tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75188516213978034652024-03-27T02:36:25.107-04:00Preparing for the Kingdom of GodBiblical Messages to Prepare the Church for the Soon Return of the Lord Jesus Christ!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00262643068666048379noreply@blogger.comBlogger311125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-77097099226750936652024-03-25T10:29:00.001-04:002024-03-25T10:29:06.311-04:00Being Obsessed To Worldly Things<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Loving Others More Than Things</span></u></b><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b>"I have the right to do anything," you say--but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"--but I will not be mastered by anything</b> <b><i>(1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV).</i></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b>Prophecy Update:</b> <b>Please find this under the 'Latest Prophecy' tab!</b></span></h2><div><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">This is an important message and the Lord is warning that people worry more about the things they don't have and as a result they neglect their salvation in pursuit of such things <b><i>(Matthew 6:21).</i></b> The modern age and the availability of countless items makes it impossible for us to resist the 'better' or 'improved' version of what we were used to. In a bid to enhance our appetites for more things, marketers and sales people just know how to skillfully create a demand for their products and leaving us guilty if we don't follow the trend and be part of the collective. While it is not wrong to shop the things we need, we equally need to guard against obsessive shopping on unnecessary things and neglect to feed and help the less fortunate <b><i>(Mark 4:19; Matthew 25:31-40).</i></b> </span><br />
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Tough Times Ahead</span></b></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">We would like to stress, more than ever and especially the times in which we are living currently, Christians need to trust in the Lord for their daily needs <b><i>(1 Kings 17:4).</i></b> It is true, the science of economics have made us more need conscience than us seeking the Kingdom of God <b><i>(Matthew 6:33). </i></b>Like we emphasized in earlier articles recently, the whole world will be facing a stiff test in months to come and no one alive will escape including Christians if their lives are not fully yielded and found in Christ our Lord <b><i>(Luke 21:36). </i></b>Also, you may ridicule or dislike the warnings here but you need to hear this dear brethren. The Lord has revealed to us that there are some tough times ahead and He is the only <b>WAY </b>of escape <b><i>(Revelations 3:10). </i></b></span><br />
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<b><u><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Being Freed From Obsession</span></u></b></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Let's continue, now from the Scriptures we learned that the Lord demands unquestionable obedience from us and worldly things should not blind or cause us to walk half-heartedly <b><i>(Luke 12:19)</i></b>, if we do allow distractions we would have run this race in vain and lose the very purpose why we decided to follow the Lord in the first place, which is our salvation and the redemption of our souls <b><i>(1 Corinthians 9:27; 1 Peter 1:9)</i></b>. Furthermore, as we warned previously in our Priority Judgement Vision that the Lord will be considering the things we were supposed to do as Christians in order to determine our rewards and our entry into His Kingdom <b>(2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 2:6; 1 Corinthians 3:12; Matthew 25:30).</b> </span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">As Christians, we should therefore strive not to be mastered by anything. In this article, we need to clearly distinguish between idolizing things and being captured by things. If we are captured by things our minds and efforts are channelled to enjoy and appreciate the things we have <b><i>(Luke 12:19)</i></b> and if we idolize things we would not want to be without the thing (s) we idolize and desire. </span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">A few years ago, our children became colour conscious and each one of them chose his and her favourite colour and almost any item they bought has to resemble their favourite colour. In other words, they wanted to be identified by their colour of choice. As a matter of fact, this whole colour thing became so serious to some of our children that if anybody made any negative statement or any negative association to their favourite colour that would completely ruin one’s relationship with them. Additionally, does this not remind us of the rich young man, who was captured by his great wealth that he refused to sell his possessions and follow the Lord, instead the young man valued his things more than the Lord and His passion to save the lost (<b><i>Matthew 19:21-22; Luke 19:10). </i></b></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Furthermore, and being still just developing children, the Lord gently warned them not to make a big deal about colours and that such things should not be regarded more important than people. What the Lord meant is that worldly things should never substitute a Christian’s love for others. In other words, we should appreciate the value of the thing(s) to the extent of its enjoyment without harming our relationship with God and others (<b><i>Galatians 6:4).</i></b> Imperatively and as Christians, we should never regard things more important than people <b><i>(1 Peter 2:13-25).</i></b>The reality is, the unfortunate situation is that some Christians are in the habit of placing worldly things above humans and this is displeasing to the Lord <b><i>(Matthew 22:39).</i></b> </span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">I can remember an incident involving a very dear brother in the Lord who refused to help a sister in need while offering a lie as an excuse. As a result of this, the Lord was greatly displeased and He rebuked the brother saying that he should not have lied and that we should always be willing and ready to help others <b><i>(Proverbs 3:27).</i></b> </span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">In conclusion, let us pray and follow the voice of faith to determine how we ought to please the Lord.</span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">If you would like to accept the Lord Jesus and His abundant and unfailing love for you, here is a suggested <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/how-to-be-saved.html#prayer" target="_blank"><span style="color: #993300;">Prayer of Sincere Repentance </span></a>to get you started. For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/contact-us.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #993300;">contact us</span></a>.</span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Blesssings,</span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Brother Glenn.</span></div>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-55353852225252465782024-03-18T10:09:00.000-04:002024-03-18T10:09:02.234-04:00 God Will Punish The Wicked<p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>God's Covenantal Dominion</u></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>“Thus I will punish
the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an
end to the arrogance of the proud and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless”
<i>(Isaiah 13:11).</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Scripturally, we can be sure that the world will receive its
hour of punishment from God Almighty <b><i>(Revelation 3:10)</i></b> and the only way a
person could escape that era of judgment is through salvation in Christ, who
will rapture those who are waiting on Him <b><i>(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Hebrews
9:28).</i></b> Throughout the centuries, the world has been enduring catastrophes like
floods, diseases, volcanic eruptions, severe weather conditions, earthquakes, and
tsunamis, these the bible says are normal seasonal patterns as a result of the ground
being cursed by God <b><i>(Genesis 3:17-19; 8:22).</i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> As it is, these
seasonal disruptions were meant to co-exist with humanity ‘as long as the
earth endures’ <b><i>(Genesis 8:22).</i></b> There is thus no way we could attribute these
natural life disruptions as God punishing us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Furthermore, Brethren we need to understand that God is
immutable <b><i>(Hebrews 13:8),</i></b> He does not change the course of nature or creation
halfway but allows things to run the course He ordained it for until He makes
all things new <b><i>(Revelation 21:4-5; Genesis 9:9-17).</i></b> In other words, God establishes
His Sovereignty through covenants, just as the above scriptures suggest that
He sets aside the old order of things and brings in the new order of things
<b><i>(Hebrews 10:9; Leviticus 26:42).</i></b> It is also noteworthy that His covenants run
according to the ‘… times or seasons the Father has set by His own authority' <b><i>(Acts 1:7).</i></b> Therefore, the point we make here is that the order of things
must run its course until the times and seasons ordained by it by our Heavenly
Father. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>How God Will Punish The Earths Inhabitants?<o:p></o:p></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place
to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will
disclose the bloodshed on it, and will no more cover its slain” <b><i>(Isaiah 26:21)</i></b>.
This will be a direct intervention by the Almighty God to punish the
inhabitants of the world, and it will coincide with the invasion of Israel by Gog.
I speak from revelation, this will happen soon after world war III, which we already mentioned on this blog <b><i>(Ezekiel
38:8; Ezekiel 38:8-23; Zechariah 14:1-7)</i></b> and where a revived ten (10) ‘United
Nations’ will emerge and from which Anti-Christ would come as the ‘little horn’
who will invade many Countries including Israel <b><i>(Daniel 7:7-8; 12:40-45; Revelations
13:1-4).</i></b> The Lord willing, we will
expand on this part of the end-time prophecy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>World-War III</u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Thus, I believe after world war III, a new order and monetary
system will be introduced. It hurts me to mention this, as we enjoy a great
relationship with many brethren in the US and the Lord used that Nation to be a
blessing to many nations around the world, however, the Almighty God has
reserved judgment for the US by leading the world into perversion. The Lord
has revealed to us that the US currency will fail and be replaced as the
leading currency in the not too distant future. The brethren there must be
alert and pray. I also heard a voice saying, that they will lose their
influence and many will lament the fall of the USA. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In conclusion, then there will be a time of punishment,
unprecedented as times never before has witnessed, God’s ultimate wrath upon
humanity <b><i>(Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21-22).</i></b> We, therefore, encourage Christians all
around the world to pray and remain vigilant. Also, we believe the current war
in Ukraine will ultimately draw the whole world into a conflict which could be a
recipe for world war III. This does <b>NOT</b> look good, it’s time to serve and seek
the Lord with all our hearts and let us remember the Lord's previous warnings! Finally, we say peace to the people of Ukraine!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Blessed Grace<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Brother Glenn<o:p></o:p></p>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-23560827846443799762024-03-11T12:02:00.001-04:002024-03-15T14:48:37.217-04:00Christian FellowshipThe Lord commanded that we write an article on fellowship this week. This is also one of the most misunderstood topics within Christianity. Recently, the Lord made us understand that many Christians today mistake their socializing as “fellowship”. Instead, in socializing we enjoy one another’s company. Nor can “chatting” on social media (Instant Messaging, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) be considered as fellowship, as we will see from our definition and further explanation below.<br />
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Briefly, and without getting technical on some terms, the Greek word that is translated “<b>fellowship</b>” and other related word is <b>Koinonia</b>: meaning “<b>common</b>”; or “<b>I participate in; or I share in</b>” (<b><i>Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words</i></b>). Per <b><i>Wikipedia’s</i></b> definition, <b>Koinonia</b> as transliterated from Greek means “<b>communion, joint participation; the share which one has in anything, participation, a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, etc. It identifies the idealized state of fellowship and unity that should exist within the Christian church, the Body of Christ.</b>”<br />
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<b><u>Fellowship is Sharing</u></b></div>
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Therefore, our understanding, and from a Biblical perspective, is that fellowship means people participating together in something. Fellowship is communion or having a share in something. As an example from the Bible, we fellowship when we participate in the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. Our act of eating bread and drinking at the Lord’s Table is an act of fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ; it is a spiritual sharing in His body and blood, in other words, we are participating in (or having communion with) Christ and all that His sacrificial death means to us <b><i>(1 Corinthians 10:16).</i></b> Furthermore, by being united with Christ, we share in Him and have fellowship with Him <b><i>(1 Corinthians 1:9; Hebrews 3:14). </i></b><br />
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In addition to having communion with The Lord Jesus Christ, we as believers have fellowship with the Father <b><i>(1 John 1:3)</i></b> and with the Holy Spirit <b><i>(2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 6:4; Philippians 1:21).</i></b> Through our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we share in His Divine nature <b><i>(2 Peter 1:4). </i></b>By being in union with Christ, it means absolute surrender and faithful and obedient service to Him.<br />
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<b><u>Our Fellowship With God</u></b></div>
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Beloved brethren, when we use the term “God”, it may refer to Christ as well. In the Lord’s many visits to us, He often referred to Himself as God (<b><i>John 8:58</i></b>). Also, we need to emphasize that fellowship with God does not necessarily mean when we come together as believers. We are individually called to fellowship with God <b><i>(1 John 1:3).</i></b> This fellowship with God may be Bible reading, praying, or having Communion as an individual member of the body of Christ <b><i>(Genesis 5:22-24; 6:9; Mark 9:37; John 14:23).</i></b> Based on the above Scriptures and countless others, don’t ever be deceived in thinking that fellowship with God involves going to church on a Sunday and coming back to continue in our sin! We will give account of ourselves before God as individual believers<b><i> (Romans 14:12).</i></b> I am emphasizing the individual’s fellowship with God here; our walk with God is determined by our own obedience to the Lord <b><i>(John 14:15).</i></b> God’s commands refer to the entire Bible, not just an isolated verses in Scripture <strong><em>(Joshua 1:8)</em></strong>.<br />
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When we fellowship as a group, that is when others join or I join them, then we all have fellowship together with God, and by having fellowship together with God, we are truly joined together in a happy union <strong><em>(1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 17:21-22; 1 John 1:3)</em></strong>. As a warning, sin spoils our fellowship with the Lord and if we live in sin wilfully, we have no fellowship with the Father and this is a broken fellowship with God <strong><em>(1 John 1:6-7)</em></strong>. When we fellowship with the Lord, we hear from Him and we express our gratitude to Him in obedience to His word by witnessing and testifying about Him to others <strong><em>(1 Corinthians 14:26)</em></strong>.<br />
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Another area of fellowship and the less talked about is “participation in His suffering” <b><i>(Philippians 3:10).</i></b> This cup is what many Christians don’t like; yes they only prefer to share in His blessings but not in the cup of persecutions, witnessing and obedience. I will be quite <b>bold</b> here; many Christians hide themselves behind their pastors. What I mean is that they only do what the pastor says and not what the Lord tells them in the Bible. They only prefer the blessings more than the cup of suffering. I am receiving emails from many brethren around the world, complaining bitterly about their sufferings and situations. Quite frankly, a complaining believer is weak in faith and impatient with God (<b><i>Philippians 2:14-15</i></b>). When we complain, we are literally saying; <b>“I did enough now God, so you must act, and if you don’t act I</b> <b>quit!”</b> <b><i>(Exodus 16:2-15).</i></b> How absurd! Remember believer, when you display such an impatient and immature attitude, you will be the biggest casualty; it is after all your salvation for eternal life you are labouring for here in obedience to a righteous suffering <b><i>(2 Timothy 4:7-8).</i></b> I say your suffering is righteous because you have given yourself to God as a living sacrifice and you suffer for the truth; people persecute us not for wrong doing but for telling them about their sins <b><i>(John 7:7) </i></b>I am declaring in Jesus name that Christian fellowship includes sharing in His suffering; this is the way of the <b><i>CROSS</i></b> and after enduring, we will also have fellowship with Him in His <b><i>GLORY</i></b> (<b><i>2 Timothy 2:11-12; 1 Peter 5:1; 1 Peter 4:12-14).</i></b><br />
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<b><u>Christian’s Fellowship By Sharing</u></b></div>
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Finally, we know there is a corporate anointing when we fellowship as a group to God and to one another in the works of ministry, and there is also an anointing when we minister and fellowship as individuals to God and others <b><i>(Acts 4:23-31; 19:11-12).</i></b> In other words God supplies the gifts for ministry and fellowship to Him. <br />
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Moreover, as Christians jointly participate in Christ, this fellowship binds us together <b><i>(Acts 2:42).</i></b> I would like to emphasize again: this fellowship is not socializing, but about Christ whom we share in common <b><i>(Hebrews 3:14; Philippians 1:7; 2 Peter 1:4).</i></b> This makes our fellowship a joint sharing in our common faith, common salvation, and our common suffering <b><i>(Titus 1:4; Jude 3; Revelation 1:9; 2 Corinthians 1:7).</i></b> This corporate fellowship is sharing in the gospel by helping those who preach it <b><i>(Philippians 1:5; 4:14-18)</i></b>; this include sharing in material and financial support of poor Christians <b><i>(Galatians 2:10; Romans 15:27; 2 Corinthians 8:4).</i></b><br />
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In conclusion, there are certain things we are forbidden not to have fellowship with or share in or participate in. We should not identify with a person who does wrong things or share in their wickedness (<b><i>1 Timothy 5:22; 2 John 10:11</i></b>). Nor should we participate in a religious feast where food is to be offered to idols (<b><i>1 Corinthians 10:20-21</i></b>), neither having fellowship with unbelievers for they will lead you astray <b><i>(2 Corinthians 6:14-15).</i></b> Therefore, we are to have no part and no share in anything that is sinful <b><i>(Revelation 18:4; Ephesians 5:11).</i></b><br />
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Let us therefore endeavour to maintain daily our fellowship with God; this is the strength and the very life supporting sustenance for our salvation <strong><em>(John 15:5)</em></strong>.<br />
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Have you been <i>"fellowshipping"</i> by only socializing at church on Saturday or Sunday, but not truly fellowshipping with The Lord? Has your fellowship with the Lord focused only on receiving blessings? If so, here is a <href data-blogger-escaped-prayer=""><href prayer=""><a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/how-to-be-saved.html#prayer">Prayer of Sincere Repentance</a></href></href>. For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/contact-us.html">contact us</a>.
