Prophecy & Discernment (9/26/11)

Shalom,

Please begin by reading 1 Thes 5:19-21.

Prophecy: (Webster's Dictionary) A prediction. An inspired message spoken by a prophet declaring divine will either orally or in writing.

Pentecostal Handbook: An utterance inspired by the Holy Spirit. Biblical prophecy may be a revelation in which the prophet proclaims a message previously received through a dream, a vision, or the Word of the Lord. It may also be an ecstatic, inspirational utterance on the spur of the moment.

Please don't confuse PROPHECY with PROPHESY. Prophecy is a message. To prophesy is to speak forth the message.

Prophecy is distinguished from "regular" preaching. Preaching is generally the product of study and research. Preachers use many working aids and the Spirit's guidance to construct messages to encourage, challenge, and teach their listeners. Prophecy is generally the result of spontaneous spiritual revelation or inspiration. It's not intended to replace preaching or teaching, but to supplement it with special touches from the Holy Spirit. The two should work together to give groups of believers a deeper and fuller understanding of our Lord and his Word.

The purpose of the gift of prophecy is stated in 1 Cor 14:3. "Everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort."

Strengthening: OIKODOME is all about building up. It's meant to develop someone else's life through acts and words of love and encouragement.

Encouragement: PARAKLESIS is about exhortation. It literally means coming alongside someone with an invitation.

Comfort: PARAMYTHIA is about consolation. It literally means coming alongside with stories to console or comfort.

Notice that there's no mention that prophecy is supposed to be spooky and strange. All three of the results of good prophecy sound very normal. Building up the Body is a primary function for anyone attached to it. Encouraging and exhorting your fellow believers to continue strongly in their faith walk is vitally needed in our midst. Consoling and comforting the hurting is certainly one of the major features of being Christlike.

Prophecy isn't a mechanical thing where the Holy Spirit takes over the prophet as if he were using a megaphone. The person isn't entirely passive in the midst of having the Words of our Lord come from their mouth. The method Yahweh has chosen to use is a dynamic joining of the Holy Spirit's activity to the prophet's obedient speaking forth. 1 Cor 14:32 tells us, "The spirits of the prophets are subject to the control of the prophets." The Holy Spirit won't push us aside and use our mouths. What our mouths speak is fully under our personal control.

1 Cor 14:31 tells us something that's scary to far too many believers. "You can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged." It's within the revealed will of Yahweh for all believers to exercise the spiritual gift of prophecy. This passage also says this should happen one by one, not in a gaggle of noise. It also states that there should be no more than two or three in a regular worship service. Because according to 1 Cor 14:40. "everything should be done in a fitting and orderly manner."

It's a shame that some modern believers have formed a doctrine that says the Holy Spirit doesn't do this kind of thing anymore. They believe that miracles and wonders have ceased. And they often use the words of 1 Cor 14:40 to state one of their reasons, things being done in a decent and orderly fashion. But those words are specifically used within a chapter explaining the use of revelation gifts during a worship service. Believe me, if we obediently follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in the use of prophecy, we'll act "in a fitting and orderly manner."

Discernment: (Webster's Dictionary) The act of perceiving something hidden or obscure, to discriminate and perceive differences.

Zondervan's Bible Dictionary: The ability which the Holy Spirit gives to discern between those who speak by the Spirit of God and those who are moved by false spirits.

1 Thes 5:19-21. "Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good."

The Bible clearly teaches that there have been and continue to be false prophets. They're either led by seducing demonic spirits or their own evil human desires. We detect the difference between true and false prophets through discernment. There's a special gifting at times, but in general all Christians are to operate with discernment because of their ongoing relationship with Jesus. We have the One True Spirit of the Living God dwelling in our hearts. We should easily be able to discern between what's true and false, holy and unholy, godly and demonic.

When prophecies are given in a worship service or other meeting, the Christians in attendance are to judge whether or not the message is from our Lord. The specifications in 1 Cor 14 aren't telling us that only the "professionals" are to do this, but that all mature believers should be involved in this discernment (1 Cor 14:29). The words of 1 Thes 5:19-21 are addressed to all believers, not just leadership.

