Sunday Re-cap (26th March 2006)

Why Forgive?

Introduction
Last week we saw some theological reasons as to why we need to forgive:

• In order to receive the forgiveness of God. (Matt 6:14-15)


• Even before worship.(Matt 5:23-24)


• Our prayers may not be hindered (1 Pet 3:7)


• To become like the Father (Matt 5:43-48)


• We release ourselves from being judge and allow God to do as He pleases in the love of the one we forgive.(Rom 12:14-21).

This week let’s look at some practical reasons:

• Forgiveness alone breaks the cycle of blame and pain.


• Forgiveness offers a way out-allows the relationship to start over, to begin anew. If not, we remain bound to the people we cannot forgive.


• Not to forgive imprisons us to the past and locks out all potential for change. We yield control to another and doom ourselves to all consequences of the wrong.


• It looses the stranglehold of guilt in us (Rom 4:7-8; 5:1).


• When we ask God for forgiveness and ask forgiveness of the one we've sinned against, we feel such a relieve. An opportunity to start over.


• Fellowship is restored both with God and one another (1 Jn 1:7-9).


• Helps us to realize that we are no different from the one we accuse. (parable of the unforgiving servant Matt 18:23-35))


• Jesus lived among us (mankind) and identified with us. He knew it was difficult to forgive and understood this completely when He said, “if it's possible, take this cup away from me...” However, in the end He realized that there was no other way to identify but to say “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Should we not also forgive?

Caught in the Act Part III

Jesus Christ said: "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."1

With the woman caught in the act of adultery, Jesus saw beyond the external act of sin to the deeper cause of why she acted out in the way she did.
We tend to see sin as only the external act. But the external act is often just the tip of the iceberg. Sin is anything that falls short of the perfection or wholeness God planned for us. It includes our damaged emotions, our wounded personality, our mixed motives, our unresolved inner conflicts, and our supercharged repressed negative emotions. These are the pains that keep us in bondage and cause us to act out in sinful ways. These are the barriers that alienate us from God, from others, and from ourselves so that we no longer know who or what we truly are. Sin is the whole "iceberg," not merely the external tip.
Because of this, when Jesus ministered to the woman caught in adultery, he dealt with her whole person not just her sinful act. As already noted, before he took away her act of sin he first met the basic need in her life, the lack of which was driving her to commit acts of sin. Jesus loved and accepted her. In doing this, possibly for the very first time in this woman's life, she was loved and accepted by a man for whom she was rather than for what she had to offer. Jesus knew her sin and her weaknesses. He understood her fully and loved and accepted her unconditionally. In so doing he confirmed her personhood and her womanhood. In other words, the needs that her father didn't or couldn't meet, Jesus met. In meeting these father needs Jesus set her free and could realistically say to her, "Go and don't commit this sin anymore."
Or take the person with a drinking problem, a lying problem, a stealing problem, a drug problem, a gossip problem, or any other kind of sin problem. Behind the external act of sin lies a deeper fault, problem, or sin. The external act of sin is merely the symptom of the deeper sin. And when a person is hiding a deeper sin or fault, he tends to confess a lesser sin all the more vigorously.
Therefore, how unkind it is of me, how lacking in understanding, and how unlike Christ to take away your external acts of sin or condemn you and make you feel guilty for them without seeking to understand and help meet the basic need in your life, the lack of which is causing you to commit sins.
It's easy to lay rules on you and make you feel guilty if you don't conform, and in so doing deceive myself into believing that I have been obeying God, which is anything but the truth. But how difficult it is to seek to understand you, to learn why you do what you do, and then attempt to meet your deepest needs—the lack of which are causing you to commit acts of sin. This takes true commitment to Christ and commitment to you—it is my being as Jesus to you.
Being a sinner myself, I do not have the right to tell you not to sin again. I only have the responsibility to accept you as a fellow sinner and help you meet your needs and thereby help take away your need for sinning. And in fact, if I take away your symptoms (your external acts of sin) without dealing with the deeper causes, I will drive your inner problems deeper underground and damage your personality even further.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please deliver me of the sin of being critical and judgmental and give me a spirit of understanding to be able to help any who genuinely need your help and healing. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. John 3:17, (KJV).