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Christ’s Peace Be Upon You All,<br />
Brother Glenn.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-16532641576376413222024-03-06T08:31:00.001-05:002024-03-06T08:31:41.403-05:00YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE POOR AMONGST YOU!<p style="text-align: center;"><b><u> CARING FOR THE POOR</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><b><i>"The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me"</i></b> <b><i>(MATTHEW 24:11).</i></b></span></p><div><div><br /></div><div>In times like these, we pray and look to the brethren for help and support! We prayed and the Lord <b><i>ENCOURAGED </i></b>us to share online with the brethren.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Brief background:</b> South Africa is a very unequal society with a deeply rooted sin of racism and whoever holds political power exercises control over some government resources and often it would favor the race in majority. </div><div><br /></div><div>Additionally, our work serves people across all walks of life. We believe all people are created equally and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself told us that He will always love all people equally. We are following our Lord's lead to love and serve all people equally <b style="font-style: italic;">(Galatians 3:28-29). </b>From this it is easy for you to discern that our motives are not driven by selfish ambitions but to serve. While it may take a lifetime to bring about change, present and future generations stands to benefit. Moses, the man of God, did not enter the promised land but his prayers, tests and trials benefit both that generation he lead and future generations <i style="font-weight: bold;">(Exodus 3:10-11). As a testimony, the Lord Jesus Christ once said, that whatever work we do in His name is important, because it serves to benefit others and brings glory to His name!</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Therefore, the recourse we have are the laws to fight and defend the rights of the poor especially those who have no legal voice <i style="font-weight: bold;">(Proverbs 31:8-10; Isaiah 1:17). </i>We are committed to our work in the body of Christ, however we have a conscience and we will not turn a blind-eye to injustice and unfair treatment of those who are unable to access the courts for justice <b><i>(Matthew 7:12)</i>. </b>Often,<b> it is the poor who lose out on their belongings because they have no financial resources to 'bite' back legally. Because Brother Glenn and his family suffered such prejudice a few years ago, he decided to embark onto a law career to make a change and help both Christian and non-Christians in legal matters. </b></div><div><br /></div><div><div>As a ministry, we say, thank you very much for the blessings and support you have provided over the years to this family and ministry. We acknowledge that with a profound gratitude. Currently as a family we find ourselves a in very unfamiliar circumstances as a result of this move. Brother Glenn started studying towards an <b>LLB degre</b>e back in <b>2015</b> and graduated in <b>2022</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>We then prayed and trusted the Lord over a period of <b>3 years</b> starting in <b>2021 </b>to bless him with an opportunity for articles of clerkship and those prayers were answered during January this year. </div><div><br /></div><div>As it is, the articles of clerkship rules state that he (Brother Glenn) should not engage in any other job activity for this entire year <b>(Starting February 2024)</b>and solely concentrate on his articles and as a result of this, it is denying him an income. Previously, Brother Glenn was running a car diagnostic and key programming business from home, which he is still doing but being away from home makes it impossible for him to attend to the same while serving his articles. </div><div><br /></div><div>As a result, this is leading to his family not being adequately supported as he has to cater for both sides. Meaning, he will have to provide for transportation, food and accommodation for himself in the town he serves his articles while he needs to provide the same for the family in Johannesburg. We thus plead for any financial assistance for the Van Rooyen family. </div><div><br /></div><div>This family has and is still laboring intensively to the body of Christ around the world and in their home Country, we thus humbly urge you as members of the body of believers to pray and consider providing a helping hand. You may use our 'donation' tab to help or send Brother Glenn an email <a href="mailto:to%3Aglenn.vanrooyen2@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">to:glenn.vanrooyen2@gmail.com</a> for any further information.</div><div><br /></div><div>Trusting you find this in order in Jesus' name</div><div><br /></div><div>Blessings<br clear="all" /><div></div></div><div>Brother Glenn and Ministry</div></div></div><p><span style="color: #888888;"></span></p><div><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /></div>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-27760763662800890402024-03-04T08:41:00.001-05:002024-03-05T03:19:53.224-05:00Delivering Effective Prayers<p style="text-align: center;"><b><u> <span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Being Alert During Prayers</span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>"</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><b>Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart" <i>(Colossians 4:2 NLT).</i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Important Notice:</b> Dear Brethren please accept our humble apology for the delay in this week's article. While I was preparing this article, our daughter Claudia suffered an attack and this kept us busy till morning hours and it obviously disrupted my completing this article. The enemy always creates disruptions, but our faith should not fail us. Also, we are sharing a short <b>vision</b> below from the Lord.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Vision to Claudia 9 November 2021</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I received a vision from the Lord just before I got up this morning. In my vision, I saw a woman and I could perceive she had a lot of problems in her life, and next to her was a wooden door. I then saw a man appearing and he was trying to open the door for her. He tried every possible tool the world could offer, but he could not get the door opened. The Lord showed me another woman, and she was praying intensely for the first woman and suddenly the door snapped open. The Lord made me understand that prayer is the only key that unlocks our solutions to problems...END! <b><i>(Revelation 3:7).</i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;">As for our article this week, I'd like to begin with a message the Lord gave to a brother some time ago, </span><b style="color: #001320;">"My son Andrew (not real name) is not praying effectively". </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;">With this correction from the Lord, the brother did not take this rebuke with a spirit of humility but with a resentful spirit. Since we'll be judged by the Lord accepting correction from Him only serves to advance our interests </span><b style="color: #001320;"><i>(Matthew 18:3).</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Furthermore, 'human dignity' is a phrase that applies between people to promote human equality <b><i>(Luke 6:31),</i></b> however, in the eyes of the Lord we are children and human dignity does not apply to God we are all just naked in every way before Him <b><i>(Hebrews 4:13)</i></b> and naturally, a child takes instruction, correction, rebuke, and discipline from parents. Likewise, since it is the Lord who has given us life and provided all good things to us, as His children we ought to humble ourselves in His Presence and obey His Voice <b><i>(Hebrews 4:16).</i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;">Now, to get back to today's message, we need to distinguish between effective praying and being faithful in prayer. Delivering effective prayers requires us to be focused and be fruitful in our minds <b><i>(1 Corinthians 14:14).</i></b> What we mean by this is that the words we utter in prayer come from the soul while our minds are fixed on God <b><i>(Colossians 3:2).</i></b> As it is, the physical strength we are to display in prayer should cause a break against our own will while allowing our faith to accept God's will. Like we said before, quick prayers just to leave God's Presence yield no results because we are not focused but distracted by the problem at hand <b><i>(Matthew 14:22-33). </i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;">In conclusion, we have learned that prayer is a laborious effort requiring uninterrupted time and being focused on promoting God's will <b><i>(Daniel 10:13-21; Luke 6:12).</i></b> If we truly need a breakthrough for something we will hang in there until something happen, and we know God rejected David's plea in this instance <b><i>(2 Samuel 12:16-24).</i></b> Now, certain things require more persistent prayers so that the Lord could open that door, while other things minor things do not require laborious efforts and God gives an answer very speedily. If we are to do deliverance sessions, that work requires intense prayers and fasting and a five (5) minute prayer will not do the job, we need to 'visit' in God's Presence like Moses <b><i>(Deuteronomy 10:10).</i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;">Blessed Love</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;">Brother Glenn</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-78925707301438866122024-02-26T13:22:00.000-05:002024-02-26T13:22:04.103-05:00The Spiritual Effects Of Social Networking<p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> The Sad Story Of Jackson</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #001320; line-height: 115%;">“Everything is permissible
for me," but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible
for me," but I will not be brought under the control of anything "</span>
<i>(1 Corinthians 6:12 HCSB).</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Brethren, a very dear
brother in the Lord gave me permission to briefly write about an experience they
had as a God-fearing family. With this experience, our dear brother wishes to
warn and discourage Christians from the effects of social networking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Now our brother Samuel
(not real name) explained that a few years ago he and his wife decided to buy a
cellular phone for their <b>12-year-old son Jackson</b> (also not real name) because
he had been obedient and faithful in everything including his relationship with
God and buying this phone for Jackson greatly pleased them. Before giving him
his new cellular phone, Jackson’s father being a pastor, warned him about the
addiction to social networking and the kinds of friends he might come across. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without hesitation, Jackson gave his father an
assurance that he will be careful and prays before acquiring new friends who should
anyway just be Christians. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">However, a few months
later Jackson’s behavior started changing the father observed that he would
frequently be busy with the phone while busy reading the bible. Just on a
particular day, the Holy Spirit prompted Jackson’s father to borrow him his
cellular phone for a few minutes. As the father went through the phone’s
content he came across pornographic material and after showing his wife, they
called Jackson in and inquired from him why he had such content on his cellular
phone. Being shocked that his parents discovered his secret, Jackson confessed
that he had become addicted to social networking and the material he had on his
phone and that he was relieved this came out since he needed a way out of this.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">As it was, after
disciplining Jackson his cellular phone was confiscated but would be given back
if he promised that he would not do what he did. After prayer and a strong
conviction, Jackson repented of this and promised to his parents never to venture
into that direction again. Meanwhile, not being vigilant <b><i>(1 Peter 5:8)</i></b> enough
Samuel confessed that he trusted Jackson’s word of promise (not to repeat the same
folly) more than relying on the Lord. This made them (Samuel and his wife)
spiritually blind and they did not even consider to pray daily asking the Lord to
shield Jackson against that spirit of addiction <b><i>(Psalm 3:3; 18:3-4)</i></b> which made
its return a few months later and Jackson was <b>NEVER</b> the same again!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; line-height: 115%;"><b><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The Grief Of A Parent</span></u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #222222; text-align: left;">King Solomon said, "A foolish son is a grief to his father</span><span style="color: #222222; text-align: left;">, and bitterness to her that bare him" <b><i>(Proverbs 17:25).</i></b> As we continue, i</span>n great unhappiness of
soul, our beloved brother Samuel recalled that Jackson’s spiritual life started
deteriorating as he lost interest in the things of God. Being a fairly disciplined child who is well-versed in the Scriptures, Jackson started despising and disrespecting his
parents even after the Lord Himself appeared to him warning him not to
disrespect his parents but to honor them <b><i>(Ephesians 6:1-3)</i></b> and this fell on
deaf ears the brother heart-brokenly recalled. As it was, Jackson became
reckless and rebellious, running away from home on several occasions to express
his disdain for God and his parents (Luke 15:21) and currently, Jackson is
still, a subject of prayer even after he re-committed his life to the Lord,
while his parents admit that he is no longer the same person in his faith and commitment
to God after having tasted the forbidden fruit of disobedience <b><i>(Genesis 3:5-7).</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">In conclusion, as a
ministry we do acknowledge that cellular phones are a source of great help to
humanity and we do not regret the usefulness of this technology in our lives.
As our lead Scripture declares, it is permissible but we also know that its
connection to the internet with so much poisonous content readily available it
contributes to various addictions like in chat rooms, porn sites, gossip
content, bad company, deceitful lying, and the promotion of hate-speech amongst
brethren. Being a minister of the gospel, I have counseled a number of young
people who showed symptoms of psychological issues and who have been badly altered by the impact of
social networking which is evident in the hollow and ‘actor’ kind of lifestyle they
follow <b><i>(1 John 2:15-17). </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Therefore, if you are
hooked to social media which brought about its own taste of pleasure for
gossip, lustfulness, gaming, the conspiring of hateful and evil talk, porn, etc
please repent and ask the Lord to deliver you and if you confess He will show
His faithfulness <b><i>(1 John 1:9).</i></b> In addition, we cannot over-emphasize that the
Lord is <b><i>NEAR</i></b> and that is what He repeated to me (Brother Glenn) this morning
<b><i>(19/10/2020)</i></b> and may the Lord bless, save and deliver those who give heed to
this teaching in Jesus' name.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">Blessed Grace</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #001320; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Brother Glenn</span></p>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-63233603630696800542024-02-19T11:53:00.000-05:002024-02-19T11:53:28.809-05:00Are You Battling With Bitterness And Grudges? <p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> The Destructive spirit Of Bitterness</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">"And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">neither good nor bad. For Absalom </span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><b>hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar"<i> (2 Samuel 13:23 NKJV).</i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">A few years ago, a very good brother in the Lord, brother Jones shared with us how he was ill-treated as a child by his aunt and later by his step-mother and his hot-tempered father. Being a boy of about thirteen years, and out of fear, he ran away from his aunt to go live with his father and stepmother with the hope of breaking free from abuse and hunger. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Knowing Christ Changes The Heart To Love</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Now as our dear brother Jones recalled, the days of him going without food or hanging around friends with the hope of getting an invitation for a plate of food were soon things of the past as there was always food at his father's home. However, his stepmother harbored a strong dislike in him as he was threatening her and her children's financial security. Those of us who grew up having step-parents know the conflict of competing for resources. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Furthermore, considering the graphic explanation from our brother Jones, I have expected him to be bitter and harboring grudges. As humans, when somebody details cruelty and abuse we naturally develop feelings of dislike towards the abuser and sympathy for the victim. By instinct, when we hear such stories we often desire 'revenge' or retribution, but our beloved brother Jones was calm and full of love for the abusers, instead, he blessed those who persecuted him <b><i>(Matthew 5:44).</i></b> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Changing Others Through Forgiveness</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">In addition, we could tell by the way Brother Jones explained that he was not bitter nor did he harbor any grudges. Being a personal friend of this family, we have witnessed how often brother Jones would visit and being a blessing financially to those who ill-treated him. Also, despite his broken relationship with his abuser, our brother Jones seemed to have never lost his respect for those elders <b><i>(Leviticus 19:32; 1 Timothy 5:1). </i></b>Thus, as Christians, the Bible says we must imitate such people <b><i>(Hebrews 6:12)</i></b> as this is for our spiritual good making us Christ-like and fruit-bearing followers <b><i>(1 Peter 2:23). </i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">In conclusion, when we read further we discover how hatred and bitterness led Absolom to his destruction and his violent death <b><i>(2 Samuel 17:14; 18:10-15).</i></b> Being a God-fearing man, King David feared the Lord and would not avenge himself, instead, he allowed for God's judgment <b><i>(1 Samuel 25:30-34) </i></b>through the wise and spirit-filled words of his wife Abigail. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Now, how many of us just continue unabated hating and struggle to forgive others? It reminds me of someone who said that when he comes across a person who wronged him the hateful feelings just flares up over again. Brethren, this is a serious sin, the Lord once rebuked two sisters for their hatred for each other saying if He would have come at that hour they would have missed the Rapture. Like our Brother Jones said, he asked the Lord to put sympathy and love in his heart for those who abused him, and he made it a daily prayer request until the hate was converted into love <b><i>(Matthew 5:44).</i></b> Therefore trust these words of the Lord in the preceding verse it works and many Christians including my family and I have experienced deliverance and love for those who wronged us.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Blessed love and being free from grudges</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Brother Glenn</span></span></p>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-14727601609686253692024-02-05T14:55:00.001-05:002024-02-05T14:55:09.438-05:00God’s Goodness, Mercy and Grace<div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>God Gives Mercy And Love, Not Evil</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>The Lord gave me directly this message to write about God's Goodness, Mercy, and Grace, and in my limited language and ability, I trust that this will be a blessing to you! As it is, this article will not deal with the individual moral attributes of God as our heading suggests; we will condense it and present it as a whole in praise of God’s infinite munificence (great and lavish generosity). Theologically, there are some words that have been specifically coined to try and explain the attributes of God, but even these words are inadequate in fully ‘defining’ who God really is.<br />
<br />
When our Lord Jesus was questioned by a young man about moral goodness, the Lord replied by referring Him to a Person God and not to a concept. Philosophers have difficulty to define the abstract, but the Bible talks about the concrete. So then, the way to understand goodness is through the Person who is Good, Merciful and Gracious, and whose works declare Him so <b><i>(Matthew 19:17)</i></b>. God’s character reveals His Goodness. His character combines perfectly His love, mercy, truth, patience, faithfulness, justice, holiness and wrath in perfect balance.<br />
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<b><i>“For the LORD is good; His loving kindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 100:5 NASB)</i></b>.We know that all people are sinners and we have no goodness of our own <b><i>(Mark 10:18; Romans 3:23)</i></b>. God established His Goodness in all of creation by ordaining seasons and fixed laws in nature and the Heavens <b><i>(Jeremiah 33:25; Genesis 8:22)</i></b>. He called it a ‘covenant’ using His Perfect Goodness, Faithfulness, Justice and Righteousness as a guarantee that those laws cannot be broken <b><i>while the earth endures</i></b> <b><i>(Genesis 8:22)</i></b>. We do know that God has set a day aside to renew a new covenant with all of creation in the promised new dispensation <b><i>(Romans 8:20-21; Isaiah 11:6-10)</i></b>. In addition, what I am trying to get to is God’s Goodness, Mercy and Grace are fully present in all His established covenants, whether with man or creation. He renews it every morning to guarantee His subjects of His unfailing commitment to their well-being <b><i>(Lamentations 3:23)</i></b>.<br />
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Furthermore, we can therefore trust that His Goodness, Mercy and Grace will be ever present for us while the earth endures. This was the consolation, hope and comfort of Abraham <b><i>(Genesis 18:22-33)</i></b>, David <b><i>(Psalm 51 and 23)</i></b>, Jeremiah<b><i> (Lamentations 3:21-26)</i></b>, Jonah <b><i>(Jonah 4:2)</i></b> and Job<b><i> (Job 42:1-4)</i></b> to mention but a few. Therefore in identifying truth, these men after having sensed sin in their lives and their own shortcomings took hold of God’s tender mercies as a way to escape the turbulence of guilt experienced by our souls. Guilt is like a consuming fire within each one of us and securing truth through God’s purity is both comforting and liberating. This Goodness of God which embodies His forgiveness that we ‘escape’ to by faith gives us the hope of renewal or reconciliation to right standing with Him. Having said this, we are not ‘switching’ off or denying our weaknesses but in acknowledgement of our imperfections we consciously embrace God’s grace which is freely and undeservingly available <b><i>(Luke 15:11-32)</i></b>.<br />
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<b><u>Christ Jesus, Our Gift of God’s Absolute Goodness</u></b></div>
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In every section of human society, sin is practiced as a way of life. The apostle Paul saw the complete hopelessness of man finding mercy without God’s intervention through Christ Jesus <b><i>(Ephesians 2:4-5; Romans 5:20-21)</i></b>. This grace was bestowed upon all mankind everywhere while the earth endures. Undoubtedly, humanity is always hunted by guilt so we turn to truth to verify if our actions were correct. We engage the opinions of others, we listen to our conscience and we also try to ascertain through our moral guides – religion. However, the estimate of answers we will receive through these guides determines our state of mind, whether good or bad. This might be to appease our conscience the greatest emotional and moral need we want to satisfy is the truth. Did we satisfy truth in our action (s)? Also, guilt is fear for punishment <b><i>(1 John 4:18)</i></b> and by looking to truth we hope for reward <b><i>(Romans 2:7)</i></b>. In summary, Christ is that TRUTH <b><i>(John 14:6)</i></b>. The goodness, mercy and grace of God flows through Him <b><i>(Colossians 1:15-23)</i></b>. God says every GOOD we ever have or will desire is found embodied and present in Christ Jesus. This portion of<br />
Scripture best describes the future and hope of creation. Christ, is therefore the sum total of Creation’s gift from God. He personifies the absolute <b>BENEVOLENCE</b> and <b>EXCELLENCE</b> of the Divine Good. Through Him Heavens treasures are attained and the bounty of divine perfection was declared a gift to all creation <b><i>(Matthew 11:27)</i></b>.<br />
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Remember your religion, philosophy, education or culture denies you the treasures purely kept away for the believing <b><i>(Matthew 6:20)</i></b>. Conversely, if it is <b>NOT</b> in or through Christ, hope is useless! <b><i>(1 Thessalonians 4:13)</i></b>. Remember our rich fellows, you might say God has blessed you with abundance and you compare yourself to Abraham; he did not use his riches on himself but having had lots of servants he shared his abundance with them <b><i>(Genesis 14:14)</i></b>. You have more than what you need <b><i>(Matthew 19:21)</i></b>.<br />
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The abundance of God’s Goodness, Mercy and Grace has been poured out fully through Christ Jesus; <b>don’t you want to be a part of it?</b> Don’t rely on your religion as your moral compass and judge; Christ will be your Judge and the Eternal God of Israel as the Almighty ordered it <b><i>(Romans 2:16; Acts 17:31)</i></b>.<br />
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Finally, to understand the Benevolence of God, we must look at our helpless condition of sin and in the light thereof will we fully appreciate and comprehend His grace.<br />
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In conclusion let me share this summary of God’s Goodness: <b><i>“But in my mind I keep returning to something, something that gives me hope - that the grace of ADONAI is not exhausted, that his compassion has not ended. [On the contrary,] they are new every morning! How great your faithfulness! "ADONAI is all I have," I say; "therefore I will put my hope in him. ADONAI is good to those waiting for him, to those who are seeking him out. It is good to wait patiently for the saving help of ADONAI”</i></b> <b><i>(Lamentations 3:21-26 CJB)</i></b>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 21.55px;">If you are not yet born again, here is a </span><a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/how-to-be-saved.html#prayer" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; line-height: 21.55px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Prayer of Sincere Repentance</a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 21.55px;"> to get you started in this life of living in God’s Goodness, Mercy and Grace. For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please </span></span></span><a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/contact-us.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; line-height: 21.55px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">contact us</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 21.55px;">.</span></span><br />
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Sincere Grace, Peace and Love to all in Jesus name,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brother Glenn.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-59986507547366033532024-01-29T11:25:00.001-05:002024-01-29T11:25:24.043-05:00DENY THE DEVIL his SINFUL RIGHTS<p style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><u>How Samson Gave The Enemy A Foothold</u></b></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;">“I will not speak with you much longer, for
the prince of this world is coming and <i><u>he
has no hold on</u></i> <i><u>me</u></i>” <i>(John 14:30), </i>“and do not give the devil a foothold” <i>(Ephesians 4: 27)</i>.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">These are the
words of our Lord Jesus Christ when He spoke to his disciples in John chapter 14 when the Lord was giving comfort to them and making them aware of his soon
departure to be with the father in heaven.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">In reference to
the above scripture, we are reminded to look at the story of Samson and Delilah
in the book of Judges 16, which is a well-known biblical story to many. Samson was an anointed man as he had the
spirit of God upon him and had unique strength that he could take down as many enemies
as the Lord willed for his purpose at once on various occasions <i>(<b>1 Corinthians 15: 58)</b>. </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><b><u>Losing Focus And Slipping</u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">While he
continued moving in his service to the Lord, he met a woman in Gaza and fell in
love with her. At this point, we noticed that his service and devotion to the
Lord were affected and there was a shift and he wanted to serve the Lord and the
world at the same time<b> </b><i><b>(Matthew 6:24).</b></i>
As we all know, in our walk with the Lord, especially when we are joyful
to hear about the messages of His Second Coming for His Church and the
excitement and anticipation for the day of the Lord; or when we experience the
moments and seasons in our walk where everything is going well and we full of confidence
and hope; or we have faith and know that we are eager to live in obedience to
the word. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">These are times when
the joy of his salvation overflows as it was with Samson when he was taking
down all men who came against him with the strength the Lord gave him.
