The Power Of Covenant

The Power Of Covenant

1- Difference between Saul and David.

2 Samuel 3:1 NKJV

"Now there was a war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker"

The difference between Saul and David is that David not only had a covenant with God but he walked in it. An example of this is when God says go into the land I am giving you, and destroy all the enemy ( not just some ) David did this, Saul did not, and by leaving women and children live meant that God’s people interacted with them and their Pagan practices contaminated them. There is always a good reason why God says what He says.

2- The New Covenant in Christ.

“And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

There is a New Covenant with God through Christ but you have to enter in a Covenant with God for Him to keep his Covenant with you. This is the problem with the Church today, many Pastors are not in a covenant with God and therefore obviously neither will the congregation be.

Remember:

God is a covenant making God

God is a covenant keeping God

God is a covenant requiring God

3- The mark of the New Covenant

“but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭2:29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We no longer need an outward sign of being in a covenant with God as in the old testament (Circumcision,) as when we are truly born again we receive a circumcision of the heart. We are a new creation with a new mindset, we have been changed from inside out as only God can do. Our new way of life, kindness, peace, Joy etc are seen by all and this shows outwardly that we have been changed.

If you are in covenant with God you will walk right with Him.

4- Danger of going back to the old way.

Hebrews 8: 7 NKJV

" For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second".

Galatians 3:1 NKJV

" O foolish Galatians! Who has be witched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyed Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified".

Paul was addressing the Christians at Galatia that have accepted the new covenant but had chosen to go back to the law, the Old Covenant, initially we think how could they do this? but we need to keep a check on ourselves as we can easily fall into this same condemnation. Trying to please God by our "works,” forgetting that our salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross, not by our performance in the world, takes us back.

5- The New Covenant is built on unshakable things.

Hebrews 12: 26-27 NKJV

"Whose voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, saying, yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven . Now this, " yet once more ", indicates the removal of things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain".

Judgement begins with the house of God. This indicates the removal of things that are being shaken in these last days.

What will remain are the things that can not be shaken, that is things built according to the kingdom will remain.

You can not build 50 % in Babylon and 50 % in kingdom and expect to keep it. Ask yourself, Am I building Kingdom? If not, remember it may work for a short time but that is all.

The Priesthood order of the New Covenant

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

‭‭I Peter‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We need to look at the scriptures with the eyes of the fact that we are now "Priests" and we want to see the qualities of Priests.

In Christ we are now a Royal Priesthood

1- Live a cheerful life.

“Live a cheerful life, without complaining or division among yourselves. For then you will be seen as innocent, faultless, and pure children of God, even though you live in the midst of a brutal and perverse culture. For you will appear among them as shining lights in the universe, holding out the words of eternal life. I haven’t labored among you for nothing, for your lives are the fruit of my ministry and will be my glorious boast at the unveiling of Christ! But I will rejoice even if my life is poured out like a liquid offering to God over your sacrificial and surrendered lives of faith. And so no matter what happens to me, you should rejoice in ecstatic celebration with me!”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:14-18‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Live a cheerful life without complaining or division amongst ourselves. We are different from the world, and if we want to attract them to get to know the Lord this has to show in our lives.

If we will stop complaining and focus in the blessings given, we will be rejoicing for sure.

Some assume that a requirement of being Holy is being serious, no jokes or fun, this could not be further from the truth and is another lie from the enemy. Why? Because the Joy of the Lord is our strength.

Everything that is happening around us, the perversion, suffering and darkness could absolutely take the joy of our hearts but our joy is not dependent of our circumstances but on the Lord, in what He did on the cross and how constantly He delivers us from all evil.

2- Rejoice in the Lord always

Philippians 3:1-3 TPT

“My beloved ones, don’t ever limit your joy or fail to rejoice in the wonderful experience of knowing our Lord Jesus! I don’t mind repeating what I’ve already written you because it protects you— beware of those religious hypocrites who teach that you should be circumcised to please God. For we have already experienced “heart-circumcision,” and we worship God in the power and freedom of the Holy Spirit, not in laws and religious duties. We are those who boast in what Jesus Christ has done, and not in what we can accomplish in our own strength.”

Can we limit the joy of the Lord? Can we stop being joyful? Yes! According to this passage in Philippians 3 we can, but we shouldn’t, why? The Joy of the Lord protects us, it safeguards us against the religious spirit. People who are religious and legalistic have no joy and they don’t want anyone else to have it.

Our Joy should be overwhelming, unstoppable , above circumstances and the opinions of man.

Do not let any one stop you from worshipping the Lord with all your strength, love and passion, He is our first love. He must be first and everything else second.

3- There’s only one standard

Philippians 3:17-21 TPT

“My beloved friends, imitate my walk with God and follow all those who walk according to the way of life we modeled before you. For there are many who live by different standards. As I’ve warned you many times (I weep as I write these words), they are enemies of the cross of the Anointed One and doom awaits them. Their god has possessed them and made them mute. Their boast is in their shameful lifestyles and their minds are in the dirt. But we are a colony of heaven on earth as we cling tightly to our life-giver, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our humble bodies and transfigure us into the identical likeness of his glorified body. And using his matchless power, he continually subdues everything to himself.”

There are many who live by "different standards", but there is only one standard, The kingdom one. Paul lived 100% for God and he said, “imitate me.”

Some will tell you, you are a bit over the top, or too zealous or you have high standards or you are too nice or you are a fanatic, etc. Keep loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. This is the only way to live for Christ, and do it with a smile.

Tithe Message

2 Corinthians 9-8

Check this scripture out, and remember everything we receive from God is by Grace- our job is just to move in faith and trust him. Some Christians feel they should remain struggling financially as it glorifies the Father, it does not!

He wants us to be blessed in every area of our lives including finances so we can be a blessing to others.

The Grace of giving enables the Grace of receiving.

Pastors Steve Maile & Karina Maile

The Favour of God & Jesus Our Amazing High Priest

The Favour of God

By Ps Steve Maile

Not a lot can happens if the favour of God is not on your life but it’s easy when His favour is on you. One think we must never forget is that God doesn’t want to withhold His favour from you, and this favour is not just for you, it can touch others through you.

Main verse:

Acts 2:40-47 NKJV

And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptised; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

1- The first step to enter into God’s favour is of course to be saved by believing in the Lord Jesus and following Him. In the passage above we see that the early believers were in unity and under Apostolic leadership. They were taught doctrine and they were in fellowship (having communion and praying together). Also they were givers and live in simplicity of heart. Their focus was in the Great Commission.

2- Notice in verse 47 of Acts 2, the believers maintain an attitude of praise. So we see then that Favour is about receptivity, a bad attitude will repels favour but a praising heart will attract favour.

3- Favour and anointing are connected. As we saw in the life of Jesus.

Luke 2:52

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.”

4- Favour comes out of our fellowship with the Lord and brother and sisters in Christ who live and abide in the fear of God. Favour and the fear of God causes people to live differently (Acts 2:43)

5- Favour is an apostolic grace of God. The pattern for the Church is that every believer must be under apostolic anointing. This is God’s design, if we alter God’s design then it will be no favour.

6- Favour is irresistible. See the Scriptures below:

Proverbs 12:2 A good man obtains favour from the Lord, But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.

Proverbs 14:9 Fools mock at sin, But among the upright there is favour.

Proverbs 14:35 The king’s favour is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

7- Favour is for life.

Psalm 30:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

Jesus our amazing High Priest

By Ps Karina Maile

1- First mention of Melchizedek in the Old Testament.

Hebrews 7:1-4 NKJV

“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.”

In Genesis a High Priest called Melchizedek came to Abraham, and even though this occurred 470 years before the “Law,”Abraham was moved to give 10% (tithe) of the spoils to Him.

Melchizedek wasn’t just any ordinary High Priest, He was an epiphany of Christ. As verse 3 says: “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.”

When you are touched by the Lord you will automatically want to give. If you are not giving you are being covetous and selfish.

2- The need of a new priesthood.

Hebrews 7:11- 24 NKJV

11 “Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” 18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. 20And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’ ”), 22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. “

The Priesthood order of Aaron from the Levi tribe needed to change because it was ineffective as verse 9 tells us: “for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. “

Jesus has become the surety of a better covenant as He didn’t come through the line of Levi. But of the order of Melchizedek.

God gave us a glimpse of the things to come through Melchizadek. The law could only show right from wrong but can’t not change the sinner, in contrast Christ not only diagnoses sin but He can wipe it away. Jesus makes a sinner holy. Hallelujah see the Scripture bellow.

Hebrews 10:11-14

11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honour at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

3- The qualities of the perfected priesthood.

Hebrews 7:26-28

26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.”

No need to be afraid of God, there is nothing bad in Him, He is Holy, harmless and undefined. He is separate from sinners. When we give our lives to Him, He makes us just like Him, holy, harmless and undefined and separate from sinners.

4- The duties of the High Priest.

Hebrews 7:2 “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

Hebrews 8:3-5 NKJV

“For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

Intercession and offering up sacrifices in behalf of people (mediator) were the duties of a priest.

As priests we have the same duties, Intercession for others and offering up sacrifices of praise, our very life is a living sacrifice in what we do, think or say.

5- Our response:

Hebrews 10:18-25 NLT 18

“And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. 19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

• Go into His presence fully trusting Him.

