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News analysis from a prophetic Christian worldview
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NOTE:
When writing about God and Jesus, The Daily Jot means YHVH as God and Yeshua Ha Mashiach as Jesus--the actual original names and the true nature and character of them.
This has been an interesting week having dialogue on why we are grieving in the spirit. Many Daily Jot readers are divided on this issue. Here is a comment from a regular reader, who expresses the sentiment: "I did not care for this article at all... We are at war--we are fighting evil with might--A continuing coup attempt is what we are facing. We sat for too long in the pews and praying; not getting out and demonstrating...The unbelievers took a bite out of the apple and we caved-and they have just continued to take bites with no opposition. The final straw for me was gay marriage. I shall fight the good fight and stand firm. A shooting war is coming. God bless. I encourage you to fight also; not just for souls but for AMERICA."
This reader is so right in so many ways. There is an ongoing coup attempt. The church did sit too long in the pews doing nothing but praying. Aside from some very courageous Christians standing against abortion, the church did "cave." We are at war, a social war, and the reason for this war is that the church in America has become largely irrelevant since the early 1960s. IF the church, and accountability rests both in the pulpit and by believers who just take what they are told without question, had stood in the gap with truth and unity, and held to the Word of God and acted on it; IF the church, meaning those in the church, had held accountability in their families and in their communities, America would look different today.
Having said that, I have a sense in my spirit that returning evil for evil will lose the war. Not because the members of darkness don't deserve it. In human terms they most certainly do. It is unjust to make up immoral rules and claim anyone who doesn't abide by them is a bigot, a racist, a homophobe, an Islamophobe, a xenophobe, a misogynist and so forth. But remember that judgment is up to God. They will receive their reward.There is only so much that a person can take of this nonsense and not do something about it. But if we respond by compromising the tenets of God, and winking at returning evil for evil, my sense is that God will not bless our efforts and we will lose this war. Our way of life will be lost. Mark my words.
There are massive numbers of verses in the Bible about how to win this. It's not by getting wrapped around the axel of hate, but flying above it like an eagle so you can see what is going on and respond accordingly. Christ said in Matthew 5:43, "You have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt love they neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, 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." Paul writes in Ephesians 4:31, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice." Ephesians 5:11 says, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather REPROVE them." He goes on to write that having done all, we must stand, and speak boldly as we ought to speak.
So how can we fight the fight without getting mixed up with the enemy's strategies? We do it in truth and love. We don't have to call names and express anger and hate. We speak directly and truthfully. Ephesians 4:26 says, "Be ye angry, and sin not." Countless events in the Bible show us that battles and wars are won with wisdom, truth and righteousness. Speak the truth in love. Act the truth in love. Having done all stand. Think Mt. Carmel and Esther. People seem to think that this is either return evil doings with even more force or be a total wimp. It's not that way. We can fight courageously and stand victoriously-but because we are people of the Way, we cannot compromise God's Word in doing so and keep his blessing.
I hate the evil among us as much as you. I fight it daily, probably more than most. I am no wimp or coward. But I know if we keep doing what we are doing, there will not be victory. Think about it. There is a better way.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
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For the children in rural Ghana, the need is great
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By Pastor William Agbeti
"Father, we have a huge challenge!" That was the alarming prayer that sprung up in my heart when we registered the 181st child that showed up for our feeding program this month, against an invited number of 150! The makeshift auditorium of the local rural church, Bread of Life Sanctuary, that we are supporting and where we fed the children, was packed to full capacity by both invited and uninvited rural children. These started showing up in their numbers, with great excitement, hours before the announced time of 1:00 pm! They came from poor rural communities spread miles apart.
As a result, we were compelled to set up an overflow area outside the auditorium to contain the extra numbers that kept pouring in! Many were reported to have come very early in the morning to survey the area to assure themselves that the feeding program was for real! We ran out of rented chairs and could not get any to rent in the whole of the Kojonya community where the program was held, forcing us to go for benches and other types of chairs for the children. An hour before the official start of the program, which was held under the theme, JESUS - OUR BREAD OF LIFE!, we had 200 rural children on our hands to feed with both spiritual and physical food!
Naturally, I started panicking! How could we possibly feed all these needy children? And we were still counting! Just then, definitely by divine intervention, a volunteer stepped up unto the platform where the musical instruments were and started singing: "We serve a Miracle working God who never fails!"
Immediately, the spirit of panic left me and I dashed down to where the cooks were. I asked the chief volunteer cook if we have enough to feed all the children. She reported they had noticed the situation and had reduced the size of the fried chicken by half, thereby creating 300 pieces! Thankfully she confirmed also there was going to be enough rice for all, if the intended por
tions were also reduced by half! Thank you Father, I exclaimed silently! Half a portion is better than no portion a
t all! I tried to convince myse
lf!
It turned out to be a
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The Daily Jot supported ministry in Ghana feeds, clothes and provides clean water for hundreds of children |
first-tim
e experience for the 200 children. Many of these had never eaten fried rice! They were treated to a popular nutritious local drink called SOBOLO, made out of the hibiscus flower. They also had popcorn and a received donations of clothing. Our regular musical chairs and dancing competitions were held and the winners were presented with Bibles. At the tail end of the program, majority of the children took decisions to accept Christ and were invited to attend church. These were given summarized lessons about the Old and New Testaments. They learned there are 66 books in the Bible, with 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New.
The need for them to have their own Bibles and carry them at all times was emphasized. We had a head count of the children who had Bibles and it turned out only a handful of them had bibles. Well over 150 had no Bibles. We promised to organize Bibles for distribution to them.
As usual, I observed four developments that greatly humbled me and brought tears to my eyes! First, the portions of meals were obviously not enough for some of the children! Secondly, many did not have popcorn to eat and were openly disappointed! Thirdly, when we assembled to have a group photograph, scores of children came over to cling to me, and will not let go; making me almost fall down! I had to control the tears welling up in my eyes! Lastly, after it all, a small boy aged about four walked to me and pointed out to something on a table somewhere.
It was another child's pair of shoes! I checked his name on the register of names, asked a volunteer to find out where he came from, and promised to bring him a pair of shoes! How can I ever fail to deliver on this promise? Meanwhile, I am still thinking about how to address the overwhelming food needs of the children, with a regular monthly, if not weekly, feeding program for at least a year! This is my newest burden I have chosen to carry, so help me God!
Against above backdrop, we have purposed to have follow up activities to help establish the children in local churches, give them Bibles, supply some of their personal needs and win them and many more away from the reach or influence of Islam, traditionalist and other pagan and oppressive religions!
Hopefully, with a rippling effect and impact on our target children and rural communities, we would make a profound mark on rural Ghana with the feeding program! On the whole we had two local rural churches and two local NGOs supporting the program with children they bused to the venue, biblical literature and volunteers! To God be the Glory for a power-filled program like this!
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The Daily Jot is totally reader supported. My wife, Chris, and I do not take a salary or receive any
remuneration for this work. Your gifts go directly to assisting us in maintaining this column, the website, outreach, and the Lord's work we do in Ghana, West Africa. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day,
Bill Wilson
The Daily Jot
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