10 Stupid Things Ministers Should Never Do

9:30AM EST 12/6/2012  J. LEE GRADY

(© Aleandr | Stock Free Images)

If you aspire to ministry, don’t be stupid. Decide now to avoid these obvious pitfalls.

I had the privilege of sharing a pulpit with Dr. Mary Ann Brown two times. She was bold, prophetic and painfully blunt. People who hate women preachers hated her even more because of her no-nonsense sermons—always delivered in her Texas twang. She would get her audience laughing and then skewer them with a hot blade of truth.

When this spiritual giant died last month at age 73, I remembered the last words she said to me when we were together at a conference in Chicago in 2011. After lamenting the fact that so many ministers in the United States were failing, Mary Ann locked eyes with me and said with stern, motherly authority: “Lee, please don’t ever get stupid.”

I knew exactly what she meant—and I’ve pondered her words often, especially since her death. I don’t want to be stupid; I want to finish well. So how can we avoid spiritual stupidity? We can start by avoiding these 10 mistakes that have become common in our movement during the past decade. If you are a minister, or if you aspire to be one, please decide now that you will never copy these behaviors.

1. Take illegal drugs. I know people who never got complete deliverance from their drug habit—and then when the pressures of ministry grew intense they turned to illegal substances to escape. That’s stupid! If you aren’t in control of your actions 100 percent of the time, you have no business in the ministry.

2. Reject accountability. The Lone Ranger may have been a great comic book hero, but isolation doesn’t work in real life. Lack of accountability is stupid! If you don’t answer to people smarter than you, you are an accident waiting to happen—and you’re going to hurt God’s people. You have no right to be in authority if you are not under authority.

3. Beat or abuse your wife. The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:7 that God will not listen to your prayers if you mistreat your wife. If you are an abuser (and even if you are a master at hiding your sin from others), the Lord will oppose you until you seek help.

4. Surround yourself with adoring fans. Years ago, fallen PTL founder Jim Bakker said his biggest mistake was planting “yes men” around him instead of people who had the guts to challenge his bad decisions. If you aren’t willing to invite input—including criticism—from your followers, you are a weak leader headed for disaster.

5. Fabricate spiritual gifts to impress others. In our movement there’s a lot of pressure to produce the sensational in order to keep people entertained. But if you stoop so low as to fake a healing, conjure up a false prophecy or push someone to the floor, the Holy Spirit will step aside and let you run the sideshow without His power. It’s stupid to mix strange fire and risk offending God!

6. Be lenient toward sexual sin. In our movement today we celebrate the grace message while frowning on anyone who dares to identify fornication, adultery, homosexuality or pornography as sins. If you are casual about sexual sin in your own life, or if you don’t require purity among those you lead, you are stupid.

7. Manipulate people during the offering time. Ministers often twist Scriptures and use hypnotic mind games to raise funds on Christian television. Nobody challenges their fraud, so it seems they get away with it. Be assured that these people will answer to God one day for their deception. You are stupid if you try these tactics in your church.

8. Refuse to share power. I meet many ministers who have been leading their churches or organizations for 30 years and yet have no succession plan in place. That is dumb! You are not going to live forever. Train the next generation now so they will be ready to lead in your place—and do it before you keel over from a heart attack!

9. Teach exotic doctrines rather than the core truths of the Bible. We charismatics tend to feed people a “flavor of the month” in order to satisfy the craving for angelic visitations, third-heaven visions, gold dust, gold teeth, manna, angel feathers, heavenly portals and indoor rain clouds. But history has proven that those who make spiritual manifestations a primary focus always get tricked into deception. We will be wise if we keep the main thing the main thing. Focus on Jesus!

10. Become an egomaniac. In the past 10 years some of America’s biggest religious stars have gone totally loony because of pride. They require private jets, body guards and personal chefs while maintaining a cold aloofness from the people they are called to serve. If you let Satan dupe you into becoming an arrogant ministry diva, you are stupid. Repent, get on the same level with the people, and start acting like Christ instead of a rock star.

In memory of my late friend Mary Ann Brown, I pass on her advice to you: “Please don’t ever get stupid.” Let’s grow up, reject foolishness and aim to finish well.

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma and the director of The Mordecai Project (themordecaiproject.org). You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. His latest book is Fearless Daughters of the Bible.

10 More Stupid Things Ministers Should Never Do

5:00PM EST 12/13/2012  JENNIFER LECLAIRE

Lee Grady penned a no-nonsense article last week cleverly titled “10 Stupid Things Ministers Should Never Do.” The ministry of Dr. Mary Ann Brown left an impression on Lee, and in his article he recalled some of her sage advice, which was: “Lee, please don’t ever get stupid.”

I was talking to evangelist Steve Hill of Brownsville Revival on Friday evening and our conversation reminded me of Lee’s article. Steve told me he’s sadly watching pastors fall into a lukewarm theology. The next day Steve had a prophetic vision about an avalanche that could kill thousands that we shared with our readers.

There are indeed many dangers for last day ministers. Whether you are an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher, there are temptations and pitfalls at every turn. There are fiery darts coming your way. It can be difficult to know whom to trust. But that doesn’t mean you need to get stupid.