There are many issues for Christians to judge as they walk through this life. Some don't have specific prohibitions, but others definitely do. How much or how little television we should watch isn't found in the Bible. What we look at on the Internet is guided by an insistence on our looking only at what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (Phil 4:8). But Scripture clearly speaks against things like: adultery, homosexuality, and marrying unbelievers. These positions aren't vague, they're spelled out with strong clarity.

unbiblical thinking so they won't offend and lose members of their churches. The line between truth and error, wisdom and foolishness, even the Church and the World is being steadily removed. The truth is that the line between these issues is much more black-and-white than many realize or care to consider. Yahweh has given us his Word to help us discern between what comes from him and what comes from the world system or the demons.

Test Everything: The principle set forth by Yahweh is that we should prove all things by his Word and his Spirit. All teaching, all preaching, all doctrines, all writings, all opinions, all practices should be tested against what we know to be true as Yahweh has revealed truth to us. We need to know our Bibles well to test all things rightly. We need to trust the Holy Spirit to help us discern things about issues we haven't learned yet. Even if we don't have a direct scripture to rely on to help us discern whether something is right or wrong, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit. He'll guide us even when we're immature or uncertain.

To test is to check something for authenticity. We should be able to distinguish between true and false, right and wrong, or good and evil. Sometimes this word is specifically used to denote the process of distinguishing what is pleasing to our Lord. We're not to be taken in by the false, to be suckers for a good story. Christians shouldn't be gullible, falling for slick promotions or being taken in by flattery. We're to prove all things so that we won't be deceived.

We must remain spiritually strong and alive so that we'll have solid discernment. One of Satan's greatest tools of destruction is apathy. That's why Jesus warned the Church of Laodicea against falling into spiritual lethargy (Rev 3:14-22). If we become lukewarm, we have no passion or strength to move ahead into the best that Yahweh has in store for us. Discernment is a key to defeating apathy and remaining on the offensive.

Hold On to the Good: When we find what's truly good we're to embrace it and make it our own. Because we have godly discernment this should be a regular process with us. If Yahweh calls something evil, we must abstain from it and avoid it, not allowing it to influence our lives. What Yahweh calls truth we're to defend with strong conviction. We're to oppose false teaching, not allowing it to turn us or others away from the Holy Spirit's leading. When we rightly discern, we avoid hindrances, distractions, and we'll receive good things from our Father.

To hold on (or hold fast) means to embrace wholeheartedly, to take possession of. Calling it good points out what is truly genuine, true, noble, and right. Not everything that's pleasing to our eyes is good, as in Yahweh's kind of good. We must ensure that we use his definition of good when we're discerning what we should and shouldn't grasp or handle.

We need to be disciplined readers of Yahweh's Word. We must exercise our faith by working with the Holy Spirit every day. As our world slips deeper and deeper into a rejection of Yahweh and his Truth, we'll need to be strong in the Word and in the Spirit to handle the tough times that are coming. If we quench the working of the Holy Spirit within us and we don't allow the washing of the Word, we'll be out of spiritual balance and be more open to deception than Truth. It takes both Word and Spirit to discern properly. John 4:23 says that those who worship in Spirit and Truth will experience the reality of Yahweh.

If we're going to be a discerning body of believers, we must be committed to walking with Jesus and not compromising with the world. We have to realize that testing everything is an instruction from our Lord, not a means by which our particular belief system keeps us indoctrinated. Discerning is a loving act, where we try to see as our Lord sees.

All Truth is from Yahweh. Where his Word speaks, it speaks with authority. It speaks decisively. It calls for us to have an absolute conviction that Yahweh has revealed exactly what we need to know. Yahweh calls us to reject the broad way that seems right to the human mind (Prov 14:12). He calls us to follow the narrow way of his Truth (Matt 7:13-14). 1 Tim 6:20-21 says, "Guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith."

Blessings & Peace, Mike

Yahweh Is a Missionary God (9-19-11)

Shalom,

Please begin by reading John 20:19-23.

Yahweh's mission of salvation is the Church's mission and calling. The initial call on the nation of Israel was to be a light to the world. Christians have now picked up the task. We should be doing this mission because this is simply the nature of the God we serve. Scripture teaches us that the living God is a personal God, and he's been in search of lost creation from the beginning.

It's through the life and ministry of Jesus that we truly know Yahweh's purpose and plan. The Father sent the Son. He sent him to earth to show humankind the way to heaven. The words of Jesus confirm his Father's purpose. "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." The mission is now ours to fulfill. Jesus has handed us the authority necessary to proclaim his Kingdom as his ambassadors.

