Beauty & The Gospel MADE PERFECT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
DECEMBER 2021
| ISSUE 10 VOL 4|
OFFER UNTO GOD THANKSGIVING
0UR VISION Romans 15:20(TPT) It is my honor and constant passion to be a pioneer who preaches where no one has ever even heard of the Anointed One, instead of building upon someone else’s foundation.
OUR MISSION 1 Corinthians 1:17 (MSG) God didn’t send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the Message of what He has done, collecting a following for Him. And He didn’t send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the center—Christ on the Cross—be trivialized into mere words.
declarations e u g n o t e h t f o Power V E R B S 1 8 : 2 1 PRO
My enemies will clap hands for me I will finish the work that the Lord Jesus has anointed me to do
Goodness & Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life My life is an answer and solution to those in need I declare open HEAVENS in my spiritual life, marriage, career, family, and finances My destiny helpers and midwives are locating me My generation and nations shall be saved King JESUS my life is for YOUR GLORY
Beauty & The Gospel
CONTENTS THE ETERNAL DANGER OF CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS LUCIFERIAN PLOT : APPEARANCE OF THE MAN OF SIN The devil is more than ready to rule the earth and times are critical DYING TO SELF "many people speak on dying to self, but how many really understand it?'' 7 BEHAVIORS TO THROW OUT WITH THE REST OF YOUR JUNK Be wise— say nothing! 'the prudent hold their tongues.” SELF JUSTIFICATION OF SOME WOMEN It is futile putting up argument against God or His Word. SANCTIFICATION IS REQUIRED TO ENTER HEAVEN
“It is the spiritual condition of man that determines his eternity.” ISSUE NO 10 VOL 4
that gurl's
EDITOR'S NOTE pay thy Offer unto God thanksgiving; and vows unto the most High:
Psalm 50:14 KJV This Editor's note is from Tsakani , a slave of Jesus Christ.
I greet you in the only powerful name of Jesus Christ. Beloved , it's that time of the year where we get to consciously reflect upon the year and what we've been up to , faced and conquered.
With that being said in the midst of all this , let's make it a priority to give thanks to the LIVING GOD . If I were to list all He has done this year and in general , there wouldn't be enough space. The biggest has to be health and salvation.
Fam, a lot who professed to be Christians have fallen away , backslidden or are lukewarm. Here you stand , standing by the grace of the Lord JESUS.
As it's the holiday season , let's not get lost in the festivity and culture of this wicked world but always remember WHO WE ARE and ETERNITY. Let's guard ourselves in prayer, worship and the LIVING WORD.
This holiday season will be different for me and my family as we definitely won't be celebrating "CHRISTMAS" . Find out why in one of the articles featured in this issue.
None the less, may the grace of the Lord JESUS CHRIST and the ever sweet fellowship of the HOLY SPIRIT be with you. Be a blessing and stay blessed !
Shalom!
EDITOR
tsakani mhlongo @empress_teekay
devotions
Choose Life by Dr André and Jenny Roebert Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT): "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!"
The Bible reveals that in life, we ultimately have one of two choices to make - a choice for life or a choice for death. Knowing we have the gift of free will, the Lord urges us to, "choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!" This means choosing life today not only affects us individually, but also the quality of life for our descendants. There is a way that leads to life and then there is a way that leads to death. Romans 8:5-6 says those who choose to live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For, to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. The world says "if it feels good, do it" - irrespective of the outcome. However, choosing life involves making a conscious decision to choose the way that leads to life, by following the instruction of God's Word and the leading of His Holy Spirit. In Proverbs 16:25, Solomon said, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." From today, decide to renew your mind to "whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report" (Philippians 4:8), and let life well up in and through you!
REVELATION BY: ISAAC MAYELE
LUCIFERIAN PLOT : APPEARANCE OF THE MAN OF SIN
REVELATION
The devil is more than ready to rule the earth and times are critical, the Rapture is imminent, the wise will prepare themselves when they see the world pandemic and disasters hitting the world since more deaths will follow the coronavirus. There shall be a global crisis and global recession and the Pope will rush the manifestation of the Man of Sin to restore normality and world order. In the aftermath of the appearing of the Man of Sin, new anti-biblical laws will be introduced and a universal Church will be forced upon humanity and no Christian will worship God unless he joins the universal and ecumenical Church.
There shall be persecution of those who
The Lord told me, “The devil and his
oppose the new order and thanks to
agents are multiplying meetings. Recently,
database and internet that has people’s
they have adopted many resolutions and
identities through different social network
decisions for the devil feels that there is
platforms, rebels will be tracked.
no more time left before him. They have
We were in fasting and prayer and the
many plans and they are rushing to implement them.”
Lord said, “Those who are not prudent and on the alert will be surprised. They are failing to grasp the danger of this moment.”
Brother, the Lord told me to warn His people to buy new Bibles, for He told me that the Bible will become scarce. The Lord said, “Tell them to stop using Bible
The Lord said, “Tell My children to seize
apps on the phone. They must all buy
the opportunity to amend and reform
new Bibles. Indeed new laws will prohibit
their behavior now for many will be
Bible apps and they will cease. The devil
surprised by the sound of the trumpet.
is holding regular meetings with the Pope
Before My imminent return more plagues,
and they are preparing extremely well to
disasters, and woes will fall on this world.
take over the world and rule the world the
More pandemic will be hitting the earth.
moment the Bride is gone.” The Lord said,
Things will get tough. Those with eyes to
“They are serious and they are not playing
see will reform their lives and the Rapture
like My children that are in distraction
will happen.
and asleep.”
The enemy is going to use technology in
The Lord instruction is that His Church
order to locate the whereabouts of every
must spend time watching and praying.
man and woman on the earth for people’s
They must be dedicated to prayer, living
identities are already on the Internet. The
in My presence and reading their Bible.
children of darkness are working to
However many of His people are not
identify those who oppose the coming
watching and praying.
New World Order.” I remember a pastor who was telling me it I remember that I was in the market
is a good idea to gather together
buying food when the Spirit of God began
Christians, Muslim, Hindus, and Buddhists
to point out to me the number on the
to pray together to a God that is called
food label. The Spirit of God said, “These
the good God. I replied to him there is no
numbers are of the beast. This is the
such thing as an interreligious good God.
system of Satan where the human world
The only good God is Jesus Christ, every
is heading. No one will buy and sell unless
man will kneel before Him and confess his
he accepts the number of the beast.”
sins in order to obtain the forgiveness of their sins.
REVELATION
In that retreat the Lord instructed us to
The Lord insists that we must testify
read the Bible in families and with
about the good news of the Gospel not to
children. We should not let children
waste time talking about the lives of
watching all these cartoons that are
pastors committing scandalous acts. We
causing enchantment.
must pray for the country for the enemy has not given up. The deliverance of the
The Lord warned that people will look for
country is a process.
the Bible and they won’t find good ones except the Bible of the Antichrist. Cartoon
The Lord said His servants that have kept
is enchantment. They don’t belong to God
themselves from the corruption of the
and they are witchcraft.
world are preparing His people in holiness, purity, and sanctification despite
Many children dream that they are flying
these false pastors scandalizing the weak
because of cartoons. Cartoons have
in the body of Christ. The devil has his
initiated these children as witches, that is
servants in the Church but God’s servants
why they are flying in their dreams.
also exist. We should not join those who are gossiping about scandalous servants
The Lord revealed to me that there are
otherwise we are helping the devil to
wires starting from the TV going down to
harden the heart of the unbelievers and
hell. If you have been watching horror
we should not be shaken by the
movies and cartoons, demons will be
scandalous actions of false prophets. We
rising from hell and they will land in your
should not trust in men.
home. The Lord showed me how demons of hell come in many homes through TV.
