GOOD FRIDAY: Everything is complete Through Him!

When we celebrate Good Friday we recall how we began this forty-day journey of fasting (Lent)

We as Christians we are following the journey of 40 days of Jesus In the wilderness fasting and praying to the Almighty God for our salvation.

Good Friday remands us that our salvation was completed through him when he ended at the cross and the crowds were shouting "Crucify Him and if you are the Son of God, save yourself."

Good Friday is about our redemption which was achieved by Jesus facing his death more courageously than anyone else. In other words our redemption was achieved by Jesus dying at the cross.

Good Friday remands us about the cross which is the center of the Christian faith! And how Jesus preaches non-violence, and embraces those who have been rejected in his community such as; the tax collectors, the prostitutes, the women, the lepers, the fishermen, and even the Gentiles.

 I love Good Friday Because: Jesus said:

• “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do”

•  “Father forgives them for they know not what they do.”

Therefore Jesus remands us that cross is so amazing, so divine.  There is no faith in Jesus without understanding the meaning of cross. Jesus is calling us  to turn away from our sins and do good and acknowledge that He died for my sins and that He rose again on the third day.  Finally ask Jesus to be the Lord of our life from now on. 

AMEN HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY 2014

HOLLY WEEK 2014: TB JOSHUA POWERFUL PRAYER

JESUS TELLS US TO MIND OUR OWN BUSINESS.

"Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. When Peter saw him, he asked, 'Lord, what about him?' Jesus answered, 'If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." John 21:20-22;

It is true that we humans always are interested in poking nose in other people business the habit which is very irritating and frustrating. The philosophy behind it is not denying involvement of other people in your issues but we need to think when the right time to engage in other people business. In simple explanations is like jumping to things of less concern and bring along gossiping behavior.

The question which we need to ask ourselves why it is necessary to intervene? "Does this concern me?" But if nothing is concern you and it’s not your business it is a wise thing to "Think before you speak". As St Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; says Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You've heard all this from us before, but a reminder never hurts.

The opposite is that those that are busy minding other people’s business probably do not have any worthwhile business of their own. Live your own life and improve it rather wasting time in things that do not concern you. Don't be bitter with other people's progress otherwise the spirit of witchcraft is knocking at your doorstep.

 Do not waste time gossiping but utilize that time to improve and perfect your mediocre life. Make your life an example for others to follow.

Remember the story of adultery story in the bible; John 8:7 "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her”. Jesus was trying to show them that you are too much in her business while you are not clean in yourself in other words otherwise Jesus knew about them how sinful they were, hence he put it clear that   I know about you hence “take me out of the stone throwing business”. 

Jesus is showing us a positive way to act if you engage in others business “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" No one, sir then neither do I condemn you go now and leave your life of sin." Simple clear and conveying strong massage.

When we are jumping in other people business we forget about what people have gone in their life; you don’t know the pains and the hurts they have suffered. You don’t know why they act the way they act. 

Coming in others business you are judging them but the question is who are you to judge them? Are you a spiritual police? Therefore the best thing you can do when someone begins gossiping and talking about someone is to stop it before it starts.

Convince your fellow mate to pray for that person or simply walk away. Your ears are not garbage cans for people to fill with filthy garbage about others. We have got to learn how to defend people like Jesus defended the woman caught in adultery.

Let me encourage you today. If you really want to enjoy life, keep your tongue from speaking evil. Stay on the good side of God and never talk about people. Be a tree of life that heals. Be like Jesus and rather scribble in dirt than listen to slander about people. Only say things that build up people. 

Mind your own business. When people begin talking to you about others, be a trustworthy person and stop them. Let’s learn to see beyond the stuff in people and magnify the good. If we will, our days will be good. Our lives will be blessed. God will bless our lives beyond our wildest dreams.

Have a wonderful Lent 2014 and God bless you

Faith & Doubt Cannot Live Together : Reflection by Aba Mpesha at the beginning of lent on March 5, 2014

We read from the gospel of Mark 11:20-26 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

 Also we read in James 1:2-8 about Faith and Doubt:  “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts, is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

  We also read in Hebrews 11:1 that, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

William Sloane Coffin put it this way “Faith isn’t believing without proof, it is trusting without reservation.”

As we begin this lent period, I am reminded we are called to LIVVE OUT FAITH IN GOD.

