The Angel then assured me, “of course, don’t be afraid and worried.  Have you read the Word of God about Elijah who was taken up to Heaven by God?” I told him “yes, I read it before.  The vehicle that brought him was a chariot of fire, pulled by horses of fire.” “That’s right, and that is one of the horses that we will ride now,” said the Angel.

At first we went slow, but after about 100 meters the horse accelerated to a very high speed and I felt as if we were hit by a hurricane.  Then I saw the horse was already flying.  We crossed many mountains with ease, flying with God’s power.

Then we reached to a very big field with green grass – it was perfect, with not one dry blade of grass. (Psalm 23:2 “He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water").  After the horse stopped, we went down and began walking. 

I could see the Kingdom of God right before my eyes.  As we were walking on the field, I heard a bell rang.  Then I asked the Angel “why does the bell ring?” He said “the bell is a sign that someone has come.”

We continued walking to the end of the field, while the bell was still ringing.  I saw a very beautiful house, on its top was a red light, like a traffic light.  On this light I saw the number “51”.  I asked the Angel what the number meant.  He said, “what is your age now?” During this time I was 51 years old.  “Then that number is your age, so is your house number too,” the Angel told me.  I felt so happy and peaceful to see what God has prepared for me in Heaven.  I saw many houses which are already prepared by Jesus for His children who believe and follow Him.

We continued walking to a very huge house, with many people inside.  I believe they were the holy people that God have chosen.  They were praising God.  I saw Jesus was sitting on His throne while all the people were praising and worshipping Him.  They praised Him with all their hearts, they danced, they lifted their hands and they bowed to their knees.  Deep in my heart I said, “if only people on earth praise and worship Him like this, God will be very pleased.”

I saw many people were crying while praising God.  Jesus smiled while watching how devoted they were to worship God.  They lifted their hands towards Jesus and Jesus was blessing all of them.  After the service finished, Jesus walked among them and wiped off their tears.  Then I remembered the verse in the book of Revelation, “there will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain". 

The Angel brought me in to Jesus.  The Angel spoke to Jesus “Lord, this is the son that You have chosen to come here.” Jesus then said to me, “Great! My son you have come today”.  Then Jesus hugged me and it made me so happy and peaceful that I cried.  My soul jumped with joy because Jesus Himself hugged me.

The Angel then said, “Lord, I went to His house on earth when he was sick, nevertheless He is now better.” Jesus replied, “yes, I heard and saw what happened to him.” The Angel continued, “during that time, I heard his wife pray for Your help.  She prayed: “Lord, help us, please don’t take him now because we are not ready for him leaving us yet.” That was her prayer, Lord.” Jesus then said, “I know everything.  His wife is a God-fearing woman.  She is faithful to Me and diligent in prayer.” Then my soul cried again thinking of my wife’s faithfulness to God.

Then God spoke to me, “My son, you will go back to Earth, because it is not your time yet to be here.  There is a lot of work for you to do when you go back there.  You will be very busy to serve Me.” Then I replied, “Lord, please don’t ask me to go back, because I am very peaceful to be with You here.  I feel happy to be close to You Lord.  Please, I don’t want to go back.”

From His face, I can tell Jesus became disappointed.  Then I begged Him for His forgiveness because I had disappointed Him.  I said, “Lord, I’m ready to go back to Earth but please help me Lord, give me strength, and take care of me wherever I go.  Be with me Lord.” Jesus then said, “yes, don’t worry, wherever you go to serve Me, I will always be with you.”

Jesus had messages for me to bring to Earth.  He wanted me to tell these messages to the children of God on Earth.  “These messages are very important for them to know”, said Jesus.  I was told that I would be very busy getting out these messages.  Jesus also wanted me to share my Heavenly experiences to all the children of God so they will be blessed and renew their strength to follow Him.

Jesus spoke to me, “when you go back to earth tell all My children these messages” (There were SIX MESSAGES which Jesus had given to me):

FIRST MESSAGE:
“Tell My children, they must believe in Me with all their heart, their strength, and their mind.  Those who are worried and doubtful will not get in here,” said the Lord Jesus.