The Lord said, “The Antichrist is at work
This is why many of God’s children are
and he is pushing his agenda all over the
moving away from the TV. Be careful with
world and his number are in many
what you are watching on TV.
products.” In a vision, the Lord spoke to me about the gospel singer Brother
The Lord said, “My Church is supposed to
Michael. The Lord is happy about his
evangelize and be a witness but the devil
prayer of repentance that must continue.
makes sure that people sit to talk about
The Lord said this is the time for
pastors throwing discredit to the body of
repentance of prayer. However, the Lord
Christ.” The Lord complained that His
told me to talk to you Brother Michael
children are talking about these servants
about the issue of association, “There are
and this is hardening the heart of
fellow Christian singers that you
unbelievers and the devil is winning souls
collaborate with, who are of the enemy.
thanks to the scandalous behavior of
The Lord heard your prayer of repentance
pastors.
for repentance prayer is what the Lord is expecting from His people in this critical moment.”
REVELATION
The Lord told me to warn His people to be prudent and on the alert. These winds of sicknesses are things that the devil has plotted against humanity and the world. However, His children living in distraction will suffer, therefore the Lord told me to warn His children to watch and pray.
REVELATION
w
& h c t a y a r p
THE ETERNAL DANGER OF CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS BY: ASTON ADAM MBAYA|
SOURCE:HTTPS://SAVIOUR4EVER.WORDPRESS.COM/
Brother, I have already talked about
And on the 86th day of this experience,
Christmas but this time around it will be
the Lord came and He took me again to
different, for it will not be preaching or
Hell. When we arrived in Hell, as usual,
teaching but a testimony. Many people
this was a kingdom full of fire. There was a
celebrate this feast. Therefore, I will testify
lot of lava of fire everywhere, and I saw
so that you can make up your mind either
countless lost souls inside the lava of fire.
to continue to celebrate this holiday or
They were numerous. I noticed that their
not.
lower parts were in the lava of fire.
When I had this experience in my life, I
Finally, we arrived before a gate. When I
was at a point where I was being taken by
looked, I saw a man sitting before the
the Lord to Hell. I mean, I had daily
gate. He was dressed exactly like Father
experience with the Lord for a period of
Christmas. He was holding toys on his
351 days. I had been in Hell for 351 days.
hand, and he was laughing at people that were stuck inside the gate.
Above the gate of this place was written,
This inspiration came from the devil
“The chambers of the damned souls who
himself who had summoned a meeting in
celebrate Christmas.”
which he told the powers of darkness, ‘Since Christians of the world don’t have a
The writing was not of this world but the
day where they remember and celebrate
Lord enabled me to understand it. I am
their master. And since living in the
just simplifying things so that you can
presence of their Master daily is the
understand. In Hell, I saw that fire was not
celebration of their God, lets come up with
burning demons, impure birds, beasts and
a day where we will tell the world that they
impure animals. It was only burning
are celebrating the birth of Christ.This will
human souls that were in this hostile
be the day the whole world and all
place.
families of the world will give me the honor. I want a day where the whole world
When I saw this writing on the gate, I said,
would celebrate and worship me a day,
“Lord, what is the meaning of this
where all the families of the Earth will
inscription?” The Lord said, “All the sins
worship and celebrate me. That day will
that people are committing on the Earth
not be for remembering the death of
are classified in prisons and punishments
Christ, for it is too powerful.
in Hell. This chamber that you see is built for people who are celebrating Christmas.”
When the families of the Earth and the inhabitants of the Earth will celebrate this
I said, “Lord, people celebrate Christmas
day, they shall be marked by my serial
because it is Your birthday.” The Lord
666.’ ” This resolution of Satan was
replied to me, “That is not the case. This
implemented by the Roman Catholic
celebration was instituted by the devil
Church and people who celebrate
through the Roman Catholic Church. And
Christmas are marked with 666 for they
the demon you see that is called Father
are worshipping the devil. I saw this
Christmas is the unclean spirit that is
demon that was Father Christmas before
seducing the world. He is a demon. This
the gate. He was saying to the damned
church that came up with Christmas is the
souls in torment, “Rejoice for this is your
representative of Satan.
kingdom. You have accepted our proposition and you have done our will in
The Lord said, “There were many gods in
bidding. This is your reward.” [God gives
ancient times. The Emperor was
specific instructions about using pagan
worshipping the Sun God. When the
practices to worship Him— the exact thing
Romans came to Christianity, the Emperor
Christmas does! Notice what He says in
resolved to institute a feast for the
Deuteronomy 12:30-32:
Christians. The Emperor said, ‘Since there is a feast of Holy Communion to
“. . . Do not inquire after their gods,
remember the death and resurrection of
saying, ‘How did these nations serve their
Christ, we need a day of celebration in
gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not
order to celebrate the Sun God.’
worship the LORD your God in that way .
Whatever I command you, be careful
Jesus likewise says His true followers “must
to observe it; you shall not add to it
worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24)—not
nor take away from it” And lest some
revel in recycled pagan customs and
think this is simply an Old Testament command that no longer applies, the apostle Paul makes the same point in 2 Corinthians 6, where he addresses whether unbiblical religious customs and practices have any place in the worship of God’s people:
symbolism.] When we got to the gate, this demon ran away from the presence of the Lord. I saw the names of the people who celebrate this pagan feast on the gate. Then the gate opened. When we entered the gate of this chamber, I was feeling lost.
“What fellowship has righteousness with
I said, “Lord, please get me out of here. I
lawlessness? And what communion has
swear to tell people that Hell is real.
light with darkness? And what accord has
This place is unbearable. I cannot take it.”
Christ with Belial [the devil and/ or
The Lord said, “My son, you have to see this.
demons]? Or what part has a believer
It is in your interest. You should tell the
with an unbeliever? And what agreement
inhabitants of the land about these things.”
has the temple of God with idols? For you
Brother, there was fire everywhere in this
are the temple of the living God . . .
place. There was no empty space. Quickly I began to hear the voices of men and
“Therefore ‘Come out from among them
children. They were countless.
and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive
These children were obsessed with the
you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you, and you
Christmas celebration on the Earth. I watched
shall be My sons and daughters, says the
and I saw that they were like decomposing
LORD Almighty.’ Therefore, having these
and they were crying.
promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh
As we were moving in this place, I saw a pit
and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear
and inside the pit, there was a baby crying. He
of God” (2 Corinthians 6:14- 18; 2
was eaten by worms. As the baby was crying
Corinthians 7:1).
the Lord allowed me to hear him. He was saying, “I don’t know anything. I left the Earth
Rather than relabeling pagan customs as
when I was one year old. What have I done to
Christian, or allowing members of the
deserve this?” I asked the Lord, “Why is this
Church to continue their old pagan
baby here?” The Lord said, “The baby was
practices, the apostle Paul told them in
initiated from the womb of her mother in
nouncertain terms to leave behind all
witchcraft. That is why he is there.”
these forms of worship and worship God in true holiness as He commands.
When we left this baby, I saw a toddler. He was surrounded by demons.
These demons were cartoon characters
Jesus said, “I know the works you have done
that he was watching on the Earth. The kid
for Me. But you were imprudent and
used to watch Snowy. As a result, Snowy
complacent for you knew My word and My
was around him in this place among
principles, but you went on to celebrate this
others. The child seems to be 8. [Snowy
holiday willingly. You ignored the voice of the
(French: Milou [milu]) is a fictional
Spirit because of alack of vigilance. By
character in The Adventures of Tintin, the
celebrating this holiday you went to worship
comics series by Belgian cartoonist Hergé.
this god of Christmas, who is a demon. You
Snowy is a white Wire Fox Terrier who is a
shall have no other God than Me. It is too late
companion to Tintin, the series’
and there is nothing I can do.”
protagonist.] Then we moved to another pit where I saw Brother, in Hell, it was difficult to identify
four children. They were holding fiery
people for they were rotting and they
hammers and they were beating a woman
were skeletons. You will recognize people
with their hammers.
thanks to their voices for they were covered with worms. The child was crying
They said, “We did nothing wrong. But this
and calling the name of his mother and
woman brought us here. She is the one who
father. For when you fall into Hell, you will
taught us to celebrate Christmas every year.
remember your family and loved ones
That is why we are here.” The Lord said, “This
that you left on the Earth.
lady is the mother of these four children. She used to buy her children’s clothes every year
I asked the Lord, “Why was this child
at Christmas and they were celebrating.
there?” The Lord said, “When this child was on the Earth, his parents were always
One day they were on a bus and they had an
buying him gifts and presents for
accident and they died.” The mother said to
Christmas. But whenever his parents
the Lord, “The children were piling pressure
failed to buy him presents and clothes, he
on me every Christmas to buy them new
was crying and bothering his parents. He
clothes, and I had no choice but to please
was shouting and imposing himself and
them in order to have peace. I wanted to
saying, ‘I must celebrate Christmas.’ His
please them.” The Lord said, “My daughter, it
parents were so pressured that they had
is written, ‘Do not conform to the present
to do what it takes to buy him Christmas
world. You are not of this world.''
presents and clothes. Brother, we cannot do things and follow the When new clothes were bought for him,
traditions of the world because the people of
he was happy to go play with other kids.
this world are doing it. We are not of this
Since the child was doing this every
world. Let us learn to use the freedom that
Christmas, the Devil put the mark 666 on
we have received from the Spirit.
the child, for he had become a worshipper of Father Christmas who represented
The Lord said, “My daughter, time is gone for
everything for the child.
you.”
