Christian Action Research & Education (CARE) has put on the P Word Conference in partnership with the Naked Truth Project and it takes place at Belfast Bible College on Friday 20th October from 10am to 4pm.
Prominent church leaders and leading experts will gather to discuss, pray and tackle the issue of pornography.
There will be live presentations and pre-recorded contributions and delegates will be given the practical tools to feel equipped to address pornography in their churches and communities.
There will also be a prayer space, set up by 24-7 Prayer for those who want to intercede and pray for this issue during the event.
CARE’s Churches Development Officer for Northern Ireland, Tim Houston, told Premier in a press statement: “Pornography has never been more accessible, affordable, anonymous or addictive.
“Pornography use is widespread in our communities, including in our Churches, and we need to address it due to the damaging impact it can have on those who watch it and those who are in the industry.
“Christians have a long reputation of standing up against harmful norms that have become commonplace in society today. This is another issue that we will not only speak out on, but partner with church leaders to equip them to talk about why we should tackle pornography addiction and pastor people through it.
“P Word resources the church to understand the social costs of pornography and gives leaders the tools needed to address the issue back in their churches and communities, leading to long term, positive change.”
Christian rockers Needtobreathe broke out a spiritual warfare anthem during a 2012 guest appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. On that stage, where secular rockers sing almost every night, Needtobreathe sang about the band members’ constant battle against the lies of the devil. Watch the live performance here.
The call came from Angela Williams, the co-founder and chief executive of Christian campaign group Christian Concern who, according to The Times, said that the archbishop was in a prime position to mediate in kidnap negotiations.
She’s quoted as saying:
“Resolution is an important part of the archbishop’s work and with his background in this area he should play a personal role.
“He has the experience of negotiating with kidnappers in this area.”
The Most Rev Justin Welby had previously negotiated the release of hostages in the Niger Delta part of Nigeria where David Donovan and his wife Shirley were kidnapped last week.
He has also visited the Delta on a number of occasions while he was the treasurer of the oil exploration group Enterprise Oil plc, where he was mainly concerned with West African oil projects.
Mr and Mrs Donovan run a primary care clinic and train local staff.
The archbishop was out of the country and could not be reached for comment.
Although the Donovans were criticised for working in an area notorious for kidnapping westerners, Ms Williams said:
“Christian missionaries provide vital services such as this clinic in Nigeria. When God calls you to go to a place and you have something to give then it is a calling you cannot ignore.”
As well as Mr & Mrs Donovan, the Times says that the other two hostages are known as “Alana” and “Tyan”.
End-times scholar John Shorey believes the recent natural disasters will kick off the seasons of judgments as described in David Wilkerson’s Set the Trumpet to Thy Mouth.
“The great holocaust in America will follow an economic collapse. The enemy will make its move when we are weak and helpless,” Wilkerson prophesied.
“I believe it’s the earthquakes that will be the domino that pushes the economy to the brink of no return,” Shorey says.
Chip and Joanna Gaines are back in the news. Critics continue to look for reasons why they would step away from their very profitable television show, but Chip’s explanation is simple: “That’s not what motivates us: more money, more fame, more things. We didn’t really want all of this stuff to begin with.”
Yesterday was the thirtieth anniversary of Black Monday, the worst day in Wall Street history. While experts believe our economy is safer now than it was then, 85 percent of US adults nonetheless experience some form of financial anxiety. Roughly two-thirds admit that their financial anxiety is negatively affecting their health; 70 percent say it is adversely impacting their home life.
More Americans than ever before are stressed, depressed, and anxiety-ridden. A perceptive commentator noted that “the epidemic of anxiety is not just a mental health issue, but it is also cultural pathology. Our way of life promotes anxiety and its consequences.”
Ministers are not immune from the anxiety of our age. A third of pastors admit that they battle discouragement, fear of inadequacy, or depression. Consider this observation:
“Perhaps the ministry was never busier than it is now. Hundreds of men are hoarse from continual speaking, and are wearied out with running here and running there. If things slow down, we evolve yet another type of meeting. And when this new and added wheel is spinning merrily with all the other wheels, there may be no spiritual outcome whatsoever, but there is a wind blowing in our faces; and we hot and sticky engineers have a comfortable feeling that something is going on.”
Arthur John Gossip wrote these words in 1952. What would he say of our frenzied, over-scheduled church culture today?
By contrast, Oswald Chambers notes: “In our Lord’s life there was none of the press and rush of tremendous activity that we regard so highly, and the disciple is to be as his Master. The central thing about the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship to himself, not public usefulness to men.”
Craig Denison adds: “You’ll find no greater joy, peace, or purpose than in serving Jesus alone. There is no greater life than one lived in full devotion to the King of all the earth.”
