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GOD'S NOT A "CHRISTIAN"!
TESTIMONIES & SHOT DOWN OVER SEA OF JAPAN.
"WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD REPORT…THINK ON THESE THINGS"
PHIL. 4:8
Hello and welcome to this month's report. We are so thankful to know you
and to be in touch. Our editorial may catch your interest; there are also
some great testimonies and new resources. Send us your feedback and don't
forget the latest "GOD THOUGHTS" at the end of this report.
Bless you, JHB #
EDITORIAL - GOD'S NOT A "CHRISTIAN"!
INTRODUCTION
Now that I know I have your attention and before you reel with shock and
horror at the title of this article and cry "heretic", bear
with me. First, God has been around a little longer than 2000 years since
the first followers of Christ were called "Christians". Before
time was, He was! The word "Christian" literally means "a
little anointed one" or one "having the qualities taught and
demonstrated by Jesus Christ, as love, kindness etc" (Webster's).
Second, we must have a basic understanding of how our national culture
meshes with the culture of The Kingdom Of God. Every nation tends to view
Christianity through the filter of its own culture, but what is cultural
is not always spiritual and vice versa. There may be certain conflicts of
perception with what our culture says is "Christian" and what
God says it means to be a Christian.
THE LINES ARE FUZZY
Recent studies have revealed that there is no longer any moral difference
between born-again Christians and non-Christians in America. Henry
Blackaby, co-author of "Experiencing God", recently said;
"If you put the United States up against the scriptures, we're in
trouble... The problem of America is not unbelievers; the problem… is
the people of God. There are just as many divorces and abortions in the
churches as outside the churches. The only thing that's kept America from
going haywire worse than it has is the presence of Christian community.
We're still salt and light, but when the salt loses its saltiness,
there's nothing to restrain evil in America. And right now the salt has
lost its saltiness. It is not effecting the preserving of America. So…
if things get darker in America, the problem is not with the darkness;
it's just acting according to its nature. The problem is with the light.
The light no longer dispels the darkness."
George Barna's recent survey compared the lost world and the churches,
and found virtually no difference between the two. Our gospel is canceled
by the way we live. Don't tell your co-worker you're a Christian and then
gossip about your boss! Don't say you're a Christian and tell lies! Don't
say you're a Christian and talk fearfully about your future.
"Every nation tends to view Christianity through the filter
of its own culture, but what is cultural is not always spiritual"
A RELIGIOUS OBSESSION
One television commentator recently said; "…America is obsessed
with religion". But being religious does not necessarily mean we are
the real "Christian" that Webster's and God's Word both agree
we should be; "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's
have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the
Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited,
provoking one another, envying one another." (Galations 5:22-26)
Our greatest enemy to walking in the spirit of Christ is the spirit of
religion. The spirit of Christ is humility, the spirit of religion is
pride. The spirit of Christ is sacrifice, the spirit of religion is
control. The spirit of Christ is truth, the spirit of religion brings
blindness. Let's not settle for just being a "Christian"
nation, but believe to see America become a nation of Christians!
GOD IS…
God's not a "Christian"; He's not a Jew, Muslim, Buddhist or
Hindu. He is… "God almighty, omnipotent King, Lion of Judah, Rock
of Ages, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Provider,
Protector, Leader, Ruling Lord and reigning King of all the universe. He
is Father, Helper, Guardian and God. He is the first and last, the
beginning and the end. He is the keeper of creation and the creator of
all He keeps. He is the architect of the universe and the manager of all
times. He always was, always is and always will be. He is unmoved,
unchanged, undefeated and never undone… The world can't understand him;
armies can't defeat him; schools can't explain him; and leaders can't
ignore him. Herod couldn't kill Him; the Pharisees couldn't confuse Him
and the people couldn't hold Him! Nero couldn't crush Him; Hitler
couldn't silence Him; new age can't replace Him and you can't explain him
away! He is light, love, longevity, and Lord. He is goodness, kindness,
gentleness and He alone is God…" (from "God Is" - author
unknown) #
FEEDBACK
" "Dear Pastor, I am very happy to tell you that God is doing
mighty things through the sharing of the word of JESUS with anointed
people like you brother. Through these words which you share, I am able
to bring many street children to accept Christ as their savior and they
have now left drugs… May God bless your ministry. GEORGE OGWENO,
TANZANIA."
" Dear Jeff, Your editorial is spot on! (FMI Report Dec '01 -
"Is This The last Great Harvest?") …I like your term;
"The Resurrection and the Return are all I need! But the gap in
between must be filled with the Harvest." I am preaching and
teaching that the last harvest will be mainly a Muslim harvest. The
majority of un-reached people groups are Islamic. God is working
supernaturally in the Muslim world as never before. I am gathering
verified stories of angelic visitations, supernatural dreams and divine
interventions among Muslims as part of the current book I am writing…Blessings
to you for this year of great harvest! GEORGE FORBES, AUSTRALIA.
JANUARY MINISTRY AND TESTIMONIES
Following is a list of the churches we visited during January and some
testimonies from our ministry:
" WEST COAST WORSHIP CENTER, SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA - PASTOR STEVE
BARNARD.
" AGAPE WORSHIP CENTER, BLOOMFIELD NJ - PASTOR ANTHONY VENTOLA.
" THE CHURCH OF GRACE AND PEACE, TOMS RIVER NJ - PASTOR WALT HEALY.
