Prayer Requests

Today's Prayer Requests

Tausha Miller |  would like prayer for my daughter Lauren whom is out on the streets suffering with addiction, afflictions such as mental illness . Please pray that we hear from her and that the Lord lifts her up and out of the mess she is in and sets her feet on a rock and the same prayer goes for my cousin kamone. ease pray that God continues to heal me sensory and short term memory and empowers me and blesses ,me to complete all tasks/jobs that he has called and allowed me to do. In Jesus name amen. Also my grandmother Ann's legs have been swelling and she need supernatural release of all the fluid in her legs and a relief from a painful lump in her shoulder. Please pray for all of our health. Thank you and God bless. I'd like to pray for the salvation of everyone I work with. amen


VERA BANKSTON-JONES | FATHER GOD, GUIDE MY DESTINCTION AND PATHS!.......SELAH

vijay aggarwal | Plz pray for money in abundance for a comfortable life

Michelle Celillo |  Praying for peace and to sell our home as we make our final move. God bless. Thank you.

Jews Speak Up For Christians

 A relatively new sensation has appeared on the Middle East scene by means of Jews standing up for persecuted Christians.

It’s an honest wonder, considering the outrageous history of Jewish persecution at the hands of the ‘church’ throughout the centuries. But it is also inevitably a warm reaction to the growing worldwide support for Israel among Christian people, particularly in Africa.

Thereby, keen to build upon this expanding friendship, the Israeli government has recently hosted an unprecedented media summit in Jerusalem for Christian journalists from around the globe.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the opportunity to speak up for embattled Christians in Iran and neighboring Syria. “Christians today are generally lashed for sipping wine during prayer services,” he said, “brutally tortured for doing nothing rather than practicing their faith. Some world leaders are likely to ignore this oppression and appear to appease Iran, but I am not one of them.”

Yes, even majority of the Western church is silent over the issue, apparently indifferent to their suffering.

Canon Andrew White, referred to as ‘Vicar of Baghdad’ and also speaking in Jerusalem, asked why, adding: “Here we see Jews standing with us, but where is the Church?”

White saw most of his large congregation murdered during the crisis that followed the invasion of Iraq, and countless Christians have been compelled to flee in the face of the Islamic State advance.

Will this weak reaction to the plight of persecuted Christians reflect the flabbiness of our faith? Do we simply fail to comprehend what it must be like because we are so comfortable and therefore not able to recognize what suffering for Christ means? Generally, we are not even prepared to defend what we believe - for the gospel and also the truth of the Bible - if perhaps we should be charged with ‘hate speech’ or ‘homophobia’.

Although some indeed have spoken out and paid dearly for it, the rest of us are generally fearful into silence as we retreat into our holy huddles. However, if we can’t stand reduced heat now, in what way will we fare once the temperatures are turned up and we are called to experience the sort of persecution Jesus predicted for his followers?

“Be alert,” he warned. “You will probably be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues…You will probably be hated by everyone because of me, however, the anyone that stands strong to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10. 17, 22) Many Christians remained quiet while Jews were taken away to the gas chambers and, although now a little bit more secure in their very own state, they are still in very serious danger, and therefore we mustn’t neglect them this time around. Nevertheless, they are ready to help us! 

It’s moment to forsake cowardice and accept the kind of bravery which Christians in some regions of the world are having to exhibit in bucketloads. Consider the believers in Iran, for instance, where Mr. Netanyahu drew the media’s attention. Regardless of the danger of following Jesus there, 20 Iranian Christians recently nailed their colors to the mast in a mass baptism. “I’ve been anticipating this moment for nearly nine years,” said one convert. “This was my wish before I die,” said another. Christianity is expanding thereby extreme measures amid reports of Muslims encountering Jesus through dreams and visions. “We have actually been praying for a long time that Iranian people believe in Yeshua (Hebrew for Jesus) and get baptized. Now this dream is coming true,” said a convert whose brother was murdered for his faith in 1994.