SECOND MESSAGE:
“Tell My Children, they must be faithful to come to the Church service, because that is the time when I will shine over their faces and they will look for My face.  I will be very pleased to see My children worshipping at Church,” said the Lord Jesus

THIRD MESSAGE:
“Tell My Children, they must be faithful to pray, do My will, and live with My words,” said the Lord Jesus

FOURTH MESSAGE:
“Tell My children, they must be obedient to give tithes and offerings," said the Lord Jesus.

(While Jesus was giving me this message, He said “My child, look there” He showed me beautiful houses which are ready for His children.  “My child, these houses are ready, I prepared for all My children that believe and are obedient to Me.” Then He showed me incomplete houses.  I asked“Lord, why are these houses not yet completed?” The Lord Jesus said “My child, these houses belong to My children that are not generous giving tithe and offerings.  These houses will be ready and completed after My children give more tithes and offerings in My House.”

FIFTH MESSAGE:
“Tell My children, they must put in prayer all their wealth to Me for protection and blessing while they are still on Earth, so that when I come to Earth for the second time, they will not be attached to their Earthly wealth.  Remember the story of Lot wife,” said the Lord Jesus.

SIXTH MESSAGE:
“Tell My children, they must be ready and alert, because I will be coming soon.  Sooner than people expect!”  said the Lord Jesus,

(Jesus’ coming is not known but the rupture will surely take place.  Lord Jesus will come soon!!!)

While Jesus told me the sixth message, He showed me the sky, it was all clear and no clouds.  I saw Jesus opened His hands to Earth and He spoke “I am ready to take My children.” Then I saw many people in white robes flying up in the sky to meet Jesus.  They were gathered to the left and right side of Jesus.  Many people who believe in Jesus were ruptured.  Moreover, I saw all members of many families were being ruptured.  I could see the husband and wife with their children flying up towards Jesus.  I felt so peaceful to see this sight. 

Then Jesus insisted, “look down”.  Jesus then showed me the situation on Earth, it was very chaotic.  There was no peace on Earth during that time.  I saw people were running all over the place and shouting.  Parents were looking for their children and youths were looking for their parents. 

Jesus showed me the Church in my hometown.  I felt so sad, because there were some people who were left behind. 

Jesus then said to me, “be faithful to Me.  You must convey all things that you have seen and heard to My children on Earth.”

Then the Angel took me to Earth on the same horse we rode before.  We got to Earth very fast.  Then the Angel took me back to the hospital.  While I was looking at my earthly body, my spirit immediately went back into it.

I noticed that my body had fully recovered from the sickness.  Praise God for His power!

I remember that when I was in Heaven my body looked like as it did when I was young.

That is my testimony of meeting with the Lord Jesus in Heaven. 

 

Baptized by Blazing Fire by Pastor Yong-Doo Kim        Book  #1   #2   #3   #4   #5 In these pages, is the most strategic revelation on spiritual warfare that I’ve ever seen.  It will send shockwaves around the world, and lead to the fall of many demonic principalities.  The devil’s identities are being exposed and the Lord is equipping His end-time army with many new powerful weapons. The demonic realm is leading billions into hell, and they hinder every aspect of the Church; evangelism, missions, intercession, worship, charity, etc.  In Jesus’ parable, the enemy plants his seeds at night, while everyone is sleeping. To fight this, we see that Nighttime UnifiedWarfare Intercession (NUWI) is crucial for engaging in demonic combat.  Truly the gift of spiritual site is very devastating to the enemy; crippling his ability to hide; exposing his identities, tricks, deceptions, disguises and positions.  This revelation will help the Church transition from a defensive posture, to an offensive one.

 

2013 MANA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Spring Ministers & Leaders Conference 2013

May 19th - 26th 2013

Ministers and leaders are greatly encouraged to join us. Please, begin now to make plans to attend and to bring a group of people with you. Everyone is welcome. Please, pre-register today. Admission is free.