This mission is only valid as we participate in the original mission set forth by our Creator. If we're not doing what Yahweh wants us to be doing, we're not being his people. We must be actively pursuing the lost, seeking to bring light into the darkness, offering hope and salvation to the people outside his covenant. Discernment is critical in accomplishing this task. What is Yahweh doing right now? Find that out and you find his will.

The call of Yahweh in Isa 45:22 is our guide. "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God and there is no other."

Mark 4:29 tells us, "As soon as the grain is ripe, God puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." We're talking about a KAIROS time here, not a CHRONOS time. KAIROS means the fullness of time. CHRONOS is just the regular passage or measurement of time. KAIROS refers to Yahweh's perfect timing. It's what we need to be asking him to reveal to us. It's something we need to become better at discerning.

The Church should devise its model for missions from Jesus. Yahweh revealed himself to the world through the life and ministry of Jesus. Through him we see how the Creator acts in history and gets the job done. The Bible reveals how Jesus related to little children, the poor, the sick, the oppressed, the powerful, the rich, to most every kind of person. Remember that, because if you bring Jesus into your life, he's going to bring his friends along. Once we become Christians, we gain many new brothers and sisters, and they come in all shapes and sizes and personalities.

The heart of theology is that Yahweh is manifested as Love. Love is the center of everything. It's not a matter of emotions, but of the will. Yahweh's love isn't based on overflowing hormones or confused thought processes or any other human trait. Within the Greek language we find four words with different shades of the meaning of love. EROS is ego-centric and possessive, involving lust more than love. PHILEOS is brotherly, reciprocal and mutual, based more in give-and-take or common interests. STORGOS is the natural affection found within families.

The one Yahweh wants mankind to learn is AGAPE. This is the love of our heavenly Father. It's not natural to humans. It's source is supernatural, and we must be in intimate relationship with our Lord to manifest it. It only comes to us by a transformation of our hearts. It's a special gift from our Father. We receive our first taste of it at the point of our salvation. A major problem we humans have with manifesting AGAPE is that it implies vulnerability. It always involves sacrifice. Think in these terms: it's only mine if I give it away.

The Holy Spirit is who we rely on to supply us with sacrificial love. The Holy Spirit is the one who empowers each individual Christian to do mission and ministry. He gives us the ability to love and serve mankind. He gifts. He empowers. He fills. There's nothing we can do to stir up this kind of supernatural zeal.

The Gospel story highlights the initiative of Yahweh. He's the one who started the idea of missions. We never take our Lord by surprise. Our plans are never new to him. There's already a plan in place to reach the lost. We don't need to develop a new one, we just need to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and direction. John Wesley said there's a thing called Prevenient Grace in our world. He said the grace of our God is already at work all over the world drawing people to his saving power. Our function is to assist our Lord and Master in his plan of salvation for the world.

The mission has a Church! The mission is already in place. The Church exists to do that mission. That's how Yahweh designed the plan. It's all his idea. Our only decision is whether to be obedient in serving him or not. Too many are currently living in disobedience within the Church today. Each one of us individually and each body of believers must choose whether to join our Lord or refuse him. If we're obedient, mission will happen. If we're obedient, we show that we have true faith.

Doing the mission requires an understanding of the socio-historical culture and environment we're operating in. Do we know the people we're trying to reach with Gospel? Do we speak their language? Plant the seed of the Gospel and let it grow without manipulating it with any man-made agendas. Realize that it doesn't have to grow the way we think it should. Trust that you've been obedient to your Father and allow the Holy Spirit to do his work of convicting hearts.

Christian conversion is the greatest benefit to social change known to mankind. Becoming a Christian should inspire people to work for true justice, reconciliation, and peace. It should make us better citizens of our nations, and better neighbors to everyone around us. Becoming a Christian should cause us to become part of the supernatural transformation of our communities. We should be actively involved in spreading scriptural holiness. If we want to see our towns and cities and areas changed for the better, the place to begin is with the Gospel. We have a Mandate from our heavenly Father and better Manna than the Israelites.

Every fellowship and body of believers should model the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. We need to be in agreement as a body to take on our God-appointed mission. Yahweh brings people together into support groups so his mission can be fulfilled. John 15:16 says, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit." We've been brought together to accomplish something wonderful for our Lord and Master. He's fitted us together, bringing all our gifts into a Holy Mixture which he can use to save the lost and make disciples for his Kingdom.

