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

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

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

 

MANCHESTER: An Appeal to the Christian Church To PRAY FOR HER ENEMIES.

“You have heard that it was said,
‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, LOVE your enemies,
BLESS those who curse you, DO GOOD to those who hate you and
PRAY for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
“That you MAY BE SONS OF YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN;
For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good
And sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
(Matthew 5.43-45)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born in Bethlehem during the reign of the “HERODES” known as being among the great terrorists of the early Christian era, who did not want to hear of a PRINCE OF PEACE being born in Israel nor the MESSENGERS OF PEACE (His disciples) sent by Him, nor from the DIVINE PROMISE OF THE GIFT OF PEACE to his Church (John 14:27).

From the North to the South and from East to West, we Christians from around the world have become accustomed to organizing “MARCHES FOR PEACE” every year, but also “ECUMENICAL PRAYER MEETINGS FOR PEACE”. Unfortunately, in the light of the Holy Bible, all this is seen as a loss because it is clear that the more we do it, the more the ‘enemies of peace’ gain strength and succeed in their projects. The question now is: WHERE IS THE REAL ERROR?

The Lord Jesus Christ is very clear on this subject, and reminds us of His order under these four points:
– LOVING our enemies
– BLESSING those who curse us
– DOING GOOD to those who hate us
– PRAYING for those who spitefully use us and persecute us.

Am I crazy, I, who preach that we must LOVE the enemies of humanity, BLESS the destructors of life, DO WELL to disrupters of peace and PRAY for the disciples of darkness. But am I really crazy, I, who read the Bible without distorting it, the same Bible you own since you believed in Christ? Do you believe in her canonical authority?

Let me humbly illustrate this message with THE CROSS and its FOUR POLES:
– The first pole is the root which fixes the CROSS firmly in the ground. This pole I call: PRAYER. In these times of the end when evil seems to be triumphing, Christ recommends us the following: “Watch ye at all times, that ye may have strength to escape all these things that shall come, and to stand before the Son of man “(Luke 21:36). But how should we pray in the midst of this destructive storm inflicted on us by terrorism? The Apostle Peter reveals to us the plan of God for these times, a plan for which we should all PRAY: “… not willing that any should be perish” (II Peter 3: 9 – Including the Terrorists). Are you among those who pray according to this command or are you praying that they may perish?

– The second pole is the head of the CROSS which symbolizes here the origin and the destiny of its mission, which is, LOVE. Christ calls us to exercise the Ministry of LOVE in a negative world. LOVE must make a difference. Christ came for this and it is this sublime mission that He entrusted to Christian believers. Selfish that we are! We refuse LOVE to our terrorist enemies until they come to claim it through bloodshed!

– The third pole is that of the right arm of the CROSS, the symbol of Christ sitting at the right hand of God (Mark 14:26, 16:19). The life of the believer can have meaning in this world only if it is A SOURCE OF BLESSING to all without exception. Shall we continue refusing the blessing to those who curse us while God our Father is blessing each of them with his beautiful sun and abundant rain?

– The fourth pole is that of the left arm of the CROSS. Christ speaks of his left hand as the abode reserved for the GOATS, for those who rejected his teaching to doing good. And the Apostle Paul teaches that the preaching of the CROSS is foolishness. Yes, foolishness, because the Cross came not to condemn but to SAVE. SALVATION is the greatest GOOD God has given to the sinful man who could not see Him and live (Exodus 33:20), but who can do so today through Christ (John 14: 9). To the sinful man, to Moses the terrorist who killed the Egyptian and did not repent of it, God has set ready a temporary CLEFT in the Rock, in the left arm of the CROSS, and covers it with his hand to protect him from perishing) by telling him: “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you.” (Exodus 33:19).

Christians, why are we refusing the MESSAGE OF SALVATION (the greatest GOOD given by God to men) to the enemies of the Gospel of salvation? No, let us not stop our programs of proclaiming the Gospel in all the languages ​​to all the nations of the earth by all means. Now is the time to do so more than ever. Now is the time to expand the ministry of intercession for terrorists around the world. Please, wake up and put your hand to your pocket to support the ministry more than ever before. Stop making of your gigantic churches built 2, 3, 4, 5 centuries ago TOURISM PLACES! No, Jesus Christ is totally against that vision, for He wants to make of them rather GREAT CENTERS OF A GREAT AWAKENING OF PRAYER for those who persecute his Church. Are you willing to start TODAY? I mean, NOW? Will you accept the humble contribution of our young African intercessional missionaries who would like to come and help you launch this great project? Please, take action NOW. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

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

 

CHRISTMAS: God’s gift of spiritual KNOWLEDGE granted again to men

CHRISTMAS : God’s gift of spiritual KNOWLEDGE
Granted again to men.

