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Born Again

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Charles Colson chronicled conversion in 1976 bestseller

In the summer of 1973, under intense scrutiny and facing possible arrest for his role in the Watergate scandal, Charles Colson began to question where he stood with God. His friend Tom Phillips had been telling him about Jesus and praying for his salvation, and one night in August, while on a working vacation in Maine, Colson knew he could put it off no longer.

I knew the time had come for me: I could not sidestep the central question [C.S.] Lewis (or God) had placed squarely before me. Was I to accept without reservations Jesus Christ as Lord of my life? It was like a gate before me. There was no way to walk around it. I would step through, or I would remain outside. A “maybe” or “I need more time” was kidding myself.

And as something pressed that question home, less and less was I troubled by the curious phrase “accept Jesus Christ.” It had sounded at first both pious and mystical, language of the zealot, maybe black magic stuff. But “to accept” means no more than “to believe.” Did I believe what Jesus said? If I did, if I took it on faith or reason or both, then I accepted. Not mystical or weird at all, and with no in-between ground left. Either I would believe or I would not—and believe it all or none of it.

The search that began that week on the coast of Maine … simply returned me to where I had been when I asked God to “take me” in that moment of surrender on the little country road in front of the Phillipses’ home. What I studied so intently all week opened a little wider the new world into which I had already taken my first halting, shaky steps. One week of study on the Maine coast would hardly qualify, even in the jet age, as much of an odyssey, but I felt as if I’d been on a journey of thousands of miles. 

And so early that Friday morning, while I sat alone staring at the sea I love, words I had not been certain I could understand or say fell naturally from my lips: “Lord Jesus, I believe You. I accept You. Please come into my life. I commit it to You.” 

With these few words that morning, while the briny sea churned, came a sureness of mind that matched the depth of feeling in my heart. There came something more: strength and serenity, a wonderful new assurance about life, a fresh perception of myself and the world around me. In the process, I felt old fears, tensions, and animosities draining away. I was coming alive to things I’d never seen before; as if God was filling the barren void I’d known for so many months, filling it to its brim with a whole new kind of awareness. ©1976 Charles W. Colson

Excerpted from “Born Again,” by Charles W. Colson, Chosen Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Used by permission. Bakerpublishinggroup.com.

Salvation And Miracles On The Beach

It was 3 nights of pure word, salvation and miracles. The venue in itself was a miracle. Who has heard of a Salvation Crusade on a beach? But the Healing Jesus Campaign led by Evangelist Dag Heward-Mills, one of the world’s leading Evangelist braced the strong pacific winds of Mahajanga and held the three day campaign.

Enjoy these scenes from Mahajanga, Madagascar.

The Lord of course blessed the crusade with many astonishing miracles.

Nathaniel Bassey Readies ‘IBA’ ft. Dunsin Oyekan & Dasola Akinbule For June 9 Release

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Renowned worship leader, Nathaniel Bassey has confirmed June 9, 2023, as the release date for his upcoming new single “IBA” featuring fervent worship music minister Dunsin Oyekan and music prodigy Dasola Akinbule.

The new single which was originally slated for Jun 16, was brought forward by a week. “The wait doesn’t have to be too long for a great thing,” the ‘Imela’ crooner wrote on social media, revealing the new date.

Fueling further anticipation for the release, Nathaniel Bassey has teased fans with a snippet of the song, giving them a taste of what he describes as “Another material for deep worship”. 

Nathaniel seems to be on a new music spree this season as this exciting release announcement comes barely three (3) months after the release of the 16-track live project, Hallelujah Live“.

The new album from the prolific singer-songwriter boasts star-studded guest appearances from renowned worship leaders and ministers such as William McDowell, Sinach, Victoria Orenze, Ntokozo Mbamba, Mercy Chinwo, and More.

Gmusicplus

“Heaven Has Come” – Ty Bello Unveils Captivating And Revival Intense New Album

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Nigerian gospel singer and accomplished lifestyle photographer TY Bello has released a sound of revival through her latest body of work titled “Heaven Has Come” which is currently available on all streaming platforms.

The highly anticipated “Heaven Has Come” project comprises twenty tracks featuring a lineup of renowned artists, including Sunmisola Agbebi, Tope Alabi, Dunsin Oyekan, Theophilus Sunday, Pastor Chingtok Ishaku, Folabi Nuel, Tomi Favoured, Sinmidele, 121 Sellah, Angelo, Gaise Baba, Great Man Takit, and Mavin’s record singer, Johnny Drille.

