Mary Magdalene, fourth gospel author?

Mary Magdalene, fourth gospel author?

Was Mary Magdalene the beloved disciple?

The idea that Mary Magdalene was the one “whom Jesus loved” pre-dates Dan Brown’s book, The Da Vinci Code. But as this book has helped to popularize this idea in our day, herein I may, for the sake of brevity, refer to this claim in relation to The Da Vinci Code(such as The Da Vinci Code’s proposition, etc). Still what follows will not be attacking The Da Vinci Code or any of the non-Bible sources that are cited in that book. The idea that it was Mary Magdalene who “leaned on Jesus” at the last supper, and that she was therefore the beloved one who wrote the fourth gospel, can be disproved apart from any reference to the specifics in The Da Vinci Code and that is what this study will do.

Using nothing but the word of God, below you will find sufficient evidence to prove that the idea that Mary Magdalene was the beloved disciple is not true. This study will tackle three fundamental and critical flaws with the idea in order to demonstrate how evidence found in the biblical record proves that the Mary Magdalene idea is false. The three flaws will be called: The Superman Problem, The Honesty Problem and The Nothing Problem.

The Superman Problem

Anyone who knows that Superman and Clark Kent can never be in the same room at the same time also knows why. It’s because these ‘two’ are actually one in the same person so they cannot both be present at the same time, hence the name for this problem.

Reason lets us know that Peter is ruled out as a candidate for being the beloved disciple because in scripture he is seen talking to the one “whom Jesus loved”. Likewise, if Mary Magdalene was the one “whom Jesus loved”, then she could not be in the same place and at the same time as this unnamed disciple and she wouldn’t have been talking with this unnamed disciple. But both of these happen in scripture.

“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre”(Fourth gospel 20:1-3).

“Mary Magdalene… cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them” means that Mary Magdalene cannot be the one “whom Jesus loved”.

This in and of itself is sufficient to prove that the beloved disciple and Mary Magdalene were two separate individuals. Moreover this isn’t the only passage in the Bible where this problem occurs. But there is even more compelling evidence that exposes the idea that Mary Magdalene was the one “whom Jesus loved” as a false teaching.

The Honesty Problem

The Da Vinci Code’s proposition that Mary Magdalene was the one “whom Jesus loved”, the one who “leaned on Jesus” at the last supper, also stands in direct contradiction to other facts we see in scripture. Consider the following passage from when Jesus is dying on the cross:

“When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home” (Fourth gospel 19:26-27).

If Jesus was referring his mother to the beloved disciple when he said, “Woman, behold thy son!”, then it is clear that Jesus here is identifying this unnamed disciple as a male. But this should come as no surprise to anyone because the Bible repeatedly identifies the beloved disciple as a male. For example, the passage just cited says, “that disciple took her unto his own” – note that “his” (not “her”) is the word the God inspired author of this gospel used to refer to the beloved disciple. And this is just one of numerous instances in the Bible where we find the words “he” and “him” are used of the beloved disciple.

The idea that the beloved disciple was Mary Magdalene, or any woman for that matter, is clearly contrary to the scriptures and is therefore a false teaching. Anyone who claims to respect the word of God simply needs to stand where the Bible stands on this issue.

Those who want to believe in this idea have devised a way to rationalize away the fact that the Bible identifies this person as a man. TheDiscipleWhomJesusLoved.com has a study on this, but in short the excuse used is that since the one whom “Jesus loved” wrote our fourth gospel, ‘she elected to identify herself as a man because the society of that day would not have accepted her gospel if it had been discovered the author was a woman’. In other words, ‘she had to do it’ is used to sell the idea that the ends-justifies-the-means in this case, which in their mind allows them to turn-a-blind-eye to this problem.

What Da Vinci Code fans and other advocates of the idea that Mary Magdalene was the beloved disciple refuse to recognize is that buying into this idea paints them into a corner regarding the Bible. The very scriptures that tell us that there even was a disciple that “Jesus loved” and that this beloved disciple “leaned on Jesus” at the last supper are in the same book that they will say was written by an author who lied about being a man. But if this author was willing to intentionally deceive readers about being a man, how would it not be the case that the author would be just as willing to also deceive on other matters?

It is hard to see how the fourth gospel could be rightly called the inspired word of God, if the author of this gospel was a deceiver who would lie to readers ‘for their own good’. Attributing an intentional deception to the author of the fourth gospel is to argue against the Bible being the inspired word of God – trustworthy, accurate and reliable, i.e. true!Honesty or supposed ‘necessary’ deception; what you see in this gospel is up to you.

The Nothing Problem

Is there anything that is said in the Bible about the "other disciple, whom Jesus loved" that would give anyone a reason to believe that this was Mary Magdalene? No; nothing.

The fact that there is not a single verse anywhere in scripture that would justify teaching the idea that Mary Magdalene was the beloved disciple is, arguably, the biggest problem with this whole notion. For those who say they believe that the Bible is the word of God, how come when this idea is suggested by advocates of this idea, or even by a book like The Da Vinci Code, it isn’t simply rejected on the basis that the Bible doesn’t say this?

If nothing in the Bible can be cited to justify teaching a given idea, then those who trust the Bible ought to be wary to say the least! “Every word of God is pure” so it's wisest to look first and foremost to the Bible. If an idea is biblical, then defending that idea won’t require one to turn to a source outside of the Bible as the primary support for that idea.

The idea that Mary Magdalene was the beloved disciple that “leaned on Jesus” and wrote the fourth gospel is not an idea that originates with scripture. One must first look outside of the Bible to a source that suggests this idea and then find a way to impose this idea on what is actually written in the Bible. However, the giveaway is that non-Bible sources have to be used to justify the idea in the first place. If the idea was biblical, then it would be possible to cite scripture to justify presenting the idea as such and no hearsay or other non-Bible sources would have to be used to shore up the defense for said idea.

