July 2018
God and country
DID YOU KNOW???? Independence Day Should Have Been July 2 – July 2, 1776 is the day that the Continental Congress actually voted for independence. John Adams, in his writings, even noted that July 2 would be remembered in the annals of American history and would be marked with fireworks and celebrations. The written Declaration of Independence was dated July 4 but wasn't actually signed until August 2. Fifty-six delegates eventually signed the document, although all were not present on that day in August. https://www.archives.gov/press/pressreleases/2005/nr05-83.html This Independence Day let us all remember what our Countries have been through, and how God has brought us through. The verse, “This too shall pass” reminds me of the many wars we have fought throughout history. Will God’s people ever learn that His message is one of Love? That is why we are here on earth…to carry His message to the hurting. There are so many people that do not really know just how much Father God loves them. Just like our soldiers will go and fight for us, Father God also has our back and He ONLY wants the best for us! And for you Christians out there that think “Your Way” is the “Only Way,” well, Father God loves ALL of His children, obedient AND disobedient. Just like we love our children when they disobey us. Also, let us be thankful for the protection we have. Yes, God’s protection, but also let’s be thankful for all the men and women in uniform who stand day and night to protect our country. I say, “Thank You!” My prayer is that you will return home from your duty safe and without harm. My prayer is that You, Soldier, also give thanks to Father God for Your safety while on foreign soil. Happy Independence Day! Have fun …. Barbecue with family and friends and remember Father God LOVES you with an unconditional and everlasting love! Also, just wanted to let you know that this month starts our 5th year of Faith Unlimited magazine! I do hope you enjoy reading the articles and I pray you notice the ads also. There are many people who need help, and this is just oneway God can let you know. Ask God who you can help this month!
Your Publisher and Editor
Faye Hanshew
Publisher & Editor Faye Hanshew
Co-Publisher & Co-editor Dr. Bill Hanshew
by: Dr. Bill Hanshew – GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE! Ephesians 2:4-7 says, “4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” There is a song in American history of which its lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates in 1913 and the music was composed by a church organist by the name of Samuel A. Ward. This song is called, “America: God Shed His Grace On Thee.” While this song was written due to a person being taken with the beauty and vastness of this country, still in this truth there remains a greater truth. The words “God Shed His Grace On Thee” really applies to all of mankind, in every country and of every place in the history of this world.
In the scriptural passage above, these words were written by the Apostle Paul long before we had any American history and long before the Gentile nations of the world came into an awakening of who Christ really was. However, Paul says to all the saints who are in the city of Ephesus, that Father God, who IS rich in mercy, and because of His great love with which He loved us EVEN WHEN we were dead to God because of our trespasses; “made us alive together with Christ.” To understand the Grace that God has shed or put-upon humanity, you must first understand the sacrifice of the person of Grace who is now involved in your life. Ephesians 2:5-6 from The Voice Bible says, “5 united us with the Anointed One and infused our lifeless souls with life—even though we were buried under mountains of sin—and saved us by His grace. 6 He raised us up with Him and seated us in the heavenly realms with our beloved Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King.” The Message Bible says that “he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.” This is a record of the Grace of God in action which was set in motion by the will of God and not the will of man. So, not to take away from one of the greatest songs in American history, but God’s grace was shed upon the whole of humanity and not just one country. The Grace of God states that God loves you in spite of the country you were born in, or your social status, or even your religious beliefs. The Grace of God says that when Christ died on the cross, it was because God loved you. God, who is rich in mercy, looked at all of humanity with His great love and even when our sins and trespasses caused us to feel alienated from God, He brought us close to Him. When Jesus died for all mankind, that act of love alone transported us from darkness, into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son. Colossians 1:12-14 says, “12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed {or transferred} us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Now, I am a bit old school when it comes to the term, “being born-again” in that the cross was God’s hand, reaching out to all mankind. Therefore, I still believe that it is important for mankind to reach their hand back to God in an acknowledgement of His act of love. I believe it is important to acknowledge that the cross was the action of God to embrace mankind. It was when Father God released His salvation to the whole world through the selfless act of His Son, Jesus, that for me form the words, “God Shed His Grace on Thee” and covers everyone and can be received by anyone. The scriptures say, “4 But God, with the unfathomable richness of His love and mercy focused on us, 5 united us with the Anointed One and infused our lifeless souls with life—even though we were buried under mountains of sin—and saved us by His grace. 6 He raised us up with Him and seated us in the heavenly realms with our beloved Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King. 7 He did this for a reason: so that for all eternity we will stand as a living testimony to the incredible riches of His grace and kindness that He freely gives to us by uniting us with Jesus the Anointed.” (Ephesians 2:4-7 VOICE). God reached out to all mankind, past, present and future and Shed His love on us. This is what Jesus did for mankind in that, God Shed His Grace upon all humanity, not only America. Therefore, no matter what country you were born in, or you live in, the grace of God has been released to you through Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11 says, “For the grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all men,” and not to take this verse out of context, but this verse was written within one or two years of what we call the transitional books which are the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. So, how has the grace of God appeared to all men? How has the grace of God brought salvation to all men? It is through Jesus Christ and it is found in the instinct buried deep within mankind, which is calling out for individuals to worship the creator of all things, who has Shed His Grace on you. The life of Jesus Christ, who is the fullness of the Godhead, bodily or literally living in mankind. His life has provided God’s unmerited favor upon you. Reach out today, in faith, and embrace what God has unconditionally released to you. God has Shed His Grace on Thee. “America, America, God shed His grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood. From sea to shining sea.” Yes, this song was written about America. However, when Jesus died, God’s grace was shed upon all humankind, and that includes you. …Think about it!
by: Pastor Jo Bruns
The Liberty Bell, founded by Whitechapel Bell Foundry in England, was transported to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in August 1752. It arrived in good condition; however, upon the first testing of its sound, the rim was cracked at the very first strike of its clapper. Two local founders, John Pass and John Stow, offered to recast the bell. In March 1753, the sound was retested but deemed unsuitable. After another recasting and sound-check was completed in June 1753, it was then hung in the steeple of the State House. While there is no proof as to whether the Liberty Bell was rung on July 8, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was publicly read, it has come to symbolize all the bells throughout our young nation which proclaimed its independence from England. This iconic symbol of freedom has been mentioned countless times throughout the years since the birth of our nation. In 1893, former President Benjamin Harrison was once heard saying, “This old bell was made in England, but it had to be re-cast in America before it was attuned to proclaim the right of self-government and the equal rights of men.” The Liberty Bell was also mentioned in newspapers and in anti-slavery publications in the years between 1817 and 1846; but the mention of its now well-known crack wasn’t made until 1846.
