“CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS”
International Ministries (C.S.C.I.M)

Why ?

“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you; that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
(Luke 22. 31-32).

Dear Christian Brethren,

Did you know Satan’s SIX (6) fold current strategy against the nations of the world while targeting indirectly to take hostage the Church of Christ?

– Disturbing the nations through social conflicts and wars
– Moving millions refugees over the nations
– Cursing the nations with terrible diseases
– Destroying crops and thus pouring famines
– Dividing the International Community in the matters regarding Peace
– Weakening the world economy

International Christian Action is required:

When? : Right Now.
Where? : From all the nations of the world.
How? : Through non-stop planed intercession as the Lord Jesus Christ did.

“CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS”
International Ministries (C.S.C.I.M) needs Representatives from every Nation (or State) of the world :

– To be part of the worldwide frontline intercessors who will kneel daily in order to strengthen other Christians caught in Satan’s scratches ;
– To organize a C.S.C.I.M national Ministry in their country;
– To participate in organizing the First International CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS Conference this August, 2016, in Bujumbura, Burundi, Africa.

Contact:
Bishop, Justin BARANSANANIKIYE, D.D, D.Min
President, THE EPISCOPAL FREE CHURCH
PROVINCE OF BURUNDI
Registered No. 530/1774
P.O. Box 197 Gitega
Burundi (East Africa)
Tel : +25779877097
EMAIL: baransajust@gmail.com
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog

“IS PRAYER OUR NEW WAY OF LIFE?”
John 7:3-4, 6

“Don’t eat that kind of fruit! That other, yes, it’s not dangerous. Whenever you find a sort of fruit in the bush even if it looks nice or big, bring it to me and Dad first and we’ll tell you it is edible or not. Okay?”, thus our mother used to tell my brother and me when we were still between five and twelve years old. The nature was so wide and full of all kinds of bushes that bore yellow or red very attractive fruits which we used to eat in disorder as we were shepherding our family goats.

One day as we came back home in the evening, both of us had acute diarrhoea. Within half an hour only we were dehydrate and laid weak down on the floor. Mum cried up appealing our neighbours for help. We were immediately taken to the missionary station dispensary not far from our home. The nurse there treated us urgently and made a rehydration salt solution for us to drink quickly as well.
– You have eaten rotten guava fruits that had germs and grubs in, the American nurse said after having tested our stools under a microscope. Never do that anymore! She insisted.
Of course, we hadn’t brought to Mum the rotten fruits picked under the trees before we ate them. We decided ourselves!

IS PRAYER OUR NEW WAY OF LIFE? Depending on somebody else’s decisions in everything has never been men’s choice. But God urges us to depend on him and always take counsel from Him BEFORE making whatever step in our life. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WANTS YOU AND I TO INQUIRE OF HIM EVERY DAY IN EVERY SITUATION. Intercessors who enquire of the Lord just expect from Him to tell them whether He approves or not a project their plan for or a vision they have. The Lord might accept or reject it or give them additional directions and strategies to follow.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways
My ways” says the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8).

Am I a newborn Christian? Right. Consequently, whatever decision I take without having inquired of the Lord will lead me in MY OWN WAYS, in dangerous unexpected situations. Whatever plans I make in my life, whatever friendship I build up with people without having inquired of the Lord are but ways imagined from my pride and selfish and that finally lead me to failure. Of course, once we inquire of the Lord about something, we automatically proclaim His Sovereignty and Authority upon it. Therefore, if He says, No, to our prayer, IT IS NO! Period. No more intercession is allowed.

Isaiah prophecies about Christ’s great characteristics (Isaiah 11:2):
“The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him
The spirit of wisdom and understanding
The spirit of COUNSEL and MIGHT
The spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord”

The spirit of COUNSEL and MIGHYT is certainly the framework of Christ’s Ministry as God’s servant. All His life long, He built His Ministry on getting counsel from God the Father Who then entrusted Him with MIGHT (authority) in heaven and in earth.(Matthew 28:18). The Son of Man was aware that the world He was sent to was an 80% dropped steeply and slippery road. Thus, all His plans and actions needed to be lead by the Father, the Eternal heavenly Driver who knows when to slow down the speed or release it.
“My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready”
(John 7:6)
“My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4)

