The Works of the Holy Spirit

1. The Holy Spirit = Convicts Me
One of the most devastating effects of sin is that it blinds.  It is written about Satan that, “The godof this world blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of God.”  (2 Corinthians 4:4). The Holy Spirit opens our eyes.  Only He can convict us of the depth of our sin, and only He can convince us of the truth of the Gospel.

Thus the Holy Spirit is called ‘the Spirit of truth’ in John 14:17.  In speaking of the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus said, “He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.”  (John 16:8).

There is the danger that we may pass the point of no return, and that our hearts may be so hardened by sin that we will no longer hear the voice of the Spirit.  No man could have been more hardened, than King Manasseh in the Old Testament, and yet he eventually repented of his sin and was forgiven by God in His grace (2 Chronicles 33).  The word of God warns us, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”  (Hebrews 3:7).

2. The Holy Spirit = Sanctifies Me
The word sanctification means literally, “to be separate” or “set apart for a certain purpose”.  St. Paul speaks of the believer as having been “sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:16).  He wrote to the Corinthians saying that they, having been sanctified, are called to be saints (1 Corinthians 1:2).

We Christians are to be “progressively sanctified” or “made righteous” in holiness as we daily abide in Christ and obey His Word.  Abiding and obedience are the keys to a successful Spirit-dominated life.  We are as much sanctified, as the Holy Spirit possesses us. It is never a question of how much we have of the Spirit, but how much He has of us!!

St. Gregory Nazianzen expresses the Holy Spirit desires to draw us day after day from our human frailty unto the perfect likeness of Christ.  Constantly He ‘hovers over the water’ (Genesis 1:2), in which our inner earth is formless and void, in order to replace our darkness with His light and establish within us a new Spiritual state, that is the Kingdom of God.

3. The Holy Spirit = Guides Me
The Lord said, “When He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”  (John 16:13-15).

The Holy Spirit guides, “And the Spirit said to Phillip, ‘Go up and join his chariot…’”  (Acts 8:14).  “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”  (Romans 8:14). The Holy Spirit enlightens the Christian’s mind, “For to us God revealed them through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.”  (1 Corinthians 2:10). “Therefore he who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.”  (Revelation 2:7).

4. The Holy Spirit = Comforts Me
One of the works of the Holy Spirit is to comfort.  His name is the “Comforter” and the “Helper” (John 14:16 & John 15:26).  “In the multitudes of my anxieties Your comforts delight my soul.” He comforts us when we repent or feel disappointed and disillusioned and helps us grow in our spiritual path.

5. The Holy Spirit = Makes Me Fruitful
When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we bring fruits as the Lord said, “By their fruits you will know them.”  (Matthew 7:20). Also the Lord said, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”  (Matthew 12:35). The fruits of the Spirit, “Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

6. The Holy Spirit = Grants Me Gifts
The Holy Spirit distributes to each one of us at least one, if not more, than one gift (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4 give a summary of those gifts.  The purpose of the gifts granted by the Holy Spirit is mainly the edification of the body of Christ.  This edification implies supporting one another, with words and deeds to the measure that pleases the heart of God and kindles the work and fruit of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives.

7. The Holy Spirit = Renews Me
Renewal is the work of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration andrenewing of the Holy Spirit.”  (Titus 3:5).

No person can ever remain dry, thirsty or empty, as long as he/she does not, grief (Ephesians 4:30) or quench (1 Thessalonians 5:9) or resist the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51).  For He renews us daily“And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” (Ephesians 4:23), when we have daily fellowship with Him thereby become fervent in Spirit

How Does the Holy Spirit Help Us?

What does the Holy Spirit help us to understand?

1 Corinthians 2:9-11
But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit opens our understanding to spiritual truths that seem foolishness to those who don't have God's Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14). It opens a window into the mind of God and helps us to learn to think as God thinks.
What fruit can the Holy Spirit help us grow in our lives?

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

These are all characteristics of God, and He gives us help to develop them through His Spirit. They are in vivid contrast to the works of the flesh that come naturally to human beings (Galatians 5:19-21). Without God's help, we cannot overcome all of these negative pulls and influences.
What else did Jesus Christ call the Holy Spirit?

John 14:16-17
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth..."

In the King James Version, "Helper" is translated as "Comforter." The Holy Spirit comforts, encourages and helps us in many ways, if we stay close to God and stir up the Spirit (2 Timothy 1:6). It is also the Spirit of truth and helps us remember and focus on the truth of God's Word (John 17:17).
Does the gift of the Holy Spirit make us children of God?

Romans 8:14-17
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
1 John 3:1-2
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

As we have been seeing in this series, God wants to have a relationship with you. But not just any relationship. He wants to have the closest of relationships, the family relationship of Father and child. This awesome plan and purpose is beyond our comprehension—that the Creator God of the vast universe wants you to be His child! Keep this thought in mind, and we will come back to it in a future lesson.

