GOSPEL READING : Mark 10:17-31 :
RICH FOR GOD.

I remember visiting a Mennonite Church in the Amish County, Pennsylvania, USA, during the summer 1993 after attending the 9th World Congress of the International Council of Christian Churches in Philadelphia, PA. The very kind Pastor there welcomed me to attend twice their church services. What did I see?

Every Sunday, an elderly farmer used to arrive at the Church compound thirty minutes before service started. I could see more than 20 kids running towards his Chevrolet pick-up shouting with joy and singing. As soon as he parked his vehicle, he got out and distributed sweets to each one of the children who were so excited.

The following Sunday, I was there again and the giver came as usual and parked his pick-up at the same place. Kids moved to him in a hurry and he distributed sweets again to each one of them. Then I approached this kind man and asked him whether he did so every Sunday. He said: “Yes, of course, I have been giving and giving sweets to kids for years while praying for them as well. They know I can’t come to Church without some joy brought for them in my pockets. My ideal is to give joy to all the kids in this Church and have them always remember coming to Church every Sunday.”

From this true story, one could say that sweets meant nothing. But I believe this weekly love gifts meant something great in these children’s lives even when they come to leave their little town to go to live somewhere else. It was written in their hearts and minds. They knew someone at Church was thinking about them and praying for them every Sunday.
God is A Giver! Our Lord Jesus Christ was sent by the Father to give and give blessing upon blessing to men despite their unbelief. His mandate in the Holy Trinity was and is still “GIVE, GIVE and GIVE!” That’s what He also wanted taught to this rich young man who came to Him with a deep concern about inheriting eternal life and who unfortunately was a super-selfish who had never had a chance to experience “GIVING WITH LOVE”.
“Oh, you want to come with me to Heaven! Jesus checked, it’s easy BUT NOT VERY EASY, Sir, because candidates to Heaven should experience GIVING first. So, go, SELL and GIVE WITH LOVE to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven and then COME, FOLLOW ME”.

“Giving” is a Godly medal that does not belong to worldly selfish and over proud people. “Giving” is the super-light for believers on the avenue to Heaven. “Giving” is the ultimate and perfect Prayer of Perfect people that God accepts.

“Giving” is the breath of Love!
For Love without Giving is not Love at all,
And Giving without Love
Does not belong to God’s Business
But to man’s pride !”

“Be Perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48, NIV)

In the love of Christ,

Contact us:
EPISCOPAL FREE CHURCH-PROVINCE OF BURUNDI
Bishop Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President
P.O. Box 197 Gitega (Burundi)
Tel: (+257)79 877 097
Email: baransajust@gmail.com
SKYPE: Justin Baransananikiye
Website: http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org

Ineffective Prayers smashed down by
The Rulers of the Darkness of this Age…

« Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set
Your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before God,
Your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me
twenty one days…” (Daniel 10.12, 13)

Having walked with the Lord Jesus Christ for only a few days at the beginning of his ministry, his disciples discovered that his way of praying was completely different from theirs. Their prayers indeed were still reflecting the litany formulas learned in the synagogues from the Pharisees. Jesus prayed with power in intimacy with his Father. “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11: 1), his disciples asked Him. And Jesus taught them the basic prayer that contains the key principles of an effective prayer that pierces the cloud of the “rulers of the darkness in heavenly places” and goes straight to God.

Later, the apostle James who had also attended the JESUS’ SCHOOL OF PRAYER, wrote: “You lust and do not have… because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4: 2-3). In other words, “You do not pray according to the key principles that the Master has taught us”.

One day on his way back from Jericho, Jesus encounters the blind Bartimaeus who shouts loudly: “Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me! The crowd wanted to silence him thinking he was screaming to beg as usual. But the Lord commanded them to bring him nearer. Why? Jesus wanted him to approach Him personally and discover the majesty and greatness of his love, and thus be able to properly formulate his need with a calm mind.

“Have mercy on me, Jesus! ” is different from Rabbuni, that I recover the sight! “, isn’t ? And Jesus answered a prayer whose purpose was precisely expressed in freedom.

Now, what about these millions of prayers made every minute on the five continents, in our different churches, saying to God:
– “O Lord, give us peace!” while He has already granted it to us in Christ more than 2000 years ago (John 14:27) and that we have rejected it ourselves?
– “O Lord, make that righteousness may reign in the world,” whereas He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations (Psalm 98: 2)?

