Audio Transcript

“I wasn’t the one in the room that could boast of any schooling. No one in my family was wealthy,” says Debbie.

Debbie Kirk was disinterested in school and dropped out after the 8th grade.  She began working as a waitress to make money.  

“I was working very full time, “ says Debbie, “so probably 40, 50 hours a week just managing this restaurant.  And by that time, it didn’t make sense to leave the job and go back to work to get an education.”

Debbie met someone who shared the gospel with her and after giving her life to Christ, she learned the principals of tithing.

“About 16 years old, I started giving. And the Lord really laid on my heart at that time to give 20%. I was giving like 10% tithe, 10% offering,” she says.  I remember this feeling of being like supernaturally protected.”

Over the next two years, Debbie became a night manager at the restaurant.

She says, “God just blessed me in that business.  Just by increasing in position, increasing monetarily.”

At twenty-two Debbie earned the trust of the owner and was offered a partnership.  She was making more money and as a result began giving more too.

“During my time at the restaurant, from the time that I was 16 to the time I was 22, I would have experienced about a 45 to 50% increase,” Debbie says.

Her restaurant business partner invited her to join him at his travel agency in an entry level role and she left the restaurant. However, Debbie soon realized that the company was nearly three hundred thousand dollars in debt.  Debbie used the wisdom God had given her and before long, she was promoted to manager and eventually vice-president.  Debbie convinced her partner to tithe off the business profits.

She says, “Whenever we would take the draws off of the company, we would absolutely tithe on those.”

Her partner saw her wisdom in tithing and how the company became more successful under her leadership. In total she saved the company more than three hundred thousand dollars.

“He actually compensated me even more than himself. Because he could see that the agency was turning around. And I really see that as being the hand of God and the tithe and the offering,” Debbie says.

Debbie became part owner and in 2019 they sold the company for 6 million dollars.  She says giving allowed her to give more.

“I started out by giving 20%, you know, then I would go to like 25%, and then I would go to 30%.  And before I retired, I was at 35% giving,” she says.  “I could see the hand of God and I knew that if I’m making more, I’m going to be giving more because this is what this is all about.  I recognized where everything had come from. I knew it – that God had blessed me.  I attribute that to the faithfulness of God, absolutely.  The tithe, the offering, the covenant that were with him financially. He protects us when we’re in covenant with Him.  He set up the blueprint.  So it’s obedience.”

Today she’s helping others understand the wisdom and blessing in giving to god.

Debbie says, “It’s not works, It’s like ‘God, I’m so grateful.  I’m so thankful to you for all that you’ve done.  How can I not give back?  How could I not honor you?’”

Source: cbn.com, Author: Cheryl Wilcox

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This comes a month after former Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen and Agric Minister Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto resigned to focus on their respective political campaigns.

As required by the 1992 Constitution, the President wrote to the Speaker of Parliament, informing him of the new changes in government on Tuesday, February 7.

New persons have been appointed while other ministers have been reshuffled to other ministries.

Below is the full list.

1. Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, K.T Hammond has been appointed Minister-designate for Trade and Industry.
2. Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Brian Acheampong has been appointed Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture.
3. Member of Parliament for Karaga, Mohammed Amin Adam, who was stationed at the Energy Ministry as deputy Minister has been given a new post. He has been appointed Minister of State at the Finance Ministry. He is set to replace Charles Adu Boahen.
4. Stephen Asamoah Boateng has been appointed Minister-designate for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
5. Herbert Krapah, who was Deputy Minister at the Trade Ministry has been moved to the Energy Ministry as Deputy Minister-designate. He replaces Mohammed Amin Adam.
6. Meanwhile, Dr Stephen Amoah is now Deputy Minister-designate for Trade and Industry to replace Herbert Krapah.
7. Member of Parliament for Akuapem South, Osei Bonsu Amoah, has been appointed Minister of State at the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry.

Source: myjoyonline.com

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More than 3,000 buildings either toppled or collapsed in ruins throughout cities and towns on both sides of the Turkish-Syrian border.   

After the quake, teams of rescue workers and residents rushed frantically to find those trapped in the rubble.

Turkey mobilized its rescue services. 

Suleyman Soylu, Turkey’s interior minister, called it “a devastating earthquake.” He added, ” All our governors are on duty now … security forces, Turkish Armed Forces, disaster and emergency management teams, Red Crescent teams and search and rescue teams from many points of Turkey.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the disaster Turkey’s worst since 1939.

