AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO BE RICH

KNIGHT OF MURDER.

can never forget 24 Dec...........

You wouldn't if you were me.

It's still fresh on my mind.... The horror, the fears, the heart pounding, the torture, the taking Away... the silence,  the ....

I knew it was stupid thing to do, pulling that knife. I never believed I could use it. Some how! I felt my friend Jerry would just run away at the sight of it, but he stayed. .. He dare me to use it if I was a man. After abusing my sister,  he still challenged me to a fight.

I lost my mind as those words hit my head over and over..."do it if you are man!you just can't do it!"...

My sister crying behind me, I knew I was soon going to do the unimaginable! Flames of anger and hatred blazed my heart as the grip over the knife grew firmer. ..

My sister saw my red eyes and ran after me, but it was too late. Evil had taken over.

I plunged the knife into his chest... you have never seen blood before,  I bet you! It just kept rushing. My eyes opened. .. It must have been a dream, I must wake up now...! Right now or... but the reality stood in my face. I wished nobody saw me, my sister, those folks drinking at the bar.

MY STORY HAS JUST BEGUN.

Believe me, this was real movie, (I only saw my shadow running after me) the people watching could not act, they were spell bound, frozen in the horror! 

I jumped into the navy blue Mercedes I came with and drove to nowhere... It belonged to my elder brother. He didn't know I took his car away that night. This time I noticed I was not just taking a ride, they were after me... everybody, cars, motorcycles. .. The whole city! Somehow, I made it home, 

There was no time to put off the engine, to tell my story to Eric my brother, I was second away to mob action. I just knew it... They were already there, I could hear them.

Eric ran after me into the visitor's bedroom, I didn't understand what he was doing. He quickly started undressing me, as fact as he could "put on my own shirt" he screamed. I was just obeying not knowing what he was upto. He wore my own blood stained shirt and asked me to be quiet. 

Seconds later, the door was pulled down... I saw them grab him, blows were falling on him from everywhere. He was bruised. .. wounded all over... dragged to the streets, each one trying to hit him...

Finally 

You must believe this, they poured some gasoline over him... AND SET HIM ABLAZE. 

As he struggled in that flame, I saw my self there. It was my  placell,  my pains, my torment, but he took them for me. He didn't have to die but he did...

The story of Eric opened my eyes to what JESUS did for me and you!

Friend, if you were given an opportunity to be forgiven,  to be given a new chance to live, after you have been declared dead,

Would you sit back and refuse it.

"All we like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way;and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us. Isaiah 53:6

Here is one, now, yes right now... TOMORROW is not certain, think about it! A lot were disappointed waiting for it. No matter what you have done, The Blood of his only Son Jesus has been shed to pay for it.  Col. 1:14 yes it is that simple. God is not asking for too much, only confess your sins and ask him into your life. He promise to do it. 1 John 1:9

Please pray with me:Lord Jesus, I admit that I have sinned, I am really sorry, please forgive me. Come into my heart, and give me a new life. Thank you because I trust you have done this for me. I am saved! Amen.

YOUR MENTALITY DEFINES YOUR DESTINY.

Over and over I hear, "I just want to know God's will for my life." but the will of God is not complicated. When you are born again, the desire to do His will becomes part of your nature. As you grow in your relationship with the Lord, His will for your life becomes a natural flow that leads you into the plans and purpose He has ordained for your life.

The Scripture is actually very clear on the will of God: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Rom. 12:2). Your first step is to change the way you think. This is a work in progress throughout your life. There is only one way to change your thinking: you must understand how God thinks by reading His Word.

A key scripture in my life is Proverbs 4:20-23 (NLT)" "My child, pay attention to what I say, listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life."

"Above all else." What does that mean? Above everything in your life. What's in your heart determines the course of your life. That includes following God's plan for your life. This Scripture is key to the Kingdom lifestyle.

If you want to know God, you must pay attention, listen carefully and not lose sight of His Word; then you will walk in His perfect will for your life.

As you read and study the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of your understanding, and the Word of God will become life to you (Eph. 1:15-23).

God's will is not focused on what you eat for dinner, where you go to school, what you do when you grow up or whom you will marry. It is about what we do to position our heart with His heart to hear His voice. Jesus tells us in John 10:4b, "And the sheep follow him, for they know his voice." Your heart needs to pick up the heartbeat of God.

I don't understand how it all happens, but I know only God can change a person's heart. Phil. 2:13 tells us, "For God is the One working in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure."

It is not about trying to do more but trusting more. As we learn to yield our heart by asking the Holy Spirit to work in us, He will work to revive, renew and regenerate us.

How do you guard your heart? As always the answer, is in the Word of God. Scripture speaks about our lifestyle as a child of God: "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess. 5:16-18).

Rejoicing, praying and giving thanks are acts of our will, especially in times of trials and temptations. Thanksgiving draws attention from heaven. A heart of thanksgiving comes from a humble attitude which calls out to God, praying for His wisdom for your life. This is a lifestyle we develop, not a reaction during a crisis. Trials in our lives have a way of exposing the degree that our mind is renewed.

