The church in Florida that is hosting a "burn the Quran day" on 9/11 may be Christian, but it is of my opinion that they are not following Christ. Christ taught His followers to love their enemies (Matthew 5:43-48) and to love our neighbor as we do our self (Matthew 22:37-40). Christ, from the cross, prayed for those who had violently nailed Him there and asked the Father to "forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:32-34).
It would be naive for me not to think that there will be some who read what I just stated and say that I am being judgmental, but I am not judging this church and it's leadership. I am simply inspecting their fruit as Christ encouraged His followers to do (Matthew 7:15-23, John 15:1-6). So, is this good fruit of a church or is this bad fruit?
Quran burning will not portray the love of Christ to the world and is not how citizens of the Kingdom of God are to respond. It is acts such as these that fuel the hate of America in other parts of the world which lead to extremist activity spreading death and destruction. Acts such as these also stereotype the Christian church and makes it harder for the numerous Christ following churches to make a difference in their community through displaying the true nature of God's Kingdom which includes love and peace.
I pray that this church and it's leaders repent, change their plans and react to those of the Islam faith in love and peace, praying for them and showing the world that citizens of God's Kingdom live recognizing that their allegiance is first to the Kingdom of God, and after that, to their nation.
When we launched LGF Mobile this month, we gave people opportunity to submit their prayer requests on the go. When these prayer requests are submitted via a mobile device, they go directly and immediately to either me or Becky. Every request is personally prayed over by us and we send a response to each one. I’m excited to tell you that we received our first two prayer requests submitted through mobile devices yesterday!
This functionality extends our point of need ministry potential from 1 Billion people who have access to the Internet and our online prayer ministry to the 3 Billion people who have mobile devices. This is a great milestone for the worldwide ministry of LovingGodFellowship.org.
Our next move is providing the functionality that will enable people around the world to sign up to receive encouraging text messages from us on their mobile devices. The cost of adding this functionality is $19/month for each 100 phone numbers who sign up. As we are not endowed by any group or denomination and totally depending upon donations from those we minister to through technology, we can not add this functionality without financial commitment from those who desire to spread the Gospel of Christ around the world through the technology platform that God has given us in our day to reach more people for Jesus. We are still awaiting the first monthly commitment of $19/month that will enable us to begin to offer this much needed and anticipated point of need ministry that will give us the opportunity of reaching 3 more billion people with the Gospel of Christ. Will you invest $19/month in this ministry today at http://www.lovinggodfellowship.org/monthly_supporters ?
Thanks for partnering with us in spreading the Gospel of Christ around the world through technology!
And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them." But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. (Mark 1:40-45 ESV)
What Jesus does in this paragraph of Scripture is startling to the people watching, but Jesus was not focused on the watching people. He was not interested in attracting crowds and that was not why He did the miracles that He did. He was focused on an individual who had lost his health, his dignity, his ability to earn income, his social status, his family and his friends. Jesus responded with a touch and the words “I will; be clean”. The crowds gasped when Jesus touched the leper, but the leper was filled with healing warmth that flooded His being as he was healed of leprosy and was made clean. It was love that moved Jesus to act to make this man’s life better. Jesus did not just feel sorry for him. Jesus helped him. Jesus responded with compassion – a love that compels one to act.
The first touch this man felt for probably many years was the touch of Jesus. He would never be the same. Why did Jesus touch him? He did not have to do so. In all of the recorded exorcisms, Jesus spoke a word and freed the individuals. He never once laid a hand on a demoniac. He would speak a word and the winds and waves would obey Him, so why did He touch this leper? Maybe, he touched the leper to be our example; a pattern for us to follow.
Who are the social outcasts of our day? Is it the diseased? Is it those living in poverty? Is it the homeless? Is it the incarcerated? Is it the shut-in? Is it those living alternate lifestyles? Is it those of a different race? Is it those of a different faith?
Who are the social outcasts in your city? Who in your city is financially and socially isolated? Who is shut-in? What would happen in your city if each person makes it a point every day to do an act of compassion, reaching out to touch one that is in need? I believe more people would realize the Kingdom of God and want to be a part of it.
Beloved, we live in a day where there is an overabundance of armchair theologians and armchair politicians. We don’t need any more of those. What we need in our day are people who will follow Jesus and get their hands dirty in point of need ministry revealing that in the Kingdom that Jesus is ruling over there is love, grace, peace and freedom with race, gender, health and economic equality for all.
Touch people beloved. Touch people. Be Jesus’ hand extended.
While many non-profits have went under during this great economic recession, Becky and I are still committed to live by faith and obey what God has placed on our heart for Loving God Fellowship (LGF) while steering it through these difficult times. Launching the LGF mobile site last week is testimony of this.
I'm excited about taking LGF mobile because it allows us to potentially reach 3 more billion people with the Gospel of Christ in support of our point of need ministry model. People will be able to listen to Christ Centric Bible Messages while they are on the go with their mobile devices. Our potential on the Internet is 1 billion people, so this now raises our potential to 4 billion out of 6 billion people in the world. I'm excited about this opportunity and feel that LGF needs to take full advantage of it.
Although our mobile site just has the basics now, more and better functionality will be provided as we go. Please take a look at http://mobile.lovinggodfellowship.org . If you like it, be sure and check the "like" button.
The next thing we need to add to LGF mobile is a signup for SMS texting. To provide this functionality will cost $19 per 100 users that sign up to receive text messages such as Be Encouraged! and notification of new Bible Messages on their mobile devices. Would you consider a monthly donation? A donation of $19 per month will enable us to reach 100 people around the world through their mobile device. If you desire to do more than that, each $19 will enable us to reach 100 people with the Gospel of Christ on their mobile devices.
Please know that all donations are an answer to prayer as we are not endowed by any group or denomination and we don't pass an offering plate in any church service. LGF functions only on what is donated by loving Christ followers from around the world who believe in what LGF is all about.
