Warfare prayer of the soldiers of the Army of Jesus to bind and destroy the works of the devil

Let us bind and destroy the works of the devil in the name of Jesus Christ who has conquered sin, satan, curse and death on the cross

Pro  15:1  The spirit which induces harsh  answer and stirs up anger.

Will of our Father

The sole aim of all  religions  is to take people to heaven. They all recommend many methods for this. But Jesus has given a criterion to enter into heaven.

Mat 7:21 “Not everyone who keeps saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will get into the kingdom from heaven, but only the person who keeps doing the will of my Father in heaven.

"but only the person who keeps doing the will of my Father in heaven will enter the Kingdom of heaven."

Then what is the will of our Father in heaven?

1. All people to be saved.1Ti 2:4.

"who wants all people to be saved and to come to know the truth fully".

2. Not a man to be lost. Mat 18:14 .

 In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.”

How to achieve this?

Every believer should engage in soul winning. Today many have misunderstood "soul winning" as adding members to an institutional Church or to a religion called Christianity.  It is not so. Soul winning is making one a disciple of Jesus. He/she need not be the member of Christian religion.   

One sister Selvam came to Chennai attend the “Worship School " classes on 23,24 September. When she came she could not walk. Both her legs were swollen and when she got down from the taxi, she came crawling on both her hands and legs. Her children brought her here with the firm belief that if she attends this class she will be healed. After the first day's class, she wanted to be prayed over.

But the servant of God told her,                                                               

"Jesus Christ has accomplished everything on the cross. You have received the same spirit as me. Use your authority! Come on! You yourself are going to pray for your legs.  Lay your hand on your legs and command this pain to flee from your body. Repeat after me. 'I am the child of God. Jesus Christ has saved me. His blood has already been shed for me. By His stripes I am healed. All the infirmities and sicknesses in my legs, I command in Jesus name to get out of my body. Amen."

She was asked to repeat this 100 times.

When the course was over, she walked normally, climbed down the steps even without holding on to the rails, walked to the bus stand and went by bus to her village which is 4 hours drive.

Praise be to God!. This is the authority given to a believer! How many of us make use of this authority to win disciples for Jesus?

Warfare prayer of the soldiers of the Army of Jesus to bind and destroy the works of the devil

Let us bind and destroy the works of the devil in the name of Jesus Christ who has conquered sin, satan, curse and death on the cross

Pro  15:1  The spirit which induces harsh  answer and stirs up  anger.

Delivered to the tormentors

In my recent trip to a place for Forgiveness and Reconciliation Programme (FRP), they brought a young boy for prayer who was told to be mentally ill. He had been treated as a psychiatric patient for one month. The family spent about Rs. 1,00,000.00 for his treatment. Even at the first sight we can make out that he is possessed by an evil spirit. When the command was given in the name of Jesus, he fell down and started rolling on the ground. He was asked to get up and utter the name “Jesus”. When he pronounced that name, satan knocked him down and again he fell down.

“Jesus answered and said to them, You err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God”. Mat 22:29 

From the FRP classes we learned more about the activities of satan and evil spirits these days. They  need legal rights to one’s life. They cannot just intrude at will. It always involves legal consent from either the individual or from God. Formally deliverance ministry for us took 5 days, 3 days or hours together. Now it has become so easy. Find out the door through which enemy has intruded and chase him out! It needs the consent of the individual.  Until the person agrees to chase it out or breaks all the ties he/she has with the evil spirit, it refuses to leave!

God’s consent: Will God allow enemy to torment a person? Mathew 5:25-26 clearly says yes. It teaches us a great lesson. While we are on this earth as pilgrims of life journey, we are supposed to forgive all our enemies from the bottom of our heart. Those who refuse to forgive,  inevitably will go to prison, and will be there until he pays back all his debt. The judge (Heavenly Father) hands him over to devil (officer) who imprisons him.

Today 95 % of the believers are in prison one way or other. Just because they refuse to forgive!

Mat 18:34  And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him. 

Mat. 18:34,35 clearly says that when a person refuses to forgive others, all the generational, ancestral sins and curses which were forgiven (Mat 18:27) when he accepted Jesus Christ, comes back to him and he again becomes a debtor and taken to prison. Until he pays back his whole debt (which once was cancelled and written off) he will never come out of the prison! What a horrible situation!

Let us forgive our brothers and sisters deliberately and willfully!

Warfare prayer of the soldiers of the Army of Jesus to bind and destroy the works of the devil

Let us bind and destroy the works of the devil in the name of Jesus Christ who has conquered sin, satan, curse and death on the cross

Psalm 7:4  The spirit which makes one plunder the enemy without cause

whole body will be full of light

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.

Eye photographs things and  the images are recorded  in mind. The picture or image it imprints in your mind remains forever. In this perspective, we can say that eye is the most important of all the five senses. Because the image it has imprinted in

your memory and mind is most unlikely to be  changed by any other senses like hearing, touch or  smell . As  a good camera takes good photos, the picture  taken by a  good  physically and spiritually healthy eye   will be proper. If the eye is sick, the photo it takes  and records  will not be correct. When we invite videographer for a function, we look for the best man who takes good photographs. Sick eyes will take wrong photographs. Either there will be double vision, or wrong vision.

In another version of the  Bible, the same verse is given like this.

Mat 6:22  “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light”. In this version the word ‘healthy’ is substituted by "single". What is ‘Single vision”?

1. When we read the Bible, we should see it in the same way as God sees it. The problem of God with Israel was that whatever God said to them was seen by them in a different way. They had vision problem.

And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, of the giants. And we were in our own sight like grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. Num 13:33 

Today the problem of God with His children is the same. When He says something, we have to believe it. We should utter  the same words along with our loving Father. e.g. when the Lord says,

 “Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life”. Isa 43:4  Confess it as it is,  in faith.

The whole world might tell you, “You are stupid, good for nothing etc… you should look at yourself with a  single eye and say, “I am precious in my Father’s eyes, and honoured, and He loves me”.

The Practical

Given the right circumstances, a private home can be the ideal setting for a church meeting.  The smaller, homey setting fosters the genuine friendships. The Lord's Supper celebrated as a holy meal in this relaxed, unhurried, comfortable setting helps build unity and love. Since a home is usually not big enough to accommodate a huge number of people, participatory worship wherein each person contributes according to his spiritual gift is much more intimate and meaningful. Also, with no joint ownership of property, the carnal temptation to fight over such things as the color of the carpet can be avoided. House churches can be simple, wonderful, down-to-earth (yet touching heaven) expressions of new covenant church life. J. Vernon McGee predicted, “the Christians met in homes. I used to hold the viewpoint and I still do .. that as the church started in the home, it is going to come back to the home.”[24]  

comparing apples and oranges. Scholars tell us the early church met in the homes of its wealthier members. This was probably because of the large size of the home and the ability of the host to provide much of the food for the love feast. Roman villas typically also served as a center for commerce. The front two rooms facing the street were often stores fronts. A hallway between the two led into the home’s atrium. At the far end of the atrium was the business office. Thus it was not unusual for strangers to be in and out of a home. Further, there were typically multiple generations of family under the same roof. In addition, the household employed servants and their families. These were big, semi-public houses. There were large areas in which the church could gather, such as the atrium. Walls between adjoining rooms off the atrium could be removed to create a large area. Beyond the business office was an even larger semi-covered and completely enclosed courtyard. Enough believers gathered to make disciples, manifest a variety of spiritual gifts (and multiple people with the same gift), to have a plurality of elders and financially support qualified elders (who were thus freed to provide in depth teaching and leadership). They also probably had more of an Asian mindset to crowding than we do in the West; there may have been 150 people in an early house church.

Many modern homes are simply too small to hold enough believers to have the strength of a New Testament church. In modern Western house churches there often is no one qualified to serve as elder (such men are in short supply) and no one gifted to teach. Consequently, lacking leadership, the church becomes more of a “bless me” club. The fellowship at the Agape is fantastic and often the worship is wonderful and the kids have a good play time together, but no discipleship is really taking place.  Outreach is nil.  The congregation is so small there is no way a pastor could be supported. Though house churches are at the opposite end of the spectrum from mega-churches, it is important to avoid the mistake of thinking toosmall. Like Goldilocks’ porridge, the size should be just right; not to small and not too big.