Are these prayers comparable to those which would say to God:
– “O Lord, teach us how to pray” as we face the terrorist threat, or the climate change? As we face,… face ?
– Or, “O Lord, teach us to do your will” (Psalm 143.10), which alone frees us from selfishness, from pride and from hatred, these terrible vices demons that create social inequalities and revolts in the World?
– Or, “O Lord, teach us to walk in your ways” (Psalm 119: 3), your holy ways that create in us a generous a humble heart that accepts to share with the poor living at the other end of the earth?
– Or, “O Lord, give us understanding so that we may keep your Law” (Psalms 119.34) and may your Holy Spirit convince us of lack of faith in your faithfulness to your promises? (2 Timothy 2:13).

Why do we always seek to give lessons to God while we ourselves are on war against His commandment of love and those of humility and righteousness? (Micah 6: 8). Let us first win the battle that rages in our own hearts and reconcile ourselves with the Lord by voluntarily returning to obedience to ALL HIS WORD. For these human prayers full of human feelings will in no way become COMBATTIVE and VICTOROUS PRAYERS that we need to put to cast and defeat the demons of terrorism which are making the whole world tremble today.

Contact us:
EPISCOPAL FREE CHURCH-PROVINCE OF BURUNDI
Bishop Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President
P.O. Box 197 Gitega (Burundi)
Tel: (+257)79 877 097
Email: baransajust@gmail.com
SKYPE: Justin Baransananikiye
Website: http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org

If Christians of the 21st century don’t adopt urgently the strategy of the OVERNIGHT COMBATTIVE PRAYER as Christ did, the Church will soon lose the war imposed on Her by terrorism. All those attacks conducted in various cities of Europe and America, etc., are simple distractions, for the ultimate goal of terrorism is to reach the fortresses of the Church of Christ in the West and definitely muzzle Her. Are we aware of this? But then why does Jesus Christ under the guidance of the Heavenly Father choose the NIGHT as the propitious time for the COMBATTIVE PRAYER against Satan and his demons?

The Holy Bible tells us that at creation God called the darkness, NIGHT (Genesis 1: 5). Apostle Paul identifies Satan and his demons as “The Rulers of the Darkness of this age”, of the NIGHT (Ephesians 6:12). Thus, it is clear that the intensive OVERNIGHT COMBATTIVE PRAYER constitutes an excellent frontal and direct spiritual attack plan against “these dominions … those rulers of this world of darkness, those spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”. In fact, it is during the NIGHT that all these powers of evil come together and define their plans of attack against the Church and against humanity in general. The destructions carried out by the terrorists are simply executions of the orders dictated by this spiritual empire of evil during the darkness, during the NIGHTS.

The Lord Jesus understood earlier Satan’s malignant strategy of assembling his army to organize and activate it during the NIGHTS while men are tired and fall asleep. Did not Christ say, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”? (Matthew 26:41). Christians, what else are we looking for now? It is time to accept to be also recruited into the ranks of the forces of light, the forces of good, among the intercessors led by Jesus Christ. It is He who gave us the example of OVERNIGHT PRAYER FOR OUR CITY (John 7, Matthew 23:27, etc.). Just as we are, his disciples did not yet understand what the Master was doing. Do we understand it?

2. THE SECOND ARM OF THE BALANCE OF OUR MINISTRY:

The more precisely we pray for our city, for the unbelievers therein and against the plans of satanic forces against it (1 Peter 5: 9), the more God will put on our heart a precise and organized work program equal to the strength He gives us during the OVERNIGHT COMBATTIVE PRAYERS (I Corinthians 10:13).

That is why the Church of Christ with the support of all nations should, at this very crucial juncture of terrorism, seriously think on a strategy of fighting these demons by an organized work of intercessors from all denominations and all nations without distinction. This major project undoubtedly calls for an URGENT organization of a worldwide ecumenical conference dedicated to the issue of terrorism. It shall not be a gathering from which ordinary declarations of condemnation will emerge as usual, but rather a development of a common spiritual strategy OF OVERNIGHT COMBATTIVE PRAYER for our cities ON THE FIVE CONTINENTS.

Contact us:
EPISCOPAL FREE CHURCH-PROVINCE OF BURUNDI
Bishop Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President
P.O. Box 197 Gitega (Burundi)
Tel: (+257)79 877 097
Email: baransajust@gmail.com
SKYPE: Justin Baransananikiye
Website: http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org

Organize the Churches in every city Worldwide
To RESIST the Demons of Terrorism through PRAYER

« Therefore submit to God, RESIST the devil
and he will flee from you. » (James 4.7)
“Be sober, be VIGILANT; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour. RESIST him, steadfast in the faith.” (I Peter 5.8,9)

The ministry entrusted to the Church by Jesus Christ is similar to a two-armed balance whose weight must always be equal: the COMBATTIVE PRAYER on one hand and the PREACHING OF THE WORD on the other. According to Christ’s strategy, the Church can only use the amount of force She draws daily from God through the NIGHT PRAYERS: « He went out to the mountain to PRAY, and continued all night in PRAYER to God. » (Luke 6.12).