There's no private religion found within the pages of the Bible. You can't be a Christian and avoid human contact. There's no valid Christianity in self-imposed isolation. Christianity is meant to be a social experience. We're to be in ongoing fellowship with other believers to encourage and be encouraged. We're to be in contact with the lost to shine the glorious light of the Gospel into their lives. If someone says to you, "I don't have to go to Church to be a Christian," tell them this: "Show me that in the Bible and I'll agree with you. But I believe you're very wrong, possibly dead wrong." Insisting that something totally unbiblical is worth putting your faith in will have you separating yourself from Jesus.

Imagine an orchestra playing a concert and one instrument is obviously out of tune. The conductor wouldn't eliminate every instrument, but he's likely to tell the bad one to stop playing. Spiritually, we're out of tune with our heavenly Father. He's righteous, and we're unrighteous. He's perfect, and we're imperfect. He's sinless, and we're sinful. Just as it's necessary to remove an out of tune instrument to allow the orchestra to stay in harmony, it's necessary for our perfect God to remove us from his presence because our sin isn't in harmony with his Kingdom. Sin can't exist in Yahweh's presence. His perfect righteousness must remove anything not in harmony with it from his presence.

Jesus taught more about the Kingdom of God than anything else. Many great Christian teachers throughout history have focused on the Kingdom of God. Many of today's good teachers are continuing to teach about the Kingdom. We need to transform our neighborhoods, villages, and towns by bringing the Gospel to all who will listen. Missionary work needs our feet and hands and mouths actively doing what's necessary to share our faith in Jesus with other people. Be an instrument of restoration, justice, reconciliation, and peace. Be a missionary, live in the image of your Lord and Savior.

Blessings & Peace, Mike

Kenya Pictures

Shalom,

Here's a link to the pictures on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeyez2011

I hope this works for everyone. If not let me know and I'll continue to try to get them to you.

Blessings & Peace, Mike

In Terrorism, Peace (09/12/11)

I'm still working on getting you some pictures from my Kenya trip. It looks like I'll have to create a Word document which requires placing the pictures one by one. Please bear with me.

Please begin by reading Col 1:15-20.

 

Yesterday we commemorated the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the attack on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the heroism of those on Flight 93. Terrorism is still fresh in the minds of many people. Some want to make this day a national holiday, but why celebrate the horror of a terrorist act? I honor all who gave their lives that day, but not all were true heroes. Some were caught up in the terror, some were doing the job they were dedicated to, and some were truly heroic. May we not have a morbid fascination with this day of terror, but may we use the remembrance to recognize that we're in a war. The devil and his followers are trying to kill as many humans as they possibly can. Yahweh and his people are trying to save lives and souls. Find his peace and seek to build and strengthen his Kingdom.

As the Bible tells us, Jesus is our peace and reconciled himself to all things by shedding his blood on the cross. At our Christmas services we love to hear "and on earth peace to men on whom God's favor rests." This is an ancient longing and a long-standing frustration, to have true peace on earth. The major problem is that there aren't enough people working with Yahweh to make this happen.

Is peace possible? Is it too much to ask for? Is it beyond all reasonable expectation that we on planet earth will somehow, some way, some day live in peace? That's what the angels sang. That's what the shepherds heard. And we need to hear it, too. The Bible promises it and our hearts crave it, true and deep and lasting peace. Have we misunderstood the conditions of this peace, and focused too much on our material world? Most likely. Can we know this amazing and blessed peace from heaven. Most definitely, when we make a solid spiritual connection with the source.

In 2001 some very terrible and awful things happened. The earthquake of conflict took lives, destroyed cities, and tore apart families. Today we continue to anguish over smart bombs, laser-guided missiles, and car bombings. All the while we're left worrying and wondering, where is the peace Yahweh promised to us? Can we really have peace in the midst of terrorism in our world?

Think with me about peace. Think with me about the foolish ways we humans try to carve peace out for ourselves. That will set the stage for us to praise and magnify God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for how they've brought hope and the availability of peace within our reach. We have an authentic hope of genuine peace because Jesus made the way through his life, death, and resurrection.

First, what have we done to bring peace to our world? To what have we given ourselves in order to make peace a reality? Do you know that there are some striking parallels between the world Jesus was born into and our world? Are you aware that much about his time is very similar to ours?