We are now priests, a Royal priesthood from the same line of the King of Righteousness that can experience real joy, real peace and the real presence of God all because of Jesus’ sacrifice.

• hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

• motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

• not neglect our meeting together, don’t miss church.

• To do God’s will (read the Scripture bellow)

Hebrews 10:8-10 NLT First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

When Jesus said “I have come to do Your will,” He was declaring the Lordship of God.

The Bible says in Romans‬ ‭10:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” We must make Jesus the Lord of your life, but many Christian haven’t made Jesus Lord in all areas of their lives. Maybe 80% or 90% but not 100%. Even 99.9% is not enough.

‭Our lives should be the perfect sacrifice. The process of sanctification is to be made like Jesus.

What areas have we not bowed down to the Lordship of Jesus? Who are we listening to?

If He really is your Lord and Master, everything He tells you, you will believe it. We are who He says we are, but if you listen and obey the lies of the enemy such as depression or rejection or inferiority or fear of man Jesus is not your Lord.

Listen to the voice of the High Priest Jesus and break the lies of the enemy over your life. For example Study Psalm 139 and the book of Ephesians and discover how much God loves you, cares for you and how much He has given you in Christ.

God made us for fellowship. He

longs to fellowship with you don’t take the privilege of communion with Him lightly. Go on and lift up your life to Him as a love sacrifice.

The Church Rising Up (Part 2)

1- We are in a fight, each and everyone must do their part.

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:10-11 TPT

“Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force (weapons) of his explosive power flowing in and through you. Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser!

‬‬

• The Bible is not for a private interpretation but it is written to a group of people. Most of the letters was addressed to local Church, Ephesus, Philippians, or leaders of local Churches, such as Timothy or Titus.

• The Old Testament was written to the people of Israel and the New Testament to every believer that is born again, called the Church.

• The universal or global Church must have a local expression and those individuals must come together in unity and stay in unity working together and fighting battles together. No believer is called to be independent and do his own thing. Many today say they are part of the global Church but don’t belong to a specific local expression of Church, this kind of isolation will get them into trouble. 

• The Church is to equip, train, coach believers to engage in the battle of bringing God’s kingdom to earth and rescue lost souls.

‭

2- We have been given powerful weapons for us to use.

‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭10:3-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

God’s Arsenal:

-The Name of Jesus

-The blood of Jesus

-The Word of God

-Praise and Worship

-Spirit language

3 gates to keep guard

-Eye gate

-Ear gate

-Mouth gate

• Watch carefully and stay alert what you allow to come in and out those gates. 

• If you don’t push from where you are to where you want to be with Jesus you will settle for 2nd, 3rd, 4th best.

Many have a relationship with Jesus but they have given up fighting and winning every time and they say: “oh well, you win some and you loose some.” This is not what the Bible says.

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”

‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭2:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭15:57‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

3- The Weapon of Praise

• Sounds are important. In a Winning team there will be shouts, jumps, dances, lots of joyous noises. But the Loosing team will go silent or will complain and curse. 

• Praise was established before the world began. God doesn’t loose power if people don’t worship Him but we do.

• Praise is the higher level of faith

Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

‭‭

You can sound things that are not as if they were.

For example, if you begin to give praise in the middle of a time you feel you are loosing and sing the way you will sound as if you already won, then the Victory will be yours. 

• Praise is a force field around your lives that cause you to be invincible to defeat, you are victorious regardless what is going on around you.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:21‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold [to separate the impurities of the metal], And each is tested by the praise given to him [and his response to it, whether humble or proud].”

What do you boast in? What do you praise in hard times?

Feelings make you say things that are wrong, you cannot base yourself on your feelings, but who you are and your position.

The devil knows if he can get you to sound the problem, he’ll keep you in the problem. LOOP

The way you sound will affect your position.

You must get in the realm of heaven where there is no pain, no tears, no suffering, no stress, no anxiety or depression

Luke‬ ‭6:43-44 TPT

““You’ll never find choice fruit hanging on a bad, unhealthy tree. And rotten fruit doesn’t hang on a good, healthy tree. Every tree will be revealed by the quality of fruit that it produces. You will never pick figs or grapes from thorn trees. People are known in this same way. Out of the virtue stored in their hearts, good and upright people will produce good fruit. Likewise, out of the evil hidden in their hearts, evil ones will produce what is evil. For the overflow of what has been stored in your heart will be seen by your fruit and will be heard in your words.”

• Opposite Sounds cancels victory, it’s like Writing a cheque and then tearing it up.

Stay in the loop of Victory. 

4- We fight from a high position 

Ephesians 2:4-7 NKJV

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 

• We have been given through the Blood of Jesus a License to fly in high places. We sit in high places with Jesus. 

Praise is for every believer not just for those who know how to sing or play an instrument.

“But You are holy, O You who are enthroned in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered].”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22:3‬ ‭AMP‬‬

‭‭I Peter‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

Planes don’t break gravity but they operate in a higher level, in the law of lift.

Lift is initiated by propulsion, cruse power will not lift up a plane.

A kite will not fly high unless the person runs and pushes it higher.

• It is not consider praise unless you do it in the maximum energy

There is No difference between praise and worship

Praise is the sound of victory

Worship is the sound of submission

Praise and Worship is not something you do but who you are. 

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.””

‭‭John‬ ‭4:23-24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Psalms‬ ‭104:33-35‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“I will sing my song to the Lord as long as I live! Every day I will sing my praises to God. May you be pleased with every sweet thought I have about you, for you are the source of my joy and gladness. Now, let all the sinners be swept from the earth. But I will keep on praising you, my Lord, with all that is within me. My joyous, blissful shouts of “Hallelujah” are all because of you!”

‭‭

Karina Maile 

The Church Rising Up

1- the Origin of Satan:

Ezekiel 28:11-17 NKJV

11 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God:“You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. 16 “By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. 17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you.

Isaiah 14:12-15 NKJV

12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.”

2- Since the fall of Satan this is what he has been doing:

A- Blinding minds.

2 Corinthians 4:4

“whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

B- Stealing, killing and destroying.

John 10:10

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may hav e it more abundantly.”

C- Taking people captive

2 Timothy 2:26 NKJV

“and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

D- Bringing oppression.

Acts 10:38 NKJV

“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

E- Devouring.

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

F- Deceiving

Revelation 12:7-9 NKJV

“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

3-The Body of Christ must fight against Satan and his highly organised organisation.

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Colossians 2:15 NKJV

“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NKJV

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

4- Authority given to the Church to rise up and fight.

A- Here we see a clear example of delegated authority. Jesus sending the 70 disciples to preach the Gospel and as they came back rejoicing this is what Jesus told them. Bear in mind Jesus hadn’t died yet or resurrected and the Holy Spirit had not been outpoured on them. We are now living in the time after that so How much more authority do we have? So much more.

“Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:17-20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

B- Before ascending to heaven Jesus is sending us just like He sent the 70 and this is the command to us:

Mark‬ ‭16:15-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.””

‭‭

C- Jesus gives us the key to do spiritual warfare and deliverance. Bind the strong man before trying to cast out demons. Anxiety is an unclean spirit but it could not be the strong demonic force in charge. It could be fear or laziness or witchcraft or generational curse, etc. The Holy Spirit will reveal it as you seek freedom. Ask Him to show you.

Matthew‬ ‭12:29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.”

‭‭

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:18-20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

““Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

5- How to do spiritual warfare cooperate and personal.

Spiritual warfare as a Church (cooperate anointing):

-Remember the analogy of the terrorist illegal immigrants. (Demons)

1. They are illegally here. (Jesus defeated them on the cross and left the job to His Church to kick them out)

2. The government must do something about it. (We the Church must rise up and pray)

3. Exercise authority, special forces to get them out. (Led by the Spirit we must do it corporately in prayer meetings and fastings)

4. They will try to resist arrest but they must obey.

5. Order them to never return.

6. They may try to come back but just say no. don’t even open the door.

7. Rejoice your house is completely free and full of the Holy Spirit.

Personal spiritual warfare:

• Same steps as above but you need to take authority over your own live, deliverance can be done by spiritual leaders but you must learn to bind and cast out demons or just simply resist them.

Why resist?

James‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

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• It doesn’t say defeat them but resist them, why? Because they already been defeated.

Additional notes:

• See bellow the following verses that talk about the work of the cross that defeated the enemy and the access Christ gave us to the very throne of God, at His throne we can make our requests.

“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:51-54‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“At that moment the veil in the Holy of Holies was torn in two from the top to the bottom.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭15:38‬ ‭TPT‬‬

(Very think and heavy curtains nearly 60 feet tall)

“And now we are brothers and sisters in God’s family because of the blood of Jesus, and he welcomes us to come into the most holy sanctuary in the heavenly realm—boldly and without hesitation. For he has dedicated a new, life-giving way for us to approach God. For just as the veil was torn in two, Jesus’ body was torn open to give us free and fresh access to him! And since we now have a magnificent High Priest to welcome us into God’s house, we come closer to God and approach him with an open heart, fully convinced that nothing will keep us at a distance from him. For our hearts have been sprinkled with blood to remove impurity, and we have been freed from an accusing conscience. Now we are clean, unstained, and presentable to God inside and out! So now wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises!”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:19-23‬ ‭TPT‬‬

• His Judgements are true and just, and His righteous judgement required us to be cast out to hell for our sin but His amazing Mercy has triumphed through our Lord Jesus Christ

“Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James‬ ‭2:13‬b ‭NKJV‬‬

• Jesus is now our Mercy seat and our High Priest.

