Director's Desk

Prophetic Worship Conference

2009-12-05T22:00:00.000-05:00

2 Anbetungskonferenz - Prophetic worshipconference 2 from Ben Andi on Vimeo.

Prophetischer Gottesdienst während Anbetungskonferenz - Very prophetic and anointed service during our worshipconference with/mit Francois Botes

Being in Tune with God

2009-01-04T09:15:00.004-05:00

Psalm 19:7-9 (Eugene H. Peterson's Message)

The revelation of God is whole
and pulls our lives together.

The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.

The life-maps of God are right,
showing the way to joy.

The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes.

God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.

The decisions of God are accurate
down to the nth degree.

Christianity is fundamentally an interactive relationship between God and people. God is neither a concept nor a doctrine. He is a Person. Through the sacrificial death of Jesus or Nazareth, who is the Christ, God brings everyone into communion.

If you have believed on the message of The Christ then you are in a position to participate in the ongoing work of Christ.

There are a variety of media through which the all wise God speaks or interacts with people. Christianity is fundamentally an interactive relationship between God and people. We need to be intune to God's guidance.

Being in tune is not automatic. You can be around the Christ, his Church and things that constitute the kingdom such as the preaching of the Word and yet miss out God's guidance.

The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.

Let's regard for a moment The Woman with the issue of blood in order to catch a glimpse of what it means for someone to be in tune. We will use the account found in the book of Luke chapter 8.

In that passage
Jesus has just returned to Galilee from the country of the Gerasenes in which he released a man from strong demon possession. Awaiting him on the shores of Galilee was a very large crowd of people. Let's pick up the story in Luke 8 from verse 41

Luke 8:41-47 EMTV
(41) And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a leader of the synagogue. And falling at the feet of Jesus, he was imploring Him to enter into his house,

(42) for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He was going, the crowds were pressing against Him. (in the original Greek, the word translated pressing – carries with it the image of something being strangled completely or drowned)
As Jesus is making his way to the home of Jairus, he is completely surround by a sea of people. His passage was being strangled or drown by people who were amazed by Jesus' presence. Lets continue with verse 43

(43) Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who though she had spent her whole livelihood on physicians, was not able to be healed by anyone,

(44) approaching from behind, touched the hem of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.

(45) And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the crowds are pressing You hard and crowding You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'

(46) But Jesus said, "Someone touched Me, for I perceived that power has gone out from Me."

There were hundreds of people pressing up against Christ as he made his way to the home of Jairus. They were in physical contact with him, yet only one person reached out and touched him in such as way that he in surprise exclaimed “Who touched me”. Who drew upon my miracle working power. In the midst of a teeming throng, Jesus felt God's ability, meaning, power and might flow from him.

There were many people in close proximity to Him, but only one person placed herself in tune with God's strength.

I want you to imagine yourself in that teeming mass of persons. You are one of those who are as it were pressing against Him, strangling his way. Would you be amazed or simply glad to see him? Or perhaps would you have been like the Woman with the issue of blood and placed yourself in tune with God's ability, meaning, power and might.

Every time you kneel in prayer or attend a service you must decide whether you will just be one of the crowd or like the woman with the issue of blood.

You must decide whether you will place yourself in tune with God's ability.

I have always refused to go to Church on Sunday or a Wednesday and simply sit through the service. We must entry the house of God with expectation that we can receive our portion of might, ability and meaning that flows through the preaching of the word and the testimony of the saints. We have been adopted by Christ to walk in great spiritual blessings. The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Church at Ephesus:

Ephesians 1:3 KJVR
(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Life is unfair and dangerous. But let me encourage you to actively pursue a state of “in tuneness” with God's largess.” God's spiritual blessing.

Being in tune with Christ pulls our lives together. Regardless of the state of relationships in your home, Be in tune with the fact that God's ability is able to keep you sane. The power of God can pull your life together.

Not only will it pull our life together but also allow us to see the signposts of God and take the right road, the right job, marry the right someone.

Strive to be in tune with God on your job in whatever position you are called to give service.
His ability will enable you to engage in conversations that bring the power of God to bear on the issues of life.