His time was a time when some trusted in government to provide for their needs. It was a time, much like ours, when some people, particularly those in power, really thought Rome could do it all, and that if Rome didn't do something, it wouldn't get done. Just as in our day, we have people who are quick to expect the President, the Congress, the Governor, and other bureaucrats to do everything under the sun for them. In Jesus' day there were people who thought that the Roman Empire would bring peace and stability wherever they were. Rome had an extensive system of control. Its military might was felt far from its capital city. It even bought off local rulers like Herod to keep them loyal. It was a time when some trusted government for everything.

And yet, there was no true peace. No true peace because when you understand nothing but power, then power battles power, and there is ongoing conflict instead of true peace. Maybe a time of uneasy quiet is in place for a while, but not true peace. The 9/11 attack on the Pentagon reminds us of how government-dependent peace can be shattered. Don't look for true peace on earth through government control.

The time of Jesus was also a time when some trusted in wealth to make themselves invulnerable. It was a time, much like ours, when accumulating wealth had become an obsession for many people. They built expansive and expensive homes. They constructed great buildings for their businesses. They worked to show off their wealth. They even curried favor with God by parading their financial muscle. The same Herod who killed all the baby boys in Bethlehem financed a major remodeling of the Temple in Jerusalem. It was as if he were saying, "Here God, let me show you how much you need me." It was a time when your stature and your character were often measured by the weight of your bags of gold.

And yet, there was no true peace. No true peace because when you spend your life doing nothing but gathering wealth, well, you've spent your life and it's gone. But it has no real meaning. Jesus told the story of a man who filled his barns with grain, and when they were full, he pulled them down to build bigger barns. And when he faced up to what that meant, it was nothing but a great big coffin to hold his empty, soul-starved body.

And the time of Jesus was a time when people trusted in their own integrity to get by. It was a time when people ignored faith, often only paying lip service to religion, and went their own way - making themselves into little gods. From the Romans, who called their emperors divine; to the Greeks, who worshiped their own philosophies; to the Jews, like those who stood around the cross of Jesus and sneered about God coming to save him - many people of that day no longer paid attention to the One True God. They no longer really believed that Yahweh was involved in the world he created. For them, God was a remote distraction to be hauled out only on ceremonial occasions. But they, and many of us today are no different, thought they didn't need the presence and power of the Creator in their daily lives. They and many today feel that we know enough to handle what we need from day-to-day, thank you very much. And just like today, many felt God is for sissies, that he's only an emotional crutch.

Isn't that the way many people think today? Isn't that the way much of our world thinks and acts? Yes, some of us go to church on Sundays, but what is that really all about? For far too many it's mostly about being respectable, or to some it's about giving their children a good example, or to others it's about enjoying the music and how the preacher proclaims a fine message. But many reject having a growing and intimate relationship with their heavenly Father. A relationship with God, you've got to be kidding! Letting God guide and empower us? That isn't cool and trendy. That's not how 21st century people get along. Too many people, like the world Jesus was born into, think that if there's to be peace it's up to us as individuals. I will handle it myself. I, I, I. Ego is the god many bow down to, and self-satisfaction is the son of that god.

And so of course, there is no peace. There is no true peace because when I am the center of my own universe, that's too small a package to attain peace for the whole world. If we go down deep enough into our hearts, we find no true peace because we all have a God-shaped void down there that only our Creator can fill. There's a restlessness down there that can't be satisfied by anything less than the presence of the One True God. There is no true peace on earth without him. There wasn't any in the time of Jesus, and there isn't now. Not if we trust in government to bring it or wealth to provide it or self-actualization to make it come to pass. None of those things brings true and lasting peace.

The angels sang of a new peace, and they sang it first to some extremely terrified shepherds. These men were terrified, no doubt, not just by a sky filled with the glory of heavenly angels, but terrified just because they'd been scared by this amazing heavenly display. They were truly scared and shaken because these kinds of things didn't happen in their world. When a person gets enough of his world shaken, he'll be frightened by whatever comes with this strange occurrence.

Some of those who saw the planes hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, some who watched the bodies falling and the buildings collapsing, some who have witnessed other horrible terrorist attacks are now afraid to leave their homes or to fly on an airplane or to open their mail. They have terrorized hearts, just like the shepherds. But we must hear the message of peace just like the shepherds did. Even though we don't often fully understand how it can be, Jesus is the source of the world's peace. In him and by him and through him, peace will come to us. It may seem elusive and far-off, but it will come when we seek him with our whole heart.

