How do you know if your church is developing unhealthy preaching culture? Sure, there are obvious signs such as people falling asleep, playing games, or roaming the hallways during the sermon. But I think at that point, your church is just spiritually dead. There are subtle warning signs that I think churches should spot as signs of unhealthiness. What are those signs? Here are five.
Sunshine, free time, and a good book. Those three ingredients make for a pretty solid summer day. Often the hardest part is deciding what to read. Fiction? Classics? Theology? Biography? There are so many choices and the decision can become overwhelming. In an effort to make your decision easier, we asked Facts & Trends readers what they would suggest for a summer reading list. Looking at the responses, here are 11 recently-released books with a quick description and a link to easily add them your summer reading library.
Sometimes even we pastors lack a sincere reverence for God. We may speak otherwise, but our actions suggest that we don’t really see God as God. In fact, sometimes we act as if we’re God—and thus become blasphemous:
Anglicans on both sides of the debate about sexuality within the church are unhappy with plans for the Lambeth Conference in 2020, with some, including the Bishop of Liverpool, Rt Rev Paul Bayes, saying their partners will not come, in protest at same-sex bishops not being allowed to bring their partners.
Current Church of England doctrine states that clergy cannot conduct a same-sex wedding and the rules on whether clergy can marry a same-sex partner varies in different countries, with the Episcopal Church in the US allowing same-sex marriage since 2015, but in England only civil partnerships are allowed, on the assumption that they remain celibate, and marriage is not.
Aside from the issue of gay partners attending, there are complaints that clergy in same-sex partnerships are being allowed to attend themselves.
GAFCON (Global Anglican Future Conference), a group of Anglicans who say they ‘work to guard and proclaim the unchanging, transforming Gospel through biblically faithful preaching and teaching’, are the main voice of this concern.
In June 2018, their members gathered in Jerusalem and called on the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev Justin Welby, “not to invite bishops of those Provinces which have endorsed by word or deed sexual practices which are in contradiction to the teaching of Scripture and Resolution I.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference,…
On Friday, Westminster Abbey hosted a service for the Royal Navy ‘recognising’ fifty years of the UK having nuclear deterrents at sea.
The ceremony was attended by the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, and the Abbey’s Dean did the bidding and address.
Very Rev Dr John Hall prayed that the navy would never have to use the weapons but added: “We give thanks for all the thousands of people who have designed, built, supported, and crewed the submarines during these past fifty years and for their families, and we continue to pray for the life and work of the Royal Navy, in particular for its submarine service.”
In his address, the Dean spoke about a Japanese bishop whom he had once heard speak about his experience of witnessing the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945. The Dean explained how different things were now, with nine countries said to have nuclear weapons and that major global conflicts, he said, had been largely avoided.
He referenced the controversy around the event: “Since we announced our intention to hold this service, I have received very many personal letters, and our communications team a very large number of emails, telling us that the General Synod, the governing council of the Church of England, had voted against nuclear weapons. Moreover, they said, the message of Jesus was about peace, not violence. They asked us repeatedly to abandon this…
Thomas Orchard, 32, died in hospital seven days after being arrested and taken to Heavitree Road police station in Exeter, Devon, in October 2012.
During his detention, the church caretaker who had mental health issues was restrained and an emergency response belt (ERB) was placed across face for five minutes and two seconds to prevent spitting or biting.
In a landmark conviction in 2018, the office of the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police pleaded guilty to breaches under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
The charge stated that the force failed to ensure non-employees, including Mr Orchard, were not exposed to risks in connection with the ERB.
Judge Julian Lambert previously ruled he could not be sure that the ERB, a tough webbing belt designed to restrain limbs, was a contributory factor in Mr Orchard’s death.
He fined the force £234,500 and ordered it to pay £20,515 in prosecution costs during a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.
The judge described the seriousness of harm risked by the force’s breaches due to the “potential restriction of breathing” by use of the ERB about the head and face.
“I appreciate that there is a significant body of evidence that no-one was, in fact, killed or very seriously injured because of the use of the belt as a spit or bite guard,” Judge Lambert said.
“It is, however, my assessment that it was only a matter of…
Ann Moore-Martin was “gushing” about Benjamin Field, then aged 26, and acted as if she was “hypnotised” by him.