The spirit of counsel (inquiring of God) should also continue to be the leading banner and the real new way of life for the Christian Church in the 21st century. Christians should not be computer-led, TV shows-led, Money-led, Premier League-led, NBA-led, etc. All Christians need to be deeply re-taught and educated and trained to live as inquirers of God in order to overcome Satan’s plans and attacks over their nations, families, churches, businesses or health. Let us all learn to knock at God’s door every morning and midday and night (Daniel 6:10). Even though terrifying situations are trying to push us to decide in a hurry by ourselves and create false strategies to take ourselves, let us kneel with Christ and accept to bear this torchlight on our forehead with the psalmist: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Yes, our Lord and faithful Shepherd Jesus Christ has always got A WORD to say on our life. He has got a word that can stop our dark sinful situation that can reconcile the nations and families and tribes. Therefore, He wants to say it TODAY, NOW. Shall we listen to Him? Let us kneel and wait for it and we won’t eat rotten fruits. Amen!

In Christ’s Love,

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

A CROWD OF PEOPLE IN SEARCH OF JESUS
GOSPEL READING : John 6:24 – 35

Oh! How beautiful was this procession of boats carrying hundreds of hearts that were eager to find Jesus and stay close to Him, no matter what motives were pushing them! Their common desire was: “FIND JESUS! FIND JESUS!” Was the miraculous sign of the loaves and the fish enough to cause such a great revival at these trade shores of the Sea of Galilee where money was the king-idol? Yes, even Jesus stated it (verse 26, NIV).

On that very day, the trade traffic with the boats turned into a humanitarian free transportation for those who were hungry for Jesus. Why? The people of Galilee knew from then that Jesus, the different Person they had rejected previously, had performed a different and unusual thing and that He might have some other different thing to offer them from the new place He had moved to. But here is one question: Why, contrary to the antique people, the modern man is no longer thirsting so passionately to go on in search of Jesus? Have we found all the solutions to our trials and problems and conflicts so that we could simply leave the Creator aside? Hasn’t Jesus poured different and unusual blessings on our lives and upon our families and businesses and our nations that should cause us to also start going on “The Jesus Searching Journey”? Of course, the crowd of Galilee was in search of Jesus for a particular thing, but Jesus was also in search of them for another more perfect thing He wanted to offer to them: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (Verse 35, NIV) While searching for Jesus, men never think about that fact.

Dear Christian Brethren, would you stop for a while and imagine how crowds from the five continents are united in a common procession in search of Jesus, the Prince of Peace? Just like the people of Galilee, these modern pilgrims from all races and nations have realized that Jesus is no longer neither in their international relations policies and their drastically cut laws nor in their high scientific and technology discoveries, nor in their philosophies, their powerful armies and their spatial control race. Christ is somewhere else!
Yes, CHRIST DWELLS IN HIS HOLY CHURCH, IN THE BELIEVERS’ HEARTS gathering in all True Christian Denominations despite our divergences! He is there, ALIVE! His promise to His Holy Church is: “Surely, I will be with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Why should we continue keeping Jesus hidden to the processions of crowds that come from all Tribes and all Tongues around the world and who still believe that Christ really dwells in our Christian Churches? Should the financial crisis or the terrorist threat stop our calling and commitment to make Jesus known and seen and found by his searchers? Not at all! The widow who put two very small copper coins in the temple treasury was not richer than the rich who threw in large amounts. But She moved Jesus’ heart! (Mark 12:41-44).

As refugee move up to your countries, welcome them in the Name of Jesus and let them hear about their Savior. It’s your task! Send a parcel of love in Jesus’ Name to people in trouble, to people going through very difficult situations is your ministry! Western Churches, KEEP ON SUPPORTING POOR AFRICAN CHURCHES IN THEIR TRIALS. It’s your ministry and Christ shall require a report from you.

In Christ’s Love,

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

THE HEAVENLY HIGH PRIEST ANOINTED
BY AN UNEXPECTED HUMAN PRIEST.
GOSPEL READING : Luke 2:22-40 :

What a wonderful Day! I wished I could be there and hear Simeon praising God as he took the Holy Child in his arms and also listen to Prophetess Anna giving thanks to God, this same special elder Anna who had never left the Temple for decades, but was worshiping night and day, fasting and praying. This was A Really Holy Trinity Meeting arranged by the Holy Spirit who moved Simeon to go to the Temple at the very hour when Joseph and Mary came to present the Son of God to the Heavenly Father.