Jesus is the source of true peace because he'll show us that it's not might that makes right, but the way of loving sacrifice will win the world to peace. Jesus left heaven and lived on earth for 33 years. He tasted what we taste. He felt what we feel. He suffered what we suffer. And he did it all to show us that our lives count for something. His single, solitary life, as short as it was, has meant more to humanity than any other. His life was given to service, to love, and to sacrifice. Jesus is the source of true peace because his teaching and his example have transformed more hearts than all the armies that ever marched or all the parliaments that ever debated or all the philosophers who proclaimed another way to true peace. In times of terror there is peace because we know in Jesus that good and right stands with Yahweh alone, keeping us all in view and under his protecting eye when we work at following him and his ways. Even in the midst of terrorism we can find true peace because of Jesus.

Jesus is the source of the world's peace because he'll show us that our heavenly Father is for us, not against us. From the moment of the announcement of his birth, when Mary heard that her baby would put down the mighty and exalt the lowly, Jesus was on the side of the poor and displaced and the ordinary. His youth was filled with and no doubt shaped by peasant people in a nowhere town called Nazareth, not in the great city of Jerusalem or Rome, both of them considering themselves "the most important city in the world." When Jesus chose his followers, he took them from among the ordinary people, not from the elite or special classes.

Jesus is the source of true peace because he shows us that we can live without worrying about money. He teaches us that we can live without concerning ourselves with the presumption of advantage found in social standing. We're somebodies simply because our heavenly Father has chosen to come and live with us. True peace comes when we learn that in Jesus' world, everybody is somebody and nobody is put down. In terrorism we find peace because Jesus lives among us.

I can say I've heard the song of the angels. And because I've heard their proclamation, the horror of war and the noise of conflict and the shock of terrorism are taken away. When I stand in blessed relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - the empty silence of loneliness is taken away. Jesus took them all away and he gave me true peace..

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

Rom 5:1. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

2 Thes 3:16. "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you."

Blessings & Peace, Mike

Kenya Report & Pictures (9/5/11)

Shalom,

I'm back in upstate New York safe and sound. The trip was great. I shared 25 times on this trip. As always it was a great blessing to teach these hungry people. They really need preachers and teachers who can open up the Word to them. Some of their pastors are really trying to disciple them, but others are stuck in the "old-time Pentecostal" mode. They shout and work at their emotions to get them to respond, but they aren't really challenging the people to grow and mature in their faith.

There is a problem of not enough people having their own Bibles. Some have to choose between buying and Bible or buying food for their families. What becomes difficult in this is that many only read their native Luo language and those Bibles are more expensive. Pray that they can acquire their own Bibles so they have the Word for themselves.

Here's the rest of the daily events.

Aug 15: This is what can happen in a normal day in Kenya. The trip to Kisii should have only taken half the day.

Peter Midodo had to go to Kisii to get fertilizer and herbicide for his fields. Justin and I went along so we could stop at the soapstone carvers on the way back to Ndhiwa. There's been an ongoing problem with the horn on Peter's car. Some springs within the steering column have failed or fallen out and the horn sounds at odd times. Almost every time a right turn is made or a hard enough bump is struck, the horn blares. Peter dropped Justin, his wife Rachel, and I off at the Nakumatt, the Kenyan version of Wal-Mart. We shopped and waited at the store while Peter got the supplies he came for and tried to get the horn fixed. Right after picking us up Peter suddenly pulled into a tire store to get a front end alignment and to ask questions about tractor tires. His tractor has been getting a lot of flats due to the extremely hard and sharp volcanic rocks in the fields. The man doing the alignment was pretty flustered by the horn sounding so much, but he got the work done.

Our stop at the soapstone carvers was good, as it has always been in the past. The man is a friend of Peter and we got the Kenyan price, not the tourist price. I bought 9 items and spent about $30. We had to wait an extra half hour because a friend had come along with Peter to help him in purchasing the fertilizer and herbicide. He allowed the man to use his car to visit family while we were shopping.

