"The Widow’s Mite”:The Effective Fervent Prayer

James 5:13-18 says,

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.


14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:


15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.


16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.


17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.


18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.


We need to pray effectively and fervently in order to stay focused on the Lord in the midst of overwhelming circumstances in the world today.


WHAT IS PRAYER?


Prayer is communication with God. In prayer we talk to God about ourselves, our friends, neighbors, family, the Body of Christ, our Nation, Government, or even our enemies. In prayer we give God permission to intervene on our behalf to change a situation or even the course of nature for our benefit or for the benefit of the Kingdom , or our loved ones.


TWO MAJOR KINDS OF PRAYER:


There are two major kinds of prayer-The public and the private or personal. The public prayer is usually said when there is a multitude or group praying together. We find a number of examples in the Acts of the Apostles. In Acts 1:14 we read,


These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.


We also read in Acts 4:23 we also read about a public prayer of the disciples.


23 ¶ And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:


Matthew 6:6 gives us an example of private prayer.


6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.


In Matthew 26:36 we have another example of private prayer.


Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.


HOW DO WE PRAY?


You can pray by calling on the lord or crying to him to save you from your troubles as in Psalm 145:18,19.


The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.


In the following prayer Solomon asks God for Wisdom.


1Ki 3:7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

1Ki 3:8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

1Ki 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

 We are to know that when we pray according to God’s will he will answer us. Solomon has his prayer answered. God is so pleased that he also gives him riches in addition to wealth.


WHERE DO WE PRAY?


We can pray anywhere as long as we have the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. The bible says in Psalm 34: 15,

 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.


WHEN DO WE PRAY?


We are to pray without ceasing. That is what the Word of God Says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

 Pray without ceasing.


Eph. 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;


POSTURE: You can pray either standing ( Mark 11:25), kneeling ( Luke 22:41), Lifting your hands ( Psalm 28:2; 1 Timothy 2:8), or in Bed (Psalm 4:4).



EXAMPLES OF EFFECTIVE FERVENT PRAYER:


Elijah is mentioned as having prayed this way in James 5: 17-18.

 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

 Another example is found in Acts 9:40.


But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.


Daniel Prayed this type of prayer in Daniel 9:3-19 and the prayer is answered in Daniel 3:20-22.

 20 ¶ And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;

21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.






Hannah in 1Samuel 1, Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20:2, and the Lord Jesus in the Gospels prayed effective fervent prayers that got immediate answers.


Why Pray According to His Will?


1 John 5:14-15 says

 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

 Can We Suffer When We Pray In God’s Will?


Yes! In Job 23:10 we learn that God tests his children in order to purify them.

 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

 God also allows his own to pass through the hot fire of tribulation in order to prepare them for the tas ahead of them as we find in Psalm 4:2.

 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

 When in doubt, difficulty, depression, denial, or full of joy pray. Pray anytime and anywhere. Pray without ceasing.


God Bless you---Priscilla.© frem.2009.

RESPONDING TO THE SUFFERINGS OF THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE

Gold From the Word

(A man told this story about Lazarus and Dives at a graduation ceremony in Cameroon).

A rich man lived near a very poor man. While the rich man feasted every day the poor man was hungry and covered with sores. The rich man took good care of himself and neglected the poor man.

When they died Lazarus had no one to bury him so that flies and maggots feasted on his corpse. The rich man died and was taken good care of with the best perfumes used on his body.

When both came before God the rich man was smelling good while Lazarus was stinking with his sores and maggots. God told both of them that since they had lived good lives on earth they should kiss each other’s bodies. Lazarus had no problem since the rich man was clean and smelled good. He went on to obey. But the rich man found it hard to kiss the maggots and refused. God sent him to hell for disobedience and Lazarus to heaven for his obedience.

Moral: Be your brother’s Keeper for Hebrews 9:25 says, “It is appointed onto man once to die and after that the Judgment.”

THE REAL STORY (LUKE16:19-31).

Lu 16:19 ¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Lu 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

Lu 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

Lu 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Lu 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Lu 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Lu 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Lu 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Lu 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

Lu 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Lu 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

Lu 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

Lu 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Remain Blessed----Joshua.