The fact that nothing that is expressed in the word of God would give rise to the idea that Mary Magdalene was the beloved disciple is sufficient reason to reject this idea.

The Last Word

“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it” (Du. 4:2).

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mt. 15:8-9).

“laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men... Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition... Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition” (Mk. 7:8-13).

Do any of the foregoing admonitions apply to those of us living today? If so, then we’d do well to resist those who might encourage us to “hold to the tradition of men” instead of holding to the word of God, lest we too err in “making the word of God of none effect through” our tradition. If an idea is derived from some source outside of the word of God, then one must caution against making the mistake of reading that idea into the Bible.

The warning to neither “add unto the word” nor “diminish from it” indicates that we need to take heed to abide by the word of God as it is written. A turn to the right or to the left causes one to veer off of the sure foundation that it provides. Those who have been taught to believe that the Bible says something that it does not say have fallen into the trap of trusting something other than the word of God.

The best defense against false teaching is to have a love of the truth and let the Bible be the last word on what is biblical and what is not.

Who wrote the gospel of John?

Who wrote the gospel of John?

According to scholars, the gospel of John was written by the beloved disciple (John 13:23, 19:26) of Jesus named John. John was the brother of James (Matthew 17:1), and the son of Zebedee (Mark 1:19-20). John was part of three men who made up the inner circle of companions of Jesus (Mark 5:37; 14:33).

Luke 5:6-11 cites John as a fishing partner of Simon (Peter). The following account records how John was called to Jesus:

"One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.' Simon answered, 'Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.' When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!' For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, 'Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men.' So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him."

John, who wrote the gospel of John, wrote it exquisitely, for he was steeped in Jewish tradition and heritage. He had Greeks in mind, as the gospel is evangelical in nature. It is believed to have been written from Ephesus.

John also wrote First, Second, Third John, and Revelation. He is believed to have outlived the other apostles.

Email kutoka Congo-DRC-Lubumbashi

Nimepata Email hii kutoka Lubumbashi,Congo-DRC.

Dear servant of God, I have a big problem, I had a car accident with my bike and I hit a child her Right leg 3 years. The family of the latter had forced me to go to the hospital for us to prescribe drugs. I was having to pay the consultation form more than one drug was prescribed but not given the solution, and then they forced me to radiology to his leg.

I now I do neither gold nor silver to examine the child's leg. This for the I am sending this message and ask for mercy for her last will ask God to fetch the according to his will because he can do anything.
And the latter is called Kyungu Jeconiah.

Alain, DR CONGO / Lubumbashi.

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"Kufunga na kuomba"

"Kufunga na kuomba"
Mathayo 17:21 "Jinsi hii haitoki, isipokuwa kwa kufunga na kuomba"

Bwana Yesu asifiwe!

Ninaamini kuwa wewe unaendelea vyema sana na Mungu ameendelea kuwa mpaji,mponyaji,mlinzi na mtetezi wako, nawe unaweza kusema kuwa "Mtetezi wangu yu hai"(Ayubu 19:25)

Kuna ndugu mmoja,mshirika mwenzetu katika Huduma hii,aliniandikia email siku kadhaa zilizopita akanieleza kuwa anataka kufanya maombi ya kufunga, na akaomba nimwelekeze aombaje hayo maombi. Katika kumjibu, nikaona itakuwa baraka zaidi nikikutumia na wewe pia somo hili, nikiamini kuwa linaweza kuwa baraka kwako pia. Kama ni hivyo, karibu.

Kufunga na kuomba.

Sisi tunaomwamini Kristo, maombi ya kufunga ni maombi ambayo tunayafanya kwa muda tutakaoongozwa na Roho Mtakatifu, huku tukijinyima baadhi ya vitu ambavyo tunavipenda hii ikiwa ni ishara ya kuonesha kuwa tunakitaka kile tunachokiomba zaidi sana kuliko vile vitu tuvipendavyo, ndiyo maana tumeamua kuviacha ili tumwombe Mungu kile ambacho tunamwomba. Kwa lugha nyingine, hunenwa kuwa ni kuutesa au kuusulubisha mwili wetu ili uitii roho yetu kufanya kile ambacho kimeamriwa na Mungu, kwa maana, mara nyingi miili yetu hupingana sana na makusudi ya Mungu katika maisha yetu, ndiyo kama Bwana Yesu alivyosema, "roho i radhi, ila mwili ni dhaifu".

Kufunga kunaweza kufanywa kwa kukifanya kitendo chochote ambacho unajua kitautesa/kuusulubisha mwili wako ili kuutiisha katika mapenzi ya Mungu, huku wewe ukiomba. Angalia nabii Danieli alichofanya, anasema "Sikula mkate mzuri, wala nyama, wala sikunya divai, wala sikujipakaa mafuta, hata wiki tatu zilipopita" (Daniel 10:3, tafsiri yangu kutoka KJV Bible), kwake Daniel, hayo ndiyo mambo ambayo aliona akiyafanya, yatautesa mwili wake mbele za Bwana. Wakati wa Agano la Kale na wakati Yesu akiwa hapa duniani, watu wengi wakiwamo wafalme na hata viongozi wa dini walikuwa wakifunga huku wakiwa wamejichafua miilii yao kwa kujipaka majivu na mavumbi.

Sasa hebu yatafakari maneno haya ya Bwana Yesu kwa wanafunzi wake, alipowaambia, "Jinsi hii haitoki, isipokuwa kwa kufunga na kuomba"(Mathayo 17:21). Bwana Yesu aliongea maneno haya kwa wanafunzi wake baada ya wanafunzi wake kushindwa kumkemea pepo hadi atoke. Waliposhindwa kumkemea pepo, Yesu alikuja,akamkemea yule pepo na pepo akatoka mara moja. Wanafunzi wake walipoyaona hayo, walifanya vyema, kwani walimfuata Yesu faragha, wakamuuliza "ni kwanini tulishindwa kumtoa pepo?" Ndipo Yesu akawajibu na kuwaambia; "Yesu akawajibu, "Kwa sababu ya imani yenu haba. Nawaambieni kweli, kama tu mkiwa na imani, hata iwe ndogo kama mbegu ya haradali, mtaweza kuuambia mlima huu: `Toka hapa uende pale,` nao utakwenda. Hakuna chochote ambacho hakingewezekana kwenu, ila jinsi hii haitoki ila kwa kufunga na kuomba". Unaweza ukaona ni namna gani Bwana Yesu alisisitiza sana kufunga na kuomba.

