Sunday Re-Cap (15th OCT, 2006)

Weapons Of Warfare
By Pastors Hank & Myrene Morrison (COTW Van Nuys CA)

Introduction:
There are 2 Kingdoms that are at war with each other which are The Kingdom of God and The Kingdom of Darkness.

Kingdom Of God-Love, Light, Joy, Peace, Kindness, Gentleness, Goodness, Faithfulness.
Kingdom Of Darkness-Hate, Darkness, Fear, Pain, Torment, Anger, Violence, Cruelty.

Kingdom Of God brings UNITY and Kingdom Of Darkness brings DIVISION.

Eph 6.12: Each of these Kingdoms wants ultimate rule.

2 Cor 10.4-5: What are these WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE?

1. The TRUTH. John 8.32
2. The BLOOD of JESUS. Rev 12.11 Lev 17.11
3. The Authority of the name of JESUS. Mark 16.17
4. The word of their TESTIMONY. Rev 12.11
5. The WORD of God and the SWORD of the SPIRIT. Eph 6.17
6. LOVE. 1 Jn 4.18
7. FASTING. Matt 17.21
8. Anointing with OIL. Is 10.27
9. Laying on of HANDS. Luke 13.11-16, Luke 4:40-41, Acts 19:11-12
10. Songs of DELIVERANCE. Ps 32.7
11. Binding and Loosing. Matt 16.19, Matt 18.18
12. Warfare Prayer in Tongues. Matt 12.28
13. Prayer of Agreement. Matt 18.19
14. PRAISE. Ps 149.6-9
15. Gifts of the SPIRIT. 1 Cor 12-14
16. Prayer of REPENTANCE. 1 Jn 1.8-9
17. WARFARE SHOUTS. Jer 50.15; 51.14
18. Hands at WAR. Ps 18.34

Q. When do we use which weapon?
A. Lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge HIM and He shall direct your paths. Prov 3.5

Sunday Re-cap (08th October, 2006)

Don’t settle for anything less when your heart asks for more
Pr. David Lai

Mark 10:46-52 - Blind Bartimaeus determined in his mind & heart to get his sight.
The devil doesn’t want us to have more. He wants to kill, steal and destroy us from having more.

Genesis 37:3 – Joseph was hated by his brothers because he had more. Likewise when we have more the devil wants to destroy us. But we need to rise up and allow God to bless us move that we can impact nations.

Daniel - Served four kings but finally he had more and became a prophetic voice to the nation.

Saul (1 Samuel 9:1-27) – Saul a handsome guy was selected to be the king of Israel but Saul with his own mind and perspective say I’m from the smallest clan of Benjamite and tries to avoid the more that God wanted to bless him.

We just need o allow God to touch our hearts for His blessings are unlimited, we need to change our believe system so that we can trust on what the Word of God says; only then our spirit-man will line-up towards God’s plan for us.

1 Sam 10:9, 26 – God gave Saul another heart, a changed heart to do His will. Learn to pull down every stronghold in the mind in Jesus’ name.

Gideon (Judges 6) – Gideon had the same mind set like Saul that he was from the smallest and weakest clan, but he wanted move- to see the deliverance of the nation of Israel. Since he wanted more, he became a mighty leader. God is a God of Much More!

Jabez (1 Chron 4:9-10) – “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!"

2 Chron 25:6-9 - God has power to help and to overthrow - "The Lord is able to give you much more than this."

Eph 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

So don’t settle for anything less when your heart asks for more in the things of God!

Sunday Re-cap (01st October, 2006)

Do You Really Know God
Bro. Daniel Jacob

Gen 19:1 -15 ~ Sodom & Gomorrah were punished.
Gen 18:20 – Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed because of their sin. Ezekiel 16:49 says their sin was that they did not help the poor, were haughty and did detestable things.
The main reason God destroyed them was because they did not help the poor and the needy.


Gen 18:20 – Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed because of their sin. Ezekiel 16:49 says their sin was that they did not help the poor, were haughty and did detestable things.
The main reason God destroyed them was because they did not help the poor and the needy.

Gal 2:9-10 ~ The Apostles and Paul had the same desire that is “to remember the poor”.