Even in some 1837 anti-slavery publications, it was shown to be “crack-free.” This crack, discovered in 1846, was “repaired” by having the sides of the crack filed; but with the subsequent ringing of the bell, the crack was greatly extended, which, in essence, silenced it. It was then deemed irreparably “cracked and forever silenced.” Its inscription, though, continues to resonate a clear message that cannot be silenced. It reads, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” This land, the United States of America, was founded upon that very premise –Liberty for all. The very statement on the Liberty Bell is based on Leviticus 25:10 which reads, “…proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” In Leviticus this declaration was made as they set aside the 50th year and declared it a year of Jubilee where possessions were restored and where every man (in captivity) could return to his family. This same declaration of freedom was spoken about in Isaiah 61:1: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek. He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound…” and, again, these same words were proclaimed by Jesus, Himself, in Luke 4:18, when He read from the scroll in the Temple and declared to all who heard Him that “… this day you have seen this being fulfilled in your midst.” In 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NASB), the Apostle Paul writes, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” This liberty, however, is not something we, as believers, should take lightly. There was a price to pay for that liberty and that was Jesus’ death upon the Cross. In Galatians 5:13-14 (NIV), Paul reminds us: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Throughout Scripture, we are continually reminded of freedom and liberty that comes through knowing Jesus Christ. We are compelled to grasp hold of it and to never let go of it. Paul often reminded the early Christians to not become yoked again to slavery but to walk in the freedom Jesus provided for us. Jesus’ very words to us are, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” In retrospect, the ringing of the bells has always been a part of my life. Perhaps, it’s even been a part of yours. For example, there’s the school bell as it calls you into classes; church bells as they draw you to come worship, Christmas bells and songs such as “Carol of the Bells,” “The Bells of St. Mary,” and Silver Bells” are just a few that come to mind; but, even in my home, there was also the proverbial “dinner bell,” which was a miniature Liberty Bell of sorts that my mom would ring to call us home to dinner. In fact, I saw a similar “dinner bell” recently, that reminded me of that long ago “call to come home.” In literature, too, bells have often been written about. Ernest Hemingway wrote “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” which was later made into a movie with Ingrid Bergman and Gary Cooper; Edgar Allen Poe wrote a poem titled, “The Bells;” and Church of England Cleric, John Donne, wrote the famous poem, “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” with its famous line –“…for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
As we observe the Independence Day celebrations with its spectacular fireworks displays and holiday get-togethers, “Let Freedom Ring” deep within your soul. Heed its call to freedom that Jesus offers to all who will believe. His desire is for you to be free and to walk in liberty, sharing love with one another. The Liberty Bell still “rings.” It’s calling for you. Can you “hear” it? If you’ve never known the freedom and liberty that Jesus offers, let today be your “Independence Day.” Acknowledge your “cracks” (or shortcomings), ask Jesus to forgive you, and walk in the freedom and liberty that salvation offers to all who believe in Jesus. “…For whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
by: Dewanshu Ahlawat This is Dewanshu Ahlawat, having M.Tech (Structural Eng.) and 27 other certifications. I am a writer of this wonderful magazine. I have been associated with Faith Unlimited for a long time. I would like to express my words to thanks to the respected Editor Mrs Faye G Hanshew and Co Editor Sir Dr Bill Hanshew. Oh, I forgot to congratulate the Editor for successful completion of her Doctorate. So, a big hug and congratulations to the Editor of this Magazine. This month we are going to take some common questions regarding health and I am going to reply them in few words. Q 1. Now it’s high time I need to reduce my body weight. What is the most important nutrition resolution I can take? Ans. Reduce sugar intake. Q 2. Due to my foodie friend circle, we often go to restaurants. What is the best way to eat healthy in a restaurant? Ans. Order before your friends or co-workers do. Q 3. I am a mother of two kids who love junk food and no healthy food. Please help me on how I can make my kids eat vegetables? Ans. Make them exercise first. Q 4. I am fit, I hit the gym on regular basis. I am pursuing a course on Nutrition in my locality. I love eating fruits. Which is the healthiest fruit? Ans. Guava – fiber and Vitamin C
Q 5. Some people say hot water is a good way to reduce those extra flabs. What is the best drink to reduce some weight? Ans. Nothing better than green tea Q 6. I have a question in my mind. I love eating beans. Between Navy Bean and Kidney Bean, Which one is more nutritious? Ans. The darker the beans, the more nutritious it is. Q 7. I have searched this online and I get different answers at different web platforms. I would like to ask you which are the healthiest nuts to eat? Ans. Walnuts. Q 8. My gym coach suggests that juice is good in mornings. What should I drink the moment I wake up – Juice or water? Ans. A glass of water Q 9. I am a young girl. I love coffee. Is it good for health? Ans. One or Two cups is good. Q 10. I go to gym regularly. I enjoy eating energy bars. My coach says that I must take energy bars for better weight training. Are they good for health? Ans. No, not if you want to reduce weight. Remember that more energy means more calories. Q 11. My wife makes delicious chips at home. My kids and I just love them. Are vegetable chips healthy? Ans. No. Q 12. I have a habit of eating dessert after my dinner. Not just me, everyone in our home. How do I stop myself? Ans. You have trained yourself. Now un-train yourself. Q 13. I am going to the gym and exercising more than ever. However, I am still not able to reduce my weight? Ans. You are eating too many calories.
Before I sign off, I hope to get more such questions from our readers. I love learning and sharing knowledge. I am a certified nutritionist. So, you can bank on my words. Please take care. See you in the next month of “Faith Unlimited”. Till then, stay healthy and keep exercising.
THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER Sandi Patty 1986 Liberty Weekend
by: Stuart Smith There are the international contests such as the Olympics or World Cup among others where nations field teams with their national flag is their banner. These teams compete for the honor of the Gold medal or some prestigious trophy to be held high in celebration upon defeating their opponents. National pride is fed while they bathe in that glorious moment of triumph. In the end the athletes will go home to parades and applause for their superior performance. In times past, we ourselves have even held such parades in honor of returning heroes from war. Once the war ended and our nation proved victorious, we as Americans rejoiced. In other times where the battle became political and the protests were elevated, these same heroes that had been sent to a distant land to fight were barely noticed as they arrived back into the country. Recently, I had a conversation with an Iranian man who has settled here in the United States. He vented as to how his people were often misrepresented in the media. He as a Muslim man had went to one of our Baptist churches and stated that he felt unwelcome. He shared on how that the preacher had made certain to look at him as he shared about hell for the unbeliever. Now, whether or not this happened how he said, is up for interpretation. However, as we prepare our celebrations for the Anniversary of the signing of the ‘Declaration of Independence’ allow me
to share here. From the time that God shook that tower that the one world order had built in defiance of Him and the bringing of languages even till now, cultural and religious barriers have been set in place to harvest more division and more confusion. There is already a movement based on the concept of coexist that is trying to blend religions to create this one world order, embracing a one world religion. This sounds good in theory, but actually will be the demise of Christianity as we know it. Jesus Christ will be proposed as a great teacher and prophet and stricken from media as the son of God. His status as the King of kings will be opposed by the propaganda that all roads go to heaven. The present attempt to eliminate our southern border is another aim of the one world order. They do not respect our nation’s laws and given the opportunity would replace them with a legal system powered by an international court system. The news media has already become a vehicle to spread the lies of the far left. These are card carrying members of the one world order. It is an order where the family unit is further disenfranchised, sexuality as in male-female is scuttled in the name of diversity so that you are whatever you choose to be and finally faith that states it is the only way to God as Jesus Christ made clear about following Him will be criminalized. In some countries now, Christians are being hunted down like animals and made to move from their homes to seek safety for themselves and their loved ones. It has been said that over 60% of the Christians in Serbia have either been killed or ran out of their homes. In the 2018 World cup games some of these abusers of Christians promoted their nations with teams. The top offenders as stated by Open Doors USA that were there were Iran (1), Saudi Arabia (12), Nigeria (14), Tunisia (30), Mexico (39) and Columbia (49). I am as patriotic as the next person; however, we must awaken to the truth. Many nations, even some which were founded on Judeo-Christian values are leaving the landmark of the gospel of the Holy Bible. They decry the morality founded in scriptures for a “do as you like” humanistic value system. This was prophesied in the very Bible the world is attempting to dismiss. II Thessalonians 2: 2-4, 10-12 2 “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, and they should believe a lie. 12 That they might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 10
“One nation under God” and “In God we trust” are both phrases fought daily by a parade of humanistic and atheistic attorneys well-funded by those who are pushing a demonic agenda against this once Christian nation. I say once, because for decades now we have legally killed unborn babies in a movement called ‘pro-choice.” We have lifted up other religious ideas and
launched an all-out force against the family. All this while, celebrating and teaching our children it’s okay to be gay. I am not trying to be controversial here. I just want to state plainly that as nation after nation gets on the bandwagon of homosexual activism against Christianity instead of embracing the husband and wife concept introduced by God himself in the Garden of Eden, we are headed quickly toward destruction. There is no hate here. I love every human being on this planet, even those who might disagree with me. However, as a man who has been called to deliver a message of truth, I cannot accept the lies that are so commonplace. The bottom line is there is only one true and living God. His son Jesus Christ came into this world to make it possible through His sacrifice for us to become citizens of another nation. As we repent of our individual sins we become better citizens of our earthly nations even as we accept our role in the family of God. True Christians do not spew hatred at the unbelievers, but we love them and share the truth to help them see, they too can accept Christ Jesus and become the sons and daughters of God. If they reject us, or our message, we still love them and pray that one day they will see the truth before it is too late. In contrast we see our Brothers and Sisters all over the world being tortured and even martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ. Of all those opposing religions, none have a prophet or teacher that rose from the dead after claiming to be the Son of God. No other leader’s birth was heralded in by angels saying, “Glory to God in the highest, peace on Earth and good will toward men.” I am an American by birth, but I am a Christian and citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven by way of the second birth through the salvation given me by God in Christ Jesus. We know according to the Holy Scriptures that mankind’s rebellion against God will come to a conclusion that is a certainty. Our prayer is that more will come to know themselves as born again before that terrible day. You dear readers are following after the truth or a lie this very moment. If you have been secured in this world’s anti-Christian ideology there is nothing I can say to change your mind, or your heart. However, I do know that there is an unseen force presently at work in this world known as the Holy Spirit. He can convince you and indeed convict you of your rebellion against God. He too, can usher you into the saving grace of Jesus Christ. So, there may still be hope. Meanwhile, fellow believers let us pledge allegiance to the one true and living God of the Holy Bible. He is our creator and our father. Let us sing praises to our Savior, King and Lord Jesus Christ. May we all be about the business of the kingdom of Heaven as much or more so than we do the necessary things in our daily lives for ourselves. In the end, let our lives translate the love of our Lord to all men. May we be the very best ambassadors of His kingdom that we can be. Celebrate your wins all nations, this is of course what we do while here on this world. But, more so let us understand our true citizenship is a far greater country. Let us pray for our nations, will once again come to know our God, the one true and living God, the ‘I AM.”
by: Evangelist Ernest Kweku Nanor But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15, ESV) Jesus was walking with His disciples one day in Mathew 19, and a young man came to ask Him questions on what good thing he can do to enter the Kingdom of God. During their conversation, Jesus told him to go and sell his belongings and give it to the poor and needy. Jesus said, if you do, you will have treasure in heaven. But also, Jesus said, “come and follow me.” But this man who wanted to enter the Kingdom of God left sorrowfully because of the nature of price. In the Jewish culture, “heaven” represented the “Holy of Holies” in the temple at Jerusalem. However, Jesus spoke of a heavenly kingdom and a heavenly temple. Prophetically, we could discern that the Lord knew this young ruler very well and knew about his trust in the riches he had accumulated. Therefore, Jesus simply discerned where the man’s heart was. Giving up his treasure was not the issue. But simply a test to see if the man was willing to let go of other things, to embrace Jesus. He simply put this young ruler in that corner to see if he was willing to do what Jesus had said. Jesus said to His disciples, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” The eye of a needle was a small gate within the larger gate of a city. A camel could easily go through the larger gate with all the supplies on its back. But not the smaller gate, which was the eye of a needle Jesus referred to. Right after this man left, the disciples of Jesus were very confused and started deliberating on what had happened.