As we were moving in this place, there
The Lord said, “All the food that he had eaten
were pits everywhere with people
in all the Christmas celebration all these years
shouting because of pain. There were
are in his belly. That is why it is that way.”
demons mocking these souls in this place.
Jesus said, “Demons will pierce him forever.”
They were saying, “You people were
And I saw that he was unable to stand up
worshipping Father Christmas by
because of his belly. He was calling the name
celebrating Christmas. This is your
of his pastor but it was too late. He was there
kingdom. You will celebrate and worship
inside the fire.
Father Christmas here forever. Why are you crying? You are in your kingdom.
Then I saw a preacher in Hell preaching and telling lost souls, “Do not celebrate Christmas
While we were in this chamber of Hell, I
as it is of the devil.” I saw that some souls
saw the gate where we had entered this
were asking for forgiveness, other souls were
chamber of Hell. I saw demons coming in
insulting him.
the gate with a number of children. They were pulling these children with wires that
I asked the Lord, “Why has this preacher
were attached to their tongues.
fallen in this place?” The Lord said, “In his church, he was preaching that people can
The Lord said, “What you see are the
celebrate Christmas. Every Christmas children
newcomers. They’ve died on the Earth and
were invited and given presents in his church.
they have the mark of Father Christmas
When he died, he realized that he was in
666 on their forehead.”They were crying
error. That is why you see him preaching this
for help. The Lord had a love for these
way, but it is too late for him.” When we got
souls. But He kept saying, “Too late, too
to him, he said, “Lord, pity me. I did your work
late.” Beloved, how many times have you
and won souls on Earth. And when I fell into
and I celebrated this pagan holiday? Then I
Hell, I realized my mistake.
saw at a distance a soul that was inside the liquid lava. His belly was like four
That is why I am preaching here and many
meters and demons were piercing his
souls believed me. Get me out here.” The
belly with javelins.
Lord said, “Lying servant, you knew My word, but you wanted to follow the celebration of
The Lord said, “This man has lived 55
the world and you preached that celebrating
years on the Earth from birth until death.
Christmas was okay. It is too late.” When we were leaving, this preacher began to insult
He celebrated Christmas every year. He
the Lord and he was blaspheming. The Lord
never missed celebrating. He was buying
was in tears.
food and clothes and going out to celebrate. He kept telling his wife, ‘We must celebrate and enjoy this time of life. I am happy to be with you.’
child of GOD, celebrating christmas will take you to HELLFIRE
REMINDER
HAVING ABSOLUTE FAITH IN THE NAME, JESUS CHRIST SHEPHERD HILL COMMUNITY
Greetings dear friend. Every new day brings YOU closer to the Coming of Christ. My QUESTION is, "ARE YOU READY TO MEET WITH THE LORD" ?
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devil......." Mark.16:17.
"And whatsoever ye shall *ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." St.John 14:13-14.
"............Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." St.John 16:23.
REMINDER
Beloved, God's love for you did not end at the cross. GOD continues to show you His love by giving you the legal right to be called His child according to 1John 3:1, then the right to use the name of JESUS and more. Unfortunately, many people use the name of JESUS no more than a closing abbreviation or an ending clause in prayer. Our first Bible reference says, the name of JESUS will bring about the manifestation of supernatural signs and that means His name is not ordinary. In Hebrew.1:4, it says that JESUS has, by inheritance, obtained a more excellent name than all the angels and archangels. Powerful as these angels are, no where in the entire bible are we told to pray in the name of an angel. Only the more excellent name of JESUS can produce excellent results. If He got that name from the Father by inheritance, then all the power of GOD is in that name; and since you are joint-heirs with JESUS (If you are Born Again) according to Roman.8:17, therefore you have full rights to use the name of JESUS. Hallelujah. When JESUS sent out His disciples according to Matthew.10:1 and Luke.9:1, He gave them power and authority over all devils and to heal all sickness and disease. When the disciples returned, they said in Luke.10:17: "Lord, even the devils are subject to us through thy name" JESUS gave them power and they testified that devils were subject to them through His name.
That simply means that the power He gave them was in His name and could only be released through the mention of that name. What an awesome previlege we've been given... Do you wonder why you don't see answers to some prayers? JESUS said, ask the Father anything this is very important. You must see GOD as Father and address Him that way if you want His response. God's word says, the spirit of sonship always addresses GOD as Father- Romance.8:15. We worship Him as GOD and that, He enjoys, but He wants us to relate to Him as Father because that's the new covenant sense. JESUS called Him Father more times than He called Him GOD and there's nothing disrespectful about it. You accept sonship by calling Him Father. JESUS said, GOD is our Father just as the same GOD is His Father- St.John 20:17. Hallelujah! What an honour to have GOD as Father!! Even when some people ask the Father yet they don't get answers. What could be wrong? For a long time, I thought I didn't have enough faith, so I worked hard on my faith but still didn't get the results I expected until GOD showed me the secret in a scripture I had read several times in years and that scripture is Acts 3:16:
"And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness...." We try to have faith in our faith, rather than have faith in the name of JESUS. Your faith must be in something that cannot be shaken or fail and that's where the name of JESUS stands out. Also, knowing that the devil specialises in firing shots of guilt, rejection, condemnation and unworthiness at anybody who dares to use the name of JESUS, you must let your faith stand on the person of JESUS and not whether you feel holy enough or unholy to use His name. If you are Born Again, you are a CHILD of GOD; and although you are not on the same standing as JESUS in some sense, yet like the brothers of Joseph who enjoyed the favour of the King because of the position of Joseph, we too can enjoy God's favour because of the position of JESUS who called us His brothers- Hebrew.2:11. Wow!! In Acts 3:12, the Apostle Peter was quick to admit that, it was not their power or their holiness that made the man walk, but faith in the name of JESUS. Dear friend, never let the devil talk you out of your miracle by making you focus on yourself. It's not how you feel about yourself that changes you, but how you feel about JESUS. The woman at the well in St.John 4, had for a long time carried a certain feeling about herself but nothing changed, till she knew something about JESUS. Faith in His person and the unlimited power in His name will make anything possible.
REMINDER
JESUS said, the Father would give us the Holy Spirit in His nameSt.John 14:26, and if the Father releases the Holy Spirit in the name of JESUS, there's nothing GOD cannot release to you in His name. Praise GOD.. Our second Bible reference, St.John 14:13-14 says, GOD is glorified when that thing you ask in the name of JESUS is given to you. Now start using the name of JESUS with great expectancy, see that name fulfilling all the righteous demand of a holy GOD, see that name justifying your standing before GOD, see all the power of GOD released through that name on your situation; I stand by you in Faith and declare in the name of JESUS, that you will never cease to testify of a miracle each time you use that name JESUS CHRIST. Hallelujah!!!
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LAW & FAITH
Chanelle Fairlene Pillay Chanelle Fairlene Pillay is a South African born, qualified attorney in her own firm CHANELLE FAIRLENE ATTORNEYS, with her Masters in Business Law. She is a woman of faith and planted in the ministry known as THE SUPERNATURAL CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST where she encountered more of the Lord and His dynamic plans for her life. She is also the author of the books, "A Shepherd King" , "Away From Yesterday" and “The Destiny Dreamer available on Amazon. @chanelle.fairlene
DYING TO SELF Every person in the Word of God who walked in the fullness of all that the LORD had purposed for them had one thing in common: They had died to self. Many people speak on dying to self, but how many really understand it? Jesus said in John 12:24, “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit…” There cannot be fruitfulness without dying to self.