As Jesus was preparing the disciples for His departure, He gave them what I think of as the ultimate promotion: "I no longer call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I have heard from My Father have I made known to you" (John 15:15). He has made known all things from the Father in His Word. This invitation is an open invitation for you and me today. God's heart desires relationship, and our heart must respond with thanksgiving. A servant does not know what the master is doing, but a friend knows and understands what his master is doing. A servant works to please; a friend enjoys His presence.

Our friendship and communion with the Lord is the power source of our life that connects us with our purpose in life. You do not have to try to figure out your life. When your heart is yielded, your mind renewed and your body surrendered, you will walk right into that place called "there" for you in this life!

Thanksgiving is not a day; it is a lifestyle. It prepares the way for a miracle and is the voice of faith. Thanksgiving is the bedrock of Christianity from which you build your Kingdom lifestyle to do the will of God for your life.

KNOWING HOLY SPIRIT PERSON TO PERSON BY BENNY HINN

It was three days before Christmas 1973. The sun was still rising on that cold, misty Toronto morning.

Suddenly, He was there. The Holy Spirit entered my room. He was as real to me that morning as the magazine you are holding in your hand is to you.

For the next eight hours, I had an incredi­ble experience with the Holy Spirit. It changed the course of my life. Tears of wonder and joy coursed down my cheeks as I opened the Scriptures and He gave me the answers to my questions.

It seemed that my room had been lifted into the hemisphere of heaven. I wanted to stay there forever. I had just turned 21, and this visitation was the best birthday or Christmas present I had ever received.

In my room, it was pure joy. Yes, it was unspeakable. Yes, it was full of glory! From that very moment, the Holy Spirit became alive in my life. He was no longer a distant "third person" of the Trinity. He was real.

And now I want to share Him with you.

The Spirit Is Waiting

Let's start with the basics. The Holy Spirit was with me from the moment I asked Christ to come into my heart and become born again.

Then came the time when I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I was "filled" with the Spirit and spoke in tongues. So many Christians receive that same experience and stop right there.

But I want you to know this: Beyond sal­vation, beyond being baptized in water, be­yond the in-filling of the Spirit, the third per­son of the Trinity is waiting for you to meet Him personally.

You learn volumes about people when you meet them in per­son. When the Holy Spirit and I met, I dis­covered things about His personality that changed me as a Christian.

As I came to know the Holy Spirit, I became sensitive to Him and learned what grieves Him—and what pleases Him. What He.likes and what He doesn't like. What gets Him angry and what makes Him happy.

The Lord used a Kathryn Kuhlman meeting to prepare me for what happened that unforgettable day in December 1973. But never once did Miss Kuhlman sit with me and tell me about the Holy Spirit. Everything I learned was from Him.

When I returned home from that meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I fell to my knees. I was honest and transparent when I said, "Holy Spirit, Kathryn Kuhlman says You are her friend. Precious Holy Spirit, I want to know You."

I will never forget how nervous I was. But from that day I have grown to know Him like a brother.

Who He Is

What makes someone a person? Is it the physical body? I think not. I'm sure you have been to a funeral and have seen a body lying in a casket. Are you looking at a person? No! You are look­ing at a dead body.

What makes a person is not the body. Instead, the person is what comes out of the body. Emotions. Will. Intellect. Feel­ings. These are just a few of the charac­teristics that give you a personality.

The Holy Spirit is a person. And just like you, He can feel, perceive and re­spond. He gets hurt. He has the ability to love and the ability to hate. He speaks, and He has His own will.

But exactly who is He? The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God the Father and the Spirit of God the Son. He is the power of the Godhead—the power of the Trinity.

What is His job? The task of the Spirit is to bring into being the com­mandment of the Father and the perfor­mance of the Son.

To understand the job of the Holy Spirit, we need to understand the work of the Father and the Son. God the Father is the one who gives the com­mand. He has always been the one who says, "Let there be."

On the other hand, God the Son per­forms the commands of the Father. When God the Father said, "Let there be light," God the Son came and per­formed it. Then, God the Holy Spirit brought the light.

Let me illustrate it this way. If I asked you, "Please turn on the light," three forces would be involved. First, I would be the one who gave the command. Sec­ond, you would be the one who walks to the switch and flips it—you are the per­former of the command. But finally, who brings on the light? It is not me, and it is not you. It is the power—the electricity—that produces light.

The Holy Spirit is the power of the Father and of the Son. He is the one who brings into action the performance of the Son. Yet He is a person. He has emotions that are expressed in a way unique among the Trinity.

I've been asked, "Benny, aren't you forgetting the importance of Christ in all of this?" Never! How could I forget the one who loved me and died for me?

I cannot forget the Father nor the Son. But I cannot be in touch with the Father and the Son without the Holy Spirit (see Eph. 2:18).

The Fellowship Meeting

During one of my first encounters with the Holy Spirit, I asked Him, "Would You please tell me what You are like?"

Here's the answer the Holy Spirit gave: "I am the one who fellowships with you." And like the snap of a fin­ger, that verse flashed before me: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Cor. 13:14).

That's what the Holy Spirit longs for—your fellowship! And there are no selfish requests in fellowship—just friendship, love and communion. That's how it was with me. My entire approach to prayer changed. I began to wait for the Holy Spirit before I prayed. I would say, "Precious Holy Spirit, would You now come and help me to pray?"

The Bible says: "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" (Rom. 8:26).

When we don't know what to say, He comes to our aid.