Oxford Crown Court heard Benjamin Field began a relationship with Miss Moore-Martin as part of a “gaslighting” plot a few months after allegedly murdering her neighbour, Peter Farquhar, in the picturesque village of Maids Moreton, in Buckinghamshire.
Prosecutors allege Benjamin Field’s “project” was to befriend someone vulnerable, get them to change their will and then “make sure they died”.
Mr Field, the church warden, 28, the son of a Baptist minister, has admitted fraud by pretending to be in a relationship with the elderly spinster but denies conspiring with his friend Martyn Smith, 32, a magician, to murder her.
Oliver Saxby QC, prosecuting, told the jury that Miss Moore-Martin confided in her sister-in-law Gillian Moore-Martin that they were a couple.
“She said she loved him. She said they would sit together on the sofa and he would put his arm round her and fluff his eyelashes down her cheek,” he said.
“Ann Moore-Martin was gushing about Benjamin Field. She sounded like a lovestruck teenager. It was as if she was hypnotised by him.”
Field is accused alongside Smith of plotting to make the church-going pensioner’s death an accident, such as dying during sex, falling down the stairs and choking on her dentures, or suicide having got her to change her…
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. — Acts 3:1
Many people feel vaguely guilty about their prayer life because they compare themselves to others. God is a creative God and wants each person to have his or her own individual prayer life. Your prayer life doesn’t have to be just like anyone else’s.
Yes, there are proven principles of prayer that you can follow. As we see in Acts 3:1, the early disciples set aside certain hours of the day when they would go to a designated place to pray. That is good self-discipline, but that should be the start of learning to pray and not the finish.
We can discipline ourselves to establish a prayer schedule that is individually suited to us, but we can also learn to pray without ceasing. That means to pray at all times, in all places, with all kinds of prayer. I like to say, “Pray your way through the day.” Let prayer become like breathing, something you do with ease and without effort.
We never have to “wait” to pray. Each time you see a need or think of anything you need help with, pray right away! Prayer is talking to God, and since He is everywhere, we can talk to Him all the time.
Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of prayer! Help me to be mindful of You throughout the day and form the habit of talking to you about everything, any time. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Fiona Onasanya became the Labour MP for Peterborough at the 2017 snap election with a majority of just over 600 votes.
She was booted out of the Labour Party when she was convicted of lying about driving a speeding car and became an independent MP, still voting in some of Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement votes in the House of Commons.
In April, she voted for an extension to article 50.
She tweeted on Friday: “Thank you for allowing me to be your public servant during my tenure. To those of you who sent letters, cards, messages of support – thank you.
“To those who sent racially abusive, threatening, bullying, derogatory and vulgar remarks – as advised in my video, I will clear my name and I was willing and able to continue for as long as constituents wished for me to do so.”
“Therefore, in light of the recall result, I will not be seeking to stand in the by-election”, she added that she wanted to encourage everyone to “be the change they wish to see” and posted an article with photos of her meeting constituents and attending local events in Peterborough.
In March, Onasanya posted a video in which she claimed she was innocent but did not explain how.
What would you do if you knew you were innocent? In every single story, like a coin, there are two sides – now I am not legally restrained – this is mine.
MOUNTAIN OF FIRE AND MIRACLES MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, LAGOS, NIGERIA. MAY 2019 POWER MUST CHANGE HANDS, MAY 2019 PULLING DOWN STRANGE STRONGHOLD Scripture Reading: Mark 10 Confession: 2 Cor. 10:4
Power Must Change Hands, popularly known as PMCH, is a special service held once a month at MFM Prayer City. This programme is held every FIRST Saturday of each month from 7 AM to 12 PM WAT. PMCH is also broadcast LIVE on satellite tv and over the internet for people residing outside Lagos or the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
POWER MUST CHANGE HANDS PRAYER POINTS
AGGRESSIVE PRAISE WORSHIP:
O God arise, and uproot anything You did not plant, inside the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, in Jesus’ name.
O God, let the fire of revival, fall upon the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, in the name of Jesus.
O God, let the power of peace and progress, overshadow this nation, in the name of Jesus.
O God, arise and give us God-fearing leaders, in Jesus’ name.
Blessings that swallow poverty, come into my life, in the name of Jesus.
Every dark stronghold, holding my blessings, I render you powerless, in the name of Jesus.
Plans and expectations of oppression for my life, die, in the name of Jesus.