To function as effectively as the early church functioned, modern church structures, sizes and systems must be carefully considered. The structure should be informal, the size of the community ought to be relatively small and the seating arrangement flexible. Since every member’s participation and ministry was highly valued and encouraged in the early church, a large home is still a good setting wherein every person can comfortably contribute and function for the edification of the whole body of Christ.

Regretfully, due to the structure and the order of churches today, we are often missing some very important purposes of church gatherings — fellowship and one another encouragement. Church is not about passively attending formal services; neither is it to be a program. It is a people. Worship is not going to a service but doing service to one another. It should be about intimate fellowship with one another and actively encouraging one another. It is about interdependently functioning for the edification of all.

We are suggesting that the apostolic church did not erect church buildings in large part because they simply didn’t need them. The letters which were written to the various New Testament churches were mostly written to house churches. Because they are written to house churches the instructions contained in them are geared to work in a smaller congregation.

A reformation is needed to help God’s people function more effectively and biblically. We must never forget that any church paradigm is weak and lacks life without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is the life of the church; without Him any church is dead. Let us seek to be clothed with the power from on high as we constantly seek to establish His Kingdom on earth.  May the Lord abundantly pour out His Spirit upon His body, the church!

by Steve Atkerson (To be Continued)

Warfare prayer of the soldiers of the Army of Jesus to bind and destroy the works of the devil

Let us bind and destroy the works of the devil in the name of Jesus Christ who has conquered sin, satan, curse and death on the cross

Mark 7:22  The spirit of theft

Reward you openly

While I was attending a Sunday Service in a Church,  I saw the pastor introducing his assistant to the congregation, ‘he has finished his 40 days fasting’ I held him in high esteem.

Today while I was meditating the following verse only, I realised what all hypocrisies have crept into the Church system ! Jesus clearly said,

“…… So that you do not appear to men to fast, but to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.” Mat 6: 16-18

Father is watching you  in the  hidden place. When you are  alone in prayer, alone in streets, alone in the mall/shopping complex, alone in your bed, alone depressed, alone crying, He is  watching you.

He is the one who rewards you.    

Today there is a tendency in the Churches to please the pastor in everything you do. Believers are not taught to please the Father  in heaven but to please the Church heads.

When the Lord said to Abraham,

“I am the Almighty God! Walk before Me and be perfect”. Gen. 17:1

the Lord meant this. Today since the believers are taught to walk before only  men, they would like to please their Church leaders.

The Troop Church soldiers should take care always to walk before God and to seek always things pleasing to God.

When you do things pleasing to the Father in secret, He will reward you openly. Praying, fasting, giving alms, all these three things are to be done in secret. The heavenly reward will come openly.

Proportions

Since the New Testament church met almost exclusively in private homes, the typical congregation of the apostolic era was relatively small.[15] No specific number is ever given in Scripture, but there were generally no more people than would fit into a wealthy person’s home (in the atrium or perhaps courtyard area). In general, the overall pattern is for smaller rather than larger congregations.

The Matthew 18 restoration process detailed by Jesus assumes more than two or three families in a church. Counting the various gifts dealt with in 1 Corinthians 14 reveals the presence of a healthy number of believers. That qualified widows and elders were supported by early house churches (1Ti 5:3-16) also required more than just a handful of believers. Having a plurality of elders in a single church is also unlikely in too small a setting (Acts 14:23).

The meeting room of the Lullingstone Villa house church in Kent, England (built during the Roman occupation) measured approximately 15’ x 21’.[16] Fuller seminary professor Robert Banks opined that “the entertaining room in a moderately well-to-do household could hold around 30 people comfortably — perhaps half as many again in an emergency . . . it is unlikely that a meeting of the “whole church” could have exceeded 40 to 45 people, and may well have been smaller . . . In any event we must not think of these as particularly large . . . Even the meetings of the ‘whole church’ were small enough for a relatively intimate relationship to develop between the members.”[17]Dr. Banks’ numbers may be too low. An examination of floor plans in Pompeii shows typical atriums measuring 20’ x 28’.[18] Jerome Murphy-O’Connor measured six homes in Pompeii and found the average atrium to be 797 square feet.[19] A house known to be a Christian meeting place at Dura-Europos (in Syria) could, according to the Yale archaeologists who excavated it, seat 65 to 70 people.[20] Acts 1:15 records 120 believers assembled in the upper room.

Progression

Some argue that the practice of churches small enough to meet in an atrium was merely an initiatory phase of the church’s early development, a transitory step toward later maturity. It was right and natural, it is argued, for the church to grow beyond these small sizes and develop ways that are far different than the practices of the apostles as recorded in Scripture: cathedrals, large spectator worship services, archbishops, the modern presbytery system and the merger of church and state after Constantine.

In answer, it should be noted that the apostles intended for churches to adhere to the specific patterns they originally established. For instance, the Corinthians were praised specifically for holding to the apostles’ traditions for church practice (1Co 11:2). Sweeping appeals to hold to various church practices were made based on the universal practices of all the other churches (1Co 11:16, 14:33b-34). The apostles were handpicked and personally trained by our Lord.  If anyone ever understood the purpose of the church, it was these men. The practices they established for the church’s corporate activities would certainly have been in keeping with their understanding about the purpose of the church. Respect for the Spirit by whom they were led should lead us to prefer their modes of organization to any alternative that our own creative thinking might suggest.

Also telling is the total absence of any instruction in the New Testament regarding the construction of special buildings for worship. This is in contrast to old covenant Mosaic legislation, which contained very specific blueprints regarding the holy tabernacle. When the new covenant writers did touch upon this subject, they pointed out that believers themselves are the temple of the Holy Spirit, living stones that come together to make up a spiritual house with Jesus Christ as the chief corner stone.[21]In The Radical Christian, Arthur Wallis said, “In the Old Testament, God had a sanctuary for His people; in the New, God has His people as a sanctuary.”[22]Through Christ Jesus, we ourselves are God’s temple and God’s church (1Co 3:16, Ac 20:28). Let us give heed to the penetrating words of John Havlik:  “The church is never a place, but always a people; never a fold but always a flock; never a sacred building but always a believing assembly. The church is you who pray, not where you pray. A structure of brick or marble can no more be the church than your clothes of serge or satin can be you. There is in this world nothing sacred but man, no sanctuary of man but the soul.”[23]

The real issue is not where a church meets, but how it can best do what God requires of it. The problem is that a major reason church buildings have been erected is in order to hold more people than would fit into a typical Roman home’s atrium or courtyard. We wonder at the aptness of  building large church edifices since having too many people in attendance can serve to defeat the very purposes for holding a church meeting in the first place. Large crowds are great for worship services, evangelistic meetings or seminars, but the weekly church gathering is to be about something more: mutual edification, accountability, encouraging one another, the fellowship of the Holy Meal, strengthening relationships, building consensus, etc.

Proportions

Since the New Testament church met almost exclusively in private homes, the typical congregation of the apostolic era was relatively small.[15] No specific number is ever given in Scripture, but there were generally no more people than would fit into a wealthy person’s home (in the atrium or perhaps courtyard area). In general, the overall pattern is for smaller rather than larger congregations.

The Matthew 18 restoration process detailed by Jesus assumes more than two or three families in a church. Counting the various gifts dealt with in 1 Corinthians 14 reveals the presence of a healthy number of believers. That qualified widows and elders were supported by early house churches (1Ti 5:3-16) also required more than just a handful of believers. Having a plurality of elders in a single church is also unlikely in too small a setting (Acts 14:23).

The meeting room of the Lullingstone Villa house church in Kent, England (built during the Roman occupation) measured approximately 15’ x 21’.[16] Fuller seminary professor Robert Banks opined that “the entertaining room in a moderately well-to-do household could hold around 30 people comfortably — perhaps half as many again in an emergency . . . it is unlikely that a meeting of the “whole church” could have exceeded 40 to 45 people, and may well have been smaller . . . In any event we must not think of these as particularly large . . . Even the meetings of the ‘whole church’ were small enough for a relatively intimate relationship to develop between the members.”[17]Dr. Banks’ numbers may be too low. An examination of floor plans in Pompeii shows typical atriums measuring 20’ x 28’.[18] Jerome Murphy-O’Connor measured six homes in Pompeii and found the average atrium to be 797 square feet.[19] A house known to be a Christian meeting place at Dura-Europos (in Syria) could, according to the Yale archaeologists who excavated it, seat 65 to 70 people.[20] Acts 1:15 records 120 believers assembled in the upper room.