Jesus Christ’s example is clear. Are we working accordingly?
« He went out a little farther and fell on His face and PRAYED… Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? WATCH and PRAY, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26.39, 40, 41).
“Again, a second time, He went away and PRAYED… And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So, He left them, went away again, and PRAYED the third time… (Matthew 26.42, 43).
“Then He came to His disciples and said to them ‘Are you still sleeping and resting?’ (Matthew 26.44).

During all the time that his earthly ministry lasted, Christ made the principle of the NIGHT COMBATTIVE PRAYER an unavoidable pillar in his life. Our biblical text has just proved to us that He also wanted to teach so to His disciples whose ministry would go through times of terrible persecution comparable to our times of terrorism. Jesus wants also to teach us this practice which he certainly learned from the heavenly Father (John 5:20).

Christians of the whole world, what are you saying about? Are our churches’ leaders really committed as INTERCESSORS praying intensely with Christ during all the nights during their life in service? How can dynamic and strong intercession ministries rise in our churches, in our cities, as long as Christian leaders are still sleeping and resting? And now thousands of terrorists have freely infiltrated and are invading our cities where our churches are established without us having drawn up a single RESISTANCE against them as the apostle Peter teaches us! (I Peter 5: 8,9). Let us cease our hypocrite prayers and our messages of sympathy while we have been and remain disobedient to the command of Christ saying, “Why do you sleep? Rise and PRAY, lest you enter into temptation. (Luke 22:46).

Don’t you see that we are already caught in the nets of temptation that have bound us and even prevented us from making the threat of terrorism a SERIOUS AND PERMANENT SUBJECT OF PRAYER? Yes, all Christians on the five continents have lost the freedom that Christ has given us through faith to His Word as: « If you abide in My words, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. » (John 8. 31, 32).

But let us go out NOW, let us wake up, we all the Christian churches without exception and organize ourselves immediately to create an INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY OF COMBATTIVE PRAYER AGAINST TERRORISM. Does Jesus Christ agree with us? Undoubtedly, because He so wished to see us at work in PRAYER. Thus, how shall we proceed? By a worldwide common action to destabilize Satan’s power and forces at the same time on the five continents.

1. THE FIRST ARM OF THE BALANCE OF OUR MINISTRY:

Just like the Lord Jesus, we must also start with an overnight non-stop PRAYER program against the demons of terrorism. Be careful, let us not mix this particular prayer topic with others. Chapter 17 of the Gospel according to John reveals us the points for which Jesus prayed when Peter and the two sons of Zebedee were asleep a few steps from Him. We will take inspiration from it as follows:

– The churches established in each city should organize immediately and set up groups of overnight intercessors who will relay in PRAYER until the next early morning and keep doing so every day until the return of Christ.

– In these prayers we will first praise God who opened doors to our churches so that they may be established and preach the Word in the cities where they are.
– We will praise God for the souls that are already saved in our cities. We can even name names that we know.
– We will praise God for his servants who are in our churches, for Evangelists and Teachers He has given us and ask him to strengthen and protect them more against Satan and his demons’ attacks.
– We will ask God to give all Christians in our city the same burden of praying against the demons of terrorism.
– We will ask God to touch all the hearts not yet converted in our city, including those of the terrorists who might be hidden there and other people who are already indoctrinated, and open them to receive the Good News of Salvation in Christ.
– We will pray every day asking God to strengthen the security services of our city, to guide the leaders and agents of the police, of the army, and all those who help them …
(2nd part in the article to follow).

Contact us:
EPISCOPAL FREE CHURCH-PROVINCE OF BURUNDI
Bishop Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President
P.O. Box 197 Gitega (Burundi)
Tel: (+257)79 877 097
Email: baransajust@gmail.com
SKYPE: Justin Baransananikiye
Website: http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org

Jesus’ Strategy Should be
Our Pattern in the fight against terrorism

“These things I have spoken to you,
That in Me you may have PEACE.
In the world you will have tribulations;
But be of good cheer,
I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD ”
(John 16:33)

Dear Christians, should we limit ourselves to reacting and behaving like anybody else while facing the terrorist threat that hangs over the world? Wouldn’t it be a shame for us to simply continue sending millions of messages of condolences which unfortunately do not bring any solution of comfort or assurance of victory to the targets of this satanic hatred? Today all the big cities are trembling expecting a terrorist attack at any time. But why accept such a panic?

