Monday, November 26, 2012

Lord, we humbly come before You, acknowledging Your glory

Lord, we humbly come before You, acknowledging Your glory; You are worthy to be praised, You alone are worthy to receive honor, glory and praise. There is no one else like, Lord God, who can stand against You? Who is able to stand before You and not tremble at Your sight? 

Our hearts tremble with the Fear of the Lord, as we draw closer to You. You all powerful, all know; You alone are God, there is none above You, or beside You. Lord God, we cry out from the depths of our hearts for the Fire of God to rain down and consume our entire beings, in Jesus Name. 

Lord, burn away everything that is not of You and remove it far from us, in Jesus Name. Release the Fire of Your holiness to purify our hearts and minds, in Jesus Name. 

Lord, we are thirsty and hungry for a mighty move of God, for the heavens to open up and send Your former and latter rains upon this barren land. We are not just asking for a revival; but, we are calling out for a revolution to uprise within every heart and soul. 

Those who are fearless and their faces are like flint; they are determined and filled with the passion and zeal to go forth with the calling that You have put on their lives. 

It does not matter anymore what people think, do, or say because all they hear is the Lion of Judah roaring. Lord, raise up a generation of people that are consumed with Your Fire and passion and zeal, those that will minister the Fire of God, the Fire of Your holiness to the people. 

Let Your Fire be ablaze within our hearts, flowing through our mouths, and resting upon our minds, in Jesus Name. 

Ignite a renewed passion, zeal, desire, and Fire within Your people; let it be increased, intensify, multiply, magnify, and amplify within us and through us, in Jesus Name. 

Lord, we call everything into the obedience of Jesus Christ right now, in Jesus Name. Stir up our hearts and our souls to be ablaze for You; let us have such compassion for the lost, the wounded, the hurting, and the broken and shattered, in Jesus Name. 

Lord, let Your love be a seal upon our hearts and minds; help us not to be quick to condemn or judge others, let us just love them through Your love. Help us see them through the eyes of love and compassion. 

Father, forgive those that have harmed us with their words and actions; forgive those that have insulted us, persecuted us, belittled us; they don’t know what they are doing. Lord, they are so wounded and lashing out in such misery that they bleed out on others. Lord, have mercy upon them and heal their wounded hearts, mend the broken pieces of their hearts, in Jesus Name. 

Soften the hard hearted and the cold hearted people; let them become pliable in Your hands, in Jesus Name. 

Your word says that You take the things the world deems as foolish and mold them into being powerful vessels for You. Lord, let the Fire of Your holiness surround our entire lives, every area of our hearts and souls, in Jesus Name. 

Let us embrace the Fear of the Lord, that we may not sin against You, let our hearts be filled with such vehement love for You that we don’t want to sin against You, in Jesus Name. 

Help each of us to clean our houses and take out the things that don’t please You, Lord God. Lord, let us lose all desire for the things of this world; let us no longer lust after the world, in Jesus Name. 

 Lord, give us the grace to cleanse ourselves and to take the world out of us. Lord, let us no longer compromise in any way; awaken us from our complacency and apathy. 

Let us be the light in a city on a hill; let the love of God reflected and radiate in every area of our lives, let us become beacons of that light and that Fire for the world to see. 

Let us no longer take Your grace in vain; let us live the life that You have called us to live. 

Father, we ask for Your perfect will to be done in us and through us, in Jesus Name. 

Amen and amen.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Bibles for America--Free Bibles and free Christian books


One of the best ways to go through the Bible is to read it consistently and consecutively. What better time to establish this healthy habit than at the beginning of this new year? Whether you’re already off to a good start or need some help staying on track, we offer a number of free tools that can complement your Bible reading.

https://www.biblesforamerica.org/mvc/products/bible/shipto

FIRST SUNDAY SERVICE (August 5, 2012)

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Dr. Cindy Trimm Phd. - The Power Of The Spoken Word!

Why Jesus Wept


The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35: “Jesus wept.” But for all its grammatical simplicity, it’s packed with unfathomable complexity.
Jesus wept after speaking with Lazarus’ grieving sisters, Martha and Mary, and seeing all the mourners. That seems natural enough.
Except that Jesus had come to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead. He knew that in a few short minutes all this weeping would turn to astonished joy, and then tearful laughter, and then worship.
So one would think that Jesus would be a confident, joyful calm in that storm of sorrow. But he was “greatly troubled” (John 11:33) and he wept. Why?