Progression

Some argue that the practice of churches small enough to meet in an atrium was merely an initiatory phase of the church’s early development, a transitory step toward later maturity. It was right and natural, it is argued, for the church to grow beyond these small sizes and develop ways that are far different than the practices of the apostles as recorded in Scripture: cathedrals, large spectator worship services, archbishops, the modern presbytery system and the merger of church and state after Constantine.

In answer, it should be noted that the apostles intended for churches to adhere to the specific patterns they originally established. For instance, the Corinthians were praised specifically for holding to the apostles’ traditions for church practice (1Co 11:2). Sweeping appeals to hold to various church practices were made based on the universal practices of all the other churches (1Co 11:16, 14:33b-34). The apostles were handpicked and personally trained by our Lord.  If anyone ever understood the purpose of the church, it was these men. The practices they established for the church’s corporate activities would certainly have been in keeping with their understanding about the purpose of the church. Respect for the Spirit by whom they were led should lead us to prefer their modes of organization to any alternative that our own creative thinking might suggest.

Also telling is the total absence of any instruction in the New Testament regarding the construction of special buildings for worship. This is in contrast to old covenant Mosaic legislation, which contained very specific blueprints regarding the holy tabernacle. When the new covenant writers did touch upon this subject, they pointed out that believers themselves are the temple of the Holy Spirit, living stones that come together to make up a spiritual house with Jesus Christ as the chief corner stone.[21]In The Radical Christian, Arthur Wallis said, “In the Old Testament, God had a sanctuary for His people; in the New, God has His people as a sanctuary.”[22]Through Christ Jesus, we ourselves are God’s temple and God’s church (1Co 3:16, Ac 20:28). Let us give heed to the penetrating words of John Havlik:  “The church is never a place, but always a people; never a fold but always a flock; never a sacred building but always a believing assembly. The church is you who pray, not where you pray. A structure of brick or marble can no more be the church than your clothes of serge or satin can be you. There is in this world nothing sacred but man, no sanctuary of man but the soul.”[23]

The real issue is not where a church meets, but how it can best do what God requires of it. The problem is that a major reason church buildings have been erected is in order to hold more people than would fit into a typical Roman home’s atrium or courtyard. We wonder at the aptness of  building large church edifices since having too many people in attendance can serve to defeat the very purposes for holding a church meeting in the first place. Large crowds are great for worship services, evangelistic meetings or seminars, but the weekly church gathering is to be about something more: mutual edification, accountability, encouraging one another, the fellowship of the Holy Meal, strengthening relationships, building consensus, etc.

by Steve Atkerson (To be Continued)

Warfare prayer of the soldiers of the Army of Jesus to bind and destroy the works of the devil

Let us bind and destroy the works of the devil in the name of Jesus Christ who has conquered sin, satan, curse and death on the cross

Pro  22:22  The spirit which makes one rob the poor because they are poor

Unwilling to disgrace

Today many marriages end up in divorce after a long judicial or ecclesial (if Christian) process. We have an example of a man in the Bible who wanted to divorce his wife even before marriage. Let us meditate on that this week.

Joseph, who is chosen to be the foster father to Jesus, faced the same problem with his wife. Here the problem was serious because his wife seemed to be pregnant even before they come together. This is a clear justifiable case for divorce. But Joseph a righteous man and unwilling to disgrace her, decided to divorce her secretly. Joseph’s righteousness manifested in doing it secretly. Why secretly?

Joseph was particular that Mary’s future should not be affected. If the real reason for divorce is publicly known, she will be stoned to death. He wanted to safeguard her even while observing the commandment.

This speaks loudly against disgracing one’s husband or  wife by hiring lawyers for money to speak against your spouse. At least for a few days, months, years you have loved a person sincerely. How can you betray him/her or  desert him/her forever. This is unfaithfulness. This is against the vow you have taken with your wife/husband on the wedding day in the presence of God, in front many witnesses. 

Mat 1:19  Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to disgrace her, decided to divorce her secretly.

While Joseph was compelled to take a legal step against Mary, he was pricked in his conscience.  He wanted to check with God whether he was doing the right thing. The Lord sent an angel to clarify his doubt. Once he got the answer from God, lifelong he was bound by that. He never wavered in his decision again.

Beloved husbands, beloved wives, whenever you have problem with your spouse, before taking it to anybody, take it to God for finding a solution. After getting a reply, abide by that. Your parents,  the whole society , religious laws all might be against you. But everything depends on you. Once you abide by the decision of God, nothing can shake you.

A Purposeful Pattern

The most common explanation for the existence of early house churches was the pressure of persecution, similar to the situation that exists today in China or Iran. Suppose there had been no first century persecution are we to assume that church buildings would automatically have been constructed to allow individual congregations could swell to enormous size, limited only by the dimensions of the largest building affordable? Persecution or not, might the apostles have laid down a purposeful pattern of smaller congregations? It is a design axiom that follows function. Meeting in a smaller setting would have a practical effect on one’s church life. The apostles’ belief concerning the function of the church was naturally expressed in the form that the church took on in the first century. Some of the distinct practices of those early house churches are worth considering:

1. The Church as Family: One over arching significance of the New Testament church lies in its theology of community. The church was depicted by apostolic writers in terms which describe a family. Believers are children of God (1Jn 3:1) who have been born into his family (Jn 1:12-13). God’s people are thus seen as part of God’s household (Ep 2:19, Ga 6:10).  They are called brothers and sisters (Phm 2, Ro 16:2). Consequently, Christians are to relate to each other as members of a family (1Ti 5:1-2; Ro 16:13).  Out of this theological point that God’s children are family arises many church practice issues, such as the size congregation that best facilities our functioning as God’s family. (More on this below).
2. The Holy Meal: The Lord’s Supper was originally celebrated weekly as a full, fellowship meal (the Agapé Feast). Early church meetings, centered around the Lord’s Table, were tremendous times of fellowship, community and encouragement). Rather than a funeral-like atmosphere, the Lord’s Supper was celebrated in anticipation of the Wedding Banquet of the Lamb. Each local church is to be like a family; one of the most common things families do is to eat together. The larger the congregation, the less family-like and the more impersonal the Lord’s Supper as a true meal becomes.
3. Participatory Worship: Early church meetings were clearly participatory. Since public speaking is a great fear, participatory meetings are best suited to smaller gatherings, composed of people who all know each other and are true friends. Participatory meetings are impractical for large numbers. After church meetings in Roman atriums were replaced by meetings in much larger basilicas, participatory worship was replaced by worship services.
4. One Another Ministry: The Scriptures are full of the “one another” commands. Church should be associated with mutual encouragement, accountability, relationships, community and maintaining church discipline. These ideals are best accomplished in smaller congregations where people know and love each other. A large auditorium of people, most of whom are relative strangers to each other, will not easily achieve these goals. Nominal Christianity is harbored as it becomes easy to get lost in the crowd. Smaller churches can best foster the simplicity, vitality, intimacy and purity that God desires for his church. 
5. Consensus: The New Testament church had a plurality of clearly identified leaders (elders, pastors, overseers), yet these leaders led more by example and persuasion than by command. The elder-led consensus of the whole congregation was paramount in decision making.[13] Achieving consensus is possible in a church where everyone knows each other, loves each other, bears with one another, is patient with one another, and is committed to each other. However, the larger the fellowship, the more impossible it becomes to maintain relationships and lines of communication. Also, in a large congregation, the pastor necessarily functions more like the CEO of a corporation. An informal homelike setting is an effective place for the building of consensus.
6. Multiplication: House churches are low cost, can reproduce quickly, and have great potential for growth through evangelism. We need to think small in a really big way! God does not equate bigness with ability. Paul reminded that “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (1Co 1:27-29, NIV).
7. Resource Allocation: Without a lot of money, it seemly has become almost impossible to do the Lord’s work. Charles Price, Director of Missions for the San Antonio Baptist Association, lamented that the typical cost to start a new church in North America is 2 million dollars (!)[14]Not nearly so much money is required to plant house churches. Gathering as a church in a dwelling is about as simple as it gets. The first century church turned their world upside down (Ac 17:6) and did so via small congregations (house churches). The early disciples planted churches in homes, had simple gatherings in homes and multiplied into other houses as the fellowship grew. Like the early church, a simple home can be enough for the fellowship of the church. Freed from the burden of constructing church buildings and their resulting expenses, greater sums of money can go toward the support of pastors, missionaries, evangelists and the poor.