So, if you are a minister, or if you aspire to be one, please decide now not to do the 10 stupid things Lee mentioned. And, for good measure, please decide now not to do the 10 more stupid things I’ve outlined below that, unfortunately, have also become common in our movement during the past decade.

1. Abuse the sheep. 

Always remember that church staff—and church volunteers—are serving God, not you. Spiritual abuse is a dirty little secret in the charismatic church that is seldom exposed because it would topple small and large man-made empires alike. If you aren’t willing to be the servant of all—if you think the sheep are there to serve you—please hang up your ministry aspirations before you hurt someone. We don’t need more spiritual abusers in the pulpit.

2. Water down the gospel. 

If you aren’t going to preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth—so help you God!—please don’t preach. Although there are many effective preaching styles, if you aren’t bold enough to preach the whole gospel—even the parts people don’t want to hear—then pray for boldness until you are.

3. Refuse to release people into ministry. 

God’s people don’t belong to you. You aren’t the one who called them, Jesus did. You aren’t the one who anointed them, the Holy Spirit did. If you feel threatened at the notion of your worship leader moving on—or your members attending a conference at another local church—your insecurities are perverting your leadership. Equip people for the work of the ministry and then let them fulfill their calling no matter where God leads them without cursing them on their way out the door.

4. Focus on gimmicks and programs rather than people. 

Seeker-friendly churches bring in bubble machines to attract the kids and A-to-Z programs to attract the adults. When the focus is on glitz, glare, glamour and gimmicks rather than meeting the true needs of people in the community, church can quickly become more like a Christian Club Med (or even a circus) than an expression of the kingdom of God. And that’s just dumb.

5. Ignore evangelism. 

Failing to pursue evangelistic endeavors has got to be the height of pastoral stupidity. Jesus gave us a Great Commission—and that means going beyond your many-walled church and into the surrounding community with the saving grace of Christ’s gospel. And refusing to have an altar call for salvations because you insist the lay people in your church should be getting them saved before bringing them to service is just plain stupid.

6. Refuse to network with other leaders. 

You may have accountability, but if you refuse to network with other pastors and leaders in your city then you are part of the division that’s running rampant in the church. Sitting on the wrong side of the unity table lacks common sense. Jesus wants us to be one as He and the Father are one. He didn’t make exceptions for denominational differences.

7. Failure to make prayer a priority. 

It amazes me to see how little prayer is going on many churches. Pastors who don’t make prayer a mandate in their church are shooting themselves in both feet and crippling their vision. And pastors who are too important to show up to the prayer meeting to join hands with the laity are sending signals that prayer is not their priority.

8. Overemphasizing spiritual warfare teaching. 

Spiritual warfare should be taught, but not at the expense of teaching the rest of the gospel. Pastors who focus too much on spiritual warfare are making unbalanced disciples that flow in suspicion rather than discernment and may all the while miss the devil’s work in their midst.

9. Quenching the Holy Spirit. 

For all the extremes out there with false prophecies, gold dust, gold teeth and angel feathers, quenching a genuine move of the Holy Spirit is stupid. Cutting the worship at three songs in order to rush to your memorized message when the Spirit of God is obviously doing a work is dumb. Put your pride down and let the Holy Spirit take control.

10. Burning out. 

The ministry brings pressures that can lead to divorce, emotional breakdowns and sin of all manner. Failure to take head to the warning signs of burnout is stupid and it can cost you your ministry.

At the end of the day, if you take on the David mentality you won’t get stupid. David said, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:4-8). Pursuing intimacy with the Lord is the smartest thing you can do. Amen.

Jennifer LeClaire is news editor at Charisma. She is also the author of several books, including Did the Spirit of God Say That? You can email Jennifer at jennifer.leclaire@charismamedia.com or visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

Do you need healing?

Luke 9:11

And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

God has not changed. He is the same. The same God that healed in Christ is still going about doing good and healing all that are oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38), because Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8).

God looks at the church today full of sick and afflicted folks and He wonders,

“Jeremiah 8:22

Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?”

As far as God is concerned, none of the inhabitants of Zion, none of His children should ever complain of sickness.

 Isaiah 33:24

And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

In fact, God had to ask if ANY (that is by chance, if any) is sick, he should call for the elders, that is assuming he is a baby Christian who does not know his right in Christ:

James 5:14-15

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

You don’t have to remain bound and afflicted. There is healing available for you. Look at the provision made for healing.

1)      Healing was provided in the atonement. He took our sicknesses. And if He took them, then we have nothing to carry. Drop that thing right now, in the name of Jesus.

Isaiah 53:4-6

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Matthew 8:16-17

16When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

2)      He commissioned Ministers to provide healing for His people

Luke 9:1-2

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Mark 16:17-18

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

1 Cor. 12:28

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

3.      He has given us His name

John 14:13-14

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

John 16:23-24

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Philip. 2:9-10

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

We have the power of attorney to use His name against the forces of darkness, including sickness. That name is above every name, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, TB, Diabetes, Malaria or Typhoid fever, etc.

