CRUSADE IN GWERI SUB-COUNTY SOROTI DISTRICT.

The Beauty of Marriage.

Theme: The Beauty of Marriage.   Preacher: Pastor Obwanga Samuel    Church: Awoja B.C    Date:3/11/2018

Text: Ge 2:18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable (Equal) to him."

Marriage is one of the most powerful covenants in the world today. It has the power to bring untold joy, happiness, peace, satisfaction, companionship, intimacy and love to us. No other human relationship can go as deeply as the marriage relationship. At the same time, marriage can also bring more pain, more misery, more isolation, more frustration, more grief and more sorrow than any other human relationship.

As some in this crowd would tell you, sometimes marriage doesn’t end up the way that we want. But that’s not a reason to avoid marriage. That’s just a reason to make sure we have the proper expectations of marriage.

Too often we fall victim to a cultural expectation of marriage that far exceeds anything God ever created it to be. We look to marriage to be the end all of happiness and purpose in life. We expect our spouse to be ‘the One,’ to be completely perfect, put together, to completely submit their needs and wants to ours, to assist us in the achievement of our goals, all the while filling us with the love, purpose, and fulfillment we have yet to be able to find. We expect our spouses to give us what only Christ can give us.

Joyce Mary, Samuel’s good looking, but he’s not Jesus. He’s going to let you down. He’s going to make mistakes. If you’re looking for him to complete you, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Only Jesus can give you the happiness and purpose that you’re looking for. Samuel, Joyce Mary is an incredible person, but she’s not Jesus. She’s going to make mistakes. She’s going to show her imperfections. Only Christ can give you the hope and purpose that you ultimately crave. Bretheren, when we set our spouses or potential spouses up with expectations that only Jesus can fulfill, then we set them up for failure.

If marriage isn’t about finding the one person who will make you complete and take all your problems and loneliness away, then what’s the purpose of marriage? Marriage is about happiness, about companionship, about oneness and reproduction, but ultimately, it’s about God. God created marriage to give us a living picture of Christ’s love for the church. That’s why the Bible says, “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church,” and “wives submit to your husbands as the church submits to Christ.” Marriage, ultimately, is a spiritual endeavor. Without Christ’s help every step of the way, we will fail.

When you pursue marriage merely as a means to be happy, you’ll eventually be disappointed. But if you approach marriage with the idea that it’s more about making you holy than making you happy, you’ll discover the true meaning of marriage. One thing marriage is great for is showing your faults, your selfish tendencies, the little parts of you that you can hide from everyone else except your spouse. As you struggle as two sinful human beings trying to make a marriage work, you’ll continually realize your dependence on God for success.

As you continually invite God into your marriage to change you (not your spouse), to change you into the husband or wife you need to be, you’ll experience his presence in ways you never thought possible. You’ll begin to be a better husband or wife, you’ll begin to look more like Jesus, and in the process, you’ll discover that deeper joy and purpose that you’ve been looking for all along.

Marriage is the most beautiful experience in the world. Samuel and Joyce Mary, I rejoice with you as you begin this journey together.

Things to Take Note in Marriage.

Husband/Wife

Proverbs 5:15 Drink water from your own cistern (reservoir,) and running water from your own well.,

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

Wife

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD. Proverb 18:22

She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. Proverb 31:12

An excellent (admirable, Outstanding) wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones. (wife) Proverbs 12:4

Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. Luke 14:20

Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 1Ti 3:11

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own (personal, private, specific) husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,

 1Pe 3:1

Husband

When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken. De 24:5

So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. Ephesians 5:28

Wife, never call your husband my man, and Husband never call your Wife Woman for

v  Man is (Bloke, Guy, chap, male, fellow, casual friend)

v  Woman is (lady, female, casual friend)

v  Wife is (partner, companion, spouse, helpmate etc.)

v  Husband is (other half, partner, companion, Significant other)

The Urgency of Christian Fellowship

The Theme: The Urgency of Christian Fellowship

Text: Acts 2:42-47 connected to 1Corithians 12:12-31,

Preacher: Pr. Obwanga Stephen    Date:11/11/2018

Fellowship

The story begins in Acts 1:4-11 when Jesus was in fellowship with his Disciples then they witnessed him Go to heaven.