It seemed that if this is the case, then no one would enter into the Kingdom of God. Jesus told them that with men it is not possible, but with God all things are possible. I am stressing this passage in Matthew 19. “With God” which has to do with “the knowledge and wisdom of God.” With God because God is God and man is man. Jesus was telling us that man alone with all his efforts will never cause mankind to enter into God. “With God” means “with Jesus” because He was the only way for man to enter the kingdom of heaven. “My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9) which is God’s invitation to man to act like God by thinking like God. We have the mind of Christ. The opening text we read from Acts 19 shows a passage of some Jewish vagabonds who wanted to do the work of God without the support of God. The gospels were never silent on how our faith in the name of Jesus Christ, and His baptism of the Holy Spirit could move someone from a state of being powerless, to being powerful. It is like going from zero to hero; especially from the spot where Jesus emphatically placed protection over His very disciple after His resurrection with these words, “lo, I am with you always even unto the End of the world.” In Romans, Paul declares boldly, “What can we say then, If God be for us who can be against us?” No wonder the evil spirit leaped on these vagabond Jews and beat all the seven of them, tearing their clothes. The scriptures have never been silent on how to establish a good relationship with God and have His support. In the book of Acts, Peter says “38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:38-39, ESV) And in the gospel of John we read, “12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13, ESV) A good relationship with God is all we need in this world which enables us to do those impossible things with ease. In a relationship with God, we find the strength to walk in His victory no matter how extreme the challenges we face in life. As long as we believe in Jesus Christ and receive the outpouring of His presence within us, His finished work always manifests each day. Whether in Government, Economy, Education, Family, Churches, Entertainment, Arts, Culture, Sports, Media, or other Religious Institutions, we need Jesus Christ and the experience the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to excel in life. We find all of this in His rest. With men, it is not possible to do what Jesus did. But with God, all things are possible. God richly bless you in Jesus name. Evg. Ernest Kweku Nanor Author – Revealing Jesus (Amazon)
By: Krissy Webb - Creation: Genesis 1:1-31 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day. Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens. God called the space “sky.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day. Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day. Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened. God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day. Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that
scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day. Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind-livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened. God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground. “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened. Then God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day. What an imagination God had when He made all of creation. He must have been saying What If... I put a little color over here and change this to have four legs instead of two. Maybe these animals here I will make have wings and those over there have gills. Yes, let's make there be light from the darkness so we can see these beautiful things. With a giddy grin and spirit, He then decided let me make humans rule over all of these things of the earth. I'm going to put a little mud here and maybe some there and then man was formed. Watch this next thing I do. It's going to floor you all. I am going to take one of those bones from the man to make woman. Let's take one of the rib bones from man to do this, how amazing is that. Most of us can kind of understand all this by the late famous artist Bob Ross. Any canvas painting Bob did make ordinary trees turn into happy little trees. Bob's imagination made such beautiful paintings come to life. We are all made in God's image, which means we all have his imagination in us. Each one of us in one way or another can imagine something. Imagination gives us the freedom to create just like God did. Look at a skyscraper, a bridge, a garden, a painting, or read a book. Someone thought those things up and created them, just like the Lord did for us so long ago. We all have dreams and imaginations, why not include God in them? As you get quiet and start daydreaming imagine God in the picture also. Maybe you are dreaming of a beautiful beach with the ocean in front of you, toes in the sand, and God sitting right beside you having a conversation about what you are envisioning. I don't know about you all, but that just gave me goosebumps! That I can be sitting with God and having a conversation. The best part of it is I can do this anytime, and anywhere. Now some people may think you need to be in a mental hospital if you do this in public, but the joke is on them. There is no better feeling of
freedom than to have God by your side and a mind full of ideas. Go ahead and give it a try. Meet God somewhere in your imagination and have a conversation with him. I bet you will never look at freedom the same again. I think I am going to head on into my imagination with God and see what we can do next. I hope you do the same. Prayer: Holy Spirit come into our minds and fill us with your lightness and freedom. Let us let go and let you lead as our minds open up to all kinds of adventures. Bless you Father for giving us a mind like yours. I pray that each of us takes on the childlike imagination we all grew up with and bloom. In Jesus name, Amen.
Contact: Bishop Momanyi George Mogaka PO BOX 4530 Kisii, Kenya 40200 Gmogaka2873@yahoo.com Donations should be sent by: Western Union or Money Gram Projects: This ministry is in need of: 1. 2 computers, so they can start their school. 2. Donations for School fees 3. Chemicals for their jigger program Please help if you can. They will appreciate very much!
by: Dave Kachele Harry was a crusty ol’ cob! I met him on Fremont Street, Las Vegas Nevada. A couple of friends and I were passing out tracts and telling anyone who would give us a listen that Jesus loved them. The old man was crouched on the ground, leaning on a pillar quite a distance from the edge of the sidewalk. Some special kind of Gravity moved my feet towards him. “Old man, your time is near, and you need to get right with God!” (“Did those words come out of my mouth? That was pretty direct!”) He lifted his head, scrunched up his nose, and held out his hand. “How long has it been since you’ve eaten?” “I dunno,” he scowled. “Com’on. We’re gonna get you sumthin to eat.” Harry didn’t eat much that night. His diet of cigarettes and alcohol had robbed him of a healthy appetite. Led by the Spirit, I took Harry home with me. Over the next few days, weeks, and months Harry came to know Jesus. He got baptized. He got clean. About six months after we took Harry in he disappeared. I guessed that he’d gone off the wagon. We found him in the hospital. “Harry, what happened?” “I dunno. I think I got hold of some bad liquor!” He paused, then looked up at me and added, “but I’m gonna talk to Him tonight,” pointing upward.