I have found that I experience sustained peace and joy in direct proportion to the degree that I am in love with Jesus. When the living Christ is just part of my life rather than the focus of my life, the spokes detach from the hub and the wheel breaks down. When I walk with Jesus through the day, worshiping him and thanking him and asking for his wisdom and depending on his power, I experience a centeredness and deep delight that words cannot express.
Henri Nouwen describes our Lord as the God “who sent his Son to become God-with-us and . . . sent his Spirit to become God-within-us.” Think of it: the God who rules the universe now inhabits your body.
Should we love anyone or anything more than him? Should we work in our power or his?
Speaking on US TV show The Talk, the gospel artist revealed how she struggled to deal with depression and mental health issues as a teenager before joining the Beyonce Knowles-Carter headed group aged 20.
The ‘Say Yes’ singer explained: “For years, I’m in one of the top-selling female groups of all time suffering with depression.”
However, it wasn’t until her thirties that she was able to understand what she was going through.
During her time in the girl group, Beyonce’s father Mathew Knowles – who was the group’s manager – also struggled to understand why she felt the way she did.
She said: “It got really really bad to the point of I was suicidal.
“I was to that place where it got so dark and heavy because sometimes you feel like ‘I’m the provider, I take care of people, I’m not supposed to be feeling this way – what do I do?’ I wanted out.”
Williams was a member of the group between 2000 and 2005, alongside Beyonce and Kelly Rowland.
She told the CBS talk show that she had been inspired to speak out about depression by fellow musician Demi Lovato, who has been vocal about her own mental health problems.
This follows a growing number of artists who have also decided to speak out about mental health.
Christian grime artist Stormzy previously struggled with depression, and shared these experiences in tracks on his debut album ‘Gang Signs & Prayer’.
When Jesus returns, let Him find faith in you. (qimono/Pixabay/Public Domain)
“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b).
You can’t have faith without the truth of God’s Word holding final authority in your life. Faith is based on the truth and authority of the Scriptures. The end of your faith is when you begin doubting the Word of God, and it stops carrying authority in your life. The end of your faith is when you no longer live by the Word of God. Multitudes of professing Christians in the church system today have departed from the real faith. Many no longer even believe the Scriptures are inspired of God.
Eye-Opening Statistics
A few years ago in another national poll on Christianity in the churches of America these telling statistics were revealed.
Studies showed that even though 79 percent of those who actually attend evangelical churches find their faith “very important”, only 36 percent of them actually believe that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life. What? That one is hard to believe. The slightly larger majority believe that many religions can lead to eternal life. And these are church members.
The drop in percentages among mainline churches is even more telling. Only 14 percent believe that Jesus Christ exclusively provides the only way to eternal life, while 83 percent think many religions lead there. Only 22 percent of this group even believe that the Bible is fully inspired while another 28 percent believe that it is just a book written by men, not the word of God. Compare this to evangelical churches, where only 7 percent do not believe the Bible is a divinely inspired book.
The great tragedy and deception is that many think they can be Christians while rejecting the Word of God and every major doctrine and practice of the true Christian faith.
The most disturbing trend, however, is in America’s 18-35 group. While some polls show roughly 9 in 10 Americans still maintain belief in a god or gods, the trend of religious young Americans is toward a conglomeration of varied religious beliefs, including atheism. A 2010 USA survey revealed that 72 percent of the nation’s young people identify themselves as “more spiritual than religious.”
Furthermore, with an increasing majority of younger Americans accepting evolution as fact, Christianity for many under 35 is becoming a watered-down hybrid version of Eastern philosophy and biblical teachings. This trend among our young people towards being “spiritual but not religious” points further to the declining belief and practice of Christian doctrine and the embracing of a broader relationship with all other religions and beliefs.
This explains most of the above statistics, doesn’t it?
Falsehood is increasing at an alarming rate in our land. The true word of the Lord is becoming rare, and there is a famine of it. It is the reason God led me to write on The Real Salvation, The Real Gospel, The Real Jesus and The Real Spirit of Revival. Readers think these books are radical, but they’re really not. It’s just that we’ve had the watered-down version of the gospel for so long that these books seem radical. They are normal. They are filled with truth. When falsehood slips in, the plain, unadulterated truth seems radical. The day is upon us now when truth must be trumpeted loud and clear.
The prophet Isaiah lamented a defiled nation submerged in injustice, oppression, sin, and falsehood.
“Justice is turned backward, and righteousness stands far off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey” (Is. 59:14-15).
Without truth, there is no justice, righteousness or equity. He who stands for truth in this evil day will be the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule. They will be as prey that are hunted and killed.
Doubt: Satan’s Greatest Weapon
Satan’s greatest weapon is disseminating doubtful reasonings into humanity as he did at the beginning, which led to man’s fall.
Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God said, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit from the trees of the garden; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You will not eat of it, nor will you touch it, or else you will die.’ ” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:1-5).
Notice how Lucifer, now Satan, deceived Eve. He made her doubt the Word of God by making these three core statements:
“Has God said, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?”
“You surely will not die!”
“You will be like God.”
Jesus said that Satan is a liar and the father of lies. “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
Notice the progression of Satan’s fatal suggestions:
First, he injected doubt into Eve’s mind through deception concerning what God had said.
Secondly, he then outright denied to Eve’s face what God said.
Thirdly, he deified man and told her that she would be as God.
Therein those three statements lay the deification of man: the gradual dethroning of God and the exaltation of man.
First, Eve began to doubt the absolute authority of the Word of God. Unless the Bible becomes the basis and authority of our total belief system, we will give place to lies, heresies and doctrines of demons. Satan asked Eve a question that amounted to: “Did God really mean what He said?” That subtle questioning of God’s Word then turned into a bold contradiction of it: “You surely will not die.” And finally, it ended with a false promise: “You will be like God.”
It was when Adam and Eve acted on Satan’s subtle suggestion that sin was birthed. Then with sin came death, sickness, disease, poverty, hatred, strife and suffering. It all began in Lucifer’s heart and was then injected into God’s first creation before being passed on throughout every generation.
The fall of man started with doubt. Doubt always brings death. Faith always produces life.
“For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness'” (Rom. 4:3).
The greatest heroes of the faith have always been those who believed the Word of God (Heb. 11). Don’t be a part of the apostate church and the unbelieving world. Do not be deceived by the devil’s chicanery and subtle lies. Rise up, resist the devil’s lies and stand strong in the truth of God’s Word.
When Jesus returns, let Him find faith in you.
Bert M. Farias, revivalist and founder of Holy Fire Ministries, has authored several books with an emphasis on helping to restore the true spirit of Christianity in the Church today, including the newly released, Passing on The Move of God to The Next Generation and the highly sacred book, The Journal Of A Journey To His Holiness. An anointing of fire marks his ministry with frequent demonstrations of the Spirit and power of God. He ministers interdenominationally and cross-culturally in nations, churches, conferences, on the streets and in homes. He and his wife Carolyn also host The Holy Ghost Forum – a school of the Spirit. Follow him at Bert Farias and Holy Fire Ministries on Facebook and @Bertfarias1 on Twitter.
Readers are Leaders! Subscribe now and get 3 magazines for the price of 1. Get Charisma, Ministry Today and SpiritLed Woman all for $24. YES – Sign me up!
3 Reasons Why you should read Life in the Spirit. 1) Get to know the Holy Spirit. 2) Learn to enter God’s presence 3) Hear God’s voice clearly! Click here to draw closer to God!
Topic: Know & Stay Within Your Calling — Saturday 21, October 2017. Memorise:For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. – Romans 12:3 Read: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (KJV)
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Bible in One Year: Colossians 1-4, Daniel 10:15-11:6, Hymn: Sing Hymn 15 – The Comforter Has Come Saviour
MESSAGE:
Anyone who wants to be successful in life without struggling must know the reason why God sent him or her into this world. As a child of God, it is particularly very important for you to know your calling and stay within it. There are many reasons why a child of God should know and stay within his or her calling. The Holy Spirit expounds on this in Romans 12:3 saying:
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
Open Heavens 22 October 2017: Sunday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Fulfil Your Calling
This scripture reveals a serious mistake that knowing one’s calling could help to avoid. That mistake is thinking of oneself more highly than one ought to. For example, a person called as a teacher seeing himself or herself as an apostle would get into a lot of problems. He or she will commit blunders, and can only be rescued by reporting and staying within the call of God with every sense of sobriety.
Also, in our Bible reading, we are exposed to the diversities of gifts given by the same Spirit of God. Irrespective of the type of gifts we are given, 1 Corinthians 12:7 says this about their purpose:
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
This scripture reveals that these gifts are for the purpose of blessing the Body of Christ. This is why you should never make merchandise of spiritual gifts. Freely the Holy Spirit gives, and freely we must operate in His gifts without profiteering. This might be the reason why Elisha refused to take the gifts offered by Naaman, the Syrian army general, after he was healed of leprosy (2 Kings 5:15-16). Moreover, we must not only know our calling, we must also stay within it as a matter of necessity. Those who would not stay within their calling will end up in frustration. The truth is, no calling is inferior to the other, and none is superior either (1 Corinthians 12:15-25). It is an inferiority complex that makes a child of God think that he or she is not gifted, when he or she can sing, witness or give generously without constraints. It takes a divine calling to be rich and still find it easy to distribute your riches to meet people’s needs. Ananias and Sapphira entered into the calling of giving like Barnabas, when they were not called into it, and they met their waterloo (Acts 4:36-37, Acts 5:1-11). That thing you are doing for God with ease is your area of calling. Identify and stay in it. God bless you.