Meanwhile, the enemy was devising a way to have a hold over him so Satan could
weaken him as Samson was full of the Spirit of God. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">Furthermore, as
we have learned from the story of Job Satan initially could not attack Job
because there was a hedge of protection surrounding him and his household as
well as his possessions <b><i>(Job 1:10).</i> </b>From
experience, we know that the road to Heaven has countless challenges and the
challenges allows for our faith and obedience to be tested<b> <i>(Deuteronomy 8:2).</i> </b>As is common in human behavior, there comes a
time of weakness, and in the case of Samson, when he met the woman and that
distracted him and as a result, little did he know that everything was about to
change in his life.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">In some instances,
it happens that there are doors that we tend to open in our lives that come with
spiritual consequences in our walk with the Lord. Those open doors serve to
distract us and move us away from the will of the Lord, and the enemy is using
such to have a spiritual stronghold <b><i>hold on us</i></b><i>,</i> which the Lord Jesus warned us against <i>(<b>John 14:30)</b>. </i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">As it is, things
like us falling in love with the world and its carnal things, such situations
as Samson found himself involved in when he fell in love with a woman whom the
enemy used to gain leverage and that opened the door for the enemy to have a
hold on him <b><i>(Galatians 5:13).</i></b> When we allow the world to have a hold on us or
where we can’t let go of the things that are contrary to the Will of God in our
service to him, we enable and empower the enemy to have a hold on us <b>(Mark 8:36).</b> When Samson opened the
door for the enemy to have a hold over him by telling his secret about the source
of his strength, it allowed and enabled the enemy to strip everything the Lord
had blessed him with. Not only did he lose strength, but his vision was
impaired as a result of his losing his eyes <i>(<b>Judges 16-21, Romans 6:13)</b>. </i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">Similarly, this
is the intention of the enemy not only to make us cease serving the Lord or walking
in obedience but to rob us of the vision of the church. Where will the body of
Christ be heading when we lose the vision of soul-winning and obedience to the
Lord if we pursue worldly things? Scripture reminds us that we need to fix our
eyes on the heavenly things above (<b>Colossians
3: 1-2)</b>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><b><u>Seeking The Lord's Favor</u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">Therefore, the
vision we may have lost could be our love for the Lord and for one another, our
passion and devotion for spending time with the Lord in prayer and the studying
of the word with zeal and not as a routine. In addition, our love for
witnessing and being a living testimony draws people to Christ (<b>Matthew 6:33)</b>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">Moreover, when
the enemy succeeded in subduing Samson and stripped him of everything he held
dearly in his service to the Lord, he came to the realization that the door he
has opened had cost him in humility he looked to the Lord as his pillar (<b>Judges 16: 26).</b> He repented and prayed for
restoration not only to regain his strength and gift but to give himself as a
living sacrifice and to allow for the glory of God to shine through and by that
he took out more Philistines than his time when he was alive and before he lost
his position of power (<b>Judges 16: 28-30)</b>.
It is noteworthy, that no matter how great our walk with God is, He brings us down
in humility to show us our dependence on Him <b><i>(Proverbs 3:5-6).</i></b> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">In conclusion, we
see that the Lord Jesus is teaching us that the way to overcome the ruler of
this world is to ensure that we have nothing in common with Satan and that he
should have <b><i>no hold on us</i></b><i>.</i> <i>(</i><b><i>Romans 12:21). </i>It is</b> possible with the
Holy Spirit to overcome our weaknesses and the devil’s schemes and the Lord is
always willing and He is there to help us through <b><i>(John 16:33).</i></b> People have different things that they go through
that may serve as weaknesses to the enemy to take advantage of, David stated
something that when he kept silent about his sin and weaknesses his bones
wasted away and the pressure never let up until he spoke up and let it all out
about his failures to the Lord. <i>(<b>Psalm
32: 2-5</b>). </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><b><u>Repentance Brings Restoration</u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">Now, in the end, Samson returned to his position by repenting and praying to the Lord for
restoration. The Lord answered his prayer as the motive of Samson’s heart was
in the right place and sought not only to regain strength but to complete the
mission to take out the enemies of the Lord as he was called for <i>(<b>Judges 16: 22; 30)</b>.</i> Therefore, it is
imperative that we acknowledge our weaknesses, fears, transgressions, and sin
can afford us freedom from oppression, torment, and inflictions or
calamity, this is not limited to confession but to a completely repented heart
that seeks his love and perfect Will <i>(<b>Colossians
3:5-10 &</b> <b>Romans 12:2).</b><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><b>Blessed Peace</b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><b>Sister Thandazo (reviewed by Brother Glenn)</b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><b><br /></b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-23484818042246784202024-01-22T14:19:00.001-05:002024-01-22T14:19:41.521-05:00The Gospel Be Readily Preached Anytime<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Let us Preach the Word</u></b></div>
<u></u><b></b><br />
<b>“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction” <i>(2 Timothy 4:2 NIV).</i></b><br />
<br />
The Lord gave me this message to remind the brethren that we still have an obligation to preach the Word. Our encouragement to you in this message is just to awaken the sleeping witness. I know this is not a very popular message especially for the lazy and excuse prone Christian. Briefly, about a few years ago, a brother came to me reporting that a certain man’s daughter died and they were looking for a preacher to preach the gospel during one of their weekday services. I at first ignored the brother’s request, but the following morning, Lord gave me a message that I should go and never hesitate to respond to an invitation when an opportunity arises to preach the gospel. Equally, please take note of this warning from the Lord. <div><br /></div><div>If there are some preachers or anybody out there who discourages others from witnessing, he or she will be answerable to the Lord. Let me share an experience, A very popular Christian sister who claimed to have been an end-time prophet of the Lord was rebuked for <b><i><a href="http://responding%20to%20the%20need%20to%20preach%20the%20gospel/">lying in Jesus’ name</a></i></b> by telling a brother that the Lord said; he had witnessed enough and that he should just wait for the Lord. The statement by this particular sister greatly displeased the Lord because the brother refused to accept the Lord’s rebuke and obey Him. As a result of the Lord’s rebuke, the brother’s attitude changed by behaving contrary to Christian values of love and brotherly kindness. We would like to emphasize, and unlike other professions; Christianity is not a profession <b><i><a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/2014/08/duties-of-true-born-again-christian.html">(Being Christian and our duties)</a></i></b> that we can retire from unless our lives are interrupted by death. The Lord has granted none of us ‘special leave’ not to minister the gospel <b><i>(Matthew 28:20; 1 Corinthians 9:16).</i></b> In a conversation I recently had with a Christian brother, I asked him if he had any desire to enter into the ministry later on in his life and he answered no. Upon further inquiry, he revealed that he simply don’t have the heart to be in ministry except to play a supportive role. <br />
<br />
Sadly though, this is the attitude of many Christians; they are just happy to serve in the background and consider it their contribution to the body while being afraid to witness. I concur, operating in a support ministry is helpful but would we just hide behind it not to share the gospel? This is the unfortunate state of the Church system. It produces infants in Christ who hears the word year and year out. They produce faithful church attendees but faithless and fruitless witnesses of Christ. The Apostle Paul said he was duty bound to preach the word <b><i>(1 Corinthians 9:16).</i></b> Scripturally, we know that the dissemination of the gospel has a noble purpose, to save the lost, to heal the broken-hearted and to deliver the demonically oppressed <b><i>(Luke 4:18-19). </i></b>Of all those who followed the Lord during His walk on the earth, He sent out everybody <b><i>(Luke 10:1). </i></b>To demonstrate the power of the gospel, the disciples reported how the demons submitted to the Word of life <b><i>(Luke 10:17). </i></b>In the absence of the Word of God, imagine the devastating effects of sin which is a weapon of Satan to destroy human <b><i>(2 Thessalonians 2:7-8)</i></b> society, and the wickedness the evil forces of darkness would wield in the world <b><i>(1 Peter 5:8). </i></b>In our articles, <b><i><a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/2014/09/blaming-god-when-bad-things-happen.html">‘Blaming God when bad things happen I</a> <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/2015/07/blaming-god-when-bad-things-happen-part.html">and II’</a></i></b> we reported the main sources of evil in the world which is Satan and the curse as a result of sin. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Rejection of the Word Brings Judgment</u></b></div>
<br />
To many worldly-minded people, the world is a good place to be. The world, being the ‘lost paradise of pleasure’ (Matthew 4:8) is a place of great liberty to choose and sin at will. Therefore, because sin yields destructive consequences, God in His eternal love sends forth messengers to warn the sinners and call them to repentance so that He may avert judgment <b><i>(Jeremiah 26:12-13). </i></b>Furthermore, the ancient world (Noah’s generation) and Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed as a result of the people’s great wickedness <b><i>(Genesis 6:5; 18:20; 19:24-25).</i></b> The Ninevites, wisely responded to the call to repent and so escaped judgment <b><i>(Jonah 3:1-10).</i></b> <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>The importance of Christ’s Sacrifice</u></b></div>
<br />
The Scriptures declares, <b>“We know that we are children of God and that all the rest of the world around us is under Satan’s power and control <i>(1 John 5:19 TLB). </i></b>For our victory against the Bible says<b><i>“…</i>The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the Devil's works”</b> <b><i>(1 John 3:8).</i></b> By accepting by faith this great deliverance, we reject the pleasures of sin and the control of the evil one. The devil, our common enemy, uses the pleasures of this world as bait in exchange for our souls <b><i>(Matthew 4:4; 1 John 2:15),</i></b> and this is the unfortunate situation which led many Christians astray and in the enemies camp <b><i><a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/2012_10_01_archive.html">(See a vision of Black and White figures).</a> </i></b><br />
<br />
In conclusion, we know that many Christians are not keen to witness and they turn a blind eye to messages of this nature. They feel these messages have no impact in their lives, but they are wrong. Apart from the fruits of the Holy Spirit which are Christ-like virtues, the fruits the Lord talks about are fruits that have produced a harvest through obedient labor in the harvest fie<b><i>ld (Matthew 13:19-23).</i></b> Those who are afraid and ashamed to witness does not have the things of the Lord at heart, instead of their personal opinions of how others might perceive them matters. Often, Christians are afraid of being persecuted, and many of us who labor in the harvest field face these persecutions daily, and amongst other things, these are the genuine scares of the cross. If these reluctant Christians were concerned about the Lord, souls would be their motivation. A very dear brother and friend to this ministry asked us to enquire of the Lord for him if he could do witnessing work alone. The Lord gave a solemn reply saying, <span style="color: red;">“</span><b><span style="color: red;">My son P must keep on doing work for My sake and I love My son P."</span> </b>Besides this brother, many others received similar encouragement from the Lord, but they ignored it. <br />
<br />
As a witness, this message has not fallen on deaf ears; this brother goes out as a lone witness spreading the word of God without complaining. The Lord will duly reward such man, and they are compared to trees which bear fruit in and out of season <b><i>(Jeremiah 17:7-8). </i></b><br />
<br />
Brethren, since we are eagerly waiting for the Day of the Lord, let us not forget, the end will not come until we have reached everyone with the gospel <b><i>(Matthew 24:14).</i></b><br />
<br />
<b><i>We would like to extend an invitation to anyone who does not know the Lord Jesus Christ yet, or of you are not born again, to pray our suggested prayer on this link</i></b> <href prayer="" target="_blank"><href prayer=""><a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/how-to-be-saved.html#prayer"><span style="color: #993300;">Prayer of Sincere Repentance</span></a></href></href><br />
<b><i>by faith and follow the Lord (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Matt 4.19" data-version="niv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/niv/Matt%204.19" target="_blank"><span style="color: #993300;">Matthew 4:19</span></a>). You may also </i></b><a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/contact-us.html"><span style="color: #993300;">contact us</span></a> <b><i>for any questions or comments about this article or our ministry.</i></b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Blessed love in fear of Christ</i></b><br />
<br />
<b>Brother Glenn</b></div>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-90915179709077203782024-01-15T14:12:00.001-05:002024-01-15T21:46:48.747-05:00Being Angry With God<p style="text-align: center;"><b><u> Are You Angry With God?</u></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px;"><b>"for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" [that standard of behavior which He requires from us]</b> <b><i>(James 1:20 AMP).</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px;">I once heard a very disciplined and God-fearing </span><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px;">brother praying in an angry tone and this displeased the Lord and as a result, the Lord gave us a message commanding the brother to pray more often daily as this would keep him(the brother) closer to God. In another incident, the same brother angrily questioned a message to him from the Lord literally accusing the Lord of being biased. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px;">In reply, the Lord's rebuke was gracious and stern, telling the brother that accusing Him was wickedness <b><i>(James 1:13)</i></b> and if we are angry with the Lord we would have no Defender, but us kicking against the goads <b><i>(Acts 26:14; 1 Samuel 2:25).</i></b> As it was, in humility, the brother repented bitterly over many weeks for his blasphemy and he was given grace. In other words, when the Lord speaks or acts, He does so with righteousness <b><i>(Romans 9:20)</i></b> and we know the Lord is blameless and His judgments always have an element of grace <b><i>(Genesis 4:15-16).</i></b> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #001320;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><u>Our Anger Is Blasphemous</u></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px;">Biblically, we also read how angry Jonah became with the Lord for being gracious and merciful and he learned the hard way that the only way to escape calamity was to repent and rely on God's deliverance <b><i>(Jonah 1,2,3).</i></b> Additionally, the Apostle Paul while on his mission opposing the Way of the Lord, instead of destroying him, God Almighty extended grace and drew Paul to Him after he repented and admitted that Christ is King </span><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px;"><b><i>(Acts 26:14-19).</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px;">Often, our anger blinds us from the things the Lord wants to teach us and indeed, we have alluded elsewhere here that as Christians we cannot expect a trouble-free life, but a life marred with tests, temptations and hardship and we know that is to mold us into obedient and humble fruit-bearing Christians <b><i>(2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12-19).</i></b> Being a minister of the holy Gospel, I have witnessed how some people in our ministry became angry with the Lord and abandoned the way of the Lord because the Lord would not do as they want. Now, these precious souls became bitter with God and we can testify that for their trouble and unrepentant hearts, they have fallen into deeper sin with the result being troubled by an evil spirit like that of Saul <b><i>(1 Samuel 16:14-23).</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px;">In conclusion, the point we making here my dear brethren is that our unrepentant anger against God holds nothing good for us but it leads us to bitterness, restlessness, hardship, and judgment <b><i>(Hebrews 10:26).</i></b> There is thus no justification for any form of anger directed at the Lord for His Grace only meets us when we are at peace with God <b><i>(Romans 5:1).</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px;">Blessed Grace</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px;">Brother Glenn</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-90713764037531092292024-01-08T16:29:00.003-05:002024-01-08T18:59:21.536-05:00How We Are Being Possessed By Evil <div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><u><span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Works Of The Flesh</span></u></strong></div>
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<strong><span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">“Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity, idolatry, drug use, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, factions, envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things. I've told you in the past and I'm telling you again that people who do these kinds of things will not inherit the kingdom of God” <em>(Galatians 5:19-21).</em></span></strong><br /><span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Brethren, we pray that this article will help many Christians who are simply struggling with sin and overcome it. We further pray that we be found worthy when the Lord appears soon! The Lord recently reveal something to us regarding the dangers of works of the flesh as listed above including lying, gossiping and murdering <b><i>(Revelations 21:8; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)</i></b>. Brethren please therefore bear with us while we will briefly share what the Lord revealed; remember the aim is to prepare you and to gain over souls for God’s imminent harvest. Therefore in this article, we only seek to create awareness for us to discern in order to be empowered to resist and pursue purity <b><i>(2 Timothy 2:22)</i></b>.</span><br />
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">It is true that many of us are being overcame or possessed by some of the vices in the aforementioned scriptures and we need not be alarmed because it is true <b><i>(Romans 3:10; John 8:7).</i></b> Now what the Lord revealed to us is that if we allow any of these vices to control us so as to yield to its evil intend we disregard His warnings and we are guilty of sin before Him <b><i>(Romans 6:12). </i></b></span><br />
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">If we however resist the force of these ill-feelings when it manifest in us and not obey its passions to act accordingly we would not have given it room to grow and ultimately possesses us <b><i>(Hebrews 12:15).</i></b> Scripturally, we know that sin is rude less and if it attaches itself to our soul it wants to control our will like a strong man in us <b><i>(Matthew 12:29).</i></b> If we thus descend to this level we enter into the space of willful sinning <b><i>(Hebrews 10:26)</i></b> and if so would then mean that we are soundly possessed by the power of sin <b><i>(Romans 6:14).</i></b> A few years ago, the Lord rebuked a brother saying that if a lying spirit or any other sin has possessed a person he or she is operating under the power and control of the devil <b><i>(1 John 3:8-10). </i></b></span><br />
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<b><u><span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Subtle Possession Of Sin To Control</span></u></b></div>
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">This then is noticeable when the craving for sin (or the particular evil that is controlling us) is overwhelmingly uncontrollable. I'm certain many of us have seen this in drug, porn, alcohol, social media and cell phone addicts and however ‘innocent’ or mild no addict is better than the other in the side of God the issue is you are hooked and possessed ma’am or sir! This is very serious brethren and we have shared with you how the Lord gave us serious messages to warn us against the possessive power of sin. Sadly many people who were once faithful children of God and members of this ministry failed to obey the Lord and they fell into sin and we know Satan creates a trap to lock us in and that is what happens to many of us.</span><br />
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<b><u><span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">How To Escape From That?</span></u></b></div>