I shared some scripture with him, prayed, and left him to the care of the hospital doctors and nurses. When I went back the next day, Harry was gone. Harry looked much older, but he was only 62. I’m not sure how the graveside service got arranged. Besides myself, there was a rabbi, and the old man’s very bitter son. I shared with him how his father had come to know Jesus, the Messiah, and assured him and the rabbi that I knew, by God’s grace, that this wayward father was in heaven. With the same scowl that Harry had once had, the son just waved his hand in the air, still very angry. The rabbi just nodded. I didn’t learn the details of that father/son relationship. Harry had little or nothing to show for his life on earth, just one hurt son. But God knew Harry. He directed my feet to him that night on Fremont Street. God made sure that Harry heard and accepted the Gospel of Christ during his last six months on earth. In spite of the hard life that he lived, Harry found F R E E D O M! “I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever. Therefore, if the Son sets you F R E E, you really will be F R E E!” (Jesus, as recorded in John 8:3436) As you celebrate your freedom as a blessed United States citizen, take time to remember the true F R E E D O M that you’ve found in Christ. And continue to pray for those who still need to be set F R E E! “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim F R E E D O M to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set F R E E the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Jesus, as recorded in Luke 4:18-19)
Win and Grow Ministries
Website: http://www.winandgrow.com Email: winngrow@gmail.com
A Soldier’s Prayer Collin Raye
ATTENTION READERS! The purpose of the following article is to make known the Rwandan traditions and connect the Christian reader’s world, in order to develop the expansion of the Christian religion and their consequences in Rwanda at the modern times. Many times, those of us in the USA do not know or understand the different religions in various countries. This country needs your help to expand the Gospel to their nation. Thank you for reading their article so you can understand what other countries are going through in order to try and bring Christianity to their continent/Nation/Country. And notice on the map how small their country is, and how large their population is! Please pray for them. Faye Hanshew, Publisher
Total Population in 2016 was 11.92 million
Author: SAFARI Dieudonné A. Master of Christian Counseling from Grace International Bible University; B. Master of environmental sciences and social-economic-policy from Université Evangélique en AfriqueUEA/BUKAVU in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); C. Bachelor of Arts in Clinical and social psychology from Université Espoir d’Afrique-UEA/Burundi Introduction Rwanda is one of the countries in Africa’s great lakes region. Rwanda covers an area of 26 338 km2 it is one of the smallest states in the region behind Burundi. Rwanda is known to many ethnic conflicts between Hutus and Tutsis, which has led to massacres and genocide in Rwanda and within the countries of the Great Lakes region of Africa. Rwandans believed in the existence of a supreme being, called Imana (God). Beliefs also related to the survival of ancestors after death. The latter were divided into two categories: the socalled Ingabwa ancestors and the evil ancestors. I. The conception of Imana (God) within the ancient Rwandan culture For the ancient Rwandans, the universe is totally dominated by Imana (God). If there were no temples or worship, the Rwandans would pray and thank them. They gave their children names that evoke various attributes and activities of Imana. Other designations, often used, indicate the main attributes of Imana: Iyakare (the one at the beginning), Rurema (the creator), Ruhanga (the one that makes something appear that did not exist before), Rugira (The existence) and Rugaba (The donor). Two attributes dominate in the literary genres: Rurema and Rugira. Secondary attributes are mainly found in legends, proverbs and anthrophony’s. They emphasize both transcendence and immanence. In this connection, an etiological legend accounts for the remoteness of Imana. Formerly, it was believed, Imana lived with the men following them, helping them and protecting them day and night. He was particularly concerned with children. And then one day, while the father went to hunt and the mother worked outside, Imana (God) began to keep the children, to caress them, to amuse them. Suddenly, on his return from the hunt, the father was struck by the sight of an unknown character among his children. And to be shocked while saying to himself: this thing, what is it? Without hesitation, he shot an arrow towards the person who, fortunately, this one, less than a second, had flown towards heaven. It is thus that Imana is no longer visible among men. According to this legend, Imana is more transcendent than immanent, but it is nevertheless omnipresent in the daily life of men, as evidenced by the language of Rwandans (compared with Burundi and Buha in present-day Tanzania). The legends give him an anthropomorphic form: he walks works. However, it is considered intangible. Imana is very powerful. He knows, hears and sees everything. It is also good what explains an absence of offering to him because for the Rwandans, the offerings are mainly intended to appease the evil spirits. As a result of this lack of worship towards Imana, man resorts to intermediaries like the king considered the national priest, to the spirits of ancestors and diviners to address Imana.
There is an inferior and powerful divinity which is at the origin of evil, called Ruremankwaci. This vision of Imana is not a Christian influence. Ancient dynastic poems, anthrophony’s, proverbs that spark conversation, wishes, adjurations and legends are the main sources of knowledge of the Supreme Being by Rwandans. Man and his cosmic environment are sacred realities. That only Imana is the only absolute master. Those men are only managers and ministers of divine providence. II. The God (Imana) and the god (imana) in the oldest Rwandan context The ancient Rwandans distinguished the existence of the imana and the Imana Rurema (God creator). In addition, they saw a relationship between the imana and the Imana. Note, moreover, that from the point of view of the history and the sociology of religions, God, the angels, the demons and the souls of the "disincarnated" men after death enter the category of spirits. Also known as imana (god): king, luck, divination animals (bull, ram, goat, chick), amulet containing the material taken from these sacrificed animals, the soothsayer, Ryangombe's medium in ceremonies. The cult of the Imandwa, the protective spirits of the lineage, the sacred trees at the foot of which sacrificed sacrifices were offered, a sycamore and an erythrina which form the sanctuary where the cult of the ancestor founder of the minor lineage takes place. Deposited commemorative objects of a religious ceremony, a benevolent and generous person designated by metonymy under the name of “Imana y'i Rwanda” the God of Rwanda. There were also theophoric names as a useful means and tool to analyze the idea of God of Rwandan before 1900. At present, Christian preaching