Establishing A Strong Foundation

Establishing A Strong Foundation

By Pastor Steve Maile

Acts 2:40-42 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. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers.”

In the book of Acts we discover how the early Christians

were committed to building the church and taking new ground, they were preaching the Gospel and many were getting saved. Every day they were meeting up and as we read in the verses above, they continued in the Apostles’ doctrine and fellowship.

Right doctrine is very important as expressed in 1Timothy 4:1 NKJV “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will

depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” Today we see clearly that many are preaching the message of Jesus, but not all who preach Jesus are teaching right doctrine. Wrong doctrine will always be out there, but true Apostolic ministries will be

concerned about bringing right doctrine. This is something that the Lord wants to restore to the Church in this season approaching the return of Jesus.

In Isaiah 28:16 NKJV says “Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.””

This precious sure foundation is Christ and on Him we must build our lives. Any attempt to build your life without Christ will result in ruins, see what Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-27, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

  1- Digging deep

In order to lay a strong foundation we need to dig deep until we hit

bedrock. Through repentance and turning away from sin to follow Jesus is the basics of digging deep. You need to make sure that there’s nothing between you and the Rock, such as: sin, pride, idols, ungodly customs and influences. If you are not building on the Rock you are building on something else and you will suffer loss.

Once we have come to the Rock, Jesus, we need to start laying a

strong foundation. It is the nature of life to be stormy, nobody escapes storms, but storms cannot shake anyone who has laid upon the Rock.

There will be storms in your Christian life, but if you are hearing and doing the Word of God, the storm cannot shake you. Many have lost their faith as soon they encounter difficult situations, this is because they didn’t get to the Rock.

  2- Building on the right foundation 

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, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

Building the right foundation is being established in the principles of the Kingdom. The Lord is restoring Last Day order to the Church through Apostolic ministries, this is why you must be part of a local congregation under submission to Apostolic authority and be discipled.

If you are not in the Church then how can you be discipled?

Many Christians do not grow and mature because they haven’t laid the right foundation stones.

What are the personal foundational stones taught by the Apostles?

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

Make sure your life has the right foundation and you are tightly set on Christ the Rock, repentance is not only a one time event and never again, true repentance is from the heart, a change of mind and a turning of direction. Romans 2:4 NKJV says “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” His love for us and His goodness towards us that leads us to that place of repentance from sins, because that very sin will destroy us and separate us from Him. Repent and get rid of sin today.

True Worship -Getting Rid Of The Idol Of Fear.

By Pastor Karina Maile

We read in 2 Kings chapter 23 the story of King Josiah, he was 8 years old when he became a King. The title of this chapter in the New King James Bible is, “King Josiah restores true worship.” I was curious to find out how he did it. Did he choose better musicians? Did he tell the Levites to write new songs and not sing old ones? Did he invest in buying better instruments? Making a taller platform with lights and better sound? No! He didn’t do that, because true worship is born in

the heart. None of the things mentioned above has importance unless the heart of the worshipper is pure. What King Josiah did was to get rid of all the idols in the land of Judah and Israel. Not only did he get rid of them but He utterly destroyed them. He was horrified after he found out the scrolls of the Law of Moses in the temple, that as a nation they have sinned by building alters to other gods and people were worshipping and sacrificing to them, even sacrificing their own children, an abomination God detests.

As we are approaching the returning of Jesus, the Lord wants to restore true worship in the hearts of believers. This means we need to do our part as well, we need to clean up our hearts as the King Josiah cleaned up the land of Israel, by getting rid of idols in our lives. There are so many idols that we could be having without realising and it will take more than reasoning and intellect to identify them, but thank God for the Holy Spirit that can reveal truth to us if we ask Him to and show us the altars to other gods we have built in our hearts.

  1- Identifying idols

The most common idol a person can have is self, always seeking

comfort, security, happiness, good life, riches; above everything else, even damaging people around just to get what self wants. But there are many things good and bad that we can put first in our hearts, we give the place that Jesus should take. Basically, whatever you admire greatly, love or revere can become your idol if you are not careful.

Anything or anyone that keeps you away form Jesus and His Kingdom is an idol.

When people say they love the Lord but don’t give tithes, don’t

fellowship with other believers (go to Church), don’t do evangelism, and don’t pray much, their love for God is seriously questionable. Christ wants your all or nothing at all. You cannot share your heart with other idols. Jesus must be the Lord!

  2- A heart surrendered completely to Jesus. 

A heart of a true worshipper is a heart completely surrendered to Christ and His Kingdom. Fully setting your heart on Him. Salvation is not just escaping hell but a relationship of love with our Heavenly Father and wanting to be with Him forever. Heaven is not a place, God is heaven.

All that is good has been made by God. Love, laughter, friendship,

peace, life, acceptance, affection, etc. In contrast, hell is the absence of God. The opposite of what God is and gives. Fear, darkness, torment, pain, suffering, loneliness, abuse, etc. People desiring good things without God telling them what to do, don’t know what they are saying or doing. It simply doesn’t exist. Heaven equals God. God equals good.

You can’t have good without God. You can’t love good and also evil, it’s either one or the other. You decide where you will spend eternity now. Do you want an eternity with God? If you do, He asks for your full heart. This is a reasonable ask if you are going to spend eternity with Him. Are you fully surrendered to Him? If you are not, do it today and remove all the idols that makes your love for God divided. Jesus deserves your best.

See how amazingly the Bible describes King Josiah’s life. “Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.” (2 Kings 23:25 NKJV)

Wouldn’t you like the same to be said of you?

  3- The idol of Fear

One of the idols that we have allowed to rule our lives, and many don’t realise it, is an idol, is fear. Fear becomes an idol when we yield to it and it begins to control our lives, we make the thing we fear more powerful than Jesus. We disobey the Lord because of fear, we don’t serve Him because of fear. Fear paralyses us, as Proverbs 29:25 NKJV tells us,

“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” I also want us to read this same verse in the Passion Translation, “Fear and intimidation is a trap that holds you back. But when you place your confidence in the Lord, you will be seated in the high place.” And The Message says it like this, “the fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.” Can you see

the power fear can has on people? So many people are trapped, enslaved and tormented by this evil, we all have seen how some people live in such a pitiful state because being dominated by certain fears, yet Christ died to gives us freedom! As Luke 1:74-75 NKJV says, “To grant

us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.” God wants you free from the horrible, debilitating power of fear, He shed His blood for you, to set you free.

Here are a list of fears that many people struggle with.

Fear of death, fear of pain, fear of darkness, fear of men, fear of women, aversion to being touched by people, fear of animals, fear of dogs, fear of cats, fear of spiders, fear of insects, fear of marriage, fear of crowds, fear of heights, fear of falling from high places, fear of winds, fear of thunderstorm, fear of the sky, fear of being alone, repugnance to filth and dirt, dislike of work, taking responsibility, fear of crossing bridges over water, fear of the sight of blood, fear of public speaking, fear of going insane, fear of being observed, fear of dead bodies, fear of being seen unclothed, fear of sea voyage, fear of future, and more.

Many of the fears people have, have been passed from previous generations, others they adopted themselves after traumatic experiences, no matter how you now find yourself with fear, Christ is the answer. If you are born again, Christ has set you free and now you need to take that freedom and walk in it. If you are not surrendered completely to Christ, you can do it today and receive His freedom.

  4- Antidote for fear

By discovering how much God loves through His Word, and you

reciprocating that love to Him, any fear will disappear from your life, because you know the Almighty cares for you. Just like 1 John 4:18 NKJV says, “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.”

Here are powerful Scriptures that you can declare and meditate on.

Psalms 3:6 NKJV

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

Psalms 56:11 NKJV

“In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to

me?”

Jeremiah 1:8 NKJV

“Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.”

Matthew 10:28 NKJV

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But

rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Psalms 118:6 NKJV

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

Psalms 27:1 NKJV

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”

Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”

5- Confidence in the Day of Judgement

1 John 4:17 NKJV says, “Love has been perfected among us in this:

that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. “ and the Amplified version says it like this, “In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.” God’s intention for us is that when we face Him at the end of time, we will not fear but we will be able to have confidence to face His mighty holiness. The work of holiness starts now, with the help of the Holy Spirit. Give yourself entirely to Him and worship Him alone.

Piercing the heavens for breakthrough!

Piercing the heavens for breakthrough

The power of Praise and Worship and restoration of God’s glory.

By Pastor Steve Maile

Main verse: Amos 9:11-13 ““On that day I will raise up the Tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; 12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,” says the Lord who does this thing. 13 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.”

1- Raising up the Tabernacle of David.

Amos 9:11 “On that day I will raise up the Tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old”

When we read in the Scriptures the phrase “On that Day,” it refers to the Last Days, the days close to the returning of Jesus. We are living in such times now. God was prophesying through His prophet that the Tabernacle of David was going to be restored. What does this mean? The returning of animal sacrifices? Not at all! Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice, all sufficient and perfect for the redemption of mankind. There is no need for any shedding of blood as Jesus’ Blood is the perfect and most powerful one and still speaks for sinners who repent and surrender to Christ, and that same Blood will continually cover the believers who are now sons and daughters of God.

The raising up of the Tabernacle of David which has fallen down is the restoration of true praise and worship through the power of the Spirit. See what John 4:23-24 says, “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.”

There are many religious gatherings doing religious worship services but it’s not true worship, singing hymns and songs with a sad face is not worship. Praise and worship is not a routine or a performance, it comes from the heart when we love the Lord and His presence and when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

What you think is acceptable praise and worship to God, may not be. Firstly, you get that worshipping heart when you spend time on your own with the Lord- if you don’t get it there, you will not be able to worship in the cooperate gathering.

2- To possess, and to gain unbelievers

Amos 9:12 “That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,” says the Lord who does this thing.”

 The Lord is restoring things to the church, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit through an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. An outpouring of the Spirit that will see masses of gentiles come to the Lord.

See what Isaiah 60:1-5 says, “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 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. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. “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. 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.”

There are two things that must happen in the restoration of God, a Glorious church and Global harvest of souls. I believe that we are in that day! God has saved the best till last, we will see a harvest come in like never before, multitudes shall be saved and come into the house of the Lord. Get ready the Lord is about to do a mighty work, this is why you need to make yourself available to reach the lost in any way you can. Don’t limit yourself in just one form of evangelism but allow the Holy Spirit to use you in new ways and by all means pray for salvations!

3- It will be a quick work

Amos 9:13 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.”

God is doing a new thing and it is a quick work, suddenly and immediately will happen and you cannot be asleep or distracted. Remember the parable of the 10 virgins, 5 were wise and 5 foolish.

There is a set time and we feel it in our spirits that the time is near. See Psalm 102:13, “You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favour her, yes, the set time, has come.” Spend time worshipping the Lord, seek Him and His will. Don’t let the world dictate your time but you get in God’s time.

Acts 3:19-21 says, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” What a tremendous thing it is that the Heavens have to hold onto Jesus and wait until the restoration of all things! God’s heart is for restoration and for His glory to fill the earth as the waters cover the seas. He is waiting on us to activate and initiate this.

4- Manifestation of God’s power.

The acceleration of the gifts of the apostolic ministry is to accelerate the things of God and get us moving. And one of the Apostolic roles in the church is to initiate the things of God by the Spirit and the New Wine begins to flow. Just like in the book of Acts, the Church were gathering together, praying together and seeking God together. We must do the same. Don’t get separated from the fellowship of the saints, and let’s worship the Lord together. 

One of those manifestations of God’s power is in the area of healing. All of us in maturity know that we are going to have to come to the truth of Scripture with regard healing. The world is under the curse of Satan and death, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, He became a curse for us to destroy the curse. The will of God for us is divine life; Jesus died for sin and for sicknesses, He paid the price for our sin and the consequences of sin on the cross. By His stripes we are healed. “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:24- 25)

God doesn’t make anyone sick like some people believe, and want to make you believe, this is simply not true! He heals people, He sets people free, “Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”

(Matthew 9:35) and He hasn’t changed, He is still doing the same today.  

There are 3 sources of healing designed by God.

1- Natural healing “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

Natural healing will kick in through laughing, which is the joy of the Lord. Don’t allow depression, anxiety, stress to dominate you, laugh instead. Sing aloud to the Lord and dance before His presence.

2- Medical Helaling

God also uses doctors but our trust must be on the Lord.

3- Divine health

Walking continually in divine health is God’s will and when sickness wants to come in, God’s power will touch our bodies as we put our faith in Him. See what Romans 8:11 says, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” The Holy Spirit in us will continue to give life to us. There is a “Zoe life” that the Lord wants to manifest in you and through you.

5- The glory of the Lord will be seen

Let’s read Isaiah 60:1-5 again and focus on the radiance that will come to God’s Church, “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 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. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. “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. 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.”

Remember there is a key of seeing the glory of the Lord rising on us, the key is anointed praise and worship.

If you really understood the power of praise and Worship you would be doing it more. There was a man who understood by the Spirit this powerful weapon of praise and worship and was commended by the Lord so much that the Lord wants to restore that heart of worship to the Church today, this man was David. There is a story in 2 Samuel 6 where the heart of David can be seen. Let’s read it.

2 Samuel 6:16, 20-23 ”Now as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord. And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honour.” Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.” I love the response of David, “I will play music before the Lord. And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight.” The opinions of people doesn’t matter, let’s seek the Lord with all of our hearts and see His glory coming back to His Church.

Let us continually offer sacrifice of praise to our God, let us be caught up in worship. The presence of God can change and shift atmospheres of darkness. Worship before the unbeliever is a very powerful witness, as Psalms 40:3 tells us, “He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.” If the Spirit of the Lord has put a new song in our mouth, let’s sing it, and how is He going to put that song if we don’t open our mouth and seek Him. Let’s worship God with enthusiasm and joy, let’s go into His court with praise.

The Greatest Ministry Ever And The Mark Of A Spirit Filled Person

By Pastors Steve and Karina Maile

In the beginning God warned man not to eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil because the consequence would be death. See Genesis 2:16  NKJV “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”” Humanity was condemned to death because they chose sin, yet God’s heart from the beginning was to give us eternal life. Even after we chose sin, God still offered us a chance to have everlasting life through His Son Jesus, see John 3:16  NKJV “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.”

Everything has an expiry date, and death will come to us all, for the unbeliever death means separation from God for eternity and not a chance to get out of the torment, fear and darkness they will find themselves in. But for the believer the glories of Heaven awaits us; yet we don’t have to wait until we pass away to enjoy eternity, we can start enjoying it now, as John 3:16 says. Through Christ we have passed from Chronos to Kairos, we are no longer subject to sin and death and a life controlled by stress and time but as sons and daughters of God we have full access to the eternal realm. We can be continually in this realm when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

The purpose of God to give us life is not just to have a happy life here on earth with a nice family, a lovely house, a good car and good job, His purpose to give us life is for so much more than that! As 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NKJV says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 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.”

We are ambassadors for Christ! We represent Christ and His Kingdom and as such we must do all that was assigned for us.

So many people wonder what their ministry is, but the Scriptures are clear, we are ambassadors. We carry His ministry, which is the ministry of reconciliation, we are to minister to others the Gospel of Christ. We must plead with them to get reconciled with God. Yet no one will be able to minister to others unless they are filled with the Spirit of God. Many are still filled with selfish ambitions, pride, religion and everything else. But if you have made Christ your Lord and Saviour, then let Him fill you with His Spirit.

Here are 7 things that Spirit filled people do and have.

1- You become another person.

1 Samuel 10:6 NKJV “Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

A Spirit filled person cannot possibly remain the same as before, it is not just His habits that change, but also his heart and way of thinking changes, resulting in becoming a new person. Thank God for this miracle of transformation.

2- Set their mind on the things of the Spirit.  

Spirit filled people think upon things that are eternal.

Romans 8:5 KJV “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”

3- Revelation is given to them.

I Corinthians 2:9-16 KJV  “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”10 “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 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. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

God reveals things by His Spirit to those who are filled with the Spirit, they are constantly receiving insight. God is Spirit and to be able to understand Him, His ways, His will and His Word we must be filled with the Holy Spirit.

4- They will suffer reproach.