Caught in the Act Part II

"Neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."1

Yesterday we talked about the Pharisees trying to trap Jesus over the woman caught in the act of adultery. The last thing Jesus said to these pious religious bigots was, "Let the man who has never sinned be the one to cast the first stone."
Their own accusations had boomeranged on themselves. The silence was deafening. And now, like frightened puppy dogs, they tucked their "religious tails" between their legs and got out of there as quickly as they could.
Jesus was left alone with the woman. He knew she'd been used. He understood her deepest need and gently asked her, "What happened to your accusers? Where did they go? Isn't there anyone left to condemn you?"
"No, Lord," she replied, "they've all gone."
Then Jesus made a simple but profound statement: "I don't condemn you either. Go, and don't commit this sin anymore."
The dynamic in this story is that before Jesus told this woman to go and sin no more he first met the basic need in her life, the lack of which was causing her to sin. This is such a profound truth, it desperately needs understanding.
Let me explain. Counselors tell us that many a prostitute or a loose living woman, for example, is a woman who has been hurt deeply by her father—perhaps by her mother too, but mostly by her father. She is very hostile towards him. He didn't meet her needs for love; acceptance, and approval. Neither did he confirm her womanhood. For one or many reasons she felt rejected by him. Or he or another significant male in her early life may have sexually abused her. She doesn't come to this conclusion consciously, but the greatest way she can hit back at her father or men is by becoming a prostitute. She is also desperately searching for the father's love she never received as a child or as a young woman and is unconsciously trying to prove to herself that she is a woman. She is being driven into acts of sin because of unresolved hurt, anger and by an unmet need for love and acceptance—especially that of a father's love.
The same principle applies to the man who is running around using women. His problem includes lust, but it goes far deeper. He is not the great masculine figure he pretends to be. He may be angry at his mother and be using other women as a means of expressing his hostility. Or he may be still searching for the mother's love he never received as a child as well as trying to convince himself that he is adequate as a male.
Behind all external acts of sin, there is almost always a deeper sin, fault, unmet need, or damaged emotion. In other words, all behavior is caused or motivated. There is a reason why people do what they do. This is not to excuse their behavior. Not at all. Jesus didn't condemn the woman for her sin, but neither did he condone her actions. He told her not to do it again. However, He knew that this woman had a deep emotional need in her life and it was this unmet need that was driving her into acts of sin.
In meeting her needs, Jesus could realistically say to her, "Go and don't commit this sin anymore."
To be concluded ...

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to always be sensitive to the true needs of others when they fall, and seek to meet them at that point of need just as you did with the woman caught in adultery. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. John 1:11, (NIV).

Caught in the Act Part I

"At dawn he [Jesus] appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"1
Perhaps one of the most beautiful examples of communicating Christ's love in the entire New Testament is where Christ ministered to the woman who was caught in the act of adultery.
Why the scribes and Pharisees brought only the woman to Jesus for judgment is a little difficult to understand. How only the woman could be caught in the act of adultery alone is beyond my comprehension. If truth be known, the guilty man may very well have been one of the accusers even if he weren't present in the accusing circle. The whole affair was undoubtedly a setup to trap Jesus.
Regardless, you can just see these religious bigots gloating over their victory. "We've got Him cornered at last," they bragged among themselves with a false sense of anticipated triumph. "He can't win. And we can't lose. Whatever way he answers, we have him trapped. If he says to punish her according to the law of God, we'll accuse him of having no mercy. If he says to let her go free, we'll accuse him of breaking God's law." Quite a scheme ... so they thought.
So here they are, encircling Jesus and the guilty woman. They were like a pack of hungry wolves just waiting for the signal to pounce on Jesus and devour Him. What did they care about the woman? Absolutely nothing. They were using her as a pawn in their game.
"Now, Master," they piously addressed Jesus undoubtedly in a sanctimonious tone of voice, "this woman was caught committing adultery in the very act. God's law demands that such a woman be stoned to death. How do you feel about that? What say you?"
Jesus ignored them. He stooped down and wrote on the ground. But these men were persistent. They were determined to win their devious game so they kept pressing Jesus for an answer.
So Jesus stood up, looked each one of them squarely in the eye, and agreed with them. "Yes," he said, "you're absolutely correct. The law of Moses, God's law, does say that such a woman should be stoned to death."
"He's agreeing with us," they mused among themselves, and you could see them going for the rocks tucked under their religious robes—the rocks of accusation they were about to hurl at Jesus. They were more concerned about killing Jesus than they were about stoning the woman or defending justice.
"So," continued Jesus, "go ahead and stone her to death if that's what you desire." After a brief moment's pause and with a burning look that pierced the depths of their consciences Jesus added, "However, gentlemen, wait just a minute, I'd like to add one condition—let the man who has never sinned be the one to cast the first stone."
Thud. The silence was deafening.
To be continued ...
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me a spirit of discernment so that I will always know when enquirers are genuine or if they have a hidden agenda seeking to hurt a fellow struggler who has fallen. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. John 8:2-5, (NIV).

