Evangelist Daniel Kolenda's Blog

WE'VE MOVED - MOVE WITH US!

2010-01-28T19:16:00.001-05:00

FIND THE NEW AND IMPROVED BLOG AT: WWW.DANIELKOLENDA.COM

NEW BLOG FEED BURNER

2010-01-28T19:14:00.002-05:00

For those of you that subscribe to the RSS feed the old one will not work any longer. Here is the new one:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/Danielkolenda

N E W B L O G ! ! !

2010-01-28T16:56:00.003-05:00

I am happy to announce the launching of my NEW and IMPROVED blog! On it you will find all of the historic content from this old blog...except you will see it as never before. It has been designed to accommodate the big, breathtaking panoramic pictures from our Gospel campaigns around the world.

Going forward I will be posting all new content at this new location, so be sure to BOOKMARK it or CHANGE YOUR RSS FEED ADDRESS so that we will continue to be in touch.

I'd love to hear your feedback: tell me what you like and what you don't like so that we can continue to improve it and make it more helpful and enjoyable for you.

To view the new blog FOLLOW THIS LINK: www.DanielKolenda.com

The Great African Outpouring - Live From Ugep - Video Blog

2010-01-27T15:33:00.001-05:00

Occultists are Born Again! - Ugep, Nigeria - Day 5

2010-01-24T18:20:00.005-05:00

Another great Gospel campaign has come to an end and, as always, we feel mixed emotions. We will miss Ugep and it’s people very much, but we rejoice with what God has done here. It is a miracle. Ugep is only a small village, but tonight 185,000 people were present and received the Word of God with great joy. Many thousands were born again including a group of young men who came forward to testify tonight that they were part of an occult movement in the local university, but they have now given their lives to Jesus and renounced occultism! (pictured above)

We have often been told that the local churches are filled with miracle testimonies of what God did in the campaign every Sunday even a year after we are gone. Im sure this will be the case in Ugep. There is no doubt in our minds that Jesus has done something extraordinary here:

A well-known local man who has been a lunatic for the past 26 years was instantly healed…the crowd was extatic (pictured left). A man crippled for 24 years walked without aid tonight along with a child who was also crippled. A woman was healed of breast cancer and a man’s paralyzed arm was totally restored. These miracles and others were just a sampling of the thousands of miracles that took place over the past few days.

In three weeks we will be back in Africa for another Gospel campaign in the city of Numan. We are burned with a sense of urgency to reap this mighty harvest while it is ripe. There is no time to waste. In the words of Leonard Ravenhill, “The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity.” Thank you for continuing to stand shoulder to shoulder with us in this historic harvest of souls.

(Pictures by O. Volyk)

The Great African Outpouring - Ugep, Nigeria - Day 4

2010-01-23T17:38:00.004-05:00

What we are experiencing here in Nigeria defies all description. It is nothing less than a sovereign outpouring. This morning the Holy Spirit fell in the Fire Conference before I had a chance to preach. After Rev Peter Vandenburg ministered the people began to cry out to the Lord and the Holy Spirit swept across that field with a tangible presence. I interrupted the normal schedule and began to prophecy over the people and even as I was speaking the Fire fell. All over that field men and woman were laid prostrate and the Holy Spirit filled many thousands in a spontaneous way. I laid hands on a couple hundred pastors and sent them into the crowd to lay hands on all the people. As they moved through the crowd cripples began to walk and the sick were healed. It was glorious!

Tonight after I preached the Gospel and prayed with thousands of people who wanted to receive Jesus, we prayed again over that massive crowd to receive the Baptism into the Holy Spirit and the Fire fell once again. We heard amazing miracle testimonies:

A woman said that her son had died yesterday and so she brought him to the crusade field. She laid his lifeless body on the ground during the meeting. When I began to pray I said, “If there is anyone dead within the sound of my voice, I command life to return to your body in Jesus name.” Suddenly, she said, he opened his eyes, turned to her and said, “Momma – I’m thirsty”!

One man who’s right arm has been paralyzed for the last 17 years said that during the prayer he felt like there was a wire moving through his arm, into his shoulder, up his neck and into his head. He said when it reached his brain his arm was instantly able to move perfectly.

On Thursday I prayed especially for those with AIDS and told them to go get tested again. One young man who had been diagnosed HIV Positive just 2 weeks ago was retested yesterday and brought his report from the doctor tonight. I saw it with my own eyes…he is now HIV Negative!

The miracle testimonies just kept coming until we had to turn them away; a woman with breast cancer said her lumps instantly vanished. A lady deaf since she the age of three demonstrated perfect hearing and a crippled man walked.

These are not just church meetings. What is happening here in Nigeria is an ongoing outpouring the likes of which I have never seen. More than 55 million have been saved in the last 10 years alone. The sick are healed, the blind see, the lame walk, the dead are raised! I am sure that history will remember this as one of the most remarkable waves of Holy Spirit impact the world has ever seen. This is the Great African Outpouring.

Curses Broken - Ugep, Nigeria - Day 3

2010-01-22T18:25:00.005-05:00

Tonight, when we arrived at the Crusade ground we discovered that someone had brought an entire idolatrous shrine to be destroyed. Together with idols, charms, fetishes and many occult paraphernalia we burned it and the people rejoiced. I also called out the local curses - names so feared most people are not willing to speak them out loud - one by one I took authority over them, breaking them off the people of Ugep in the name of Jesus. The joy was uncontainable. The people danced until the sky was thick with dust. Today is a day of Salvation and freedom.

After the prayer for salvation many miracles happened, and we saw an extraordinary proportion of paralytics healed. Have a look at the picture of one young man who lived with so much pain from a motorcycle accident that it had left him nearly crippled. Now he jumped like an athlete and testified that all pain has gone. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow is our Holy Spirit Baptism day and also the conclusion of the Fire Conference. Please pray for a mighty outpouring of God's fire that will transform the Body of Christ in Ugep into a Gospel powerhouse that will continue to impact this region long after our team has gone.

Ugep is Buzzing - Ugep, Nigeria - Day 2

2010-01-21T16:41:00.007-05:00

We are experiencing a mighty surge of Gospel impact here in Ugep. Even now I can hear outside my window the thousands of people who have literally flooded the streets on their way home from the meeting, which doubled in size from last night. The word is out…Jesus is here - and all of Ugep is buzzing!

The response to the Gospel message tonight was overwhelming and the miracles were popping like popcorn. A 23-year-old woman deaf and dumb from birth heard and spoke tonight with amazing clarity. The crowd could hardly contain their joy when she repeated after me: “One,” “Two,” “JESUS!” It was glorious!

A woman who had been paralyzed on her right side demonstrated how she had received full use of her arms and legs. She went walking and leaping and praising God like the man at the “Beautiful Gate.” I choke back the tears as I think of it now.

A woman brought her son who had been insane for last 15 years. He had been completely mad; violent and uncontrollable. Now he spoke softly and was in his right mind. He told me that Jesus had healed him. Praise the Lord!

This morning was also the start of the Fire Conference and Rev. Peter Vandenburg and I were amazed by the responsiveness of the people. They have not come just to be spectators; they have come to receive, and I am sure that they will in Jesus name. Stay tuned, much more to come…

Charged With Faith - Ugep, Nigeria - Day 1

2010-01-20T15:54:00.005-05:00

Dear Mission-Partners,

What a wonderful start here in Ugep! Have a look at the crowd-picture. The Gospel rang out as clear as a bell and a wave of salvation followed. The prayer for the sick yielded glorious healings: A blind man saw, a crippled walked.... The atmosphere was charged with faith – gripping the congregation as well as the preachers. Faith breeds boldness. The leading men in Jerusalem “saw the courage of Peter and John” (Acts 4:13). Their fearlessness was plain for all to see. Israel’s supreme judges with their fossilised traditions were shocked into wide-eyed astonishment at the sight of mere Galilean fishermen addressing the court with the confidence of kings issuing edicts. The Bible is the book of the bold, not the cringing. We will continue to preach this glorious gospel with great boldness here in Ugep. Please continue to pray for us.

Yours on God’s harvest-fields,
Reinhard Bonnke, Daniel Kolenda and the whole CfaN Team.

It Begins Tonight! - Ugep, Nigeria - Video Blog

2010-01-20T14:00:00.000-05:00

ARRIVAL in Ugep, Nigeria

2010-01-19T15:32:00.004-05:00

Dear Mission-Partners,

Yes, we arrived today in Ugep/Cross River State/Nigeria to a tumultuous welcome. Such excitement and expectation! It stirs our hearts. What an honor and privilege to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Tomorrow the Crusade begins and we expect great things from God. Please for us as we stand at the frontline of the Gospel. In spirit we are here together with you, our dear partners in the Gospel. Please stay tuned to “the mighty acts of God”.

Yours here from Ugep,
Daniel Kolenda, Reinhard Bonnke and the whole CfaN Team.

Pictures by Oleksandr Volyk

Please visit our websites at http://www.cfan.org

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

2010-01-18T17:59:00.005-05:00

Today America celebrates one of its great leaders, Martin Luther King Jr. Although I am in Nigeria right now, I decided to honor the day by reading one of Rev. King’s great, but under-emphasized writings, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” I was both moved and inspired. I would encourage everyone to read the full letter HERE and share it with your family today.

Although Martin Luther King Jr’s main message was civil rights, his words, written in 1963 still ring with resounding truth like words of a prophet with fire shut up in his bones and carry a powerful message for the people of God today. Here are a couple of excerpts that I thought were especially profound:

“There was a time when the church was very powerful--in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators."' But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests. Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent--and often even vocal--sanction of things as they are.”

“…Though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label.

Was not Jesus an extremist for love: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

Was not Amos an extremist for justice: "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream."

Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus."

Was not Martin Luther an extremist: "Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God."

And John Bunyan: "I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience."

And Abraham Lincoln: "This nation cannot survive half slave and half free."

And Thomas Jefferson: "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal . . ."

So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime--the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment. Perhaps the South, the nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists."

This week we are back in Nigeria where we will conduct a Gospel Campaign in the city of Ugep beginning on Wednesday night. The Gospel is an extreme message about the most extreme act of sacrifice and love ever performed. And we are here as Gospel "Extremists" going to "extreme" lengths, traversing extreme distances, taking extreme risks and paying an extreme price for the sake of the salvation, forgiveness and freedom of the precious people that will hear our message. Please keep us in your prayers as we look forward to another might harvest of souls this week.

The Salvation of a V.I.P.

2010-01-10T17:25:00.003-05:00

This past week I had the most incredible experience in evangelism that I have had in my life thus far. I had the privilege of leading someone very, very, very important to Jesus...a V.I.P. of note. He had done something wrong and felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Of course he didn’t realize that it was the Holy Spirit at first, all he knew is that he felt bad inside. His heart felt dark and he didn’t like it at all. So he told me about it and I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with him. When he heard it, he didn’t hesitate. He told me that he wanted Jesus, he wanted forgiveness and he wanted salvation. We prayed together and with tears in his eyes he gave his heart and life to Jesus. I have prayed with world famous people, I have preached on the streets to burnouts and drug addicts. I have had the opportunity of leading millions of people to Christ in our mass Gospel campaigns and preached in on every inhabited continent of the world and yet, no single salvation experience has impacted me as much as this one. The V.I.P. was my 5-year-old boy who is not only my friend and my son, but now, as of January 7th, 2010, he is also my brother because of the precious blood of Jesus.

2010 New Year Video Blog

2010-01-07T13:12:00.002-05:00

A Testimony from the Taiwan Fire Conference

2009-12-17T10:21:00.005-05:00

We have received many testimonies of the powerful things God did at the Fire Conferences in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Here is one I just received today;

"Wendy" writes: "I was there in the Taiwan Fire Conference! I am still jumping with the "Fire"! In fact, my ears still resound with the word "Fire" that you shouted to me as I received the prayer from the "anointing tunnel"...thank you, thank you, thank you...for coming to Taiwan! God has used Evangelist Bonnke and you incredibly!

My best friend Noel and I have received from the Lord the calling to go to Japan during the Conference! And we are already making plans of penetrating the business world there with a radical corporate training programs using dramas with embedded message of Jesus' salvation...

The Fire will keep going in Taiwan! Taiwan shall send out missionaries to all of Asia and to the ends of the earth!"

We pray for Wendy, Noel and thousands of others that have been touched by the fire of the Holy Spirit and we pray that it would engulf all of Asia for the Glory of God.

2009-12-17T10:12:00.004-05:00

"The Bible is beyond other books as the river is beyond a drop of water, as the sun is beyond the candle, and as the mountain is beyond a grain of sand. It is the fountain in which martyrs have cooled their faces, the pillow upon which the saints of all ages have rested their hearts; it breaks the fetters of the slave, takes the pain out of parting, takes the sting out of death, takes the gloom out of the grave and gives us a hope that is steadfast and sure." ~ Dr. R.G Lee

Heaven Keeps Getting Richer - On the Death of Oral Roberts

2009-12-16T06:44:00.009-05:00

My wife and youngest son with Oral Roberts in his Newport Beach home in March 2009

Heaven became more wealthy yesterday as it welcomed to its illustrious ranks, the famous Pentecostal evangelist, Oral Roberts who died at 91 years of age. He was a pioneer in the healing movement and an inspiration to countless other young evangelists. I visited with him several months ago in his Newport Beach home and was challenged in many areas. He said to me, "Do you pray for the sick in all your meetings?" "Of course," I said. He rephrased the question and asked it again, this time a bit more deliberately. "Do you pray for the sick EVERY TIME you preach?" When he put it that way I had to say "no." He said, "You must." The ministry of Jesus was three-fold he told me: "preaching - teaching - healing." That is a description of the ministry of Jesus and that is also a description of the ministry of Oral Roberts;: Preaching, teaching and healing in the name of Jesus. May the next generation pick up the baton from these heroes in the faith and finish the race.

Interesting Pictures from Sapele, Nigeria

2009-12-16T05:01:00.001-05:00

Click this picture to enlarge it (for a good laugh) This is the menu that the guys made for our Christmas dinner in the tech container. (you'll have to forgive the tech guys...some of them still need to get saved:-)

Christmas dinner...delicious!

We provided Christmas dinner for our volunteer nigerian workers as well. Here it is: before and after

Our African crusade director; John Darku winning some silly "award"

"Bushmeat" AKA lunch

A hearse on two wheels

Nigerian soldiers who have just gotten saved filling out "decision cards" that we use to help usher them into local churches

3-Year-Old Boy Raised From the Dead!

2009-12-15T12:03:00.006-05:00

"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: " ~ Jesus Christ (Jn 11:25)

People have been asking for more details about the 3-year-old boy that was raised from the dead last week in Sapele, Nigeria. It is a truly extraordinary story and worth some elaboration.

Last Saturday night (December 12) a woman came to the meeting with a 3-year-old son that was very ill. During the service she said that he actually passed away. I was still on the platform ministering when she brought him behind the platform. She was holding his lifeless body and weeping when the ushers found her. They confirmed that he was indeed dead and told her that all the crying in the world wouldn't bring him back to life. They said, "Take him to the medical tent." "No," she told them, "I want to bring him to the man of God." Security allowed her to wait there until the service was over.

As I was walking down off the platform, surrounded by ushers, there were people all around wanting prayer as usual. But this woman, holding a child caught my eye. I stepped to the side and said, "What's wrong with him?" They told me in broken pigeon English, "The child is not well." They dropped his limp body in my arms, and I prayed for about thirty seconds before handing him back to the mother.

Before service started on the following night (Sunday), John Darku, our African crusade director told me that there was a woman there with an incredible testimony. Rev. Peter Vandenburg and I went down to speak with her. I was amazed to find that it was the woman from the night before. She had brought her son, and he was perfectly well. They told us that the child had come back to life almost immediately after prayer.

My message that night was from Romans 8:2, but before I preached it I brought this woman and her son onto the platform along with a witness to give the testimony. The crowd of more than 200,000 people exploded with rejoicing when they heard about the miracle. It was Romans 8:2 in action - "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and of death."

RAISED FROM THE DEAD!! - Sapele, Nigeria - Day 5

2009-12-14T07:14:00.006-05:00

Last night after the service, a woman stopped me as we were getting in the car to leave. In her arms she held her dead 3-year-old son. I held the body for just a moment, prayed and then left. Tonight we heard the testimony; as we drove away, the boy came to life and he is now perfectly well! She shared the testimony tonight and the crowd went wild! All of Sapele is rejoicing. Praise the Lord!

The crowd grew to 200,000 tonight. The mood was bitter/sweet. We are all so thankful for what the Lord has done, but sad that it ends tonight. We may never see the beautiful faces of the people of Sapele again in this world, but one day we will meet at the feet of Jesus for all eternity. That is why we come. That is why we preach. That is why we pay the price to reach them. We will return home now with the knowledge that hundreds of thousands have heard the Gospel and an entire city has been impacted. What a privilege!

I also wanted to share some special pictures with you in this report. Since this is the final campaign of 2009 we (the CfaN crusade team) celebrated Christmas together in one of the technical equipment containers. Some of our resourceful technicians prepared a wonderful turkey dinner in their make-shift oven…it was delicious! Our team is like a big family; united by a common calling to take the Gospel, “From Cape Town to Cairo”. I share this with you because we feel that you are also a part of this family. Even though we are separated by many miles today, we are laborers together in this historic harvest. We recognize the valuable part you play in this team as a prayer partner and a financial partner and we appreciate you.

From all of us here in at Christ for all Nations MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Living in the Book of Acts - Sapele, Nigeria - Day 4

2009-12-12T17:58:00.008-05:00

Today was the conclusion of the Sapele Fire Conference. When we arrived at the venue, early this morning, we were amazed to see that the crowd had literally doubled in size! The people had come to receive. Rev. Peter Vandenburg preached a poignant message about “Final Steps to Receiving the Power of God” and then I followed with a short teaching. When we prayed, heaven came down. Many thousands were touched. It was glorious!

Tonight, after the prayer for salvation, we also prayed for a mass baptism in the Holy Spirit over that huge crowd. As Evangelist Bonnke sometimes says, “On the day of Pentecost the crowd watched as the disciples were baptized in the Holy Spirit. Today, we watch as the crowd is baptized in the Holy Spirit”. These truly are the days of Harvest.

Last night I told the people that were not healed in the meeting that some of them would wake up tomorrow morning to find that Jesus had healed them. One woman who had been crippled by a stroke and rheumatism for 28 years, but Jesus appeared to her in a dream at 2:00 this morning and healed her legs. She threw the crutches away and demonstrated her healing to the delight of the crowd.

I also received a word of knowledge last night about someone who had been wounded by a gunshot and had not been able to recover from it for years. Tonight that woman gave her testimony. Shot in the leg four years ago, she had been partially crippled since. Tonight she and I danced together on the platform…she is healed!

One man shared a comical testimony. He said that he is well known in the city as an addict and alcoholic. Last night I prayed that addictions would be broken. At about that time he was trying to smoke a cigarette, but he could not get it to light. Suddenly he said he fell to the ground unconscious. Ever since he got up he has not had a desire for anything he was addicted to. He took his pack of cigarettes, threw them on the ground and began to stomp them. Praise the Lord!