What Is the Holy Spirit?

How is the Holy Spirit described in Scripture?

2 Timothy 1:7
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Zechariah 4:6
So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts."
Micah 3:8
"But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin."
Luke 4:14
Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.
Acts 1:8
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

The Holy Spirit is often described as the power of God. As our Fundamental Beliefs booklet explains, "The Holy Spirit of God is not identified as a third person in a trinity but is presented in Scripture as the power of God, the mind of God and the very essence and life force of God through which the Father begets human beings as His spiritual children." There is much more to this subject, so in addition to the link above, please also see "Is the Holy Spirit a Person?" and "Why Can't Theologians Explain the Trinity Doctrine?"
Receiving the Holy Spirit gives the Christian the spiritual power needed to live a Christian life. It helps provide the motivation and strength that make it possible for us to be able to obey God's commandments, make right choices, overcome and persevere (Romans 8:26; 12:2; Philippians 2:5; 2 Peter 1:3-4).

50 Things the Holy Spirit Does

1.      He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).
2.      He guides us into all truth (John 16:13).
3.      He regenerates us (John 3:5-8; Titus 3:5).
4.      He glorifies and testifies of Christ (John 15:26; 16:14).
5.      He reveals Christ to us and in us (John 16:14-15).
6.      He leads us (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:18; Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:1).
7.      He sanctifies us (2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:2; Rom. 5:16).
8.      He empowers us (Luke 4:14; 24:49; Rom. 15:19; Acts 1:8).
9.      He fills us (Eph. 5:18; Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 9:17).
10.    He teaches us to pray (Rom. 8:26-27; Jude 1:20).
11.    He bears witness in us that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16).
12.    He produces in us the fruit or evidence of His work and presence (Gal. 5:22-23).
13.    He distributes spiritual gifts and manifestations (the outshining) of His presence to and through the body (1 Cor.     12:4, 8-10; Heb. 2:4).
14.    He anoints us for ministry (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38).
15.    He washes and renews us (Titus 3:5).
16.    He brings unity and oneness to the body (Eph. 4:3; 2:14-18). Here He plays the same role that He plays in the Godhead. The Spirit is the life that unites Father and Son. He plays the same role in the church. When He is operating in a group of people, He unites them in love. Therefore, a sure evidence of the Holy Spirit working in a group is Love and Unity. Not signs and wonders (those are seasonal and can be counterfeited).
17.    He is our guarantee and deposit of the future resurrection (2 Cor. 1:22; 2 Cor. 5:5).
18.    He seals us unto the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13; 4:30).
19.    He sets us free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2).
20.    He quickens our mortal bodies (Rom. 8:11).
21.    He reveals the deep things of God to us (1 Cor. 2:10).
22.    He reveals what has been given to us from God (1 Cor. 2:12).
23.    He dwells in us (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Tim. 1:14; John 14:17).
24.    He speaks to, in, and through us (1 Cor. 12:3; 1 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 2:11; Heb 3:7; Matt. 10:20; Acts 2:4; 8:29; 10:19; 11:12, 28; 13:2; 16:6,7; 21:4,11).
25.    He is the agent by which we are baptized into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).
26.    He brings liberty (2 Cor. 3:17).
27.    He transforms us into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).
28.    He cries in our hearts, “Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6).
29.    He enables us to wait (Gal. 5:5).
30.    He supplies us with Christ (Phil. 1:19, KJV).
31.    He grants everlasting life (Gal. 6:8).
32.    He gives us access to God the Father (Eph. 2:18).
33.    He makes us (corporately) God’s habitation (Eph. 2:22).
34.    He reveals the mystery of God to us (Eph. 3:5).
35.    He strengthens our spirits (Eph. 3:16).
36.    He enables us to obey the truth (1 Pet. 1:22).
37.    He enables us to know that Jesus abides in us (1 John 3:24; 4:13).
38.    He confesses that Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4:2).
39.    He says “Come, Lord Jesus” along with the bride (Rev. 22:17).
40.    He dispenses God’s love into our hearts (Rom. 5:5).
41.    He bears witness to the truth in our conscience (Rom. 9:1).
42.    He teaches us (1 Cor. 2:13; John 14:26).
43.    He gives us joy (1 Thess. 1:6).
44.    He enables some to preach the gospel (1 Pet. 1:12).
45.    He moves us (2 Pet. 1:21).
46.    He knows the things of God (1 Cor. 2:11).
47.    He casts out demons (Matt. 12:28).
48.    He brings things to our remembrance (John 14:26).
49.    He comforts us (Acts 9:31).
50.    He makes some overseers in the church and sends some out to the work of church planting [through the body] (Acts 20:28; 13:2).

Summary: The Holy Spirit unites us to Jesus Christ and to His body. He reveals Christ to us, gives us His life, and makes Christ alive in us. The Spirit takes the experiences of Jesus . . . His incarnation, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension . . . and brings them into our own experience. Because of the Holy Spirit, the history of Jesus Christ becomes our story and experience (see Jesus Manifesto for details). Unfortunately, some movements have become known for their excesses in regard to the Holy Spirit’s work (see Revise Us Again for details).