Beloved, we are to advance the Kingdom in our day. It has already been established in Jesus. He is now ruling over His Kingdom and has called us to follow Him and make His Kingdom known to the world through, not only words, but more importantly actions. In the Kingdom there is love, grace, peace and freedom with race, gender, health and economic equality for all. The need is the call. As we minister at the point of need, we are not only ministering as Jesus did, but we are also ministering as unto Jesus. Advance the Kingdom Beloved. Advance the Kingdom.
Beloved, ministry is to take place at the point of need. Ministry is not restricted to within the walls of a church building or the confines of a service. The need is the call. When we see a need, and we have the ability to meet that need, we are to minister as unto Jesus.
Jesus said "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' (Matthew 25:31-40 ESV)”
That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. (Mark 1:32-34 ESV)
The Jewish Sabbath is a weekly day of rest observed from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday. A lot has taken place on this Sabbath day that Mark tells us about in chapter 1 of his gospel. Earlier in the day, Jesus teaches in the Synagogue and casts a demon out of a man who was in attendance there (Mark 1:21-28). After the service, He heals Simon’s mother-in-law in the house of Simon and Andrew who were brothers (Mark 1:29-31). And now, Mark is detailed in telling us that after the Sabbath was over, as marked by sundown, people brought to Jesus those “who were sick or oppressed by demons.”
Notice that the people who were brought to Him where either “sick or oppressed by demons.” Some in our day have associated illness, especially mental illness, as demonic possession, but this account of Jesus’ life and ministry in Scripture is careful to separate the two. It would be wrong for anyone in our day to attribute a person’s illness, whether it is physical or mental, to demon possession.
I have been in the ministry for over 19 years. I have ministered both within the walls of the church building and outside the walls of church building and beyond the confines of a church service. I have ministered to those in hospitals and prisons. I have ministered to young gang bangers in correctional facilities and the homeless on the streets. I have ministered in America and in third world countries. I have ministered to literally thousands of ill people both mentally and physically, but I can count on one hand those who were possessed by demons that were made obvious through physical manifestations including voice, facial distortions and actions. I was never afraid and the Holy Spirit within me always triumphed over these evil encounters. I tell this to implore you to not associate illness with demon possession. Many precious people have been wounded and hurt because there are those who have taken their illness and proclaimed them to be demon possessed when they were not at all demon possessed. It should not be and it hinders the work of those who are utilizing their life to advance God’s Kingdom with the help of the Holy Spirit who gives them the needed and necessary spiritual discernment.
In the first chapter of Mark the Kingdom of God was manifested in the deliverance of a man (Mark 1:26) and the healing of a woman (Mark 1:31). Jesus not only talked about the Kingdom that was being established in Him, but he also demonstrated this Kingdom through His actions. It was not Jesus’ intention to prove He was the divine Son and the Bearer of the Holy Spirit by His acts of authority and power. He cast out demons because they had no right to be in any part of human life which they sought to destroy. He brought healing out of love for the sufferer. When Jesus saw people suffering, He moved with compassion - a love that compels one to act to relieve the suffering.
And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. (Mark 1:29-31 ESV)
I don’t want to neglect a piece of this paragraph of Scripture that is very important and must be touched on. Notice what Simon’s mother-in-law does after Jesus heals her of both her fever and whatever was causing it. She get’s up out of the bed and immediately helps others.
Beloved, Jesus helps us so that we can help others. Live your life recognizing His hand on it and using it to always help others. As you do, His kingdom will be revealed through your actions.
It is unfortunate that not everyone has equal and affordable access to heath care in our day. I believe that this grieves the heart of God because every person, regardless of location and finances, are God’s children. He loves each one and expects us to make available to each one, the same opportunities for healing and ease from suffering. Beloved, as we do, more people will realize the kingdom that Jesus is ruling over.
I thank God for hospitals that churches have founded such as St. Mary's in Huntington, West Virginia. Let’s make make these healing facilities available to all people in our day.
And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. (Mark 1:29-31 ESV)
Notice what Simon, Andrew, James and John does. When they leave the synagogue with Jesus, their faith in Jesus and His kingdom that He was revealing was enlarged. They go to Simon and Andrew’s house which must have just been a short distance from the synagogue as revealed through the words “and immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.” When they get there, Simon’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever. Upon the news of her illness these Christ followers had a heart to provide this lady the care she needed for her health and they tell Jesus about her fever. Their faith had grown and they now knew to take their needs to Jesus.
Beloved, we all have needs and we must take those needs to Jesus knowing that He cares for us and desires for us to place all of our cares and anxieties on Him. Jesus desires to help us and as He does, His kingdom is revealed and faith always grows.
Jesus helps us so that we can help others. As we follow Him, our faith grows in His ability to meet not only our needs, but also the needs of others. As our faith grows, we are quick to reveal His kingdom to others through our actions. We pray and have faith, but we also put our faith into action.
Beloved, evil has been defeated through Jesus Christ. Each of us has been called to deny self, take up our cross and follow Jesus. As we do, the felt needs of others will be met through our actions. God blesses us so that we can bless others. Every time we meet a felt need, we are revealing what God’s Kingdom is all about – grace, love and peace with race, gender, health and economic equality for all.
My sister, Ramona has been battling Lupus for over two decades. There is no cure and the disease has caused so much damage to every part of her body. She has had multiple strokes in her young life and has trouble getting around, but she doesn’t have trouble meeting the felt needs of others. She ministers the love of Christ to everyone she comes in contact with. She cooks meals and she and her husband Chuck takes food to people. They have provided my family with manna many times and God has used them to sustain us in ministry over and over again. These are Christ followers who get it and they are revealing the Kingdom of God to so many through taking care of their felt needs.
I was fortunate to be raised by Christ following parents who used their God given abilities to minister at the point of need and take care of felt needs just as Jesus did. I grew up seeing them do without and give of their time, talent and treasure so that the needs of others would be taken care of. I’m glad that they did not teach me to leave the needs of others in the sovereign hands of God. I am glad that Jesus did not teach us to leave the needs of others in the sovereign hands of God. I am glad that so many people get it and are continuing the point of need ministry of Jesus and not just merely attending a church service expecting God to take care of people.