The term Luke uses for “fellowship”6 in our text is a much broader term than our English word. Essentially, “fellowship” means “joint participation” or “sharing something in common.” It is thus a kind of partnership. In Philippians 2:1, the term is used of a common sharing in the Holy Spirit. In Philippians 3:10 and 1 Peter 4:13, it is used of sharing in Christ’s sufferings. In Galatians 2:9, it appears to be a sharing together in ministry.

And as you Philippians know, at the beginning of my gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in this matter of giving and receiving except you alone (Philippians 4:15, emphasis mine).

Fellowship in Greek is known as koinonia (fellowship) Acts 4, *****John 17:21 Jesus prayer of Oneness,

What do we find? When we read Act 2:42-47 Simply this:

The early church was a learning, fellowshipping, praying, awe-filled, power-demonstrating, radically generous, consistent, glad, praise-filled, well-thought-of, growing body of Jesus followers.

Let us take a brief glimpse at each element and we expound on the Meaning of Christian fellowship.

1. Learning

42a And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching

We may think primarily of Church today in terms of relationships and family. These are absolutely true components of what it means to be the Church. But it must be recognized that at the heart of the Church is the truth of the gospel, and the heart of the gospel is Jesus.

They “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.” They would accept no substitute for apostolic teaching, for the apostles were those who had seen the resurrected Lord and who had passed on the truths of the gospel, “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints,” as Jude put it in Jude 3.

WHAT IS CHURCH?

The Church is defined as a group of people who know the gospel and are devoted to growing in it, who are, in fact, born again Christ-followers.

2. Fellowshipping

42b and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread

But there learning was not mere learning. It was, in fact, community-forming learning. As they gathered around the word, they gathered together and they fellowshipped, living life together. They “devoted themselves” to “fellowship, to the breaking of bread.”

Many suggest that this reference to bread is a reference to the observance of the Lord’s Supper. I actually suspect this is the case, as Paul, in 1 Corinthians 11:17-33, seems to suggest that the Lord’s Supper was observed in the context of ordinary meal time.

3. Praying

42c and the prayers.

Prayer opened the floodgates of divine power in the early Church. It does so in the life of the Church today as well. Prayer is the power of the church;

4. Awe-Filled /Respect-filled

43a And awe came upon every soul,

The word “awful” was originally a good word. It meant “full of awe (awe means admiration, respect).” In this sense, then, the early Church was an awful Church…meaning a great church! Awe fell upon the believers and many of the watching unbelievers as well. Their fellowship was marked by power, by the Spirit of God, and by the awe that comes with these things. They were not bored. They were not watching the clock and timing the Preacher. They were filled with awe!

5. Power-Demonstrating

43b and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

And powerful things were happening through the apostles. People were being healed both physically and spiritually. Relationships were being mended. Marriages were being restored. Friendships were being reclaimed. Bad habits were being abandoned. The chains of sin were being loosed. The gospel was being proclaimed. All of these are signs and wonders.

6. Radically(Very/Completely/Deeply/Fundamentally) Generous

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

They were also marked by radical generosity. What an amazing picture! They “had all things in common,” sold what they had, and gave it to those in need. This is a challenging passage, but a critical passage.

7. Consistent

46a And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes,

It needs to be understood as well that this kind of fellowship does not just happen. It happens when life is consistently lived together. “Day by day,” Luke tells us, they were “attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes.”

This is important to understand: if your connection to the Church is occasional, chance, and inconsistent, you are shortchanging yourself of those truly deep and meaningful relationships that only arise from a life lived together.

8. Glad

46b they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

Luke also gives us a glimpse into the nature of the early Church. They had “glad and generous hearts.” This, too, does not happen in a vacuum. All of these elements are connected. Gladness is almost inevitable when you live life together in this way.

When we Connect to the body of Christ we will be glad. Invest your life in the great cause of the advance of the gospel in and through a local Christian congregation and you will find something to rejoice about. But keep your commitments weak and your connections shallow, and you will be amazed at how unhappy you become.

9. Praise-Filled

47a praising God

Hand in hand with joy is praise. Out of “glad and generous hearts,” praise comes.

