FIRE IN KITENGELA

Opening session of the Leader's Conference

During the last week of October, 2011 - a team from ICCL (International Coalition for Christian Leadership) met in Kitengela, Kenya for a giant city-wide crusade, and a Leadership Conference.  What a powerful week of ministry.

During the Leadership Conference, led by Don Railey, Director of Schools of Ministry for ICCL, over 75 Pastors were trained and encouraged during the daytime on Friday and Saturday of the week.
The theme for the conference and crusade was "The Lord Needs You" --  Don ministered in two sessions on the subjects "The Lord Needs You To Be Involved", and "The Lord Needs You to Demonstrate the Kingdom."  Pastor LaMar Cooper from Dayton, OH taught on "The Lord Needs You to Be In His Presence".  Evangelist Dale Everett taught on "The Lord Needs You to Heal the Sick" and "Releasing the Anointing."  On Saturday of the conference, over 90 leaders were in attendance, both Pastors and church leaders.  Dr. Gary Kellner joined us for the last session and spoke on "The Timing of God".  There was a powerful anointing and presence in each session.

Pastor Railey preaching to Leaders on Saturday

At the end of the meetings, the host Pastors requested that we return in the future for four days of instruction, instead of just two.  There is a tremendous hunger amongst these people for the things of God.

Each afternoon (late in the afternoon) we gathered in the city area -- right in the heart of town.  We were not in a sports arena - not in an open field -- literally right beside the main road -- between the ditches -- and thousands of people came from all around to hear the Gospel preached and demonstrated.  Friday's opening rally was almost "rained out" -- but God stopped the rain just in time for us to start late -- around 6 p.m. -- and hundreds of people standing in the water and mud came to Christ, and a demon-possessed man was delivered.  Miracles and healing were the "order of the day".  What the devil wanted to stop, God moved us forward, and the Kingdom of God was advanced!

Prime Minister Raile Odinga

On Saturday we received word that the Prime Minister of Kenya was coming through town.  The crowds swelled to the tens of thousands.  Before he arrived, as the people stood and waited and gathered -- we preached the Gospel, and again, hundreds were saved, and signs and wonders were performed in Jesus name.  Later, the Prime Minister stopped and used our stage to address the crowd, and Dr. Kellner was asked to pray for the Prime Minister and the country -- on national TV and radio.  Fact is, we didn't realize it, but just before he came as Pastor LaMar Cooper preached-- about 15 minutes of his message were broadcast live over the national radio!  Doesn't God have a way of setting things up??  Praise the Lord!

Bishop Simon N' Tisha pastors this church in Maasailand

On Sunday morning, our team split up and went to a number of churches in the local area to preach. I was invited to travel out in the countryside to preach at a church of Maasai people.  A great number of Pastors for other Maasai congregations had gathered to hear the Word.  What a time we had!!!

Souls crying out to God for salvation

The final service of the crusade was Sunday afternoon -- and again thousands of people gathered in the marketplace.  I "tag-teamed" with Dale Everett -- I preached the Word and shared my testimony of being healed, and Dale gave the altar call -- and wow -- God saved people all over the market.  And the miracles are too numerous to count.  Only heaven will tell how many people came to Christ.  We had people for blocks listening to the Word -- people on both sides of the highway -- down the side streets -- on the balconies .....

Pastor Mike Brawan, who is our Kenyan host for ICCL, reported to us after the service that they had recorded (with names) that over 14,000 people had given their lives to Christ during our entire week together.

At the close of the last service, Pastor Mike had the entire gathered group of people to kneel and pray for the nation of Kenya.  He prayed a prayer of repentance and reconciliation.  Afterward he poured out a bottle of oil on the ground and declared the land belonged to God.

There is a FIRE of the Holy Spirit moving across Kenya!  Oh God, let it burn brightly, until Jesus comes.  Oh God, let the FIRE of the Spirit burn in America too!!!

9-9-9

Herman Cain

By now you have heard the numbers "9-9-9".  Republican candidate for the nomination to run for President, Herman Cain, the former CEO of "Godfather's Pizza" -- has been pounding the airwaves with his taxation proposal and it's called:  9 - 9 - 9.   Personal income tax level of 9% -- no payroll deduction tax:  9 % corporate tax, and the most controversial one is 9% National Sales Tax on NEW purchases.
He is advocating throwing OUT all the tax codes presently, and instead of overhauling them -- replace this with this SIMPLE formula.

A lot of people are giving attention to this "simple" plan -- but I doubt it is simple at all.

