“Set me as a seal upon your heart,

As a seal upon your arm;

For love is as strong as death,

Jealousy as cruel as the grave;

Its flames are flames of fire,

A most vehement flame…

Many waters cannot quench love,

Nor can the floods drown it.

If a man would give for love

All the wealth of his house,

It would be utterly despised” (SS8:6, 7)

This is the voice of the Bride… Love has its own sound, its own song, its own fragrance, its own way and its own price. Money cannot buy it. Blood is its price. The Blood of the Prince of peace was shed for love to live. Love is jealous. El Qanna, the Jealous God, will fight to keep your love alive and pure. Love is strong. Love never fails. Love draws near. Love changes the hearts. The Spirit and the Bride is calling…Come… What will the Lover say in response to her longing?

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’” (Rev 3:19-22)

This is the Love of the Lover. It is the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, calling from the other side of the Cross, the side of joy and victory. The Blood was shed. Death has died. The grave has been disappointed. This is the season of love… He who loves rebukes and chastens. The Lover is the Teacher. He disciplines His students, His children, so that they may know how to love better. Many tears will stain your face and many disappointments will hurt your heart before you learn how to receive and give love in return. It takes a long time before you are able to appreciate true love. To love is not easy. But it is worth it! Dead men do not love. He who loves is alive!

Love calls you to come inside the holy place. Love offers you a dinner of joyful eternal blessings and a royal seat of power. Are you afraid to open the door? Are you afraid at what the Lover might say or do?  If you hear His voice, then please open the door! You shall have no peace until you open and worship the Lord at His feet, face to face, no interruption and no separation. God is calling you to be with Him, to do ministry, to intercession…God is calling you to separate from the world, to worship Him alone in the beauty of His holiness. Even so come Lord Jesus…

Singing:

I’m in love, I’m in love, I’m in love….

Sweet Holy Spirit…

I’m in love!

Recently, I had to counsel and pray with some young men who are taking marihuana. Their lives are scattered. Their minds are confused. They hear (religious) voices. The devil keeps them in bondage. The cage is very strong. Without help from God, they cannot recover. I write these lines with pain and anger in my heart. I hate the devil! I hate these drugs! I write these words as a doctor, pastor, mother and grandmother. It is not a subject I like to think about. But I cannot ignore it! I had to re-examine the terrible effects these illegal drugs have on the people, especially the youths. Many are true Christians and come to church. They love the Lord and want to serve Him. They want to have a good life, to go to school, marry and live well. But the addiction to this poison hinders them to live well and live long.

The most common and the cheapest addiction that the devil offers here in Nigeria is ‘marihuana’. The young men smoke it or drink the tea made from its dry leaves.  Marijuana (Cannabis, Hemp, Hashish) is a plant used by many all over the world as an illegal pleasure drug. The word ‘marijuana’ is related with a Spanish word which is translated ‘prisoner’. (Attention: the devil wants to make you his prisoner thru this plant that God has created!!!). More and more young people try it and become addicted to it. It is a deception to think that marihuana is a harmless drug. It has great potential of destroying your health and your future. Marijuana, like other drugs of abuse, can result in addiction. During intoxication, marijuana can interfere with the cognitive function of the brain (ex. memory and perception of time) and the motor function (e.g., coordination). These effects can have detrimental consequences (ex. traffic accidents). The people who use marijuana have a higher risk of developing depression, anxiety and other more serious psychiatric sicknesses.  Repeated marijuana use during adolescence may result in long-lasting changes in brain function that can jeopardize educational, professional, and social achievements. Most people who smoke marihuana drop out from school and get involved in other crimes.

Dear young man! Dear young woman! You who takes illegal drugs: If you read these words, it means that God is talking to you! God wants to help you, to deliver you from the demons associated with them. God loves you! Give your life to Christ! Start reading the Bible and pray. Go to a good church. Let your pastor pray for you. Deliver yourself! At the name of Jesus every knee will bow! One with God is majority! God is able and more than able to deliver you, to heal you and give you a good future.