Mom and Dad are now in their senior years of life and I will take care of them and their needs. I will do it out of my love for them and in obedience to Scripture, just as they taught me by example.
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8 ESV)
Some Christians today feel as though we should leave the care of others in the hands of a sovereign God. Some believe the care of others should be left up to the government, but yet they get upset at government if they raise taxes due to providing social programs. What is the answer that Christ gives us? What is the answer that Scripture gives us? I’m often reminded of this Scripture found in James 2:14-18 that helps us with the answer: “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV)”
Beloved, if God reveals a need to us and if He has given us the ability to meet that need, it is His expectation that we do so. We don’t have to pray about it. The need is the call. God takes care of the needs of people through us.
Beloved, we don't have to wait for God's kingdom to come in some future event as we are already a part of His kingdom and He has imparted it into our lives through the Holy Spirit. We are to spend our lives revealing to the world His kingdom in us.
The apostle Paul taught that the supreme gift is love. Christ said that the world will know that we are His followers by our love for one another. As we love God and ALL people ministering at the point of need, His kingdom is revealed to the world and many will desire to be a part of it. That is so much more than mere church attendance.
Church attendance is not bad unless we replace serving Christ and revealing His kingdom with serving the institution. It then becomes an idol and the fruit is communities not realizing that the kingdom of God is at hand and Christ is already ruling supreme. There can be a church on every corner in the city with the city not realizing the kingdom of God. They see the church buildings in their community, but don't see the kingdom of God in action. I believe that we can change that in our day and have been called to do so as Christ followers. Be free in Christ! Know that you are loved,
gaj
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" -- Matthew 25:37-40
I am a Christ follower and I believe that immigration reform is a moral issue.
I have proclaimed to church congregations for 19 years now that God is bringing immigrants to America to experience the love that flows out of Christ followers as we love God and ALL people. He is allowing them to be our neighbors. Will we love them?
I pray that in these days the church steps up and does not act like many American white churches did during the days of slavery and the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. What a negative piece of church history that was. Although we have made many strides towards racial equality in this nation, the church on Sunday mornings continues to be the most segregated place in America. May God help us in our day. And may immigrants experience the love of Christ through Christ followers as we stand for faith and justice while loving God and ALL people.
Martin Luther King Jr. said that "bad laws are worth going to jail over". I'm sure that you would agree with me that segregated buses, restaurants, bathrooms, water fountains and schools were bad laws. Nevertheless, they existed in the 1960s and prior. Dr. King and others took a stand against these bad laws and led the African American community in nonviolent protests against them. Dr. King was placed in jail many times over these bad laws, but as a Christ follower, he took a stand for faith and justice in his day and we must do the same in our day. “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:24 ESV)”
The Federal immigration laws need to be reformed to be more compassionate. Until they are reformed, states are left to do their own thing and each state could develop their own laws concerning immigrants like Arizona has already done. I believe Arizona's law is racist in heart and will lead to results in that state that will not be good.
Jesus said (Matthew 25:35-40 NIV) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, [36] I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' [37] "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? [38] When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? [39] When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' [40] "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Welcoming the stranger in our midst (Matthew 25:35) is the direction of Christ, the One we follow.
I have created a group on facebook called “Christ Followers for Compassionate Reform of Immigration Laws”. It’s a place where information can be shared and Christ followers who support compassionate reform of immigration laws can gather, stay informed and be encouraged as we stand for faith and justice.
I give you a personal invitation to click and join this group. Invite other Christ followers you know and utilize the group for information and encouragement.
Let us take a stand for faith and justice in our day showing the world that we love God and ALL people.
Putting faith into action is the right thing to do. Putting faith into action costs us something. Putting faith into action will advance God’s kingdom.
As we follow Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to use us in continuing the point of need ministry of Jesus, we will put our faith in action advancing God’s kingdom beyond any ethnic, racial and gender boundaries and extend it to ALL people in our sphere of influence and beyond. It will cost us something, but Christ followers counted the cost when they denied their self, took up their cross and followed Jesus.
Sean and Rebecca Lawrence are precious Christ followers who love God and people with a genuine authenticity. Sean is student of God’s Word and a gifted teacher.
Last month Sean Lawrence was credentialed as a licensed minister under Loving God Fellowship. Becky and I traveled to Middletown, Ohio, yesterday to attend a Bible study that Sean conducts on Wednesdays from noon to 1pm at the public library there. We were blessed and recognized God's hand upon Sean and Rebecca as they ministered to all who were present there.
Sean and Rebecca also minister on Sundays in the basement of a local church providing a meal and message for those in the community. They minister at the point of need as unto Christ and reflect through their words and actions what Loving God Fellowship is all about. Becky and I are so thankful that God has added them to the Loving God Fellowship team.
Please uplift Sean and Rebecca in your prayers. Pray for the people of Middletown, Ohio – that they will experience the love of God firsthand through loving Christ followers such as Sean and Rebecca Lawrence.
What is it to serve God and to do His will? Nothing else than to show mercy to our neighbor. For it is our neighbor who needs our service; God in heaven needs it not.
Regardless of one’s political and economic convictions, there is a God given relationship expressed throughout the Bible between ability and need. God blesses people with ability and it is His expectation that those with the ability take care of those in need. This is in direct opposition to greed which is not of God.
We find the Christ followers in Antioch being blessed in Acts 11:19-26. The work of God in Antioch was authenticated by good works. It was in Antioch that Christ followers were first called Christian which means good, kind, loving benevolent, useful and generous. They showed their love in practical ways.
Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:27-30 ESV)
Claudius Caesar ruled from A.D. 41 to 54. During this period there was a series of bad harvests and serious famines in various parts of the Roman Empire. Jewish historian Josephus wrote of a great famine during the reign of Claudius that oppressed the people of Judea. Many people starved to death without the means to obtain food. Two Roman historians, Tacitus and Suetonius, have recorded that there were several localized famines during the Claudius period. Barnabas arrived at Antioch in A.D. 41 which was the beginning of Claudius’ rule.