Strange ! Instead of being welcomed in the Temple by a well-known Hebrew high priest and acclaimed with honors by crowds from Jerusalem, Jesus, “The unknown salvation God’s plan” meets accidently an unexpected strange priest who leads the service and pronounces the blessing and the prophecy upon his ministry along with an additional particular blessing pronounced by Anna, a descendant of Asher whom Jacob had blessed earlier saying: “Asher’s food will be rich; he will provide delicacies for a King”(Genesis 49:20, NIV). Wondeful fulfillment !

No processions nor ceremonies, no choirs singing but only four people, Joseph, Mary and Simeon and Anna standing together to witness “The Fulfillment of what God had said through Jacob, Isaac’s son”. I believe that on this very day Anna really understood what was the ministry she had been waiting for since so many years. Miraculously, Anna is brought to deliver a message that completes the one that Simeon pronounces:
– Simeon talks about “Seeing God’s Salvation”
– Anna talks about “The Redemption of Jerusalem”

I remember one day in 1984 I was invited to preach at a rural Evangelical Church in the little village of Kagongo in the South of Burundi near Lake Tanganyika, where I delivered a sermon about “Salvation and Redemption”. Generally, people in many Third-World countries don’t understand easily what “Salvation means”. The poor church I visited was a Fishermen’s community since they all lived from fishing. I gave them an illustration and said that “Salvation” is like a fish you get from the lake in order to feed yourself and your family. But it can’t be efficient in your life until you have cooked or roasted it and then eat it; and this second phase is what I can call “Redemption”.

I told them that Jesus, God’s salvation (Jesus Christ) who was sent to this world has also in Him the Redemption Ministry and power. But as long as men refuse to receive Him as their personal Saviour and allow their souls to eat from Him and drink from his precious blood, they’ll never experience Redemption from the bondage of sin. They’ll remain hungry like a fisher who has already got a fish but does not to eat it. I remember how many people in the church at Kagongo understood for the first time that they needed to make a step to go to Jesus and confess their sins and welcome Him in their life.

God is still doing great things with unexpected and strange people. Simeon was not priest but in God’s plans, he had been set apart to serve one day as a special priest to anoint his Holy Son Jesus for the Ministry of the Cross that would pierce His Mother’s soul. On the other hand, Anna was probably known from the religious public as a poor widow spending her life in the Temple cellars. But what is amazing is that on this great day when Jesus was to be presented to God, these unknown people were moved by the Spirit of God and met perhaps for the first time for the glory of God IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE.
We don’t need to be famous nor great nor be known in the news editorials in order to be used by God to do great things. Let us simply be righteous and devout like Simeon and also humble and faithful day and night in PRAYER like Anna. And God Will Always Move With Us !…AMEN !

In Christ’s Love,

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

THE POWER IN THE CUP.
GOSPEL READING : LUKE 22: 14-23

We are told about a certain king who had never lost a battle. Let us call him King Invincible. All the other kings around were worried about him and wished to know what was the secret of his success. So, they decided to dispatch three spies to his country on different days before they attacked him so that they could compare the reports that would be brought back. The first spy came back and said:
– My king, live forever! I have seen how King Invincible gets his soldiers ready for any battle. They spend days together at night, singing and dancing and eating as if they already had won the war. That’s the secret of their strength”. A second spy came in with the following report:
– My king, live forever! I have tried to infiltrate King Invincible’s army and have served as their arrows and food carrier. The secret these people have is unity and full obedience to the orders of their king. When he says “Go and spend the night at the other side of the river without eating any food”, they all obey and go united and singing. If the king says “Kill the hypocrites who have been recognized among you”, they all obey and carry out the order without an exception. That’s their secret to victory!”. The third spy didn’t return home until the end of the battle after his people had lost the battle as always. He reported the following:
– My king, live forever! I have waited until the last night before you launched the attack against King Invincible in order to hear what he tells his army before going to the battlefield. Here is what I discovered: King Invincible has got a big jug of water he has set at his court compound. So, before his army leaves to go for any battle, all of them are required to go and drink from the jug. That takes them a whole night. Now, the next time you and your associates will attack him, please appoint and send me and two other courageous men from our armies and we will go and hide ourselves behind a bush I saw there at King Invincible’s court. So, before his army will start drinking from the jug, we will stone it and break it into pieces.” The king took serious this advice. A couple of months later he had a meeting with three other kings in order to plan for an attack against King Invincible. The spies were sent out and carried out their plan by stoning the big jug and then cried loudly saying: “An attack! An attack! An attack!” All the soldiers ran to the jug in order to drink before going but unfortunately it was broken. They came back to King Invincible and said: “O King, live forever! The jug is broken! Broken!”.