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">A mere confession or guilt feelings of remorse is not enough, we need a Godly sorrow <b><i>(2 Corinthians 7:10)</i></b>, a true repentance and a heart-committed turn from sin against the will of sinful craving. It is like giving up sin to receive the Lord’s forgiveness being in the sinful body <b><i>(Romans 7:24)</i></b> nobody said it is easy we all struggle against sin daily and some of us allow it no room to take control. I’m being reminded, a person addicted to smoking would say it is extremely hard to give it up, but which is the better choice, eternal life or the appetizing craving of sin? <b><i>(James 1:12).</i></b></span><br />
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Now, would you rather ‘reward’ yourself with the pleasures of sin now and to face God’s wrath against it in the hereafter? Rather subdue (crucify, or buffet) your body to receive later (or hereafter) from the Lord Jesus Christ the crown of life. </span><br />
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Furthermore, we cannot overemphasize this! If you want to break the power of sin and addictions, refrain from it, go on a few day fasting and prayer therein is real deliverance <b><i>(Matthew 17:21). </i></b>Depending on the severity of the sinful effects, perhaps take some prayer and fasting turns based on your faith, strength and seriousness to be delivered maybe take two or three days of fasting and prayer per stronghold. I’d like to add dear brethren, this works I and many other children of God had applied this and the Lord Jesus Christ did give us mercy and deliverance. </span><br />
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">In conclusion, don’t become a follower of Christ by mere desire to become a better Christian is one in the power of faith. When the ungodly feelings of selfishness, anger, jealousy, hatred or any of the vices mentioned above strikes resist, rebuke and don’t obey it so that we give no effect to its passions and so avoiding it taking roots to posses and control us <b><i>(Genesis 4:7).</i></b></span><br />
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Again, we extend an invitation to those who are not saved yet to make right with God and receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please start by praying this <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/how-to-be-saved.html#prayer" target="_blank">Prayer of Sincere Repentance</a>. For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/contact-us.html" target="_blank">contact us</a>.</span><br />
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<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Blessed Grace</span></span><br />
<span face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Brother Glenn</span></span><br />
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<br />Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-72810550401467072232024-01-01T10:22:00.000-05:002024-01-01T10:22:18.066-05:00Are You In Control Of Your Faith?<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised; (Hebrews 10:23 KJV).</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward (2 John 1:8 NKJV).</i></b></div>
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As a Ministry we would like to extend our warm and Peaceful New Year Greetings to all our fellow brethren and visitors to this website. We are looking forward to continue sharing the unadulterated Word of the Lord with you. There are some exciting messages to look forward to, and we hope to share a 2009 end time vision the Lord gave Brother Glenn which we may share publicly. <br />
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Our article for this week, we are reposting an earlier article and we pray that it be a blessing to you, as we prepare to serve you fully in the course of this year. Now, we often hear people saying, <i>"I am going to my husband’s (or wife’s) church in order to keep the peace at home."</i> How noble this sounds! The question we should ask in return is this: How genuine is your faith and relationship with God? Do you have the kind of faith that is flexible in order to tolerate and accommodate everyone’s feelings or wishes, without regard for God’s ways? <b><i>(Colossians 1:10)</i></b>. If we genuinely examine ourselves in regard to our faith, and in the light of the Scriptures, our response should lead us to recommit ourselves to the Lord <b><i>(2 Corinthians 13:5).</i></b> It is true that quite often, pressure from our peers and others may lead us to compromise willingly in exchange for receiving favor and acceptance. However, when we compromise, do we consider how far we drive God from us? Do we please Him? A truly mature, Bible-reading and Bible-practicing Christian would always regard Scriptural guidance and purity of faith as areas of no compromise against the wishes of people. Wouldn't you rather disobey man in order to please God? <b><i>(Acts 5:29).</i></b> Otherwise, isn't obeying man at the expense of our relationship with God an act of living a compromised faith, a useless faith that will result in us losing <b><i>"those things we worked for"</i></b> <b><i>(2 John 1:8)</i></b>, which is eternal life? <b><i>(Romans 2:7).</i></b><br />
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<b><u>Controlling the Faith of Others is Displeasing to Christ</u></b></div>
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The Lord has repeatedly warned a sister in our ministry not to follow the ungodly guidance of her husband. Let us be honest about this: an unsaved and worldly husband or wife cannot provide spiritual guidance or dictate matters of faith to a born-again and Holy Spirit-led Christian. The sword of the Lord, which brings conflict and division between light and darkness, between the followers of Christ and the followers of Satan, can also bring conflict between members of the same family, and it will prevail in favor of our righteousness, faith, conviction and commitment to the Lord <b><i>(Matthew 10:34-38)</i></b>. We should, therefore, be prepared to embrace hostility, opposition, and abuse because of our union with Christ <b><i>(Matthew 10:22).</i></b> The Bible encourages us that it is better to suffer as a consequence of our faith than for wrong living <b><i>(1 Peter 4:16). </i></b><br />
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We’ve had a strong-willed sister in our ministry who was in the habit of controlling the weaker and new babes in Christ. She would provide some of these new Christians with unscriptural guidance which affected their faith and life in the Lord. This situation became very displeasing to the Lord and this led Him to issue strong rebukes to both the new Christian brethren and the controlling sister. In these rebukes, the Lord freed the weaker Christians from the influence of the stronger Christian who used her knowledge of the Scriptures to cause the new Christians to stumble. In other words, the Lord’s rebuke focused on helping the new Christian sisters look to Scriptural guidance more than following the lead and bad example of the more seasoned but corrupt Christian.<br />
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I would like to point out from a Scriptural position that no one, not even a pastor, prophet or an apostle, has been given ‘power’ over the faith or life of another Christian. We find no such authority given in the Bible! Instead, what we are given is the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to influence and empower us to teach, rebuke and correct ourselves and others while allowing them to live by their convictions as they grow in the grace of Christ <b><i>(1 Timothy 3:16; Galatians 5:16-18).</i></b><br />
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Furthermore, the Bible also clearly warns not to lord ourselves over the flock <b><i>(1 Peter 5:2)</i></b><i>, </i>but to willingly serve <b><i>(Luke 22:25-26).</i></b> We are encouraged to preach, teach and lead by example in accordance with our blameless convictions <b><i>(2 Timothy 4:2)</i></b>. As we know, a minister of the gospel is only anointed and clothed with authority to speak the Word of God in the name of the Lord and to exercise authority over demons <b><i>(Luke 10:1-23; Jeremiah 1:9). </i></b>Therefore, as we speak the Word of God, people may respond to God in submission and obedience <b><i>(Jeremiah 42:6)</i></b>.<br />
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<b><u>Should we Obey our Leaders in Christ?</u></b></div>
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The Bible says, <b>“<i>Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you”</i></b><i> <b>(Hebrews 13:17 KJV)</b></i>. As we shared in our message on <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/2013/09/the-love-of-money.html">The Love of Money</a>, the Lord taught us that this does not give a minister of the gospel a lifetime authority over our salvation; it is only <b><i>“… until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature…” (Ephesians 4:12-13).</i></b> We do not remain infants forever, but we must keep learning God’s ways to avoid error and start bearing fruit <b><i>(Ephesians 4:14-16; 1 Peter 2:2)</i></b>.<br />
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Another verse says, <b><i>“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 KJV).</i></b> <br />
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Now, as we can see in the preceding Bible verses, their authority is their work for God, which is the preaching of the Word. In other words, the guidance we should expect from them should be in accordance with the Word of God, and thus, we must submit. Some Church leaders and those who idolize them often invoke and misinterpret Bible verses such as <b><i>"touch not my anointed..." (1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalm 105:15)</i></b> in order to exert their influence on the flock. The Word of God teaches us that we must also study the Bible and seek the Lord on our own and discern if the teachings we are receiving are consistent with what the Bible says <b><i>(Matthew 6:6; Acts 17:11</i></b>).<br />
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Therefore, if leaders want to use their authority to control us to their advantage and mislead us, we are Scripturally empowered to resist and follow Scriptural counsel <b><i>(Acts 5:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:21).</i></b> In addition, when we submit to church leadership, we are showing respect and this is a proper Christian attitude <b><i>(Romans 13:7)</i></b>. However, a Christian leader is not allowed to dictate and control the lives of those under his authority <b><i>(1 Peter 5:2).</i></b> <br />
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<b><u>Ministry Workers are Ordained and Appointed by Christ</u></b></div>
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No Christian leader, no matter how famous and well anointed he/she appears or claims, is allowed to discourage others from witnessing as an individual or in a group. The call to do ministry work is from God and not from men <b><i>(Acts 13:2; Galatians 1:15; Luke 4:18).</i></b> I do know of pastors who discourages some of their flock from witnessing as individuals. The Lord did not teach us that way, instead He encouraged me and others never to neglect witnessing as individual's to our friends, people in general, our colleagues and our family members daily. As it is, the gospel message is urgent, because people are dying so it must happen daily <b><i>(2 Timothy 4:2; 2 Corinthians 6:2).</i></b> In August 2014, the Lord sharply rebuked a brother for following the unscriptural lead of a sister in the Lord who deceived him by saying that the Lord said he had done enough for the Lord and he should not witness. In a shocking vision to serve as a warning to the brother, the Lord exposed the lies the sister lived and spoke in His name (for details, refer to the <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/2014/07/lying-in-jesus-name.html">Lying in Jesus’ Name</a> article). Also, a few years ago when the Lord called me and my wife into the ministry, our former pastor wanted to let us know that he has the authority to appoint church leaders for ministry work. However, the Lord said church leaders are only allowed to Scripturally counsel and pray for the flock, but He alone calls, appoints and ordains leaders for ministry work in His body <b><i>(1 Corinthians 12:5; Matthew 4:18-22)</i></b>.<br />
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There are many people who are unable to recognize the calling of God upon their lives. I have had people asking me how you know God has called you for ministry work, some even had us ask the Lord for them, and sadly, the Lord rebuked many of them for their lack of faith. Some of these people have a genuine desire to do the work of the Lord, but they are lazy to pray and fast. Additionally, when the Lord commanded many of them to witness to their own families, friends, and colleagues, they felt our message was not from God and that they were called into the formal offices like pastors, teachers, evangelist, etc. These position seekers fail to recall that no New or Old Testament prophet or apostle of the Lord ever regarded ministry work as an indoor affair. In fact, God sent them to public places and into the streets where the masses of people were <b><i>(Matthew 22:9).</i></b> The current perception that the work of sharing the gospel should only be carried out from the pulpit or by "professional" Christians (those who have been formally trained/anointed/ordained/appointed) coupled with the institutionalization of the church have blinded and hindered the zeal of some Christians to win souls. As an encouragement to you, when I was formally employed, the Lord told me to take tracts with me to work and give to people that I met. I would hand out tracts to people on my way to and from work, including sharing with my colleagues. Our ministry members also do this whenever they are out grocery shopping, at the park, the post office, at the museum, or whatever errands they may be running, and we strongly encourage you to do the same <b><i>(Acts 8:4)</i></b>. The gospel message, which is being rejected and despised by the world, still has relevance. It is our duty as Christians to preach the Word and make it attractive to others through our godly living.<br />
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In conclusion, have you been wrongly controlling other's faith or allowing yourself to be controlled by others while following unBiblical teachings of leaders? Do you want to be a minister of the gospel? If so, then <b><i>Go</i></b> to the streets <strong><em>(Matthew 22:10). </em></strong>It is where we and many of the apostles of old started and you will witness how God will elevate you and your work for Him. Have you been lazy to pray and ask the Lord to give you peace and clarity about His will for you regarding what He called you to do? If so, please repent and take ownership of your faith and keep working on it.<br />
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To accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please pray this <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/how-to-be-saved.html#prayer">Prayer of Sincere Repentance</a>. For any questions or comments about this article or our ministry, please <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/contact-us.html">contact us</a>.<br />
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Blessed grace in faithful service to Christ,<br />
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Brother GlennUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-8296368995537294002023-12-25T06:54:00.001-05:002023-12-25T06:54:25.701-05:00Reflecting On Our Lives' Meaning<p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Jesus Christ Is Saviour</u></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord <b><i>(Luke 2:11 NIV).</i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet;">Being Christians, we cannot overlook the importance of celebrating the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, to us it is not about the correctness of the <b><i>DAY</i></b> or date but the message and <b><i>GIFT </i></b>(of salvation for those who believes and accepts His Grace) the Lord God Almighty brought us. It was this <b><i>GIFT </i></b>from God to deliver us from the fear of death <b><i>(Hebrews 2:15),</i></b> the penalty and bondage of sin and to render us blameless before a Holy God <b><i>(Colossians 1:22). </i></b>Scripturally, His (Christ) is the only <b><i>LIFE </i></b>that have been predicted, <b><i>(Isaiah 9:6; 11:12; 28:16; 53:5; Micah 5:2)</i></b> purposed and predetermined to <b>STAND</b> <b>OUT</b> as coming from the Father (John 1:32-34) to bring redemption and eternal salvation and peace to mankind (Luke 1:8-14).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Does My Life Have Purpose?</u></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;">When we are born into this world, we have no prerecorded outline of our lives on how we will be leading our lives. Unlike animals which grew and develops through instinct, as humans on the other hand, we receive our development through learning <b><i>(Proverbs 22:6) </i></b>including the various social influences which directs our decisions and forms part of the way that we are to follow. Generally, as we pass through our various developmental stages so does our right and wrong senses (conscience) adapts and setting the limitations. The non-Christian follows the guides of his or her traditions and teachings. While the way of the non-Christian is not absolute, God will call into account the 'record' of the conscience that directs faith in God's truth so that no-one will have an excuse when being judged by the Lord Jesus Christ <b><i>(Romans 2:14-16).</i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><u>The Christian Life Have Purpose In Christ</u></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;">In contrast and biblically perceived, a truly born-again Christian lights up his or her life through scriptural instruction and the Holy Spirit to produce a Christ-like image of humility, submission, obedience, patience, giving, helping, love and faith to mention but a few <b><i>(Hebrews 5:8; 2 Corinthians 3:18).</i></b> Therefore, this and many other scripturally charged virtues <b><i>(2 Peter 1:5-8; Romans 12:9-21)</i></b> should complete and add purpose to our lives. In other words, such scriptural guidance serves as an individual ministry to others, showing the faith we profess informs our lifestyle and purpose in life. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;">Furthermore, as Christians, our lives purpose does not just consist of our educational background, the kind of job(s) we have, our wealth or our social stand or class. If that is how we view our purpose in life, we swing the pendulum outside our Christ-like driven purpose. In my experience, I came across countless Christians who are great preachers and gifted talkers who are not rooted in their faith, their actions and output from their hearts exposes their mouths confession. As it is, such behavior renders us fake and not true to our faith and purpose thus betraying what we believe while we smother and silence the conscience that we should rely on for guidance <b><i>(Galatians 2:14; Matthew 26:69-75). </i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;">In Conclusion, my fellow Christian brothers and sisters let us <b><i>ARISE</i></b> with <b><i>GUSTO </i></b>and <b><i>FAITH</i></b> reclaiming our lives purpose and be Christ-like in a decaying world filled with violence, hatred, and selfish injustice.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;">Blessed Christmas and Christ directed New Year to you all</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;">Brother Glenn and family.</span></span></p>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-31091388990761972632023-12-18T13:34:00.000-05:002023-12-18T13:34:13.740-05:00Love, The Drawing Power Of God<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself’ ” (Luke 10:27 NKJV).</i></b></div>
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Often, these words of great inner transformation are being ignored by Christians because most think that the Lord was just making a statement. To understand and apply this message into our lives we need to deliberate, meditate and internalise this message. In other words, we should bring this message closer to our hearts and own it so that the effect of this command should take root and possess our inner being by releasing the energy of this love in our hearts.<br />
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<b><u>What is Love and Where Does it Originate?</u></b></div>
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Briefly, love is being defined as a variety of different feelings of strong attraction to someone or something. Therein is trust, peace and security with a comfort that this force of love has no end. As we know, love in any relationship often starts with a promise of lasting endurance, but as a relationship matures our promise of long lasting faithfulness changes into a conditional love, which we base on the promise, actions, and commitment of the other party, and often with selfish and unrealistic demands.<br />
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Unfortunately, love is not without ‘eyes’ and it was never meant to operate blindly. Biblically, love has built-in values which should manifest spontaneously when duty calls. The Bible gives us in the book of <b><i>1 Corinthians 13:4-8</i></b> some distinct characteristics of love and any absence of any of these creates an imbalance leading to an incomplete love. In this context, I find no distinction that love should be departmentalized to apply differently to God, family or our neighbours. If it would, we would not be operating on the full force of love as Scripturally defined <b><i>(1 Corinthians 13:4-8).</i></b> In our giving of love to others, we sow and a return is guaranteed <b><i>(Galatians 6:7; Luke 6:38).</i></b> Like we said in the <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/2015/02/good-manners.html">Good Manners</a> article, love works in co-operation with respect and some of the values we discussed.<br />