And here is another principle I learned: The Holy Spirit is the only teacher of the Bible. For so long, I struggled to understand the Bible. Then came the day that I said, "Wonderful Holy Spirit, would You please tell me what You mean by this?" And He spoke. He revealed the Word to me.

I came to understand that the Bible itself was written by the Holy Spirit. He used men from all walks of life, but every one of them was led by the Spirit. "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God" (1 Cor. 2:12).

Accompanied by the Spirit

From my first encounter with the Holy Spirit, I began to know that He was the great teacher. But I still wanted to know who He is. So I said, "I'd like to know what You are like."

What He revealed to me was a mighty person and a childlike person at the same time. He said to me, "When you hurt a child, he will stay away from you; when you love a child, he will be very close to you."

That is how I began to approach Him. I felt that He was gentle, yet mighty and powerful. Like a child, however, He wants to stay ever so close to those who love Him.

Have you ever seen a little boy or a little girl tugging at mother's skirt or fa­ther's trousers? Wherever the parents go, the kids hang on and follow them. It's a sure sign that the kids are loved and cared for. That's the way it is with the Holy Spirit. He stays close to those who love Him.

How was it possible that the great evangelist Charles Finney could preach the gospel and people would be "slain under the power," confessing their sins? What was the power that fell when John Wesley opened his mouth to preach? It was the person of the Holy Spirit that accompanied their ministry.

In New York City, Kathryn Kuhlman had just finished preaching at a Full Gospel Business Men's convention. She was taken through the kitchen to an ele­vator to avoid the crowd. The cooks didn't even know she was walking by—but the next thing you know, they were flat on the floor. Why? Kathryn didn't pray for them; she just walked by. What happened? When she left the meeting, it seemed as though the power of His presence attended her.

Supper Can Wait!

The presence of the Holy Spirit be­came most evident to me when I began praying in my room—all alone. Day after day, hour after hour, I lifted my hands and said, "Precious Holy Spirit, would You come now and just talk to me?"

There were times when He came in like a wind, like a fresh breeze on a summer day. The joy of the Lord would fill me until I could contain no more. As we talked I would say, "Holy Spirit, I love You, and I long for Your fellow­ship." And I found out it was mutual. He longed for my fellowship, too.

Once, in England, I was staying in the home of a Christian family. My room was at the very top of the house. One evening, I was lost in the Spirit, having the greatest time in the world talking to Him. The woman of the house called up, "Benny, supper is ready."

But I was bubbling over and didn't want to leave. She called again, "Sup­per is ready." And as I was about to leave, I felt someone take my hand and say, "Just five more minutes." The Holy Spirit longed for my fellowship.

Do You Recognize That Voice?

When Jesus was on the earth and the disciples had a problem, to whom did they turn? They went to the Son, and He instructed them.

But when Christ returned to the Father, they were not left alone. Jesus said to them: "The Holy Spirit will comfort you. He will counsel you and will remind you of things I have told you. He will tell you about Me."

After Pentecost, the disciples were in such fellowship with the Spirit that He became a part of every action of their life. They were in total friendship—working together for the Son.

When Peter had his vision on the rooftop in Joppa, "the Spirit said to him, 'Three men are looking for you. So rise and go down, and go with them, doubting nothing. For I have sent them'" (Acts 10:19-20).

Peter recognized the voice of the Holy Spirit. And that was the beginning of the gospel being preached to the Gentiles.

How was the Ethiopian eunuch con­verted? "The Spirit said to Philip, `Go near this chariot and stay with it'" (Acts 8:29). Philip recognized the voice of the Holy Spirit. It wasn't God the Father that spoke to him—nor God the Son. It was God the Holy Spirit.

Grieving the Spirit

I believe the greatest sin against the Holy Spirit is grieving Him, which amounts to denying His power and presence. Nowhere in Scripture can you find the words, "Grieve not God the Father" or "Grieve not God the Son." But throughout the Bible you find, "Grieve not the Spirit."

God the Father said to the children of Israel in the wilderness, "You have grieved My Holy Spirit" (see Is. 63:10). He didn't say, "You have grieved Me." God the Son looked at the Pharisees and said, "And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven" (Luke 12:10).

The Holy Spirit is tender. He is sen­sitive. He is a gentleman. He doesn't enter your room until you invite Him. And He doesn't speak to you until you speak to Him.

My friend, you will never know His power and presence until you go to Him and say, "Wonderful Holy Spirit, tell me all about Jesus."

Glorifying Jesus

Here is one of the most important lessons I have learned: A person who knows the presence of the Holy Spirit will always glorify and magnify Jesus. When you really know the Spirit, you will glorify Jesus Christ because the Holy Spirit within you will glorify God the Son. It's automatic. Only Jesus is glori­fied in a life that's filled with the Spirit.

Every action of your life reflects what you fill your life with. If you fill your life with newspapers, you will speak news. If you watch soap operas, you will speak soap operas. But if you are filled with the Spirit and absorb yourself in His presence, you will seek Jesus and glorify no one but Jesus.

Christ said, "But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me" (John 15:26). So if I want to know about Jesus, I must go to the Holy Spirit. Jesus said it. And He knew what He was talking about.