to exert a great influence’s on the theophoric names in Rwanda. No theophoric name was found in traditional and official oral sources. But names such as Gihanga and Rumeza refer to divine power. It should be noted, however, that the theophoric names borne by some Rwandans between 1928 and 1994 (the period of Catholic domination) reflect ancestral beliefs or ancestral religion. III. Guterekera or the cult of ancestors in ancient Rwandan culture The cult of guterekera is founded on the belief in life after death and the exchange of relationships between the living and the dead. Indeed, man as well as the animal consists of a visible part (the body) and another invisible, called shadow. At death, the body becomes a corpse and the shadow disappears. In a mysterious way, the shadow turns into "spirit" or umuzimu. The deceased may intervene in the world of the living, for good or evil. It is thus that the fear of the spirits inspires the worship which is rendered to them, from the funeral to continue in the daily life. In addition, a vertical solidarity connects the living and the benevolent ancestors called ingabwa (hence the name Habingabwa). The deceased always claim love and respect for theirs and their right over the property left to the heirs. Thus, each family had small indaro huts, each of which was dedicated to the spirits of known ancestors and to be appeased. The belief in metempsychosis should be noted in passing: one was convinced that the dead king was transformed into a leopard (note the link between the kings and the leopard, why the kings were called Abambarangwe. They also believed in another kind of elusive beings who manifest their evil power, but who in general act invisibly and are given names by region, (Mostly in the central and eastern parts of the country), ibitega (in the center and south-west of the country), ibihume (especially in the former province of Cyangugu), Or ibigashanyi, etc. In the practice of guterekera, at nightfall, the head of the family goes to the hut dedicated to this or that ancestor which he must appease. He sits down at the threshold of the hut and is coated with kaolin on a leaf of eurythrin. He who brings this leaf introduces his finger into this kaolin and makes a sign on the forehead and chest of the head of the family wishing him happiness and invincibility. The chief sprinkles the hut of lustrous water, brings grains of finger millet and kaolin in a small basket. He lights a fire for the spirits to heat and throws the grains that crack upon contact with the flame. The continuous crunching of the grain is the laughter attributed to the spirits. The rite is accompanied by formulas so that the deceased is assured of the good dispositions of the family towards him. At the same time, he is asked to remain favorable to his people and to do them no harm. For any important activity, the former Rwandan used to consult the soothsayer. It is he who knows how to interpret the signs of the visible world and the will of God. Different modes of divination were employed:
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Divination by ossicles, squash seeds, planchette, small piles, magic horn; Divination by bull-calf, ram, goat, chick; Animal fat, dry flowers, butter, plants, Grasshoppers, water, torch; Summon Imandwa and Nyabingi spirits; Intuition or prophecy.
The guterekera: it is a way of protecting its heritage, its family, any activity to be carried out; It is to appease a woman who killed for good the child of his co-wife mukeba. Before this murder, the Rwandans believed that man was rising shortly after death. Worship prevents this woman from completing humanity. Among other objectives of the guterekera is the concern to have a male heir and to make oneself immortal by the cult of the living. IV. The Kubandwa (cult of the god Ryangombe) in the ancient Rwandan culture We have described above the worship given to ancestors at the family level. On the other hand, there are spirits that have been deified after death and the worship that is given them goes beyond the family or clan. It has established itself in every region of Africa of the Great Lakes. This is the Mandwa worship or Ryangombe worship. In practicing it, the followers place themselves under the protection of Ryangombe. The cult of the Imandwa is very old in Rwanda and has undergone changes over the years. The term Imandwa refers to the specialist or medium of worship. This word is translated into different forms in Bunyoro, Toro, Nkole, Kigezi (Uganda), Buhaya, Bujinja, Buha, Bukerewe (island of Lake Victoria), Rwanda, Burundi and Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Practicing kubandwa means taking part in the ceremonies in order to become a member of society, then the act of honoring the Imandwa by imitating their ritual cries and gestures, and finally, celebrating worship while already a member Share. Unanimity is far from gained on the origin of Ryangombe and the cult of the Imandwa. The literature on Ryangombe as on Abacwezi is marked by the Hamitic hypothesis. Some assert that the cult of the Imandwa is prior to Ryangombe and is of Hutu origin. Others believe that the cult was imported and was later than the disappearance of the Barenge (fifteenth century). Finally, others assert that worship is a relatively recent introduction and that Ryangombe is Tutsi in contrast to those who take it as a Twa or a Hutu. The ruling class accepted Ryangombe in order to facilitate its domination over culturally assimilated peoples. The accounts do not make it possible to determine the exact cause of the generalization of kubandwa. Some traditions claim that worship was imposed on the entire Rwandan population by King Mutara Semugeshi. For others, generalization would have taken place under King Ruganzu Ndori. Under King Yuhi Mazimpaka, the Imandwa were well known. King Cyilima Rujugira appointed the 1st Pontiff of the Imandwa (umwami w'imandwa). The king of the Imandwa and the chief of the insider's army were traditionally Abashambo of the Abayumbu lineage. They were brought up to this dignity under King Mibambwe Sentabyo. The link between the kubandwa and the guterekera can be illustrated by the phenomenon of vestals serving the spirit of King Yuhi Mazimpaka in Kamonyi (Actually district of Kamonyi south province of Rwanda). Certain spirits are the object of a particular worship. Let us remember that at the same time that the myths concerning the Imandwa and the kubandwa were elaborated, another cult developed, that of the heroes Kibogo and Cyumweru, supposed contemporaries of Ruganzu Ndori. Kibogo was said to be the son of King Ndahiro Cyamatare. He was allegedly massacred with his family in a clan vendetta. He was offered by his father to plead to the good weather after a severe famine in Rwandan kingdom. His body was burnt at the place called "mu Kadasaya ka Ngoma" (Current District of Kamonyi) and sent to the sky in the form of smoke. This was under Mutara Semugeshi and not under Ndahiro. Rainmakers regarded him as their heavenly patron. The initiates of the cult of the Imandwa offer him a pitcher of beer and some bananas to his wife. Kibogo became Imandwa. He was honored with a special cult at the royal court until the date of the dismissal of Yuhi Musinga and his relegation to Kamembe by the Belgian colonial administration.