The king ran out to the jug himself to make sure the news was true. As he came out of his palace, the four spies shot and killed him and the attacking armies came in and killed all his soldiers. THE POWER IN THE CUP! Do we really believe it? As Christians we are not superstitious. But the words our King Jesus Christ pronounced saying “This CUP is the NEW COVENANT in my blood, which is poured out for you” are still powerful. Yes, that’s THE NEW COVENANT OF VICTORY UPON SIN AND DEATH FOR THE CHURCH OF CHRIST in all ages. King Invincible had a key for his many victories but he forgot one thing: to have set permanent guards to watch over his jug day and night.

Jesus Christ as for Him (our Invincible King) has set all the believers to be the guards for this COVENANT OF ETERNAL VICTORY when He said: “Do this in remembrance of Me”. But how many attacks has the Devil launched against the Holy Church trying to push believers to reject the Holy Supper? The answer is clear “Remember me as often as you can”. The Apostles had their Holy Communion every First Day of the Week. That was their spiritual power for the whole week as they had to go and preach to various destinations. Our POWER to overcome all the attacks from Satan and his demons is IN CELEBRATING THE CUP AND THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD. Our glory and honor come when we carry Christ the King, when we bear His Holy nature within us, when we are transformed by His Love towards all. Richard Wurmbrand, the Romanian Minister who spent 14 years in Communist jails wrote the following anecdote saying : “When the colt which carried Jesus the day He entered Jerusalem returned back home in its shed at night, it told the other colts there the following: Did you know what happened to me today when I was carrying a certain Jesus? All the people in Jerusalem came out when I was going along and spread their cloaks on the road for me saying “Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!, Hosanna in the highest!”

In Christ’s Love,

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

THE KING OF THE TRUTH.
GOSPEL READING : John 18:33 – 37

We all need to know the Truth. We all need to be sure that what we are being told is true so that we can build our hopes on it. We all count making our success upon the truth in all the sectors of our lives. When our nations’ economies are wavering, when crowds keep on demonstrating against taxes increasing, we all need to know exactly how we will face tomorrow challenges. Westerners particularly are keen to know every detail about how their currencies overcome all the tempests on the markets. On the other hand, our security services are watching day and night and controlling and checking everything and collecting all kinds of information from the four corners of the Earth as to make sure no terrorist plans escape to them. That’s what we should call “The Syndrome of thirsting for the Truth” which is a great blessing men have received from God.

Our Heavenly Father knew that the Devil had spread terrible lies all over the world among mankind. He knew that men lived hopeless and filled with fear because they didn’t know the Truth about eternity. Yes, God knew that knowing the Truth about Him was the master- key for men’s welfare and peace on this earth. Today, Nations are fighting one against the other because there is lack of the Truth. Palestine becoming a UN recognized nation is not a simply matter in the international relations evolution, but rather something extremely important in God’s plan fulfilling His Truth. Christians particularly should watch that new situation with much more attention than ever. Pilate didn’t know the Truth about himself being a sinner just like a lot of people who attend our Churches but never discover they are sinners in need for salvation. Yet, Jesus Christ, the Truth, came from Heaven and bore our sins on Him at the Cross so that our hearts may be open and understand definitely that “We have Life eternal in Him”.

Truth sets free and restores. Truth gives security. Truth produces joy with assurance.
Truth is the destiny of all the Believers since lies will no longer prevail in Heaven !
Truth is the Foundation of God’s Eternity while Lies are the weakness of Satan’s kingdom.
Truth never fails, it is the super eternal victory!

