Year: 2014

Arrested by Stealth

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Mark 14:1 ESV It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him. They wanted to arrest Him secretly. Stealth comes from an Old English word related to steal. Now we must understand that no thief steals openly. Stealth means secretive, secrecy sneakiness, slyness, camouflage, clandestine. I am sure you have all heard about the stealth bomber? This aircraft was designed in accordance with technology that makes detection by radar or sonar difficult. This is the modus operandi of the enemy. His primary way to attack us – steal from us and hinder us – is to hide from us! He seek to blend in, make his moves undetected. The scripture calls him a thief – John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But he does none of this openly. Matthew 24:43 says to – Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a thief was coming, he …

More than Conquerors

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I had the privilege of being a part of a missionary work in the West African nation of Ivory Coast, correctly know known as – La Cote D’Ivoire between 1990 and 1994. By the time I signed on, they had planted about 6 or more Churches around Abidjan – capital city. Those days were special: knocking on doors, walking the neighborhoods, holding All Night Prayer meetings and community gathering for fasting and praying. A revival was happening all around us – young and old coming to know Jesus and being filled with the Holy Ghost. These are some of the best days of my life and ministry. The people we ministered to were just like me. They were refugees, displaced, cut off from family, scattered in this foreign land and living among people with a strange tongue. They were often abused, and un-welcomed and mocked in the public square. You would think their pain and sorrow would define them, break them and leave them in despair. You would think their loneliness, loss, and inability to …

The Greatest Chapter in All of Scripture is the greatest chapter of my life

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It was the summer of 1991. I was young and had discovered the joy of salvation, the hope of eternal life. There was a fire burning in my heart. I felt like I had been made new. I was born of God. His seed had budded within and I would never be the same. We had completed our baptismal classes. We were baptized. My spiritual father insisted that we memorize Romans 8. Everyone of us had committed the chapter to memory. We stood before the congregation, just before our first communion, and with one voice, one proud, loud and joyful voice, we recited the greatest chapter in the entire bible – Romans 8: The Spirit of Life There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of …

How to live a Spirit Empowered Life

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How active is the Holy Spirit in your life?  Are you living the abundant Christian life the Jesus promised to all his followers?  I believe it all depends on how much access and freedom you give him to truly live a Spirit empowered life. The case for the Spirit The first question to ask is where is the Holy Spirit in the Bible and how involved is Him in the grand scheme of things. In the Old Testament  We first find Him in the beginning as the source of life.  He strives with men.  He is the very manifestation of God.  He has a special relationship with Israel; he guides and empowers men from all walks of life to do exploits for God. In the New Testament In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit’s role in the ministry of Jesus and in the Early Church is on full display. In fact, the Holy Spirit launched the public ministry of Jesus.  As we read the gospels and particularly the Book of Acts, He is also involved in the …

What is the Kingdom of God?

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Expressions of the Kingdom Secrets of the Kingdom of God “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables.”  Mark 4:11 Scattered Seeds and the Kingdom of God “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.” Mark 4:26 Kingdom powers “The kingdom of God after it has come with power.” Mark 9:1; 1 Corinthians 4:20 Kingdom humility “The kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”  Mark 10:15 Good news of the kingdom “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God.” Luke 4:43 Beatitudes of the Kingdom Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” Luke 6:20 Miracles of the kingdom “The kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.” Luke 9:11 Kingdom qualification “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 Mustard Seed “The kingdom of God is like a …

Got a Cabin in Manolo

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I bought this album a few days ago and “cabin in manolo’ has been on repeat since. I discovered something very special when I decided to research the word Manolo – because I didn’t know what in the world Manolo was. Here is what I found: “The song is primarily about comparing the Bible, the unchangeable Word of God Himself, to a firearm, a weapon that can be used offensively and defensively on a daily basis to change the world for the greater good. The name “Manolo” is a variant Spanish translation of the name “Emmanuel”, meaning “God with us”. This song is about the reassurance God gives us through His Word, something that we can actually use to change the world around us for His will. The name Manolo also implies a “high life” of wealth and fame, and the artists admit in the song that, not only are there critics out there that are trying to bring them down if they slip up, but they are also admitting that they are normal sinful …

7 Reminders to take your christan life, ministry and leadership to the next level

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As we read the books of Timothy, it is clear that Paul is writing to a young man, living in big city and ministering to a mega church. He, (Timothy) is not only overwhelmed by the enormity of the task of ministry and leadership, but is also caught in the crossfire of life. He is too sickly, timid and isolated. Paul himself, writing out of a Roman dungeon, drops 7 words – 7 reminders to help lift Timothy out of his dungeon of despair, rekindle the fire in him and take his Christian life, ministry and leadership to the next level. A preacher must often repeat an exhortation, because we dwell in a land of forgetfulness. (Cramer.) — Walter Bright (@WaltBright) November 5, 2014 Teacher It is not how well we preach or teach… It’s how well we live especially in tough times. “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”  2 Timothy 2:2. Timothy is reminded of his calling …

Equality

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I am at Starbucks the other day, and as I sipped my White Chocolate Mocha, this woman and her husband walked in and sat on the couch just in front of me. I wasn’t eve dropping or anything, neither was trying to be intrusive. Everyone could hear her. She was a that loud. Very casually, she said to her friend, on the phone – “I rear-ended a car this morning. The guy in the other car was a dwarf. So he stepped out of his car, walked over to mine, and said, ‘Mame, I am not happy.’” She said she looked “DOWN’ at him and said, “well, I am not sure which one are you?” Giggles.. giggles… giggles… After laughing a few seconds with her friend, she looked at me, kind of surprised that I was not laughing at her joke, and said, “hey, would you like to take a look at the bug that invaded my pomegranate tree? They are bizarre.” I didn’t want her to hear me say, “no Mame, you are bizarre.” So I …