Discouragement is the number one attack on a believer. Discouragement means losing the benefits of salvation. If you are a true child of God you cannot lose your salvation. That is an eternal settlement sealed with the Blood of Jesus. But you can experience seasons of discouragement by losing hope, faith, strength and the joy of your salvation. You may feel depressed and tired, distracted and afraid. You will experience doubt; the Word of God is not ‘sweet and alive’ anymore. Church looks boring and just religious routine…
If you do not recognize the attack as a spiritual wickedness directed to you personally, you will become passive and weak. That will give time to the devil to increase the attack from other directions. If you are a leader, a husband, a father, a wife, a mother, a minster of God, then the attack is to bring you down, to strike the shepherd so that ‘the sheep’ will scatter. Just imagine: if the father is crying, what will the children do?
When all seems lost, when no man has pity on you, when your friends talk about stoning you… do what David did: ‘Encourage yourself in the Lord’. This is the privilege of the believers!
Never forget this! THE BLOOD OF JESUS GIVES YOU THE POWER TO ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD!!!
By the power of the Holy Spirit, stand up on your feet and pray, and worship…until the building shakes and God comes down! For as long as you have breath in you, there is still hope for the future!
‘You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them and You listen to their cry; defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more’ (Ps 10:17, 18)

A true (but immature) believer said to me: ‘I am afraid I will lose my salvation and miss rapture, because with all my efforts to follow Jesus, I often feel lukewarm…’
This is my answer:
You have believed a religious lie! It came to you sugar coated in scriptures (the devil is fast to quote the Bible, but always out of context. See the temptation of Jesus! ). Repent of hosting a lie!
This is the true Gospel, this is the truth:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God came down to earth to become a man like us, so that He can die in our place. He took on His body the punishment for our sin and the decree of death. He died publicly on the Cross of Calvary! By His death, He destroyed death and the fear of death that kept us in bondage a life time. He was buried and on the third day He rose from the death. He went back to heaven to God the Father. He promised and fulfilled His promise to send us the Person of God the Holy Spirit who will take all this truth and applies it to our spirit, that we many believe the truth. The Holy Spirit does not teach mathematics, biology…He teaches and glorifies Jesus alone!
The salvation offered in Christ is called great and eternal. It cannot be lost by any sin of yours because you did not buy it with money and no man gave it to you.
The Blood of Jesus covers all sins, past present and future. Your understanding of salivation is weak and faulty. You have to pray that God will show you ‘the crack’ in your spiritual foundation and you will be willing to let God repair it.
Just like a pig, that thru the miracle of God became a man. he can never become a pig again, even if he decides to sleep with the swine. He will be dirty and smelly, but the genetic code of a man cannot be reversed to be an animal again. That change is permanent.
A true believer is not called a sinner anymore. He is a saint. He can fall into sin, but he does not enjoy sin (that is called backsliding). A believer does not remain, abide or happily dwell in sin. He hates sin; he repents and comes out of it, sooner or later. The confusion comes when a religious man is not really born again but comes to church and does ministry. He is always afraid to lose his ‘salvation’. This is because he did not have it from the beginning. The Holy Spirit will not confirm, will not assure him of his eternal identity in Christ and sure ‘mansion’ in heaven. A religious person like this is very dangerous to himself and others, because of this deception and lie that he has believed. He has no peace or rest with God and His Word.
Please take note: A backslider loses rewards, opportunities for ministry and the joy of salvation. But no child of God can lose his eternal Salvation and go to hell!
This is the true Gospel of Christ!
Pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will receive the assurance of salvation, the gift of God!
In Jesus name, amen!

