Paul said: “I became all things to all men” It’s more effective to share stories of what God has done for you while witnessing, than to quote scriptures or yell “repent!” (believe me, I’ve seen people do it wrong and I’ve seen the reaction of non-believers).
We must pray for our non-believers before we witness to them. Why?
1. There are people who are labouring under demonic bondage.
2. There are those who are carrying heavy burdens.
3. There are those who have the yoke of the enemy upon their necks.
It’s up to us to pray for deliverance of the unbeliever, so they can become open to the Gospel.
Readings
Jeremiah 1:4-8 Go to all to whom I send you
Psalm 98 Sing to the Lord a new song
Acts 14:21-23 They strengthened the souls of the disciples
Luke 24:13-17a What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?
The flesh cannot please God. It cannot because it is in enmity with God. It is in contention with the Spirit of God and cannot fight the spiritual battle which we do everyday. We can’t witness effectively if we’re fleshly.
HOW DO WE OVERCOME THE FLESH?
1. We are to leave no place for the flesh. Romans 13:14 says, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lust thereof.” Do not make provision for the flesh. When you plan to buy extra clothes that you do not need, when you plan to buy extra food you will not eat, when you plan to watch a video film that you know will bring lust into your life, when you are meditating on what to say to hurt another person, then you are making provision for the flesh.
2. Bring the flesh under subjection. We are to make the flesh a slave to God. 1 Corinthians 9: 27 says, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway”
If your Christianity has not got to the level where somebody says, “Ah, he has changed,” you are still not committed to following Christ. And noone will take your witnessing seriously.
Reflection Questions
1. Are you “gossiping the Gospel” or just gossiping?
2. How open are you or your church to be drawn into the stories of others?
3. How open are you to share with others your stories of faith, and so give witness to God’s
presence in your personal experiences of life and of death?
4. Are you aware of the enormous potential for good that modern means of communication offer the Church today?
Submitted by Alexandra (Sasha) Kalashnikova at http://www.youthcenter.ru/
Breaking Generational Curses:
The Bible mentions “generational curses” in several places (Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9).
It sounds unfair for God to punish children for the sins of their fathers. However, this is looking at it from an earthly perspective. God knows that sin is passed down from one generation to the next. When a father has a sinful lifestyle, his children are likely to have the same sinful lifestyle as well. That is why it is not unjust for God to punish sin to the third or fourth generation – because they are committing the same sins their ancestors did. They are being punished for their own sins, not the sins of their ancestors. The Bible specifically tells us that God does not hold children accountable for the sins of their parents (Deuteronomy 24:16).
The following scriptures illustrate biblical examples of renounced curses:
Daniel (Daniel 9:4-19), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:5-7), King Josiah (2 Kings 22:11,13,19-20), Jews (Nehemiah 9:1-37)
Ezra (Ezra 9:5-15; 10:1), Asa (1 Kings 15 :11-14).
More examples:
Matthew 23:31-35
Jeremiah 32:16-18
Deuteronomy 5:8
Doorways to Generational Curses:
General Sins
Abandonment
Murder
Abortion
Music (rock [some of the lyrics are demonic incantations], occultic, satanic, or rebellious, sexual, drug oriented, or focusing on death)
Abuse (mental, physical and sexual, of children, elderly or anyone)
Neglect
Anger (a quick or bad temper, hatred, murderous rage, bitterness)
Nightmares/night terrors
Blasphemy
Off-color jokes
Child abuse
People representing satan (witches, witch doctors)
Cursing
Pride
Defeat
Rebellion
Disfavor
Rejection
Dishonoring parents
Relational curses (from authority, such as parents, pastors, grandparents, teachers, doctors, husbands)
Drug “trips”
Robbing God of tithes and offerings
Drunkenness
Self-imposed curses (negative words you speak over yourself)
Fear/terror
Soulish prayers, utterances and gossip
Gambling
Stealing and perjury
Gluttony
Tattoos
Hatred of God
Teenage pregnancy
Humiliation
Trusting in the arm of flesh (in man or our carnal efforts)
Idolatry
Unbelief
Injustice to the weak
Unscriptural seeking of spiritual gifts and experience
Jezebel
Lying, deceit/dishonesty
Violent acts (i.e, rape, murder)
Materialism
Vulgar language, cursing (Lord’s name in vain)
Mockery
Wishing death (for self or others)
So, be safe and ask Jesus to cut any generational ties to you and anyone in your family who may have begun these curses. Ask Him to also cut any of these ties between you and your children and grand children.
