“Do not fear” is the most common commandment in the Bible; it appears more than any other commandment. God uses this phrase whenever he asks someone to do something scary or something that they are not used to doing. He says, “do not be afraid, fear not, or don’t be afraid.”
Read these amazing passages:
David and Goliath “And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” 1 Samuel 17:37
And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”Exodus 14:13-14
But the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”Numbers 21:34
“See, the Lord your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’” Deuteronomy 1:21
“And I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.’ But you have not obeyed my voice.”Judges 6:10
Look what God says to Ruth, “And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.” Ruth 10:29-30
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”Matthew 10:29-31
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7
It is only God you should fear:
“Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?” Job 4:6
Practical wisdom for living is the central concern of thebook of Proverbs. We are told that the beginning and essence of wisdom is the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).
How did the church grow: “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lordand in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.“Acts 9:31
“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God” 2 Corinthians 5:11
“And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Philippians 1:14
Time is short may we be bold to speak the word of the Lord and the Gospel to others without fear.
Here we have a megachurch pastor realising that the church has largely failed in its mandate to produce disciples who can produce more disciples but he is yet to realise that the church model he continues to pursue is a major part of the problem. Nevertheless, his new book conveys important truths and the following edited transcript of Stockstill’s interview with The Christian Post where he identifies the differences between cultural Christianity and the biblical mandate to follow Christ is helpful to understand the state of the church. Another observation of Stockstill in this interview; in my opinion, he does not give sufficient recognition to the Holy Spirit and His role in every believers life.
The Real Jesus: Challenging What You Know About the Greatest Person Who Ever Lived
Christian Post: What inspired you to write The Real Jesus?
Stockstill: Three things: 1) I have seen that we live in a cultural Christianity — whether seen in our Christmas and Easter holidays, or in the gospel choir on the Grammys. We are a product of Christianity. I wanted to put the person of Jesus Christ back in the center of what it means to be a Christian. 2) I had an encounter with God in October of 2007 that forever changed my life. I talk about it in the book. 3) Jesus said, “if you love me, you will obey my commands.” That verse pierced me to my core and sent me on a journey of discovering exactly what He taught. This book is all about the man, the model, and the message of Jesus Christ.
CP: Does Western society have different versions of who Jesus is?
Stockstill: Absolutely. … People commonly confuse their church attendance, spiritual habits, and good deeds as a sufficient substitute for their own faith in and relationship with Jesus. Yes, all of those things are great, but unless these actions are the result of an intimate relationship with our Savior, then it’s all for naught. Our faith in Christ should be so flourishing and fruitful that we can’t help but regularly do those things.
Sadly, the idea of Christianity has become a to-do list for many, while Jesus just desires to know each of us more intimately.
CP: How do you keep your ministry focused on the real Jesus despite the many different versions of Jesus that exist in this day and age?
Stockstill: Here at Bethany Church, our mission statement is: “Bringing all people into the life, family, and purpose of God.” If our ministry isn’t bringing someone into a personal relationship with Jesus, connecting them with other believers to do life with, or empowering them to live out the God-given purpose in their life, then we know that what we are doing isn’t of the real Jesus that we read about in Scripture.
CP: What can someone do to identify how they might be following the wrong gospel?
Stockstill: To be a Christian means to be a little Christ. The only way you can be a little Christ is if you study Him, follow Him, obey Him, and allow His Spirit to transform you into His image.
Simply put, if you have a religious tradition, but not the things I mentioned, you may be on the wrong track!
CP: Along with being a pastor, you’re also a worship leader. Does being a worshiper help your connection with God?
Stockstill: For sure! Whether I’m leading or not, there’s no doubt that entering into the presence of God through worship is powerful.
There are many instances in the Bible where praise preceded a breakthrough. No matter what it may sound like, declaring whose we are and who He is will always create an environment where God can work in our lives and reveal Himself to us.
A Jesus-centered mentality has changed how I lead worship. When I lead in worship, I focus all my attention on Jesus. His presence follows.