4.      He has sent His Word to us

Psalm 107:20

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Proverbs 4:20-22

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Luke 5:17

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

5.         Healing is children’s bread

Luke 13:16

And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Matthew 15:22,26

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

Friend, there is healing for everyone. You cannot be an exemption.

Acts 5:16

There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Yet, beyond receiving your healing is the blessed fact that you can walk in divine health, never falling sick, like I have enjoyed for about 2 decades now.

3 John 1:2

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

For more information and revelation on this subject, get my books:

THE HEALING COVENANT, THE HEALING POWER OF FORGIVENESS, RECEIVE YOUR MIRACLE and YOU SHALL NOT DIE, TERMINATING TERMINAL DISEASES, THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S & DESTINED FOR THE THRONE.

Pastor Daniel Yohanna

www.facebook.com/danielyohanna

www.skype.com/danielyohanna

www.twitter.com/DanielYohanna

08077837847

RECEIVE YOUR HEALING

Let’s begin by examining these salient points.

·         Sickness is not the will of God

·         Sickness does not glorify God

·         Sickness is not from God

·         God wants you well

·         You can be healed

Nobody ever doubts God's ability to heal. Everyone believes that God can do all things, because with God, all things are possible. No problem is too big for God to deal with.

But then, we must understand that God cannot work without your co-operation. You have a free will. You can choose to receive what God is offering or you can reject it, either through your ignorance or disobedience.

Sometimes, we resign to fate with the notion, “The will of God be done,” thinking we are giving God the license to have His way in our lives.

If God could have His way without your permission, He would have compelled you to always do the right thing. But God is not a witch, and so wouldn't force you to do anything against your will.

The Bible is the Word of God. He expresses His mind and will in those words so you can have an opportunity to make the right choice, but He wouldn't force you.

In Deut. 30:19, God says, I have set before you life and death…therefore choose life…that you…may live.” You see, the choice is yours, whether to live or die. You will not die but live to declare the works of the Lord (Psa. 118:17).

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, which includes sickness.

“…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)

How do we know that sickness is the work of the devil? Acts 10:38 says Jesus went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil.

How then did Jesus deal with sickness? Again the Bible says in Matt. 8:17 that Jesus took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.

If this tract was taken from you, you couldn't have the paper in your hand. If Jesus took your sicknesses, and He did, then you are free. It’s no more on you.

No wonder 1 Pet. 2:24 says that you have been healed by His wounds. What wounds? Jesus bore that sickness that is afflicting you. He was wounded for our sins. He not only took our sins on the Cross, He took our sicknesses. Just as easy as it is for you to surrender your life to Jesus and be born again since He has carried and paid for your sins, you might as well reject and release that sickness because He took it on Him when He hung on the Cross. As far as God is concerned, you are healed already.

Are you saying Amen to this?

Think of it. If you were arraigned for a crime and were sentenced, though with an option of fine; now, if somebody paid that money, you wouldn't go to jail, or else that would be a miscarriage of justice. It would be what is referred to as  double jeopardy.

“But,” you may wonder, “If I am healed, how come I am still in pains?” Let's put it this way. If your account was credited and you didn't know, you would be running around begging, looking for money. You are rich but since you didn't know it, you were living in squalor. When you know the truth, you become free (John 8:32). Now you know the truth  you are healed.

Even if you cut off the head of a snake, the body would still be moving as if it’s still alive, yet it is dead.

If you cut off a leaf from off a plant, it would still be fresh, still looking as if it is alive. Yet the moment it was cut off, it died. It’s just a question of time and you will see it wilt.

It’s the same with sickness and infirmity. After your prayer, the sickness died. That you still feel pains or still look the same doesn’t mean you are not healed. Immediately you asked God to touch you, He did, in His faithfulness. It’s just a matter of time and the healing will manifest. It could happen in the nest second, or the next hour, or the next day. It doesn’t matter. The truth is that you are healed.

Jesus took your sicknesses. That pain is a lie of the devil. Receive your healing NOW, in the name of Jesus. YOU ARE FREE!

What then do you do between when you pray and when you see the answer? Just thank God. If you believe God heard you when you prayed or were prayed for, then thank God for the healing.

If you asked me for money and I told you I have sent it, you would thank me immediately, even without seeing the money. You don’t wait to see it before thanking me. If you take me for my word, and I said I had sent the money, you would be full of excitement even before seeing it. Your confidence is in my word.

God’s Word never fails. His Word is truth. No situation can invalidate His Word. He has spoken, and it is so.

YOU ARE HEALED!

For further enquiry, prayer or counseling, call 08077837847 

WHY CHRISTIANS ARE SICK

By Daniel Yohanna

If Jesus has carried our sickness (and He has), then why are people, especially believers, still sick?

It's like asking, if Jesus has carried the sin of the whole world (Jn. 1:29; Heb. 9:28; 1Pet. 2:24; 1Jn. 3:5), then why are people still dying and going to hell? It could be they never knew He took their sin away, so they could not receive His grace. It could also be that they do not believe He took their sin, so they could not receive forgiveness of sin.