Turkey sits on top of major fault lines and is frequently shaken by earthquakes. 

The temblor also smashed regions in northern Syria, areas controlled by forces fighting the Syrian government, and filled with 4 million people displaced by the country’s civil war.

Many of these people live in poor conditions, with little health care. Rescue workers said hospitals were filled, and the Syrian Civil Defense said the country was in a state of catastrophe, with entire neighborhoods leveled. 

More than forty nations pledged help. At the request of Turkey, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sasid they would immediately provide medical and search & rescue teams, some of the best in the world.

The Magen search and rescue team will leave Monday for the quake region. The team uses specialized equipment and techniques to search for survivors.

The epicenter was 20 miles from the Turkish city of Gaziantep. At least thirty aftershocks continued to hit the region, with the strongest one measuring 7.5 magnitude.   

Following the widespread devastation of the massive quake, search and rescue operations are likey to go on for many more days, followed by a tragic and long recovery.      

Source: timesofisrael.com, Author Chris Mitchell

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It is imperative for us to understand that as human beings, we are fundamentally faith beings, regardless of our belief in God or not. Mind you, faith can either be in the positive or negative sense. It is positive when it is grounded on the Word of God and negative when it is based on our fears. Faith works, regardless of how one chooses to look at it. If it is negative, it will work for you. How does it work? By the utterances we make which set in motion “chain reactions” in the atmosphere to bring to pass what we have declared. If you are a believer in Christ, this makes it even more serious. As a believer you have immense power and the things you say come to pass. Remember the Scripture “death and life are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Proverbs 18:21, KJV).

As believers, God does not expect us to join in with the rest of the world to speak words of despair and fear. Such words are a sign to Him of our unbelief in His ability to keep us safe and in good health. Remember the Israelites when they were journeying from Egypt through the dessert on their way to the promised land? They murmured, complained and declared they would die in the desert. They did all this without recourse to the power of God they had seen and experienced before. God in speaking to Moses about their actions and words stated “how long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?” (Exodus 14:11, 12, NIV).

In times of despair, like these, hold fast to His promises and speak them over your life and the lives of your loved ones. Search the Scriptures and speak them. Fight fear for God has not given us a spirit of fear. As the Scriptures say, “for God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV). Fear is a spirit which is launched as an attack on us from the kingdom of darkness to cripple us. Therefore when it comes knocking at the door of your heart, reject it. Loudly and vehemently speak the Word of God concerning the issue (in this case what God has promised about hiding His children, keeping us safe from plagues, etc.). Do not accept it. Refuse to speak death, destruction, calamity, even if it is in a joking manner. Demons do not understand jokes and will work on your words once issued. Refuse jokes about death and other unspiritual jokes. Beloved, this is a war and we need to be wary of the things that proceed out of our mouths, for we shall have the things of which we speak.

To help you, this is a list of a few Scriptures you can start with. Mind you, this list is not exhaustive. Hence I encourage you to do your own search for others and bury yourself in them. God is well able. Be encouraged.

Psalm 46:1, Psalm 91, Psalm 121:1-8, Mark 16:17.

Author: Anne Coleman (Mrs.), anne.renner11@gmail.com

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According to Open Doors USA, places around the world most vulnerable to the coronavirus also align with places where Christians are treated more harshly for their beliefs.

New forms of persecution

When a 22-year-old man from Ethiopia accepted Christ, he knew his Muslim family would see his change of heart as a betrayal and he would be shunned.

In addition, the man’s community expelled him, because the Tigray region where he lives is a part of the country where Christians are ostracized from society and cut off from accessing community resources.

The man says other believers have helped him, but COVID-19 restrictions have made it even harder to live as a Christian in Ethiopia. He struggles to find enough food to eat with no work and no other resources.

Open Doors USA says hundreds of thousands of believers in sub-Saharan Africa are dealing with worse persecution than ever before because they are left exposed and vulnerable from their decision to follow Jesus during the coronavirus pandemic.

Areas such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Sudan, and Cameroon are places where the virus has been the most deadly. They are also places where life is most difficult for Christ-followers.

Rev. John Joseph Hayab from northern Nigeria says believers are facing new forms of persecution during the pandemic.

“We are facing persecution because of our faith and we are also facing a global pandemic,” Hayab says.

“We run away from our persecution … or we run away from the global sickness that we are facing. We have a double problem.”

But despite these problems, Hayab gives perspective to believers’ trials.