In this paragraph of Scripture we find that Luke, the author of Acts, was more concerned with recording the generous response of the Christ followers in Antioch than he was with the fulfillment of the prophecy of famine. We can glean much from these verses of Scripture that will help us be everything that God intends for us to be in our day.
First of all notice that the need was presented by the moving of the Holy Spirit. Prophecy is a gift of the Spirit and a verbal manifestation. Prophecy is both foretelling and forthtelling, but prophecy in the Bible is mostly forthtelling or speaking God’s message rather than foretelling the future. The important fact here is that God revealed a need to the Christ followers in Antioch by the Holy Spirit. Beloved, God identifies needs to us in our day and if we are people of the Spirit and we walk in the Spirit instead of the flesh, we will know when God is revealing a need to us that he has given us the ability to meet.
Next, notice that their faith was not dead. Their faith led to a decision and the decision led to action. Beloved, our faith will always lead to action because faith without action is dead. God’s Word says “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:14-18 ESV)
Finally, notice that they each gave according to their ability. They were not illogical in their giving and did not give beyond their means. Each one voluntarily gave what they could based on the ability that God had given them. Beloved, God blesses us so that we can bless others. The Apostle Paul wrote “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 ESV)
Beloved, God’s requirement for us in our day is very simple. As we are sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, He will show us needs that we can meet based upon the ability that He has given us. Whether we act or not will be based upon the condition of our faith. If our faith is dead, we will do nothing. If our faith is alive, we will utilize the ability that God has given us to meet the need that He reveals to us.
I encourage you today to recognize the ability that God has given you. Your ability is a gift of God’s precious and amazing grace. Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as He will direct you to needs that you can meet based on the ability you have been given. Be quick to act upon your faith. Decide in your heart what you are to do and act upon it, not reluctantly or under compulsion, realizing that God loves a cheerful giver.
We are entering into the March madness time of year when college basketball has their conference tournaments and then the big dance – the NCAA tournament.
You will hear coaches and commentators commenting on a team’s ability to play offense and defense.
During this time of year, I’m always reminded of teamwork and how championships are won by teamwork and good coaching.
Christ followers belong to a team.
They have been selected by Christ alone.
He is their coach and He is a good coach.
He simply asks them to deny self, take up their cross and follow Him.
He showed them how.
They don’t need a popular sports drink.
Their thirst is quenched by the Holy Spirit who empowers them to continue the point of need ministry of their coach.
A lot of defense has been played, but coach showed them by example how to play offense.
It’s time rise up as a team and play offense in our day!
Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness, and pride of power, and with its plea for the weak. Christians are doing too little to make these points clear... Christendom adjusts itself far too easily to the worship of power. Christians should give more offense, shock the world far more, than they are doing now. ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
If you are obedient to God and include all people in your sphere of influence, regardless of who they are and what they have done, you will be criticized by those who still don’t get who God is and what He has left us here to do. And those who criticize you may be a part of your community of believers.
Acts chapter 10 begins with Peter being partial to those of his own race and belief system. The chapter concludes with Peter obeying God and making those outside of his own race and belief system a part of his sphere of influence. He does not condemn them or judge them; he simply associates with them and points them to Jesus. As he does this, the Holy Spirit does the rest. Acts chapter 11 begins with Peter being criticized by those in his community of believers for including those who were different.
Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them."
(Act 11:1-3 ESV)
Peter was criticized for obeying God and including those in his sphere of influence who were different. You would think that those in his community of believers would be rejoicing over his obedience to God, but they were not. Instead, they were upset. They just didn’t get who God is and what He has left us here to do.
Take a moment and consider who you have included in your sphere of influence. Are they different from you? Or are they just like you? There are a lot of people in our day who go to church, but only include people who are like them. Most churches are segregated and do not fairly represent the racial diversity of God’s Kingdom.
There are those in our day who only include people who:
Vote like they do belonging to the same political party
Are of the same faith
Are of the same denomination
Have the same color of skin
Are of the same economic status
Have the same sexual orientation
They exclude others who are different than they. I feel sorry for these people because they just don’t get who God is and what He has left us here to do. There is hope for these people though. If God could change Peter, God can change them. That is what gives me great hope for change in our day.
Beloved, I encourage you today to look at all people through the eyes of Christ. Christ died for all people. It doesn’t matter who they are or what they have become, God loves them as much as He loves you. Don’t try to change people and make them just like you. Instead, obey the direction of the Holy Spirit. He will broaden your sphere of influence and speak God messages through you. He will do the rest. When criticism comes from those who don’t get who God is and what He has left us here to do, you will know that you are right on course as a Christ follower.
We are living in a day where some churches devote more finances and time to buildings, programs and events than they do in taking care of the felt needs of the people in their community and encouraging their attendees to continue the point of need ministry of Jesus within that community during the week. Here in America there are churches that are thousands, millions, and some are billions of dollars in debt for facilities and building projects. There is church finance institutions in place that are thriving on helping churches go into dept. For a fee they will consult, loan funds and develop payback plans that will entice the church members to pay for the building projects that are oftentimes the fruit of the church leaderships pride and ego.
Some church facilities are only used a few times per week at the most. Pride is taken in accumulating maximum volunteer hours from church attendees for church activities that take place within the walls of these facilities instead of within the community at the point of need.
It’s amazing that the church thrived for over 3 centuries without building projects. From the beginnings of the church as recorded in the book of Acts until Christianity became popular when Constantine became Christian, the focus was on continuing the point of need ministry of Jesus. When the buildings started going up, the focus shifted off of needy people and onto needless buildings and the methods to pay for them.
We at Loving God Fellowship are seeking to help change this mindset that has held the church captive for way to long. In doing so, we have implemented what we call “building the church without a building” or “church without walls”.