The one characteristic that man struggles with is pride; pride in all they have achieved in life, pride in who they believe they are, pride in their own plans and ideas of what they have in store for their own lives. This is one of the reasons none of these men and women can be used mightily of God. God is looking for vessels who are dead. There was a time when Moses had taken matters into his own hands in Egypt. Literally.
LAW & FAITH
Seeing the ill treatment of his fellow Hebrew brothers, Moses struck an Egyptian, killing him and burying him in the sand. Although God had chosen him as deliverer of the Israelites, it was not going to unfold according to Moses’ plan. Moses had to learn this. The deliverance and purpose for his life had to be according to the will and blueprint of God. Only decades later, after fleeing Egypt and dying to all that he had known in the desert, Moses had a true encounter with the Living God. An encounter that made him one of the greatest men of old; whose walk and life before THE LORD is so profound and powerful in all its dimensions and lessons. Even Joseph had to learn to die to self. Imagine his surprise when he was taken from being a favoured son in the house of Jacob to becoming a slave in Egypt- imprisoned, and as if forgotten. He must have wondered on many days and nights what had become of his dreams and plans. However, we see that Joseph still possessed some form of pride in himself and his gifts in Genesis 40:14 when interpreting the dreams of the butler and baker. He said,“But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house…” It was all “me, me, me”. Yet, several years had to pass before Joseph was truly brought forth out of the prison into the palace on God’s terms. And at that stage, when he stood before Pharaoh, Joseph had died to self. We see this in his response to Pharaoh when saying, “It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace…”
You can only be the answer to mysteries when you come to the realization that it is not about you – but everything is about Him. Even in the life of Mary, we see such willingness and obedience to be a vessel of honour, used to carry the Glory of God – Jesus, the Messiah. As a young woman, she must have had an idea of how she desired her life to unfold. But upon hearing unprecedented news from the Angel of the LORD that she would carry a child conceived by the Holy Spirit who would be the Son of the Living God, Mary’s words were unlike any other. She said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word….” (Luke 1:38).
yChanouerlsitFeanilrawle&nfiPth,ilay
Unless one dies to themselves, you cannot carry and experience the Glory of the LORD in and through your life. To die to yourself means to depart or lay down your own wishes, desires, ideas, and plans. It is a realization that your life is no longer about you and what you want, feel, and know, but rather a surrender to God’s perfect will and to what only He chooses for you. Dying to self is a process unlike any other. It will come with its fair share of challenging moments, heartbreaking decisions, and many moments of questions and longing for answers. Yet, nothing is more satisfying and fulfilling than knowing that your life is not your own, but rather the clay in the Hands of the Master Potter – for Him to shape and mould as He pleases for His Glory on the earth.
CHANELLE WISDOM
''THERE CANNOT BE FRUITFULNESS WITHOUT DYING TO SELF. GOD IS LOOKING FOR VESSELS WHO ARE DEAD.'' Chanelle Fairlene Pillay
FROM THE HOLINESS REVIVAL MOVEMENT WORLDWIDE DESK
SANCTIFICATION IS REQUIRED TO ENTER HEAVEN
TEXT: EPHESIANS 5: 25-27 (25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. KEY VERSE: 1 THESSALONIANS 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor Paul Rika International Director of Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide "HOREMOW is like a large body of water coming with great force washing away all debris, shedding dead weight, and riding off all impurities from among the churches today. The great force carries along the genuine children of God from all over the world and from all denominations and nationalities onto the narrow way to be rapture ready and to meet our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is the last move of God on earth, and, Holiness Revival Movement is the Last Ark of our generation. Some say, "Is this the only place people can worship?" Indeed, such a drastic measure would perplex the world. But, Jesus said, "My children know my voice..."
" You are sanctified so that you can be clean and holy without blemish or any such thing. "
As Jesus prayed He said, “Thine they were and You have given them to Me. They have become mine.” He said this before he died showing that those He was praying for to be sanctified, were already believers. This was because the sacrifice for believers' sanctification was included in the redemptive plan of the Cross. The cross is first a sacrifice for sinner’s salvation, then secondly a sacrifice for Believer’s sanctification. “Husbands love your wives even as Christ loved the church.” You have married already just as He has gotten the Church already to Himself and gave Himself for it. He died for them that He might sanctify them. It means to give you a step above salvation requires appropriating the benefits of the death of Christ. To bring you to holiness requires the application of the victory through the death of Christ. It is an experience of righteousness that removes carnality.
You are sanctified so that you can be clean and holy without blemish or any such thing. That is God's desire for you and He is ready to do it for you. You may be a Christian but you are stubborn, yet you do not know why. The Bible says “consider them that minister among you and esteem them very highly in love.” This is not in you because there is something that looks stony in your heart. You know that you lack real respect, appreciation and gratitude towards leadership. This is the reason why when the leader gives you assignment, you may not do it because the real fear and reverence for him is not in your heart. Your heart is dry, but you profess to be born again. This is a clear manifestation of Adamic nature. Take yourself back to God to get those things removed. He will give you a heart of flesh so that your heart can be touched. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Sanctification makes your heart feel real compassion, love, obedience, care and submission. SONG FOR THE DAY: Jesus only, Jesus ever, Jesus all in all we will sing, Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, Baptizer and coming King BIBLE READING FOR THE DAY: Ezekiel 7-9; Hebrews 10:24-39
PASTOR
PAUL RIKA
CONTRIBUTOR
W H A T
A
F R I E N D written by:
ANGUS & JILL BUCHAN Jill and I found Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour on the 18th of February 1979, just two years after settling in Greytown, Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands, South Africa. Originally from Zambia, we bought a piece of land on which we planned to farm crops and livestock. We had very little to start with but even as brand new Christians, we were content with our farm, which we later called SHALOM.
If we go to the Word of God in the Gospel of John 12:24 (NKJV), it is a scripture that is very well known by most Christians, it is also a scripture that makes one sit up and take count. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”
You see, Joseph Scriven had a very sad life. He
What I have noticed in my life is that anything
riverbank, waiting for his beloved fiancée to
that is really precious, anything that is really
come across the river on a horse. When she
costly, requires a lot of pain and suffering and
was halfway across the river, the horse
even death sometimes.
bolted, she fell into the river and drowned.
was in Ireland as a young man standing on a
Needless to say, he was devastated. He then Joseph Scriven was an Irish preacher, and he
left Ireland and went to live in Canada and led
wrote a poem to his mother to comfort her in
a life of helping others and taking care of
1855. She was still living in Ireland while he
those in need. They tell me that he himself
had gone to Canada. That poem became a
also drowned in an accident later on in his
hymn. It is probably one of the most loved and
life.
popular hymns in the whole world, What a friend we have in Jesus.
What a friend we have in Jesus,
Are we weak and heavy laden,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
cumbered with a load of care?
What a privilege to carry
Precious Savior, still our refuge--
everything to God in prayer!
take it to the Lord in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
O what needless pain we bear,
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
all because we do not carry
In his arms he'll take and shield you;
everything to God in prayer!
you will find a solace there.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer!
May the Lord bless you as you share your heart with the lost too.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer!
Much love in Jesus Name. Angus and Jill Buchan
devotions
Imitate True Inheritors by Dr André and Jenny Roebert Hebrews 6:12 (NKJV): "...that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
The Word of God instructs us to imitate only those who have inherited the promises of God. They are known as the true inheritors, because they have possessed God's promises through active faith and patience. Too many Christians become complacent in their faith and never push on to see the world around them changed or influenced by the kingdom of God. The danger of that is they never get to exercise their faith and patient endurance to stand on the promises of God to see them fulfilled right here and now. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and we are here to enforce his defeat by actively exercising our faith and authority. All around us we see evidence of the devil's destructive work in peoples' lives. We are called to replace that evidence with redemption and restoration - through the demonstration of God's power in our lives, activated by faith! There are men and women recorded in the scriptures who refused to be complacent and just accept the condition of the world around them. Through faith and patience they went after the promises of God and exchanged evidence of the kingdom of darkness with evidence of the kingdom of God! Let's imitate them.
