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

“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