Greetings All,
Where to start.. there's been so much the Lord has been doing since our last update. I've been continuing to meet with Noah. He's the brother I met who was walking down the street with his bible. He's come out with us a couple times to preach and teach. We took him to the open market and he preached outside for the first time. He's also came with us to the drug rehab and village outreaches. The Lord is enabling us to help disciple this brother and encourage him in the Lord. We're still helping him see the false spirit that many Pentecostals and charismatics operate in. Helping him to test everything with God's word to keep from being deceived and falling into error. At first it was a little difficult but now we can see that he is seeing the light and truth on many issues. It seems common down here for believers to think that if someone is a "fiery" preacher who preaches loud and with a lot of Charisma that they are a Spirit filled servant of God. They get deceived into thinking all the emotions and working up of the flesh is a move of the Spirit. So we've been taking him to the scriptures and showing him how the Spirit of God moved in different men's life and what it looked like. Showing him how being "fiery" and loud does not equate to being Spirit filled just like how being quiet and reserved does not equate to being humble. He's also been a joy to be around because new converts just believe God's word. They are so full of faith. Like little children they just believe. Seems like many believers lose that childlike faith in God's word as they get older which I know grieves God. We need to stay in that position of simple childlike faith and like Jesus told the church in Ephesus in Rev 2... we need to "do the first works". Having that simple childlike faith that BELIEVES!!
Our outreach at the Drug Rehab is starting to bear fruit. There a man out there name Fransisco who we've spent some time with. After a bible study he kept asking genuine questions about the faith and how he could be changed. He's been in bondage to drugs, homosexuality and all kinds of perversions since his youth. He told us how his mind is continually filled with evil thoughts and has this driving desire every day to go and use drugs. Even without him telling us all this you could tell this many was filled with demons. We talked to him about his bondage and about Christ power to set him free. We gathered around him and began to pray for him. We began rebuking the demons in Jesus name and commanding them to come out. They began manifesting and coming out one by one. You could tell they were coming out and he began coughing up this white foam as he was being delivered. We prayed with him for about an hour. After we were finished you could see his whole countenance was changed. He seemed much more in his right mind. He knew that the power of God had helped him. We encouraged him to STAY in God's word and to seek the Lord for complete salvation. The next time we came back to the rehab the director met us out front telling us how Fransisco seemed totally different. He told us how Fransisco has never wanted to change but now he wants to change and be free from drugs. He asked if he could be relieved from his kitchen duties so he could sit in more while we preach on Wednesdays. Praise the Lord! We're believing God for a complete salvation in this man. Please keep him in prayer!
There's another man named Fransisco who God has been doing a real work of Grace in his life. From the day we started preaching there he's been wide eyed, open to the Gospel and just soaking it all in. He came to us on his own asking to be baptized and saying he wants to follow Jesus. In fact, he said all his life he's never wanted to know God, serve God, or follow God. But from the time we started preaching he said it was like God just birthed the desire and hunger for God in him. He constantly wants to talk about the Lord and just learn more and more. He's, on his own, has been spending the last week just confessing all his sins to God one by one. Josef and Lina spent this last Sunday talking with him making sure he understands what God has done for us in Jesus and what it means to follow Jesus. You can truly see a work of God's grace in his heart as he longs to follow the Lord. So, praise the Lord, we'll be baptizing him this next Wednesday and continuing to teach him to obey all that Christ commanded! (Matt 28:18)
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I've been continuing to talk with brother Vali who's in India. He had mentioned his need for bibles to help him reach the Muslims and Hindus he's been preaching too. (It's so encouraging to hear believers ask for help with getting bibles or tracts because they want to spread God's word and see people saved!) He goes into unreached villages and holds Gospel street meetings and visits people's home to tell them about Jesus. We helped him purchase some bibles so he could give God's word to those who the Lord is drawing. Here's a picture he sent us with joy over receiving God's word! Bibles in India are very cheap by American standards.. only $2. But for those in India who live in poverty this can seem like a fortune. If you would like to help Vali to get more bibles send me an email (preachingjesuschrist@gmail.com). I know it would be a real blessing to him and help him reach Muslims and Hindu's with the Gospel!
Here's an article Lisa wrote concerning the sin of lust and
and the FREEDOM from in found in Christ!!
A topic you do not hear much preaching on is sexual lust.
I'm surprise that you do not find many preachers exhorting and warning
the church of this deadly sin. The world is evermore consumed by
sexual lust. One of the most wicked perversion is so plainly seen
everywhere that the world and the church has lost its ability to blush to it.
Sexual images and great perversions have been more expose (openly seen)
than in Jesus and Paul's days and even then Paul warned and exhorted
the church to flee from lustful desire (2Tim.2:22) and do not
fellowship with the sexual immoral who calls themselves
brethren(1Cor.5:11). How much more would Paul warn the church today!