Compassion for the Suffering

One reason is simply the deep compassion that Jesus felt for those who were suffering. It is true that Jesus let Lazarus die. He delayed coming, and he did not speak healing from a distance like he did for the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:13). His reasons were good and merciful and glorious. But this did not mean Jesus took the suffering it caused lightly. “For he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men” (Lamentations 3:33). Even though Jesus always chooses what will ultimately bring his Father the most glory (John 11:4)—and sometimes, as in Lazarus’ case, it requires affliction and grief—he does not take delight in the affliction and grief itself. No, Jesus is sympathetic (Hebrews 4:15). And as “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), in Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus we get a glimpse of how the Father feels over the affliction and grief his children experience.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Vantage Point: Biblical Marriage & Prayer



article by
 Randy Stiver

In the words of Sir Winston Churchill: "Where does the family start? It starts with a young man falling in love with a girl—no superior alternative has yet been found."

Vantage Point: Biblical Marriage & Prayer
Source: iStockphoto
Has marriage got a prayer? Not a rhetorical question in 2012!
Today Bible-defined marriage—and therefore family—suffers a greater attack than at any time in at least America's history. As I write this, traditional marriage has just been catapulted into a gigantic campaign issue in this year's U.S. presidential election.
Bible prophecy has always foretold divine punishment for America or any nation persisting in sexual immorality, especially at an institutional level. While gay marriage is considered by many to be a political issue, it is much broader—being in fact a moral andspiritual uissue. Sadly, its rise was only to be expected given society's plummet into godless thinking.
Ultimately, everything in human life comes down to two great questions: Does God exist? And do you believe in God and believe God?

“THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF HOMOSEXUALITY”


(This article was originally printed in January, 2008)

“For this cause God gave them up unto  vile affections:  for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet” (Rom . 1:26-27).

After reading a vast variety of emails, articles, news clips, etc., I feel strongly impressed by the Holy Spirit to address the very delicate and controversial issue of homosexuality, not only homosexuality as society knows it to be, but God’s Biblical standard concerning it. I do not wish to speak from standards of my own making here nor the ethical standards of our modern culture, but from the standards of a Holy God who has asked me to reach out to all who will hear Him concerning this very critical issue of our time. I hope to make it clear to you how the Lord feels about homosexuality and, as well, his Solution for this terrible sin .

I once heard a wise man say that while God is the greatest embodiment of Love which has ever existed or will ever exist, it is not love that makes Him God .

God is God because of His Power!  He is God because of His Authority!  He is All-Powerful, All-Mighty, and All-Knowing. Yes, God is Love, but love is not God.  

The Love of god is holy.  This presents a problem for a fallen, sinful creation. Mankind cannot receive the Love of God without willingly submitting to His Order and Authority by the Way of the Cross .  The Sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, for the Redemption of our sins was God’s way of showing us that within His great Power was also great Love .  But, the conditions inherent in this Way of the Cross must be met for a man to receive the Love of God on a personal basis — to receive Salvation .  We must make Jesus both our Savior and our Lord .  Therefore, the Way of the Cross requires a man to surrender lordship of his own life to God, and he must also agree with God that it is His Standards alone which constitute Holiness .

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Waislamu twendeni kwa Yesu -Testimony 1

Waislamu twendeni kwa Yesu -Testimony 2

Waislamu twendeni kwa Yesu -Testimony 3

Point of Wisdom: Pray With a Psalm in Your Heart


It can sometimes be hard to know what to talk about with God in prayer. Some Scripture-based counsel to a struggling individual can help you too.

Point of Wisdom: Pray With a Psalm in Your Heart
Source: Photos.com
He described himself to the pastor and me as a former hippie who had been off the drugs for several years. But he and his wife explained that the hallucinogens' effects were still badly slowing his mental processes. We could see that from our conversation.
My part was as a ministerial trainee participating in this pastoral visit with a young couple who had lived hard and wild during the hippie movement years of the 1960s. The man now loaded freight on ships in the Thames River near London. He had muscles for the work but wished that he still had the muscle in his mind.
She had many questions about the Bible and God's way, but one main question plagued his thoughts: " How do I pray? I can't think of much to say. " There were tears in his eyes. He really, truly wanted to know how to talk to God.