Christ and Pop Culture

2008-02-12T14:11:00.000-05:00

I came across a post today at Christ and Pop Culture that discusses the idea of merchandising Christianity. Here's an excerpt.

In general, most brands and labels promote either purely commercial enterprises (Nike), or some form of entertainment (the L.A. Dodgers, U2). In either case, the thing being promoted is only superficially important, if at all. As much as a person might love a band or a sports team, by promoting them on a tee-shirt they are saying more about their choice in entertainment, who/what they spend money on, and what cultural sub-groups they identify with than what their worldview is or what beliefs they hold. Of course, there are exceptions, but I believe that for most people a label or brand represents little more than an identifier of taste in entertainment and perhaps a fashion statement.

In addition, slogans, labels, and brands lack any significant power to persuade people of the truthfulness, quality, or goodness of the thing being represented; all they really tell us is that the thing is popular. In a political race, bumper stickers can be used to “demonstrate” the popularity of a candidate. The argument goes, “If so many people are willing to put a sticker on their bumper to support this candidate, he must be worth electing.” Labels, brands, and slogans are more often than not only an identifier of the choices we’ve made as consumers and our tastes. Additionally, the only real persuasive power they have is to convince us that the thing/idea is popular. With these concepts in mind, lets look at the effect of prompting a Christian worldview.

First, we should note that the primary purpose of brands and labels is to promote, while the goal of the Great Commission is to share the good news. We are called to share a deep, honest, and often times offensive truth in the Gospel. This kind of content is in stark contrast to the methods of conveying ideas found in advertisements, which are shallow, deceptive, and ear-tickling. Remember, we are not trying to dupe customers into buying our product over other products. Since the main purpose behind branding and labels is to promote, and we are not called to promote Christianity, on this point, at least, we should question the rightness of Christian branding.

Click here to read the whole article from Christ and Pop Culture called- Wearing Our Faith: the Purpose and Effectiveness of Bumper Stickers and Christian Clothes

Rick Warren: Living A Life Of Purpose

2008-01-19T18:56:00.000-05:00

If the video does not work, click the link below to view te video on it page.

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/71

2007-12-01T02:12:00.000-05:00

Romans 1:20-22 (New International Version)
20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.

The passage pictures a time when men had the knowledge of God. Mankind had in their possession truths about the invisible qualities of the author of life.

Paul tells us that the response of mankind to the evidence of God's existence was a choice not to worship him or give thanks. Romans 1:21 tells us that the reward of an ungrateful heart is futile thinking and a darkened heart.

Gratitude is a powerful and indispensable aid to your own mental health.

In the original language the word futile indicates that the expected results were not achieved.

A mind that is ungrateful will always bring about futile thinking, which implies going no where. It implies going in circles. Around and around: with no clear direction or destination.

Just as physical fitness can keep our bodies strong and healthy, mental fitness helps us to achieve and sustain a state of good mental health.

When we are mentally healthy, we are able to enjoy our life and the people in it. The God who created you has left us strong words of advice on how to enjoy our life, our environment and the people in it.

Phi 4:11-13 KJVR
(11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
(12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
(13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Accepted

2007-09-08T16:20:00.000-04:00

Have you ever walked into a room and felt uncomfortable; perhaps felt distant from the people in the room?

Is there a sense of distance with the brethren in your church or is there sense of distance with a specific individual?

Are you uncomfortable or nervous about approaching your boss or persons in authority?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions then your behaviour is being motivated by something other than acceptance.

If acceptance were a place, we would find at its perimeter rejection, condemnation, and their offsprings separation and isolation.

Rejection comes in many forms - racism, sexism and discrimination (denying someone equal treatment). Fear of Rejection is a driving force that can prevent you from being an authentic human being. Condemnation is poison to any relationship.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Rejection and condemnation breeds separation and isolation.

Acceptance says, “You are okay now even though you haven’t reached your goal”

Acceptance is not about overlooking acts of disobedience or condoning brethren who have given themselves over to a pattern of sin that leads to death.

1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person.