THE WIDOW'S MITE : KNOWING YOUR ENEMY-Priscilla Cheng

The Widow’s Mite

Knowing your Enemy-The Devil

 

HIS NAMES:

 

• He is called Beelzebub-the ruler of demons in Matt. 12:24.
• Belial in 2 Corinthians 6:15;
• Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12;
• Satan in Luke 10:18 & 1 Chronicles 21:1;
• Abandon and Apollyon in Revelation 9:11 and
• The Dragon/Serpent in revelation 12:9.

 

What is his character?

 

• He is cunning-Gen. 3:1;
• He is the accuser-Job 1:6-11;
• He is the afflicter-Job 2:7;
• He is the father of lies-John 8:44, 1 Kings 22:22;
• He is the Tempter-Matthew 4:1, Mark 1:12-13;
• He is the Deceiver-Rev. 12:9, 2Cor. 11:13-14,Eph. 6:15;
• He is proud-1 Tim 3:16;
• He is fierce and cruel-Luke 8:29, 9:39-42;
• He is Wicked- 1John 2:13;
• He is presumptuous-Isaiah 14:13-14;
• He is Powerful-Eph.2:2,6:12;

 

He is the Prince of This World: WHAT HE DOES:

 

• He perverts scripture to mislead-Matt. 4:6, Psalm 91:1-13;
• He opposes God’s work-Zec. 2:1, 1 Thess. 2:18;
• He hinders the Gospel-Matthew 13:19, 2Corinthians 4:4;
• He works Lying wonders-2 Thess. 2:9;Rev. 16:14;
• He appears as an angel of light-2 Cor. 11:14.
• Occultist, witches , and wizards get their power from him.

 

 

Why we do not need to Fear Him

 

• Even though he is our enemy , and is moving about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour, Jesus had defeated him through His death and resurrection according to Colossians 2:15 and Revelation 12:10-11.
• We have the Word of God to use against his attacks and are also protected by God according to 2 Thessalonians 3:1-13. God has already delivered us from his power according to Colossians 1:13.
• According to John 3:8 and Hebrews 2:4 we already know hid end and he is doomed for the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10, Matthew 25:41).
• We are to resist him and not fear him (James 4:7).
• We are to give him no place (Ephesians 4:27).

Finally we are to overcome him by the blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony (Rev.12:11), as we employ our faith in our God (Ephesians 6:16).

Remain Blessed--Priscilla

GOD'S WAY FORWARD

GOLD FROM THE WORD

 

God’s Way Forward.

 

Recently many unexpected things have happened to various persons and to the Body of Christ that seemed to have thrown several families and churches into a mood of mourning and spirit of depression.

 

It has either been our witnessing helplessly as friends or ourselves lose jobs or watching our finances go down to the place we had never expected. Churches have seen their members in trouble even at a time when they are experiencing financial difficulties and can’t help as they used to.

 

If this mood is allowed to continue unchecked it can drain the life out of the church and her members and leave both vulnerable to the devil’s schemes to further afflict the Body and destroy it. It is at times like this that God gives a rousing call to the church and her leaders.

 

You may be thinking that this perhaps is the first time such a situation has occurred in the church. This is not so. When we look back in History we can see the church several times under depression and mourning. The church in the wilderness on her way to the Promised Land faced this. Another time History calls it the Dark Ages when it was like civilization was moving backward. For the sake of time and space we will limit ourselves to the Church (Israel) in the wilderness.

 

After the death of Moses Israel went into a thirty days of mourning. It was a period of disappointment and discouragement for the people who has seen the rise of the father of their nation and a powerful leadership that had given them independence, the law, and made the wandering nation a terror to the people of the Middle East. Rahab the harlot of Jericho had this to testify to the two spies Joshua sent to spy out Jericho;

 

9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

 

10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

 

11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

 

Moses whom God had used to create this impression in the hearts of Israel’s potential adversaries had now passed away. The heart of the nation was full of apprehension. They were now on the banks of the Jordan that separated them from the Promise of the Promised Land.

 

They knew God had used Moses mightily. Yet this military man they now had was not fully known. Joshua himself must have been apprehensive.

 

God could not allow this state of things to continue. So he responded with the words of Joshua 1:1-9;

 

 1 ¶ Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,

 

2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

 

3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

 

4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

 

5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

 

6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

 

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

 

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

 

In the first three verses God calls Joshua back to Duty to arise and take up his calling. He is commissioned and told his responsibilities. He is to take possession of the Land that God has given to the children of Israel. He tells Joshua “Moses my servant is dead,” i.e. Moses is now History. God means he should accept the fact that he is now the leader and move on.