Sunday Re-cap (19th March 2006)

The Most Unnatural Act-Forgiveness Pt 1
by Ps Sam Hari

Mark 12:30-31
The word “love” in both verses is the same i.e. agape.
The quality of love that must be shown to one another is the same as the quality of love we show to God i.e. if we say we really love God, then we must really love one another.
V31-“And the second is like, namely this,”-means similar, the same

Without GRACE, we cannot forgive offenses, without GRACE, we cannot have good relationships.
The opposite of GRACE is UNGRACE (inability to show GRACE i.e. Offense, resentment, unforgiveness).

The law of nature admits no forgiveness. At the center of the Lord's prayer lurks the unnatural act of forgiveness. Here lies the key to forgiveness. “Forgive us our trespasses AS we forgive those who trespass against us”. The next statement is equally terrifying! “If you do not forgive men their sins, your father will not forgive your sins.”

As we allow ourselves to let go, break the cycle, start over, God will allow himself to let go, break the cycle and start over.
It's a command. It even takes precedence over formalities like worship and prayers (Matt 5:23-24; 1 Pet 3:7; Mark 11:25-26)

ISSUE No 1
We should only release forgiveness if the person concerned deserves it.
But the very meaning of forgive is to GIVE just as pardon contains donum, or gift.
(Mat 5:44-45)

ISSUE No 2
We only forgive those who show the same willingness. What does the WORD say? Parable of the LOST son. God so love the world HE GAVE (what? Forgiveness through His SON).

ISSUE No 3
Why should I forgive? I was wronged.
Many times when we say “I forgive you”, our heart remained angry and resentful. We still want to hear that we were right after all; still want to hear apologies and excuses; still want the satisfaction of receiving some praise in return-praise for being so forgiving!
God's forgiveness is unconditional.

Conclusion
Rom 12:17-21

Forgiveness is an act of FAITH. When we say we forgive, we are really saying that God is a better justice maker that I am.

Forgiveness involves a crucifying of the flesh. Without a crucifying of the flesh, there will be no signs and wonders and miracles (Mark 11:22-26). Without a crucifying of the flesh, we will not have the likeness of the son. (Gal 2:20).

Sunday Re-cap (12th March 2006)

Be Doers of the Word
By Ps. Dennis Balan

James 1:19 -27 ~ Be quick to listen attentively to the Word of God and be doers of the word of God.
1. Listen with attentive ears.

2. Slow to speak and if you want to speak, speak good things.

3. Slow to become angry. For an angry spirit is not an attentive spirit and you will not be able to listen.
Learn to be patient for uncontrolled anger releases all sorts of words that hinder the hearing of the Word of God.
Prov.16:32 ~ He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

4. v.21 Get rid of all filthiness and evil. Take off our dirty garments and put aside. Wax out our ears that we be sensitive and listen to the Word of God.

5. Put into practice the Word of God. Matt. 7:24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

6. Jer 31:33 - … I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
- Is the Word of God in our hearts transforming and changing us today?
- The word is inseparable and is a part of a Christian. Are we in the WORD?
- Without the WORD we may have salvation but of no power to live a life
pleasing unto God.

Successful life is by reading and obeying (doing) the WORD.

James 1:22 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
When we put into practice the Word of God; God will bless and protect us.
Too many Christians mark their Bible, but their Bible never marks them!