Yet another tremendously high-risk country to be a Christian is in North Korea, where believers are practically gathering in holes in the ground, much like the faith heroes of old had done according to Hebrews 11.38.

A missionary friend of mine occasionally travels to some part of Africa that is certainly equally dangerous, infested since it is by the Al Shabaab terror organization. Due to this fact, some Christians are forced to sleep in the forest! But my friend was resolute to bring comfort directly to them with his inspiring teaching skills, so he made his way there despite Foreign Office warnings avoiding the region, and the fact he was not able to even be protected by travel insurance for that part of his journey. In addition to that, he nearly died from being infected he picked up on his last trip to the area!

That takes bravery, but he said it was worth it just to see the sheer joy on the faces of his brothers so happy and encouraged by his visit.

I conclude with the heartwarming story of Israeli tennis player Dudi Sela who, due to the courage of his religious convictions, declined the possibility of reaching the semi-finals of an ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Tour event. Just eight minutes into the deciding set, he realized it was almost sunset, which marked the beginning of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (the holiest day of the year for Jews). So the 32-year-old informed the umpire of his decision to retire and left the court.

The match was originally scheduled for Yom Kippur itself (i.e. the next day) but was changed to commence ahead of the fast following demand from Israeli tennis officials. Unfortunately for Dudi (ranked 77 in the world), his quarter-final clash went to three sets and couldn’t be finished in time.

The Day of Atonement, when Jews seek forgiveness for sins committed throughout the last year, is finally fulfilled by the coming of Yeshua, their Messiah, who atoned for our sins through his death on the cross as the perfect Lamb of God. (Isaiah 53.6; 1 John 2.2)

SOURCE

The Book of Acts: Small Group Study Review

The Acts of the Apostles; Study Guide Summary

Through small group study at my local church (Life Church), we've recently concluded the study on "The Acts of the Apostles" using Acts (N.T. Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guides).

ACTS by N. T. Wright

Introduction 

The Acts of the Apostles is an exceptional piece, hence its an important book of the New Testament. It alone offers an intensive view of early church life and history.The book focuses on the acts of two apostles, Peter and Paul. And it also provides the continuation “of everything Jesus began both to do and teach” (1:1).

It provides the acts Jesus achieved after His ascension, through the Holy Spirit, in establishing the church. Saint Luke obviously follows the Great Commission in expanding this theme, showing the commencement in Jerusalem, the outreach to Judea and Samaria, and also the spreading to the faraway city of Rome (1:8).

And Luke's Story

The name of the book of Acts originates from the Greek word praxis, a term often used in early Christian literature to refer to the good accomplishments of the apostles or alternative remarkable believers. This name correctly demonstrates the contents of the book, which is actually a compilation of the lives of key apostles (specifically Peter and Paul) in the years right after Christ’s ascension into heaven.

Luke’s recognition as the author of this work was unquestioned all through history. It indicates an obvious advancement from the gospel according to Luke, picking up precisely where that book ended. A historical prologue to Luke’s gospel suggests that Luke was first a follower of the apostles after which became close with Paul.
This really is the way the book of Acts unfolds, starting with Peter and finishing with Paul. Luke even started to speak in the first person plural in the latter part of Acts, while he traveled the Roman Empire alongside Paul (Acts 16:10).

The Importance of the Book of Acts?

The book of Acts is considered the only biblical book that chronicles the background of the church soon after Jesus’s ascension. Consequently, it gives us with a useful record of ways the church was able to expand and spread out from Jerusalem throughout the entire Roman Empire.
Within thirty years, a small number of frightened Christ-followers in Jerusalem became an empire-wide phenomenon of people who had devoted their lives to Jesus Christ, ending on a high note with Paul on the verge of making the gospel towards the greatest government official on the land-the Emperor of Rome.