We should indeed praise our great God at the beginning and end of each day, as the early Church did! The early Church praised Him because of what He had done and was doing through Christ, but they also undoubtedly praised Him because of the miracle of their emerging life together. In other words, the life of the Church itself is an occasion for praise, for only a miracle-working God could bring a people together in such a way and make this kind of family of them.

A Church that has Christ at the center will be a Church of passionate praise.

10. Well-thought-of

47b and having favor with all the people.

Perhaps most miraculously, those outside the Church thought well of them because of what they were doing and becoming. Surely not all felt this way, for the early Christians met with persecution too, as Luke will record very soon in Acts. But it is still the case that many who saw what was happening were amazed at it, respected it, and marveled, even though, for whatever reason, they did not join. This is the case in the world. Some want to destroy the Church, but some (secretly, perhaps) are jealous of the strengths they see in the Church when the Church is being the Church.

11. Growing

47c And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

In conclusion, we see the Church growing. They do not grow because of their own wisdom Here I mean (Secular and Theological Knowledge) or skills. They grow, Luke tells us, because “the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” It was God-driven growth. This does not mean the Church was inactive. No, this was a gospel-proclaiming Church. But God was at work, drawing men and women into the family of faith!

More study on the matter of fellowship

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41 NASB)

But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, (Ephesians 4:20-21 NASB)

"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35 NASB)

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:10 NASB)

And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:16 NASB)

FORGIVENESS

Topic: FORGIVENESS   Scripture (Text): Mat 18:21-35 (NIV)

Preacher: Pr. Obwanga Stephen  

Introduction,

It is impossible to live on this fallen planet without getting hurt, offended, misunderstood, lied to, and rejected. So Learning on how to respond properly is one of the basics of the Christian life.

The word “forgive” means to wipe the slate clean, to pardon, to cancel a debt. When we wrong someone, we seek his or her forgiveness in order for the relationship to be restored. It is important to remember that forgiveness is not granted because a person deserves to be forgiven. Instead, it is an act of love, mercy, and grace.

The Biblical Definition of Forgiveness

Is In Matthew 6:14 Jesus shows us what forgiveness really is: “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” 

 The Greek word for forgive is “aphiēmi” which means “to send away,” to “depart,” or “to yield up” which means you send away from ever being in the presence of either party.  That means that if my brother offends me and I forgive him, then I “send away” the offense from myself and from him so that it is never brought up again.  If a person keeps bringing the same offense up then they have never really sent it away or they haven’t truly forgiven you.   True biblical and godly forgiveness is this; “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8) and “while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life”

What if I don’t feel like forgiving others?
There are times we don’t feel like forgiving those who have wronged us. It is easier to act our way into feeling than to feel our way into acting. Having a nature of not forgiving others brings about bitterness, and bitterness has been linked to stress-related illnesses by some medical researchers. By forgiving others, we free ourselves spiritually and emotionally. Forgiveness is an act of our own personal will in obedience and submission to God’s will, trusting God to bring emotional healing.

Five misconceptions about forgiveness

1) What Forgiveness Is Not: Play Acting For Show...

·  Remember when as a child you were forced by some adult to "forgive" someone who was first forced to "say sorry" to you? Is this really repentance by the performer... or forgiveness by the victim? Well, perhaps so--in a few rare cases. But let us be honest and acknowledge that this charade by children is more often a temporary cessation of hostilities for the sake of the grown-ups, with the full intent to do more of the same violence (and not get caught) and/or get revenge later--when beyond the adult's watchful eye.

·  Adults force children through this ritual because strife in a family or group of kids is an unbearable pain; and they want to teach. Play-acting does give at least a temporary reprieve. But God's pain is more acute when He sees our strife with each other, and His solution aims a little deeper than mere words or mimicry or delay or coating over. For He is aiming not at hypocritical play-acting, but at truth from the inside out.

Mark 7:6 (Phi) Jesus replied, "You hypocrites, Isaiah described you beautifully when he wrote: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.' These teachings are but rules made by men."

2) Is Denial Forgiveness?

·  The inability to really forgive is often due to a false concept that "forgetting is forgiving". Forgetting is NOT forgiving. To be sure, if we forgive we will forget as a result. But the reverse is not true: forgetting is not forgiving--it is denial.