May God help us in our day keep our focus on people and not on buildings. May we never put the needs of a building before the needs of people within our communities. Christ took care of people at their point of need. Christ died for people. Christ is returning for people.
Christ followers bring encouragement and healing to people as they continue the point of need ministry of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Saul deciding to deny self take up his cross and follow Jesus, as recorded in Acts chapter nine, brings peace to the church that had become scattered from Jerusalem due to the persecution spearheaded by Saul. It’s in this peace that we see Peter at the conclusion of Acts chapter nine leaving Jerusalem and visiting those who make up the church in the surrounding areas bringing encouragement and healing to them.
Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
(Act 9:32-35 ESV)
Peter went to the people and did not expect them to come to him. Peter could have stayed in Jerusalem and been comfortable as a leader of the early church, but he didn’t. He couldn’t and be a Christ follower. Jesus did not stay in the synagogue on the Sabbath and expect needy people to come to Him. Jesus allowed the Holy Spirit to direct His steps as he went and ministered to people at their point of need every day of the week. And now we see Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, following Jesus and continuing His point of need ministry.
Peter knew that within himself, he could do nothing. He knew the source of healing was Jesus Christ. Through the knowledge given by the Holy Spirit, Peter was able to tell Aeneas that Jesus was healing him. Aeneas had been paralyzed and confined to a bed for eight years. Peter would not dare say these words unless the Holy Spirit prompted Him. He spoke the words and the healing was immediate.
This miracle was instrumental in the residents of Lydda and Sharon deciding to become Christ followers. They could not deny the healing power of Christ when they witnessed this man walking again after eight years of bed confinement.
We need Christ exalting miracles in our day and I believe that they will increase as more and more people decide to shake off the shackles of dead stale religion and deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus. I believe that in the last days, there will be a supernatural reaping of the harvest of souls that is already ripe for harvest. Christ exalting miracles will draw people to Him. I’m not talking about superstars making a circus out of faith healing. I’m talking about common folk, full of the Holy Spirit, continuing the point of need ministry of Jesus on a daily basis wherever the Holy Spirit directs them.
Christ followers minister encouragement and healing at the point of need. They rely on the prompting of the Holy Spirit knowing that they can not heal, but Christ will heal. They are willing to go instead of wait; act instead of just attend. They know that Jesus will do the rest as they simply follow Him.
Twenty years ago, corporations developed mission and vision statements.
Ten years ago, churches saw the value of publicly stating and promoting mission and vision statements to describe what they are all about.
When we established LovingGodFellowship.org in December 2005, we saw the importance of putting what God laid on our hearts to accomplish in words utilizing a mission and vision statement and making it known. We took it one step further than most churches do though. We placed the mission and vision statement in our founding Constitution and Bylaws so that it could not be easily changed. With the mission and vision statement being in the Constitution and Bylaws, it will take a 75% vote of the Board of Directors to change what LovingGodFellowship.org is all about.
What are the mission and vision statements of LovingGodFellowship.org?
Mission Statement
Loving God Fellowship is an interdenominational fellowship of believers desiring to reach, equip and empower people to fulfill the Great Commandment of loving God and loving people (Matthew 22:36-39, Luke 10:25-37) and to fulfill the Great Commission of making disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).
What does that tell us about LovingGodFellowship.org?
We are interdenominational – we are made up of Christ followers from all denominational backgrounds and do not allow doctrinal beliefs, which are manmade, to stop us from our Jesus mandated mission of loving God, loving people and making disciples.
Our mission is simplified to the two commandments that Jesus left all of His followers to accomplish until He returns.
How can we love God who we can not see when we do not love people whom we do see? If we love people whom we do see, we will stand for justice and equality for all. We will use all of our available resources to care for the needs of people and thus continue the point of need ministry of Jesus. Along the way, we will show others, by our example, how to follow Christ just as Jesus has shown us by His example.
That’s our mission. That’s what LovingGodFellowship.org is all about.
The purpose of the vision statement is to dial in on how we will go about accomplishing the mission.
Vision Statement
The vision of Loving God Fellowship is to impact cities and communities through believers ministering at the point of need just as Jesus led, commissioned and empowered His followers to do until He comes.
In 2010, we will be emphasizing the start of LovingGodFellowship.org (LGF) gatherings in cities around the world who will meet once a week for Bible study, fellowship and encouragement, but will spend the rest of the week ministering at the point of need as they follow Jesus. Members will be encouraged to volunteer in community activity instead of just attending a church service and utilizing all of their expendable time volunteering in church activity. This takes ministry beyond the walls of a church and the confines of a church service.
Most churches have set goals in obtaining as many volunteers as they can for their church and its activities, programs and events. Our goal is to facilitate volunteers to minister in the community, at the point of need as Jesus did.
Please pray with us that God will lift up men and women in 2010 that will facilitate these weekly LGF gatherings in their cities and that God will attract to these gatherings those who desire to utilize their life to make a difference in our day. This is vital in fulfilling our vision and accomplishing our mission.
As you pray, God may lead you to be one of these facilitators in your city, on your campus, or in your neighborhood. If He does, please be quick to respond to Him in total obedience. We are here to help you every step of the way!
The New Year brings new hope and new expectations.
We can not do anything about the old year.
It has passed.
We can no longer make a difference in 2009.
All that was done is now history.
We can make a difference in 2010!
The best is yet to come!
My prayer for all my friends and family at LovingGodFellowship.org, Facebook and Twitter is that God will use each of us in 2010 to continue the point of need ministry of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit while we deny self, take up the cross and follow Him.
God does not hold our past sins against us and we are to reflect His heart and not hold past sins against others realizing that the life changing power of God’s amazing grace is at work in us and in others.
Acts chapter nine begins with Saul heading from Jerusalem to Damascus as a persecutor. It concludes with Saul going back to Jerusalem as the persecuted. He goes to Damascus to arrest and destroy Christ followers. He returns to Jerusalem as a Christ follower. The changes in Saul’s life are brought about through grace. It truly is amazing.