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Brethren, we cannot emphasise enough that the Christian faith is meaningless unless we prove it through love and the outworking of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives <b><i>(Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22).</i></b> The Lord likens Christians to a tree which attracts people by the good fruit it bears and a bad tree is for the fire <b><i>(Matthew 7: 16-20)</i></b>. A good and ideal Christian finds his or her fruits from the Vine, which is Christ <b><i>(John 15:1-4).</i></b> In contrast an abrasive, rude and an unkind Christian dwells in the parched land and away from the fruitfulness and nourishment found in Christ alone <b><i>(Jeremiah 17:6).</i></b> In Christ love dwells and in a Christian love should blossom as an attractive force of peace and comfort <b><i>(Philippians 4:7). </i></b>As we mention in the <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/2015/07/experiencing-true-peace.html">Experiencing True Peace</a> article, where there is no peace, there is no love because these two fruits co-exist <b><i>(Galatians 5:22)</i></b>. The Bible says God is love <b><i>(1 John 4:16)</i></b>. Therefore, with God being love who lives in us, why are we allowing hateful feelings, slander and deceitful living to control us? Are we desiring good and bad to walk with us <b><i>(Matthew 6:24)</i></b>? If that is our position, the fullness of God’s Goodness will give way, for light have no companionship with darkness <b><i>(2 Corinthians 6:15-16).</i></b><br />
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<b><u>Identifying the Dark Patches that Clouds our Souls</u></b></div>
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We are warned in the Bible not associate with sexually immoral Christians <b><i>(1 Corinthians 5:9-11)</i></b>, those who have a form godliness but deny its power <b><i>(2 Timothy 3:5)</i></b>, and bad company which corrupts good character <b><i>(1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 NASB)</i></b>. Otherwise, are we always trying to avoid the company of someone we know? If yes, why? I’m sure you have the answer for that. Whatever our reasons, can we truly say that we are loving God and showing love to that person? The full force of love, which has been packaged by God to resist unlovingness, has built-in values and will always defy human reason and feelings in its quest to fulfil its destiny. What I mean is when love compels against the danger of rejection, reason cease and love fulfils <b><i>(2 Corinthians 5:14)</i></b>. This tells us that love is not selfish and it <b><i>NEVER FAILS!</i></b> It fulfils. In addition, when we operate by our will to decide on love, we give conditionally; but when we give by the will of the Holy Spirit, our lower nature suffers and the Spirit fulfils. This is beautifully summed up by what the Apostle Paul when he said, <b><i>“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. <sup> </sup>For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Romans 8:12-14 NIV)</i></b>. If ‘we have an obligation’, the Holy Spirit is supposed to control us and when He controls, why do we give love short?<br />
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The Bible says that fear is an obstruction to love <b><i>(1 John 4:18); </i></b>that is why some people are afraid to love. They reason that others might take advantage of them. Are we not sometimes taking advantage of the Lord’s great love for us when we sin or disobey wilfully? Yes, we do! Are we not sacrificing love, a continuing debt we owe <b><i>(Romans 13:8)</i></b>, which is our obligation and fulfilling fear, which is our distraction? Our will must serve the requirements of Scripture <b><i>(Ecclesiastes 12:13)</i></b>.<br />
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Furthermore, are you always trying to be right and never wrong and rejecting correction while self-serving? Do you pursue quarrels and always in a self-pity mood? By examining yourself, you might find that you don’t have love in yourself because you are taking and not giving. Brethren, while this is not a good rebuke to share but for the benefit of everybody, the Lord rebuked a sister sharply for her lack of love, saying that <b><i><span style="color: red;">“My daughter Dawn (not real name) does not have love in herself”.</span></i></b> This was a deep rebuke that exposed the patches of anger, hatefulness, selfishness and rejection of the Holy Spirit, who equals love, God and Christ <b><i>(Romans 8:9-10).</i></b> In the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ also showed that rejecting Him and seeking glory and recognition from men while failing to seek glory from God displays that a Christian is lacking the word of God and love within themselves <b><i>(John 5:37-44)</i></b>.<br />
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<b><u>Where to Find and Grow Love</u></b></div>
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We have all been naturally endowed with basic love to show care to our children and immediate families. However, love to serve others and to treat others with dignity as brethren is found in God alone. By serving and asking God we grow love as He prunes it to develop fully. This is also evident in the animal realm and their love is observed by the care and protection they give to their young <b><i>(Job 39:1-3; Matthew 23:37)</i></b>. In some occasions in the Bible, animals even show love for God and care for human beings <b><i>(Numbers 22:21-30; 1 Kings 17:2-6; Jonah 1:17; 2:10).</i></b> Unlike animals, humans love is dynamic, transitional and incomplete. Our love has a Source, God through Christ <b><i>(1 John 4:8; John 3:16)</i></b> and Biblically if we have no union with Christ, there is no God and no Spirit no love <b><i>(1 John 4:8; Romans 8:9; John 13:20)</i></b>. This truly sets Christianity apart from other religions who are founded on cultural values. We know culture yields laws and if violated punishment, but in Christ, however, we are commanded to love and love covers over a multitude of sin <b><i>(1 Peter 4:8).</i></b><br />
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The Lord’s love is real and having been a loveless person myself through my past life of hateful feelings and violence, I gave up my old life to follow the Lord’s ways. In being a Christian, I learned that my love was growing as I walked closer with the Lord. Therefore, the more we spend time in God’s Presence through prayer, worship, church services and Bible reading, the more we generate love <b><i>(James 4:8).</i></b> By Word reading, we develop the reality and discernment regarding what love really should be. Human love is interest driven and being fickle we are always looking for the gratification of our ever increasing desires for more and these serve as distractions. God purposely allowed the various distractions <b><i>(Matthew 13:29)</i></b> to test our endurance as He refines the dross from the pure gold <b><i>(1 Peter 1:7)</i></b>. Like we said, operating from two or more personalities stifles the Holy Spirit, which hinders our walk and giving strength to our lower nature to dominate us <b><i>(Romans 8:13-14</i></b>). Love is the Golden Key to Heaven and we <b><i>MUST</i></b> possess it in abundance. As the love of many is growing cold in these last days (and indeed this is evident everywhere around the world) we encourage you to have love in yourself to give and attract the lost to Christ. Love is the greatest Cause, the single unifier of the human race. All people can identify with the force of love, for it is the only remedy known to man that calms the storms of life in the troubled human soul. This love, is God's gift to us that brought us peace <b><i>(Romans 5:8; Isaiah 53:5)</i></b>.<br />
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In conclusion, have you been failing to seek God daily and remain in the Lord Jesus Christ, the true vine, that you may bear good fruit <b><i>(Galatians 5:22; John 15:1-5)?</i></b> Have you been skipping your personal time with the Lord and yielding bad fruit and cold love <b><i>(Jeremiah 17:6; John 15:6)? </i></b>If so, seek the Lord in repentance while loving Him and others as yourself <b><i>(Luke 10:27)</i></b>.<br />
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If you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, please get started by praying this <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/how-to-be-saved.html#prayer">Prayer of Sincere Repentance</a>. For any questions or comments about this article or our ministry, please <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/contact-us.html">contact us.</a><br />
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Blessed love in fear of God,<br />
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Brother Glenn and Preparing for the Kingdom Ministry Team.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-90127229792879350772023-12-11T11:58:00.000-05:002023-12-11T11:58:30.874-05:00Bad Company Corrupts Good Character<div style="text-align: left;">
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<b><i>Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33).</i></b></div>
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The above Scriptural warning is vastly overlooked and ignored by countless Christians who think that this and other Scriptures does not apply to them. Well, we have testimony and personal experience on the danger of ignoring Scriptural admonitions which are meant to protect and safeguard our salvation. However, before we share those experiences, let us briefly examine Scriptural teaching on this important matter. As always, we encourage all our readers to carefully examine the referenced Scripture verses as they augment and qualify our message.<br />
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<b><u>God’s Message to Christians in Managing Relations with Unbelievers and Doubters</u></b></div>
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Essentially, human relationships are built on the premise of interaction with others, and this joins us together into a group or community that shares common interests. As a group, we influence or are being influenced by others into accepting ideas, behaviours and attitudes <b><i>(Exodus 23:32-33)</i></b>. Right at the beginning of establishing a relationship with the children of Israel, the Lord gave them His Word to influence their lifestyle and to separate them from the rest of the other peoples around them <b><i>(Leviticus 18:30; Deuteronomy 18:9-13)</i></b>. Thus the hatred, ridicule and rejection Christians are experiencing today is largely due by this call by the Lord to<b><i> "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE" says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you." And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:17-18 NASB)</i></b>.<br />
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Given the above Bible references, don’t you think that the Lord foretold our hardship and persecution when He said<b><i>, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword…”? (Matthew 10:34-36 NIV</i></b>). As it is, these Scriptures concern the value of our relationships with others. In other words, would we value our relationship with others whether friend or relative by conforming to the way of life they follow more than what Christ called us to? <b><i>(Matthew 10:37-39)</i></b>.<br />
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Therefore, it is abundantly clear from Scripture that our choice of company must always be pleasing to God. Exactly why? The answer is twofold. First is to protect us from being corrupted through temptations leading to lusts and from evil desires coming through the company we keep <b><i>(2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Peter 2:7-10)</i></b>. Being a holy priesthood, we should proclaim His praises, holy living must be uncompromising for this is our only guarantee to Heaven <b><i>(1 Peter 2:9-12; Hebrews 12:14).</i></b> On the day of reckoning, many Christians will discover that their slothful and disobedient worldly living resulted in a Christ-less eternity. The second reason is to set us apart (being holy) as belonging to God for His glory and as objects of His mercy <b><i>(Romans 9:22; Deuteronomy 10:8-9)</i></b>. Scripturally, from the earlier times we see God accepting people into a relationship with Him based on their choice of obedience <b><i>(Genesis 4:4-7)</i></b>. As we know, The Lord God gave each person freedom to choose and He desired that we choose to follow His will. He says: <b><i>“… I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn</i> <i>from their ways and live…”</i></b> <b style="font-style: italic;">(Ezekiel 33:11). </b>If we remain obedient, He sets us apart for His glory <b><i>(Romans 8:30)</i></b>.<br />
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<b><u>Should We Vilify Those Outside of Our Fellowship?</u></b></div>
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Truly, vilifying those who are not in our fellowship group is not a directive we received from the Lord. In contrast, He commanded us to pray and love those who persecute us <b><i>(Luke 6:28; Matthew 5:44)</i></b>. Furthermore, our works of service and our attitude of obedience towards the Lord should serve as an encouragement to unbelievers leading them to salvation <b><i>(1 Peter 3:15-17)</i></b>. Evidently, as Christians it’s inevitable that we have to work with people who are not Christians in all spheres of life. Being a light shining in the darkness, we cannot hide our light from non-Christians; we will have to face and show them what we’ve got <b><i>(Ephesians 5:8-11)</i></b>.<br />
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Often, Christians don’t know how to behave in the company of non-Christians. Some have reportedly said that they feel strange, unwelcomed, and rejected by lukewarm Christians and unbelievers because of their faith in the Lord. Brethren, we must remember that it is not us they have a problem with! They dislike the new life of obedience to the Lord that we follow. Inasmuch as it is tormenting to share a company with non-committed Christians because of their sometimes unwelcoming insults to our faith, this is a test to our faith where we should not allow offensive insults to weaken our confidence in Christ <b><i>(Hebrews 10:35-36)</i></b>. In terms of interaction, keep the company to achieve shared objectives, especially work or community-related things, but without compromising your faith. Where necessary, give reasons for your refusal to comply, especially when it concerns things that go against the Lord’s will <b><i>(Exodus 23:2)</i></b>. We must not imitate evil, even if we are pressured to sin<b><i> (3 John 1:11)</i></b>. As Christians, our association in sharing a company with the unsaved is to reveal Christ by sharing our testimony, and to display through our behaviour the lifestyle He called us to<b><i> (1 Peter 2:12; Colossians 4:5-6)</i></b>.<br />
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<b><u>Lone Christians</u></b></div>
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Naturally, all human life is made up of community and through birth, individual members are entering this community resulting in social cohesion. Through this, we learn and develop certain social skills to help us live better and peacefully with others<b><i> (Genesis 11:1-6)</i></b>. Therefore, God intended that we have social company, but according to His choice for our well-being <b><i>(2 Corinthians 6:14; Hebrews 10:25)</i></b>. This ministry is not encouraging "lone ranger Christianity"! In essence Scripturally, when we do meet, we get the opportunity to benefit from the gifts for our edification and growth in the Lord <b><i>(1 Peter 4:10)</i></b>. In joining a Christian grouping, we need discernment from the Holy Spirit to help us identify like-minded believers <b style="font-style: italic;">(Philippians 2:2-4; 1 Peter 3:8)</b>, regardless of their social class or standing in society <b><i>(Romans 12:16)</i></b>.<br />
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A brother, who was in the habit of always excluding himself from fellow Christians, was rebuked by the Lord for dissociating himself from the brotherhood. Sadly, and with love, this brother was in the habit of always rejecting calls by fellow Christian brethren to join them in sharing the gospel and his testimony. This habit grieved the Lord and He gave us a message to encourage the brother to make use of opportunities to meet and benefit from the gifts from others while seizing the opportunity to preach the gospel. We should share whether we like it or not; our command is to preach in season and out of season <b><i>(2 Timothy 4:2)</i></b>.<br />
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<b><u>Brief Testimony on The Influence of Worldly Company on Christians</u></b></div>
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A few months ago, we wrote extensively and by a command from the Lord on the negative influences of some social networking activity (refer to <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/2015/02/social-media-godliness-or-worldliness.html">Social Media: Godliness or Worldliness?</a> article).In this message, we pointed out how some Christians and non-Christians use this technology platform as a tool to work for Satan by gossiping, flirting resulting in adultery, fornication, and avoiding fellowship with God through prayer and Bible reading. Brethren, the testimony we are sharing below is not to expose, or slander but the Lord permitted that we share it to show other Christians the dangers of our disobedience and stubbornness in going against Scriptural warnings. When we fail to heed Scriptural warnings, we will have to live with the consequences of our bad choices. <b>After all, bad company does corrupt good habits!</b><br />
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Having said this, we had a sister in our fellowship who served the Lord very faithfully and this was echoed by the Lord Himself through messages He let us give her. In her faithfulness, she never skipped our fellowships as commanded by the Lord. However, she loved the company of her worldly friends who shared their lustful appetite with her, eventually influencing her to have similar desires. She did her best to stay up very late in social networking sites. Upon discovering, as a ministry who loves her, we cautioned her on the dangers of such activity and the resulting consequences. Sadly, these were ignored! The Lord issued her several messages warning her that <i><b>Satan was using unsaved people to destroy her life (Proverbs 13:20)</b></i>. Yes, these were the exact words of the Lord. Through subsequent messages from the Lord, He warned her and through these messages we could understand that she was involved in a relationship with an unsaved man, which later developed into a sexual affair. As it is, we lovingly confronted her, showing how this had ruined her relationship with the Lord and that she should repent and serve faithfully. Brethren, this sin of infidelity that the sister committed against the Lord hurt Him very much, for Charis could feel His pain when He gave her a message for this sister saying, <b>“<span style="color: red;">My daughter Joyce has hurt this ministry, her children and herself and she lost her innocence before Me, and I will punish her for this</span>”. </b>As a result of this message from the Lord, we were equally hurt as members of this ministry. In our concern that this might affect others, and after providing Godly counsel to this sister which she rejected, she decided to quit our ministry. Beloved, I can tell you this ministry has suffered the leaving of many people, who could not endure living holy. For when the Lord exposes our sinful living, it is for us to choose either to repent and secure eternal life in Heaven, or continue sinning eventually resulting in His judgements <b><i>(Hebrews 12:6)</i></b>. I choose the Lord’s discipline!<br />
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Similarly, the Lord warned a young man against lustful behaviour and worldly ways. This man kept his worldly friends and social networking habits alive while serving the Lord. This led him to question the Lord’s teaching on separation from worldliness, including worldly music. My wife and I counseled him briefly, explaining to him the will of the Lord and the things He warned us against. In his anger with us and the Lord for correcting him, he walked out on us, choosing worldliness. In a prophetic vision and before we knew he would quit, the Lord showed Charis how this young man was angry, wrinkled and untidily dressed (signifying his spiritual condition and deterioration through sin), saying, <b>“<span style="color: red;">Behold, the worldly man!</span>”. </b><br />
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In conclusion, I would like to share a brief testimony. Dear brethren, please bear in mind that I am not sharing this to elevate myself or portray myself better than you, but to encourage you -- especially those of you who feel weak in faith and need courage. Earlier on in my walk with the Lord, about 24 years ago, I suffered many insults and abuse at the hands of both colleagues and friends, for choosing to avoid their company after they tried to win me back into sinful fellowship with them. In their quest to humiliate me, when they would see me I would hear some of my colleagues laughing loudly while looking at me. However, with God’s help I kept sincerity to my faith and showed love despite their ridicule. I once overheard a conversation one of them was having with some of the others where they were comparing religions and the conduct of some ‘Christians’ in relation to others. To my surprise, I was blessed to hear him saying in agreement that my faith was real and my obedience matched what the Bible teaches. After all, through the humiliating experience I had endured, they recognised the Lord Jesus in me and they also seemed to have changed their perception about me. From then on, I enjoyed peace and respect from them. The Lord knows how to use our obedience to draw people to Him to save <b><i>(Proverbs 16:7)</i></b>.<br />
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Finally, have you been allowing yourself to hang out with and be wrongly influenced by bad company? Have you failed to be a light in obedience to Christ by showing good behaviour, bearing good fruit, and serving as an encouragement so others can be saved <b><i>(1 Peter 3:15-17)</i></b>? Remember, we are in the world but not of the world and therefore we must not do as they do. The Bible says, <b><i>Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers (Psalm 1:1-3).</i></b><br />