 

God wants the church to get out of her pity party and move forward. We cannot like Israel continue to lament over what has happened in our past, in the last few months because we cannot go back in time. Yet we can move forward to a more glorious future that God has over the Jordan of this life.

 

When God wants to do a new thing the old has to die to give way to the new. We must realize that some bad things have to happen so that the new and better things can be embraced. If your 1990 truck stays alive you will lack space for a 2009 more comfortable truck. If you do not lose your old Job you might not be able to see that God has a better and more lucrative one for you.

 

In verses four and five God reminds Joshua of the Largeness of the task and inheritance before him. It will stretch from Lebanon to the Negev in the south, and from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates River. God also promises him Victory and His presence throughout the length of his years.

 

The church must realize that the inheritance is as large as the task of possessing it. She must also realize that God’s presence is guaranteed. This makes the task of the years to come easier than of the past years because the Psalmist says in Psalm 16:11;

 

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

 

We are to seek God’s presence more than anything else because that is where sweat-less success is available to us. That is where favor will overtake us and bring to us what “eye has not seen and ear has not hear, nor mind ever conceived.”

 

In verses 6,8, and 9 God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous. We may ask why all the emphasis. God understood that Joshua was going to face the savage ungodly tribes of Canaan whose iniquity was already full. This will lead to years of battle and blood and horror. Joshua needed courage and inner strength to stay the course of the campaigns and to govern the nation. It was important that the Commander should be courageous above all to lead the nation to victory. So God encouraged him again and again so that courage will sink into his soul and become part of his being.

 

The church of Jesus Christ is poised to enter into her glorious stage which the Lord had promised. There will be many battles with the enemy who is holding back what belongs to her. She and her leaders must courageously fight the evil forces and not back down so that she can possess her divinely granted possessions.

 

In verses 7 and 8 God gives Joshua the recipe that will guarantee victory together with his strength and courage. He is to do everything according to the law God has given through Moses. He is not to turn from it in any way if he is to prosper. He is to live the word all the time. He is to speak it, meditate on it day and night with the intent of observing it completely. In this way he will be prosperous and have good success.

 

In the church’s present circumstances, God’s instructions hold good. The word of God is to become the blue print for the character of the victorious church. The word is to become part of our daily conversation and our thoughts. We are to meditate on the word so much so that obeying the word becomes part of our Christian character . The Psalmist says in Psalm 119:11;

 

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

 

When the word of God takes first place in every activity a Christian or a church indulges in, or gets involved in. When we shall obey the word without veering from it, then the church will begin to get power to change and influence the world around us. Downplaying the word to the taste of the world around us is what has given us only partial success. Complete obedience and a complete application of the word will give us “good success.”

 

God’s final words to Joshua sounds very like Jesus Christ’s last word to his disciples before he ascended to heaven. God tells Joshua “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

 

Jesus Promised the Church the same in Matthew 28:20.

 

 

 

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

 

Whether in the old or new testament we are to take note that God’s presence which makes things easier for us is guaranteed if we take care to give his word complete obedience. Moving forward then into a new life of victory in the promises of God is sure to be our portion.

 

God Bless You--Joshua

 

 

 

 

 

The Widow’s Mite

A TIME OF SEPARATION.

Gold From The Word

A TIME OF SEPARATION.

One of the things which the Lord promises us about seasons in the Book of Ecclesiastes is that there is a time for everything. One of the times he speaks about is a time to gather and a time to scatter in Ecclesiastes 3:1,5,

1 ¶ To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:…

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

As believers we make choices everyday. We also probably wonder if God could be making such choices too. I am persuaded that the reason we find these times so daunting is because God is using the economy and its difficulties to separate between the sheep and the goats, the shepherd and the hireling.

God cannot bless an unrighteous church else that will make God an unrighteous God which cannot be. We all know that the church must be without spot, wrinkle, or blemish before she can go up in the rapture. There might be many theories about the rapture but I would want us to understand that God does not promote those whom he has not purified.

