“And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:48 KJV
Whatever you tolerate in your life has the capacity to grow and overwhelm you. If you tolerate mediocrity as a young person, that is what would characterize your life and vice-versa. If you must experience a paradigm shift and take all that is rightfully yours, then you must be ready to get out of your comfort zone and do the unusual. Life would not give you what you want but what you demand of it.
Let me illustrate my point. In 1 Samuel 17, God’s people were daily harassed and intimidated by Goliath. No person could dare challenge him in all the land. Everyone was limited, garaged and literally brought to their knees by one man. David came into the camp at the right time and heard the challenge. He, immediately, decided to put an end to the siege against God’s people. As far as David was concerned, Israel had lost so much ground, Goliath had been in charge for too long and it was time for power to shift.
From our text, you will notice that David ran towards Goliath rather than run away from him. What is that saying to you? Don’t get frightened! Run towards your challenges and obtain the victory. As the seed of the righteous, the scriptures declare that you would contend with the enemy at the gate. When the enemy brings the fight to your gate or place of influence, you have a responsibility to stand up to him. In this case, Goliath brought the battle to the gates of God’s people and it took a son, and a builder of the family name to remove the shame and reproach. That is what you are called to do. Your own ‘Goliath’ may be in your academics, low self-esteem or undue peer pressure. I encourage you to confront your own ‘Goliath’ today and see it bow before you.
Further Reading: 1 Samuel 17:20-58
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- 1 Samuel 4-6; Evening- Luke 9:1-17
Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own (1 Corinthians 6:19).
In Exodus 25:8, God expressed His desire to dwell in the midst of His people. He said, “…let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” Notice He didn’t say, “…that I may visit them,” no; not a visit. He said, “…that I may dwell among them.”
Moses obeyed God’s instruction, and rallied the children of Israel to bring all the necessary offerings to build a beautiful sanctuary in accordance with the pattern and plan God gave him. However, that wasn’t good enough. God wanted a new sanctuary and showed David a vision of the new sanctuary; He gave him the design and specifications.
David was excited, and laid down much gold and silver for the building of the temple. Nevertheless, it was Solomon, his son, who was approved of God to build the temple, and he built God a magnificent temple. Again, God was still not satisfied. The Bible says, “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet” (Acts 7:48).
Then Jesus came on the scene and said, “…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The word translated, “Church” means “assembly or congregation of the called out ones.” It’s therefore not a physical building, but a living tabernacle of human beings, called and chosen of God.
Ephesians 2:21-22 NIV says, “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” We’re God’s habitation through the Spirit! His vision to dwell in the midst of His people has been realized in us.
2 Corinthians 6:16 says, “…for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Each one of us is a temple of the Holy Spirit. He lives and walks in us. God’s dream from the foundation of the world is now fulfilled in us. The mystery that was hidden from ages and generations has now been made manifest, and fulfilled. The mystery is, Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:26-27). Hallelujah!
PRAYER Precious Father, I worship and adore you; thank you for making me your dwelling place. I acknowledge your Spirit living in me, protecting, guiding, and leading me in your perfect will. Thank you for beautifying my life with the glory of your presence, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: Leviticus 26:11-12; Acts 7:44-49; Colossians 1:26-27
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 12:22-48 & Judges 9
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 1:1-13 & Leviticus 10
Rhapsody of Realities 10th April 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
Every living mortal soul owes God the unfinishable debt of praise. Paying the debt of praise is endless because even in eternity in Heaven, praise still continues.
SCRIPTURE: Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. Psalms 67:5-7
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Until you release to God the praise that is meant for Him, the earth does not release the portion that is meant for you.
Every living mortal soul owes God the unfinishable debt of praise. Paying the debt of praise is endless because even in eternity in Heaven, praise still continues.
From our anchor Scripture, it is very clear to note that until you release to God the praise that is meant for Him, the earth does not release the portion that is meant for you. Your response to God in praise determines the Earth’s response to you in supplies. No devil can hold your possessions if you do not withhold the praise that belongs to God.
Now, why must we thank and praise God?
For Divine Health: Praise God for the health that you have. Breathing air in and out without any form of assistance is a reason for thanksgiving (Psalm 150:6).
For the Knowledge of God: It is a blessing to know God and His Word; this knowledge changes your mentality and puts you ahead of your contemporaries (Jer. 9:23-24).
For Frustrating the Expectations of the Wicked: Praise God for the traps that were set for you but you escaped them by the grace of God (Psalm 18:1-3).
Beloved, until you are tirelessly grateful to God for where you are, you cannot be continuously fruitful in life. Where you are and what you have is a starting point for your praise to God.