Cyumweru is a character who allegedly lived in Ruhina (present district of Muhanga south province of Rwanda). He monitored the Kibogo cultures and accompanied him in his ascent. In her honor, Mutara Semugeshi would have decided to free Cyumweru's (Sunday) wife from all drudgery and all the coverable once in five days of the traditional week. The fifth day of rest, always respected, was called Akadogo. Regarding the stages of the kubandwa or festival of adepts, this worship was held in solemn and public ceremonies, accompanied by gestures, words and songs in honor of the "king of spirits" that is Ryangombe. The public is generally restricted to initiates and candidates for the initiation of worship. The uninitiated are called inzingo. After their death, they will go to the active volcano Nyiragongo(Actualy in Democratic Republic of the Congo), while the Imandwa will be rewarded after death and will join Ryangombe in his happy stay on the extinct volcanoes, Muhabura and especially the Karisimbi(volcanos boarders between Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo). Before the ceremonies of this worship, the soothsayers are consulted in order to avoid any misfortune during the ceremonies. Every candidate for initiation has a sponsor for men and a godmother for women. These sponsors must have undergone the same practice. Their choice as well as that of the place of initiation is confirmed by a diviner. Participation in the cult of Ryangombe involves two stages: kwatura initiation (repentance) and confirmation of gusubira ku ntebe (acceptance). All kubandwa ceremonies end in communion with the gutonora (sacrifice), that is, sharing fraternal agape. Initiation (Kwatura) is a ceremony whereby someone is offered to Ryangombe. The latter becomes his parent, his protector and the other his child. The recipient and his sponsor wear skins of animals. The first bears on the head a hollow sorghum bark (urugori) and a kind of shoe around one of its toes. The first step is to go to an erythrin that is considered the protective tree. The initiated women beg Ryangombe to protect their son. And the recipient is subjected to trials on sexual taboos, accompanied by ringing and beer. After that, the candidate is laid bare and dirty with mud. This second step consists in transmitting the secret of the Imandwa, which he must not give to his father or his mother if they are not initiated. Then we go back home, and the candidate goes to bed with his sponsor or godmother, as the case may be. He receives the name of Ruzingo (the puny) and will be able to attend the ceremonies without receiving a seat before the next stage. Normally, he sits on a sheepskin. Concerning confirmation’s (gusubizaho imandwa): the initiate is placed on a seat and is revered as Ryangombe. It receives an initiation name. Then we drink and dance. The godfather receives a cow, a sheep or a hoe. This ceremony usually ends at dawn with a ritual quest where the Imandwa disperse to nearby families while begging or taking whatever, they find in their path. In these rites, there is the sacrifice (kubagira Imandwa or gutonora), a meal where the participants eat the bull bent to the rite. Insiders as well as assistants each receive a piece of meat to consume on the spot. The meal is accompanied by songs and dances proper to these ceremonies. This step is optional because it must be imposed by the diviner. Besides the cult of Ryangombe, the worship of Nyabingi took place in certain corners of the country. The legend calls Nyabingi Nyiramubyeyi (the mother) and in the worship given to her, it bears the name of Nyabingi (rich), Biheko or Nyirabiheko in certain regions. Some legends make Nyabingi an unmarried woman who lived in Ndorwa or Karagwe (Tanzani) and Imana would have made her an immortal creature. His worship was widespread in the north and northwest of Rwanda as far as Mutara, as well as in Bwishya (DRC), Bufumbira and Kigezi (Uganda). During his expedition to Nkole, King Rwabugiri attacked Ntare, king of that country, and began to track him down. On his victorious return to Rwanda, Rwabugiri brought back herds of cows and several hostages including several girls, including Nyiramubyeyi-Nyabingi. For having played a great role in the legendary history of this campaign, Nyabingi becomes famous. She would have been awarded the command of the northern regions of Rwanda as the Mulera and the Ndorwa where she ended her days.
Certain traditions which connect most of the historical facts with Ruganzu Ndori, also bring up the worship of Nyabingi to this king. Nyabingi would then be a daughter of Ndahiro and wife Nyanka, and the sister of the only sons of this Ndahiro, king of Rwanda: Ndori, Kinywi and Kibogo. The narratives relating to the latter two are pure mythology. In reality, the cult of Nyabingi would be more recent than the worship of the mandwa, going back to northern Rwanda no more than about the middle of the nineteenth century. Nyabingi was not forgotten after his death. Its cult is widespread in the above-mentioned regions. It is quite different from that of Ryangombe by the absence of initiation ceremonies because Nyabingi had his priestesses or priests, also called Nyabingi as well as the woman who is the object of worship, intermediary between Nyabingi and his followers. These priests play the role of prophet and healer. In theory, one becomes a priest of Nyabingi by inspiration, but it seems that in practice a son or a daughter replaces his father or his mother and that a widow can replace her deceased husband. Conclusion The Rwandan kingdom was an animist for several centuries before the arrival of white European settlers including the German and Belgian in Rwanda. Rwandan’s believed ancestors and spirits of the dead who were incarnated in the trees, volcanoes and some sacred animals of the old times. The purpose of our articles is to make known the Rwandan traditions and connect the Christian reader’s world in order to develop the expansion of the Christian religion and their consequences in Rwanda at the modern times. At this point, I would like to thank the readers who will read more to know about the Rwandan traditional religion of the old times. ABOUT PAPER AUTHOR Author: SAFARI Dieudonné I am environmentalist, clinical and social care psychologist, theologian, human right activist, peacemaker and writer, researcher about peacebuilding, mental health community’s diseases and climate change and environmental problems in African great lakes region. For more information about SAFARI Dieudonné, send your question via my electronic address. E-mail: shamiarchangesafari@yahoo.com / sarifa_dieu@yahoo.com
12. Sanctification: Here is a term that is far from understanding by some in the Body of Christ, for the ignorance of this word has caused some of the greatest rifts and divisions all over doctrines. John recorded, “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified though the truth (17:19). Ephesians 5:26-27 reveals an analogy that should help us in our definition of the salvation vocabulary. It uses the reality of marriage and the componentry therein. Now many has fought other believers in other organizations and denomination because of religious dogma and doctrinal counter measures. We must understand what sanctification is in order that we can grow in grace. What it is NOT is (1) the eradication of the sinful nature. In fact, those who boast of this in and of themselves actually claim that which was not even attained by Paul, James, John, or Peter for that matter. Sanctification is an ongoing event in the life of the Believer. Another falsehood in understanding sanctification is the erroneous position of total eradication of our humanity saying that we cannot now as a result of salvation ever make mistakes. Our spirits were saved, yet our souls are being sanctified. The first false position eliminates sin, while the other enjoys it. We must grasp right here that both sinless perfection and sinful imperfections are unscriptural beliefs or doctrines. The better way to understand sanctification is that a “Christian” cannot be sinless, but thru sanctification a “Christian” can sin less! Sanctification is the means whereby a believer is cleansed continuously every moment of their lives as a child of God. Remember, salvation was a chosen plan by God! 13. Glorification: This term means the ultimate and absolute physical, mental, and spiritual perfections of all believers. Glorification occurs when at the rapture and continues throughout all eternity. The purpose for glorification is both logical and necessary arriving at the final side of eternity and recognized in the triangle salvation. It completes justification and sanctification in the past (Christ Prophet saved us from the penalty of sin through justification), in the present (Christ the Priest saves us from the power of sin through sanctification, and in the future, Christ the King shall save us from the presence of sin through glorification. Glorification shall result in (1) a body like Christ’s body; (2) a body of flesh and bone; (3) a recognizable body; (4) and a body in which the Spirit predominates. 14. Preservation: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 reveals the definition of this Salvation vocabulary Word in saying, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly (completely): and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it”. If that wasn’t good enough Jude 1 says, “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God (Christ) the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ (GOD), and called.”