On our return trip to Ndhiwa we had trouble finding gas. Prices are increasing in Kenya and some stations will only sell small amounts. One place would only sell one liter per customer. We finally found some in Rodi and were able to get 14 liters (about 4 gallons). While there Peter tracked down his electrical "fundi." Fundi is the generic name for a handyman. He negotiated to get the parts to put the horn on the dash and to disconnect things in the steering column. As we entered Mirogi, a town about 5K (3 miles) from Ndhiwa, Peter got a call from his tractor operator about another flat tire. He got out there and Rachel drove us home. We arrived in Ndhiwa about 4:30PM.

I wrote all this out to give you some idea of how things go in Kenya. A trip that should have been over in 5-6 hours, turned into an all day affair. And much of what causes this is the stops along the way. Peter isn't any different than other Kenyans. They all stop to talk to people they know or see something and realize they need to stop what they're doing to deal with another issue.

 

Aug 16: A day of rest.

 

Aug 17: Today I traveled to Onger (Monkey). This was another long motorbike trip of around 45K (28 miles). We had an interesting mix-up upon arrival. The town is spread out on both sides of a river. We ended up on the wrong side and at the wrong church conference. After Pastor Emmanuel, my interpreter for the day, had some discussion with the leaders and made a phone call to Peter M, we went back across the river and found the PEFA church. The leader of the other conference tried to convince us that the Holy Spirit had brought us to them so we should stay and share. We had to apologize and move on because we were already late.

At Onger I shared on the Widow's Oil and the people responded very well. Everyone who spoke to me afterwards said they were greatly blessed and looking forward to my return tomorrow.

Aug 18: The second day at Onger went more smoothly than the first. We arrived just in time for the morning message. I wasn't expecting to speak so soon after arriving, but the Holy Spirit led me to share on Fatalism. Again, the people responded very well and the pastors said it was a timely message. 15-20 people came forward for prayer, mostly for guidance or healing.

In the afternoon I shared from Isaiah 40:31 and asked whether they desired to be an Eagle or a Chicken. The local bishop, Daniel Owaga, was translating and he got very excited. The comparison of being an eagle or chicken seemed to come across very clearly. There were probably at least 200 people present.

The motorbike ride home was a bit adventurous because some places between Onger and NdhiwaMidodo home.

Aug 19: Bishop Salmon Obiero came to Peter's home to bring me to Kandiege. It was interesting to go back there after 3 years. Many people were glad to see me again, especially Morris who was the groom in the wedding they had me preach for the last time I was there. He excitedly gave me hug and told me he and his wife now have one child. I remembered many faces, but had to be reacquainted with the names that went with them. They started calling me Pastor Mike Odhiambo. This is the Luo designation based on what time of day you were born. I was born at 5PM, therefore afternoon.

I preached Dirty Laundry in the Throne Room. The people responded strongly to a call to pray about being quicker to seek cleansing from their sin. Many came forward. I laid hands on and prayed for as many as I could.

We ate supper at Bishop Obiero's sister-in-law's home. It's the same home I stayed at during my last visit to Kandiege. A strong thunderstorm hit while we were eating, and we didn't return for the evening session because Salmon didn't want to get stuck in the mud.

Aug 20: I preached Mountains & Dreams during the morning session. This is the story of Caleb taking claim to the hill country of Hebron that Yahweh had promised to him. Again there was a strong response to the prayer call. Almost everyone there wanted to be prayed for. Bishop Obiero stressed to them that the dream must come from our Lord first, not our own desires or imaginations.

I preached the Widow's Oil message in the afternoon session. The people were excited about how Yahweh can take the little we have and multiply it. There was another mass move to prayer. As I did each time before, I laid hands on as many as I could and prayed for them.

Before leaving there was a special time of prayer with the pastors and leaders. One of them in particular wanted me to pray over him to walk in right authority because he was blessed to know I had been in the military. He's a supervisor within the Kenyan police and works basically as their sergeant-at-arms during conferences.

On the way back to Ndhiwa we stopped at Pastor Gabriel's new house to bless it. I was asked to share and bless the home and family. It's amazing that they moved into it already. The walls, windows, doors, and roof are all that's complete. There's still a dirt floor and only rough brick walls. I was given a Kenyan hoe as a gift. They make them in the little village the house is in. Pastor Gabriel's father said they were giving it to me because I planted such good seed in my teaching. He said to remember them when I used it at my home.

Aug 21: I preached Sacrifice & Responsibility in the Ndhiwa church this morning. It was good to be back among many people I know and who know me. About 25 people came forward for prayer for anything from deeper surrender to healing.