Join Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne in Tampa, FL for the Spring Ministers' & Leaders' Conference; the dates are May 19th - 26th. This will be eight days and nights of powerful preaching, teaching, and demonstration of the Holy Spirit. Come expecting and ready to receive from Heaven! Everyone is welcome and all can pre-register for free.
Following the Monday-Saturday morning services, we will conduct Power Evangelism classes – teaching effective methods of reaching the harvest. Bring a team of people with you for our leaders to pour into and train. We will take them to neighborhoods and show them how to impact communities through the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Semiannual Golf TournamentFriday, May 24th, is the RMI Golf Tournament at Heritage Isle Golf & Country Club. It is open to men and ladies. You can put a team together or we can join you with other golfers. Registration is $100 per player; please, click here to register.
Semiannual Ladies LuncheonFriday, May 24th, is the Ladies' Luncheon. Please, join Pastor Adonica for an afternoon of fun, fellowship, and excellent food following the Friday morning service. Registration is $50; please, click here to register.

Speakers:
Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne
Location:
RMI World Headquarters
3738 River International Drive
Tampa, FL 33610
(813) 971-9999
Service Times:
Sunday-Sunday 10 AM & 7 PM

Doors will open 1 hour before service.
Spanish translation will be available for every service.

Travel Information:Staybridge Suites Tampa Sabal Park
3624 North Faulkenburg
Tampa, FL 33619
Click here to view room rates
(813) 227-4000
Please ask for the RMI rate.
Residence Inn by Marriott Tampa/Sabal Park*
9719 Princess Palm Avenue
Tampa, FL. 33619
(813) 627-8855
www.marriott.com/tpasp
Rate: $84
*Please call and request the Revival Ministries rate

Hilton Garden Inn-Tampa East/Brandon
10309 Highland Manor Dr.
Tampa, FL 33610
(0.68 miles away)
813-769-4190
Room rates:$89 w/o breakfast — $99 w/breakfast
Click here to make your reservation
Please ask for the RMI rate.
Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa East
11740 Tampa Gateway Blvd
Seffner, Fl  33585
813.630.4321
We’re on I-4 at Exit 10 just east of I-75
$69 for King or Double Queens*
Breakfast Included
www.tampaeastsuites.hamptoninn.com
*Ask for the RMI rate
Sheraton Tampa East (formerly Crowne Plaza)
10221 Princess Palm ave.
Tampa, FL 33610
(0.72 miles away)
Room rates: $89 w/o breakfast
813-623-6363
Website: sheraton.com/tampaeast
Please ask for the RMI rate.

For the Hartline bus map and schedule, click here
For car rentals, go to: www.CarRentals.com

Salvation

STEP #1: Understand that God's desire for you is life, abundant, and eternal.

The Bible declares:

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" —John 10:10.

Giving you abundant life required the supreme sacrifice:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" —John 3:16.

God desires fellowship and companionship with you. What a wonderful gift the Father has given, yet if God gave His own Son to provide an abundant and everlasting life, why don’t more people have what He has designed for us to receive? It is a question answered by this sobering realization.
 

STEP #2: Realize that you are separated from God.

There is a gap between God and mankind. He has provided a way for us to receive an abundant and eternal life, but people throughout the ages have made selfish choices to disobey God Almighty. These choices continue to cause separation from the Father.
God’s Word shows us that the result of sin is death. He says in His Word:

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" —Proverbs 14:12.

And God also said,

"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" —Isaiah 59:2.

Paul the apostle states in Romans 3:23,

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

And in Romans 6:23 we read:

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Every human was created with the ability and need to know God and fellowship with Him. Augustine, a minister who lived during the fourth and fifth centuries, called this longing in each of us "that God-shaped vacuum."
Every day we hear of people who are rich, famous, achievers, star athletes—people who seem to have the best life can offer—yet they try to fill that empty void in their lives with "things." They even try good works, morality, and religion. Yet they remain empty, for only God, through His Son, can fill that emptiness.
 

STEP #3: Accept the fact that God has provided only one solution to sin and separation from Himself.

Jesus Christ, His Son, is the only way to God. Only He can reconcile us to God the Father. Mankind may seek other solutions and worship other gods, but Jesus Christ, alone, died on the Cross for our sins and rose in triumph over the grave and eternal death. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and mankind.
The Bible explains:

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" —Romans 5:8.