In the Old Testament, Moses could go to the Father. In the New Testament, the disciples could talk to the Son. But when you and I have a need, where should we tum? To the Holy Spirit. He is a person, and He is waiting right now for you to welcome Him into your life.

It's Time to Begin

You ask, "How do I begin?" It's re­ally very simple. You might start by saying, "Holy Spirit, help me pray now." That's exactly what He wants you to do. And when you begin, you'll have a prayer partner who will lead you straight to the throne of God.

The Holy Spirit is such a lovely per­son. He wants to be your dearest friend, and He is waiting to bring you closer to Jesus. Christ said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you" (John 16:7). Then He said the Holy Spirit "will guide you into all truth" and will "glorify Me, for He will receive from Me and will declare it to you" (John 16:13-14).

The Holy Spirit is waiting. He wants to begin a new relationship with you—person to person.

THE DIFFRENCE BETWEEN BEING RICH AND BEING WEALTHY.

Being rich and being wealthy seems to be synonymous as both involves having a lot of money. However, there’s a big difference between the two. If you notice, there are a lot of so-called ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes but there are no ‘get-wealthy-quick’ schemes.

The main difference between being rich and being wealthy is knowledge. Wealthy people know how to make money while rich people only have money. Rich people are motivated by money but wealthy people are motivated by their dreams, purpose and passion. Most rich people make a lot of money with their paychecks but the moment they stop working, they also stop making money.

Being wealthy is defined as that status of an individual’s existing financial resources that supports his or her way of living for a longer duration, even if he or she does not physically work to generate a recurring income.

For example, if a person’s monthly expenses amount to Php 25,000 and he only have Php 100,000 in his savings, his wealth is approximately four months or 120 days. Wealth, therefore, is measured in time, and not in amount of money that you have. It suffices to say that wealth is dependent not only to the amount of income but also to amount of expenses one makes.

Wealthy people can build sustainable wealth that can last for years through asset investments producing multiple streams of income.

Rich people, on the other hand, may get money in an instant such as inheritance or winning a lottery. However, because of lack of proper mindset and poor money management skills, all of it can be lost in a short period of time. It makes sense that if you did not work hard to earn and build it, then it can just easily pass on your hands and splurge it on things which are not important. Some of these people are more commonly known as ‘one day millionaires’. Now they have it, the next time they don’t.

Wealthy and rich people both may experience downfalls and failures in their ventures. However, because wealthy people are knowledgeable when it comes to money matters, they can start all over again and build wealth over time. In contrast, rich people may find it hard to attain what he or she previously has. In essence, wealthy people are financially free while rich people are not.

PUTTING GOD FIRST

Putting God First in Your Priorities
by Joyce Meyer

There are so many things that clamor for our attention and devotion: our jobs, our kids, our spouses, our hobbies—the demands and distractions of life. And we have to be careful not to let them become more important or more of a priority than our relationship with God.

The first of the Ten Commandments states we will have no other gods before Him (see Exodus 20:3). And Deuteronomy 5:8-9 (NLT) says, “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.”

Yet how many of the things that occupy our time, money, thoughts and attention have taken the place where God is supposed to be?
Distractions from Truth

Anything can become a god to us—anything we worship or put an excessive amount of time into. Even your feelings can become a god if you allow them to control you. We need to ask ourselves, “Am I bowing down to God and His Word or to my feelings?”

Another challenge we have to confront is living in a world full of humanism and people not wanting God and His Truth to interfere with their lives and routines. It seems we have an epidemic of selfishness in our world today, and this creates all kinds of unhealthy situations.

For example, when people refuse to honor God and follow His wisdom in their decisions, it causes them to become bogged down with worry, resentment and bitterness. Eventually it shows up as sickness and disease in their bodies. And in our culture, this behavior causes a decline in our moral standards and attitudes.

But the good news is, we don’t have to settle for this way of living. In Christ, we can enjoy our lives—abundantly! (See John 10:10.)
How to Establish the Habit of Living for God
“ The key to having God's 'abundant life' is keeping Him in His rightful place in our priorities. ”

The key to having God’s “abundant life”—His love, peace and joy—is keeping Him in His rightful place in our priorities. God said to Abraham, “Walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete)” (Genesis 17:1 AMP). Notice that God instructed Abraham to be habitual in walking with Him and living for Him. We can do this by establishing daily habits of prayer, worship and regular, consistent time spent in His Word.

I love the Word of God! It is amazing. It contains wisdom, encouragement, comfort and inspiration for every conceivable human problem or dilemma. His Word brings peace and stability to our spirits and it will renew our minds (see Romans 12:2). Get excited about getting into the Bible!
Benefits of Keeping God First

Make it your goal to have a deep, intimate relationship with God. Let Him into every area of your life. If you constantly look to other people for answers and validation, pray about this and ask the Lord to help you stop doing that and instead look to Him. (See 1 Thessalonians 2:4.) As we live to please God, He promises to bless our lives and make us prosper.

When you decide to serve God with your whole heart and make Him first in your life, your soul will prosper and your joy and peace will increase. Remember to lean on Him more than anything else, and tell Him, “God, I want to do this, but I can’t do it without You.” He doesn’t expect you to live for Him in your own strength or ability, and He understands when you make mistakes.

So if you mess up, don’t be discouraged and let it hold you back; confess it and keep going. God will give you grace to do what you need to do. One day at a time you and God together can do anything!