“Mercy kisses all who fear him, from one generation to the next.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:50‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“Justice made Hell my destiny, but mercy made Heaven my home.” Ray Comfort

Renewed Mind

Renewed mind 

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” 

Romans 12:1-2 NKJV 

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognise what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” 

Romans 12:1-2 MSG 

A- The mind is a very powerful instrument. 

The average person can have over 10,000 thoughts in a day, and when we can’t sleep the mind goes on overdrive. This is why we must be careful what we take in as our minds have a photographic memory, especially when people meditate on lustful things, such as pornography, this is so evil.  

Those images get down to our subconscious files and we begin to meditate on wrong things, and worse, those images come out in dreams and nightmares. 

Every person who is not born again will have a negative mind because they are under the world’s dominion and are influenced by the media, his desires are not for Christ but to please the world. Yet “Stinking thinking” is not just what the unsaved has, the believer can have it too if he/she is not careful.  

The mind is a very important instrument, and we must train it to think like the Lord does by renewing it with the Word of God. Value His Word, spend time memorising it.  

B- Be very careful with what you say and be careful in what you meditate.  

It has been proven that a lot of sickness is psychosomatic, it starts in the mind and as you believe it, it develops.  

One of the thoughts that are very damaging is the “P.L.O.M. disease,” Poor little old me. Thinking you are a victim will get you nowhere, if you are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, you are a Victor! By renewing your mind, you will begin to live like one.  

Wrong thinking can set in very quickly, and it can lead to death, see what James 1:14 and Romans 8:6 says: 

James 1:14-15 NKJV 

“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” 

Romans 8:6 NKJV  

“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” 

C- Renewing the mind is a process. 

Renewing the mind takes time, it doesn’t happen overnight, you must be diligently and consistently applying God’s Word. Reading a verse here and there during the week or taking note of the passages read in Church on Sunday is not enough to give you a renewed mind. You must invest time, effort, and prayer. This is something you need to do, and no one else can do it for you.  

Why must we get into the Word of God? 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” 

John 1:1-5 NKJV 

Because Jesus is the Word and only Him can bring life and words of life to us.  

A renewed mind is very powerful because the words we say are an overflow of our thinking. See what Proverbs 18:21 NKJV tells us: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” 

D- Things that the renewed mind in Christ thinks. 

Read the following passages to discover what we must think upon: 

Philippians 4:8 NKJV 

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” 

Colossians 3:1-10 NKJV 

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 

E- Going into maturity 

One of the thinking patterns we must renew is the thinking that we are weak and insignificant. We were saved by Christ to live righteously, and He has assigned things to do for us. We are not called to live just reformed lives, a few changes here and there, but a transformed one. A transformation done by the renewing of the mind. This can only be done by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit when we fully surrender to Him. Yes, it is true that we are saved by grace, it’s a gift of God, not of our own doing; but after we receive salvation, there is a grace given to us to labour, Paul says it like this:  

1 Corinthians 15:10 NKJV “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 

The grace given is not for us to sit down and not do anything, it’s a grace to work in the harvest bringing people to Christ. The Lord Jesus taught us in Matthew 9 to pray to the Lord to send labourers, we are those labourers. Never try to do it in your own strength because you had a good idea. Make sure you are listening to the Lord and maintain a close intimacy with the Spirit of the Lord through prayer.  

Matthew 9:38 NKJV 

“Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.” 

Lastly, be ready for His coming! Jesus will come soon and take those who are ready, but if you are almost ready you will be left behind. At the time of harvest, a farmer only collects the fruit that is ready. Are you ready? Begin by changing your thought patterns today, and plunge into God’s Word. 

Prayer: 

Lord, 

Forgive me for wasting time and not being diligent renewing my mind, I repent of all the wrong thoughts and outside influences I have allowed to get into me giving me wrong thinking. Holy Spirit cleanse me and as I plunge into your Word breathe life into me in Jesus Name. I surrender my heart, mind, and soul to you, use me for your glory and use me to bring people to you. 

In Jesus Name, 

Amen 

More Scriptures to meditate: 

Read Romans 4:16-25, Romans 5:9-11 and Romans 8:15-21 the Message translation. 

Karina Maile  

God is doing a New Thing

God is doing a New Thing

Isaiah‬ ‭43:18-19‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past. Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.”

In order to come into the New, we must forget the old and not even consider it. Many times memories of the past want to come to our minds, but when it does the Holy Spirit can help us to reject those thoughts.

Yesterday is gone and it’s nothing we can do about it.

In the verse above says that God is going to do a New Thing, and we must be ready for it and be part of it because the Lord always does good things, He does marvellous things.

The verse also says, that the New is going to “spring forth,” which is something suddenly and immediately. The New will come into your life without you realising.

When we refer to the “New,” we are not saying new things in the material area, but new in the realm of the Spirit, the newness of life from the Spirit of God.

Here are some New Things we can receive from the Lord according to these verses.

1- Compassion and Faithfulness

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:22-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

2- New Wine

“Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

3- New Covenant

“For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26:28-29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

4- New Covenant

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

‭‭John‬ ‭13:34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

5- New Start

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

6- New Life

“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

7- New Man

“and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

8- New Name

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

9- New Song

“And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

10- New Heaven and Earth

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Keys that will position you to receive the New things from God in your life

• Forget the former things and don’t even consider them. When you begin to rehearse the past, you forfeit your future and you don’t let the Holy Spirit do the New thing He has for you.

• Praise the Lord in every circumstance

• Pray without ceasing

• In everything give thanks.

‭‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭10:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”

Be expectant of the New! Keep your relationship with the Lord fresh and stay in that first love. Praise Him all the way.

Pastors Steve Maile & Karina Maile

How to activate the gift or grace of God in you.

 How to activate the gift or grace of God in you. 

By Pastors Steve and Karina Maile

1- Our main passage will be from 1 Corinthians 12

A- ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.”

• When you are not born again filled with the Spirit of God you have idols in your life, this nullifies the grace of God in you, because God cannot share his heart with an idol. Christ must be number one! So make sure every idol has been put away.

B- ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”

• Until Jesus is Lord you are not saved.

C- ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12:4-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.”

• The same Holy Spirit distributes many different varieties of gifts to the believers, and He is the one who apportions to believers different varieties of ministries. The 5 main apostolic ministries given to the Church are: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. The Apostolic ministry have been given to activate certain graces in us. See what Romans‬ ‭1:11‬ ‭says, “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established.” Also see Ephesians 4:11-12, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” They are servants that equip the saints to serve.

‭‭D- I Corinthians‬ ‭12:27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”

• First of all you must be in the Body of Christ, the Church. Christians that don’t belong to a local Church are outside God’s will. Unfortunately many believers and even some believers who are doing evangelism are not in Church today, they need to be under authority planted in a local Church being under authority. There can’t be authority in you unless you are under authority.

E- ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12:28‬ NKJV‬‬

“And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles…

• The fact that Apostles are first doesn’t make them any greater, but God uses the Apostle to lay foundations, impart gifts, stir up and activate the graces that are in you so you can operate in the ministry. Every believer has been called, appointed and anointed for the ministry. Apostle also includes Apostolic couples such as we find in the Bible, Aquila and Priscilla. (“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,” Romans‬ ‭16:3‬) notice here in this verse, Priscilla is mentioned first.

• It is wrong to say, “my ministry,” because it’s our ministry given by God to us all. Or to say, “my gift,” the gift has been given by God for service and we are to steward all God has given us. We cannot exalt people, they are just servants.

F- ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12:6-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:”

• the Apostolic ministry will equip you. Equip means: Encourage Qualities Undeveloped In People. So many Christians are seating on precious gifts that have not been activated. They are dormant gifts.

2- Let’s mention some gifts that some believers have not activate yet:

1- According to ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We have received the ministry of reconciliation, the sharing of the Gospel to others. Many have not activated this great grace.

‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

2- According to ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12:8-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Various gifts that can be activated:

the word of wisdom

the word of knowledge

faith

gifts of healings

the working of miracles,

prophecy,

discerning of spirits,

different kinds of tongues,

interpretation of tongues.”

‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12:8-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”

3- According to Deuteronomy‬ ‭8:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The gift of wealth needs to be activated as well, by working to earn finances and giving.

Deuteronomy‬ ‭8:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”

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4- According to Ephesians‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Spiritual authority is a gift and needs to be activated in spiritual warfare through prayer. Attending the Prayer meetings will help you activate it and of course having your personal prayer time.

Ephesians‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

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3- Important:

Attending church occasionally will not activate your gift. But you must be actively involved, see what II Timothy‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ says, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” Timothy received an impartation by apostolic laying of on hands.

If you really understood the richest of glory imparted to you by Christ, you could never seat in Church still. You would not excuse your shy personality but you will be bold in Christ. Many have accepted psychology more than what God’s Word says who you are. Many personalities are frozen and need to be freed by the Holy Spirit. We need to renew our mind and begin to think like God wants us to think.

Ways to activate the gift in you

1- Take responsibility and play your part. Step out by faith.

2- Get under a good Apostolic ministry.