We are also told,

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God" —1 Peter 3:18.

There is only one way provided:

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" —1 Timothy 2:5.

For in John 14:6 we read,

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

God Almighty has provided the only way. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin and rebellion against God by dying on the cross, shedding His blood, and rising from the dead to justify and reconcile you back to God the Father.

 

STEP #4: Pray to receive Jesus Christ into your life.

You can be brought back to God, and your relationship with Him can be restored by trusting in Christ alone to save your life from destruction. What an incredible exchange: Your worst for God’s best!
This step happens by asking Jesus Christ to take away your sin and to come into your heart to be your Lord and Savior.
God’s Word is very clear:

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" —Revelation 3:20.

And the Bible tells us,

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" —Romans 10:9.

Are you willing to let go of your burdens and sins?
Are you willing to turn away and repent from your sins?
Are you willing to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior now?

 

STEP #5: Pray to Receive Jesus Christ into your life.

At this moment you can pray the most important prayer of your life by simply saying:

Dear Lord Jesus,
I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You came to earth 2,000 years ago. I believe you died for me on the cross and shed Your blood for my salvation. I believe you rose from the dead and ascended on high. I believe You are coming back again to earth. Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. Forgive my sin. Cleanse me now with Your precious blood. Come into my heart. Save my soul right now. I give you my life. I receive You now as my Savior, my Lord, and my God. I am Yours forever, and I will serve You and follow You the rest of my days. From this moment on, I belong to You only. I no longer belong to this world, nor to the enemy of my soul. I belong to You, and I am born again.
Amen!

By praying this prayer, confessing your sins, and receiving Jesus Christ into your heart, God has given you the right to become His forgiven child. The Bible gives you this assurance:

"But as many as received him, to them he gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on his name" —John 1:12.

If you have just received Jesus Christ into your life, we want to rejoice with you.

Confirmation of the prophecy of 2013: Hezbollah Threatens Israel Over Syria Strikes.

Confirmation of the prophecy 2013.

''There will be rumours of war in some country let we pray for Iran,Israel,North Korea,arabic countries even some African countries let we pray for peace we need peace not war.

For more Go and read Joel 2:12-29 and the Holy Spirit will reveal many things for you.But people of God let we take serious with this."

Hussein Malla/Associated Press

Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, said his group would get “unique weapons” from Syria.

BEIRUT, Lebanon — The leader of Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese militant group, escalated tensions with Israel on Thursday over the recent Israeli airstrikes near Damascus, suggesting that the Syrian government would respond by providing Hezbollah fighters with the same weapons that Israel wants to keep out of their hands.

Alessandro Di Meo/European Pressphoto Agency

Secretary of State John Kerry, in Rome on Thursday, suggested that the United Nations would announce a date for peace talks.

While the Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, did not specify the type of arms, he said that they were “unique weapons that it never had before” that would “change the balance” of power with Israel, which regards his group’s alliance with Syria and Iran as one of its most potent security threats.

In a televised speech, Mr. Nasrallah said the transfer of the weapons would be Syria’s “strategic response” to the airstrikes that hit the outskirts of Damascus on Sunday.

Israel has not publicly acknowledged responsibility for those strikes. But Israeli leaders have said they would take military action to prevent Hezbollah from obtaining “game changing” weapons like chemical arms, which Syria is believed to possess in large quantities, and sophisticated long-range missiles that could hit anywhere in Israel from Hezbollah-controlled areas of southern Lebanon.

Analysts close to Hezbollah said they believed that Mr. Nasrallah was referring to long-range missiles, not chemical munitions. But the Israelis have expressed growing concern about the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria’s civil war, suggesting that the transfer of such weapons to groups hostile to Israel was more and more likely.

The airstrikes believed to have been carried out by Israel last Sunday heightened fears that Syria’s war could lead to a regional conflagration.

Syrian officials said Thursday that they would respond forcefully to any future Israeli attacks and that they planned to retaliate for Sunday’s strikes, possibly by authorizing Syria-based militant groups to attack in the Golan Heights, the disputed border region captured by Israel from Syria in the 1967 war.