CP: What do you say to those who might not believe in real-life encounters with the son of God?
Stockstill: It’s human nature to doubt and play the “what if” game. However, Jesus Himself said, “Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” When you pursue Jesus, and not just what He offers, you can’t help but encounter who He is.
For those with their own questions, I encourage you to seek out Jesus wholeheartedly for your answer(s) because you’ll soon experience for yourself everything that He is and wants you to become in Him.
CP: Why do you think people do not have a real, raw and relevant relationship with God? What are the roadblocks? How can we cultivate that?
Stockstill: Life happens, and it’s so easy to get wrapped up in the things of today. Intentionally creating time and space for any relationship is difficult. With a world full of distractions, it’s no wonder that people lack authentic relationships with others and God. You may be doing a bunch of good things but that doesn’t mean you’re doing what’s best. And it’s hard to know what’s best unless you’re in constant communication with who has given us His best. Being still and knowing that He is God is most definitely easier said than done.
We can’t hear His voice unless we’re close to Him and have removed ourselves from the things of this life. Until we are disciplined enough to create space for God, it’s crazy to think that we’ll know Him fully. Jesus was intentional about His relationships with others and even sought refuge in a garden to get clarity from His father, so shouldn’t we learn to do the same.
CP: What are the benefits of being a true disciple of Jesus and not just a fan?
Stockstill: Being a disciple of Christ means that we have everything through Him that God’s Word promises. As His sons and daughters, we will never be without because we are one with Him.
A fan of Jesus may temporarily experience these things, but being His means that it’s ours for eternity.
In the USA, 43% of millennials ‘don’t know, don’t care, don’t believe’ God exists:
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting” (Romans 1:28).
Just 26% of Gen X and 16% of millennials believe that when they die, they will go to Heaven only because they confessed their sins and accepted Jesus as their saviour, compared to nearly half of the generation before them, a new study has found.
The American Worldview Inventory 2021, a survey of the philosophy of life on American adults from Arizona Christian University, assessed the worldviews of four generations: millennials (born 1984-2002), Gen X (1965-1983), baby boomers (1946-1964) and builders (1927-1945).
Researchers found that among other recent generations, millennials have gone farther in cutting ties with traditional Christian views and normative biblical teaching. For example, nearly half of all boomers believe that when they die, they will go to Heaven only because they confessed their sins and accepted Jesus as their Savior, compared to only 26% of Gen X and 16% of millennials.
A staggering 90% of builders believe you treat others as you want them to treat you, while less than half of millennials agree.
Additionally, 43% of millennials stated they either don’t know, don’t care or don’t believe God exists compared to 28% of boomers, and 44% of millennials believe Satan is real and influential, compared to 64% of boomers.
The study also found that overall, younger Americans are significantly more likely than the two previous generations to embrace horoscopes as a guide and Karma as a life principle, to see “getting even” with others as defensible, to accept evolution over creation, and to view owning property as fostering economic injustice.
Researchers warn that the beliefs and behaviors of younger Americans, especially millennials, “threaten to reshape the nation’s religious parameters beyond recognition.”
“In fact, this radical spiritual revolution has created a generation seeking a reimagined world without God, the Bible, or churches,” they wrote.
Mankind is becoming increasingly oriented away from the knowledge of the God who expresses His mind and nature through the Ten Commandments. God’s law lays down a path of conduct and lifestyle that is increasingly out of sync with the path of human nature.
I believe this is a significant end times sign as Jesus warned us in the “last days” before He pours out His wrath on an unrepentant world. Christians would be hated and many who had taken the Christian label will fall away when persecution of Christians intensifies.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:9-12
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” 1 John 1:1-4
What an amazing Scripture. Do you want life, eternal life? There is only one place you will find it – JESUS.
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7
It is only His sacrifice on our behalf, His blood shed for you and me that cleanses us from SIN
What is the matter with the world? War, violence, turmoil, unhappiness ,,, There is only one answer – SIN.