- Steve Atkerson (To Be Continued)

Hindu Leaders Blame Nepal’s Church Growth on Greed

The former Hindu monarchy of Nepal boasts one of the fastest growing Christian populations. Hindu critics claim money and greed are driving the growth, but Christians say the country’s caste system makes Christ’s message of equality especially appealing. “Christians did some of the church reconstruction after the earthquake but they have done more for the general public, [from] emergency relief to reconstruction,” said pastor Tanka Subedi, co-chairman of the Nepal Christian Society and the leader of Nepal’s Religious Liberty Forum.

The end of Nepal’s monarchy in 2008 and the establishment of a secular government allowed more freedom of religion in the country, although freedom is not absolute. By 2015, Christians numbered more than 1 million, about 3.8 percent of Nepal’s 28.5 million people, according to the World Christian Database. Conversions of low-caste Hindus, known as Dalits, are driving the growth, according to The Guardian. Dalits suffer discrimination, deprivation, and abuse in Hindu culture due to their lowly status. “It’s not surprising that Dalits are converting en masse, or that Christian groups would be doing work within this community,” said International Christian Concern’s William Stark, noting the Dalits are the most marginalized, least educated, and neediest people in the country.  “The message of the gospel—that everyone is equal, everyone is loved by God, and God’s sacrifice was for everyone—is attractive especially to people of a Dalit background,” Stark said.

Chinese Theology Student and Aspiring Pastor Warns of Country's Increasing Persecution of Christians

Derek Lam, a Christian studying theology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, says he will probably not be allowed to fulfill his dream of being a pastor. “During the last evening of one of this summer’s camps, the leaders of the camp told the campers that ‘God would make China prosperous’ and that Xi Jinping’s pet infrastructure project known as ‘One Belt, One Road’ was ‘the path that God had prepared,’” Lam said. “The organizers of the camp then had the audacity to claim that ‘One Belt, One Road’ would help spread the gospel.”

People in Hong Kong are being pushed to the side with the country’s communist views, Lam said. “Beijing is encroaching not only on Hong Kong’s political freedoms but also on the most personal ones, such as religious beliefs, as part of a larger strategy to shut down any kind of organizing outside of the (Communist) party,” he said.

Local Authorities in Upper Egypt Prevent Christians from Holding Sunday Worship

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on Sunday, August 20, police in Ezbat Al-Forn, located in Egypt's Minya governorate, prevented local Christians from accessing a building they were using to hold Sunday worship. Father Botros Azeez, the priest who travels to Ezbat Al-Forn on a weekly basis to officiate Sunday worship, was also kept off the church premises by security forces who cordoned off the area. The security officials claimed that the Christians were refused access to the church because they had no permit to practice religious rites in the house. Police officials, represented by Brigadier General Mohamed Salah, filed a report to that effect, citing complaints reported against the Christians by local Muslims in Ezbat Al-Forn.

William Stark, ICC's Regional Manager, said, "The forced closure of the church in Ezbat Al-Forn is another example of how authorities use Egypt's church building laws and regulations to persecute the country's Christian community. The fact that Christians were prevented from using a building they had openly used for worship for years only a week after church leadership complained about the closure of churches clearly shows the arbitrary and punitive way in which authorities apply the church building laws and regulations. Clear reforms must be made to Egypt's church building laws and regulations if Christians are to truly be able to exercise their religious freedom rights. Until then, local authorities will continue to use these vague laws and regulations to close churches and prevent worship whenever and wherever they please."

Indian Christians Experience Record-Breaking Persecution in 2017

Indian Christians experienced almost as many attacks in the first half of the 2017 as they did in the entire year of 2016. That's according to a new report from the persecution watchdog organization Open Doors. According to the report, there were 410 reported incidents targeting Indian Christians in the first six months of this year. Last year, there were 441 reported incidents total.

Eighty-four of those incidents were violent assaults. Of those 84 violent attacks, 32 would have been deadly if timely medical-aid had not been provided. One partner told Open Doors the Indian government fails to punish attackers, which emboldens them to target Christians even more.

"When Christians are beaten up by extremists, they are injured mostly on their heads or vital body parts. There was one incident earlier this year when the victim was attacked by a sword to his head. He was bleeding profusely and was critically injured… Attackers do not care if the person dies. They know they will not be punished because the Government (and hence the judiciary) will take their side. In most cases attackers go unpunished," the partner said.While some Christians may not be physically attacked, they pay a heavy societal toll for following Christ. While the Indian government speaks of religious freedom and secularism, the government is run by a Hindu nationalist party called RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). Leaders are embracing Hinduism more and becoming less tolerant of other religions, especially Christians.

One Christian leader said he was once a Hindu nationalist and persecuted Christians before he made the decision to follow Christ. "Before I converted to Christianity, I used to be a staunch Hindu. I also joined RSS at that time and started working with them. The party upholds Hindutva ideology and believes that if Christians in India aren't controlled, they would convert all the Hindus in the country and Hindutva would lose its identity," he told Oepn Doors. "Hence RSS wants to do their best to stop Christians from preaching about their faith. They would go to any extremes for that. I myself persecuted many Christians until I came to the Christian faith and realized what I had been doing." India's Christians are fighting back by lobbying their government officials.

The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), which represents 14 million Protestant and Orthodox Christians, recently wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in hopes he would condemn the persecution. No such actions have been taken by the Indian government since that letter was written.

This Month in NWC we are worshipping for “Karnataka”. Book your slot for worship. No doubt the nation is going to be shaken during our worship. Be ready and prepare for that.

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1) When  I started worshipping in the Centre Jesus came  near me. I felt his presence and saw light shining .He spoke to me like this” I have come as a light to shine in the world.You have been chosen to be the light to everyone and shine in the world and you will be a witness to me.”

2) At the time of my worshipping in the Centre  God spoke to me like this “ All the deception of the enemy will go away.The servants of God have all turned away from me and now started leading worldly life. Immediately go and preach my words  to  the people.”

3) As soon as I entered the Worship Centre I felt the presence of God. When  I started singing ,  my head, two hands and legs started shaking and felt a power entering into me. Again when I started praising I was filled fully with power.

 4) God showed me how he is protecting me and the family in all the critical situations. God clearly told me to wait patiently for His coming (Rapture).

This Month in NWC we are worshipping for “Karnataka”. Book your slot for worship. No doubt the nation is going to be shaken during our worship. Be ready and prepare for that.

Warfare prayer of the soldiers of the Army of Jesus to bind and destroy the works of the devil

Let us bind and destroy the works of the devil in the name of Jesus Christ who has conquered sin, satan, curse and death on the cross

Pro  11:28  The spirit which makes one  trust  in his riches

What he said shall occur

In 2011 we were in Mumbai for 18 months. In the flat where we lived, there was a window which will bring bad smell from outside. So we could not open it. One day when we read Mark 11:23, we wanted to apply this. We opened the window and prophesied, “Let all this rubbish and the stench it brings be moved out of this place, fresh air flow in through this window and  fill our house”. The next day the authorities decided to convert it into a park and the work started right away. Within one week it was completed.

Yes our mouth has power in it!

Mar 11:23  For truly I say to you that whoever shall say to this mountain, Be moved and be cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he said shall occur, he shall have whatever he said. 

Yes, we will have whatever we have said.

In the place where we live now also the same miracle happened. When we came here in 2015, the road we had was of mud and sand. Auto rickshaw drivers were fearful that their tyres may get punctured. We started prophesying! Now without any efforts on our part, there are shade trees  and flower gardens in front of the house, which are watered and cared for! You may produce anything out of your tongue and eat the fruit. Why don’t you try?

The Premise

There are no known church buildings prior to the time of Constantine. During the apostolic era and for the next two centuries, churches met primarily in the private homes of its wealthier members. This necessarily meant that the typical congregation was smaller rather than larger.

The Purpose

Everything in the New Testament was written to churches that met in private homes. The relationships the New Testament describes work best in situations where everyone knows each other. These smaller settings foster the intimacy and accountability that characterized the New Testament church. A loving, family-like atmosphere is more easily developed. Celebrating the Lord’s Supper as an actual meal is much more conducive to a smaller setting. Achieving congregational consensus is easier when everyone knows everyone else and open lines of communication genuinely exist. The many “one another” exhortations of Scripture can be much more realistically lived out. Church discipline takes on real significance. Participatory worship is natural to a smaller setting and is more meaningful.

