BOWED! (KJV)
Luke 13. 10-17

In Makamba, the Southern Province of Burundi lived a fisherman who had done nothing else in his life except fishing in the waters of Lake Tanganyika. Mirango was his name and he was now seventy years old but was still strong enough to row his small boat over the Lake. He could even cut big trees and work for hours making firewood that he sold at the market. But at this age, his sons did no longer allow him to go fishing alone and every time he went on the Lake, he was always accompanied by one of them.

The hard work Mirango had done during all these years had made of him a completely bowed man and even his hands were misshapen and gnarled as if he was holding continually a row. He walked bowed like a gorilla and all the children in the village called him “Nkoto”, which is the Kirundi language word for gorilla.
This year was a particular one for him as his elder daughter, Doreka, graduated from University and was appointed as Director at a public service in the capital Bujumbura and became quickly rich. Every time she came home to visit her family, she was very sorry seeing her elderly father continuing to suffer as a fisherman and a lumberjack at a so advanced age.

And it came that Doreka told her father that she wanted him no longer work so hard and that she would pay him an important amount at the end of each month to help him survive. So she did. Mirango was very happy but quickly became a drunkard. He was every day drunk zigzaging in the streets and instead of having his health improved, he went weak day by day and became totally irresponsible. His neigbourgs became jealous of him since he had a lot of money and lived without spending any efforts. They ploted against him and finally killed him.

One day in man’s history, God found us completely distorted and different from the wonderful godly image we had been created with. We were lost and left lonely, bowed and mishappen in the desperate state we were engulfed in as sinners. So, Jesus Christ at the Cross launched a universal setting-free prayer saying : « Father, forgive them ; for they know not what they do. »(Luke 23.34, KJV). I am sure since it was said, this short prayer has been setting free billions human beings of all nations and all tribes and all tongues and all colours and that it continues spreading freedom and liberty around the world for ages to come. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.” (Mathew 24:35). O, thank you, Lord!

Similarly, Jesus’ statement, « Woman, thou art loose from thine infirmity »(Luke 13.12, KJV) is still healing spiritually and even physically thousands and millions women and men, youngmen and children in various nations and faiths (christian or not). From the power of this same word, men continue receiving visions and getting funds to erect hospitals and health centers all over the world and discover various medicines to treat deseases. Food is produced despite the desert expanding and all kinds of parasites attacks simply in order to respond to the need for healing millions from the hunger infirmity during this « Acceptable Age of the Lord» which Jesus launched in the first century in a synagogue at Nazareth as He read from the book of Prophet Isaiah :

« The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me
To preach the Gospel to the poor ;
He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted,
To preach deliverance to the captives,
And recovering of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the Acceptable Year of the Lord » (Luke 4.18-19)

Dear Christian Brethren from Western Churches, please, NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME to heal the Churches in poor nations from bowing and not being able to continue heralding the Good News. It’s YOUR HONORABLE ROLE and MANDATE.

PRAYER: Oh, Lord Jesus, help us deeply understand that You have given us our whole life as an ACCEPTABLE YEAR!

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

CRUMBS FOR BUILDING THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST
Gospel Reading: Luke 16:20-21

In heaven, Seraphim have their function that they accomplish correctly for the whole heavenly hosts. The same, Cherubim have also their roles that are correctly done for the whole heavenly creatures. What about the Christian Church on earth?

We are rich churches seated separately on their table in the western world and poor churches seated far away at the gate in Africa, rejected and suffering from their sores. I always picture myself with a photo of this story as I walk down to our little town of Gitega in Burundi every Friday. Friday is a great day for the poor there who rush down from their villages around to the busy center town streets where they usually hope to be welcome by a Hindi or Pakistani traders giving some money to help. They may even spend hours under the hot tropical sun waiting to be served late in the afternoon. That’s no problem for them.

From this story, I imagine Lazarus the beggar seated watching from the twenty or thirty meters far gate to see whether some crumbs are falling down from the rich man’s table. I imagine Lazarus praying silently and eagerly from a two-day hungry stomach imploring God to allow more and more crumbs to continue falling down from that table. I also imagine the rich man himself seeing the crumbs falling from his table without knowing whether the poor seated far at his gate is praying that it may happen so. And I also sometimes imagine Lazarus leaving this place silently, hungry and thirsty after hours spent there without having been served at least with a full spoon of crumbles. I mean crumbles, NOT good food; and then moving in tears towards a remote village or shanty town which he will hardly reach at midnight and sleep exhausted and drained after having said a short usual prayer: “I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God” (Psalm 17:6), just as the rich man also says it every evening! And so, the spiritually rich but materially poor Lazarus spends and ends his days and is finally carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom, Abraham the One who heard God’s voice telling him to leave his homeland and go, and DID SO.