We heard other wonderful testimonies as well including a woman deaf in one ear for nine years that was totally healed. One thing is sure; Jesus is alive and well in Sapele, Nigeria!

Salvation, repentance, healing, deliverance and Holy Spirit baptism – all in one night!! It is as though we are living in the Book of Acts.

Momentum is Building - Sapele, Nigeria - Day 3

2009-12-11T17:58:00.004-05:00

Momentum is building here in Sapele meeting by meeting on every front. Word is spreading through Delta state that Jesus is here, mighty things are happening and the people are running. Tonight the crowd increased to 135,000 and the response level was absolutely amazing! I feel as though I am preaching to dry sponges that soak up every word and savor it with joy. What a privilege to preach to such people!

Tonight we brought out the big metal barrels and burned witchcraft stuff. This is an area steeped in idolatry, but tonight, the people made a powerful statement best put by the words of the song they sang, “I will never worship a man-made god.” We all rejoiced as “the devils property” went up in a tower of flames.

Here are a few of the miracle testimonies we heard:

- A man deaf in his left ear began to hear tonight
- Woman was healed from a fibroid she had carried for 17 years
- A woman unable to lift her arm for 10 years suddenly felt the power of God come on her body and demonstrated that she now has full use of her arm.

Tomorrow is the conclusion of the Fire Conference when we will pray for every one of the thousands of delegates to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Please pray for a mighty outpouring that will shake Sapele to its core.

Emancipation Proclamation - Sapele, Nigeria - Day 2

2009-12-10T16:52:00.006-05:00

The Gospel is not Good News for everyone. To the principalities and powers that have held Sapele in bondage for generations, the Gospel is a declaration that their demonic kingdom has come to an end. The keys of death, hell and the grave have been confiscated and Jesus Christ is Lord of all!

Tonight I preached about the power in the blood of Jesus to save, to cleanse, to heal and to protect. After the prayer for salvation, I called out the names of the local curses one by one and broke their power over Sapele in the name of Jesus! It was an emancipation proclamation and it seemed as if every one of the more than 100,000 people in attendance received it with dancing and rejoicing as though their day of Jubilee had finally come.

This picture is of a man who told us the incredible testimony of his healing. He had been insane for the last seven years. Also, he was partially blind and paralyzed. Because of all his problems his wife had left him. But last night he was totally healed. His right mind returned to him as well as full use of his body and eyes. And the greatest part of all is that his wife had heard about his dramatic healing and CAME BACK TO HIM. He told us that she was there in the crowd waiting for him. The crowd went wild as he danced for joy. His mother stood at his side and confirmed this incredible story.

The picture below is of a woman whose tumor instantly disappeared tonight.

What an incredible night! We are truly rejoicing and praising the Lord! More to come tomorrow…

Let There Be Light! - Sapele, Nigeria - Day 1

2009-12-09T16:31:00.004-05:00

We have just returned from the first meeting of this Great Gospel Campaign here in Sapele, Nigeria where the atmosphere was absolutely electric! 75,000 people attended tonight’s opening meeting and brought with them an eager expectancy and hunger that was truly remarkable. As I preached, it felt as though the people were drawing on the anointing through their faith. I knew right away that mighty miracles would happen tonight and sure enough, after the prayer for salvation Jesus began to heal the sick. Here are a few of the testimonies we heard:

- A man deaf in one ear for over 20 years received perfect hearing
- A man blind in one eye for 3 years said that he suddenly could see after the prayer
- A woman said that a tumor which she had for more than 10 years, fell off during the prayer
- Also, see the attached picture of a young man healed of asthma

Tomorrow, the Fire Conference begins first thing in the morning. Rev. Peter Vandenberg and I will minister to the local pastors and church leaders.

In creation, God declared, “Let there be light” and the infinite void was illuminated. Today God has put his creative and powerful word into our mouths and as we declare the Gospel, light is shed abroad in even the darkest of hearts. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. We are here in Sapele as His mouthpiece to speak life to this land and to shatter the darkness with the supreme radiance of the Gospel. “Sapele…let there be light In Jesus name!”

Arrival in Sapele, Nigeria

2009-12-08T18:28:00.006-05:00

We have finally arrived in Sapele, Nigeria and we are all poised and ready for a mighty harvest of souls this week in the campaign that starts tomorrow night.

This morning we arrived in town and were heartily welcomed by the townspeople (see the attached picture of a little princess who came out to meet me with flowers). There is an atmosphere of eager expectation here and sense that this campaign has been Divinely appointed for this time. Tonight at the pastors banquet, the crusade chairman said, "You are coming at a very strategic period in the history of Sapele, a time when everybody is hoping that God will divinely intervene in the affairs of this town.”

He went on to say that the body of Christ in Sapele has already begun to benefit "in no small way" from our coming because it has "brought us together in a holy body of Christian unity like never before. Denominational barriers have suddenly crumbled and believers as well as ministers and becoming more united." Praise the Lord!

Please keep us in your prayers throughout the week. We are believing for salvation, healing, deliverance and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that will be historical and unprecedented in this land. As always, we will keep you updated each night so stay tuned...

(Pictures by O. Volyk)

Over 100,000 Participate! - Taiwan Fire Conference

2009-11-28T08:42:00.000-05:00

Written By Rob Birkbeck

The Taiwan Miracle
Taiwan’s industrial and economical boom in the last half of the 20th century has been dubbed the “Taiwan Miracle.” Another, more enduring, miracle occurred in Taiwan, though, as the Fire of the Holy Spirit and the transformative power of the Gospel touched a nation.

Flame Still Burns
Last year's Christ for all Nations’ 2008 Taiwan Fire Conference was like a match to dry wood. With the team’s return to Taiwan this year, it was evident from the opening notes of worship that the flame was still burning strongly. Those present at last year’s meetings could see the difference from the start. The Taiwanese Christians were passionate in their participation and hungry for all that they could receive from the Lord. Exuberant expressions of worship and a readiness to receive the Word from Evangelists Bonnke and Kolenda signified that the Taiwanese Christians had remained aflame throughout the past year…now, ignition would not be necessary, but throwing on the oil of the Holy Spirit would intensify those flames and continue to strengthen the church in Taiwan.

Indeed, in the previous year’s meetings, delegates were encouraged through compelling messages from Evangelists Reinhard Bonnke and Daniel Kolenda to reach the lost. In this year’s Taiwan Fire Conference, they had opportunity for action. The Fire Conference for pastors and church leaders concluded Friday morning, and then turned to two evening Gospel Crusade events for the lost in which the delegates themselves were to be the primary soul-winners.

Jesus Saves Sinners to Save Sinners
Co-sponsor of the events, GOOD TV of Taiwan, had advertised the crusade meetings to secular audiences, but the primary means of bringing the lost to the crusade meetings was the Fire Conference delegates themselves. Each delegate was encouraged to reach out and bring one unsaved person that they knew to the evening crusade meetings.

The Gospel Crusade included performances from top Taiwanese musical and dance groups. Then, the clear and simple, yet forceful Gospel message was presented. The altars were filled by those responding to the call of salvation, so much so that the entire front part of the ground floor was engulfed by those seeking the life-changing, miracle-working and restorative power of Jesus. Each convert was accompanied to the altar by his or her inviting Christian friend, who would now act as counselor and disciple the new believer.

Technology Takes the Word Further
The 12,000 who gathered in the Lin Kou Stadium on the final evening were just a segment of those whom the messages would reach. Some 300 churches participated in the Fire Conference and Gospel Crusade via webcast, with around 100,000 people in their combined audience. They partook in all the activities with their groups, including communion and laying on of hands. This allowed not only more participants than stadium capacity, but also included those who may have been hindered from attending because of the costs of travel, the unavailability of leave, etc. Additionally, these webcast locations created strategic networks of discipleship that allowed people to be connected with local churches in their own cities.

Even more lives will be touched as GOOD TV rebroadcasts the events to the multiplied millions of actual and potential viewers in the surrounding countries covered by their far-reaching satellite and web network. With facility to download the ‘Now that You are Saved’ follow-up material translated into Chinese and a mechanism to send prayer requests by internet long after the actual event is over, these outreach meetings in Taiwan could be the furthest reaching Gospel Crusades in CfaN’s history. Only Heaven will know the full number of people who are touched and who respond to this extended multi-nation altar call.

The “Miracle” in Taiwan will spread throughout Asia and into the rest of the world…through any means possible – television and web broadcasts reaching millions, and individuals reaching people one at a time, by being on fire with the flame of the Holy Spirit, spreading fire wherever they go.

CHINA WILL BE SAVED! - Hong Kong Fire Conference

2009-11-22T08:14:00.003-05:00

Written By Rob Birkbeck

“Oh, for eloquence to plead the cause of China, for a pencil dipped in fire to paint the condition of this people…” ~ Hudson Taylor, missionary to China

History-Making
One year ago, Christ for all Nation’s Hong Kong Fire Conference made history as the largest gathering of Chinese Christian leaders ever – 5,000 assembling from all regions of China. Remarkably, this year’s conference surpassed that record as 8,500 Christians traveled from mainland China to be part of the Fire Conference.

Hungry for the Word of God and the Fire of the Holy Spirit, the Chinese Christians were not disappointed, as the Lord met them there. Like Jesus promised in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

A full session of worship jumpstarted the three-day event. The Chinese praise group, Melody of My Heart, came together from around the world to minister. Expressions of exuberant praise transformed the AsiaWorld-Expo into the largest church these humble yet hungry Christians had ever experienced. Evangelists Bonnke and Kolenda continued the meetings with powerful messages, encouraging the delegates, and inspiring them to believe for the very same, if not even greater, harvests of souls in China that CfaN sees today in Africa.

Called and Equipped
Most times, Fire Conferences are about compelling Christians to do the work of evangelists – to obey the Great Commission and reach the lost. For these Chinese Christians, who toil for God under sometimes difficult circumstances, the Fire Conference had another purpose – a time of refreshing, fellowship with other believers, and impartation from the Lord. Additionally, they were equipped with the much-needed resources for evangelism and for training in evangelism.

Again this year, the Full Flame Film Series was distributed to every delegate, along with materials for replication. The delegates were intentionally selected from every one of the twenty-three regions in China, and will now return to their homes and reproduce the film sets. This strategic network of believers will disseminate these powerful inspirational film sets and spread the message and passion for winning the lost for Jesus.

Holy Communion
Not only were the Chinese from all twenty-three regions of China, but they represented each of the three major streams of churches, some of them with striking contrasts in practice and beliefs, at times leading to discord and distance between them. During the communion service, the presence of the Spirit was strong as the church being one body of Christ was emphasized. Top leaders from every branch agreed that a restorative and uniting work happened. Forgiveness flowed like a balm – towards each other and all who have hurt the church. Clearly, the church in China will move forward as more unified – in Spirit and in purpose.

Salt and Light
Each meeting of the Fire Conference was held at the AsiaWorld-Expo, which is situated in Lantau, one of the many islands of Hong Kong. Lantau is known for a time in its history when salt was illegally produced there, mostly for export to China. The CfaN Fire Conference was also about producing “salt,” and “exporting” these Chinese Christians to the entire world! They will bring with them the flavor of the Holy Spirit and the preserving presence of God.

During the concluding service of the Fire Conference, Daniel Kolenda, along with a team of ministers, laid hands on all 8,500 delegate to anoint them, bless them, and send them into the harvest fields. The fire of the Holy Spirit came and set flame to every heart, abiding in each as if a fireplace.

Saturday evening was dedicated to a Gospel crusade to reach the lost in Hong Kong. Requiring a complete change in language, a different Cantonese-speaking worship group, and radio transmitters to provide translation for the Mandarin-speaking Chinese delegates, the team worked quickly to make the switch. Reinhard Bonnke preached a clear and forceful Gospel message, and the altar was filled with new converts.

From Wheelchair Bound to Boundless Joy
Afterwards, the sick were prayed for, and there were glorious miracles. One lady, well-known to the CfaN staff, was among those touched mightily by God. At the 2008 Hong Kong Fire Conference, she had coordinated one of the dance groups that ministered during the Opening Celebration. Shortly after that event, she suffered a stroke that had left her paralyzed on one side and wheelchair bound. She came this year, not as a dance leader, but as a broken woman who had lost hope. Pressed by a friend to come, and offered to sponsor her expenses, she agreed. Desperate and clinging to faith, she took a bus all the way from Nanjing. During this year’s Fire Conference, God miraculously healed her, and she leapt up from her wheelchair. She hadn’t walked since the previous year, but now she walked onto the stage to testify and then was able to walk home.

Many others also testified to the healing miracles God worked during the Fire Conference. Days after the CfaN team had left, reports continued to circulate giving details of the amazing healings confirmed by witnesses. Pastors and church leaders were overjoyed by the outpouring of miracles like they had never seen before.

Undoubtedly, the landscape of China will be changed by the seeds planted in the good soil of the Chinese delegates. As Daniel Kolenda proclaimed: "China will be saved! We're not asking for it...we're declaring it in the Name of Jesus!"

Where Am I? Oh yeah...Hong Kong!

2009-11-18T01:59:00.011-05:00

Have you ever woke up and wondered, "What country am I in?" Well...welcome to my life. I finally figured out that I am in China:-) - Hong Kong to be exact and our campaign here begins tomorrow.

Thousands of pastors and church leaders are arriving from all over mainland China, and we are all bracing for a powerful three days. The days will consist of impartation and equipping for the leaders, and in the evenings, open evangelistic meetings will be held in the stadium. Please keep us in your prayers and check back for daily updates.

We Are On Cloud Nine! - Ibadan, Nigeria - Day 5

2009-11-15T19:00:00.005-05:00

Dear Partners in the Harvest,

We have just returned from the last meeting of this Gospel campaign here in Ibadan, Nigeria and we are all on cloud-nine. The attendance peaked tonight at 500,000 priceless souls, each one eternally valuable because Christ sought them in pain, blood and love. He wants them, even at the cost of the death-rack of the cross. The title deeds of His purchase are in His hands - His wounds. If we were sensitive to such extremities to seek and save the lost, would we want anything except what He wants?

“Christ love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and those who live should no longer live for themselves.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

Have a look at the incredible picture attached! The crowd seemed almost endless. The Gospel was received with great joy and then came the miracles.

A woman, unable to lift her arm for 4 years was instantly healed. She waved her arms and danced with joy.
Another woman with a severe limp for 14 years walked, ran and jumped…perfectly!
A young woman said that her ear has had an infectious discharge everyday for the past 16 years. A couple nights ago, during the prayer, it instantly stopped and has been dried up ever since.

After the testimonies, Evangelist Bonnke took the microphone and began to bless the people, and pray for the nation. The people received each declaration with a mighty, “AMEN.” I am sure Ibadan will never be the same!

Thank you for your prayers and financial support. We are laborers together in this harvest with you. We go now to Hong Kong with great faith knowing that what God has done here, He will also do in Asia because Jesus Christ is the same.

Yours in the Gospel,
Evangelists Daniel Kolenda & Reinhard Bonnke,
Together the whole CfaN Team.

Pictures by O. Volyk

Salvation, Healing & Holy Spirit Fire - Ibadan, Nigeria - Day 4

2009-11-14T16:27:00.005-05:00

Dear Partners in the Harvest,

The view tonight was surreal. 350,000 people crowded onto the field, every one with needs that they came expecting Jesus to meet. Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke took the microphone and began to preach. The message of the Gospel was crystal clear: “…Turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.” Then he prayed for the mighty crowd to be filled with the Holy Spirit and Jesus was true to His word, baptizing thousands of hungry souls in His fire - just as He did this morning in the packed fire conference (picture attached).

The other picture is of a woman who was instantly healed tonight after being unable to lift her arm for 5 months. We preach the full-Gospel which is all encompassing; salvation, healing, deliverance and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. In Scripture, the Gospel is never mere doctrine, abstract thought, but always takes shape in some vivid mercy, culminating supremely in Christ's death and resurrection. “While we were still sinners Christ died for us…” (Romans 5:8)

Tomorrow night is the final meeting of this Gospel campaign in Ibadan, and we are looking forward to pulling in the nets one more time. Today is the day of Salvation!

Yours in the Gospel,
Evangelists Daniel Kolenda & Reinhard Bonnke
Together the whole CfaN Team.

The Weight of God's Glory - Ibadan, Nigeria - Day 3

2009-11-13T16:45:00.007-05:00

Dear Partners in the Harvest,

Tonight’s attendance climbed to 300,000 in Ibadan. It was an awesome meeting. God’s glory rested on young and old like a wonderful but heavy weight. What an altar-call and what outpouring of the healing-mercies of Jesus. Evangelist Daniel Kolenda ministered tonight with a great authority and we heard many wonderful testimonies:

A woman with cervical cancer for 3 years suddenly had a discharge last night during the payer and has not had any more pain since! Another woman had a triple miracle; she was healed of a skin infection, malaria and a crippled hand all at once tonight! Also, have a look at the attached picture of a woman who was barren before the last Ibadan crusade in 2001. She was healed and conceived that same month. She has had two other children since…praise the Lord!

Tomorrow is our so-called “Holy Spirit Day”. God’s touch torches us, makes firebrands of us and sets driftwood on fire. The disciples said, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road?” (Luke 24:32).

Please pray for a massive outpouring of the Holy Spirit tomorrow, on Saturday.

We love you and pray for you also.

Yours in the Gospel,
Evangelists Reinhard Bonnke & Daniel Kolenda,

Pictures by Oleksandr Volyk

Crowd Grows to 250,000 - Ibadan, Nigeria - Day 2

2009-11-12T16:37:00.001-05:00

Dear Partners in the Harvest,

Tonight the crowd grew to 250,000 souls hungry for the Bread of Life. The cross was lifted high and the people responded with resounding voices: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” What a joy to preach the Gospel!

Afterwards the miraculous began to break out including a 7-year-old boy, dumb from birth, who spoke tonight for the first time. Also see the attached picture of a tiny, 1-year-old baby that had been unable to sit until tonight…Praise the Lord!

The Fire Conference started today as well with many thousands of delegates who gathered from 6:00 in the morning, eager to receive the Fire of God. Tomorrow we continue the meetings that will culminate on Saturday with a mighty outpouring of Holy Spirit Fire! Please continue to pray for us.

Yours in the Gospel,
Evangelists Daniel Kolenda & Reinhard Bonnke,
Together the whole CfaN Team

Pictures by Oleksandr Volyk

A Grand Start - Ibadan, Nigeria - Day 1

2009-11-11T16:23:00.001-05:00

(REPORT BY EVANGELIST REINHARD BONNKE)

Have a look at the attendance picture of tonight. We were simply overwhelmed. The Lord is so good. I preached on the Blood of Jesus. The result? A huge altar-call! Then Daniel Kolenda prayed for the sick and a whole flood of miracles took place. Asthma, Fibroids and all sorts of pain vanished. The crowd was jubilant. It was a good start and we expect much more in the days to follow.

Some have suggested that we are "addicted to big numbers." Yes! Shouldn't we all be? Jesus spoke of evangelizing every creature in the whole world. "Every creature!" There are an awful lot, almost more than seven billion at present. Any noticeable Gospel impact on the world would mean big numbers. One can't empty the ocean with a spoon. And a big nut needs a big spanner.