This is God’s Promise to you:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity…” (Jer 29:11-14)

Let’s pray: “Dear Heavenly Father I come to You on behalf of Your people who desire deliverance from drug addiction, especially marihuana. Have mercy Oh, Lord. Nobody can help them except You. Do for them what money cannot buy and man cannot give. I take authority against the wicked demon of drug addiction, against fear, anxiety, depression, madness, restlessness, poverty, suicide, hopelessness, deception and confusion! I bind you! I silence you! Leave God’s people alone and go away! In the name of Jesus! I destroy every spell that the devil has placed on them! I destroy the spiritual cage of addiction! Holy Spirit please take control. I plead the Blood of Jesus over you! Let the miracle of freedom happen! Let freedom be real! Revel to them the power and the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! Let their body reject the desire to go back to drugs! I declare that their minds are sound, that their hearts are filled with peace and joy! Father God, it is all to Your Glory! In Jesus name I pray, amen!”

“Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.
Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!
Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.
Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!
A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.
A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.
An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at random.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise” (PV 26:1-12, TLB)

The Bible is the Word of God. Study the scriptures! Every counsel is perfect. Obey the Word of God and you shall be saved, healed, free and happy. Question: What will you do if you are attacked by fools? This situation is as bad as when mad dogs come against you. A fool is not just an innocent, ignorant, in-need-of-help person. Fools are terrible and dangerous. They can drag you down to their level. Pray for wisdom!

Read and meditate on the above verses from Proverbs 26. The word ‘fool’ in Hebrew is kesyl. It means to be fat and silly. His foolishness is ‘perverse’. A fool in the Bible is seen as someone who is an unbeliever (‘A fool says in his heart: there is no God’ Ps 14:1). He is a wayward, stubborn, wicked, rebellious person. He says and does what he knows is wrong, willfully turning away from what is right and good. He argues too much and, like a virus, he spreads his foolish stubbornness to others. He takes pleasure seeing that you fall. That is why he is dangerous!

In the Bible we are told that:
*Honor should not be given to a fool. The word ‘honor’ in Hebrew is translated ‘glory, boasting, to be noble, to promote and to be rich’. Practically it means that if I encounter a fool, I should try my best to avoid him. I should not go out of my way to make friends with him, to respect or to imitate him. I should not boast of my relationship with him. I should not help him to be promoted or to get richer. If I do so, I will share in his ‘shame’. “The wise are promoted to honor, but fools are promoted to shame!” (PV 3:35). The word ‘shame’ also means disgrace or confusion. Making friends with fools is one of the common ways to become confused in life, losing focus and faith. Friendship with fools will make you to backslide. You have to choose between that fool and your faith in God!

*The best thing is to avoid a fool. Try NOT answering his arguments, so that you do not become like him. But if you really have to talk, then pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit on your mind and tongue. The only thing a fool needs is rebuke! Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, you have to discipline him! You need a tongue of fire to rebuke a fool! The fools win all arguments if you answer them in your flesh. You need the help of the Holy Spirit who is the ‘Wonderful Counsellor’. You may be led to speak just one sentence, but filled with the Holy Spirit, it will be a rebuke from heaven. The fool will feel it as a lash on his back. Pain is good for a fool. Like a mad dog who tried to bite you, after that lash, he will retreat! He may not repent from his foolishness but he will avoid you from that time on. To be free from the tongue and the manipulation of a fool is great deliverance! Thank God for that!

*Fools are not to be trusted with your heart and with your words. They are rebellious. They are trouble makers. They will add or remove from your words. They will misinterpret them. You will end in trouble if you send a message thru a fool. Do not trust a fool. Do not delegate your authority to a fool. Never do that. If you have no wise person to send a message, go yourself or keep quiet and wait. Fools are wicked. Fools can never represent you in public. Never marry a fool for you will suffer! Do not make friends with fools for you will weep! Do not hire a fool for he will run down your business! Run away from a church whose pastor is foolish, no matter how handsome, beautiful, rich or famous he (she) is!

Finally, pray that God will purify your heart from resident foolishness and your world from wicked people. May the Fire of the Holy Spirit surround you now! Be filled with the Holy Spirit! In Jesus name, amen!

“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)

This morning I want to encourage you… One of the best promises we have as believers in Christ is that when tempted, we shall not be left alone. This is the truth: God will be there in the furnace with you, helping you to find ‘the way of escape’ out of the fire. The way out of the cage is down, at the bottom. The humble believer kneels down, prays and finds it. But the proud one looks up, tries to climb out and will miss it. That is why proud men suffer much longer than the humble ones. Lesson: When you suffer, humble yourself and trust God! Soon the pain is over!