Acceptance will cause you to function in your gift effectively:
1Samuel 18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

The world craves for acceptance. People will pretend to be important in order to gain acceptance. Christiand crave acceptance. Paul wrote the Corinthian church that he was labouring in order to be accepted of Jesus.

2Corinthians 5:9 Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Paul wasn't putting the cart befre the horse.

Our works don't bring God's acceptance. If we have eaten of the spiritual meat and drunk of the spiritual drink we are accepted. Our acceptance by God in the beloved frees us to do acceptable things.

I am motivated by my acceptance in Christ.

Here are some tips to help you walk in acceptance.

Stop striving with people and Stop complaining about other people’s short coming; understand that you have a finite view of things; acknowledge right now that you don’t know what is best for yourself and much less others

Commit to bringing every part of yourself into your house of worship. Bring your complaints about other people’s shortcomings to the God of all flesh: and invite his transforming power to soak your being so that you might give acceptance to those around you. Perhaps you have lost faith. Maybe you are filled with rage, or disdain. It could be that there is an undercurrent of the desire for revenge. Don’t leave it at the door but come to God with it and seek His peace for it.

If there is a place where you don’t fit in then start accepting people

Behave yourself wisely as David did:
1Samuel 18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

Amen!

Just To Be Close To You

2007-09-30T06:57:00.000-04:00

Sowing The Gospel

2007-09-16T21:21:00.001-04:00

A farmer can’t just toss seeds on the ground and hope for the best. He has to prepare the soil, turning it over, breaking up the hard places and sifting it. The same is true in your heart. You need to break up the hard places if you want to see spiritual growth.

Who Am I - Casting Crowns

2007-09-01T17:10:00.000-04:00

Here I am To Worship

2007-08-18T19:38:00.000-04:00

The Smell of Sin

2007-08-01T00:08:00.000-04:00

Sin has a odor.

Individuals who have been involved in waring with spiritual powers involved in the principal of sexual immorality often report the smell of rotten eggs.

There is an odor to sin. There is an odor to righteousness.
Exodus 30 tells us that worship involved the use of anointing oil and incense made according to the art of a perfumer. There was to be a distinctive smell to right worship.

Ask God to help you become sensitive to the smell of sin and to exude the perfume of right worship. Amen

There is None Like You

2007-04-23T11:57:00.000-04:00

Hossana - Hillsong

2007-07-20T17:29:00.000-04:00

He is God Alone - Marvin Sapp

2007-07-23T12:06:00.000-04:00

What an Anointing! What Praise!

Living a Life of No Regrets

2007-06-21T15:12:00.000-04:00

If you were to look back in your past, is there some event or someone that you strongly wish you had handled differently?

In the late 60’s (69) Frank Sinatra came out with an album called My Way. And that album contained a very seductive signature hit single with the same name: “My Way”; - The song `My Way`` spent a record 124 weeks on the singles chart.

On a whole the is a song with it’s catchy phrase Ì did it My Way`` glorifies self-will. It glorifies a defiant resistant to guidance; a stubborn persistence in going one’s own way

The Bible clearly teaches that we have the power of choice.
Every individual has the ability to choose their own words, to decide what their actions will be. For the most part, we all have a faculty of self-determination in the sense that we select our own thoughts, words, and deeds. Man is free to choose what he prefers, what he desires. We are all responsible for our own moral behaviour.

Mat 12:33 AMP
(33) Either make the tree sound (healthy and good), and its fruit sound (healthy and good), or make the tree rotten (diseased and bad), and its fruit rotten (diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit.

Matthew 12:33 clearly teaches that a sound tree will bear sound fruit. Let’s say it this way, a sound life will bring forth sound decisions; decisions that will keep you from living a life of regrets.

NGM Worship Conference 2006 - AM Worship

2007-03-09T18:22:00.000-05:00

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NGM Worship Conference 2006 - Tues PM

2007-03-10T18:16:00.000-05:00

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NGM Worship Conference 2006 - Thurs PM

2007-03-15T17:24:00.000-04:00

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Be Thankful

2007-07-22T04:56:00.001-04:00

Philippians 1 verse 12 to 14 reads:

12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

Bad things happen to good people.
Am I right or am I wrong? Yes I'm right.