The Professors

According to Anglican evangelist David Watson, “For the first two centuries, the church met in small groups in the homes of its members, apart from special gatherings in public lecture halls or market places, where people could come together in much larger numbers. Significantly these two centuries mark the most powerful and vigorous advance of the church, which perhaps has never seen been equaled. The lack of church buildings was no hindrance to the rapid expansion of the church; instead . . . it seemed a positive help.”[1]       

A Yale University archaeology pamphlet stated, “The first Christian congregations worshipped in private houses, meeting at the homes of wealthier members on a rotating basis . . . Worship was generally conducted in (either) the atrium, or central courtyard of the house.”[2]

Graydon F. Snyder, professor of New Testament at Chicago Theological Seminary, observed that “the New Testament Church began as a small group house church (Col. 4:15), and it remained so until the middle or end of the third century. There are no evidences of larger places of meeting before 300.”[3] Again quoting Snyder, “there is no literary evidence nor archaeological indication that any such home was converted into an extant church building.  Nor is there any extant church that certainly was built prior to Constantine.”[4] 

The ESV Study Bible notes that “Early Christian churches, since they were small and not recognized as a legitimate (or legal) religion, met in homes . . . There is extensive archaeological evidence from many cites showing that some homes were structurally modified to hold such churches.”[5]

Martin Selman, lecturer in Old Testament at Spurgeon’s College in London, wrote that “The theme of the ‘household of God’ undoubtedly owed much to the function of the house in early Christianity as a place of meeting and fellowship (e.g. 2 Tim. 4:19; Phm. 2; 2 Jn. 10).”[6]

Reformed scholar William Hendriksen, said “since in the first and second centuries church buildings in the sense in which we think of them today were not yet in existence, families would hold services in their own homes . . . The early church numbered many hospitable members, ready and eager to offer their facilities for religious use: meetings, services, etc.”[7]

According to Anglican commentator W.H. Griffith Thomas, “For two or three centuries Christians met in private houses . . . There seems little doubt that these informal gatherings of small groups of believers had great influence in preserving the simplicity and purity of early Christianity”.[8]

In his monumental work New Testament Theology, Donald Guthrie (lecturer on New Testament at the London Bible College) wrote that “the expression ‘in church’ (en ekklésia) . . . refers to an assembly of believers. There is no suggestion of a special building.  Indeed, the idea of a church as representing a building is totally alien to the NT.”[9]

Ronald Sider, in Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, made a good point. He said, “The early church was able to defy the decadent values of Roman civilization precisely because it experienced the reality of Christian fellowship in a mighty way . . . Christian fellowship meant unconditional availability to and unlimited liability for the other sisters and brothers — emotionally, financially and spiritually. When one member suffered, they all suffered. When one rejoiced, they all rejoiced (1 Cor. 12:26). When a person or church experienced economic trouble, the others shared without reservation. And when a brother or sister fell into sin, the others gently restored the straying person (Mt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5; 2 Cor. 2:5-11; Gal. 6:1-3). The sisters and brothers were available to each other, liable for each other and accountable to each other. The early church, of course, did not always fully live out the New Testament vision of the body of Christ. There were tragic lapses. But the network of tiny house churches scattered throughout the Roman Empire did experience their oneness in Christ so vividly that they were able to defy and eventually conquer a powerful, pagan civilization. The overwhelming majority of churches today, however, do not provide the context in which brothers and sisters can encourage, admonish and disciple each other. We desperately need new settings and structures for watching over one another in love.”[10]

The Proof

The word church (ekklésia) in the New Testament never refers to a building. It fundamentally means assembly, gathering, meeting or congregation. [11] It is clear from Scripture that the early church met in the private homes of its more affluent members.[12] For example Philemon, who was wealthy enough to own a slave, also hosted the church in his home (Phlm 2b). Church hostess Lydia was a prosperous businesswoman who sold expensive purple fabric and could afford servants (Ac 16:14). A church met in the home of Aquila and Priscilla who engaged in the lucrative first century trade of tent making (Ac 18:1-3). Gaius, a man with the means to generously support missionaries (3Jn 1-5), had a home big enough to host the whole church (Ro 16:23). Less well known is the fact that the early church continued this practice of house churches for hundreds of years after the New Testament writings were completed.  What are we to do with the fact that the early church met mostly in homes? 

by Steve Atkerson

Warfare prayer of the soldiers of the Army of Jesus to bind and destroy the works of the devil

Let us bind and destroy the works of the devil in the name of Jesus Christ who has conquered sin, satan, curse and death on the cross

Mark 7:22  The spirit of deceit

We read about a righteous father in Bible who prayed for his sons sincerely.

In danger of the fire of Gehenna 

Job 1:5  It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts.” Job did so continually. 

What are the chances of Job’s sons sinning by cursing God in their heart? Very rare.

This would mean cursing their brethren in their hearts. Because Jesus said,

Mat 25:40  “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 

Mat 5:22  But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna. 

When money, fame, popularity increases, there are chances of underestimating, discriminating, judging others.

Getting up early in the morning and offering praises to God is the best sacrifice one can offer to God! That is the best time to hear from God too!

America's Suicide Crisis: Dying For Lack Of Hope

How bad is America's suicide problem? Well, it's so bad that Americans' overall life expectancy has declined for the first time since the 1930s.

As Aaron Kheriaty writes in First Things, the suicide crisis in America has reached epidemic proportions. Rates are growing coast to coast, in rural and urban areas, among the poor and the rich, the young and the old. What in the world is going on, and what do we do about it?

In his article, Kheriaty, director of the Medical Ethics Program at Cal-Irvine, describes a witch's brew of factors behind this epidemic of death--ones we've talked about for years on BreakPoint: social fragmentation, an overall decrease in religious involvement, utilitarianism, and--yes--the growth of assisted suicide laws.

But in the end, Kheriaty boils the problem down to one word: Despair. Despair, as in the utter lack of hope.

In 1995, Robert Putnam first raised a red flag in an essay and subsequent book, "Bowling Alone." He noticed that while more Americans than ever before were bowling, the number of bowling leagues was declining. Folks were bowling alone. 

Similarly, fewer Americans were attending school board or town meetings, volunteering, or even getting together with their neighbors.

And this was long before the isolating effects of internet, social media and cell phones. I doubt that back then Putnam could have imagined a family of 4--mom, dad, sister, and brother--out to dinner together but each one staring into their own mobile devices. But you've seen it, and so have I.

This isolation breeds loneliness. And loneliness can be a major factor behind depression, which in turn can set people on the road to self-annihilation. 

Now, Kheriaty notes that clinical depression can and does have chemical causes as well, but, as he writes, "Your serotonin and dopamine levels may be out of kilter, but you may still have a problem with your Tinder compulsion and dinners alone in front of the television."

So while depression can be a serious mental illness that needs medical and psychological treatment, aloneness is curable. And that's exactly where the Church should be jumping up and down, waving its arms saying, "Come here! Come here! Join us!"

"We now have a sizeable body of medical research," Kheriaty continues, "which suggests that prayer, religious faith, participation in a religious community, and practices like cultivating gratitude, forgiveness, and other virtues can reduce the risk of depression [and], lower the risk of suicide."

One study of 89,000 people showed that those "who attend any religious service once a week or more were five times less likely to commit suicide" than those who don't. 

Obviously, church--or for that matter, synagogue or mosque--attendance reduces isolation. And of course, all three Abrahamic faiths "have strong moral prohibitions against suicide." 

But in the end, what religious faith provides is meaning, belonging, and ultimately hope for something beyond us or our circumstances and our self-isolation.

"Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden," Jesus says, "and I will give you rest." We, my friends, need to bring people to Jesus.

Chuck Colson liked to say that Christianity offers the world a great proposal--a better way to live and flourish--an invitation to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

We have the invitations . . . are we passing them out?

- BY PNW STAFF

State Government in India Passes Anti-Conversion Bill Despite Widespread Opposition

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that the Jharkhand Assembly, a state legislative body in northeastern India, passed the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Bill-2017, also known as "Jharkhand Dharma Swatantra Adhiniyam," on Saturday, August 12. The bill will now be sent to the governor, following whose approval it would go to the president for final assent. The bill was passed by the BJP-led government despite significant opposition from religious groups, civil society, and the tribal groups across Jharkhand. 