Nevertheless, our Most Reverend Bishops and Pastors and Evangelists, etc., are preaching every day with reason that victory belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ as long as Christians will keep hanging firmly on His promise of victory but also accepting to walk in the same path which leads to triumph: the VICTORY OF JESUS CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM AND NOT THAT OF A MAN OR A NATION. Let us discover it through the following analysis:

1. The Church has received from God the power to overcome the hostile plans and attacks either from the world or men but also from demons. Christ’s promise is clear: “And I say to you that you are Peter, and that on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the Hades shall not prevail against it”, “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:18, 19).

Dear Christians, why are we underestimating the power of God given through this promise for the current and future spiritual warfare against the declared enemy of the Church? Why haven’t you proclaimed it since those innumerable bloodthirsty who continue decimating the great cities of Western Europe the historic fortress of Christianity? Why don’t we strongly herald it today, I mean, NOW, against the rage of these nameless massacres of Manchester and London, and so on. ? Our press releases and condemnations can in no way replace the power of God’s Promises.

2. The Church has been instructed to stand according to the pattern of the strategy of Jesus Christ as the Head of a specific divine mission and ministry on this Earth. “… Teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you …” (Matthew 28:20). This strategy which His Church does not want to take and apply in this century of terrorism is none other than “THE CORRECT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DIVINE MINISTRY” which can be summarized in these Bible verses: “And in the daytime He was teaching in the Temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the Mount called Olivet “(Luke 21:37). Furthermore, the Holy Bible reveals us what Jesus did every night: “…He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). What do we learn from here?

If we could consider this in terms of a company BUDGET, we would automatically realize that the budget of the ministry of Jesus was divided into two parts: first PRAYER, and then TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD. This program was also divided into two equal lengths of time of 12 hours each. Amazing! This teaches us that the power that Jesus received during his nights of prayer was enough to give him the strength to work, but also to resist all the attacks from the world and from Satan and his demons. It’s not strange to see Him falling asleep when he was crossing the lake with his disciples? Yet when the demons attacked their boat through the storm, He awoke and rebuked the wind and the sea, saying “Peace be still! “ What about you, Christians in the 21st century? Could you also rise today and rebuke the demon of terrorism saying: “Peace be still in my land, peace be still in my city?” But this is only possible to those who know and apply the strategy of Jesus on its two wings as: SPENDING NIGHTS IN PRAYER and WORKING DURING THE DAY.

Unfortunately, a great error is being made by the Church today, the one that leads Her to feel intimidated by terrorism. Which one is it?
– There are no intercession ministries set officially and permanently in churches to work seriously on PRAYER during ALL NIGHTS as Jesus did. How many parishes do you know around you which have a true prayer ministry on the agenda of their concerns as well as in their budgetary plans? Consequently, churches have no power making them able of putting in difficulty the enemy and defeat his plans. However, Africa is full of voluntary intercessors who could lend a strong support to the Western churches to help them draw all the power needed from God during nights of prayer. This is the NEW MISSIONARY VISION to work on today, a vision aiming TO POUR GOD’S POWER on the terrorists in all nations according to II Peter 3.9. Yes, GOD CAN BRING THEM TO REPENTANCE! Losing an hour of prayer during a night equals a loss of strength equivalent to one hour of spiritual warfare. How many hours have we lost at this point? A territory or a country, a city or a village without strong and permanent prayer watchmen is simply an unfenced and unprotected land kept open to the attacks of satanic forces. Terrorists are well aware of the western churches spiritual weaknesses and failures. An International CHRISTIAN CHURCH UNITY AND COOPERATION IN PRAYER is needed more than ever NOW. This we bring to the attention of Churches and Christian Missions and Ministries worldwide.

– Second, social activities have become predominant at more than 99% in today’s churches, even going so far as to completely eliminate the intercession ministry which was their main struggling weapon. But let us think about this question: If today Jesus Christ was personally a visible leader of a parish in a certain city, how do you think He would organize His ministry and budget? Certainly not differently from what He did in the first century in Israel! Thus, dear Christians, isn’t this the right time to sit together and meditate on Jesus’ strategy that is lacking in our churches and organize ourselves accordingly? Let’s hurry up since we are already on the battlefield!

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you … “(John 14:26, 27). AMEN!

Contact us:
EPISCOPAL FREE CHURCH-PROVINCE OF BURUNDI
Bishop Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President
P.O. Box 197 Gitega (Burundi)
Tel: (+257)79 877 097
Email: baransajust@gmail.com
SKYPE: Justin Baransananikiye
Website: http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org