No Halfway Covenant

article by Frank Dunkle


If your parents are true Christians, does that make you one? Or is more required of you? This was an important question for the Puritans of early America. And it remains an important issue today.

No Halfway Covenant
Source: George Henry Boughton, Pilgrims Going to Church, 1867
Are you a true Christian? Do you need to join a church to be one? Does your parents' relationship with God make a difference in your own relationship with Him?
To explore this, let's first consider an interesting piece of early American history. In the mid-1600s, several ministers in New England held a special conference to discuss youth and the church. They developed a doctrine called the "Half-Way Covenant." We'll briefly examine this concept in addressing a vital issue for today.
Just what makes a person a true Christian? Are the children of true Christians automatically true Christians also—or is more required?

Puritans purify

To understand the Half-Way Covenant and why it matters to us, we need to know something about the Puritans. As Protestants in England, they were pleased that King Henry VIII had effectively separated England from the Roman Catholic Church in the 1500s. However, they believed that neither the king nor the Church of England did enough to remove unbiblical practices from their worship. They wanted to purify the church, which is why they were called "Puritans."
Some Puritans thought they needed to separate altogether from the religious authorities of England and the rest of Europe, so they came to America to settle New England. They were determined to study the Bible and to obey it fully. (Those who settled Plymouth Colony in 1620 were Separatists who later became known as the Pilgrims. The Puritans who arrived the next decade to found the Massachusetts Bay Colony and other settlements were not initially as inclined to Separatism, but they eventually moved in that direction.)

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Jesus Christ biography



Jesus Christ was born in 2-6 BCE in Bethlehem, Judea. Little is known about his early life, but as a young man, he founded Christianity, one of the world’s most influential religions. His life is recorded in the New Testament, more a theological document than a biography. According to Christians, Jesus is considered the incarnation of God and his teachings an example for living a more spiritual life. Christians believe he died for the sins of all people and rose from the dead.
Most of Jesus’ life is told through the four Gospels of the New Testament Bible, known as the Canonical gospels, written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These are not biographies in the modern sense but accounts with allegorical intent. They are written to engender faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the incarnation of God, who came to teach, suffer and die for people’s sins.
Jesus was born between 2 and 6 BCE, in Bethlehem, Judea. His mother, Mary, was a virgin who was betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter. Christians believe Jesus was born through Immaculate Conception. His lineage can be traced back to the house of David. According to the Gospel of Matthew (2:1), Jesus was born during the reign of Herod the Great, who upon hearing of his birth felt threatened and tried to kill Jesus by ordering all of Bethlehem’s male children under age two to be killed. But Joseph was warned by an angel and took Mary and the child to Egypt until Herod’s death, where upon he brought the family back and settled in the town of Nazareth, in Galilee.
There is very little written about Jesus’ early life. The Gospel of Luke (2:41-52) recounts that a 12-year-old Jesus had accompanied his parents on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and became separated. He was found several days later in a temple, discussing affairs with some of Jerusalem’s elders. Throughout the New Testament, there are trace references of Jesus working as a carpenter while a young adult. It is believed that he began his ministry at age 30 when he was baptized by John the Baptist, who upon seeing Jesus, declared him the Son of God.
After baptism, Jesus went into the Judean desert to fast and meditate for 40 days and nights. The Temptation of Christ is chronicled in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke (known as the Synoptic Gospels). The Devil appeared and tempted Jesus three times, once to turn stone to bread, once to cast himself off a mountain where angels would save him, and once to offer him all the kingdoms of the world. All three times, Jesus rejected the Devil’s temptation and sent him off.

Sheikh Dr. Hamisi Hussein - Yesu ni Mungu 1

Sheikh Dr. Hamisi Hussein - Yesu ni Mungu 2

Sheikh Dr. Hamisi Hussein - Yesu ni Mungu 3

Yesu alibadilisha mwenendo wa historia


Tembea sehemu yoyote ulimwenguni. Ongea na watu wa dini yoyote. Haijalishi jinsi walivyoshikilia tabaka za dini zao, kama wanajua chochote kuhusu historia, watakubali kwamba hakujawahi kuwa na mtu kama Yesu wa Nazareti. Yeye ni mtu wa ajabu mno kuliko watu wote wa enzi zote.