Syria’s deputy foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, said in an interview with Agence France-Presse in Damascus that any new Israeli assault would bring a “harsh and painful” response from Syria’s military.

“Instructions were given to respond immediately to any Israeli attack,” he said in the interview, which was also published on the Web site of Press TV, an Iranian satellite channel. “Syria will not allow this to be repeated.”

President Bashar al-Assad of Syria told recent visitors to Damascus that his government had decided to give Hezbollah “everything,” according to an article in the pro-Hezbollah Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar. He also said that Syria planned to become “a resistance country” and take a more active role in opposing Israel. Syria has long positioned itself as the champion of the Palestinian cause and as Israel’s greatest Arab foe, but since 1973 it has rarely clashed militarily with Israel.

The Israeli government did not respond to the assertions by Mr. Assad or Mr. Nasrallah. But Israeli analysts said they did not doubt that Mr. Assad’s forces and Hezbollah, which Israel considers a terrorist organization, would be drawing closer militarily, and that weapons transfers were possible.

“I’m afraid that both sides are serious in what they are saying and this is a recipe for direct confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah,” said Boaz Ganor, a counterterrorism expert at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel.

The escalating tensions came as the United States was seeking to exert more diplomacy in conjunction with Russia, Syria’s most powerful foreign supporter, aimed at starting negotiations to settle the Syrian conflict.

Secretary of State John Kerry, asked during a visit to Rome about intelligence reports that Russia was completing a sale of surface-to-air missiles to Syria, told reporters that the focus should be on the Russian-American agreement to convene peace talks as soon as possible. 

This news is from 

 Reporting was contributed by Hwaida Saad from Beirut, Isabel Kershner from Jerusalem, Steven Erlanger from Paris, Steven Lee Myers from Rome, Neil MacFarquhar from the United Nations and Rick Gladstone from New York.

For more information of this prophecy visit:http://www.innocentministries.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-prophecy-of-2013.html

Marks of a Good Pastor – Part III

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  John 10:2 AMP
4. A Pastor/Minister must have a divine anointing.
a.    An effective Pastor/Minister needs to have divine leading and divine help. He/she cannot rely on, or put their trust in, human education, human wisdom, polish or self-effort. The Pastor/Minister needs to be anointed and totally led by the Holy Spirit. In Luke 11:11-13 Jesus says that if you ask your Heavenly Father for the Holy Spirit, that He will give you the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter - Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby. Without the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing. He anoints us, leads us, and empowers us to do God’s will and His works.
In John 14:12-18 Jesus said, “If anyone believes in Me, he will do the things I do, and greater things. Whatever you ask for in My Name, I will give you, so that the Father will be glorified in the Son. If you love Me, keep my commandments and I will send the Holy Spirit to live in you and be with you always.” In John 14:26 Jesus said that the Father would send the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name - in His place, to represent Him and act on His behalf – to teach us and also to remind us of His words. In John 15:26 Jesus said that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth – He comes from the Father and testifies regarding Jesus. In John 7:37-39 Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.” He was speaking here about the Holy Spirit, who had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified. In Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist said that (Jesus) would baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire! In Luke 24:49 Jesus told the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high (from heaven). In Acts 1:8 Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, that you will receive power - ability, efficiency, and might – and you will be His witness from your home town out into the whole earth! The Holy Spirit gives you the power and ability to boldly preach the gospel wherever He sends you.
b.    A Pastor/Minister must preach God’s word under God’s anointing – not man’s ideas by man’s methods (1 Corinthians 2:1-10)
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 AMP – As for myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom; 2 For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified. 3 And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you. 4 And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them], 5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.
c.    The spiritual gifts that a Pastor/Minister needs, in order to minister effectively, are given by the Holy Spirit, at His discretion.
1 Corinthians 12:5-11 KJV - And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
d.    A Pastor/minister is to be a living epistle – God’s laws written on their hearts – reflecting Jesus everywhere they go (2 Corinthians 3:1-18)
2 Corinthians 3:5-6 KJV - Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
e.    A Pastor/Minister must be completely yielded to the Holy Spirit to do and say what He tells them to say – to preach when and where He leads – and not to be intimidated by man.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 NKJV – I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Marks of a Good Pastor – Part II