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. (Act 9:26-31 ESV)
Saul’s return to Jerusalem puts him in a very difficult position. All of his religious buddies there know that he is now a radical Christ follower. And the Christ followers in Jerusalem had not forgotten his self led drive to destroy them. But just as there was a Christ follower in Damascus that accepted Saul and brought him into the gathering, there is also one in Jerusalem. Thank God for Ananias in Damascus and Barnabus in Jerusalem.
Ananias and Barnabus had a couple of things in common. They believed the best in others and they did not hold a person’s past against them. This is the heart of God. He does not hold our past sins against us and we are to reflect His heart and not hold past sins against others realizing that God’s amazing grace changes us and others.
Saul was brought to the local gathering because true conversion involves joining the Christ following community where encouragement can be received and given. Not only must converts join the Christ following community, but the Christ following community must welcome converts, including those from different religious, ethnic or social backgrounds. May God lift up Ananiases and Barnabuses in our day that will take the initiative to be friends with newcomers who have decided to deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus.
A true community of Christ followers will always welcome others regardless of who they are and what they have done in the past. It is a community of sinners who have been arrested by Jesus and dramatically impacted by the life changing grace of God and they quickly recognize that God’s grace is at work in others.
I am finding, day by day, that following Christ is an exciting journey. It’s not always easy and requires much self sacrifice, but it is so rewarding. Not rewarding in the sense of gaining material possessions or notoriety, but rewarding in seeing Jesus take a life that is hopeless, desperate and needy and fill if full of hope and love along with His grace and peace as they are ministered to at the point of need. There’s nothing like it.
I didn’t find joy and satisfaction in the corporate world. I didn’t find joy and satisfaction in the intuitional church world. I was a participant in both those worlds for years and found no joy or satisfaction in life. I find much joy and satisfaction in following Jesus.
Just $1.92 provides a complete meal for one hungry, homeless person or helps provide shelter or other vital care. Your gift of $67.20 helps 35 people. $86.40 feeds or cares for 45. And if you can give $124.80, you'll help 65 people.
Please join us in helping the homeless this Thanksgiving and Christmas season.
I’ve seen so much suffering and so much lack of compassion in our day, but I stay full of hope.
Half of this world’s population lives on less than two dollars a day.
Many go hungry daily.
Many die daily of preventable and treatable disease.
Some say that government is the solution.
Some say that the institutional church is the solution.
What does Jesus say?
What does Jesus expect?
When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." (Mat 14:14-16 ESV)
Jesus teaches His followers that they are the solution.
They are to use what He gives them in time, talent and treasure, however little it may seem, to take care of needy people.
This is the life of the Christ follower.
What would happen in our world if the 2+ billion Christians became Christ followers?
This, I believe, is the solution and I choose to receive my hope from Jesus, the Blessed Hope.
I wonder if we at times base our understanding of God’s willingness to help us on man’s willingness to help us. Let me give you some examples of what I mean. There is the job interview. The interviewer is able to hire, but is the interviewer willing to hire you? There is the loan process. The loan officer is able to give a loan, but is the loan officer willing to give the loan to you? There is that house that you want. The seller is able to agree to your offer, but is the seller willing to agree to your offer? There is your education. Your teacher is able to take your late assignment because your dog ate your homework, but is your teacher willing to take your late assignment? The police officer that pulls you over for going just a little over the speed limit is able to let you go with just a warning, but is the police officer willing to let you go with just a warning? People are able, but are they willing?
You may be thinking, “I don’t get it. What’s your point and how is it relevant to me?” My point is this: we can not base our understanding of God’s willingness to help us on people’s willingness to help us. We must base our understanding of God on the Bible. The Bible is our authoritative guide to all of our beliefs and our actions.
At the end of Mark Chapter one, we meet a man that has a need. A job is not his primary need. Neither is a loan, a house or an education. This man needs health care. "A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, If you are willing, you can make me clean." (Mark 1:40 NIV)
Leprosy is a terrible disease. In Jesus’ day, leprosy is incurable. Lepers were separated from society and considered to be outcasts. With the disease, skin decays off of the bones. Once a person was diagnosed with this disease, they were separated from their family and could no longer touch or be touched. Can you imagine living the rest of your life and not being able to touch and be touched? - A child no longer feeling the touch of a parent and a parent no longer feeling the touch of a child, a husband no longer feeling the touch of his wife and a wife no longer feeling the touch of her husband. The disease itself brought much physical suffering and disability, but the mental and emotional suffering due to being an untouchable was just as continually tormenting.
To make matters worse, the leper was required by law to walk through the crowded walkways of the city declaring at the top of their voice “UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN, LEPER, UNCLEAN.” Upon hearing this, the crowd would part and allow the leper to come through making sure that no one touched the outcast. That pretty much describes this man’s world that we read about in Mark chapter one; untouchable and a social outcast.
This man brought his need to Jesus.
In the midst of his physical suffering and mental anguish; in the midst of emotional devastation, this man did the right thing. He came to Jesus with his need. In the first part of Mark chapter one, we see Jesus healing people and setting captives free from the bondages of sin and evil. The whole city of Capernaum in the providence of Galilee is impacted. Can you imagine the crowds that are now following Jesus? This man with leprosy, void of any self esteem or respect from others presses through the crowd to bring his need to Jesus. His steps to Jesus were humiliating as he shouted “UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN, LEPER, UNCLEAN.” As the people moved out of the way to let him by, he could undoubtedly feel the stares and hear the whispers. But he pressed onward knowing that he had to get to Jesus with his need.
Beloved, we have to press through whatever life deals us and get to Jesus just like this man did. What are you going through right now in your life? What are your needs? What are you struggling with? Do you need a miracle? I encourage you to press through until you get to Jesus. He is able to help you.
Expectations shaped by human treatment.