GOD’S KIND OF LOVE IN MARRIAGE BY ANDREW WOMMACK MINISTRY

There are very few things in our world today that were ever a part of God’s perfect plan for mankind. The elaborate government systems, with all their checks and balances and laws, would not be necessary if it were not for the corruption that sin produced. The monetary system, with all the buying and selling, would not be necessary in a sinless world that did unto others as they would have others do unto them. And many other things that we consider institutions in our society were never intended by God, but simply are ways of trying to cope with and control the perversion that entered the world through sin.

But one thing that God established while man was still in a sinless condition and said that it was not good for man to do without was marriage. Genesis 2:18 says, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet [or sufficient] for him.” A perfect man who had none of the pressures or problems that we know of today still was not complete without a mate. And it was not Adam who approached God about the situation and asked for a companion. Adam didn’t know what he was missing! It was God who initiated the whole thing because that was His perfect plan. This all emphasizes the high priority that marriage should have in our lives. However, it has not usually held that position.

Even we Christians today have put very little effort into our marriages, and therefore, we have gotten very little out of them. We have had our vision of what a blessing God intended marriage to be, dulled by the sorry examples of marriage we see around us today. Second Corinthians 10:12 says, “But they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” This is what has happened over the years. Most couples have no idea of what God intended marriage to be, so they settle for the same substandard relations that they see others experiencing. They think conflict is just a part of marriage; and a couple that simply coexists without outward battles is considered to be an ideal couple, although that couple may have a cold war raging. After all, everybody is having trouble with their marriages today.

Well, I am pleased to announce that not everybody is having trouble with their marriages today! The Lord is moving mightily in this area, and regardless of what the rest of the world experiences, Christians can have God’s best in their homes. God instituted marriage, so He certainly knows how to make it work properly. The only reason two out of three marriages in America end up in divorce is because the people involved don’t follow the instructions God gave concerning marriage. It is that simple. The solution is not easy, but it is that simple.

What does God say about marriage? From Ephesians 5:22-33, we get quite a bit of instruction. This article doesn’t allow us enough space to deal with everything these scriptures minister concerning marriage, but certainly one principle that is interwoven throughout them all is love: God’s kind of love. It is important that you realize that God’s institution of marriage will only work with God’s kind of love.

In counseling hundreds of couples, I have found that many Christians, even those baptized with the Holy Ghost, are still operating toward each other with the same carnal love they had before they were Christians. In many cases, they have started trying to apply God’s love to their brothers and sisters in the body and have developed a “burden for the lost,” but are virtually the same in their relationships with their mates. God’s kind of love has to be applied to our marriages too.

One of the most striking differences to me between the world’s love and God’s kind of love is that you can teach yourself to operate in God’s love. Titus 2:4 says that the older women are to teach the younger women “to love their husbands, to love their children.” Carnal love is completely motivated by the emotions or senses, but God’s love comes from the heart, and although the feelings are definitely affected, they don’t motivate or deter God’s love.

Carnal love is characterized by a naked, little, fat boy who goes around shooting people with arrows to cause them to “fall” in love or to “fall” out of love. That simply is not true love. God’s love is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That is the way God is (Heb. 13:8) and God is love (1 John 4:8). People who love one minute and then their mood changes and they act the opposite way the next minute, simply don’t operate in God’s love. You may feel like reacting in anger, but you can choose to operate in love.

Many people are confused about this and think, I can’t act like I love them when I don’t feel it. Oh, yes you can! God’s Word tells us to even love our enemies (Matt. 5:44). It is a command. He didn’t say to do it if you felt like it. If you will choose to do what God tells you to, your feelings will follow. You can teach yourself to love with God’s kind of love.

A person who is truly born again desires to do what God says but doesn’t always feel like it. Our feelings have been corrupted by our old lives before we came to Christ. Now that we are in Christ, we have His promise that our spirits have been totally changed (2 Cor. 5:17) and have become like Him. Galatians 5:22 says that love is a part of the fruit of the Spirit. This is specifically speaking of the Holy Spirit; but our new man was born of the Spirit, so it has to be true that God’s love has been shed abroad in our spirits too. We do have God’s love in our new man. Our feelings are not automatically changed, however. Our feelings will continue to act like they were taught to act until we subdue them and bring them under the control of our spirit man. It is not hypocritical to act in love when you don’t feel it. It is actually hypocritical to act on what you feel instead of who you really are in Christ Jesus.

God’s kind of love is a choice that you make on the basis of what God said, and then act on it in faith until it becomes a reality in your spirit, soul, and body.

If you can receive this basic truth about God’s love, then you can begin to be consistent in your love to your mate because your love is based on a choice that you have made, not on the way they act. This is the root cause of nearly all strife in marriage. Everything is fine until one partner does something wrong to the other, and then the feathers fly. Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t treat us that way? Romans 5:8 says, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Praise God! God’s love wasn’t based upon what we had done for Him or what we deserved but upon His choice to love us. That is all! We didn’t do anything to merit God’s love. He just chose to give it. We can choose to receive that kind of love and then give it to others in the same way.

Another way to say this is that God’s love is unconditional. Jesus didn’t wait until we were worth it or had repented before He gave Himself for our sins. He gave Himself for us while we were yet sinners and living a life of rebellion against Him (Rom. 5:8). His love was extended toward Hitler just as much as it was toward us. The difference is our acceptance or rejection of it not His offer of love. God’s love is unconditional.