                In the same vein, though Jesus Himself took our pains and carried our sicknesses, as written in Matt. 8:17, believers are still sick as a result of some or any of these factors. The same sacrifice that paid for the sin of the whole world also took care of our sicknesses. That’s why scripture says that “By His stripes, we were healed.” (1 Pet. 2:24). As far as God is concerned, you have been healed, because Jesus took that sickness on Him. I am totally convinced that God has made adequate provision for His people to live strong and healthy lives. In fact, He questions in Jeremiah 8:22 why His children are still sick in spite of the provision made.

Is there no balm in Gilead; Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? (Jer. 8:22).

While we may not with exactitude know why certain ones are sick, the following provide a pointer to why many believers are sick.

1.            Breaking Natural Laws

                Sometimes erroneously, we think that walking by faith is pretending something that exists doesn't, but that is presumption.

The laws of creation put in place by the creator are to help regulate the forces of nature, so they can be of benefit to us. Even in the Old Testament, some of the laws were dietary and sanitary laws that we will do well to heed to. You can't expose your body under the harmattan and not expect to catch a cold or pneumonia, or something. You can't go on eating anything and anyhow and expect to be healthy. Sometimes it is what you're eating that's actually eating you up. Take care of your body. Remember, it is the Temple of God. Don't defile it with smoke or alcohol. Don't live or eat in unhygienic environments. Wash your hands every time you use the toilet.

2.            Sin

                There is a close link between sin and sickness. That's why when the paralytic man that was carried by his four friends laid him before Jesus, the first thing Jesus did was to clear the hindrance to his healing by forgiving his sins. (Lk 5:18-25). The man that was healed at the Pool of Bethesda (Jn 5:1-14), was told by Jesus to “sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” Two statements catch my attention here: no more and a worse thing. No more implies he had done it before, and a worse thing compares a present with a later experience. The man might have sinned before, and so was warned against sinning anymore. A sinful lifestyle can cause the believer to be sick.

3.            Bitterness & Unforgiveness

These are two deadly vices. Bitterness works like bile in a chicken, it poisons the whole meat. Bitterness destroys your system. So does unforgiveness. It hinders the power of God from flowing in one. Once there is the absence of love, the devil has room to manifest (1 Cor. 2:11). You will keep the devil out in Jesus name (Eph. 4:27). Release every trace of bitterness in your life (Heb. 12:15). Has anyone  hurt you lately? Forgive and forget.

A research revealed that over 80% of cancer patients have a problem with unforgiveness. You subject your body to lots of torment through unforgiveness. Release the person and get yourself released.

Do you know what happens to you when you start holding grudges against others? According to Kenneth Hagin, Jr, it’s the same thing that happens in the arteries of your heart when too much fat gets in. Fat starts collecting around the edges of the artery and restricting the flow of blood. Once it starts collecting, it builds up and builds up until no blood can flow at all. May be you never saw it in this light, but it is very true.

In the spiritual realm, unforgiveness builds up the same way. It starts collecting in the channel where the Spirit flows, and if you’re not careful, it will clog the channel. Before you know it, nothing is flowing at all. What a tragedy this will be. If nothing flows in your life, how will you survive?

Therefore, once you realize that things are not flowing in your life as they are supposed to, then you need to release all unforgiveness so the flow can start again.

Lack of walking in love and forgiveness is the main reason people’s faith doesn’t work. Unforgiveness is the main reason people fail to receive their healing.

4.            Lack of Discernment

For not discerning the Lord's body, many are sick (1Cor. 11:29-30). The Lord's body here is both symbolic and spiritual. The bread we break in communion is symbolic of His Body which was broken for us. An irreverent attitude in partaking of this brings God's judgement down on people. Secondly, we all make up the Body of Christ - His mystical body. Any divisive attitude in us as well, brings condemnation. We must preserve the unity of the body. Let's discern (understand) the Lord's body.

5.            Ignorance

                The Bible shows us that a reason why people are destroyed, either by sickness or by any other means is because of ignorance. Some have not heard the truth about healing. They do not know that their diseases have been laid on Jesus, and that by His stripes, they have been healed.

 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” (Hos. 4:6)

Let’s assume you were arraigned before a judge and were convicted of a crime, and were given a 5-year jail term with an option of a fine of 5000 naira. If I decided to pay the money on your behalf, would you still serve your sentence? No. My friend, Jesus has paid for your liberty. You are free.

In his book, Receive Miracle Healing, Dr. T. L. Osborn said, “People who pray and fail to receive the miracle from Christ that they desire, usually lack knowledge of what the Bible says about God's blessings. Without knowing these truths, the person in need has no basis for faith.”

When you do not know something belongs to you, it could never be claimed or appropriated by you. Dr. David Oyedepo says there is no mountain anywhere; every man's ignorance is his mountain. Without ignorance empowering the disease, no sickness can destroy the child of God.

John 8:32

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

6.            Unbelief

It is possible for someone to know that something is true, and yet refuse to be convinced about it. There are two sources of unbelief. One is ignorance. What you don't know, you can't believe. Because you still feel the pains, you think you're still sick, not realizing that healing takes place first in the spiritual realm before it manifests physically. The presence of pain or any physical evidence is no guarantee that you are sick.

