"SIN" According to Susanna Wesley

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!

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

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

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

(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!

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

“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

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!

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)

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.