“But in all this, we still come back to remember the Word of Jesus: ‘Be ye of good cheers, for I have overcome the world.’ But He didn’t start with that; He says: ‘In this world, you will have many troubles.’ This is another additional trouble we are facing,” Hayab says.

No sanitation and less food

It is no secret that social distancing is impacting economies around the world. For pastors who depend on tithes for their income, however, the impact is even more drastic.

While rules may be appropriate to prevent people from gathering, even in worship, the loss of income from tithes means pastors are becoming less able to feed their families.

Widows and orphans, too, cannot trade to receive food, making survival a struggle.

Christians also continue to be displaced by Islamic groups like Boko Haram, ISIS, and Fulani militants. Christians often seek shelter in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, where requests for food and other resources are continuous.

The social and health infrastructure of IDP camps are not equipped to handle these needs, nor the impact of COVID-19. The lack of water, sanitation, and hygiene make these camps a worry for the spreading coronavirus.

Director for Open Doors’ work in West Africa, Suleiman, says IDP camps have been relying on the organization.

“It’s a challenge at this time, but we trust the Lord as we stand together, that He will help find solutions to these issues. We thank you for your continued prayers and support for the persecuted church here in West Africa,” Suleiman says.

In areas where Shariah law is prevalent, Christians are experiencing outright government discrimination. Christ-followers living in towns in northern Nigeria, in the Kaduna State, say they receive about six times fewer rations from the state than Muslim families.

Violence continues

Extremist attacks have not stopped as a result of the global pandemic. Open Doors says Christians living in areas such as Nigeria’s Middle Belt are living in a survival culture.

In the Kaduna and Plateau States, during the first few weeks of April, 31 people have been killed in extremist attacks. Homes have also been destroyed.

According to one pastor in the area: “We lie down at night, not knowing if we’ll wake.”

“In the midst of this coronavirus challenges and situation, the attacks on Christians have not stopped,” Sulieman says.

In areas such as Somalia and Uganda, some extremists are even blaming the global pandemic on Christians. They say COVID-19 is being spread “by the crusader forces (Christians) who have invaded the country and the disbelieving countries that support them.”

There is fear extremist groups may use the pandemic to recruit members.

Sub-Saharan Africa analyst at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Bulama Bukarti, says this is already happening.

“Either way, groups claiming to fight for Islam in Africa will use the virus outbreak to recruit and radicalize fighters and justify their narratives of hate, division and enmity,” Bukarti says.

Source: chvnradio.com, Author: Libby Giesbrecht

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That’s especially true among live-action comedy movies, which are frequently littered with coarse language, suggestive dialogue and other non-kid-friendly stuff. 

Still, it’s not too hard to find family-friendly comedy movies if you know where to look. Some are even live-action.

Of course, no film is perfect, so if something on our list has content you don’t like, then try a filtering service such as ClearPlay, VidAngel or Vudu. 

Here are 15 family-friendly movies that will always cheer you up:

1. Paddington (2014) / Paddington 2 (2017)

A British family raises a talking Peruvian bear, who teaches them (and everyone he meets) how to be kinder. This hilarious series is a favorite in my home. Both films are rated PG for mild action and (a little) rude humor. Live-action.

2. The Herbie Movies (1968-1980)

A Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own, wins multiple racecar championships – and even falls in love. This Disney live-action series from yesteryear includes four titles: The Love Bug (1968), Herbie Rides Again (1974), Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977) and Herbie Goes Bananas (1980). All are rated G. Live-action.

3. Toy Story Series (1995-2019)

A pull-string ragdoll (Sheriff Woody) and a space ranger superhero (Buzz Lightyear) go on multiple adventures with their toy friends in this Pixar franchise. Toy Story was the first fully computer-animated movie. The series is a cut above most children’s movies: It’s funny and contains important lessons about life. The series includes Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 2(1999), Toy Story 3 (2010) and Toy Story 4 (2019). All are rated G. Animated.

4. Incredibles (2004) / Incredibles 2 (2018)

A superhero family is forced to navigate the real world while keeping their superhero powers secret. Of course, they fight the bad guys, too. Incredibles is rated PG for action violence. Incredibles 2 is rated PG for action sequences and some brief mild language. Animated.

5. Mom’s Night Out (2014)

Two men volunteer to babysit the children so their wives can enjoy an evening at a nice restaurant. Nothing, though, goes as planned. It’s one of my favorite live-action funny movies of all time – and it has a family-centric message, too. It stars Patricia Heaton and Sarah Drew and was directed by Jon and Andrew Erwin, the filmmakers behind I Can Only Imagine and I Still Believe. Rated PG for mild thematic elements and some action. Live-action.