Jeremiah 22:16 ~ To have compassion on the poor. That compassion must do something, and
not just having good intentions but without actions. The Bible says that Jesus was moved by
compassion to do something.

Lev 19:1-10 ~ The Lord told how the harvesters must consider the poor & needy by leaving some at the edge, whatever falls don’t pick up, so that the poor may collect them.

We have to heed the call of the poor and needy.
Pro 21:31~ Don’t shut the cry of the poor and remember what we sow is what we will reap.
Mt 25:31-46 – Jesus mentions that whatever we do to the least of the brethren, we do it unto Him.

Eph 2:8 By grace we have been saved through faith. James says ‘Faith without works is dead”. If we have faith, the natural result is action to do something.
We become selfish and self centred if we do not give or help the poor. When we are insensitive to something, we are oblivious to the problems around.

Poor are those who due to circumstances in life are not able to help or fend for themselves due to ill health, death of sole provider, lack of opportunity, oppression from outside.

We should proactively want to help the poor & needy.
Pro 22:9 – Generous giver will be blessed.
Deut 15:10 – Give without grieve and God will bless all your works
Pro 19:17 – He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD…

You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving!
So to what extend do we help the poor & needy? The picture of a true Christian is one who blesses the poor.

Conclusion: God is interested in people, especially people in difficulty. Give without expecting anything in return!

Sunday re-cap (24th September 2006)

In Spite Of…..Unconditional Devotion Part II
Pr. Vincent Liew

Introduction

The danger of backsliding in our devotion to God may not be present only in difficult times but also in the ‘good’ times when our lives are a ‘breeze’. This trend was very typical of the Israelites in OT times. When they were ‘high and dry’, they cried out to God for help, but when they were having a good life, they reverted back to their old rebellious ways, forgetting who their God was (Hosea 13:4-8).
However, Christians can model their lives after 3 persons in the OT whom, in spite of their success, continued to be unconditionally devoted to God. Their devotion to God was reflected in their;-

A. Fear of God – Gen. 39:1-10 (Joseph – Slave to Prince)

i. Joseph resisted Potiphar’s wife’s sexual advances because he had the fear of God. He had the revelation that whenever someone sin, first and foremost, he or she sins against God Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. In spite of being ‘the man’ now in Potiphar’s house, he did not compromise his devotion to God. Sin is not only about the physical realm, but more importantly; it has drastic implications in the spiritual realm too.
ii. Quote: “When we lose the fear of God, by default we will inherit a thousand lesser fears.

B. Faith in God – Esther 4:15-16 (Esther – Peasant to Queen)

i. Esther became queen of Persia almost overnight. The king was ‘head over heels’ in love with her. She could have asked and got anything she wanted. But when her people, the Jews, were in trouble, Esther turned to God for help. In spite of success in the Persian court, she knew her limitations and she chose to put her faith in God rather than in herself.
ii. The more gifted or talented we are, the stronger the temptation to rely on self rather than God. God becomes our plan B.

C. Fellowship with God – Daniel 6:1-10 (Exile to Governor)

i. Daniel was a VVIP in Babylonia. He was one of the busiest politicians. God had blessed him with favor and everybody wanted a share of him. Even the king maintained a personal relationship with him. However, in spite of his popularity with royalty, Daniel continued to keep his personal fellowship with God like he had always done. Although the situation was not favorable, yet he did not neglect his quiet time with the Lord.
ii. The key to a strong personal fellowship with God is consistency.

Conclusion – Read Ecclesiastes 12

We should strive to remain unconditionally devoted to God by fearing Him, having faith in Him, and fellowshipping with Him even when everything is well in our lives.

Sunday Re-cap (17th September, 2006)

WHAT JESUS TOOK BACK TO HEAVEN
Text: Acts 1: 9-11
By: Ps. Abel Phillips

Introduction: The Bible has much to say about the first coming of Jesus and what he brought from Heaven to earth. But not much is said about WHAT JESUS TOOK BACK TO HEAVEN. In this message we will look at WHAT JESUS TOOK BACK TO HEAVEN.