Katika kipindi chetu, tumezoea kufanya maombi ya kufunga kwa kuunyima mwili wetu chakula kabisa kwa kipindi tutakachoamua huku tukiomba. Hiyo ni ishara kuwa, tunakithamini zaidi kile tunachokiomba kuliko chakula cha kuulisha mwili.Maombi ya kufunga yanaonesha "priorities" zetu, kwamba tunampenda Mungu zaidi kuliko tunavyopenda chakula au vitu vingine tuvipendavyo.

Hebu tuangalie maelekezo aliyoyatoa Bwana Yesu kuhusu kufunga na kuomba.Yatafakari maneno haya yake Bwana Yesu:"Mnapofunga, msiwe na huzuni kama wanafiki. Wao hukunja nyuso zao wapate kuonekana na watu kuwa wanafunga. Nawaambieni hakika, hao wamekwisha pata tuzo lao. Wewe lakini unapofunga, paka kichwa chako mafuta, nawa uso wako, ili mtu yeyote asijue kwamba unafunga, ila ujulikane tu kwa Baba yako asiyeonekana. Naye Baba yako aonaye yaliyofichika atakutuza.(Mathayo 6:16-18).Na hayo basi ndiyo maelekezo ya Bwana wetu kuhusu kufunga na kuomba, utakapofanya maombi ya kufunga, usijioneshe kwa watu kuwa umefunga, wala usiwatangazie watu kuwa umefunga ili wakusifu, Baba yetu, yaani Mungu huyaona yaliyo sirini, hivyo anajua kuwa umefunga na umefunga kwa sababu gani.

Watu kadhaa katika Biblia walifanya maombi ya kufunga, kama vile Musa aliyefunga siku arobaini na zaidi sana, Bwana Yesu aliyefunga siku arobaini(Mathayo 4:2), Esta na Wayahudi siku tatu (Esta 4:3,16),Daniel na kadhalika.

Unaweza kufunga kwa kuamua kuacha kula kwa kipindi utakachoongozwa na Roho Mtakatifu ndani ya moyo wako. Kwa mfano, unaweza kuamua kuwa utafunga kuanzia asubuhi hadi saa 12 jioni (yaani hutakunywa kifungua kinywa, wala chakula mchana,wala chakula chochote hadi saa 12 jioni) au unaweza kufunga kwa kipindi kirefu zaidi ya hapo. Utamwambia Mungu kwamba "Leo ninafanya maombi ya kufunga, sitakula chakula chochote hadi itakapofika saa 12 jioni, kwa ajili ya kukuomba kuhusu jambo hili...." Hilo linakuwa ni patano lako na Mungu.

Namna ya kuomba:

Ninakuomba uangalie mfano mmoja wa namna wana wa Israeli walivyofunga na kumwomba Mungu. Wao walikuwa wanaomba toba kwa Mungu. Soma katika Biblia, Nehemia sura ya 9 na utaona namna walivyoigawanya siku yao. Walitumia robo ya siku kulisoma Neno la Mungu (Neh9:3),na kisha wakaanza kuomba toba kwa kuzitubu dhambi zao kwa Mungu kwa uwazi sana.

Ninachotaka kusisitiza, mara nyingi watu huamua kufanya maombi ya kufunga, na wakaamua kutokula chochote kwa kipindi fulani, lakini mambo mbalimbali ya dunia hii yakawasonga na wakajikuta wamejinyima kula lakini hawakupata muda wa kuomba wala kulisoma Neno la Mungu. Hivyo basi, utakapoamua kufanya maombi ya namna hii, hakikisha kuwa unatenga muda wa kutosha wa kulisoma Neno la Mungu sana na pia muda wa kutosha kumwomba Mungu kwa uhuru kama walivyofanya wana wa Israeli, kumbuka siyo kufunga tuu, bali ni kufunga na kuomba, both of them. Na, usisahau yale maelekezo ya Bwana Yesu kwenye Mathayo 6:16-18 kuhusu maombi ya kufunga na kuomba.

Roho Mtakatifu ajuaye kuyafafanua maneno ya Mungu kwa ufasaha wote akufundishe zaidi na zaidi.

Tuombe....

"Ee Bwana Yesu, asante kwa kunipenda sana hata kufa na kufufuka kwa ajili yangu. Asante kwa kunifundisha somo hili kuhusu kufunga na kuomba. Ninakuomba unipe Roho wako Mtakatifu, na Yeye Roho Mtakatifu anifundishe zaidi na zaidi kuhusu somo hili. Ninaomba unisaidie ili na mimi niweze kuomba na kufunga. Jitukuze sana katika Huduma hii ili wengi wakujue na kuja kwako. Asante Bwana Yesu, Amen"

Amani ikae Israel,
Frank Lema,
www.lema.or.tz
savedlema2 at Yahoo dot com
October 6th, 2010,
Arusha, Tanzania.

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ENVY AND JEALOUSY

ENVY AND JEALOUSY

Our God is a jealous God, but He is not envious.

Jealousy and envy are often considered synonymous terms; but they have very different meanings. In II Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul admits to being jealous.

2 Corinthians 11:2.

2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.

Paul was not just jealous; he was jealous with a godly jealousy. That tells us that there is such a thing as a godly jealousy.

In Exodus 34, God descibes Himself as a jealous God.