Ty Bello from her previous body of works is known to have a different sound that pierces into the soul and spirit and creates a connection between the Father and spirit of man. Heaven Has Come is a mixture of spirit-filled atmosphere sound for intense intimacy and Afro-sound that hinges on the same atmosphere revival move.

Ty Bello’s previous album “We Are Fire” released last year 2022 has also seen great partnerships with top gospel artiste and with the renowned sound of 121Selah which created a harmonic background.

TY Bello started her music career as a member of the gospel group, Kush, which consisted of herself, Lara George, and Emem Ema. The group released their debut album in 2000, titled “The Experience”. They also released two more albums before disbanding in 2004.

After the disbandment of Kush, TY Bello began her solo career as a singer-songwriter. She released her debut album, “Greenland” in 2006, which was a commercial success in Nigeria. She has since released several other albums including “The Future” (2011), “The Morning Songbook” (2013), and “African Gospel” (2019).

By Admin

Cody Carnes “God Is Good!” Tour Adds New Dates

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GRAMMY®-nominated Cody Carnes reunites with special guest Benjamin William Hastings for the second leg of his “God Is Good!” Tour in July for seven additional dates.

This tour serves as a faith-filled intersection of worship and fellowship where attendees can come together and lift high the name of Jesus. Featuring some of Carnes’ hits like “Run To The Father” and “Nothing Else,” his recent No. 1 single “Ain’t Nobody” and the Carnes/ Hastings hit “Take You At Your Word”, these nights are going to be really special.”

“These nights are full of worship and full of the presence of God,” shares Cody Carnes. “We had too much fun on the first run, so we had to add more dates! So excited to be bringing this night to seven more beautiful cities! My friend Benjamin William Hastings will be leading his incredible songs as well. It’s going to be amazing.”

Last year, Carnes released his first-ever live project, God Is Good. Already in his career, Carnes has been nominated three times for a GRAMMY Award and currently has 15 songs on the CCLI Top 2000 chart as a songwriter.

The “God is Good!” Tour is presented by Transparent Productions.

July 14 – Cleveland, OH

July 15 – Newark (Wayne), NJ

July 16 – North Attleboro, MA

July 18 – Washington D.C.

July 19 – Indianapolis, IN

July 22 – Myrtle Beach, SC

July 23 – Chesapeake, VA

GMA News

Franklin Graham Challenges Religious Broadcasters: ‘The Storm Is Coming’

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When it comes to using television and radio to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Billy Graham and Franklin Graham have worked to maximize their impact over the decades.

But now Franklin Graham has a somewhat dire warning to those who use these mediums to spread Good News.

“The storm is coming where we’re going to be off the radio and television and the internet,” Graham said.

During his 29-minute keynote speech in Orlando, Florida, the evangelist gave examples of the challenges facing Christian media. He also offered advice to those concerned about religious persecution in areas like data centers, banking, and insurance.

“If you’re not going to preach the Gospel, you don’t have anything to worry about. If you’re not going to talk about sin, you’re not going to have anything to worry about; but if you’re going to proclaim the Gospel, they’re going to try to shut you up.”

Franklin Graham serves as CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA)

Franklin Graham shared examples of the power of media in his early ministry and how his father used it so effectively. But in between standing ovations, stories, and laughs, he charged the crowd to be prepared, to start thinking now about a world where standing on God’s Word could be punishable by law.

“Jesus told us the world hated [Him] first and they’re going to hate you,” he said. “If you stand for Christ, the world is going to hate you.”

Debbie, who works with an evangelical Christian media outreach in Fort Lauderdale, was moved by Franklin Graham’s message.

“I appreciate he tackled the cultural mandate. If we’re not speaking to the culture, we won’t retain the rights, we won’t retain our freedom of religion to preach the Gospel.

“That’s what Franklin is doing. He’s got the platform. And he doesn’t pull back. It needs to be said and people need to hear that.”

Debbie’s co-worker William gave an amen to that.

“He’s just so open and honest about where we are,” William said. “The storm is coming. It was all about the Gospel.”

Besides the “coming storm,” the main point driven home was to “preach the Gospel” as long as humanly possible—without reservation.

“Preach the Gospel,” Graham said. “Use your radio, television, blogs, internet, to communicate the Gospel.