How to Receive God's Holy Spirit

After baptism in water, the Bible shows that God's ministers put their hands on the new convert and prayed for the person to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. What is the Holy Spirit and how can we use this gift to transform our lives?
The story of the new Christians baptized by Philip in Samaria illustrates the importance of the ceremony of laying on of hands in the giving of the Holy Spirit.
After the martyrdom of Stephen, most of the Christians in Jerusalem fled the city in fear of Saul (who later became the apostle Paul).

"But the believers who had fled Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus. Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. Crowds listened intently to what he had to say because of the miracles he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city...
"But now the people believed Philip's message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized...
"When the apostles back in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God's message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new Christians to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:4-8, 12, 14-17, New Living Translation).

THE SECRET OF ALL THE MIRACLES – JESUS

SUNDAY SERVICE at The SCOAN – 26 May 2013
Emmanuel, God is with us! When God is with us, we know what follows – healing, deliverance and all of God’s blessings. We saw the evidence of God’s presence once again at The SCOAN during the prayer line which formed the beginning of the Sunday service, 26th May, 2013. Visitors from around the world came and received healing, deliverance and breakthrough as the wise men prayed for them in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
After the prayer line, the Sunday service was devoted to accommodating the teaming number of testifiers who were more eager than ever to share their testimonies of breakthrough, healing and deliverance through the medium of the Anointing Water. It is our earnest belief that you, too, will be richly blessed as you read these astonishing accounts of miracles happening at The SCOAN.

SEVERE HIP PROBLEM HEALED

ANOINTING WATER TESTIMONIES


Mrs Shelter Ugbebor had visited The SCOAN and was privileged to obtain the New Anointing Water. Back home, she had a neighbor who was watching Emmanuel TV and saw the clip showing where Mrs Ugbebor was receiving the Anointing Water.

This lady requested that she should minister the Anointing Water on her sister who had a hip problem that needed to undergo a surgical operation to have it replaced. The hip injury had lasted so long that people in the neighbourhood knew that her prolonged withdrawal from public view was as a result the problem. As soon as the New Anointing Water was ministered to the lady, she immediately sprang up and walked. The joyful uproar that greeted her miraculous healing attracted a huge crowd that soon gathered to behold the mighty power of Jesus Christ operating through the medium of the Anointing Water.

AIRCRAFT’S SAFE LANDING MADE POSSIBLE

Richard Martins, a Nigerian residing in South Africa, was on a journey from Johannesburg to Lagos. Right in the middle of the flight the pilot announced that the engine had caught fire and the plane had to be diverted to the nearest airport for an emergency landing.

The aircraft crew tried to calm the panic-stricken passengers, telling them they would be landing safely in 15 minutes. The first attempt at landing failed and the aircraft had to go back up in the air. The pilot attempted two more times but each attempt failed. They had to float about in the air for another 45 minutes. They could hear the pilot sending out distress calls to the airport that the aircraft was in great danger.  It was in this uncertainty that Richard remembered he had the Anointing Water in his possession. He ministered it in the plane, praying in the name of Jesus Christ for a safe landing. Miraculously, a few minutes later, the aircraft landed safely to the amazement of all including the airport ground crew who had already gathered with fire fighting trucks, anticipating the worst. Our Lord is indeed a miracle-working God.

DELIVERED FROM THE ACT OF MASTURBATION

Mr Sylvester had been engaged in the act of masturbation for 13 years. It all started when a friend suggested to him that it was a way of avoiding the sin of fornicating. He did not understand then that the act of masturbating was as bad as fornicating.  This act brought about many problems both in his career and health. He was into Property Management and was getting contracts from his state government but started experiencing disappointments from customers who would suddenly cancel business schedules. The act of masturbation caused him lack of affection for his wife as he would prefer to masturbate rather than being intimate with the wife. This and many other problems eventually led to the collapse of the marriage. He suffered back pain and feverish conditions. He tried in so many ways to stop including observing fasts but would end up masturbating the more.
He then decided to come to The SCOAN and received the Anointing Water. Getting back home, he ministered the Anointing Water on himself, in Jesus’ name. Since then, the urge to masturbate completely disappeared. He now has peace of conscience and renewed desire to please God. Praise the Lord!

MYSTERIOUS BIRD EXPOSED

There had been strange occurrences in the apartment that Mr Lucky Godwin and other tenants were living in. It was reported that at a time the landlord rushed out of his apartment and was shouting for help saying that something was pursuing him.