"This is very unfortunate for the people of Jharkhand," Rev. Dr. Man Maish Ekka, a member of the Jharkhand Sadbhavana Munch, a local religious freedom forum, told ICC. "This is not just an attack on Christians, but is an attack on the religious freedom that the constitution gives to very citizens of this country. The motive of the bill is to divide the tribal people and break their unity."

"[These] anti-conversion laws, ironically titled freedom of religion laws, are actually aimed at taking away the freedom of religion and rights of tribal and other marginalized sections of the Indian society," Rev. Vijayesh Lal, General Secretary Evangelical Fellowship of India, stated in a press statement.

Section 3 of the law states, "No person shall attempt to convert, either directly or otherwise, any person from one religious faith to another by use of force or by allurement or by any fraudulent means, nor shall any person abet any such conversion." Punishment under this bill would include imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of 50,000 Rupees, or both. In cases where a minor, a woman, or a person from the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe communities were involved, the prison sentence would increase to four years and the fine to 100,000 Rupees.

Although similar laws exist in six other states in India, those governments have not defined the terms "inducement," "coercion," "force," or "fraud" in the context of religious conversions. Due to this legal ambiguity, these laws have been widely abused by radical Hindu nationalist groups to harass and intimidate Christians while claiming to be under the auspices of state law. 

"The anti-conversion law will ruin the lives and the witness of the church," a local pastor in Ranchi, who wished to remain anonymous, told ICC. "The BJP, having the power both at the national level and the state, wants to implement its Hindutva ideology. This bill will further divide the people of Jharkhand, particularly divide the tribal people who lived in unity for ages."

William Stark, ICC's Regional Manager, said, "We here at International Christian Concern are deeply disappointed to see another state in India pass an anti-conversion law, especially in the face of so much local opposition. These laws are widely abused by Hindu radicals due to the legal ambiguity within the laws themselves. Often, these laws provide an easy excuse for radicals to attack Christian leaders with impunity. One simply needs to claim the pastor was forcefully converting an individual following an assault. As a result, instead of the pastor's assailants being arrested, it's the assailed pastor who is arrested by police following an attack. With attacks on Christians skyrocketing, the adoption of a law that would only incite more violence seems to be another step away from India enforcing religious freedom for all."

Herdsmen in Plateau State, Nigeria Quietly Seizing Christians' Property, Pastors Say

Muslim Fulani herdsmen attacks on predominantly Christian Berom farmers in Plateau state, Nigeria amount to “economic terrorism,” Christian leaders told Morning Star News. While Plateau state officials say “relative peace” prevails, Christian leaders point to herdsmen attacks in the past eight months that saw 18 Christians injured and two villages seized. Whether the “peace” is said to be relative to violence in northern neighbor Kaduna state, where attacks are so prevalent that officials dictated a news blackout, or with Plateau state flare-ups of past decades in which thousands died, Christian leaders told Morning Star News that attacks by Muslim Fulani herdsmen since December have quietly continued.

A pastor and his 5-year-old son were injured in May, four Christian women were raped, 12 Christians were injured and two communities displaced in attacks on 17 villages in the Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas, said Christian leaders Choji Chuwang, Jatau Gyang, and Da Jelkyes. Chuwang said all those affected were members of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) and Assemblies of God.

“As we gleefully wallow in the false sense of peace on the Plateau, know it today that a deliberate economic terrorism and land-grabbing strategy is being launched on Christians of Riyom and Barkin Ladi on a daily basis with the sole aim of making them poor, weak and destitute in their own land,” he said.

Management Committee Chairman of Riyom Local Government of Plateau State Mafeng Gwalson told media in May that the area was enjoying relative peace because the relationship between the security operatives and the citizens had been strengthened. Pastor David Dalyop of the Assemblies of God and his 5-year-old son were wounded when Muslim Fulani herdsmen attacked Gana Ropp, Barkin Ladi LGA, the night of May 25, Chuwang said. In Jol, Riyom LGA, Fulani assailants on March 17 stoned secondary school students, injuring 14-year-old Nehemiah David. When security personnel intercepted the attackers’ cows, Chuwang said, “there were sporadic gunshots into homes of our people. This left them panicking.”

Two Fulani herdsmen on June 6 assaulted and raped a Christian woman (name withheld) in Dayan Rim, Riyom LGA, then tied her to a tree from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m., he said. Later apprehended, the Fulani herders admitted they had raped her and tied her to a tree. Later that night, Fulani herdsmen invaded Lwa community of Riyom LGA and removed the roofs of all the houses while Christians there were away from their homes at a wake. In the past eight months, Fulani herders have attacked eight Christian women, he said: Tanitha Luka, Rifkatu Emmanuel Pam, Victoria Monday, and one identified only her surname, Maichibi. The identities of four other women were not disclosed because they were raped by the herdsmen, he said.

On July 2, Fulani herdsmen ambushed and attacked Christian women returning from a mining site, injuring many of them, he said. On July 7, Fulani pastoralists grazed their cows on maize farms of Christian villagers of Rim community, Riyom LGA, at night, destroying about six hectares of farmland. On the evening of June 17, when inhabitants had returned home, herdsmen grazed their cattle on the farmland of Gyang Yarima and Davou Mwagwong, both of Vwak hamlet in Jol, Chuwang said. The next night, the herdsmen destroyed the maize crops of Joshua Peter of Dajol hamlet, Jol, he said. On June 28, Fulani herdsmen ambushed Christian villagers of Jol who were returning from mining, seriously wounding five of them.

A heated argument on May 1 between Fulani leaders and Solomon Mandiks resulted in an altercation at the Riyom police station; Mandiks had been petitioning against the forceful occupation of lands sacked by the herdsmen. On May 8, Chuwang said, a Fulani man had threatened Mandiks, saying that his days were numbered as Fulanis had just met in Gwav and decided that he should be “silenced” for petitioning their “rightful claim” to lands they have seized. On May 9, Fulani herders attacked and seriously injured Gyang Dambwarang for raising his voice when they grazed their cows into his compound, Chuwang said.

On May 19, Fulani herdsmen attacked three Christians on the Rafin-Acha to Tanjol road, fatally injuring David Yakubu. “They ran away and their cows were apprehended and handed over to security operatives,” Chuwang said. The cows were released to the owner that night “on the excuse that the owner of the cows showed some scratches to his hand, saying that he was also attacked,” he said. On May 17, the head of Darin, in Jol, was attacked by Fulani herders, who left him in a coma, apparently thinking he was dead, he said.

In Werreng Rim, Davou Joro Mangai was attacked on April 4 and seriously injured by suspected Islamic terrorists and/or Fulani herdsmen, who cut down cactus trees that Christians used as a fence around their houses, and grazed their cattle on their lands. Two of the Fulani attackers were apprehended and handed over to Riyom police, Chuwang said. 

“On March 9, Fulani herdsmen mowed down the banana farms of our people of Lwa community of Bachit District in Riyom LGA,” Chuwang said. On Feb. 20, Fulanis erected massive and settlements on the Tagabos area of Sho community, which had been sacked by overnight raids “in a definite statement of occupation,” Chuwang said.

“On Feb. 28, Fulani herdsmen, in a lame excuse of searching for a cow, terrorized inhabitants of Tanjol hamlets with sporadic gunshots,” he said. “Christian inhabitants said it was a ploy to know if any of the villagers would return shots too, so that in an eventual attack, they would know which house to target first.” On Jan. 18, Islamic extremists attacked and injured a Jol woman, Rifkatu Emmanuel Pam, he said. Also in Jol on the morning of Jan. 28, Fulani herdsmen tried to kidnap Dachung Maichibi, his wife and son in the Darin area. Later that night, they destroyed mud blocks molded by Internally Displaced People of Zim community in Ropp District of Barkin Ladi LGA, along with those of Jol who were trying to rebuild their razed houses, he said.

“On Jan. 20, Fulani herdsmen attacked our women on their farms at Mere hamlet of Rahoss Community in Riyom LGA, injuring one Mrs. Victoria Monday as others escaped,” he said. One Dec. 8, 2016, Fulani herdsmen set ablaze piles of freshly harvested millet and beans belonging to the people of Nachur and Sopp communities, he said. On Dec. 9, Fulani herders attacked children at Kum of Byei community; Tabitha Lula of Werreng escaped after she was nearly killed, he said.