                But a second source of unbelief is a kind of rebellion or stubbornness. It is an unpersuadable attitude. It is a result of sheer disobedience. You know it's true, but you refuse to yield to that truth. You know God heals, but you just can't be convinced to believe He'll heal you. You are just disobedient to the truth being presented to you.

7.            Wrong Thinking

                Some people attract sickness by their negative thinking pattern. They are constantly seeing themselves sick. They keep imagining themselves sick. They are full of fear. According to Dr. John G. Lake, “Fear causes your mind to become subjective. When you are full of fear, your pores will absorb everything around you. You are drawing into yourself what is around you. That is the way people absorb sickness.” Norman Vincent Pearle said, “If you fear something continuously you tend to create conditions in your mind propitious to the development of that which you fear. An atmosphere is encouraged in which it can take root and grow. You tend to draw it to yourself.”

Probably because of what they've been listening to, once they hear of an outbreak of an epidemic, they conclude that they must be victims, and it comes to pass. Yet the Bible says “a thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.” (Psa. 91:7).

8.            Negative Talking

Sickness talkers are sick people. Proverbs 6:2 says you are snared and taken by the words of your mouth. Isaiah 33:24 says the inhabitants of Zion will never say, “I am sick.” Why? Because “they are healed, by His stripes.” (1Pet 2:24). “Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses.” (Mt 8:17) Jesus said, “You shall have what you say.” (Mk 11:23) So, what have you been saying? If you keep talking sickness, that's exactly what you're going to have. “But,” you wonder, “What do I do when I feel sick?” You say what the Word says concerning healing. That you feel sick doesn't mean you are sick. Temptation is not sin until you fall into it. So also the symptom of a sickness is temptation to be sick. Don't establish that sickness with your words. A neuro-surgeon once revealed that the speech nerve in the brain controls all the other nerves in the body. When a man says, “I am sick,” a message is passed across all the other nerves: “Let's prepare to be sick.” Don't say what you see. Say what you believe. Say what you want to see. Smith Wigglesworth said, “I am not moved by what I see or hear. I am moved by what I believe.”

You then wonder, “Am I not supposed to say the truth about my condition?” But what is the truth? “Thy word is truth.” (Jn. 17:17). When you speak what the Word says, you are speaking the truth. You can’t keep on talking negatively and experience positive results in your life.

“Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’” (Joel 3:10). And this is not suggesting you letting people know you are sick by saying, I am strong. It is believing that the Lord is the strength of your life, for His power is made perfect in your weakness (Psa. 27:1; 2 Cor. 12:9,10).

MARRIAGE without TEARS II by Daniel Yohanna

WHY MARRIAGES FAIL
 

The most intimate and most fulfilling form of relationship is between a man and his wife. Yet, what started out as a promising union often ends in disaster, heartbreak and divorce. People who swore to live together “till death do us part” often cause the death of the partner so they can part. The journey that was to last a lifetime often hits the rocks. Divorce is worse than death. When spouses think of their late spouse, they remember them with affection. When they think of their ex-spouse, they are filled with pain. But why do marriages fail?
1)  Improper foundation

They entered into the relationship with conjectures, assumptions and undue expectations in their minds. They concentrate on the wedding and not the marriage. They focus on the wedding day and not the marital life. They take time to prepare for the ceremony, making sure everything is in place. More energies are directed towards the event, rather than the union.

2)  Spiritual reasons

Some marriages crash as a result of diabolical acts and demonic interference. The devil has been after marriages from the Garden of Eden till date, and must be stopped in his tracks.

3)  Loss of appreciation for each other

They begin to take each other for granted. They’re eager to point the wrong the partner has done. There is just condemnation with little or no commendation. Zig Ziglar said the more you appreciate someone, the more things you’ll find to appreciate, and the more you complain, the more things you’ll find to complain about.

4)  No respect for each other

They have more respect for traditions than God’s Word. Defer more to family members and friends. Listen more to outsiders than their spouse. God says men’s prayers can be hindered if they don’t treat their wives well (1Pet. 3:7). A woman’s reverence for her husband aids her in childbearing (1Tim. 2:11-15).

5)  No time for each other

You become so engrossed with work, business, children, church, etc, you don’t make out time to be with yourselves as a couple. According to Rick Warren, relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love “T-I-M-E.”  He says the greatest gift you can give someone is your time, and ‘busyness’ is an enemy of great relationships. Realize that the best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now.

6)  Communication breakdown

Communication is the life of any relationship. Most of the times, that’s where marriages begin to die. They stop talking to each other. That’s why the Bible says for you not to go to bed without resolving any issue (Eph. 4:26). We must develop listening skills, to hear not just what is being said, but what is not being said as well. Management expert, Peter Drucker, said, “The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.”

7)  Unforgiveness

Scripture does not give room for unforgiveness in the life of any child of God. It’s not optional but mandatory. Not for the sake of the offender, but for the well-being of the offended. David DuPlessis said, “Forgiveness is a one-way traffic, and the moment you stop forgiving, you have an accident.”

Learn to forgive and forget. Stop bringing the matter up every now and then. Release the bitterness. Ask God for grace to live a life of forgiveness. It’s not easy, but it’s rewarding.