The best purifier is the fire. So He will let the church pass through the fire so that only the Gold will come out. God must get out all the stubble from the body of Christ before he can promote her. Just like he did to Israel, all the rebels and grumblers fell in the desert and a purified Israel went into the Promised Land. This is what he says in prophet Ezekiel.

Eze 20:38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Eze 34:17 ¶ And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.

Eze 34:18 Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?

Eze 34:19 And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.

Eze 34:20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.

Eze 34:21 Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad;

Eze 34:22 Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.

God is purging selfishness, malice, and all forms of wickedness from the body of Christ before the church can walk into her best days here on earth with Christ as her true shepherd. All manner of sin, complacency, and compromise must be purged so that the church can truly resemble her Lord. Then “the whole Earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9).” This he will do from nation to nation, from church to church.

Mt 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

Mt 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

For God to truly purge the church He must also purge her leadership. The church has been producing a cacophony of sounds to the extent that men do not know what the true church of Jesus Christ is like. Secular humanism has taken over in certain areas. The shepherds of Ezekiel‘s day were more concerned about themselves than the flock they were called to minister to. This displeased God and he issued this indictment through the prophet;

Isa 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

Eze 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

Eze 34:3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.

Eze 34:4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.

As servants to whom the Lord has entrusted His flock we are not to be discouraged by the Hard Times. We are to be especially careful lest we be consumed by our own needs and forget the needs of the flock. To avoid being like the shepherds of Ezekiel’s time, we should pray for patience because it is much more difficult to take care of other’s needs when you are in need yourself. Paul had these words of encouragement to the leaders of the Ephesian Church at Miletus:

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

We are not to give up and quit on the flock as the hireling will do. We are to be thankful to God that he has allowed us to be tested so that he can find us worthy of our calling. The Lord Jesus sets the standard in John 10:11-13,

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

“Those who know their God will be strong and do exploits,” according to prophet Daniel. If you know your God you will know that this is a time of sacrifice. A time for patience, hard work, faith, and endurance. The Word promises that it is those who endure to the end who will be saved.

Shepherds who watch must keep watch over their flocks by night if they are to see the glory of the Lord. It is in the night (this period) that the enemy comes to sow tares among the wheat. This is not a time to sleep. It is a time for true shepherds (pastors, elders, deacons, intercessors, bishops) to keep watch. Out of this present watching lies your promotion and your recompense.

It is a time for the Church to keep lamps trimmed for your Lord will come at an hour when you do not expect. This is the reason why discordant voices must be removed by the present tribulation so that they do not have a place to create confusion when the Lord wants the church to speak with one voice.

As this tribulation progresses we will see the church uniting in voice and message. We will see the gospel taking the place of activities that have hitherto been cherished. The Name of Jesus will take a more central place and secular humanism will walk out of the church door and out of the psyche of nations.

Then the power of God will begin to be more prominent. We will go back to preach not with the wisdom of men, but in the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit. After the Church has matured through these trials we will see a glorified church that can face the anti-Christ without fear even of death.

Let each day be a time to examine if we are walking the walk. We must begin to judge ourselves or face the judgment of God our Savior. The church needs to return to holiness and a walk of righteousness to prepare for His Second coming. God is looking our for purified vessels to use. Any vessel that is purified will become a vessel of honor fit for the master’s use.

Get ready people of God for it is not going to be long and we will see the Father’s hand upon his chosen ones. It is a time of separation and the Lord is saying,

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

We are the church of Jesus Christ and we must not look or feel like the world in any way. We must separate ourselves so that we will be ready to hear the Master say, “Well done!”

God Bless You-Joshua

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WHY GIVE TO THE POOR AND LESS FORTUNATE?

Gold From The Word
WHY GIVE TO THE POOR AND LESS FORTUNATE?