3- Let the zeal of God consume you.

John‬ ‭2:15-17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.””

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The time is short, Christ is coming back soon, activate the gift given to you by serving and get busy serving God and serving others.

Karina Maile

Why is Christ coming back again

Why is Christ coming back again

We find in the Bible that Christ will come back to earth a second time, this time He won’t come back as a baby in a manger but as a mighty warrior King descending in the clouds of Heaven. His beloved Church is waiting for that great event with much anticipation and it is very important to learn about His coming, stay alert, and get ourselves ready as Christ is coming back very soon.

Acts 1:9-11 NKJV

Jesus Ascends to Heaven

“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.””

Here is a parable Jesus taught His disciples about His return:

Matthew 25:1-13 NKJV

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

1“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

As we see in this parable above, half of those virgins were left behind. Christians who are weak in the faith and are not getting serious following Christ and doing what He told us to do, will be left behind. They will have to go through the tribulation. Without fear we must press in into the Kingdom of God and not only fight the good fight of faith for ourselves but also for our loved ones and reach out to those who are not yet saved.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 NKJV

The Day of the Lord

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.”

Matthew‬ ‭24:21-22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.”

‭‭

Here are five reasons why Christ will return:

1- To gather the elect “parousia,” raising the dead in Christ.

Matthew 24:31 NKJV

“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 NKJV

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

2- To glorify believers.

Colossians 3:4 NKJV

“When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

3- To bring Judgement to the ungodly.

2 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.”

Matthew 25:32-46 NKJV

“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

4- To destroy death.

1 Corinthians 15:25-26 NKJV

“For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.”

5- To reward each one.

Matthew 16:27 NKJV

“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”

While we wait for the coming of the Lord, we have a job to do and we must all take responsibility and play our part. In Malachi says that God will send the prophet Elijah to prepare the way before the great and dreadful day. Elijah is not just one man but each member of the Body of Christ, we must all warn the unbeliever about the coming of Jesus.

Malachi‬ ‭4:5-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

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You are the light of the world, remove the basket from yourself and show that light to everyone around you. That light is Christ.

Matthew‬ ‭5:14-16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Pastors Steve Maile & Karina Maile

The return of Jesus Christ

The return of Jesus Christ

By Pastor Steve Maile

Before the return of Christ every person in the whole world will have the opportunity to repent. No-one will go to hell because God sent them there, nor they will get there by mistake. Each one has to make the decision to follow Christ. In His infinite love God has left the decision to follow Him to us, as we read in Romans 10:9 NKJV, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” See what it says, if you confess and believe you are saved, but if you don’t you won’t be saved.

I Thessalonians 5:9 NKJV

“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

1- Four things that will happen in the Church before the Lord’s return.

A- Persecution

Matthew 24:9 NKJV

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.”

B- Apostasy

II Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,”

C- The Gospel must be preached.

Matthew 24:14 NKJV

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Many only preach half of the Gospel, but thank God we have the full Gospel.

D- Judgement at the House of God

1 Peter 4:17 NKJV

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

The Judgement in the House of God has already began, and let’s not forget that the second coming of Christ is all about judgement. The first coming was to bring redemption to mankind, the second coming is to give to those who have rejected salvation, exactly what they want, a Christ-less eternity, which means they chose hell and punishment together with the devil and his demons.

Psalms 96:13 NKJV

“For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.”

The second coming of Christ is going to be public, every eye will see it. As we are told in Revelation 1:7 NKJV, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”

2- Christ taking His bride with Him

But before Christ comes back to execute judgement, He would have taken up with Him His people. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NKJV “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

This is what we call the rapture. Many believe that this will happen before the seven years of tribulation mentioned in Revelation, others believe it could happen in the middle of the tribulation, yet others believe it will happen at the end of the seven years. Let’s look at these two Scriptures and see what the Lord is saying to us:

II Peter 2:4-9 NKJV

“For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,”

Matthew 24:37-42 NLT

““When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realise what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.”

The judgement to Sodom and Gomorrah and the earth at the time of Noah happened but Noah and Lot and their families were saved, except we know what happened to Lot’s wife when she disobeyed the command of the angel to not look back. (Genesis 19:26) The Lord looks after His own.

3- Get busy sharing the Gospel

The Second Coming of Jesus should excite every believer, it should excite them to the point of preaching the Gospel to everyone. The sharing of the Gospel is the duty of every believer not just for the few. We must get busy doing the works of righteousness, which is leading others to Christ in every way we can. These works of righteousness is the white linen in which we will be dressed in for the Marriage of the Lamb. See Revelation 19:8 NKJV, “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

In Matthew 24:3-44 and Luke 17 Jesus Himself teaches about His second coming, you need to read these passages and understand the things that will take place before Christ comes back again to execute judgement to all the earth and no-one who was left behind will be able to escape it. Every single prophesy about the Messiah in the Old Testament has been fulfilled in the person of Jesus, over 400 prophesies, except the ones about His second coming. Conservatively, Jesus fulfilled at least 300 prophecies in His earthly ministry. We are right now living in the time where prophecies of the End time are being fulfilled, there is not much time left.

II Peter 3:10-14 NKJV

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless”

Staying true to the call of God

‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭1:9‬ NKJV “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,”

Ephesians‬ ‭4:1‬ NKJV “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,”

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As we grow in our faith in Christ is important to know that we will encounter difficulties on our way and even increased hostility from our enemy, Satan. What we must keep in mind is that we have been called by God and He has a purpose for us as we read in 2 Timothy 1:9, He saved us and paid such a great price for us, He saved us to set us free and to be His ambassadors bring others to christ. The enemy will do anything to stop people coming to Christ, and if he cannot stop them growing and following the call of God in their lives. Unfortunately Satan is succeeding at bringing many to that place of stunted growth and even giving up the call. He doesn’t want to necessarily kill the militant Christians and make a hero of them, but his strategy is to make them deserters and bring shame to the Kingdom of God. Imagine whole regiments of professed believers being too timid to fight and too smug to be ashamed, surely this is what Satan wants.

‭‭Have a look at these Scriptures below

II Peter‬ ‭1:10-11‬ ‭NKJV “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Matthew‬ ‭22:14‬ NKJV‭ “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Same verse in the Passion Translation says,

“For everyone is invited to enter in, but few respond in excellence.”

The Footnotes of the Passion says, “Many are called.” This can be understood to be a Semitic figure of speech that universalises the invitation. The Greek word ‘eklektoi’ can mean “chosen,” but it can also be translated “worthy,” “pure,” “choice,” “excellent.” Here we have it, many are invited but many are not worthy because they don’t follow that call to the end.

Satan hates Christians for many reasons:

A. God loves us, and whatever God loves the devil hates.

B. As children of God we bear the Father’s resemblance and we remind him of God.

C. We were former slaves under the dominion of darkness and now we have come out of it.

D. As militant Christians we are a threat to Satan’s government. May we clarify that a Christian must always be militant, which means engaging in spiritual battle against the enemy. A Christian who doesn’t engage fight is not a true Christian, he/ she is still a prisoner of the enemy. We have been freed to advance the government of Christ. In Ephesians chapter 6 we see that we have been given an armour and it’s not just look good but to use it in battle.

E. As born again believers we have full access to the very Throne of Grace where the Father dwells and this makes him mad because he doesn’t know from what direction the danger will come to his dominion.

Bellow are Scriptures regarding spiritual warfare. One is an exhortation of Paul to Timothy to fight and the other one is of Paul at the end of his days telling Timothy of his battle and the it’s outcome

‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭6:12‬ NKJV “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭4:7-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Many today are being disqualified from the call because of false teachings or inadequate teachings, many pastors and leaders are happy to let the people stay dependent of their anointing instead of training them to rise up in the call of God and grow in faith, we are not saying that growing in maturity means you’ve got to leave your Church and be off on your own around the world, this is not maturity but stupidity. On your own you will not survive. But just imagine a regiment of militant Christians united in battle, taking ground and rescuing people from darkness while advancing the Kingdom of God. Surely if Christ is for us, nothing can stop us, no matter what the threats of the enemy are. They are only threat to makes us afraid and retrieve, Christ won the battle, He defeated the enemy and He will come back triumphantly for us, will you stay strong in the battle? Will you stay faithful to the call of God in your life?

‭Matthew 6:33 NKJV “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Romans‬ ‭8:31-39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Colossians 2:15 AMP “When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross.”

Don’t let distractions, fear, discouragement or offences stop you fulfilling the purpose of God in your life, rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit repent and let’s fight together and cast out the work of darkness in our lives, family, neighbourhood and nation in Jesus Name.

Pastors Steve Maile & Karina Maile

Avoiding extremes by walking in the Spirit.

The work of the Holy Spirit on a human heart is not an unconscious or automatic thing. The human will and intellect must yield to cooperate with the will of God.

The human nature tends to go to extremes, when find fault in one thing then turn to another but tend to go to the extreme.

Proverbs 11:1

“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.”

Here are some errors some well meaning Christians get into:

A- They work hard trying to make themselves more holy and mature in the faith, something that is impossible to do or,

B- They are passive, not doing any work at all thinking they are waiting on the Lord.

John‬ ‭14:26‬ ‭

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

The person of the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus to be our helper and teacher, and the relationship we have with Him is a two way response. He works in us and with us and at the same time we need to cooperate and work with Him.

