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LOVE SO AMAZING
IAN
JOHNSON
Apr 2,
2008
One of the main reasons that we loose our peace in
our daily journey is because of perplexity and anxiety that is caused by doubts
sown in our minds by the enemy of our soul. This is the only weapon he truly
has. So if we learn how to still our heart and mind and bring it back under the
authority of the love of God our journey and our peace are greatly increased.
The problem is we leave the “Stinking thinking†simmering and don’t
apply the love of God to the situations we find ourselves in. Wrong thinking is
like a fire that is raging in our house. We don’t sit back and look at the fire
and think, “I must deal with that, or it could get nasty†indeed we rush to put
it out immediately. So it is when our thinking about the love of God comes under
attack we need to take evasive action.
HIS LOVE IS BETTER THAN WINE
In our attack on this thinking we need to remember these thoughts.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world
so that we might have eternal life through him; This is real love. It is not
that we loved God, but he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away
our sins. 1John 4:9
God loves you, if he reached down and touched you
when you weren’t even interested in Him, do you think that he has now somehow
changed his mind? I don’t think so!
I know life gets a little tough
sometimes, for instance this last financial year we have struggled greatly, but
is that a measure of how much God loves me? Of course not!
If you are
born again by the Spirit of God, then you are set apart for a purpose! That
purpose is to fall in love with the Lord and go lovesick to the ends of the
Earth, if needs be just to be in His presence!
1 John 4:17-18 puts it
very well. “As we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be
afraid on the day of judgement, but we can face him with confidence and this
shows that love has been perfected in us, because as he is so are we in this
world†such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.
John
goes on to say that if we fear judgement, then his love has not been perfected
in us, and again reminds us that he loved us first.
even if we don’t
mean it to be, much of modern Christianity is based on us “Doing Stuffâ€. These
are called dead works. The Lord is calling us out of the “Stuff†and into
intimacy with Him! When Jesus died on the cross, He won for us everything that
we will ever need. Satan’s plan is to make us believe we are missing the mark!
and then become pre-occupied trying to find the mark, and never enter a place of
intimacy with the Lord!
The key is, Let the Holy Spirit be your guide.
Let him continually set you apart for the purpose for which you have been
called. He will reveal the things that need to be put right, just push on.*
That’s why Paul said in Philippians 3:14 Not that I have already
obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay
hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I
count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the
things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,
14I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus. 15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and
if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you:
What's Paul going on about here? In one breath he says I haven’t made
it, in the next breath he says Let us who are perfect.
Paul knew that
the love of God had made him whole and Paul knew it was the love of God that
arrested him on the road to Damascus and Paul knew that it was the love of God
that would carry him through to the very end and Paul knew that the love of God
saw him as perfect because of Jesus.
We spend so much time trying to do
the right thing; we end up not doing it!
Paul says set yourself apart to
the purpose of God. Let him led you. Let him tell you how to deal with issues.
We start serving the Lord out of our heart and not out of our heads!
Enter into the rest of the Lord. Set yourself apart and you will grow in
the perfect love of God.
Gal 2:20 I myself no longer live, but Christ
lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not one of those who treats the
grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then
there was no need for Christ to die.
Today take some time to bath in the
love of God and the fire of anxiety raging in your soul will be soon be stilled.
There is one thing that is opposed to union with God, and that is
activity that is not commissioned by God. why? Because God is an infinite
stillness, to be a partaker in his love is to be a partaker in his stillness and
rest. Jeanne Guyon **
Psalm 31:19-20. “You have done so much for those
who come to you for protection, blessing them in front of the watching world.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire
against them.â€
Now that’s love. He cared enough to come down and rescue
you, and his love for you will never diminish. Come back to the basis of your
first encounter with Jesus. For God so loved that he gave. Still your heart
before him and rejoice in your salvation.
