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July 2015 MessagesSunday July 5, 2015
Days of Violence!
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12)
Violence is defined by the World Health Organization as "the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation“…. This definition involves intentionality with the committing of the act itself, irrespective of the outcome it produces. However, generally, anything that is excited in an injurious or damaging way may be described as violent even if not meant to be violence (by a person and against a person).
The most prevalent cause of death in interpersonal violence is assault with a firearm (180,000), followed by a sharp object (114,000). Other means contribute to another 110,000 deaths.[3]
Violence in many forms is preventable. There is a strong relationship between levels of violence and modifiable factors such as concentrated poverty, income and gender inequality, the harmful use of alcohol, and the absence of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships between children and parents. Strategies addressing the underlying causes of violence can be effective in preventing violence.[4] (Extracts from Wikipedia – Emphasis mine)
Pray: •Father, let thousands of my enemies flee as I pray (Isaiah 30:17).
•Be gracious to me my Father, let me see your hand working on my behalf in every area of my life. (Isaiah 30:18)
•Lord, cause me to rejoice, let me triumph in the works of your hand (Psalm 92:4).
•My stubborn and unrelenting enemies, perish by fire in the name of Jesus. (Isaiah 29:20, Psalm 68:2)
•Every opposition against my progress, die in the name of Jesus.
Globally, violence resulted in the death of 1.28 million people in 2013 up from 1.13 million in 1990.[3] 842,000 were due to suicide, 405,000 were due to homicide, and 31,000 were due to war.[3] In Africa, out of every 100,000 people, each year an estimated 60.9 die a violent death.[5] Gunfire kills ten children a day in the United States. Corlin, past president of the American Medical Association said: "The United States leads the world—in the rate at which its children die from firearms." He concluded: "Gun violence is a threat to the public health of our country."[6] For each single death due to violence, there are dozens of hospitalizations, hundreds of emergency department visits, and thousands of doctors' appointments.[7] Furthermore, violence often has lifelong consequences for physical and mental health and social functioning and can slow economic and social development.
(Extracts from Wikipedia – Emphasis mine) Pray:
•Every arrow of the wicked targeted to make me weep, go back to senders in the name of Jesus.
•Every agenda of the wicked to make me fail, die in the name of Jesus.
•Failure at the edge of success, I reject you in the name of Jesus.
•Sound success and greatness is my portion.
•Every evil plan of loss, retrogression, stagnancy and backwardness, backfire in the name of Jesus.
•I recover all my stolen blessings and missed opportunities in the name of Jesus.
Pray further:
•Give thanks.
• If you are not yet saved, take the prayer points on the New Life page of the website before continuing.
•Violence will not come near me and my household in Jesus name.
•I will not encounter violence, violence will not encounter me.
•I will triumph over every opposition in Jesus name.
•Every evil covenant working against my life and destiny, break by the blood of Jesus.
•Incantations, words, negative prophecies troubling my life, be reversed by the blood of Jesus
• Take your personal prayer points
Peace!
Sunday July 12, 2015
They Do Not Need To Go Away!
15When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” •16But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” (Matthew 14:13-21)
• Jesus and His disciples had a rough time: Ø The disciples had just collected the beheaded body of the greatest prophet of the time, the cousin of Jesus. Ø They told Jesus that His cousin, His forerunner had been beheaded and killed by the ruling authorities; it was a difficult time. Ø Notwithstanding they allowed themselves to be used by God to be a blessing to the hungry and needy. They do not need to go away. Ø Notwithstanding what you have gone through and you are going through, allow yourself to be a blessing to the needy and hungry around you. • Jesus and His disciples were trying to go on a retreat (Luke 9:10), to rest: Ø Notwithstanding, there was a need, and they could not rest and be refreshed at that time because the hungry and needy followed them. Ø If it affects your rest, be a blessing. Ø Jesus was moved with compassion and healed their sick and taught them many things (Matthew 14:14, Mark 6:34). • The disciples, not Jesus, noticed that: Ø It was evening Ø The multitude were hungry and Ø Highlighted their need, followed up till their needs were met. Ø Notice the needs of people around you, even if the pastor does notice Ø follow up to have those needs met: They do not need to go away. (Example of brother needing school fees). Ø Give them something to eat Ø Don’t look at your earthly limited supplies to meet the need Ø Look up to God’s unlimited power and provisions Ø Give thanks and give the provision to the hungry and needy • Be obedient Ø The disciples were obedient to check what was available nearby and discovered 5 loaves and 2 fishes Ø They were obedient Ø As you are obedient to look around, God will multiply the seemingly insufficient to more than enough Ø Be obedient Ø The multitude were obedient to: • Sit down • Sit in groups • Disobedience always leads to losses (ask Achan and the young prophet) • God is able to supply all you need for life and godliness. • He has promised that to grey hairs he will sustain and uphold you, as long as you cling to him (Isaiah 46:4). • Your joy and peace is guaranteed because He has said my peace I give to you (John 14:27). • You do not need to go away you may be hungry like the adults and children in the crowd, you do not need to go away from Jesus, you may be tired, you do not need to go away, You may be weak and helpless in need of healing, you do not need to go away, He is your sustainer, the God of the whole earth, your healer, deliverer, sanctifier and provider who can keep your soul till the very end (Hebrews 7:25). • Note that the apostles said who else shall we go to, you have the words of eternal life. Ø This means there is no salvation in any other name, person, religion or means; there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby you must and can be saved except by the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12). • The people were fed until there were left overs. • God can transform your situation from: Ø a state of not enough - lack to having more than enough Ø a state of helplessness to being helped and helpful, Ø a state of thirst to being completely satisfied, Ø ill health to sound health Ø lack of wisdom to being full of wisdom etc. Prayer: • Give thanks. • Are you Saved? If not take the prayers on the New Life page. • Lord, make me a blessing indeed in Jesus name. • Those you have and will send to me, do not let them go away from you in Jesus name. • Father, do not let me go away from you in Jesus name. • Every plan of shame, disgrace, stagnancy, retrogression, ill health for me and my family scatter in Jesus name. • I destroy every evil work against me in Jesus name. • Personal prayer points Sunday July 19, 2015
Walking on Water!