REMEMBER THIS: Until you release to God the praise that is meant for Him, the earth does not release the portion that is meant for you.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Praise God tirelessly and consistently.
Let praise be your lifestyle; praise Him for where you are and where He is taking you to.
PRAYER: O Lord, I praise You for Who You are to me. Thank You for where I am now and for where You are taking me, Lord in Jesus’ Name
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE VIRTUES OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING.
QUOTE: It does not matter what the devil has taken from you, if he has not taken God from you, that evil is a bastard loser! Culled from 30 SECRETS TO THE TOP by Dr Paul Enenche
DAILY READING: Deuteronomy 34:1 to Joshua 2:24, Luke 13:22 to 14:6, Psalm 79:1 to 3, Proverbs 12:26
AMAZING FACT: The femur, which runs from the hip to the knee, is the longest, largest and strongest bone in the human body.
TODAY IN HISTORY: 10/04/1912 – 1849 – Walter Hunt patented the safety pin. He sold the rights for $100.
Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
Key Verse: “But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong” (Joshua 17:18).
MESSAGE:
It is common for many people to want to be great, but unfortunately, not all is ready to pay the price in a legitimate way. Many want to be rich, but they are not ready to put in corresponding effort. They want to eat but they are not ready to work. They want God’s protection and divine intervention but they are not ready to obey Him!
The text under consideration reveals how the children of Joseph (Manasseh) asked Joshua to increase their lot because the one given to them was no longer enough for them. The response of Joshua makes us to understand that the problem was not that the territory was too small, rather, it was because the half tribe of Manasseh still allowed the Canaanites to occupy a large portion of their lot. This is utter disobedience to the command of God. The fear of Manasseh was that the Canaanites possessed iron chariots which they felt they could not confront.
Joshua challenged them to be bold and that their lot would be enough for them if only they were ready to fight to drive away the heathen that wrongly occupied a portion of their land. Joshua was a brave and imperial leader who was ready to tell the people of Manasseh that the solution to their problem was within reach, if only they were willing to pay the price.
If you want your coast to be enlarged, then, you need to obey Christ who has commanded us to resist the devil and that he will flee from us. Then, you need to arise, resist the devil, possess your possession and get your coast enlarged through travailing in prayer.
Thought For The Day: Entrust your “little” to Christ to lift you up.
The Bible In One Year: Acts 5-6
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
Flatimes’ Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
TOPIC: Our Ever-Present Help (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 10 April 2019)
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 15-16; Luke 10:25-42
FIRE SCRIPTURE: Psalms 46:1-7
MEMORY VERSE: “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. – Deuteronomy 31:6
The MESSAGE:
God is a dependable refuge for His people when everything around them seems to be falling apart. He is our strong tower against the foe, a defence for His people, but He does not protect us in order to pamper us. He shelters us so He can strengthen us to go back to life with its duties and dangers. He is an “ever-present help”, but He cannot work for us unless we trust Him (Matthew 13:58). He is the only One that can get us out of tight places when we are boxed to a corner and threatened on every side.
When the Assyrian officials threatened Jerusalem, Isaiah told the king, do not be afraid because of the works that you have heard. The earth may change, the mountains may be hurled violently into the sea, there may come earthquakes and tidal waves, but all things are in the control of our sovereign Lord. Circumstances may change, but God’s covenant with His people will never change. He is our high tower and our refuge in the uncertainties of life.
God’s people have always depended on the hidden spiritual resources that come from God alone. Whenever the enemy comes against us as a flood, the Spirit of God is readily available to lift up a standard against him. The challenges of life confront us differently but the faith and confidence we express in God determines how stable we would be. His promise in Isaiah 43:2 Is that when you pass through the waters, He will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you, when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.
The experience of Job clearly explains what the Bible means by the ‘enemy coming like a flood” against someone. Job’s credentials in terms of relationship with God, and his possessions in terms of blessings of God are what any child of God would desperately desire, but certainly, not his travails. Even satan recognised that Job was untouchable for as long as God’s protection upon him and his possessions was intact. The flood of attacks against Job was permitted by God to put Job’s loyalty to test and prove satan’s allegation wrong. When you imagine what Job suffered, you will begin to feel some emotional pains within yourself that would make you pray that such a fate should never befall you.
Job lost all his children and properties in one day but he did not lose his relationship with God. Despite the calamities, Job still fell to the ground and worshipped God. On another day, satan struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his feet to the crown of his head such that his state of health irritated his wife to the point of telling Job to curse God and die. His three friends initially identified with his travails but later turned against him, claiming that Job was being punished justly by God. Who would job now turn to for help now that his friends and wife no longer see any hope for his recovery? Only God was with him throughout this period of flood of affliction, keeping a close eye on him, and preventing satan from taking his soul.