Ps 51:6 (NAS) Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being...

·  If we attempt to achieve a bogus forgiveness by deliberately putting "out of mind" the offense, we might be fooling ourselves and others that we have "forgiven". But all of the emotions and plots and hurt are still there--only held back by force of will in deliberated denial. But then we see "that person" again and all the bitterness and pain rise up again within us. Or, in the off moment--when such mental gymnastics cannot be maintained--we catch ourselves in an elaborate meditation of revenge or fit of rage and anger. Then we see just how deep and effective this sort of "forgiveness" is.

·  A mind "bent" by denial has a nasty habit of "snapping back" in the worst of moments.

1 Jn 2:9 (Wey) Any one who professes to be in the light and yet hates his brother is still in darkness.

·  Denial is merely a delusion: flimsy, fake, and shallow. Forgiveness is real: robust and solid and deep. It is not an avoiding of the truth, but a dealing with it squarely, however painful.

·  Consider God's perspective. Nothing is hidden from His sight: the evil intent, the hidden lust, the damage done, the choosing of that which is wrong, etc. And yet He is the author and originator of forgiveness. If we are going to really forgive, we are going to have to do it His way: with our eyes open.

·  For those God chooses to forgive, He will "forget" their sins, "remembering them no more". But let us not accuse the omniscient God of not knowing something or of being ignorant of any fact. He has told us that nothing is beyond His sight. Rather let us understand the "figure of speech" and spiritual dynamic of how God forgives.

Heb 8:12 (NIV) "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

·  The order here is essential. Forgiveness first, forgetting second. Until real forgiveness takes place, the offense is "in our faces" as regards that person, and it is the same with God. The sin comes between us, and cannot be "forgotten" until dealt with. If and when we enter into true forgiveness, we can then regard the person without the "offense" looming first and foremost between us.

Isa 43:25 (NIV) "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."

3) Impediments To Forgiveness: The Lure Of Sin

·  Another impediment to forgiveness is that bitterness, revenge, hatred, etc. have a perverted sort of appeal. Who has not felt the intoxicating lure of a grandiose meditation of scorching retribution? While we know this is wrong, it sure is great fun in the moment to fondle such thoughts.

Eph 4:26-27,31 (NIV) "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold... Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

4) Vengeance Is The Lord's... But Only If He Acts As My Agent?

Rom 12:19 (NIV) Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

·  Surely God has more power to pour wrath on our enemies than we do, and He surely sees the evil done all too clearly. So the thought may strike us to let Him do the dirty work. But when we think this through, it may not turn out as the carnal man within us might like. For let us face the plain fact that God has this habit of forgiving people and extending great mercy, at least for the time being.

·  So... we may not see fire from heaven come down to consume those we wish would receive God's vengeance. It is not that He is letting them off by some magic or deflection of mind, it is just that He may take the painful punishment Himself.

Prov 24:17 (NAS) Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles.

Mat 5:44-45 (NEB) "But what I tell you is this: love your enemies and pray for your persecutors; only so can you be like children of your heavenly Father, who makes his sun rise on good and bad alike, and sends the rain on the honest and the dishonest. If you love only those who love you, what reward can you expect? Surely the tax-gatherers do as much as that. And if you greet only your brothers, what is there extraordinary about that? Even the heathen do as much. There must be no limit to your goodness, as your heavenly Father's goodness knows no bounds."

·  Let us "count the cost" of letting God deal with our "enemies". He may bless them, prosper them, and save their eternal souls, rather than strike them dead with a lightning bolt. For this is what God is like, and what He is "up to" just now. And this may not satisfy our sense of what should happen. If we "let go and let God", He may well forgive and bless and love those we have plotted against and smoldered in hatred for, and even give us this same "foolish" (1 Cor 1:25) mindset.

Luke 17:3-5 (Phi) "So be careful how you live. If your brother offends you, take him to task about it, and if he is sorry, forgive him. Yes, if he wrongs you seven times in one day and turns to you and says, 'I am sorry' seven times, you must forgive him. And the apostles said to the Lord, 'give us more faith.'"

5) Is Real Forgiveness Humanly Possible?

·  It has been said, "To err is human, to forgive divine." There is a truth in this.