GROW CHARITY CONCERT - 21 APRIL 2006

Doing It God's Way

Romans 15:7 Accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God

There are four concepts we deal with as parents in communicating with our children: authority, accountability, affirmation and acceptance. We usually line them up this way:
We exert our parental authority over them. We demand that they be accountable to us. When they respond to our authority and comply by being accountable, we affirm them. When they put together a positive track record of affirmative behaviors, we convey our love and acceptance. The reason we have such difficulty communicating with our children is that we have it all backward. Look at God's approach to us as His children. At which end of the list does our heavenly Father start? He starts by expressing His love and acceptance (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Our children won't care how much we know until they know how much we care. Paul instructs us to "accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God" (Romans 15:7).
When your child shares something personal with you, what is he looking for initially? Not a lecture, not a list of rules he must obey, but acceptance and affirmation. "Tell me I'm all right," he begs. "Give me some love and hope."
When you know that you are unconditionally loved and accepted by God and affirmed in your identity as His child, you voluntarily submit to His authority and hold yourself accountable to Him. Similarly, when your child knows that you love him and accept him regardless of his failures, he will feel safe sharing his problems with you and responding to the direction you give. Children who know they are loved are free to be themselves, free to grow, and free to be the people God wants them to be.
Prayer: Lord, I know I can't be a perfect parent, but help me trust You day by day to be the affirming, accepting parent You want me to be.
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This daily devotional is published and distributed by Crosswalk.com. It is written by Neil Anderson at http://www.ficm.org

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

When a church - God's house - is split by disagreement, the experience grieves God and wounds everyone in the congregation. After all, as Jesus said, a house that's divided cannot stand. In the mess of a church split, evil runs free in your church, twisting God's values. People begin to justify anger as fighting for a principle and excuse slander and gossip as searching for the truth.
But there are ways to prevent such heartache from infecting your church. Here's how you can prevent a church split:
* Ask God's forgiveness. Acknowledge that any lack of unity that exists in your church is sin. Ask God to forgive you for tolerating it, and to cleanse both staff and laypeople of the effects of division.
* Recognize the real issue. Understand that disagreements about the style of music or way the sanctuary is decorated or how long sermons should be are just surface issues that mask the real, core issue: In spite of their differences, will your congregation defend the unity of Christ within the fellowship? Refuse to be manipulated by false issues. Respect different people's personal preferences and appreciate the diversity that exists within your church. Decide to remain united in love.
* Choose to pray instead of prey. Rather than criticizing people when they bother you, decide to pray for them instead. Remember that no one is perfect, that Christ loves everyone unconditionally. Realize that mere criticism won't help people change, but prayer has the power to cause great growth and transformation. Regularly intercede for others in your church.
* Think of seekers. Consider how pettiness and discord in the church drives people who otherwise might have come to Christ away. Ask God to make you aware of how well you and others your church are truly reflecting Christ as His ambassadors. Ask Him to prevent your church from causing seekers to stumble.
* Confess unrestrained ambition. Be honest with yourself and God about any pride and selfish motives that have contributed to strife in your church. Don't try to push another person out of a ministry position that you want. Instead, ask God to help you be patient and trust Him to provide you the opportunities He wants you to have, at the right time. Be content to wholeheartedly serve God where He has currently placed you.
* Serve without strings attached. Don't give your time or energy to a project just because you hope to get something for yourself out of it. Don't flatter people or meet their needs for the purpose of manipulating them to do something you want. Ask God to give you a real servant's heart that truly desires to help without expecting anything in return but the knowledge that your service pleases God.
* Make sure "prophecy" is genuine. Understand that, if you think you may have heard a prophetic message from God, you should submit your perceptions to church leaders and trust God to bring it to pass, if He chooses, at the right time. Realize that God has placed your church's leaders in their current positions to guide the church. Know that, if any change is to come, it should come through the proper channels of authority that have been set up at your church. When you pray, intercede without trying to control.
* Avoid gossip. Refuse to gossip yourself or listen to other people spread gossip. Understand that words have incredible spiritual power; positive words can do much to heal and encourage, but negative words are potent poison that can destroy people in your church. Ask God to purify your lips. Refrain from discussing other's faults and failures whenever you can. And whenever it's truly necessary to do so, don't harbor any malice toward them. Let grace and mercy motivate your words and actions toward others in your church.. Seek redemption, not revenge. Devote much more time to praying for people than you do talking about them.
* Forgive. Whenever people in your church fall into sin or fail your expectations, be willing to forgive them. Don't allow bitterness to fester in your heart. Ask God to grant them - and you - new grace.
* Be thankful. Rather than focusing on what's lacking in your church and complaining about it, be positive. Take time regularly to remind yourself of all that you appreciate about your church. Ask God to show you clearly how He is at work in your church, and thank Him for it.
* Seek God's perspective. Ask God to help you see the best part of every situation you encounter at your church. Ask Him to help you view problems and weaknesses as opportunities, struggles as refining tools, and sinners as saints in progress.
* Be accountable. As a pastor, make sure you're accountable to other people (such as elders or a deacon board) who will encourage you to do the right thing when it's challenging for you. Ask them to support and encourage you as you seek to live with integrity and maintain a close relationship with Christ.
* Be willing to listen. Genuinely listen to and consider suggestions from church members. Show humility and openness when interacting with them.
* Encourage people to use their spiritual gifts and natural talents. Provide plenty of opportunities for people to contribute to the life of your church so they don't get frustrated - and so everyone benefits from what they bring to your congregation.
* Make it easy for people to transfer to another church. Give people who want to leave your church your blessing with no hard feelings if God leads them elsewhere. Trust God to bring your church the people it needs at the right times.
* Submit to authority. Recognize that, just as God has created the universe with a certain structure, He also orders human relationships so that people who hold certain positions are in authority over others. Out of love for God, submit to the authorities He has placed in your life.
* Show other people honor and respect. Understand that God calls you to honor and respect people even if you disagree with them. Don't shame other people, no matter what their views. Treat everyone with dignity.
* Pursue true success. Realize that true success in life comes from only one thing - becoming more and more like Christ. Seek to attain qualities of His character that will make you a success and lead to unity in your church: humility, submissiveness, a passion for prayer, and a mature, redemptive heart attitude.
* Don't be easily offended. Ask God to strengthen your heart so you're not easily offended. Ask Him to help you let minor offenses go and move on beyond them toward maturity.
* Adjust your expectations to reality. Ask God to help you discern what's truly reasonable to expect of people in your church. Don't compare people to others, but appreciate the unique way God has made them.
* Maintain love in the midst of injustice. Know that God sometimes allows injustices to help people learn to love better. Ask Him what He wants you to learn from being wronged, and trust Him to transform your bad experiences into good according to His purposes. Rather than seeking revenge, continue to act in love, remembering that God is looking out for you.
* Ask God to use you. Regularly invite God to use you as an instrument of His love to unite people in your church. Do all you can to make your church a gate into heaven, where people celebrate in unity.
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Adapted from A House United: How Christ-Centered Unity Can End Church Division copyright 2005 by Francis Frangipane. Published by Chosen Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Mich., www.chosenbooks.com.
Francis Frangipane is the senior minister of River Life Ministries and the author of 12 books, including This Day We Fight! A pastor since 1972, he travels throughout the world ministering to thousands of pastors in hundreds of cities. He and his wife, Denise, have six children and live near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Visit his Web site at: www.inchristsimage.org.