1. HE TOOK OUR PARDON - JUSTIFICATION - Romans 5: 8-11
Jesus died for our sins and arose for our Justification --- The Pardon is Signed In His Own Blood, Delivered to the Father, And Sealed In The Vault of Heaven Until That Great Reunion Day. We stand before God in the righteousness of Jesus!

2. HE TOOK THE NAIL PRINTS OF HIS SUFFERINGS
Nail Prints, in his hands and feet! --- The devil appears before God to accuse the saints! --- Jesus stands and shows the nail scared prints to the devil, and presents the nail scared prints to the Father… Jesus says I died for them on Calvary and here are the nail scared prints to prove it. Get lost devil, This is a redeemed Child of God!

3. HE TOOK THE AUTHORITY TO SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 16:7 - "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you: but if I depart, I will send Him unto you."
THE 120, WAITING IN THE UPPER ROOM KNEW JESUS HAD MADE IT HOME, WHEN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT COME UPON THEM.
Gal 5:20-22 – We ought to live and operate by the fruit of the Spirit.

4. HE TOOK AN INTERCEDING SPIRIT
Hebrews 9:24 - "For Christ is not entered into the Holy places made with hands, which are the figure of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
I John 2:1 - "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, ye have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

5. HE TOOK THE BLUE PRINTS OF OUR HEAVENLY HOME
John 14:2 - "In my Fathers House are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." Wait to you see my brand new home!

6. HE TOOK WITH HIM THE DESIRE TO COME AGAIN
Acts 1:11 - "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

John 14:3 - "And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also."

B - "For the Lord HIMSELF, shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Conclusion
1 John 5:1-5 - Have faith in the Son of God. Be eager and anticipate in His Return by being obedient to His Word and the Holy Spirit's Guidance on daily basis.

Sunday re-cap (10th September 2006)

In Spite Of (Unconditional Devotion to God)
Pr. Vincent Liew

Introduction: James 1:2-3 – My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.(NKJV)

i. It is natural for all of us to desire that everything goes well in our lives; our wealth, our health, our family, our relationships, etc.
ii. However, in reality, not everyday is a ‘beautiful Sunday’. We will definitely experience ‘good days’ as well as ‘bad days’. So what do we do?

We will look at three specific yet unique scenarios where those who were involved had to make a choice to either abandon God or follow Him in spite of their circumstances.

A. Scenario 1: Provisions – Habakkuk 3: 17-18

i. Fig tree, grapevine, olive, grain, and flocks covers the entire range of agricultural produce that Israel was dependent on for their livelihood
ii. We are not talking about the luxuries of life but the very basic needs in life. Imagine losing our jobs, having no food to feed us or our children, no money to pay our water or electric bills, and etc.
iii. But in spite of the seemingly bleak situation, Habakkuk could still rejoice in God his salvation. His confidence did not rest in visible yet temporal blessings, but rather in an unshakeable relationship with God. God is still God whether He continues to provide these things for his people or not. Habakkuk was determined to rejoice and exult in the Lord even though there may not be any visible or external signs of His presence or favor.

B. Scenario 2: Persecution/Deliverance – Daniel 3:15-18

i. Three good friends of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced life and death situation. Bow down and worship a false idol or be thrown into the blazing furnace.
ii. In spite of staring death in the face, obeying God was more important than life to these three, so if God chose not to deliver them, they will still be devoted to Him. They did not know how God will deliver them, but dead or alive, they knew they were God’s treasured possession. God may be trusted to protect us, but our honoring Him is not conditional upon His preserving us. The three were not delivered from the fire, but in the fire!

C. Scenario 3: Physical Wellbeing/Healing – Job 2:7-10

i. Apparently hopeless case. In spite of all his afflictions (material, emotional, physical) Job did not sin against God. He had disproved Satan’s claim that he would sin with his lips by cursing God if he was physically struck down.

Conclusion
We can rise above the circumstances because our God is with us and He will never leave us nor forsake us. He the One who gives us strength and grace to be more than overcomers.

Sunday Re-cap (03rd September, 2006)

Know your Calling
Ps. Alfred Ee

Text: Matt 14:15-21; 15:32-39 & Rom 12:3-8

Eph 4:7-16 Everyone of us are called into the Ministry, not only the 5 fold Ministry. Let each one function within their gifts / calling.