Yes, I know, small spanners are needed also and are equally important. That is why we have Fire Conferences run parallel to our Gospel Campaigns, in which the Great Commission priority is urged upon tens of thousands of church-workers. We need more evangelist colleagues. They are not competitors.

This is Reinhard Bonnke reporting from Ibadan/Nigeria, together with Daniel Kolenda and the whole CfaN Team.

(Pictures by O. Volyk)

Arrival in Ibadan, Nigeria

2009-11-10T09:26:00.002-05:00

Our Arrival into Ibadan was glorious. Thousands of people ran out to welcome us as we drove into town. Our first stop was at the Governors palace. He is a Christian and welcomed us heartily. He said that when Evangelist Bonnke was here 8 years ago, he was a local goverment chairman (a very low government position). But after evangelist Bonnke prayed for him he became the Governor of one of the most powerful states in Nigeria. It is truly the Lord that exalts.

From there we made a courtesy call on the King at the palace and then on to the pastor's banquet in the evening. Again we heard over and over how the Lord had used the last crusade to bless Ibadan greatly. The arch bishop said that it had been the key to the explosion of Christianity in the region. (The election of the states first Christian governor is evidence of this) The churches are now unified, he said. The influence of the Body of Christ is significant in the region and the churches have grown and prospered. They see all of this as being linked to the last Ibadan crusade in 2001.

Pastor's Banquet

Courtesy call on the King at the Palace

A great view of Ibadan

A mosque right next to our lodge

Pictures by Oleksandr Volyk

My Definition of Evangelism

2009-11-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

Here's my definition of evangelism:

Evangelism is the communication of the Good News, in the power of the Holy Spirit, with the intention of producing repentance from dead works and faith in Jesus, resulting in an enduring faithfulness to Christ and His Body.

Do you have a better one or an improvement to this one?

The Filet Mignon of Life

2009-11-03T06:00:00.005-05:00

Last night I did one of my favorite things to do when i am at home: Fire up the grill and cook some perfect steaks. I am a steak lover. In fact, I’ve never met a steak that I didn't like. Now if you know anything about beef, you realize that the different cuts of meat come from different places on the cow’s anatomy. The “Beef Round” comes from the hind legs and the rump. The “Beef Chuck” comes from the shoulder. But there is one cut of meat that is head and shoulders above the rest. It is a rare cut that is expensive and hard to come by. When you get a piece it is usually not very big, but when you eat it, its heaven on earth. It’s the filet mignon.

Our spiritual lives also have a certain anatomy that we need to understand. (I think this is especially applicable to ministers.) Our activities could be sorted into many categories. There are the carnal things, soulish things, spiritual things and so on. We have church meetings, prayer meetings, sermon study, Bible study, worship services, counseling, meetings and a litany of other things that are spiritual on varying levels. But out of every part of the anatomy of a minister’s life, there is one part that is the best; it is that one-on-one time with the Father, when there is no one else. It is that time when you are spending time with the Lord just to be with Him. You are not looking for sermon material or ministering to someone else...there is no other agenda and no ulterior motive. It is just a man with his creator; naked and open before him.

That personal time with the lord is the filet mignon. It is the most precious time of our lives. It is a priceless time in our day. Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the “better part”. It wasn't that Martha was doing unnecessary things; Martha was doing good things. She was eating the sirloin or the NY strip or even the rib eye, but Mary had chosen the Filet Mignon and Jesus wasn't going to take that from her.

Preachers are especially susceptible to the temptation to substitute the good things (ministry, sermon prep, worship services, prayer meeting etc) for the best thing (Intimacy).

It is interesting that in Matt 7:23 Jesus seems to be talking to ministers when He says that they had prophesied, cast out devils, done many wonderful works etc. Yet the problem seems to be relational…they didn't KNOW him. John says that eternal life is knowing the Father and the Son(17:3).

I was a part of the Brownsville Revival for nearly three years and I witnessed an interesting phenomenon take place in the lives of many wonderful Christians. Revival services were going on every night. Bible school was going on all day. Prayer meetings were going late into the night and early into the next morning. There simply wasn't time for very much else. Seeing that so much time was being spent in church, many felt that "devotional" time wasn't necessary. I saw how people who were in church, some for literally 8 hours or more per day, were drifting away from the Lord. How could this be? The answer is simple. No amount of church, Bible study, sermon prep etc can substitute for your personal relationship with Jesus.

I think the first thing necessary is to RECOGNIZE that there is a better part and separate it in our minds and hearts from everything else.

Also, we need to PRIORITIZE it making it what is most important to us and more important than everything else. It is more important than sleep, personal time, family time, entertainment, work, church, corporate prayer meetings, sermon preparation etc...It is our number one!

Third we need to MAXIMIZE it. Make the most out of that time. Turn off the cell phone and get into a quiet place. Focus all of your energy and attention on it and savor it like the prime cut of our life that it is.

Living A Life of Fire - What a Book!

2009-11-02T06:00:00.011-05:00

My wife and I are both devouring what we agree is one of the very best books we have ever read. It is the new autobiography of Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke; Living A Life of Fire. I consider myself an avid reader and have quite a number of biographies and autobiographies in my library, but they are usually my least favorite books, being full of statistics, dates and data that could only be interesting to the author.

This book is very different. It is 628 pages crammed full of some of the most fascinating and thrilling stories you will ever read...and they are all absolutely true! It reads like a sequel to the book of ACTS and every minister will draw courage and inspiration from its pages...especially evangelists.

It is especially interesting to me because I have heard Evangelist Bonnke tell many of these stories firsthand and they are unforgettable. Here is an abbreviated excerpt of one such story that I just read this morning from chapter 18. Enjoy...

--------------------
My phone rang. Brother Harold Horn, someone I had known since my arrival in Lesotho, said, "Reinhard, come to Kimberly and preach to us." I said, "I will come."

...Friday night as I sat on the platform I looked across the gathering of 200 people. Not one young person did I see in the room. Not one. I leaned over to Harold, who was near to me, and asked, "Where are the young people?" He nodded sadly, acknowledging that I had correctly seen the problem. Every head in the room was gray. I preached. The service was closed, and the people filtered out to their cars to go home. When they had gone, Harold came to me.

"Reinhard, would you like to see the answer to your question? Would you like to know where all the young people in Kimberly are?"

"Yes, I would," I replied.

"I will show you. Get into my car, and I will take you there."

...He drove through the streets, turning this way and that until he came to a large building at the edge of a warehouse district. The building was ablaze with gaudy neon signs. One large sign blinked out the word, disco, disco, disco...The parking lot was jam-packed to overflowing with vehicles. ...As he turned off the key I could hear the boom, boom, boom, of the heavy bass beat coming through the walls of that building. The so-called music seemed to shake the very ground beneath us with an ungodly spirit. "This is a den of iniquity," I said sadly...He nodded. "This is the latest thing, Reinhard. It is called a discotheque, a dance club. It is a craze that is sweeping the whole world right now, and young people everywhere are very attracted to it...Let's go inside."

"Oh, no," I said. "Let's go home. I have never gone to such a place. It would be an abomination to me...But as I turned to get into the car I felt bad inside. I stopped in my tracks. This is when the Holy Spirit began to speak to me. Since I had come this far, something seemed wrong if I now turned away. But I had no idea what the Spirit wanted me to do. I just couldn't leave.

"Let's take a look inside," Harold suggested. Suddenly, this seemed exactly right. Everything in my spirit said yes. I nodded. "OK, Harold. Lets just take a look at this disco." ...We came to the door and stood there. I felt the Spirit say to me very clearly, Look inside. I will show you something you do not know. I took a deep breath then opened the door. The blast of music must have knocked the hair back from my forehead. I have never heard such volume in my life. It was deafening. But it was in that instant that I received a spiritual vision of the reality of the disco. In the flash of the strobe lights, I did not see young people dancing with joy. I saw frozen images of boredom, fear, loneliness, and insecurity, one after the other, captured on the faces of those young people. The split-second flashes of light revealed these images, over and over and over again, like stop-action. Each of those haunted faces spoke to me of emptiness. Pure emptiness.

...Suddenly, I could not care less what anyone thought of me. I knew that I would preach in this disco. Nothing could deny the love of Jesus that I felt. I shut the door and looked at Harold. I hear the Holy spirit say in my heart, Find the owner of this place. And so, I said to Harold, "Help me to find the owner of this disco."

"What good will that do?"

"I must talk to him. Let's find him now."

"But what will you say to him?"

"I will ask him to let me preach in his disco."

Harold laughed. "You won't do that, Reinhard."

"I will. I absolutely will."

Harold followed me now. I inquired inside the disco, and we were led to an office at the rear of the building. The owner was a middle-aged businessman who looked to be very much a part of the rock-and-roll culture. He had long hair, gold chains around his neck, an open-collared shirt, and blue jeans. I said to him, "Sir, I've come all the way from Germany. I am asking you for permission to allow me to address the young people in your disco for just five minutes." He looked at me from top to toe. "You're a preacher," he said. I was still dressed in my suit and tie. I nodded. He said, "If you want to preach you should preach in a church."

"There are no young people in the church," I said. "They don't come to the church so the preacher must come to the young people. Now give me five minutes, only five minutes, I ask of you."

"You've got to be kidding." He shook his head in disbelief, then turned around and walked away. "There is no way, man." He had no sympathy for my plea at all.

As he was walking, suddenly the Holy spirit touched me. He said to me, Tell him what you saw when you looked into his dance hall. I went after the man and took him by the arm. He turned to face me again. "One question, sir," I said, looking deep into his eyes. "Do you think the young people find what they need for life in your disco?" Slowly the face of that man changed. He looked down thoughtfully. When he looked up again he said, "It is very strange that you would say that. I have children of my own. I've thought many times that the disco will not give the young people what they need for life."

"I beg you, sir, give me five minutes with them." He was thoughtful for a moment. "OK, but not tonight. Saturday night, tomorrow night at midnight, I will give you the microphone for five minutes." I grabbed his hand and shook it. "It's a deal, and thank you, sir. I will be here."

...The next night I...dressed in casual clothes. I did not want to look like a preacher just coming from church. I needed disco camouflage....When at last the clock struck twelve, the music stopped. I jumped up and onto the stage where the records were being spun. I took the microphone from the disk jockey and shouted, "Sit down, sit down, sit down. I've come all the way from Germany, and I've got something very important to tell you." Suddenly the young people began sitting down everywhere. It was then I realized I was not in church but in a dance hall. ...Most of the young people plopped right down on the floor. There they sat, smoking cigarettes and chewing gum, waiting for me to tell them something very important that I had brought with me all the way from Germany.

I started to preach on minute, two minutes; suddenly the Holy Spirit was there; I mean the wind of God blew into that disco. Suddenly I heard sobbing. I saw young people getting out their handkerchiefs and starting to wipe their eyes, crying everywhere. ...I had preached enough to know that when people start shedding tears, it's time for an altar call. I said, "How many of you want to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior? How many want to find forgiveness for your sins and enter God's plan for your life, as of tonight?"

Every hand that I could see in that place went straight up. I said, "Alright, repeat after me." We prayed the prayer of salvation together. My five minutes were up. My work was done. I left walking on cloud number nine, rejoicing, absolutely rejoicing...

A year later I returned to Kimberly. Harold met me at the airport. He said, "Get in my car. I have a surprise for you." I got in his car. He did not say anything about it; he just drove through the winding streets until he came to the warehouse district. The car stopped. I looked out of the window. I could not believe my eyes. I wiped them and looked again. Instead of seeing the big disco sign, there was a huge white cross on the front of the building.

"This is not the surprise," Harold said. "Come inside."

We walked up to that door where we had stood one year ago..."Are you ready for this, Reinhard?" Harold swung the door open, and I looked into a packed house full of young people. They were chanting, "Bonnke, Bonnke, Bonnke." I cried out with joy. They rushed to me, hugging me and shaking my hands, bringing me inside. One young man said, "Remember me? I was the disk jockey that night that you came." Another grabbed my hand. "I was operating the light show." Another said, "We were dancing the night away. Now we are serving Jesus."

"After you left town, the disco went bankrupt," Harold shouted to me. "This disco is a church!" He was beaming from ear to ear."...

If you would like to learn more about this book or order a copy CLICK HERE

Man Raised from the Dead - A Must See!

2009-10-30T06:00:00.002-05:00

You have to watch this incredible video! Doctor Chauncey Crandall is a good friend of ours and an anointed man of God who was also one of the speakers at Fire Storm in Dallas (if you weren't there...you missed out). He is a nationally known and much sought-after cardiologist and heart surgeon. Not only is he a man of science, but also a man of faith. He is known to pray for his patients and lead them to the Lord in the hospital, and he has experienced mighty miracles through prayer...including RESURRECTIONS! This video is a report on channel 7 news about one of his patients that was raised from the dead after having no pulse for almost an hour!

The Gospel is Not Enough…Really?

2009-10-29T06:00:00.006-05:00

*WARNING* - Some might find this offensive...sorry.

One well-known charismatic minister who identifies himself as an “evangelist” published this quote recently in one of his books. “We can preach the Gospel all day long, but that won’t win souls. That won’t win the hearts of the people. We can talk, try to theorize, theologize, reason, argue, debate, and spend time trying to prove that Jesus lived, but that won’t win a heart. How often do we see the religious mindset that believes that the more Scripture quoting, the more yelling, the more hell fire and brimstone preaching, the greater the chance to win someone over for the Kingdom? Likewise, how often do we see people sitting or standing there listening in stone-cold silence or indifference?”

This comment is typical of an attitude I have been seeing more and more in Christian circles recently. There seems to be this contempt for the preaching of the Gospel accompanied by the idea that it simply not enough. Preachers seem loathed to preach the simple message of salvation as though it were beneath their academic level; an insult to their profound intellect. I have seen how some crusade preachers never touch the core elements of the Gospel choosing rather to address social issues and give tips on better living. I have not heard the Gospel coming from the vast majority of the most fashionable preachers on television or the popular preaching circuit. I have heard recently how some have declared that the “Gospel” is really not the message of the cross while another told me recently that he wasn’t even sure how to preach the Gospel.

The apostle Paul encountered similar attitudes, even in the first century church. To the Jews, the Gospel was offensive. It made the hierarchy most uncomfortable confronting hypocrisy and challenging religiosity. It was to them a “stumbling block”. For the Greeks, the cross was just too simple and lacked the philosophical sophistication that they were accustomed to. They wrote the Gospel off as “foolishness”.

Early in Paul’s ministry to the gentiles we see how he attempted to conform his message to reach the Athenians by using a sort of “seeker-sensitive” approach. On Mars Hill, He preached a “culturally relevant message” that seemed both profound and appropriate. Rather than preaching the cross, he preached about one of their altars dedicated, “To The Unknown God”. He then went on to borrow poetry from a popular local author. Although a few people believed, the consensus seems to have been relative indifference. The people agreed to discuss the topic more saying; “We will hear thee again of this matter.” But where was the transformational, revolutionary power of the Gospel? It seems to have been missing.

Paul’s approach changed as his ministry matured. In the end we find him confidently declaring, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION for everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16). When you read that verse, put the emphasis on the word "it". IT is the power of God unto salvation. The power is not in clever speeches, dynamic concerts, prophetic conferences or powerful prayer meetings. The power is in the GOSPEL...IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION. This is exactly what Paul discovered. It is the great secret - all the supernatural resources of Heaven come to bear when the Gospel is preached. The Gospel could easily do what persuasive words of man's wisdom could never accomplish. IT is the power of God unto salvation.

I must confess...my heart is heavy because I feel as though my generation has forgotten the Gospel and has lost the art of preaching it. Sure, once and a while I hear an "altar call" tagged onto the end of a message about "Seeing Your Dreams Come Alive", "Living A Fulfilling Life" or "Loose Weight and Feel Great". But where is the raw, declaration of the Gospel message: Sin & Salvation - Heaven & Hell - Repentance & Faith. When is the last time you saw people running to an altar to repent of their sins. When is the last time you saw sinners confessing their sins and being baptized by the dozen? When is the last time you saw drug dealers, alcoholics and prostitutes getting saved and becoming faithful church members? In the crusades we see these things all the time, but that is because we preach the Gospel and the power is in the Gospel. If you don't preach the Gospel, you will have good services and profound messages and stirring prayer times, but you will not see transformation come to society. When people don't see results in their ministries they will inevitably resort to more prayer meetings begging God for a revival (because this what we have been taught to do), when all along the answer is so close to us Paul says "it is in your mouth". I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - IT is the power of God unto salvation.

I would like to go on the record as saying that the preaching of the Gospel is indeed the key to winning souls (regardless of what the above “evangelists” book says). Fashionable trends in preaching may come and go, but in the end, like Paul, we will find that it is the Gospel that brings the results. I have had the privilege of leading millions of people to Christ face to face along side Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke in our Great Gospel Crusades around the world and the great secret has been nothing other than the simple declaration of the Gospel with the power of the Holy Spirit. I will stand by it and preach it with confidence until the day I die. “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”. Are you?

Darwinian Evolutionists are Intellectually Dishonest

2009-10-27T00:31:00.004-05:00

One is compelled to stand in awe of the Darwinian evolutionists' total abstinence of rationale so simple that even a child can readily understand. It truly takes a university to make someone stupid enough to believe Darwin.

Evangelist Bonnke & I on Daystar

2009-10-26T23:44:00.004-05:00

Last week evangelist Bonnke and I were interviewed on DayStar leading up to the FireStorm event in Dallas. You can watch the full interview below...

TO SEE FULL INTERVIEW -- CLICK HERE --

FIRESTORM USA

2009-10-25T01:06:00.006-05:00

Tonight was the final meeting of FireStorm USA here in Dallas, Texas where Delirious, a South African rapper named Cjay, Kari Jobe, Teresia Wairimu and Dr Chauncy Crandell joined Evangelist Bonnke and I in the Dallas Convention center for a weekend of salvation and impartation. Also, tonight Delirious performed their final concert in North America before they split up. It was a special and memorable weekend and we are all looking forward to the next FireStorm USA event in Atlanta this coming April. If you missed this event, make sure to be at the next one.

Interpretive dance special during worship

DELIRIOUS? performs their final North American concert...awesome!

FIRE!!

Kari Jobe leads worship

My little guy won a t-shirt...he hasn't stopped talking about it

Long lines waiting for the doors to open

Preaching the GOSPEL...and lookin' like a chameleon

Only Reinhard Bonnke can turn a Question & Answer session into a meeting with God

Update on the Run

2009-10-21T23:00:00.007-05:00

I know I missed a couple days blogging, but the last 72 hours or so have been crazy busy:

(Monday) Traveled 2.5 hours by car down extremely rugged roads from Afikpo to Enugu (Nigeria)
Flew from Enugu to Lagos
Arrived in Lagos around 10 am and waited until my flight that evening at 10 pm
Flew from Lagos to Atlanta (13 hour flight)
(Tuesday) Flew from Atlanta to Orlando
Gathered my family and went straight back to the airport
Flew from Orlando to Dallas
Went to the hotel, had half an hour to change clothes and head straight to Christ for the Nations Institute
Preached at CFNI
Arrived back at the hotel around midnight
(Wednesday) Got up early to preach this morning at Heartland World Ministries Bible School (Steve Hill's school)
(Thursday - tomorrow) I will be with Evangelist Bonnke on Daystar from 11 am - 12 noon LIVE
(Friday) Firestorm USA starts in Dallas and goes through Saturday night

Please keep the whole team in your prayers. Stay tuned for Fire Storm USA updates...