This morning as we sort the face of the Lord he gave us this passage from the Psalms to meditate upon. After reading a few verses he impressed upon me that we needed to share it with our partners in ministry. This is the part that caught our attention form Psalm 31;

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

What is interesting in this passage is that God takes special interest in those who take interest in the plight of the poor and the afflicted. The Lord will show up when they are in trouble to deliver them. He will watch over them to keep them alive, to bless them , to confound their enemies , to strengthen them in difficult times, and to help them in their sickness. God will do all of this and much more to those who are interested in the plight of the poor and needy.
Why will God do this? Because God is interested in the downtrodden of the Earth. That is why he is often referred to as Father of the Fatherless, and judge of the widow. This should in fact mean that if you mess with the poor and these classes of people in which the Lord takes interest you are messing with God.
Does this also mean that God will avenge them like he will the righteous? Yes. Does this mean he does not care for the Rich? No. He is interested in seeing them bless others just as he has blessed them. God makes us rich so that we should be a channel for his blessings to reach others. Riches are a responsibility. The more responsible you are in handling them, the more blessings you attract from God.
This means that God has four groups that he takes special interest in how we treat them. They are; the poor, the orphans, the widows, and the foreigner. He instructed Israel to take good care of them during the harvest, and when they had some special celebrations. The following passages lend credence to this point of view-

Pr 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Pr 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Pr 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse
Isa 58:10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
Lu 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
In Isaiah 58 the word of God describes taking care of the needy as a true fast that is acceptable to God.
Isa 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
　
There are a plethora of passages in the Bible that encourage kindness to the poor.

Ex 23:11 But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.
De 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
Pr 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

These passages deal with the widows and strangers or foreigners in our midst.

Ex 22:22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
De 14:29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
De 26:12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
Pr 23:10 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
Isa 1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Jer 22:3 … and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

You may have all these blessings around you and have no opportunity to harvest them. When you give to missions you are taking care of people God cares about. The Lord wishes that all be saved. When you give to missions you are giving for the salvation of souls.
You are giving to those who will not be able to pay back. In this way you lend to God and store up riches for yourselves which cannot be corrupted by rust and that thieves cannot steal.
These riches are secured against any “Ponzi” scheme, con artists, or wall street crisis. They are in God’s secure bank of eternal rewards. More secure than any 401K. No earthquake or mudslide can bury them. They are secure against all fires and floods, even Noah’s flood.
Finally we want to encourage you to invest in the Kingdom of God and you will never lose your reward.
-God bless you-Joshua.-

PASTOR PRISCILLA CHENG: STAND TALL

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Gold From The Word:
Learning Obedience by the Things
We Suffer

It is rather difficult for us as Christians to see suffering from a positive stand point even when we acknowledge that our salvation was the result of Christ’s own sufferings on the way to, and on the cross. We hear most of the time people saying ,”you ought to live a victorious life because Jesus had paid it all for you.”
The victory that is often referred to is that one in which the Christian does not have to encounter any difficulties as he walks the Christian road. This has led to many Christians walking in guilt and many more joining the accuser of the brethren. Those who walk in guilt think that there must be some sin in their lives to bring about undue hardship when they are doing all they can to live righteously. Those who join the accuser of the brethren think that those who have troubles are obviously guilty of some sin and thus are getting paid for it by their sufferings.
When Jesus went to the cross there were many who thought that he was being crucified for falsehood and for trouble making. Lots of his followers abandoned him and all his disciples fled. Yet we learn in Philippians 2:5-11 that he was walking the path of humility and obedience to the extent that he had to face , or rather, be submitted to the shameful death on the cross. We learn that this is the reason why He has been exalted to the highest place as his promotion.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The fifth verse of the above passage admonishes us to have the same mindset as Christ had to qualify for the father’s favor. The Apostle Paul also tells us in the Book of 2Timothy 2: 9-12 that suffering is a part of our Christian experience because suffering involves dying to self so that Christ can live in us.

9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
Again Paul points out in 2 Timothy 3:12 that Godliness will attract suffering.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

The writer of Hebrews takes up the same theme pointing out Hebrews 5: 5-9 that obedience is actually learned by the things which we suffer, and that suffering leads to learning, and learning to perfection for promotion. This is what made Christ into the author of eternal salvation to all that obey Him.