Exodus 34:10-14.

10 And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou [art] shall see the work of the LORD: for it [is] a terrible thing that I will do with thee.

11 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:

13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:

14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name [is] Jealous, [is] a jealous God:

God doesn’t stop at declaring that He is jealous; He tells us here that His name is jealous. What does this mean? God wants NO OTHER GODS in your life. He wants you to cling to him alone, not run after some other god.

Deuteronomy 5:8-10.

8 Thou shalt not make thee [any] graven image, [or] any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the waters beneath the earth:

9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me,

10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

What is jealousy? Jealousy is a zeal to hold on to what is yours, an unwillingness to let go of that which belongs to you. God insists on holding on to our worship, which rightfully belongs exclusively to Him.

Deuteronomy 6:13-16.

13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which [are] round about you;

15 (For the LORD thy God [is] a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted [him] in Massah.

At Massah the Israelites ran out of water. Facing death by thirst, they quickly decided that God had deserted them.

Exodus 17:1-7.1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and [there was] no water for the people to drink.

2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore [is] this [that] thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

4 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

5 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

When you get it in your head that God has deserted you, you start looking around for someone else to take His place in your life.

Deuteronomy 32:16.

16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange [gods], with abominations provoked they him to anger.

Psalm 78:58.

58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

God wants our devotion and love, wich rightfully belongs to Him alone; He doesn't want us wandering off somewhere else.

II Corinthians 11:1-4. Another Jesus, another spirit, another gospel.

1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in [my] folly: and indeed bear with me.

2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.

3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him].

The apostle Paul had a godly jealousy for God’s people in Corinth. He was not jealous in a selfish way; he was not trying to keep the Corinthians loyal to Paul for Paul’s own sake. Rather, he was trying to keep them loyal to the Lord appointed as Head over the church by God: Jesus Christ.

The danger Paul feared was not that these people would leave God or Christ to worship idols. The danger was far more subtle. Paul warned that a Christian can be seduced into following a Jesus that is not the Jesus preached by Paul and revealed to us in the pages of the scriptures; that a Christian can receive a spirit different from the spirit given to him by God; and that a Christian can embrace a gospel different from the gospel preached by Paul and proclaimed in the scriptures.

Godly jealousy is a zeal to keep God’s people faithfully holding on to God, His word, and His son, Jesus Christ.

II Corinthians 11:5-13.

5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

6 But though [I be] rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

8 I robbed other churches, taking wages [of them], to do you service.

9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all [things] I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and [so] will I keep [myself].

10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

13 For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

Where was this hunger for another Jesus, another spirit and another gospel coming from? From false apostles who had infiltrated the Church, but who, instead of teaching the truth of God’s word as revealed in the scriptures, were preaching their own gospel, and by means of this were leading God’s people into infidelity. The danger was not from outside the church, but from within it.

II Corinthians 11:14-16.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

The driving force behind these false ministers of the gospel is Satan, who is quite willing to disguise himself as a messenger of God in order to deceive God’s people.

The only defense we have against such an inside attack is knowing what God has revealed to us in His word about Himself, His son, His spirit and His gospel so clearly and so thoroughly that we are able to spot an impostor by its failure to line up with God’s written revelation. To the extent that the we hold on to the written word of God as our standard for truth and examine everything by the light and standard of the scriptures, to that extent we are safe from inside jobs like this. But wherever and whenever we are willing to adopt or receive doctrines and beliefs that conflict with God’s written revelation, we open ourselves up to deception and, ultimately, unfaithfulness.

The scriptures reveal that God is jealous, but not envious. What is the difference?

Genesis 26:12-16.

12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

15 For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.

16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

Envy is an undue, zealous desire for what someone else has or is. The Philistines in this record envied the great success and possessions of Isaac, who had prospered abundantly. Their envy was evidenced by their stopping up of his wells, and driving him from their presence. God is NEVER described as envious in the scriptures.

The scripture warns again and again against envy.

Psalm 37:1

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

God doesn’t want us to be envious of those who are doing wrong.

Psalm 73:3.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, [when] I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

God doesn’t want us to envy the success of those who make their way towards the top by doing evil. I won't ask for a show of hands on who has done this!

Proverbs 3:31.

31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

God does not want us to envy those who succeed by pressuring, crushing, or taking advantage of others. The bottom line is, if you see people prosper by disobeying God, don't follow their example!

We are not to envy the ungodly, of course, but what about those in the church?

I Corinthians 3:3.

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

In the church at Corinth there were Christians envying Christians. Envying, fighting and divisions within the church are signs of fleshly or worldly thinking. God has not called us to operate that way. We are to walk in love, not in envy.

James 3:16.

16 For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work.

Envy is a sinful attitude that gives birth to sinful actions. Envy leads you to do things contrary to God's will to achieve your goals. Paul identifies envy as one of the works of the flesh.

Galatians 5:19-21.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

While jealousy can be godly, there is a jealousy that is ungodly. If you engage in envy and ungodly jealousy, it can cost you rewards at the Judgement Seat of Christ.

Galatians 5:22-26.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Envy and other works of the flesh are contrasted here with the fruit of the spirit. The fruit of the spirit are manifestations of the character of God; the works of the flesh are manifestations of the character of the flesh, and of the world.

But there is another danger that can threaten those who avoid envying others. It is possible for one to enjoy arousing envy in another. The word of God addresses this frame of mind, also. Getting a kick out of being envied, even if you don't envy, is wrong!

Ecclesiastes 4:4.

(KJV)4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.(NIV) 4 And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

(NASB) 4 I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.

If I do great works in order to be envied by others, that's vanity -- it's worthless , meaningless. It's not enough not to envy others; God doesn't want us to endeavor to stir up envy in others.

The way to avoid this trap is to keep our eyes where they belong. We are not to labor to impress men; instead, we are to labor to please God.