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If you would like to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please begin by praying this <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/how-to-be-saved.html#prayer" target="_blank">Prayer of Sincere Repentance</a>. For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/contact-us.html">contact us</a>.<br />
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Blessed Grace in Peaceful Company,<br />
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Brother Glenn.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-36527766247530214262023-12-04T11:40:00.000-05:002023-12-04T11:40:18.551-05:00Being Ungrateful Displeases The Lord<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Expectations For Cravings Not Need</u></b></div>
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<b><i>“But godliness with contentment is a great gain.<sup> </sup>For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. <sup></sup>But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these” (1 Timothy 6:6-8 HCSB).</i></b></div>
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We will be very brief with our message this week. The Lord commanded that we share with you this message because in His sight, many people ask and work for things they don’t really need; they just want to have "stuff" because they envy what others have<b><i> (1 Samuel 8:4-5; Ecclesiastes 4:4)</i></b>. From what is known today, the prosperity teachers encourage envy, greed, laziness, and a demand for more material things from God. They tell people to dream up worldly things and "name it, claim it and receive it!" Unfortunately, they are encouraging a destructive lifestyle that uses God for worldly gain, instead of preparing the saints for a life of worship, holiness and reverent service to God <b><i>(Ephesians 4:12; 2 Peter 1:5-11)</i></b>. Naturally, we are all ungrateful grumblers! aren't we? Yes, we are never happy about the weather and what we have <b><i>(Philippians 4:11-13).</i></b> If I may recall, there were people how asked us to inquire a message for them from the Lord and after hearing the Lord's message they simply remark, 'Is that all He said' or 'I expected Him to say so and so!'. <br />
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<b><u>Personal Ambitions Is Self-Driven</u></b></div>
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Having experienced first hand the Lord's blessings, while we may have some great expectations in order to stress our faith, the Lord would release an initial blessing first <b><i>(Genesis 39:22)</i></b> before unveiling and releasing the ultimate blessings <b><i>(Genesis 41:41). </i></b>We need to point out that personal ambitions does not feature in God's plans, He blesses us in accordance with His purpose <b><i>(Philippians 2:3).</i></b> When I asked God for a job He did not give me what I expected but I accepted and expressed my thankfulness and a humble attitude He accepts which might lead to a refreshing supply of more blessings. We encourage you dear brethren, the least you have be content for God measures your attitude and hearts condition in trying times <b><i>(1 Chronicles 29:17; Jeremiah 17:10).</i></b> Scripturally, we know that personal cravings comes not from an actual need but from a demanding spirit <b><i>(Numbers 11:4).</i></b> However, disobedience and faithlessness robs us of God's blessings <b><i>(2 Chronicles 24:20; Mark 11:24).</i></b></div>
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Furthermore, the worldly lifestyles many Christians are living today have become the acceptable norm. Brethren, I have news for you: The Lord cannot be forced by man into encouraging a lustful lifestyle and giving us what is unnecessary. Having said this, I am not encouraging or advocating deprivation among Christians, neither does the Lord; He promised to give us our daily bread<i> <b>(Matthew 6:11)</b>, </i>meet ALL our needs (<b><i>Philippians 4:19</i></b>), and enrich us in every way so that we can be generous on every occasion resulting in thanksgiving to God <b><i> (2 Corinthians 9:11). </i></b>Truthfully, the increase of earthly possessions brings anxiety and the fear of losing it. Additionally, most people nowadays have not learned to acknowledge or believe that the Lord has provided them enough <b><i>(Ecclesiastes 5:10-12)</i></b>.<br />
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Many brethren might not agree with me here, but I must share what the Lord revealed to us. The Lord said that the business principles employed by the world are based on greed, because their aim is to "maximize profit or gain". This is said to be stimulating "growth"; which is true indeed, but to the benefit of the few (investors, shareholders and business executives), while it impoverishes the masses. If you have studied business in college, you are probably familiar with the words "wealth maximization" or "profit maximization", which describe the prime objective of businesses. As it is, this solid rule is being applied blindly even by Christian institutions without questions of conscience. A few people in the church hierarchy (such as senior pastors) usually benefit from business transactions while the lay believers are left used, abused and confused, without any benefits. Biblically, trade among Christians should not be for selfish gain, but to help one another and the needy; we should not be greedy but content <b><i>(Deuteronomy 23:19, 24-25)</i></b>.<br />
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Every person born into this world thinks that they deserve, or are entitled to, everything that is available. Because of this kind of attitude, we complain, slander and envy <b><i>(Numbers 11:4)</i></b>. An ungrateful person is driven by a spirit of greed, discontentment and rebelliousness <b><i>(Numbers 11:4-6)</i></b>. From experience, my brethren, I can tell you that The Lord turns a deaf ear to such an attitude.<br />
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In sharp contrast, I have witnessed that the truly humble and grateful inherits blessing, peace and freedom from discontentment. In the Bible, Ruth is one of person who was abundantly blessed for her humility and gratitude. Not only did she leave her family to follow her mother-in-law, but she also humbled herself by picking up leftover grain from the fields. She ended up gleaning in Boaz's field and found favor in his eyes <b><i>(Ruth 2: 1-14)</i></b>. Through her obedience, she eventually became his wife <b><i>(Ruth 4:9-12)</i></b> and was blessed to be an ancestor of Israel’s kings, including The King of Kings --Jesus the Messiah <b><i>(Matthew 1:1, 5-6)</i></b>. Moses also humbled himself by abandoning his royal privileges to be a shepherd in Midian for 40 years <b><i>(Exodus 3:1)</i></b>. However, the Lord blessed him with a great calling to go to Pharaoh to bring the Israelites out of Egypt <b><i>(Exodus 3:10; 6:10)</i></b> and he found favor in God's eyes.<br />
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<b><u>Greedy Christians</u></b></div>
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In most of our articles we address Christians, and the Lord has called this ministry to challenge, encourage, rebuke and correct the brethren. Those outside our community of faith have no appreciation for our message; if they did, they would obey the Lord and His teachings <b><i>(John 10:27; Matthew 7:24-27). </i></b><br />
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Naturally, as human beings we always have very high expectations from God, and when we ask Him something we expect that He will provide according to <i>our</i> will. Again, in our experience with the Lord, He does not succumb to the human will or pressure; He provides in accordance with our faith, need and for His glory <b><i>(Philippians 4:19)</i></b>. It is known that human expectations are self-centered and we will always overvalue or overestimate what we really need, and this is a proven fact throughout human history <b><i>(Exodus 16:18)</i></b>. In the same breath, ungratefulness has led many people to change their physical appearances, jobs, marital partners, ministry calling, and other things in order to match the expectations of others. Therefore, when the need is supplied we develop a need for more; meaning greed takes over; why? The fear of too little troubles us, so greed steps in and controls us. Admittedly, often when the Lord promised me something (and He would use the term "something"), this would always run up my expectations to wild imaginations of great things. When the blessing came it would only be what I needed, and though disappointed, I would accept with a good lesson of contentment.<br />
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<b><u>A Word of Encouragement</u></b></div>
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Faith is not based on feelings, but on an attitude of trust in God’s ability. Our ever fluctuating emotions and feelings are not a measuring stick for faith; instead, our relationship to Jesus Christ proves our faith by our character. Therefore, the fruit of our faith personifies Christ’ indwelling and the values of society are challenged by a gentle, caring and kind conduct. A life richly lived in Christ by faith shows contentment in all situations <b><i>(Philippians 4:11-14)</i></b>. Paul said <strong><em>“…..I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”( Philippians 4:11-13). </em></strong> What we will need is simply just faith in acknowledgment and a grateful attitude to appreciate what was provided. How many of us simply want something because others have it? And how many of us when we have received something undeservingly give it up because it was not what we expected?<br />
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Remember our expectations are self-centered and The Lord, who is all-knowing, gives what is needed. Surely, we might get away with manipulating people to meet or match our expectations, but not so with God! Wherefore, a humble spirit is unfading, gentle, gratified and at peace. I would like to conclude with this Scripture: <em><strong>“…godliness with contentment is a great gain.<sup> </sup>For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. <sup> </sup>But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these” (1 Timothy 6:6-8 HCSB). </strong></em>And remember the Lord said <strong><em>"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear" (Matthew 6:25-24); But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). </em></strong>Honor Christ in your conduct and your faith would bear fruit and attraction to Christ!<br />
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<b><u>Vision of God The Father</u></b></div>
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I had a vision this morning (December 1, 2014). I was outside in a big empty space when I saw a figure of a Man in pure white. His appearance was blurred but I immediately knew it was our Heavenly Father. When I recognized it was Him, I prayed saying, "Father please keep me from<br />
falling!" He did not answer and the vision changed giving me a 3D view. I then saw The Father standing far away, yet close enough, but with His appearance blurred. "Glenn!", He called me by my name in a gentle whispering voice, while looking at me pleasingly. The vision then ended.<br />
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I am overwhelmed by His love and gracious care. I did not expect this vision! I love the LORD with all my heart. The LORD knows our future and things that might hinder our walk with Him. He came to show me what I needed to do, and His answer to my prayer was His presence and reassurance of His love. This same love is available to you as well! <b><i>(John 3:16-17)</i></b> All the Lord wants of us is to repent and turn away from our sins, wholeheartedly seek Him and obey His Word. Aren't you grateful for what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us, redeeming us with His precious blood and paying the price for our salvation? I am eternally grateful.<br />
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Have you been complaining and expressing a lack of gratitude for your life and the things God has done for or given you? Are you waiting until you “have more” before you can love and be obedient to Christ? If so, please repent. Let us accept and be thankful for the things God has provided, however few we may perceive these; then we will be even more thankful for the many things God will provide <i style="font-weight: bold;">(Matthew 25:23)</i> in this life and moreso in heaven. If you would like to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and begin the journey of freedom and contentment, here is a <href prayer="" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/how-to-be-saved.html#prayer">Prayer of Sincere Repentance</a> </href>to get you started. For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/contact-us.html" target="_blank">contact us</a>.<br />
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Blessed truth and peace,<br />
Brother Glenn.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-32227506639883742612023-11-27T13:40:00.000-05:002023-11-27T13:40:36.252-05:00Why Christians Should Fear The Lord<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fearing God Almighty</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Visions </u>you can found it <b><a href="https://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/dreams-and-visions-charis.html">here</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I (Brother Glenn) received a vision from the Lord early Thursday morning (13/02/2020). In the vision, I was standing in our back yard when my attention was drawn to thick dark clouds which were gathering and breaking up into sizable chunks covering the entire sky. As I looked at the phenomena right in front of me I felt a deep fear as it turned day light into total darkness <b><i>(Joel 2:2; Zephaniah 1:15).</i></b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I then immediately ran into the house to tell my family and just before I could speak, I heard a man as if announcing on television to the whole world, <b>"This is the end of the world as we all know it"</b>. Soon after this announcement, I went outside again and I saw many people going about their lives as if nothing is going to happen <b><i>(Revelation 22:11)</i></b> And the vision ended!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Brief interpretation</u></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="color: #001320; font-size: 16px;">We believe the dark clouds that are gathering and the announcement is a warning to the world that we are in the </b><span style="color: #001320;"><b>beginning</b></span><b style="color: #001320; font-size: 16px;"> stages of the end times. As a ministry and family, we have been attacked by some brothers for sharing visions from the Lord especially related to the end times <i>(Jeremiah 26:8-24)</i> but we will continue to obey the Lord. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Vision to Claudia 14/02/2020</u></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">During the early hours of Friday, I received a vision from the Lord. A warm, pure white bright light appeared to me and took me to a city with very tall buildings in the USA. While being in this white warm cloud, I looked down a very large and big hole opened up and I saw countless people and their cars falling into this hole <i>(Numbers 16:32),</i> then the vision ended! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell" <i>(<b>Matthew 10:28 NLT)</b>.</i> <i>And </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment" <i style="font-weight: bold;">(Proverbs 9:10).</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We pray that the will of the Lord God be made clearer to you all, and that you be found perfect in His will. We pray that you celebrate life through Christ this new year. </span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God (Ephesians 5:18-21 NKJV).</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A simple search of the online Bible reveals that the word “fear” is used well over 100 times in reference to God. The Bible admonishes us not only to honor all people (including our leaders) and love our brothers and sisters in Christ,but to fear and honor the Lord as well <b><i>(1 Peter 2:17 NKJV)</i></b>. Furthermore, the Word of God also teaches us that fearing God is required for one to gain wisdom <b><i>(Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; 15:33; Psalm 111:10)</i></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Initially, when we fear God, we spontaneously and submissively yield to His will in humble reverence and awe to His authority. The single best freedom humanity can enjoy for all time is Truth! Why? Because Truth sets us free <b><i>(John 8:32)</i></b>—no guilt, worry, fear, possessions, or fleshly desires are attached to truth. That Truth is Jesus Christ, and it is only through Him that we can have true freedom and eternal life <b><i>(John 8:36; 14:6)</i></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Naturally, when we correct our children (who have been taught in the ways of the Lord) after they have misbehaved, their response to our rebuke is often with reverence and with a sense of fear for God. As our Lord said, children are humble and more responsive to the fear of God than adults <b><i>(Matthew 18:3-4)</i></b>. The Lord’s promise to us, as parents, is that if we bring up our children in the ways of the Lord, we would reap the benefit of them walking in the fear of God all the days of their lives<b><i> (1 Samuel 1:21-28; Proverbs 22:6)</i></b>.</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How We Lose our Fear of God</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From the Bible, we learn that the fear of God is the foundation to attaining wisdom <b><i>(Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; 15:33; Psalm 111:10)</i></b>. Alluding to this fact, the Word of God warns us to guard against and avoid “godless chatter” or “profane and idle babblings and contradictions” or “irreverent empty speeches” that the world considers to be “knowledge” or “staying informed”; these types of talks and arguments will surely dilute and deviate our faith<b><i> (1 Timothy 6:20-21)</i></b>. In my experience, and from what I have observed, we indeed start losing our fear for God when we are drawn to other interests which direct us away from God. Some of these distractions are well explained in the Bible; for example worldliness, love of money, and addictions <b><i>(1 John 2:15; James 4:4; 2 Corinthians 6:14).</i></b> In addition to these, I have identified a few other influences that also contribute negatively to our relationship with God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Desires:</i></b> To us Christians, the Bible is God’s infallible Word which carries a life-changing and life-giving instruction to mankind. We read in the Bible how several people, who knew God and had a relationship with Him initially, defied His will and chose to walk contrary to His ways<b><i> (2 Chronicles 24:17-19; 2 Timothy 4:10)</i>.</b> Exercising God’s will is a choice, and defying sin brings us two victories: God’s acceptance of our obedience and freedom from guilt. Our weakness as humans is that our choices are often influenced by our desires, which come either through someone or something that our senses capture. For example, Adam and Eve gave into the devil’s temptation when Eve <b><i>"saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom...."(Genesis 3:1-6)</i></b>. Likewise, David gave in to lust and committed adultery when he saw that <b>“…the woman was very beautiful…”</b><b><i> (2 Samuel 11:1-4)</i></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Influence from others:</i></b> Bad influence from others can also detract our choice for obedience <b><i>(1 Corinthians 15:33)</i></b>. For example, two arrogant men, Azariah and Johanan, falsely accused the Prophet Jeremiah of lying, and they influenced the people to flee to Egypt, contrary to God’s warning <b><i>(Jeremiah 43:1-7)</i></b>. Also, in the Garden of Eden, the serpent influenced Eve to sin, and in turn Eve influenced Adam <b><i>(Genesis 3:6)</i></b>. Rehoboam, who succeeded his father Solomon as king over Israel, was influenced by the young men he had grown up with to impose greater burdens on the people. He rejected the wise counsel of the elders who had urged him to be a servant leader and serve his people with equity and kindness<b><i> (1 Kings 12:1–15)</i></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Fear of man:</i></b> Many people often fall into the trap of rejecting Godly counsel in exchange for human counsel and sympathy; this is giving victory to the devil. In the Scriptures, such an attitude is best described by these words from King Saul: <b><i>“I have sinned. I violated the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gavein to them” (1 Samuel 15:24)</i></b><i>. </i>During the time of Exodus, of the twelve men sent by Moses to spy the land of Canaan, only two (Caleb and Joshua) expressed confidence that God would help Israel conquer the land, and they urged the people not to have confidence in God and not rebel against Him, because the Lord was with them (Numbers 13:30; 14:6-9).<b></b>The remaining ten spies were afraid and scared of “the giants”, so they discouraged the people and influenced them to rebel against Moses and Aaron <b><i>(Numbers 13:31-33; 14:1-4, 10)</i></b>. The Hebrew midwives (Shiphrah and Puah) stood faithfully; they <b><i>“… feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live” (Exodus 1:17)</i></b>. The prophet Daniel also, when he learned of the plot against him, was not afraid. Instead of giving in to fear, <b><i>“he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days”(Daniel 6:10 NKJV)</i></b>. <b></b>The Bible warns us that <b><i>“fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe”(Proverbs 29:25)</i></b>. We should not fear man or seek to please others, but God alone <b><i>(Isaiah 2:22; Isaiah 51:12; Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; Colossians 3:23; 2 Corinthians 5:9; 2 Timothy 1:7)</i></b>.