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THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER
by: Pual David Washer
“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is
Prayer is the great complement to biblical
in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your
knowledge, without which, there can be
kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth
little life or power in the missionary, his
as it is in heaven.”
preaching, or his mission endeavors.
– Matthew 6:9-10
Every triumph of the church in the last
two thousand years has been birthed,
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and
cultivated, and matured with prayer. If
you will find; knock, and it will be opened to
there is one thing that all the great
you. For everyone who asks receives, and he
missionaries of church history hold in
who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
common, it is their intense and unceasing devotion to God in prayer.
– Matthew 7:7-8
Beauty & The Gospel
DECEMBER
2021
featured
It is impossible to overemphasize the
We can throw ourselves at the wall until
importance of prayer in the missionary
our bodies are broken and lying in
endeavor. This becomes especially
heaps on the ground. But the wall is not
apparent when we realize that the work
going to fall by any human effort. It
of global missions is an absolute
requires the power of God. He can do a
impossibility apart from the power of
quick work of the wall and bring down
God. The Apostle John tells us that the
in seconds what we could not do even if
whole world lies in the power of the evil
we were granted ten thousand
one.” Thus, it would be easier to lift
eternities to do it!
Mount Everest and cast it into the sea, than to take one inch of Satan’s domain
Most, if not all, Christians would
in our own power. He laughs at our
heartily agree with what has just been
endless strategies and mocks our clever
written regarding the importance of
schemes, but when one man lashes
prayer. Why then do ministers and
himself to the Word and wears out his
missionaries openly admit to praying so
knees in prayer, all of Hell shudders.
little? This is especially perplexing when we realize that many of those who lament their neglect of prayer are truly
''In fact, the flesh probably hates prayer even more than it hates the study of God’s Word''
God-called men and women, who love the Lord and honestly desire to see His kingdom advance into all nations. Why then do we so-often neglect prayer? Though there are more reasons than we have room to mention, we will consider several of the most obvious.
All the Christians, churches, missionary societies, and institutions combined cannot win one soul. All our conferences, campaigns, and desires to give our lives away cannot advance the kingdom. Even if there were no devil, the radical corruption of one sinner’s heart would bring to nothing all our efforts and make us a laughingstock of impotence. The lost world and the lost soul are like Jericho. They are tightly shut up; no one can come out and no one can come in. We can march around it until we are utterly worn out. We can lift up our voices and blow our trumpets until we are blue in the
The Neglect of Prayer The first culprit is our superficial understanding of the impossibility of the task. This fault is the result of poor theology. Not only do we not seem to understand the power of our enemy, but also, and most importantly, we do not understand the corruption of the human heart. The unreached nations are not merely ignorant of God so that they can be cured by more information. Neither are they seeking God so that they only need to be pointed in the right direction.
face. Beauty & The Gospel
DECEMBER 2021
featured
The nations, like the men who form them,
Thirdly, our fallen flesh is one of the
are morally depraved, hostile to God, and
great nemeses of prayer. In fact, the flesh
will be unresponsive to any gospel herald
probably hates prayer even more than it
to them apart from God’s direct
hates the study of God’s Word. At least
intervention. Only God can change the
through study, the flesh can boast in its
human heart and advance His cause.
knowledge, but in prayer, it has no
Apart from His aid, our attempts to tear
grounds for boasting. Through study, a
down the iron walls of sin that surround
man may gain fame for his scholarship,
the nations is comparable to a tiny gnat
erudition, and eloquence; but prayer is
beating its head against a wall of granite.
performed in secret and demands that a
Therefore, in the beginning, middle, and
man lays down all his credentials at the
end of all our missionary endeavors, we
door. True prayer is a renunciation of the
must constantly and relentlessly seek
flesh and its power. In the prayer closet,
God’s aid in persevering prayer.
the most capable men must acknowledge that the “flesh profits nothing” and it is,
Secondly, unbelief is a great enemy of
“not by might nor by power, but by God’s
prayer. Do we really believe in our utter
Spirit.”
inability to win even one soul of the more than seven billion that now abide on this
Fourthly, spiritual and physical laziness is
planet? Do we really believe that God is
a major culprit that leads to the neglect
“able to do far more abundantly beyond
of prayer. We should not be deceived.
all that we ask or think, according to the
Intercession is hard work, even for the
power that works within us?” Do we really
most devoted. One of the greatest and
believe that prayer is absolutely essential
most far-reaching deceptions among
and that it is the catalyst for life and
Christians is that those who dedicate
power in all our activities? To answer
themselves to a certain spiritual
these questions, we must not appeal to
discipline do so because it just comes
our theology because we often affirm
easy for them. We think that the man
truths with our heads that we do not
devoted to Bible study does so because
practice with our hearts. Nor should we
of some special gift or even natural
appeal to sentiment because we can feel
inclination that makes it easier for him
deeply that we ought to pray without
than for the rest of us. However, the
ever truly praying. To properly discern
primary reason behind his devotion and
the answer to this question, we must
our lack of it is that he has recognized his
appeal to the practice of our daily lives.
indispensable need and fights to
How much time do we set aside for
overcome the spiritual laziness that holds
prayer? How often do we run to prayer as
many of us in bondage. It is very
our first recourse? If we graphed a chart
liberating when we realize that spiritual
comparing our time in prayer with the
disciplines such as Bible study and
time consumed by all our other activities,
intercession are “hard work” for
would it not show that we are an
everyone, even the most mature and
unbelieving generation?
gifted saint. It proves that our lethargy with regard to prayer can be overcome.
featured
Fifthly, the pragmatism that has
God calls for one sacrifice that we are
inundated the West is contrary to
unwilling to make (i.e. prayer), and so we
praying. Pragmatism is basically a
substitute countless others in its place
worldview that determines the value or
(i.e. busyness). We would do well to
rightness of something in terms of its
remember that “to obey is better than
apparent success. In the Western church,
sacrifice,” and, “unless the Lord builds
pragmatism is manifested in the
the house, they labor in vain who build
tendency to adopt any strategy of
it.”
ministry that purports to have produced positive results for other churches or
Seventhly and lastly, the devil is the
ministries, regardless of the fact that it
great enemy of prayer. He would grant us
has little or no biblical foundation or is
hours of unhindered study, let us read
even contrary to the Scriptures. The
good books without end, and allow us to
Western church is literally inundated with
wear ourselves out in ministry if only he
books, conferences, and media material
could keep us from praying. He knows
peddling the latest scheme or strategy to
that we can do all things through Christ
grow the church and evangelize the
who strengthens us,11 and that apart
world. One of the most telltale signs of
from Him we can do nothing.12 He knows
the limited value of these programs and
that Christ has chosen us, and appointed
strategies is their limited endurance. The
us that we should go and bear fruit; and
strategy that takes Christianity by storm
he knows that this fruit is directly related
and becomes all the rage today is soon
to us asking the Father in Christ’s
jettisoned and replaced by another. Is it
Name.13 Thus, the devil is constantly
possible that this preoccupation with
working to make us forgetful of our own
finding the ultimate strategy for church
impotence and to blind us to God’s
growth and missions is the result of the
infinite strength and willingness to do
church’s ignorance of the Scriptures and
abundantly beyond all that we ask or
its carnal aversion to the hard work of
think.14 We must never forget that the
prayer and proclamation?
missionary is sent out like a sheep in the midst of wolves.15 It does not matter
Sixthly, the evil twin of pragmatism is
how the sheep array themselves for
busyness. One of the great and most
battle, how willing they are to sacrifice,
frequent confessions of churches,
or how vigilant their watch, they cannot
pastors, evangelists, and missionaries
repel even the slightest attack from the
throughout the world is that they are just
least of wolves. The sheep’s only hope is
too busy to pray. In fact, we seem willing
that the Great Shepherd will hear their
to wear ourselves out for the cause of the
bleats and come running to their aid.
gospel by doing any activity except those that have been most commanded by Christ—abiding in the Word of God and prayer.