I remember a sad story in my own life. It happened in 1971 when I was 16 years old. The summer holiday was over and it was time to return to school in September. My father gave me some money to buy new shoes. Thus I went downtown Bujumbura the Capital of Burundi and found a shop which sold shoes. As I came at the entrance of the shop, a well-suited man came behind me and said:
– Do you want to buy shoes?
– Yes, I replied. I need cheaper shoes.
– Oh, cheaper shoes? I can get a very nice pair for you. How much money do you have?
– Two thousands francs, I replied.
– Okay! Very good. I am an employee in this shop, and I can get you a pair that usually costs six thousand francs for two thousands. I’ve done it for many people. Just give me the money and go to the next corner of the road and wait there, because I don’t want my boss to see how I’ll bring the shoes to you.

And so, I gave him the two thousand francs I had and the man really entered the shop. I went to the next corner of the road as he advised me and waited there. One hour passed; then two hours, the man had not come yet. The a policeman who had seen me standing there for so long came and asked me:
– What are you doing there? Have you any problem? Can I help you?
– Yes, I said to him. I am waiting for someone who went inside the shop to buy shoes for me.
– Oh, sorry, I see, the policeman said. You have been deceived. These are new kinds of robbers in this town. You’ll never see him again. He has stolen your money.

Yes, I was very shocked and couldn’t imagine someone deceiving me that way. I DIDN’T KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT SUCH ROBBERS. Now, how great is the pain we make our Lord Jesus Christ feel as we deceive Him so many times in our lives? “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the TRUTH and the TRUTH will set you free. (Jesus Christ, Gospel of John, 8:34, NIV).

In Christ’s Love,

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

THAT GOOD PART”(KJV)
GOSPEL READING : Luke 10. 38-42

“One Thing Among Many Things !”. Men always have difficulties about choosing one right thing among many other things which all seem to be useful or interesting or profitable. I also go through such situations frequently in my life knowing not exactly what is the best action to be taken or the best choice to be made. It is so embarrassing ! I have a true story from Burundi:

Mr. Tajiri (this is a kiswahili word meaning rich person or Boss) had a daughter, a beautiful and lovely one, who was said to be the prettiest in the whole little town where he lived. Her name was Jolie, a French word that means ‘Pretty’. The father was a well-known trader who had several businesses in different countries of the East African Region. All the streets talked about Jolie so that men were so attracted around her. Students praised Jolie. Journalists heralded Jolie even in their radio programs. Policemen did all they could to cross the street where Jolie lived in order to see her at least once every day. Senior civil servants never missed a chance to park their vehicles at Tajiri’s home each evening and sit and talk while Jolie was given money and asked to order and serve them with all kinds of beers and whiskies and wines.

Tajiri was very talkative and always drunk. He never remembered what he had said or promised to people. He also was a “money-lover”. His mobile phone rang every minute. As soon as he had picked a call another one came in. Days passed and one evening Mr. Tajiri asked his wife to come and seat next to him while all these rich visitors were enjoying drinks and “nyama-choma”(this is the East African Swahili word for brochette). Mama Jolie obeyed. Then Tajiri spoke loudly and said: “Please, Mama Jolie, help me. It’s time to allow our daughter to get married with … with… with… I don’t remember exactly his name!”

Mama Jolie surprised stood up and said: “What ! You are talking about marrying my daughter while I haven’t seen yet anyone bringing the dowry? Nobody in this house knows about that. Are you serious with what you say?”. Mr. Tajiri whacked Mama Jolie in the face and commanded her to return to the kitchen. The reality was that Mr.Tajiri had already received payment for seven dowries with millions Burundi francs from seven different men who were all seated there in the lounge, all dressed decently, as they had been told separately that the ceremony to give them “Jolie” officially would take place that evening. Jolie, afraid, cried and ran out back to her room and locked the door while her father was seriously beaten by all these men. Mama Jolie finally decided to call the police which arrived in a hurry and arrested everybody including Mr. Tajiri who said : “I never promised to anyone that I’ll give him my daughter! All these people are liars!”

Dear Christian Brethren, do we remember, you and I, that some day we promised to Jesus that we will be faithful to Him till death? Haven’t we promised to Jesus that we will always read the Bible and make it the leading rule of our life? Haven’t we promised with serious swearing that if He healed us from the serious illness we were suffering from, we would from then on help the poor and the needy and all those in various trials?