Three Meaning Grace:
1. Salvation Grace / Unmerited favour – Saving grace of God
2. Dynamic power of God – Don’t operate in your own strength. Be strong in the Lord and not in your own ability.
3. Grace as gifts and ministry (Eph 3:1-3,8)

Because of God’s Grace we go to heaven; because of God’s mercy we don’t go to hell.

Five Fold Ministry (Eph 4:11-16)
1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Evangelists
4. Pastors
5. Teachers
Function:
i. Equipping of the saints for the work of ministry
ii. Edifying of the body of Christ
iii. Unity of the faith, Knowledge of the Son of God

The Seven Fold Ministry (Rom 12:3, 6-8)
1. Prophesying
2. Serving /Ushering
3. Teaching
4. Encouragement / Exhorting
5. Giving with Liberality
6. Leading / Leadership
7. Gift of Mercy

So know your calling / gifting. If you are not in the Five Fold Ministry, then through the grace given to us, serve through the seven fold ministry according to Roman 12:6-8

Sunday Recap (27th August 2006)

Tending Our Garden
By Ps Samuel Hari

Text:

^NLT Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.

1. HEART

Definition:

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding (Note: SOUL-emotions, mind, will)

• most times we guard our spirit man by prayer, word, etc. but not much time is spent in guarding our hearts (heart and soul are interchangeable as seen in definition above).
• we need to realize that when we are saved, our spirit man is born again and then The Holy Spirit begins the process of renewing our souls. God breathed his Spirit and then told us to look after the garden.(Gen 2.15)
• What is the condition of this garden? (Pro 24:30-34).
• it requires our attention, no one can do it for us.

Mat 9:16 -17

• The wineskin is speaking about our hearts-soul. The soul (wineskin) is the container for the spirit (wine).
• most times we are patched up souls in the church. A little bit of the old and a little bit of the new i.e. a new creation but can get angry, lie every once in a while…forgive most people, tending our garden is a practical exercise and requires….

2. GUARD/DILIGENCE

Definition:

1) place of confinement, prison, guard, jail, guard post, watch, observance

1a) jail, prison, guard-house

1b) guard, guard post, act of guarding

• the act of guarding is not just casual guarding. That’s sometimes the reason it gets broken into many times! IT IS AN ACT OF MILITARY PROPORTIONS!
• It is the wellspring of life; affects everything you do! Business, family, finances, HEALTH etc.
• In the natural we guard our physical hearts. If the heart breaks down ALL our wealth, fame, fortune means nothing. People who are depending on us are left abandoned; Is GOD using this to speak to us about our spiritual heart which is our soul? If our spiritual heart breaks down……
• attending a good seminar, listening to a good teaching tape or letting the words of a Christian song minister to us?
• what about our friends? We need friends to help us guard our hearts. Wrong friends means garden is neglected or in a total mess!

3. ABOVE ALL ELSE!

God says ABOVE ALL ELSE! Put it at the top of the list of things in the morning. I AM GOING TO GUARD MY HEART TODAY, every moment, every day, every word, every thought.

Mat 5:29-30

• Is it eyes and hands that the LORD is talking about? He’s talking about costing us something to keep our gardens in order. If we need to stop associating with someone ungodly, even if its painful do it! If you’re going to be ridiculed for following HIM, do it! If you have to give up your girlfriend, boyfriend, even if means having no life partner, so be it!
• It’s a matter of life and death.
• No wonder the Bible says it is the wellspring of life and it affects everything we do!

Sunday Re-Cap (20th Aug 2006)

Knowing the Seasons of God
by Ps Donnaven Teoh

Introduction
Mark 1:14-15: We are here for a definite reason and a definite season for a divine purpose. We don’t have to wait for the upper room experience, but we can have the fullness of the Holy Spirit. E.g. Billy Graham knew when the season ended for him and made a graceful exit.

Two Types of Time:

1. Chronos – Natural time


2. Kairos – God’s Time: The time is fulfilled. It has come to a maturity and a time to accomplishment. An opportune moment or season where a foreordained event is going to take place.

Jesus was about 30, when he left the house. When he was baptized, the carpenter disappeared but the Son of Man appeared (new mandate). God gave him open recognition “This is my beloved son…” the new season/office as the Son of man has begun. When he died and resurrected he became the Son of God.