<b></b>Moreover, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself reiterated that we should<b><i>“not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28)</i></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Possessions and power:</i> </b>Today’s economic environment is quite enticing to many. The explosion of goods, services, and flashy new technologies in the market makes it very easy for the devil to tempt us. Consequently, material things and thirst for power can separate us from God’s will <b><i>(Matthew 19:16-23; Luke 8:14)</i></b>. There are some wealthy and influential people in this world whose power is their possessions and they have no fear of God. In their lust and greed for more material things, they reject eternal life—the most precious of all gifts—for worldly gain and the short-lived pleasure of sin <b><i>(Luke 12:13-21; Hebrews 11:25)</i></b>. Sadly, many people are following them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As a fact, today’s booming worldly entertainment media, such as television, movies, the Internet, videos and social media, promote the breakdown of family relationships and have become great stumbling blocks to godly living. In personal messages to many of us, the Lord admonished and encouraged us not to fear men. Although we are commanded to respect all men <b><i>(1 Peter 2:17)</i></b>, we must not be afraid of their opinions of us, nor should we be ashamed of our convictions and our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ <b><i>(Acts 5:26-32)</i></b>.</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Are You Living for God or for Your Own Pleasures?</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not too long ago, the Lord spoke to us in a vision, saying that we are hated by many Christians because of sharing His strong messages of rebuke against sin and wicked practices in the Church <b><i>(John 17:14)</i></b>. We love doing the Lord’s work and our fear is for the Lord God alone. The Lord’s message is a strong warning against worldliness among Christians <b><i>(Matthew 13:18-22; Romans 8:7)</i></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As a ministry, the value we attach to truthful living and holiness far exceeds the luxuries of this life. While some may boast about their [temporary] power and earthly possessions, we know they are also driven by guilt and a strong fear of death. We should not value useless things above God and allow others to sway us from the path of truth; even in caring for others we must seek to please God <b><i>(Matthew 7:13-14; 13:18-23)</i></b>. In the Book of Acts, we read about how Ananias and his wife Sapphira lost their lives as a result of greed for money and love of worldly possessions <b><i>(Acts 5:1-11)</i></b>; what they treasured controlled them <b><i>(Matthew 6:21)</i></b>. Using their example as a warning, we should not exchange the fear of God for anything; be it riches, power, or fame <b><i>(Matthew 16:26)</i></b>. Instead, we should strive to faithfully and obediently serve God and allow nothing to separate us from Him <b><i>(Romans 8:38-39)</i></b>. Like Job, we are encouraged to be wise by fearing the Lord and shunning evil <b><i>(Job 1:1; 2:3; Proverbs 14:16; Ecclesiastes 12:13)</i></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are many Christian leaders who encourage us to “follow your heart” and “pursue your dreams.” The question we should ask ourselves is this: how do those dreams and plans in our hearts measure up to God’s will? Are those dreams only in pursuit of worldly happiness, comfort, and “success”, without the Cross of Jesus? If so, as the Lord Jesus explained in the Parable of the Rich Fool <b><i>(Luke 12:16-21)</i></b>, your dreams are self-serving and for your own glory, and they will only inspire those who seek praise from man! In contrast, pursuing godly dreams through the cross of Jesus, despite persecution and hatred from the world, will lead to the salvation of others, resulting in glory to Christ. The Bible teaches us that Truth through the cross comes at the cost of insults, hatred and blood <b><i>(Luke 6:22; John 15:18; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 3:16; 4:12-14; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12)</i></b>. Do you think any of Christ’ followers conquered the world being applauded by the masses, without insults and hatred from the world which hates the truth? <b style="font-style: italic;">(Matthew 5:11; John 15:18)</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Are you struggling with sins or temptations, be they thoughts, habits, addictions, or behaviors that drive you from the fear of God? Repent and conquer them in Jesus’ name, for the power is in your possession—choice <b><i>(Genesis 4:6-7)</i></b> and the Lord is willing to set you free <b><i>(Acts 2:38; 3:19; 8:22; 1 John 1:9; Romans 6:6-7)</i></b>. Is the fear of man and of persecution holding you back from fearing God, serving Him, and doing His will? The Lord Jesus can set you free if you receive Him into your heart and follow Him as your Master, Lord, and Savior <b><i>(John 8:32; 36)</i></b>. I, therefore, urge you to <b><i>“...fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods… Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15 NKJV)</i></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are not yet born again, please pray this <a data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/how-to-be-saved.html#prayer">Prayer of Sincere Repentance</a> to get started. For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please <a data-blogger-escaped-data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/contact-us.html">contact us</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have a blessed New Year in God’s fear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brother Glenn and Preparing for the Kingdom Ministry.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-69312671949871341542023-11-20T13:46:00.000-05:002023-11-20T13:46:19.003-05:00Keeping Record Of Evil<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Recording Of Offences Breaths Hatred</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“…<strong>it</strong> <strong>keeps no record of wrongs” <em>(1 Corinthians 13:1).</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A few months ago, a mechanic and his assistant (they were both familiar with the gentleman) who worked on our vehicle (Van) shared with us an experience they had with someone who literally kept a record of evil. In other words, this particular person recorded in a book every kind of wrongs. Without exhausting his lists but such wrongs included if you failed to greet him you will be remembered for that and if you made a promise or owe him you will be remembered for that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Additionally, the gentleman’s hatred continues even if the person who offended him has died. It is believed he was in the habit of telling those close to him that person died without making right with him. According to those close to him, it was even an offence to him if you greet being a stranger to him. Now, without elaborating further he was barely 50 years old when he died in great suffering and his death wish was that those who owed and offended him were not to attend his funeral. Accordingly, the pastor who presided over his funeral after reading some excerpts from his book threw it into his grave saying ‘may this book of evil follow its owner’. </span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hopeless Salvation If Being Unforgiving</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As it was, not even his friends escaped being recorded in his book, at first I thought this sounded unbelieverably evil and untrue but those familiar with the gentleman confirmed that was how everybody knew him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It is true; there are Christians who simply cannot forgive others they often repeat the wrong they suffered. Indeed, evil as the offence was <strong><em>“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly. Father will also forgive you. But if you don't forgive men their. trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV).</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How often did you ever hear someone professing to be a Christian saying, ‘I have forgiven you’ but they repeat the wrong one did. Why? Because the spirit of unforgiveness has expanded into hatefulness, therefore you cannot forgive a person if you harbour hatred towards that person <b><i>(1 John 2:9-11).</i></b> This is a fact, there are truly born-again men and women who struggle to forgive their current or ex-spouses and they expect to be forgiven by the Lord because the offender does not deserve to be forgiven. If that is you my brother or sister you may as well forfeit following the Lord because He alone has the authority to condemn, forgive and vindicate <b><i>(Romans 12:19).</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A few years ago, the Lord rebuked a member of our ministry who was in the habit of reminding people about the wrong they committed against her and the Lord said she should learn to forgive and not to repeat the offence. Being a former offender myself, I have experienced the true rehabilitating and transforming power of forgiveness <b><i>(1 Timothy 1:15-16).</i></b> That is, if we forgive we allow the person to make amends even if they are habitual offenders, the Lord through scripture have made provision for unconditional and repeated forgiveness <b><i>(Mathew 18:22) </i></b>by that we allow patience and love to manifest into amazing grace <b><i>(Romans 5:20).</i></b></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Not To Love Is A Choice</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In conclusion, being a minster of the gospel, I have heard many people saying I can’t live with this or that person (either their spouses or some friend(s) or family members) and you know why? It is because their own hateful prejudices have blinded them and they simply have no patience or love to give. Let us therefore be reminded that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.<strong><sup> </sup></strong>It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. <strong><sup> </sup></strong>Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. <strong><sup> </sup></strong>It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres and love never fails <b><i>(1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV)</i></b> and that is the gift Christians received when we received the Lord Jesus as Saviour <b><i>(Romans 5:5). </i></b>If we therefore fail to love we have allowed evil to master us which deny us the opportunity of what we ought to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If we have lost our love for others we still have an opportunity to repent and plead with the Lord to help us listen and obey His Spirit's guidance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Blessed Love</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Brother Glenn</span><br />
<br />Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-1259778370912364082023-11-13T10:59:00.002-05:002023-11-13T10:59:20.304-05:00Are These The Times...<p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="text Luke-21-29"><b><u>The Kingdom Of God Is Near</u></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span class="text Luke-21-29" id="en-NIV-25856">He told them this parable: <span class="woj">“Look at the fig tree and all the trees.</span></span> <span class="text Luke-21-30" id="en-NIV-25857">When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.</span> <span class="text Luke-21-31" id="en-NIV-25858">Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near (Luke 21:29-31 NIV).</span></span></i></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Since the Lord first told us back in 2010, that His coming was near, we took it literally as the Apostles did in their time <b><i>(Revelation 22:12; 2 Timothy 3:1-4)</i></b> and why would we doubt when the <b>LORD JESUS CHRIST</b> Himself said that to us. Thus, throughout the years, we endured ridicule and scorn from some believers who even labeled us as false. By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we endured while we continue to warn, encourage and pray for the brotherhood to look at the times. For nothing is as fulfilling for any Christian as to be filled with the <b>JOY</b> of finally meeting and seeing our Lord and Saviour. Again, the Scripture warns 'that only those who endure until the end shall be saved' <b><i>(Matthew 24:13).</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">In addition, if there is anybody both Christian and non-Christian who doubts that our present times are peculiar to what we were used to then they are operating without discernment, and they need prayer! </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Now, the Lord has stirred the spirit of the aggressor, the King of the North (of Israel) Russia to move towards the fulfillment of the Scriptures <b><i>(Jeremiah 50:41-42) </i></b>and this already has had a global effect in terms of the energy crisis and food shortages. In addition, and as I predicted and mentioned some time ago, the current United Nations has failed to bring peace to the world and this body will be replaced by the ten kings <b><i>(Revelation 17:12; Daniel 7:11-22),</i></b> and the ten kings will make the beast the super-ruler). Therefore, mark my words, the world will never return to the pre-COVID-19 era nor normalcy with Russia and the Western countries. It will <b>NOT HAPPEN!</b> As a factual gospel truth, things will continue to deteriorate economically until the Rapture and beyond. You may consider me as a 'doom prophet', but we heard the Lord say, the coming months will not be easy...those who don't know Him must repent! and those who are still not taking their salvation seriously will not make it. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">In conclusion, we encourage you all dear brethren to continue praying and seeking the Lord, there is just <b>NO</b> more time to cling to worldly things and desires the <b>KING is NEAR!</b> We will continue to warn as the Lord provides guidance.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Blessed Grace</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Brother Glenn</span></p>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-73748112755879772023-11-06T12:55:00.003-05:002023-11-06T12:55:29.647-05:00Are We On The Cusp Of Rapture?<p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>The Earth Is Ripe For Harvest</u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"> "<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;">But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then </span><span style="background-color: rgba(80, 151, 255, 0.18); color: #040c28; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;">know that its desolation is near</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b>. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her</b>" <b><i>(Luke 21:20-21 NKJV)</i>.</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;">Being a Christian author, and a pastor, we hold no political affiliations, and the aim of our articles is to encourage our Christian brothers and sisters to remain ready for the Coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Now, as it is, our aim is to win souls for the Kingdom of God </span><b style="color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;"><i>(1 Corinthians 1:22-24).</i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;">Furthermore, as you may have noticed we did not add new articles, due to my (Brother Glenn) other commitments, and some four (4) weeks ago the Lord spoke to me in a dream that I should return to work to preach and encourage my brethren. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;">As for today's message, every truly born-again Christian knows in his or her spirit and by confirmation from the Holy Spirit that the end of all things is near. It is like the countdown to the Lord's coming, let us consider the COVID-19 pandemic and the more than 6 million estimated lives it claimed. In addition, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the deadly natural disasters, which are attributed to global warming, and now the Israel - Hamas conflict. "...War will continue until the end and desolations have been decreed" <b><i>(Daniel 9:26 NIV).</i></b> </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;">We are under no illusion, and we know the Coming of the Lord will be preceded by the revelation of the man of sin, the Antichrist <b><i>(2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).</i></b> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;">Now here, the Lord is saying Israel will be attacked when they are living in safety, meaning in peacetime Israel will be attacked. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;">While we do know that the end is near, World War III will precipitate the physical appearance of Christ when Israel is surrounded by armies to be destroyed and the Lord Himself will fight for Israel <b><i>(Ezekiel 38:14-16)</i></b>. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;">In conclusion, as a ministry, the Lord has given us a promise that <b>THE RAPTURE WILL TAKE PLACE</b> and then the people will be forced to take the mark of the beast <b><i>(Revelation 13:16-17)</i></b>. In our next article, we will add more detail on some things.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;">Be therefore encouraged and stay strong in prayer, our redemption is drawing near <b><i>(Luke 21:28).</i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;">Blessed Grace</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif;">Brother Glenn</span></p>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-59192729539956068802023-10-30T10:14:00.001-04:002023-10-30T10:14:22.746-04:00Christ Is For All Nations<p style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b> Loving All Humanity</b></span></u></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: rgba(80, 151, 255, 0.18); text-align: left;"><b>There is neither Jew nor Greek</b></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise <b><i>(Galatians 3:28-29 RSV)</i></b>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet; text-align: left;">Prayer Request:</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet; text-align: left;"> Let us pray for the Peace of Israel as the Scriptures say and let us also pray for the Peace of Palestine, for in Christ the Lord, both sides need His protection and salvation. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet; text-align: left;"><b><u>Indiscriminate Love</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet; text-align: left;">A few years ago, a brother in the Lord complained to the Lord about the behavior of a pastor toward him expecting the Lord to issue a sharp rebuke and a possible punishment. However, in reply, the Lord said,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b> "I will always love all people equally"</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet; text-align: left;">. In other words, no matter how wrong or what sin a person commits when he or she turns to the Lord Jesus Christ, he or she will receive the grace of forgiveness and the gift of salvation <b><i>(Romans 10:13).</i></b> If your faith hits rock bottom, keep fighting, grace is ever-present use that little courage like that tax collector, <b>"... God have mercy on me a sinner..."<i>(Luke 18:13)</i></b>. Don't allow hopelessness to consume you, look to the Lord Jesus Christ, He holds the key to peace, eternal life, and He executes God's Judgements. The Words of our Lord Jesus Christ apply indiscriminately to all of humanity, for He is Lord of the living and the dead <b><i>(Romans 14:9).</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet; text-align: left;"><b><u>Christ The Hope For All</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202124;">I recently heard the Lord saying, </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>"I alone give hope and I am the hope of humanity"</b></span><span style="color: #202124;">. What we need is faith <b><i>(Hebrews 11:6)</i></b>. Christ is not just the Saviour of the Christians or Jews but of all people everywhere <b><i>(1 John 2:1-2)</i></b>. Right now, the times we face bring about great uncertainty and confusion, don't despair, His miracles will prove just for your circumstances <b><i>(Exodus 14:21-29)</i></b>. During our course of ministry on this platform we emphasized the need for operational faith, by this, we mean constant belief in what we hope for and waiting for such relief in prayer <b><i>(Mark 11:24; Acts 16:25-26)</i></b>. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><u>One Man Moves a Nation</u></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;">In addition, if no one wants to join you in prayer, <b>ARISE</b> as one man in prayer like Moses, Abraham, Noah, Samson, Jephthah, and David the Lord through you will save the whole nation as we witnessed through the Scriptures how God Almighty worked through these men above. Therefore, do not allow your ancestral line, your culture, or your religious inclination to dictate the purity of your faith in Christ, only pure faith and acts of obedience bring about salvation <b><i>(Galatians 5:6-7)</i></b>. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;">In conclusion, let us pray as one (individually) and as a body of believers for our families, friends, and countries. The Lord is near!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;">Blessed Peace</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;">Brother Glenn</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></p>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-32688121662086027452023-10-23T12:40:00.001-04:002023-10-23T12:40:40.867-04:00Discerning of Prophecies and Prophets <div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Testing The Spirits By Faith</u></b></div>
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<b>“Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man"</b> <b><i>(Luke 21:36).</i></b><br />