Photo courtesy: ©Provident

6. Cars Series (2006-2017)

A human-like race car named Lightning McQueen learns about perseverance and life with his best friend, Mater. The Cars series follows every step of Lightning’s career, from his rookie years to his retirement. Like every Pixar film, it includes great messages for parents and children. This series includes Cars (2005), Cars 2 (2011) and Cars 3 (2017). All are rated G. Animated.

7. Father of the Bride (1991) / Father of the Bride 2 (1995)

A father (played by Steve Martin) battles his emotions and his tight-wallet ways when his 20-year-old daughter gets married. In the second movie, his middle-aged wife and daughter become pregnant at the same time. Father of the Bride(1991) is rated PG. Father of the Bride 2 (1995) is rated PG for some mild language and thematic elements. Because of brief sexually suggestive content, these may be best for older family members. Live-action.

8. The Parent Trap (1961)

Two teenage girls set out to reunite their divorced parents. The 1961 version starred Hayley Mills in a dual role as the twin sisters and was nominated for two Oscars, including for best film editing. It’s slightly more kid-friendly than the 1998 version. Rated G. Live-action.

9. The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975) / The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979)

In the first film, two bumbling outlaws (played by Don Knotts and Tim Conway) try to steal a pile of gold. In the sequel, they go straight but still get caught up with the law. Nearly anything with Knotts and Conway is hilarious. This pair of films is no different. Both films are rated G. Live-action.

10. Gus (1976)

A Yugoslavian farm boy rises to stardom when it’s learned his mule, named “Gus,” can kick a football 100-plus yards. The duo join the fictional California Atoms and help lead the team to a championship. Don Knotts plays the coach. Rated G. Live-action.  

11. Zootopia (2016)

A rabbit rookie cop pairs up with a sly fox to solve a major crime and prove her worth on the police force. The sloth scene alone makes this one worth watching. Due to a few intense moments, Zootopia may not be suitable for young children. Rated PG for some thematic elements, rude humor and action. Animated.

12. Finding Nemo (2003) / Finding Dory (2016)

They’re two of the most family-centric films in the Pixar lineup. In Finding Nemo, a clownfish father, Marlin, searches for his missing son, Nemo. In Finding Dory, Marlin and Nemo help a blue tang fish named Dory find her parents. Finding Nemo is rated G. Finding Dory is rated PG for mild thematic elements. Animated.

13. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

An awkward high school boy, surrounded by awkward family members and friends, tries to find his place in the world. It’s a quirky, hilarious comedy with little plot but lots of laughs. Due to a few mature situations, this one may be best for older children. Rated PG for thematic elements and language. Live-action.

14. Despicable Me (2010-2017)

A supervillain named Gru sees his view of the world transformed after adopting three little girls. Eventually, he even gets married. The Despicable Me series mixes a great message – bad people can change – with a hilarious family plot. The first two movies are rated PG for rude humor and mild action. Despicable Me 3 is rated PG for action and rude humor. Animated.

15. Up (2009)

A cantankerous widower and a young “Wilderness Explorer” named Scout go on a cross-country adventure under a canopy of helium balloons. Up is one of the best films in the Pixar catalogue. It’s also a tear-jerker. Rated PG for some peril and action. Animated

Other good ones: Madagascar series, Elf, Spy Kids movies, The Secret Life of Pets films, The Strongest Man in the World, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and the Ice Age series.

Credit: crosswalk.com

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A number of key members from Early Rain Covenant Church were arrested in their homes as they attended a virtual service during which they listened to a sermon by their imprisoned leader, Pastor Wang Yi. Early Rain has not met in person since December 2018, when its building was raided and the congregation subjected to mass arrests. Though many elders and members have since been released from custody, Wang Yi has remained behind bars – at the end of last year, he was sentenced to nine years in prison. 

Church members told International Christian Concern of the moment officers from the Public Security Bureau stormed the homes of six church leaders as they worshipped together.

One member said: “At that time I was also in the Zoom call, but there was a long period of time where I did not hear a thing. I thought it’s the network connection issue at first, but I soon heard a quarrel erupt. Our co-worker Wang Jun was questioning some people, [saying], ‘Who are you to do this [to us]?’”

In addition to Wang, a number of other leaders were detained, including Guo Haigang, Wu Wuqing, Jia Xuewei, Zhang Jianqing and Zhang Xudong.