Aren’t we rich nations and people and churches? Aren’t we rich pastors, rich Bishops, rich Evangelists, rich Christian singers and athletes, rich Christian businessmen, rich, rich, rich materially? WHERE ARE OUR CRUMBS FOR THE CHRISTIAN SUFFERING CHURCHES IN THE THIRD WORLD? See, there are no new missionary callings among the youth in your churches to go to our poor nations. Did the Lord Jesus command you to cease the ministry and flee the terrorist battle front in Africa? Your economies and financial situation are falling for your accounts are keeping CRUMBS that no longer belong to you BUT TO LAZARUS the African Christian beggar! If not, does this word no longer speak to your heart as Christ said it: “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the Name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” (Mathew 10:42).

Servants of God in poor Africa have presently, courageously and heroically relayed you the RICH on the missionary field, heralding the Good News through limping Gospel programs on radios and TVs or on the internet as I do, etc, that fail after three or six months due to lack of those CRUMBS you refuse them to receive daily from you! This happens while North America is filled with millions consumers who stop every day at a McDonald shopping and buy a package of chips and chicken that is then half-eaten and half-thrown away. Could you calculate how many “halfs” you throw away per week and value them in dollars to know how much you could save weekly to be sent to build a church or a school or a dispensary or support an orphan and a widow in Africa? HOW MUCH CRUMBS HAVE YOU FILLED YOUR TRASHES WITH instead of sending out equal value to support the servants of God in Africa.

In response, thousands true Christian intercessors from our continent are prepared to respond to your great love and obedience to Christ through a powerful intercessory program that would defeat terrorist plans upon your nations! Do you believe this can happen? If you are the cherubim, African Christians are the seraphim and each has a role for the whole Body of Christ. “For he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” (Luke 7:5).

African Christians need big churches to bring thousand souls to knowing Christ the Savior but our efforts are short and very limited. Our Christians Strengthening Christians Ministry is willing to train thousands young African disciples and intercessors and send them over the mountains and villages. Could we do this without your crumbs? CRUMBS are what you throw away and no longer need. LET YOUR CRUMBS BUILD THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN AFRICA!

“Blessed is the servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing” (Mathew 24:46). NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO DO SO. Amen!

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

“MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM,
AND THEY FOLLOW ME”
GOSPEL READING : John 10. 22 – 30

In some African forests, there is a kind of female leopard that is known to be able to scent and locate where its kids or male are even at a distance of a hundred kilometers. This leopard is very dangerous and hunters have to be cautious because killing its male or kids always leads the female to conduct a terrible revenge and attack in villages around and kill either people or domestic animals. This story happened in the high mountains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which is the Burundi neighboring country in the West.

There was a group of three hunters who used to trap leopards and sell the skins to foreign traders. Sometimes they could catch leopard kids and sell them as well. One day, it happened so. They caught one and escaped hurriedly with it after they had also injured its mother in the face. They had to walk more than ninety kilometers in the forest to get to their customers. It was a two days walk through the mountains. Ivory as well as animal skins and minerals were regularly taken on board by unknown aircrafts which landed at night at such many illegal small airports that exist in the Congo forests. So the hunters sold their loot and as always had to wait and help their customers while carrying the animal down to the airport. The foreign traders had to fly the next night and the leopard kid was already caged.