We have to put this unconditional love of God to work in our marriages. If you live with a person for any length of time at all, you are going to find fault with them. If your love isn’t unconditional, then you will begin to give them what they deserve, which is trouble. And you can rest assured that when you make a mistake, you will reap what you have sown.

I used to work in a dark room in a photography studio. We had a joke about these ladies who would come in to see their proofs and just throw a fit about how bad their pictures looked. They would say, “This picture doesn’t do me justice!” Our answer would be, “Lady, you don’t need justice, you need mercy.” That’s the way it is in marriage. Our mates, who see us at our worst, have to give us mercy, not justice. Failure in this area is the root of most marriage problems. Many couples actually use their conditional love as a weapon to try and motivate their mates to do things. That will destroy a marriage. If the thing that keeps your mate in line is a fear of your exploding if they mess up, then you are tormenting them. That’s what 1 John 4:18 says, “Fear hath torment.” You may see some results through that method, but it’s a fact that you are building resentment and rejection in them, and sooner or later, it will explode. God’s love is unconditional.

By ANDREW WOMMACK 

MAN BUILDS ' NOAH ARK ' TO PROVE BIBLE WAS RIGHT

Man builds ‘Noah’s ark’ to prove Bible was right

A man has built a £77million replica of Noah’s ark to prove that the story actually happened.

Back in 2010 Ken Ham, who believes everything in the Bible should be taken literally, announced that his organisation Answers in Genesis would construct the 510-foot-long ship in Kentucky.

Since then, scientists have been arguing that it would be detrimental to children’s education – taking particular umbrage with the fact that it was granted state tax incentives.

However, it was opened to great fanfare on Tuesday – with a high school marching band performing before a ribbon cutting.

‘I believe this is going to be one of the greatest Christian outreaches of this era in history,’ Ham, president of Answers in Genesis, said.

The attraction, called Ark Encounter, is based on the Old Testament tale about Noah, a man who got a warning from God that a flood would destroy the world.

Ham says the ark will now stand as proof that stories in the Bible are true.

Source Mirror UK

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PLUNDER THE ENEMY'S GATE

Satan has no good plans, and he launches no gentle attacks! He is an invading force that desires to steal the blessings of God in your life.

It takes relentless faith to counteract his schemes and plunder his gates. We are not called to be passive participants in the kingdom. We are called to be aggressive pursuers of the promises of God. We must be unafraid not only to confront the enemy but also to break his power.

Bishop George Bloomer, founding pastor of Bethel Family Worship Center in Durham, North Carolina, writes in his book Spiritual Warfare: "Because we often do not realize the degree of Satan's cunning ingenuity, we are frequently unprepared for the battle we are called to fight against him and his dark forces. Consequently, we end up living defeated lives, thereby not fulfilling the ministry to which God has called us."

Each believer must come to the realization that he is called to be an effective citizen of the kingdom. Every Christian has a purpose. Each of us has a ministry. The problem is that many people do not understand that ministry is all around us. Being a godly father is a ministry. Being a successful mother is a ministry. Being an intercessor is a ministry. Building a thriving business that employs people in the community, funds the gospel, and is led by integrity is a ministry. Working in media to develop quality art and convey a sound message is a ministry.

It is easy to look at those standing on a large stage, sharing the Word of God, as ministers. I certainly honor and appreciate all those who give their lives to preaching and teaching the Word. I believe wholeheartedly in the five ministry gifts and callings (Eph. 4:11–12), but I also know that each believer is commissioned by God to do something of significance in the earth.

Significance cannot and must not be measured by the size of its reach or the accolades of men. Rewards are measured not by the size of your gift or volume of your impact but by the stewardship of your talents. Jesus' parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14–30) shows us that it was the servants' stewardship of what had been entrusted to them that was either commended or rebuked. Their rewards had nothing to do with how great their gifts were.

Spiritual attacks come to knock each believer out of his assigned place. The wicked one and his despicable minions work in concerted effort to bind, hinder and confuse our sense of purpose. If we do not wake up and properly recognize what is happening, then their plans will prosper and we will miss our reward. We cannot afford to allow that.

A Personal Attack Broken

Once I made a decision that seemed wise but would later turn out to be disastrous. Some new friends had come into my life, and I decided to share a business idea that I had with them. After a series of events we found ourselves in business together in what seemed like a great endeavor. This was such a great opportunity. I was looking for ways to create streams of income in order to be equipped for the ministry. Our fledgling enterprise began to take off, and in no time at all it was rapidly growing. I was so excited!

There was just one problem; I was working with people who began to manifest bad character traits. I had to make some tough decisions. I could either violate my own convictions and breach integrity, or I would deeply offend those with whom I was working. I could not imagine going against my gut in this situation and abandoning the road of character. I had given up so much to step out in faith into the ministry, leaving many comforts behind. Why would I put all that on the line to make somebody else happy? I took a bold stand and was met with fierce resistance.