I Peter 4:14 NKJV “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”

The Spirit of glory rests on those who are filled with the Spirit of God, because they can’t help but to speak the truth, they do it out of love but many still don’t want to hear the truth.

5- The gifts of the Spirit are evident.

There are gifts given by the Lord to us and we must exercise them by faith and keep on practising them. A neglected gift is a rejected gift. Here in I Corinthians 12:4-11 KJV we find the different gifts of the Spirits. It says, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 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: 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. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

6- Fruit of the Spirit manifest.

As we grow ever closer to the Lord, our character needs to match up to the character of God. Many exercise gifts but their character is disgraceful and they will have to give an account to the Lord. But a person truly filled with the Holy Spirit will live a life that pleases the Lord. Galatians 5:16 NKJV says, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.,” and verses 22 to 24 say, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

7- They confess Christ every where.

This is the most important reason why we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 4:18-19 NKJV says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” A person filled with the Spirit can’t help but  share Christ wherever he/she goes. Not in a condemning way or out of duty but because the love of God pours out of them reaching out to the lost.

See in the verses bellow that whenever the Spirit came upon people, the people began to speak…, Our mouth is the channel in which the Holy Spirit speaks, this is amazing!

Ezekiel 11:5 NKJV

“Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said to me, “Speak! ‘Thus says the Lord: “Thus you have said, O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind.”

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.”

Luke 1:67 NKJV

“Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:”

John 15:26 NKJV

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”

In conclusion, our ministry is always to lead people to Christ using whatever gifts, talents and graces the Lord has given you. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:19, NKJV “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more.”

God bless you as you take your place as an ambassador of Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit to bring as many souls as we can to Christ.

Character That Builds For Eternity

Character That Builds For Eternity

By Steve Maile

John 15:4 NKJV

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

God’s heart for you, as a believer, is the development of your character as His Son and daughter, which in turn produces fruitfulness. Just like the vine produces fruit, we are the branches attached to Christ that need to bear much fruit.

1- What does abiding in Christ means?

Abiding in Christ means we are inextricably bound together to Him in love and living a life of holiness, letting Him work in our character to change us and mould us into His image and likeness. Many come to God and receive salvation but they neglect the importance of abiding in Christ continually. The sign of knowing we are abiding in Christ is the fruit we begin to produce. People may attend religious services and do some acts of service and yet not be abiding in Christ.

In order for us to allow the Lord to work in our character, we need to be planted in a Holy Spirit filled Church, not in two or three Churches, but one. People who attend more than one Church pick and choose what’s convenient to them, just like a plant cannot grow in two pots, the same is with us. God’s design is for us to be under a godly authority that can watch over us and help us grow in the faith. There are Churches where the full Gospel is not preached, therefore it’s impossible to abide in there.

2- What are the good works we must do?

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

After reading this verse we could ask the question, “what are the good works God has prepared for me to do?” The Good works are people, the people that you can influence and lead to Christ. Service is different to good works, we all have to work hard doing things and serve, but also we all need to work in bringing others to Christ. Investing in people that are in the house of God and outside in the world. In 1 Corinthians 16:15 KJV  says, “I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)” observe the word the King James Version has used, “addicted,” This same verse in other versions say, “they devoted themselves to serve God’s holy people,” would you say you are addicted to serving the saints? Maybe you say, “l think they are alright, but I’m not addicted.” Being devoted or addicted to serve or minister to the people is the good works we must do. In Mark 16:15 NKJV Jesus himself tells us, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Everyone must hear the Gospel and we are the ones to announce it to them, all of us in Christ must do the work of an evangelist. This is after all “the Great Commission” not “The Great suggestion.”

3- Why must we allow the Lord to work in our character?

In Genesis 1:12, NKJV  we find an unchangeable principle, it says: “And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” The principle is “Everything reproduces after its own kind,” for example an apple tree can never give oranges, just apples. This same principle applies in our lives as well, our characteristics are being reproduced in our children and people we lead and have influence over. You may teach all you like, but you will always reproduce what you are. This should bring some sobering to us, the thought that we could be influencing people for bad is terrifying! The Lord surely wants to work in us in order to produce good fruit, and this is why we must allow Him to work in our lives.

We must not be discouraged and give up on ourselves, because Philippians 1:6 NKJV says, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” The Lord promises to finish the work He began in us, praise the Lord!    Allow then the Lord to work in you.

4- What are the fruits we must reproduce?

Galatians 5:22-25 NKJV

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Here the Apostle Paul mentions the fruits of the Spirit which are: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

About love:

We need to tell others about Jesus, but are we being motivated by God’s love to share the message of salvation to others? We must make sure that the love of God is pouring out of us to reach the lost for Christ.

About joy:

Do you have Joy serving the Lord? The Will of God is full of love, joy and peace. It should be a great joy and privilege serving others as unto the Lord. Some believers have no joy in them, because they are living their Christian faith under the Law. Legalism and Law will not produce the fruit of the Spirit but abiding in Christ, holding on to Him will.

The only thing that the Law will do is reveal how much we have sinned and fallen short of salvation, but it doesn’t have the power to change you. In fact, all those who live by the law always have “a skeleton in the closet,” they have secret sins. It’s time to repent and hold on to Jesus.

About long-suffering:

Another fruit is “long-suffering,”but when it says long-suffering it doesn’t mean God will make someone sick, or make another one suffer, but it’s having patience with one another, a patience that endures.

About kindness:

Right now there are signs everywhere saying: “Be kind” this is good and by all means be kind but true kindness can only come through knowing Christ and letting His life overflow through you.

Fruitfulness is having a godly character, this is why character is so important! The gifts God has given you He will not take back, they are yours and those gifts can take you places, but your character is the most important one. As believers we should not be in awe of gifting, our highest goal is to have a godly character, adjusting and letting the Lord have His way in us.

What do you do behind closed doors? Do you seek God and put Him first in everything or are you doing something else? Because what you do behind closed doors when no one watches is actually who you really are! For example: wasting time, cutting corners, cheating, being immoral, etc.

5- Five essential truths necessary to produce fruitfulness.

1- The water of the Word of God

Meditate and put in practise God’s Word. Psalm 1 NKJV Says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Also Hebrews 4:12 NKJV  tells us, “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” We need to come under the Word of God so it can challenge us and change us.

2- Cultivated soil 

This has to do with your receptivity, in Matthew 13:18-23 NKJV we find the parable of the sower explained, in verse 23 says,”But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” It’s okay to produce 30%, but why do 30% when you can do 100%. Make sure your heart is receptive and teachable to the Lord and His apostolic leaders.

3- The principle of dying 

In John 12:24 NKJV says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” We have got to die to our old ways of the flesh and to selfish ambitions. Make it a quick death, because only when we die to selfishness we can bring forth much fruit.

The verses that follow the mention of the fruit of the Spirit say this, (Galatians 5:24-25) NKJV  “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” We cannot escape the principle of dying, but dying to selfishness will bring life and the wonderful fruit of salvation.

4- Pruning

John 15:2 NKJV “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Who has ever had a pruning from God? When God brings pruning He sure cuts off some nonsense in order for us to be fruitful.

5- Abiding in the vine

John 15:4-5 NKJV

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Hold on to Christ, depend on Him for everything, draw life from Him and be confident in His power. Repent for trying to do it your way and in your own strength, repent from any hidden sin and enjoy your relationship with Christ. Without realising it you will be bearing fruit, and fruit that will remain.

• Share a thought from the second service that relates to this subject of building godly character.

Prayer:

Lord,

Thank you for loving us so much and as sons and daughters you want us to be like you. Help me to abide in you always as you work in my life. Help me to submit to the godly authority you have put over my life, and if I am not under godly authority, I repent now. Bring my life into order, establish me in the vine, prune me to start producing fruit for your glory.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Dealing With Offences

Dealing With Offences

By Pastor Steve Maile

Luke 17:1 NKJV

“Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offences should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!”

Matthew 18:7 NKJV

“Woe to the world because of offences! For offences must come, but woe to that man by whom the offence comes!”

A. What is an offence?

An offence is a stumbling block, a deep hurt in our spirit or mind. It is a contradiction to what we believed should have happened. Strangers or casual acquaintances can insult you, be rude, criticise or condemn you but not deeply offend you, only those close and trusted friends can offend you.

The Lord Jesus said that offences will come, not might come or maybe come, but for certain they’ll come. Therefore, we need to learn to deal with them or we will fall. Many have forfeited their destiny in the Kingdom through offences more than immorality or any other sin. But if people can only understand how dangerous offences are, they would never allow themselves to be offended.

The devil will try everything to try to ruin and derail our ministry and destiny in Christ, and it saddens me after travelling to many nations, to see how the enemy is gaining ground because Christians are allowing the spirit of offence to get into them. So many lovely people get saved, planted and serve in a local Church and do well for a while, even years until an offence comes and then instead of dealing with it appropriately they get bitter and leave the Church or leave that congregation carrying the offence with them from congregation to congregation. They become offended church hoppers who will  continue to be offended wherever they go.

B. What are the consequences of the Offence?

People who get offended are people who have been hurt one way or another and as a result of it, they isolate themselves, they retreat to solitude and drop out of involvement and people contact, because they don’t want to be hurt further. See Matthew 24:12-13 NKJV “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” In other words, good people at the last Days, we will get hurt seeing other people’s iniquity, this turn them sour, bitter people.

Signs of people being offended:

• Separation from the presence of God, falling from grace because of making an idol of the hurt by lifting the offence above the Lord and his truth.

Hebrews 12:15 NKJV  “looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;”

• Offended christians stop going to Church and they pull away from people. Abnormality sets in when communication stops.

Hebrews 10:25 NKJV “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

• Divisions in the Body of Christ, offended people will speak against other ministries and hop from church to church.

I Corinthians 1:11-13 NKJV “For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”Sickness can come in through offence

• Immorality is also a root of offence.

Proverbs 7:25-27 NKJV “Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.”

There are hurt woman who can become prostitutes and dislike men, and vice versa, men towards woman as well.

- Hurt people hurt people.

Romans 12:19 NKJV “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”

People who are offended carry something in their spirit which is wrong, the face can tell a lot, you can see offence on the faces of people.

C. The Word of God is an offence to many

1 Peter 2:7-8 NKJV “Therefore, to you who believe, He (Christ) is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, and “A stone of stumbling
and a rock of offence.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.”

Jesus caused offence- Many of the things Jesus did and said offended the people of that day and also still offends people of today. The message of the cross is an offence, the Gospel is an offence to those who do not believe. The Word of God will offend you especially if you are a “cherry picker,” who only likes nice verses in the Bible. We are to read the whole counsel of God and obey His commands, not only the ones we like and as the previous verse (Verse 6) says, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.

If you are afraid of offending people you will not share the Gospel because you still fear man and this is very wrong.

Matthew 16:24 NKJV  “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.”

D. How to deal with Offence appropriately?

Learning to deal with offences is a foundational block and if we don’t receive this truth we will not progress in Christ. Offences are necessary because they are a vital ingredient to maturity. You cannot become a mature Christian without facing offences.

In Philippians 1:10 NKJV says, “that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” Even though offences are sure to come, we have here a promise where we can live free of offence until Jesus comes back for us or calls us home.

Practical ways of dealing with offences:

• When you get offended deal with it right away and repent for taking the offence and forgive the person that offended you quickly.

• Overlook faults don’t get easily offended and continue to forgive and walk in love.

• Ask the Lord to give you more grace to deal with offences.

• You need to have a great forgeterer and a great forgiverer. Your brother and sister will offend you every day, but choose not to be offended.

• Love your enemies, do good to them and pray for those who persecute you.

• Forget the past and release forgiveness. Your past has nothing to do with who you are today in Christ. You have to be future focused and keep destiny focused.

• Fall in love with Jesus and you will be free of offence.

• You need the washing of the water of the word daily so that your mind is cleansed and you soul is cleansed from offence because offences will come and we are to not be offended and continue to walk in Love.

Ephesians 4:32 NKJV

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Psalm 119:165 NKJV

Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.

2 Corinthians 6:3 NKJV

“We give no offence in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.”

The importance of maturity is dealing with offence, mature people will choose not to be offended because when you are offended you are useless in the Kingdom. You will stop being an effective witness and the devil knows this, that is why he will try his best to make us bite the carrot of offence but thank God for the Holy Spirit within us who is greater, He will strengthen us and leads us into victory, have confidence in His power and hand on to His Word. You will overcome!

Fathers and Sons

Fathers  and Sons

By Pastor Steve Maile

Malachi 4:6 NKJV

“And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

Today many are being brought up without a father, yet the Bible tells us of the importance of the father’s role not only in the family but also in the Church. In 1 Corinthians 4:14-17 NKJV says, “I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.” To be a father is one of the greatest calling in the ministry. Fathers are there by God to set an example, to keep you out of trouble and to offer wisdom from the Lord. Sadly, there are many Christians that are not Fathered, they might say they have a mentor or a coach but not a father. Just like Paul said, there are many teachers but not many fathers. I want to encourage you that Yes! God the Father is the Father of us all, but don’t let that be a cop out or a reason for you to not be fathered by someone in the Body of Christ. This is not a law, but make sure you life is in order, and your character is being built and developed to live a life of servanthood. 

The role of a Godly father is to implement his wisdom and impart who he is into the sons and daughters the Lord has given him. Teachers teach what they know, but a father will impart who he is. Very often the Fathering anointing operates through the Apostolic ministry, we see it all through the Bible, from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, Paul and Timothy, Paul and Onesimus, Peter and Mark, just to name a few, they all had a father son relationship in the Lord.

Here are some Scriptures underlined about the father son relationship:

2 Kings 2:12-13 NKJV 

“And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.”

Philippians 2:19-22 NKJV 

“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.”

Philemon 1:10 NKJV 

“I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains,”

1 Peter 5:13 NKJV 

“She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.”

1- Fathers are placed by God to protect and cover.

King David in the Psalm 140:7 said, “You have covered my head in the day of battle.” Every one of us are called into battle, and in the battle you will need covering. God the Father wants to cover you, He wants to clothe you, He wants to develop you in Christ, and He wants to father you in a covenant relationship that will never be broken.

David understood honour, fatherhood anointing, and covenant, this is why he would not raise his hand against King Saul even when Saul wanted to kill him. The Scripture tells us in 2 Samuel 21:7 that David made a covenant with Jonathan, Saul’s son, and because of that covenant after Jonathan’s death, David brought Mephibosheth (Jonathan’s son) to the palace and treated him as one of his sons all the days of His life. (See 2 Samuel 9:11) Mephibosheth had the father’s protection of King David, that’s why when the Gibeonites asked for the death of 7 descendants of Saul, David protected Mephibosheth. (Read the story in 2 Samuel 21.) 

2 Samuel 21:7 NKJV

“But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the Lord’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.”

2 Samuel 9:11NKJV

“As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.””

2- Fathers are there by God for the development of character.

A spiritual father in the Lord will always be on the look out for the character development of his children in the faith, and will help them in their calling in Christ. The Father is more concerned about their hearts than their gifts. Romans 11:29 NKJV tells us, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” The gifts are important and the Lord will never take those gifts away from us, but more important than the gifts is our character. There is a danger of going wrong if we don’t have a father over us.There are still some Christians who still carry an orphan spirit and reject the concept of a spiritual father, this is a problem that the Holy Spirit wants to address.

Every son and daughter in the Kingdom has to have served under another man of God and when you have been proven in little things you will be ready for bigger things.

3- Fathers are placed by God to bring correction and discipline.

1 Corinthians 4:21 NKJV “What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?”

Hebrews 12:5:8 NKJV

“And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.”

No one likes to be corrected and chastened but we need to endure it, because we must remain humble. We don’t know everything and we need godly fathers to help us with their wisdom and insight. We need to understand that any correction they bring to us come from a place of love. This is always the case with God the Father, He loves us, therefore He corrects us. Look at the example of Jesus, “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8) NKJV

He was a perfect Son because He submitted to the will of the Father even dying on the cross, This is what Jesus prayed before the cross, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:41-42) NKJV

Wouldn’t we like to follow the steps of Jesus? God’s love for us will result in discipline and correction in order to get rid of the things that are not good, until we become like Him. He wants us to be partakers of his holiness, what a privilege this is for us!