At nightfall, while they were ready to leave for the airport, the leopard kid began to roar and to scratch the cage strongly. They could not understand why the animal was so disturbed. As soon as they had loaded the cage on a truck ready to leave, a big leopard jumped from the bush nearby and sat next to the cage where the kid was. From that time, things changed. The traders as well as the three Congolese hunters were already seated in the truck’s cab. None of them had a gun. They decided to stop for a while and think about what they could do. None could get out off the cab because the leopard was there ready for a revenge. The traders using their radio decided to appeal for help from their friends afar telling them to come with guns. In the meantime, one of the Congolese hunters looked through the glass behind him and realized that the Leopard which was seated next to the kid was freshly wounded in the face. And surprised, he said loudly:
– What ! Look, isn’t this the mother leopard we wounded in the forest three days ago when we caught this kid? How did it know where we took its kid?
Another hunter replied and said: “ This is the kind of leopard that my late uncle had told me about. He said that it was able to scent and locate where its kids or male or a prey are even up to a distance of a hundred kilometers”. The surprising thing that happened is that the Mother-Leopard in its rage managed to break the cage and released its kid and both they disappeared in the forest before the appealed helpers arrived.

Now, what about Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour ? Prophet Isaiah had a vision of Him PIERCED (Isaiah 53). And later at the end of the nineteenth century, American Church Minister, Rev. J. WILBUR CHAPMAN, about Him wrote this marvellous poem “ONE DAY” from which Charles Howard Marsh made one of the best Easter Church hymns that our choir in Gitega sings also :

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming Oh glorious day !

Yes, like the Leopard Kid, Christians have heard His VOICE while we were all still caged by Satan under the bondage of sin. But He knew us and came to set us free and allow us FOLLOW HIM in the Eternity of glory! Isn’t this a solid reason TO PRAY WITH ASSURANCE that He cares for us?
THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN FIRE-PRAYER CONGRESS AGAINST TERRORISM is coming soon:

Click here to read more and Give now to International Prayer Congress against Terrorism by CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS https://www.givesendgo.com/GCE3#.V3JddIvtuts.twitter

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

What Shall I do ? (KJV)
GOSPEL READING : Luke 12. 13-21

That’s the crucial question men always encounter in their life when important matters need to be sorted out. “What shall I do” is generally a good question when the answer is expected not from men but from God. People whose heart is turned to Jesus usually come to a helpful answer while the others always make bad choices.
From a Burundian tale we are told about Kanyange, a girl who was born from a very poor family in the high mountains of Burundi. Her father died earlier and she didn’t want to leave her mother alone but was finally pushed by the neighbours to marry a rich farmer. In the Burundian tradition, a girl being married has always been an honour to her personally and to her family indeed.
Three years passed and Kanyange had already got two beautiful children. Unfortunately, she hadn’t had yet an opportunity to go and visit her mother in the mountains and present her the children. She had insisted several times asking her husband to allow her to go only once but she was refused. But one day, Kanyange’s mother-in-law told his son off and pushed him to allow her to go and see her lonely elderly mother. The husband accepted and bought a lot of fresh cow’s meat that Kanyange would take for her mother.

The night before Kanyange left, her husband organized a big meal at home and invited the neighbours to come and share. After they had finished, the man stood up to speak and said: “Kanyange, I am so glad that you are going to see your elderly mother and present our two children to her. But be careful and be aware about the dangers which stand in your way. As you already know it, when you reach the first mountain over there, the way you’ll be walking on will come at crossroads and you’ll have a wide one on your left and a narrow way on your right. Be careful, I say it again, Be careful! Do not go with the wide way but keep walking in the narrow way on your right because people say that there is a leopard hanging around there which has already killed a lot of people.

Kanyange agreed and said that she would remember the warning and all the advices given to her. Early, the next morning, she put the fresh meat in a covered basket which she took on her head. She also took the youngest child on her back and the other walked beside her. As they came at the crossroads, Kanyange stopped and sat down wondering what to do. An elderly women carrying a jug of water came the same way and went straight the right narrow way. Another shepherd boy came that way with his two goats and went straight the right narrow way. Kanyange as for her was still asking herself: “What shall I do ? What shall I do ?” She finally decided to go the left wide way which was the nearest for her to reach her village.

Soon she met a leopard. The leopard said: “Woman, I am very hungry, I haven’t eaten anything since a whole week. Do you have something for me to eat?.” Kanyange trembling opened the basket and gave all the fresh meat to the leopard and continued on her way. Not very far from there, She met the same leopard. “Woman, I am still hungry. The meat you gave me was not sufficient. Give me one of your children quickly!”, the beast said. Kanyange gave her boy child who was walking beside her. The leopard ate him. Kanyange weeping continued her way. Not very far from there, She met the same leopard which said again: “Woman, even now I am still hungry. Give me the other child you carry on your back otherwise I’ll kill you!” She gave her other child and the leopard ate him.