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This brief article is simply a deliberate work to draw attention to the reality of false prophets and prophecies. From the onset, the Lord revealed to me that many Christians would be overlooking this message, but the kind-hearted would be filled with peace and wisdom <b><i>(Daniel 12:3). </i></b>Regarding our message for this week, the time in which we are living has produced a lot of false prophets who uses social media and other platforms to deceive. From our observations, some people are unable to discern the error in some teachings because some scriptural references are being used to justify a doctrinal position. However, in their desperation for riches, the motives of some are clearly evident. On some occasions, we have seen some ministers being ‘financial’ advisors to the flock and having an ‘anointing’ to operate in such an office. Because of greed, here in South Africa, we have seen the mushrooming of so-called investment schemes, ego-centric self-promotion, and offering of quick fix solutions to problems. Now, we may have written a similar message in the past, however, let this not escape your attention that as the future unfolds and the <b><i>DAY</i></b> of the Lord draws near more false prophets would enter the scene <b><i>(Matthew 24:11).</i></b> I understood from the Lord that Satan would be using the activities of false prophets to sow confusion and to deepen deceit <b><i>(Matthew 24:24).</i></b> <br />
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Briefly, like you, we honestly don’t know the <b><i>DAY</i></b> of the Lord and neither does the angels and the Lord <b><i>(Matthew 24:36).</i></b> The coming of the Lord and the Rapture have been a subject of intense discussion over the centuries, and this blessed hope has kept the hearts of countless Christians focused on the Lord. In other words, despite the troubles of the day, the hopeless challenges the brethren of old were comforted by the promises of the Lord and His coming <b><i>(Hebrews 11:13-16).</i></b> What a living faith these brethren had! <br />
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In contrast, some Christians today when they hear or read about a prophetic message regarding the Lord’s coming they expect it to happen immediately, and if it does not happen immediately the messenger is labeled as false. While we should test the spirits <b><i>(1 John 4:1),</i></b> we are encouraged to hold on to the good <b><i>(1 Thessalonians 5:21),</i></b> and encouragement in the name of the Lord is meant to edify. It is thus not prudent to label an unfulfilled word of encouragement as false. Also, a message from the Lord which is intended to encourage or to warn us is meant to edify and ready us for Christian service <b><i>(Luke 12:35).</i></b> Unless a brother or sister went ahead of him or herself by tendering a specific date for the Lord’s coming, a Christian should not turn to mocking a prophetic message. A few months ago, I had a conversation with a brother who told me that he was mocked by a fellow Christian when he shared a vision from the Lord regarding His coming. The tone of His message sounded urgent as if the Lord would come at that very moment but he did not set a specific date. He merely conveyed his conviction. Let us therefore not become mockers, remember we ought to be for the encouragement of the brethren and not be seen as the opposition <b><i>(2 Peter 3:3; Luke 9:50).</i></b> <br />
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<b><u>Discerning False and True Prophets</u></b></div>
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True, some prophetic utterance may require some discernment, and there are repeated offenders who are in the habit of delivering false prophecies, and in our day there are many notable false prophets. The Bible says that false prophets are known by their fruits <b><i>(Matthew 7:15-20),</i></b> and some of these fruits include the evidence of their message(s) which would turn out to be false <b><i>(Deuteronomy 18:22).</i></b> Often, and despite evidence of some false predictions to the contrary, some Christians who lacks discernment would still follow the false man of God. <br />
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How do we discern a false prophet? Firstly, a false prophet will defend his false prediction by offering an alternative interpretation by adding further falsifications. Biblically, a prophecy from God should always be 100% accurate <b><i>(1 Samuel 3:19).</i></b> <br />
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Secondly, a false prophet like attention and they often try to draw attention to themselves more than to God <b><i>(1 Kings 22:12 and verse 24).</i></b> In other words, their egos are always crying out saying, ‘look at me and what I have, follow me.' However, a true prophet of God is always clothed with honesty, humility, and truthfulness, always pleased to serve others more than his or her needs <b><i>(Deuteronomy 9:18-20).</i></b> Thirdly, false prophets have a spirit of false humility and a spirit of greed and dishonesty <b><i>(2 Corinthians 8:9).</i></b> They love and enjoy the luxurious worldly lifestyle, and in their greed, they charge and set a price on their preaching engagements <b><i>(Matthew 10:8).</i></b> Kindly allow me to add, the Lord do provide for His children’s needs, and it often comes through others the Lord commanded, and it would often be in the quantity that we need <b><i>(1 Kings 17:4 and verse 9; 2 Corinthians 8:14-15).</i></b> Additionally, we may add some other characteristics of false prophets like their deceitful behavior, false promising, lying and their appetite for recognition. Since the devil operates in the background, hidden from people, his identity is easily recognizable through falsehood. God willing, we will devote an entire article on the identity of Satan shortly. The Lord has revealed a great deal of his personality to us over a period of more than five years. <br />
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<b><u>People are Not Your Enemies</u></b></div>
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Brethren, by unmasking these workers of deceit we are not implying that they are our enemies and that we should harbor ill-feelings against them. Scripturally, when two of the Lord’s disciples expressed disgust at some residents of a Samaritan village, who opposed the Lord’s message, He rebuked them. Why, because we are commanded to love and to pray for those who persecute us <b><i>(Luke 9:54; Matthew 5:44)</i></b> Humans are special in the sight of the Lord, and He came to save us <b><i>(Genesis 1:27; John 3:16-17).</i></b> Additionally, we are scripturally charged that our wrestle is not against flesh and blood, but against demonic powers <b><i>(Ephesians 6:12).</i></b> Therefore, our aim as the body of Christ is to expose the identity of Satan behind some people he is using. Our prayers are that those who finds themselves under his ‘cloud of deceit’ should be able to recognize his schemes, one of which is the spirit of greedy. Biblically, Satan is known to use material prosperity to reward those who submit and obey him <b><i>(Matthew 4:8-9; Mark 4:19; 1 Timothy 6:8-10). </i></b><br />
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We repeat, <b>“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”</b> <b><i>(1 Peter 5:8 NIV).</i></b> We know that he is loaded with every trick of deceit! Finally, do you want to be able to discern false prophets and prophecies? Well, your Source to help you identify falsehood is the Holy Spirit. He is not our servant but our helper <b><i>(John 14:26),</i></b> and since He is our helper we need to allow Him to teach us the Scriptures to discern the truth <b><i>(John 16:13),</i></b> and falsehood would be laid bare. We ought to spend time in God’s Presence through prayer, Bible reading, and worship sessions. We also further need to give the Lord our undivided commitment.<br />
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<b>Finally, don't miss this opportunity, w<i>e would like to extend an invitation to anyone who does not know the Lord Jesus Christ yet, or of you are not born again, to pray our suggested prayer on this link</i></b> <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/how-to-be-saved.html#prayer"><span style="color: #993300;"><b>Prayer of Sincere Repentance</b></span></a> <b><i></i></b><href prayer=""><b>b</b></href><i><b>y faith and come follow the Lord (</b></i><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/niv/Matt%204.19"><i><b>Matthew 4:19</b></i></a><i><b>). You may also </b></i><a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/contact-us.html">contact us</a> <b><i>for any questions or comments about this article or our ministry.</i></b><br />
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Yours truthfully<br />
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Brother Glenn</h2>
Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-24598577666680812762023-10-16T14:13:00.002-04:002023-10-16T14:13:59.293-04:00Being A True Servant Of God's Kingdom<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Our Message Is About Saving Souls</u></b></div>
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<strong>“It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave” <em>(Matthew 20:26-27 HCSB). </em></strong><br />
<br />Sometime in the year <em>2009</em>, my family and I attended a Sunday morning service at our previous Church. During this particular Sunday morning, our pastor invited a guest speaker, a very confident young brother in the Lord who appeared then to be in his late 20’s. From what I learned, this brother was a regular invited guest speaker at the Church. However, with his preaching that morning, he delivered a very good message <strong><em>(Romans 10:15)</em></strong> to the delight and encouragement of everyone present. However, his frequent references to his achievements and association with well-know ministers during his sermon equally discouraged me and others. Now to some of us though, it appeared as if he was trying to draw attention to himself and his work <strong><em>(Jeremiah 9:24).</em></strong> <br />
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<b><u>Man’s Self-imposed Authority</u></b></div>
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Brethren, like many others we observed, such preachers overflow with confidence and with a boastful sense of authority. As we know, Moses walked fearfully and humbly before the Lord <strong><em>(Hebrews 12:21; Numbers 12:3; Deuteronomy 9:25)</em></strong> faithfully serving his people. The Lord requires His servants to be humble and not to elevate themselves before the people and when this same Moses and Aaron lost sight of God’s Holiness, they were punished and humbled <strong><em>(Numbers 20:10).</em></strong> We agree, the preaching of God’s word should be proclaimed boldly however, our fear and respect for God should allow for the ray of humility to be visible and shine forth <strong><em>(Matthew 11:29; Philippians 2:6-8).</em></strong><br />
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About 15 years ago, when I was in hospital sharing an apartment with a few other patients, my attention was drawn to one particular patient who was very sick and he was frequently visited by the leadership of his Church. On one occasion, a leader who was sent to the patient came in the name and authority of the ‘chief apostle’ came to boldly pronounce healing and bless the patient in the words of the ‘chief apostle’, however a few days thereafter the patient died. What I learned from that was the following, the words of healing and blessing was from a heart of faith but it had no effect on the patient because the patient had faith in the authority and words of man. <br />
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Kindly allow me to repeat myself here, many Christians will readily believe the statements of faith of their pastor and priest (whatever they are called) but they have no faith to believe for themselves what the Lord says. Just yesterday, <em>(18/02/2018)</em> Charis highlighted a point saying, many people would believe when you said that you have prayed for them but when you tell them the Lord spoke to you, that triggers their doubts. Like we alluded elsewhere on this blog, the Lord said that not everyone would believe and accept our testimony but there will be those who would listen and believe our message.<br />
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<b><u>The Distinguishing Marks Of A True Servant</u></b></div>
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Briefly, a true Christian servant is selfless, mindful of others and showing real concern and consistency for those he or she is serving in the name of the Lord <strong><em>(Luke 10:30-37).</em></strong> Let me add, many Christians today regard their serving of others as a burden so they give up and think them serving is a weakness. <strong>No!</strong> Serving is no weakness God Himself continue to serve even the ungrateful <strong><em>(Matthew 5:45).</em></strong> Brethren, we know it is impossible to compare ourselves to our Almighty Lord Jesus; however, the Scriptures encourage us to imitate our Lord Jesus Christ <strong><em>(Ephesians 5:1-2).</em></strong> First, a true servant of the Lord follows his teachings and abides by His word <strong><em>(Matthew 4:19; John 15:7).</em></strong> And of equal importance, a true Christian complaints to God if the burden of God’s work is too demanding <strong><em>(Numbers 11:14)</em></strong> for him or her instead of complaining or arguing <strong><em>(Philippians 2:14-15)</em></strong> such actions are seen as rebelliousness and God will met out punishment <strong><em>(Numbers 14:9-12).</em></strong> Furthermore, a true servant is driven by an unselfish spirit and inspired by love to see the good and well-being of others <strong><em>(2 Corinthians 8:9; 6:4-10).</em></strong> Also, a true servant does <strong>NOT</strong> stand back or make excuses not to serve nor does such a servant say NO to do God's work despite the challenges <strong><em>(1 Corinthians 9:16). Even God's Angels who are much powerful than humanity are obedient servants of God (Hebrews 1:14).</em></strong><br />
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Finally, if we lack being a true servant we better repent and pray taking courage and putting on the apron of servant hood or humility and fulfil your Christian calling <strong><em>(1 Peter 5:5; Luke 12:37).</em></strong><br />
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To accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, please begin by praying this <href prayer="">Prayer of Sincere Repentance. </href>For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/contact-us.html">contact us</a>.<br />
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Blessed Peace,<br />
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Brother GlennGlennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10511888660102224096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518851621397803465.post-88349062447633139912023-10-09T12:27:00.000-04:002023-10-09T12:27:25.570-04:00Desiring Good and Bad ThingsAccording to the online dictionary, desire is defined as <b>‘a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen’.</b> An evil desire, therefore, is a craving to fulfil or satisfy a God-forbidden want. This may be for things we have, but we lust after the things of others. This subject will be presented from a Biblical point of view and how as Christians we should control our desires. In this article, we will look at good and bad desires, and what God desires of us.<br />
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It is normal and natural to have desires, but the choice we exercise over these desires is what matters <b><i>(Romans 8:5).</i></b> When we listen to the voice of the flesh to satisfy its cravings over God’s will, we have decided to disobey Him. The spirit of desire is something that we can’t just wish away or get rid of. It is part of us, and we exercise a choice or our will to control it. While an evil desires might be sinful in and by itself, it produces death when we obey it <b><i>(Galatians 5:16-17). </i></b>As we have recognised, some desires are good and some are evil. As Christians, we are often faced and overwhelmed by strong unwanted feelings. Some of these desires are fed through our senses to satisfy a craving, while other desires are resident within us. The inner being desires God’s perfection <b><i>(Romans 7:22, Psalm 40:8). </i></b>Let us look at desiring good things.<br />
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<b><u>What Are Bad Desires?</u></b></div>
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Brethren, the Scriptures are clear on evil desires. We are warned in the Bible not to live to obey the cravings of our evil desires <b><i>(Romans 6:12).</i></b> The Apostle Paul urged Timothy to "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" <b><i>(2 Timothy 2:22).</i></b><br />
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In the book of <b><i>Galatians 5:19-21,</i></b> we are warned against some bad desires which lead to sordid sinful behaviours that are completely prohibited and result in the loss of eternal life and earning punishment in Hell. We exercise a free will to either satisfy a desire or to flee from it, as Paul urged Timothy above. What the Apostle meant is that we must choose to flee from evil desires and choose to obey God by pursuing what He desires <b><i>(Psalm 51:6).</i></b> In the account of the fall of man, Eve had the commandment not to eat from the forbidden tree; she was however driven by the spirit of desire which she chose to obey, and this resulted in Judgement <b><i>(Genesis 3:6).</i></b><br />
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<b><u>Good Desires</u></b></div>
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In Scripture, we are urged to desire "truth in the inward parts<b><i>" (Psalm 51:6)</i></b> and to "earnestly desire the best gifts" of God <b><i>(I Corinthians 12:31).</i></b> These are considered good desires! I would just like to add something here; if we desire the good things from God, we must be able to live our lives pleasing to Him in word and in deed like Daniel and David <b><i>(Daniel 10:11; 1 Samuel 13:14).</i> </b>I have met and personally know many Christian brothers and sisters who have great desires for the things of God. They want to do great things for God in what they say, but sadly, unlike David and Daniel, they lack loyalty towards God. Some of the things they desire, which are unscriptural, are a desire to have a big church, and while this shows ‘faith,” it is more based on being dominant and in charge. The purest desire is to desire God and to do His will like our Lord Jesus, Daniel and King David displayed in their humble and obedient attitudes <b><i>(John 4:34, Philippians 2:5-9).</i></b> Desiring to live in a way that is pleasing to God is to seek what is acceptable to Him <strong><em>(</em></strong><strong><em>Romans 12:2</em></strong><strong><em>)</em></strong>, but desiring the pursuit of an ambition is to seek what we want more than what God has called us to <b><i>(Matthew 6:33).</i></b> We have been asked by many people to ask the Lord Jesus Christ what their calling was; in reply the Lord would point them to their relationship with Him <strong><em>(John 15:7)</em></strong>. Often, He finds them being caught up in worldliness and lacking in Bible reading and praying.<br />
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We may desire the gifts as the Scripture rightfully urges us, but are we bearing the fruit to exude these gifts? The Lord Jesus Christ told me that the gifts of the Holy Spirit do not operate without His permission, and we must bear fruit of submission and obedience to Him <b><i>(1 Corinthians 12:11; John 16:14).</i></b> He says He does not give Christians power to show off and attract people to them, but that He might be seen alive in a fruit-bearing Christian.<br />
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Furthermore, good desires are born out of obedience to the Lord <b><i>(John 6:38; Psalm 37:4).</i></b> In obeying God, we choose to subject our will to God and sacrifice our appetites in obedience to His will. We desire well if our motive is to obey Him more than the wishes of man <b><i>(Acts 5:29; John 12:43).</i></b> People have expectations of us, but doing things to please man against the will of God is equally sinful. Simply put, the Lord wants you to desire Him and His will more than <b>ANYTHING</b> else <b><i>(Matthew 12:30).</i></b><br />
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In addition, some people have a desire to be like someone else and to live and do the things that person did. However, the Bible encourages us to imitate those in the faith in terms of their walk with God, but not to be like them, as each one of us have received our own gift from God according to our faith <b><i>(1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Peter 4:10).</i></b> Therefore, the desire to be like someone else, which the church is filled with today, is not of God, but from our own selfish ambitions <strong><em>(Matthew 7:21)</em></strong>. In fact we are urged to be like Jesus; this is the purest desire <b><i>(Colossians 3:1-17, 1 Peter 1:14-16, Ephesians 1:4).</i></b><br />
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<b><u>What Does God Desire For Us?</u></b></div>
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God desires that we live just as this the Scripture declares,<i> “<b>Tell them: As I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live. Repent; repent of your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?” (Ezekiel: 33:11 Holman CSB).</b></i><br />
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In conclusion, let us exercise the right choice – the choice to obey the Lord when we are confronted by our desires. The following Scripture should serve as a reminder to us to desire godly living: “<b>God <i>“will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger” (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%202:6-8&version=NIV">Romans 2:6-8</a>)</i></b><br />
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Have you been making demands of God or having selfish desires that are not in line with His will? Here is a <href prayer=""><a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/how-to-be-saved.html#prayer">Prayer of Sincere Repentance</a> </href>to get you started. For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please <a href="http://www.preparingforthekingdom.com/p/contact-us.html">contact us</a>.<br />
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With love and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ,<br />
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Brother Glenn.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com