God did not leave Job alone in his troubled hours. He turned away Job’s captivity and restored double for his losses. God was present with him during his troubles but did not prevent the trouble from coming upon him. As promised in Isaiah 43:2, Job passed through the waters but he did not sink, he passed through the rivers but the river did not carry him away, He walked through the fire but was not burned to death. The enemy was rejoicing over him during his moment of affliction but he laughed last over all his adversaries. His wife and friends that castigated him came around rejoicing with him when the Lord turned his sorrows to rivers of joy. So shall God do for you when you hook on to Him as the ever-present help in the time of trouble. Shalom!
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE: THE DOWNFALL OF A MAN IS NOT THE END OF HIS LIFE.
PROPHETIC WORD: God will send you help as soon as you call for it.
PRAYER POINTS:
MORNING
O God, please strengthen me in the hours of my temptation, in the name of Jesus.
Flood of affliction, my life is not your candidate, go back to your senders, in the name of Jesus.
Rage of the waters against my family, be quenched by the power in the blood of Jesus, in the name of Jesus. EVENING
The joy of the enemy over my life, be converted to sorrow, in the name of Jesus.
I shake into fire, every garment of affliction, in the name of Jesus.
I shall bounce back by fire, whether my enemies like it or not, in the name of Jesus.
I recover sevenfold, whatsoever the devil has stolen from me, in the name of Jesus.
MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
Topic: Not as an Evildoer! (Open Heaven 10 April 2019)
Memorise: “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.”- 1 Peter 4:15
Read: Daniel 6:1-24 (KJV)
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
Bible in One Year: 1 John 1-4, Jeremiah 15:1-9
Open Heaven 10 April 2019 Wednesday MESSAGE:
In today’s memory verse, the Holy Spirit specifically admonishes us to ensure that we do not suffer as evildoers. This implies that God has ordained evildoers to suffer some form of repercussion in this world before ultimately facing His judgment in eternity. Who are those the Holy Spirit refers to as evildoers in 1 Peter 4:15? Simply put, evildoers are people whose works are evil. The Holy Spirit helps us narrow this broad classification down by revealing to us the fountain of all evil works in James 3:16, which says:
“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
We therefore understand from this verse that evildoers are those whose works are born out of envy and strife. Such people are generally schemers who operate by mischief. Their soul is eaten up by jealousy borne out of envy and strife, and this keeps them awake at night devising schemes to entrap their victims. No wonder the Holy Spirit further says of them in Micah 2:1:
“Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.”
We see an example of such people in today’s Bible reading. Out of envy, these evildoers came up with a scheme to entrap Daniel and destroy him completely to their own benefits. Evildoers usually perpetrate their evil works by cleverly disguised their schemes as harmless. Everyone else within the system is usually ignorant of the real purpose and objectives of their actions, except by the help of the Spirit of discernment.
As a child of God, don’t be worried by the activities of evildoers or envious of their accomplishments, because the face of the Almighty is against them. Psalm 37:1-2 to says:
“1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”
Indeed, evildoers may sometimes rise to the top in the family, community, nation or even in the Church of God, but they shall be suddenly cut off, as it happened to Daniel’s adversaries. God’s word in Micah 2:1 makes us understand that such people are operating under curse of God. Their wickedness will therefore be returned upon their own head (1 Samuel 25:39). I decree that the Judgment of God will begin to pursue every evildoer troubling your life, family, nation, and the Church of God today in Jesus’ Name. However, examine yourself to ensure you are not suffering under the Judgment of God as an evildoer.
Open Heaven 10 April 2019 Wednesday Action Point:
Repent of every evil scheme you are involved in today and perform the needed restitutions.
Open Heaven 10 April 2019 Wednesday Hymn 5: Let Others See Jesus In You
1 While passing thro’ this world of sin,
and others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.
Chorus:
Let others see Jesus in you,
Let others see Jesus in you.
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true;
Let others see Jesus in you.
2 Your life’s a book before their eyes,
They’re reading it thro’ and thro’
Say, does it point them to the skis,
Do others see Jesus in you?
3 Then live for Christ both day and night,
Be faithful, be brave and true,
and lead the lost to life and Christ.
Let others see Jesus in you.
Open Heaven 10 April 2019 Wednesday Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heaven 10 April 2019 Wednesday Daily Devotional.