Kanyange crying and weeping continued on her way. Not very far, the leopard came again and said: “Kanyange, you are an impossible woman. This time I’ll cut and eat your ears because you never accept advices from people.” The leopard ate kanyange’s ears and left her alone bleeding there in the bush. What shall I do ? Is this also your question today? Here are the answers:

“This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth,
But you shall meditate it day and night,
That you may observe to do according
To all that is written in it.
For then you will make your way prosperous,
And then you will have good success.”
(Joshua 1:8)

“He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly, to love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God”
(Micah 6:8)

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

“My Peace I give unto you”(KJV)
GOSPEL READING : John 14. 23-29

An eminent man of God said that if the Lord Jesus hadn’t pronounced these words, the world would have become something horrible we have never known or seen. Men can talk and dream about peace because the Prince of PEACE reigns forever (Isaiah 9:6-7) and He has given His everlasting PEACE to the world. Have we really received it?

Her name was Zuena. She was born from a breeder nomadic tribe in East Africa and had never known neither a stable nor a happy life in the bush where they lived. Once every year, their tribe was attacked by people coming from the North, probably the Arabs, who took many of their cattle and killed one or two among her relatives. One night, Zuena finally decided to escape and found refuge in the forest where she met a wise man and asked him an awkward question saying:
– Mzee, what does PEACE really mean? Where can one get it? Is it something precious like a cow? I have never experienced what PEACE is in my life. (Mzee is the Kiswahili word for “Elderly” and is usually used in East Africa to express great respect towards the elderly. Kenyatta Sr, was called Mzee Jomo Kenyatta).

So, the Mzee went on giving Zuena a threefold answer saying: “My daughter, PEACE first means to be satisfied with what you are and what you have and what you can do, and NOT with what you think you could become or could have or could dream to be. PEACE IS THE PRESENT. Secondly, PEACE means to never think you are better than the others. You are what you are and they are what they are. Third, PEACE means to make your neighbour happy and not only yourself “. Zuena took these wise advices back to her tribe in the bush. Beginning then, their chief and the elders decided to voluntarily offer 10 cows and 20 sheep every year to the enemy tribe. This pleased them so much and they never attacked Zuena’s tribe again.

Our heavenly Father is a giving God and He has also given His Holy Church the great blessing of accessing PEACE through GIVING, not giving as men do, but giving as Himself does. We always hear about DONORS, DONORS NGOs, DONORS people, etc. But are they really DONORS as God is doing? Are they donating where the real needy are? Is their giving a true LOVE GIVING? PEACE has really become the great dream of all the peoples of this world. Even before Christianity came to us in Africa, Burundians used to greet each other saying “Amahoro!” which means “Peace be with you”. All the East African peoples also used to say the same and are still greeting each other with “Salaam!” which comes from the Hebrew word “Shalom”, PEACE. They even called one of their great Ports Dar Es Salaam, the Port of Peace for sailors who had spent weeks and months crossing the Indian Ocean. PEACE IS SO PRECIOUS FOR AFRICA and EUROPE and AMERICA and for ASIA and AUSTRALIA as well.

But, what should one do when his neighbour refuses his offer for PEACE? Only one solution: KEEP ON SENDING HIM ARROWS OF PEACE through giving and forgiving, and talking positively about him, and in PRAYER! Jesus Christ will do the rest! He is the Prince of PEACE (Isaiah 9:6) and whatever prayers are made for PEACE (in the name of PEACE) He will answer.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH SHOULD REALLY BE A “DAR ES SALAAM” where people in this world would find REST and PEACE. I believe this was also the great wish of Saint Francis of Assisi when he prayed saying:
“Lord, make me a channel of thy peace;
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.
Amen.

Let us all today kneel and PRAY with Francis of Assisi saying these same words.

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

“LOVE YOUR ENEMIES !”
GOSPEL READING : John 13. 31-35

An African wisdom says : “Somebody who really loves you doesn’t look you straight in the face but his eyes will first look at your stomach”. This to mean that when one visits us we should first hurry to serve him some food and water before sitting and talk and talk. This is a little bit different with some western customs. One thing we know is that Jesus taught his Disciples to give and give and always give. But is that the only way to show our love towards the others ?