Give yourself fully to God. He
will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much
more in His love than in your own weakness. Teresa of Calcutta ***
Lead
us to the wild solitary spot in our own hearts where we may encounter your gift
of fiery love and see the gracious way you look upon us from the cross. Help us
open ourselves to your limitless love, which holds nothing back from us. Francis
of Assisi
His love is perfect
IAN JOHNSON
www.papelim.org.nz
ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
*(Quote from book Glory to Glory by Ian Johnson http://www.papelim.org.nz/page18.html
)
** (Jeanne Guyon ~ A method of Prayer 1685.)
*** Teresa of Calcutta
1910-1997 ~ Missionary to India. Founder of Missionaries of charity
TUMBLES HAPPEN WHEN LEARNING TO
WALK
Grandma Anna
Apr 3,
2008
TUMBLES
HAPPEN WHEN LEARNING TO WALK
Don’t lose
your confidence, sweetheart, by dwelling on your past sins, or even dwelling on
what you deem as past mistakes. Your
confessed sins are totally forgiven and remembered no more in heaven. Believe it!
Also, remember… that just as a baby learns to walk by first sitting up,
then crawling, and then standing and taking tumbles, so likewise, mistakes are
necessary steps in learning to walk in the Spirit. Even after learning to walk, a baby takes a
tumble now and then. (Smile) Have joy, My love, in knowing that daily you
are growing more and more toward the full stature of Myself! I AM
constantly working in you, beloved, to conform you to My full image. This is My ultimate desire for you and I know
it is yours. As your proud Daddy, I want
you to forsake your self condemnation and see yourself as I see you ….one very
victorious, brave soldier in the Army of God helping to usher in the Kingdom of
God on earth!
“Now may the God of peace
who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good
work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through
Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.†(Hebrews 13:20-21
NKJ)
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness
of Christ:†(Ephesians 4:13 KJV)
POWER FROM ON HIGH
Donald
Bowles
Apr 3,
2008
Narrow Way Newsletter
Ministry
Please
visit our website
Thursday April 3,
2008
POWER FROM ON HIGH
Donald Bowles, staff writer
ACTS 19: 1- 6 Many Christians are like these people in
Ephesus. They have heard about Jesus; but they are not aware of the works of the
Holy Spirit in the life of Christians. They believe in Christ; but, are unaware
of the power that resides dormant within them. Let’s look at a few ways the Holy
Spirit works so we may have a little better understanding of His
person.
1-CONVICTION OF SIN- Acts 2: 37-38 On the day of Pentecost, the
disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, went into the streets and preached the
Gospel to the crowd that had come to Jerusalem for the celebration. Those who
heard were convicted of sin and asked, "What shall we do (to be saved)?" The
Holy Spirit convicts through the preaching of the Gospel.
2-SALVATION- John
3: 6- 8 Jesus tells Nicodemus the work of the Holy Spirit is like the wind. You
cannot see it; but you can see the results of it. The same is true of those who
have accepted the salvation that comes through faith in Christ. You can not see
the Spirit working in them; but you can see the results. Has your life
changed?
3- POWER TO WITNESS- Acts 1:8 Many Christians do not witness because
they think they will offend someone. When we DON’T witness we offend GOD. It is
not our responsibility to save someone. We can’t save a single soul. It is the
work of the Holy Spirit to bring conviction and to help them see Christ as the
only way to be saved. It is our responsibility to be the instrument to speak the
Gospel to them.
Three things happen when we have the boldness to
witness. People hear the truth about God's love and provision for their
salvation. Secondly, they may accept Christ. If they do not at least the seed
has been sewn. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit witnesses in our spirit that we are a
child of God. Peace beyond the earth's understanding enters our heart. That
boldness and POWER grows each time we exalt Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, I
pray for my fellow Christians who read this message. I pray they may know the
joy of leading others to You. May they receive the Power only You can give. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.
God Bless You
Jean
Fleming
Editor - Narrow Way Newsletter Ministry
Qualified
Gerald
Whetstone
Apr 3,
2008
"Qualified!"
Yet another letter
arrives with the bold letters on the outside of the envelop announcing we are
pre-approved for an amazing offer waiting inside. All we need to do is fill out
the enclosed application and send it in to see if we qualify. Chances are we
don't.
We are very familiar with the need to be qualified. Seeking
employment? What are your qualifications? Seeking to make a large purchase? Are
you qualified for the credit that you need to make the purchase? Seeking to
become a member of an organization? Do you meet the qualifications for
membership? A recent Television commercial parades several young people across
the screen each telling how they had been rejected by an online dating service.