People had come out to hear the landlord but could not see anything pursuing him. The man slumped and died before he could receive any help. After his death, another family moved into his apartment and started hearing strange movements and noises in the ceiling. They started having financial problems, disappointments and business failure which they could not trace their origin since they were continuing the way they had been before. About the same time, Mr Godwin who happened to be a co-tenant also started experiencing business failure and his wife would continually dream of encounters with dead people. A pastor friend also living in one of the apartments in this compound complained that when he parked his car and switched off the engine, he would wake up the next morning to find the car engine on. This sparked quarrels between him and his neighbours, not knowing that there was an evil force at work, behind the strange occurrences. When he came to the SCOAN, he received the Anointing Water. He went home and prayed with his family that God should expose whatever evil that operated in the apartment. The next day, one of the tenants heard a strange noise in her house; looking up, she saw an owl flying over the flat. Immediately, her brother got a stick and was able to strike the owl down and kill it.

Since the death of the owl after ministering the Anointing Water, the entire compound and the tenants have enjoyed peace.  Mr Godwin’s business that had been tied down by the evil one suddenly resurrected and the strange experience regarding his pastor friend’s car has also stopped.

TEARS OF BROKENNESS WIPED AWAY

Miriam comes from Equatorial Guinea but lives in Spain. She had been jobless for seven years. She became a burden on her husband who had to opt out of the marriage thereby rendering her homeless. She did a secretarial course but still could not get a job. A friend of hers helped her with finances to go back to her country, Equatorial Guinea. It was there she learnt about Prophet TB Joshua and decided to come to The SCOAN and was privileged to receive the Anointing Water.

After praying fervently and ministering the Anointing Water to herself and on her credentials, she received a call from one the organizations she had earlier submitted a job application to and was offered the post of a manager of the international company. With a good job and the financial problems in her life over, she can now pay the school fees of her two children. She has been able to win big contracts for her company and because of this breakthough; her Director who was an unbeliever has granted her permission to visit The SCOAN again for more of God’s blessings.

SMOKING HABIT DESTROYED INSTANTLY

Tom Rockafellow from the USA came out to testify to complete deliverance from an addiction to smoking from childhood after receiving a prophecy and prayer for deliverance from T.B. Joshua. He said that before, he did not believe in the happenings at The SCOAN but was convinced when the man of God had told him about his brother wanting to commit suicide – something he had not told anyone. After he returned from The SCOAN, out of habit, he lit a cigarette but was immediately disgusted and threw it away, the desire for it having gone completely! The man of God, commented that “Leaders all over the world, when they are tense, they believe that smoking will relieve the tension and pressure. When they smoke, they are gone, out of this world. They lose their sense of reasoning and judgment. These are the challenges people are facing all over the world.”

He further said that we should pray for the whole world and that if there were any occasions for people in their thousands come out to protest, no leader would see thousands to protest and be calm without the Holy Spirit and that if there is no Holy Spirit, it is either they smoke, drink or find another alternative.

A WOMAN WITH AN ISSUE OF BLOOD

Esther Oni Jesus, a Nigerian living in Kampala, Uganda came forward to testify to the mighty power in God in her life. She had been bleeding profusely for ten years; it had not stopped for one day. The pain, mortification and discomfort had become difficult to bear. She had been to South Africa, Turkey, Cape Verde and India where various tests were conducted on her but the cause of the bleeding could not be identified.  She would use more than one pack of sanitary pads within a space of two hours. The problem had also caused her several business failures because she had lost focus and was unable to attend to her various engagements in person. Explaining the severity of her condition, she said that she was not able to sit for more than 15 minutes because her clothes would quickly become soaked with blood. As a result, she avoided going anywhere and would rather stay isolated at home. At times, clots of blood would fall from her body and she would not notice it until someone would point it out.

When her mother insisted she came to The SCOAN, she was at first unwilling because she had gone to places where she thought were very efficacious but could not get any relief from the affliction. Moreover, she had reservations about ‘so-called miracle works’ that went on at The SCOAN. When she eventually agreed to come to The SCOAN, she was seated at the nursing mothers section, afraid to sit in the church due to the bleeding. She was among those privileged to receive the new anointing water during the Live Service. When she returned to her lodging, she ministered it and drank some of it, praying that Jesus who delivered the woman with the issue of blood would deliver her.

That same night, she had a dream. She saw the man of God, Prophet T.B. Joshua who told her that God wanted to do an extraordinary thing with her that had never been done in this ministry. She was seated in front of the altar and the man of God instructed the wise men to lift her in that chair to the right seven times, to the left, seven times and to the front. Immediately they put her down, the man of God touched her forehead and said, “It is over”. She felt that she needed to go to the bathroom urgently. It was this feeling that woke her and she quickly ran to the toilet. To her greatest surprise, it was a pool of blood that came out from her. This happened three consecutive times. Since then, her bleeding had completely stopped. A plague of ten years came to an end abruptly through the power in the name of Jesus operating through the Anointing Water. Truly, God had done something extraordinary, something unheard of, something unprecedented. This is the first time in 10 years that she can go out without wearing a sanitary pad.