From Matthew 5:43-45, Jesus teaches the following : “ You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: LOVE YOUR ENEMIES AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”(NIV).

A certain soldier was made captive by the enemies his king’s army was fighting. For many years, these two kings had been attacking one the other frequently and once captives were caught on one or the other sides, they were simply killed within seven days if 10 hobbyhorses were not paid as a ransom. Unfortunately, the captive soldier was now aware that his king had decided not to do so any longer because all his best hobbyhorses had been almost already sent to his enemy. Hence, the captive soldier who was a Christian said to himself: “I know this king is not a Christian believer and so are all his people. Thus, before they kill me, I’ll do whatever I can to teach these people what true love is. Perhaps this will help them stop attacking my country in the future.”

The first day he woke up very early under the morning cold and sang christian songs and prayed loudly for this enemy unbeliever nation, saying : “Oh, Almighty God, I know you love this nation and her people and their so great and powerful king. Oh, God, may you bless them with enough rain so that they may make a big corn and wheat harvest they had never got in the past.” The prison guards heard him praying so during two days and they reported it to the higher Officer who sent the information to the king, saying:
– Your majesty, the king, live forever! The captive soldier we caught during our recent battle against our neighbour nation is praying eagerly early every morning, asking his Almighty God, as he says, to bless you and our people and also bless our country with enough rain so that we may make a great corn and wheat harvest we had never had in the past. And he keeps doing so all days long.

The king replied and said: “Let’s wait and see. We have not had any rains in this country since a whole year and people and herds are dying every day while all the rivers are running dry and our vegetation getting wither. If it happens that we get some rain before his execution day, I’ll know that this captive soldier is a true Christian and I’ll release him immediately.” The captive soldier continued praying the same way every day and night and on the fifth day, there was a big storm upon the whole country with rains and floods all over the plains. Bridges were broken and roads damaged and many houses destroyed. The king afraid, asked his officer guards to bring the captive soldier at his court and he told him the following: “Why is your Almighty God doing such terrible things while we only needed enough rain to allow our crops grow ?”

The captive soldier answered and said : “Your majesty the king, live forever ! My Almighty God is simply doing so because He wants to sweep away the curse that prevailed upon your nation and then pour His infinite blessings on you and your people. He is the One who commanded me “TO LOVE AND PRAY FOR MY ENEMIES” and I have obeyed His Word !” The captive soldier was released the same day and as he had wished it, no more war was recorded between the two rival nations.

Dear Christian Brethren, why aren’t showing our love towards our enemies through PRAYING FOR THEM ? If Jesus has commanded us “To love and PRAY for our enemies and those who persecute us”, it is simply because God has a special blessing to give them and hence bless His Holy Church in this world. Instead of wasting time with discussions and meetings about what should be done to stop terrorism invade our free nations, LET US SIMPLY SPEND OUR TIME KNEELING AND PRAYING just like the captive soldier:

“Oh, Almighty God, we know you love all who try to destroy our nations and cities. Oh God, may you bless them with RAINS OF PEACE and HOPE IN THEIR HEARTS so that they may harvest LOVE and GOODNESS to share with others. Amen!

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

AN AUTHORITATIVE PRAYER
TO SILENCE SATAN AND HIS DEMONS!

GOSPEL READING: Mark 4:35-41

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea,
“Peace be still!” And the wind ceased and there was
a great calm. (Mark 4:39)

ONE powerful word spoken by ONE Sovereign Lord from ONE human made boat! Verse 36b says “And other LITTLE boats were also with Him. If Jesus’ boat (the bigger one) was filling, what about the other LITTLE boats with lower capacity? Mark says nothing more regarding those OTHER LITTLE boats. His focus is Jesus’ boat from which was expected a solution of salvation for all the boats and the people in that sea.

Yes, there was a Jesus’ boat and OTHER LITTLE boats. The same, there is today the True Church of Christ the Saviour where He permanently abides, and the OTHER LITTLE Churches (little because lacking faith) around Him, not carrying the Saviour, the King of kings, but carrying worries, doubts, vain discussions, lies, pride, selfish, thefts, etc.