Breaking It Down

Acts could be beautifully broken into two segments, the starting dealing mostly with the ministry of Peter in Jerusalem and Samaria (Acts 1-12) while the Ending following Paul on his missionary journeys across the Roman Empire (Acts 13-28). Acts is important for chronicling the spread out of the gospel, besides geographically but also ethnically and culturally.

It points out the switch from bringing the gospel to the entire Jewish audience-with Peter speaking to a few people in the Upper Room-to the gospel going among the Gentiles, mostly under the ministry of the apostle Paul. The switch is best illustrated by Peter’s vision where he heard a voice telling him, “What God has cleansed, will no longer consider unholy” (10:15).

This led Peter to then share the gospel with so many Gentiles. The lesson? God wants His message of hope and salvation to increase to all people-“in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and also to the remotest part of the earth” (1:8).

Applying The Book

What chances for sharing the gospel are you able to take advantage of in the occasions are available? This question should ring through your mind while you study through the entire book of Acts. In practically every chapter, apostles, for instance, Peter and Paul powerfully present the gospel to persons and groups of people.

The apostles shown in Acts stood out with evangelistic energy, showing an eye-catching transition from the often misguided disciples of the Gospels. Clearly, the apostles’ faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus produced an obvious change in their hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Many times, our individual lives usually do not reflect that kind of change. We battle with fears over how others will deal with our faith or with breaking away from our own routine considerable enough to invest in the life of another person else who needs the gospel.

Allow Acts to inspire you to walk more closely with God so that you will make Christ’s name known with all the boldness and the enthusiasm of the apostles.

Lastly, Luke wrote to demonstrate to the Roman world that Christianity is not a subversive political movement. In comparison to some of the Jews of Judea, Christians had not been wanting to overthrow Rome. However they spoke of a different King and rejected the emperor as “lord,” they submitted to political authority.

Nevertheless, the apostles were often imprisoned, they were constantly exonerated. In some cases God Himself intervened; in other cases the governmental authority did, But every time they were vindicated.

Holy Bible

Big thanks to Emerald study group members; Bro Ong, Sis Crystal, Bro Richard, Sis Joanana, Elder Denny, Sis Iris, Bro Kevin & Sis Siet-Choi

Costi Hinn called his uncle's theology "twisted."

Benny Hinn's Pastor Nephew Slams Prosperity Gospel

The pastor nephew of televangelist Benny Hinn has slammed his uncle's promotion of the "prosperity gospel" and urged "real pastors and real churches" to "stand up and say 'No, that is not Christianity."
In an HLN exclusive interview with Carol Costello, Costi Hinn, executive pastor at The Mission Bible Church in Orange County, California, called his uncle's theology "twisted."

"If you take the Bible and you take what Jesus taught and you take some of the promises of heaven and the riches of heaven and the wonderful glories of heaven and you make them a new thing, then you really have a model for your best life now."

"That's really not the heartbeat of Christianity," he continued, "the heartbeat of Christianity is, if you have wealth, you want to be generous and rich in good works. If God has blessed you with a lot, you have a great responsibility."

Prosperity gospel, as defined by the Lausanne Theology Working Group, is the teaching that "believers have a right to the blessings of health and wealth and that they can obtain these blessings through positive confessions of faith and the 'sowing of seeds' through the faithful payments of tithes and offerings."

The prosperity gospel, Hinn said, is particularly dangerous to those living in impoverished nations who give the last of their money to prosperity preachers in hopes that they will receive material blessings.

"You put a guy on a platform in a really nice suit in a very beautiful auditorium and he'll tell a whole bunch of Americans, 'if you do this, and do this, and do this, you'll get this.' And God is like your magic genie," Hinn said.

"If you rub Him right and do all the right things, your bank's going to grow, you're going to get that promotion, you're going to get that woman that you want to marry, that perfect man, your life is going to be perfect, because that's what God wants for you."
Hinn urged "feal pastors and real churches" to "stand up and say 'No, that is not Christianity. That's not what the Bible teaches.'"