All trials that come your way ‘are common to man’! These afflictions are suited to men, to what men can bear, not different than what other men experience in this life. Remember: God is faithful! His faithfulness is seen much clearer during times of temptations. God oversees your trial. He will not permit the devil to attack you until you break down, backslide or die. Your present pain will not be above or beyond your power to resist the devil and to remain faithful to God to the end.  The faithfulness of God is the proof why all of us who are suffering one trial or another, are still alive and well. If not for God we should all be mad, admitted in a psychiatric hospital with deep depression. Surprisingly, we are able to endure, to bear pain, patiently waiting for God to reveal the way of escape. Lesson: because God is faithful to me, I will be faithful to Him!

The reason why temptations are so painful is that the devil attacks not only with sickness or poverty, but with many lies as well. These are some of the lies that you must resist and reject:

Lie number one: ’God does not love you, that is why you suffer…’ This is a lie! If you are a child of God, then you should know that God’s love to you!!! In Christ, God’s love is unconditional and eternal. God uses painful things to discipline you, for your own good, but He will not take away His love from you.

Lie number two: ’You may start well but you do not have the power to end well…’ This is a lie! The grace of God is sufficient to start and finish the race. Do not be discouraged!

Lie number three: ‘If you are spiritually mature you will be able to avoid al temptations…’ This is a lie! The closer you get to God the more His light will shine on you. This light will expose your weakness and sins. You will become more sensitive to sin and temptations. Remember that Jesus was tempted, Paul was tempted and all believers will be tempted. Temptation is not sin. Backsliding in the middle of the temptation is sin! Stop trying to use ‘wisdom’ to avoid pain. Accept it as part of life. See the gain of pain! Pass thru the fire! Like Job, you will come out shining like gold!

Lie number four: ‘Nothing good comes out of this temptation…’ This is a lie! Sin is useless but temptation is used by God to purify our hearts, especially the motives for serving Him. God will be grieved if you fall and backslide because of trials. God will be happy if you trust in Him always and stand faithful to the end!

Lesson: Be faithful to God! God rewards faithfulness and obedience! Give God all the glory! Praise God for your salvation, your testimony, your healing, your deliverance, your fruitfulness, your family, your anointing for ministry and so many blessings! This temptation is temporary but God is eternal! Jesus saves to the uttermost! Shout Hallelujah!

“David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord.  I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” (2 Sam 6:21, 22)

Tonight’ prayer meeting was very good. It was raining outside. It is always a challenge to come to church when the weather is not friendly. I prayed that the ones who are willing to come should be blessed in an unusual way. God answered my prayer. We started praying and thanking God for our lives, health and freedom. Then we began praising God calling His wonderful names aloud. The adults and the children, the rich and the poor, everybody had an opportunity to ‘taste and see that the Lord is good’ (Ps 34:8).

Then there was a prophetic word: ‘if you want the Holy Spirit to freely move in your midst tonight, then you should praise God with songs and dancing like King David did long ago’ (2 Samuel 6:20-23).  This is the story: When David brought the ark of God to Zion, he danced on the streets like ‘a mad man’. For the sake of God he killed his pride. He ‘disgraced’ himself and danced with all his heart. This dance was a form of worship, a sacrifice to God. Everybody who loved the presence of God followed David and danced unto God. No one cared about reputation, social position and titles or about what men may say.

But Michal, David’s wife, was not in the crowd. She was up, at the balcony judging David. She complained that David danced ‘half naked’ like a mad man and that the young women laughed at him. David was surprised at this evil comment coming from his own household. He explained that he danced unto the Lord and not unto the men and women. It was ‘a worship dance’ and not ‘a romantic dance’. David also said that for God, he will disgrace himself even more in the future. Because of this negative attitude towards the Holy Spirit, towards the King and God’s praise, Michal remained barren all her life. This evening we took this warning as serious as we could. Nobody wanted to be proud and complaining. We too ‘disgraced’ our flesh and freely danced without shoes this evening. The Holy Spirit honored His Word and our child-like faith and came down mightily. No one wanted to be a passive wicked spectator like Michal. God forbid! In Father’s House, none is too old, too rich, too educated or too great before the King of kings! The anointing was so strong that all yokes were broken! The bondages of depression, doubt, bareness, sickness, empty religion, fear and sadness were broken. We were filled afresh with the Holy Spirit. We received peace and joy unto overflow!!!