The renowned theologian Martyn Lloyd-Jones reveals addictions provides a picture of all SIN patterns. At first the happiness it causes seems to outweigh the misery. But eventually the periods of misery increase and the periods of happiness fade. This is called the law of diminishing returns. Life is promised; death is delivered. Every drug, alcohol, and pornography addict is living proof the next high is less satisfying than the last.
If insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results, SIN not only leads to insanity – it is insanity. Regardless of your drug of choice, materialism, cocaine, pornography, power, anger, slander – the nature of any SIN is saying. “This time it will be different.” Yet it just keeps killing us – all in the name of happiness.
The only answer to the SIN problem is Jesus. Repent of your SIN problems and ask Him to takeover your life as Saviour and Lord. Find meaning and purpose for your life, knowing you now have eternal life.
Martin Lloyd-Jones share these gems on SIN in his book Life in Christ in 1 John
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available on Amazon as a trade paperback or eBook or trade paperback from me at ron@bakb.com.au and making a donation. of $15.00 AUS or $20.00 USA to cover shipping
Identity is defined by Psychology Today as the knowledge of who we are (Timothy Pychyl, “Teenagers, Identity Crisis & Procrastination: On the Benefits of Knowing Who You Are”, Psychology Today, April 2008).
63% of teens say they “know who they are” while 37% do not fully know their identity yet (Stage of Life, “Did You Know: High School Facts and Figures”, 2008-2018.).
whosoevers.com – MAINSTREAM STATS AND QUOTES ON 25 OF SOME OF LIFE’S TOUGHEST TOPICS TEENS STRUGGLE WITH TODAY, AND THE BIBLE’S RESPONSE TO THEM.
Teens search for identity in status, work, race, ethnicity, education, family, opinions of others, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, friends, money, power, talent, etc. Technology and social media, no doubt, proves finding identity even more confusing and difficult, giving them more possible versions of “self” than ever before to constantly edit, As well they have an endless supply of people to compare themselves with. They risk a vicious cycle of seeking constant online approval, causing unhealthy online dependency or a misconception that online identity equals real life. (Chandra Johnson, “Growing Up Digital: How The Internet Affects Teen Identity”, Desert News Family, May 2014) (Mary Madden, et al., “Teens, Social Media, and Privacy”, Pew Research Center, May 2013), (Solstice RTC, “Self Identity in Teens: Social Media Is Getting in the Way”, 2019).
The truth about their identity is found in only one place, the Bible. Our Creator says our identity is found in Him because we are created in His image (Genesis. 1:27). Before we were born, He knew us (Jeremiah 1:5) and had plans written for us (Psalms 139:16). Jesus said we find our true life if we give ours to him (Luke 9:23-25), He then sends us the Holy Spirit to live in our Spirit to sanctify us, to enable us to be children of God (John 1:12) to live a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17) and be in relationship with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17) all through our identity in Jesus (Galatians 3:26-28). Our citizenship is in heaven and eventually on a new earth. (Philippians 3:20 & Revelation 21:1-4).
Sadly, in our post Christian world children are no longer taught the truth from God’s word by parents and certainly not at our public teaching institutions, schools and universities. Moreover, increasingly our institutional churches are no longer preaching God’s Word having compromised with the world on its changing moral values. The good news is provided in my last post: HARVEST RIPE: THE GOSPEL WELCOME NEWS TO THE YOUNG. Each of us just needs to be attuned to what God is doing and follow the Holy Spirit’s lead.
Source of information Tough Topics (for Teens) by Zeal Bible Club. Go to whosoevers.com to support this great work.
A recent study from Barna that found that two-thirds of teens and young adults (65%) agree that “many religions can lead to eternal life” compared to 58% of teens and young adults surveyed in 2018. Additionally, 31% of teens and young adults “strongly agree” that what is “morally right and wrong changes over time, based on society,” compared to just 25% in 2018.