I imagine that this man turned to many people that were able to help him in some way or fashion, but they were not willing to help him. Listen to his words to Jesus as he says "If you are willing, you can make me clean." (Mark 1:40 NIV) I believe this man went to many people that could help him, but were not willing to help him. His expectations were shaped by others actions and reactions to him. You can hear in his words that he had great faith in Jesus’ ability to help him, but he was not sure if Jesus was willing. This man with leprosy knew that Jesus could help him, but he was managing his expectations based on how others had treated him.
As I meditated on the words of this man with leprosy, God began to show me that our expectations in our day have been shaped by human treatment. We live in a world where others have the ability to meet needs of people, yet they are not willing. In our day, there seems to be more concern over oil in the Middle East than genocide in Sudan. It spills over to our understanding of God and it diminishes our level of faith. We approach God, not doubting His ability, but doubting His willingness to meet our need. That’s why we pray prayers like “God, if it is your will, please heal my body…..” We are not questioning God’s ability to heal, we are questioning His willingness to heal. Our expectations have been shaped by human treatment.
Jesus reveals His heart to us in the way He responds to this man.
Jesus responds to this man’s request, which was conditioned by his experiences of denial for help. "Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.”I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"" (Mark 1:41 NIV) Notice that Jesus does not condemn this man for lack of faith in Jesus’ willingness. No, instead Jesus reaches out and touches the man. This is very significant. Jesus touched the one that was untouchable showing physical evidence that He was willing to help this man. Can you imagine? Who knows how long it had been since this man had felt someone’s touch and here the Son of God reaches out and touches him.
Not only does Jesus physically touch the man, but He verbally tells him that He is willing to meet his need. With a spoken command of “Be Clean!” Jesus demonstrates not only His ability to meet needs, but also His willingness to meet needs. The result of the man coming to Jesus and Jesus touching the man was supernatural. "Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured." (Mark 1:42 NIV)
Beloved, this has great relevance to us in our day. As we press through whatever we are going through and we take our needs to Jesus, He has compassion on us and works miracles in our life. Please know that according to the Word of God, Jesus has not changed. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 NIV) Not only is Jesus able to meet your every need, He is also willing. Continually bring your needs to Jesus Christ. Jesus will have compassion on you. Jesus will reach out and touch you. Jesus will defy the natural and will work the supernatural in you. In these days that we live, refuse to let human treatment shape your expectations in what God can do. Expect a miracle each time you come in contact with Jesus!
As Christ followers, we are to minister at the point of need as Jesus did. I call it, "getting our hands dirty." As Jesus leads us to where the need is and has given us the resources of time, talent and treasure to meet the need, we are to be willing. The recipient of point of need ministry will see Jesus in us and experience His love and willingness to help through us. His point of need ministry will continue.
Jesus works in each of His followers in different ways that produces the same result. The result is always obedience that leads to point of need ministry.
In Acts 9:10-19 of God’s word we see Jesus working in Saul and Ananias, molding and shaping them to obey Him and continue His point of need ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus can do this work and it only happens in those who submit to His leadership.
Saul was picked by Jesus in Acts 9:1-9. He humbled himself and submitted to Jesus’ leadership. He once was self led and now he is Christ led. Jesus instructed him to go to Damascus and wait there for further instruction. Saul obeyed.
It was in the waiting that Christ did a deeper work in Saul, preparing him to enter into his destiny as a Christ follower. While waiting, Saul fasted and prayed. This went against Saul’s nature of being self led and self sufficient. He was use to going and blowing; doing his own thing in his own time. He rested, worked and played on his own schedule. This had to change in order for Christ to fully utilize him. Saul waited. Saul prayed. Saul fasted. Saul obeyed. He didn’t know why, but he obeyed.
Ananias was a Christ follower in Damascus. Jesus came to him in a vision and gave him detailed instructions. He tells him specifically what street and what house to go to in order lay hands on Saul so that Saul would receive his sight back. Jesus was telling Ananias to go help the man who came to town to throw you in prison and would like to murder you. Wow, what an instruction and what a step of obedience by a Christ follower.
Ananias obedience led to point of need ministry. When he arrives, he specifically addresses Saul as “brother”. What an example of the love and forgiveness that are fruit of a Christ follower’s life. Saul received his sight after Ananias laid his hands on him. Saul followed Christ that day as Ananias baptized him in water. Ananias took care of Saul’s basic needs and prepared food for him to eat so that he could regain his strength. Once again, the obedience of a Christ follower leads to continuing the point of need ministry of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Saul learned a lot that day. He learned the value of obedience and he benefited from its result as a Christ follower ministered to him at his point of need that day. Saul didn’t have to go to a church building and attend a service. Saul didn’t have to go to an evangelistic event or a faith healing crusade. Saul did not have to wait in line at the homeless shelter for a cup of hot soup. No, the Christ follower came to him and took care of his needs right where he was at.
This act of unconditional love and forgiveness undoubtedly started to shape Saul for the ministry that was ahead of him. In the rest of the book of Acts we will see Saul, in complete obedience, continue the point of need ministry of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. Ananias will not be mentioned again, but rest assured, a Christ follower does not retire until they reach glory. Ananias kept living a life of obedience, continuing the point of need ministry of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.
As we follow Christ, He will direct our steps and lead us to where He desires us to continue His point of need ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit. We will be pleasantly surprised as we realize that Jesus’ ministry goes far beyond the walls of a church building and the confines of a service. His ministry is where the need is and that is where He will lead us. Will we go? The difference between the called and the chosen is obedience.
As one grows in their walk with Christ, they continually learn that the Holy Spirit directs their steps. They begin to be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and rely on Him to prepare and design God encounters with others at their point of need.
In Acts 8:26-40 we see a Holy Spirit designed encounter take place that we can learn much from and it will help us be able to recognize future Holy Spirit designed encounters in our journey as we follow Christ and increase His kingdom. Please notice some things with me in these Scriptures.
The Holy Spirit caused the paths of two unlikely people to cross – a Jewish Christ follower and an Ethiopian non Christ follower.