These words are not just poetic or symbolic. This evening we literarily drank from the water of life unto the satisfaction of our souls. According to His Word God fulfilled His promise:  “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” (Jer 21:35). I had prepared a sermon but I could not preach it for, as a drop in the ocean of grace, everybody was ‘lost’ in His presence and none could listen to a mere mortal talking. All eyes were on Jesus! What a way to ‘spend’ an evening! Glory to God!

I saw this little dog chained at the entrance of a church in Nice, France. Probably, its owner went inside the church to pray. He was patiently waiting outside in the sunshine. I felt sorry for the dog… To me, this was a spiritual picture of some people who want to serve God but they are still in bondage to the devil. The evil spirit of religion will not mind you going to church, if you still remain outside Christ and His offer of salvation.

What is the lesson? Give your life to Christ! Be born again by the power of the Holy Spirit! Be free from the chains of religion! Rejoice in the freedom Christ purchased for you by His Blood on the Cross of Calvary! Glory to God!!!!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

The women’ fellowship was very good. We shared testimonies. We praised God with singing and dancing. Sister D said that two times a rat ate the photocopy of an important document. Then when she came to church last month ago, she said that we prayed against physical and spiritual ‘rats’ that do damage to our property. She had faith and prayed hard. Since then, no ‘rat’ destroyed anything in her possession. All the sisters gave thanks to God calling Him the Faithful One. Then the Word came. It was about the spiritual gift of helps. We said that this gift is not just a natural tendency to ‘do good’. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who will change your heart. You shall receive the desire to help others who have less than you. You shall pray for wisdom and anointing to help others and God will give these ennoblements to you. We prayed that for each sister who desires to be supernaturally generous to help others, God will open a door of financial breakthrough.

ONESIPHORUS – PAUL’S HELPER

“The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus” (2Tim 1:16-18)

One of the best examples of a child of God engaged in the ministry of helps is Onesiphorus (2Tim 1:16-18). Paul was in prison. This brother Onesiphorus did three wonderful things to bless Paul.

*He was not ashamed of Paul’s chains (how many of us can make time to visit prisoners?)

*He sought Paul ‘very zealously’ until he found him. Onesiphorus was not a man who will easily give us. He wanted to be a blessing to Paul, to help him in prison, and he found him at last.

*Onesiphorus often did ‘refresh’ Paul. The word means to cool somebody off. To refresh it means to help somebody to feel better, to visit him, to encourage him, to help him carry a burden, to listen to somebody who needs to speak, to give water of food. We do not know what Onesiphorus brought to Paul. Maybe it was some apples or some juice. Jesus said that even giving water to one of His people will be rewarded by God. “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Mt 10:42). Paul prays for him to receive mercy from God at the judgment day. Good gifts are never lost. If you sow kindness you shall reap kindness hundredfold. Every good thing you do for others, in the name of the Lord, shall be rewarded by Him. “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (PV 11:25)

This is our testimony: There are people in the church who often refresh us with an encouraging word, prayer or gifts. There are people who send us bottled water, fruit juices, puff puff, bread, eggs, fruits, vegetables, oil, books, phone recharge cards, cooked meals, fish, meat, chicken, Christmas hampers and many other gifts. I may not remember all of them but God knows each one of you. I pray that you may find mercy on that day! I pray that God will send Holy Ghost refreshing on you! I pray that God will bless you and your families, spiritually and materially! In Jesus name, amen!

‘And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me… No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer’ (Jdg 7:2; 2Tim 2:4)

God raised an ‘ordinary’ man to save the nation. His name was Gideon. Led by God, that man raised an unusually small army to fight an enemy ‘as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude’ (Jdg 7:12).  But this small army was ready to obey God, to fight with very special, unique, God-designed, ‘unheard of’ military weapons (trumpets, jars of clay and fire). Just imagine what was in Gideon’s mind? To go to battle with such a ‘crazy’ mini army you need to be sure that God is with you! At the first testing, from 32000 – 10000 go away. They are the fearful, the cowards. They are disqualified to partake in the labor of success and in the joy of victory. He is now left with 22000. These are few but Gideon thinks that ‘he can manage’ with them. But God says ‘you still have too many… they will gang up together and try to steal My glory…I will not permit that… I will test them for you…’

God tested them at the river. The applicants for the posts of national heroes did not know that it was a test: how to drink water when you are very thirsty… The angels, with video cameras in their wings, streamed the sight… Most of the men allowed their flesh to overpower them. For a moment, they forgot that they are still soldiers. They drank like there is no tomorrow. Losing the battle before the battle even began they went home disappointed in a God who cares about our eating and our drinking.  Finally, God made His choice! He approved the 300 men who drank water like the dogs, looking around, careful to see if there is an enemy around, during the times of rest. God approved their drinking style, which was a mirror of their faithful hearts! These men loved God and wanted do His will. Even when thirsty, they were faithful like the dogs to their master. They did not forget that they were working servants. They were disciplined, patient and alert. The 300 men of valor, tested and approved by God became Gideon’s army. These people can never lose any battle! They will never desire to share in God’s glory! They consider it as the highest privilege to be soldiers under the Captain of our salvation.