Whats very sad is seeing so many people bound by lust in the church
and hardly anyone is giving them hope, helping them see that this sin
can be overcome through Christ Jesus. Most professing christians just
accept this sin as normal, thinking its a part of life, and that there is
no way you can have a clean mind free from sexual thoughts. That
thought is very contrary to the bible! For the bible says.....
Matthew 1:21
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name
JESUS, for He will save His people FROM their sins.
Matthew 19:26
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is
impossible, but with God ALL things are possible.
Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to
God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
For the bible also says that those who PRACTICE sin shall not enter the kingdom.
Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery (lust),
fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and
the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in
time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the
kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:3-5
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even
be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness,
nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but
rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator,
unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
2 Timothy 2:19
19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal:
"The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the
name of Christ depart from iniquity."
By thinking that sexual lust cannot be overcome many professing
Christians are saying that this sin is bigger than God. That the
power of lust is stronger than the power of God and God cannot deliver
us.
Will you believe men who are known to be liars, knowing they are not
perfect, or God's word which you say is perfect and holy? Will you be
those who Jesus says draw close with their mouth but their hearts
are far from Him? Will you be like the Israelites who died in the wilderness?
Though they claim God's name they died in their unbelief, never
believing in God and His promises in their hearts.
If we would stop looking unto men for answers,wanting to be led by
them, and our emotions, and looked to Jesus only... then we would believe.
Or will you be like the Israelites again and cry out for a "man" king
because you do not want God to lead, but man! This is the stumbling
block to many professing Christians and explains why they are still
bound in sin!
They want man to guide and lead them to God instead of them seeking
God for themselves. Many have fallen prey to wolves in the pulpit
and deep delusion because they desire to hear from man about God
instead of diligently seeking God themselves. For man can only show
you the way but it is you who must draw near to God and God Will draw
near to you. It is you who must knock and the door will be open. It is
you who must direct your cry to Him and He will be faithful to answer.
That is His promise! Will you continue to follow after man who cannot
set you free or will you look to Christ who is able to fully deliver
you from ALL bondage?!
So many profess Christians wonder why their minds are so defiled and
why they cannot overcome lust. But then they are the very ones who
will not spend time with God. Instead, they busy themselves with all sorts
of things, and find themselves weak and being lead by the flesh. They spend
their time watching all sorts of ungodly shows and movies, flipping though dirty
magazines, and allowing their eyes to gaze upon harlotry fashion that is
in ungodly magazines. This leads many to adopt those styles and brings
upon them a desire to
lust and to want others to lust after them.
How bad is this sin? It has born many pedophiles, molesters, perverts
and murderers. Many of these people have confessed that they are bound by
pornography and sexual lust. Sexual lust has been a major part of
destroying lives, families, bringing upon much violence and anger, and
causing all sorts of deep perversion.
How bad is this sin? Jesus says if your right eye causes you to
stumble cut it out. Not that you literally cut your eye out because
lust has to do with the heart. The verse is showing us how serious the
sin is and that we must do all we know to do in order not to be bound
by this sin. Jesus tells us to pray and watch. We cannot overcome
without a relationship with Jesus and obeying what He says. When we
are in prayer (deep communion with God) it will help us to be watchful
(obey), not allowing things in our lives that will weaken us and lead us to
put away all the things we know that weakens the flesh. It is
better to throw away your computer or t.v. that may weaken you now
then to take it with you to hell.
I have been very grieved for a long time seeing many people in
church bound by the sin of lust and hardly anyone in the church is
exposing this sin,
giving them hope TO SEE and KNOW God's word that this sin can be
easily overcome through Christ Jesus.
This sin has consumed many churches. Even the lost can walk in many
churches and see it is consume with sexual lust. My husband was
sharing the gospel with a Muslim and he told Sean "why should I go to
Christian churches?" Christian churches have many women dress like
harlots." What the Muslim said was very true. Many pastors allow the
sin of lust to invade the church, not exhorting and warning the church
of this grievous sin that destroys lives, families, friendships, and
above all defiles God's name! They fail to encourage men and women to dress
modest and fear God like Paul did. Many pastors and leaders have
fallen prey to this sin themselves and thats why they are not able to
give their people hope and exhort them to stay away from all forms of
evil (1 Thes.5:22, Col.3:5) .
Do not be deceived by your pastors and think this is a light sin or
this is normal. What does the bible say? Jesus says if you look at a
woman with lust you have committed adultery in your heart (Mat.5:28).
Those who practice adultery (which is lust in the heart) will not
enter the kingdom. (Gal.5:19-21)
I am telling you men and women who are married and bound in this sin
that you have committed adultery. Husbands, because of your lust you
cannot love your own spouse as Christ commands. Your mind is defiled
by these lustful images and it causes you to greatly stumble in your
marriage with your spouse and Jesus where you are not able to love
your wife as Christ loves the church. And wives are not able to
respect and love your husbands. Not only are you lusting, but also in
covetousness, desiring someone else besides your mate!
I am telling you single people that are bound in lust that you too
have committed adultery in your heart though you are not married
physically. You do say that Jesus is your God which makes Him your
husband. So you too have committed adultery. We must understand that
God is a jealous God. He is jealous for His people.