It is true that there are many in positions of authority who talk to people roughly and like to control and manipulate but this is not the Kingdom way. As Proverbs 18:23 NKJV says, “The poor man uses entreaty but the rich answers roughy.” A father will speak differently, because the Fatherhood anointing is a covenantal anointing where the father seeks the well being of His children. A father is full of mercy, compassion, wisdom, and love. 

Godly Fathers are rare and they need to be honoured and valued. When you find the father that the Lord has placed in your life cling to that person, this doesn’t mean that spiritual Fathers are perfect, they are not! Don’t lift them up as a god or put them on a pedestal. But equally don’t fall into a trap of showing no honour, humility, and respect.

4- Fathers are placed by God to impart.

Romans 1:1 NKJV

“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established”

Paul wanted to impart spiritual gifts to the Christians in Rome, how? By praying and laying hands on them. In 2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV Paul said to Timothy, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” We see then the gift Timothy had was imparted by Paul, his father in the faith. This is such a blessing, yet if spiritual gifts can be imparted by the laying on of hands, we then need to be careful not to let anyone lay hands on us unless we know their integrity in the Kingdom, Good things can be imparted but also bad ones. We need to know the character of the ones who are imparting.

Whatever is flowing out of your spirit is always imparted through the laying on of hands. Make sure to heed the word in 1 Timothy 5:22, NKJV “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.”

5- Father bring affirmation, approval, and acceptance.

Romans 8:15 NKJV

“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.””

We are so privileged to have a relationship with God as a Father because of Jesus Christ, It is through the Father who we know who we really are, He gives us our secured identity. We cannot find identity in any other way, thing or person. We all seek for approval, affirmation and acceptance but it can only be found in God the Father through Jesus His Son.

When Jesus was baptised God the Father brought approval and affirmation, He said, “This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”No wonder Jesus walked on this earth with such confidence in the love of His Father and wouldn’t budged at the temptations of the devil.

There are so many dysfunctional families today and children are not getting the approval and affirmation of their fathers, so they fall into drugs, immorality and end up ruining their lives. But the Lord wants to restore fatherhood in families and in the Church. Remember our opening verse in Malachi, God is passionate in turning the hearts of fathers to their children and the children to their fathers. We need to be fathered to go further and break the curse in society of fatherlessness.

The Lord wants to bring many sons and daughters into the Kingdom and everyone needs a spiritual Father. Be fathered so you can become a father.

Lastly, Never uncover a Father but keep showing honour to him. Honour is the language of the Kingdom.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are the perfect father and we need you!

Break from us pride, rebellion and the orphan spirit we may have in us.

Your way is the best way, so I submit to your way. If fatherhood is needed in my life, then I welcome it. Thank you for your love and care for me. I want to know you more and be fathered by you.

In Jesus name I pray

Amen

Destined For The Throne Room

Destined For The Throne Room

By Pastor Steve and Karina Maile

Hebrews 4 :16 NKJV

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

1- Come boldly to the throne of grace.

How do you come into His presence? Do you come fearful or terrified and anxious? Or Do you come with a religious spirit and not in faith? What child comes to his Daddy begging? If you are a born again believer, then God is your Father. We need to go boldly into His presence, Hebrews 10:35 also tells us, “do not throw away your confidence, which has great reward.” Pray with confidence not with arrogance or pride, our faith is not on our own righteousness but on the Holy Blood of Christ. There’s no other way for us to approach God except through the Blood of His Son Jesus, if you are under the Blood then you are marked for destiny.

A- Pray in the Spirit

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “pray without ceasing,” This means we need to make our lives a constant prayer. If Jesus, God’s beloved Son, spent long hours in prayer and He spent whole nights praying, how much more should we. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is essential for throne room praying, because we can pray in the language and power of the Spirit. Many times we do not know what to pray or how to pray about something, we should then pray in tongues and let the Spirit lead us, He knows how to intercedes through us and make our prayers effective. (Romans 8:26)

If you are filled with the Holy Ghost you will love to pray. Sadly the prayer meetings are the least attended meeting in church. Throne room praying will change and revolutionise your life, and throne room prayers are what changes the world, don’t neglect it.

B- Pray the Word.

The Will of God is revealed in the Word of God. We must know God’s Word to pray God’s will. The throne room prayers are based on the Word of God. There is nothing that we will face that the Scriptures doesn’t talk about and there is nothing that we will go through that the Word of God doesn’t answer. Pray the bad thoughts, negative feelings and temptations away with the truth of God’s Word. Psalm 91:4 NKJV says, “He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings you shall take refuge, His truth shall be your shield and buckler.” We have protection in God’s Word if we stand strong and hold on to it. No matter what circumstances or people may say or what we think ourselves, God’s Word is truth and can protect us from the lies of the enemy.

Let’s love the Word of God, let’s feed on it, let’s meditate on it and let’s study it! The Rhema Word of God is what quickens our spirit.

For example in Matthew 9:37-39 says, we need to pray to the Lord of the harvest that He might send labourers to the harvest. Let’s continue to pray for people to be saved and come to know Jesus Christ all over the world. There’s not doubt than when we pray for souls, we get affected after being in the throne room face to face with Jesus, and we cannot wait to tell someone about the Lord Jesus Christ and be a witness of the truth. The true understanding of the Gospel and good works are an outflow of throne room prayers, we need to pray down the Glory of God!

2- Obtaining grace.

Hebrews 4 :16 says we need come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. And James 2:13 NKJV tells us, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement.” There is a judgement but thank God for His mercy today. We need His mercy and we need to find grace, why? Because we can’t do anything without the grace of God. We are saved by His grace through faith and we need continual grace on our lives to overcome every difficulty as we continue to lead others to Christ. Take your place at the throne room and come into God’s mercy and God’s grace.

3- Keep yourself undefiled.

1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

The Bible tells us to sanctify the Lord God in our hearts, sanctification means growing into holiness. God will not have fellowship with unholiness. Are you a holy christian or are you an un-sanctified Christian? The reason many won’t pray is because they are un-sanctified. They do things in the dark and keep unclean habits in secret. What are you beholding? What are you looking at with your eyes? Why in the world would you be worshipping anything else except the Lord? Remember the Sunday school song that says, “Oh be careful little eyes what you see, For the Father up above is looking down with love, oh be careful little eyes what to see,” and it goes on to say, “ oh be careful little ears what you hear, oh be careful little mouth what you say and oh be careful little hands what you do and little feet where you go.” The Father is watching us, don’t be fooled thinking you can keep your sin secret, sooner or later it will come out to the light, that’s why you must willingly confess it and forsake it, ask the Father through Jesus Christ to sanctify your heart and life.

4- Keep yourself under godly authority

God has set in the Church Five Fold ministries for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry. These are Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers that need to be working together for the same purpose. Any and every ministry has to come into divine order by being planted and serving in a local church. We are seeing a trend today of many Christians and even ministries with big following not planted and rooted in the local church, this is un-biblical, the truth is we must be planted in a local church, we must serve others, be dead to selfish ambitions, and be discipled and growing in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. So many are self appointed in the Body of Christ, this needs to stop and let the Lord appoint and approve us into the ministry, this gets done in the local Church.

The main anointing of the Five Fold ministry is to disciple others, your gifting or your anointing is given by God but don’t let you gifting exceed your character. If you are called into the Five Fold ministry it will be seen by the humility in your life and your ministry would of be proven and tested by God. Do not receive anyone into your house that does not hold to the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Don’t fellowship with people who are unchurched because the spirit that is on them will cling to you, don’t be mean to them but don’t allow that spirit to get on you, and if you think their friendship won’t affect me, it probably already has. Repent! Stop wasting your time in things out of order.

It is only by the grace of God that we can submit to the Lord and to the authority of the Five Fold ministry. So if we are not submitted to godly authority you need to repent and humble yourselves and ask the Lord to change your heart. Jesus humbled Himself and made Himself of no reputation as Philippians 2:5-8 tells us, and if He did it, how much more should we. Our calling is a humility calling not to glory in it, it’s the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ who does it in us.

Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

We all need to pray for our pastors every single day, they need your love, support and prayer

The apostle Paul told the churches to pray for him. Take time to pray for your pastor every day.

5- Stay under God’s shadow

Psalm 91:1-2 NKJV

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.””

If you are not praying you are playing. No man’s ministry is greater than his prayer life. Get under the shadow of the wings of the Almighty, it’s not hard work to pray, it’s glorious! If you been called of God beloved, you are approved by God to get into the throne room of Heaven, and while you are in there, someone is there with you too, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It’s time to detonate and release throne room prayers for nations and for people groups to come to the knowledge of Christ and bow their knees to the Father. Allow the Spirit of God to make you evangelistically salty.

Zechariah 2:5 says “For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”The praying Church will succeed, because His glory is in our midst. Be a throne room dweller.

Karina Maile 

Fight The Good Fight Of Faith

Fight The Good Fight Of Faith

By Pastor Steve Maile

1 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. 

1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 

The Gospel of the Kingdom is all about fighting, the Kingdom of God is against the devil and his evil forces and the reason we fight is to battle for souls to come to Christ. When you are born again, you are born into the fight. Are you fighting or have you disqualified yourself? The safest place to be is in the battle because passivity will kill your faith. But remember you cannot fight if you are un-sanctified, persisting in an area of a besetting sin disqualifies you from moving forward in the Lord.

A- Sanctify the Lord in our heart

As we read in 1 Peter, we must sanctify the Lord in our hearts. The new believer needs to allow his nature to be sanctified because being saved does not necessarily mean we walk in sanctification, there are things we need to do in order to allow the Holy Spirit to continue working in our lives. Sanctification is a daily process and it requires diligence. As we feed on God’s Word, God’s truth begins to cleanse us from ungodly things in our lives.

B- Be ready to share the Gospel

The passage in 1st Peter continues saying: Be ready to give a defence of the Gospel, people will notice by the way you conduct yourself and communicate that we have hope and they will enquire of us and we need to be ready to answer them. We don’t stay silent and wait for them to ask us, they will ask us because we are vocal about it.

“Super spiritual” Christians will use the excuse of only evangelising when they feel led by the Spirit, there is some truth in that statement, but it is not to be used to avoid evangelism all the time, just because you don’t feel like sharing your faith. Sadly many use this truth to excuse their feelings so they don’t have to evangelise, we are to give a defence to everyone not just some people that we feel led to.

C- Learn to fight

Every morning we wake up there are three enemies we need to fight, the devil, the world and our own flesh. Learn to fight on your own but we are not to fight alone. God has designed for us to be part of a local Church, you need to be planted and establish there, attending church doesn’t mean that you are planted. You are happiest in the fight when you are doing what the Lord Jesus called you to do and when you are following Him and His ways.

The Bible tells us to fight the good fight of faith, it’s a good fight because we have the victory assured, Jesus won the battle for us and the Holy Spirit in us is greater than the spirit in the world. We are not defeated as long as we get back in the fight! Remember we fight from a place of victory.

The Lord has given us weapons to engage in battle and they are very powerful, every soldier carry weapons, and the weapons are there for us to use them not just admire them.

1. The word of God

2. The Blood of Jesus

3. The Name of Jesus

4. The Spirit’s Language

5. Praise and worship

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 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, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Prayer is fighting, we need to pray and intercede and fight and pray for the breakthrough, we must pursue the Lord with all of our hearts, find His will in His Word and pray those promises. Praying not knowing if we will win, it’s not faith. We will win because Jesus already won, don’t give up and don’t give in. Fight for the salvation of your loved ones, fight in prayer for your pastors, many do not pray for their pastors.

Pray over the prophesies that have been spoken over your life and pray them into being. Fight through into victory and pray in the Spirit! The real reason many cannot fight is because they are not clean. It’s time to repent and forsake sin and get into the fight now.

We have got to press into the Lord, we have to prevail in prayer, praying for more of Him, more of His Kingdom and more of His truth.

Breaking influences of the world, protecting our children.

By Pastor Karina Maile

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?”

We are living in the dispensation of grace, salvation, forgiveness of sins and infilling of the Holy Spirit, but only for those who will repent and turn to the Lord. There is a judgement coming that will come to the whole world and it will begin in His Church with His children. This is a judgement for restoration unlike the Final Judgement, where it will be too late to try to amend your ways. Therefore, we must be thankful to the Lord for this judgement starting in His house, as it will expose the hidden sins of men and woman in order for them to repent and get right with God.

In the beginning after salvation we would cry out of thankfulness remembering God’s amazing grace in which He saved us but after a while we could be in danger of becoming complacent and loose that first love we had for the Lord. God warned Israel of this danger before entering into the Promised Land as Deuteronomy 4:25-28 MSG tells us, “When the time comes that you have children and grandchildren, put on years, and start taking things for granted, if you then become corrupt and make any carved images, no matter what their form, by doing what is sheer evil in GOD ’s eyes and provoking his anger—I can tell you right now, with Heaven and Earth as witnesses, that it will be all over for you. You’ll be kicked off the land that you’re about to cross over the Jordan to possess. Believe me, you’ll have a very short stay there. You’ll be ruined, completely ruined. GOD will scatter you far and wide; a few of you will survive here and there in the nations where GOD will drive you. There you can worship your homemade gods to your hearts’ content, your wonderful gods of wood and stone that can’t see or hear or eat or smell.” Could it be that this problem of complacency and idolatry was only for the Israelites only? Unfortunately not, even though we are in a better Covenant, many still loose their first love for the Lord and get mix up with the spirit of this world and begin to make idols for themselves, blessings given from the Lord have now taken the first place in their hearts. Many Christians put career, family, friends, culture, fashion, fitness, intellect, talents as idols in their lives, they are too many to mention all. The influence we allow the world to have over us will ruin us. How much do you listen to the world? And how much do you listen to the Lord (through the truth of His Word)?

A- Be not deceived

2 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”

We could think we are very good Christians trying our best, but our opinion is not important, what matters is what the Lord thinks, at the End of Time will be only His opinion that will count. The Lord will judge the living and the dead but right now He is extending mercy to us, we must come to Him with humility and ask Him what He really thinks of our lives. Let Him show you if you are doing well or not. Our prayer should be:”Lord open the eyes of my heart to see your truth”

In the 2 Thessalonians passage we are told not to allow anyone to deceive us because the appearing of the Lord Jesus will happen, but before it happens many profess Christians will turn their back to God, His Word and His ways. This is the big apostasy, the falling away of believers and leaders from the faith to live in the flesh and do what they want to do and not what God says.

Our faith will be tested just like the people of Israel were tested in the Promised Land,

Deuteronomy 13:1-4 MSG tells us, “When a prophet or visionary gets up in your community and gives out a miracle-sign or wonder, and the miracle-sign or wonder that he gave out happens and he says, “Let’s follow other gods” (these are gods you know nothing about), “let’s worship them,” don’t pay any attention to what that prophet or visionary says. GOD, your God, is testing you to find out if you totally love Him with everything you have in you. You are to follow only GOD, your God, hold Him in deep reverence, keep His commandments, listen obediently to what He says, serve Him—hold on to Him for dear life!” There is only one way acceptable to serve the Lord and it’s to love Him with all of your heart, strength and mind, any less than that we will be disqualified from the faith. The test will come but we will overcome if we hold fast to Christ no matter what.

B- Don’t be silent

In 2 Timothy 4:1-5 NKJV says,“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: Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.” Pastors and leaders are commanded by the Lord to preach the Word, to exhort, convince, and rebuke the people to stay in sound doctrine, because all doctrines are not good. There are erroneous doctrines leading people astray. Watch out, stay alert and stay planted in the Church. Warn others and don’t keep silent, you could be the only person they have to hear the truth of salvation. Don’t let the fear of man hold you back from telling others the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Deuteronomy 1:17 NKJV tells us, “You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s.” Pride is hidden behind the fear of man, people are terrified more by what others think of them than what God thinks of them. This should not be so. God is the judge, fear Him! 

C- Protect the children

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 MSG

“Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. Inscribe them on the doorposts and gates of your cities so that you’ll live a long time, and your children with you, on the soil that GOD promised to give your ancestors for as long as there is a sky over the Earth.”