On your job, do you do a good job in order to be envied by fellow workers, or are you working heartily so as to please the Lord? Our goal is to do that which is pleasing in the sight of God.

The surest way of doing that which is pleasing to God is by walking in love. If you love with the love of God, you will not boast. And if you love with the love of God, you will not envy.

I Corinthians 13:1-4.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.

We have two choices. We can either walk according to what is natural (the flesh), and produce the works of the flesh, or we can walk in the spirit and produce the fruit of the spirit, with God’s kind of love as its signature fruit. If we walk according to the flesh, envy, strife, and every kind of evil work will be evidenced in our lives. But if we walk in the spirit, living our lives in obedience to God’s revealed word, and living to please God rather than to please ourselves or other people, God’s kind of love will be the dominating characteristic of our lives. If you walk in love, you’ll find that you can’t love and envy at the same time.

Kakobe na uchaguzi 2010

ASKOFU Mkuu wa Kanisa la Full Gospel Bible Fellowship (FGBF), Zakary Kakobe ametangaza kutokuwepo kwa ibada katika makanisa yake kote nchini siku ya Jumapili ambayo ni maalumu kwa ajili ya kupiga kura kumchagua rais, mbunge na diwani.

Alitangaza uamuzi huo jana katika ibada maalumu ambayo ilikuwa kwa ajili ya kutoa elimu ya mpiga kura kwa waumini wa Kanisa lake.

Alisema amefikia uamuzi huo baada ya kubaini kuwa Wakristo wengi ndio wanaokosa fursa ya kwenda kupiga kura kutokana na siku hiyo ya kupiga kura kwenda makanisani.

Katika ibada hiyo, Askofu Kakobe alitaja vikwazo vitano ambavyo vinakwaza watu kwenda kupiga kura na kati ya hivyo alisema vikwazo viwili vinawakwaza Wakristo wanaosali siku ya Jumapili ambayo imekuwa inatumiwa hapa nchini kama siku ya kupiga kura.

Akitoa na somo la Mkristo na Uchaguzi Mkuu, Askofu Kakobe alisema uamuzi wa kufanya uchaguzi siku ya Jumapili, huchangia Wakristo kutopiga kura.

Alisema umefika muda kwa Tume ya Uchaguzi ya Taifa (NEC) kubadili siku hiyo kama zilivyofanya nchi za Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda, Msumbiji, Burundi na Malawi ambazo uchaguzi unafanyika siku zingine na sio siku za ibada.

"Nadhani kuna watu wanafurahi Wakristo wengi wasipige kura, safari hii tumefanya juhudi nyingi; lakini NEC imeng'ang'ania, na hatuwezi kuacha kwenda kupiga kura kwani tunaweza kuchaguliwa kiongozi asiyefaa tukajutia kwa miaka mitano.

"Hivyo natangaza rasmi siku hiyo ya uchaguzi hakutakuwa na ibada katika makanisa yote ya FGBF, milango ya makanisa hayo siku hiyo ifungwe na ibada ya siku hiyo ifanyike siku ya Jumamosi," alisema askofu huyo.

Pia alitoa mwito kwa maaskofu wa makanisa mengine kuiga mfano wake ili kutoa fursa kwa waumini wao kwenda kuchagua kiongozi wanayemtaka.

Aliwaomba viongozi wengine wa makanisa kuwa hata kama wakishindwa kuzuia ibada siku hiyo, ni vyema wakawahamasisha waumini wao ili wajitokeze kwa wingi kwenda kupiga kura siku hiyo.

Alidai katika uchaguzi mkuu uliopita, Watanzania milioni 5 sawa na asilimia 30 ya waliojiandikisha kupiga kura hawakujitokeza kupiga kura wengi wao wakiwa Wakristo.

Alitaja kikwazo kingine kinachochangia Wakristo wasiende kupiga kura siku hiyo kuwa ni kudhani kuwa rais au mbunge wanachaguliwa na Mungu.

Kiongozi huyo wa kidini aliwataka Wakristo kuachana na dhana hiyo aliyoita potofu na akawambia kuwa Mungu amewapa uhuru wanadamu kuchagua viongozi wa kuwatawala.

Alisema Mungu kamwe hawachagulii wanadamu kiongozi bali huwaacha wachague wenyewe na akawaonya waumini wake kuwa wakiacha kwenda kupiga kura, wanaweza kupata kiongozi mbovu na hata kama wakiomba juu ya kiongozi huyo mbovu kamwe Mungu hatajibu maombi yao.

Askofu Kakobe pia alitaja kikwazo kingine kinachowafanya watu wasiende kupiga kura kuwa ni kuwepo mawazo potofu miongoni mwa watu kuwa kura moja haina athari.

Aliwataka watu kuachana na mawazo hayo kwani kwa sheria za Tanzania mgombea anatangazwa kwa wingi wa kura.

Hivyo alisisitiza kuwa kitendo cha mtu kutojitokeza kwa kudhani kuwa kura yake haina thamani, aachane na msimamo huo.

Source: habarileo

Mzee wa Upako

Haruni Sanchawa na Gladness Mallya
MCHUNGAJI wa Kanisa la Maombezi – Utashinda, Anthony Lusekelo maarufu kama Mzee wa Upako usiku wa kuamkia jana alivamiwa kanisani na kundi la watu wanaosadikiwa kuwa ni majambazi na kumteka kwa muda kabla ya kumpora mamilioni ya shilingi.

Gazeti hili lilifika eneo la tukio kanisani kwake, maeneo ya Ubungo Kibangu na kufanikiwa kupewa taarifa ya jinsi ujambazi huo ulivyofanyika ambapo mtoa habari alisema kundi la majambazi lilivamia kanisa hilo usiku.

“Kundi hilo la watu lilifika maeneo hayo majira ya saa tisa na kuwateka walinzi ambao walikuwepo hapo hadi saa kumi na moja alfajiri kuamkia jana,” alisema mtoa habari wetu kwa sharti la kutoandika jina lake gazetini.