The leaders in the church are to serve God’s flock by being examples to them, representing the Chief Shepherd.
The young people are to be humble and submissive. False, religious humility has its root in the worship of demons. It is to be rejected. Why come to church and pretend?
Pride is the stamp of the enemy. The devil is not your friend. He is your enemy and you should treat him as such!
God opposes, brings to a standstill the proud people. All their boasting will end into nothing if they do not repent of sin.
The same God helps, encourages, strengthens and gives favor to the humble children of God. We are to cast all our cares and anxiety on Him at the Cross. The word ‘cares’ in Greek means ‘distractions’; multiple activities that complicate and confuse your mind. Martha was distracted with all ‘kitchen’ preparations. Fretting produces evil. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, the lowest and highest of all available places. He that seats at Jesus’ feet fears no fall; he cannot be intimidated or demoted. It is the best and most secure place in the universe. Come and see!
The devil looks around for potential victims. The proud are his easy targets. His plan is not just to torment them a little but to ‘devour’ them. The word means to swallow them whole. The devil wants to destroy all about you: your body thru sickness, your mind thru anxiety, your marriage thru divorce and your business thru ‘recession’…His plan to ‘kill steal and destroy’ is bigger than you can imagine.
The solution: ‘RESIST THE DEVIL!’ He will flee from you! Take pleasure in seeing the down fall of satan in your world! All these commands are warfare words. There is great reward for all spiritual military accomplishments done for the glory of God.
Our only protection is the God of ALL grace! Christ is the only Person who has the power to destroy evil. Be on Christ side!
After you have suffered a little, God Himself has promised to make you royalty in His personal entourage. He will give you the Crown of glory that never fades away.
God will do this for you:
*Perfect you (join the scattered pieces of your broken heart)
*Establish you (confirm your position as a victor, a general on His army)
*Strengthen you (give power to your body, to your mind, that you may understand His deep revelations)
*Settle you (consolidate your foundation, approve your ministry)
I testify that this is the Gospel of the true grace of God! (1Pet 5)
Stand fast in faith!
In Jesus name, amen!

Nimrod was a mighty hunter before (or ‘against’) the Lord. His name means ‘rebellion’. He was a great leader, a religious and army commander. He did not hunt only animals, lions or tigers, to impress others. He hunted men, he captured them, he kidnapped than to make them his slaves. He was a very intelligent and ambitious man, among the greatest men that ever lived, according to the world.
He was the founder of Babylon. His concept of the tower of Babel was an architectural masterpiece. The tower was ‘a skyscraper’ designed to be tall enough to reach the throne of God. He did that more than 4000 years ago. He did not believe in God coming down to man, so He did not believe in Jesus. He believed that men should use their creativity and reach God. This is of course an impossible task, a cursed religion, ambition and adventure that receives the punishment of God. Babel means confusion, madness and chaos.
Babylon is the system of this world; the gathering of unbelievers who live like God does not exist. They have their own schools, hospitals, different forms of entertainment and the hall of fame of their great men, of which Nimrod is at the top of the list.
Are you not surprised how the world goes on, passing thru different trials and sorrows, and never remember to pray? For example, have you seen any CNN presenter praying during their ‘breaking news’? Prayer is not something they even consider.
Then there is the Body of Christ, the fellowship of the true believers everywhere. Here God is everything to us. Christ is the head of the Church. There is no fear of hunters of men. There is peace, and joy, and all things are done in the unity of the Spirit that is so pleasing to God. In the Body of Christ there is protection and order. God is in charge! Life is simple and clean. The primary purpose of every member is to give glory to God. What a wonderful, blessed life!
This is my personal testimony: I was born in ‘Babylon’ and were so my parents. I was in that system for more than thirty years, so I know how they feel: confident outside, but trembling of fear inside. My world was ‘falling’ and I could never settle my soul. I thought that the Christians were weak people, like crying children, never strong enough to stand on their own.
O, how wrong I was…thank God for salvation!
Dear friend please listen: There is no middle road. There is no third option. Repent! Jesus said: ‘I do not pray for the world’. You will not like to live and die outside the spiritual covering of Jesus! Take the warning and run away from Babylon! Run towards God! He will not reject you! That is His promise to all who believe. Amen!
(Gen 10, 11, Jn 17:9; Rev 18)
(The picture is the ruins of the ancient Babylon, with one of Saddam’s palaces at the backgound)

These are the sins of the women of Sodom, the friends of Mrs. Lot:
‘Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, overabundance of food, prosperous ease and idleness were hers and her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abominable offences before me; therefore I removed them when I saw it and I saw it fit’ (Ez 16:49, 50)
The women described here are still with us. They add to the danger of these difficult ‘last days’ when men shall be ungrateful, rude, rebellious and wicked. They love pleasure rather than God. The solution is simple: ‘From such, turn away!’ (2Tim3:1-5).
If you want to live a life free from fear of condemnation, free from the anxiety of ‘losing’ your salvation, free from a guilty conscience of being a barren branch in danger of destruction, then do the things commanded by the Lord. Love God and love others. Do good things, pray and fast in the secret chamber for the glory of God alone. Reject all forms of religious hypocrisy!
Be especially careful with them you call friends, mothers, sisters or mentors.
Remember Lot’s wife! Do not be like her! Run from these hopeless, wicked, ‘wild beasts’ who live only for the moment saying: ‘Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die’. Do not be deceived! ‘Bad company corrupts good character’…Come back to your senses’ (1Cor 15:32-34). Go to the Cross and see Christ crucified for you! Pay the price for spiritual maturity when you can never ‘fear bad news’ (Ps 112:7). Be generous and kind, humble and faithful!
May ‘your works bring you praise at the city gate’ (Ps 31:31)!
May God bless you!
(The picture above is the salt statue of Lot’s wife by the shores of the Dead Sea in Israel)

One of the greatest revelations for me was to find out that a man can live on this earth totally fulfilled, completely free from all fears and inferiority complexes. When I gave my life to Christ, I was so happy to know that my sins have been forgiven. It was a great surprise to discover that forgiveness of sins is just the beginning of the blessed Spirit filled life. So many other moments of joy paved the narrow way!