PAUL
WASHER
SELF JUSTIFICATION OF SOME
Women
TEXT: Romans 2:1-6
KEY VERSE: Romans 3:4 "God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is
SOURCE:
WWW.HOREMOWNA.ORG
What such people failed to asked themselves is "when did the culture of women wearing trousers began.?" Were there different designs of trousers for men and women as lower garment from the beginning? The answer is NO!
written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome
No amount of argument can nullify the truth
when thou art judged."
of God or invalidate His Word. Trousers has
always been the exclusive lower garment of
Some women claim that the trousers they
men while their female counterparts put on
put on are female trousers and the design
skirts. Women never wore trousers.
is different from that of their male counterparts.
Trousers as a dress emanated from the western world and up until today, even the
This puerile argument follows the usual
queen of England would not put it on. Below is
pattern of stubborn sinners who are bent
a brief historical account of the origin of
on justifying their sinful conduct.
women wearing trousers as extracted from the internet.
In the Western world, where trousers
Some women justify themselves by saying they
originated from, women have always worn
put on trousers in decent way that does not
dresses and skirt-like garments while men
expose their privacy and they condemn other
have always worn pants (trousers).
women for putting on trousers indecently. That is just playing to the gallery because both of them
During the late 1800s, women started to
are condemned before God. Only repentance,
wear pants (trousers) for industrial work.
change and holy living can make them escape
During World War II, women wore their
hell.
husband's pants while they took on jobs, and in the 1970s, trousers became
Thought for The Day:
especially fashionable for women.
It is futile putting up argument against God or His Word.
Today, pants are worn far more often than skirts by women, and many women wear it
Song for The Day:
almost all the time. Although pants for
Years I spent in vanity and pride
women in western countries did not become fashion items until the later 20th
Bible Reading for The Day:
century, women began wearing men's
2 Chronicles 20-22; John 16:1-15.
pants (suitably altered) for outdoor work a hundred years earlier. There is no amount of argument that can justify women wearing trousers, whether it is feminine-designed or not; trousers are strictly for men. Human tradition is not higher than the Word of God.
Your
brother
in
Pastor
Christ,
Paul Rika
FEATURED
'' We have been selected to live apart YOUNG DJ
from this L.A. world WORLD "
By: Rabbi Schneider
TOUR
Set Apart “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1). Oftentimes, in my Christian walk, there is a bit of loneliness. I have to live a certain way because I am not part of the world. And because I am not “among the crowd,” I cannot engage or participate in the things our society defines as acceptable. “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 6:17 Beloved, you and I are separate; we have been called. We are required to act a certain way and think above the existing culture. We are also called to share Messiah with those God brings into our lives. I am meeting new people all the time. And you know, people that are from the world, they speak and behave as those that are “earthly minded.” But those of us who have our eyes set on heaven and are born again have a different value system. We speak a different language; we talk about different things. We exalt absolute truth. We are set apart.
We are unique. You and I are called. We have been selected to live apart from this world. We must accept that our godly stance can sometimes create a divide or a negative response from people. “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Think about Paul’s life and how mistreated he was because he was set apart. He was beaten, ridiculed, and maligned. In fact, he wrote most of the New Testament while in prison. “Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Apostle Paul also said, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:10). There was this dual fellowship that Paul was experiencing in his walk with Messiah. On the one hand, he knew Jesus in the power of His resurrection, but on the other hand, he knew Jesus in the fellowship of His sufferings. He knew what it meant to be rejected for Yeshua. He knew what it meant to feel lonely because he was not being received. This is also part of our call and destiny. We have been set apart. So be encouraged; know that Father loves you and know that you will be rewarded for all that you suffer and give up because of your love for Him.
7
Extracted from: www.thomasnelsonbibles.com
behaviors to throw out with the REST OF YOUR JUNK
The current minimalism craze has prompted many of us to clean out closets, drawers, cupboards, nooks, niches, and crannies. We’ve sorted, trashed, tried on, donated, repurposed, and recycled. And the purging has felt satisfyingly productive. But while we’re freeing ourselves from mismatched cookware, and broken-down shoes that clutter our homes, maybe we should also consider freeing ourselves from some tendencies that clutter our hearts.
A precious soul saved by Christ was not meant to continue to stockpile debilitating mindsets. There comes a time to let go, because a heavy heart can weigh us down far more than lidless pots and pans ever will.
Let Go of Grudges So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” (Luke 17:3-4, NIV)
We all like a “good mad,” don’t we? In fact, if we’re honest with ourselves, we might be known to collect offenses against us like little boys collect toy cars. “Bring ‘em on!” we say. Each one just adds to the feel-good selfsuperiority we’ve come to thrive on. But of course, that feeling is contrary to God’s Word. Notice that this passage in Luke requires readers to act; to be on the alert: “Watch yourselves” when it comes to relationships. It’s as if Luke knew that we would always struggle with loving and forgiving our fellowman. Fast-forward to today and we see that he was right.
Kick Procrastination to the Curb
Letting go of grudges requires something more from us than passivity. It requires an acknowledgement that we bear the grudge and then the willingness to not only forgive the wrongdoer but to set them free. And when we set them free, we set ourselves free, too. See how that works?
Do you need to go deeper into personal Bible study and more intently into prayer? The night is coming. Are there neighbors, family members, colleagues, or friends that don’t know Jesus? The night is coming. Has your heart been called to local or far-flung missions? The night is coming. Are you in relationships that need repairing? The night is coming.
Box Up Hurt Jesus wept. (John 11:35, NKJV) These two words—”Jesus wept”—prove, as well as any others, that Jesus truly experienced human emotions. On this occasion, He was in deep mourning. He’d just been told that His good friend Lazarus had died. Notice that John uses the word “wept” instead of “cried.” Weeping is that deeper groaning—that gut wrench that comes from a heart that literally—physically—feels like it’s breaking. And these words “Jesus wept” continue to remind us today that Jesus understands the affairs of the heart. He also keenly identifies with your loss, your betrayal, and your heartbreak. There’s no hurt that He didn’t feel and there’s no hurt of yours that He can’t heal. Your hurt is your hurt and no one can or should minimize it. Admittedly, hurt is hard to let go of. But could this be time to part with some of it? Painful memories? Sideswiped dreams? Broken promises? When you box up hurt, you make room for joy to move in.
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (John 9:4, NKJV) If you’re finally decluttering your home, you’ve already proven that you can battle procrastination. And while scaling back on possessions is a great start, there are likely more important ways you can get your house in order. John reminds us that we are charged with doing the Lord’s work because an expiration date is coming and even the savviest procrastinator can’t put that date off.
If we’ve learned anything from recent events, it’s that we are not in control. We’ve come to understand that life is stunningly and unexpectedly short, and so there is an increased urgency to the days in which we live. So, when you send procrastination to the curb, throw out complacency with it. The night is coming.
I
must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (John 9:4, NKJV)
Shred Perfectionism But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Pet. 1:15-16, NIV) There’s good news and there’s bad news. The good news is that we are called to be holy. The bad news is that we think “holy” means “perfect.” We’ve fallen down a slippery slope. We’ve watched and listened as the media has painted a picture of perfection and convinced us that if we only work extra hours, try harder, augment our appearance, and spend more, we too can become the perfect employee, the perfect spouse, the perfect parent, the perfect hostess, and the perfect adult child. Enough already! The world’s notion of perfection is fickle—as changeable as the weather—and we will never reach the level we seek. Only one Person is perfect. And through the power of His Spirit living in you and your devotion to prayer and the Word, He will make you—not perfect according to the standards of this world—but holy.
Stop Hoarding Envy A sound heart is life to the body,but envy is rottenness to the bones. (Prov. 14:30, NKJV) It’s never been easier to feel envious, has it? Today’s social platforms give us a bird’s-eye view into the lives of everyone from our next-door neighbor, to a first-grade classmate, to a former colleague. And that view—usually perfectly styled and carefully cropped—often serves up images that we perceive as completely carefree, fun, and successful. So how can your evening of leftover meatloaf eaten in a messy kitchen possibly compare? It can’t. And it shouldn’t. No one’s life is quite as it appears. Envy never hurts anyone but you. In fact, Proverbs plainly tells us that envy is bad to the bone. Envy’s ruses will rob you of appreciating the estimable joys of your own life. With every swipe of your device, you throw envy a crumb.