Imedaiwa kuwa kabla ya kufanya uvamizi huo, mlinzi wa kanisa hilo (jina tulihifadhi kwa sababu za kiusalama ), alivamiwa na kufungwa kamba na baadaye kunyang’anywa bunduki na majambazi hao.

Chanzo chetu hicho cha habari kiliongeza kuwa baada ya kumkamata mlinzi huyo, majambazi hao walienda moja kwa moja hadi kwa Mchungaji Lusekelo na kumteka kwa muda kabla ya kumuamuru atoe pesa alizokuwanazo vinginevyo wangemuua.

Habari zinasema Mzee wa Upako aliamua kutoa pesa ambazo inadaiwa ni zaidi ya shilingi milioni 20 ambazo inaaminika zilitokana na sadaka za waumini wake. Kiongozi huyo wa kanisa hakujeruhiwa.

Habari za kiuchunguzi zinaonyesha kuwa Mchungaji Lusekelo hakai kanisani hapo na kwamba ni mara chache hulala katika nyumba hiyo ya ibada hasa anapokuwa na kazi maalum.

Gazeti hili lilipowasiliana na Kamanda wa Mkoa wa Kipolisi wa Kinondoni, Elias Kalinga alikiri kutokea kwa tukio hilo na amedai kuwa hadi sasa watu wawili wanashikiliwa na polisi kuhusiana na tukio hilo.

“Uzoefu unaonyesha kuwa kuna baadhi ya makampuni ya ulinzi hapa nchini yana watumishi ambao si waaminifu, natoa wito kwa wamiliki wa makampuni binafsi ya ulinzi kabla ya kuajiri mlinzi , yahakikishe uaminifu wake kwanza,” alisema Kalinga.

Aliongeza kuwa kampuni za ulinzi zinalinda mamilioni ya mali za watu lakini anashangazwa kuona baadhi ya walinzi wao wanauza siri za muajiri wao kwa watu wasio raia wema.

Waandishi wetu walifanya jitihada za kumtafuta Mzee wa Upako ili kusikia kauli yake juu ya tukio hilo bila mafanikio.
Kwa mujibu wa walinzi waliokutwa kanisani hapo ambao hawakupenda majina yao kuandikwa gazetini, kiongozi huyo alikuwa amekwenda nyumbani kwake Mbezi kupumzika.

Source: www.globalpublishers.info

Sunday Sermon at Yoido Full Gospel Church – Seoul, Korea

Sunday Sermon at Yoido Full Gospel Church – Seoul, Korea
Speaker: Senior Pastor Emeritus Rev. Yonggi CHO