“There’s Holy Spirit-filled power in the Gospel. When you try to tell a person they are a sinner, it’s offensive. When you tell someone that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and there is no way to heaven or God except through Him, you offend people.”

By Trevor Freeze

Labour To Become A Blessing

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Instead of labouring to be rich, you must labour to become a blessing to others.  Instead of striving for wealth, strive to become a blessing. Why work with all your heart to get money, when you can work with all your heart to help others. It is time for you to decide to become a blessing to many people.  It is far greater to become a blessing than just to be a blessed person!

Your ultimate vision for life must be to labour to be a blessing. Beyond a certain amount of income there is no benefit to the receiver.  Beyond a certain number of houses you can no longer safely control what you have.

I would like to be like Abraham who became a blessing to the whole world. God said to Abraham, “All nations will be blessed through you”(Genesis 12:3).  This is how God called Abraham. He called Abraham to bless him so that he would be a blessing to the nations of the world. You never find Abraham labouring to be rich.  You find him labouring to obey God. You find him labouring to please his Creator. “Yet you find him becoming a blessing to the whole of mankind.  Those who labour to be rich never achieve the heights that Abraham achieved.

“Paul warned all Christians and declared that rich people should be rich in good works. They should be seen as givers. They should be seen to be doing good things and distributing their wealth.  He said that this would create a good foundation for them in eternity.

Notice Hannah’s vision. All she wanted was to have a child that she could give away. She did not want a child that she could keep.  She did not want a child that she could play with and enjoy like any other mother. Because she was labouring to be a blessing, God opened her womb and gave her that child and much more.

It is rare to see people have a life’s goal of building God’s house.  Most people’s life’s goals have to do with establishing their own houses and increasing their personal wealth.  In this chapter, you will see people whose goals were to be a blessing to others. It was not about themselves.  It was all about God and His kingdom.

Be a blessing to others! This is the highest call! The call to be a blessing! God is calling you today to be a blessing to many people.  Some people are blessed but they never become a blessing to others.  You must rise up to the challenge and become a blessing to others.

1. Labour to be a blessing to the whole world like Abraham was a blessing to the whole world.  Abraham “never tried to be a rich man. 

He never laboured to be rich.  Today, he stands out as the man who became a blessing to the whole world.  How did he become a blessing to the whole world?  By labouring to obey God no matter what.

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and THOU SHALT BE A BLESSING: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 12:1-3

2. Labour to be a blessing to many people according to the instructions of Paul. 

Paul’s instructions are clear.  Have good works! Do good things!  Don’t be high-minded! Help other people! Labour to be a blessing!

CHARGE THEM THAT ARE RICH in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; THAT THEY BE RICH IN GOOD WORKS, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay “hold on eternal life. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:17-21

3. Labour to be a blessing to the ministry like Hannah: Give me a child so I can give him away to become a prophet.”  She labored to be pregnant just so that she could give away the child.  What an amazing testimony of laboring to be a blessing.  How many people work so hard just so they can give everything away?

And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, THEN I WILL GIVE HIM UNTO THE LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.  1 Samuel 1:11

4. Labour to be a blessing to others in the kingdom of God.  Seeking the kingdom of God first is seeking to be a blessing.  Instead of seeking your personal wealth, you seek the wealth of God’s kingdom.  As you seek the interests of God’s kingdom, you will end up having all things.

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of god, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:32-33

Dag Heward-MIlls

Pope Calls For Freedom Of Worship For Catholics In China

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Pope Francis called on Wednesday for freedom of worship for Catholics in China, a religious minority that has faced historic harassment and persecution in the communist country, causing friction between the Vatican and Beijing.

Francis invoked prayers during his weekly audience that the Gospel “may be preached in its fullness, beauty and (in) freedom … for the good of the Catholic Church and of all Chinese society”.

Recalling that May 24 marked a World Day of Prayer for the Church in China, the pontiff said he was close “to our brothers and sisters in China”, and offered “a special thought to all those who suffer, pastors and the faithful”.

China’s constitution proclaims freedom of belief but in reality the officially atheist ruling Communist Party keeps a tight rein over religious activities.

Relations between the Vatican and Communist China have been difficult for decades, but in 2018 the two sides reached a historic and contested agreement on the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops in China.