“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Verse 38b). This the disciples certainly said because not only their boat was filling, BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE WATCHING THE OTHER BOATS AROUND SINKING AND THE FISHERS THERE DYING DROWNED. At this point, PRAYER with doubts was not the right weapon to use. As same, PRAYER without faith had no place in this whirlwind and COMPLAINING PRAYER crying up, “Lord, Lord, we are perishing!” needed FIRST to be rebuked from the disciples’ hearts. All this turmoil was originated from the terrible windstorm of unbelief that was rooted within the disciples’ hearts and which spiritually woke up the chorus of the demons living under the waters of the sea to make the situation worse. Not only Jesus rebuked the windstorm over the sea, but He also rebuked the unbelief storm from the disciples’ hearts.

Dear Christian brethren, if our prayer is always “Jesus, we are perishing! We are perishing!” demons under the seas as well as those principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness of this age and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:10) SHALL ALL ALSO RUSH TOWARDS US AND JOIN AND RESPOND “Yes, perish, yes, perish as you wish it!”. But if our prayer in any situation becomes “ Lord Jesus, you are the Eternal Son of God, the Almighty God, the Master, the King of kings, the Saviour, the Alfa and the Omega”, THE DARKNESS FORCES WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY MUZZLED AND SILENCED! For God’s holy angels hosts will move around us, praising and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth PEACE,
Goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14).

All over the fifth chapter of the Gospel as written by John, Jesus explains it clearly to the disciples that He never did anything without having received instructions from the Father. Even in this story, the Lord Jesus was not speaking nor working miracles by Himself. No! All came from the Father in heaven and was given to Him during the nights He spent in prayer. Do you need to be healed definitely from DOUBTS in your prayers? Make a step today and start inquiring from the Lord in everything and He will tell you what to say and do without fear. Jesus knew this very truth:
“For He spoke, and it was done
He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9).

As they wake up the Lord, the disciples say: “Teacher!” At this point, it is clear that they simply knew Him as “Teacher” of the Word and NOT the ALMIGHTY SON OF GOD who told them “LET US CROSS OVER THE OTHER SIDE.”(verse 4:35) and could keep them safe. And when He had stopped the windstorm, they find no qualifying Name to be given Him. Their response was trembling with exceeding fear and “Who can this be?” Do we firmly know who He is?

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes
To the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Christians, whenever Satan and his demons dare to touch the sovereign Throne of God, IT IS TIME TO SILENCE THEM STRONGLY in the Name of Jesus through authoritative PRAYER. Whenever darkness forces attempt to destroy the doctrine of the Holy Trinity in the Christian Church, they are touching the Holy Throne of God and thus, IT IS TIME TO SILENCE THEM STRONGLY in the Name of Jesus. No negotiations are to be accepted. Whenever they start building false teachings against the true teaching of REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS that we have been given as a commandment from the risen Christ (Luke 24:47), IT’S TIME TO SILENCE THEM STRONGLY in the Name of Jesus and proclaim “the Peace He gave us”

PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, rebuke the unbelief windstorm from my heart today! Amen.

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

“OH WORLD ! LET CHRIST THE SAVIOUR BE YOURS !”
GOSPEL READING : John 3. 16-21

On a certain island in the Indian Ocean lived a poor man named Taabu (which means suffering in Swahili). Taabu had been condemned unjustly to life imprisonment by the king. It is said that this man was extremely poor, really starving with his four children family which he was no longer able to feed. Consequently, Taabu decided to go and try to steal a banana bunch from a rich man’s plantation. While standing thinking in a bush near the plantation, he was unfortunately seen and caught by the guards who had been appointed to watch on the property. He was immediately taken to the boss who was still very angry since he had recently lost his three dairy cows and his beloved sheepdog killed during a robbery.

So the rich man took Taabu to the kings’ court for judgement and he was condemned to amputation of his right hand and to life imprisonment.
Ten years later, the king died and his elder son came to power. Pressed by the rich man, the young monarch decided that Taabu’s case should be heard again in court. So, this time, Taabu was condemned to capital punishment along with other criminals and all had to be hanged the next day. Early in the morning as people were gathering at the execution site, they found a man hanged on a tree with the following writings on it : “Please, release Taabu, he is innocent, I am paying for his condemnation!”