His work on our lives depends on our moral responses.

Galatians‬ ‭5:16-21‬ ‭

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

“The true Christian is a saint in embryo” A. W. Tozer

We have the heavenly genes and the Holy Spirit works in us and with us to bring us to maturity, yet we still have a mortal body who is subject to weakness and temptations and the spiritual warfare against that flesh may lead us to extremes. Many times in our efforts to be right we go wrong. Here are a few examples of this:

A- In our effort to be bold we could become brazen.

Remember that courage must always be entwined with love and meekness.

Micah‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”

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B- In our efforts to be frank and honest we could become rude.

Ephesians‬ ‭4:15‬ ‭

“but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—”

‭‭I Peter‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭

“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.””

C- in our effort to be Watchful we could become suspicious.

A suspicious Christian will develop a spirit of hostility to everyone who disagrees.

‭‭I Peter‬ ‭4:7-8‬

“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.””

Ephesians‬ ‭6:18‬ ‭

‭‭ “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”

D- In our effort to be serious we could become somber.

Gloominess is a defect of character not godliness.

Philippians‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

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E- In our effort to be conscientious we could become over scrupulous, doubtful, we hesitate and become fearful.

We don’t have to decide what to do, Find out what the Lord has purposed for you to do.

We have been called to a relationship with God Almighty, not to walk in a perfect way but to draw closer to Him and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and be conformed to the likeness of Christ.

The motivation of our holiness and righteousness is the anticipation of the coming of our Lord Jesus and to become like Him.

Titus‬ ‭2:11-14‬ ‭

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

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It is very important to develop a relationship with the Holy Spirit and receive God’s written Word. It will be impossible to try to be a good Christian without the help of the Holy Spirit, He doesn’t only come alongside us to help us, He also lives inside of us. Be filled with the Holy Spirit is not a suggestion for you to take it or leave it but an essential necessity. You must consent to the will of the Father and receive the Holy Spirit. Don’t listen to the false teachers that say you don’t have to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit or that you need to wait for it, receive Him now. The first disciples had to wait as told by Jesus but after the Holy Spirit came to them, the waiting is over, you can receive Him right now. Repent of your sins, confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and receive the Holy Spirit. Then walk with Him.

Ephesians‬ ‭5:17-18‬ ‭

“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit”

‭‭ Galatians‬ ‭5:16

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

Pastor Steve Maile & Karina Maile

Overcoming fears

Overcoming fears

Pastor Steve Maile

2 Timothy 1:7

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

1- Fear is the public enemy number one.

Too many Christians live with fear, irrational fears and psychological phobias which they tolerate and accept. The worse part is many Christians deny the fears in their lives, God’s will for us is to be free. Everything Satan does is built on fear, he controls people through fear and uses music, media, world religion and many others things to sow seeds of fear. The devil’s job description is to steal, kill, and destroy, and Fear is an open door for him to come in. Fear of getting married, fear of dying, fear of being alone, fear of death, fear of eating something, fear of spiders, of wasps, etc.

Many of the sickness people suffer is because they opened the door to it through fear, for example, grandma died of cancer, the father died of cancer so they begin to fear they will get it and sure enough cancer comes. Just like Job said, “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.”(Job 3:25)

Then we see all the thing poor Job went through until God set him free.

We must come against fear and defeat it. The great news is that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil as we read in 1 John 3:8, “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

F false

E evidence

A appearing

R real

Here are seven things Fear will do:

A-Fear stops you capitalising an opportunity.

B- Fear wears you down.

C- Fear makes you ill.

D- Fear shortens your life.

E- Fear brings uncertainty.

F- Fear keeps you silent.

G- Fear paralyses you.

2- How to deal with fear?

A- Identify fear.

Fear is real, acknowledge it and realise it is sin.

Romans 14:23b

“for whatever is not from faith is sin.”

B- Confess it.

You may have to go to other believers and pray with them.

James 5:16

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

C- Repent from it.

Action defeat fears

The Blood of Jesus, ongoing walk with the Holy Spirit and being perfected in God’s love will keep you from fears. The Lord wants you to live with power, love and a sound mind not in fear.

3- Promises on God’s Word that will set you free from fear.

Psalm 3:6

“I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.”

Colossians 2:15

“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

Psalm 27:3

“Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.”

Isaiah 12:2

“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘for Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ”

Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””

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‭‭Psalms‬ ‭56:3-4‬ ‭

“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?”

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Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ ‭

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.””

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:18-19‬ ‭

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”

Psalms‬ ‭23:4‬ ‭

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Matthew‬ ‭6:31-34‬ ‭

““Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

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‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118:6‬ ‭

“The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

‭‭Romans 8:31

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

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Luke‬ ‭12:32‬ ‭

““Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

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Isaiah‬ ‭41:13‬

‭‭“For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’”

Hebrews‬ ‭13:6‬ ‭

“So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?””

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Proverbs‬ ‭3:24-26‬ ‭

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.”

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‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:12-14‬ ‭

“For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.””

Romans‬ ‭8:15

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.””

‭Psalms‬ ‭46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Proverbs‬ ‭29:25‬ ‭

“The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.”

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Psalms‬ ‭91:2-7‬ ‭

“I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.”

Isaiah‬ ‭43:1-2‬ ‭

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.”

Isaiah‬ ‭54:17‬ ‭

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.”

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Deuteronomy‬ ‭20:3-4‬ ‭

“For the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’”

John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

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Karina Maile

Restoration Of The Church

Restoration of the Church 

Body, life and fellowship 

1- Meaning of the word  fellowship 

A Greek word, “Koinonia” from which two words are translated: 

a- Fellowship - companionship, mutual sharing, gathering of people having the same interest. 

b- Communion - to have in common, to share by all, or participation, partnership. 

2. Fellowship must be directed two ways in order to be effective: 

A- Fellowship vertically, Godward. 

Fellowship with the Father 

1 John 1:3 “that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” 

Fellowship with the Son 

1 Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

Fellowship of the Spirit 

Philippians 2:1 “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,” 

The fellowship is expressed in prayer, praise, worship in the Spirit and in truth. 

John 4:23-24 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 

B- Fellowship horizontal, Manward. 

There must also be a two way communication with believers. 

Fellowship with one another 

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 

The right hand of fellowship 

Galatians 2:9 “and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.” 

The fellowship of the Ministry to the saints 

2 Corinthians 2:4b “For out of much [a]affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.” 

3- Fellowship worked out Spiritually 

a. Praying together. 

b. Singing, praising and worshipping together. 

c. Sharing together in testimony, exhortation, encouragement, edifying one another in the Spirit’s operations. 

d. Ministry of the Word. Apostle’s doctrine. 

e. Communion as in breaking of bread. 

What we receive from the Lord must be given to others, from vessel to vessel. 

Jeremiah 48:11 “Moab has been at ease from his youth; He has settled on his dregs, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, nor has he gone into captivity. Therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent has not changed.” 

4- Fellowship worked out Practically. 

a. House or home fellowship 

Acts 2:46 “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart” 

b. Meeting needs 

Acts 2:45 “and sold their possessions and goods, and divided[b] them among all, as anyone had need.” 

c. To communicate 

Hebrews 13:16 “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” 

d. Distributing to the necessity of the saints 

Romans 12:13 “distributing to the needs of the saints, given[a] to hospitality.” 

e. Given to hospitality 

f. Getting to know and appreciate each other. Visit, etc. 

Fellowship becomes the way of life. There is joy in real fellowship, meeting and sharing in spiritual, practical and social needs. 

5- Walking in fellowship together. 

1 Corinthians 12:12-17 “12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink [a]into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 

20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honourable, on these we bestow greater honour; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honour to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no [b]schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” 

One of the greatest truths set forth in the New Testament as pertaining to fellowship is that typified in the church as the Body of Christ. The human body with its millions of cells and members, all working together in harmony, unity and life, illustrate that unity, harmony and life which is to flow in the Church, the Body of Christ. In the Body every cell, every member lives for the other. 

6- Result of true fellowship according to the principles laid down in the Scripture 

a. All men will know we are His disciples. 

John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

b. Personal and Corporate growth and maturity. 

Ephesians 4:13-16 “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” 

c. God’s glory shall be seen, Revival! 

 Isaiah 60:2-5 “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. 
3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 

4 “Lift up your eyes all around, and see: they all gather together, they come to you; 
Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. 
5 Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.” 

Haggai 2:9 “The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.” 

 Pastor Steve Maile & Karina Maile

Christian Stewardship

Christian Stewardship 

1 Corinthians 4:2
“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

Stewardship is the practice of responsible administration and apportionment of all time, abilities and material possessions based upon the conviction and acknowledgement that they are owned and provided by God and entrusted to our oversight.

1- Stewardship is delegated oversight.

Here are some examples:

• Abraham and Eliezee (Genesis 24)

• Potiphar and Joseph (Genesis 39:4)

• Pharaoh and Joseph (Genesis 41:39-45)

• God the Father and Jesus the Son (Matthew 28:18, 1Corinthians 15:24-28)

The responsibilities involved in stewardship are determined by the owner rather that the stewards – note Abraham, Potiphar and Pharaoh.

Genesis 41:39

“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.”

The steward’s wisdom, ability and faithfulness will ultimately determine the measure of his responsibility.

