No Shifting Shadow

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” ~ John 3:8

I am a native Floridian and I have been through many hurricanes, but 2004 was by far the most active hurricane season I have ever experienced in my life. Although I am originally from Port Charlotte (a town in the southwest), I was living in Tampa Bay at the time.

In August we watched with nervous curiosity as a tropical storm off the coast of Africa began to gain strength and started barreling toward us. By the time it swept down into the Gulf of Mexico it was a full-blown hurricane with winds topping 100 miles per hour. All of the weather forecasts predicted that it would make landfall in Tampa Bay….(Continued)

In Matthew 21, we read the parable of the landlord who sent messengers to his rebellious property manager. They beat ONE. They killed ANOTHER. They stoned ANOTHER. AGAIN he sent servants MORE than at first and last of all he sent his very own son whom they also killed. In the end that rebellious manager was destroyed and it is often that part of the story that most people are drawn to. But what jumps out at me is the incredible persistence and amazing patience of the landlord.

Since the beginning of time, God has pursued humanity with unrelenting, persistent and relentless grace. He has been shunned, kicked, mocked, blasphemed, insulted, cursed, hated and offended and yet, He comes back again extending mercy and space to repent. For thousands of years, God sent the prophets to Israel with warning after warning; calling them back to the God with whom they had covenanted….(Continued)

Just a few days ago we held a mass Gospel Campaign in the city of Numan, Nigeria. Over the course of 5 days more than 800,000 people attended the meetings and 557,860 decisions cards were registered from those professing their newfound faith in Christ. You can read the reports from each of the nights below:

As usual, I am posting some interesting pictures that you would not have seen in the normal reports and publications to give you a fascinating “behind the scenes” insight. Enjoy….

“This is a picture of me taking a picture of the coolest instrument ever (see the picture from my camera below)”

“Imagine walking into your room on an EXTREMELY hot day to discover that this is your air conditioner”

#5. If Something Sounds Too Good to be True it Probably Is

Have you ever been sucked into a get-rich-quick scheme that turned out to be a scam or thought you were getting the deal of a lifetime only to discover it was all a hoax? If so you have probably learned the hard way what the old adage declares; “If something seems to good to be true, it probably is”. But some have made the terrible mistake of applying this maxim to the Gospel. One gentleman explained that he felt the Christian way of salvation is too easy and anything so easy could not possibly be true. But his confusion was evidence that he had completely misunderstood the Gospel.

I recently saw a documentary on Dateline NBC about a man who was kidnapped for ransom in Mexico by a group of anonymous criminals. He was stripped naked and stuffed into a small box where he was hardly able to move. There in that box he lay helpless and hopeless for more than 200 days waiting for redemption….(Continued)

#3. Don’t Put All Your Eggs In One Basket

This is an adage that rings true in many aspects of life. For example, in the financial world, a counselor would encourage you to “diversify” your investments, because if you were to put all of your proverbial “eggs” in a single basket and that basket happened to break, you would loose everything.

This adage also happens to be one of the devil’s favorites. He advises many people to diversify their lives into many different hands. God’s “basket” is just one of the many choices. There is also the doctor’s basket, the lawyer’s basket, the psychologist’s basket, the basket of education, the basket of relationships, the basket of religion and the basket of occupation. The Devil doesn’t mind if we go to church on Sunday morning so long as we don’t put too many eggs in God’s basket….(Continued)

#2. God Helps Those that Help Themselves

This adage was suggested by “Peter” yesterday in the comment section of the first part of this series. Help me build the list by suggesting similar adages for the series.

I have often heard people say, “God helps those that help themselves”, but scripture teaches the opposite. Jesus said, “…they that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Jesus came for the ones that could not help themselves and it is the same today.

My family and I live in Orlando; a city famous for Disney World and Mickey Mouse. My son, who was four years old at the time, desperately wanted to go to Disney and was begging me to take him. I explained that it cost money and he told me with great confidence, “I have money dad.” ….(Continued)

I was visiting a church recently and a gentleman got up to make some announcements. During the course of his speech he went on to quote a passage from Scripture that I still haven’t been able to find. “Like it says in the Bible”, he declared, “Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes”. Now I think this is good advice (especially since by the time you judge him you will be a mile away and have his shoes) but I’m quite sure that it is not in the Bible.

Have you ever noticed that when a phrase becomes a familiar adage or has a proverbial ring to it, somehow it seems like it must be true or even scriptural? But just because something sounds true doesn’t make it so.

This morning I was just thinking about some old adages that the Devil must love. Over the next few days I will list a few that I think must be his favorites. Maybe you can help me add to the list….(continued)

Ministry today is often viewed as a profession, a career and an occupation. We have been reminded quite often that “the laborer is worthy of his hire” (Luke 10:7) and that we should not muzzle the ox when he is working (Deut 25:4). When I preach about the call of God into the ministry, the first thing that most people think of is a paid position and the first question that they have is about financial support. It seems that most people automatically connect ministry with a paying full-time job and I wonder sometimes how much interest there would be if there were no possibility of financial reward.

When Malachi was sent by God to Jerusalem shortly after the temple had been rebuilt, he was appalled by the apathy of the people and especially of the “clergy”. He made the observation that the priest seemed to be motivated by what they could get out of their service rather than by sincere love for God and a desire to build His Kingdom. “Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nothing?” he asks. “Neither do you kindle fire on my altar for nothing. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts; neither will I accept an offering at your hand.” (Mal 1:10)……(Continued)

Click HERE to read the article at Charisma News Online
http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/news/26349-evangelistic-crusade-draws-800000-in-nigeria-

Dear Partners in the Harvest,

We have just received the news: last week, during the 5 days of meetings of our Gospel Campaign in Numan, Nigeria 557,860 people registered decisions for Jesus Christ.

We are rejoicing and praising the Lord for such a fruitful campaign. Thank you for partnering with us and with the Lord of the harvest. We are co-laborers together with him for the sake of millions of souls.
We return to Nigeria in less than 3-weeks. Please continue to support us with your prayers and finances as you are able.

Evangelists Reinhard Bonnke & Daniel Kolenda