Knowing God’s Will

Romans 12:1-2, NIV“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.”IntroductionToday I would like to share the grace of God under the title, “Knowing God’s Will.”We can live according to God’s will when we know what His will is.
What God has in store for us is good. Otherwise He would have never sent His son, Jesus to shed his blood and carry his torn body on the cross instead of us. It is because you are precious and beautiful to God. He did not even spare His only Son. God purchased you by the crucifixion of Jesus. God’s will toward you is nothing but His goodness. God’s will shall guide us so that we will avoid temptations and difficulties in our daily lives.
1. The Bible is the dictionary of God’s willTo understand the will of God, we need to become intimate with the word of God. The Bible is the dictionary of God’s will. When we learn a foreign language we need a dictionary.After the Korean War, we did not have teachers or money for schooling. But I wanted to learn English so badly at that time. The only thing what I had was an English dictionary. The dictionary has been worn to tatters since I had looked up in it so many times. I could see my handprints on the pages of it.
How could I suppose to learn English without the dictionary? Recently we are using a computer to find vocabulary in English, but in my old days we could not even imagine that. As long as I could look it up in a dictionary, I could learn vocabulary by heart. To learn languages we need dictionaries. It is the same with the will of God.
If you want to know more about His will, you should look up the bible more. Without reading the bible, we would fail to understand His will. As long as we seek advice in the bible, it will reveal to each of us God’s will.
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.”There is God’s good will for me. And there is His pleasing and perfect will for a person like me.
God wants us to live a life according to his perfect will. “Can’t you live like that? Don’t worry, there is my pleasing and good will as well. And you can live a life according to it.”2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”The bible is to be read and meditated on. After reading it we should keep in it mind by meditating on it.
Joshua 1:8 says, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”This is a really wonderful promise! We can find a way to a prosperous and successful in life when we meditate on the word day and night. For the last 50 years, I have meditated and preached the word and I can honestly say that what the bible says is true. I have lived a prosperous and fulfilled life.
While I was waiting before this worship service began, I came to think about my life. “I was just a hick from Kyeung Sang Province then.” I came up to Seoul with empty hands 52 years ago. Now I’m thinking of how my God has blessed me! I was really at a loss for words. “Where should I go to sleep? Where can I get meals?” The world had nothing to do with me.Through a miracle, God led me to meet pastor Ja-Shil Choi.
Life is about meeting someone. We cannot live alone. We need to be connected with the right people to encourage us in the faith. After all, when I look back on those days there was divine connection, I cannot but thank Pastor Choi and my wife.
Because of their sacrifices I have become who I am today.Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”To let the word become a lamp to my feet a light for my path, I should keep the bible near me, the word of God.Long time ago a man lost his way in an abandoned mine. Besides, the light he had with him went out. Deep underground in a dark mine nothing was visible. He could not find a way out. He thought it was finished with him. In despair he prayed and a bright idea came to him.“This was a mineral mine and there must be a railroad which passes through the tunnel.” He began to search out the railroad with his tiptoes. He was sure about the railroad which was used for transporting minerals. After a while he could feel something like railroad with his feet.
He could not see right ahead but he followed the railroad, groping in the dark. He could finally see the light and get out of the tunnel. Figuratively however dark a tunnel may be in which we find ourselves, if we rely on the bible which leads us to daylight, problems will be solved and we will reach the way to victory. The bible is God’s word in which His will is revealed. When we act by faith relying on the word, our lives will be filled with life to the full and our souls and bodies will enjoy the goodness of God.
God blesses people who trust in Him. We suffered for 36 years under Japanese Occupancy. And around 65 years ago we were liberated from it. At that time there were a million Christians in Korea. Our GNP (Gross National Product) was about 68 dollars. We were poor and in severe need. The years passed by and there are 12 million Christians in Korea now. And the GNP reached more than 20,000 dollars.Psalm 91:14-16 says, “‘Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.’ ”It shall come to pass as it is written in the bible. No person or country does lose anything by believing in Jesus. A country or a people should come back to God in order to live an abundant life. God promised to the one who believes in Him, “I will make you the head, not the tail. You will always be at the top, never at the bottom. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.”Satan desperately tries to stop us from believing in Jesus. As we believe in Jesus there is going to be salvation not only of our souls but also of our lives. We are not just looking forward to the life to come. While we are living in this world we should experience God’s salvation in our material and circumstantial lives. His salvation activates beyond our souls into life itself.
In our daily lives, in our circumstances and health we need salvation. The salvation is not shallow, but profound enough. It is an abundant salvation. More than enough God’s wonderful salvation is granted to us by his grace. Therefore in order to know the will of God we should not only meditate on the bible but also get advice from pastors and leaders. Pastors, elders, deacons and church leaders are the people who speak faith into you with the word of God. When we become Christians we can find help from our cell group leaders.
They are advanced in the faith, having asked for God’s will.Romans 10:17 says, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”If we could get a message from seniors of faith we could enlarge our faith in advance.1 Thessalonians 2:13 says, “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”Before pastors preach the gospel they study and meditate on the word of God to become His messengers. That is why we can accept them as God’s messengers.2. The guidance of the Holy SpiritSecond, we should be led by the Holy Spirit constantly in our daily lives.The air cannot be seen. But there is air to breath. The Holy Spirit is invisible because he is Spirit.
But He is there for us all the time. Our Holy Spirit guides us through our everyday life. At the same time there must be crucial times of need of seeking God’s will. We can divide the guidance of the Holy Spirit into two categories. One is overall guidance through daily life and the other one is special guidance when I confront a crucial problem. The Lord guides us through the Holy Spirit in all the processes of our life.Ephesians 1:11 says, “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,”Before the creation of the world, God has already chosen us to become his children.
We could become God’s children according to His will.John 16:13 says, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”There is the Holy Spirit who guides us in all circumstances.Pastor George Mueller was a father to orphans in England. He is famous for receiving answers more than 50,000 times to his prayers. “I’m asking the Holy Spirit looking for God’s will on the basis of the word of God. The Holy Spirit and God’s word must be connected. If we look for the Holy Spirit without the word of God, we would have fallen into temptation. The Holy Spirit guides us through the word of God.
Therefore what is contrary to the word of God cannot be the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”Through all the aspects of life, the Holy Spirit guides us. All the time His guidance will be done in accordance with the word of God. What is against God’s word must be not the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We rely on the word of God and we ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit by prayer. Where there is God’s Spirit we cannot be negative, destructive or hopeless but always find righteousness, hope, love and goodness. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit we can find the way.In life there is time to know God’s will concretely. Sometimes the Holy Spirit talks to us as if we are talking to each other face to face.
His voice can be heard deep inside of our hearts. Often he talks to us in a calm and soft voice.Acts 9:3-6 says, “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. ‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’ ”Saul, who later became the apostle Paul, heard the voice of the Lord when he was on the way to Damascus in order to persecute the people who believed in Jesus.When Joseph got to know his fianc?e Mary was pregnant, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.Matthew 1:20-21 says, “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’”God reveals to us what to do through dreams and visions.Matthew 2:12 says, “And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”The Magi from the east became having been warned not to go back to Herod, so they returned to their country by another route.Acts 10:3-6 says, “One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, ‘Cornelius!’ Cornelius stared at him in fear. ‘What is it, Lord?’ he asked.
The angel answered, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.’ ”Many times in the Bible we can find that God speaks to a person through a vision and/or a dream.Even today God is talking to us. The Holy Spirit reveals to us God’s will through dreams and visions. Because God is with us, He lets us know His will when we need special guidance. He illuminates our hearts and gives us wisdom and knowledge, talents and abilities. Then our hearts could acknowledge with whom we are. We could get those gifts from God when we believe in Jesus. The Holy Spirit works through us. By the Holy Spirit we can be wiser and more talented, more intelligent and empowered than other people.1 Corinthians 2:10-11 says, “but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”God’s Spirit lets us understand the work of God.Philippians 2:13 says, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”In our hearts, hopes will be stirred up by the Holy Spirit in order to make us take action. People who believe in Jesus and who have the Holy Spirit do not to live a lonely life. Remember, the Holy Spirit is there for us.
We should acknowledge Him, welcome Him, rely on Him and pray to Him. When we do that, He will lead us granting us wisdom, intelligence, talents and knowledge. Whether through an audible voice, through a vision or through a revelation, He will show us the way we should go.One day the founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM), Missionary James Hudson Taylor was looking for a book in his library. A book on the shelves caught his eye. He picked out the book and started to read its title. “Christ has accomplished!” As soon as he read the title of the book suddenly he felt clear-headed. “Yes, Jesus said on the cross, ‘It is accomplished!’ I don’t need to do again what the Lord has done already.
All I need to do is to deliver to people what he has done for them.” The Holy Spirit enlightened him in that way and afterward he became a missionary to China. He became one of the great evangelists in the history of Chinese Missions.In an amazing way the Holy Spirit guides us granting us wisdom and power, talents and ideas beyond our imagination.And the Holy Spirit guides us through changes of our environment. My environment can lead me into an unexpected way.God works through our environment, teaching us lessons. We should follow the way God opens before us by prayer. Please, do not linger on where you are. Now God is blessing Korea greatly through circumstances. When you see his guiding hand, don’t look back but proceed proclaiming Hallelujah! I hope that in one or two years, Korea enters the line of developed nations. Our children will be mighty in the land.
3. After knowing God’s willThird, after we know God’s will we should accept His will with thanksgiving.Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”Now we present our request to God and get to know what His will is then we need to return to the place of thanksgiving.Isaiah 25:1 says, “O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.”It is God who taught us His word. It is time to accept God’s will by giving thanks and praise. We should not calculate His will, but accept it by forsaking our will. “Not as I will, but as you will.” When we accept God’s will as Jesus did, the result is always good.Psalm 37:5-6 says, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”When we make our prayer request to God, He will accomplish it and make us righteous in public. We are to practice boldly God’s will.
Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”When we do God’s will no matter where we are God will be with us. And God’s presence drives out fear. We should be strong and courageous.When we know God’s will, we will realize how much He wants us to live a life enjoying good health and well being of our souls. He wants us to have life, and have it to the full.Not only your soul experiences the salvation of the Lord, but also all the days of your life you will see God’s goodness. God wants you to be healthy. I have learned for 50 years about it. Our God is real. Do not worry.
Our God is a good God. He is the fountain of blessing. Whoever relies on God will see His blessing. When we trust in Him and march forward we will have victory.ConclusionThe prayer of a true Christian is like this, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. In everything we hope to get agreement with God’s will not with our own will. We want to walk with the Lord holding His hand. This is our fulfilled life.