The process of building a new business turned from joy to sorrow very quickly. There were extreme manifestations of anger and accusation. During several confrontations I was concerned that things were escalating far beyond the boundaries of a normal disagreement. Throughout this conflict it was as though a heavy cloud of grieving and disappointment was hanging over my life. The lingering dispute went beyond just a typical misunderstanding. I found myself questioning all of the decisions that I had made in realigning my life with the purposes of God.

I had relocated as a result of an encounter I had with the voice of the Lord. Had I missed it? Did I not clearly hear from God? Were there really righteous people living in the kingdom, or was everyone living a double standard like these people? Were my prayers effective, and was there a way out? Should I just give up and retreat? These were all weighty questions blazing across my mind. The worst part was that I seemed overwhelmed and foggy. I desperately needed direction, and I needed it fast. I could not go on in this confused and weary state. My joy seemed diminished and my hope depleted.

On Wednesday evening I attended service after work. I had been in a toxic atmosphere all day filled with conflict and uncertainty, not knowing what to do. I have always functioned at my best when I have a clear word and direction from the Lord, but in the midst of this attack those things seemed to be fleeting. As I arrived at the evening meeting, my heart was heavy and my mind overwhelmed. They announced that they were going to do Communion. I love to receive the Lord's Supper, but on this particular occasion I desperately needed a breakthrough. I needed someone to pray over me. I was so hungry to hear from God. It seemed to me that probably that would not happen during a Communion service.

The atmosphere is usually focused on receiving the Lord's Supper and not on personal ministry. When it came time, the leaders asked people to line up and come to a table in the front to receive the elements. Two ministers were serving the Communion in the midst of a strong spirit of worship. I walked through the line, and suddenly one of the ministers began to pray at the Communion table and release a prophetic word over me about the attack that I had been under! The power of God hit me, and I began to weep from deep within. In a moment the weight of the attack was being confronted by the power of God. That day the evil plan of the enemy was broken at the Communion table.

In the days after that prayer the Lord dramatically delivered me from the situation and reversed the attack. There was supernatural restoration on every front, and I was propelled forth in the assignment that God had for me. I learned so many valuable lessons during this time of trial that have continued to help me in the years since.

The preceding is excerpted from Overcoming Spiritual Attack by Ryan LeStrange, published by Charisma House, 2016. Copyright © 2016 by Ryan LeStrange.

Ryan LeStrange started in ministry after training and serving under his spiritual father, Dr. Norvel Hayes. Ryan and his wife, Joy, lead Impact International Ministries based in Bristol, Virginia, which consists of several local churches and revival ministries. Through Ryan LeStrange Ministries, he travels the globe preaching, igniting revival and moving in the power of God. Ryan can be seen weekly on his television program, Power 4 Today, airing around the world on GodTV. He is the founder and apostle of Impact International Apostolic Fellowship, networking and fathering ministers around the world. Ryan has written several books releasing an apostolic and prophetic perspective to the body of Christ.

7 TYPES OF CHRISTIAN GOD CAN'T USE

About 17 years ago I prayed a very dangerous prayer while lying on the floor of my church near Orlando. I repeated these words from Isaiah 6:8 (MEV): "Here am I. Send me." Then I cringed. I knew God would mess me up good in order to use me to touch others for Christ.

I wanted God to use me, but I was painfully aware that we don't just go out and start a ministry on our own terms. God bends and breaks those who speak for Him. He requires full surrender. I had to let go of fears, adjust attitudes and change priorities.

It has become popular today to suggest that God can use anybody. It's true that He does not show favoritism based on race, age, gender, marital history, past failures or income status. Yet His standards have never been lowered; He only uses humble, obedient, consecrated followers.

Many Christians will never be useful in the kingdom because of mindsets or behaviors that limit the flow of the Holy Spirit or, as the apostle Paul said in Galatians 2:21 (KJV), "frustrate the grace of God." I don't ever want to frustrate His grace! If you want God to use you, make sure you don't fall into any of these categories:

1. Driver's seat Christians. Jesus is not just our Savior; He is our Lord, and He wants to guide our decisions, direct our steps and overrule our selfish choices. There are many believers who enjoy the benefits of salvation yet they never yield control to God. If you want Him to use you, then you must slide over into the passenger seat and let Jesus drive. If you have a problem with willfulness, learn to pray: "Not my will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42, MEV).

2. Armchair critics. There are some people who roll up their sleeves and serve the Lord; there are others who make it their business to analyze and pick apart everyone who is doing God's work. The devil is the Accuser, so if you are accusing others you are operating in the spirit of Lucifer. The Holy Spirit does not work through people who are bitter, angry or judgmental.

3. Glass-half-empty pessimists. Many Christians today are worried about what sinners are doing, and some spend hours trying to predict when the Antichrist will arise or when the world will end. Meanwhile there are other Christians who focus on winning lost people to Jesus and showing His compassion to a broken world. Who do you think will bear more spiritual fruit—the doomsday pessimist or the hopeful evangelist?

4. Carnally-minded Christians. It has become fashionable today for believers to lower the standard of moral behavior to the point that anything goes. Unmarried Christians are living together, some pastors are experimenting with adultery and some denominations have voted to sanction homosexual relationships. Don't be fooled. Just because more and more people are jumping on this trendy bandwagon does not mean God has rewritten His eternal Word.

People who live in blatant sin cannot be instruments of the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 2:21 says clearly: "One who cleanses himself from these things will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, fit for the Master's use, and prepared for every good work." Our usefulness to God is based on whether we have submitted to the process of sanctification. Holiness is not an option.