The deal was a bid to ease a longstanding divide across mainland China between an underground flock loyal to the pope and a state-backed official church. For the first time since the 1950s, both sides recognised the pope as supreme leader of the Catholic Church.

Critics say the accord, which is provisional and secret, amounts to Vatican appeasement of China’s authoritarian government, and has not substantially improved the conditions of Catholics there.

Last month, the Vatican said Chinese authorities had unilaterally appointed a new bishop to Shanghai in an apparent violation of the bilateral pact between the two states, last renewed in October.

Reporting by Alessia Pe, editing by Alvise Armellini, Robert Birsel

Excerpt from “Evangelism by Fire” By Reinhard Bonnke

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Holy Spirit evangelism makes use of the weapons that God has given for this task, namely the gifts of the Spirit.Anointed preaching, along with anointed music and singing, are not the only explanations for our success. We must have something more as did the first disciples. The New Testament talks about manifestations, which were things to see. They are truths made visible.

What are the works of God?

They are not only conversions, or even healings. They include revelation, prophecy, supernatural knowledge, wisdom, discernment, dreams, visions, and authority over the powers of Satan.

People wake up to the reality of spiritual things when they see something that is beyond mere words. The gifts of the Spirit supply this slice of experience. I want to stress the glorious possibilities of these weapons, the gifts. By these God-given means, the timid soul can become bold, and the defensive person can become aggressive. The Lord intends us to carry the credentials of an ambassador. To those whom he sends, he also gives power and authority.

Many believers long for these spiritual gifts but are, perhaps, nervous about using them. “Suppose I am wrong?” they reason. The worst mistake is not to employ the weapons of the Lord. Remember some key scriptures.

Be strong and very courageous. (Joshua 1:7)

In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence. (Proverbs 14:26)

Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1)

Desire spiritual gifts… and desire earnestly to prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:1,39)

Concerning the demonstration of spiritual gifts, there is an Old Testament passage that has fascinated me for a long time. Put alongside the New Testament truth, it gives a clear picture of how God does turn the tides and the tables on his enemies:

Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him [Elisha], and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel, and their horsemen!” And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he took himself a bow and some arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians in Aphek till you have destroyed them”. (2 Kings 13:14-17)

A king full of self-pity

Joash, the King of Israel, was young and inexperienced when disaster threatened his kingdom. The Syrian army had mobilized against him, and he knew that he could muster nothing to match it. He had terrifying visions of defeat and his own imprisonment. Even the possibility of death haunted him. He felt sick with worry. Joash was one of Israel’s bad kings, but in the time of trouble he, too, remembered the Lord’s prophet, Elisha. The king decided to visit Elisha, who was now about 80 years old. He approached the old prophet with flatteries describing Elisha’s usefulness to Israel as like “the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!”

Then he “wept over his face,” letting Elisha see his tears, crying, “O, my father, my father…” It was quite a show! The fact was, however, that Joash was not weeping because Elisha was dying, but because he might die himself. Elisha simply told the king to take his bow and arrows. I think that he could just as well have said, “Take your handkerchief.” He had seen the ways of Joash too often to be moved by his sob story.

Nothing is too hard for God

More significantly, God was not impressed. It is high time for somebody to say that God knows when people are weeping only because they feel sorry for themselves. Some people seem to need much more of other peoples’ time. In fact, it is often difficult to know what their trouble is, if indeed they know themselves. They may occasionally be victims of mental bruising earlier in life. But leaders who specialize in counseling may find such patients give them plenty of practice. There is the danger that the hours devoted to their pity-parties could drive the trouble deeper into their consciousness, even making such people feel that they are very special sufferers, beyond the normal ability of the Lord to help them. Nothing is too hard for God.

Our job is not to pamper Christians, who feel sorry for themselves, but to wake them up; not to give them a sedative, but a stimulant! People need to come out of themselves, and to see again the needs of a dying world. Beware! This is a wearing down tactic of the devil: devoting valuable time to people who never resolve their personality problems. Precious time wasted in talk could have been invested in winning the lost.

Elisha knew how to deal with this situation. He knew that the king’s tears were not for the prophet of God, nor for the nation of Israel, but for his own self-preservation. By the word of the Lord, therefore, without formalities for the royal presence, Elisha came straight to the point.

“Take bow and arrows.” He was brusque, perhaps, but when enemies are invading, the answer had to be just that – bow and arrows. A military mindset was needed. Joash must forget himself and play the man.