It is so important that godly parents are the main influence on their children’s lives. But if the parents are not sold out to the Lord and not really committed to Christ and His Kingdom, their children will not be either. Reinhard Bonnke used to say: “if you are on your way to hell don’t expect your children to go to heaven,” why? Because they will copy what you do. Children are given by the Lord to us to instruct them in God’s way, as Proverbs 22:6 NKJV says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” If children spend most of their day in secular schools being taught by unsaved teachers, and then at home they spend hours in front of screens playing games, watching cartoons and movies that are not godly. And if the parents don’t take them to church every week and their highlight is their holidays doing fun things and very little is mention about God, don’t be shocked if later on they don’t want to follow the Lord.

We must protect our children and not let the spirit of this world affect them and take them to hell.

In Song of Solomon 8:8-9 MSG says, “My brothers used to worry about me: “Our little sister has no breasts. What shall we do with our little sister when men come asking for her? She’s a virgin and vulnerable, and we’ll protect her. If they think she’s a wall, we’ll top it with barbed wire. If they think she’s a door, we’ll barricade it.”What does these verses mean? First, let’s read it in another version, (TPT) “My brothers said to me when I was young, “Our sister is so immature. What will we do to guard her for her wedding day?” We will build a tower of redemption to protect her. Since she is vulnerable, we will enclose her with a wall of cedar boards. But now I have grown and become a bride, and my love for him has made me a tower of passion and contentment for my beloved. I am now a firm wall of protection for others, guarding them from harm. This is how he sees me—I am the one who brings him bliss, finding favour in his eyes.”

These verses mean exactly that, we need to protect our children, they are vulnerable, we need to take responsibility for them and guard them from secularism. Whatever it takes, we must fight in the spirit for them, we must surround them with godly influences, we must continually talk to them about the Lord, pray with them, read the Bible with them. If we marry it must be for the purposes of God, if we have children it must be for the purposes of God, so those children can be a light to their generation. Do all you can to train them in God’s way, homeschool if necessary but don’t let them be lost. Keep yourself on fire for Jesus and you will reproduce after your own kind.

Psalm 127:3-4 NKJV

“Behold, children are a heritage and gift from the LORD, The fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.”

Isaiah 8:18 AMP

“Listen carefully, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and wonders [that will occur] in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.”

Dear brother and sister in Christ, repent and renew your first love for the Lord, put Him and His Kingdom first, many are watching you and they are being influenced by you. Be the carrier of the Good News of the Gospel, lead others to Christ and you decide that as for yourself and your household will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

The sign of the end of the age and Israel’s involvement

The sign of the end of the age and Israel’s involvement

1- Taking heed to not be deceived

Matthew 24:3-4

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.”

2 Thessalonians 2: 3 

“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”

The Lord’s return is imminent and the Bible teaches us of many signs that will take place before His returning. In these two passages we see one of the signs will be “deception,” many believers will fall away from the faith, the Lord tells us to be alert and watch out for these signs.

In Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”This is what we call “Apostasy,” believers who abandon biblical principles embracing what is contrary to the faith. This is the fake church that supports bad things as if they were good, such as abortion, immorality, transgender, feminism, anti-semitism, antifa, chrislam, and more. It’s an evil culture of believers, including leaders and pastors who are turning away from the Word of God.

2- The beginning of sorrows

Matthew 24:6-8 

“And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

Notice the word “pestilence,” Covid-19 is one of many to come, but the Blood of Jesus can cover us and break any affliction and disease. Keep in mind verse 6, “See that you are not troubled,” don’t be afraid and trust the Lord. Study the whole chapter 24 to learn more of the signs, but what we must remember is that the Lord will return for us, see verse 30 and 31 of Matthew 24: “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 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.”

3- Israel’s involvement.

Habakkuk 1:5

“Look among the nations and watch—Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days

Which you would not believe, though it were told you.”

One nation that we really need to be aware of and watch carefully is the nation of Israel, we need to be praying for the Jewish people because the End Time events and the Second coming of Christ are going to centre in Jerusalem and Israel.

In Jeremiah 31 we see that the restoration of Israel has been prophesied and in Isaiah 43:6 it says, “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth—” in 1948 Israel become a nation again and Jewish people from around the world began to return back to their land. This is also another sign of the coming of Jesus.

What is happening to Israel right now is what was prophesied in Daniel 9:27, the breaking of peace treaty by the Islamic nations around it and attacking Israel, this too is a sign of the soon returning of Christ. The anti-Christ spirit is already in operation. Anyone that denies that Jesus is the Lord is an anti-Christ spirit. This anti-Christ spirit is like a great octopus with many tentacles, one of them is the ideology of Islamic terrorists, their ideology wants the complete destruction of Israel. This is the nature of Satan, who seeks to kill, steal and destroy. (John 10:10)

Daniel 9:27 NKJV

“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

In Ezequiel chapter 38 and 39 we see the prophecy of Gog and Magog and how the Lord will defend Israel. Gog and Magog is Russia and many don’t know that a great part of Russia is Islamic. Not only Russia, but verse 5 and 6 tells us that,“Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.”

Persia is a reference to modern-day Iran. Libya is located in northern Africa. Gomer is the people who settled in Germany. Togarmah is Asia Minor and Turkey.

Many nations are against Israel even now, the hour is near and we need to be praying for Israel. Israel is not saved yet, the Jewish people need to turn to the Messiah, and as Zechariah 12:10-11

says, “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. 11 In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 

Israel will come to the Messiah and the Lord will intervene and defend Israel, He will show grace and Israel will be saved. See Romans 11:26-27, where it says: “And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” 

All of this will coincide with Last Days events. Also remember the words of the Lord Jesus in 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.”

4- Playing your part.

We as the Church must be praying and stand in the gap. The Lord said in Ezekiel 22:30, “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” Let’s be those who stand in the gap of prayer for Israel and the nations to come to Christ. Don’t miss the opportunity to pray in the prayer meetings every Friday at 7pm, don’t miss Church on Sundays. Get in the gap, pray alone and pray corporately. Ephesians 5:16 says, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Don’t waste time with things of this world that will stay behind, invest time in the Kingdom. Many Christians say, “one day I’ll go to the prayer meeting, one day I’ll go to evangelism,” but that day never seems to come. Our prayer needs to not only be for ourselves, but others. When the Lord returns, millions will die and they need to hear about Christ now. The great tribulation is coming, who will stand in the gap? This is a call to prayer and you have to be in Church or you will fall away. The vehicle for safety and protection is the house of the Lord, today many are in deception, they think they are Christians but don’t need to go to Church. Be careful! Church is not just watching services online, it’s the gathering of the saints together. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Stay in the vehicle and be alert, fight the good fight of faith. You need to start playing your part now.

Perception and Perspective

Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Many will read this passage and think that we can never get God’s thoughts or ways, it is true that in our own natural way we could never think like God thinks, or do things like He would, because of our sinful nature, but when we are born again and surrender to Christ, He gives us the Holy Spirit and He will illuminate us showing us God’s perspectives and we will be able to perceive properly His will and ways.

Even as born again believers filled with the Holy Spirit we can still have wrong perspectives and perceptions, because we let the old sinful nature dominate us, we haven’t renewed our minds in God’s Word. Ephesians 5:8 says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” We have to walk in the right perspective and perception.

Perception is the way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted. Perspective is a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view.

John Newton who wrote the hymn “Amazing grace,” was a slave trader and after becoming a Christian, he didn’t immediately stop the evil slave trading business, because in that time, it was seemed as a good honest job. It was much later that he got God’s perspective of the evil of it, that he repented and wrote the song. Just like John Newton, we too can hold on to things that are not godly or biblical just because we don’t perceive things with God’s perspectives.

1- Why is it important to have God’s perspective?

God is the creator and judge of all the earth and we need His perspective because one day, we all have to face Him and give an account of all we have done. He will judge according to each one’s work, I Peter 1:17-18 tells us so, “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers.”

2- Learning to think like Him

I Peter 4:1-7

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

In the Passion Translation verses 1 and 2 say it like this: “Since Christ, though innocent, suffered in his flesh for you, now you also must be a prepared soldier, having the same mind-set, for whoever has died in his body is done with sin. So live the rest of your earthly life no longer concerned with human desires but consumed with what brings pleasure to God.”

And the Message says, “Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannised by what you want.”

The way we perceive will either bring us close to God or push us away. In John 8:44 Jesus said that the devil was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. The devil will try his hardest to give you a distorted vision of God and your old carnal nature contributes to a wrong perception of God, but thank God the Holy Spirit is stronger than them both when you hunger for the truth of God. According to this passage in 1 Peter 4, we can actually learn to think like God the Father, it’s something we learn as we get into God’s Word and begin to practise what it says.

When we begin to see like God sees, we can see the bigger picture. Sometimes things appear to be big, but in the big picture, it is actually something small. We need to learn to have God’s perspective not our own. For Him nothing is impossible, He can make a way where there seems to be no way, he can make a river in the dessert and He can save a nation in a day!

Faith sees the impossible because it sees with the eyes of Jesus. This is why without faith it’s impossible to please the Lord, how can we please Him if we don’t know how He thinks or how His ways are? We need faith, we need a spiritual perspective and a spiritual perception.

Many times when we find ourselves in tough situations we pray but not necessarily a prayer of faith, the prayer is full of concerns and anguish and fear for the terrible situation we find ourselves in. I have experienced personally the little nudging of the Holy Spirit convicting me and showing me that my prayer is not in faith. Thank God for the Holy Spirit that can bring us the different perspective to see that whatever we can be going through is not more powerful than the Almighty God.

Because the Lord loves us He sometimes allows us to experience different situations in order to get His perspective. Through it we gain wisdom, compassion and our faith is strengthen. In Christ we have His mind (1 Corinthians 2:16), all of us together have the mind of Christ, not just one person, one pastor or one prophet, but everyone who is filled with the Holy Spirit has the mind of Christ. Some encourage us in worship, others in prayer, someone else in evangelism and someone else in discipling, yet together we have the mind of Christ.

If we have been born again, we have renounced the old nature, so how can it be that we still think the same old way? This should not be, we must learn to think like Christ. Read Romans 6:6-14, “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. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

3- He who has an ear let him hear

In the book of Revelation and in the Gospels every time the Lord told a parable, He said the Idiom: “He who has an ear let him hear,” which means: You’d better listen and you’d better listen well. Why? Because many hear but they don’t hear well and don’t perceive things with God’s perspective. Someone once said, “Many times we don’t see things as they truly are, but we see them how we are.” In other words, your perspective is limited to your experience and you can only understand a little bit but when we let the Holy Spirit teach us to think right, we will see things as they really are.

Wrong perspectives will make you judge others wrongly, for example, an immoral man that has come to Christ but has not renewed his mind can fall in the danger of jealousy towards his wife and judge her thoughts according to how he used to be. But just because he was immoral and had evil thoughts it doesn’t mean his wife has the same thoughts. He needs to renounce jealousy and renew his mind. “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.” (Titus 1:15)

Another example could be that we find ourselves in a bad situation but we are blaming God for it, when it was actually our doing, God still has compassion and will forgive us as we humble ourselves before Him.

Our opinions are not important, what is important is that we are in the centre of God’s will and with the right perspective and perception. Take time in getting to know the Father through Jesus and His Word and begin to think like Him. Jesus made the way for us to be like Him. Hallelujah

Pastors Steve and Karina Maile

Abounding In Good Works

Abounding In Good Works

By Pastor Karina Maile

The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23) NKJV and in Hebrews 9:22 NKJV it also tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Therefore, it was necessary in the Old Covenant the sacrifices of animals, those innocent animals paid the penalty of sins on behalf of the sinners, but because they weren’t humans those sacrifices had to be often and many, that was until Jesus, the Son of God came to earth and took the form of a man, and as a man He became that perfect Lamb of God.  He sacrificed His sinless life on behalf of the entire human race. His sacrifice was so perfect that there is no need for any more sacrifices of animal or any other sacrifice for that matter. Since Christ’s death, the only thing God requires for forgiveness of sins is repentance and faith in Christ. There is no other way to obtain forgiveness of sin and gain eternal salvation but only through the person of Jesus Christ. The love of God, salvation and the favour with God cannot be obtain by doing good works but only through faith in Christ.

1- Good works flowing out of knowing who we are.

Galatians 2:16 NKJV says, “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” The good works we do is because our identity has changed, when we give our lives to Christ, He gives us a new heart, a new nature, and because we have a His nature we can’t help but to be like God and do good things. We begin to enjoy serving God and others and we are ready for every good work.

Romans 5:5-8 KJV tells us that “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The love of God has already been downloaded into our hearts by the Spirit because of Jesus, we are now children of God, we don’t try to be sons and daughters, we become sons and daughters through Christ.

Before Christ did any ministry, God the Father spoke of His love and approval of Him. Jesus only had to walk in obedience to what God the Father already planned for Him to do. Matthew 3:16-17 NKJV “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.”” How amazing is the love of God! Still the Lord says the same with us, His love for us is certain even before we do anything, the moment we decide to come to God through Christ and we get baptised, God’s love covers us, and He has assigned good works for us to do, look what Ephesians 2:8-10  NKJV says,“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

”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.” (Acts 10:37-38) Any good works we do now in Christ are an expression of the Holy Spirit working through us and they are not to gain holiness or brownie points with God or indeed salvation. The good works flow out of our relationship with the Lord. No wonder in Colossians 1:9-10 NKJV the Apostle Paul says, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”and again in Hebrews 10:24 NKJV says, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”

2- The good works are a witness to the unbeliever.

The good works we do are also a witness to the unsaved. See what            1 Peter 2:12 NKJV says, “having your conduct honourable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” And of course the Lord Jesus himself said: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) NKJV

3- The good works are the garments of the Bride of Christ.

Lastly, Christ will be coming for a beautiful, perfect Bride dressed in fine linen, what does this mean? Revelation 19:7-8 NKJV tells us “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 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.” We the Church are Christ’s Bride and need to be ready for His imminent  return, there’s no time to waste, and as a bride in love get ready for the wedding day, we the Church must get ourselves ready by doing righteous works, good works that can glorify the Lord.

We have the grace of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to do it. We cannot fail! Tell everyone how much He loves us and how much we love Him while we get our hands busy serving and doing good works.

Opening The Heavens Over Your Life

By Pastor Steve Maile

There is a popular saying about prayer, Pray Until Something Happens =PRAYER. Yet true intercession is born in the heart of a worshipper, and out of true worship we can do effective warfare. The fact is that we are all involved in warfare, warfare it’s not just for some people but for every believer, we are at war with the realm of darkness and if you don’t know how to get into warfare through worship, you will be in big trouble.

In Isaiah 54:1 NKJV says,“Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not laboured with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord. When it says, “Break forth into singing, and cry aloud” God means what He says, He has put in all of us the ability to sing, you may not think you have a great voice, but that’s not the point. The Lord tells us to sing and we must sing.

Not all of our praying is quiet and meditative, there are times where we have to shout with the voice of triumph and there are times we must dance like David danced with all his might and there are times we need to pray loudly in tongues. Some Christians think this is not for them because they don’t feel comfortable being loud, but the Bible is clear that we must all do it. Singing will lead us into worship, warfare and intercession because singing to the Lord will bring miracles, deliverances, breakthroughs and healings.

The Psalm 57:9 NKJV says, “I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations.” There is problem when we stop singing and stop gathering together as a Church, many people stopped going to Church and don’t realise that they are actually beginning to backslide. Bareness is the product of backsliding. Watching online services is not the same as face to face fellowship, many people cannot get to a good Spirit filled Church and can only watch the services online, but many others choose to stay at home for convenience and comfort, this is wrong because the vehicle to keep you on fire is the Church where the corporate  anointing flows as we sing together. Bareness can be broken when you begin to sing and worship the Lord.

There are 800 reference of music in Scripture and 400 references to praise. The praise and worship in Church is not the warm up to hear the Word. Praise and worship is essential in the life of the born again believer for many reasons, Here are some of them:

1- Praise silences the enemy

2- Praise draws the presence of God because He inhabits the praises of His people. He lives on your praise.