5. Church dropouts. I won't win a popularity contest by saying this, but it's true: God does not use people who have turned away from the church. Today it is fashionable to bash the church; some people have even established "ministries" to lure Christians away from church and into an isolated spiritual wilderness. Most of these church-bashers are bitter because they had a bad experience with a pastor.

I have only compassion for any victim of spiritual abuse. But no one has the right to tear down the work of God just because a spiritual leader hurt him. The church is God's Plan A, and He does not have an alternative. If we are going to be used by God, we must get connected to the church and learn to flow with its God-ordained leadership.

6. Timid cowards. When Paul sent Timothy to Ephesus to pioneer the church there, he exhorted him to break free from fear. He wrote: "Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord" (2 Tim. 1:8). Fear has the power to paralyze. All those who surrender to the call of God must bravely open their mouths, defend the faith, risk their reputation and suffer rejection—and possible persecution. If you are afraid to share the gospel, repent of your fear and ask God for holy boldness.

7. Lazy spectators. Many Christians today think following God means clocking in for a 90-minute service before driving to the lake. We read quick devotions on our smart phones and breathe short prayers during our morning commutes. But somewhere in all this 21st century stress we lost the meaning of discipleship.

If you want God to use you, you must take His call seriously and become a focused student of His Word and a passionate prayer warrior. The apostles of the first century declared: " But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4). Halfhearted people never changed the world. You must be devoted, committed and passionate if you want to make maximum spiritual impact.

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. He is the author of several books including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, 10 Lies Men Believe, Fearless Daughters of the Bible and The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale. You can learn more about his ministry, The Mordecai Project, atthemordecaiproject.org.

JOYCE MEYER REVEALS THE GREATEST LIFE LESSON SHE'S EVER LEARNED

If you've heard my testimony, you know I experienced abuse from my father throughout my childhood—mental, emotional and sexual abuse. Then, for years after I left that situation, I continued to live with a constant sense of guilt and condemnation that caused me to be a miserable person who was usually angry about something and very difficult to get along with.

But eventually, God helped me to overcome the hurts and wounds from the past and He miraculously restored my soul. It's been a long journey getting to where I am today and it hasn't been easy, but I can honestly say it's been worth it. God has done such an amazing work in my life that I don't know how to tell it all!

One Scripture verse that has been truly life-changing for me over the years in my journey to wholeness is Psalm 27:4. It says: "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life" (AMPC).

The foremost thing we need to learn is to keep God first in our lives. Psalm 27:4 is talking about seeking God, and not just the blessings He can give us. Now, there is nothing wrong with asking Him for the things you want and need, but they should not be your focus.

God loves us and wants to show His love to us. But He wants to have a personal relationship with us that goes deeper than us just coming to Him when we need something or have an emergency.

I remember when God spoke to my heart that if I would seek Him as if I was desperate all the time, I wouldn't find myself in desperate circumstances as often. The truth is, we really are desperate for God all the time, whether we realize it or not.

I've discovered that when you have God Himself, you have everything you will ever need! It's all about learning to seek God's face—who He is, His presence—and not just His hand, or what He can do for you.

So ... what are you seeking?

The word seek means you crave, pursue or go after something with all of your might; you require something as a vital necessity in your life. The question is, what are you seeking? What do you believe is really vital to you? In other words, what do you think you absolutely have to have in life?

Most of us start our relationship with God when our lives are in a mess, and we come to Him because we recognize that He is the only one who can help us get out of it. When I got serious about my relationship with God and started studying His Word, I had so many issues—my life was a mess! And at times, I wondered if I would ever be able to work through them all.

I know what it's like to hurt so badly you don't think you can go on unless something changes. Sometimes all we feel we can pray is, "God, if I don't get a breakthrough in this area of my life, I don't think I will make it!" But what we really need to pray is, "God, if I can't have more of You, I don't think I can go on. I'm hungry for more of You, and no matter what my circumstance is, I just need more of You!"

Evaluate what you're really seeking.

If you want to determine honestly if God is first in your life, then ask yourself this question: "Is God first in my time?"

Think about the way you spend your time. If all of the things you want to do crowd Him out, then He's not your first priority.

I remember years ago when I was so frustrated and felt overwhelmed by everything I "had" to do. As I prayed for God to help me, I realized that I was trying to work Him into my schedule, rather than working my schedule around Him. But once my time with Him became my first priority, then everything else became more manageable and enjoyable.

You know, we can be as close to God as we want to be. The key is putting time into our relationship with Him. I recommend that you spend time with God first thing in the morning, but if that doesn't work for you, at least take a few minutes to focus on Him and give Him your day before you get caught up in the busyness of everyday life.

Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need" (NLT). God wants to show His love for you by meeting your needs and giving you the desires of your heart that line up with His will for you.

As you make the transition from "God, what can You do for me?" to "God, how can I know You more and what can I do for You?" you'll discover greater peace, joy and fulfillment in knowing Him. And you'll move forward in the life He has planned for you! 

Joyce Meyer is a New York Times best-selling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored 100 books, including Battlefield of the Mind and Get Your Hopes Up! (Hachette). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information, visitwww.joycemeyer.org.