They did not meet the qualifications to be a member. We even have tests that can
be taken to discover our qualifications.
Living within such an
atmosphere we are taken back when we read; "...giving thanks to the Father who
has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of
light." (Colossians 1:12) Qualified? We are qualified? How can any of us be
qualified to live and participate with the saints in God's Kingdom? "For He has
rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought is into the kingdom of the
Son He loves in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians
1:13-14)
The imagery in these verses is powerful. In Christ we are
qualified. The term used here denotes being made sufficient, made complete! And
the tense reveals it is a done deal! We don't work to become qualified. We don't
take a test to prove we are qualified - we'd fail anyway. We don't even have to
fill out an application. We call out to God and receive God's forgiveness in
Christ. We are then redeemed and thereby qualify for His Kingdom.
Being qualified we are relocated, rescued from the dominion of darkness and
brought into His Kingdom. The word used here for "brought" is the term that is
used in the secular literature of that time for removing a person from one
country and settling them in another. We are rescued [liberated, delivered] from
the dominion of darkness and brought [relocated] into The Kingdom - The Kingdom
of Light - The Kingdom where Christ Reigns! This is a present reality in Christ!
By grace through faith we are rescued, qualified and relocated. In His Kingdom,
the Kingdom of Light, we live a life worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in every
way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge if God being
strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so we have great
endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks for the Father. (Colossians
1:10-12)
Beloved, let us rejoice that in Christ we are qualified and let
us live in such a way that our lives testify of our citizenship in His Kingdom!
Gerald Whetstone
Posted in "A Pause To Ponder God's Word". To
subscribe to "A Pause to Ponder God's Word", go to: http://home.pausetoponder.org/index.php
This devotional may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety
without permission from Gerald Whetstone for nonprofit purposes only.
Dating: Superman Style
Dr.
Eric A. Hansen
Apr 3,
2008
Dating Superman
Style
Dating is difficult – even if you
are superman!
Rocketed as a baby from the exploding planet Krypton, Superman
(Kal-El) raised by farmers Jonathan Kent and his wife Martha. After he grew up
he moved to the city of Metropolis were he poses as the mild-mannered news
reporter Clark Kent while but battles evil all over Earth and beyond.. as
Superman!
Height:
6' 3"
Weight: 225
Eyes:
Blue
Hair: Black
And his
super-powers include: flying, super speed, super
strength, heat vision and x-ray vision.
GUYS – you wanna be a SUPERMAN
?
LISTEN UP HERE ARE A FEW OF THE THE LADIES GRIPES:
1- You
"rate women" and will only date a nine or ten. Yet, if women were to "rate" you,
you would be about a five.
2- You
describe yourself as "sort of" divorced. This is "sort of" like being pregnant,
either you are, or you aren't. This information is usually not revealed until
the first or second date. Fess up from the start.
3- You
talk non-stop about your ex.
4- Have
nothing to say. Your silence is deafening. If you are not a natural at
conversation, please think of some topics in advance that you may want to
discuss.
5- You
are overweight but you only want to date a skinny woman
6-
You’ve got nothing to offer besides “going to dinner and a
movieâ€
7- If
you travel all the time
8-
Gambling ~ Cursing ~ Drunk
9-
Ladies hate: Guys who seem desperate that they won’t give’em space
to breathe.
10-Poor table manners. It's simple; chew with your mouth
closed.
11 -
there are many more but you'll have to listen to the sermon to getthem
:-)
12
-
13
-
14
-
15
-
16
-
17
-
18
-
19
-
20
-
In the
book of RUTH we find a REAL SUPERMAN
Boaz was a very wealthy, well groomed, well
spoken man, polite, not given to drunkenness, a business
man and land owner with many employees. He was powerful and
well respected by the leaders in the city Bethlehem and very
generous. A man who I’m positive didn’t take cell phone call or txt
messages while at dinner w/ Ruth.
Boaz is a great
conversationalistand makes Ruth feel comfortable and
compliments her…
“. . . You are a woman of
noble character.†- Ruth.3:11
Ruth had some great
character too:
Ø
FIRST AND FORMOST committed to the Lord- Ruth.1:16, 17;
2:12.
Ø
Understood - leave & cleave -
2:11.