The following are some of the things I am learning from the above passages:

       I must deal with mountains that obstruct me from achieving what God has ordained for you to achieve. The starting point should be to ask the question; what have I been ordained to achieve and what are the mountains on my way? Is the mountain Hate, Racism, Slavery to anything, Poverty, Addiction, or Crumbling Marriage. I need to tell the mountain “move in the name of Jesus”. It will move as Jesus promises in Mark 11:22 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” I can testify how many times Jesus has removed the mountains in my way  in the last one year

     I need to remove the doubt because it is the root cause of disobedience. When one removes doubt and allow faith to come in it opens the door of the possible.  I can testify that when doubts were removed last year, we prayed for the healing of my wife’s macular degeneration of her eyes, and she got healed completely to the surprise of doctors.

  

     Know that no answer usually aligns you to God’s will.

      

 Forgive everybody who wrongs you.  A person who cannot forgive another person inevitably has never experienced forgiveness of his/her sins. I can testify to the fact that when I am harboring a grudge against another person, my mood is always bad and I cannot think objectively.

        

If I pray in God’s will, I will always get an answer to what you pray for in God’s time (1 John 5:14). In most cases, my failure has been to know God’s time.

      

 I am learning to Pray Until Something Happens (PUSH).  In other words, I need to pray with expectancy. I have learnt not tell God how big my storm is; I am now telling the storm how big my God is. When I forget this strategy, I wallow if fear.

 My Motto during this lent period is-“Begin to operate as if it is done”

Be blessed brethren during this lent period!

 

Rev Dr Aba Mpesha

NEVER GIVE UP;

One thing which is common to all mankind is that we   stumble in many ways.The Canadian actress Mary Pickford said “To fall is not to fail, unless you fail to get up again”. 

Solomon in Proverbs 24:16 said that for a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, 

in sports a true coach believe that “If you don’t fall/fail while practicing then you are not learning enough to be a true champion”.

The Bible says: The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. Psalm 145:14 

Romans 11:2; If we follow the ways of God but fail in some part of our life God will be there to assist us back on our feet: 

Therefore people of strong faith are just as liable to fail as their weaker companions, and often they fail in a most appalling way.  As the book of Corinthians 10:12 teaches us, So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall

The sign of failing: ( Giving Up)

•  acting in Selfishness, 

•  Straying from the God’s way

The sign of success:

•  fear of the Lord 

• Never giving  up!

•  believe that God is still at work, 

•  ask for help from God through prayer. 

• be  strong and courageous.

James 4:10  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. As long we believe that God is eager to give us forgiveness and strength, the only way to lose is to give up.

Therefore pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

ASH WEDNESDAY 05 March 5, 2014

Ash in Christian philosophy is a signed of repentance;

In Scripture do you remember Job, after having endured his trials and tribulations, repents before God with dust and ashes?  While Jeremiah, rolled in ashes as sign of repenting to God.

Ashes remind us that all things are temporary in our world, and we will all, one day, become ashes and dust. In the book of Genesis, God tells Adam, “Dust you are, and to dust you will return.” 

As we start this first day of Lent we need to remember that our days are numbered. Therefore Ash Wednesday reminds us that:

• First t we are dust, and to dust we will return.  
• Life is temporary  and short.

• Second we are fallen, and we can’t get up on our own.  We need God’s help ash create a bridge of forgiveness to receive God’s grace and love.

• Third this is a period of prayer, fasting and self-denial. From  now until we celebrate Easter we are required to  spend more  time alone with  God.

• Fourth it is a time of fasting and crying for salvation  to eternal life.

 

Jesus caution that: “...when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

What is special with Ash Wednesday:

• Lent It’s not an easy journey. 

• It’s a scary journey because it means we are giving up control to God. 

• if we can give God our life the reward is greater than anything we can buy.

• Lent is  repentance which leads us to question our own motives and actions.

As we are ready to start this salvation journey let us join millions who prayed this prayer:

“Lent is about remembering who we are and who God is and what is really important in this life that is – in the face of all eternity – so short and precious.

 Father, tonight we are starting our journey. Our journey to further deepen our relationship with you. Tonight we acknowledge the deep yearning within our souls to be reunited with you. Tonight, O God, as we offer our confessions to you, as we take the mark of the cross on our bodies, may you place your mark in our lives. 

Bring us ever closer to you, Lord. Help us to see the love you have for us and for your creation, allowing us to share this love with those we meet on our journey. Help us to be pure in heart so when people look at us, they do not see our own desires, but may they see Jesus Christ and the love you have for all your children.

 Help us to see, O God, that we are doing here tonight is worthy of your blessing as we so deeply want to know you more and more. Tonight, O God, may we start this journey, a journey that will continue our whole life long, until we enter the glory of your presence. Father, for all these things we give you glory, praise and thanksgiving, in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Amen”