8)  Comparison

When you begin to compare your spouse with someone else, it’s wrong. Bishop Wale Oke said you never admire an outsider until you find something wrong with your spouse. But do you realize no human being has everything complete? Not even you. It is said that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. People that seem nice to you may only be nice over the short period they’re with you until you stay together. 

9)  Selfishness

“I, me and myself” attitude cannot build any relationship. When you keep saying things like, “You’re not doing this or that for me…” and “You never tell me ‘I love you’”, you’re treading a dangerous route. “My house…,” “My car…,’ “My money…” Once you marry, it’s not longer “I” but “We”, no longer “My” but “Our.” Love does not insist on its own way or its own rights (1Cor. 13:5, AMP).

Marital infidelity is borne out of selfishness. You’re not thinking of the other partner’s feeling but only to satisfy your evil and lustful cravings.

10) External Interference from friends, family and colleagues. In-laws sometimes become “out-laws.”

11) Too much pressure. Stress. Fatique. Financial burdens. 

12) Etc. Etc.

The Coming 

Apocalypse!

“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.” 

(1 Peter 4:7)

One very certain fact is that one day, very soon, the world will come to an end. With every passing day, we are inching closer to the apocalypse –the end of all things. Even the continual degradation of the earth, the continual and increasing natural disasters point to the fact that we are approaching “doomsday.”

There have been various predictions through the years of doomsday by people – and all have failed. Hardly does anybody get bothered today, were there to be a prediction of doomsday.

Jesus told us He is coming back, yet He cautioned us against deception, for no one (not even Him)  knows the day but the Father (Mark 13:32).

Scripture however warns us scoffing at the promise of His return.

2 Peter 3:3-4,9-10

3 Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night…

That He hasn’t returned is no indication He is not returning. And then you will not stay alive forever. He will either come or you go.

Time and space will not permit me to write all the scriptures that give all the hints concerning the events of the last days. These events are unfolding right before our eyes. We are living in the last days. It will soon be over. Get right with God. Prepare to meet your God. Stay ready. One of these days the trumpet of God will sound, and the King will return for His own. To qualify for this rapture of the saints, you must be born again and live right. Give your life to Christ TODAY!

Luke 17:26-30

And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:  27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.  28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;  29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.  30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

To the believer, there is a wake-up call, to be up and doing in your walk with God.

Luke 21:34-36a (TLB)

 "Watch out! Don't let my sudden coming catch you unawares; don't let me find you living in careless ease, carousing and drinking, and occupied with the problems of this life, like all the rest of the world. 36 Keep a constant watch.

Maranatha!

- Pastor Daniel Yohanna

Bible Study - The Blessing!

Gen. 32:24-29

 "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there."

Jacob said, “I won’t let go, until you bless me…”

What could he be looking for, since he was married, he had children, he had money, he had possessions, he had a flourishing business…

When sb receives money, he says, “I’ve been blessed with money…I’ve been blessed with a car, etc.

The money/car/house, etc, are not the blessing, but the result of the blessing.

When you hear the rustling of the wind and see the leaves flying, you say, ‘that is the wind.’ But that isn’t the wind, but the effects of the wind. If money was the blessing, then, every thief, crook, is blessed.

The blessing is different from blessings, which are the effects or result of THE blessing.

The blessing is the root to the fruit.

It is a spiritual deposit, an invisible power, an endowment, an empowerment, an anointing, an unction to function with gumption.

That’s what Jacob wanted – the blessing. He didn’t just want the fruits, he wanted the root. He wasn’t satisfied with a visitation, he wanted a habitation. He wanted the power to get wealth (Deut. 8:18).

To bless means to empower to prosper. The opposite, to curse, means to empower to fail.

The blessing, therefore, is the power to prosper; the power to succeed.

They can take the car; they can take the money; they can take the job, but they can’t take the blessing from you.

 Isaac = Gen 26. They strove with him over the wells, he moved on, until he wore out his opposition. They finally drove him. Eventually, they had to follow him and enter a covenant with him, for they saw that the Lord was with him, and he was now the blessed of the Lord.

 He had always been blessed, but now they could see (the manifestation of it).

The blessing!

Prov. 10:22 – the blessing of the Lord…

Deut. 28:8 - command the blessing upon thee…

Psa. 133:3 – there the Lord commanded the blessing… {The commanded blessing => Commanded the ravens/the widow

Ezek. 34:26 – I will make them…a blessing; and there shall be showers of blessing

Mal. 3:10 – I will open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing

Gal. 3:13,14 - …that the blessing of Abraham might come on the gentiles…

Ephes. 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

We are blessed! Empowered to prosper.

The nature of the blessing

1. It is invisible but produces visible effects

2. It is a Maker – Prov. 10:22. It is self-propelled.

3. It is generational – Exo. 20:5,6; Deut. 7:9. U’re not under a generational curse but under a generational blessing – the blessing of Abraham.