So, stop swiping and start counting! Blessings are everywhere! There is always something and someone to be thankful for.
Ditch Gossip Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Eph. 4:29, NIV) It doesn’t matter whether you call it “sharing a prayer request,” brush it off with an “Oh, just FYI,” or claim that “Nobody ever said not to tell”—you just can’t make gossip honorable. Most of us have been both the subject and source of gossip, and we know it’s hurtful. So why would we hang on to a habit that’s obviously detrimental to us and crushing to someone else? Ephesians offers us an attractive alternative to negative gossip. The next time you’re tempted to pick someone apart, try picking them up instead. Look for the good in that person and spread that news. Replace badmouthing with kindness. Substitute criticism with compliments. Swap jokes for grace. When you do, you’ll go a long way in ditching the habit of gossip and build up a brother or sister in the process.
Send Inferiority Packing But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7, NKJV) God sees you clear to the heart, too. He sees your lovely heart. He applauds your giving spirit. He appreciates your kindness toward others. He knows your genuine concern for your fellowman. Any inferiority you may feel doesn’t come from God. Inferiority is a tool the devil uses to try and convince us that we’re not good enough. You, my friend, are “ferior!” God—the creator and ruler of the universe says so!
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B e s a y
w i s e — n o t h i n g !
written by : Jentezen Franklin
“The prudent hold their tongues.” Proverbs 10:19 NIV
The story is told of a wealthy grandfather who went to his doctor to be fitted for a unique hearing aid. The device not only allowed him to hear perfectly, it was hidden so no one could see it. When he went back for a follow-up visit, the doctor said, “Your family must be happy to know that now you can hear.”
The grandfather said, “Well, I haven’t told them about my hearing aid. I just sit around and listen to their conversations—and I’ve already changed my will three times!” The Bible says, “The prudent hold their tongues.” And this isn’t only a law of speech, it’s a law of science. The odds of putting food in your mouth grow exponentially the more times you open it. To put it another way, the potential for saying the wrong thing rises proportionately to the amount of words you say.
Ever notice that the person who habitually throws in their “two cents’ worth” frequently says something that’s worth about two cents, or less? The writer of Proverbs says, “Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them” (Pr 29:20 NIV). A man walked into a pet shop one day, where a colorful parrot was sitting on a perch. The man looked at the bird, and in a cocky tone asked, “Hey, stupid, can you speak?” To his amazement the parrot replied, “Yes, stupid, can you fly?” Why does God say so much about offenses of the tongue? Because when you sin with your tongue, you offend Him, affect others, and hurt yourself. “Show a gentle attitude.” Php 4:5 GNT The Greek word used for gentleness means “strength under control.” It pictures a wild stallion that has been tamed. It doesn’t mean to be weak and wimpy. The only two people in the Bible who were called gentle—Moses and Jesus—were both strong. Gentleness is restraining your reactions. It’s choosing your response to people rather than merely reacting to them
When someone serves you, be thoughtful and not demanding. Paul writes, “Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing” (Php 2:4 TLB). How do you treat restaurant servers, clerks, administrative assistants, employees, bank tellers, police officers, and others who serve you? Are you rude and difficult? Are you aloof and impersonal, as if they were just “part of the machinery?” Do you realize they may have had a difficult day too, or do you think only of yourself? The first way you develop gentleness is to try and understand the people who serve you. And the first place you should be gentle is at home. The Bible tells wives to adorn themselves with “a gentle…spirit” (1Pe 3:4 TLB). Peter is simply saying that gentleness can be more attractive than any clothes or jewelry you choose to wear. To husbands, the Bible says, “You husbands should try to understand the wives you live with” (v. 7 PHPS). If you are normally insensitive and overbearing, you will have to work extra hard on this. The Scriptures say you must be understanding, not demanding toward the people who serve you and the people with whom you live.
VERSE OF THE MONTH
10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Psalm 84:10 KJV
oh what joy there is spent in the presence of the LORD than else where. Choose His presence today!
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KINDS OF RESTITUTION AND THE BENEFITS IT PRODUCES EXTRACTED FROM: WWW.HOREMOWNA.ORG
TEXT: 2 PETER 1:10-11
KEY VERSE:
Judges 17:2 "And he said unto his mother, the eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son."
It is a settled matter that restitution is inevitable in the spiritual cleansing process of the believer. The believer will make restitution as the Holy Spirit has brought to his remembrance and placed the burden on his or her heart.
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The list below is not exhaustive but
Now if you are able to do your
could serve as a guide of the kinds
restitution, you will enjoy the
of actions or inactions that require
following benefits:
restitution to take place: (i) You will become peaceful. Satan 1. Stolen items
cannot accuse you. Nobody will have something to hold against you. Daniel
2. Sexual immorality such as
6:4.
pornography, lesbianism, homosexuality, fornication, rape etc.
(ii) You will have uninhibited access to God and be able to approach His
3. Forged certificate or certificate
throne of grace with confidence.
obtained through cheating in exams
Hebrews 4:16.
4. Past criminal activities such as
(iii) You will be a vessel of honour in
kidnapping, murder, cultism, 419.
the hands of God. 2 Timothy 2: 19-21.
5. Idolatry, witchcraft etc.
(iv) You are assured of going to heaven if you remain holy. 2 Peter 1:10-11.
6. Lies told to harm people. Thought For The Day: 7. Unpaid debts, falsified records
Restitution will bring you into the full
such as resume, birth certificate,
joy of the Lord.
office record etc. Song For The Day: 8. Denied pregnancy.
Amen, I have found Jesus, Amen, He is able to do all things
9. Marital infidelity, giving another man’s child to your husband.
Bible Reading For The Day: 2 Samuel 23-24; Luke 22:31-53
10. Divorce or wrong marriage in polygamy or to divorce. 11. Unfulfilled vows and pledges. 12. Unpaid bride price.
Why do we have a hard time
honoring who we are each day? We are constantly in the future or past, and we can only live there in our minds. What would it take for you to be patient with yourself in your walk with Christ and road to purpose? As we are healed and continue to heal throughout our lifespan, two things come to mind that will help you walk gracefully in your season: growth and stillness. You have to start exhausting yourself in every timeframe of your lives; honor your preparation season. You can’t heal or answer God’s call if you don’t honor your life today. You often get wrapped up in the revelation or vision given and you don’t take the time to give God his due.
@iamkendradublin
contributor
HONOR YOUR PREPARATION SEASON
You have to exhaust all seasons because it
ready for the revelation, you think you are
gets you ready for the next phase.
supposed to walk in it the next day. A lot
Cultivating faith has to be a priority. The
of times, God doesn’t give you a revelation
Israelites had issues with God and had
or a vision of a healed you for you to think
they obeyed him from the beginning they
your problems will be gone tomorrow. He
wouldn’t have wondered for so long. Are
gave it to you so you can prepare for the
you wandering because you aren’t ready
next term. Too often you misinterpret the
to honor your time? Stop working against
revelation and get yourselves in a lot of
God! Stop working against yourself!
trouble that could have been avoided. When I think of the stages of life I had to When you honor your season, you come
honor, it was when I was coming out of
out so much better than trying to gain
alcoholism. I was an alcoholic for seven
some Doordash delivery. It makes me
years. I was on this downward spiral of
think about my clients that go through
shame and guilt from having sex before
my six-month program. When we go
marriage, which led me to drink, sex and
through each step, they believe that if
party my life away. Which layered on the
they read the Bible a few times, do a few
guilt and kept me in an unhealthy and
worksheets, or submit themselves to
deadly cycle. During this time, I drove
God for 5 days, things will turn around for
drunk at least one hundred times, was
them in days or weeks; Because they keep
drugged one night, and was picked up by
looking at the outcome but if you do,
a cop. On top of that, I had demonic
you’ll miss your daily wins.
dreams from childhood, which made me use alcohol as a coping mechanism for
Not only do you miss your daily wins, but
everything.