It is such a sad thing that so few Christians desire to know the power of the Cross. They run away from the Cross, not knowing that they cheat themselves by ‘denying the power thereof’.

As for me, long ago I made up my mind that I will go closer to the Cross and study it by myself. There was a magnetic attraction for me to go and see, and touch, and listen…to any drop of revelation…Just the way many people here are desperate to go ‘abroad’ so was I to go to the Cross of Christ. The closer I went the fewer people I met.

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No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it’ (1Cor 10:13; NKJ)

Temptation if not sin, but failure to find the door of escape in the midst of temptation, that is sin!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace!” (Nu 6:24-26)

His face is turned towards me; he never looks away; I am His primary concern; He takes pleasure in my obedience and I take pleasure in His commands. We are a mysterious team of, king and servant, teacher and student, in the royal hall of worship!

Lastly, peace that passes all understanding is my portion; my deepest desires, my unspoken longings, my sighs became a song, my stumbling, my weakness, the corridor of a new beginning on my high places…

Yes, in case you have observed… I boast that I know my Lord…the vision has spoken at last…Glory to God who gave it to me!

This is a true story that shows the need and the power of true spiritual mothers and fathers.

A nationally syndicated columnist with the Washington Post recently wrote about the plight of the white rhinoceros in Pilanesberg Park, a South African game preserve. At least 39 of these endangered rhinos had been found slaughtered in their native habitat, and it was assumed that poachers were the killers of the remarkable beasts.

However, upon closer inspection it was discovered that all of the rhinos’ valuable horns remained among the carcasses. In an effort to catch the killers, the game wardens decided to tranquilize some of the remaining animals to electronically tag and track them. Hidden video cameras were also set in strategic locations to record the evidence.

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God promoted Joseph from pit to prison, and then to the palace. He became the prime minister of Egypt, the greatest country at that time. He got married and had two sons. The first he called Manasseh (it means Forgetfulness – for God has helped me forget all my childhood’s sorrows) and the second Ephraim (it means Fruitfulness – God has made me fruitful in the land of my temptation). This is the way of God: You need to forgive your enemies and to forget the pain they have caused. Then you will become fruitful! You will see yourself in the lives of many people; they will speak your words and they will dance at the sound of your song.

You need God to help you forgive and forget. God is also the Author of all true increase! Joseph means ‘To increase’!

Prayer

May the anointing of Joseph be your portion in the name of Jesus! Amen!

‘Do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit!’ (Eph 5:17, 18)

The journey starts at the Cross. ‘You must be born again…’ (Jn 3:7). That is the most radical change in your life. You become a child of God. The Holy Spirit will seal you with a deposit, so that you may be sure of your identity.

Next, you have to desire to be filled with the same Holy Spirit given to you as a heavenly ‘sample’. The earlier the better you make the choice to press on to become baptized with the Spirit. Here, most believers stumble. Most churches fail to lead the sheep to this promised fullness. About ninety percent of the Christians do not actively desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The reason is simple: they refuse to die to self, to carry their cross daily and follow Jesus. For as long as you still want to lie, to steal, to covet, to deceive or to boast about your personal accomplishments, the Holy Spirit will not fill you. He is after all, THE HOLY Spirit. He hates sin and He cannot dwell where un-confessed sin abides. So prepare your vessel, your heart, according to His standard.  Then, He will fill you!

There are basic instructions concerning the promised baptism of the Spirit:

*Present your body as a living sacrifice, willing to be filled (Rom 12:1, 2). Remember that it is your body that is to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit. You have to pay the price; you have to train your body to yield to the Spirit. You have to study the Word of God and pray. You have to identify with the work of God in your local church and submit to the delegated authority. If you are in the habit to only attend Sunday services and ignore all other weekly activities, then you cannot be filled with the Spirit.

*Ask, pray for the Holy Spirit to be given to you (Lk 11:9-13). The proof that God is answering your prayer is that for a season you will pass thru some emotional disturbance, anxiety, a feeling of emptiness and disappointment. That is the normal way as the same Spirit is preparing His ‘nest’ in you. It is like the ‘morning sickness’ to a pregnant woman. It is not pleasant but there is joy because she knows that soon she will have a baby.