4. It is transferrable – Mark 10:13-16 – an impartation. Lot was blessed by association – Gen. 13

5. It is permanent – Gen. 27:33 – TLB (irrevocable); MSG (blessed for good).

6. It is irreversible  - Num. 23:20. You are uncursable.

7. It sustains – Gen. 27:37 – with corn and wine have I sustained him. It’s not d job or d money that sustains. Anything physical is subject to physical changes – and the brook dried up (1 Ki. 17:8)

8. Defies opposition – Num. 23:20-23; Gen. 26:1,12,16,19,23, 28-29

9. Ignores location – Gen. 39:1-6,20-23

10. Automatically in Christ – Eph. 1:3; Gal. 3:7,9,13-14.

Walking in the blessing

1. Obedience – Lev. 26:3-9; Isa. 1:19,20

2. Service – Job 36:11; Exo. 23:25-27

Obedience in finances opens the door for financial blessings – Mal. 3:8-12

MARRIAGE WITHOUT TEARS I

A NOTE ON MARRIAGE!
I am not a marriage counselor, yet I believe I can share a few thoughts on marriage, having been in the school for 19yrs (Remember, one is given the certificate before beginning d school, because u'll never graduate. That's why u find people married for 50 yrs, & then d marriage crashes.
The wonder is that, while marriages break up everyday, people marry everyday. My associate minister (a lawyer) once shared about how a couple (and their loved ones) were jumping in jubilation in court after their 2 yr old marriage was dissolved (in a similar way they rejoiced when they were getting married).
As a young man, I read a quote, that "marriage is a pot of mystery: those inside are trying to jump out while those outside are trying to jump in." I think it's not really true. There are those inside that want to stay inside, not just b/c we have to stay but b/c we want to stay in & choose to stay in.
A sister said to me she was tired of her marriage & wanted out. I asked her to ask the ones out if they were happier outside the marriage b4 jumping out. There's an illusion that u would be happier divorced. Some statistics reveal that over 50% of first marriages end in divorce, 65% of 2nd ones & more than 70% of 3rd ones. It shows that when it comes to marriage, the more we do it, the worse we get at it (isn't that ironic?).
Though Solomon had over a thousand women in his life, he celebrated only one: the Shulammite - revealing the fact that it actually takes ONE woman to satisfy a man (contrary to a general myth that men are polygamous in nature and so cannot be satisfied by one woman). No wonder at the end of d day he said, "Everything is vanity (meaningless)."
Marriage works, if BOTH partners are willing to work at it. And like the best wine that was kept for the last, marriage gets better with time, as the couple understand themselves better.
Staying together however is not a sign of a successful marriage. Some couples are only together b/c of the legal implications of their divorce & the alimony they have to pay. Some others are still together b/c of d shame or fear of what people would say (especially if they had been advised against marrying each other. Others are only together as house mates just because of d children. I heard of a couple living under d same roof for 8 yrs yet don't talk to each other. They traveled for the same occasion to a town separately, and yet are staying under d same roof. That's not a marriage.
There are no hard and fast rules on how to make a marriage
works (as people are different, & so relate or express themselves differently), yet there are hints that can help, hopefully:
1) People that marry their friend are more likely going to be happier. While some would tell u that u would never know ur spouse until u're married, I never experienced that. Everything I saw in my wife after marriage, I had seen traces b4 marriage. And she says d same about me. We were friends for yrs. We went to d same school, attended d same church, read d same course, which brings me to another point.
2) There must be some level of 'flow' btw d couple. What do u have in common? You must agree spiritually, intellectually & socially.
3) Attraction is not enough reason to marry, b/c it wears off with time. It may bring u together, but it can't keep u together. Beauty is only skin deep. Remember, no beauty queen has reigned for 2 yrs. So, if u're looking for d most beautiful girl to marry, her beauty 'reigns' for just a yr. She may be 'disfigured' by pregnancy, childbirth & marital stress.
4) Communication is d life of a relationship. That's where marriages start dying from. They stop talking.
5) Reduce tension in ur home. Let there be joy & laughter. Let there be fun. Take things easy. Don't be too serious.
6) Respect & honour each other. I've seen where people keep celebrating someone who is rather despised & vilified by their mate. My wife shared about a beautiful woman married to a very rich man, who was never there for her. A man came to clean their rug and complemented her beauty (something she never heard from her husband). To cut a long story short, she ended up in d rug cleaner's home, abandoning all d wealth. That's why Princess Diana was happier being around an Egyptian Dodi Al Fayed than the Royal Prince Charles.
7) Get all the information u can about marriage. We were having problems in our early years of marriage not from d devil but from our ignorance. We were 'too spiritual' to discuss issues like sex - ha, when souls were perishing? But it degenerated to somewhat unhealthy experiences and near-embarrassing situations. Talking to my Pastor, he helped counsel me aright and encouraged us to talk honestly and sincerely to each other, and to read books. Things changed. We thought we were married to the wrong person, but no. We felt like going our separate ways b/c we thought we were a burden to each other, until we began to read, listen to each other and talk forthrightly. I particularly admitted where I had challenges and needed help. It helped!
Please, never take your spouse for granted. I've seen how widows and widowers keep talking about their late spouse (sometimes even after re-marrying), yet never showed that love when d spouse was alive.
8)  There is no perfect marriage on earth, but we keep working at it till Jesus returns. Don't be deceived to think that other person would make a better partner than ur spouse. They're only nice to u b/c they're not married to u. They may not put up wt all ur spouse is putting up wt. They say the grass looks greener on d other side...