5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

It is pretty obvious that you have as a Christian met with some unfair judgment in your life, among fellow believers, some of whom may think that you are trying to be too spiritual in solely and wholeheartedly clinging to the ways of the Lord instead of doing what “normal” people do to get everything right for themselves.
Sometimes these accusations may be unbearable. But you need to understand that the Lord your God is not looking for normal people. He is looking for a remnant. You cannot have it the world’s way and be at the same time pleasing to God. If the world loves you it is because you are one of their own so they can afford to identify with you. If they hate you it is because you are not one of theirs.
If you belong to the Lord then God will not leave you without chastisement because loving fathers chastise their children especially their heirs so that they may be perfect and responsible. You cannot teach a child to obey and do things right if you compromise and fail to be tough on them. In the end they will be sloppy and bring you shame.
For this reason the Lord will allow you to undergo suffering as he trains you for obedience. See how soldiers are trained. It’s not pleasurable to them when they do inconveniencing stuff. Those who do not understand military training may even begin to ask why they have to suffer so much.
Even then only those who are ready to take risks in a battle ever get spectacular victories. The harder they come, the harder they fall. To be victorious means you have to have and engage an opponent in order to fight and win. No spectator ever leaves the boxing contest with a belt of any repute. They always go home empty handed.
As servants we have to learn how to be obedient even when it hurts. God for some time has been training us to rely on Him. When we were working we thought that we were relying on God. It felt very bad to be asked to serve Him fulltime. Immediately, we realized how little we had relied on Him for our needs and provision. It became very clear to us that we loathed leaving work because we had relied on the arm of flesh for our needs.
Then for the first few years there was a steady cash flow and we though we had had a great victory in learning to rely on God. The Dwindling of finances started revealing to us that instead of relying on God we had started relying on people. We had some anxieties and this was suffering. God did not allow this just because he wanted us to suffer. He was allowing us to suffer so that we might learn obedience in the things we suffer. Increasingly we have come to realize that our true and steady supply is only assured when we look up to him totally and completely as the only one who can meet our needs.
It has become clear that for us to be able to teach others how to live by faith, we too must be able to completely trust God for our own sustenance. It has become clear that any form of manipulation to meet our own needs will only keep us longer on the training ground.
We share these experiences with you dear partners so that you too may learn what we have learnt through suffering and stop being hard on yourself and listening to the voice that tells you can make it without being trained to obey and without any suffering on your part.
We hope you will be encouraged to know that you can learn obedience through the things that you suffer. You are a servant and you can only be as your master, not greater. If God taught him this way, he will do the same for you and will glorify you in the end.
God Bless You.~ Joshua & Priscilla.

VIDEO:Winning Souls In Mbakang Village.

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VIDEO:SISTER PEPERTUA SINGS-"ITS GONNA BE FINE."

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SOME BAMENDA CAMPAIGN PICTURES.

Gold From The Word
:How Your Attitude To The Word
Affects you.

In the light of all the bad news being churned out about the economy The Lord put in our hearts to share this Biblical experience with you from the Book of 2 Kings.
In 2 Kings 6 Benhadad invades the Northern Kingdom of Israel and lays siege to Samaria. There is such a famine in the city that women decide to eat one another’s kids. When the King of Israel hears about this he girds himself with sackcloth and seeks to kill Elisha. When they meet Elisha prophecies,

2Ki 7:1  Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.

As expected, there will always be skeptics of the Word of God. A highly placed Lord in the kingdom who understands the science of crisis and siege-logy declares that the prophecy is impossible. With such great faith in his doubt the lord disqualifies himself from the coming blessing. Elisha tells him that he will see the word come to pass but shall be excluded from its joys.

2Ki 7:2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
When the prophecy comes to pass it does so in the most unexpected way. God uses lepers to bring the good news.
2Ki 7:3  And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
2Ki 7:4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

The lepers decide that inaction is not an option. During a crisis inaction is not an option. We need to do something to attract god’s Blessings. When the lepers tried to do something they met with the abundant supply of the Almighty. While they had feared for their lives they remained hungry. “They are overwhelmed by the catch.”
They had two options; horde the good news and let calamity overtake them, or, pass on the good news and let everyone share the blessings. They chose the latter and became the bringers-of-good-news to the entire city.

2Ki 7:5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
2Ki 7:6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
2Ki 7:7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
2Ki 7:8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.2Ki 7:9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.
2Ki 7:10 So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.
2Ki 7:11 And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.
2Ki 7:15 And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
2Ki 7:16 And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.

Good news always has its casualties, those who in the first place have always doubted its possibility. The lord who had doubted at first dies in the stampede that follows the good news.

2Ki 7:17 And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.