This is the same old story: Man always complains that he has two little resources (money, friends, connections…) to be successful. But God is never worried about the size of the visible. His Holy Spirit and His Word are always sufficient to glorify His name on the earth!  These are the soldiers for Christ, faithful from their heart. As believers in active duty we should strive to be in that number. For as long as we live, when in the battlefield or at home, when praying or praising, when working or relaxing with the family, when eating or drinking, we should be found faithful, passionately desiring  to please the Lord Jesus Christ, our ‘Commanding officer’ who called us to His service. In Christ, God promised us to always walk in triumph! From victory to victory! To the glory of the name of Jesus! Halleluiah!

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance” (Is 55:1, 2)

The prayer meeting was very good. The presence of God was strong in our midst. It is always humbling and reviving to just come ‘as you are’ and kneel at the feet of the Lord Jesus. We heard the voice of God calling, calling our names from the burning bush… We stood ion holy ground… The Heavens were open over us… God was Calling us to come: the sinners, the poor, the foolish rich, the broken hearted, the disappointed, the sick and the backslider. We were the wretched guests, rejected by the world, coming to the banquet of His majesty. We were invited in. On the table set in the wilderness we found exactly what our souls desired for so long: Water (of life), Milk (to grow) and Wine (to rejoice). We did not need money. Jesus paid it all. We only needed to be thirsty and to have faith that God is good always. The food on the table was good and abundant.

To better understand the generous and abundant invitation to the table of grace, I told the brethren to think about a moment in their lives when they eat to their satisfaction, without any fear at the end of the meal (fear to pay the bill, fear that the food will finish or that the calories are too many…). I told them a story… when I was a teenager, my parents, my sister and I were invited at our cousin’s wedding (This is in Romania about 50 years ago). The food they gave to the children and the youth was so much that it was scary. Myself and the other children we decided to compete, who eats the most. They served us ‘sarmale’ (this is a Romanian dish, my favorite even up till now. It is sour cabbage rolls filled with minced meat, rice and spices). The sarmale were very good and very many. I ate 42 pieces!!! I won the competition but I could not get up from the table. I still remember the feeling of being filled to the brim with the best food ever!!! (These days I cannot do it anymore because of diet etc…). The reason why I told them this story is to understand why God is calling to us to His table. He wants to fill us to the brim, to satisfy our deepest hearts’ desires with His Son Jesus Christ. If you do not understand my ‘sarmale’ story, if you have never experienced a moment of total satisfaction in your life, then you will not understand Isaiah 55. It is true that in this world, even when the best things happen to us (money, promotion, marriage and children…) there is always a limit to the joy we experience. There is some disappointment, some guilt or some anxiety about tomorrow. But in God’s presence there is fullness of joy! God wants you to come and be filled with His Spirit! God wants to satisfy you! May you recognize your thirst for true love found in Christ alone! Come to the table! Come to the water of life and drink! You shall thirst no more! Come to Jesus! Come!

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2Tim 1:7)

The word ‘fear’ it means ‘to be afraid in general’. But in particular, it refers to ‘fear of men’. It means to be timid or to be shy. How do you recognize a shy person? I know it very well because before I gave my life to Christ I was a very shy woman. Shy people fear crowds’ they fear to meet and talk to strangers or to people who are different than them. They fear rejection from men. Shy people feel comfortable only with themselves. They are happy when they are alone. They feel free to talk only to people who are familiar with them. But not with strangers! I remember how in the past, when I meet a stranger, I will panic saying something like this in my heart…’I hope this man does not want to talk to me…How long will this man be here? I hope that time passes quickly before I go my way… If I have to talk, what I will say…I am sure that this man will laugh at me’. These questions will go round and round in my mind, making me restless and anxious. I will breathe fast and sweat more than normal. But once I arrive home and become alone, I relax and become happy. I will play my piano, I will read my book or watch TV…That was ‘my world’… From the outside I looked unfriendly but in my heart I wanted to change. I could have lived my life like this to the end ignorant of any hope to change.