Prayer Point:Father, open my understanding to know my calling and give me the necessary contentment to stay within it in Jesus’ Name.
Open Heavens 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. iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
Darrel Girardier joins us to discuss how bet to operate your church’s communications efforts for both online and in print.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
The tools you use depend on the skills of the user.
When you build a website on a proprietary platform, you’re stuck with that platform.
“The majority of your church’s social media content should revolve around the sermon.”
You should see growth over time with your social media the more people engage with it.
Having a planning calendar allows you to better schedule your church social media content.
The four communications problems ways churches lose volunteers are:
Technical (What tools should we use?)
Content (What should we create and share?)
ROI (What is a win?)
Resources (How do we maximize our time?)
About Darrel
Darrel Girardier is the Digital Strategy Director for Brentwood Baptist Church. He is focused on helping churches utilize social media and technology in advancing their mission. He and his wife, Amy-Jo, have two kids—Scout and Skylar.
Episode Sponsors
Midwestern Seminary is interested in helping you get to the field faster. And they’re serious about training leaders for the church. That’s why they’ve created the all-new Accelerate Program. In Midwestern’s Accelerate Program, students earn both Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Divinity degree in just 5 years of intensive study. That’s a B.A. and an M.Div. at the same time. This innovative residential program combines rigorous academic training with practical ministry preparation, resulting in one of the most effective programs around, so that you can pursue your ministry calling as soon as possible.
Two degrees in five years – all in one program: Accelerate at Midwestern Seminary. Take the next step by visiting mbts.edu/accelerate.
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.
Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.
Basic Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:5-7; John 10:19-39
Once a public bus driver starts his intolerable antics, he is simply regarded as “ mad.” When a young preacher takes the pulpit and with some over-exagerated gestures, ministers the Word, he is regarded as “mad.” Years ago, at Orlando Florida, I saw a young music artist who had his hair plaited as though he was a woman. But more weird was the fact that he had two different hairstyles on, as he thrilled the crowd. He was the center of attraction and to many present, he was probably “mad.” However, in everything great people do, the operative word which they always bring to bear is something close to “madness.” Here, we are not concerned with psychiatrics cases of clinical dimension, but the degree of personal rebellion against the general accepted norm. Sometimes for me to write, I switch into this madness mood. That is when I rebel against every pain or distraction! I kneel down to write, sometimes I stand to write, sometimes, I lie down to write, and at such times, the GRACE and FLOW is awesome! Great men have always been people society consider to be “mad.” Hosea 9:7 says: “The prophet is fool. The Spiritual man is Mad.” To walk with or for God, you must walk like a madman! Noah seemed mad to his generation!
A seventy year-old man called Abraham was considered mad to move his household from the known ( the land of his fathers) to the unknown ( an unseen Promised Land). Elijah/Elisha lived abnormal lives! They were considered mad by their generation! No wonder Aristotle said, “there was never a great genius without a tincture of madness.” The friends of Jesus considered Him as mad (John 10:20). Paul was declared a mad man (Acts 26:24)! Refuse to follow the crowd! Be different if you must! Refuse to follow your five senses. Choose walk by faith – the sixth sense. Take actions based on the Word of God, which defy your brain. Men may consider you as mad, but only mad men are celebrated by their generation! Refuse to conform, because conformity is the jailer of dreams!
Please never forget what Jim Rohn said: “Success lies in the opposite direction of the normal pull.” Be different! Shout 12 Halleluyahs and pray now!
THE LAGOS (LEKKI) MOUNTAIN INTERNATIONAL ANOINTING SERVICE is NEXT Saturday October 28th; TIME: 8am-11:30 am. Theme: “AHITOPHEL MUST DIE! HOUSEHOLD WICKEDNESS MUST DIE!” Come with NAME OF FAMILY MEMBERS and any point of contact.
Prayer Points: Take Song 2: I need thee……..
1. I receive grace and determine to walk by faith and not by sight in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord, make me different in my generation (pray it very well). Pray in Tongues today a lot!
3. Lord, move me forward and upward today in Jesus Chris name. I refuse to please society or men. Lord, radically make me a blessing! Declare often: “The spiritual man is mad! As 2017 ends, I walk by faith, not by sight.”
By Bishop (Dr) Chris E. Kwakpovwe (Cek) Publisher/Writer Of ODM And Rev (Mrs) Flora E. Kwakpovwe (Fek) Co-Publisher/Writer Of ODM.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