Jesus Christ is there today, tonight, this morning, in the lounge of my heart and your heart, waiting to see us honouring our word of promise to Him. The cries of those we have promised to assist and help are continually getting to God in Heaven while we are busy, so busy with new projects or new adventures! Jesus is there, standing in front of you and me WAITING TO RECEIVE “THAT GOOD PART” of our life. Are we prepared to repay “THAT GOOD PART” to Jesus or shall we simply remain “careful and troubled about many things”?(Luke 11:41, KJV).

The devil will never allow us to fulfil our “GOOD PART” with Jesus. Worldly lusts and selfish, pride and hatred will never set us free nor push us to realize the “GOOD PART” Jesus wants us to choose like Mary. Are we Martha or Mary in our relationship with Jesus?

In Christ’s Love,

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

QUESTIONS ? ?
GOSPEL READING : Matthew 16. 13-19 :

Some people don’t like questions in their lives. They never want to meet someone asking about this or that. I personally think that questions are necessary in our lives as they allow us to step forward with something we know as true.

This reminds me about a Tanzanian Tribe named the “Haya” which has a habit I personally envy because it appears to be useful in building a strong united community. It is told that every morning indeed, as they wake up and before they go to any other activities, the first thing the “Haya” do in their village is to go from one hut to the other checking whether people there are safe and that nothing bad happened to them during the night : “How are you doing today ?, They ask with deep concern. Did you spend a good night ? Is anybody sick today? Will you be able to go and fetch some water from the river or get firewood in the bush or should we help you? How are grandmother and grandfather doing? And the sick boy whom the sorcerer treated yesterday, is he doing better?,etc.

So early every morning, the “Haya” village is filled with people going and coming, except the elderly and the youngest staying at home. And this is done EVERY MORNING, DURING YEARS AND YEARS. I find such a village to be a lovely place to live, a better one than the best hotels and beaches around the world where people are lonely and nobody talks to the other. On the other hand, I personally believe that Jesus Christ never allowed his Disciples to be caught with loneliness. HE ALWAYS HAD A QUESTION FOR THEM, A QUESTION TO AWAKEN THEIR HEART, like: “Will you also go away? “(John 6:67, NIV), “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (Matthew 16:13,KJV), “Whom say ye that I am ?”(Matthew 16:15, KJV).

Of course, Jesus knew who He was and He was not trying to understand it from what people said of Him. The strange thing is that people knew Jesus in completely different manners from what He wanted them to have known Him. Calling Him one of the prophets was simply something that made clear the great thirst the Jews had in their hearts for having not heard a prophet of God speaking for 400 years, the years of silence, between the Old and the New Testaments. But from where did Peter got inspiration as to know Jesus was “The Christ, the Son of the Living God”? A certain preacher said that Peter had probably discovered the secret from the prayer Jesus taught them saying “Our Father which art in Heaven…” and also by the many times Jesus had said “My Father, my Father who sent me from heaven, etc”, and that he might have discussed about it passionately and over proudly with the other fellow-Disciples insisting that the Man they were following was Christ, the Son of the Living God. Thus, Peter was perhaps waiting for a good opportunity to test with Jesus Himself whether what he had discovered and understood was true or wrong. Fortunately, IT WAS TRUE!

A rich over proud man owned a big Brewery. Every Monday morning, he used to ask his employees to tell him what people in the city thought and said of him and his company. Of course, they always had something to report to the boss but also knew that he wanted to always hear praises that he was a good person. So, when they praised him with good words, he continued to report at his office and even paying them their salaries correctly with bonuses. But when they told him that people said he was a bad person, this man would spend days without reporting at the factory and could even fire some of them without any reason. Most of his employees lived in a poor suburb very far from the factory and used to get to job late when it rained. Consequently during the rainy season, these employees decided to always tell him that people do not like his company and that they said he was miser. This made him not report to job for a whole week and the latecomers could escape from being fired. But when the end of the month approached, they always praised him with false reports from the city and so the boss was there from morning to evening paying them their salaries joyfully.