The man of God commented that the way and manner people receive the anointing water and God’s gift really matters. God is using the new anointing water to re-write people’s history. He explained the vision God had given him about the anointing water, saying that it would be used to purify people and make their lives, businesses and prospects clearer.

TRUTH OVERTAKES LYING

Pastor Obi, while sharing his testimony stated that he was a minister of God before and in obedience to the advice from his mentor, would pray against The SCOAN and Prophet T.B. Joshua.

He said he had thought that the power in The SCOAN was not from God and their members call it ‘The Synagogue of satan’, believing that T.B. Joshua and his workers had horns and tails like the devil is depicted. He and colleagues would hold prayer vigils specifically targeting and rebuking T.B. Joshua and his ministry. He noticed however, that the more he prayed against T.B. Joshua, the more he experienced setback in his life, home and ministry. After some time, his friend who had been without a child for 17 years came to The SCOAN, was healed, delivered and now has a baby. That opened his eyes and he decided to come to The SCOAN to see things for himself. He was surprised to hear the man of God, Prophet T.B. Joshua continually preaching about love, not condemnation of any ministry or minister. He asked God for forgiveness, stating that his condemnation of this ministry was the greatest mistake of his life. He confessed that he has now installed the Emmanuel TV decoder in his house. He further spoke of a prophecy he had received from Prophet T.B. Joshua during a previous Live Service where he was told to forgive his wife. He had been very angry and annoyed with his wife because she told him that if he travelled to Lagos to visit The SCOAN, he would die, according to a message she had received. He ignored what she said and came to Lagos and returned home safe and sound. His wife, who accompanied him on the occasion of giving this testimony, also spoke, thanking God for the grace in the life of the man of God and her husband’s faith.

Prophet T.B. Joshua commented that many mouths that had been used to curse the ministry in the past are now blessing God for the ministry. He concluded by saying, “If lying goes on for 100 years, one day, truth will meet it.”   “The mouth we are using to bless this ministry now, once, we have used it to curse this ministry. Now, people are provoked because they realize that they had made a mistake.”

After the testimonies, T.B. Joshua moved round ministering words of prophecy to individuals. The wise men then came to minister deliverance and pray for every person present. The service concluded with a powerful time of mass prayer as every bit of darkness in the lives of the people was exposed by the light of God.

I will heal your Land

Sinners 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.

"The Importance of Prayer"

Colossians 1:9-15

Rev. Bruce Goettsche . . . March 15, 1998

Jay Kesler, the former President of Youth for Christ and the current President of Taylor University, was on one of his frequent flights. When lunch was served the young man next to him declined a lunch tray. During the whole lunchtime this man sat with his head bowed, apparently in prayer. Kesler was impressed (and maybe a little humbled) by the man's devotion. He commented to the young man that he wondered if he was a Christian because it appeared that he was fasting. The young man replied with words that shook Kelser to the core of his being. "I am a Satan worshiper and the members of my church have agreed to fast every Friday at noon. During that time we pray that the leaders of the Christian world will fall. We pray that they will fall into sexual sin, and that their family life would crumble."
I felt a chill as I heard that story and then immediately felt convicted. I am much quicker to criticize fallen Christian leaders than I am to pray for them. But the problem is not just about our lack of disciplined prayer for our leaders. The problem is our struggle with any kind of prayer. We all know we need to pray. We know prayer is valuable. But we still find it hard to pray.
This morning I want to observe some lessons about prayer that will help us to fellowship with the Father. This morning we look at verses 9, 10 of the first chapter of Paul's letter to the Colossians:

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way:"

This morning I want to focus on: The Importance of Prayer, The Content of Prayer, and then deal with some of the Obstacles to Prayer.

The Importance of Prayer

Three times in the first ten verses of this letter the Apostle Paul has told the Colossians that he is praying for them. He tells them he is thanking God for them and that his prayers on their behalf are unceasing. These are not nice platitudes only. I believe Paul WAS praying for these people.

What is Prayer?

It seems that the first question we must ask is this: what is prayer? The simple answer is this: prayer is talking with God. We pray when we open our heart to the Almighty.
As simple as this is, it is also something people need to hear. Too many people feel that prayer is a certain sound . . . Shakespearean English, rich in theological terminology very often spoken VERY loudly. Others feel prayer is something that takes place in a certain place or with a certain posture. But none of those things are requirements for true prayer. In fact, you can sound holy and not be doing anything other than talking to yourself.
I love to share the story Howard Hendricks tells of a young man who met Christ after many years of life in the world. After his conversion he went to his first prayer meeting. Everyone was getting up and uttering their flowery (and maybe showy) prayers. Finally, this new convert stood to pray and said, "Lord, this is Mel. I'm not sure whether you remember me or not . . . I met you last Tuesday night. I just wanted to say . . . well . . . Thank-you for changing my life." And then he sat down. The simplicity and honesty of that prayer brought tears to the eyes of many. I suspect it brought a smile to the face of the Father, as well.
True prayer is honest, humble and personal.

