What Makes Jesus Unique? No one else made the claims that He did, He is alive...............
All the great religious leaders of history have one thing in common: they are dead. Only one man has risen from a grave never again to taste death. Jesus Christ died, was buried, remained in the grave for 3 days, then was raised to life again.
Jesus is unique. He is the only one proven to be the Son of God because God validated His Kingship and accepted His payment for our sins all with one incredible stroke: He raised Jesus from the dead!
Paul opens his letter to the Romans with this evidence about who Jesus is:
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, which He had promised before by His prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Romans 1:1-4
Because Jesus Christ is very much alive, five things are true right now that wouldn’t be true if He were just another dead religious leader like Confucius, Mohammed or Buddha.
Because Jesus was raised from the dead and is alive…Prayers are answered, We can talk to Jesus 24/7
Comments (2,951)
During my mission preparation, I have had many friends say they do not believe in God. When I hear them say this, I find myself praying for them. They may not believe in God while we are saying a prayer, but if we really believe in God, our love for Him will be demonstrated to others. Our example helps others understand that God really blesses us, that He exists, and that He loves us.
Emanuel L., age 18, State of Mexico, Mexico
Be an Example;
When I was younger, I was under the impression that the only way to teach the gospel was to full-out preach it, but I was dead wrong because there are countless ways to share the gospel. But through experience, I’ve found that if you’ll just be an example of Christ in all the things that you do, then you’ll be surprised by how many people look up to you and believe you. In many circumstances, actions do truly speak louder than any other word could. Lead and teach by example.
Ammon W., age 18, Arizona, USA
Talk about Nature;
If your friend does not believe in God, you can talk about nature because everything testifies that there is a God (see Alma 30:44). You can also pray for her and study the scriptures with her—for example, Psalm 19:1. I know that the Holy Ghost will help her receive a testimony of our Heavenly Father.
Sophie K., age 17, Kinshasa,
Start a Gospel Conversation;
You can share the gospel in many ways. First, just pray and fast for them so that their heart may open up to the gospel. Then the next time you meet them, open up about topics and subjects that lead to a conversation about the gospel. Be sure to invite them to church or activities, and most of all, be friendly. Who knows—maybe someday they’ll be baptized along with their family.
Valerie K., age 14, Nevada, USA
Share Your Testimony;
The gospel changes people’s lives. One way you can share it with your friend is by saying how you feel that God exists, for example, in the miracles that you have experienced and that you now experience by the simple fact of waking up every day. Your example to her will be a great testimony of your happiness in knowing the love of God and living the gospel.
Victória S., age 18, Piauí, Brazil
Why Share?
Remember why you want her to believe in God. We don’t just share this with people because we want them to be members of the Church. We do so because they are literally our brothers and sisters. Why do you want your friend to believe in God? Keep that question in mind, pray for strength and charity, be sincere, and if they still say no, then be willing to respect their agency. There’s also the chance that they aren’t ready yet. But I promise you that if you sincerely want them to know about God because you are their friend, they will listen. After that, the choice is up to them, and we can’t judge them for the choice they make.
Elder Eliot, age 20, Japan Sapporo Mission
Share Your Light;
Be an example to her. Help her become closer to God through your experiences and testimony. Be the angel she is looking for through your light and influence. Help her see the love of our Heavenly Father has for her, but don’t force it on her.
Mason E., age 16, Arizona, USA
How to Gain a Testimony
“How does one gain what we call a testimony?
“The first step in gaining any kind of knowledge is to really desire to know. In the case of spiritual knowledge, the next step is to ask God in sincere prayer. …
“As we desire and seek, we should remember that acquiring a testimony is not a passive thing but a process in which we are expected to do something.
I like this..
Very nice to see this today................
Living by faith.
I often would talk to people about having faith. One day the Lord put a thought in my mind; “You tell people to have faith, but your faith is in your bank account, for you to teach others about faith is easy for you to do, clear your account and you live by faith yourself.”
You have to understand that I had been saving since I started to work at age fourteen. I did not need to pick up my pay-check on my day off, for I always had enough money saved. I knew that the Lord was right, but this was a big thing to for me to do. Spent all of my money? I did, I had no choice. What I did with it I can’t remember today.
I was lying outside catching the sun for a tan, when I sat up with a shock it was ten days before the rent was due. I had a total of one hundred dollars in the bank. My rent alone was now one hundred and forty dollars and I had to eat etc.