Luke 7:49 (GLT) And those reclining with Him began to say within themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

·  For what "seems right to a man" (Prov 16:25) is revenge. If the offense is not avenged, will not the perpetrator be sanctioned in his behavior to do more of the same? What about justice and fairness? Does forgiveness even "work" at a mere human level? What would happen to our society if everyone REALLY did this? Is "loving our enemies" something that appeals to our sensibilities? Does it even make any sense to the natural man?

Mat 9:5-6 (NIV) Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home."

Authorized By Grace... We Can Do What God Does

Col 3:12-13 (Jer) You are God's chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same.
1 Pet 2:21-23 (NEB) To that you were called, because Christ suffered on your behalf, and thereby left you an example; it is for you to follow in his steps. He committed no sin, he was convicted of no falsehood; when he was abused he did not retort with abuse, when he suffered he uttered no threats, but committed his cause to the One who judges justly.
1 Pet 3:9 (NEB) Do not repay wrong with wrong, or abuse with abuse; on the contrary, retaliate with blessing, for a blessing is the inheritance to which you yourselves have been called.
Luke 6:27-37 (NRS) "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you... Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same... But love your enemies, do good... and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful... Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
Eph 4:31-32 (Phi) Let there be no more bitter resentment or anger, no more shouting or slander, and let there be no bad feeling of any kind among you. Be kind to each other, be compassionate. Be as ready to forgive others as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
Heb 12:15 (Jer) Be careful that no one is deprived of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness should begin to grow and make trouble; this can poison a whole community.
Rom 12:17-21 (Phi) Don't pay back a bad turn by a bad turn, to anyone. See that your public behavior is above criticism. As far as your responsibility goes, live at peace with everyone. Never take vengeance into your own hands, my dear friends: stand back and let God punish if he will. For it is written: "It is mine to avenge, I will repay," says the Lord. And it is also written: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Don't allow yourself to be overpowered by evil. Take the offensive--overpower evil with good!

Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

it is if you are not forgiving of others then you may not have been forgiven of your sins in the first place. You could read verse 16 like this to make sense of this; “if you have not forgiven others their trespasses, neither has your Father not forgiven your trespasses” because remember to forgive is to “release, to send away or to yield up.”

Psalm 51:7, 9 “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Remember What We Have Been Forgiven From!

((((((Mat 18:21-27 (NIV) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go."
Mat 18:28-35 (NIV) "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow-servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. His fellow-servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow-servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.")))))))

· Where this servant failed, then, is in FORGETTING the merciful treatment His master gave him. He FORGOT the great sin he was forgiven of.

2 Pet 1:9 (NAS) ...For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

1Sam 16:7 (NIV) ...The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

The power of praying in tongues

PRAYING IN TONGUES

 Speaking in tongues is One of the most controversial and, sadly, most misunderstood gifts of the Holy Spirit  given by the Holy Spirit, and whoever wants it, may receive it. You only need to request it from the Holy Spirit.
Man is a spirit, but he has a soul and lives in a body. 1thessaloniansa 5:23
When  a person gets born again, his spirit is recreated, and thats why the Bible says in if any man be in Christ he has become a new creation2 Corinthians 5:17 and God decided to give this recreated being a new language of Angles  1Corithians 13:1.
After equipping them with this new language, He also gave his Disciple characteristics and features by which his saints will be identified. In the book of mark 16:17-18.
This was triggered on the day of Pentecost John 14:16 and Acts 2:1-4 were 120 disciples of Jesus got a visitation of the Holy Spirit

We need to be honest with ourselves and honest with the biblical text. This unique gift of the Holy Spirit actually announced the birth of Christiay on the Day of Pentecost. It was highly prized by the man who wrote the majority of the New Testament (Paul). It equips believers to communicate with God on a unique level and empowers us to effectively live the supernatural life
Speaking in Tongues Is More Than a One-Time Experience
The Glory Within makes the powerful point that tongues is not some spiritual merit pin we receive when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, use it for a season, and then put it out to pasture. Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke comments on the gifts of the Spirit, emphasizing that they are not pins of honor but tools for the job. The gift of tongues is something that the apostle Paul deeply cherished, and he provided nearly an entire chapter of instruction on it in 1 Corinthians 14.
Tongues are a gift. It is a tool. It is powerful, available and absolutely life-changing. However, many receive this gift at one point in their lives and taste its power, but they never actually make it a part of their normal Christian lives. This is why Corey invites all readers and participants to throw their badges (pins) in the trash. Yesterdays encounter with God cannot sustain us for today.