Every crisis has the potential for bringing good to those who always look for a silver lining in a dark cloud, while for those who only see doom and are so certain of it, the outbreak of good things always crushed them to death. That is exactly what doubting God will do to any Christian at this time. If I were to have a word for all Christians at this time I will say, “ Hear me people of God. This crisis is not here to mar you but to make you.
Watch out, wait on the Lord, and trust in Him. Do something he puts on your heart. You will be full of joy when the dust settles. Don’t think of doom, and you will not be doomed. Remember that He is the God of all sufficiency.

God Bless You.~ Joshua.

WELCOME TO FAITH REVIVAL END-TIME MINISTRIES.

Wecome to our blog.

We hope you will find information here that will enable you find a way to share your faith with others in the world who do not yet know the Lord Jesus as Lord and Savior. You will also find Ways in which you can help in reaching others in less fortunate circumstances. If you do not yet know Jesus as Lord and Savior you will find information here that will help you. May the Lord Bless you as You view our Blog.

Joshua and Priscilla.

THE MINISTERS

Rev. Joshua and Priscilla Cheng.
(Founders)

ABOUT US

Revs. Joshua & Priscilla Cheng were both school teachers when the Lord Jesus Christ appeared in their Mamfe home in Cameroon on July 24, 1993 and commissioned them to carry His Light to those Who are in darkness. This revelation was followed by public confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ . Later, they presided over a prayer meeting of about seventy persons which became the venue for mighty works of the Holy Spirit. Many persons were healed of various ailments, including Hernia, asthma, Heart diseases, and others were delivered from demonic possession and witchcraft. Traditional Church authorities were not at ease with this new wave of healings and deliverance, and sought to bring it to an end. This led to the planting of the first church in august 1998 at Mamfe. A second Church was planted in Kembong and a third in Mbakang. The fourth church is in Afab, the fifth in Banya, and the sixth in Bamenda, and the next in Lithonia, Georgia. The Chengs live in Conyers with their daughters Christabelle,Faith, and Love.. They hope to reach out to the lost world from this base in the United States.

The Missionary Family: Faith, Joshua, Love, Priscilla, & Christabelle.

Click to watch video below.

These pastors work in the Lord's Vineyard in Cameroon: Joshua Akoanung, Longnin Alphonse, and David Ashu Epey. They will appreciate your prayers and encouragement.

Pastor Joshua E. Akoanung (LEADER/ BAMENDA CHAPEL)

Pastor Alphonse P. Longnin (MAMFE)

(pending)Pastor (BANYA CHAPEL)

Pastor David Ashu Epey (KEMBONG CHAPEl)

Pending (Chief Elder/ Missions Rep.).

Brother Jong Denis (Youth Minister).

OUR MISSION

Faith Revival End-Time Ministries Incorporated is a soul winning and church planting Body that considers the Great Commission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as her main Focus.
She intends to win the lost to Jesus Christ, disciple and empower them spiritually and economically, and to send them out to become living witnesses and life changers in their societies. This means that our focus is the whole man. If we can relieve human misery in anyway we would in part be fulfilling our dream.
We therefore seek to plant Churches, open schools, build health facilities, rehabilitation centers, and vocational training facilities to cater for the needs of the people we minister to. We also intend to feed the hungry and cloth the naked as the Lord provides through His people. In doing this we intend to present Our Lord and God not only as Savior but also as Provider.
We consider taking the Love of Jesus to the world a corporate responsibility of the Body Of Christ. Therefore we work together with other churches to make this dream of catering for the "have nots” a reality.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

1. We believe in one God, the Covenant God of the Old and New Testaments revealed in His Word as Father , Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. We believe the Bible is the infallible word of God.
3. We believe that man is sinful and separated from God, and that Salvation is only possible when man repents and accepts the atonement offered freely to him in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
4. We believe in the virgin birth and sinless life of Jesus Christ.
5. We believe that Jesus died and was buried, and that He bodily resurrected on the third day as scripture says, and is sitting at the right hand of the majesty on high.
6. We believe in His Second Coming.
7. We believe in everlasting life for the saved, and in everlasting punishment for the Damned.
8. We believe that those who are saved God equips through the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the manifestation of the various gifts as He wills.

HOW TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS

1. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and that you deserve God’s punishment for your sins. That you need salvation else you will be lost forever. The Bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23).”