On the evening of Dec. 18, Fulani herdsmen led their cows to graze on the cabbage farm of Christians. They were apprehended, and the cattle of one of the herders, Musa Shuaibu of Rankum community (renamed Mahanga by the Fulani), were handed over to security agents, Chuwang said. These encroachments and attacks should not be ignored, he said. “If this doesn’t disturb us collectively as Plateau people, then let’s keep playing the ostrich as they forcefully take Plateau state inch by inch, day by day,” Chuwang said. Predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen have launched numerous attacks on Christians in northern and central Nigeria. Christians make up 51.3 percent of Nigeria’s population, while Muslims living primarily in the north and middle belt account for 45 percent. Nigeria ranks 12th on Open Doors’ World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most persecution.

Cuban Pastor is Released from Jail but Kept under House Arrest

A Cuban pastor who was put in jail for homeschooling his children will be allowed to continue his ministry work but under house arrest, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

Pastor Ramon Rigal, of the Church of God in Cuba, was told Tuesday in court that he could resume his work.

Rigal and his wife, Adya, were both arrested in February for refusing to send their children to a state-run school. The couple had said that the school was teaching a Marxist-Leninist secular ideology that challenged their Christian beliefs.

"I brought evidence that my children were learning — notebooks and materials — [but] they didn't care," Rigal was quoted as saying.

In April, Rigal was sentenced to one year in prison and Adya was sentenced to one year of house arrest.

In July, Rigal’s sentence was reduced to house arrest, but he had to also enroll his children in state school when school started in September. The July sentencing also said he was barred from serving as a church leader.

The new ruling means that Rigal can continue his work as a church leader, but he still remains under house arrest. His children have also been given scholarships to attend an online course through a Christian institution.

"While we welcome the news that Pastor Rigal will be able to continue leading his church, he and his wife are still under house arrest," CSW senior advocate Anna Lee Stangl said a statement.

“We continue to call for the unwarranted sentences that he and his wife received to be cancelled and for the government to cease its harassment of the family and their church."

For Impoverished Christians and Muslims in India, Aug. 10 is a ‘Black Day’

Although the caste system has been politically outlawed in India, it is so ingrained in Indian society that it is often adhered to still.

Hinduism is the dominant religion in India, so members of other religions, specifically Christians and Muslims, are often at a disadvantage. Most of India’s Christians and Muslims are part of the lowest caste. This caste, to which 70 percent of Christians belong, is known as the Dalit caste.

Dalits face discrimination and sometimes even violence.

Today, August 10, marks a particularly sad day for Dalits, according to Christian Today. On this day 67 years ago, a presidential order was signed by India’s first president, Rajendra Prasad, that stated, “no person who professes a religion different from the Hindu religion shall be deemed to be a member of a Scheduled Caste.”

Dalit Christians and Muslims have come to view this day as a “Black Day” because of this presidential order.

Activists have also marked this day as an opportunity to raise awareness and bring about social change. Rallies, meetings, and vigils have been held, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has called on campaigners to wear black badges to raise awareness of the Dalits’ plight.

The most Rev. Dr. A. Neethinathan, Bishop of Chingleput, wrote that August 10, the “Black Day” is “an opportunity for Christians to commit themselves to root out casteism and discrimination from within the Church. All of us acknowledge and even assert that caste discrimination and untouchability are against the fundamental tenets of Christianity.”

Christian Convert Released from Prison in Iran after 4 Years

 A Christian convert from Islam has been released from prison in Iran where she had been held for four years.

Mission Network News reports that Maryam Nagash Zargaran was charged with being a danger to national security and imprisoned four years ago. She was kept in Iran’s Evin Prison, which is known for its harsh conditions. This was the same prison where Saeed Abedini was kept. A spokesperson for Global Catalytic Ministries commented on the prison’s abysmal conditions:

“Historically when people have come out of that particular prison, it literally takes them months to recover physically — partly due to torture and beatings, but also because of just the lack of sanitary conditions and then the food, etc. It’s a tough place to come out of.”

Zargaran was in poor health before being imprisoned, but now that she has been released, her physical ailments are revealed to be even worse. She was reportedly beaten in the prison--once until her leg was broken. She also has suffered mentally.

In addition to these hardships, Zargaran engaged in hunger strikes to protest her unjust imprisonment.

Another spokesperson for GCM said that Zargaran’s case, although horrific, is unfortunately not unique. Christians in Iran often suffer persecution in the forms of discrimination, torture, imprisonment, and sometimes death.

Warfare prayer of the soldiers of the Army of Jesus to bind and destroy the works of the devil

Let us bind and destroy the works of the devil in the name of Jesus Christ who has conquered sin, satan, curse and death on the cross

Mark 7:22  The spirit of eagerness for lustful pleasure

Anything more than that

While travelling in train,  I have seen people who can talk incessantly from morning till evening. No doubt, it’s a special talent. When we read the following passage,  we may wonder whether we have to think twice before we speak a word.

“Instead, let your message be 'Yes' for 'Yes' and 'No' for 'No.' Anything more than that comes from the evil one." Mat 5:37 

This does not mean to limit your words to  yes or no.

Jesus here speaks about  the decisions you have to take yourself. In our daily  life we have to take decisions every moment. Any time,  we are speaking to  ourselves 

Yes

No

If you refuse to say either of the above, or  even if you delay a little while,  you will be carried  away by others or by circumstances and will become a victim of other’s decisions.  

Your life is the result of the decisions you have taken so far.

You said “yes” to

Your studies, subject you selected in studies

The dress you wear now

The hairstyle you are having

The vehicle you own

The wife/husband you have today

Accept Jesus as your personal saviour

Can you think of the times you said “yes” to the above.

Have you delayed in taking decisions for yourself, were you afraid or any time did not  want  to say “Yes” or “No”  to yourself regarding studies, marriage, job, choosing life partner, choosing place of settling down etc etc.

Result?

Others would have decided them  for you.  You allowed somebody else to take decisions for you

Regarding marriage, studies, buying a house, choosing a place for settling down, selecting job,  profession, friends, a Church?

Jesus said, whatever decisions you take in life by saying, “yes”, you hold yourself responsible and you will reap the results.  

“Go and do likewise” (continued)

Leaving him half dead

The thieves left him half dead. Jesus told about the physical condition. But this applies to the spiritual life also. Many believers are spiritually dead or half dead today. They have lost the liberty to exercise the gift of healing, deliverance etc. They are not able to prophesy. Even the very concept is misunderstood as  only predicting the future. So much of ignorance and misinterpretation about the gift of prophecy (Acts 2:17) prevails even among the believers. Jesus said,

“I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”. (Jn 10:10)

Many of the believers are not able to enjoy this abundant life themselves or impart it to others. The reason is that they are bound in a traditional set up of “Institutional Church” and do not allow themselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Rom 8:14.

In this dead/half dead situation, the Good Samaritan,

1. Set him on his own animal (34)
2. Brought him to an inn(34)
3. Took care of him (34)

Going on the next day, he gave two denarii to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. And whatever more you spend, when I come again I will repay you’.

He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 

Luk 10:35  And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 

He wanted to take full responsibility of the man who fell among robbers. Perhaps he had cancelled some of his programmes for the sake of that man.

Let us reflect over this.

To how many people have I been a Good Samaritan? How many opportunities have I lost ?

Let us repent and turn to God.

School Officials Declare Playgrounds 'No-Jesus' Zones

A summit meeting has been called, likely as early as next week, to address a backlash after bureaucrats in an Australian state declared their public-school playgrounds "no Jesus" zones.

"It is hard to understand what is so dangerous about Jesus that the Queensland government has to ban children from talking about him, even at Christmas time," said Wendy Francis, the Queensland director for the Australian Christian Lobby.

"Are they worried kids will start living out the values of the Sermon on the Mount?" she asked, urging Education Minister Kate Jones to rescind the new pronouncement.

Jones' comments were reported by the Christian charity Barnabas Fund, which said she now is seeking a meeting of her education agency committee to discuss the issue.

The Australian reported principals have been warned about unacceptable actions such as making beaded bracelets or necklaces with a Christian message to give away. Devising a poem, song or drama to communicate the gospel. Making a speech at a school assembly about something that matters to God. Passing around leaflets advertising church events."

The Australian Christian Lobby said it wants the issue cleared up.