The human creature lost the gift of God’s spiritual KNOWLEDGE when Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the prohibited tree which was planted in the midst of the Garden (Genesis 3). Obeying the Lord’s order of NOT eating from its fruit was the permanent source of KNOWLEDGE they had to lead and protect them. This tree of KNOWLEDGE was the living symbol of Christ the Word of God, the TRUE VINE revealed in the New Testament (John 15). But when they broke the order, and ate the fruit, they were no longer a God’s image and got to be definitely expelled from His presence.

Thus, in the 8th century before Christ’s birth, the Lord spoke through prophet Hosea and said: “My people are destroyed for lack of KNOWLEDGE” (Hosea 4:6). Earlier in the 6th century B.C, Daniel had prophesied about KNOWLEDGE being granted again to men:

“… and KNOWLEDGE shall increase…Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the WISE shall understand”. (Daniel 12. 4, 10)

Wasn’t it so amazing as to how the Lord revealed His Son’s birth through a STAR shining in the East (with a written message in it) and where it could ONLY BE SEEN by people who used to search KNOWLEDGE from the stars? Wasn’t it strange to see king Herod not interested at all in the news about A STAR announcing Christ’s birth? He even did not require from the wise men to show him in which direction the STAR was hanging while it was still shining and leading the three foreigners to Bethlehem! Herod, poor Herod, is the symbol of Adam and Eve having totally lost the gift of God’s spiritual knowledge of lifting up his heart to Him.

Lifting up continually our spiritual eyes towards God’s Holy Throne IN HEAVEN is the spiritual gift that the Church of Christ needs to regain in the 21st century. Dear Christian brethren, come and let’s together lift up IN PRAYER our hearts to God and restart searching the messages He issues daily towards his creation. Let’s take our conflicts and problems, our failures and disappointments at his feet EVERY MORNING AND EVENING. For the STAR OF CHRISTMAS, carried by the Holy Spirit is still traveling all over the nations, over the mountains and the valleys, in our churches and businesses! Have you lifted up your spiritual eyes to see HER and follow HER and become THE WISE MAN AND WOMAN OF THIS AGE?

May this special Christmas Time rebuild your calling to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matth.22.37).

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

 

The Olympics: A TRUCE OF PEACE Gospel Reading: John 14:27

The Olympics: A TRUCE OF PEACE
Gospel Reading: John 14:27

As told from ancient Greece in the Antiquities, the Olympic Games was a time of a truce of peace which was probably observed all over the Greek Empire territories. I can imagine what joy and comfort it brought to the troops on all battlefields in Asia, North Africa, Central Europe, etc! Some of them would even have forgotten about the Olympics but were awaken a certain morning by the strong voice of an emissary sent by the Emperor heralding this very statement: “THE OLYIMPICS: A TRUCE OF PEACE”. What a relief it brought to all of them!

In ancient African kingdoms, it is also said that at a certain time, when a king announced a truce to occupied territories, people immediately understood that it was time to collect gifts (as cattle, minerals, etc) to be sent him at court along with two or three pretty girls offered him!

In the Greek Empire, during all the time athletes and sportsmen spent competing in the arena, there was no longer heart flashes about a probable enemy attack. IT WAS PEACE! PEACE EVERYWHERE!

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you;
not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
(John 14:27)

Thus the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings proclaimed our “SPIRITUAL OLYMPIC TRUCE which fortunately has no end! Of course, it has been the precious gold garment of the Christian Church born at Pentecost in Jerusalem and it remains so today more than 200 years later. Furthermore, it will also be the gold shining crown that all the redeemed will be bearing when raptured they will be singing giving thanks to the Lord for having redeemed them FROM THE HAND OF THE ENEMY.(Psalm 107:1-3).

Unfortunately, Satan our enemy will never observe the Lord’s given truce of peace. Why? Simply because our hearts have never proclaimed a truce of peace towards our neighbours. Strange but surely correct if we can’t answer this question with a YES : “How many years have I, have you spent separated from your parents or husband or wife or children or friends or neighbours because YOU REFUSED TO ANNOUNCE TO THEM A TRUCE OF PEACE IN ALL THE MATTERS OF CONFLICT THAT KEEP YOU FAR OF THEM?”.