30 in Hebrew signifies maturity. Jesus was waiting for the mandate from heaven and was launched into a new season.

God is ready to do something new. The season has come, let God be God. When Kairos comes, we ought to repent and belief. Repentance – change of heart and be more passionate to reach out; wanting to know what the Father says.

Luke 19:41-44 – Jesus wept because the people we ignorant of what was happening in the season.

In the Flood, Noah took 120 years to build the ark; God’s judgement was upon them who were ignorant.

Lk 19:42 – You miss the Kairos of your visitation. There is a season coming very quickly and God is gathering the hearts of His people.

John 7:5-8 – Jesus knows God’s Season and timing. Jesus knows what and when He is supposed to do. We ought to be walking the walk of Jesus on earth.

Mark 6 – The disciples feed the 5000. As they fed or gave out a miracle happened.

We ought to be walking the walk of Jesus on earth. The Holy Spirit is available all the time but do we have it in our hearts the fullness of God? Know the Kairos time and move with God.

Special Meeting-19th August

Merdeka Prayer Rally

Combined Churches Youth Camp (22-24 Aug)

Rapha Healing Service

Sunday Re-cap (13th August 2006)

Being Renewed In God
By: Sis. Ann Low (NECF)

Text: Isaiah 40:28 -31

We have our hope in the Lord, our Everlasting God.
Eph 1:3 God has blessed us with Blessings. “GROWBM” = God Reaches Out With Blessings Marvelously.
Renew means spring up in our walk with the Lord; being renewed in our spirit man, soul and physical realm.

Why God renews us

1. To be a Strong Christian so that we have the abundance of power to help the weaker ones. Become a blessing to more people. (Eph 3:16-18)

2. God strengthens us so that we can be victorious and rise above the storms of life. Jesus restores and redeems us no matter how many times we fall. Peter denied Jesus, yet was redeemed. Paul was in so much trouble but not defeated.

Rom 8:11 – “God gives life to your mortal bodies through the Holy Spirit.”
Matt 16:18 - The Church shall be strong and the gates of Hades shall not prevail
against it.

3. God renews us so that we will not grow weary but He shall be our strength to move fast. Nehemiah with God strength was able to build the wall and to complete it fast.

4. God wants us to persevere and run with endurance and be not weary or wear out. He wants us to walk and not faint.
2 Tim 2:3 - Endure perseverance. Endure the cross, carry the cross endure persecution.

So don’t be a “Yo-yo Christian” but WAIT upon the LORD; be renewed, grow in the Lord and be a blessing to others around you!

Sunday Re-cap (6th Aug 2006)

First Love by Pastor Samuel Hari

Our THEME scripture: Eph 3:10

What does it mean to be a SAINT?

Rev 2:1-5

1. Ephesians Church-good works, good programs, persevered, not weary.
2. However, ONE thing God had against them; they had a lost their first love.
3. We can have EVERYTHING without having that ONE thing. Without that ONE thing we can lose EVERYTHING!
4. There must be intensity, extreme passion for Christ.
5. Do we have our first love? If not, where has it gone?
6. We cannot serve without our first love; next to impossible.
7. No amount of motivation gets us to serve unless we have our first love.
8. We will get tired and eventually die down. We need an encounter with God.
9. Before we can repent and submit and obey, we need to have our first love.
10. We are caught up doing instead of being. We are human BEINGS and not DOINGS.
11. When someone has an encounter with God ie. First Love, we don’t need to keep convincing them i.e. about tithing and giving, doing evangelism, prayer.
12. No 1 priority, get our first love BACK!

How do we lose our first love?

1. After too much of doing and doing, we cross that line and find that our first love is missing.
2. Some never had an encounter with God. Symptom-they need to be prodded and prodded. They cannot understand those who are passionate with God.
3. Cares of this life, deceitfulness of riches, etc. (Matt 13:18-23: Read parable of sower).
4. Disappointments, offenses, unforgiveness, bitterness, discouragement. We need to guard our hearts with ALL DILIGENCE (Prov 4:23)

Let’s reestablish our covenant with God.