Four Reasons for Prayer

There are several good reasons to pray.

• It is a great privilege. Can you think of any greater honor than to have an audience with the One who rules over ALL creation? We have been invited to talk with the one who put the stars in place. We are invited to seek counsel from the One who is truth and wisdom. We are invited to sit down with the One who knows all things. The Puritan John Preston lays it out very plainly,

Prayer is a privilege purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. Christ died for this end, it cost him the shedding of his blood, so that we, through him, might have entrance to the throne of grace. And will you let such a privilege as this lie still? If you do, so far as is in you, you cause his blood to be shed in vain. For if you neglect the privileges gotten by that blood, you neglect the blood that procured them. [The Puritans on Prayer p.17]

Conversation is a part of any vital and growing relationship. We sometimes measure the quality of a marriage relationship by how well the couples communicates. Or to state it another way, one of the first things people point to as evidence that a marriage is in trouble is a lack of communication. The same is true for our relationship with the Father. True, honest, heartfelt conversation is a sign of a healthy relationship. A lack of conversation, or conversation only in public is a sign of a relationship in trouble.

• We should pray because we are in a fierce battle. Constantly we are warned of the Devil's intention to neutralize and demoralize us. We are told that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph. 6:10). We are in a battle and we need the help of God. The enemy has marshaled his armies . . .when we neglect prayer, we go into battle unarmed. Do you find it at all instructive that Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, found it necessary to pray? If He did not feel He could face the battle in His own strength . . neither should we.

• Prayer is a deterrent to sin in our lives. In the quiet times of private, honest prayer God exposes the rationalizations and the excuses that we use to cater to sin. In prayer God holds a mirror up to our lives so we can see the way we really are. . .and repent.

• Prayer makes a difference. I can't tell you how it "works" . . .I know that circumstances change when people pray. Diseases are sometimes healed, strength is imparted, guidance is given, hearts are softened, needs are met. I know that when I pray for others it helps them. But I also know that when I pray, I am changed.

The Content of Prayer

One of the most instructive parts of our text is in noticing what Paul asks on behalf of the Colossians. Paul does not focus on the material and temporal. He is not primarily concerned with comfort . . . He is concerned for their spiritual growth.

Pray that they discern God's Will

Notice that Paul's first request is this: I ask that "God fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." The word "fill" means to be completely filled or totally controlled. The word for knowledge is the normal Greek word for knowledge with a prefix that intensifies the meaning. Paul's primary concern is not for physical health, material prosperity, effective witnessing, or a greater experience of spiritual gifts. Paul's first and primary concern is that the Colossians come to love and understand God and submit to His will.
When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane He sought to submit to the will of the Father. Many of us have turned this around. We spend our time pleading with God that MY will would be done. We want God to give us what WE want. We want Him to see the wisdom of our desires. Some even proclaim that praying, "Thy will be done" is a weak prayer. All I can say to such nonsense is, "tell that to Jesus."
We come to understand God's will as we come to understand God. In our marriage relationships we very often can tell you what our spouse will say to a certain request. How can we do this? We have come to understand our mate. We know what they like and don't like. We have a good idea of what their "will" is. The same is true of God.
We understand his plan and purpose in life as we come to know Him in the Bible, through prayer and through our obedience. Paul prays that the Colossians would not be satisfied with a superficial relationship with God. He prays that they would continue to build a relationship with Him until they understand what God is doing and why.

Pray to DO God's Will

Paul does not only pray that the Colossians are able to discern God's will. He prays also that they might have the power to DO God's will. In verse 10 we read that Paul prayed that they might understand "in order that you may life a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way." Paul is not praying just that we might be more knowledgeable . . .He is praying that we might learn more about God so that we will live more faithfully before Him. As one wise person said, "you can be a master of theology and a failure at living."
Paul is seeking balance in the lives of these young Christians. He prays that they might understand . . . and when they have understood, that they might live on the basis of that understanding. We'll talk more about Christian living next week.
Do you see how much different the content of this prayer is from the prayers we often pray? When you pray for others are you "aiming low?" Are you asking the Lord for superficial things and neglecting the greater things? Are you focusing on the temporary and neglecting the eternal? Dare we spend all our time focusing on the body and no time focusing on the soul?

Overcoming Obstacles to Prayer

Before I conclude this all too brief discourse on this vital issue of prayer, let me confront two obstacles to prayer.

TOO BUSY

One of the biggest obstacles to prayer is our schedules. We say we have a hard time finding time to pray. We need our sleep in the morning so we can function during the day. We are busy in family activities after our work. We stay up late because we need to finish our work for the next day. We want to pray, we say, but we don't have time.
Let me ask you some pointed questions. Do you stop to eat each day? Do you wash? Do you read the paper or watch the news? Do you have time to watch the big game on television? Do you have time to take a nap? Do you have time to exercise? Which of these things is MORE important than building your relationship with the Father? Which of those things has an eternal dimension to it? If you really don't have time to pray . . . substitute prayer for one of those things you DO make time for.