3- Praise pierces the darkness and opens Heaven

4- Praise impregnates the atmosphere for faith and miracles

5- Praise will reveal those with demonic problem and set them free.

6- Praise prepares the way for true worship and intercession.

7- Praise releases the angels of God at work.

8- Dynamic Praise will be the Last Day expression of Apostolic warfare

The Psalms 40:3 NKJV  says, “He (The Lord) has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.” It is good to sing songs and hymns we know, but we must also sing new songs by the Spirit. In many congregations the choir don’t give time to the Spirit to flow with new songs, it’s very much like a West End show and not worship. This cannot be. It also says, that “Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD.” This means we need to sing to those who don’t know the Lord. We need to sing on the streets, especially when doing Evangelism, because when we do, the unsaved will fear and put their trust in God. Singing is a sign for the unbeliever. There are times to go to our secret place and worship the Lord but also there are times we need to shout as a Church and declare God’s Word. There are times we can pray in our hearts but also we need to do it audibly. As Hebrews 13:15 NKJV  says, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name.” Notice the expression “fruit of our lips,”it means we must move our lips with praise, the fruit will abound according to the confession of our faith. And “sacrifice of praise” means, we have to do it even when we don’t feel like doing it.

In Amos 9:11 the Bible tells us that “In the Last Days God will raise the Tabernacle of David. In the Tabernacle of Moses and in the Temple of Solomon there were not worship or praise, only sacrifices. The Lord says He will restore the Tabernacle of David, because in the tabernacle of David there were worship and praise, songs and playing instruments 24/7- 365. God wants to restore true worship today back into His Church and even in the streets not performance.

Make sure you begin to get in the Spirit and sing aloud special in times when you are feeling sick, depressed, tormented, or find yourself in tough time. The key to your miracle is to sing to the Lord, because when we sing to Him, we focus on Him and how great He is and we realise that our problems are not as big compare to Him. “You that were barren, sing!” Says the Lord, “Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud!!!

Developing Covenantal Faith Through The Transforming Power Of God’s Word

Developing Covenantal Faith Through The Transforming Power Of God’s Word

1- Thinking God’s thoughts.

Romans 12:1-2 AMP

“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”

Notice the Scripture says, “Present your body to the Lord as a living sacrifice,” this means we actually need to do it, it’s our job to seek God’s face and to continually live life as an act of worship. In verse two we are told to renew our minds in order to be transformed, and we must not longer live like the world does. Again, this is our job. God won’t change our minds only our hearts, we have to change our own minds and submit ourselves to the truth of God’s Word. What the world says it’s irrelevant, what matter is what God says.

Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” When Christ gives us a new heart, we become new person and we enter into covenant with God Almighty, but we must do our part in developing our faith and train the mind to think the thoughts of God. Thinking the wrong things will hinder our growth in Christ, the problem is in the mind not the heart. We have been used to thinking with our intellect, but we must learn to think with the mind of the Spirit.

God’s Word is very powerful, and it’s alive, it has the power to change our thinking. Why must we change our thinking? We must change our thinking because we are not longer the person we used to be, and with the new life must come a new way of living and thinking.

2- The power of God’s Word.

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

One of the things that an un-renewed mind can do is to bring insecurities. We could be tempted into trying to find our value in the doing not the being. (See notes from last week) Yet God wants us to relate to Him as sons and daughters not as slaves. As 1 John 3:2 NkKJV says, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it is not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He is.”

There’s something about hearing the truth of God’s Word and acting upon it that brings transformation. In John 17:17 NKJV Jesus was praying for his disciples and in His prayer He said: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”  The Bible is truth, it’s not just a good or holy book. Sadly, there are many people who read God’s Word religiously but don’t apply it personally or believe it’s God actually talking to them through the Scriptures.

The Word of God is alive and active and full of power, and we must know what the Word of God says about us, our identity and all we have in Christ. When we simply believe, receive the Scriptures as God’s Word, then we’ll be change forever.

God is commanding us to act on what is being revealed to us through the Scriptures, He commands us to be transformed and not to stay the same. Remember He doesn’t show partiality to anyone, His promises are available to everyone who believes.

You could been hearing anointed messages but it will not produce anything in you unless you renounce the lies of the enemy, fears, doubt or condemnation, receive God’s Word with humility and accept it as the final authority.

Be secure in who you are in Christ and in your relationship with the Father.

3- No more barrenness.

Isaiah 54:1 AMP

“Shout for joy, O barren one, she who has not given birth;
Break forth into joyful shouting and rejoice, she who has not gone into labor [with child]!
For the [spiritual] sons of the desolate one will be more numerous
Than the sons of the married woman,” says the Lord.”

In the New Covenant, there is not spiritual barrenness or being unfruitful. Jesus said in John 15:16, NKJV

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” The Spirit of the Lord that lives in the born again believer always brings life and will give birth to sons and daughters of God.

In Mark 11:22 (TPT) we read, “Jesus replied, “Let the faith of God be in you!” (Translated from the Aramaic), as we put our faith in the Lord Jesus, our faith can begin to develop from just salvation faith. Salvation faith is very important but the Lord doesn’t want us to stay there, He wants us advancing in our faith, developing the faith until the faith is like precious. See how the Apostle Peter starts his second letter to believers, (2 Peter 1:1) “Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:” Then, it is possible to receive from the Father a faith that is precious, equally precious as that of the Apostles, because we share an equal standing in the privileges and blessings of the Covenant.

Look at others people’s faith we may feel we are insignificant, useless and we could even feel condemned, how can we develop our faith? Well, in Romans 10:17 NKJV “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” We can receive more faith as we get into God’s Word. What a great promise!

4- Facts about faith and fear:

• Faith is what God responds to. Fear is what the enemy responds to.

• Faith is what pleases God. Fear pleases the enemy.

• Faith always moves God into action. Fear moves the enemy into action.

• Faith is the winning attitude that develops confidence in God. Fear is the loosing attitude that mistrusts God.

• Faith knows something, no one else’s does. Fear keeps you ignorant of God’s plans.

• Faith is the language and currency of Heaven. Fear keeps you as a slave.

• Faith does need constant replenishing. Fear and doubt are robbers.

• Faith requires desire to fuel. Fear doesn’t allow you to choose.

• Faith involves the heart and mouth. Fear involves mind and mouth.

• Faith produces boldness. Fear produces cowardice.

• Faith won’t take no for an answer. Fear gives in.

• Faith is committed to long term goals and dreams and it’s not superficial. Fear gives up.

• Faith possesses the Promised Land. Fear keeps you as a slave in a foreign land.

• Faith will not listen to negativity. (Read the story of Nehemiah and the building of the wall in Jerusalem and how Sanballat and Tobiah were constantly opposing him but Nehemiah remained strong and continued building)

Faith is:

Dead to doubt,

Deaf to discouragement.

Blind to the impossible

Hears the inaudible

Sees the invisible and is

Strengthen to do the impossible.

We need to develop our faith in the marketplace place, which means we must come out of the comfort zone and go out, reach out to others and lead them to Christ.

If you don’t exercise your faith you will remain barren.

This faith life is not just for some but for everyone. A neglected gift is a rejected gift. How can we reject such precious gift of faith from the Lord?

Maybe you tried but failed, don’t make a memorial to failures. Get up and try again, talk to someone, practise your faith in your everyday ordinary life. Daniel and his friends didn’t bow to fear even when they were thrown in the fire to be burn alive. The Lord says to you today, “If you don’t bow you won’t burn.”

How to obtain this precious faith? Simply ask the Lord and feed on His Word. Remember miracles happen because we serve a mighty God, who can turn the impossible into possible.

James 1:12 TPT

“If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life’s difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! True happiness comes as you pass the test with faith, and receive the victorious crown of life promised to every lover of God!”

Pastors Steve and Karina Maile and Danny Maile

Let Covenant Love Continue And Dealing With Insecurities

Let Covenant Love Continue And Dealing With Insecurities

1 John 3:1-3 NKJV

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

In the New Covenant the Lord Jesus Christ, the Mediator, revealed to us God as a Father. Throughout the Old Testament, God is know as “God Almighty,” the “Great I am” and we can identify 15 other different names, which also unveiled God’s character. Jesus introduced for the first time the concept of fatherhood and also He talked about the possibility for everyone who came to Him (Jesus) to have a covenantal relationship with God the Father, and of course this outraged the religious leaders of that time, because they were the ones who knew all the law and they very much enjoyed the difference between the clergy and laity.

But let’s just look at the marvellous love the Father has extended to us, such love that He calls us His children without respect of persons, everyone is invited to this relationship. Amazing!

1- Understanding the spiritual realm

A. Discerning of spirits.

This covenant relationship with God the Father can only be made possible by having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, His Son. We must believe in the Son and that He is the Mediator of this better covenant with God.

The problem is that many don’t know Jesus personally, they only know religion, rituals and superficiality. Many Christian churches are full of people who are religious but not saved, this is very sad. 1 John 4:1 NKJV says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

The religious spirit is very deceiving, it talks a good talk but doesn't walk the talk. A religious person says, “Jesus is the Son of God and was perfect because He was divine not like us humans who are full of sin and wickedness,” this statement is in part true, but they say this to excuse their sin yet have no intention in humbling themselves before God to receive a God’s new nature in them. Jesus was 100% human, He came in the flesh and experienced all we experience, yet He didn’t sin because He was the Son of God. He shed His blood and paid the punishment of sin for us so we can enter into a covenantal relationship with God. Therefore, when we are born again we become sons and daughters of God and the power of sin gets broken over us, it cannot hold us slaves any longer. See what John 8:32-36  NKJV tells us, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Also 1 John 3:8-9 NKJV tells us, “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. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”

Not only Christ was 100% human and 100% Son of God, now because of what He did for us, we are 100% human and 100% sons and daughters of God, and sin has no power over us just like sin didn’t have power over Jesus. We could still sin if we wanted too, just like Jesus could of have sinned if He wanted to, but He didn’t and now in Christ we don’t want to. The power of sin and the struggle to stay holy is broken, we are now holy in Christ. Praise the Lord!

B. The three witness.

There are three witnesses in Heaven and three witnesses on earth that testify that Jesus is the Son of God and the promised Messiah, as 1John 5:5- 12 (AMP) says, “Who is the one who is victorious and overcomes the world? It is the one who believes and recognises the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 This is He who came through water and blood [His baptism and death], Jesus Christ—not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. It is the [Holy] Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. [He is the essence and origin of truth itself.] 7 For there are three witnesses: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three are in agreement [their testimony is perfectly consistent]. 9 If we accept [as we do] the testimony of men [that is, if we are willing to take the sworn statements of fallible humans as evidence], the testimony of God is greater [far more authoritative]; for this is the testimony of God, that He has testified regarding His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies confidently on Him as Saviour] has the testimony within himself [because he can speak authoritatively about Christ from his own personal experience]. The one who does not believe God [in this way] has made Him [out to be] a liar, because he has not believed in the evidence that God has given regarding His Son. 11 And the testimony is this: God has given us eternal life [we already possess it], and this life is in His Son [resulting in our spiritual completeness, and eternal companionship with Him]. 12 He who has the Son [by accepting Him as Lord and Saviour] has the life [that is eternal]; he who does not have the Son of God [by personal faith] does not have the life.

This is the amazing truth of the New Covenant, that anyone who believes and surrenders to Christ becomes a son or a daughter, and through the Spirit of God we can call God, our Dear Father, see Galatians 4:6  NKJV says, “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

2- Knowing who you are

If you don’t know who you are in Christ and the Covenant you have entered into, you will be dealing with insecurities because you will feel insignificant and the enemy will be messing with you. In the book of Romans we find the key to deal with insignificance, insecurities and pride. Let’s read it, 

Romans 12

1 I beseech [urge] 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.

2 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.

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Verse 3 in the Message translation says, “It’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what He does for us, not by what we are and what we do for Him.” And in the Passion Translation says, “God has given me grace to speak a warning about pride. I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem.

People who do things for approval or recognition and have an unhealthy desire for popularity must examine their motives because they could be dealing with insecurities or pride, and this is what Paul is referring to. It is true that as children of God who have been accepted by the Father and given an inheritance as His sons and daughters and insecurities, rejection, and feelings of insignificance have no room is us; yet many genuine Christians could loose their focus on Christ and begin to think their success is because of their doing. Others may think that when they go through a difficult season God’s favour have been lifted off from them and begin to question God and His love for them, this is wrong. We must be unshakable in our identity, the fact is, that we are God’s children because we have decided to surrender to Christ and to follow Him and in this truth we must be establish.

Disillusion is the result of unrealistic expectations that we have set for ourselves or on others and they don’t come to pass. You could have been setting expectations in the ministry, in your marriage, on your children, having a great job, etc. Remember your identity doesn’t come from your ‘doing’ but you ‘being,’ knowing and relating to God the Father in a covenantal relationship. You are a member of the Body of Christ and as Romans 12:4-6 NKJV tells us, “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.” God has given you a grace for you to function in the Kingdom, serving God is not only narrowed to holding a microphone, there are many ways to serve God in our everyday lives in ordinary ways but still influencing and telling people about Christ.

Read Romans 12:9-21 for your job description.

3- The greatest fulfilment of the New Covenant

Because we have been made Sons and daughters we can begin to behave like our Father God, and He is love. He fills us with His love and teaches us to love others, all of us didn’t really know how to love, our so called love was tainted with selfishness and ulterior motives, but God’s love is pure and sacrificial. This is what Jesus said in John 13:34-35, KJV “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The New Covenant is fulfilled in us when we love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and when we love others as we love ourselves as Matthew 22:37-40  NKJV tells us,  “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Be the light in the dark, be the lily in the thorns, the salt in the unsavoury place. Be the warmth in a cold place. Be kind in a cruel place. Be humble and walk in love because you are God’s child and the Spirit that God the Father has deposited in you is greater than the spirit of the world.

I John 4:4 NKJV 

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Karina Maile 

Understanding The Covenant

 Understanding The Covenant

Psalm 105:8 NKJV

“He remembers His covenant forever, the word which He commanded, for a thousand generations”

Here are some facts about Covenant:

God is a Covenant making, covenant keeping, and covenant fulfilling God, the only basis He will relate with us is by entering into Covenant with us through Christ. Without covenant there cannot be a relationship with God. Covenant is different to a contract, and we can rest assured that God never breaks covenant.

1- What constitutes a Covenant

Psalm 25:14 NKJV

“The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.”

We have so many blessings when we are born again, because we enter into covenant with God almighty. Jesus shed the blood, His Word are our promises and the Holy Spirit is our seal.

A- The sacrifices of the Covenant. 

The word Covenant means “to cut,” and we cannot have covenant without shedding of blood. Jesus shed His blood for us therefore, He made possible this relationship between God and us. See the Scriptures bellow.

Hebrews 9:14-18 and 28 NKJV

14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood.

28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Luke 22:20 NKJV

“Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”

B- The promises of the Covenant 

Whenever there is covenant, there is also going to be promises involved. The good news is that the New Covenant is much better than the Old one, because it is establish in better promises. See Hebrews 8:6-13 and Jeremiah 31:31-34

Hebrews 8:6-13 NKJV

6 “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbour, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”

Jeremiah 31:31-34 NKJV

31 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 

C- The seal and sign of the covenant

In the Old Testament the sign of the Covenant was the circumcision of the flesh, cutting away of the foreskin on every male child, and in the New Testament it is also the cutting away of the flesh, but in Christ is not the cutting away of the skin but it is change within, it’s the circumcision of the heart.

Colossians 2:11 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”

Romans 2:29 NKJV

“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.”

Ephesians 1:13 NKJV

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

2-The blessings of covenant

If we are ignorant of the truth in Scripture, then we can not access and implement the principles and promises given to us in order to live our lives in those truths. And just because we are born again, it doesn’t mean we completely understand all the truth revealed in the Scriptures and we are in danger of living our lives way below the level Christ has given us when He died on the cross, and resurrected again. We need the Holy Spirit to teach us and instruct us in the new life we have entered in and all the benefits and blessings we have in the New Covenant with Christ.