A supporter of ERCC revealed some details of the incident on Twitter, “Since 8:30 a.m., some security officials have entered these Christian families’ homes and pretended to be chatting with them casually. At 9:30 a.m., the worship began, and they were also invited to participate. Once they realised that the sermon was from ERCC’s imprisoned pastor Wang Yi, they immediately shut it down.”

Zhang Jianquing’s account recalled what the police said during the incidents: “Don’t participate in already banned [religious] activities anymore! Don’t listen to Pastor [Wang]’s sermons anymore! If you do this again, we will deal with it seriously and take you away!”

One of the targeted individuals had their home power supply cut, while others received intimidating phone calls in which they were told  that “police [were] coming to visit them soon.”

The six believers have since been released from custody.

Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, said: “It is such a shame that the Chinese government has not once stopped its persecution of ERCC. Ever since the 2019 crackdown in 2018, local authorities have continued to monitor and harass ERCC members, with the hope that the church will disperse itself. In a time when the Chinese people are suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the heartless regime chose to inflict more trouble on its citizens. The UN should immediately suspend China’s appointment to the Human Rights Council for its lack of respect for human rights.”

Pastor Wang Yi has a history of boldly proclaiming Christ from the pulpit. Shortly before he was arrested, he personally called on President Xi Jinping – who has been waging a years-long campaign of oppression against the country’s Christians – to repent of his sins. 

“When we are not being persecuted, we spread the gospel. And when persecution comes, we continue spreading the gospel,” pastor Yi preached in a 2018 message.

He added: “If we are talking about a President, we declare he is a sinner. And if we are talking about a general secretary, we still declare that he is a sinner. We believe that we have the responsibility to tell Xi Jinping that he is a sinner.”

Source: premierchristian.news

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o help you move forward in evangelistic conversations with atheists, consider asking one of the following four questions in the course of your conversation:

First, was there a time when you believed in God? God’s existence is evident to all men, even those who reject Him (Romans 1:19). An atheist must suppress the truth of God that is evident in nature (Psalm 19:1).  It is likely that there was a time when your atheist friend believed in God. Listening carefully and graciously about the event(s) that led them to change their mind is helpful for two reasons: You can understand the issues that led to their current unbelief, and the atheist reconnects (through their story) to a time before they suppressed the truth of God’s existence. 

Second, wouldn’t you like there to be a God? A person is more likely to accept evidence and arguments for things they want to be true rather than things they hope are not true. This question is simple, yet powerful. In evangelism, you are trying to tell someone about a loving creator who, despite our sin, graciously provides all that is needed for us to enjoy eternal life. Wouldn’t you like for that God to exist? Getting a person who doesn’t believe in God to admit that they wish God did exist is a helpful step in asking them to consider the reasons for His existence. 

Third, since becoming an atheist, has there been a time when you thought that God might exist? Christians are not the only people who can have a crisis of faith. Exposure to evil can make believers question their belief, and exposure to beauty and charity can make unbelievers question their unbelief. Asking this question is helpful because an atheist has probably gone through a time when they questioned their unbelief, and by inviting them to share that story of a time when they were tempted to believe God might actually exist, you can encourage them to reconsider the existence of God.

Fourth, what would you have to lose if God existed and you decided to trust Him? Seventeenth-century philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal famously argued that it makes sense to believe in God because what you stand to gain if He exists is far greater than what you stand to lose if He doesn’t. This argument (called The Wager) leads to a simple question: What do you have to lose? Jesus taught us to count the cost of following Him. There are losses in this life, but as the Apostle Paul point out, the suffering of this life does not compare the to the glory that is to come (Romans 8:18). 

Sharing the Gospel can be hard. Asking good questions helps. A good question invites someone to share more about what they believe so that you can wisely and lovingly respond to objections and direct them to Christ. God uses these conversations to open hearts and draw people

Adam Groza (Ph.D.) is a Vice President and Associate Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Gateway Seminary. His new book is Faith Wins: Overcoming a Crisis of Belief (New Hope Publishers, 2020).

Source: christianpost.com

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Shirer was among 50 other Christian leaders, musicians, speakers, and pastors who participated in a 10-hour livestream event called “Leader Check In” hosted by PULSE and Year of the Bible founder Nick Hall on Wednesday. During her segment, she preached from 1 Kings 18:21, 23 and 24.