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HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT 

‘The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shines upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace!’ So they will put MY NAME on the Israelites and I WILL BLESS THEM!’ (Nu 6:22-27)

God gives words of blessing to His messengers: Moses and Aaron. The Word of God preached under anointing has power to bless them that believe.

God is the Source of these blessings: spiritual (salvation, hope, faith, peace, joy…) and material (food, clothes, a good job, marriage, children, a house…). God blesses them ahead of their walk thru the wilderness. God pledges Himself to bless His people in their journey of life. It is pure grace, God’s personal wish to bless you, His child.

The blessings are given to ‘you’! The word is singular. It is His wish to do so and none can stop Him. You need a personal revelation of the power of the priestly prayer!

There is perfect provision, perfect protection; God’s pleasure with you, perfect favor and perfect peace. This fullness of blessings comes only to them that know His name! Jesus is our High Priest. Before He went to heaven He lifted His hands and blessed His people (Lk 24:50-53) The blessed eternal Life found is Christ has been described by the old saints as: ‘The life that is truly life’

Do you know God’s name?

Then you are blessed indeed!

Nothing else can replace faith and perseverance! These are unique skills that please God! These are the only wings able to carry you to your Promised Land.

Wings have to be exercised to be useful. Daily stretch them and fly above the ordinary events. Even if you fall, get up and rise again.

You should hate laziness and carelessness. These are little foxes destroying the intimacy with God. Do not delegate to others that which you have to do yourself. Proud people dream much, boast of much, but miss much more!

Be an example of a doer of the Word of God! Your people need you as a spiritual inspiration, somebody to imitate. Be a good example to the young ones. There is great reward for that.

Loneliness should never be an excuse for backsliding. Walk in faith and persevere to the end. Desire to see the manifestation of your prayers! God wants to rejoice together with you.

“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (Heb 6:12)

Safety is not the absence of danger, but living in the center of the presence of God.

Move on closer to the Throne of God!

Disappear in His shadow of light.

Lean on His everlasting arms.

Listen to the heart beat of the Father.

The fragrance of incense offered by the saints caresses your cheeks.

No noise, no fear, no worry! Too high for all that…

The Bridegroom smiles and calls your name…

Now, you are safe!

‘He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord: He is my refuge, my fortress, my God in whom I trust’ (Ps 91:1, 2)

WIILIAM TYNDALE (1492-1536)
On this day (6th of October) in 1536, William Tyndale was burned at the stake. His crime: Translating the Bible into English for the ‘common men’ to read.

‘The grass withers and the flowers fall but the Word of the Lord stands forever’ (1Pet 1:24, 25)

This morning I remember the past, when old things became new…

God was calling me, I tried to answer in my own way… I bargained with Him: ‘Lord, I will give You my money…or my job as a doctor…or my (good) reputation…what else do You want from me?’ – I asked in desperation…

He then said: ‘IT IS YOU THAT I WANT…BE A LIVING SACRIFICE ON THE ALTAR OF MY PLEASURE…TAKE YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME…NO CONDITIONS, NO COMPLAINTS, NO GOING BACK…LOVE ME MORE THAN THE WORLD…YOU WILL NEVER REGRET THE DECISION…ETERNAL FRUIT WILL BE YOUR REWARD!’

‘Yes, Lord…’

That was spoken with my last breath… I died to myself, to my world, to my plans and desires…I remember the place where I died…

Now, I no longer live, it is Christ who lives in me and I live my life by faith in the Son of God who died to set me free!

All the glory to the Lamb who sits on the throne!

Amen!

I Am Free

Mental confusion is always abnormal. As a believer, you are supposed to hear and believe just one voice: God speaking to your spirit. His word is in perfect unity with the Bible. That is why you need to read the Bible daily. The more you study the Word of God, the easier it is for you to listen to the voice of God and to reject other voices.

Please remember that basically there are three voices we listen to: God the Holy Spirit, the devil and your own voice. You have to learn to differentiate them. Each has a different ‘sound’. Any time you are confused, it means that you are hearing more than one voice and more than one command. God never confuses His children. In case you hear the voice of God and you ignore it or chose to disobey it, then you have destroyed the fence of protection around you, and the devil can come in and talk to you. In other words, rebellion ends in confusion.

Temptation is not sin. Yielding to temptation by your own choice, that is sin. If you are saved, then you have only one Leader, one Shepherd the Lord Jesus Christ. Listen to Him and you will never be confused by strangers’ voices, no matter how sweet or tempting they may be.