In Deuteronomy 28, we find the blessings we receive because of the Covenant we have entered into, these blessings were to Israel if they obey the Lord but now in Christ, all these blessings also belong to us. Let’s read them.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 NKJV

1 “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:

3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.

4 “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.

5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

7 “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.

8 “The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

9 “The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. 10 Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. 11 And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. 14 So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

In Ephesians 1:3 says that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, and our job is to access the heavenly places and get all of these blessings operating in our lives. The Lord has raised us up together not to live miserable lives but to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).

When we enter into Covenant with Jesus, we become sons and daughters of God, we are not insignificant any longer, we are not sinners, or nobodies or miserable worms, we are sons and daughters, and we cannot be proud because it was not our doing, it is a gift of God, and as sons and daughters we have receive an inheritance from the Lord. We live the life of Christ because He now lives in us (Galatians 2:20).

Romans 12:3 says, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Don’t think more highly than you should but don’t think too low of yourself. See the great price Christ paid for your salvation. In humility live as a child of God.

Study Genesis 15,16 and 17 for homework. You will see the power of the Abrahamic covenant that was actually fulfilled in Christ.

Pastor Steve and Karina Maile

Blindness Of The Heart And The Testimony Of Jesus Is The Spirit Of Prophecy

Blindness Of The Heart And The Testimony Of Jesus Is The Spirit Of Prophecy.

In 2 Kings 6  we read the story of the war between Syria and Israel, and how the King of Syria went after the prophet Elisha because he was advising the King of Israel by word of knowledge all the plans the King of Syria had against Israel. And Elisha found himself surrounded by an army and chariots of the enemy, when his servant saw the army, he said to Elisha, “Master! What shall we do?” (Verses 16-17) To which Elisha answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” Wow! What an amazing sight for that servant! He was blind to what was happening in the spirit realm, but after the prophet prayed for him, his eyes were opened.

We all have heard or even sang the famous hymn, “amazing grace,” “I was blind but now I see,” says the lyrics and this is true. We were all blind, living our lives but totally blinded by sin and darkness not knowing the purposes and will of God.

Blind people cannot see where they are going, but the blindness I am talking about is not a physical blindness but the blindness of the heart and mind.

Here are some blindness the Bible mentions and the reasons of it:

1- The god of this world is blinding people.

The one that keeps people blinded to the truth of Jesus is the devil, in  2 Corinthians 4:4 NKJV says this, “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.” This is why we pray for our relatives, friends and people in general to be set free from the dominion of satan so they can see Jesus Christ the Saviour.

When people are blinded in heart, they give themselves to sin, not realising what they are doing and where they are heading. They can’t see the light of the Gospel and freedom Christ brings.

2- The blindness of Israel

Romans 11:25 NKJV

“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”

Many Jewish people are blinded to the Messiah Jesus Christ right now because the whole world must hear the Gospel first. Many of them are still waiting for the Messiah and don’t realised He has already come. The religious leaders teach in their Synagogues but they are blinded to the truth. Jesus, in Matthew 23:26 NKJV said to the religious men of that time, “Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.” And in Luke 6: 39 NKJV Jesus spoke a parable and said: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?” Jesus was very concerned about the blindness of heart of the leaders leading people in their blindness, more than that, He is still concerned for the blindness of people of today.

3 - The blinded Church

We may think that blindness of the heart was only for unsaved or religious people but in Revelation 3:17 NKJV  Jesus tells the Church of Laodicean, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Jesus was talking to Christians here. Also in the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus and said, (Ephesians 4:17-19 NKJV )“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

This is very serious! The Church of Laodicean are supposed to be Christians but they were still blinded and the Ephesians Christians were told to not behave like the world, to stop sinning for now they were new people in Christ. So this message of blindness is not just for those who don’t know Christ but for everyone.

In Mark 10 NKJV we read how Jesus Healed a blind man called Bartimaeus and in verses 46-52 says, “As Jesus went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.

Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.”

In this story we see a man without sight but cried out to Jesus with all his heart and he cried out even more against the discouragement of others, he just kept on calling Jesus because he recognised Him as the only one able to help him see. When this blind man called Jesus “Rabboni,” he was acknowledging and declaring Him Lord and Saviour. Yet It’s interesting that Jesus asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” when He could see that Bartimaeus was blind. Jesus wanted him ask for this miracle. Imagine Jesus asking you today, What do you want Me to do for you? Will you say like Bartimaeus, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.?”

In Isaiah 42:7 NKJV was  prophesied of Jesus that He was “To open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house.” And in John 8:12  NKJV this was fulfilled when Jesus declared “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Will you come today to Him and receive His light? Will you give Him your life and let Him lead you? Keep in mind that when you do, your life will not be yours anymore but His, and you will walk in the amazing light of God.

Prophecies about the Messiah

From Genesis to Revelation Jesus is revealed as the anointed Messiah (Saviour of the world) and in the Old Testament we find over 300 Messianic prophecies of this future Saviour that will deliver His people from oppression.

Prophecy means, to foretell the future under divine inspiration. As         2 Peter 1:21 NKJV Tells us “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

Of course in the New Testament, in the Gospels, we see the fulfilment of those prophecies through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth And in John 4:25-26 NKJV Jesus declared Himself that He was this promised Messiah, the verse says, “The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.””

Jesus is the Messiah, the Saviour of the world that has ultimately delivered humanity from the oppression of death through the promise of eternal salvation. He paid the price on the cross for everyone and anyone that comes to Him in faith can receive it this salvation.

Below are a few Old Testament Messianic prophesies fulfilled by Jesus. 

1- Prophecies about the Messiah’s Birth

The Old Testament described the awaited Messiah’s birth in detail.

• The first prophecy we find in Genesis 3:15, a Saviour would be born of a woman and would defeat Satan to redeem humanity from sin.

• The Saviour would come from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:3; 17:19; Numbers 24:17), and the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10).

• The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) to a virgin who would call Him Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).

• The Messiah would be an heir to King David’s throne and would reign for eternity (2 Samuel 7:12-13)

• Isaiah declared that the Messiah would be called by many names in addition to Immanuel, such as: “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

2- Prophecies about the Messiah’s Early Life

• The Old Testament revealed that the Messiah would spend time in Egypt during His youth and would then leave Egypt (Hosea 11:1).

• The prophecies also foretold of a messenger in the wilderness who’d prepare the way for the Messiah so that the glory of God would be revealed (Isaiah 40:3-5)

3- Prophecies about the Messiah’s Ministry

The messianic prophecies told us that Galilee would be chosen among the nations to see “a great light,” a male child born to remove the darkness (Isaiah 9:1-6).

• The Messiah was foretold to preach about repentance (Isaiah 30:15) and be a gentle redeemer who would uphold justice and heal the broken (Isaiah 42:1-4; 61:1-2).

• The Saviour would also speak in parables that would fall on deaf ears (Psalm 78:2-4; Isaiah 6:9-10).

• The Messiah would perform many miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6).

• The prophecies that He will be a faithful priest who would do God’s will (1 Samuel 2:35).

• A humble king who would ride atop a donkey toward welcoming crowds (Zechariah 9:9).

• He would be rejected by His own people (Psalm 69:8) but embraced by the Gentiles (Isaiah 11:10).

• Prophecy warned that rulers would plot to kill the Messiah (Psalm 31:13).

4- Prophecies about the Messiah’s Betrayal

• The prophets warned that someone who had broken bread with the Messiah (Psalm 41:9) would betray Him for 30 pieces of silver, which would later be used to buy a potter’s field (Zechariah 11:12-13).

• The Messiah’s closest friends would flee from Him (Psalm 31:11).

5- Prophecies about the Messiah’s Death

• Isaiah describes how the Messiah would remain silent in the face of false accusations and would be beaten, mocked, and spat upon (Isaiah 50:6; 53:7).

• The Saviour would also be “pierced for our transgressions” so that by His wounds we’d be healed (Isaiah 53:5).

• The prophet Daniel likewise revealed that the “Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing” (Daniel 9:26).

• The Messiah’s hands and feet would be pierced but His bones would not be broken (Psalm 22:16-17; 34:20).

• The Saviour would die among criminals (Isaiah 53:9).

• People would cast lots for His clothing (Psalm 22:18).

• Onlookers would taunt the Anointed One by telling Him to ask the Lord He spoke of so often to rescue Him (Psalm 22:8).

6- Prophecies about the Messiah’s Resurrection

• God would not abandon the Messiah to the realm of the dead or let the Messiah’s body see decay (Psalm 16:10).

• David also wrote that the Messiah would ascend to Heaven and sit at God’s right hand (Psalm 110:1).

• The Messiah’s death would serve as an ultimate offering for sin so that God’s people could be redeemed (Isaiah 53:5-12).

• The Messiah’s agony would be rewarded, however, in that He’d conquer death in the end (Isaiah 25:7-8) and “see the light of life and be satisfied” (Isaiah 53:11).

The Old Testament prophets went to great lengths to describe the Messiah’s life, death, and victorious resurrection. Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled these prophecies in such accurate detail a millennium later that there can be no doubt that He was that promised Messiah. 

The Testimony of Jesus’ life has fulfilled the prophecy given by the Spirit of God to the prophets of old. Yet, there are still prophesies in the Old and New Testament yet to be fulfil of the second coming of Jesus, but we are beginning to see signs of the things to come as we approach near to the end. Read Matthew 24 where Jesus Himself told us of the things to come.

Also don’t forget the Spirit of prophecy is active today in us as we fulfilled all Jesus promised for us to do as sons and daughters of God.

As we see the Bible is not just another religious book out there, but it’s alive and powerful as Hebrews tells us: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”(Hebrews 4:12 NKJV) because “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”(2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)

What a mighty God we serve! It’s time to begin to live for Him and give your life entirely to Him.

He promised to take care of you. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

Pastor Steve and Karina Maile

New Creation Reality In Christ.

New Creation Reality In Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

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

Jesus died on the cross for humanity so we could become a new creation through faith. I like how the Passion translation says it, “Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new.” The old things would include our old identity, our life of sin, the power of Satan, the religious works of trying to please God, our old relationship with the world, and our old mind-sets. We are not reformed or simply refurbished, we are made completely new by our union with Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Until Jesus ascended to heaven with His blood and touched the Mercy Seat, it was impossible for us to become a new people. Like we read in the Gospels the account of Jesus resurrection, when Mary Magdalene when to visit the tomb where Jesus laid and found it empty, Jesus stood next to her and said, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.’”(John 20:17 MSG) Study Hebrews chapters 9 and 10 to understand this transaction Jesus did in Heaven. Then, after that, the resurrected Jesus stayed 40 days on earth with His disciples, He then ascended to Heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to earth to be with us. This same Holy Spirit works in people’s hearts as they hear the Gospel preached and any person at any time any where can call on the Name of Jesus and be saved as they repent from their sins and give themselves to the Lord. In an instant they can be born anew, which means they become a brand new person in Christ with a new nature and heart. This is the greatest miracle a person can ever receive. The best thing is that it’s all by grace, which means it’s absolutely free. As Ephesians 2:8-9 TPT tells us, “For it was only through this wonderful grace that we believed in him . Nothing you did could ever earn this salvation, for it was a gracious  gift from God that brought us to Christ! So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving.”

And now as a new creation in Christ we need to build this new life. It’s not about the outward man but the hidden man of the heart, the real us, has to grow to the full measure of the stature of Christ.

1- Born again through the incorruptible seed into God’s family.

1 Peter 1:13-25 NKJV

13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away,

25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

The family of God consists of God the Father, Jesus the Son, the Holy Spirit and all the born again believers who are brothers and sisters in Christ. No matter the nationality or skin colour, we must all love one another with sincere love. (Verses 14 and 22)

We don’t become holy by trying to be holy through external things, such as religious duty or religious clothing. Imagine bathing a pig and putting clothes on it and perfume, the moment we open the door that pig will run outside, throw itself on the dirt and try to shake off the clothes, this is because the pig’s nature is to do that. We are born with a sinful nature and the only way we can ever be made holy is by receiving the new nature Christ offers us. When we receive this new nature of God by faith, we automatically become holy because God Himself is holy. (Verse 16)

We have become sons and daughters of God because we have been purified by the Blood of Jesus and by the Word of God (Jesus) that now lives in us. (Verses 19 and 23)

Through that eternal and living Word of God we have been born again. And this “seed” that the Lord planted within us can never be destroyed but will live and grow inside of us forever. (Verse 23)

In 1 Peter 1:3-5 the Bible says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

An inheritance has been given to us because we have been made sons and daughters of God. We serve a wonderful Heavenly Father.

2- Receiving the spirit of sonship (identity).

Romans 8:14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Galatians 4:4-7 AMP

“But when [in God’s plan] the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the [regulations of the] Law, so that He might redeem and liberate those who were under the Law, that we [who believe] might be adopted as sons [as God’s children with all rights as fully grown members of a family]. And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave (bond-servant), but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through [the gracious act of] God [through Christ].

The greatest problem for men and women today is their identity. They are trying to discover it through things they do or things others have done to them, or finding out ancestry and culture and many other things, to many to mention all. Yet they don’t realise that our true identity can only be unfolded by the One who created us, God the Father. Like Acts 17:28 TPT tells us, “It is through Him that we live and function and have our identity; just as your own poets have said, ‘Our lineage comes from Him.’”

Your physical DNA is what makes you uniquely you and it stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, which is a molecule that contains the instructions an organism needs to develop, live and reproduce. These instructions are found inside every cell and are passed down from parents to their offspring. When we become born again and receive the new nature from Christ, we receive the spiritual DNA from the Father. Like Father like son, like Father like daughter.

“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”” (Galatians 4:6) Amp

The parable of the prodigal son, it’s a wonderful example of the heart of the Heavenly Father towards us his children.

3- The fatherhood of God.

Fatherhood is very important, and unfortunately this is lacking so much today, it was lacking in the the time of Paul and so much more today, see 1 Corinthians 4:15, Nkjv “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel.”

There is still many Christians who walk around carrying an orphan spirit, make sure you are part of a local expression of the Body of Christ, a Congregation where you can be fathered. Fathers (and mothers) impart fathers’ blessings. When God spoke to Isaac, He said to Him, “I’m the God of your Father, Abraham.” And then later on when He spoke to Jacob He said, “I’m the God of your father Isaac and Abraham.” And of course later on the Lord spoke to Moses and said: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.” (Exodus 3:6)

In Christ, God Himself becomes our Father but He also has an earthly expression of fatherhood, as we just read in 1 Corinthians 4:15, many instructors but not many fathers. You can be a teacher, pastor, evangelist, etc. But must have the heart of a father, the problem is you cannot father until you have been fathered.

Some will quote Matthew 23:9 that says, “And you are not to be addressed as ‘father,’ for you have one Father, who is in heaven.” But you have to read the verse in context, Jesus was addressing the pride of the religious scholars and the Pharisees who have superficial spirituality and not genuine humility, they loved titles and special treatment. Jesus was emphasising the priority of God over those titles of men and over all teachers, fathers, and leaders. He was not teaching us to be disrespectful to teachers, fathers, and leaders, but that God must be in first place over all others.

In James 5:14-18  NKJV we find this concept of sonship (family in Christ) outworked in the local Church, and this is what it says, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 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. 

This people belong to a local congregation where they can call the leaders for prayer. You are not to live your Christian life on your own, you must be part of the fold.

In relation to this subject of sonship, we were all crippled and damaged before we came to Christ, we may not had the best relationship with our parents, and even if we did, they were not perfect, so we need healing in this area. No matter what we experienced, God is now our Father in Christ.

There is a story in the Old Testament in 2 Samuel 9 of a young crippled man called Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, King Saul’s son. He was an orphan, but King David called him by name, gave back to him the land that belong to his father and invited Him to eat at the KIng’s table all the days of His life and was treated as one of the King’s sons. Today, because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross we can all be part of God’s banqueting table and become His child, no matter if you feel abandoned or damaged so badly in this area, Jesus Christ wants to introduce you to the Father’s love.

Would you accept His invitation? Would you give your life to Him? Would you want to be God’s child? If you do, pray with me now:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus that have open the way for me to come to you.