When bad things happen I need only to know one thing:

Will it advance the gospel?

The knowledge of the purpose of an event (bad or good) comes by the Holy Spirit himself. In the midst of your bad thing, ask the Lord in prayer if it will advance the gospel.

If your ability to sense the leading of the spirit is off due to intense emotions, here is a litmus test:

What attitude is required of you to overcome?

Let's say it another way:

What manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit will the situation require from you in order for you to go through without losing your mind?

Whether through word or deed, seek to advance the gospel. Amen

I Lost My Hair

2007-01-13T16:31:00.000-05:00

Can you believe it! We are a full five years into the 21st century. Who would have guessed that we would have come so far.

I hope this letter from us at Living Big in Christ finds you moving forward and not backwards. If you are moving forward, look up. If you are moving backwards, look up.
I remember one year, it was around December, when I made a flawed choice. About three weeks before that event, the Sunday minister in the church I attended preached on Samson and his choices. I didn’t pay attention. The message seemed so dry at the time.

That same week I lost my hair.

Have you lost your hair? Don’t worry it will grow back. I can feel mine growing back. By faith I can see yours growing back too.

One minister stated that, “many people give up when they slip backwards. They give up because of the hard work that it took to get to the level which they fell from. They give up on God because of the hard work it will take to step back to where they fell from.”
Don’t give up! Paul wrote in the book of Ephesians that God works to bring all things into conformity with His will. It is God’s will that we should be holy and without blame.

Let God do the work. He will restore your soul. God will restore you to a greater level of anointing. You just continue to make the right choices and let God bring about the change in your nature.

The flawed choice I told you about has brought me to the place where I can truly say that I hate sin and every evil work. May Christ strengthen you inwardly through the working of His Spirit so that you may attain unto the fullness of Christ Himself. Live big in Christ.

Seek His Face

2007-02-21T16:44:00.000-05:00

There is a set time limit for all of us to seek God. For some it extends to the last seconds of life. While for others, that time period is reached long before death. In Isaiah 55: 6 the prophet makes what I consider and call a "sleeper-profound-statement."

"Sleeper-profound-statements" can slip under the radar of our consciousness. We hear the statement but do not take the time, perhaps, to do the math: We miss the implication.

"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" (Is 55:6 - KJV)
That statement says to me," Don't pursue God at a laid back pace. Don't put off for tomorrow, what should be done today."

The amplified version of Ephesians 5:15-16 gives a nice "New Testament" flavour to the idea that we need to pick up the pace in our search for the hidden mysteries; the treasures that are hid in Christ. I won't reprint it here but paraphrase it this way:

"Check your lifestyle. Do everything with a purpose and goal in mind...Squeeze out as much time as possible to study the word and implement what you study in your life. Watch how much time you spend doing things that don't move you closer to your goals and God's purpose for you, because time is short. We know time is short because things are getting worse and worse."

The Big Things

2006-12-21T16:50:00.000-05:00

Let me start out by saying that I had fought long and hard, in a sense, before beginning to take tentative steps to bring the ministry to fruition. God has joined me with two great men in their own right, Pastor Walter and Bro. Lalsingh, to move His God's vision forward. Two men who are deeply spiritual and want and desire to live that life practically. No pretense. No hypocrisy.

The name of the ministry came out of a Young Adults Conference. I was privileged to be chosen by God to lead a wonderful group of individuals at my local church.

In 2002, the idea came to me to hold a prophetic conference, but in a hotel. That conference was a step of faith, hotels are expensive. It was in retrospect a bold one. I love bold moves. The theme of that event in the fall of 2002 was Living Big in Christ.

I remember riding in a car with a visiting minister from Trinidad. He started to talk about what at the time I would classify as his over imagination. It's only now that I truly understand what God was saying to me through him. In a nutshell the big things of this world, ships, skyscrapers, are not really big. Men have never seen big. The world has yet to see big Christianity: Christians living big. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.