Blog

  • Sold into slavery in order to minister Christ to slaves

    John Taylor, Missions Director at Bethel Church recounts in a Leadership Minute that Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf – of the Moravian church said this of  Christ …..  “I have but one passion: It is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ.”

    Johann Leonard Dober was a potter and David Nitschman a carpenter. Men with ordinary occupations, but possessing an extraordinary love for Jesus. From these seemingly insignificant two, the Moravian missionary movement was born, that ultimately catalyzed the Great Awakening. In 1732, they heard about the plight of African slaves on the island of St. Thomas in the Caribbean. These slaves had spiritual hunger but no one to share the gospel with them. Johann and David determined to go to them by any means necessary, and sold themselves into slavery in order to minister among the slaves. As they stood on the ship departing from the wharf, they raised their voice and cried,
    “MAY THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN
    RECEIVE THE REWARD OF HIS SUFFERING!” (more…)

     
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  • Faith Without Hope is Weird

    A blog by Steve Backlund  14th November 2023

    The statement “faith without hope is weird” captures an important truth for those who want to have a healthy faith. 

    Hope is an overall optimistic attitude about the future based on the goodness and promises of God. I am not a proponent of simple positive thinking, but I do ascribe to biblical optimism. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” Hebrews 10:23. 


    Faith is very specific while hope is more general.     Faith says, “God is going to do this !” Hope says, “I don’t know what God is going to do but good things are coming.”      (more…)

  • Show me you glory

    Extracted from Latter House Glory by Larry R Taylor © 2013

    Moses had a personal encounter with God’s glory. There was nothing theoretical or hypothetical about Moses’ understanding of glory. He asked for it and He got it: a personal, tangible, life-changing encounter with the manifested glory of God.

    Moses had a glory encounter. Peter, James and John had glory encounters (Matthew 17). Paul had a glory encounter that changed everything. He was knocked to the ground and nothing was the same when he got up. His purpose, direction in life, and even his name was changed (Acts 9). Remember the principle of the Kingdom? Ask, seek, knock. “Show me your glory, Lord.”

    Everywhere Jesus went He manifested the glory of the Father. The tangible expression of that glory is that good things happened. Everywhere Jesus went sick people were healed, demoniacs were delivered and provision was released. Nothing has changed. Everywhere Jesus shows up He manifests the glory of the Father. Miracles, signs, wonders and supernatural events happen when the presence of God is manifested. (more…)

  • The Imposter Syndrome

    In a blog by Steve Backlund he says …… Imposter syndrome is a psychological occurrence in which an individual doubts their skills, talents, or accomplishments and has a persistent, internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud. 

    One of the things my wife, Wendy, often shares is this: “You can only receive what you believe you are worth.” Whether it’s finances, favor, or power, once we get blessed beyond what we believe we are worth, we tend to self-sabotage our lives back down to the level at which we believe we deserve to be.

    I have certainly experienced this in my own life. When I’ve gone to a higher level, it has put pressure on the strongholds in me that want to limit me and tell me I am not worthy or capable. The “accuser of the brethren” (the devil) works with those strongholds and often uses negative comparison to focus on what we’re not rather than what we are.  (more…)

  • The science behind walking in courage

    “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” – George Addair

    What is standing between you and your dreams? For most of us the answer is simple. Fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear that questions, “Am I enough? Do I have what it takes? Will I fail?”

    The problem with dreams is that they usually lie on the other side of the unknown. If there is one quality each of us need to step into this year to see dreams fulfilled and to see breakthrough like we’ve always wanted to see, it’s COURAGE.

    But how do you walk in courage when facing overwhelming odds? I have good news for you – the source isn’t you. True courage doesn’t come from your own inner grit and determination. You don’t have to muscle it up or charge forward with your eyes clenched tight in terror. 

    Courage comes from the presence of the Lord.
    He is with you.     (more…)