I repent of all my sins and give my life to you. I want to make the Lord Jesus my Lord and Saviour. Please, come into my life and save me. I receive you now.

In Jesus Name, fill me with your Holy Spirit to overflow

Amen

If you are a Christian but need to know God as a Father, pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father:

I have made the Lord Jesus my Lord and Saviour and because of it you have become my Father. I am sorry I haven’t received the full revelation of Sonship. But now, I see through the Scriptures the truth. I am your son/ daughter, fill me with your Spirit so I can cry out Abba Father! My dear Father!

Thank you for all you have done for me and will continue to do. I’m not an orphan any longer, and you will never leave me nor forsake me. I can trust you as my Father. Thank you for your love,

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Pastors Steve and Karina Maile 

Get Ready For His Coming

Get Ready For His Coming

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 NKJV

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

When you live with an expectancy of the second coming of Christ, you will live soberly and holy. There are too many “Submarine Christians” around, they are the ones who praise the Lord at Church services but hide during the week, and hardly anyone knows they are Christians.

Here we see a list of seven things we must keep doing while waiting for the return of our Lord.

1- Rejoice always, 

Happiness tends to be externally triggered and is based on other people, things, places, thoughts and events. For example, we can feel happy when we receive something like a gift or achieve something like awards or honours.

Joy, on the other hand, is something deeper. It is something we feel internally in our lives as human beings. For example, when we feel great joy when we worship God the Father and when we feel great joy when we remember our Lord Jesus Christ dying on the cross to save us from sins.

Joy is something to do with our inner nature rather than the outer nature of our human character. John 15:11 NKJV says, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Also, Romans 8:14 and 26  NKJV tells us, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 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.”

It is impossible to maintain joy in our lives without the Holy Spirit, after all, Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit. (See Galatians 5:22) NKJV

2- Pray without ceasing, 

C. M. Ward was a pastor, evangelist, and radio broadcaster, who one day invited two men to the platform to pray Psalm 23, the first man, was an elegant gentlemen, who prayed eloquently the whole Psalm, with no mistakes, pronouncing every word perfectly. The second man, also prayed the same Psalm but was overcome with emotion and couldn’t pronounce very well the words. After that C. M. Ward preached and had a powerful service. At the end of the service someone questioned Ward the reason of asking two men to pray the same Psalm, to which He responded: “The first man knew the Psalm very well, the second man knew the Shepherd”.

So many people pray but don’t know personally the Shepherd, as born again believers our aim is not being eloquent in our prayers, but knowing the heart of the Father and pray His will. Jesus is returning soon for those who know Him in a personal relationship.

3- In everything give thanks;

Being thankful keeps us humble and our heart soft. Be thankful to the Lord for everything, including hard times, because it helps us build our character. Be thankful for the fellowship of believers who are constantly encouraging you in your faith to stay alert for the coming of the Lord. Don’t miss the connect meetings or Sunday church, it’s a privilege to be able to gather together in one spirit worshiping the Lord. It’s time we obey what Hebrews 10:25 KJV tells us, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Christians that do not belong to a New Testament, Spirit filled local Church are in direct disobedience to the Lord. The Lord set up five fold ministries (Ephesians 4) to equip the saints, each one of us must be accountable and learn to function under authority in the Church.

4- Do not quench the Spirit. 

As we wait for the return of the Lord, there’s always the temptation of getting frustrated, impatient and discouraged, but we cannot grieve the Holy Spirit by speaking or doing evil. As Ephesians 4:29-32 NKJV says “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

5- Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast to what is good. 

Beware, of the Balaam spirit, false prophets that prophecy for profit, and there are many of them. Normally, these people have no authority over them, wanted to build their own empire instead of the Kingdom. Some people have become tired of them and begin to despise prophecy in general, but in this passage we are encouraged to do not despise the true prophesies from the Lord.

In the Message translation says it like this, (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22) “Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.”

And in the Passion translation says it like this, “And don’t be one who scorns prophecies, but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test, and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right.”

There is an implication in the context of verse 19 and 20, that we put out the Spirit’s fire when we scorn prophecy. Prophecy is a valid gift of the Holy Spirit needed by the church today. There is no place in Scripture or in church history that indicates the gift of prophecy has ceased or disappeared. It is an active function of the Holy Spirit in the church around the world. We must not ignore, despise, or scorn any true gift of the Holy Spirit. Putting out the fire of the Holy Spirit is connected to scorning the prophetic ministry. We need prophets and prophecy to keep the fire (inspiration) of the Holy Spirit burning in our hearts. 

In Colossians 2:18 NKJV we read, “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” Obviously, according to this passage, there were false Christians leaders around in the time when Paul wrote this letter, and unfortunately, there are false leaders today. What can we do about it? Not much, except to be alert and don’t be deceived by them. The word test in Aramaic used in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 can be translated as “Regard everything seriously and choose what is best.”

There is a responsibility from our part to discern by the Holy Spirit what is right and what is not right, and then to hold fast to what is good. For certain, we must be diligent to study God’s Word.

6- Abstain from every form of evil.

Another version says, “Avoid every appearance of evil,” which is not only things that are clearly evil, but also things that can be interpreted by others as evil. In 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV the Lord warns us to

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

Sin needs not only to be repented of but also needs to be confessed and forsaken.

Matthew 16:24 NKJV

“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.””

7-The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 4:14 NKJV “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.”

We must live like Jesus died yesterday, resurrected today and is coming back tomorrow. Having a pregnant anticipation and a child like expectancy of Christ’s coming.

Be in faith and not fear, knowing that if you trust the Lord He will not fail you, it’s not in His nature.

Pastors Steve and Karina Maile

What happened on the Cross?

What happened on the Cross?

When we talk about the power of the cross, we are not talking about the wooden beams having power in themselves, but for us born again believers we refer to the work Jesus Christ did on that cross for us when He suffered and died on it.

Galatians 6:14 NKJV

“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

The work Jesus did on the cross is so amazing, it will be hard to cover everything in this one lesson, but at least we can have a brief overview of a few things that happened on that dreadful day when Christ died. I trust the Holy Spirit will enlighten your heart and mind as we study Scriptures about the crucifixion of Christ and bring the freedom He died to bring to your life.

A. Five Truths Of The Cross

1- The shape of the cross.

As we examine the shape of the cross we can see two beams, one horizontal, a minus (humanity) and one vertical, God’s intervention, making the minus into a plus.

Also we could make this equation: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given

Only in Christ we can find the forgiveness of sin. The price for forgiveness is too high to pay, so high that is impossible to attain, this is why Jesus stepped down from glory to become a man and took the punishment due for ourselves, He paid it with His very life. 

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

2- Christ Actually Died On A Cross.

It was not just the Jews who killed Jesus, or the Romans, we all did.. Every sin of humanity Christ carried upon Himself on that cross.            (1 Peter 2:24, Colossians 2:14) Every sinner that does not acknowledge Christ, and anyone who leaves the faith and denies Christ by turning to sin as a life style, Christ is crucified again by that someone everyday. (Hebrews 6:6)

I Peter 2:24 NKJV

“who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed.”

Colossians 2:14 NKJV

“having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

Hebrews 6:6 NKJV

“if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

Many will like to deny the fact that Jesus died on the cross because if they admit His death, they will have to admit His resurrection, and by admitting His resurrection, they are admitting that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, then they will have to bow to Him and make Him Lord, but they don’t want to. Yet history proves that no one ever survived a Roman crucifixion, the barbarity of such cruel practice was designed to cause maximum pain for a prolonged period — victims' feet and hands were usually nailed to a wooden cross, which would hold them upright while they suffered a slow and agonising death, often taking several days until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation.

John 19:31-37 NKJV

“Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.””

Christ indeed died on that cross, His death was not like any other crucifixion, He was torture, beaten, scourged so badly that you couldn’t tell, He was human, as we read in Isaiah 52:14. Yet He endured all of that for you and me. 

Isaiah 52:14 NLT

“But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.”

3- The Six Times Christ Shed Blood.

There were six times blood shed on the way to the cross, recognising that the seventh time Jesus will carry His own Blood to the throne room before God to make atonement for us. The first time He bled was at the garden of Gethsemane and then five times more when He was wounded on the head (crown of thorns), His back (scourging), His hands and feet (nails) and finally on His side (spear) 

Because Jesus never sinned, His innocent Blood has the power not only to forgive us but also to make us God’s children. And just like soap is not good until you apply it on you, the precious Blood of Jesus must be applied by faith to receive the cleansing from sin.

As Hebrews tells us that without shedding of blood there is no remission. Confessing sins alone does not forgive you, but when we confess our sins to the Lord, trusting the Blood of Jesus paid the price for our sins, it’s when we receive the forgiveness of sins. 

Hebrews 9:22 NKJV

“And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”

Colossians 1:14 NKJV

“in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

4-Prophesies fulfilled

There were 28 Old Testament prophesies fulfilled on the cross when Jesus cried out, it is finished!

Isaiah 53 is very descriptive of the sufferings and glories of the Messiah but unfortunately this chapter is not allowed to be read in synagogues today, if it was, many Jews would come to Christ. They call it the forbidden chapter. Let’s pray the Lord opens the eyes of the Jewish people so they come to Christ. 

Read Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22

5- From The Cross To The Tomb

John 19:41-42 NKJV

“Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.”

After Jesus died He was buried on a tomb near by, but He didn’t stay dead, at the third day Jesus resurrected from the dead and for 40 days Jesus stayed and gave undeniable proof that He had indeed risen (Acts 1:3), after that He then ascended to the throne as our High Priest. As High Priest, He always lives to make intercession for us and mediates for us before God. There is no other way to the Father but Jesus, and not any other mediator. Because of His sacrifice on the cross we have direct entrance to the Heavenly Father.

No other man or woman, dead or alive can give you access to God, only Jesus. 

Acts 1:3 NKJV

“to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

Hebrews 4:15 NKJV

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Hebrews 7:25 NKJV

“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.”

1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus”

B. The Seven Statements Of  Jesus.

1- Father Forgive Them.

Luke 23:34 NKJV

“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

And they divided His garments and cast lots.”

Today the Lord offers forgiveness to you and as you receive His forgiveness, you can be free to forgive others. 

2- You Will Be With Me In Paradise

Luke 23: 32-34 and 39-43 NKJV

32 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

They were two thieves next to Jesus, one to his left and one to his right. There are two choices, Saviour or judge. Which thief are you? Because of sin we are all condemned men, what choice will you make? Will you choose Christ as your Saviour? Or you prefer to live your life as you please? If you do the latter one, you must know you will be judged at the end of your life and condemned forever. Now is the time to make your choice if you haven’t done it yet. Don’t wait any longer, you don’t know how long you have left on this earth.

3- Woman Behold Your Son.

John 19:26-27 NkJV

26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He called His mother, “woman,” at the end of His ministry here on earth, Mary was still called a woman, not mother. Especially as He was going to heaven, Mary was “woman,” not mother. Yet, He loved her and told John to look after her as a mother. 

4- I thirst

John 19:28 NKJV

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 

He thirst so we can be satisfied and drink of the Holy Spirit.

John 4:14 NKJV

“But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

5- “Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani?”

Mark 15:34 NKJV

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

He was forsaken so we would be accepted and never forsaken.

John 14:18 NKJV

 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

6- It Is Finished

John 19:30 NKJV

 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

He did it all, He suffered and was punished so we don’t have to.

7- Father Into Your Hands ?

Luke 23:46 NKJV 

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

Just like Jesus, we must too give our lives to the Lord. 

C. What Can The Work Of The Cross Do To Us?

Purging

Purified

Purchase price has been paid for in full

Perfected

Protected by the Blood

Peace through the Cross

Propitiation

Jesus died but He resurrected at the third day and He is coming back again, are you ready for His coming?

Here is what you can do:

Admit you are a sinner

Believe what Jesus did on that cross is good enough for you

Confess Him as your Saviour.

There is a difference between a mental accent and actually surrendering your life to Christ. Don’t flirt with God, give your whole life to Him and not just part of it. He is worthy of all or nothing at all. 

Here is a prayer to help you talk with Him.

Heavenly Father, 

I want to know you but I have sinned and my sins keep me away from you. So I repent now of all my sins, I don’t want to continue sinning and ignoring you. 

Only you can give me the power to change and become the person you created me to be.

 Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross, taking my place and paying for the penalty for my sins.

I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus is your Son and the only Way to You. 

I open my heart to you Lord, forgive me and come and live in me. 

Fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to live right before you. 

Be my Lord and my Saviour. 

I receive you now

In Jesus Name

Amen

Please get in contact with us and let us know the decision you have made.

Karina Maile 

Marriage According To The Kingdom Of God

Marriage According To The Kingdom Of God

In the beginning after creation, the Bible talks about a marriage, Adam and Eve, then, in the New Testament, Jesus started His ministry with a wedding in Canaan, and finally at the end of time, the Scriptures tells us it will be the Wedding of the Lamb to His Bride, the Church. This makes us come to the conclusion that marriage is very important. And because marriage was instituted by God, the only way a couple will succeed in their marriage will be by following God’s direction in how to do it.

1- Surrendered lives

II Corinthians 6:14 NKJV

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”

First of all, for a Kingdom marriage to be established, a man must be surrendered to God and wait for God’s timing and direction when He will bring the appropriate woman to him. The woman in turn also must be surrendered to Christ, waiting for the man God has for her. Jesus must not be an addition to their lives but they must submit to His lordship in every area of their lives. He must be number one! 

Secondly, after much prayer and godly counsel they can enter into courtship, where they begin to seek God together about their future. After a time of growing in friendship and understanding of the tremendous responsibility and commitment they are entering in, they get engaged and set their wedding day. Always maintaining moral integrity and not giving place to temptations. Many couples want to honour the Lord and each other by setting boundaries, such as not kissing and full body hugs, and avoiding alone time in private settings, until the day when they make covenant before God and witnesses. 

They are accountable to godly leaders and godly parents because often emotions can get in the way of good judgment. The world may mock this approach to marriage but the world doesn’t know a thing about God’s pure love. All their so called love is lust based, how they feel and what they can get out of the relationship.

In contrast the godly couple knows that in a true marriage in the Kingdom you lay down your life for the other person, you serve each other, the reflection of Christ and His Church, all for the sake of God’s Kingdom. 

Point to discuss:

• The Lord will never approve of a born again believer wanting to marry an unbeliever. This is unscriptural which means it’s not God’s will. No need to pray about it and ask what the Lord feels about it, it is clear in the Bible. (See 2 Corinthians 6:14)

2- Trust the Lord with all of your heart.

Proverbs 3:5-7 NKJV

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.”

Our pre-conceived ideas of marriage has been influenced by our culture, education, experience and our own desires and fears. Some of these influences may not be bad but as Born again believers we must come to the source, our Father God, and learn from Him. Trust the Lord and don’t lean on your own understanding, knowledge, abilities and emotions. Let Him lead you and let Him bring that person to you, just like God brought Eve to Adam, He can bring the right person to you. With so many millions of people around the world how can you choose the right one, impossible! That’s why it’s best to leave it to the Lord, He knows best and remember that for Him nothing is impossible!

Point to discuss:

• Desires and fears you have surrender or need to surrender to Christ in relation to marriage. How are you trusting the Lord in this area of your life?

3- We regard no one according to the flesh.

II Corinthians 5:15-17 NKJV

“and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

People tend to chose for themselves someone they fancy physically and consider the benefits they will get from the relationship. Worldly dating agencies tell people that relationships can only work when the couple are compatible one to another, liking the same things, etc. But as born again believers we don’t have to look for someone compatible to us except in the things of the Kingdom, we cannot regard anyone according to the flesh, we must see them the way He sees them in the Spirit. When you let the Lord choose the person for you, that person will be the perfect one for you, this doesn’t mean the person is perfect but she/he is perfectly suited to you.

Points to discuss:

• how much the Lord has changed you since being born again.

4- The purpose of Marriage

Colossians 3:18-19 TPT

“Let every wife be supportive and tenderly devoted to her husband, for this is a beautiful illustration of our devotion to Christ. Let every husband be filled with cherishing love for his wife and never be insensitive (or bitter) toward her.”