Jesus desires for us to mix with people that are not like us. If we continually mix with only those who are like us, we will miss our Holy Spirit designed encounters. That is why Christ followers have allowed Him to remove all prejudices that they have learned from their heart. They love God and ALL people. They are willing to mix with people of all race, belief, and economic status.
The Holy Spirit prepared both individuals beforehand for this encounter.
Philip was full of the Holy Spirit and had developed a heart to help people (Acts 6:1-6). He followed the leading of the Holy Spirit to Samaria (Acts 8:4-8) and was used by God in a powerful way there and now he was led by the Spirit to just head south. Phillip had allowed Christ to break down all prejudices in his heart and he was willing to minister at the point of need to anyone, no matter who they were and where they were located.
The Ethiopian had just been to Jerusalem representing the queen of the Ethiopians and was now heading back home to Ethiopia. He was not yet a Christ follower, but God was working in His heart.
Scripture was used as a basis to reveal Christ.
The Holy Spirit had attracted the Ethiopian to the Scriptures and he was reading in Isaiah 53. He did not know that Isaiah 53 pointed to Christ. He did not know that Christ had already come and fulfilled the Old Testament. He had questions concerning Scripture. Phillip the Christ follower answered his questions and pointed him to Jesus.
Christ followers must know Scripture. It’s not an option. Scripture is our authoritative guide to our beliefs and our actions. The Holy Spirit works on people’s hearts through Scripture and for us to be used by the Holy Spirit, we must know Scripture and be constantly ready to lovingly point people to Jesus through Scripture as they ask questions. If they are not asking questions, the Holy Spirit has not prepared them yet and we are just simply to love them and take care of their felt needs. Christ followers know when the Holy Spirit has prepared an individual by the questions they ask and we must be prepared to give the answer of Christ.
The desire to follow Christ in water baptism was the indicator that something genuine had taken place within the Ethiopian.
After having Christ revealed to Him, the Ethiopian did not have the desire to go to a church service, walk an aisle and repeat a prayer after somebody asking Jesus into his heart. No, all of those things are man made and not found in Scripture. The Ethiopian did have a genuine desire to follow Christ in water baptism. Water baptism is the first step a Christ follower takes in their journey with Christ and it is an outside indicator of what has already taken place on the inside.
The kingdom of God grew that day. It grew by one on that road heading south, but when the Ethiopian got back to Ethiopia, the good news about Jesus compelled others into the kingdom and Jesus’ prophecy of Acts 1:8 continued to come to pass.
Is Jesus’ prophecy of Acts 1:8 being fulfilled through your life?
A Christ follower will always follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and minister at the point of need resulting in Christ being exalted and the kingdom of God growing. They can not keep the joy and the good news of the kingdom to their self as they come across people that the Holy Spirit has already prepared to receive point of need ministry and the love of Christ.
The number of casualties of the 7.6-magnitude quake in West Sumatra of Indonesia has reached to 704 and some 295 others are still missing, the provincial Disaster Management Agency said Wednesday. Also 102,646 houses collapsed and 1104,770 were damaged.
Many schools, hospitals and roads were also affected by the quake and are in a bad state. ~ Thaindian News
I am raising funds this week to help as many disaster survivors that we can in Indonesia, Philippines and Samoa, showing them the love of God. With three major disasters occurring in the same week, we need the help of as many generous and compassionate people as possible at this time.
Will you demonstrate your love of God and people by clicking here and joining us in helping survivors?
A massive quake and tsunami struck the Samoan islands on September 29, 2009, killing at least 500 people and trapping survivors beneath debris and rubble from collapsed buildings. Support is needed to get emergency aid to survivors.
I am raising funds this week to help as many disaster survivors that we can in Indonesia, Philippines and Samoa. With three major disasters occurring in the same week, we need the help of as many generous and compassionate people as possible at this time.
Will you click here and join us in showing the survivors the love of Christ?
Health workers fanned out across Padang on Tuesday to douse the Indonesian city with disinfectant over concerns about disease outbreaks six days after a deadly earthquake rattled Sumatra.
The rescue mission in Padang, a port city of 900,000, and in surrounding hills devastated by landslides has now turned to a huge relief effort to help thousands who have lost their homes. ~ PADANG, Indonesia, Oct 6 (Reuters)
I am raising funds this week to help as many disaster survivors that we can in Indonesia, Philippines and Samoa. With three major disasters occurring in the same week, we need the help of as many generous and compassionate people as possible at this time.
Becky and I have been in contact with one of our pastors in the Philippines impacted by the typhoon that has devastated that area.
"We were very busy for serving 300+ Manila flood victims who evacuate in our campus. 1000$ cost of food and materials had been distributed. We will distribute 800$ cost foods and school used to 200 families tomorrow. Please Pray for us.... 300+ died already." ~ Rev. Thang
I am raising funds this week to help as many disaster survivors that we can in Indonesia, Philippines and Samoa and show them the love of Christ. With three major disasters occurring in the same week, we need the help of as many generous and compassionate people as possible at this time.
We will be demonstrating the love of Christ to those affected by these disasters by partnering with those already on the ground providing the medical supplies and relief that is so desperately needed.
Indonesia Earthquake - At least 1,100 people are dead in Indonesia as a result of two large earthquakes in as many days. Hundreds more are believed to be injured. Thousands of people are trapped under damaged houses and buildings.
Philippines Typhoon – Typhoon Ketsana recently dumped twice as much rain on the Philippines as Hurricane Katrina did in New Orleans. More than 250 people have died, 500,000 are homeless and almost 2 million are affected. Another "super typhoon" threatens to hit the same area. There's a huge risk that communicable diseases will take many lives.
Samoan Islands Earthquake and Tsunami – Large areas along the shores of the Samoan Islands have been devastated by vicious tsunami caused by an 8.0 earthquake. Entire villages have been wiped out.
With three major disasters occurring in the same week, we need the help of as many generous and compassionate people as possible at this time.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:1-2 ESV)
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