2- Basic areas for which we are responsible as stewards.

a. Life – What you have received

Genesis 1:27-28

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Acts 17:25

“Nor is He worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.”

James 1:17

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

Our very lives belong to Christ, live for Him and His purposes. Don’t make rash decisions on important things, such as marriage, jobs, where you will live. Consider them carefully through prayer and with apostolic counsel, the pastors the Lord put over you (not random people even if they are pastors or leaders). Learn to be accountable, accountability is a safe way to live our lives. So many Christians live with regret because they didn’t seek godly counsel.

b. Time – what you are allotted.

Proverbs 24:30-34

“I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; 31 And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. 32 When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; 34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.

Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Everyone gets the same amount of time, 24 hours a day and what we do with those hours, months and years of our lives will have to give an account. Don’t waste time and live for Christ in His grace.

c. Talents – what you have been given to use.

Matthew 25:14-30

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his Lord’s money. After a long time the Lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his Lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

We will have to give an account for the talents God has given us and how we used them for God’s glory. Don’t hide your talent but use it in the Kingdom for Christ.

d. Possessions – what is entrusted to you.

Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Colossians 3:1-2

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

People can easily get attached to things such as a car or a house, etc. But we must set our hearts on Christ and eternity, not on temporary things of this earth. Look after them and be good stewards yet don’t set your hearts on them.

e. Finances – what you labour for

1 Corinthians 16:1-2

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the Churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”

Deuteronomy‬ ‭8:18‬

“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”

The Lord gives the power to create wealth, therefore we must be good stewards of it.

f. Earth – where we live presently.

Through sin a curse came to man but in Christ the curse is broken, now we are stewards of it.

Genesis 3:17-19

“Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. 19In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”

Romans 5:18-19

“Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

g. Family

Proverbs 18:22

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour from the Lord.”

Matthew 19:14

“But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

Even the people the Lord joins us to such as a wife/ husband and the children the Lord gives us we are to steward them. Treat them well because they belong to the Lord. Be responsible in training your children for the ministry God has for them.

Karina Maile

Eternal Judgement

Eternal Judgement  

2 Timothy 4:8 “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing”

In the Old Testament, the word ‘judgement’ is used in two ways. It refers to statutes, testimonies and the law of God and is usually in the plural. The other way it is used is in dealing with God’s judgements on the affairs of men and nations both in history and at the end of history. The latter is the sense in which the word is used in the New Testament.

1- Why must there be judgement? 

Because of sin against God’s law.

Romans 2:12

“For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law”

2 Peter 3:7

“But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men.”

Jude 1:15

“to execute judgement on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

2 Peter 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgement,

Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgement of the great day;

2- Who is the judge? 

A- God 

Acts 17:31 (Amplified Bible) Because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world righteously (justly) by a Man whom He has destined and appointed for that task, and He has made this credible and given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone by raising Him from the dead.

Romans 3:6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?

Hebrews 12:23 to the general assembly and Church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

1 Peter 4:5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

B- The Son (Jesus)

John 5:22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgement to the Son,

John 5:27 and has given Him authority to execute judgement also, because He is the Son of Man.

Acts 10:42 (Amplified Bible) And He charged us to preach to the people and to bear solemn testimony that He is the God-appointed and God-ordained Judge of the living and the dead.

C- The saints 

1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

3- Three aspects of Divine Judgement

A- Judgement unto restoration 

God chastises and punishes or judges in order that He may restore a person to fellowship with Himself. This is the purpose of divine discipline in the Church. Correction is to bring restoration.

Read 1 Corinthians 5:1-5; 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 and 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:2-3‬
“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?”

1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Read Revelation chapters 1, 2 + 3 and the book of Isaiah.

B- The sin open to Divine Judgement is unbelief.

Jesus Christ was made sin for us at Calvary and as such our substitute. He was judged that we might be restored back to God and reconciled with God in unbroken fellowship.

John 3:14-21

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

John 3:36

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 16:7-11

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

C- Judgement unto Damnation

If men refuse to accept God’s judgement of sin at Calvary in Christ, and refuse to judge themselves by the Word of God as the only infallible standard, then there is nothing left but divine judgement unto condemnation or damnation.

If God could not look upon His son whom He made to be sin for all, what is the fate of the wilful and the rebellious?

John 5:24-29

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgement also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

1 Corinthians 11:31-32

“For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”

John 3:36

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

4- Examples of Divine Judgement

A- Personal Judgement

The mark of Cain – Genesis 4

The sin of Achan – Joshua 7

The rebellion of Korah – Numbers 16

The sorcerer Elymas – Acts

B- Local Judgement

The days of Noah – Genesis 6, 7 + 8, Luke 17:26

Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 18 + 19, Jude 7, Matthew 11:20-24

The Nation of Egypt – Genesis 15:14, Exodus 5:21

Judah and Jerusalem – Matthew 24:2, Luke 21:20-24

The Second Advent – 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Isaiah 26:8-9

C- Church Judgement

Ananias and Sapphira – Acts 5

The Corinthian fornicator – 1 Corinthians 5:12, 2 Corinthians 2:1-10

There is a sin not unto death – 1 John 5:16-17

But all sin must be judged – Matthew 18:15-20, 2 Thessalonians3:6-11

The scriptures make the distinction between sins of ignorance and sins of presumption – Numbers 16:22-32

5- The day of Judgement

The Scripture teaches that though judgement is often administered during man’s lifetime, there is a coming day of judgement for all.

A- For believers - The judgement seat of Christ 

This is a judgement of believers’ works

1 Corinthians 3:9-15

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

2 Corinthians 5:10-11

“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.”

1 John 4:17

“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world.”

Matthew 12:36-37

“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Romans 14:10

“But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ.”

Revelation 11:18

“The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

2 Timothy 4:1

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:”

2 Timothy 4:8

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Hebrews 6:1-2

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement.”

Read Revelation, chapters 2 + 3

B- For unbelievers - The Great White Judgement throne  

Revelation 20:12-15

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

There are several viewpoints as to when this will be. We do not feel it is wise to make a dogmatic statement as to timing.

Karina Maile

Witchcraft as a work of the flesh

Witchcraft as a work of the flesh

1- What is Witchcraft?

The attempt to control people and make them do what you want by the use of any spirit which is not the Holy Spirit.

Galatians‬ ‭5:19-21‬

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

‭‭

The word sorcery includes such things as occult practices, divination, witchcraft, worship of evil powers, drug-induced trances.

A- What is Manipulation?

The person that never brings the real issue to the light, works around behind the other person trying to get what he/she wants is manipulating.

For example:

The Devil in the garden of Eden manipulated Adam and Eve.

B- What is intimidation?

The person that uses anger, violence to get others to do what he/she wants because of fear, is intimidating.

The end purpose for manipulation and intimidation is to Dominate. To control others.

Witchcraft as a work of the flesh operates in every area of society.

2- Witchcraft as an evil spirit 

The person with the spirit of witchcraft needs deliverance.

Because of the dominion the Lord gave to man in the beginning, we will take dominion either through the flesh or through the right spirit empowered by the Holy Spirit.

What will you choose? The first leads to perdition and the other one to eternal life.

Revelation 21:8

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

3- Witchcraft in the Church

Many carnal, immature Christians still operate in Witchcraft in the Church. We see the example in Revelation 2:8 where the Lord rebukes the church in Thyatira where they allow the Jezebel spirit.

Repent and be led by the Spirit

Galatians‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

If anyone has a spirit and uses it, it’s not the Holy Spirit. We can not use Him but we can yield to the Spirit and choose to do His will.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:24‬ ‭

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.””

Taking up the cross means to deny the desires of the flesh. Not our will but His.

Resurrection from the dead 

(All Scripture references are in the NKJV New King James version unless specified)

John 11:25-26
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me,

though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.

Do you believe this?”

The three aspects of the resurrection we need to cover are:

1-Spiritually - a resurrection of the spirit

2-Physically - a resurrection of the body

3-Eternally - in union or separation

1- How did death enter man? 

Romans 5:12

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned”

1 Corinthians 15:21-22

“For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” Life and death are in the choice of the trees. Many people are confused over knowledge of good and evil and believe that they have salvation by this knowledge. It is only by feeding on the tree of life that we guarantee our eternal salvation.

2- What is death? 

Death is revealed in the Scripture as being threefold – affecting man spiritually, physically and eternally. Death is not a state of non-existence, nor just annihilation but is basically a separation.

A- Spiritual death

This is separation of the spirit from God by sin. Adam as a living soul died in the 24 hour day. He sinned. He was cut off, separated from God. Whilst all men live in an earthly physical body, it is possible and indeed the sub-normal state to be dead spiritually.

Ephesians 2:1

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins”

Colossians 2:13

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses”

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:6

“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

Revelation 3:1

“And to the angel of the Church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”

Other Scriptures:

James 1:15; James 5:20; Ezekiel 18:20; 1 Timothy 5:6

B- Physical death

Physical death is the separation of the soul and spirit from the body. Adam died physically 930 years later. Physical death pertains to the body of man. All men have a mortal (death-doomed) body.

Romans 5:12

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned”

Romans 5:14

“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.”

Romans 5:21

“so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement”

More Scriptures:

Romans 6:3-23 and Romans 7:4-24

C- Eternal death

This is called the second death and pertains to the eternal salvation of the spirit (soul) of man as a naked, unclothed (disembodied) being for all eternity – separated from God and His eternal presence and all that signifies in Scripture. This is the “worm” that never dies.