• Jesus Walks on Water
23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. (Matthew 14:22-33) • Means doing the impossible, the impossible made possible in your family, health, career, business, education, finances, home, marriage and destiny. • Gravity and the liquid state of water would not allow anyone stand on , much less walk on water. • Jesus did it successfully, Peter did it, by the hand of our mighty God. • Noah’s ark floated above water when all else was destroyed by water. • You can overcome impossible situations by the mighty arm of our God. Jesus walked on water! To walk on water: • Be focused: maintain the path. Jesus remained focused on getting some time of rest as earlier planned in v13 before the distraction of feeding the 5,000. Be focused and stay on your God ordained path notwithstanding distractions on the way. • Don’t be afraid to be alone: v23; Matthew 5:1-2 • Be prayerful: v23 • Ignore the boisterous and high winds: v30 and • Cry out for help: v30-33; • Receive Jesus into your ship to obtain divine speed: John 6:19-21 Pray • Give thanks. • Are you Saved? If not, pray the prayers on the New Life page. • Lord, help me to focus on you and you alone. • Father, help me to be prayerful. • Father, increase my faith, I will not be distracted by the boisterous winds of life. • Lord, as I cry out to you, come to my aid. • Father, grant me divine speed and accomplishment in Jesus name. • Every plan of shame, disgrace, stagnancy, retrogression, ill health for me and my family scatter in Jesus name. • I destroy every evil work against me in Jesus name. • Personal prayer points Peace! The Men of That Place!
34And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 35And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; 36And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. (Matthew 14:34-36) The men of which place? • Gennesaret which means garden of the prince, garden of riches or paradise of Galilee; the ATS Bible dictionary states: was a tract of land some three of four; miles long on the western border of the Sea of Galilee. It was a lovely and exceedingly fertile region; in it probably lay Capernaum and Bethsaida of Galilee, places often visited by our Lord. • God has placed you in a fertile land: Isaiah 61:3, 1 Corinthians 3:9 What is special about the men? • Nothing: Then Peter said, "Now I understand that God doesn't play favorites. Acts 10:34. You are just like them! What did the men know, what did they not know? • They had knowledge of Jesus – Matthew 14:35 – do you have knowledge of Jesus? They recognized Him for who He is, their saviour, their healer, the I AM. Do you have knowledge of Jesus? What did they do with what they knew? • They sent word – publicized – to the people around them to bring all their problems, the sick, the lame, the dying to Jesus – the source and giver of life, the Supreme Healer • They brought the people to Jesus • The men interceded for the people of that place - they asked Jesus to allow the people touch the hem of His garment Why did they do what they did? • They knew they are the salt of their generation, the light of their city and world. Salt preserves from decay, changes tastelessness to sweetness (Matthew 5:13-14) Are you the salt of your generation are you the light of your city the light of your world What was the impact of their actions? • The people touched the hem of His garment • As many as came and touched had all their problems solved What should I change in my approach and attitude? • Be like the men of that place • There is a need to let the ‘men of that place’ and the people of that place know about Jesus. Did the men of that place go home sick? without being healed? • When they hear about Jesus they will come to Him, bring their problems to Him and be healed. How? • Be fervent in prayers and evangelism • Either He touches you (Matthew 8:3) or you touch Him (Matthew 9:20), as long as a touch happens you will be made perfectly whole • Broadcast what you know of Him and what He has done for you because the land of hearts is fertile, ready to be harvested (John 4:35-38) Pray • Give thanks. • Are you Saved? If not pray the prayers on the New Life page • Father, make me a salt of the earth and a light to my city and world in Jesus name. • Father, grant me divine speed and accomplishment in Jesus name. • Every plan of shame, disgrace, stagnancy, retrogression, ill health for me and my family scatter in Jesus name. • I destroy every evil work against me in Jesus name. • Personal prayer points |
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