Do you believe that the Holy Spirit is capable of healing you? Yes or No.
Only God can heal but not the Holy spirit, some people say so but the reality is that, The Holy Spirit is God. Jesus is God. The Holy Father is God. I replied. These three persons work like a team. Nothing goes to God directly, rather through Jesus, Gods son. However, the Holy Spirit is the one who makes the miracles.
WHY PRAYING IN TONGUES WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER
Based on The Glory Within, here are five ways that praying in tongues will change your life forever.

1. Praying in Tongues Gives You Supernatural Understanding of Gods Mysteries

"For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries" (1 Cor. 14:2, NKJV).

Corey describes the Holy Spirit as the Google, or search engine of heaven. God is mysterious, yes, but the Spirit who knows everything about the mysterious, expansive, glorious God is the same Spirit who lives inside of you! And furthermore, He wants to reveal mysteries to you about God, His will, your life and the circumstances you are facing.

Remember, Paul defines Holy Spirit as the One who searches out everything and shows us Gods deep secrets (1 Cor. 2:10, NLT). As you pray in the Spirit, you will discover things that were previously mysterious and unknown will start coming into greater focus and clarity.

2. Praying in Tongues Grants You Access to Other Revelatory Gifts of the Holy Spirit

"For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit ... to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues" (1 Cor. 12: 8, 10, NKJV).
Praying in tongues actually unlocks other revelatory gifts of the Holy Spirit in your life, namely the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, prophecy and discerning of spirits. Remember, you are not praying on a natural dimension, but rather engaging on a purely spiritual one
3. Praying in Tongues Opens Up the Bible in a New, Living Way as You Read It

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak" (John 16:13).

4. When Praying in Tongues, You Are Speaking Directly to God

"For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God" (1 Cor. 14:2).

As you pray in tongues, you have a direct line to the president of the universe. Sometimes while praying in our native languages, we have the tendency to bend off and get distracted. We may start complaining. We may start going through the routine laundry list of prayer requestsand by the time we are finished reading them off to God, we feel more burdened than refreshed (because we actively thought of every single one of those circumstances as we listed them off in prayer). Tongues keeps us talking directly to God, praying in agreement with His perfect will (Rom. 8:26-28).

5. Praying in Tongues Empowers You to Engage Spiritual Warfare from the Position of Victory
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" (Eph. 6:18).
Praying in tongues is not some magic formula that guarantees us some free and easy lifestyle of health, wealth, prosperity and all of those fixings.


Testimony from Uganda in tongue speaking 1977.

This came at the time when the leader of the nation by them Idi Amin Dada did want Christianity to be heard.so all Christian leaders in Kampala were arrested and taken to makindye Court martial to be slaughtered and this pastors were put to sit in a que waiting for slaughter just like the way patients would que to see the the Doctor so one man of God requested the in charge to allow him pray before they slaughter him in did his request was granted. When he got into one of the rooms, he barsted in to tougue speaking in prayer, as he was praying, this officer were getting confused on who should slaughter this very man of God.after praying in the Holygohst, he told them he was ready.an argument broke out in decision making on who should lay the knife on to neck of the man of God.After arguing for long, they decided to let the man of God go through the behind door not to allow other soldiers and pastors see the controversial. From the slaughter court, the man of God was lead by God to the theological training center in Full gospel church in Kampala were he met other men on God in class and shared with them what had happened to him and what saved him. From that day every theologian in that Training school believed in the power of speaking and praying in Tongues. This testimony is confirmed by Rev opio moses the Senior pastor at Soroti baptist church. In did let's embrace the gift given to us by God, for edification.