1. How? Go back to the places of remembrance. Remember the times God met us in the past. As the patriarchs set up altars. Remember the altars. They constantly reminded themselves and their children about God’s testimonies.
2. Don’t look for excuses and don’t blame anyone.
3. What kind of environment have we set up around us, in our home and church.
4. Keep confessing the word until we get a revelation. Fast and pray and read the Word.
   Let’s devour the WORD.
   
   Do not try to serve God any longer without that First Love!
   
   A saint is not just one who has life but also has life more abundantly! Jn 10:10
   
   It’s not our service that makes us get our first love BUT it’s our FIRST LOVE that makes us and KEEPS US wanting to SERVE!
   

Prayer
LORD, I need an encounter with you again. My family needs an encounter with you again. I need that excitement that I had when I first met you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Do Your Best

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."

"When Leonardo da Vinci was still a pupil, his elderly, well-known teacher asked him to finish a painting he, the teacher, had begun.

"Young da Vinci stood in such awe of his master's skill that at first he respectfully declined. But his teacher would accept no excuse. He simply said, 'Do your best.' Trembling, da Vinci took his brush and began. With each stroke, his hand grew more steady as the genius within him awoke. Soon he was so caught up in his work that he forgot his timidity. When the painting was finished, the frail and weak master was carried into the studio to see it. Embracing his student, he exclaimed, 'My son, I paint no more!'"2

Not everyone has the kind of talent and genius that Leonardo da Vinci had, but every one of us has God-given talents that he wants us to develop and use for his glory. He never expects from us what he hasn't gifted us to do. And he has already equipped us to do what he wants us to do. So use what talents you possess. Do your best and leave the rest to God. As Henry van Dyke said, "The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the talents you have given to me. Please help me to see what they are, develop them fully, and use them to the best of my ability for your glory. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

The Church: The Cure for Difficulties

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused im. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
--1 Samuel 16:7

Indeed it may be truthfully said that everything of lasting value in the Christian life is unseen and eternal. things seen are of little real significance in the light of God's presence. He pays small attention to the beauty of a woman or the strength of a man. With Him the heart is all that matters. The rest of the life comes into notice only because it represents the dwelling place of the eternal being. The solution to life's problems is spiritual because the essence of life is spiritual. It is astonishing how many difficulties clear up without any effort when the inner life gets straightened out....

Church difficulties are spiritual also and admit of a spiritual answer. Whatever may be wrong in the life of any church may be cleared up by recognizing the quality of the trouble and dealing with it at the root. Prayer, humility and a generous application of the Spirit of Christ will cure just about any disease in the body of believers. Yet this is usually the last thing we think about when difficulties arise. We often attempt to cure spiritual ills with carnal medicines, and the results are more than disappointing. The Next Chapter After the Last, 82-83.

"Problems loom so large, Lord, because they seem so prevalent. Help our church to focus on 'prayer, humility and a generous application of the Spirit of Christ.' Amen."

Respect for Life

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Exodus 20:13
You shall not murder.

Respect for Life
Every 22 seconds someone in the United States is
beaten, stabbed, shot, robbed, raped or killed.
The average American citizen has a 1 in 153
chance of being murdered. Intentional
killings-murders and suicides-rank fourth among
causes of U.S. deaths, after heart disease,
cancer and accidents. Obviously, such a low
regard for human life is appalling and reflects
how far America has strayed from the principles
of the Ten Commandments.
But Jesus broadened the "You shall not murder"
commandment even more. He said, "You have heard
that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not
murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of
the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is
angry with his brother without a cause shall be
in danger of the judgment" (Matt. 5:21-22).
While Christians are unlikely to murder someone
physically, they can easily be murderers in their
heart. Perhaps you can identify with Clarence
Darrow, the famous criminal lawyer, who said,
"Everyone is a potential murderer. I have not
killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction
out of obituary notices."
When we have hatred in our hearts toward someone
or we nurse an angry attitude toward a person who
has offended us, we qualify under Jesus'
guidelines as murderers. That may be shocking,
but it's true. If you fall into this category,
ask God to forgive you and to replace your anger
and bitterness with an unconditional love for the
one you previously hated. Go to that person and
seek reconciliation. Ask for forgiveness because
of your inappropriate attitudes. Reach out to her
and try to make your one-time enemy your friend.
It's the only way to remove murderous attitudes
from your heart. Since your attitudes are just as
important as your actions, don't dismiss too
quickly what the Lord Jesus said. Take an
attitude check today and see if there is murder
in your heart, even if it is not in your head.