Governor Rick Perry

Candidate, Governor Rick Perry, has now come out with his plan for a FLAT TAX.  Sounds like an echo chamber --- He's not the first to suggest this idea.  Fact is, back in 2000, the founder of Forbes magazine, Steve Forbes was a candidate for the nomination for President, and his platform was FLAT TAX.

Steve Forbes

I know that the whole tax system needs to be overhauled and simplified.  It is complicated and difficult to understand, with huge loopholes for those who have their tax attorney on retainer, and can "hide" their money in odd places -- including corporations and the wealthy.  We've heard it said that over 40% of the US population pays NO taxes -- somebody has to pay the bill!!!

THINK ABOUT THIS!

Let me share something vital to think about --- if we go to any kind of FLAT TAX -- we will lose all our deductions -- and that means "charitable contributions" too!  That means - no matter what you give to your church or favorite charity -- you will not be deducting that from taxable income.  The potential of charitable organizations, such as the Salvation Army and your local church and missions, will undoubtedly suffer greatly.  I know that many give out of love for God and their fellow man -- they give in obedience -- but many will not give what they would, if they could not receive any deduction of the amount given (over and above what the tax code allows, already written in the tax table).
Think of all the wealthy who contribute large sums near the end of the year to charitable work, and receive a "tax write-off".  What if that is not there?  What if it truly is FLAT?

Perhaps your church -- your missionary -- your favorite charity -- is DE-funded or weakened?

They may look like the above cartoon!

On a side note:  9-9-9  ... I looked up (just for fun) in the 9th book of the Bible (I Samuel), the 9th chapter, and the 9th verse.

It's the story of Samuel anointing Saul to be the first King of Israel.  Saul had been sent out by his father to look for some lost donkeys.....when he meets the prophet Samuel....

I Samuel 9:9 says, "(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer)."

-don't you just love that King James language???

I was thinking about this election in 2012 for the office of President of the United States -- and maybe we should look at 999 -- I Samuel 9:9 -  It is time for Americans to "inquire of God" -- It is time for our leaders and elected officials to find that "prophet" who can speak into their lives, and give them the Godly advice they so desperately need!  Instead of looking a POLL NUMBERS -- and listening to a CAUCUS of voters -- or a FOCUS GROUP -- let's have a "caucus with Jesus".

What would God have us do in 2012?

From this day forward, when I hear 9-9-9 -- I will think of calling on the Lord!

How about you?  What do you think?

MORMONS A CULT?

Once again the issue of "religion" has come to the political arena, and once again the media is "having a cow" - so to speak.  Terms like "bigot" and "intolerance" and "political correctness" are again filling the airwaves!  The issue of former Governor Mitt Romney being a Mormon came to the surface four years ago, when he was running for the Republican nomination for President.  Now it comes again!

I am old enough to remember the debate back in the 60's when John F. Kennedy was running for President, and the church world debated whether Kennedy, being a devoted Catholic, would submit all his decisions to the Vatican or not.  Well, Kennedy won the election and became our President, and the Pope had little to do with anything he decided (as far as we could see).

What lit the fuse this time was a comment made to a reporter by Dr. Robert Jeffress, the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas.  When asked as to whether or not he thought Mormons were "Christian" he replied that he thought the Mormons were a "theological cult".  There's that buzz word -- CULT!   Webster defines "cult" as "a system of religious worship or ritual and a devoted attachment to a  person, especially regarded as a fad...."  In other words, a religion's attraction to a man, versus a devotion to a God.  You can watch Dr. Jeffress being interviewed by Fox News at this link below.

http://youtu.be/0TsnSYw-wHU

Let's talk about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) - commonly known by the word, "Mormon". In the Newsweek cover story, pictured above, in the article entitled, "Mormons Rock" by Walter Kim, he states that the LDS church "resembles a sanctified multinational corporation -- the General Electric of American religion, with global ambitions and an estimated net worth of $30 billion."

When talking with a Mormon, you will quickly discover that they use similar terminology as Christians, but, however, you will soon note that they have different definitions.

SIMILAR TERMINOLOGY BUT DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS

The Church of Latter Days Saints (LDS) was established by Joseph Smith, a man born in Vermont in 1805, and grew up in Palmyra, NY.  He loved to hunt for buried treasure as a lad.  In 1820, while praying in the woods, Smith said that two "personages" appeared to him - he said it was the "Father and the Son", and told him all other religions are corrupt, and he was to start a "true church".  Mormons teach that they are the ONLY true religion and church - all others are corrupt.