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
‘Only God Can Do That’: How Nebraskans Are Reconciling Faith and Flooding
LINCOLN, Neb. (RNS) — In the days following major midwestern floods this spring, people of faith prayed for their neighbors and got busy lending a hand.
They also turned to their beliefs to make sense of a disaster that washed away homes and roads, leaving more than a billion dollars of damage in its wake.
For members of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, the floods came at a sacred time, when the Ponca people celebrate the arrival of spring and the new year with the first thunderclap.
Some took to Facebook to celebrate: “First thunder!”
Some gathered quietly or said quick prayers of thanks to Wakonda, or God, that winter was ending and the earth was coming back to life, according to Dwight Howe, culture director for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.
The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is one of four federally recognized tribes with headquarters in the state of Nebraska, according to Howe. About a third of Ponca members live in Nebraska — many of them in service areas affected by the flooding.
“It’s a holy time. It’s a powerful time. And this on top of it just sort of made it even almost supernatural,” he said.
That sacredness was underscored last month when, not long after the first thunder of the season, heavy rains fell and snow melted across the Midwest. Something called a “bomb cyclone” struck and dams broke, washing away bridges and…
Video Games, not Chastity, to Blame for Young Men Not Having Sex, Sociologist Says
A leading sociologist says video games – and not a sudden interest in chastity – may be to blame for a dramatic increase in the percentage of young men not having sex.
The latest data from the General Social Survey shows that a record 23 percent of all adults have been celibate the past year, driven by changes in behavior among young people, according to The Washington Post.
Since 2008, the percentage of men under 30 who have not had sex the past year nearly tripled, to 28 percent, The Post reported. It was a much steeper increase compared to women under 30.
Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at the San Diego State University, says one explanation behind young male celibacy may be the uptick in young men living with their parents. Young people are delaying marriage until their 30s and 40s. Twenge blames technology, too.
Glenn T. Stanton, a sociologist and director of global family formation studies at Focus on the Family, also blames technology.
“No one really knows for sure what is causing this, but there are educated ideas,” Stanton told Christian Headlines. “I will be bold and say I think it’s primarily, if not totally, because our online lives have totally eclipsed the real-life, human lives of young men. When you live huge portions of your day sitting in the dark playing video games, it’s going to have an effect on…
Half of Pastors Are Concerned They Will Offend Someone If They Speak on Social Issues
In a new report from the Barna Group, nine out of 10 Christian pastors said they feel that helping Christians form biblical beliefs about specific issues is a major part of their job.
The report found that pastors face pressure to address specific, sometimes hot button, issues. However, at the same time, pastors said they struggled with just how to address those topics, such as LGBT issues and same-sex marriage.
“The stakes are high in the public square,” the researchers wrote in their report. “The issues pastors feel most pressured to speak out on are the same ones they feel limited to speak on.”
According to the study, half of Christian pastors said they felt occasionally or frequently limited in their ability to speak out about those controversial issues.
The biggest topic clergy say they felt pressure to talk about is homosexuality. Nearly half of respondents says they feel limited in how to talk about homosexuality in their church, but at the same time some 37 percent said they felt pressure to speak about it.
“They actually feel pressured to not preach on certain topics or pressured to speak on topics that they are not ready to talk about,” said Barna Group president David Kinnaman.
The study also looked at how pastors feel about religious freedom. Some 75 percent of pastors said they believe religious freedom is becoming…
Imam in Eastern Uganda Faces Wrath of Muslims after Putting Faith in Christ
NAIROBI, Kenya, April 9, 2019 (Morning Star News) – Sheikh Hassan Podo, a 28-year-old imam in Kerekerene village in eastern Uganda, missed mosque prayers for three consecutive weeks and was seen entering a church building around noon on March 16.
He had kept his faith in Christ a secret for three weeks. The young Muslim who saw Podo enter the church building in Katira Sub-County, Budaka District, went straight to Podo’s parents and brothers to report him.
When Podo arrived at the house that evening, his family interrogated him about where he had spent the better part of the day.
“Without my completing answering them, my brothers immediately began surrounding me, with sticks,” Podo told Morning Star News. “It was difficult to escape. They began shouting, beating and insulting me as an ‘infidel’ and enemy of the Islamic religion.”
His wife and two children managed to escape to the home of a nearby Christian neighbor, he said.
With sticks and other blunt objects, Podo’s relatives injured his left arm from the shoulder to his fingers, said one of the area residents who found him unconscious. He also sustained a head injury.
“There was a loud cry emanating from Podo’s homestead, raising a big concern from the neighbors who arrived at the scene of attack and helped Podo to escape,” the source said. “He bled as he fled for his life….
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