four Curses in the Bible
CURSE THOSE THAT CURSE ISRAEL:
Genesis 12:3: “And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all nations of the earth be blessed.”
BIRTH OUT OF WEDLOCK:
This is a 10 generation curse of Deuteronomy 23:2. God commanded that a person of illegitimate birth must be kept out of the congregation of the Lord, and his ancestors for ten generations. See the mighty prayers of which the sins of the fathers were repented of in Nehemiah 9:2-3 and in Daniel 9:5-6. They both took this very serious.
IDOL WORSHIP: See Exodus 20:4-5 “..visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children even unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me”.
SOUL TIES:
God made marriage to be a covenant. It is coming together under one flesh. In the Old Testament, mere
sexual relations constituted a marriage. So intimacy with someone actually creates a covenant link — or “soul tie”. It would be wise to confess this to Jesus and ask that any of these out of marriage sexual relationships (”soul ties”) be severed, except from your husband or wife….
Freemasonry is also a generational curse. Freemasonry is also a religion other than Christianity. Masonry’s practices and doctrines are iniquities laced with idolatry, paganism, the occult, Kabala, fertility cults, Satanism, spiritualism, demonology, and put it into a blender and come up with the Masonic religion. It is not of God! It is a false religion; the Harlot of Babylon. Masons say they offer new candidates “the light”. The light they are actually giving is: Lucifer. The Christian Bible says that Satan walks to and fro on this earth masquerading as an “angel of light”, that many might be deceived
Outward signs that a curse may be in operation within your family:
Mental or emotional breakdown
Miscarriages or female problems
Breakdown of marriage and family alienation (where a family falls apart)
Financial deficiency, especially where income appears to be sufficient
Being accident prone
Suicides or unnatural deaths
Frustration at every turn
Repeated or chronic sickness that follows the generations
Lack of permanency (a wanderer, vagabondism)
HOW TO BREAK THE PATTERN OF DESTRUCTION OVER YOUR LIFE:
(Galatians 3:13-15),(Colossians 1:12-14),(1 John 3:8)
Confess your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Commit yourself to obedience.
Identify the sins and iniquities of your ancestors. Remember that you marry a generation. When you marry, any generational curses in the heritage or bloodline of your in-laws will be operational in your descendants also.
Confess known sins that you and your ancestors may have committed.
Forgive your ancestors, living or dead, for bringing these curses upon you.
With a humble heart, ask God to forgive the sins of your forefathers; ask Him to forgive and cleanse you for your participation in the sins of your generation.
Forgive anyone from whom you might be withholding forgiveness.
Renounce all contact with the occult and secret societies, and get rid of or destroy all objects that are connected with the curses.
Release yourself and declare the curses broken in the Name of Jesus.
This post was written by Sasha: http://www.youthcenter.ru
This Saturday morning at 10:00AM EST I will be doing a teaching and praying for the Leaders in our lives. I think many times when people think about leaders they think of the President or the Prime Minister of the country.
Well, it’s a lot more than that! Your leaders are your Parents, your Husband, your Pastor, Rabbi, Elder, Bishop or Priest, your Boss and your President.
Praying for Presidents and world leaders can be a very tricky thing for most Christians because if they are not “for” the current President they pray less for that person. I guess it is human nature.
Well, I’m going to be talking about that and also showing how we can live this out practically in our every day life.
Something for you to ponder until Saturday, here’s what God has to say about the matter:
1 Timothy 2:1-4 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Here is the link to the program for Saturday Prayer Radio Program
or you can call in and listen over the phone or join the discussion at 347 202 0098.