Then I gave my life to Christ. Hallelujah!!! My life changed radically, from inside out. Then the Holy Spirit called me to ministry, to be a pastor. I live in Nigeria, so almost everybody is different than me. My shyness incapacitated me. Me a Pastor?  Me a Preacher?  Me? Impossible!  It is like God telling a blind man to paint a rainbow, like telling a deaf man to compose a symphony or like a barren woman to be a mother of children. It was impossible in the natural. Was there any hope for me, to serve God, to obey His call? The truth is that after I made peace with God I became better. But the final victory for me came after I became filled with the Holy Spirit. My mind and my heart became new. I lost this stupid shyness and became strong and bold. ‘Old things passed away and everything became new’. I will surprise myself how I will meet total strangers on the streets and ask them spiritual questions. I did not care about them rejecting me. I was now ‘accepted in the Beloved’. I was confident of my identity in Christ. I lost the fear of men judging me, persecuting me or betraying me. The demon of shyness had lost its grip on my heart. In its place, the Holy Spirit filled me with power, love and sound mind. God’s Spirit took charge of my soul. I wanted everybody to become saved. I became talkative. I became free. My husband was worried at the beginning. I shared my testimony with anyone who wanted to listen. Some received me and my words. Some rejected me. I felt no pain… Only joy and gratitude that I can serve God! The river of life was flowing in my soul, faster and faster, until it got lost into the ocean of grace, the sufficient amazing eternal wonderful grace of God. And that is all that matters! Glory to God!

PRAISE REPORT AND PRAYER REQUEST

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime–until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you” (Is 46:4; LB)

I have a very good friend, a sister in Christ who lives in Houston Tx. She has a ministry among the old people. Each week she goes to the Old People’s Home and prays with the residents there. Recently, the manager of the Home approved her request to have a Sunday service for the people in the home. She is now officially their pastor. She prayed what devotional to use among them. She said that the Holy Spirit directed her to use my book “The Doe of the Morning’ (Praise the Lord!!!). The foolwing are some lines from her letters. Please pray for her (she is almost 70 herself). Pray that God will grant her strength, wisdom, joy and anointing to minister to the old people. Pray also that her ministry will be fruitful. Pray that the people will be saved, healed and delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit! Pray that the name of Jesus Christ will be glorified even more in that Old people’s home! In Jesus name, amen!

‘God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end’ (Ecc 3:11)

Yesterday we visited a village called ‘Saint Paul de Vance’. The village is more than five hundred years old and it is said to be the most beautiful village in France. The streets are narrow and the houses are built in the mountain stone. The painters and sculptors love this place because the day light is purer than in other places making the colors look brighter (so they say…). Over the centuries Picasso and many other famous artists lived and died there. Even now, most of the houses are occupied by them displaying their works for all to see.

“Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Neh 8:10)

We recently celebrated the birthday of a 80 years old lady who was still mourning the death of a close relative. It was not easy to bring a smile on a sad face but with God all things are possible. How do you encourage somebody who is deeply depressed? Man cannot do it! It has to be the work of the Holy Spirit who alone is able to comfort the broken hearted.

“Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die” (Jn 12:31-33)

These are the words our Lord spoke before He died on the Cross. It is clear that the victory of the Cross manifests as the ‘casting away’ of satan, called ‘the ruler of this world’. The victory of Christ is total and perfect. Nothing can be added and nothing can be removed. The glory is His alone. Christ took our sins on His body and died in our place. He died naked and forsaken. He took away our disgrace as condemned sinners. He opened the door of life eternal. He is the eternal hero of heaven and earth!