I started to pray right away; about twenty minutes later the phone rang. It was the union hall did I want to work the next three days? You bet I did! I thanked the Lord for answering so promptly.
The phone rang again, the union telling me that they were sorry the company had found someone, before they could confirm the job for me.
I was beside myself. I told the Lord that I did not understand how He could give me a job, and then take it away from me.
The phone again! It was the union once more. They told me that they had felt so bad for me that they tried very hard to find me something else.
They found a job, but it was for one day only.
I told the Lord that I still didn’t understand why He first gave me three days of work, took it back, and now gave me only one day.
At the coffee break the next day, the manager asked me if I could work for him the next six weeks. He first wanted to see what kind of worker I was. The first store was a small company and the job was for only three days.
This company had several stores and after six weeks in one store, I was put to work in some of their other stores.
Of course, the Lord knew this, so He closed one door, to open another. And testing me!
The union would send me to stores I had decided to work freelance so when the union called
I would be able to tell them, thank you but I pass.
Of course the union soon caught on to why I would pass some stores.
Like in one store the manager would tell the staff what he wanted to have next during our break.
This really got to me as trust me we deserved that break, I wanted to relax not listen to what the boss wanted to have done. It being my first day I said nothing.
So the boss told the others that Jenny could next do the bacon.
"Jenny has done that already Ralph" "oh so she can do."........"she has done that too".
Well let her do...........done that too...........that man never showed he was impressed.
At closing time he said; "Jenny you could work for me anytime"
Well Ralph don't call me I will call you, Ralph you are a bottomless pit.
At another store again on my first day, during our break, two man across from me kept looking at their watches. I said; " what is this the Olympics"
"Oh, you also must go to the washroom during your break" "really? Well It just so happened I don't need to go right now"
"Then I had bosses that took me for lunch lasting not one hour but 1 1!/2"
"Christians or not, stand up for yourselves.............never cower...............You are the Kings kid, don't you ever forget it"
Faith and repentance are twins: they are just inseparable in effecting a genuine conversion. Paul speaks of "Repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord, Y'shua the Messiah" Acts 20:21. Faith is the second aspect of conversion. To repent of sin and fail to exercise faith in Yahweh for reconciliation, ends in failure and despair.
THE MEANING OF THE WORD
In Greek, the root word from which we get 'faith, the noun is PISTIS, and 'believe', the verb is PISTUEO.
FAITH means- belief, firm persuasion, assurance, firm conviction, and faithfulness. Faith is confidence in what we hope for and the assurance that the lord is working, even though we cannot see it. Faith knows that no matter what the situation, in our lives or someone else's that the lord is working in it.
It is the act whereby a person lays hold of God's resources, becomes obedient to what He has prescribed and puts aside all self interest and self-reliance, trusts Him completely. It is an unqualified surrender of the whole of one's being in dependence upon Him. It is wholly trusting and relying upon Him for all things. It is not just mental assent to the facts and realities of truth, it must come from a deep inner conviction. - the demons also believe - James 2:19
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5
"He that trusts in his own heart is a fool "but whose walketh wisely,he shall be delivered. Proverbs 28:26
Two teams of eight men were to travel through England and preach in the churches. They were never to ask anyone, for anything. If someone were to ask they had to keep silent.
This went well. Knowing in which church they would be preaching next, checks would follow them. The people would say that even though they had not asked for money, the Lord had put it upon their hearts to send some anyway.
Then one day, the men were having a meeting with young people. One of the men told them that they were all invited for tea the next day.
The others were shocked; “How could you do that? You know we don't have the money for a tea.” (Tea in England is not just a cup of tea, but sandwiches and cake). Not to worry, the young people were perceptive. The offers for sugar, tea, milk, cookies and sandwiches came in. When asked what else was needed, they all together wanted to blurt out, a cake! But they had to keep silent.
The men went to check the mail, but no money was found, so they could buy a cake.
It was four o'clock the next day, when there was a knock on the door. It was the mailman and he had a parcel for one of the men. The mailmen said; “I have already finished my rounds and was going to deliver this tomorrow morning, but I think that there is something edible in here.”
The one, whom the parcel was for, took his sweet time to open it for he just knew what was in the parcel. And so it was. His landlady had sent him a chocolate cake. Praise the Lord!
The men of this team had also made tithing their number one priority. As soon as money came in the Lord received ten percent right away. This team came back from the tour with money to spare. The other team that had gone out at the same time also gave tithing, but not ten percent, they held back a little, for emergencies. That team came back deeply in debt.