Yesu alibadilisha mwenendo wa historia. Hata tarehe kwenye gazeti lako la leo inathibitisha kwamba Yesu wa Nazareti aliishi ulimwenguni karibu miaka 2,000 iliyopita. Maandishi kwa Kiingereza "B.C." yanasimamia nyakati kabla ya kuzaliwa kwa Kristo; vilevile maandishi "A.D." yanasimamia nyakati baada ya kuzaliwa kwa Kristo.KUJA KWAKE KULITABIRIWA

Mamia ya miaka hata kabla ya Yesu kuzaliwa, maandiko yaonyesha wanabii wa Israeli wakitabiri kuja kwake. Agano la kale, lililoandikwa na watu wengi katika muda wa miaka 1,500, lina unabii zaidi ya 300 kuhusu kuja kwa Yesu. Yote yaliyotabiriwa yalitendeka, pamoja na kuzaliwa kwake kimiujiza, maisha yake matakatifu, kufa na kufufuka kwake.

Maisha aliyoishi Yesu, miujiza aliyotenda, maneno aliyosema, kufa kwake msalabani, kufufuka kwake, kupaa kwake mbinguni - yote yathibitisha kwamba yeye hakuwa mwanadamu peke yake bali alikuwa zaidi ya mwanadamu. Yesu alisema, "Mimi na Baba tu umoja" (Yohana 10:30), "Aliyeniona mimi amemwona Baba" (Yohana 14:9) na, "Mimi ndimi njia, na ukweli, na uzima; mtu haji kwa Baba, ila kwa njia ya mimi." (Yohana 14:6).

MAISHA NA UJUMBE WAKE HUSABABISHA MABADILIKO

Tazama maisha na mvuto wa Yesu wa Nazareti, Mesiya, katika historia yote na utaona kwamba yeye na ujumbe wake huleta mabadiliko makubwa katika mataifa na maisha ya wanaume na wanawake. Popote mafunzo yake yalipoenea, utakatifu wa ndoa, haki na sauti ya wanawake imetiliwa maanani; shule na vyuo vikuu vimeanzishwa; sheria za kulinda watoto zimeandikwa; utumwa umeachishwa; na mabadiliko mengine mengi yamefanywa kwa manufaa ya wanadamu. Maisha ya watu binafsi yamebadilishwa kiajabu. Kwa mfano, Lew Wallace, jemedari aliyejulikana na mwandishi shupavu, alikana Mungu yupo. Kwa miaka miwili, Bw. Wallace alisoma kwenye maktaba zilizo bora sana kule Ulaya na Merikani, akitafuta habari ambazo zingeangamiza kabisa dini ya Kikristo. Alipokuwa akiandika sura ya pili ya kitabu hicho, alijikuta ghafla ameanguka magotini na kulia kwa Yesu akisema, "Bwana na Mungu wangu."
Kwa sababu ya ushuhuda usioweza kukanwa, hakuweza kuendelea kukana kwamba Yesu Kristo alikuwa mwana wa Mungu. Baadaye, Lew Wallace aliandika kitabu kilichoitwa "Ben Hur", moja wapo ya vitabu shwari vilivyo andikwa katika lugha ya Kiingereza kuhusu nyakati za Kristo.

Vile vile, marehemu C. S. Lewis, profesa wa chuo kikuu cha Oxford, alikana kwamba Kristo alikuwa pia Mungu kwa miaka mingi. Lakini, yeye pia, kwa hekima za ukarimu, alijinyenyekeza mbele za Yesu kama Mungu na Mwokozi baada ya kusoma ushahidi usio na pingamizi kwamba Yesu pia alikuwa Mungu .

Yesu wa Nazareti ni nani kwako? Maisha yako ya hapa duniani na pia ya uzima wa milele yatategemea jibu lako kwa swali hili.

Dini zote zingine zilianzishwa na wanadamu na zinategemea falsafa za kibinadamu, kanuni na pendekezo za tabia. Ondoa waanzilishi wa dini hizi kutoka idhini na tabaka za kuabudu, na machache sana yatabadilika. Lakini ondoa Yesu Kristo kutoka Ukristo na hakuna chochote kitakachobaki. Ukristo uliopendekezwa kwenye Biblia siyo falsafa ya maisha peke yake, wala siyo tabaka na njia za kimila za kuabudu. Msingi wa Ukristo wa kweli ni uhusiano wa kibinafsi na Mwokozi na Bwana aliyefufuka na anayeishi.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

10 Great Bible Verses About Relationships


In dealing with life, we encounter all kinds of relationships. Fathers, Mothers, Friends, Children, Husbands, Wives, and others can all benefit from reading these Bible Verses about Relationships. Our most important relationship is our relationship with God. Read these ten Bible Verses about Relationships.