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. John 10:2 AMP
3. A person called by God to be a pastor/minister must have pure and consecrated motives.
a.    A pastor/minister must desire God's will and glory; not their own. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He calls certain people as under-shepherds. Pastoring is a call. Pastors represent Jesus on earth and should care for the Church – the Body of Christ - as much as Jesus does. A pastor cannot have selfish motives – they cannot pastor because of a natural reward; whether money or fame or any other selfish reason. In God’s Kingdom, ministry is about serving, not being served. It’s about giving your life: caring for the sheep and protecting them from the wolves – not running away. A pastor/minister must love people like Jesus loves them.
John 10:9-13 AMP - I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture. 10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). 11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep.  12 But the hired servant (he who merely serves for wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away. And the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters [the flock]. 13 Now the hireling flees because he merely serves for wages and is not himself concerned about the sheep [cares nothing for them].
b.    A pastor/minister must make salvation of lost souls a priority.
Luke 19:10 AMP - For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost. 
Acts 10:28 AMP - And he said to them, You yourselves are aware how it is not lawful or permissible for a Jew to keep company with or to visit or [even] to come near or to speak first to anyone of another nationality, but God has shown and taught me by words that I should not call any human being common or unhallowed or [ceremonially] unclean.
c.    Like Jesus, a pastor/minister must do good, heal and deliver people by the power of God.
Acts 10:38 AMP - How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the [Holy] Spirit and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and, in particular, curing all who were harassed and oppressed by [the power of] the devil, for God was with Him.
d.    A pastor/minister must have the best interests of the church, and all men, at heart. The purpose of the ministry gifts is to equip the saints (believers) for ministry work, to spiritually build up the Body of Christ, to accurately communicate the truths of God’s word, resulting in unity among, and maturity in, God’s people.
Ephesians 4:11-13 NKJV - And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
e.    A pastor/minister must see people as God sees them – through eyes of love and faith - as a new creation, growing in righteousness. His/her responsibility is to teach the Body of Christ who and what they are in Christ and to encourage them in their walk with God.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 AMP - For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died; 15 And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake. 16 Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a [purely] human point of view [in terms of natural standards of value]. [No] even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now [we have such knowledge of Him that] we know Him no longer [in terms of the flesh]. 17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 18 But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]. 19 It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor). 20 So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ's personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].

Marks of a Good Pastor – Part I

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  John 10:2 AMP
They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call. John 10:5 AMP
Jesus is THE Good Shepherd, but He calls certain of His children, as leaders, to feed and care for His sheep. There are certain qualities that He looks for in a shepherd/pastor/minister.
1.     A pastor/minister must be personally acquainted with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
a.    He must not be a stranger to God or to Gospel experiences. He must be born again.
2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP - Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
John 3:5 AMP - Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.
b.    He must be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-26 AMP - But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God). 17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do. 18 But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law. 19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency, 20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), 21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, 23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. 25 If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.] 26 Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.
The Holy Spirit is not just for performing miracles in public – He is in your life to regulate your own life. Many people want the Holy Spirit, for show, in church, but we all need the Holy Spirit every day in our personal lives. We need to spend time with the Holy Spirit so that we can really come to know Him and to know His voice. We need to allow Him to do a work on the inside of us. He can only do through us that which He has done TO us and IN us!
2.    A pastor/minister must have a divine call. You can’t just decide to be a minister – God has to call you.
a.    You can’t call yourself and, if you are called, you can’t run the other way. You must obey God.
b.    You cannot enter into ministry out of the love of money; personal ambition; desire for respect, honor, or attention; self-interest; or love of ease – but only because of the call of God and the desire to please Him.  
John 10:1-2 AMP - I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way (elsewhere, from some other quarter) is a thief and a robber.  2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Acts 13:2-3 AMP - While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. 3 Then after fasting and praying, they put their hands on them and sent them away.
1 Corinthians 12:28 NKJV - And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
Ephesians 4:11 NKJV - And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers
Romans 11:29 AMP - For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]