TROUBLE CONCENTRATING

If we are honest, many of us would admit that one of the greatest obstacles to prayer is the difficulty that we have in concentrating. We start out in prayer but then our minds begin to wander. It seems futile, so we stop praying.
There are several ways to help a wandering mind.

• Pray at a time when you are most mentally alert. (Generally praying while you are lying in bed isn't very effective.)

• Pause to remember who you are talking to. The more important we believe the conversation to be the more attention we give it. Have you ever noticed that though students may goof off during most class periods, they will give rapt attention when the teacher is telling them what to expect on an exam.
• Go to a quiet place where you will not be interrupted
• Speak out loud
• Use a prayer list
• Keep a pad of paper handy. When reminded of something you need to do . . . write it down and then go on.

Statement of Faith

 

We hold that the Bible, the Holy Word of a Holy God, was not only free from error in the originals (which have been lost for centuries) but also we believe God in His Singular providential care has KEPT HIS WORD all through the ages, right down to the present day as found in the King James Version. We consider this version our final and absolute authority, above and beyond all other authorities on earth.
God is one, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who are infinite in glory, wisdom, holiness, justice, power and love.
Jesus Christ is true man and God, who in His incarnation was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin, Mary. In His earthly ministry He lived a sinless life, performed miracles, and died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. By the power of God, He was raised from the dead in the same body now glorified. He ascended into Heaven where, at the right hand of God, He continually makes intercession for us.
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son; regenerates the believing sinner; indwells, guides, instructs and empowers the believer for Godly living and service; comforts the children of God. The Holy Spirit guides and gives power to the church, the body of Christ, to fulfill the Great Commission, and convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Man was created in the image and likeness of God; but through the sin of Adam, man fell into sin and is, therefore, lost apart from Christ. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Salvation is the gift of God and includes the forgiveness of sins, the imputation of the Righteousness of Jesus Christ, and the gift of eternal life. Union with the triune God provides all blessings in this life and the life hereafter. Salvation is received by faith alone, apart from all good works and merit.
The church is composed of all those regenerated by the Spirit of God by whom they have been baptized into one body of whom Christ is the head. The purpose of the church is to witness concerning Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures, and to preach the Gospel among all nations.
Jesus Christ will come again to receive unto Himself those who believe in Him, that where He is, they may be also. He will come again personally and visibly to establish His kingdom.
The resurrection of the believers will be unto eternal glory, and the resurrection of the unbelievers will be unto eternal punishment.

If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour, as a Christian you should:

1. Read your Bible every day to get to know Christ better. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
   "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalms 119:105)
   
2. Talk to God in prayer every day. "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22)
   "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6)
   
3. Be baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19)
   "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)
   "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16)
   
4. Tell others about Christ. "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)
   "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16)
   "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)
   

God's plan of Salvation

The Bible says there is only one way to Heaven

Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6)
Good works cannot save you.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Trust Jesus Christ today! Here's what you must do:

1. Admit you are a sinner. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)
   "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12)
   "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)
   
2. Be willing to turn from sin (repent). Jesus said: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)
   "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:" (Acts 17:30)
   
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead. "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)
   "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
   "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)
   
4. Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
   "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
   

What to pray:

Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour.

Psalm Lord Light Salvation Picture

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.

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.

Click here to send us your salvation praise report.

Unlock the Secret of God’s Infinite Power

www.bennyhinn.org

God has provided a way out from satan’s plan!
His Word is filled with promises, covenants, and instructions on how you can live in abundance and prosperity.
He said, “I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go” (Isaiah 48:17).
God Wants to Be Your TeacherYour seed is your connection to heaven, and the God who owns everything—Whose economy is based on the laws of multiplication—wants to be your teacher and show you how to break the bonds of debt and soar financially.
Think about that: the Lord God Himself wants to teach YOU how to profit!
As we approach the finish line for the miraculous season of debt destruction, many of my partners are taking steps of faith and planting seed to see their debt destroyed—and it is WORKING!
Praise Reports Continue Arriving!It all began when a faithful friend of this ministry told me he wanted to give a $2.5 million seed, saying, “But God has instructed me to make this gift only if the ministry partners match the amount within 90 days, because He wants your partners to get out of debt and be delivered from the chains of lack. God wants them to be part of this great miracle!”
Now, as we approach the finish line of our matching-gift opportunity, I want you to be part of the double-blessing harvest! And I want to share these powerful testimonies with you to increase your faith:

Pastor Benny, because of your teaching, I’m more convinced than ever that God desires for me to prosper and walk in an overflow of blessings. I sowed my seed toward this double harvest with an earnest expectation, and I just received a totally unexpected raise at work. Then, this past weekend, a friend called, knowing I was looking for a better car for my wife, and told me about one that was everything I wanted at nearly half what I had expected to pay. God is revolutionizing my family’s finances and ways of thinking about money, and we’re liking it!
—Johnny
Hallelujah! I sent my check toward breaking the bondage of debt, knowing that my seed would be doubled through the matching gift. I had no idea what an amazing miracle it would cause. I’ve been trudging along in a job that was going nowhere, sending out resumes without any success. In the past two weeks, I’ve received five callbacks, three interviews, and two fantastic job offers. Even as I write this praise report to you, I can hardly believe it myself! God is doing a new work in my life!
—Shelley
I did something that I’ve never done before. I’ve been a Christian for many years, but I hadn’t really understood the principle of sowing and reaping. Thank goodness I actually sat down a few weeks ago and listened as you taught on the coming wealth transfer. Soon after that, I went online and saw the message about this supernatural season with the matching gift. More out of curiosity than anything, I decided to plant a seed. Too much has happened since then for me to begin to explain. Let me simply say that God has done a complete turnaround in my life and my family. I’m not stopping now. I’ve enclosed another check to continue what God is already doing in such an incredible way!
—Gary

It’s not too late to be part of our matching-gift challenge. Break the bondage of debt by planting your generous gift during the final days of this supernatural opportunity!
Your Step of Faith to Unleash Multiplication in Your Life
Best of all, when you plant a seed as an act of faith into the fertile soil of this ministry, you can know without a doubt that you are touching this generation for Jesus Christ. Do it now! Expect your double financial harvest. With God, you can destroy debt in your life!
God is ready to teach you how to give, how to prosper, and how to establish a powerful heritage of giving in your family. So to increase your faith and help you get started on the road to debt cancellation today, sow a seed and unleash the divine law of multiplication in your life!
Help me turn $2.5 million into $5 million during the final days of this matching challenge. The anointing for biblical abundance is being released. Be part of what God is doing.
Also, send me your testimony of God’s miracle provision and use it to inspire and encourage others. I can’t wait to read your praise report!
Together with you in the service
of our precious Lord Jesus,

Benny Hinn
DONATE NOW
SEND YOUR MIRACLE HARVEST TESTIMONY from

www.bennyhinn.org

The truth about the After Life

What will the afterlife be like for believers? Find out below!

Hello, One of the most important questions of all is what happens when I die? It’s the one thing in life you and I can’t afford to be wrong about! To know the truth about your life after death I want to send you my 6-message Afterlife CD series and study guide. Request yours now — because death is not the end. It’s just the beginning! For His Kingdom, Tony Evans

How Do I Recognize God's Will? by Daniel Kolenda

Chapter #3: Introduction

A farmer in North Carolina lived on a beautiful farm that his family owned for many decades. They had cultivated that same land for several generations, sowing and reaping in the fields year after year. Finally the farmer died, and after being in the family for more than two hundred years, the property was sold to one of the neighbors.

As the new owner of the farm was walking in the field, he saw a large, unusual-looking rock just barely sticking out of the dirt. He picked it up and began to examine it. He could immediately tell that this was no ordinary rock but some type of gemstone. He took it home, washed it, and took it to a jewelry store in the town where he lived. The jeweler confirmed what the owner already suspected; the old stone that had been in that field for thousands of years was a large, uncut emerald that has since proved to be worth several million dollars!

This gemstone was in that field all along just waiting for someone to come along and “discover” it. For generations farmer after farmer had worked in that field. Undoubtedly that emerald had been seen thousands of times before, but it was overlooked because, to the casual observer, it appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary rock.

When we “discover” a thing, we are actually uncovering or finding something that is already in existence but that we were unaware of previously.

And while many people are desperately seeking God’s will for their lives, the reality is that often what they are looking for is right under their nose, but they continue to look for it because they don’t recognize it. In order to recognize a precious stone, one would need to be familiar with its characteristics and know what it should look like.

In the same way, if we desire to discover God’s will for our lives, we must learn to recognize the characteristics of His will.

We will continue this study in Chapter 3 “Characteristic #1: God Has a Standard Will and a Specific Will” in one week.

Join reinhard Bonnke and Daniel Kolenda in Raleigh, NC and Francisco, CA

Pray for Tanzania this is the one of the confirmation of the prophecy of 2013

See what is happening in Tanzania in a region called Mtwara.They fought for their right of gas found in the region. As we remember the word of prophecy of 2013 .So please pray for this country.
See the prophecy ''
2013 is the of Lifting up the ministries,spiritual lives, etc
Many things of saints Jesus will lift them up.
Many saints will move from one to two,two to three,three to four,four to five(this means from glory to glory,faith to faith).Please saints we need God in the coming year than before.
2013 is the of miracles,signs and wonders for those who will obey Him and walk in His ways.
Those who will seek Him they will see Him.
Matthew 7:7-11,Mark 11:24,Luke 11:9-13,James 5:16(amp)

Also He said about climate we must pray for it.(climatic change){James 5:16-18}

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.''