10 Bible Verses About Relationships
  • Our Relationship With God
1 Peter 5:6,7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
Ephesians 4:2-3
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Favorite Bible Verses About Friendship


What does the Bible say about friendship or best friends? A genuine friendship is a blessing from the Lord. The following Bible verses highlight the elements and values of a biblical friendship. I hope you find encouragement and take the time to thank your friends for their love and support. Genuine love and affection comes from knowing and experiencing God's love through Jesus Christ.
A Bible verses can also add a personal touch to a Birthday card or letter. Select a favorite Bible verse from the following list. You are more than welcome to use and edit the list for your own personal use. If you have any favorite verses please feel free to share them by leaving a comment. The following Bible verses are from the New International version.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

Proverbs 27:17 
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

1 John 4:7 
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Proverbs 18:24 
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

3 John 1:2 
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

15 Bible Verses About God's Promises


What has God promised? These 15 Bible verses about God's promises more specifically provide glimpses of God's faithfulness to the promises He makes. Due to the fact that these Bible verses are removed from their original context, we must keep in mind that certain promises of God do not apply to us. Nevertheless, the evident theme among the following verses and passages is that God's promises never fail. In addition to that, we do know that His promises in and through Christ have, are, and will be fulfilled. There is a beautiful past, present, and future element to God's promises, as seen in these passages of Scripture. What's particularly interesting, however, is that several of these Bible verses about God's promises remind believers of their role in the process. In response to what God has done, is doing, and will do, we are called to live in faithfulness and love. With all that said, here are 15 Bible verses about God's promises.
Joshua 21:45 (#1 of 15 Bible Verses about God's Promises) 

45Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

1 Kings 8:56-61 (#2 of 15 Bible Verses about God's Promises) 

56Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 57May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 58May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers.59And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day's need, 60so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other. 61But your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time."

Psalm 85:8 (#3 of 15 Bible Verses about God's Promises) 

8I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints-but let them not return to folly.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

It's the Blood of Jesus!



by David J. Stewart
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." —1st Peter 1:18,19
       We don't hear enough these days about the precious blood of Jesus, “...and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1st John 1:7). What a wonderful Savior! Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay. Our sins had to be paid for with Jesus' blood. 
In the Old Testament, the people's sins were only ATONED (i.e., covered) for. Leviticus 17:11 states, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” This Scripture speaks of the blood of animals, which were sacrificed to temporarily cover the sins of the people in the Old Testament, until the Messiah would come and offer the perfect Sacrifice of Himself to God the Father.  
We read in Hebrews 9:12 concerning Jesus, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Jesus' blood didn't atone for our sins; but rather, took them away forever!
 

Jesus' Blood Sacrifice is All Sufficient
Hebrews 9:24-26 state, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now ONCE in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Jesus' blood applied to the Mercy Seat in Heaven is all-sufficient. 
Jesus only needed to offer Himself as a sacrifice once. This is what is wrong with the Catholic crucifix... they keep Jesus on the cross. In the Catholic mass, participants actually believe they are digesting the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ each time. They call this the doctrine of transubstantiation. This is unscriptural. Jesus is NO longer on the cross. Also, every crucifix I've ever seen makes Jesus' look decrepit and sickly. Our Lord was a carpenter, and they didn't have power tools back then. Jesus was a strong man, not some sissy looking wimp. Catholics have some strange ideas of Christ
Jesus died on the cross, was buried to confirm His death, and then rose victoriously 3 days later. Christ is alive! Thank the Lord for His mercy, for paying for our many sins with His precious blood.
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” —Colossians 1:14

The Blood Does NOT Merely Represent Jesus' Death!

Terry MacAlmon Worship Songs (Playlist)

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Left Behind III - World at War

The Book of Revelations *Full Movie*

The Book of Genesis *full movie*

What Does It Mean To Be Born Again?