In times of trial and assault, it is easy for us to become weary in the place of prayer, often not knowing what or how to pray. Praise God for the Holy Spirit! Paul reminds us "for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us" (Rom. 8:26).
Praying in tongues empowers you to agree with Gods victorious battle plan for your life and your circumstances, no matter what is going on around you. It does not deny reality; it simply positions you to agree with the higher truth of Scripture: Victory has been purchased, and it is yours through Jesus Christ.

"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence" (1 Cor. 1:27-29).

Just because our minds cannot understand the whys of Gods ways, that does not give us permission to ignore them. Tongues are surely a mystery, but at the same time it is a powerful gift that will not only enrich your personal prayer life but will bring you into deeper intimacy and communion with the Holy Spirit.

Prepared by: Pr. Stephen Obwanga     Email:obwangastephen@gmail.com

Scripture: Romans 12:1–2, Psalms 91:1-16     Topic: GOD’S WILL 

What is God’s will? God’s will is for none of his children to perish

John18:1, 19 John 6:38-39 the father’s will, it’s not for us to be sick, failures in poverty. He tell us in the book of john that in that day you shall ask me nothing but whatsoever you ask the father in my Name you shall receive only if you believe.

What happened to the children of Israel in the book of Exodus 16:4-36 was that the Lord rained down the bread. But the children of Israel grumbled to God for one meal, Here they were testing God (Exodus17:2) this was not God’s will but it was a test to the children of Israel (v4).

In Philippians 2:14-15 do all things without grumbling, 15 if you don’t grumble; you will shine like a star.

God wants us to rely on the Sword here we see that Joshua and the team overcame the Amalekites by the sword Exodus 17:13.

For us the new creation, we are to overcome the world by the word of God in us Joshua 1:8

God’s will is to give us rest Joshua 1:13

Ingratiate (Grk)-Hold on don’t strike back live God to deal with them/ the Wicked.

Romans 12:1–2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The aim of Romans 12:1–2 is that all of life would become “spiritual worship.” Verse 1: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” The aim of all human life in God’s eyes is that Christ would be made to look as valuable as he is. Worship means using our minds and hearts and bodies to express the worth of God and all he is for us in Jesus.

Those who believe in Christ Jesus are already blood-bought new creatures in Christ. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). But now we must become what we are. “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

The Two Wills of God

There are two clear and very different meanings for the term “will of God” in the Bible.

1. God’s Will of Decree, or Sovereign Will

First of all, “the will of God” as his sovereign control of all that comes to pass. Is the way Jesus spoke of the will of God in Gethsemane when he was praying? He said, in Matthew 26:39, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” What does the will of God refer to in this verse? It refers to the sovereign plan of God that will happen in the coming hours. You recall how Acts 4:27–28 says this: “Truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.” So the “will of God” was that Jesus die. This was his plan, his decree. There was no changing it, and Jesus bowed and said, “Here’s my request, but you do what is best to do.” That’s the sovereign will of God.

And don’t miss the very crucial point here that it includes the sins of man. Herod, Pilate, the soldiers, the Jewish leaders — they all sinned in fulfilling God’s will that his Son be crucified (Isaiah 53:10).

In 1 Peter 3:17 Peter writes, “It is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” In other words, it may be God’s will that Christians suffer for doing good. He has in mind persecution. But persecution of Christians who do not deserve it is sin. So again, God sometimes wills that events come about that include sin. “It is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will.”

Paul gives a sweeping summary statement of this truth in Ephesians 1:11, “In him [Christ] we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” The will of God is God’s sovereign governance of all that comes to pass.

2. God’s Will of Command

Now the other meaning for “the will of God” in the Bible is what we can call his “will of command.” His will is what he commands us to do. This is the will of God we can disobey and fail to do. The will of decree we do whether we believe in it or not. The will of command we can fail to do. For example, Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Not all do the will of his Father. He says so. “Not everyone will enter the kingdom of heaven.” Why? Because not all do the will of God.

Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, “This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” Here we have a very specific instance of what God commands of us: holiness, sanctification, sexual purity. This is his will of command. But, oh, so many do not obey.

Then Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” There again is a specific aspect of his will of command: Give thanks in all circumstances. But many do not do this will of God.

One more example: “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). Not all abide forever. Some do. Some don’t. The difference is? Some do the will of God. Some don’t. The will of God, in this sense, does not always happen. Ex33:19 I will make my goodness be with you.