you also start thinking God didn’t hear you. He doesn’t love you and you start to
Six years later, I was getting tired of
honor the outcome more than God. When
myself. I knew I needed to get my life
the issue is you’re not exhausting these
together. To overcome and do
short-term moments. I can imagine God
something different, I had to honor my
saying, “I helped you decrease your
preparation season.
smoking habit by 40% and here you go beating yourself up. I helped you increase
What did that look like? For months it was
your Bible reading by 50% and here you
hard, and I would go back and forth. The
go beating yourself up. I helped you see
sins of alcoholism and sex, had me
more clearly in your relationships and
heading back into the cycle. I had to say
here you go acting like you are the worst
to myself as I was getting back to God’s
friend, wife, or husband in the world.” You
words, but did you drink less? Did you call
aren’t honoring your plan of growth in
up your ex-boyfriend less? Did you read
God. And that’s taking God’s love and his
your Bible more? Did you encourage
actions towards you for granted. You are
somebody at work? I had to honor my
in a period of training, so stop trying to
wins each day.
morph it into a harvest.
contributor
Instead of working towards and being
I wrote the book in a few months and was
the gospels and seeing Jesus heal people
published in less than six months, and I was
and not condemn them, I continued to
managing in retail at the time. But God put
grow. Even if I sinned, I kept moving
everybody I needed in my path to get his
forward and my mental tug of war was
book done.
decreasing. If you don’t honor this season, God can’t take Then I started writing again. Putting my
you to the next one. Don’t take yourself back
gift to use made me feel purposeful. Sin
to the baby stages of a harvest.
wasn’t always before me because I had all these healthy habits in front of me:
I don’t know how you are currently wrestling
scheduling time to read the Bible, writing
with God, but this is what he said, “Come to
and helping different ministries at church.
me, all you who are weary and burdened,
Before I knew it, I had gained clarity and
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke
was disciplined in my walk in Christ. A
upon you and learn from me, for I am
year into doing all the things to get back
gentle and humble in heart, and you will
to God, he delivered me from alcoholism.
find rest for your souls. For my yoke is
Months later I was telling my testimony at
easy and my burden is light.” (Mathew
church and a year later I was writing my
11:28)
first book. I had to Honor my preparation season. I needed to exhaust getting rid of the negative thoughts and cycles I was in, so
Give it over to God and write down your daily wins starting today because tomorrow is too late to be great!
when God dropped my first book God’s Perspective for Me® in me, I was ready to go.
KENDRA DUBLIN
contributor
As I was less harsh on myself from reading
featured Article: Jon Bloom Source: www.desiringgod.org
Fill Your Wandering Heart with Thankfulness
Do you know what’s stronger than lust? Thankfulness.
Let me illustrate before I explain. When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, why didn’t he succumb to her advances? He explains,
“Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:8– 9)
Joseph received Potiphar’s remarkable favor on him as a gift from God. Gratitude was occupying so much space in Joseph’s heart that there was not enough room for the ingratitude of sexually sinning with Potiphar’s wife.
Too Full to Indulge Now look at your own experience. You have not indulged in lust when your heart has felt full of thankfulness to God. Why? Because lust is a form of coveting: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife” (Exodus 20:17).
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And coveting, in all its forms, is a fruit of ingratitude. It’s a desire for something
When Paul describes what our being governed by the peace and word of
you want but don’t have, or can’t have; it’s a desire for something God has not provided for you or forbidden to you (James 4:2).
Christ looks like, he doesn’t point to an absence of conflict or our level of theological sophistication; he points to thankfulness:
So lust, being a form of ingratitude, is incompatible with gratitude — they cannot cohabit the same space at the same time. It’s one or the other. And thankfulness is the stronger power. Lust might feel powerful, and thankfulness might feel meek. But when thankfulness
Let the peace of Chist rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to
is truly present, lust is no match for it. Thanksgiving is not merely a “nice” Christian character trait. It is a sin-
God. (Colossians 3:15–16)
When Paul describes what our living in the will of God looks like, he doesn’t
conquering force. Gratitude is both a vital indicator of our soul’s health and a powerful defender of our soul’s happiness. Which means we should
point to how well our rolls match our strengths and aspirations; he points to thankfulness:
intentionally cultivate the healthy, happy habit of thanksgiving.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
What Thankfulness Says About Us How thankful we are reveals the health of our souls. When the apostle Paul describes what our being filled with the Spirit looks like, he doesn’t point to ecstatic experiences or miraculous spiritual gifts; he points to thankfulness:
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:18– 20)
When Paul describes what our freedom from sexual sin, or other kinds of defiling sin, looks like, he doesn’t point to the absence of temptations; he points to thankfulness:
Sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:3–4) If we want to know how healthy our souls are, we should check our levels of gratitude.
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How Thankfulness Protects Us We should monitor our gratitude, not merely for our spiritual health, but also for our spiritual protection. Gratitude is immensely (and subtly) powerful. Gratitude is what we experience when we perceive that what we have received is an undeserved gift of God’s grace. It is a fruit of humility; it’s inherently unselfish. We don’t feel true gratitude toward ourselves, but only towards someone else who treats us better than we deserve. That’s how Joseph felt being entrusted as Potiphar’s chief steward. Sins like sexual lust, however, are a fruit of pride; they’re inherently selfish, exploiting others for our own
trusting him to cover all our sin and work our painful past for good (Romans 8:28), and looking to him for all we need tomorrow and into eternity (Philippians 4:19). Souls that learn to be content in God “in whatever situation” (Philippians 4:11) are souls that are the least vulnerable to temptation, particularly covetous temptations.
Be Thankful Therefore, cultivating thankfulness should be one of our core strategies in helping each other fight sin. In our small groups and accountability groups, we should encourage each other to “be thankful” (Colossians 3:15). Not out of guilty obligation, but out of an unashamed desire to be happy! Thankful people are not only the most
narcissistic purposes. That’s how Potiphar’s wife felt looking on the attractive Hebrew house slave.
spiritually healthy and spiritually protected, but very often the happiest. Cultivating thankfulness is not easy. We all need help, and thank God help is available.
Pride always looks more powerful than humility on the outside. But in reality, it’s not. It’s not even close. Humility is stronger than pride like heaven is stronger than hell. Like the cross was stronger than the Roman Empire. Like the Resurrection and the Life was stronger than the grave. In the same way, thankfulness is stronger than lust, and serving is stronger than exploiting.
But there is no thankfulness hack — no four easy steps to a grateful heart. It’s as hard as habit-building. We begin to train our hearteyes to look for God’s grace — in all circumstances. This looking must become habitual. And habits are built by doing them every day. We get incrementally better at them as the days gradually accumulate to months, and months to years. They become more and more a part of us over time.
The more thankfulness is present in us, the less vulnerable we are to sin. That’s why the Bible talks so much about thanksgiving. Thankful people have set their eyes on God (Hebrews 12:2), recognizing to some degree how much grace we are receiving right now (2 Corinthians 9:8),
But it is worth the effort. Thankfulness is one of the most powerful affections God has given us the capacity to experience. It is far stronger than lust or any bondage of sinful pride. The more it grows in you, the more spiritual health you will experience, and the less power sin will wield over you.
devotions
Stand Strong by Dr André and Jenny Roebert Daniel 6:26 (NKJV): "I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end."
Daniel was thrown into the lion's den because he continued to pray to God and not to the king. Like Daniel, we must be prepared to be persecuted for the stand we take. Not everyone will understand our unreasonable commitment to God in this season. We prepare by remaining firmly rooted in the Word and by being fervent in prayer. Our single-minded devotion to the Lord keeps us in His perfect will for our lives. And when we walk in His will, vitally connected to His power, He shows Himself strong in every situation - whether it be turmoil, or trial, or tribulation. Standing strong in the Lord and the power of His might may cost us popularity with people for the moment, but it will gain us so much more for eternity! Let the love and grace of God live powerfully on the inside of you as you live for His pleasure alone. This is how we will see, first-hand, His kingdom, power and glory being manifest in the earth. The work of the devil will continue to be undone in people's lives as we push on, stand strong, and be as bold as a lion!
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