Ø
Humily &nb sp;
2:10.
Ø
Soft spoken &nb sp;
2:13.
Ø
Selfless & modest
2:14.
Ø
Sharing & caring
2: 18.
Ø
Steady & Hardworking 2:
27.
Ø
Virtuous – didn’t sleep around
3:14, 14.
BOAZ AND RUTH HAD A GREAT
FAMILY TREE
They were the great
grandparents of KING DAVID!
God has a plan for your premarital
relationships
so you can DATE SUPERMAN STYLE:
#1. Honor God (keep his
commands)
#2. Honor the other person
(you are with as a fellow believer in Christ - no missionary
dating)
MADE INTO A CUSTARD – THAT IS TRUE UNITY Grandma Anna Apr 4
2008 10:42PM
MADE INTO A
CUSTARD – THAT IS TRUE UNITY
Beloved, like an egg, you have a shell of protection around you as you
spiritually grow up inside; however, there also comes a time when you need to be
made into a custard. Custard is made
with broken eggs beaten together with milk and sugar and then baked. The broken eggs are you and your fellow
believers who take up the cross and follow Me.
The milk is the milk of the Word, which you are to internalize. The sugar is My grace upon you. The baking
process is the persecution that results from belonging to Me.
Oh loved ones, I so desire you to be as one body, like beaten eggs, so
that no one can tell where one of you ends and another begins! Truly, when you become like custard you have
attained to the true unity of the Spirit
- not only with each other, but
also with Me.
“A Song of degrees of David: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the
head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the
skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon
the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for
evermore.†(Psalm 133:1-3
KJV)
Treasures from the Deep
My Bride: Come dancing with Me on My mountain!
Lillis Boyer/Sylvia Deall
Apr 4 2008 12:48PM
The Bride: You have made my feet like hind's feet
And you've made me to run on high places with You
You’ve made me to leap and dance on the mountain tops
I will run and not be weary
I will run and not faint
My feet are sure and steady
And I shall not fall!
Jesus: I’ve made your heart strong, beloved
I’ve made your lungs to breathe that rarified air
Of the high places
For I made you for those high places
For the mountain tops
To leap and dance there
With Me!
I’m the air you breathe
I’m your heartbeat
I am the dance you dance there!
Dance, my beloved on the mountain top
Joy is made full there
In the dance on the mountaintop
Victory is sure there
In the dance of the Lord.
The Bride: I was made for the mountain
The mountain of the lord
I was meant to dance on the mountain
The mountain of My lord
Dancing on the mountain makes my heart stronger
I can breathe deeper
I find my strength
On your mountain
I breathe fresh air
I am revived!
Jesus: My bride, you need the air on this mountain
Dancing on my mountain
Prepares you for the valleys below
It makes your heart strong
It makes it beat faster
For as we dance we go higher and higher
From pinnacle to pinnacle
Where the air becomes purer and purer
Into the mountains
The uncharted places
Into secret places
New places in Me.
The Bride: Purified by Your fire we climb and we dance
Purified by fire we can see Your face
On the mountain, Your holy mountain
We climb
We run
We dance
Together...
Victory is on your mountain!
POWER FROM ON HIGH
Donald
Bowles
Apr 3,
2008
Narrow Way Newsletter
Ministry
Please
visit our website
Thursday April 3,
2008
POWER FROM ON HIGH
Donald Bowles, staff writer
ACTS 19: 1- 6 Many Christians are like these people in
Ephesus. They have heard about Jesus; but they are not aware of the works of the
Holy Spirit in the life of Christians. They believe in Christ; but, are unaware
of the power that resides dormant within them. Let’s look at a few ways the Holy
Spirit works so we may have a little better understanding of His
person.
1-CONVICTION OF SIN- Acts 2: 37-38 On the day of Pentecost, the
disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, went into the streets and preached the
Gospel to the crowd that had come to Jerusalem for the celebration. Those who
heard were convicted of sin and asked, "What shall we do (to be saved)?" The
Holy Spirit convicts through the preaching of the Gospel.
2-SALVATION- John
3: 6- 8 Jesus tells Nicodemus the work of the Holy Spirit is like the wind. You
cannot see it; but you can see the results of it. The same is true of those who
have accepted the salvation that comes through faith in Christ. You can not see
the Spirit working in them; but you can see the results. Has your life
changed?