Loving Sinners

Loving Sinners
by John Fischer

Sinners are hard to love, especially when you are trying so hard not to be one.
You've heard it said, "Hate the sin; love the sinner," but sometimes it's hard to distinguish between the two. It seems easier to just hate the sinner and the sin and try and steer clear of both. But Jesus befriended sinful people, which raises the question: How do you do that? How do you love sinners when you are trying so hard not to be one?
Well actually, that's the problem. You can't love sinners when you're not one yourself. Loving sinners begins in the mirror. Sin, in order to be more than just a concept, has to have a face on it, and the most accessible one is seen in our own reflection.
Let's back this up just a bit. Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love God with everything you have and love your neighbor as yourself. That last part about loving yourself is commonly overlooked. It's generally thought that self-love is a given, but this is not the case at all, especially for Christians. Most Christians I know, myself included, are so steeped in guilt that it is impossible for them to love themselves. And even though we keep hearing and even preaching the gospel that we are all sinners and no one can please God except by His grace, we refuse to believe it for ourselves. We can't let go of the thought that we are just a little bit better than common, ordinary sinners -- that we don't need this grace quite as badly as the next guy. It's actually a case of very bad amnesia: we are constantly trying to prove ourselves worthy of being Christians when we forgot what a Christian was in the first place -- someone unworthy to be one were it not for the grace of God.
So instead of just admitting our sin and putting ourselves in the same boat as the rest of humanity, we choose to think that we are just a short step away from having it all together, and thus we live with the guilt of knowing that we aren't. And in doing so, we lose our ability to embrace sinners, because to embrace sinners, we have to embrace our own ugliness, and we can't do that because we never have. What sad, desperate people we are! No wonder Jesus had it in for the Pharisees. They cut themselves out of the blessing. They chose their guilt over His grace, rather than identify with sinners.
Loving sinners starts with being one. And no one has to go out and sin to discover this. Just look in the mirror, accept that scoundrel you see there for who he or she is, accept God's grace and forgiveness, and then start hugging all those other sinners out there who don't know the good news yet. It's really not all that complicated.