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with 10, 000 beside
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Would you carry your umbrella in a drought? As a drought continued for what seemed an eternity, a small community of farmers was in a quandary as to what to do. Rain was important to keep their crops healthy and sustain the townspeople's way of life. As the problem became more acute, a local pastor called a prayer meeting to ask for rain.
Do you Have Your Umbrella?
Many people arrived at the church to pray for the needed rain. The pastor greeted most of them as they filed in.
As he walked to the front of the church to officially begin the meeting he noticed most people were chatting across the aisles and socializing with friends.
When he reached the front his thoughts were on quieting the attendees and starting the meeting.
His eyes scanned the crowd as he asked for quiet. He noticed an eleven year-old girl sitting quietly in the front row. Her face was beaming with excitement.
Next to her, open and ready for use, was a very colorful and extremely large umbrella, much bigger than her in fact.
The little girl's beauty and innocence made the pastor smile as he realized how much faith she possessed. No one else in the congregation had brought an umbrella.
All came to pray for rain. But the little girl had come expecting God to answer.
Testament. Hebrews 6:2 speaks of the doctrine of baptisms (plural). In
fact, there is more than one kind of water baptism. Most would agree
that the baptism of Christ was somehow different from all other water
baptisms. The baptism of John was different from the baptism of believers. At least Paul thought so. In Acts 19 he told disciples of John
the Baptist who were baptized by John that they should believe on
Christ, and when they did, they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus (Acts 19:1-5).
Furthermore, not only are there several water baptisms, there is a
baptism that does not include water. John the Baptist said that God
sent him to baptize with water and that Jesus would baptize with the
Holy Spirit (John 1:33). This could be called a dry baptism since it
does not involve water.
1 Corinthians 12:13 states, for by one Spirit we were all baptized
into one body. This spiritual baptism takes place at the point of faith,
not at the point of water baptism. When Peter told those assembled in
Cornelius’ household, whoever believes in Him will receive remission
of sins (Acts 10:43), and the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard Peter’s message (Acts 10:44).
Later, Peter calls the falling of the Holy Spirit on these people the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:15–16). In other words, they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the point of faith
before water baptism, since they were baptized in water only after they
had heard the message and received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:48).
There is simply no doubt that there is something called spiritual
baptism in the New Testament, and as Acts 10 demonstrates, it takes
place at the point of faith. Many verses in the New Testament used by
some to prove that water baptism is necessary for salvation are not
talking about water baptism at all, but rather about spiritual baptism.
The baptism in Romans 6 is spiritual baptism. When Paul speaks
about being baptized into Christ Jesus (Romans 6:3), he is speaking
about spiritual baptism. 1 Corinthians 12:13 explains that it is spiritual
baptism, not water baptism, that puts us into Christ, and Acts 10:43–48
and Acts 11:15–16 demonstrate that spiritual baptism takes place at the
point of faith—not at the point of water baptism.
A young girl came on asking for prayer for her grandma
The pastor asked if her grandma was a Christian.
"Oh for sure," the girl told; "She was baptized"
The pastor knew from her answer that not grandma nor granddaughter was saved.
The pastor proceeded to explain salvation and would the girl and grandma accept Jesus as their
Savior.?....................they would.
The Bible says you can know for sure that you’ll be with God after you die. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
“Salvation isn’t ours until we reach out and accept it.”
—Billy Graham
Billy Graham, an evangelist who spent his life sharing the hope of Christ with people of all religions said this: “Your salvation depends on what has done for you, not on what you do for Him. It isn’t your hold on God that saves you; it’s His hold on you.
“Salvation is free!” Graham said. “God puts no price tag on the Gift of gifts.” But like any other gift, he wrote, “salvation isn’t ours until we reach out and accept it.” But what does that mean, especially for people whose faith traditions teach that attaining eternity is based on a person’s merits?
For one thing, salvation cannot be earned. Ephesians 2:8–9 states: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
God’s gift was sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. God’s grace covers our sins. You can be a loving person, a good person, and even volunteer of the year, but it’ll never be good enough; we were all born with a sinful nature. That’s why Jesus’ sacrifice was the only solution to wipe our sins away so we can be in heaven with a holy God.
This doesn’t mean we never need to ask for God’s forgiveness—quite the contrary. We need to and can go directly to Jesus Christ in prayer.
How to talk to God
“Asking God to forgive you at the end of each day is both commendable and wise (and it’s a practice I’ve always tried to follow in my own life),” wrote Billy Graham.