Trembling or triumphant saint?

Where are our weapons? Paul wrote, “Stir up the gift of God which is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6). He instructed, “Stir up.” This word has to do with fire – the stirring up of a campfire, to get the embers blazing. It means, “to kindle,” “to bring up to full flame.” Do not cool off! Stir up that fire! Use the fan on the dying embers.

Joash was a feeble king, as we shall see, with little fire in his bones. He went crying to Elisha, “my father, my father” when he was scared, instead of mustering his army and bringing weapons out of the armory. Elisha would have appreciated action a lot more.

We have our weapons!

We have our weapons, and the devil has done his best to stop Christians from using them. When God opened up his armory and displayed the gifts of the Spirit at the beginning of the 20th century alarm bells rang in the church. The gifts, described in 1 Corinthians 12-14, were assumed to be natural, not supernatural. The church had long given pre-eminence to natural gifts and abilities to the detriment of supernatural gifts. There had to be a revision of biblical exposition. Valuable though natural gifts are, they can never take the place of Holy Spirit endued gifts, and more importantly, they must never be confused with them.

Many churchmen and medical doctors have opposed divine healing. They have made much of those who are “disappointed” and who are not immediately healed. They have conveniently forgotten that doctors disappoint millions. Nearly everyone in the graveyard had been to a doctor first, yet nobody would be so foolish as to demand the closing of all hospitals! Others object to divine healing simply because some are not healed, and so they do not minister to the sick at all. This leaves everybody unhealed! Where is compassion, or obedience to the Scriptures?

Other gifts also have come under attack. When the word of knowledge was first being restored by Pentecostal and charismatic evangelists, many declared its workings to be “like spiritualism.” Why should God not do such mighty things? In fact, spiritualism and clairvoyance are only the devilish counterfeit of what God means to do. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are far greater than anything that the occult can manufacture. There must be the real wherever there is the false.

Are your weapons gathering dust?

Some Christians have let their bow and arrows (their gifts, their spiritual weapons) gather dust in a corner because of critics. Others have been hurt, perhaps by remarks from fellow believers, and thus have dropped their gifts of prophecy, or tongues and interpretation. They have “lost” them, though God never reclaims them, for “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).

These gifts must be recovered. Hear the word of the Lord: Go back to the day and to the place where you left those spiritual gifts, and ask the Lord to forgive you. Do not despair; the gifts are still there, albeit dormant. Dry your tears of despair and sorrow, and “take bow and arrows” – again!

Our job is not to pamper Christians, who feel sorry for themselves, but to wake them up; not to give them a sedative, but a stimulant! People need to come out of themselves, and to see again the needs of a dying world. Beware! This is a wearing down tactic of the devil: devoting valuable time to people who never resolve their personality problems.

Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke

Excerpt from Chapter 12 of “Evangelism by Fire” by Reinhard Bonnke

Pope To Travel To Lisbon And Fatima For World Youth Day In August

Pope Francis will return to the Sanctuary of Fatima during the Apostolic Journey he will make to Portugal this summer on the occasion of the upcoming World Youth Day.

Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, made the official announcement in a statement Monday.

“On the occasion of the next World Youth Day, and accepting the invitation of the civil and ecclesial authorities of Portugal, His Holiness Pope Francis will travel to Lisbon from 2-6 August of this year, making a visit to the Shrine of Fatima on 5 August.”

For the second time as Pope, the Holy Father will visit the Marian pilgrimage site, the destination of millions of pilgrims every year.

The Pope visited the Shrine, on 12-13 May 2017, for the centenary of the Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Cova da Iria. On that occasion, the Pope prayed for an end to the wars “lacerating” the world.

In Fatima, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three Portuguese children slightly more than 100 years ago, in what was then a poor farming village.

Lisbon hosts the fourth World Youth Day over which Pope Francis will preside, having done so for the WYDs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2013; Krakow, Poland, in 2016; and Panama City, Panama, in 2019.

The 38th World Youth Day was originally scheduled to take place in the Portuguese capital in 2022, but was postponed due to the health emergency caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

For this year’s WYD’s motto, Pope Francis has chosen “Mary arose and went with haste” (Lk 1:39), the bible quote opening the account of the Visitation, when Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth following the angel’s announcement to the Blessed Mother that she would be the mother of the Son of God.

Deborah Castellano Lubov