3- POWER TO WITNESS- Acts 1:8 Many Christians do not witness because
they think they will offend someone. When we DON’T witness we offend GOD. It is
not our responsibility to save someone. We can’t save a single soul. It is the
work of the Holy Spirit to bring conviction and to help them see Christ as the
only way to be saved. It is our responsibility to be the instrument to speak the
Gospel to them.
Three things happen when we have the boldness to
witness. People hear the truth about God's love and provision for their
salvation. Secondly, they may accept Christ. If they do not at least the seed
has been sewn. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit witnesses in our spirit that we are a
child of God. Peace beyond the earth's understanding enters our heart. That
boldness and POWER grows each time we exalt Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, I
pray for my fellow Christians who read this message. I pray they may know the
joy of leading others to You. May they receive the Power only You can give. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.
God Bless You
Jean
Fleming
Editor - Narrow Way Newsletter Ministry
Dear Friends,
When God declared it was a year of new beginnings, He meant it.
Everywhere you look there is change. From the houses of government, to the
houses of worship, to your own house, things are shifting. Even here at Christian
International we are seeing God shift the lives of our staff and members.
At the same time the ministry is embarking on a journey to better serve churches
so that they can be reformed to transform their cities.
Chuck Pierce, who will be with us at our Watchman Intercessor Assembly,
recently shared a word about the months of March and April. In the email, sent
at the beginning of March, he shared that God showed him that the next 40 days
would be a time of increase in abrasive circumstances. With that, however, the
Lord also encouraged him that we should not be afraid of the evil at work, or
the shifting and changing taking place. Rather we should lean on God, not our
own understanding, and speak to the atmosphere and see it change. God is
rearranging spheres of authority, nations hang in the balance, and God is
saying, “My Kingdom government will now begin to rise up
and form to influence the government of the earth.†God is
increasing the abrasion to provoke His people to action. In this time of quick
and rapid change He will shake loose new finances.
Jack Frost used to refer to this type of extreme change as the
Inlet of Transition. Just as in sailing, when a boat is going from the safe
waters of the bay to the open waters of the ocean it must pass through the Inlet
of Transition. In this place two conflicting bodies of water are coming
together and one must perfectly time the waves in order to safely transition.
In the same way that the seamen must understand the times and seasons of the
water, we must understand the times and seasons of God so that we can properly
navigate the Inlets of Transition in our own lives. Now is not a time to back
up or quit, but rather to buckle down, hold on, and press forward. God is
preparing a way and He will take us safely and successfully through our times of
changing and shifting.
Our
Watchman Intercessor Assembly
starts April 8th and will be preceded by our second annual Warfare Training Day Monday,
April 7th. It’s not too late to register and join us for this
powerful time of direction, impartation, mobilization, and intercession. In
this time of great transition it is critical to know what God is saying not only
for our personal lives, but for our nation and the nations of the world.
Nothing can replace the experience of being here in person; however, we know
there is no distance in the spirit, so we invite you to join us via live webstream if you are
unable to attend. You can also pre-order the CDs and DVDs from the conference
at www.ciresourcecenter.com.
Last month we launched our new website. We
are very excited about the new technology we have been able to add to the site,
especially our Christian International Forums.
Come sign up for the forums and read updates from the leadership of CI,
communicate with others who are connected to the ministry, and get the most
recent information on the areas of the ministry you are involved with. We
believe this will be a great tool for networking throughout the CI Community.
God
revealed to Apostle Jane Hamon that this is a year to activate and accelerate.
God is releasing an anointing to create
and is equipping us to decree in faith to see dominion and transformation take
place around us. June 4th-6th we will be having our
annual Prophetic Worship and Arts
conference. “Portal ‘08†will be a
time of vision, impartation, and activation that will launch those in the
worship and arts ministries into a new dimension of worship. This year’s guest
speakers and instuctors include: Dean Mitchum, Eddie James, Missy Marcinkowski,
and Thomas McCoy. Register now for this
powerful time of training by calling 800-388-5308 or visiting us online.
Yours for the victory,
Dr. Bill Hamon
Founder and Bishop
Christian International
Ministries
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