Christ’ death was painful and fearful. Men are supposed to run away from the Cross. But oh, the wonders of love… there is a strange magnetic attraction to go closer and see the Son of Man dying for me. The Blood shed on the Cross for my sins speaks of love never ending. The tears that fell at the foot of the Cross water any dry heart that lost its hope. Just as Moses lifted the serpent in the desert, so the Son of Man was lifted up. Like a banner of the army, directing and encouraging its soldiers to victory, so the serpent is lifted on that pole for all to see. But one glance is not enough to appreciate the death of the Lover of your soul.  You must look long until what you see changes your heart. Love changes hearts. In the desert there were poisonous serpents that killed the sinners (Numbers 21). There is no man-made medicine that can destroy the poison of sin. Doctor Jesus prescribes the only cure available to men. It is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Do not look at yourself. You cannot save your soul and you cannot heal your sickness. But nothing is impossible with Jesus! That ulcer is not in your stomach. It is hanging on that pole. That fibroid is not in your womb blocking the way to pregnancy. It is there hanging on that pole. Look well and see malaria hanging there… If you believe, you shall be healed. But you need to look long to see Christ crucified. You must feel the pain and you must experience the victory. I declare that even now there is a lifting unto life. There is also a looking of faith. If you see what I see, if you see the truth of God’s sacrifice, then you shall live. You shall be healed! I promise you!

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one, we are an odor of death and demise; to the other, a fragrance that brings life. And who is qualified for such a task?” (2Cor 2:14-16)

We just came from a nice vacation in Thailand and Singapore. These countries are blessed with many exotic fruits and vegetables. For example, I have never in my life eaten mangoes so sweet like the ones we bought from the river market in Thailand. But one of the most interesting fruits we saw was the Durian. It is called ‘the king of the fruits’. The outside layer is hard and has spikes. If you are not careful it may wound you! It has a very bad smell (like rotten meat). But the inside of the fruit is yellow, sweet and soft like vanilla custard. If you are able to ignore the smell you will be surprised how good the inside is. They say that this exotic fruit has many healing properties: it prevents cancer, diabetes, headache, anemia, insomnia, depression and anxiety. Because of its smell this fruit is not exported. You need to go to Southeast Asia to eat it. It is forbidden inside most hotels, halls and malls. It is always sold and eaten outside on the streets.

“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you” (1Pet 4:14)

As a true believer, there is a peculiar pain that you must experience. From time to time the devil will use people to ‘insult’ you, not because you do bad things, but because you please God and the Holy Spirit ‘rests’ on you. If you do not understand this scripture you may become discouraged during these attacks and think of backsliding. This is the devil’s plan. But you should resist the devil and he will flee from you!

This strange pain comes to the born again Spirit filled believer who has allowed the Holy Spirit to ‘rest’ on him. The word ‘rest’ in Greek means to repose, to remain undisturbed, to stop working, to take it easy, to refresh, to take or to give rest. This is the picture of a mature believer who loves the Holy Spirit. Let me put it this way: Jesus found rest and peace in the house of His friends, Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Others mocked Him or demanded miracles from Him. But in the house of His friends, He could be Himself and He was loved sacrificially. In the same way, the Holy Spirit searches for Believers who allow Him to be Himself without demands, troubles or manipulation. The devil hates this glorious intimate fellowship and will use religious people to attack these humble believers.

In Greek, the word ‘insult’ means to be defamed, reviled, upbraided and taunted. Insult means disrespect and scornful abuse. It means to slander and to bring shame.  One of the names of the devil is ‘the accuser of the brethren’ (Rev 12:10). You need to prepare your mind for these prophesied insults. Do not be surprised when they come! Regard them as a blessing. Thank God for this sign, though painful, that the Holy Spirit of glory rests on you. This pain of persecution cannot be healed by mere human sympathies or kind words. Pray to the same Holy Spirit to comfort, encourage and strengthen you in your ‘inner man’. He alone understands your pain. He alone can heal your broken heart. His comfort is deep and total. It comes ‘packaged’ with a Spirit of wisdom and revelation. You will understand the foolishness of the world and the love of God like never before. Be grateful that even in the midst of the storm the Holy Spirit rests undisturbed on you. Finally, in all things give thanks!

“A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out” (Lev. 6:13)

One of the symbols of God’s Spirit is fire. Jesus Christ is the Baptizer with fire (Mt 3:11, 12). Just like John was baptizing repentant people in the water, so the Lord Jesus Christ will baptize your spirit in a river of holy fire. The purpose for that is to cleanse and purify your faith. Everything you say that you believe must pass thru God’s fire. If your words are true, they will come to pass. If your words are lies, they shall be burnt and you shall be called a liar. It is like gold passing thru the fire. Nothing can produce spiritual purity, anointing and power except this baptism of fire. In the Old Testament the priests were in charge of the fire at the tabernacle of God. This fire was miraculous. God Himself sent the fire on the sacrifice. But the maintenance of that holy fire was the duty of the priests. Even when they traveled the priests had to carry the fire burning with them. The priests received three main instructions about this holy work. There are two additions and one subtraction:  +sacrifice + wood – ashes!