Revelation 2:11

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”

Revelation 20:6

“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

Revelation 20:10-14

“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

Revelation 21:8

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Isaiah 66:24

“And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

Mark 9:44-48

“Where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’”

3- The entrance of resurrection  

Man shall be through Christ, quickened, revived, made alive, raised – this is the promise of resurrection, life and immortality brought to light through the Gospel. Christ died to redeem man from death, (spiritually, physically and eternally) and to deliver us from Satan, the author and power of death.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22

“For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”

2 Timothy 1:9-10

“Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel”

Romans 6:4-5

“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection”

Read Romans 5:12-21

Karina Maile

The Gospel of the Kingdom

The Gospel of the Kingdom

Mark 1:14-15 “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Matthew 24:14 “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

1- What is the Gospel of the Kingdom? 

The Gospel of the Kingdom is the Good News of God’s rule and reign in men’s lives and in the earth. It is the one and the same Gospel called, ‘the Gospel of Jesus Christ” - Paul talks about the the Gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20:24-32 “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. 32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

• Paul pronounces a curse on anyone who preaches another gospel

Galatians 1:6-9 “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

2- What are the definitions of the words ‘Kingdom’ and ‘Church’? 

Kingdom: The area over which a king reigns – the king’s domain. The Kingdom of God is the reign or rule of God, whether in heaven or on earth. It is the purpose of God, the extension of God’s rule.

Church: From the Greek ‘ekklesia’ literally ‘the called out ones’ God’s chosen people especially those who assemble for divine worship.

The Church is God’s final and ultimate instrument for the expression and demonstration of the Kingdom of God and to extend God’s sovereign rule on earth.

The Kingdom of God and the Church are interrelated and cannot be separated.

3- How long has the Kingdom of God been in existence? 

The Kingdom of God is an everlasting Kingdom, there has never been a time when the Kingdom of God has not been in existence. The Kingdom of God is sovereign ruling over all kingdoms.

Psalm 145:13 Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

Psalm 103:19 “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His Kingdom rules over all.”

Revelation 11:15-17 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned. In each age there is a further revelation or revealing of the Kingdom of Heaven.

4- What is the difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of heaven? 

There is absolutely no difference between these terms; they are synonymous. What is said of the Kingdom of God is also said of the Kingdom of heaven.

N.B. Matthew’s Gospel was specifically written for Jewish converts and almost invariably uses the phrase ‘Kingdom of heaven’ while Mark, Luke and John substituted it with ‘Kingdom of God’ (writing for Gentile believers). It was customary among the Jews to use the word heaven for God.

Jesus said in Matthew 23:22 that to swear by heaven is to swear by “the throne of God and Him that sit thereon”

Matthew 23:22 “And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.”

5- How is the Kingdom of God expressed on earth? 

Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

• In the Old Testament, natural Israel was meant to be the expression and instrument of the Kingdom of God on earth.

Exodus 19:1-6

“In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain.

3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.””

• In the New Testament, spiritual Israel (the Church) is to be the expression and instrument of the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 21:43 “Therefore I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.”

The instrument has changed but the purpose never changes.

6- What is the New Testament revelation of the Kingdom of God? 

• The Kingdom of God is not of this world’s system. It is not nationalistic or materialistic.

John 18:36

“Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My Kingdom is not from here. “”

• The Kingdom of God is spiritual. It is with us.

Luke 17:20

“Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The Kingdom of God does not come with observation””

• The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Romans 14:17

“for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

• The Kingdom of God is power

1 Corinthians 4:20

“For the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power.”

• The Kingdom of God is to be sought by us.

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

• The Kingdom of God can only be entered by the new birth

John 3:1-5

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

7- The Church is commissioned to preach the Gospel 

Mark 16:15 “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. They preached the gospel of the Kingdom.”

We are all called to share the Good News of the Kingdom to everyone around us. Many think because they are not evangelists, they don’t have to bring others to Christ, but this is not true. The Evangelist has been given to the Body of Christ to train everyone to do evangelism. It is our responsibility to establish God’s Kingdom on earth by bringing men and women, young and old to Christ. You and I are workers in God’s amazing Kingdom, what a privilege!

Karina Maile

Water Baptism

Water Baptism

Romans 6:4 NKJV

“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” 

The doctrine of Baptisms is the third of the elementary principles which constitutes the Christians foundation.  

Many Christians do not have a strong foundation they haven’t repented properly or had a proper water baptism. Water baptism is very important, some would disagree but we do not listen to the opinions of man, but to what the bible says. 

Hebrews 6:1-2 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement. 

Usually when we speak of Baptism we are referring to water baptism. Baptism or baptise is the anglicised form of the word ‘baptizo’ and means to ‘dip, immerse, submerge or plunge.’ By definition the word means ‘to put into or under water (or other penetrable substances) so as to entirely immerse or submerge. 

1- The New Testament makes reference to at least 4 baptisms: 

1- The Baptism of John

Matthew 3:11 NKJV

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

2- The Lord’s Baptism of Suffering

Luke 12:50 NKJV

“But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!”

3- Christian Baptism (Baptism in water)

Acts 2:38 NKJV

“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

4- Baptism with the Holy Spirit

Acts 11:16 NKJV

“Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”

2- Baptism is a command not an option.

Jesus commands all men to repent and be baptised, He was also baptised as an adult giving us an example to follow. Here are the Scriptures: 

Matthew 28:19NKJV

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Mark 16:16 NKJV

“He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Matthew 3:13-17 

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptised by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptised by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptised, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 

3- The prerequisites for water baptism

They are repentance, faith, and confession of Jesus as Lord. This clearly excludes infant baptism and must invalidate all such acts of tradition by religious men. 

When Jesus was a baby He was presented in the temple but He was not baptised. When you get water baptised you are making a statement, you are saying that you are dying to the person you were and that you are burying your sins and living a new life in Christ. Repentance and faith always precede baptism.

We validate our faith by baptism.

When a Christian gets baptised it is an incredible witness, that’s why baptisms must be public.

Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 

4- The baptism reality

Water baptism is not just symbolic, something very real happens in the Spirit. Jesus died, was buried and He resurrected. In the water of baptism we identify with Christ, His death, we die to the old sinful life, burial, we leave behind the past and resurrection, we resurrect to a new life.

Romans 6:3-4 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

Colossians 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 

Colossians 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 

In this symbolism we do exactly what happened to Jesus, died, buried and resurrected.  

5- What does Water Baptism accomplish in us? 

In a true experience of water baptism:

1- We receive remission of sins.

Acts 2:38 NKJV “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

2- We bury the ‘old man’ – nature of sin.

Romans 6:6 NKJV

“knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”

3- We confirm our new birth of resurrection life 

John 3:5 NKJV

“Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”

Romans 6:5, 11 NKJV

“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

4- We receive the circumcision of heart 

It is a sign that you are in covenant with God, your heart has been marked.  

Colossians 2:11-12 NKJV

“In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”

Philippians 3:3 NKJV

“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh”

Questions

1- Have you been baptised?

2- Share 3 things you have learned about water baptism

3- Where in the Scriptures does Jesus command people to be baptised?

Baptism with the Holy Spirit 

John 7:38-39 NKJV

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” 

God has designed that everything in the Church be done by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Believing in God, repenting of our sins and being Water baptised is only the starting point for the believer. The Lord not only wants to save us but also wants us to become Sons and Daughters of God, filled with the Spirit of God and walking in the Spirit.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is also very essential in the life of a born again believer, without it, it’s impossible to live the Christian life.

It’s called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit because we are to be fully immersed in the Holy Spirit, a baptism from above. The person of the Holy Spirit envelopes us up completely and fills our lives until overflowing.

1- Why do we need the Baptism with the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit gives and provides us with:

A- Authority to witness and minister to others  

Acts 1:8 NKJV

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

B- Inspiration for true worship 

John 4:24 NKJV

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  

Philippians 3:3 NKJV

“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh”

C- Power in prayer 

Romans 8:26-27 NKJV

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Jude 1:20 NKJV

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit”

D- Understanding the Scriptures 

1 Corinthians 2:12 NKJV

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

John 16:13 NKJV

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

E- Guidance (direction) from God 

Acts 13:2 NKJV

“As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.””

Mark 13:11 NKJV

“But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” 

F- Ability to use spiritual gifts 

1 Corinthians 14:1 NKJV

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”

Acts 1:8 NKJV

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

G- Fruit of the Holy Spirit 

Galatians 5:16-23,25 NKJV

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

2- Evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit

The evidence in the book of Acts receiving the Holy Spirit was speaking in other tongues. 

Acts 2:4 NKJV

“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Acts 10:44-46 NKJV

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered”

Acts 19:6 NKJV

“And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”

3- Receive by faith

Whenever an honest hungry seeker comes to God to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, he has never to fear of receiving less than God’s promise 

Luke 11:11-13 NKJV

“If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” 

Questions

1- Have you been baptised with the Holy Spirit?

2- Are you faithful to the what the Holy Spirit entrusted you to?

3- Are you obedient to the great commission? How committed and faithful are you in participated in evangelism?

4- Are you a tither and do you give offerings? How are you in respect to Church attendance?