15. Origination: Finally, our final word. If you endured to this point that tells us one thing for certain, that you are hungry to understand salvation. Therefore, I’d like to end this final word with a section of the Bible that should help with administering the grasping of this word. 1 Chronicles 29:10-14 creates the atmosphere for our understanding this word. It reads, “Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly; and David said: “Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.” Origination deals with what is, without a doubt the most profound and often perverted subject in the entire Word of God. Why? Let me ask a better question. By what means and for what reasons was the plan of salvation originated? Why are not all me saved? Can indeed all men be saved? These are questions that have led many down the road called division and sometimes even hatred of one another in the same Body of Christ. However, I do not want to take another rabbit trail, but much rather would like to say in my final remarks that origination is God’s business, but it most certainly is the most important word along with these others. We need to take all of these and break them down accordingly and build ourselves up in the Holy Spirit. God is NOT primarily interested in convincing a sinner to give up smoking, swearing, drinking, and even illicit sex, as bad as these may very well be, for this will not save him. His great sin which will eventually condemn him forever is the rejection of Jesus The Christ. Repentance therefore deals with a turning from horrible crime of spurning Calvary. Remember that Jesus Christ did not come to save who was lost but “THAT which was lost!” Salvation is needing to be understood for what it truly is. Luke 19:10 states that Jesus Christ said, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” He didn’t say “WHO” which was lost. This is very important. It is just like learning our Salvation language that if we take the time to learn how we are to live, how we are to speak, gaining understanding into salvation is going to result and resolve into a salvation vocabulary unlike the world has ever known. “THAT” which was lost was called relationship! Our relationship to God was lurking out in the wilderness and needed to be found and brought back to the land called unity.
My apologies to Dave and our readers: My mistake only, I left this article out of our June issue, so I am putting it along with his July article in this issue of Faith Unlimited!
by: Dave Kachele
How can a man be born when he is old? (John 3:4) I came to know the Lord when no one else was around but Him and me. The day after hearing His Voice within and giving my life to Jesus without restriction He sent a Christian mailman to my house. I guessed that he was a Christian because he wore a huge cross around his neck. I’d known him as a neighbor from my childhood. “Hey Ed, you a Christian?” “Yeah Man, are you?” “Well, I think so.” “Where are you ‘in fellowship Brother’?” “You mean church? Well, I was thinking of checking out the Mormon church.” “No Man, you don’t wanna do that!” Ed was speaking Christianese, but we finally figured it out and he got me going to a Jesus loving, people loving, Bible centered fellowship. After sharing what had happened to me a few times someone finally told me, “Cool Man! You got saved!” By then, I’d learned enough Christian lingo to know what she meant. How do you talk to someone who knows nothing or little about Jesus or Christianity? How do you talk with someone who has a lot of misconceptions about the Lord? How do you explain, “If you’re born only once you die twice – physical and spiritual death, but if you’re born twice you only die once – physical death,” without speaking a language they don’t understand. Old ‘Nick’ didn’t get it, so Jesus explained in language that he could understand - (John 3:1-21).
John, the Gospel writer was following up on something he began to explain earlier in his record of the life of Jesus. “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13) In the movie about Lee Strobel’s life, The Case for Christ, Lee’s wife boiled down this passage to a little formula: BELIEVE + RECEIVE = BECOME. The Gospel is not easy for people to understand. And even when they do understand, they have a hard time repenting and following this simple formula. How can you explain to someone that they can be sure that they will only die a physical death in language that they can understand and receive? 1. First, LISTEN to them. We are often so eager to share Jesus that we just begin rattling away before we know anything about a person’s journey, thoughts and/or feelings. Or, we’re afraid to share the Gospel at all because we don’t know what to say. When God opens a door to witness for Him begin by asking questions and LISTENING to answers. Then, you have a track to run on. 2. TALK in language that the person can understand. Reply clearly. Do your best to steer clear of Christianese, and explain clearly terms that can’t be avoided. 3. LET your Partner, the Holy Spirit, lead. You will plant a seed, water a seed already there, or reap the harvest. Remember, God is the Master of the Harvest! 4. COMMIT to the person with whom you are sharing. If you plant a seed or water, you may have other opportunities to share. Don’t push for a slam dunk – a new birth. Develop a trusting friendship, and be ready to water some more, or reap the harvest. If the person does receive Jesus they will need nurturing. I have people that I’ve been mentoring for years, one on one and in groups. 5. Stay BIBLE CENTERED. Don’t sell a cheap Gospel without repentance (a word you may need to avoid or explain as “to stop doing things that the Bible says are wrong and start doing things that would please God). Jesus preached …Repent and believe the Gospel. (Mark 1:15) Yes, ‘God Has a Wonderful Plan for Everyone’s Life,’ but there is a cross to carry daily. Share in plain language what that means. Don’t be afraid to challenge your new believer. People are looking for something bigger than themselves to believe and commit to. 6. MODEL a fully devoted life. This includes humbly and openly confessing and repenting in the sight of your mentee. How else will they know how? Remember that Jesus showed clearly that a person who is born twice will only die once. He rose from the grave with an indestructible body and showed Himself alive to hundreds of people over a period of nearly a month and a half! We are not sharing some pipe dream! If you’re privileged to lead someone to Christ, your newly born mentee will come by faith, just like you did. But, as you help him or her grow into maturity, his or her faith will grow into an assured knowing! Jesus is returning soon to bring His own home! Let’s take some precious people with us!
Win and Grow Ministries Website: http://www.winandgrow.com
Email: winngrow@gmail.com
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