9)  Make sure u're accountable to sb. There should be sb both of u are able and willing to listen to - a Pastor, a spiritual father. Pls don't just look 4 sb that'll tell u what u want to hear. Many homes have been destroyed by wrong counsel & demonic prophecies & visions (Like one I know where the man was told his wife - a born again, Spirit-filled woman - was a witch. He drove her out).
10) Be careful how u allow friends & family members to meddle into ur marriage. Sometimes in-laws can become out-laws, and must be placed where they belong. I know a married woman whose friend kept instigating her not to accept the kind of treatment her husband was dishing her. The man finally threw the woman out b/c of her naughtiness. Ironically, the friend is married today, while she is a divorcee. I know another woman (a widow) a couple used to go to when they had issues. The widow is today the man's second wife. Be careful!
11)  Do ur best to attend d same church, so u can hear the same word, and grow together. This also places u under d same spiritual authority, for guidance and support.
12)  Let forgiveness be the watch-word in ur home. No matter what, forgive. If u can forgive, u'll go far. According to T.D. Jakes, "Never make a permanent decision based on a temporary situation."
13)  Never consider divorce as an option except if ur life is at risk or ur partner continually abuses or violates u. Divorce has far-reaching consequences, especially for the children. They have to relate wt each parent separately. According to Myles Munroe, divorce is worse that death. When pple die, u bury them & move on. But after divorce, u keep running into ur partner. It's terrible! So, choose to go the way of love. According to E.W.Kenyon, divine love has never been to a divorce court.
14)  Establish your home on the Word. Let every decision be based on the Word, not tradition, not what they do in ur village, not what your pple say. Follow the Word. The Lord will help you. Except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain that build it.
Trado => Inheritance: daughters of Zelophehad (Num. 27)
The Word => Married = One (Next of kin)
15)  While money plays a part and can be a major factor in determining how happy a couple can be, money on its own is not the real cause of problems. Rather, our attitude towards money - the presence of it or the absence of it - is the real issue. Some relationships have been strained as a result of financial stress, yet, marriages have also broken because both partners had become too rich and too independent to listen to each other. Work out a financial plan that is acceptable to both partners.
16) The peace of God in our hearts is the umpire for knowing you are in the will of God concerning any relationship. Peace is not the absence of fear. Going into a new relationship gives u a little fear of the unknown, yet if there is peace in ur heart, you are in the will of God. God will give you peace in the midst of the storms.
"And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. (Colossians 3:15 AMP)
17) While it is possible to cook with basic ingredients, spices go a long way in making a meal sumptuous and surfeiting. So also in marriage, spice up your relationship with some little extraordinary deeds and surprise packages.
18) Don't give up on your marriage. Seek to improve it. It can get better. Keep working on it. In fact, the longer it stays, the better it gets because you come to understand each other better. The older the wine, the better it tastes.
19) Don't do things that will give the devil a foothold in your home. His place was not found in heaven (Rev. 12:8-9,12). Don't let him squat in your home (Eph. 4:27).
=> Pastor Bakare's mom: "The devil has no home, he seeks where to spend d night each day."
(20) Never compare your marriage, home or spouse to any other.
There will always be someone greater than you.
Yet, you have something someone doesn't have. Appreciate what you have now, knowing that it can get better.
The grass, they say, is always (or rather looks) greener on the other side of the fence until you get there. If you ask some people who remarried, they would have been better off with their former spouse.
While you can be inspired by what's happening in some other people's lives, don't fall into the trap of comparison.
"For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." (II Corinthians 10:12 NKJV)
(21) Marriage (on its own) doesn't have the ability to change anybody. Somebody isn't going to change simple because s/he is married. If there are things you can't stand during your courtship, don't think they're going to simply disappeared just because you are now married.
(22) What was apparent before marriage always becomes more pronounced after marriage. Now, they have settled down. There's nothing to pretend. They're not trying to woo anyone.
(23) Stop trying to change your spouse. Change yourself and your spouse will most likely change. You can only influence people to change but can't force change on anybody. Anyone convinced against his will is still of the same opinion.
(24) Be patient with your spouse. Give him/her time to evolve into that "image" you had/have of an ideal spouse.
(25) Prayer changes things. Prayer will change your life too. Pray always for your spouse.
(26) Don't allow the presence of children to come between you and your spouse. Don't allow them distract you or consume your time at the expense time with your spouse.
(27) Be open and sincere to each other. Honesty is a pillar that will uphold your marriage. Nothing thrives on lies. With modern beauticians making people up with false teeth, false eye lashes, false finger nails, we must be careful not to allow falsehood into our marriage.
(28) Admit it when you're wrong. Be ready and willing to apologize when you're wrong. "I am sorry" will do more wonders than proving your right or proving anything.
(29) What value can you add to your spouse? It's not just about money. Can your spouse admit s/he has become a better person since coming in contact with you?

(30) Don't stop doing good because your spouse is not reciprocating your kind gestures. You can't be wrong doing the right thing. God will reward you.