Faith toward God

Faith Toward God

Hebrews 11:6
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is,
and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

God responds to faith, not feelings. ‘Faith’ and ‘Repentance’ are inseparable in effecting a genuine conversion. See Acts 20:21, “testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The result of such preaching is recorded concerning the Thessalonians who turned to God (faith) from idols (repentance).

1 Thessalonians 1:9 “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,”
To attempt to forsake sin without turning in faith toward God ends in failure and despair.

1- What is the meaning of the word faith? 

The root words from which we get ‘faith’ (noun) and ‘believe’ (verb) and its derivatives are found in the New Testament 619 times.

• Faith – (pistis) – faith, belief, firm persuasion, assurance, firm conviction, honesty, integrity, faithfulness, truthfulness.

• Believe – (pistueo) – to trust in, put faith in, confide in, rely upon, have a mental persuasion, to entrust, commit to the charge of, or power of.

It is the act by which a person lays hold on God’s proffered resources, becomes obedient to what God prescribes and abandoning all self-interest and self-reliance, trusts God completely.

Charles Finney said – “It is a receiving of Christ for just what He is represented to be in His Word; an unqualified surrender of the will and of the whole being to Him.”

2- How does the bible define faith?

Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified Bible) NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

(J.B. Phillips) – “now faith means putting our full confidence in things we cannot see.”

Faith links us with God and is the assurance that the revealed things promised in the Word are true and that the unseen things are real. Faith is certain that what it believes is true and that what it expects will come. It is not the hope which looks forward with utter certainty, it is not the hope which takes refuge in ‘perhaps’, it is not the hope which is founded on conviction. The future and the unseen can be made real by faith.

If you are operating out of fear you won’t get anything. When you have a change of heart and a change of mind that is faith towards God. Religious people say ‘I hope’ so or ‘I think so’ but that is not biblical faith.

3- The importance of faith.

No person can be saved without faith. See the Scriptures below.

Mark 16:16 “He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Luke 8:12 “Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.”
1 Corinthians 1:21 “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God”

No person can please God without faith. See Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

4- How do we believe? 

• The mind is informed

See Scriptures below:

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
John 12:38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?”
Acts 4:4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptised.
Hebrews 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

An informed mind does not guarantee saving faith.

James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

• The emotions are stirred

In repentance one experiences the emotion of Godly sorrow. See Scriptures below:

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

This is understandable since repentance has to do with sin which has estranged us from God and wrought such havoc in our lives.

In faith we experience joy and gladness. This is proper since through faith we enter into all the rich blessings of God’s great salvation. The evidence of repentance is joy.

Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptised; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Acts 8:8 And there was great joy in that city.

Philippians 1:25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,

1 Thessalonians 1:6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

1 Peter 1:8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

• The will is committed

Romans 1:5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
Romans 15:18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—

Romans 16:25-26 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith

We believe with the mind, the emotions and the power of decisions, the will must be involved.

Note: An informed mind and stirred emotions do not guarantee saving faith you must decide to believe and act upon it. Faith without repentance is not faith. Repentance cleans out your heart to have faith towards God.

5- Who are our biblical examples of faith? 

There is one man in the bible who is referred to as ‘the father of all them that believe’:

Romans 4:11 and 16 “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. 16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all”

Christians are those who walk in the steps of their father, Abraham. We are considered the children seed of Abraham and the seed of Abraham.

Galatians 3:7 “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.”
Galatians 3:29 “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

When Paul wanted to illustrate saving, justifying faith, he recounted Abrahams relationship with God in Romans 4. Obedience is an act of faith, to preach the Gospel is an act of faith. Here are some bullet points of Abraham obedience counted as faith:

• He heard the word

Romans 4:13,21 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

• He turned from his hopeless condition.

He Had a hopeless condition but God told him he was going to have a child. Contrary to hope in hope he believed!!!

Romans 4:18-19 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

• He embraced the hope expressed in God’s promises

Romans 4:18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

• He did not waver in his commitment to them

Romans 4:20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

• He rejoiced in the word as he accomplished fact

Romans 4:20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

You must get the Word of God into your life, receive the promise and do what Abrahams did. Hear the word, and then believe the word, then do the word. Remember Romans‬ ‭10:17‬, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

In conclusion

If you have got a hopeless condition, rejoice! Because there is a promise in God to have hope. Once we have a promise from God we hold onto it and we stand on that word from God in Jesus’ Name.

God will never do anything to decrease your faith, only the devil does that. God will always be there to help you have more faith, this is why the Holy Spirit is called the Helper. Spending hours and hours praying in the spirit is not going to harm you. On the contrary your faith will be built up as Jude 1:20 tells us, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,”

We are to pray to in the Holy Spirit at all times and stir up the Gift of God in us. You will be surprised what the Holy Spirit begins to bring to your mind as you begin to pray in the spirit more.

We are to develop a practice of praying in the Spirit because Faith is like a muscle, it can grow and develop.

Ps Karina Maile

True Repentance

True Repentance

By Pastor Steve Maile

Hebrews 6:1-2 NKJV

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

To become a true follower of Christ, you must be born again, which means begin a new life, a life of righteousness free from sin. In order to do that the right foundations must be built.

Last week we talked about digging deep until we hit bedrock, we learned that Christ is the Rock and the strong foundation and without Him our lives will end up in ruins. In this lesson we will continue to talk about repentance, the difference between worldly sorrow and true godly repentance.

First, we will remind ourselves of the foundational stones we must lay in our lives, these foundational stones taught by the Apostles are so very important and each one necessary. They are:

 A. Repentance from dead works

 B. Faith towards God.

 C. The doctrine of baptism

 D. Laying on of hands

 E. Resurrection of the dead

 F. Eternal Judgement

1- What is godly repentance?

In the Old Testament are two words translated “repent.” “Naham” and “Shubh.” Naham means to lament or to grieve and refers to the aroused emotions when undertaking a different course of action. Shubh is most generally used to express the Scriptural idea of genuine repentance. This second one is used extensively by the prophets and means, “radical change in one’s attitude towards sin and God. It implies a conscious moral separation and a personal decision to forsake sin and enter into fellowship with God.

In the New Testament are also two words translated “repent.””Metamelomai” and “Metanoeo.”

Metamelomai has the same meaning as Naham, to have a feeling or care, concern or regret.

Metanoeo means to have another mind, and occurs in the noun and verb form 57 times. It is also associated with the word “turn” and describes that deep and radical change whereby a sinner turns from idols of sin and self unto God.

Charles Finney defined repentance thus: “It implies an intellectual and a hearty giving up of all controversy with God upon all and every point. It implies a conviction that God is wholly right and the sinner wholly wrong and thorough and hearty abandonment of all excuses and apologies for sin.”

Repentance is a change of heart concerning Jesus Christ, it implies to turn from sin and turn to Him and enter into fellowship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Look what Romans 2:4 says, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” Why will His goodness leads us to repentance? Because He wants us free from sin, and when we are free from sin we can enjoy a relationship with Him.

2- What is worldly sorrow?

There are two types of sorrow, the godly sorrow that produces change, bringing life, freedom and joy, and a worldly sorrow that brings grief and death but not a change of heart. 2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”Many people in denominational churches who may be faithful church goers are not saved, unfortunately they are religious with an outward appearance but have not received a new nature in Christ because they haven’t repented properly.

In Acts 17:30 NKJV it says, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,” Repentance is not an option or some religious thing but a command, the heart and the mind requires change, so if there is no change then is no repentance. You have to make the decision to repent because unless you repent you will perish. (Luke 13:3 and 5 NKJV) This is the reason Christ came, in Luke 5:32 NKJV Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” God’s will for us is that we are saved from eternal damnation. How can we be saved? See what 2 Peter 3:9 NKJV says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” True repentance is the only way to find salvation. You agree with God against yourself that God is right and you are wrong about everything. Grace is available and has made a way through repentance that the very heart of man can be changed and have God’s heart rather than their own.

3- The mirror of the Word.

James 1:25 AMP

“But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favoured by God in what he does [in his life of obedience].”

True repentance needs to be preached for people to get saved. It’s great to be saved but don’t stay as a baby, that’s only the start. We are to go on to perfection, which is maturity (Hebrews 6:1). How do we mature? Looking into God’s Word. James tells us that the Bible, which is God’s written Word, is a mirror because it tells us who we are, how we are, and what we must do in Christ. It reflects the true state of our lives. Some mirrors have a distorted reflection, they can make you look tall and slim or short and wide but that’s not a true reflection. God’s Word never lies, God’s Word is truth. But we need to stay in it and know the full counsel of God, not just feed with a few verses here and there. This is the main reason many Christians don’t grow, because they feed with crumbs not the full bread of God.

The way we look at the Word is with the help of the Holy Spirit not with a religious spirit or in condemnation. We must become doers and goers not stayers and moaners. The reason some are not doing is because they are not hearing right with their hearts. When you go to Church and hear the Word preached are you actually taking it in? If you hear right you will do right, and the more you do the more you want to do.

Get into God’s Word, let aside self righteousness and pre conceived ideas or assumptions and let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart and show you the true state of your heart. Let the goodness of God lead you to repentance to set you free from things that shouldn’t be in your life. (Romans 2:4 NKJV) What a privilege it is to look carefully into the perfect Law of Liberty and abide by it.