Can you live guilt-free after asking for forgiveness? Absolutely, if you have a personal relationship with Christ.
He is freedom.
“It is not the cleansing of the conscience that saves you; it is faith in Christ that saves,” Graham explained. “A cleansed conscience is the result of having come into the right relationship with God.”
How does that happen? It means asking God’s Son, Jesus Christ, to come and live in your heart. “You must individually receive Christ as your Lord and your Savior,” said Billy Graham. “You and you alone, in the quiet arena of your heart will have to make that decision.”
If you’re searching for forgiveness and for peace with God, you can walk through these steps and use the prayer below as a guide:
Admit you are a sinner.
Repent (turn away from sin and let go of past sin).
Believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you.
Ask Jesus Christ into your heart and life.
How You Can Pray:
“Dear God, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.”
So in his last words, Jesus was communicating that the work he came for was accomplished. The task of earning the salvation of the world was completed in his work on the cross. No more additions or adjustments were necessary – salvation was completed.
If we accept this sacrifice, your assurance of going to Heaven is assured......
Thank you Jesus for what you did on the cross for me.
I accept your sacrifice and ask you to be my Lord and Savior.
What started these revivals? Prayer!
The power of prayer is the secret that unlocks the hearts of so many..............
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with 10, 000 beside
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
The man whispered, "God, speak to me," and a meadowlark sang.
But the man did not hear.
So the man yelled, "God, speak to me," and the thunder rolled across the sky.
But the man did not listen.
The man looked around and said, "God, let me see you." And a star shined brightly.
But the man did not see.
And the man shouted, "God, show me a miracle." And a life was born.
But the man did not notice.
So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me, God, and let me know you are here."
Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man. But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.
Thank you Jenny for taking the time to share.
What started as a small gathering several years ago has turned into a nationwide prayer initiative uniting hundreds of Chinese churches. In some cases, this revival is even touching China’s state-controlled churches known as Three-Self Church. “Now there are big revivals happening in the Three-Self Churches,” Dr. Zhao Xiao told CBN News from his offices on the outskirts of China’s capital city. Zhao is one of China’s foremost experts on Christianity. A former Communist Party member and atheist, Zhao converted after reading the Bible.
“If you go to Haidian Church, you’ll find yourself in a more than 100-meter line trying to get inside and worship. In Shenzhen, there are usually an average of 500 people being baptized each Sunday!” he shared. Decades ago, the Chinese government had a law that said that young men and women below the age of 18 could not attend Three-Self Churches. Zhao says those rules have been loosened in recent years. “There’s an increasing proportion of them in churches now, more young male Believers, professionals, mainstream celebrities, especially in the big cities, that are attending the church unlike the past when it was mainly the elderly who attended.” While the government remains deeply suspicious of China’s religious revival,
cont.
One of the best examples of the expansion of Christianity within Muslim lands is through the work of Heidi and Roland Baker. Along with their church plants and trained workers from Iris Ministries, the Bakers have made an extraordinary impact on the brutal nation of Mozambique. The province that they currently operate in was entirely Muslim before their arrival, but a little over ten years later those figures have changed drastically. Kelly Head from Christ for the Nations writes,
“The Bakers are now based full-time in Pemba, Mozambique, in an area where Heidi says was once called a ‘graveyard to missionaries.’ But recently the government announced publicly that it’s no longer a Muslim providence; now it’s a Christian providence.”
Iris Global in Mozambique (from their website):
Two devastating cyclones in 2019 flattened thousands of homes and villages. Iris Global worked with international efforts to bring relief along with thousands of solar Bibles in local languages, eagerly wanted by previously resistant people groups.
Iris Global currently feeds well over 10,000 children a day, as well as various members of many other communities, currently including 4,000 families in Malawi. Its network of churches also numbers more than 10,000, including some 2,000 churches among the Makua people of northern Mozambique. Iris operates five Bible schools, in addition to its three primary schools and its school of missions in Pemba.
Every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Christianity.
Everyday, 16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity.
Ever year, 6 million Muslims convert to Christianity.
These numbers are very large indeed.
It is obvious from these and other reports that Christianity is advancing.
This is only the result that is happening in ONE place, It is happening everywhere.
How many?
We let the Lord be the bookkeeper here.........
The white shirted suited young male couples who used to wander the street, speaking Chinese quite well no longer accost people. Yippee!