2. Realize that God loves you and wants you to repent and be forgiven your sins. He has provided a way for you to escape punishment in the sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ who died on the cross for your sins, taking away your guilt. “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish hut have everlasting life (John 3: 16).”

3. Accept God’s gift of forgiveness to you by faith and receive Jesus Christ in your heart as your Lord and Savior. You will then become a child of God by being born again. “As many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to those who believed upon His Name (John 1:12).

4. You can be saved right now if you will pray this prayer.

Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me and dying for my sins. Forgive me for my sins and save my soul this very moment. I renounce sin and all the works of the devil right now. Come into my heart. I receive you into my life as my personal Lord and my Savior (Romans 10:13). From this moment I will follow you for you are the Lord and love of my life. Thank you Jesus! In you name I pray. AMEN

5. Now that you are a child of God get baptized and join a church where the whole Bible truth is taught, and where God is worshipped in Spirit and in truth with His power backing his word as in the Acts of the Apostles (Mark 16:15-20). Grow in the spirit and win others for The Kingdom of God. GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU LIVE FOR HIM!

GIVING YOUR LIFE TO JESUS

Giving your life to Jesus is like joining a team that’s guaranteed to win. In Cameroon, there were great soccer teams like Canon Yaounde and Tonnerre. In the 1970’s, these teams always had the guarantee to win and to remain on top of the soccer league.
The players in these teams, however, did not go to sleep and forget they had to face weaker teams, who were always looking for ways to bring them down. They tried to improve their training facilities, and trained even harder than the weaker teams.
When they did make a mistake, a weak team would defeat them, and there would be so much ado about it. When they returned to their principles, they would again win.
Being a Christian is much the same way. You know you are in the team that is guaranteed to win, as long as the players don’t falter. You have to keep alert and always give the opponent the right punches, while you watch out for his, else you may sustain severe injuries, and be carried off the ring. It will take you time to bounce back after serious medical care.
I want you to understand that a player, who is careless, even in a good team, can sustain injuries, such that the said player might never play again. You see why we need to keep fighting to keep our victory. Can you also imagine the allies having won the 2nd World War, kept their weapons in a 1945 state, and refused to train or improve their weapons and soldiers because they had won the war? They would have been in a very sorry state right now.
Remember, the Word says only those who endure to the end will be saved. As a new convert or Christian you have to daily fellowship with God in studying the Word of God, in prayer, and in fasting. You will also practice sharing your faith with others. This is so that your spiritual muscle is strengthened to withstand the devil.
You also need to fellowship with others in church so that you will encourage others with your testimonies and also be encouraged by theirs according to Hebrews 10:25 (KJV).

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

MINISTRY NEEDS

1. A truck for the collection of donated items for the poor .
2. Dress items for the needy.
3. Bibles for the mission field.
4. Land for church and rehabilitation facilities.
5. Sponsors are needed Crusades, as well as public address systems, and lighting. 6.Funds for Ministry & Personal expenses.
7. You can also donate food, toilet items, Clothes and new undergarments for school kids, toys, TVs, VCRs, Computers, Vehicles, printers, photocopiers, and office stationery.
8. Study Bibles and books that can help pastors and christians grow spiritually.
9. You can help a pastor who is preaching the Gospel in Africa by supplimenting their living expences with a monthly gift ( mark your gift "For Pastors in Africa").

10.Partners for overseas outreach missions.

11. Farm impliments, machines, and supplies.

12. Purchase of Land for Mamfe Church Building.

Not every one can go on missions. But as a partner you can send others with a contribution in cash or kind. You can send your tax dedutible gift, check, or money order to:

Faith Revival End-Time Ministries,
807 Cedar Lake Drive SE,
Conyers, GA . 30094
USA
or
Call: PHONE (770) 761 7875
or (404) 307-3599
E-MAIL: jpcfcheng@aol.com

Faith Revival End-Time Ministries is a non-profit organisation incoporated in the State of Georgia, USA.


VOLUNTEERS

Some volunteers of the Food Ministry.

TOYS FOR KIDS

Kids recieving Toys in Mamfe.

Kids receiving toys in Lithonia.

Kids showing off their Christmas gifts and coloring books.

Boy rejoicing over pair of shoes.
A Wednesday scene in Lithonia.

VIDEO:TESTIMONIES FROM LITHONIA
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VIDEO: A TIME TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD

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