A 2018 study from Barna similarly characterized Gen Z as the “first truly ‘post Christian’ generation,” with only 4% adhering to a biblical worldview. “Moral relativism hasn’t just crept into the worldview of Gen Z,” said Jonathan Morrow, director of cultural engagement and student discipleship at Impact 360 Institute. “It is now the majority opinion.”
whosoevers.com – MAINSTREAM STATS AND QUOTES ON 25 OF SOME OF LIFE’S TOUGHEST TOPICS TEENS STRUGGLE WITH TODAY, AND THE BIBLE’S RESPONSE TO THEM.
Ryan Ries, co-founder of The Whosevers, a movement that seeks to deliver the message of the Gospel to schools and empower students to live boldly for Christ, told The Christian Post that these recent statistics reveal how important it is for young people to have a positive, biblically-grounded influence in their life.
“Anxiety, depression, suicide, identity issues, all of these things are at an all-time high right now,” he said.
“We are seeing it across schools, we’re seeing across the country. “Parents, youth pastors, and anyone who works with teens and young people need to “be honest about the statistics and really let them know what’s going on,” Ries stressed. “Kids know they are depressed, suicidal, and struggling, and when you try to sugar-coat the Gospel and avoid hard issues, they aren’t going to know there is freedom that can take place,” he explained. “We’ve got to have good conversations and address these things because otherwise, we’re missing an opportunity to have a high impact and disciple these kids.”
Thanks to social media, young people are able “to sin in the most radical ways,” Ries said, adding: “When we were young, we had to figure out how to sin. We are now living in a whole different time, where kids who are 9 years old have the mind of teenagers because of the content that they’re exposed to. They’re getting immune to it, callous to it, and corrupted by it.” But as a result, Ries said, the “harvest is ripe”for the Gospel. He said that he’s seen an unprecedented increase in teens and young people dedicating their lives to the Lord in recent months. “The fruit is so ripe that it’s literally falling off the trees up to this point,” he said. “Everyone is giving their life to the Lord. You’ve got to have a conversation with them, be genuine with them, let them know that you love them and that God loves them. They are so eager for the freedom and truth the Gospel gives.”
Time is short so take this opportunity to present the greatest good news ever told to all in your circle of influence. If you are available the Holy Spirit will bring people to you. God loved us sufficient to send His Son to die for us that we have the opportunity to get back into a son/daughter relationship with Him. Not only that, but also to be assured of eternal life with Him on a new earth and heaven with an end to pain, suffering and death.
The GOSPEL is the best news ever.in human history. Consider what God, our heavenly Father, did to make it possible for mankind that had rejected His sovereignty at THE FALL to be restored back into a right relationship with Him.
Adam was told that death would be the result of eating from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil> Yet Eve and he chose to disobey God and eat it being deceived by another being, a spiritual being, that had already chose to disobey God, Satan, also known as the Devil. Mankind thus bought death and suffering into a word that was originally created perfect.
God’s plan to restore mankind is beyond our comprehension and it is only because God originally made us in His image to be in relationship with Him does He reach out to us by His Holy Spirit to make Himself known.
The most remarkable part of God’s plan is that He, Himself entered His world in the person of His Son, Jesus to pay the price of mankind’s disobedience – death. It is important to understand Jesus came exactly as prophesied in God’s Word given through His prophets.
God has demonstrated that He wants a relationship with each of us. He has done this ever since Creation by working with individuals that trusted Him. It is why it is so important we know His Word (The Bible) is inerrant, it conveys the true history of this world and of His working with individuals.. Events such as Noah’s Flood, The Tower of Babel, Israel’s exodus from Egypt and above all Jesus resurrection from the dead were all real events. Satan has contrived with strategies that are demonstrably untrue, such that the world made itself via evolution and therefore miracles are impossible and that God’s intervention in His world with miraculous events such as Noah’s flood are myths. In the case of Noah’s Flood this is despite the fact most nations around the world have a flood story in their origins.
Delivering the Gospel, the best news this planet has ever heard should be a joy for us to deliver and we should be anxious to share it with everyone. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer. He is also the one who convicts unbelievers of sin so He will direct us to those people that need to hear the Good News if we are available to be led by the Spirit and are saying each day, as Jesus did when He walked this planet, not my will but yours, Lord be done today.