This term “born again” first appears in the Bible in John chapter three...
“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:1-7).
An unsaved man once said to me, “That born again stuff makes no sense to me.” Perhaps you feel the same. There are “How To Be Saved” articles all over the internet (and I am thankful for them all), but many people want a complete explanation of what it means to be “born-again.” Why do we need to be born again? What does it mean? That is my purpose in this article, that is, to explain this great Biblical doctrine in layman's terms. Please give me a moment and I will make it as plain as you've ever heard. Most people have religion, but very few people have ever been Biblically born-again. Unless you are born again, you absolutely cannot go to Heaven (John 3:5).
Simply put, to be “born again” means to have He (Jesus) Who is the beginning born in you. InRevelation 1:8 Jesus said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively. Man by birth is spiritually dead, which I will explain further in a moment. To be born-again is a miracle of God, by which Jesus Christ comes into your body to live, literally in the form of the Spirit of God. Romans 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
To understand what it means to be born-again, it is necessary to understand that there are TWO BIRTHS. The “first” birth is the PHYSICAL BIRTH when you were born into this world from your mother and father. When the Bible speaks of being “born of water,” it is speaking about the physical birth (NOT baptism). The “second” birth is a SPIRITUAL BIRTH, which means to be born of the “Spirit” (that is, God's Holy Spirit). Why does a person need to be born spiritually? What is a “spiritual” birth?
The Bible teaches that man is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). There is one God according to Deuteronomy 6:4; but He exists in the three Persons of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Bible refers to this triune nature of God as the Godhead (Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20, Colossians 2:9 - King James Bible only). Colossians 2:2 refers to the Godhead as “the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.” The Godhead wasn't meant to be understood; but rather, believed as sound Biblical doctrine by God's children.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Friday, August 3, 2012

Who is Jesus Christ and what is His mission to the world?


Is certainly a logical question to ask. He changed the world in only 30 years on earth, and no one has had more of an impact on this planet than Jesus Christ. This is, after all, His planet. 

Psalms 97:1-6 says, "The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory." 

There is no surer sign of Christ's divinity than 2000 years after His death people and demons still tremble at His name. Many shudder upon hearing His powerful name; there is no other name that has power like that of Jesus. 

The Bible attributes this phenomenon to the fact that Jesus is God. His message is love, and as 1 John 4:8 tells us, God is love. Although His message and His acts were selfless, His teaching focused on Himself. "Follow me;" "I am the light;" "I am the way the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me." 

Damu Ya Yesu Kristo


picture of jesus blood
Mara nyingi imesemwa katika Agano Jipya ya kwamba kuhesabiwa kwetu haki na kupata wokovu ni kwa damu ya Yesu (K.m 1Yoh 1:7; Ufu 6:9; 12:11; Rum 5:9). Kufahamu maana ya damu ya Kristo, yatupasa tuelewe ya kuwa ni neno la awali la Biblia kwamba "uhai wa wanyama wote ni katika hiyo damu yake" (Law 17:14). Pasipo damu mwili hauwezi kuishi; kwa hiyo ni mfano wa uhai. Hii yaeleza uzuri wa maneno ya Kristo, "Msipo ula mwili wake mwana wa Adamu, na kuinywa damu yake, hamna uzima ndani yenu". (Yoh 6:53).

Dhambi huleta mauti (Rum 6:23), yaani, kumwaga damu ambayo hushika uhai uzima. Kwa sababu hii wana wa Israel walitazamiwa kumwaga damu kila wakati walipotenda dhambi, ili kuwakumbusha kuwa dhambi inaleta mauti. Na katika torati (ya Musa) karibu vitu vyote husafishwa kwa damu, na pasipo kumwaga damu hakuna ondoleo (la dhambi Ebra 9:22). Kwa sababu hii, Adamu na Hawa walipojifunika wenyewe na majani ya mtini hayakukubalika; badala yake, Mungu alimchinja mwanakondoo na kuwagawia ngozi za kujifunika dhambi zao (Mwanzo 3:7,21). Vivyo hivyo, dhabihu za wanyama wa Abeli ilikubalika zaidi kuliko matoleo ya mboga ya Kaini, kwa kuwa alielewa jambo hili ya kwamba pasipo kumwaga damu ingekuwa vigumu kusamehewa na kukubalika kumkaribia Mungu (Mwanzo 4:3-5)