" RESURRECTION CHURCH ANNIVERSARY SERVICE, BROOKLYN NY - PASTOR
JOSEPH MATTERA.
" FULL GOSPEL CHURCH, WALL NJ - PASTOR BRYAN RIPORTELLA.
" CYPRESS CATHEDRAL, WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA - PASTOR DWIGHT EDWARDS.
"I was so blessed by your time with us in San Diego at West Coast
Worship Center, Pastor
Jeff. May God's blessings overtake you! FRANCESCA MILLER"
"Bro. Jeff, We believe that through your visitation at Agape Worship
Center, you brought an urgency to the people that caused them to realize
that we must work while it is day. We also saw a change in our youth
since the Wednesday night service, when you challenged many of the young
people to carry the 'baton' to continue to run the race and fight the
good fight of faith. Your messages were well received and lives were
changed. I would also like to mention that you have moved to a greater
anointing and new level in your ministry. Thanks for imparting your
experiences and your heart into the people of Agape. In His Love, PASTOR
ANTHONY VENTOLA"
In 1956, Mark Candi was a jet fighter pilot who was shot down over the
Sea of Japan at the end of the Korean War. In the water for a long time,
he asked God to save him and the winds changed and blew him to shore. He
sent this testimony from when he was at one of my recent meetings:
"Jeff Beacham spoke at our church [The Church Of Grace And Peace].
Being from Australia, he used 2 illustrations that went into my heart
like arrows. 1) He told of preaching in the outback and meeting a cotton
farmer with 1000 acres planted… The crop would turn white with cotton
all at once… He had 4 huge combines 20 feet or more wide. Men would get
on them and work 24 hours for 4 days with only momentary breaks until the
harvest was in. This reminded me of the vision I have had to witness AM
to PM without a break and never fulfilled it. 2) His second statement
sent an arrow into my heart was, "Islam is the last great
harvest!" I thought, yes, that is why the Lord led me to have an
All-Arabic broadcast over satellite fixed over Jerusalem... He invited
people to come for prayer to break the bonds of intimidation… Jeff's
hand on my head was a sure, firm touch. I fell out in the Holy Spirit and
instead of "resting in the Spirit" as is usually the case, I
heard a quiet voice, "Can you take more?" Thinking
"yes," I got up and stood for more prayer. When he came the
second time, there was almost an electric shock that passed between us.
Again, I fell out in the Spirit and… heard the voice again, "Can
you take more?" I stood again for [more]. When he came to pray for
me, I asked for "Fresh Fire."… I fell to the floor again …expecting
to rest this time... I stood the fifth time for prayer. This time after
being prayed for, falling in the Holy Spirit, I laughed and cried. I
received such a refreshing, I could visualize a stream trickling into my
parched desert. I began to weep on the floor as that stream began to fill
me. We went to lunch afterward and when the waiter came, I was reminded
to say what Charles and Frances Hunter taught us; "There are two
kinds of waiters in this restaurant, one is going to heaven and one to
hell. Which one are you?" …I led the waiter in the salvation
prayer right there. MARK CANDI"
"Jeff, The days you spent here at Cypress Cathedral were blessed
indeed. Several testified to physical healings. Others were
re-established spiritually. The Father message brought great emotional
restoration to a number of people. Thank you for coming to Winter Haven.
DWIGHT EDWARDS, PASTOR"
"Dear Brother Jeff, I attend Cypress Cathedral in Winter Haven,
Florida. My father left when I was three years old. I don't remember him.
As a teenager, I began to use drugs and alcohol to cover my pain. I spent
most of my life trying to get approval from men, trusting them even
though I knew I shouldn't. Again this was to cover my pain. The message
Brother Beacham preached was on fatherhood. At the end of the service, he
gave an altar call and I went forward. He stood in proxy for the fathers
of those in line. As he prayed for me God healed me of all pain. I can't
describe the release I felt. I slept well all night for the first time in
probably three months. JUDY SANDERS."
RESOURCES
" LORD OF THE RINGS: There is an excellent new evangelistic page
based on Lord of the Rings: HOBBITLORE, produced by Brock Zagel and
friends in Campus Crusade. This is one to tell your Tolkein-enthusiast
friends about, and link to it. http://www.hobbitlore.com
" ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT CHRISTIAN ARTISTS (AICA) is a support
network for Christian artists in their local communities. http://www.botcw.com/cgi-bin/se/jump.cgi?ID=16127
" ALAN KEYES IS MAKING SENSE: Tell all your friends about Alan Keyes
new television show "Alan Keyes Is Making Sense" on MSNBC at 10
PM EST. Then get everyone you can think of to send an email to MSNBC
about Alan Keyes at: AlanKeyes@msnbc.com
We hope you will seriously consider joining with us in this great
adventure with God. Heather and I bless you in Jesus' wonderful name and
look forward to being in touch with you again next month. Much love,
JEFF BEACHAM,
PASTOR / EVANGELIST, FIREPOWER MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
2 Rt. 37 WEST, Toms River, NJ 08753 Ph. (732) 349-1550 ext. 205 Fax (732)
286-6311
Email: firepowerministries@attglobal.net Website: http://www.firepowerint.com
**** CHECK JEFF BEACHAM'S MINISTRY ITINERARY AT: www.firepowerint.com
****
GOD THOUGHTS
The supernatural is no mystery to those who walk by the Spirit. They use
the map of the natural! ("However, the spiritual is not first, but
the natural, and afterward the spiritual…" 1 Cor. 15:46)
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