My neighbours are Muslim, Catholic, Buddhist Unknown - I never ask and I never intrude.
It pleases me to observe the retreat of religion in Australia.
The @op uses the word 'hatred' in referring to me - what utter nonsense! This is a blog and invites response - you've got mine! 20,000 comments - now tell me, do you or do you not observe obsession there? How many are the @op herself ... I won't flagellate by counting them, but I am guessing the windbag constitutes at least 90%
Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Refrain:
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land,
Yes, I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
I'd rather have Jesus than worldly applause,
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,
I'd rather be true to His holy name.
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today...
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Rhea Miller / George Beverly Shea
By Admin | May 1, 2019
Throughout history, there have been several powerful movements of God. Countless revivals, miracles, stories, and encounters that the world couldn’t contain if they were all written down. There’s also been wars, chaos, and destruction—we touched on some of this in my blog last week and looked at why this happens. This week, I want to focus on how those movements of God throughout history have lined up with critical world events; and how 3 of these reformations transformed our world today.
Each reformation created a snowball effect producing several additional moves of God. Each one restored a critical aspect of the Godhead to humanity that was lost in the Garden of Eden. And a fourth key reformation is happening right now!
There’s a mirror effect with what’s happening in the spiritual and physical worlds. With every major spiritual reformation comes a renaissance in the world. The purpose of a reformation is to make changes to something with the intention of setting it back on the right path. A renaissance happens when creativity and ingenuity are restored. So when spiritual reformation comes, people experience God in ways that completely transform them; and society is propelled into a whole new era of advances in culture, art, politics, economics, and so on. How fitting that the word means “rebirth.”
We saw this in the 15th Century during the time of Martin Luther, and it’s pretty incredible how that reformation led to one of the greatest periods of the renaissance the world has ever seen!
It was a time when many people were burned at the stake for far lesser crimes.
Martin Luther was responsible for many drastic changes in the churches and the people responded to them.................
Spiritual breakthrough
Luther was extraordinarily successful as a monk. He plunged into prayer, fasting, and ascetic practices—going without sleep, enduring bone-chilling cold without a blanket, and flagellating himself. As he later commented, "If anyone could have earned heaven by the life of a monk, it was I."
Though he sought by these means to love God fully, he found no consolation. He was increasingly terrified of the wrath of God: "When it is touched by this passing inundation of the eternal, the soul feels and drinks nothing but eternal punishment."
During his early years, whenever Luther read what would become the famous "Reformation text"—Romans 1:17—his eyes were drawn not to the word faith, but to the word righteous. Who, after all, could "live by faith" but those who were already righteous? The text was clear on the matter: "the righteous shall live by faith."
Luther remarked, "I hated that word, 'the righteousness of God,' by which I had been taught according to the custom and use of all teachers ... God is righteous and punishes the unrighteous sinner." The young Luther could not live by faith because he was not righteous—and he knew it.
Meanwhile, he was ordered to take his doctorate in the Bible and become a professor at Wittenberg University. During lectures on the Psalms (in 1513 and 1514) and a study of the Book of Romans, he began to see a way through his dilemma. "At last meditating day and night, by the mercy of God, I ... began to understand that the righteousness of God is that through which the righteous life by a gift of God, namely by faith… Here I felt as if I were entirely born again and had entered paradise itself through the gates that had been flung open."
On the heels of this new understanding came others. To Luther the church was no longer the institution defined by apostolic succession; instead, it was the community of those who had been given faith. Salvation came not by the sacraments as such but by faith. The idea that human beings had a spark of goodness (enough to seek out God) was not a foundation of theology but was taught only by "fools." Humility was no longer a virtue that earned grace but a necessary response to the gift of grace. Faith no longer consisted of assenting to the church's teachings but of trusting the promises of God and the merits of Christ.
It wasn't long before the revolution in Luther's heart and mind played itself out in all of Europe.
"Here I stand"
Toronto-blessingThis paved the way for the Toronto Outpouring in 1994, which many referred to as the “Father’s Blessing.”
The outpouring started in a small church in Toronto led by John and Carol Arnott. People came from all over the world to experience the Father’s love through signs, wonders, miracles, and more importantly, His contagious love. In fact, there were so many visitors that this church was the number one tourist attraction in Toronto in 1994!
People took this revival home with them and it broke out in their own communities.
On Father’s Day in 1995, a massive revival broke out at Brownsville church in Pensacola. The Father brought healing, joy, and restoration; and it was the starting point of a whole new reformation.