An attitude can murder just as easily as an ax.
_________________________________________________

The Church: 100 Pianos

..that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You,
that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You
sent Me.
--John 17:21

Someone may fear that we are magnifying private religion out of all
proportion, that the "us" of the New Testament is being displaced by
a selfish "I." Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos
all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to
another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one
hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ,
are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were
they to become "unity" conscious and turn their eyes away from God to
strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when
private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its
members become healthier. The whole church of God gains when the
members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life.
The Pursuit of God, 90.

"Lord, let this start with me. Give me a closer walk with You today.
Then as a leader enable me to encourage others as well, individually,
so that all to whom I minister might be in harmony as we individually
are close to You. Amen."

It's Time for a Change (Fasting)

Fasting is a knife that cuts away superficiality, getting to the bone. Effective, because it is able to break up daily patterns upon which you have become so dependent. When those patterns of pleasure are removed, you are left with your own internal resources. If those resources are bankrupt, then during fasting, you will come face to face with a vacuum that only God can fill.

Fasting also applies pressure to the flesh, and, you may be appalled at how much the flesh will squirm. But it is high time that the flesh is removed from the role of God, dethroned and placed under the foot of your will. It is the creativity of a freed will which lifts us above animal instincts and releases us from the cages of empty routine.

Fasting accomplishes two purposes. First, it will reveal how much the flesh has taken control of your emotions. And secondly, it will serve in breaking the flesh’s hold upon the will.
Fasting will invariably bring to the surface deep seated fears which affect thinking and decision-making. It does this by challenging that complex human instinct called self-preservation. This instinct has been created in every living thing on earth, including man. But you are a New Creation in Christ, recreated not to be controlled by instincts. Because of your rebirth, you have been recreated into a creature of a higher and more grand design than that of your former life.
Fasting forces us to face the chaos of addictions, compulsive behaviors, depression and internal pain. It’s like pressing the pause button of life, and quietly observing how crazy and detached we have become to who we are.

Want to get off the conveyer belt of life? Smash those meaningless patterns—the ones you hated in your youth when you had passion, a sparkle for living, when you really believed in something—promising never to get trapped in the horrible mundane in which mom and dad lived as you grew up. Do you want to live a life with meaning, driven by conviction, even willing to take a chance—becoming the best you can before God? Do you want to be empowered by the Master of your destiny? His desire is for you to be decisive, powerful, self-controlled and free.
But first we must come to grips with those hidden, subtle demons of our character: fear, hopelessness, worry, doubt and selfishness. Beat the bushes, flush them out, expose them for what they are and destroy them with the power of the Word.

They don’t die quietly, because their tentacles can reach into your emotions. They taint everything they touch, no matter how pure. Their presence will rise up against you with great force when you try to fast before the Lord.

When you begin to face them, you set yourself up for failure. There is a risk of pain, especially if you are willing to go deep. It takes courage to go down to the bottom. Who knows what you may find? Faces from the past. Forgotten horrors in the root cellar of your soul. But God is there too. There is no part of you which He does not see, no matter how well you hide. And He loves you and longs to see you set free.

During fasting, patterns of living are broken. Fasting can be an oasis of spiritual refreshment in a life that has become a desert of uselessness. A spiritual desert that has been left in the wake of selfish materialism.

We have been warned not to conform to the patterns of this world, but if you are honest, very little of your lifestyle is different from that of your neighbor’s.
Quite frankly, for Christ to become front-and-center in your life, things will have to be sacrificed. And at the start, it is going to hurt.

True, spiritual fasting smashes religion and draws a distinguishable line in the sand. It is a magnifying glass that allows us to examine our unconscious patterns of living. The driving force of where our life is going. That is why Satan has invested so much energy towards controlling the subconscious patterns of mankind. He will be appalled if you attempt a fast because fasting exposes how much he has been able to infiltrate the destiny of your life.
Ron Lagerquist