The opposite of confusion is simplicity; having the mind and heart of a child. If you are saved, then your life is simple. Confusion has no place in a believer’s mind. The voices of the hirelings and strangers can never have access to your mind; you will have the power to reject them (Jn 10:1-5). You have to walk in obedience daily and then you ‘shall overcome all the power of the enemy and nothing will harm you’ (Lk 10:19). Amen!

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Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever” (Ps 136:1)

God will give us many opportunities to praise and to thank Him. We shall weep less and praise Him more. We shall speak less and have greater impact. We will work less and receive more money. The signs and wonders will increase in our midst. Our destiny is to be fulfilled in Christ, satisfied spiritually. Giving thanks to God will become so easy, a life style of worship coming from union with Him. O, how I love Jesus…

The word ‘thanksgiving’ in Hebrew is similar with the word ‘hand’, specifically ‘open hand’. The word means power that is released in our ministry. We say and things happen! An open hand, like an unveiled face, says that there are no secrets, no hypocrisy, no deception; the Spirit has free flow thru us to open the eyes, to reveal the truth and penetrate deep in peoples hearts (2Cor 3:18; 4:1, 2). All preaching needs the oil of thanksgiving to be effectual. The ‘open hand’ of thanksgiving means that all greed is destroyed. Worship, thanks and adoration are to be freely offered. GIVE thanks! The alabaster box has to be broken. The fragrance of Christ has to be released, free like a bird from the cage. Worship starts on earth and like the love of God who ignites it, it endures forever in heaven. Heaven waits for us to supply thanks to Him who sits on the throne.

We are commanded to give thanks to God especially for His goodness. God is good! The word ‘good’ in Hebrew is very powerful and describes God’s character and His relationship with His children. It is a family word. The unbelievers do not know God to be good in this way. They share in the common grace, the blessing of rain and of sunshine. But they can’t appreciate the goodness of God; that is a special revelation of the believers only. That is why God’s children are commanded to thank the Father openly for His goodness, which is the best way to evangelize. Don’t be quiet about it!

‘Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works for the children of men!’ (Ps 107:8).

We have a tendency to forget the Source of our blessings and to take God for granted. Learn to give thanks to God and that will make your heart grateful. Worship God and healing for the body, soul and spirit will come (Ex 23:25, 26). Moses wanted to see the glory of God as a sign of approval upon His life and ministry. God answered His request by displaying His goodness. There is only one reaction to the manifestation of God’s goodness. It is to fall down and worship. Ask Moses! (Ex 33;34).

Give thanks to Elohim God, the Creator, the God of the book of Genesis (Ps 139:2-9). ‘In the beginning God created…’ (Gen 1:1). God alone does great wonders. God alone can give the gift of a new beginning. There are times when no other prayer ‘works’. That’s the time to say: ‘Lord, grant to me a new beginning!’ Each new beginning has creative power in it. God creates and He recreates.

In Christ we meet the God of Genesis, we become a new creation, old things are gone, everything becomes new! So much hope for the future! Be filled with the Spirit! Give God thanks for everything!

Glory to the Lamb!

Amen!

‘The woman said: I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us. Then Jesus declared: I who speak to you am He…
Then leaving the water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people: Come and see a Man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?’ (Jn 4:25-29)
She was a simple woman but she was waiting for a teacher who knows all things. She was like an illiterate woman, too poor to go to school, but desiring to be a student in the best university in the world.
She had big dreams. She desired to meet someone sent by God who will explain to her in simple words all that she could not understand. She wanted to submit and to believe in a Prophetic Royal Teacher. She needed answers to the tragedy of sin in her life.

Because of her hope of glory, the people around despised her and none was willing to waste time in teaching a woman like her. She had beautiful dreams as a little girl but life was not fair to her. She had to do things that now she hated. The candle of hope was all but quenched.
She tried to find a man who loves her, but the more she searched the less she found him. Until this hot day, surprised by the well…

Then Jesus looked in her eyes and introduced Himself. “I am He! I am the Messiah!” I am the One you are waiting for…the One who will explain to you everything…and help you live…”
Just imagine the moment: her very Hope…your dearest and best staring at you…face to face with the Messiah…not properly dressed…nowhere to hide…with an old, rusty bucket in her hand…she forgets all things and runs to tell others…’Can this be the Messiah?

What the philosophers could not accept; what the religion leaders could not believe; what King Herod and the high priest rejected…this woman receives as a gift of grace and mercy, from the Anointed One, the Christ!
‘If you knew the gift of God and who is He who asks you for a drink…’ (Jn 4:10)
O, the mystery of this godliness!