(We too can learn from this)

*They should always place a sacrifice on the altar so that the fire will burn it. Without a sacrifice on the altar the fire becomes ‘idle’ and it is a danger of quenching. For example: a new born baby must be placed at his mother’s breast to suck. The breasts are ‘stimulated’ to produce milk. If not, the glands will stop working and the breasts will dry up. In the same way, the sacrifice ‘stimulates’ the fire. If the fire is quenched the priest is in serious danger. He has failed his work of God. He may be tempted to produce a ‘man-made’ fire which is called ‘the spirit of religion’. This will surely be rejected by God. Many churches and Christians have become lukewarm because of neglecting God’s true anointing and fire. We must daily present our bodies as a living sacrifice on the altar of God. Let God’s fire burn in your bones! You may feel uncomfortable but this is how God’s work is done! Take care of your body the best way you can (diet, exercise etc). Do this not to become stronger, healthier or more beautiful, but because your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit ‘walking’ on earth. Take care of God’s temple!

*They should always place wood every morning so that the fire can burn. You need to daily study the Bible and pray. That is added material (‘wood’) to the fire.

*Every day the priests should always take the ashes outside the camp to a ‘clean place’. The priest who does this special work should be clothed so that the ashes will not stick to his body. These ashes represent the end result of the work of the Holy Spirit. At the end of your ministration (singing worship songs, preaching, giving help to the needy etc) the people are to give glory to God and not to you. But if you receive the praises of people, the holy ashes will stick to your naked body and God will be angry with you. Another reason why the ashes must be removed is because they will quench the fire. The altar must be clean so that the fire can burn brighter. Yesterday’s work is gone! Today is a new day to serve God with a clean, submissive heart!

“Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord” (Rom 12:11). May the Holy Spirit help you desire a pure heart, anointing and power for ministry! May your heart continue to burn for the Lord Jesus Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit! May revival come!

“Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river… So Pharaoh awoke. He slept and dreamed a second time… So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream. Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh… Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.” So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (Genesis 41)

Pharaoh had a dream. It was not an ordinary dream. God was talking to him about his future. The survival of his country Egypt was at stake. Pharaoh’s sleep was interrupted. He ‘woke’ up. He was supposed to think and pray about the meaning of this strange dream. But this state of being awaken did not last long.  He went back to sleep. In Hebrew the word ‘sleep’ means to be slack, negligent, stale and spiritually lazy like an old dying man. To be stale refers to old dry bread; it is food no longer fresh and not pleasant to eat. This is the description of Pharaoh’s spirit who was not sensitive when God was talking to him about his very destiny. Please observe God’s patience in dealing with spiritually sleepy men. God comes back the second time with another dream. This time Pharaoh wakes up and cannot go back to sleep. ‘His spirit becomes troubled’. The word ‘troubled’ here means God knocking at the door of his heart. It means to shake, to fear and to become agitated. As unpleasant as this troubling is, this is the correct reaction to God’s Word. We must fear God and tremble at His Word. We should not sleep like the foolish virgins when God is near. Troubled and afraid, Pharaoh does not rest until he finds the solution to his problem. Somebody must remind him of the forgotten dreams and interpreted them. His magicians could not help him. He presses on until he eventually finds Joseph who gives him an answer of peace. Joseph is a type of Christ, who is the Prince of peace.

What is the lesson for us? When God speaks to you, thru dreams, thru visions, thru the Bible or thru prophetic utterances, pray that you may hear and respond immediately with the fear of God. Your spirit should feel agitated. Do not ‘ignore’ God! This is not the time to go back to sleep. You must seek God with all your heart and you shall find Him. The only True and Living God has revealed Himself thru His Son Jesus Christ, who is the ‘heavenly Joseph’. You must pay the price and find Jesus! Men in your church may have put Jesus ‘in prison’. They may tell you that Jesus does not exist. Your freedom may be in bondage. Your peace may be in chains. Your hope may be lost. This is work of the evil spirit of religion telling you that there is no hope for you and you should go to sleep. Do not listen to lies! Get us! Stay awake and pray! Go to the Cross! Find Christ! Fight for your soul! It is the Holy Spirit who is troubling you! You cannot fight Him! The Lord Jesus Christ shall come and help you! I am a witness! I know! Awake you sleeper and Christ will shine on you!