This is what men are in this world. Their expression and their look, change according to what is said about them. The Bible tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever”(Hebrews 13:8). He remains Christ, the Son of the Living God even when you and I say He is simply a prophet we can silence whenever we want. He remains the Saviour sent by the Father and keeps working His Ministry up to Calvary even when we call him Beelzebub. Jesus remains eternally “Lord of lords” as George Frederick Handel wrote of Him from his Messiah “…And He shall reign forever and ever… Lord of lords and King of kings…Halelujah, halelujah, halelujah !” Yes, He reigns Forever and Ever ON THE FIVE CONTINENTS through His infinite “Agape”!

In Christ’s Love,

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

“YOU KILL THE FATTENED CALF FOR HIM !”
Luke 15:1-3 & 11b-32:

Strange and unacceptable decision! “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet YOU NEVER GAVE ME EVEN A YOUNG GOAT SO I COULD CELEBRATE WITH MY FRIENDS. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, YOU KILL THE FATTENED CALF FOR HIM”(Luke 15:29-30, NIV). In other words, You also allow me to do as my brother did. You encourage me to also squander your property with prostitutes and come back and be blessed by YOU…because you confirm that YOU ARE NO LONGER MY FATHER BUT THE FATHER OF THOSE WHO SQUANDER YOUR PROPERTY WITH PROSTITUTES !

Early in Old Testament times, Prophet Isaiah proclaimed and wrote these moving words he heard God speaking: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8, NIV). This is what the Parable of the Lost Son has always taught me. Of course we have used it many times as an extremely effective tool for evangelism when encouraging sinners to repent and return to God. But here it bears some other Great Truth we need to know.

I always tell my congregation in Gitega that we should be cautious in everything we plan for in our lives or in the many desires that fill our thoughts in this world. For THE LAST DECISION ALWAYS BELONGS TO GOD ALMIGHTY. WE NEVER KNOW WHAT HIS GREAT LOVE WILL DECIDE TO DO IN SUCH OR SUCH OTHER SITUATION. We never know what He will do with the ones we reject or those we have sentenced to death or to imprisonment. We never know what He will say about the prostitute we refuse to talk to in the streets nor to the gangsters and the terrorists who surround us. What about this tale?

A fish and a monkey were friends. They used to meet at the shore of the lake and share stories from their different environments. One day, the fish told his friend: “O my friend monkey, could you organize a trip for me to come and see where you live? As I hear you speak, it seems that you live in a paradise!” The monkey answered: “Ooooh, yes, you are welcome to visit the kingdom of the monkeys where we have plenty of food and live peacefully.” So the day came and the monkey took the fish to the forest where it lived with many other monkeys, at “the Monkeys’ village”. A big meal and plenty of beer had been made ready and everyone was eating and drinking and dancing. The fish enjoyed everything and promised to also organize a trip to take the monkey to the“Fishes’ village” under the waters. When the day came, the fish was at the shore and asked the monkey to get on its back. The fish swam and swam and when it reached a long distance from the shore, it said: “Oh, dear friend, monkey, I am so lucky, you know! Our king is very, very sick and the witch doctor said that the unique treatment he needed was a monkey’s heart meat. Now, hold my back strongly, because I’m going to get under the waters and reach my village.

The monkey replied immediately and said: “O, dear friend, wait, wait! Why didn’t you tell me earlier that you needed my heart to heal your king? I didn’t bring it with me, I left it at home! So take me back to the shore and I’ll run quickly back home and bring my heart with me. It won’t take long.” The fish trusted the monkey and returned to the shore. The monkey jumped and climbed a big tree and laughing it said: “Stupid! Who told you that monkeys can move without having a heart ? You thought you had got me but from now on Know that You Can Do Nothing Against Any Creature Unless Our Creator Allows You To.

You and I would have certainly reacted just like the older son and ask the father “To simply rebuke the youngest repenting son who had returned back home and no longer grant him whatever blessing but send him out as a rebel.” That’s men reacting way in a world where Love is no longer prevailing. What if the International Community could review some of its so horrible “Decisions and Sanctions” towards some nations that it considers as being the stupid prodigal son? Don’t you think this would be a NEW way to building NEW bridges for PEACE? Change your mind and send them a fattened calf as a symbol of LOVE!

In Christ’s Love,

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