“I’ve been thinking about something this morning, just in preparation for the opportunity to share today with everybody who would be gathered in this particular week when we’re heading into Easter when we are celebrating the sacrifice of our Lord. With the power of our Lord that He got up out of the grave, that He still lives, ever making intercession for us, ever the mediator that bridges the gap between us and the Father. So the thoughts that have been on my mind have been in and around Elijah, one of the premier Old Testament prophets,” Shirer said.

The daughter of Dallas megachurch pastor Tony Evans taught from Elijah’s example when he proved that His God, not Baal, was the one true God. She said Elijah understood that as believers we are to provide the sacrifice and God is who provides the fire. 

“We’re supposed to do our part but not step into the margin — that’s supposed to be God’s part,” Shirer explained. “It’s the Spirit’s part to light the fire, the anointing, the favor that will be required for every single one of our churches’ streams to be effective in the lives of people. That they reach all over the globe on this coming Sunday, when for the first time, definitely in my lifetime, maybe in history, that as many people have been reached on Easter Sunday as will be reached this Easter. 

She said Easter won’t just be a “good production” or “good technology,” but it will be a service that will have to “impact the souls of human beings.”

“What that means is, is that it’s gonna have some fire on it. And it can’t be a fire that we have manufactured in our own humanity. Emotionalism is not gonna cut it, promotion is not going to cut it,” Shirer continued. “All the gimmicks and the stories and the emotionalism, the veneer of actually having an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

“The charisma, the talent, all that stuff that may have been able to carry us in front of a crowd, now that we’ve been stripped down, one of the things that I believe the Lord is inviting us back to is this reminder that we’re supposed to present ourselves, a living sacrifice to Him. That we give Him our best. That we study to show ourselves approved, that we walk in integrity, and in characters as leaders in the body of Christ. That we continue to cultivate an actual real-life friendship with God that doesn’t need an audience to sustain it.”

The Texas native whose mother recently died of cancer said this fire is only cultivated behind closed doors during one’s personal time with God.

Shirer emphasized that during one-on-one time with God is when everyone gets the ability to “resist the urge to do what we humans have a hard time resisting the urge to do. We refuse to manufacture our own fire. We refuse to try to set a flame for the part of our ministry that is supposed to be reserved for God and God alone.”

“Only He can make the heart of a human be penetrated by the message of the Good News. Only the Holy Spirit can open blind spiritual eyes so that they can actually come to know, this Easter, that it’s not about emotionalism, and it’s not about the gimmicks and it’s not about the fog machines and the spotlights and the HD screens in our churches. It’s not about the cappuccino maker that we might have in a cafe nearby. It’s not about the kids’ ministry or the great parking lot, and all the things that we can enjoy,” she added.

“There’s no problem with enjoying any of those things. But unfortunately, we can become dependent upon them. Until we don’t even recognize the fact that we’re not even depending on God to light the fire anymore because we’ve gotten so used to the crutches of our conveniences.”

She stressed that God’s Holy Fire and how He offers that to His believers is what separates Christianity from every other “so-called faith on the face of the Earth.” 

Shirer also celebrated the fact that Christians can talk to God and because of Jesus, He hears.

“Because of His Word, and because of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and revelation from God’s Spirit, I can hear the voice of God. That means that our God is alive,” Shirer declared. “If we really believe that, if we really believe that this is not just some fairy tale that we’ve been spouting, but we actually for real believe that our God lives, then that means we will step back from trying to go into the margin that’s supposed to be reserved for Him. We will trust Him to light the fire. 

“Please know that if you see that gap that exists where you’ve done the best you can, and now you recognize that unless God comes through this ain’t gonna go so well. Trust me that gap is supposed to exist. God allows it. He asks us to trust Him with that margin. Because as the Apostle Paul would say, come the New Testament, it is in that gap, that weakness, that His strength is made perfect. 

She ended by encouraging leaders worldwide that as the “Lord has stripped all of us down” to not try and “manufacture what He is now inviting you to let Him light an ignite in your life.”

“By the way, can I just say, just in case you’re wondering what that fire represents. It is the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Now more than ever, y’all will need a relationship with the Holy Spirit of God,” Shirer concluded.

If you have never nurtured a fervent and consistent relationship with the Spirit of God, I’m telling you now is the time.” 

Leader Check-In was a joint initiative of Pulse and Year of the Bible and happened in partnership with thousands of churches and organizations worldwide. Every speaker volunteered their time to give a word from God to a hurting world.

Source: christianpost.com

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