As the king and the other high authorities arrived, Taabu and the other criminals were already brought there handcuffed. But suddenly, the king saw very far a man hanged on a wood and wanted to know what had happened exactly. So, he sent one of his guards to check and report back to him immediately. When the guard came back he had the following to say : “Your majesty the king, live forever! I found nothing else to be reported to you except these moving words I saw written on the wood where that man is hanged saying, PLEASE, RELEASE TAABU, HE IS INNOCENT, I AM PAYING FOR HIS CONDEMNATION”. And near the tree I met someone who has just told me he is the hanged man’s brother and that yesterday night before his suicide, he told his wife and the people at home that he was one of the rich man’s guards who had caught Taabu near the plantation and had made him unjustly condemned in order to calm their boss’s anger after he had lost his cows and dog.”

Therefore, the king understood the big error his late father had made in condemning unjustly Taabu and decided to set him free and commanded his servants to bring Taabu at his court where he was given a very nice house and everything. But three months later, the king’s servants reported the following to him: “Your Majesty, live forever ! The man you have set free and brought to live here does not at all spend his nights in the house you granted him. Every night, he leaves the house and goes back to his detention site among the other criminals, because, as he says, he believes that one day another king will come to rule this country and then condemn him again to imprisonment or to capital punishment! He even does not eat your food!”

As the king heard this report, he knelt and lifting his right hand he said: “May the gods of all times forgive my father for having caused so much trouble to Taabu, and may their anger be away from me and my family!”. And the same night, he drank a virulent poison that was normally used to kill traitors and he died.

OH WORLD ! LET CHRIST THE SAVIOUR BE YOURS ! This very truth I love so much about Him was prophesied by Isaiah saying :
“Surely He took up our infirmities and
Carried our sorrows,
Yet we consider Him stricken by God,
Smitten by Him, and afflicted.
But He was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The punishment that brought us PEACE was upon Him,
And by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5, NIV).

So, let us together rejoice, FOR CHRIST THE SAVIOUR IS OURS and no more condemnation is upon us Since we have believed in Him. HE NEVER CHANGES !

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

“ Not To Do My Will But To Do The Will Of Him Who Sent Me ”
GOSPEL READING : John 6. 35 – 40

Every nation has its own traditions which sometimes others may not understand and consider as being simply fun. This is also true with the succession in Burundian dynasties which were built on an unbelievable myth. The fact is that for years we were told that a special sign was waited for in order to know who would be the crown prince of the kingdom of Burundi. This happened when the queen gave birth to a boy child who held seeds in his right hand. We all believed it was God’s will and nobody thought differently nor had doubts about it. Nowadays, could British people imagine knowing Prince Charles as the crown Prince simply from such a myth? FUN! But when it has been built on centuries that it should be so, everyone believes IT IS GOD’S WILL.

An ancient legend tells us about Nzo, a very poor man who lived in a lonely desert island far from any other human beings. He lived naked and had no wife nor children. He had no house but lived in a cavern. Before his father died he had told him that there was another land where human beings lived happy and prosperous and could work. So Nzo spent years dreaming about it and how he could get there. One day, an enormous Eagle which used to cross the island every morning, stopped for a while turning over Nzo and asked him: “Poor Nzo, every day that I have flied over this island, I have seen you weeping and so concerned. Tell me, please, what your problem is, perhaps I could be for some help to you ! ” Nzo in tears replied and said:
– Oh, dear friend, I am terribly suffering on this lonely desert island. Something I know is that before my father died, he told me that there was a wonderful land far from here where other human beings live happy and prosperous. So, I have been wondering how I could also get there and live blessed days before I die.
The Eagle said: “That’s no big problem, poor Nzo, I can help you get there even today. But, would you accept the conditions required for you to live in that land? “
– Of course, Sir, I am prepared to do whatever you will require from me.
And so the Eagle said: “Before I take you there, please, lay your right hand on my back and swear for full obedience to me, yes?” And so Nzo did.
Then the Eagle took Nzo and flied far, far away and finally landed in a fantastic green land near a nice house where a beautiful lady was standing and then told Nzo:
– Mr. Nzo, this is your house and your wife and everything is there. Now, the only job I want you to do every day is to take all the water from that little lake and bring it and pour it in the little plain at the other side of that mountain where I want this lake to be moved to. Whatever you need as food, drinks, clothes, a camel, etc, is here. If you don’t fulfil our agreement as promised, I’ll come back and take you back to your former cursed land.”