Throughout history, these three key reformations restored Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father back to the church.
This is why, in my last blog, I said that we’re living in the most exciting time in history.
God is setting up another reformation right now—a new wave of revivals and reforms—and it’s right around the corner! It has the power to stop the curse in America and all over the world.
It will set people free from the orphan spirit and restore the family culture of Heaven on earth. It’s called the Agape Reformation, and I’ll talk about how you can recognize it and be part of it in my blog in two weeks. Next week, we’ll look at what God is doing in the world through women!
Joyner shared what he thinks will make this global revival so powerful and irresistible to many, saying, “The last great move of God is going to be God moving, where we’re not just following a new teaching or doctrine or mission. We’re really following the Lord.”
In other words, Joyner believes it’ll be led by God Himself, and centered on His Son Jesus.
“I think our hearts are going to be caught up and captured by Jesus,” he shared. “’ All things are going to be summed up in Christ.’”
The Presence of God will descend in a mighty way.
Kilpatrick stated, “There’s nothing in the world like it when the Presence of God comes in.”
He explained that in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were created to dwell with that Presence. But when they were tempted, sinned, and fell, that cut mankind off from that Presence. Kilpatrick believes it’s what all humans ever since then have been searching for to fill their hearts and souls.
He added, “But nothing will do it except for the Presence of the Lord. That Presence, that glory, is what we’re made for. God genetically made us for the glory.”
What’s Ahead: The Fall & Rise of America
As the world’s economies crumble before the coronavirus, some fear a global depression and America falling. But this is what popular Christian radio show host and author Michael Brown told CBN News he heard:
“I felt the Lord say to me ‘write a book on the fall and rise of America’…not the rise and fall, but the fall and rise,” Brown recalled.
Yes, the darkness may be about to get much darker, but Isaiah prophesied at such a time, much light will also show.
His Presence & Glory Will Cover the Earth
Lila Terhune of the Throne Room Prayer Network has led intercessors for decades, as she was doing in an upper room above this Toronto conference. She believes as the world grows darker, great light and revival will arise to counter it. And for that, we must pray and do battle.
She shared, “For the church, our assignment is to push back the darkness so that His Presence can come and the glory of the Lord can cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.”
Kolenda believes this God revival will be bigger and better than the world’s ever seen.
“Nothing diminishes in God,” he explained. “Something about God’s character -- He always outdoes Himself. The latter is always better than the former.”
I know that the Dutch have closed many churches, converting them into restaurants etc.
So I decided if I could find out anything more about what is going on in Europe...............
Have Thine own way
Thou art the potter I am the clay
Mold me and make me after Thy will
While I am waiting yielded and still
Have Thine own way Lord
Have Thine own way
Search me and try me Master today
Whiter than snow Lord wash me just now
As in Thy presence humbly I bow
Have Thine own way Lord
Have Thine own way
Hold over my being absolute sway
Filled with Thy spirit till all can see
Christ only always living in me
Jim Reeves.............................
If we think God is going to be our genie in a bottle and make everything good in our lives, we're going to be mad at God when something bad happens. Having faith in God is not insurance against hardships.
In the Bible, Jesus says- “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
So what can we expect from God?
His Peace - If we trust in Him and believe in Him we will have peace even in the hard times.
It is honesty that is what is important to the Lord
At times I even see Him smile or shake His head when He sees us carrying on and I hear Him say; I love you all anyway.............................
Jenny, Jenny He didn't do it. I looked under my bed and there was nothing for me.
I struggled to clear my mind as I had been in a deep sleep when Monica woke me. I wondered what she was talking about. What are you trying to say, honey?
There is no doll Jenny, there is no doll under my bed.
Ah, now I did remember. Monica wanted very much to have a dolly.
I had told her to pray and ask the Lord for it.
She had done so and now believed that He had not delivered as she thought He would, by putting the doll under her bed.
I tried to explain to her that God was not Santa Claus, that He works through people.
I could tell that this was too much for her to understand, she was only five years old.
That very afternoon her girlfriend, who lived next door, came over to the house. Lisa was very excited.
Monica, Monica, my dad just came home from a trip and look at what he brought me, a new doll, and if you want to, you can have my other doll.
Now Monica's eyes lit up and she looked at me with wonder, for she now understood that indeed;
God works through people.
A very famous preacher, Hudson Taylor once said, Lord, THAT you will answer my prayer, I know! What fascinates me every time is, HOW you are going to answer.