Justin and I were asked to pray for the representatives of the Ndhiwa cell groups as they brought their gifts forward for the Migori Conference. There are thirteen of them.

Peter took us to the new Village Resort in Ndhiwa. It's being built by the local MP serving in parliament for the Nyanza district. We met him while waiting for our lunch, and he spoke very highly of Peter.

Peter shared with Justin and I that he's lost a lot of his support recently. One of the groups said his home was too extravagant, that it was even better than some of theirs in the States. Knowing how Peter uses his home to house missionaries and his care of orphans, it's disappointing that some don't have the vision to see the bigger picture of his ministry.

Aug 22: Preparation day for the Migori Conference. The Midodo household was a beehive of activity. For Justin and I it was a nice day of rest.

Aug 23: I preached the Eagle or Chicken message for the evening session. The hired cooks/caterers put the conference way behind schedule. I didn't start speaking until 10PM. There was a good response in spite of a very tired audience.

Justin and I found a Pinecrest poster hanging in the office. The place is the Migori School of Ministry International. It was interesting to find something from "back home" 7500 miles away.

Aug 24: Shared on the Fruit of the Spirit in the afternoon session. From there we went into workshops on Family Relationships. After sharing on the proper biblical Husband/Wife relationship from Eph 5, we went into a question and answer period.

The Q & A took many twists and turns. There were cultural issues concerning dowries and polygamy. There were the usual questions about what submission really means. There were questions about unbelieving spouses which included how to deal with alcoholism, a man sleeping around and getting AIDS, and how much influence in-laws are allowed to have. The group said they wanted another session to ask more questions. I shared Titus 2, where the older men and women are told to instruct the younger men and women about marriage and relationships. I told them they need to set up these mentoring relationships in their churches.

Aug 25: Shared on Giving & Receiving in the morning session. The pastors definitely showed interest because Peter had asked me to stress supporting their local churches. Talking with some of the pastors during lunch we found out how bad their finances are. Hardly any of the churches do much more than provide for the building and electricity. Most of the pastors need to work another job to provide for their families.

Justin and I were given the night off. They had revival services where they actually intend to stir up their people to spiritual growth.

Aug 26: Shared from Mark 10 about Bartimaeus in the afternoon session. Many people threw off their beggar's cloaks when symbolically given the opportunity. You could sense that many really felt some new freedom from the issues that they felt hindered their moving forward.

Had another workshop session with the "older married's." This time we focused more on Parenting. The Lord blessed me to answer all but one of the questions thrown at me. The cultural issue of how men can send their wives away for unfaithfulness, but women have no rights to do the same was unanswerable. I gave them biblical direction, but the overriding cultural position couldn't be dealt with. The people really appreciated clear biblical answers to their questions and offered to buy me soda if I'd stay with through the supper time. I guess I didn't offend anyone with my blunt and direct information.

Aug 27: I shared Keep the Fire Burning in the morning session. The people, and especially the leadership, said the Thief in the Night illustration really was helpful. If you don't know what the real story is behind this, found in Rev 16:15, let me know and I'll share it with you.

We had more good conversations with the pastors during meals. We talked about false teachers and those who focus too much on non-essential doctrines. Most of them don't like Prosperity teachers or those who don't preach surrender and commitment. The Prosperity message is well-liked among such a poor people, but the pastors know they need their people grounded in the Word more than they need to be told they can be rich.

Aug 28: I preached the closing session of the conference. I shared the Mountains & Dreams message which is based on the key scripture and theme for the conference. Many came forward for prayer when invited to have hands laid on them to become more faithful listeners and seekers.

Many wanted to shake our hands and tell us how much they appreciated our teaching. Many asked if we'd be back next year. All the pastors asked for us to visit their churches. A group of young boys, part of one of the choirs, just wanted to shake our hands and feel the hair on our arms. No one here has hair on their arms. It's very humbling to be so appreciated by so many people.

The last few days were spent talking with Peter and preparing for the journey home. It would be good to be able to come every year, but the travel costs continue to increase. I thank you all of you who prayed for me during this trip. May our Lord bless you for your faithfulness.

Blessings & Peace, Pastor Mike Odhiambo.

P.S. I've tried every way I could to get the pictures added to this e-mail without success. Hopefully I can get them to you soon