James 4:4-5
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with
the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend
of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the
Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns
jealously"?
Yes, lust is the same as being friends to the world because all forms
of lust are from the world.
Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous for you with GODLY jealousy. For I have betrothed you
to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
I use to be one who was bound in this sin. Yes, a pharisee who was
clean on the outside but filled with wickedness inwardly, just as
Jesus told the pharisees.
Luke 11:39
Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the
cup and dish clean, but your INWARD PART is full of greed and
wickedness.
I too thought this sin was too big to overcome, a normal part of life,
seeing that everybody around me was bound by the same sin. I saw no
hope UNTIL I truly read my bible and stop listening to men and their
traditions that are according to the basic principles of this world
(Col.2:8) and started looking only to God who has made us complete and all
equipped IN HIM (Col.2:9-10)! Now I can say with confidence, and am
not lying, I am free! I do not boast in myself, but only in the Lord,
who is the One that set me free! I am no longer bound by lust and my
mind is clean.
The truth does set you free (John8:32)!!!
Through looking to Jesus, by seeking Him with all my heart, in
meditating on His word, and obeying it God granted me faith to Believe!
The word says that faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of
God(Rom.10:17). If we would draw near to Him with all our heart He
will give us faith to believe all His promises to live a holy life,
giving us grace to overcome all thats in the world through faith! (1
John5:4, 2Peter1:9)
What quenches the fiery darts that comes at us? FAITH! Believing in
Him and His finished work on the cross! Understanding that through
His Ressurection we have been given life and divine power to overcome
ALL forms of lust
that are in the world and live a life of godliness (2Peter1:1-8)
Ephesians 6:16
16 ABOVE ALL, taking the shield of faith with WHICH YOU WILL BE ABLE
to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
We cannot produce faith ourselves. It is a gift from God. Only God
can grant us faith to believe but His word does promise us that if we
would draw near to Him He will draw near to us. Faith comes by
hearing the word. So what must we do? Feed on His word! As the Lord
told Joshua to meditate on His word day and night. Come to Him, to
know Him, with all your heart and He will not deny you but will grant
you faith to believe which produces grace to overcome and strengthens
the INNER MAN (Eph.3:16-19).
So little do we hear from pastors and Christian leaders the hope that
is in Christ Jesus. Reminding us like Paul did of the precious promises that
Jesus came to set us free from all bondage to sin and give us life.
Reminding us also who we are in Christ. That we are not children
bound by certain sins as many preach today but we are new creations.
The old man is
dead and buried and we are made new, being Ressurrected in Christ. That
Jesus has truly set us free from all sin and not just one or two sins. For
sin has no dominion over you because you have died with Christ and
have been Ressurected into a new creation (Rom.6:6-11)! His word says that
those who are truly born of God will overcome (1 John 5:4). Do you
believe that? If not then you need to stop listening to men and draw
close to God and read the bible.
Oh that the church would be like Job a mere man like us who had a
desire for purity and was able through his relationship with God to
overcome lust.
Job 31:1
"I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?
Dear ones who are struggling with sexual lust. I want you to know that
this is a serious sin so that you may be spurred to draw close to God
before its too late. I am sick of pastors deceiving God's flock by
making the sin of lust seem light and too big for God to deliver you.
They are liars who teach that lust is normal, for such practices will
damn you to hell(Gal.5:19-21). God is able to deliver you or else His
death was in vain. You say you believe in God then believe all His
promises too!
Or is your belief like the demons(James2:19)? Like the Israelites in
the wilderness? Who believe that there is a God, but do not believe IN
Him to deliver? Oh, I pray that God will grant
you faith like Joshua and Caleb who are examples of true believers
that believe God's word. They did not fear the giants
(representing sin), and did not see them as too big, but knew and
believed that God would give them the victory!
The Isrealites are used for our examples in warning us to not become
like them in lusting after evil things (1Cor.10:5-11). They died in
unbelief. Not believing in God's promises for them they did not enter
God's promise land which is our rest in Him today. When we believe in
His promises it brings about rest and victory in our life. God did
not give the Isrealites the victory because of their unbelief. Do not
be like the Isrealites. God has given us the same promises
spiritually. Many promises that I have already listed. God's hands
are not short that He cannot deliver you fully. For we know the power
of darkness has been broken upon our lives because the death and
ressurection of Jesus Christ. If you are still in bondage to sin, it
is not because God is not able, but because of your unbelief in His
word (Psalm78:40-42)
Psalm 78:40-42
40 How often they provoked Him in the wilderness,
And grieved Him in the desert!
41 Yes, again and again they tempted God,
And limited the Holy One of Israel.
42 They did not remember His power:
The day when He redeemed them from the enemy,
I am encouraging those who are weak today that sexual lust is not hard
for God to
deliver you from. Yes, with men it is impossible, but with God ALL
things are possible!
Matthew 13:9
He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
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