Interesting Pictures from Afikpo, Nigeria

2009-10-19T10:00:00.020-05:00

Click any of the pictures to make the bigger.

During the Fire Conference last week, the Nigerians were flying an "American Flag" on the right side of the platform for some reason. I thought it was so cute. They apparently didn't have a real one on hand so they just made it themselves and in one stroke eliminated all but 12 of the states:-) I was thinking that's not a bad idea. I can think of a few states I would like to get rid of myself

This one is actually from the last crusade (Otukpo) where I saw a restaurant with a name that is both delicious and thankful. "God's Grace Delicious Food Restaurant"

In Brazil we had armored cars with inch thick, bullet-proof glass, but in Nigeria we are protected by people. In this picture we were flying along the dilapidated roads at about 40 mph and guards were hanging on to the SUV - one in front of each window. As the wind blew the jackets back we could see that our guards were not just ushers...they were packing heat. (If you look closely, you will see a 9 mm 1911 handgun holstered on his side) In Nigeria the bullet-proof windows shoot back!

Did you ever wonder what was in those barrels before we burn them? Well...have a look. People bring idols, charms, fetishes ritualistic tools, clothes and all kinds of things associated with witchcraft and the occult. We burn them just as they did in the days of Paul (Acts 19:19)

The witchcraft items in the barrel pictured above are being burned here. I am filming it with my Blackberry. You can watch the video below...

This is the video of the witchcraft stuff in the picture above being burned. Its low quality because I recorded it with my blackberry

One of the tech guys took this picture of spider that roomed with him all week. Notice the distinct impression of a face on the abdomen...CREEPY!! We are searching for the perfect name for it. The two suggestions so far are "hairy bugger" and Repunzel...If anyone knows what kind of spider this is, I would love to know.

What you are looking at here is a 240 volt 13 amp electrical outlet (what we would use to power a washing machine in America) but it is installed outside on a deck face up next to a swimming pool. This is very shocking.

Now that's a hard right turn

The musicians look for innovative ways to keep their instruments from blowing away

CHURCHES FLOODED WITH CONVERTS! - Afikpo, Nigeria - DAY 5

2009-10-18T17:12:00.005-05:00

A group of pastors came to our lodge this afternoon to bring us the report that their churches were flooded with new converts this morning! This is a wonderful indication that the seed of the Gospel has fallen on good soil here in Afikpo and will continue to produce fruit that will remain long after we have gone.

Tonight the crowd increased again to 225,000. Many thousands were born again and after the prayer for salvation, we prayed for the sick:

- A woman, deaf for 20 years demonstrated her sight with great joy (see picture)
- A man who was bent and unable to stand straight for the past 4 years was healed and stood perfectly upright.
- A man crippled for three years after a terrible stroke was healed

Tonight we also prayed for the thousands of prayer requests that have been sent in from around the world by our friends and partners. The huge crowd stretched out their hands and prayed that the long arm of the Lord would reach into every situation and meet every need.

Just before we left I pronounced a blessing over the people of Afikpo. With each declaration came the thundering reply “AMEN!” They have received the full benefits of the Gospel: Salvation, healing, deliverance, peace and blessing. The city we are leaving now is not the same one we found when we arrived five days ago – all glory to God!

Thank you for your prayers and financial support. We are laborers together in the Lord’s vineyard. We are on our way now to Dallas for Fire Storm USA. I hope to see you there.

Pictures by Oleksandr Volyk
Please visit our websites at http://www.cfan.org

HOLY SPIRIT EXPLOSION! - Afikpo, Nigeria - DAY 4

2009-10-17T17:57:00.013-05:00

What a thrilling day we had today in Afikpo, Nigeria! It started this morning with the Fire Conference where 25,000 delegates gathered for the final meetings and then the moment of impartation. The Holy Spirit fell in might power on the hungry crowd. I went down and laid hands on about 600 pastors and sent them out into the crowd to lay hands on the people. “Freely you have received, freely give.” There was an explosion of miracles. Many people were healed as the pastors witnessed how the Lord used them in the miraculous for the very first time.

Tonight the intensity continued. The barrels were full of witchcraft items to be burned. Also some people brought bags full of stolen items, which we handed over to the police. After the Gospel message we prayed for the massive crowd of 180,000 people to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The crowd erupted in new tongues and I could see how the power of God was touching thousands all across the field.

(picture above) showing the crowd the stolen items that were brought to the crusade field to be surrendered to police

Here are a few of the miracles testimonies that we heard tonight:

- A young man BLIND FROM BIRTH in one eye suddenly received perfect sight tonight. His mother held him weeping as the overwhelming reality of God had done occurred to her.
- A little lame boy walked for the first time in 7 years tonight. One day he will play football with the other boys.
- A man paralyzed on his left side for 22 years was suddenly healed and walked from the very back of the huge crusade ground to the platform to give his testimony. We threw his walking stick away, because he doesn’t need it anymore. Jesus has healed him…PTL!

Tomorrow is the final day of the crusade here in Afikpo. Please continue to pray for one last might harvest of souls. Afikpo shall be saved!

Pictures by Oleksandr Volyk
Please visit our websites at http://www.cfan.org

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT - Afikpo, Nigeria - DAY 3

2009-10-16T17:19:00.004-05:00

160,000 people attended tonight’s meeting on the rolling hillside crusade ground here in Afikpo, Nigeria. In five days of meetings we have an opportunity to preach the full-Gospel, including some of the less popular topics. Tonight I emphasized the themes of restitution and repentance: “Let him who stole steal no more.” I can truly say that the people responded with Joy, turning from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.

Here are some of the miracles that Jesus did tonight:

- A woman, blind for 2 years received perfect sight
- A man with a leg that was unable to bend for 23 years kicked and danced for joy (pictured below)
- A lunatic woman suddenly received sanity

Even as we left the meeting the people were still lining up to testify. We are rejoicing and anticipating tomorrow’s meetings where the Jesus will baptize many thousands of hungry souls in the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Pictures by Oleksandr Volyk
Please visit our websites at http://www.cfan.org

Raw Power - Afikpo, Nigeria Day 2

2009-10-15T16:16:00.004-05:00

Our crusade director leaned over to me tonight and said, “This is 'real' Africa.” He told me that one African evangelist came here recently but turned around and left when he saw the living conditions. Afikpo is as rugged and wild as it comes. Everything is raw and organic here – including the incredible power of God that we demonstrate.

Tonight the crowd doubled with over 125,000 in attendance…and this is only the second night! I preached a clear Gospel message and then invited the people to call upon the only name given under Heaven whereby men might be saved…the name of Jesus! In this idolatrous land we saw how many people brought their idols, charms and witchcraft fetishes to be burned just like in the days of Paul (Acts 19:19). By the thousands they surrendered their lives to Jesus tonight. I am sure that all of heaven has taken notice of what is happening in Afikpo.

Many mighty miracles also took place tonight as Jesus was faithful to His Word and mercifully healed the sick. I have attached a picture of a woman blind in both eyes for 12 years that was healed. I told her to catch me if she could and…well you can see for yourself what happened.

This morning was also the beginning of the Fire Conference, which will continue tomorrow and culminate on Saturday morning. Please continue to pray for us and for the salvation of the precious people of Afikpo.

Pictures by Oleksandr Volyk
Please visit our websites at http://www.cfan.org

"Tonight we hit the serpent on the head"

2009-10-14T17:16:00.004-05:00

“Tonight we hit that serpent on the head,” said Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke as we drove off the crusade field after tonight’s meeting – the first of five. Afikpo is a city steeped in witchcraft and ancient superstitions. The people have lived in fear and bondage to demonic principalities that have gone unchallenged for generations, but tonight, they were confronted by a force more powerful than any curse – the power of the Gospel.

After preaching a powerful evangelistic message on the Blood of Jesus, Evangelist Bonnke prayed, calling out the names of the familiar curses and breaking them one by one in the name of Jesus. The results were glorious -- thousands of salvations, dramatic deliverances and remarkable healings…like the one pictured below of a woman blind for 4 years who received perfect sight! Praise the Lord!

The Afikpo Curse

2009-10-13T17:09:00.001-05:00

Tonight at the pastor’s dinner, the chairman of the central working committee for the crusade gave a powerful and revealing address. We learned a lot about where we will be ministering over the next week. For instance, he told us that a top local Church leader was murdered recently by locals and cut into little pieces.

The idolaters and witchdoctors in the area are very aggressive and there seems to be a heavy yoke of oppression over this land. I am including a few excerpts from his speech that will give you a good idea of what we are up against here and provide some direction for your prayers.

“...Let me quickly acquaint you with some of the peculiarities of this land: This city is like Jericho, and her people like the Reubenites. Geographically, Afikpo is pleasant to behold and strategically located too, as you have already observed. It is a strategic gateway both spiritually and physically. A city on a hill with beautiful terrains and scenic outlooks, ‘but the water is naught and the ground barren’. Our dwelling seems far from ‘the fatness of the earth and of the dew of heaven from above.’ We inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land not inhabited. Good, very often, eludes us, and our rights are taken to other people. We labor much and bring in little, and much of what we bring in, the winds often blow away. …As for our people, they are like Reubens: …we excel only with overbearing difficulties. Our old men spend their days in vanities while our youths languish in shame. We have won several awards but mostly in those things that cause shame. Servants now rule over us

.…Our women are ravished before our very eyes, and our old men are not honored. Our children die in their youth, and our mothers are left without care at old age. All these and more have come upon us, and we know why it is so.

…Although shrouded in myths and legends, the history of Afikpo indicates that she is under some heavy unbroken generational curses, which came upon her due to some acts of wickedness against strangers and innocents in olden times.

…Our addictive strange beliefs led our forbearers into such barbaric acts as killing twins and banishing their mothers, burying ‘criminals’ alive (burning them alive in the recent times) and shedding much blood in the land, even of ministers.

…We are trusting God that by reason of your visit to Afikpo, the curses on the land will be totally broken, and the heaven shall be opened upon our land, making it to yield her increase.

…We are also believing the Lord that the hearts of our people shall be opened to the Gospel and many of them shall be saved and also healed.”Additional prayer requests mentioned:

• That the people would be releasesd to serve God “without fear”
• That the shackles of poverty would be broken
• That the Church would experience unprecedented revival
• Integrity in the political sphere
• Overthrow “the spirit of pride”.

Arrival in Afikpo

2009-10-13T06:45:00.002-05:00

I am in a procession right now riding through Afikpo, Nigeria. We just visited with the traditional ruler and now we are making our presence known in the city. The streets have been lined for many miles with beautiful smiling faces. School children dressed in blue and white uniforms run out of their classes to see us. Men and women lean out of second story windows waving exuberant and shouting hearty welcomes. Everyone stops working and comes out of their roadside shops to catch a glimpse of the caravan. A tailor with his measuring tape around his neck stands near an elderly grandma dancing with joy. This is clearly the event of a lifetime for this rural, city. This is how it all begins and only God knows what is in store for us all over the next 5 days.

Back in Africa

2009-10-12T18:42:00.002-05:00

We arrived in Lagos, Nigeria last night and have spent the day resting, adjusting to the time zone and preparing for the intense week ahead of us. Tomorrow, early in the morning, we depart for Afikpo where the campaign will take place. Please keep our entire team in prayer this week and stay tuned for daily updates.

Jesus is the Hand that Steadies the Plate

2009-10-09T02:23:00.002-05:00

Fire & Brimstone vs Forgiveness & Blessing

2009-10-08T06:00:00.003-05:00

In Genesis 18 we read the infamous story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. I am fascinated by the account of Abraham and God bartering over the city’s demise.

“Suppose there are in the city fifty righteous,” Abraham asks, “will you destroy the place and not spare it for the sake of the fifty righteous in it?”

The Lord replies, “If I find in the city of Sodom fifty righteous, I will not destroy it.”

Abraham takes it further, “What if you find forty-five righteous?”

God concedes, “If I find forty-five, I will not destroy it.”

Abraham: “What if you find forty?”

God: “I will not do it for forty’s sake.”

Abraham: “What about thirty?”

God: “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

Abraham: “What about twenty.”

God: “I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.”

Abraham: “Suppose only ten righteous people are found there?”

God: “I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.”

God’s incredible mercy cannot be overstated, yet I think that this dialogue tells us a fundamental truth about Sodom. It was not destroyed because there were so many wicked people…it was destroyed because THERE WERE SO FEW RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE.

God agreed that He would spare the city if He could only find ten righteous, but I think Sodom’s fate would have been the same, even if God had agreed to spare it for the sake of ONE righteous person.

The Psalmist noted, “The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any who did understand and seek God. They are all gone aside, they have all together become filthy; there is none that does good or right, no not one. (Ps. 14:2-3)

Isaiah confirmed this when he said, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way…” (Is. 53:6)

God would have spared Sodom for the sake of 10 righteous men. He may have even been willing to save it for the sake of one righteous man – but none could be found – Sodom was doomed. Notice that Abraham appeals to God’s sense of justice saying, “Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?” (V.25)

What is the difference between Sodom & Gomorrah and the world today? I think Sodom would blush at what is considered socially acceptable in this generation. I am convinced that the only reason that fire and brimstone doesn’t rain down upon us at this very moment is because a single righteous man has been found. He has drunk the cup of the wrath of God and “…the Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all.” In this season of God's amazing grace, we have all been spared because God found one righteous man in the city. Where fire and brimstone once rained, today grace, mercy and forgiveness rain. Where Sodom found damnation, we find salvation. It’s no wonder the Gospel means, “Good News.”

The Elijah Generation

2009-10-07T21:00:00.002-05:00

Elijah is my favorite Old Testament character. He a bold and fiery prophet who impacted an entire nation in one of its most challenging times. He raised the dead and never died himself. He called down fire from heaven and went up to heaven in a chariot of fire. He is one of two Old Testament figures that appears in the New Testament (at the Transfiguration). He is also prophetically connected with both the first and second coming of the Messiah.

In Matthew 17:10-12 we read that the disciples came to Jesus with a question about his Messiah-ship. They said:

“10…why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist”

The disciples were confused because the scribes were attempting to prove that Jesus was not the Messiah by referencing an Old Testament prophecy by Malachi:

Malachi 4:5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

The scribes said, “If Jesus is the Messiah, than where is Elijah who was promised to precede him?” Jesus helped the disciples by explaining that “Elijah” had indeed already come in the person of John the Baptist. Yet it is clear that He was speaking not of a reincarnation of the old prophet, but the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17).

But what I find so fascinating about the answer of Jesus is that with the same breath He said “Elijah has come” (that was John), but also…ELIJAH WILL COME! (v.11)

John the Baptist came in the Spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for the first coming of the Lord. But Jesus promised that there is an “Elijah” yet to come before His second return. Who do you think that is?

Some people have said he will be one of the two witnesses that are killed in Jerusalem during the tribulation, but I don’t think that is a very good explanation. Look at what is promised – this “Elijah” which is to come, will “restore ALL THINGS.” Surely we don’t see this fulfilled by the two witnesses of Revelation 11.

I believe it can only be referring to one thing. In these last days, I believe that the same spirit and power that rested upon Elijah and John the Baptist will rest upon an entire generation. I believe that WE ARE THE ELIJAH GENERATION. It is we who will “prepare the way” for the coming of the Lord. It is we who will bring restoration as the agents of God’s power in the earth.

Consider the prophecy of Joel:

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come." (Joel 2:28)

"SIN" According to Susanna Wesley

2009-10-06T21:27:00.006-05:00

It's been said that, "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." Susanna Wesley is a great example of this. She was the mother of, not one, but two of God's generals: John and Charles Wesley. Susanna was one of the most influential academic and spiritual influences in her sons' lives and helped to mold them into the world-changers they became. Listen to this advice that Susanna gave to her son John with regard to sin.

"Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God or takes off the relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself." ~ Susanna Wesley

"Someone may say, "I'm allowed to do anything," but not everything is helpful. I'm allowed to do anything, but I won't allow anything to gain control over my life" ~ Paul the Apostle (I Corinthians 6:12 GWT)

Happy Blasphemy Day!

2009-10-03T06:00:00.013-05:00

A couple of days ago, atheists from around the country celebrated "Blasphemy Day". As one website encouraged them to: "...admit to committing blasphemy against all gods. Religion is mythology. Gods are lies. Preachers are liars (yes, all of them), and anyone who believes in magic men in the sky are fools. Please take a moment to commit blasphemy today. Change your status message on Facebook or MySpace to something blasphemous. Wear an atheist pin. Come out of the closet a little more. Make it known… and make it loud."

Whenever I witness to these blasphemous types (which I have done quite a bit recently), I can't help but wonder if they will be able to retain their arrogant confidence when facing the rising fog of death as it draws them in to the darkness of an eternity without hope.

You see, death seems to have a way of bringing a solemn hush to the pretentious profanities of self-confident blasphemers. In those final hours and minutes of life, courage cannot be found in the fading flower of the mind and body. Excuses, justifications and intellectual arguments are all exposed as cheap covers, for a deep-seated fear of the grave, that cannot offer one ounce of consolation or power over it.

Thomas Paine was a blasphemous, smug deist. He was known to describe the Gospel as a “fabulous invention”. But his last words were, "What a fool I have been. Oh God help me, for I cannot bear to be left alone!"

Voltaire was another deist, infamous for his contempt of the Bible. But on his death bed he exclaimed: "I am abandoned by God and man! Oh Jesus Christ! Oh Jesus Christ!"

Robert Ingersoll's father was a Presbyterian preacher who had even filled the pulpit of Charles Finney. But Robert rejected the faith of his father and became a famous proponent of agnosticism and humanism. On his deathbed he cried, “God, if there be a God, save my soul if I have a soul from Hell if there be a Hell.”

Sir Thomas Scott said upon his deathbed: "Until this moment I thought there was neither a God nor a hell. Now I know and feel that there are both, and I am doomed to perdition by the just judgment of the Almighty."

Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, the French statesman, as he was dying, asked to be drugged, “that I may not think of eternity and what is to come.”

Contrast these experiences with the last words of evangelist D.L. Moody. "Earth is receding, Heaven is descending, God is calling and I am going home. Is this death? Why it is not bad, it is glorious. This is my coronation day."

Or the words of Stephen as he was being stoned: “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God…”

When a storm is approaching, many animals will nervously burrow and dig for shelter under the ground. But the eagle is not afraid. He simply spreads his wings and effortlessly rides the thermals high above the storm. He looks down at it from above and laughs mockingly.

My friend, when a man has Christ, he has wings. He need not be afraid of death, for when it comes, he will soar above it and taunt it with the words of Paul the Apostle:

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 15:55-57)

Narrow Minded Christians

2009-10-02T06:00:00.006-05:00

Real Christianity is very politically incorrect because when it comes to the issue of truth, it is utterly intolerant. Someone told me that they don’t like Christianity. They feel it is too “narrow minded”. They believe that there are many paths to God and that everyone can have their own truth. But let's put that theory to the test shall we?

Can 1+1 = 3? No? It seems that the calculator is very narrow-minded by insisting that 1+1 can only equal 2. But is it exclusive because it hates all the other numbers and only likes the number 2? My friend, it is exclusive because truth, by its very nature, is narrow in scope while falsities are vast. If I ask, “What does 1+1 equal?" - there are an infinite number of wrong answers, but only one right one.

Matthew 7 says, “13 Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”

There are an infinite number of wrong paths and someone is walking on every one...this is why the way to destruction is so wide. But there is only one path of truth. It is narrow and constricted because it is unique. If Jesus were trying to build a large following and a thriving religion, it would naturally have been much smarter to make it all-inclusive. But Jesus wasn’t an entrepreneur seeking to build the biggest religious enterprise. He was “the way, the truth and the life.” His words were not a strategic marketing pitch…they were simply true.

Christ is the door…there is no other. The Gospel is not exclusive because God is cruel or discriminatory. It is exclusive simply because it is truth…and the truth will set you free.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Labor to Rest

2009-10-01T06:00:00.007-05:00

In my days as a worship pastor, I remember that one of my greatest frustrations was with musicians who over-played. Often, what sets a real professional musician apart from an amateur is that a real artist knows when NOT to play. He knows when one more note would be too many and one less would be too few.

In Genesis 2:2,3 we read that “The heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work…and rested…” When God saw that His masterpiece was finished, He stopped working. Like a composer holding a finished opus in his hands, He said, “It is 'very good'.” He knew that every necessary note was in place and that one more would be too many.

According to John, the last words out of the mouth of Jesus as he hung on the cross were, “'It is finished.' With that he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30). The work of salvation was complete, and it was very good. It was not necessary for Jesus to hang there on that cross for one second longer. Not even God Himself would add to or take away anything from the masterpiece of salvation – it was perfect! In it, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost rested.

The Children of Israel were commanded to observe the Sabbath Day. After all, if it was good enough for God to rest on the 7th day, then it should be good enough for them as well. This was a strict command, and the one who would dare to break it was subject to capital punishment.

But the Sabbath Day rest was only a type and a shadow. Today we are commanded rest in the finished work of Calvary. After all, if it was good enough that Jesus could rest in it, then it is good enough for us to rest in as well. Do we dare to add another note to the finished masterpiece of “so great a salvation” that even the Godhead has pronounced perfect? Actually, this is the essence of the Gospel…that we can neither add to, nor subtract from the work of Christ, therefore we trust in it alone. This is saving faith.

John Paton was a missionary who worked among tribes of cannibals in the New Hebrides Islands in the 1800’s. He was working to translate the New Testament into their native language but ran into a barrier when he could find no translation for the word “believe”. He wanted a word that meant more than mental ascent. He needed a word that indicated trust, reliance – saving faith. One day a native arrived at his hut exhausted from some strenuous work. He came inside, collapsed on one chair and rested his feet on another one. “What are you doing to that chair?” John Paton asked. The word the native used meant, “To rest your whole weight upon.” John had his word. Every time he saw the word “believe” in the Greek, he wrote, “Rest your whole weight upon.”

Can you think of a better way to describe faith? We rest our full weight upon the finished work of Christ. Those who break this Sabbath are guilty of the most serious of offenses and subject to ultimate punishment. But those who rest with Christ in the perfection of His atonement have put the whole weight of their sins and their lives upon the rock of ages.

“For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."
~ Heb. 4:10, 11

Rio De Janeiro Campaign - Conclusion

2009-09-30T22:20:00.005-05:00

(Written by Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke)

Dear Mission-Partners,

Greetings from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Fire Conference ignited thousands of mainly young people: “sons and daughters shall prophesy young men shall see visions.” It was glorious!

The Gospel Crusade at the beach was rather short. Only two days. When I made the altar-call many people responded. When Daniel Kolenda prayed for the sick, we saw outstanding divine healings. A lady jumped out of the wheelchair to which she had been confined for years, after 12 major surgeries. We were reminded of the miracle of Jean Neil.

Many other wonders happened, like that little boy, whose eyes were healed. The authorities however did not grant permission to use the beach until two days before the event; which was a big handicap. We actually had expected a much better attendance – but God knows. Almost immediately after this event, we will return to Africa for a bumper-crop of souls. Please pray for us.

Yours in God’s harvest-fields,
Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke and Daniel Kolenda,
Together with the whole CfaN-Team.

Rio De Janeiro Campaign Begins Tomorrow!

2009-09-24T21:50:00.010-05:00

Rio De Janeiro is really such an amazing city. Beautiful white-sand beaches are backdropped by rugged mountains, covered in dense, palm tree peppered forests. It is the preferred residence for many of Brazil's most rich and famous and a favorite travel destination for tourists from around the world.

In stark contrast, crime filled, poverty ridden "favelas" (shanty towns) lie along the hillsides juxtaposed to the otherwise serene beauty. The largest favela in South America is here with more than 300,000 inhabitants. Drug and gang wars are commonplace and the police are afraid to enter these ghettos controlled by ruthless crime lords. (CLICK HERE to see a short documentary on the favelas)

Rio's only hope is the transformational power of the Gospel and beginning tomorrow that message will ring out across the city through our Gospel campaign. The huge open-air meetings will be held on Botafogo beach - a famous, public site, adjacent to Copacabana. We are praying that multitudes will receive the message of the Gospel and that a spiritual revolution will be sparked this week. May God's glory burn from the beaches to the favelas sweeping the rich and poor, young and old into the Kingdom of God!

Stay tuned...

Wholly Thine Alone

2009-09-13T09:15:00.003-05:00

“Bring me a sword,” commanded the wise King, “Divide the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.” This was Solomon’s solution to the contentious debate that two mothers brought before him. Each claimed that this living child was her own. The true mother was easily identified when she said, “O my lord, give [the other woman] the living baby, and by no means slay him.” The one who loved the child was not willing to see it divided. She would rather that it be given wholly to the other woman than to see it cut in half.

So it is with our God and His children. He is not willing to settle for half…or even two-thirds. He would rather that we be given wholly to the world then to be divided in heart and mind. He would have all of us or none at all. He would rather that we be either hot or cold, choose God or mammon and serve one master or the other. Half-hearted, lukewarm compromise will never suffice…He loves us too much for that.

Those who put their hands to the plow and look back are not fit. Those who love father or mother, sister or brother, son or daughter more, are not worthy. He who loves his life, will not take up his cross, and will not forsake all that he has, cannot be a disciple.

“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on the earth? I tell you, no; but rather division…” This sword has not come to divide us WITH the world, but FROM the world that we might be wholly His and His alone.

Unite my thankful heart to Thee 
And reign without a rival there. 
Thine wholly, Thine alone, I am; 
Be Thou alone my constant Flame.

~ John Wesley

Back from China

2009-09-07T22:03:00.011-05:00

I've literally just walked in the door of my house (ahh...home sweet home) returning from a blessed week of ministry in Asia where we were preparing for our Fire Conference that will be held in Hong Kong this November. After ministering in Shenzhen (mainland China) on Friday night, we got up early on Saturday morning and traveled on the crowded subway to downtown Hong Kong where I had the privilege of ministering to a group of leaders from the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship. Then Saturday night we hosted an open meeting where the churches could come together. I knew that I was ministering to a meeting of believers, but I felt prompted to give a call for salvation. I was amazed when I saw so many people coming forward.

On Sunday morning, I preached in two churches and then Sunday night we traveled by boat across the Pearl River Delta to Macau where I ministered to a group of extraordinarily hungry believers that had come together from churches all over the province.

When we were in Hong Kong for the Fire Conference last year, within 2 weeks of announcing the meetings, the venue was sold out. So many people who wanted to attend were unable to, and we sensed that the Holy Spirit would have us to go back again this year. This is why we are going to Hong Kong again. We believe something special and strategic is happening. Please keep these meetings in your prayers as thousands of pastors from all over mainland China and Hong Kong come together to receive an impartation of the Fire of God.

View of Hong Kong from my hotel window

Look What God is Doing!

2009-09-04T16:32:00.008-05:00

God is doing incredible things! Tonight was my first time preaching in MAINLAND CHINA! Though it was a relatively small gathering, it was a strategic group of pastors and leaders. There was a day when this would have been absolutely unthinkable, but the winds of change are blowing.

Crossing the China Border

Interview with Evangelist Dan Kolenda (From Voice of Revolution)

2009-09-02T21:40:00.003-05:00

What does an African CFAN crusade look like? The following video shows the crowd at a meeting in Nsukka, Nigera during a message from Dan on who Jesus is (an estimated 300,000 people were in attendance)...CLICK HERE to read the full article.

Some More Helpful Resources...

2009-08-30T09:09:00.002-05:00

Are you a iphone user? Here is a list of some great Bible study apps that you might find helpful http://inspiks.com/2009/03/29/best-bible-apps-for-the-iphone/

God’s Credit Card – “Don’t Leave Home Without It”

2009-08-28T23:28:00.005-05:00

Tonight, in family devotions, I was reading to my kids from a Bible storybook about Cain and Abel. In this author’s rendition of the story, Cain’s offering was rejected because it was not his best, while Abel’s offering was the best he had to give and therefore acceptable to God. I think that somehow this writer missed the entre point of the Biblical story. In fact, I believe the reality is quite the opposite.

Cain’s offering was the fruit of his labor, the work of his own hands. When God rejected it, “Cain was exceedingly angry and his countenance fell” (Gen 4:5). Cain was so frustrated because he had indeed brought his best to God…and yet his best was not good enough. God said, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?” “Do well?” Cain must have thought. “I’ve done the best I can do.” Perhaps Cain knew in his heart that he had worked longer and harder than Able ever did. Through sweat, tears and hard manual labor Cain had worked the thorny soil to bring this offering to the Lord. Yet God was pleased with Abel’s gift and not his own. Cain could not understand and soon his frustration boiled over into murderous rage.

Why was Abel’s offering acceptable to God? Was it a better offering? Had Abel worked more or harder or better? On the contrary…Abel brought the blood of an innocent other. The real sacrifice was not his at all…it was really the sheep who had paid the dearest price. Abel was NOT relying on the work of his hands and the fruit of his labor. Somehow he understood that it was the blood that satisfied God. “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission” (Heb 9:22).

Cain is a type of all those who come to God with the work of their own hands. Even if we do our best and strive with all our might to please God, we will always come up short, no matter how well-intentioned we may be. Whenever you swipe the credit card of your own righteousness into God's ATM it will ALWAYS be declined. All our righteousness is like filthy rags.

Abel is a type of all those who come to God with the blood of that innocent other; the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. It is the blood of Jesus that has cleansed us from all sin (I John 1:7). It is the blood of Jesus that has purged our conscience from dead works (Heb 9:14). It is the blood of Jesus that has reconciled us unto God (Eph 2:13). It is the blood of Jesus that has redeemed us (1 Pet 1:18).

Abel came not on the basis of his works, but in faith, and like Abraham, “It was counted to him as righteousness.” By faith we carry God’s own credit card, without a capital limit, backed by the collateral of heaven’s endless supply, and billed to Calvary’s address. Hallelujah!

~ By Daniel Kolenda (www.danielkolenda.com)

Gospel Crusade, Otukpo/Nigeria: RESULTS

2009-08-27T11:21:00.004-05:00

Dear Partners in the Harvest,

Here are the results of last week's Gospel Crusade in Otukpo, Idoma Land, Nigeria: Our Africa-Director informed us that last week 713,590 people responded to the Gospel, received Jesus as their Savior and completed a Decision Card. This crusade was our “out of season-crusade”, because it took place in the Rainy Season, but as you can see, the Lord held back the rain and gave us a full harvest. All Praise be to God!

Please keep us in prayer as we look forward to 5 more crusades before the end of the year. We trust the Lord to provide the finances and ask you to continue to stand with us as we go in Jesus' name!

Please take a few minutes to look at the incredible pictures and read the testimonies from Otukpo:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

Yours in the Gospel,
Evangelists Reinhard Bonnke & Daniel Kolenda,
Together the whole CfaN Team.

What to Give One Who Already Has Everything?

2009-08-27T06:00:00.002-05:00

“Oh, that someone would give me water to drink,” sighed King David, “from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” When three soldiers overheard his wishful musing they reached for their swords and disappeared into the night. They had not been commanded to act and were under no obligation to do so, but driven by a force more compelling then any duty call – love for their King – they broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew out the water and brought it to David.

David was so touched by this exploit that he could not bring himself to drink the water…instead he poured it out before the Lord. It wasn’t the risk they had taken that impressed him. Soldiers were all required to risk their lives, but this was different. They did not do this for Israel, for Judah, for the war or even for the battle. This was a personal offering for David and certainly the most costly gift he had ever been given.

Someone told me, “I don’t have a burden for any particular nation.” In their minds this disqualified (or excused) them from evangelistic ministry. But do you have a love for Jesus? That is the real question. And that is enough to drive us to pour out our lives in service before our King. There is ambition that reigns supreme over all others, including the desire to advance the Kingdom of God or edify the people of God or even to reach the lost and the dying world. The first and finest motivation that anyone can have is just love. Love for the One who loved us so much that He poured out His tears, blood and life. When we receive this gift of life, which cost Him everything, how can we consume it in the pursuit of our own ambitions, lusts and gratification? God forbid. Instead, in reverent awe and profound love, we pour it back out before Him like a drink offering. Make no mistake – this is not a waste. It’s the only appropriately extravagant offering we can bring to the One Who already has everything.

~ By Daniel Kolenda (www.DanielKolenda.com)

God's Prescription

2009-08-26T06:00:00.004-05:00

If you were suffering from terrible, chronic headaches and you went to see your doctor, he might write a prescription for something like Fioricet. “Don’t worry,” he’d say. “There’s a pill for that problem.”

If you had high blood pressure, the doctor might prescribe something like Benazepril. “There’s a pill for that problem too.”

If you were suffering from anxiety, depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder, he might prescribe something like Prozac. For every problem he has a pill. And if that pill causes another problem…don’t worry, he has a pill for that problem as well.

But wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone came up with a pill, a single pill that could cure all of your problems, no matter what they were? Just imagine that taking this one drug could cure everything from cancer to canker sores, broken bones to broken hearts…and it was absolutely free!

That is exactly what God has done. He is not a doctor that consults a chart on the wall to find the best solution for your varied problems. He is not a wizard that flips through the pages of a spell-book looking for the right enchantment to cure your ills. He is not a pharmacist mixing this potion with that, concocting a suitable remedy for your complication. God only has one solution for all of your problems. His answer is always Jesus. Nothing else and nothing less than Jesus.

If you need healing the prescription is Jesus.
If you need salvation the prescription is Jesus.
If you need peace in your heart the prescription is Jesus.
If you need deliverance from your addictions and compulsions the prescription is Jesus.

For the many problems of the world, God, the great physician, has prescribed the remedy: the only antidote for sin, death and all of its symptoms. God’s answer…His only answer…is Jesus.

"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." ~ Acts 4:12

~ By Daniel Kolenda (www.danielkolenda.com)

Day 5 - Otukpo, Nigeria

2009-08-23T17:12:00.012-05:00

We have just returned from the final meeting of this Gospel Campaign here in Otukpo, Nigeria. Even though this is our rainy season campaign, the Lord held back the rain and we had a full and uninterrupted harvest. Tonight the attendance climbed to 280,000. I preached the Gospel and then prayed for the sick and pronounced a blessing over Idoma land.

One lady who was healed from diabetes yesterday brought her report from the doctor confirming her testimony. Then she told me, “I am a Muslim.” When I asked if she knew who had healed her she shouted, “JESUS!” Then she told the crowd, she would follow Jesus the rest of her life. We see in these meetings how salvation, healing, deliverance and Holy Spirit Fire all converge under one heading…The Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are all a part of the same glorious gift that God offers to “whosoever will.”

At last the time had come to say “goodbye,” and I could see how tears were filling many eyes. I am not sure if I will ever see these precious people again in this world, but I am sure that I will meet them again one day around the throne of God where there will be no more tears and no more sad goodbyes.

Thank you to everyone who prayed, and gave to make this crusade possible. It was truly worth every effort.

Please continue to pray as we make final preparations for our next crusade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil next month.

Please see the attached pictures (from top to bottom): a panorama of tonight’s crowd, the entire crowd praying over the prayer requests sent in from around the world, the former muslim woman healed of diabetes, a crippled boy healed and woman healed of AIDS with her medical report.

Day 4 - Otukpo, Nigeria

2009-08-22T17:05:00.011-05:00

I feel at a loss for words to describe what happened tonight. It seemed to me as if Heaven came to earth. God’s glory invaded that crusade ground in such an extraordinarily powerful way. Tonight after the prayer for salvation, the Holy Spirit descended and thousands were filled to overflowing. Many began to speak with other tongues as the Holy Spirit gave utterance. Demon possessed people were set free. Miracles of healing began to take place and others fell to the ground under the power of God…it was holy chaos! The Holy Spirit spoke to me to break the curses, and as I did, the crowd erupted in dancing, singing and shouting. All the pastors on the platform began to dance. It was genuine, uninhibited, undignified, and spontaneous rejoicing. I’m sure that all of Heaven was dancing with us, as long-awaited Jubilee came to Idoma land.

Please see the attached pictures of two of tonight’s many healings; one of a man deaf and dumb for 21 years and also a woman totally blind for 3 years, plus a picture of this morning’s final Fire Conference meeting, where the number of registered delegates alone totaled more than 25,000.

Tomorrow is the final day of this campaign and we are looking forward to one more mighty harvest.

Pictures by Oleksandr Volyk

Day 3 - Otukpo, Nigeria

2009-08-21T16:41:00.010-05:00

Another mighty harvest of souls has just come in. The crowd grew again to 220,000 and the atmosphere was electric. We are all basking in the afterglow of what God has done right before our very eyes. Tonight I told the people, “Righteousness exalts a nation…” The hand of the Lord will lift up any nation, tribe or people that will repent and turn to Him. This happened tonight in epic fashion. The Lord not only saved but also healed multitudes of people.

Tonight we heard many incredible testimonies from deaf people that were healed…including children. A couple of them were deaf since birth – one for the last 11 years. Tonight their ears popped open, and they were instantly healed.

One young man who was suffering with HIV AIDS for the last 4 years, told me the incredible story of his healing. He had come to the Fire Conference this morning and after Rev. Peter Vandenburg preached, he felt faith rise in his heart. Without a single hand being laid on him he received his healing by faith and went to the doctor for a blood test. He brought the report to me tonight…HIV NEGATIVE!

Pictures by Oleksandr Volyk: Part of the crowd from behind the platform, the man healed of AIDS with his blood test report, and a little boy who was deaf from birth

Day 2 - Otukpo, Nigeria

2009-08-20T17:05:00.011-05:00

The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and tonight that power invaded the crusade field again bringing a torrent of salvation and healing. The crowd grew to 200,000, and as they prayed the prayer of salvation, there was such evident passion and sincerity. The sound of their voices seemed to shake the earth, and I must admit, I was very moved as well.

Then the Holy Spirit began to move in miracle power:

A man, blind in both eyes for 80 years received his long-awaited healing.

A young man testified that he had suffered all of his life with sickle cell. Last night when Evangelist Bonnke prayed he said, he felt as thought something went out of him. Today he went to the doctor and brought the report to show me that his blood is now completely normal.

One lady received a double miracle; her deaf ear and crippled leg were both totally healed.

These miracles and many more testify to the authenticity of the Gospel that we preach and the goodness of the God that we serve. This is only day two, and there is much more to come. Stay tuned…

Otukpo, Nigeria - Day One

2009-08-19T17:48:00.005-05:00

It’s rainy season here in Nigeria, and torrential downpours are commonplace. Holding open-air meetings in such conditions is a risky business, but we are determined to snatch a million souls out from under the nose of the Devil. Tonight, in spite of heavy afternoon thunderstorms, more than 125,000 people turned out for the very first meeting of this Great Gospel Campaign here in the city of Otukpo. It is clear that there is an insatiable hunger for the Gospel that will not be denied.

The sense of expectancy was palpable as Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke took the microphone to preach. He spoke about, “The Mirror of God”, from the book of Exodus 38:8 and explained that the Word of God is a mirror that allows us to see our uncleanness when we look into it. The message of the Gospel rang out as clear as a bell; sin and salvation, repentance and faith. The response was overwhelming and many thousands were born again into the family of God.

Then came the prayer for the sick. Evangelist Bonnke had hardly said, “Amen,” when the field began to erupt with praise coming from every direction. Dozens of crutches went into the air, and those who had just experienced a miracle came streaming forward.

Several people testified to being healed from blindness. One elderly lady who had been blind in both eyes for 5 years suddenly received perfect sight. She was so overjoyed she began to dance on the platform to the great delight of the crowd.

Three individuals with broken legs testified to being healed and demonstrated their ability to walk and run without their crutches.

One 13-year-old girl, a hunchback from birth, was suddenly straightened and healed.
Even as we left the grounds there was a long line of people who had been healed and were waiting to testify. We are sure that something special is happening here in Otukpo, and this is only the beginning. The best is yet to come.

Can You Trust The Bible?

2009-08-18T16:38:00.006-05:00

Are you intimidated when so-called “Biblical Scholars” attack the trustworthiness of the Scriptures? To preach the Word of God with boldness requires confidence in its authority, and it is upon this authority that our faith rests. (Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God). Satan knows that if he can put a wedge under the foundation of our faith he can topple it. In Focus on the Family’s “The Truth Project”, R.C. Sproul says, “If we can establish the existence of God and the trustworthiness of sacred Scripture, 90% of the work of the defense of Christianity has been solved.” No wonder the authority of the Scriptures is constantly under fire by those who seek to undermine the Christian faith.

The Post-Modern, liberal, higher critics that grace contemporary television shows and magazine articles are not the first to attack the authority of Scripture, and they surely won’t be the last. In self-conceit, puffed up by the tiny sampling of regurgitated information they have swallowed, they confidently conclude that the Bible is untrustworthy and flawed.

But there is no reason for the faithful to sit by, nervously chewing their fingernails as the higher critics pose clever new attacks on the consistency of Scripture. Their arrogance, which is as old as the Bible itself, has always come to nothing and their arguments have been proven wrong time and time again. In fact, perhaps it is their incessant attacks that are the greatest proof of the supernatural origin of the Bible, because amazingly, in spite of all of its critics and enemies, the Holy Bible remains the best selling and most read book of all time. By contrast its many historical opponents and their once-profound arguments lie rotting in the ground together.

In 1776 Voltaire said, “100 years from my day there will not be a Bible in the earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity-seeker.” 100 years later Voltaire’s home was being used as a distribution point for spreading Bibles throughout Europe* and within 26 years of his death the British & Foreign Bible Society had been founded, sparking an unprecedented era of Bible distribution**.

In 1778 Voltaire, boasting of himself said, “It took 12 men to start Christianity; one will destroy it.” That was the very year that he died*.

Robert Ingersoll said, “In 15 years I will have this book [the Bible] in the morgue.” Fifteen years later, Ingersoll himself was in the morgue, and in his estate sale a preacher bought his desk and spent his life writing sermons on it*.

In the late 1800’s a scholar named General Lew Wallace, a Territorial Governor and former U.S. Senator, set out to disprove the Bible. His quest led him to discover the wonders of Scripture, and he ended up becoming a devout Christian and writing Ben Hur; a Christian novel, widely considered a true classic of American literature**.

Another scholar, Sir William Ramsey, had a similar experience. He traveled to Asia Minor on a mission to find geographical and archeological evidence that would disprove the claims of the Bible. Instead he was amazed to find that the Bible was remarkably accurate and was ultimately so convinced of its authority that he himself became a believer and biblical scholar**.

Today, in spite of many generations of opposition, by countess assailants, the New Testament has been translated into 1,168 languages***. It is by far the most popular and widely circulated printed material of all time. Even today, it remains a best seller and is printed in so many languages, translations and versions by so many publishers that it is literally impossible to calculate how many millions, if not billions have been printed and circulated.

Its critics and opponents along with their books and institutions have proven to be about as formidable as a gnat battling a hurricane. The contemporary voices that arrogantly rail against scripture will soon be as cold and silent as the grave, as are all those that came before them. But the voice that spoke the worlds into existence will still be thundering through history to every nation and generation through His revealed Word, “Thus says the Lord.”

All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD STANDS FOREVER. ~ 1 Peter 1:24-25

~By Daniel Kolenda (www.danielkolenda.com)

Sources:
* Dr. Del Tackett in “The Truth Project” by Focus on the Family (http://www.thetruthproject.org)
** http://www.spokanebaptist.com/trustbible4.html
*** http://www.wycliffe.org/About/Statistics.aspx

You Will Become What You Behold

2009-08-10T10:02:00.005-05:00

A recent article in the New York Times carried the following headline, “Long-Married Couples Do Look Alike, Study Finds”. Dr. Zajonc, a psychologist at the University of Michigan says, “…people often unconsciously mimic the facial expressions of their spouse in a silent empathy and…over the years sharing the same expressions shapes the face similarity.”

It seems that modern science is just now discovering something that Scripture has revealed for a long time; you will become like what you behold. Paul said that as we behold the glory of the Lord we are changed into His very own image from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18). There is an incredible, transformational power in what we set our eyes, mind and heart on, and I believe that it goes much deeper than we even realize.

I can remember as a young boy when my father taught me to mow our lawn, he told me to set my eyes on a target, straight ahead, down the yard and aim for it. Wherever I put my eyes is where I would end up going. The same thing is true when you are driving down the road. If you watch the white line on the side of the road you will tend to drift to that side. If you watch the broken yellow lines, you will gravitate toward the middle, but if you want to go straight, that’s where you should set your eyes. Wherever you look is where you will end up going. If our eyes, heart and mind are on Jesus then we will be conformed into His image, but there is a flip side to the coin…a dark side.

In Matt. 5:28 Jesus said, “… Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Jesus understood this principle that where you look is where you will go. Adultery and fornication begin with lust. Murder begins with hate. Robbery begins with covetousness and greed. Wherever your heart, eyes and mind are set that is where the rest of you will end up eventually. You will become like what you behold.

The American Psychiatric Association says that by age 18, a U.S. youth will have seen 16,000 simulated murders and 200,000 acts of violence. Is it any wonder that over 1000 studies, including one by the Surgeon General as far back as 1972 have shown a connection between media violence and aggressive behavior in children? In light of this reality what do you think will be the consequences of the avalanche of images that glorify drug use, gang activity, sexual aggression, gambling, etc? People become like what they set their minds, hearts and eyes on.

In Genesis 30, Jacob devised a scheme to become wealthy. He made a deal with Laban, his father-in-law, that he would receive all of the speckled and spotted cattle, sheep and goats as payment for his shepherding services. Then, “…Jacob took fresh rods of poplar and almond and plane trees and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white in the rods. Then he set the rods, which he had peeled in front of the flocks in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred and conceived when they came to drink the flocks bred and conceived in the sight of the rods and brought forth lambs and kids streaked, specked and spotted.” Exactly how it happened is a mystery, but what we do know is that what the cattle, sheep and goats conceived was determined by what was before their eyes.

The “fruit of the spirit” (listed in Galatians 5) are different from the “gifts of the spirit” in that, while gifts come from the outside, fruit comes from the inside. Gifts are given, but fruit is conceived. One thing is certain: people without character can still flow in the gifts…in fact Jesus will say to many gifted people one day, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7:23) But fruit is another story. The fruit of the spirit only grows within those who are beholding the glory of the Lord and being transformed into His image from glory to glory. You will conceive what you put before your eyes. This is why the Psalmist said, “I have set the Lord always before me…” (Ps 16:8). The author of Hebrews gave this exhortation in the 12th chapter, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” because you will conceive what is before your eyes, you will end up where you are looking and you will become like what you behold.

The world is becoming more and more like what it is beholding, and so are we. If you want to know what you are beholding most, just look in the mirror. What you are beholding will be clearly seen by what you are becoming. “By their fruits you shall know them…” (Mat. 7:20)

~ By Daniel Kolenda (www.DanielKolenda.com)

Jesus Was Too Dangerously Facinating ~ By Reinhard Bonnke

2009-08-06T06:00:00.002-05:00

Was Jesus Christ boring? He was national news! When Pilate handed Christ over to a death squad, it wasn't for spreading gloom and hopelessness. He was too dangerously fascinating, created too much excitement. "All the world has gone out after Him,” (John 12:19) said His jealous enemies. "The common people heard Him gladly."(Mark 12:37). Police came to capture Him but were captivated by Him. They explained, "Nobody ever talked like this Man.” (John 7:46) Jesus? If it's HIM who saves, all He does is wonderful. He came to bless, not to disfigure. He left no trail of depression, no holier-than-thou humbug. Despite cynics: people who turn to Him are a lot better off than those who don't. That's not debatable. It is obvious, unless we keep our eyes shut. Open your eyes please – and your heart.

~By Reinhard Bonnke

Great Resource for Statistics

2009-08-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

Here is another great resource for study...especially for those who are interested in the WORLD. Poodwaddle is a clock that keeps running, real time, statistics for population, health issues, environment etc. Check it out by clicking HERE

JEALOUS

2009-08-04T07:00:00.004-05:00

Have you ever played a word association game? Word association is an interesting way to see how a person categorizes and connects different ideas, feelings, experiences and information. When I say a particular word, what is the very first word that comes to your mind? For instance if I said, “dog” you might think, “cat”. If I say “heart”, you might say “love”. If I said “fur” you might say, “coat”. What if I said “God”, what would be your first thought? “Good”? “Loving”? “Kind”? “Awesome”? Of course there are a myriad of words that might come to mind, but how about this one…Jealous?

Moses was a man who spoke with God face to face as a man speaks to his friend. If anyone knew that God was a good, loving, powerful, holy, awesome God, it was Moses. But he didn’t choose any of those words to describe God. In Exodus 34:13,14 Moses gives an urgent command to the Children of Israel saying, “But you shall destroy their altars, dash in pieces their pillars, and cut down their Asherim; For you shall worship no other god; for the Lord Whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”

Notice…not only is He a jealous God, but it is His very name. Have you ever been pulled aside by a family member of someone that you were dating and been “warned” about some element of their personality? It’s almost as if Moses is giving us a warning about this God that he knows so well. He is a jealous God. This is one part of his personality that you don’t want to cross. He won’t share you with Asherah or Baal or Molech or Dagon. So break those altars, dash those pillars in pieces, cut down those groves. He wants you all for Himself and He won't be satisfied with anything less that everything.

You don’t hear this preached very often about God. It doesn’t make for nice songs and doesn’t seem to fit the big, benevolent Santa Clause that most people have come to envision when they think of Him. But it would do us well to remember this part of His personality that is so significant it is actually His name. His name is Jealous!

Jealous is not willing to share your heart with another lover. Jealous cannot be appeased by “throwing Him a bone” on Sunday morning in the worship service or in the offering. Jealous is not “okay” with things in your life, even important things, coming in and crowding Him out. Jealous doesn’t wink at the sins that bring a cloud of separation between you. Jealous isn’t oblivious when you’re flirting with the world. Jealous is not amused by your games of minimal surrender. Jealous is not impressed by excuses or explanations…even if in long eloquent prayers. Jealous is not deceived by your words…He can see your heart. There is only one thing that you can give Jealous that is satisfactory and acceptable. He wants your heart – all of it – for Himself.

Obvious Evidence of Intelligent Design

2009-08-03T07:00:00.007-05:00

I was practically screaming at my television set as I watched this. I don’t usually get so carried away when scientists say things that are intellectually dishonest. Actually, I guess I’ve come to expect it after many hours of watching NOVA and Steven Hawking. But this time, I couldn't contain myself.

This was an episode of Naked Science on the National Geographic Channel that aired on Sunday, July 26th. The show’s thesis was that, new scientific evidence is suggesting that human beings had somehow made their way to the Americas thousands of years earlier than archeologists once thought. And these humans were not the hairy, knuckle-dragging cavemen that your highschool textbooks might suggest, but rather, highly intelligent, sea-faring engineers of amazing skill.

For the most compelling evidence of this, they turned to J.M. Adovasio, PH.D, who is the director of Mercyhurst Archeological Institute. Adovasio is excavating an archeological site at Medocroft Rock Shelter, 35 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He and his team have been peeling this excavation site back, layer by layer, for the last 33 years. Each layer is carbon dated for age, and they are able to record their findings for each chronological snapshot of time like flipping through the pages of a history book.

It was thought that the first Americans arrived on the continent 13,500 years ago, but when Adovasio reached the 13,500-year mark he kept digging. He describes what he was finding as, “unprecedented materials”. After another year of digging, they found an artifact that would “re-write the history books”. Adovasio himself holds up a small black rock that appears to be polished in a slightly triangular shape. He twiddles it back and forth in this fingers, holding it close to the camera and declares, “This very delicate tool is the oldest form tool from the site. It’s slightly older than 16,000 years.” Then the host says with confident assurance, “This find suggests that there was human life in North America 16,000 years ago…BECAUSE IF THERE WAS A TOOL – THERE WERE PEOPLE.”

This rock is SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE worthy of REWRITING THE TEXTBOOKS that human beings lived in America much earlier than previously thought. They were certain that people must have been there because tools don’t just make themselves. Could they observe the people who were there? No. Could they touch them or talk to them? No. The remnants of one of their tools was evidence enough. “…IF THERE WAS A TOOL – THERE WERE PEOPLE.” It's as simple as that.

It would be one thing if they found a typewriter or a bicycle or a computer chip…but they found – a rock…a polished rock. This little black rock is considered watertight, scientific evidence that people were there because, “…IF THERE WAS A TOOL – THERE WERE PEOPLE.”

Wait…Are you telling me that that little, triangular rock couldn’t have just kind of evolved that way? Don’t you think it’s feasible that the water or weather or something other than an intelligent human designer could have contributed over thousands of years to the slightly triangular shape of this rock? Yet, there is no dispute from the scientific community. The evidence is conclusive - “IF THERE WAS A TOOL – THERE WERE PEOPLE.” Any moron could make such a simple deduction…right?

Now I’m no scientist, but I see a little bit of hypocrisy here. If a tiny, black, triangular rock is scientific evidence that intelligent people must have made it, what are we to think about the trillions upon trillions upon trillions of atoms that make up our planet, each with electrons orbiting with the synchronization of a Swiss watch around a nucleus made of protons and neutrons, like a self-contained solar system?

What about the unbelievably complex design of our bodies that employ the aid of over 200 muscles just to take a single step?

What about the human eye, which is so elegant that scientists still don’t fully understand how it works? It completes 100,000 separate functions in a single day and it even conducts its own maintenance work while we sleep. It has automatic aim, focus and aperture adjustment. It even provides color and 3-D images and it can automatically function from darkness to bright light instantly. It can discern over 10 million color hues, including 500 shades of grey alone, and can take in more information than the largest, most complicated telescopes ever invented.

What about our skin, which contains in ONE SQUARE INCH: 4 yards of nerve fibers, 600 pain sensors, 1,300 nerve cells, 36 heat sensors, 75 pressure sensors, 100 sweat glands, 3 million cells, 3 yards of blood vessels and 9,000 nerve endings which send messages to our brain at speeds of up to 124 mph?

What about our brains, which only weigh about 3 pounds and yet contain 12 billion cells each of which is connected to 10,000 other brain cells, making 120 trillion connections. The brain stores so much memory data that by the age of 40, it would take the Empire State building full of computers just to store the same amount of information. It generates more electrical impulses in a single day then all of the world's telephones put together, yet it uses less energy than a refrigerator light.

What about the DNA molecules in our bodies – the most complex molecules in the universe. Their code is so unbelievably elaborate that if you typed out all the code in a single DNA molecule, it would create enough books to fill Grand Canyon 40 times.

What about bacteria such as E. Coli, which is equipped with a propulsion system, complete with a motor, rotor, stator, drive shaft, bushings, universal joint and flexible propeller; 40 moving parts in all, made solely from protein molecules. The ion-powered motor can rotate at up to 100,000 rpm, can reverse direction in only 1/4 of a revolution and has an automatic feedback control mechanism. In spite of its enormous complexity, its size is only 1/100,000 of an inch (1/4,000 mm) in width.

Of course I could go on and on and on talking about the wonders gravity and magnetism that science still cannot fully explain, the flawless rhythm of the solar system, the perfect balance of nitrogen and oxygen in earth's atmosphere that makes life possible, the amazing order in nature that forms a self supporting system of life, reproduction and disposal. But is any of this necessary? The scientific community is holding up a triangular shaped rock as conclusive evidence of intelligent (human) design.

Now I’m not asking any scientists to fall on their face and confess Jesus as Lord; all I am asking for is a little bit of honesty and humility. If there is a tool then simple logic suggests that there must have been a person who fashioned it, and if there is an amazing world full of incomprehensible wonders of design then maybe, just maybe, it’s possible that there is a designer. No wonder Psalms 14:1 says, “The fool saith in his heart there is no God.”

~ By Daniel Kolenda (www.danielkolenda.com)

Urgent Prayer Request - Christians Martyred in Pakistan

2009-08-02T11:30:00.005-05:00

Earlier today I received an email from a dear Pakistani friend urgently asking for prayer. He says:

"Pakistan urgently needs your prayer. Since 2 days attack on Christian living in a city of Gojra is going on. 8 men women and children have been martyred. Believers are full of fear.

The tension still continues due to an extremist group that was banned by the government of Pakistan.

You can see TV footage on the BBC World. Go to South Asia and there you will find the details.

We hope and trust your prayers for our dear land."

To watch the above referenced video: CLICK HERE

Please pray for our precious brothers and sisters in Pakistan

The Way Up Is Down

2009-08-01T07:00:00.016-05:00

In the 70’s and 80’s, CBS broadcasted its hit sitcom, “The Jeffersons”. The show featured an African-American family that became wealthy and moved out of a run-down area in Queens to a luxury apartment in Manhattan. As they celebrated their newfound promotion, the Jeffersons’ used to sing about “movin’ on up”, a phrase that has since become synonymous with the sitcom.

Whenever we speak of advancement or promotion we tend to think of it as upward motion; climbing the ladder, breaking the glass celing, getting on top of the heap, up-grading, elevating, etc., but nothing says it better than, “Movin’ on up.”

UP – it is the direction that everyone wants to go; for the path upward seems to be the path of fame, fortune, honor and glory. But Isn’t it interesting that many of earth’s most precious substances can only be acquired by digging deep down? The person who is willing to go very low could become very wealthy. Engineers also understand that if they want to raise a tall building, first they need to go low and lay a deep foundation. So it is with promotion. Jesus said, “…he who humbles himself shall be promoted.” The low path of humility is the only path to promotion with God.

Joseph had lofty dreams of greatness. He saw his mother, father and brothers all bowing down before him. But God’s way of promoting Joseph to the top was not what he would have imagined. Ironically, it was those very dreams of glory that bred contempt in the hearts of his brothers who eventually sold him into a humble life of slavery.

Joseph’s path to greatness would take him through the bitter waters of servitude, character assassination and even imprisonment in the royal dungeon. For Joseph, life seemed to have a downward trajectory, constantly going from bad to worse. I’m sure there were moments that he must have asked, “Why God?” Wasn’t it God who had promised him promotion and influence? Had Joseph done something wrong that God was allowing him to go through such arduous hardships?

Joseph descended down the dark winding staircase of humility and submission. When he reached the last door at the bottom, he discovered that this obscure downward path had led him all the way to…the top! Almost overnight he found himself in one of the highest places of power and authority in the world. All along, it was this lowly path that God had determined to use to lift Joseph up. Joseph discovered that THE WAY UP IS DOWN.

Perhaps the greatest example of this principle comes from Jesus Christ Himself. He who was in “the form of God”, made Himself of no reputation and took upon Himself the form of a servant. Not only was He found in fashion as a man, but He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death…even death on a cross. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

The world teaches us that we live in a dog-eat-dog world, and if we want to advance we need to fight for our rights, prove ourselves, and step on the competition if necessary. But Psalms 75:6,7 tells us that “Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

If we want to be promoted, it would be wise to heed the advice of the One who gives promotions:

Luke 14:11,"For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled. And he who humbles himself shall be promoted."

Matthew 5:5, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."

James 4:10, "Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will promote you."

Proverbs 29:23, "A person's arrogance will bring him low, but with the humble is wisdom."

2 Corinthians 10:18, "For not he who promotes himself is approved, but whom the Lord promotes."

When I visited the Eiffel Tower last year during our conference in Paris, I noticed that there were three different queues you could join. One went to the first level, one went to the second level and one went all the way to the top. To come all the way to Paris and then only go to the first or second level seemed ridiculous…I was determined to go to the top. I could see how the first and second level queues were climbing the stairs going immediately up, but for some strange reason, my queue was headed downward. It seemed strange for the queue going the highest to be moving downward, but soon I saw the reason. While the other queues were climbing the stairs with their hands and feet, we were making our way to a lift that would take us all the way to the top.

Some people are so eager to be successful that they are climbing level-by-level with all of their might; proving themselves and promoting themselves with feverish urgency. But you should know that God has an elevator waiting for those who want to go higher than level one or level two. And the only way to get to God’s elevator is to go down the low place of humility and submission. The way up is down.

~ By Daniel Kolenda (www.danielkolenda.com)

A SKEPTIC OF CYNICS

2009-07-31T16:09:00.005-05:00

(…CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY)

One man told me recently, “I consider myself a ‘Chari-skeptic’.” He apparently took great pride in his unbelief – two sins for the price of one. I know people who feel it is somehow noble and a great service to the Body of Christ to question everything that God does. Every healing has to be verified by a doctor, every manifestation needs a logical explanation, and every miracle must be approached with skepticism and cynicism. Their default setting is to doubt their “beliefs”.

While I am certainly not one who endorses mindlessly swallowing everything that comes down the line, I would like to see a new breed of skeptics arise; skeptics that question uncertainty, doubt doubts and are cynical about unbelief.

Jesus was this kind of skeptic. In Mark 6:6, we read that Jesus “…marveled because of their unbelief.” Jesus couldn’t believe that they couldn’t believe. Why are the unbelievers always on the offense and those with faith always on the defense? Isn’t it more logical to trust an all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere-present God rather than the six inches of grey matter between our ears? I say we should be skeptical of anything that hints of unbelief.

As mentioned earlier, many people ask, “Why do more miracles happen in Africa than in the west?” My response, “Who says that more miracles happen in Africa?” I’m skeptical about the premise of that question.

Here’s another question I get asked often; “Why doesn’t everyone get healed?” My response to that is the same as the one above: “Who says everyone doesn’t get healed?” A valid question might be, “Why didn’t everyone get healed in that particular setting?” But to just assume, based on your own experience or something you have heard, that in every instance, only a percentage of those sick receive a healing, is in my opinion, founded in unbelief.

Another question I often hear is, “Why don’t miracles happen like they used to?” You see, just like it's easy to believe that miracles can happen…somewhere else, it's also easy to believe that something miraculous happened in the past, or can happen sometime in the future. The only thing people have difficulty believing is that God can do it right here, right now…but here and now is all we have.

I think that often these questions, and others like them, are really nothing more than a subconscious attempt to let ourselves off the hook. But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. His Word, His power and His promises are the same. What’s more, there are plenty of people who are seeing God’s mighty power demonstrated here and now. Bottom line: there is no excuse.

~ By Daniel Kolenda (www.danielkolenda.com)

Are You Limiting God?

2009-07-30T07:00:00.006-05:00

Unbelief often infiltrates our hearts in the most covert ways. Sometimes we don’t even realize that it’s there. It is good from time to time to take stock of our own belief system to see what is based on God’s Word and what is simply something that we have heard repeated, even by godly leaders, and accepted as fact.

One of the most common questions that people ask me is, “Why do these incredible miracles happen in Africa but not in the western world?” I have heard very well known and well-intentioned ministers give entire teachings about why God doesn’t do it here. I have even heard one use Reinhard Bonnke’s crusades (where I preach) as an example. Some of the explanations I have heard are actually very rational and really explain in detail why it works this way. I must admit, for a long time I also had various answers to this question. And then one day, it occurred to me…the problem is revealed by the question itself.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “…He that cometh unto God MUST BELIEVE.” Anyone who approaches God with the preconception that God heals there but not here (wherever “here” and “there” may be), has already prophesied the outcome of there own request. You cannot approach God like that. Faith is the fundamental basis upon we can and must approach the Almighty.

Where did we get the idea that God does greater miracles in third-world countries than he does in the west? Many people, in asking this question, have just accepted this notion as fact, but what data is it based on? There is certainly nothing in scripture to support it. I can tell you from my own anecdotal experience, as one who ministers all over the world, that THE POWER OF GOD IS THE SAME in the Western world as it is in Africa, Asia or any third-world country. I just returned a couple weeks ago from a tour in the United Kingdom. We saw incredible miracles in every single service. Tumors were disappearing, deaf ears opening, arms, legs and eyes instantly healed. In fact, given the relative numbers, I would say that in many places in the west I have seen more healings then even in Africa – you can’t tell me that miracles don’t happen in the west!

Psalms 78:40, 41 gives us some fascinating insight on God’s frustration with the Children of Israel in the wilderness. It says, “How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and tempted God, AND LIMITED THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.”

Of course the Children of Israel had seen great wonders and signs unlike any generation of human beings before them. They knew that God was powerful, but they subjected Him to a set of parameters and constraints based on their own experiences. God was provoked and grieved by their limitations and allowed their doubt to become a self-fulfilling prophecy (ie. Ex. 14:11 the Israelites say, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?” – Num. 26:65, God says, “They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.”)

Even Jesus had a taste of this in His own ministry. When He returned to His hometown Mark 6:5 says, that He was not able to do any miracles there. I can just hear the locals asking each other, “Why do miracles happen in Jerusalem and not in Nazareth?” Their unbelief was literally enough to limit what He was able to do in their midst. Their unbelief had become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The philosophy that God doesn’t do it here, is nothing more than an insidious, demonic doctrine of unbelief, and I, for one, refuse to humor the bogus assumption discretely tucked into the question any longer. How has Satan managed to get us to buy into this baseless lie wholesale? It was in the west that the Great Awakenings took place. It was in the west that people like Smith Wigglesworth, Kathryn Khulmen, William Branham and all of the great healing evangelists of the 30’s 40’s and 50’s witnessed some of the greatest miracles in recorded history. It was in the west that the Holy Spirit was poured out in Wales and Azusa Street and the Hebrides. The Charismatic movement, the Jesus People movement, the Toronto outpouring and the Brownsville Revival, all happened in the west.

It’s worth mentioning that this is not a uniquely western problem…it is a human problem, a problem of unbelief, a problem of limiting God. You see, for some reason, many have subconsciously bought into a philosophy that says miracles can happen everywhere except here. Those in the west find it easy to accept that something miraculous can happen far away like Africa or Asia. But I have also heard those in Africa and Asia talk about the wonderful things happening in America. The voice of unbelief says that anything can happen…somewhere else. This is not faith and it does not please God.

What other notions have we adopted into our belief system that limit God? Maybe we will find that some of our great questions have a very simple solution, one that we have actually known all along, “He that cometh to God must believe…”

(CONTINUED TOMORROW…)

WAKE UP AMERICA!

2009-07-29T07:00:00.003-05:00

I'm so sorry that I only came across this after the event was already over, but I still think this video is worth seeing just for the wake up call. Also, I have posted a report from the event that happened on the 25th at the end of this entry. If you want more information about "God Has a Better Way" go to www.voiceofrevolution.com

CLICK HERE TO READ REPORT ON THE EVENT

Healing for You...Now!

2009-07-28T07:00:00.003-05:00

This is a teaching that was posted by Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke a couple of days ago on his Facebook Fan Page. I thought it was powerful and worth re-posting. Also, if you are not already one of Evangelist Bonnke's fans, CLICK HERE and you will be able to subscribe. He regularly posts personal messages and powerful teachings that will be a blessing to you. Enjoy...

Luke 8:43-48 tells the story of the woman who touched Christ's robe and was healed of an issue of blood.

This woman's constant hemorrhage was a disaster. It left her anemic, weak, breathless and hardly able to walk about. She was also poor, having spent all she had on physicians. Because she had no money she was no longer able to eat nourishing food to compensate for her loss of strength. Also, she was ceremonially unclean, and because of her illness, everything and everybody she touched would be considered unclean (see Lev. 15:19-30). She had no friends and was unwanted - as much a social outcast as any leper.

Jesus made systematic circuits through the villages, and she knew He would be coming. When He did, she struggled through the crowd and touched the fringe of His robe and was instantly healed. She felt it. So did Jesus. Now comes the point of the story, which was not so much the healing as what happened next.

He asked who touched Him. Well, dozens had. Then the woman came trembling and afraid. Why? Because she had touched Him, and she knew her defilement had defiled Jesus. (Likewise, our defilement of sin defiled Him - He was made sin for us on the Cross (see 2 Cor. 5:21).) All eyes were upon her. The whole crowd was quiet, everybody straining to see who had brought the party to a screeching halt. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was entirely focused on one outcast, a little scrap of unknown humanity. Her loneliness and illness had put all heaven in a rage, and God sent His Son for her alone at this moment. Then came Christ’s verdict. The same One who will one day judge the nations and pronounce His verdict on mighty empires, the Lord and Maker of heaven and earth, paused for a moment and said, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." (Luke 8:48)

This same Jesus is now knocking at your door. Anybody sick or in bondage? Seize your opportunity!

Nice View!

2009-07-27T10:15:00.005-05:00

I have just arrived in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, where we are working hard to make preparations for our Crusade in September. I can see beautiful Copacabana Beach from my hotel...it is a perfect day to be in Rio.

A Great Resource for Bible Study

2009-07-27T07:00:00.001-05:00

This is a great resource for Bible study...check it out: www.BibleMap.org

for a sample of how it works, click on the link above to take you to the BibleMap.org website, then select "Joshua 12" and then click on one of the pins that will appear on the map. Enjoy...

Saved to Serve

2009-07-26T11:28:00.003-05:00

“If I were to save your life, what would you do?” This was the question that Cyrus, the King of Persia asked to a rebel chieftain named Cagular whom he had captured and was about to execute. Cagular replied, “King, I would serve you the rest of my days.” We would tend to see Cagular’s pledge of allegiance and service to Cyrus as nothing more than a reasonable and expected obligation in exchange for the Kings merciful pardon. Cagular also recognized that because he was saved, he was compelled to serve.

In Matthew chapter 8, we read that Peter’s mother-in-law was ill with a fever. Jesus came to Peter’s house and verse 15 says, “…he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.”

Mothers, grandmothers, and mothers-in-law…I guess they’re all the same. If they’re breathing, they’re working. The moment that Peter’s mother-in-law was able to get up, she was back in the kitchen, serving the guests and “ministering unto them.” I probably would have said, “Relax mama! You’ve just been bedridden…you don’t need to be waiting on houseguests right now! Let somebody else serve the tea and biscuits.” But how could she just lay there? Jesus had touched her and healed her. She felt obligated to get up and serve him. Notice that Jesus didn’t stop her. In fact, perhaps he expected this reaction from the onset.

Paul told the Romans that they should present themselves to God as a living sacrifice, and then he added, “this is your reasonable service.” In other words, this is not some favor that you are doing for God. He purchased you and redeemed you with the blood of His son. He set you free from sin and bondage. He has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ. In light of all He has done for you, your reciprocate service to Him is only “reasonable”. You have been saved to serve.

Mordacai told Esther, “Who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion.” In other words, Mordacai explained that Esther had been put in her position of power, prestige, and safety in the Kings palace, not because she was so beautiful or wonderful, but because God had a purpose for her to fulfill. Mordacai added, “If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father's house will perish.” Her willingness to do her part in the fulfillment of that divine purpose was not a discretionary benevolence towards God – it was her obligation. She had been saved to serve.

Paul said in Romans 1:14, 15, “I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.” You see the traditional thinking of the Jewish elite was that they were the chosen people and any ministry to the gentiles was a gracious favor given to undeserving heathen. But Paul saw himself as one who was shown great mercy by God, and as such he saw himself as a debtor to the rest of mankind. For him to preach the Gospel to the gentiles was not a charitable handout, it was his reasonable service, because Paul realized that he had been saved to serve.

An American soldier in the Vietnam War was about to step on an anti-personnel landmine that was hidden from his sight. His comrade across the battlefield who could see the impending disaster from his vantage point stood up from behind his protective barricade and shouted a life-saving warning to his friend. At that moment the brave young man received a fatal gunshot wound that would ultimately end his life. A couple of years later, at an honorary memorial service in the United States, the soldier whose life had been saved from the landmine had a chance to meet the family of his deceased friend. The son was only seven years old and had never gotten a chance to know his father. “I want you to know,” the soldier said to the young boy, “Your father saved my life.” The little boy looked up at him with tears streaming down his cheeks. “Sir”, he said, “were you worth it?”

Leonard Ravenhill once asked the question, “Is what you’re living for worth Christ dying for?” Not only did Jesus save our lives, he did so at the expense of His own life. Not only did He rescue us from Hell, He descended to the lowest depths of Hell in our place. He was poor that we could be blessed. He was afflicted so that we could be well. But He didn’t save us so that we could be polished, decorative knick-knacks sitting on his shelf filling space in heaven for eternity. We have been saved for a purpose and the fulfillment of that purpose is the only acceptable reaction that we can have to “so great a salvation.” You have an obligation, a debt, a compulsion and a liability to the One who laid down His life for you. You have been saved not for salvation's sake, but you have been saved to serve. This is your reasonable service.

~By Daniel Kolenda (www.danielkolenda.com)

Hearing God in The Wilderness - (Part 2)

2009-07-25T07:00:00.005-05:00

CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY...

I have seen books and teachings and entire courses dedicated to the subject of, “How to Hear the Voice of God”, but I know of no better teacher than, “The Wilderness”. You see, not only is God speaking in the wilderness, but also He is teaching us to hear Him better. When He is speaking comfortably to us in a still small voice our ears become attuned to His words.

Since I travel around the world quite often, I am constantly coming into contact with people who speak foreign languages (you might be one of them). I will often try to pick up a few words here or there and can usually tell from the grins and grimaces on the faces of the locals that I am not pronouncing it right. I am reproducing exactly what I hear, but because my ears are not attuned to the subtle nuances in the pronunciation of particular words, there are certain sounds and inflections that I simply do not hear. The good news is that there is nothing wrong with me. If I had enough time and patience, I could eventually train my ear to hear these distinctions with ease.

Dr. Christophe Schreiner of the W.M. Keck Foundation Center for Integrative Neuroscience at the University of California says, “We go to a foreign country, hear what people are saying, but we can't make subtle discriminations of syllables in order to establish the border between words. With time and experience the brain is adjusting to this, our neurons are becoming more discriminative, and we can distinguish words in what initially just appeared to us as an unbroken stream of sound.”

The moral is this: if you listen closely, over time, your hearing will become more sensitive. We are often awed by the fabulous stories of someone hearing the “audible voice of God”, but the real prize goes to those who learn to hear the subtle whisper of the Holy Spirit.

My father is a pastor, and I think it is fair to say that I was raised in church. I can still remember how my father could be on the platform, behind the pulpit, singing or preaching while I was doing something mischievous. He didn’t need to shout through the microphone at me, all he needed to do was catch my eye. With his eyes he could give me a stern warning that would impress me enough to change my ways.

In Psalms 32:8 God promises, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Could there be a more striking illustration of sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit? The contrast to this is found in the following verse, “Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.” Some people's spiritual perception is about as sensitive as mule. When God wants to get their attention He has to break out a 2x4 and smack them between the eyes. These people require a bit and a bridle. They need constant external stimuli and are always looking for a sign. The reason is simple..."they have no understanding."

The wilderness is part of God's cure for the "bit and bridle believers." In the wilderness He will break the bucking broncos and bring each of us to a place where we are so sensitive to His Spirit that we can sense and respond the subtlest cue. Don’t fight the wilderness…embrace it and cultivate sensitivity to hear God’s “still small voice”.

Hearing God in the Wilderness (Part 1)

2009-07-24T16:27:00.008-05:00

Life is difficult for many people right now. Economic crisis, family problems, health issues or any other combination of difficulties have brought many to a place of frustration and discouragement. Maybe this is why I have been hearing quite often from those who would say they are in a sort of spiritual wilderness.

The wilderness is a lonely place where direction is often hard to come by. In fact the wilderness is a place where God is not speaking…or is He?

Actually, I believe that God is always speaking…even in the wilderness – that will never change. But what may change is His tone. In Hosea 2:14 God, speaking of the prodigal nation of Israel, says, “Therefore, behold, I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness and speak comfortably to her.”

Recently I was sitting in a crowded restaurant trying to hold an important one-on-one conversation with my wife, but because of the ambient noise of people in the room talking, we found ourselves shouting at one another. If you’ve ever had a similar experience, you will agree that this kind of communication gets old after a while. If you really want to have meaningful communication with someone, you need to go to a quiet place where you can speak comfortably.

This is what God was saying to Israel, “I am going to take you into the wilderness, but not because I hate you or am angry with you, but because I want to speak comfortably to you.” Sometimes, I think that God gets tired of trying to shout over all of the noise in our lives. We are so often addicted to the business and commotion of our incessant activities that when we are drawn out of the busy restaurant of our lives into the quietness of the wilderness, we think that God is angry with us. And because He is not shouting over all the noise, we think He is not speaking. But it is here in this quiet place, this lonely place, this sometimes-uncomfortable place that He speaks the most precious things to us, if we care to listen to Him rather than straining to get back inside the restaurant as soon as possible.

MORE TO COME TOMORROW...

A Death in the Family

2009-07-19T06:00:00.008-05:00

Yesterday my Father-in-Law had to put down the family pet. Daisy was a cute little silky haired terrier that was 15 years old. In dog years that would make her…um…really old! Her poor little body was starting to break down and putting her out of her misery was the only humane option. When my 4-year-old son, Elijah, heard the news over the phone he began to cry. “Daddy”, he said as he climbed into my lap, “I miss Daisy.” I must admit, it was a bit of an emotional moment. I was heartbroken to see his little heart broken. Even though a pet is just an animal, there is some strange bond that develops in our hearts as we become familiar and acquainted with it. This anthropomorphic, emotional attachment is very illogical, but it is an inherent human propensity that can be traced back to the earliest times of our history.

It is interesting that in Exodus 12, God gives very specific commands about the preparation of the Passover sacrifice. In verse 6 He gives a most curious instruction regarding the sacrificial lamb: “And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month…” Literally they would take this small, one year-old, little lamb out of the flock and bring it home for fourteen days until Passover. During that time the family would have undoubtedly become attached to this cuddly, little fur ball. The kids would play with it and sleep next to it and name it. The parents would feed it every day and clean up after it. The price of a lamb could be measured in silver shekels, but once it had become a member of the family, its value transcended money…it was priceless.

Then Passover came. They took the little family lamb and killed it. The blood was painted on the two vertical, side posts and on the horizontal, upper post of the door to the house. The children probably stood by weeping, and buried their faces in their mother’s apron as the father with a heavy heart, brushed the blood on the posts. But where the horizontal and vertical strokes met, on the upper corners of each doorframe they formed a cross. Unknowingly, with this priceless sacrifice, they had painted a timeless symbol of the glorious salvation to come.

The Passover lamb had to be more than a gyro and lamb chops because it was a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus Christ – the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. The death of the Passover lamb needed to have profound meaning in the hearts of the family that it died for. They needed to somehow experience some sense of loss, of pain and of sorrow. For this sacrifice was a type of the day when the Father Himself would be separated from Jesus for the first time in eternal history. He would watch as His beloved Son was sacrificed before His eyes on a cruel cross and His precious blood shed for the sins of the world. God wanted Israel and us to know that Calvary was not some religious, liturgical formality. It was a deeply personal and painful experience for all of Heaven's family. He paid so high a price for us…I’m sure that we will never fully understand.

Spirit of Truth vs. Spirit of Seduction

2009-07-18T05:01:00.001-05:00

My heart is overwhelmed when I think back on the last few days and the incredible services we had throughout the United Kingdom and Norway. The Holy Spirit moved in such power and now in the afterglow of it all I am experiencing something that I often do. I find that when I am in the presence of the Holy Spirit in a significant way, I come out of it having fallen more in love with Jesus! I think that this is a characteristic of a genuine Holy Spirit encounter…our love for the Son will grow and blossom. I don’t understand people who have “revivals” and conferences where they are obsessed with spiritual things and even the "Holy Spirit", but don’t even acknowledge Jesus. They sing songs about glory, power, anointing and never mention the name of Jesus. They talk about angels and miracles, visions, encounters and third Heaven experiences, but never talk about Jesus. How can this be? The Holy Spirit does not come to speak of Himself…He points away from himself to another – Jesus!

John 16:13,14 says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF…HE SHALL GLORIFY ME: for he shall receive of mine and shall show it unto you.”

It is impossible to have a genuine encounter with the Holy Spirit and not have an encounter with Jesus. If you ever see this happening be very careful, because while there are many spirits in the world, there is only ONE HOLY SPIRIT!

In Genesis Chapter 24 we read the story of Abraham sending his servant Eliazar to find a wife for His son, Isaac. It is Eliazar who brings Isaac and Rebekah, his bride, together. In this story we see so many types. Abraham is a type of God the Father. Isaac is a type of Jesus. Eliazar is a type of the Holy Spirit, and Rebekah is a type of the Church. There are many spiritual truths that can be drawn out of this story, but there is one that jumped out at me as I just read this verse recently.

Even though Rebekah had never seen Isaac, she seemed to love him greatly. She chose to leave her father, mother and family to be with him. As soon as she saw Isaac, she jumped off her camel and went to meet him. When they met face to face there was an instantaneous bonding between them. There were no dates, no courting, no prenuptial agreements or arrangement…they went straight to the honeymoon.

How is it that Rebekah loved Isaac even though she had never seen him? I think you can blame this on Eliazer. I think that from the moment he met Rebekah, he began to talk about his master and brag about him telling Rebekah how wonderful he was, how handsome, kind and gentle. On the entire camel ride back to the south country, Eliazer told Rebekah stories about Isaac and described him in detail. Rebekah was infatuated with this incredible man and could not wait to meet him face to face.

1Pet. 1:8 says “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory…”

Verse 53 says that Eliazer, “…brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold and raiment and gave them to Rebekah…” These gifts that Eliazer lavished on Rebekah are types of the gifts of the Spirit. They were not Eliazer’s, they were Isaac’s and were a sign of Isaac’s love. Of course they made Rebekah look beautiful as well, but the real purpose was to cause Rebekah to fall more in love with her groom…and it worked! When the Holy Spirit is moving and the Gifts of the Spirit are in operation we can expect to find people falling more in love with Jesus.

But consider this: what if Eliazer had flirted with Rebekah and tried to attract her with is own charm? What if Eliazer had given her his own gifts and told stories about his own life to win her over? What if Rebekah had become infatuated with and fallen in love with Eliazer instead of Isaac? He would have been a wicked, unfaithful and seductive servant.

Paul warns us that in the last days there will also be “seducing spirits” in operation. A seducing spirit is one that would seek to divert attention from Jesus and unto itself. Where people love the gifts more than the groom there are seductive spirits in operation. Where people seek manifestations more than “the man”, there are seductive spirits at work. Any time Jesus is not the main focus, the supreme attraction, the ultimate fascination, the crowning prize and the preeminent desire – WATCH OUT! The Holy Spirit has nothing to do with it!

The Holy Spirit will always speak about JESUS, reveal JESUS, exalt JESUS, promote JESUS and magnify JESUS…nothing else and nothing less than JESUS!

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeded from the Father, he shall testify of me.” (John 15:26)

God's Bench Press

2009-07-17T08:00:00.002-05:00

There was a time in my life (not so long ago) that I was quite a faithful little “gym rat.” Every morning I would show up and put in my time sweating, heaving and grunting until I had exhausted an entire day’s worth of energy before the sun had even come out. The bench press was my favorite exercise, and that’s where I could really shine. I would lie down on the bench, and my workout partner would put a couple of weight plates onto the barbell. I would press it once and ask for more. At my request he would slide another 44-pound disc onto each side and then I would press it again. “Give me a couple more,” I would say, and he would add more still. I would keep adding weight until my arms and chest felt like steam-rolled gummy worms. At the peak weight, I would say, “Stop…I can’t lift any more.” Believe it or not, my record was 300 pounds!

There were a couple of times, however, when I miscalculated and ended up under a load that was simply too heavy. I can remember once when this happened, and I had no spotter. It was a pretty helpless feeling. I watched in horror as the weight was slowly sinking down to my chest as though it was happening in slow motion. I was pushing with every ounce of strength I could muster, but there was absolutely nothing I could do. Finally the bar came to rest somewhere between my chest and my neck. I’m not sure whether I was more concerned about potentially suffocating or just looking completely ridiculous while doing so. My lower half was flopping around like a flounder while my jellified arms were trying desperately to keep the bar off my neck just long enough for me to grunt a pathetic distress signal of some sort. I think the other guys in the gym were debating over whether to help me or just laugh.

I was quite happy with my 300 pound record, but it seems pretty puny when compared to Ryan Kennelly (pictured left) who holds the world record in bench-press for lifting 1,075 pounds…an unthinkable amount of weight for any half-way normal person. But as remarkable as it is, even the mightiest person in the world has limitations. At some point we all will cry out, “Stop…I can’t bear any more.” At some point even Ryan Kennelly could be crushed under a load too heavy for any man.

But consider the infinite burden that Christ lifted at Calvary. He was beaten, whipped, and tortured before they nailed His mutilated body to the cross like a mangled piece of meat. But it wasn’t only physical pain that He endured. He bore the betrayal by Judas, the denial by Peter and abandonment by the rest of His closest friends. He bore slander and false accusations of His enemies. He bore the knowledge that he had been completely misunderstood by the angry mob full of people who He loved and had to endure the sight of his grief stricken mother as she was forced to watch His torment.

“Enough!” you can hear her say, “That’s my son…He’s done nothing wrong. Leave Him alone…this is one hundred times more than any man can bear.”

But He seems to look up to His Father through the blood and thorns and ribbons of lacerated flesh and say, “Don’t stop…give me more…lay it all on Me. Give Me the sins of the entire Jewish nation. Give Me the sins of all the Gentile heathen. After that lay on Me the iniquities and wickedness of every person who has ever lived since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden 4,000 years ago. All the murder, the genocide, the rape, the wars, the human sacrifices, and the idolatry…the burden of all of history…drop it on Me.”

“Stop,” the Angels cry as they shield their faces, “That is enough…He is the darling Prince of Heaven. Don’t torment Him…this is one thousand times more than any man can bear.”

“No, don’t stop,” you hear Him say through bloodstained teeth, clinched in unwavering resolve. “Give Me more. Give Me the burdens of every person who has not yet been born. Lay on Me the sins of every future generation for the next 2,000 years: the burden of the prostitute, the drug addict, the adulterer, and the thief. Lay on My back the stripes of every slave, the chains of every prisoner, the darkness of every madman the bondage of every demoniac. Lay on Me all the anguish of hell’s most agonizing torment.”

God the Father turns His back on the unbearable sight of His Son. The sky turns dark as though the very door of heaven itself were slammed shut. He is utterly alone and completely forsaken by God and man. Never before has a human being experienced such emotions…emptied of all but love. Thunder peels in the distance the earth splits and the temple veil rips. The whole world seems to bend and creak as it’s laid upon His bloody shoulders.

“No more!” you cry. “Lord you’ve already done enough. This is a million times more than any man can bear.”

“Not yet,” you hear Him say, “I’m not finished…not until I’ve taken every sickness. Lay on Me the obscurity of all the blind. Lay on Me the brokenness of every cripple. Lay on Me the rottenness of every leper. Lay on Me the isolation of every deaf mute. Give Me the grief of the AIDS victim and the sorrow of the barren woman. Give Me the hurt of every child with cancer. Give Me the convulsions of every epileptic. Give Me the pain of every sick and suffering man and woman boy and girl: every affliction, every fever, every spasm, every injury, every pang, every wound and every illness. And give Me the very sting of death itself…I will bear it all”.

The world and everyone in it would have surely been crushed and suffocated under the unimaginable weight of our own sin. We were hopeless and helpless as the burden of it all was slowly sinking into our chest, and there was nothing that anyone could do about it. That’s when Jesus stepped in and rolled our burden onto His back. Finally, the weight of the world with its mountains of putrefying sin, sickness and bondage had been placed squarely on His shoulders. Not one burden remained that He had not lifted. It was a billion times more than any person could bear.

“That’s enough,” He cried. “I have it all…'IT IS FINISHED!’”

This is why Isaiah said that He “bore our sins and carried our sorrows.” This is freedom to the fullest. This is abundant life. This is joy unspeakable and full of glory. “Burdens are lifted at Calvary; Jesus is very near.”

~ By Daniel Kolenda (www.danielkolenda.com)

The King Who Dug His Own Grave

2009-07-16T08:00:00.003-05:00

Have you ever heard the scripture found in II Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and from throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him…” It may surprise you to learn the context of that verse and the fascinating circumstances surrounding it.

Baasha, the King of Israel came up against Judah in war and tried to starve the people out by besieging the Ramah. So Asa, the King of Judah, “…brought silver and gold out of the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Syria…saying, ‘Let there be a league between me and you…break your league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.'” (v. 2,3).

The Syrians, whose allegiance Asa had bought with gold from the Lord’s house came down and rescued the southern kingdom from the hand of Baasha. But the Lord was not pleased.

God sent a prophet named Hanani to king Asa with this message, "Because you relied on the king of Syria and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war."

Asa grew afraid in the battle and chose to trust in the king of Syria rather than in the Lord. As a result of this the Lord gave him over to the very thing he feared most, “…from now on you will be at war.”

What is so amazing is that Asa makes the VERY SAME MISTAKE again only 3 verses later: “In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was diseased in his feet – until his disease became very severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but relied on the physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign.”

Asa trusted in armies and obtained war. He trusted in doctors and obtained death. The final verse of the chapter sums Asa’s life up with an almost contemptuous caption: “And they buried him in his own tomb which he had hewn out for himself…” In essence, Asa dug his own grave because he insisted on trusting in the arm of flesh rather then on the Lord. God was insulted by Asa’s disregard and gave him over to that which he feared most.

I wonder how many Christians are suffering today because they didn’t trust in and seek the Lord in the midst of their trial. Faith often seems like the more difficult option. It is so much easier to trust a lawyer, a doctor, a colleague or a counselor. But after trusting in all of these other things, so many people find themselves given over to the very thing that they fear and in that moment they cry, “Why God!?!” Don’t wait until your wheels have fallen off before you cry out to the Lord. Seek the Lord while He may be found and call on Him when He is near. View your difficulty as merely an opportunity for the Lord to receive Glory.

The eyes of God are going to and fro throughout the earth looking for someone through whom He can show himself mighty. He wants to receive glory through your sickness. He wants to receive praise through your financial emergency. He wants to receive honor through your family situation. Don’t deprive Him of the opportunity to be your “very present help in trouble.” Don’t lean on the arm of the flesh…don’t dig your own grave.

~ By Daniel Kolenda (www.danielkolenda.com)

Sarons Dal - Norway

2009-07-15T17:15:00.001-05:00

We’ve just left beautiful Sarons Dal in Norway where we had a full and blessed day of ministry. This afternoon Evangelist Bonnke and I spoke, and then again in the evening service Evangelist Bonnke preached a powerful message about the Holy Spirit and called the young people forward for prayer. They responded with such hunger, some even jumping over obstacles and running forward to receive prayer. Now we are on the road. It is 11:00 pm and we still have two hours before we reach Stavanger where we will catch a flight home. Over the past 7 days I have preached 15 times and been in 8 different cites. I am returning home physically drained but spiritually energized. I pray that the people of the UK and Norway who have received something special this past week may continue to be faithful to the Lord. And I know that He that began a good work in them will be faithful to complete it – in Jesus name.

Triumph in the midst of Tragedy

2009-07-14T02:21:00.008-05:00

Yesterday we concluded our tour of churches here in the U.K. with a dynamic day of ministry in Ayelsbury, just outside of London. Less than 48 hours before our meetings began, this city was rocked by a horrific tragedy that has stunned this small, close-knit community and especially the local body of believers. A young lady was stabbed to death outside her home by a crazed teenager with no apparent motive as she walked her dog on Saturday. This young lady was the wife of the worship leader of one of the local charismatic churches. Members of this church were present in both our morning and evening meeting and the obvious grief of every local believer presented a difficult context for an outsider to minister in. The evening evangelistic meeting was packed out with mostly young people. I told the people that in the midst of all the bad news, I had come with some very good news. I preached my heart out and then gave an altar call. The altars were packed...so many young people received Jesus! It was fantastic. In the face of the most poignant example of devilish destruction and death, a parallel reality; the overwhelming light of salvation from the cross flooding darkened hearts and changing lives for eternity.

During the prayer for the sick, once again, there was a tremendous move of the miraculous. Many received instantaneous healing and some received multiple instantaneous healings. One lady came to the meeting deaf in her right ear and had a lump growing on her neck beneath that ear. During the prayer for the sick, her ear popped open and her lump vanished. Arthritic pain vanished in one lady. Another person's frozen shoulder suddenly had full range of motion. A man with a back injury who was unable to lean forward for the terrible pain could touch his toes with incredible flexibility...all pain was gone. The miracles kept coming until the moment the service dismissed late in the evening.

I am now sitting in the airport in Birmingham preparing to fly to Norway for meetings with Evangelist Bonnke. I leave the United Kingdom having received a sure confirmation of the prophetic word the the Lord had given me before I came; "THE TIME IS NOW!" I am confident that a new season has begun in the UK, and God's purpose for this nation will prevail. I'll share more thoughts about this later.

Ealing Christian Center & Revelation TV

2009-07-12T17:48:00.007-05:00

This morning I preached at one of London's greatest churches - Ealing Christian Center pastored by Rev. Richard Buxton. The church has a highly multicultural congregation with nearly 100 different nations represented. Services are held in a beautiful facility which was once a famous theater that has been converted and claimed for the Gospel. This morning the Holy Spirit fell in a powerful way in the packed sanctuary. I laid my hands on several hundred people and many received an impartation of Fire.

This evening I preached at Ealing again, but this time I got to do what I love most...preach the Gospel and pray for the sick. There was a wonderful response to the altar call and many received Christ. Quite a few also lined up to testify of miraculous healings that took place during the prayer, but I never got to hear the testimonies since I had to rush to the Revelation TV studios where I was interviewed for an hour by Gordon Pettie on their live Sunday night show. On the program I had a chance to minister on healing and pray for the sick who sent in a barrage of prayer requests from all over the globe as they heard the live broadcast. I look forward to hearing many wonderful testimonies of what the Lord did tonight, both at the church and around the world by way of television.

Tomorrow we leave early for Aylesbury for morning and evening meetings where we expect great things once again before heading on to Norway.

MIRACLES IN WESTMINSTER CHAPEL!

2009-07-11T15:57:00.007-05:00

I just finished preaching in Westminster Chapel of central London - 200 yards from Buckingham Palace. This historic church is the very one once pastored by R.T. Kendall and Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Needless to say, it is a landmark, not only of England but of evangelical history as well.

Tonight the Holy Spirit moved in mighty power and many were saved and healed. One notable miracle took place for a lady who has been on the front page of British newspapers. You may have heard of Nadia Eweida who is embroiled in a lawsuit with British Airways for refusing to allow her to wear a cross. Mrs. Eweida recently said to the press, "I will not hide my belief in the Lord Jesus. British Airways permits Muslims to wear a headscarf, Sikhs to wear a turban and other faiths religious apparel. Only Christians are forbidden to express their faith. I am a loyal and conscientious employee of British Airways, but I stand up for the rights of all citizens." (You go girl! CLICK HERE to read the story on the BBC website)

Tonight Mrs. Eweida testified to having received a healing in her back along with many other people who were also healed. Just in case you haven't heard: Jesus heals...not only in Africa but in London, in England, in Europe and everywhere!

Tomorrow I will preach at Ealing Christian Center in the morning and evening services with an interview on Revelation TV in between. More to come...