Francis noted that while Jones was quoted saying children were free to speak as they wished, "departmental directives in government reports telling principals to crack down on kids talking about Jesus have not been rescinded."

"It is hard to understand what these unelected bureaucrats fear from children talking about Jesus, exchanging Christmas cards with nativity scenes and with Christmas decorations featuring angels."

Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert and Nina Shea have collaborated to create "Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians," which confirms that groups such as Pew Research, Newsweek and The Economist also identify Christians as "the world's most widely persecuted religious group."

- BY PNW STAFF

Warfare prayer of the soldiers of the Army of Jesus to bind and destroy the works of the devil

Let us bind and destroy the works of the devil in the name of Jesus Christ who has conquered sin, satan, curse and death on the cross

Pro  22:16  The spirit in one which oppresses the poor to increase his riches

In an honest and good heart

Last week  I  attended a night prayer. The participants were divided into groups and each group stood in circle and prayed for every member. In our group there was a young girl who shared a vision or revelation which she received for every member while praying and it was very accurate. She accepted Jesus only 2 months ago. She was a heart patient. Jesus healed her completely and gave her an anointing of seeing visions and revelations.

It was a shocking surprise for the traditional believers in that group. She heard the word of God only two months back but is producing 100% result. How is it possible? We are living among believers who for years are yearning for a single vision and to hear the voice of God at least once! Here is the answer!

Luk 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. 

Heart is the issue! In what kind of heart are you receiving the word of God is all that matters.

How many years you are hearing the Word of God,

How old a Christian or believer you are!

How much you have donated for building Churches, buying property for Churches

Are not that  matters!

How good and honest a  heart you have in which you store up the word is that matters!

That is why Solomon said:

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”. Pro 4:23 

 Heart is the vessel in which we receive all the blessings from God. If it is impure and not clean the stored up substance get decomposed or decayed May the Lord help us to keep our hearts clean and holy amid all the trials and tribulations we face in everyday life!

Warfare prayer of the soldiers of the Army of Jesus to bind and destroy the works of the devil

Let us bind and destroy the works of the devil in the name of Jesus Christ who has conquered sin, satan, curse and death on the cross

Pro  18:1  The spirit in a  man who isolates himself and  seeks his own desire

Cloud received him

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight”. Act 1:9

The Lord will send clouds over you sometimes to cover you with His glory, sometimes to cover you from his enemies. When Jesus finished His ministry in this world successfully, He was taken into the clouds and to the Father’s Kingdom. While being in this world itself, one can be taken away into clouds, i.e. covered by the presence of the Lord.  When the Lord uses you as a prophet  to speak  for Him, (Eze 3:25)  He might take you away from the  usual place, your companies, accustomed situation, friends,  job,  ministry etc. Sometimes it might be for your  safety, (Eze 3:26 ) sometimes as a sign, (Eze. 3:25,26 ) sometimes to talk more about His business  Ex. 34:2,3 etc.

He will send a cloud. It will receive you. One such incident happened  in India  in 2006. A cloud took a person away from the  sight of human beings, to be with the  Lord for 3 months. (Sep 12-Dec 12, 2006) The Lord revealed about what is going to happen to India in 14 years. 2007-2013 will be years of abundance and 2014-2020 will be years of famine. After that India will become a Liberated Nation.  After dictating everything that is going to happen in this land India, the Lord sent that person  to the  real world to the  "so called Churches" to condemn them & to give them a  warning. Now 11 years have passed by. 

30.11.2006 - First warning

2010 - Declaration of 4 years  Emergency to the  Churches

19.8.2013 - 2nd warning

27.10.2014 - 3rd warning

10.10. 2015 -  Rejection of Institutional Churches by the Lord.

Thank you Lord.

Al-Shabaab Militants Kill Seven Christian Men in Eastern Kenya

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that in early July, al-Shabaab militants led a series of attacks in Kenya's Lamu County. Between July 5 and July 8 2017, militants raided three villages, Pandanguo, Jima, and Poromoko, killing three police officers as well as seven Christian men: Said Mbigo, Matei Mlatia, Peter Mburu, Teresio Munyi, Mwangangi Muneni, Katana Karisa Chai, and Musyoka Maithya.

On July 5, over 200 militants raided Pandanguo village in Lamu County, killing three police officers posted at the Pandanguo police station, looting homes and the local dispensary. On July 8, 15 of the militants returned and attacked the nearby villages of Jima and Poromoko.

According to locals contacted by ICC, the militants went door to door in Jima and Poromoko, killing seven Christian men. Schools in the three villages were closed and Christian families have evacuated to a church in Witu town.

"The attackers have been targeting Christians living in Lamu County especially farmers in the interior areas where small-scale agriculture thrives," Pastor Henry Divayo, head pastor of the church in Witu town, told ICC. "[The militants in Jima] were asking the villagers to produce their identification cards and if you were found to be a Christian you would be shot or slaughtered."

"Victims have been evacuated to camps where food and security is provided by [the] government and the Kenya Red Cross," Divayo said. "We are hosting more than 200 people in our church and we expect the number to increase as more families are evacuated from Boni Forest."

Christian Missionary Recounts Ordeal of Being Imprisoned with Brutal ISIS Militants

A Czech national who was captured and imprisoned with brutal ISIS militants recently shared the story of his harrowing ordeal and how God gave Him strength and renewed his purpose.

CBN News reports that Petr Jasek grew up in Czechoslovakia under Communist rule. As a child, his parents were persecuted for their faith. As an adult, Petr followed God’s call to serve with Voice of the Martyrs in Sudan.

While there, Petr was arrested and charged with being a spy. He was given a 20-year prison sentence and imprisoned with ISIS extremists.

Petr was subjected to beatings and name-calling from the extremists, but God gave him the strength to stand by his faith.

After a few months of being imprisoned, Petr began to realize that God still had a plan and was making good come out of this horrific situation.

He ended up leading some fellow prisoners to Christ. “And I suddenly started to realize that there is a purpose, the Lord has a purpose for me to be in prison to share the Gospel with those people," Petr explained.

After 14 months of being in prison, Petr was released. He credits the Czech government for negotiating his release, and also expressed gratitude to the many believers who prayed for him.

"When you come through this situation you realize that everything you have is the grace of God and it is on His strength that it is in prison, it is not your own strength that you can survive. Being humble and being faithful to the last moment, this is the moment when we can be more than conquerors when we go through difficult situations because of our faith in Jesus Christ," Petr said.

Persecuted Christians Face One Trial after Another in Refugee Camps

A Christian charity in London is asking the Greek government to change a policy that is keeping homeless Christian refugees who fled to Lesbos from being able to apply for asylum with the United Nations.

The British Pakistani Christian Association wrote to the U.N. and Green officials, saying that Pakistani Christian refugees fled from the U.N. Moria camp and Lesbos island because Muslims persecuted them inside the camp.

China Releases Christian Human Rights Activist from Prison

A prominent human rights lawyer has been released by the Chinese government after he completed a four-year prison sentence.

The Christian Post reports that Xu Zhiyong was detained in 2013 and convicted of “gathering a crowd to disturb public order.”

Xu had refused to defend himself at his trial, maintaining that the whole event had been rigged. Instead, he gave an impassioned speech:

"Freedom, justice, and love, these are our core values and what guides us in action," he said in the speech. "You may find my ideas too far-out, too unrealistic, but I believe in the power of faith, and in the power of the truth, compassion and beauty that exists in the depths of the human soul, just as I believe human civilization is advancing mightily like a tide."

Although Xu has been released, his supporters and other human rights activists fear that the Chinese government will continue to keep him under close surveillance.

U.K. Gov't Demands 'Queer Theology' In Christian Seminaries

An executive agency of the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued a report recommending that seminaries include "queer theology" in their courses and that even Sunday schools teach "LGBTI beliefs."The stunning document, released by Wilton Park, an agency of the Foreign Office, also recommends that the Bible be reinterpreted "to make it compatible with LGBTI ideology."

The Barnabas Fund, an organization that supports persecuted Christians worldwide, was surprised and more than a little worried.

"The recommendations, if implemented, would massively reverse freedom of religion across the globe," the group said.

"Once it is accepted that any ideology can be imposed on those who hold conscientious disagreement with it, a very significant backward step has been taken both in relation to i) Freedom of Religion or Belief and ii) human rights generally."

The anti-Christian bias in the report is obvious, Barnabas Fund said.

- BY PNW STAFF

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