Beginning the next day and for several years, Nzo started working to take the water from the little lake over to the plain he had been shown by the Eagle. But people began to worry about his situation and came to him saying:
– Mr. Nzo, why are you suffering doing a so wearing and drained job and don’t come to make your life better and happy with us?”
But Nzo replied:
– Oh, dear friends, I am not doing my will but the will of the one who brought me from my cursed land up to this marvellous paradise. And I’ll keep faithful till death. For If I don’t, I’ll lose all the blessings I have been given since I am here.

Dear Christian Brethren, Jesus who said: “Whoever believes in the Son of God has eternal life” (John 3:36) is the same Jesus who said: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world”(John 16:33).

Therefore, are we feeling complaining about the many trials we go through while DOING THE WILL OF THE ONE WHO CALLED US OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS WONDERFULL LIGHT ? Are we about to dropping down our heavenly calling due to all current disappointments from this evil world? Let us strengthen our faith today and take this very word as our daily banner: “Not To Do My Will But To Do The Will Of Him Who Sent Me !”

Blessings in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com

“IT IS THE LORD !”
GOSPEL READING : John 21. 1 – 9

In many African countries and in Burundi of course, cattle robbery is a frequent habit conducted by many false animal dealers. Usually, stolen animals are re-sold a few days later at one or the other of the well-known markets. So, when one is victim of such a theft, these markets are the first targeted places for any investigations. The following true story happened at the animal market close to Gitega town in Burundi a couple of years ago.

Thieves stole two goats at night from a family goat shed which had a total of eight goats but they didn’t take the goats’ kids as well. The owner could not realize the theft until the next day when opening for his goats to be taken out to pasture. His neighbours told him not to worry except in case his goats would have been slaughtered, because they would be easily found sold at the animal market in Gitega which is open every Mondays. They even advised him to take to the market all the 6 goats’ kids he had and just stand at the main entrance where all the beasts for sale are brought in. And so the man did.

Early the next Monday, he was at the market with his six goats’ kids standing at the entrance. Many cows along with sheep were brought in. Then arrived the group of goats. Every time that goats passed nearby they bleat and the kids goats ran to them but were seriously butt and driven back by them. Finally, a trader arrived at the market bringing two goats. They also bleat and all the six kids goats rushed to them. Then four among them were seriously butt and driven out while two others were accepted each one by a mother-goat allowing them access to their teats. Immediately, the man cried appealing for help from the people in the market and the thief was arrested simply because the two kids goats recognized their mothers and were accepted by them. No additional proofs nor extra witnesses were needed.

Now, one question: why didn’t Jesus’ disciples recognize Him at first sight? Why didn’t they recognize Him at least from His kind, humble and loving voice? Hadn’t He said some time earlier: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27, NIV)? Only the beloved disciple, John, the great analyst observing deeply the man with whom he had walked and lived for three and a half years, the One he had listened to carefully and seen crucified, the One he had heard crying “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani”. He recognized immediately the Shepherd’s voice and certainly found a second proof from the print of the nails in His hands, just as American Christian Author Fanny J. Crosby wrote this wonderful poem “My Saviour First Of All”, from which John Sweney made a fantastic Church Hymn :

When my lifework is ended, and I cross the swelling tide,
When the bright and glorious morning I shall see;
I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side,
And His smile will be the first to welcome me.
I shall know Him, I shall know Him
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.

And so John said to Peter, “IT IS THE LORD, YES, IT IS THE LORD!”. Bishop Justin grew up at an American Missionary Station in Bujumbura the capital of Burundi where his father first worked as a cook for them. He used to come back home around 7:30 or 8:00 PM. Other people could pass nearby at those hours but the difference was that whenever he came, earlier or later, Dad was whistling a well-known Christian hymn “At the gates” and all of us the children at home rushed to the door saying: “It’s him! It’s him!”

Yes, dear Brethren, whenever the poor hungry knocks at our door requesting for some food, It is the Lord visiting us! Yes, it’s Him! Whenever the naked ones suffer under the bitterly cold without a single blanket, It is the Lord appealing for our Christian love to act! Yes, it’s Him! Whenever LOVE stands up courageously to respond to all these cries of refugees and orphans and widows and the rejected ones as you have done it and are still doing it, It is the Lord moving through His faithful servants to rescue the world! Yes, it’s Him! Let us believe it. Many blessings for your unwavering LOVE!

In Christ’s Love,

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog