Jesus has authority

VERSE:

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority,and not as their teachers of the law.

Matthew 7:28-29

THOUGHT:
Unlike the teachers of his day, Jesus didn't have to shore uphis teaching with obscure quotes from past teachers. Jesus, theWord of God, spoke the very words of God. He did and said what the Father willed. His life and his words had ring of authenticity and an awareness of power that extend through the ages and beckon us to His truth. This Jesus, our Teacher and Lord, is different. His words are powerful. His teachings are true. So his will must be our passion!

The Trinity

The past few days, I've had a few discussions based around the Trinity.

My brother was having a discussion with some guys at his college and some people have the view that you should come and follow their 'god' because it is simple and easy to understand. It's easier to follow their 'gods' teaching and you don't have to put a lot of effort in to follow him/it/she.

My God is not simple, I agree, do I want Him to be - no. My God created the universe, that's not simple! My God loves everyone - that's not simple. My God paid the price for everyone's entry into Heaven - that's not easy either, but He did it all.

Many people cannot understand the concept of the Trinity, it's not simple! At the same time I don't want to follow a god that is simple because of 2 main reasons, 1- either it's the easy way to follow something or 2 -that he's man made.

The God that I follow is bigger than I will ever comprehend while I am on this earth - that's why I follow the God that didn't just sit on some throne in Heaven and look at us from a distance, but actually sent a part of Himself down, placed Himself in our shoes (or sandals) and walked our walk and learnt how it actually is to live the life He gave us - then loved us so much paid our way to be able to live with Him once the 'test' or our life is over.

This life is for us to decide what we will do with our eternity - what's your decision? Make it now or you will have it decided for you and you may not like it.

"But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."

Jude 1:20-22

Role models, are you proud of yourself?

You reap what you sow




Do what you say. Integrity, speaks louder than words

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."

Galatians 6:7

Sounds of Hell - WARNING - DISTURBING!

I found this video on you tube the other day.

I know many readers won't believe it and will say it's a hoax, but whether or not it is - we know Hell exists and even if it is a hoax, thinking it could be even similar or as simple as something we could make up, it's freaky. It will be worse than something we could ever imagine with a human brain!!

WARNING - This video might be disturbing to many viewers

Are you saved - Ask Jesus today to save you - it's free! The choice is yours.

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Acts 2:21

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 14:6

Board

For those readers that are within the Salvation Army, I have my meeting with the Divisional Board on Friday for college acceptance.

I would usually ask for some prayer support, but I don't think I need earthly support on this one, God has called, I respond and that's that - this is where I'm supposed to be and it's by Divine appointment this day is occurring.

In saying that, if you'd like to pray for God's will to be done for Friday - please do!! :) Please BE praying for the College and all the Cadets and the Candidates too - there are many struggles occurring in many of our lives, so support on that field is always appreciated.

The Salvation Army needs Soldiers and we also need Officers.

" Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!""

Isaiah 6:8

Catch the Fire update

For all of those reading looking for updates from Catch the Fire Ministries, here is the latest update today from the revival meetings over in Hallam;

DAY 29 - Revival Fire continues to fall in Melbourne- As local motels fill up

Dear Family and Friends in Christ,

God is indeed glorified night after night as the Fire of the Holy Ghost continues to fall in Melbourne’s Eastern suburbs. People from interstate and country Victoria are coming in the kinds of numbers that mean local motels are being filled with guests visiting the Hallam Revival meetings. This report has meant our Catch The Fire office has needed to direct people to the local caravan park instead. This is exciting news!

So many people are desperate to receive the goodness and power of our amazing God that they travel from as far away as Darwin, Northern Territory to receive all God has for them, and to take the Fire back to their own area. We are so blessed to see so many people including pastors from Sydney (NSW), Adelaide (SA), Darwin (NT), Parks (NSW), Bendigo (VIC), Geelong (VIC), Bellaraine Peninsula (VIC) and many other places who’ve come to drink from God’s refreshing River of life, flowing directly from His Throne room!

Pastors continue to flow in night after night with their families, many of them being mightily impacted by the Holy Spirit as Pastor Danny prays and releases specific words from the mind and heart of God regarding their church or ministries.

It is reality church to see almost every night many encouraged and built up, as God releases words through the gift of prophecy and/or word of knowledge, with many responding as Pastor Danny calls them out of the crowd. This of course expresses the Father’s Love to His children and to hear your name called out, and to know it is from God, builds such faith in His precious sons and daughters.

People soak in a worship filled atmosphere for hours, causing their hearts to be fully prepared to receive their miracle, as our Bridegroom God meets with His beloved Bride. This can manifest beautifully by dancing, weeping, laughing, laying in quiet reflection or rejoicing in abandonment, as this new found freedom and Kingdom reality takes them to blessing the Lord with thanksgiving.

Many born again Christians have testified, “We have been in church for years, but this is the first time we have found complete freedom to worship the Lord.” These ones dear to God’s heart are at the altar every night until they ‘glow’ with His radiant joy and mighty presence!

Many continue to get healed, delivered and set free by the power of God. What’s most exciting is people are beginning to share their faith with others in workplaces, not troubled by external expressions; they are boldly speaking the gospel message and are praying for their friends. The Kingdom is advancing! The King is being honored and the work of the Kingdom is being established.

A teacher from a public school testified, “Following impartation prayer, I became much bolder and felt empowered under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, so that in the next 2 weeks I led 20-25 teenagers (from my school) to the Lord. If we are ready, God will use us... many more are seeing God’s power and knowing His presence and being drawn to the cross of Jesus.”

Another man testified, “By attending the meetings often I have received so much of God’s Fire inside me, that I laid hands on a Hindu man, who was paralyzed down one side due to a stroke. He experienced God’s goodness and was healed instantly! This man’s wife was a Muslim. God showed her who He is, compassionate and slow to anger, loving and kind and willing to meet their needs. This brought both to their knees in surrender to Jesus, as they began their journey to make Jesus Lord and Savior of their lives.”

The Lord of the Harvest has desired to grow His Bride and spiritual impartation has been strong the last few nights, to enable the works of God through supernatural healings, signs, and wonders to be released through the Body of Christ. We are now hearing these testimonies and giving all glory to the Lord!

Through obedience to the Lord, Pastor Danny lays hands on those who come to the altar and anoints them with oil and prays for them individually. This happens most nights, resulting in many taking in mighty impartation from our gracious God.

Having “walked through death” experiences twice (should have been killed) and known persecution for Christ in both Australia and overseas, Pastor Danny understands what it is like to walk through fiery turbulence and still see many miracles, signs and wonders follow his ministry. His one desire has been, “Lord let the people ‘catch the Fire, take the Fire and set a Fire’ for Jesus!

We all desire to see this nation of Australia catch the Fire, revive, and encounter Jesus as the Body of Christ is market place effective, and the end-time harvest is reaped for the Kingdom of Heaven!

Bring your family, friends, neighbors, pastors, leaders, and members of your church to the Healing Revival continuing week nights on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 7.30pm with Saturday at 6.30pm. Check our website tomorrow (11.07.08) www.catchthefire.com.au for new update with recent photos, including the leaflet for printing & distribution. The venue is Christian Community Church, 30 Star Crescent, in Hallam.

Blessings,

Dianne Johnson
Catch the Fire Ministries
PO Box 7427
Dandenong VIC 3175 Australia
Tel (613) 9794 8211
Fax (613) 9794 9311
www.catchthefire.com.au

Chocolate companies break promise

On July 1st, people all across our town will be going out of their way to buy more chocolate—a chocoholic’s dream, but it will be fairly-traded chocolate. This is the best way and the only way to eat your chocolate slave free.

July 1st is a very important day around the world.

It’s the day when the chocolate industry promised to make sure that no children were being used as slaves on cocoa farms.

It’s the day when we could eat a bar of our favourite chocolate such as a Mars, Kit Kat or Dairy Milk knowing that no child has been used in the harvesting of the cocoa beans that went to make the chocolate we love to eat.

Sadly there will be no celebrations on July 1st.

Industry has failed to keep its original promises.

Today, children as young as 12 are still being used as slaves on cocoa plantations. Here are the words of one child after being rescued from a farm. “I will tell you how I lost my arm. I tried to escape, but I could not. They caught me and tied me to a papaya tree and they beat me and broke my arm. I used to dream horrible dreams that they were beating me and about many other things: the hard work, my family …I still have these dreams today”.

Although the majority of farmers would not treat children in this way, there are some who do, and there are an estimated 12,000 children trafficked onto cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast into a life of slavery.

In our community, thousands of people are buying chocolate without knowing that these children are suffering for our sweet tooth to make fat profits for an industry that hasn’t delivered on its promises.

In 2001 they said they would certify that farms were slave free. Now they are saying that they are gathering data on some of the areas where cocoa is harvested.

This is not what they promised.

This is not good enough after 7 years of waiting for the freedom, safety and protection of these children.

We have to choose which chocolate bar to buy, at little cost to us when our chocolate is costing some children their lives.

We have to choose which chocolate bar to buy, little cost to us when our chocolate is costing some children their lives.

Promotion

When I finally become an Officer of the Salvation Army, I'm sure I'll receive a few 'promotions'.

Firstly commissioned as a Lieutenant, then after a few years 'promoted' to Captain, possibly eventually a 'promotion' to Major and so on. Who knows where I'll end up; rank and continent.

Who cares really!

The main thing is - I don't want to even think about retirement until I'm 'promoted' to glory! There's too much work still to be done for the Kingdom. The Bible never talks about retirement, but the great men and women of God keep going until they're called Home, let's join their ranks!

'The last enemy to be destroyed is death.'

1 Corinthians 15:26

What are we doing?

There is quite a lot of discussion happening on the Salvo blogs lately. There was one comment on Marney Turners blog by an 'anon' which said;

"Do you see church as something passive, that you go to observe? or something in which you participate?

Is Christianity something you do or are?

Where is "the church" Mon thru Sat?

If baptism is by water can it not be by the Living Water and by the Holy Spirit?

Can a uniform not be a statement of commitment?

Can items of clothing be a constant reminder to the person wearing them of meeting a certain standard of behaviour?

As a friend of mine once said "I wont put a "fish" on my car because then I'd have to drive like a Christian" "

Some good questions to think about. Sure the 'church' has deviated from it's purpose many times, and still in many ways today, but is it really the church or people within the church? Yes, the people within the church are the church, but then I suppose then it can go into questioning whether the 'denomination' if it is correct or not, but that's another topic all together.

There are way too many people that call themselves 'Christians' but don't even know what God requires of them. Who would become a part of, or assosiate themselves with something they have no idea about, like becoming a lion tamer or a Free Mason for example without knowing what they actually do or what it actually means.

Christianity has much to answer for, or is it really people in the church that have much to answer for!? Back before the reformation of the church, the Catholic church became an entity that was all about controlling people in the name of 'God' which really was nothing like what God requires from His people - my God is a God of justice - that means people are liberated spiritually and even physically, not so you can do what you want sinfully, but so you are free from oppression and any form of slavery, etc.

I like the part of the above statement about a uniform being a statement of commitment. Many 'Soldiers' of the Salvation Army these days don't do more than observe 'church' and it just is a passive thing - uniform to them is something they just wear to just be a part of the 'club' and not for anything outside of the four walls of the church where it's true purpose lies; its funny that these people are slowly just wearing casual civilian clothes to worship, even footy club clothing I've noticed rather than their uniform.

Why did Salvationists wear uniform in the first place - because they wanted to show they were apart of the fight, were committed and wanted to be associated with this Army God had raised up, not just for it's Soldiers to club meetings to make themselves feel good and pat each other on the back saying 'you're doing a good job' but actually get out there save the dying and clothe the naked and snatch people out of the clutches of damnation on many levels.

What happened to that?? We lost the vision of eternal damnation. I'm sure forgot to study the Word and therefore the requirements of Salvation, became comfortable thinking that sitting in 'church' occasionally would give them a free pass into 'heaven'. I've had a few small envisions of hell and that 'encourages' me strongly to actually partake in our calling to save the lost! If you've lost your passion or your enthusiasm, read the Word more, pray more, ask God for a renewed passion for the lost, and even a vision of hell yourself - but as a warning - be ready for what you ask!!!

Arise Soldiers - enough is enough! - are you giving reason for God's enemies to blaspheme His Holy Name?? If so, stop calling yourself a Christian and associating yourself with God - you are doing the most damage to the Kingdom of God.

"I can't stand your religious meetings.

I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.

I want nothing to do with your religion projects,

your pretentious slogans and goals.

I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes,

your public relations and image making.

I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.

When was the last time you sang to me?

Do you know what I want?

I want justice—oceans of it.

I want fairness—rivers of it.

That's what I want. That's all I want. "

Amos 5:21-24