Look Who's Watching!

A quarter too muchSeveral years ago, a new preacher moved to Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount?
Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet." When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change."
The driver with a smile replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town? I have been thinking lately about going to worship somewhere. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday"
When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter."
Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really almost scary example of how much people watch us as Christians and will put us to the test! Always be on guard and remember (as I try to remember) that you carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself "Christian."

VICTORY LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

VICTORY LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Theme: Excellence in Spirit

Speakers: Todd & Julie Powers

Date: 30 May - 1 Jun 2006

Venue:
Cinta Sayang Golf Resorts
Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia

Contact:
VBI Malaysia
G.P.O. Box 179, 10270 Penang, Malaysia

Tel: 604 6597190 Fax: 604 6562554email: http://us.f346.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=myvbi@tm.net.my or http://us.f346.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=vbimalaysia@yahoo.com


About Todd & Julie Powers
Todd and Julie were called into the ministry at an early age, and began their adventure in faith shortly after they were married in July 1983. They attended Rhema Bible College in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma from 1983 to 1985. While attending Rhema, they began working in ministry in preparation for the destiny that God had for their lives.
In 1983, Todd and Julie attended and became very involved in Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Billy Joe Daugherty is Pastor. In 1985, Todd entered the full-time ministry working with Victory Christian Center in the area of helps, administration, management and teaching. Julie began working for Kenneth Hagin Ministries and served there for nearly three years. Julie also worked with Impact Productions, as well as assisting Todd with his responsibilities at the Victory Christian Center.
In 1987, they attended Victory World Missions Training Center, an intense missionary training program to prepare people who feel called to serve God in foreign lands. After graduating from this program, they began preparing for the mission field. In 1989, Todd became the Director of Victory World Missions Training Center until 1993. During this time, Todd and Julie moved to Manila, Philippines, where they worked as missionaries for one year. Their first daughter, Stephanie, was born in Manila in 1990. In 1993, their second daughter, Tiffany, was born.
In 1994 Todd and Julie moved to Fort Worth, Texas to help pioneer Heritage of Faith Bible Institute and School of World Evangelism, a two-year Bible College with a missions emphasis. Todd and Julie were the Directors of Heritage of Faith Bible Institute and School of World Evangelism, full time instructors and associate ministers with the Heritage of Faith Organization for over 9 years.
In January 2003 Todd and Julie began their own missions ministry, Powers Ministries International, for the purpose of training leaders, planting churches and reaping the end-time harvest in the nations. Their USA offices are located in California and their international base is located in Bangkok, Thailand.
Todd has earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Golden Pacific University and his Master of Religious Education degree from Friends International Christian University. Todd and Julie hold their ministerial credentials with Victory Fellowship of Ministries in Tulsa Oklahoma.
With missions being their heartbeat, they place a high priority on reaching the nations. They have ministered in 27 nations around the world. They also speak in churches and conferences all around the United States. Reaching nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the thrust of everything they do.

GROW CHARITY CONCERT 2006

Sunday Re-cap (05th March 2006)

Let go of the Peanuts
Ps. S. Nathan

Matt. 24:4-10 ~We are living in the last of the last days.
Who we are today is what we will be in Heaven.
The main purpose of God’s calling is for us to be transformed to the image of Christ. Allowing God’s promise to work in our lives is always a fight of faith.
Mark 4:13-20 `~ Satan comes to steal the word. Everything that God does will always start with the Word.
We can always nullify the word by carelessly speaking or handling it.

How to guard the word of God in our lives without being offended?
Offence: In Greek it means trap.

Let go of the peanut. The monkey is trapped when it puts it hand into the coconut hole to take the peanut and hold it with the fist and doesn’t want to let go. Likewise offences are thrown into our lives to keep us in bondages and rob the power of God’s word in our lives.

Matt.13:54-58 The people were offended because Jesus was like one of them from that city. Every time we are prejudiced, we lose the presence of God.

Matt 11:1-6 John was offended because he put his eyes on himself / self-pity and expected Jesus to visit him in prison and set him free. Jesus doesn’t live to John’s expectation but to fulfill God’s expectation. Because of offence, John lost his head.
~ Nobody can meet our expectations. What we do with it that counts. Forgive and bless those who offend us. Curse Satan and command him to restore us seven fold.