Time is short, brothers and sisters in Christ so let us get about our joyous task of delivering the best news ever told. Your own testimony of what God has done and is doing in your life is an important part of the Good News. So too is Jesus prophesied soon coming return to put things right.
They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Rev. 20:5
This fallen world will experience the rule and reign of Jesus with the Saints for 1000 years before this world is destroyed by fire. The second resurrection of the dead and the White Throne judgement follows and only then will believers join Jesus and God the Father on a new earth and heaven. Jesus work is complete and He hands over sovereignty of the new earth to the Father. All unbelievers have been relegated to the Lake of Fire, punishment and a second death.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” Revelation 2:11
“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6
“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This isthe second death, the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”Revelation 21:8
Jews cower in their homes as Arabs set fire to synagogues and comb the streets for Jewish victims. Failing that, they attempt to break into Jewish homes. They burn cars and whatever else they can lay their hands on. These events are taking place over the last two days, in Israel proper, in the city of Lod, a half hour’s drive from Tel Aviv.
Israel’s Iron Dome Defense System intercepts a barrage of Hamas rockets fired at Israel from Gaza towards Tel Aviv—some 150 at a time
Lod is a mixed city. Its Jewish population has been shouting for help as they remain trapped in their own homes while Arabs run riot. The government has quite rightly been criticized for its tepid response. Only about 30 rioters have been arrested. Finally, on Tuesday evening, the government ordered 16 Border Police companies to the city and declared a state of emergency.
As pathetic as has been the government and police response, it’s Lod’s Arabs who deserve the most censure. They are Israeli Arabs. They have grown up in Israel, not on the other side of some imaginary line, not in the so-called ‘occupied territories.’ Israel makes enormous effort to help its Arab citizens feel a part of the country, despite propaganda to the contrary. In short, there is no excuse for the savagery of this ungrateful minority.
One Jewish woman in Lod, appearing on Channel 11 on Tuesday night, described the relations she had had with her Arab neighbors up until then. She said they were a model of warmth and mutual respect. Most fascinating was hearing how the friendly relationships of years changed in the way a switch is flipped. She said she could feel the difference. Suddenly, they looked at her with hostile eyes. The woman, a sociologist by profession, said she couldn’t explain it. She also said she saw Arabs outside “dancing with joy” as the Hamas rockets flew by.
It is reminiscent of accounts from the 1929 Hebron pogrom, where “Arab homeowners had told their Jewish neighbours ‘today will be the great slaughter,’ and several of the victims took tea with so-called friends who, in the afternoon, became their killers.”
Lod’s violence has now spread to other heavily Arab cities. Bedouin in the south lie in wait along the highways, ready to stone passersby.
Arabs cheered at Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate as they watched a Hamas rocket reach the Jerusalem area on Monday evening, May 10th around 6:00 p.m. Between six and seven rockets were fired in the barrage, which was directed at Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, located approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of the capital.
Israelis are watching and no doubt reaching conclusions. “All the work we have done here for years [regarding coexistence] has gone down the drain,” Lod’s mayor said. Even the most dedicated peace advocates have fallen silent as Arabs, who a month ago were wishing their Jewish neighbors a Happy Passover, took to the streets with chants of “With blood and fire we will redeem Palestine.”
An Arab Israeli rioter
In terms of “end times” timing this is a very significant watershed event. The hostility will only escalate from here as Jews have to isolate Palestinians living within its borders. World anti Jewish sentiment will escalate as a result. The good news is that we know the end of the story, and whilst Israel still has its greatest challenge ahead involving the Antichrist, Jesus will return to Israel to rule and reign the nations from Jerusalem when it will be known as the “City of Peace” and “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Isaiah 1:26; 2:1-4; Jeremiah 23:6)
We must not miss the eternal purposes of God in His everlasting covenant with Israel. The following scripture was given by Jesus to make this truth in a profound way.