Every satanic contractor, hired against me, fall down and die, in the name of Jesus.
Every strange fire, prepared against me, catch your owner, in the name of Jesus.
I speak destruction unto every tongue speaking against me, in the name of Jesus.
My Father, arise and disgrace the battle disgracing me, in the name of Jesus.
My Father, let me know, let me see and let me experience Your power, in the name of Jesus.
Wherever men have ridiculed me, I will be celebrated, in the name of Jesus.
O God, arise and convert my insult to glory, in the name of Jesus.
My honour, stolen by the enemy, be returned seven fold, in the name of Jesus.
The eye to see my glory, O God, arise and give it to me, in the name of Jesus.
Any power that has sold me, O God, arise and cage them, in the name of Jesus.
Arrow head of the battles of my life, be exposed and disgraced, in the name of Jesus.
O God that troubled the enemy of the Israelites, arise and trouble my enemies, in the name of Jesus.
Powers, planning my nakedness, die by fire, in the name of Jesus.
Any power that wants me to be disgraced, die by fire, in the name of Jesus.
Any curse assigned to waste my life, break by fire, in the name of Jesus.
Doors of mistakes, opened for my life, close by fire, in the name of Jesus.
Every curse of rejection and neglect, break, in the name of Jesus.
O God, arise and mock the mockers of my destiny, in the name of Jesus.
Any power that wants me to see my mates and hide for shame, die, in the name of Jesus.
Powers, assigned to make me naked before my helpers, I bury you now, in the name of Jesus.
Any power assigned to turn me to a laughing stock, die, in the name of Jesus.
Thou power of envious witchcraft, die, in the name of Jesus.
Dreams of failure, threatening my breakthroughs, die, in the name of Jesus.
O God of times and season, break the pattern of sorrow in my life, in the name of Jesus.
Agreement of darkness to snatch my favour, scatter, in the name of Jesus.
Blood of Jesus, visit my yesterday and repair it for your glory, in the name of Jesus.
Altar of nakedness, pursuing my life, catch fire, in the name of Jesus.
Favour that has never happened in my family line, manifest in my life, in the name of Jesus.
I wash my head with the blood of Jesus, in the name of Jesus.
Strange serpents, assigned to stop me, I stop you before you stop me, in the name of Jesus.
Witchcraft animals, sent against me, receive blindness, in the name of Jesus.
Powers, using evil birds to slow down my destiny, die, in the name of Jesus.
My sleeping blessings, resurrect by the power in the blood of Jesus, in the name of Jesus.
Power Must Change Hands Prayer Points & Programme
POWER UTTERANCES
Every wicked power on assignment to shed blood against me, the thunder of God shall strike you to death today, in the name of Jesus.
Every evil egg, planted in my body to cause untimely death, the sword of fire shall uproot you from my life today, and I shall receive my deliverance, in the name of Jesus.
Powers, bringing poisons into my dream, your end is today. By the power in the blood of Jesus, begin to drink your poisons, in the name of Jesus.
Animals from the marine kingdom, appearing in my dreams, catch fire and die, in the name of Jesus.
Every instruction from the coven issued against me shall backfire today, in Jesus’ name.
By the manifestation of the power of God here today, my destiny shall be released from every known and unknown curse, in the name of Jesus.
O God, arise and let the strange moon assigned to be monitoring my life clear away today, in the name of Jesus.
PERSONAL PRAYERS
Confession: Psalm 91
O God arise, and uproot anything You did not plant, inside the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries.
O God, let the fire of revival, fall upon the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, in the name of Jesus.
O God, let the power of peace and progress, overshadow this nation, in the name of Jesus.
O God, arise and give us God-fearing leaders in this country, in the name of Jesus.
My glory in the captivity of the enemy, come out by fire, in the name of Jesus.
Resurrection power of the Lord, rest upon my glory, in the name of Jesus.
Every finger of witchcraft attacking my star, catch fire, in the name of Jesus.
The serpent that has eaten fat in my fathers house, catch fire and die, in Jesus’ name.
My health in the captivity of darkness, jump out now, in the name of Jesus.
Blood of Jesus, deliver me from blood serpents, in the name of Jesus.
Thus saith the Lord; (mention your name), you must arise and shine, in the name of Jesus.
(Mention your name), hear the word of the Lord; enter into your glory, in Jesus’ name.
Every bewitchment on my glory, break away, in the name of Jesus.
Voice of my glory, hear the word of the Lord; speak in the right place, in the name of Jesus.
MAY 2019 PULLING DOWN STRANGE STRONGHOLD
7:00 am – 7:15 am Opening Prayers
7:15 am – 7:45 am Praise Worship
7:45 am – 7:50 am Opening Hymn
7:50 am – 8:05 am Testimonies
8:05 am – 8:15 am Hour of Personal Intercession
8:15 am – 8:30 am Choir Ministration
8:30 am – 10:30 am Message and Ministration
10:30 am – 11:00 am Offering and Closing
MFM PMCH MAY 2019 HYMN:
1 Rejoice, the Lord is king! Your Lord and King adore; Mortals, give thanks and sing, And triumph ever more: Lift up your heart, lift up your voice: Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
2 Jesus, the Saviour, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains
He took His seat above;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
3 His kingdom cannot fail
He rules both earth and heaven;
The keys of death and hell
To Jesus now are given;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
4 He sits at God’s right hand,
Till all His foes submit
And bow to His command
And fall beneath His feet
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice:
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
5 Rejoice in glorious hope!
Jesus the judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home:
We soon shall hear the archangel’s voice:
The trumpet sounds rejoice, rejoice!
1 And can it be that I should gain An interest in the Saviour’s blood? Died He for me. Who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Chorus
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2 ‘Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
‘Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.
3 He left His Father’s throne above.
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love.
And bled for Adam’s helpless race.
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free.
For, O my God, it found out me.
4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray:
I woke the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
5 No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, thru Christ my own.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The word “behold” in our opening verse is very significant because it indicates your first responsibility as a new creature in Christ Jesus: you must see all things as new! If you don’t “see” that all things have become new, you’d continue with the old mentality of failure, sickness, poverty and defeat.
Perhaps you were diagnosed with an incurable ailment before you were born again; that sickness or disease has ceased to be; it has passed away with the old life. The new you—the recreated or born again you—has the life and nature of God which is superior to Satan, sickness, disease and death. But until and unless the eyes of your spirit are enlightened to see this current reality, you may find yourself still struggling with sickness.
Perhaps you failed in everything prior to giving your heart to the Lord; all that is passed now. Refuse to go on with the same mentality of defeat and failure. Psalm 1:3 describes who you are now that you’re born again: “…a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” You must “see” this as the present truth, the present reality about your life. You’re born a success, to be ever fruitful and productive in all that you do. Have this consciousness.
God created you for the good life, and for His glory. Ephesians 2:10 (AMPC) says, “For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” Hallelujah! See that you have a glorious life in Christ, and say, “Never again to the wrong life; never again to the negative life; never again to failure and backwardness!” See only progress and success. Hallelujah!
PRAYER Dear Father, thank you for the Spirit of wisdom and understanding that’s at work in me. I see what you want me to see, and I create what I want to see in my life and environment through the power of your Spirit who lives in me. My life is full of glory, beauty and excellence. In my path is progress and success only, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 1:19-51 & 2 Samuel 18-19
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 7:24-37 & Numbers 7
Rhapsody of Realities 4th May 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
READ: GALATIANS 2:1-10 New King James Version (NKJV)
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me.
And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.
Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage),
to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.
But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter
(for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),
and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.
THE MESSAGE:
Just as it was in the time of Paul, there are mixed-multitudes in the Church today.
These false brethren profess to know God, but they deny Him by their deeds. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good deed, rebellious, burdened with sin, ever learning yet never able to know the truth (2 Timothy 3:7).
Our reading today tells us that Paul didn’t yield to their demands nor did he compromise his faith. He maintained the truth of the gospel by refusing to yield to their influence.
The intention of these false brethren is to bring us into bondage, thereby hindering us from finishing our heavenly race. We find them everywhere today: in the Church, in the society, in our families, and even among our ministers. Watch out and beware of them. They are faithless, compromisers; members of the synagogue of Satan (Revelation 2:9), enemies of the gospel and men and women of counterfeit faith. By their fruits, we shall know them.
Brethren, we can overcome them by studying the word of God and meditating on it so that we will be well-rooted and grounded as the word dwells richly in us. We must never yield to the craftiness of these false brethren.
Prayer: Lord, please deliver us from the evil nets of false brethren; help us to finish this race strongly in Jesus Name.
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