1 Sam 17 –David grew up with rejection as a shepherd boy who was not brought out for the prophet to see. No one wanted to fight Goliath and when David wanted to fight his brother Eliab was offended because he felt insecured and could not get to marry the princess.

2 King 5 – Naaman was offended.
When we come before God, we are nobody, we need to humble ourselves. We go to Him by the Blood of Jesus and not by what we are or have.
Respect is earned, not demanded. Lower your expectation with others and humble yourself and God will exalt you.

How to live with offence?
1. Realize what offence- a trick by the devil is / trap.
2. Ps. 119:165 Learn to love the Word of God and be protected from offence.
3. Decide to forgive everyone who’s going to offend us.

When we have a problem, identifying the problem itself will solve half of the problem!

Real Faith In A Real World

Jack Graham, PowerPoint Ministries

Do you ever wonder if heaven is applauding you? And do the great heroes of the faith who have gone on before see in you a faith that trusts God? In this edition of PowerLiving, I want to show you one way you can have real faith?in the real world! In Hebrews 11:8, the Bible talks about the faith of a man named Abraham-someone you've probably heard about many times: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. I want you to think with me for a few moments about having real faith in a real world. Consider the call of this faith. Abraham was an unbeliever-a pagan actually-an idolater who was living in the ancient city called Ur of the Chaldees. Ur of the Chaldees was a fantastic city in the world of antiquity. It was a city of extensive educational institutions, libraries, and magnificent homes. Yet it was a pagan and idolatrous city. And that's where Abraham was born and lived with his family.
At the age of 50, Abraham was called by God to leave this pagan, unbelieving, idolatrous world to follow Him. Friend, Abraham was an idol worshipper. Along with his family, he worshipped idols of wood and stone. Of course, we don't have those kinds of idols today. But you and I do have idols. The Bible calls them idols of the heart. They are the things called success, pleasure, wealth, and prosperity. And if you worship these kinds of idols, you will discover that they are no more reliable and no more satisfying than those pagan ancient deities that Abraham worshipped so long ago! Abraham was called to leave everything he had known, and simply step out by faith and believe in God. He was asked to turn from his idols to God?and he was called to go out into the unknown! That can be a frightening experience.
But that's where real faith begins?with a call from God. Have you ever been called and challenged by God to leave the known for the unknown? Have you ever had to step out?not knowing exactly why?just believing in God? Have you ever turned from your idols and turned to God? Let me tell you this, don't ever worry about the unknown if you're walking in faith and believing and following God. The time to worry is when you're living in disobedience. Abraham made the choice and stepped out by faith, believing God. And it was one of the greatest decisions he ever made. Because of that decision of faith, God blessed Abraham and made him a man among men for all times.
Today, I want to challenge you to do the same. Maybe you've never taken that step of faith to fully commit your life to Christ. Or maybe God is simply calling you to talk to that neighbor who needs to know about Him. Whatever it is, I pray that God would give you the courage?as He gave to Abraham?to make the choice to respond rightly to His call. Because He will bless your obedience in ways you could never think or imagine!

Service is not an option

Titus 2:11-15

Who is a servant of God? Ask the average church-goer that question, and he will most likely point to his pastor or some Christian celebrity. He almost certainly will not say, "I am God's servant. "The church has a mixed-up idea that believers are separated into servants -- that is, individuals in full-time ministry -- and laypeople. The Bible contains no such distinction; instead, Paul reminds the Ephesians that believers are saved so that they might serve (Ephesians 2:10). If there were no other reasons to serve God except gratitude for salvation, that would be cause enough. We are rescued from torment and given eternal life with the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence. Our service is but a small acknowledgement of the Father and Son's great sacrifice, and we have no right to withhold our gifts or time.
Many people, believers included, serve the big "I." What satisfies and pleases "I"? What is convenient for "I"? What makes "I" happy and prosperous? When a pastor appeals for help, most of his parishioners are sure he is speaking to someone else because "I" has insufficient training or a busy schedule. Here is a harsh reality: if "I" is our master, we are committing I-dolatry. Anything given first place over God -- including selfish desires -- is an idol.
Service is not an option. The Lord calls us to be servants so that we can invest our lives in an eternally valuable purpose -- the salvation and discipleship of unbelievers for His glory. Our job may be insignificant or our limitations great, but we are vessels of Christ with a role in the kingdom.