When a woman from modern-day southern Lebanon found Jesus and begged Him to heal her demonized daughter, He ignored her. (Matthew 15:21-28 – Faith of a Canaanite Woman) She kept at it, and wouldn’t relent (much like the widow in Luke 18). His disciples, ever known for their abounding compassion, offered to get rid of her so they wouldn’t have to hear the inconvenience of her desperation. Jesus, blessedly, ignored the immaturity of the twelve apostles to make a point through this interaction—a point we need to have clarity on today.
He replied, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But she came, knelt before Him, and said, “Lord, help me!”
He answered, “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
“Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.” And from that moment her daughter was healed.[28]
Here is a non -Jewish Gentile approaching the Son of David and begging Him for help. If we miss what Jesus wants to convey to us in this passage i.e. the eternal purposes of God in the everlasting covenant, then He initially does not come across as the loving, merciful Jesus we know. Thankfully, this incredible woman did not miss these critical issues, and Jesus drew this confession out of her for all of us to hear—and heed.
Consider this paraphrase of the verses above given in the FAI Prophecy, Proclamation, Covenant and Controversy, MAY 13, 2021:
Jesus: “I cut a covenant on the hills of Hebron to form a nation-state wherein I’ll reveal My eternal purposes and glory to the world. The house of Israel is therefore marked with a covenantal peculiarity your people are not marked with.”
Lebanese Woman*: “You are the LORD, and I know enough about You to know You can help me.”
Jesus, shrugging: “The covenantal provisions are for the children of the covenant.”
Lebanese Woman: “I’ve heard about You, and I’ve heard about Your covenant—and I submit to Your right to do what You will as You will, when You will and how You will, to whom You willand through whom You will. And I know You’re going to bless the nations through this covenant—I know there’s enough of You to go around, and even a Gentile like me can receive the overflowfrom the covenantal table.”
Jesus:“YOU GOT IT! I love your faith!”
The FAI video series Covenant and Controversy is a must watch for every Bible believing Christian. Not only must you watch this series but you need to promote it as widely as possible. After you have watched the first video then you will now why I am promoting this video series so enthusiastically.
As most of my followers know I support the Kenya House Church Movement in Kenya started many years ago now by Pastor Charles Owino Otieno. It has grown to ten house church groups with a new group started just weeks ago with the conversion of a Catholic priest. The circumstances surrounding his conversion provide a great story which I will use for another LEN post. However, shortly after Charles returned home I received the following email from Alfred one of the KHC leaders.
I received a report from Charles, and I later saw him addressing the media on one of our local radio stations, reporting on the earthquake that shook their area and left three people dead, and several others injured. I understand that among the victims of the earthquake was Charles’s mother and one of his brothers. I will be travelling together with my wife going to the home of Charles tomorrow, to see the family.
The following report is from Charles: “The tragedy happened on my property. This picture was taken on my own farm. .
This was not a normal flood, the kind we know and we have seen many times. This was different. A normal flood erodes the soil surface, sweeps away vegetation, animals and destroys houses. But this one was a combination of both an earthquake and heavy rainfall. It covered a wide area of land, It devastated our property leaving behind a very big empty valley about 5kms long and 5 to 6 metres deep, as you can see in this picture. My house church group had planted a maize farm on this land which was about to mature and it was all swept away. And you may also remember that our economic activities here is farming so we are back to square one.
I have already sent $250 to help, but as I am a pensioner now, I am limited in what I am able to contribute. I would appreciate help from some of my LEN followers. You can make a donation by clicking on the Donation icon on the Home Page. If you would like me to acknowledge your donation on this website please let me know. Also, if you would like to become a regular supporter of KHC that would be appreciated. We have a number of projects that need funding. A printer to produce training materials in Swahili is first on the list. Charles would like to print off the ICCC Transformed Working Life series for the leaders. Also, I have previously requested support to purchase a computer for Charles and then for some of the other leaders so they can access training videos from Christian organisations like CMI and others that support Home Church Groups. I will also be able to hold regular Zoom meetings with Charles and the other KHC leaders.