Yesu Kristo Ni Mwakilishi Wetu


Tumeona kwamba dhabihu za wanyama hazikuwawakilisha kikamilifu watu wenye dhambi. Yesu alikuwa mjumbe wetu, kwa mambo yote "akafananishwa na ndugu zake" (Ebr 2:17). "Alionja mauti kwa ajili ya kila mtu" (Ebra 2:9). Tunapofanya kosa kama - tukiwa na hasira - Mungu aweza kutusamehe sisi "katika Kristo" (Efe 4:32). Hivi ni kwa sababu Mungu aweza kutulinganisha na Kristo mwanadamu aliyekuwa kama sisi alipojaribiwa kufanya dhambi - kama kukasirika - bali alishinda kila jaribu. Kwa hiyo Mungu aweza kutusamehe dhambi yetu- ya hasira kwa kule kuwa ndani ya Kristo, tukiwa tumefunikwa na haki yake. Kristo akiwa mwakilishi wetu, basi amekuwa na njia ambayo Mungu anaweza kutuonyesha neema yake, wakati tukithibitisha mambo ya haki yake mwenyewe.

Ikiwa Yesu alikuwa ni Mungu na siye mtu aliye na mwili wa Adamu tu, asingekuwa mwakilishi wetu. Huu ni mfano mwingine wa wazo moja potofu linalokwenda kwenye lingine. Kwa sababu hii, watu wa dini wameendeleza njia nyingi zilizo ngumu kufahamika kueleza mauti ya Kristo. Mtazamo wa madhehebu mengi ya Kikristo yaliyo kengeuka ni kwamba dhambi za mwanadamu zimemfanya awe na deni kwa Mungu ambalo yeye mwenyewe hakuweza kulipa. Ndipo Kristo akalipa deni la kila mwamini kwa damu yake, iliyomwagika msalabani. Wahubiri wengi wa kwenye baraza la Injili wameeleza namna hii; "Ilikuwa kana kwamba tulikuwa tumepangwa kwenye ukuta, karibu kupigwa risasi na ibilisi. Wakati huo Yesu akakimbilia ndani kwa haraka; badala yetu ibilisi akampiga, sisi tupo huru".

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Becoming a Dominator

Why Did Jesus Have to Die?


This incredibly important question involves a matter central to Christianity, yet effectively answering it is often difficult for Christians. We will take a careful look at the question and lay out the answers offered in Scripture.

The reason Jesus had to die for our sins was so that we could be forgiven and go to be with the Lord.  Jesus is God in flesh (John 1:1,14Col. 2:9) and only God can satisfy the Law requirements of a perfect life and perfect sacrifice that cleanses us of our sins.
All people have sinned against God.  But, God is infinitely holy and righteous.  He must punish the sinner, the Law- breaker.  If He didn't, then His law is notLaw for there is no law that is a law without a punishment.  The punishment for breaking the Law is death, separation from God. Therefore, we sinners need a way to escape the righteous judgment of God.  Since we are stained by sin and cannot keep the Law of God, then the only one who could do what we cannot is God Himself.  That is why Jesus is God in flesh.  He is both divine and human.  He was made under the Law (Gal. 4:4) and He fulfilled it perfectly.  Therefore, His sacrifice to God the Father on our behalf is of infinite value and is sufficient to cleanse all people from their sins and undo the offense to God.
1) To Absorb the Wrath of God
Galatians 3:13 – Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged u on a tree”
Romans 3:25 – whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
1 John 4:10 – In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
2) To Please His Heavenly Father
Isaiah 53:10 – Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Ephesians 5:2 – And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3) To Learn Obedience and Be Perfected
Hebrews 5:8 – Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
Hebrews 2:10 – For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
4) To Achieve His Own Resurrection from the Dead
Hebrews 13:20-21 - Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, (21) equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
5) To Show the Wealth of God’s Love and Grace
Romans 5:7-8 – For one will scarcely die for a righteous person — though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die — (8) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
John 3:16 –  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Ephesians 1:7 – In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
6) To Show His Own Love for Us
Ephesians 5:2 – And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
Galatians 2:20 –  I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
7) To Cancel the Legal Demands of the Law Against Us
Colossians 2:13 – And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
Eight) To Become a Ransom for Many
Mark 10:45 – For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
9) For the Forgiveness of Our Sins
Ephesians 1:7 – In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Matthew 26:28 – for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
10) To Provide the Basis for Our Justification
Romans 5:9 – Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Romans 3:24 – and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Romans 3:28 – For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
11) To Complete the Obedience That Becomes Our Righteousness
Philippians 2:8 – And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Romans 5:19 – For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Philippians 3:9 – and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith —
12) To Take Away Our Condemnation
Romans 8:34 – Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?