On September 21, 1823, Joseph Smith asked for a vision, and reportedly an angel called "Moroni" appeared to him and told him that there were "gold plates" buried nearby which contained information from 'former inhabitants' of America.  Three years later, "Moroni" tell him where the 'plates' are hidden.  He then set about to translate these plates, which he said were written in "reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics," by using a 'seer stone'  (he called it the 'Urim' and 'Thummim' - from Biblical times).

An image of this supposed "angel" - named "Moroni" sits atop every Mormon temple in the world, and there are 135 of them, with more being planned and built right now.

This "translation" Joseph Smith made became the "Book of Mormon".  LDS respects four "standard" works:  The Book of Mormon, Doctrines and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and the Bible.  It should be noted that since Smith believed all other religions were corrupt, then he translated his own version of the Bible.  So when the Mormons talk about the Bible -- watch out -- it's Smith's translation.  Interestingly enough, Smith never studied Hebrew or Greek (the languages which the Bible were written in) - but he qualified himself to translate the Bible!

Smith claimed that the translation of the Book of Mormon from those buried "gold plates" was from writings of ancient civilizations -- but in the Book of Mormon there are entire sections and chapters from the book of Isaiah (from the Bible) which he plagiarized!  Smith claimed that the Book of Mormon was the most "correct" and "complete" book, yet he "revised" it three years later with the book that became known as "Doctrines and Covenants".

Mormon Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA  (34,500 sq. ft)

WHAT DO MORMONS BELIEVE?

I don't want to bore you -- so I'll just list a few highlights - and you be the judge as to whether or not Mormons are "Christians" (as we define Christians).

To the members of LDS, God is NOT the eternal, self-existent, all-powerful God of the universe!

God is nothing more than a man, who became a god -- and any Mormon can become God too!

[side bar:  God is a man who became a god.  Jesus is God, and became a man]

"According to Mormon theology, after the current Father God was created, he grew up as a man on another planet and then became God.  He then had sex with the Mother God and had 'millions' of spirit children. The firstborn of these spirit children was Jesus, and the second-born was Lucifer. The Father God came up with a plan for the rest of his spirit children to populate and live on earth and be tested only to return to him after death (this is why you'll hear Mormons sometimes refer to Jesus as the 'elder brother')."

WORLD RELIGIONS AND CULTS 101

by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz   p. 99

World Headquarters of LDS

Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah

What about Salvation?

To the members of LDS, you are NOT saved by believing in Jesus and accepting Him as your Savior. All people are saved eventually!  You are saved individually by doing GOOD WORKS and obeying "the laws of the Gospel" (LDS version).

Heaven??

Mormons believe in 3 heavens:  "Celestial", "Terrestial", and "Telestial"

Really good non-Mormons and not-so-good Mormons go to "Terrestial" heaven.

Mostly bad people go to "Telestial" heaven.

NOTICE -- EVERYBODY GOES TO SOME KIND OF HEAVEN!

THE TEST OF TRUTH

"Oftentimes when confronted with the truth and teaching of the Bible regarding God, Jesus, and Salvation, Mormons will become very subjective.  They will say that the ultimate test for truth is an 'inner feeling' or a 'burning in the bosom' that tells them that the LDS church is the one true church, and Mormonism is the one true belief system"

WORLD RELIGIONS AND CULTS 101

by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz   pp.105-106

I heard on the news just this week, the long-time Senator from Utah, Senator Orin Hatch, defended the word "Mormon" by saying "we are the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints."  

What he was emphasizing is the the Mormons are "Christians"!

I beg to differ.

NEVER has the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) been considered to be a part of the main stream of Christianity.

Even though they have 135 temples, a membership in access of 14 million, with over 53,000 missionaries, and near 29,000 congregations, that does not qualify for Christianity.

Think with me:

• Christianity founded in AD 33 by Jesus Christ the Son of God (incidentally, GOD, not a man who became a god from another planet).  Mormons, established in the 1800's by a mere mortal man, Joseph Smith.

• The Bible, written by 40 individuals over a period of 1600 years -- "holy men move by the Holy Spirit" - without fault and error.

The Book of Mormon, a translation of some "gold plates" written in picture language of Egypt, by Smith using a "seer stone" and some revelation from an angel named Moroni, who reportedly is the son of another man named Mormon.  Of yea -- those mysterious plates were taken up by Maroni -- no record of them -- but, we've got manuscripts and archeology finds to prove the Bible.

• Salvation by grace alone in Jesus Christ vs. salvation by works.
• Heaven to those who believe in Jesus Christ as their ONLY savior vs. salvation for everybody no matter what they do.

So you decide!  I already know the truth!