Ephesians 5:22-33 AMP

25 Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], 27 so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless. 28 Even so husbands should and are morally obligated to love their own wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own body, but [instead] he nourishes and protects and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members (parts) of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined [and be faithfully devoted] to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery [of two becoming one] is great; but I am speaking with reference to [the relationship of] Christ and the church. 33 However, each man among you [without exception] is to love his wife as his very own self [with behaviour worthy of respect and esteem, always seeking the best for her with an attitude of lovingkindness], and the wife [must see to it] that she respects and delights in her husband [that she notices him and prefers him and treats him with loving concern, treasuring him, honouring him, and holding him dear].

The purpose of marriage is for two people, a man and a woman to become one flesh and together reflect God’s love and radiate God’s glory here on earth. And to raise up godly children who will also bring glory to God.

Not everyone has to marry, but if you marry it must be for God’s purpose and not for selfish reasons, If you remain single, God’s grace covers you, He is your husband and you lack nothing. It is much better to stay single than marry the wrong person.

Point to discuss:

• How do you view marriage now in Christ? What is the Lord teaching you?

5- Expressing real love

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

NKJV

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [b]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [c]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. 

MSG

“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.”

TPT

“Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessings comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honour. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offence. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.”

This kind of God’s love is so pure and perfect that seems impossible to achieve, that’s why the only way to love like this, is to receive it supernaturally. How? Surrender your life to Him; He loves you more than you know, think or imagine. He gave His life for you, even down to the last drop of blood. Accept His love and forgiveness and let Him fill you with the Holy Spirit, then, His way of love comes easily and when it doesn’t, His grace is available for us, where sacrificial love comes into action. This is pure worship to Him. 

Points to discuss 

Compare the different versions of this passage and relate it to marriage and to our own relationship with Christ.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you you demonstrated your love for me when your Son Jesus died on that cross for the forgiveness of my sins, thank you for such great love. I receive it right now and I give you not only my heart but my whole life, fill me with your Holy Spirit to overflow in this love to others.

Heal my heart and mind from previous hurts and traumas concerning relationships and set me free from fears that stops me trusting you.

Let me reflect your light to the people around me through my marriage or singleness. 

In Jesus Name I pray.

Amen

Karina Maile 

Don’t Let The World Teach You About… Marriage

Marriage -

The Relationship Between Husband And Wife In The Kingdom

Many cultures hold different views, concepts and rules about marriage and the roles of the husband and wives, it’s true also that some of those views and laws are constantly changing concerning marriage. But we cannot deny that the way we were raised plays a major part in how we view marriage.

For those who are in Christ, born again and filled with the Spirit of God, cannot look at the world for guidance in this so important subject. It was God Himself who instituted marriage, and He is the One we must look to in order to understand and live this great and beautiful mystery of marriage.

What is marriage according to the Bible? The Scriptures defines marriage as the union of two people of the opposite sex, a man and a woman, this bond between husband and wife supersedes all other relationships (See Mark 10:6-9 and Ephesians 5:31.)This union is called by God a “covenant,” as Malachi 2: 14 tells us, “…she is your companion and your wife by covenant.”

Mark 10:6-9 

“But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.””

Ephesians 5:31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined [and be faithfully devoted] to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

1- The role of the wife in a Kingdom marriage

We are going to see some Bible references in a few different translation to discover the biblical role of the wife in a godly marriage. 

Ephesians 5:22-24

In the New King James Version says,

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Saviour of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

In The Passion Translation says,

22 For wives, this means being devoted to your husbands like you are tenderly devoted to our Lord, 23 for the husband provides leadership for the wife, just as Christ provides leadership for his church, as the Saviour and Reviver of the body. 24 In the same way the church is devoted to Christ, let the wives be devoted to their husbands in everything.

In the Message translation says:

“Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.

1 Peter 3:2-6

In The Passion Translation says,

1 And now let me speak to the wives. Be devoted to your own husbands, so that even if some of them do not obey the Word of God, your kind conduct may win them over without you saying a thing. 2 For when they observe your pure, godly life before God, it will impact them deeply. 3–4 Let your true beauty come from your inner personality, not a focus on the external. For lasting beauty comes from a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is precious in God’s sight and is much more important than the outward adornment of elaborate hair, jewellery, and fine clothes.

5 Holy women of long ago who had set their hopes in God beautified themselves with lives lived in deference to their own husbands’ authority. 6 For example, our “mother,” Sarah, devoted herself to her husband, Abraham, and even called him “master.” And you have become her daughters when you do what is right without fear and intimidation.

Notes to learn and discuss:

• We will be shocked to discover that the Greek word for “submit,” or “supportive,” is not found in v. 22 of Ephesians 5, It is literally “Wives, with your husbands.” This particular verse has been taken out of context by so many, believing that the wife has no voice and need to submit to her husband as he dominates and controls her in every way, not only that, but this verse has also been taken out of context implying that a woman must submit to all men in general, this is wrong and unscriptural. Is the woman to rebel against her husband? Absolutely not! We clearly see that in some marriages the woman is the one in charge yet in others the man is controlling the wife through fear and intimidation making her to have no rights or say, both of these extreme scenarios are wrong. Through the Holy Spirit we want to discover the heart of God and the right biblical way the husband and wife should conduct in their marriage. It’s not good enough to have a marriage that’s better than other marriages, but it’s about doing exactly God’s will and through our marriage we can witness to others God’s wisdom, love and super abundant grace.

• In the passage of 1 Peter 3, verse 1, Peter has used the word “submit” that has a military and sporting analogies association. It can refer to the act of “falling in line,” i.e. each soldier reporting to his proper place; or each team member respecting how the team works, i.e. acknowledging and participating in his assigned position. Which means the woman acknowledges her position and willing defer authority to the husband. In ancient times a common title of honour and respect was “master” or “lord.”Sarah acknowledge the leadership and headship of her husband. (Verse 6)

• The wife is not inferior to her husband in any way, but God has set an order in the family where He has chosen the husband as protector and head of the home. Therefore, the wife is to honour her husband respecting the responsibility of his position and his accountability to God.

• The wife should never be intimidated by her husband, a relationship based on fear. The Aramaic can be translated “without being terrified by any fear.” (1 Peter 3:6)

• The wife is to defer the authority to her husband willingly. No where in the Bible husbands are told to impose submission to their wives, or to discipline them or even abuse them physically until they submit, in fact, God is against such things, He even says He doesn’t listen to the husband prayers when He treats the wife unfairly and breaks covenant by committing adultery (See Malachi 2 and 1 Peter 3:7). God created us all unique as individuals and gave us a will, and we should never force anyone to do what they don’t want to do. For example: God’s respects each person’s decisions to the point that He is not going to force anyone to Heaven, each person must decide to follow Christ and make Him his Lord and Saviour. The same in a marriage, the man cannot force his wife to submit to him. A godly wife will choose willingly the authority of the husband as she would to the Lord, yet she doesn’t need to submit to anything that violates her Christian ethics or faith.

Malachi 2:13-17 

In the Amplified Translation says,

“This is another thing you do: you cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with [your own] weeping and sighing, because the LORD no longer regards your offering or accepts it with favour from your hand. But you say, “Why [does He reject it]?” Because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously. Yet she is your marriage companion and the wife of your covenant [made by your vows]. But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth. “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong and violence,” says the LORD of hosts. “Therefore keep watch on your spirit, so that you do not deal treacherously [with your wife].” You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, “In what way have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them,” or [by asking], “Where is the God of justice?””

1 Peter 3:7 

In The Passion Translation says,

“Husbands, you in turn must treat your wives with tenderness, viewing them as feminine partners who deserve to be honoured, for they are co-heirs with you of the “divine grace of life,” so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

2- The role of the husband in a Kingdom marriage

Here are Scriptures in different translation to learn about the role the husband in a godly marriage.

Ephesians 5:22-33

In the Amplified version says:

25 Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], 27 so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless. 28 Even so husbands should and are morally obligated to love their own wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own body, but [instead] he nourishes and protects and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members (parts) of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined [and be faithfully devoted] to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery [of two becoming one] is great; but I am speaking with reference to [the relationship of] Christ and the church. 33 However, each man among you [without exception] is to love his wife as his very own self [with behaviour worthy of respect and esteem, always seeking the best for her with an attitude of lovingkindness], and the wife [must see to it] that she respects and delights in her husband [that she notices him and prefers him and treats him with loving concern, treasuring him, honouring him, and holding him dear].

In the Message translation says:

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything He does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favour—since they’re already “one” in marriage.

No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That’s how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become “one flesh.” This is a huge mystery, and I don’t pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honour her husband.”

1 Peter 3:7

In the New King James Version says,

“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honour to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”

Notes to learn and discuss:

• Husbands have the obligation of loving and caring for their wives the same way they love and care for their own bodies, for to love their wife is to love himself. Exactly like Christ does for his church!

• There can’t be no excuses or misunderstandings in how to love because Christ’s example of love is very clear.

• The man has been put in charge as a Manager but he is not superior to the woman. They are equal., as Galatians 3:27-29 NKJV tells us, “For as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

• The man doesn’t have to understand all women but only his wife, never assuming but through communication they get an intimate insight of one another, and they are not ignorant of each other’s preferences and desires. But not only the man must live with understanding towards his wife, he must also give honour to her. This is something we don’t hear often.

• When it refers to the woman as the weaker vessels, could be a possible idiom for “weaker livelihood.” Widows and female orphans were horribly disadvantaged in the time this was written. Without an advocate, women were often oppressed by corrupt political officials.

3- The Kingdom perspective of Marriage

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

In the New King James version says,

“Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Malachi 2:16

In the Message says,

“I hate divorce,” says the GOD of Israel. GOD -of-the-Angel-Armies says, “I hate the violent dismembering of the ‘one flesh’ of marriage.”

Notes to learn and discuss:

• Husband and wife are to work as a team serving the Lord and living for His purposes. They are to be in unity of spirit, soul and body in alignment to God’s will. Husband, wife and Christ are the three cord that cannot break easily.

• A biblical marriage is the union of two people, a man and a woman that have surrendered their lives to Christ, and make covenant with God and each other to become one. To divorce is to dismember that one flesh, and God hates this.

• It’s not about what you can get out of the relationship but what you can give to serve the other better.

• Marriage is not a competition between the husband and the wife, two insecure people striving to be better one than the other. One has strengths in one area and the other in other areas, they meant to complement each other and help each other all in the love of God and for the advancing of His kingdom.

• The godly marriage is to radiate God’s glory to others, they witness to others about the love Christ has for His Church.

• A man and a woman that wait for God’s timing and keep themselves pure until the day they make vows to each other and enter into covenant before God and in front of witnesses, have God’s blessing, favour and protection. And because the foundation has been done right, their future in God will be good. No need to fear that things will go wrong, because they trust in Christ who will always hold them together in good times and difficult times.

• Complete harmony and unity between a man and a women is impossible unless Christ takes first place in their marriage. Faithfulness till death do them part (Physical or in thought) is impossible unless Christ takes first place in their marriage. A godly marriage is a supernatural marriage.

Ephesians 5:32 TPT

“Marriage is the beautiful design of the Almighty, a great mystery of Christ and his church.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for showing us through your Word, the amazing truths of the Kingdom and the amazing plan you have for our lives.

Heal our hearts and minds from the hurts we have suffered in the area of relationship. Forgive us for looking to the world to teach us about marriage and not to you. We repent and ask you to guide us, lead us and help us to learn from you.

Thank you for making clear my responsibility and the role I play as a wife or husband in the marriage. Help me to do it your way.

I put my trust in you and I declare I will succeed because you live in me and you are greater than anyone else.

I rest confident in you and thank you for your grace and the Holy Spirit’s help,

In Jesus name

Amen

The Doctrine Of Balaam - Part 2

The Doctrine Of Balaam

Part 2

We are continuing in the subject of Balaam.

Revelation 2:12-17

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

We are studying the doctrine of Balaam as Jesus warns the Church in Pergamos of such evil doctrine. Balaam is first mentioned in the Old Testament in the book of Numbers chapters 22 to 25 and chapter 31. In this lesson we will study a bit more about this doctrine.

We will start by defying the word “doctrine,” according to the dictionary, doctrine is a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, political party, or other group. Those who hold the doctrine of Balaam pervert the Gospel condemning themselves and others, they compromise and teach others to do the same, all for profit. It’s a belief that “a little sin” doesn’t hurt, especially if there’s some financial or personal benefit involved. They act to enable sinful behaviours for personal gain or even participate in them.

1 Timothy 6:5

“...people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.”

Now, it makes sense the Scripture that says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into heaven’s kingdom. It is only those who persist in doing the will of my heavenly Father.” (Matthew 7:21 TPT) because these people are not concerned in doing God’s will but their own. It’s all about them. 

And yes, they are in the Church spreading their wrong doctrine, but the Lord warns us against them and even speaks to them and calls them to repent. 

God’s warnings to us are always for repentance and restoration.

2 Peter 3:9-11 NKJV

“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. 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”

God is so good that He doesn’t want anyone to perish, He is actually delaying judgement so everyone can have time to repent and change their ways. Doesn’t Romans 2:4 tells us that it’s the goodness of God that leads people to repentance? So repentance is not something bad but something very good.

Let us not misunderstand God’s goodness and abuse it by sinning and calling it God’s grace and let us not portray Him to be this angry God that loves to punish people. He is a Holy God and He wants us to be Holy, and He gives us grace to overcome sin not to keep sinning. 

Hebrews 10:29-31 NKJV

“Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

I want to emphasised in this passage above the fact that we have been given a spirit of grace. And it is trusting in God’s grace that will make us overcome. Judgement will come at the end but until then we have the spirit of grace to help us do the will of the Father and thank God for repentance when we go wrong. 

Hebrews 9:26-28 NKJV

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

What are the warnings against this doctrine?

Balaam’s name is mentioned also in 2 Peter 2:15 and Jude 1:11, both in warnings about the conduct and message of false teachers. 

2 Peter 2:15    

“Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing”

According to 2 Peter Balaam’s “way” is a choice to promote the falsehood for financial reasons. They are willing to compromise for money. 

Jude 1:11 

Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.

According to Jude, Balaam’s “error” was his willingness to accommodate pagan beliefs out of greed. Christianity with a mix of other pagan beliefs 

In Deuteronomy 18:9-12 we find a command from the Lord where He tells His people not to get involved or copy the world system of worship or practice what other religions do. 

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 

“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you."

Let’s mention some pagan beliefs that some Christians have adopted today and think it’s ok, but it’s not! 

Here are some examples of mixture and Christianity, which is an abomination:

• Yoga

For the sake of having serenity and a good figure, Christians practice yoga

• New Age

Many Christians also hold what are sometimes characterised as “New Age” beliefs – including belief in reincarnation, astrology, psychics and the presence of spiritual energy in physical objects like mountains or trees.

• Antinomianism

One who holds that under the gospel dispensation of grace the moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary to salvation. They are immoral and believe they are still save.

• Islam

some Christians copy the way husbands treat their wives in Islam, abusing them and mistreating them.

• Witchcraft

Christians thinking palm reading is ok. Or do white witchcraft as we learnt last week. 

It’s NOT OK to mix Christianity with those beliefs. This is what the Bible calls “the doctrine of Balaam,” and Balaam is Destined for Destruction. it’s time for repentance! It’s time to get right with the Lord, not to point out fingers to others but to pray for God’s holiness to touch our lives.

Galatians 5:9 NKJV 

A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Romans 1:32 

“Who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them”

He will guide you into all truth

You will always fall into compromise when you are not satisfied with Jesus. But when you love Truth and love God with all your heart. The Spirit of God will guide you into truth. 

John 16:13 NKJV

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth...”

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for loving me and teaching me the truth. I want to do your will, I want to be holy like you.

I repent for allowing mixture in my faith towards you. I repent for listening to the doctrine of Balaam or even practice it.

Forgive me Lord, I need your grace to live right before you. I need your Holy Spirit to help me and guide me.

I surrender all my life to you, my plans and dreams, my all.

I trust you and I know your will for me is good, pleasant and perfect. I receive your forgiveness and grace now and I thank you for saving me and making me your child.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Karina Maile