Hinn emphasized that the Gospel includes the good news of hope and the bad news of the reality of sin for people in all walks of life.

"Our job as preachers and pastors is to give the whole story," Hinn said, admitting that growing up, he was "greedy" and "very ambitious for all the wrong things." He shared how his family was "living the dream," with flights on a G4 or G5 private Gulfstream airliners, layovers in Monte Carlo, and stays in hotel suites that cost $25,000 per night.

"We were teaching things that were wrong. We were taking advantage of [people], exploiting the poor, using our greed, squeezing every last dollar out of people so we could live the way they could never," while using Jesus to do that, he explained.

Thankfully, Jesus has forgiven him of his sins.

"Jesus died to forgive my sins. He loves me just the way I am in all my mess and all my greed. And if I commit to a change He'll meet me right where I am. And He did. He changed my heart and I just had no taste for it anymore. I did not want that life."

Benny Hinn, 64, is considered the author of a variety of inspirational Christian books, along with his thirty-minute TV program This Is Your Day is among the world’s most-viewed Christian programs

Evangelist Nick Vujicic in Ukraine

Over "400,000 souls gave their to Jesus at Life Without Limbs Tour in Europe

Limbless evangelist Nick Vujicic has thanked God after his team observed 400,000 people repent of sins and start their spiritual journey with Jesus in a recent event in Ukraine.

"The greatest event our team at Life Without Limbs has witnessed and perhaps the biggest event ever in Europe - 800,000 individuals the main roads and streets of Kyiv Ukraine! Thank God," Vujicic said on Facebook on Tuesday.

"400,000 repented of the sins and started their spiritual journey with Jesus - Now LWL celebrates the witness of just one million decisions just to walk with and trust God in everything face to face, he added.

Vujicic, 33, also stated he later stopped in Russia on his evangelism tour, where he remained for 40 hrs.

"Regrettably I wasn't able to meet the President this trip but we still plant seeds of affection, love, and hope across the nation until some unique doorways are available to share - appreciate your support," he wrote in an update.

Vujicic was born without legs or arms, and it was given no medical reason behind this problem. Regardless of the challenges, he's faced, he's today a global-famous inspirational speaker and author.

Stated on the Life Without Limbs website, Vujicic said he began his ministry to inspire other people who, like him, have faced "numerous challenges and obstacles," to understand that with God, anything can be done. Everything is possible.


"Life Without Limbs is about discussing this same hope and genuine love which I have personally familiar with people around the world, Inch he stated. "It has been stated that doorways available to a guy without legs and arms a lot more easily rather than other people, we thankfully for supplying that privilege. I have been asked into very unpredicted places to talk about my belief in Jesus and literally millions have responded."

The evangelist stated he's traveled to in excess of 63 countries to talk about the gospel, and the "finest pleasure within this life would be to introduce Jesus to individuals I meet and let them know of His great desire to get at knowing them personally by permitting and allowing Him to be their Lord and Savior."

"Due to the ministry of Life Without Limbs, God has utilized me in numerous schools, places of worship, prisons, orphanages, hospitals, stadiums as well as in face-to-face encounters with folks, letting them know how very precious they're to God," he stated. "It's our finest pleasure to make sure people who God comes with an agenda for every single life that's significant and purposeful, for God required my life, one which others might disregard as not getting any significance and that he has filled me together with his purpose and demonstrated me he intends to use me to move hearts and lives toward Him."

Your Testimony - God’s Story in You

You have a story and if your story is God’s story in you, then that story is a testimony and can be a powerful witness for Jesus Christ. Sharing your story requires thought but no special training. “You are an expert on what happened to you!” And you can share your testimony anywhere with anyone and give them the “reason for the hope that is in you.”

You can share about Jesus Christ through your story - what God has done for you, what He is doing, and how you have experienced his grace and goodness in your life.


Here’s a question for you: Are you Ready to share your faith story with others and how God’s story has transformed your story?  please use the contact us form or send an email via businessofchrist@gmail.com