Bad Things, Good People
If God is completely in control, why do our lives sometimes not turn out as planned? If God is love, why do we experience so much difficulty? All of us eventually have to answer these questions in some form or another. In my own walk with God, I have discovered a truth, a promise, that really helps me when I’m struggling. It is found throughout Scripture, but a certain section of David’s story prominently displays it.
Forced to leave Israel because of King Saul’s deadly rampage against him, David and his men had been serving a Philistine lord named Achish. Achish loved David and was led to believe that David had fully defected to him, heart and soul. But the princes of the Philistines, for good reason, did not trust David. They had no intention of letting a Hebrew fight with them against Israel. So right before the big battle, David and his men were sent home.
When they arrived at their city of Ziklag, they found it completely ravaged. The Amalekites had attacked while David and his men were away, carrying off their families and their possessions and setting the city on fire.
Consider the situation for a moment. In a short period of time, David and his men were stripped of everything they valued. They were warriors who were not allowed to fight. Their enemies had stolen their families and destroyed their homes. Their heartache is tangible in 1 Samuel 30:4: “David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.”

Saturday, July 28, 2012

What does it mean that Jesus is the 'first-born' over Creation?


In a letter to the church at Colossae, the Apostle Paul gave an intriguing description of Jesus. In it, he explained Christ's relationship to God the Father and to creation. Some have claimed that Paul’s description of Christ as the first-born of creation means that Jesus was created -- not eternal, not God. Such a doctrine, however, conflicts with the rest of the Bible. Christ could not be both Creator and created; John 1 clearly names Him Creator. Let’s take a careful look at the passage where Jesus is called the first-born.


Colossians 1:15-21
“And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”

Jesus himself affirmed his eternal existence, when he said to the Jews: “Before Abraham was born, I am” (Jn. 8:58). The present tense form, ego eimi (“I am”) stands in contrast to the aorist form “was born” (genesthai – to begin to be, to come into existence). The two expressions contrast the eternal and the temporal.

The Jews certainly caught the drift of what Christ was saying, i.e., that he was claiming eternality, therefore, the status of being God. That is why they sought to stone him. The expression “I am” points one back to Exodus 3:14, where Jehovah identifies himself as the “I AM,” i.e., the self-existent One.

Ahadi za Biblia


Mungu hutimiza ahadi zake. Imeandikwa katika 2Wakorintho 1:19-20 "Maana Mwana wa Mungu, Kristo Yesu aliyehubiriwa katikati yenu na sisi yaani mimi na Silwano na Timotheo hakuwa Ndiyo na siyo; bali katika yeye ni Ndiyo. Maana ahadi zote za Mungu zilizopo katika yeye ni Ndiyo; tena katika yeye ni Amin, Mungu apate kutukuzwa kwa sisi."
Mungu hazirudishi ahadi zake au kuzibadilisha. Imeandikwa katika Zaburi 89:34 "Mimi sitalihalifu agano langu, sitalibadili neno lililotoka mdomoni mwangu."
Hakuna mojawapo ya ahadi za Mungu ambazo hazijatimika. Imeandikwa katika Yoshua 23:14 "Angalieni mimi nimekwenda njia ile waendayo watu wote wa ulimwengu...... Mungu wenu katika habari zenu yote yametimia kwenu hapana neno lo lote mlilopungukiwa."
Tumeahidiwa uzima wa milele. Imeandikwa katika 1 Yohana 2:25 "Nahii ndiyo ahadi aliyotuahidia, yaani uzima wa milele."
Mungu aweza kufanya mambo yasiyowekana. Imeandikwa katika Luka 18:27 "Akasema yasiyowezekana kwa wanadamu yawezekana kwa mungu." Tume ahidiwa moyo mpya na maisha mapya Imeandikwa Ezekieli 36:26 "Mimi nitawapa moyo mpya nami nitatia roho mpya ndani yenu nami nitatoa moyo wa jiwe uliomo ndani ya mwili wenu, nami nitawapa moyo wa nyama." Ametuahidi kutusamehe dhambi zetu. Imeandikwa katika 1Yohana 1:9 "Tukiziungama dhambi zetu, yeye ni mwaminifu na wa haki hata atuondolee dhambi zetu, na kutusafisha na udhalimu wote."

FORMER MUSLIM EVANGELIST MUSA BELLO ARRESTED BY NIGERIAN POLICE

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