Let us pray!
Father God who is full of love!We Christians pray that your will be done as it is in heaven.Please be with us and hear our prayer. By the precious blood of Jesus on the cross let us live a life which will reveal Your goodness and mercy in both our body and soul.Help us to see miracles in our lives all the time.In Jesus’ name we pray.Amen.

Benny Hinn and Paula White deny romantic relationship

Television preachers Benny Hinn and Paula White have rejected reports in the press last week suggesting that they are romantically involved.

The National Enquirer showed pictures of the televangelists entering and leaving a hotel in Rome holding hands. They deny any wrongdoing during their visit to Italy, saying that they had been there for ministry duties and were never alone.

They said the article was “misguided” and “untruthful” and Hinn rejected the assertion that he and Paula had secretly stayed together as “absolutely false”.

White said: “We were never alone and were in the constant company of staff and other associates ... My relationship with Pastor Benny is genuine and pure and should not be taken out of context.”

The article “falsely characterised my friendship with Pastor Benny as being something that is morally and spiritually inappropriate”, she added.

The preachers said that although they had “not seen each other in years”, they had developed a close friendship after filming a an episode of Hinn’s half-hour “This Is Your Day” show together in May.

Hinn said the twice-divorced White had been an “encouragement” to him and “shared helpful advice” after his wife of more than 30 years filed for divorce in January. The divorce is yet to be finalised.

Hinn said: “I will not deny that the friendship has strengthened, and, while it has remained morally pure at all times, I have enjoyed the company of someone who has also gone through the trauma of a painful and public divorce.”

He continued: “I forcefully, categorically, and absolutely renounce the lies that have been spread about me and want to set the record straight with you. There is nothing inappropriate or morally improper about my friendship with Paula White. There has been no immorality whatsoever!”

Hinn said that he and White have decided to “have no further social relationship” until his divorce has been finalised and “only if we feel direction from the Lord to do so”.

In 2008, White and Hinn were two of several televangelists who were subject to an investigation by the US Senate Finance Committee into whether they had wrongfully profited from financial donations. Both denied any wrongdoing and complied with the investigation.

Haki sawa..!

Wanawake wa Kampala hawako nyuma katika shughuli za kiuchumi.

Pichani ni dereva wa tax (cab) Juliana miaka 34, akiwa kazini kusubiria abiria.

Hapa ilikuwa ni baada ya kumshuhudia habari za YESU na kugundua kuwa anazifahamu kwa kina ila masumbufu ya maisha ndio yamemfanya asifanye maamuzi ya kumfuata.

Kilichonivutia zaidi ni hiyo namba ya cab hapo ubavuni ni kama namba ya mtandao wa tigo.

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Tangu kutokea kwa milipuko ya mabomu huko kampala miezi miwili iliyopita na kuuwa watu karibu 76, mji wa Kampala kwa sasa umekuwa na ulinzi wa hali ya juu.

Tulikutana na hali hiyo tulipoenda "mlimani city" ya Kampala na tulilazimika kusimama kwa dakika kadhaa ili kukaguliwa kwa umakini wa hali ya juu hata pale tulipojitambulisha kuwa sisi ni watumishi wa Mungu kutoka Tanzania.

Watu wamekuwa wakiishi kwa wasiwasi mkubwa sana.

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Pichani ni Pastor Mitimingi (Kushoto kabisa), Pastor Abel Orgenes (Kushoto kwangu) na Technical Director wa dini kubwa Nairobi (mwenye flana nyekundu).

RUNNING BUSINESS FOR IMMEDIATE SALE

Mtumishi wa Mungu Prosper Mgalama

Mtumishi wa Mungu Prosper Mgalama amefungua kazi ya Mungu Chanika, nje kidogo ya jiji la Dar es Salaam.Ni moja ya makanisa machanga yaliyoanza ndani ya mwaka mmoja mmoja na yanafanya vizuri sana.

Nilipata neema ya kutembelea kanisani kwake jumapili iliyopita kuanzia ibada ya asubuhi hadi ya jioni kulipokuwa na changizo ya ununuzi wa uwanja mkubwa wa kujenga kanisa na kituo cha maendeleo ya kijamii.

Mlima Sayuni tutawaletea maelezo ya kina kuhusu huduma ya mtumishi wa Mungu Prosper.