Four years have now passed between the 2012 Olympics in London, UK, and the ones we are watching in Rio de Janeiro today. Can we remember how our relations with our neighbours were four year ago during the summer 2012? Has something better occurred in as repentance or reconciliation or sending a card or a single gift one to the other? We are still terrifying them with our unhealed hatred between Black and White, between our tribe and theirs, between rich nations and poor nations, between the disabled and those without disabilities. How can we continue praying and imploring the Lord to help us overcome terrorism while our hearts are still filled with darkness thoughts that terrify our neighbours? PLEASE, MAKE A GIFT OF A TRUCE OF PEACE TO YOUR NEIGHBOUR DURING THESE 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES. That’s the precious gift the Lord expects you to give Him NOW!

PRAYER: Thank you Lord Jesus Christ, for the everlasting PEACE you gave us to be always shared with our neighbours. Amen!

May the peace of God be with you.

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

BARRIERS TO BE BROKEN GOSPEL READING : Mark 10:2-16

BARRIERS TO BE BROKEN
GOSPEL READING : Mark 10:2-16

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”(John 8:36, NIV). God created man free with only one barrier set to protect him from destruction as stated from Genesis: 2:16 b-17, NIV:
“You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
but you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil,
for when you eat of it you will surely die”

Unfortunately, men themselves have transformed God’s Infinite Free World into a narrow poor divided world built on their own barriers known as political barriers, religious barriers, economic and financial barriers, cultural barriers, linguistic barriers, tribal, ethnic and racial barriers, intellectual barriers, philosophic barriers, wealth barriers, fashion barriers, driving barriers, medical barriers, exchange barriers, sailing barriers, flying barriers, etc, etc. Consequently men have finally become a barrier between themselves and their Creator and between themselves and their neighbor.

Isn’t it strange to see man trying to build up barriers even within the Law and the Will of God? I imagine Jesus Christ very disappointed to hear the Pharisees heralding the theory of “Separation between husband and wife” while God created them to become one inseparable body, one love, one destiny, from which would emerge one universal people. I also imagine Jesus Christ extremely indignant at seeing His Disciples rebuking people who were bringing little children to have Him touch them. Little children are the symbol of humble hearts that accept God’s Will of love and sharing without hindrance. Little children are the symbol of the new man God really wished to have re-created through Jesus’ holy sacrifice. Little children are the image of God Himself and of His Kingdom: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”(Mark 10:14 b, NIV). Am I, are you a little child that Jesus could welcome joyfully today in the Father’s Kingdom?

The victory of the Christian Church in these terrible times of trial is nothing else than accepting to LIVE IN A LITTLE CHILD’s SPIRIT. As long as The Church of Christ will not lean and hang firmly on Jesus’ promises just as a little child leans and hangs on his father’s promises believing He is mighty than anyone on this earth, She won’t be able to pierce a way through the terrorist empire that is growing up day by day. The super-powered weapon we need to protect our nations is “BEING LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN” in every situation. Secret electronic control machines as well as fighters bombing terrorist strongholds day and night will never lead our nations to victory against the SERPENT OF THIS AGE.

Dear Christian Brethren, we are the SALT and the LIGHT of the world. Let us season our churches and nations with humility in the sight of the Lord and win thousands victories by faith in His powerful word. King Saul wanted young David to wear the best soldier armor in order to defeat Goliath. But the Holy Spirit whispered in David’s heart saying: “For My strength is made in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). AND DAVID DECIDED TO REMOVE AND BREAK THE BARRIER OF WEAKNESS AND DEFEAT that he had just been dressed with. King Saul with his armor was an automatically defeated King. But David WITHOUT SAUL’S ARMOR was an automatically VICTORIOUS WARRIOR. Let us trust the Lord’s promises in our daily struggles! Trust his Mighty Hand TODAY! Yes, GOD CAN and together with Him WE CAN!

PRAYER: O Lord Jesus, grant me your humble heart that lead you to victory upon Satan! Amen.

In Christ’s love

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

RE-SEASONED! Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13

RE-SEASONED!
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13

They live in tropical Africa around forests and lakes and rivers, in wild valleys far from the other tribes. These are the Pygmies, a lower-class tribe which I always look at as being a God created people category to be used as a teaching material for His Church.

Pygmies live on making and selling pots. They always dwell in villages built close to rich clay deposits and surrounded by bushes where they can easily hunt animals. Thus, generations of Pygmies have lived in well known areas for centuries simply because they could get there a kind of clay with a substantial material to produce quality pots. But once they notice the clay deteriorates and starts containing a high percentage of sand, these people simply move away in order to find another useful site.

“You are the salt of the earth; BUT IF THE SALT LOSES ITS FLAVOUR, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men”, Christ states. (Matthew 5:13). Christian Believers are practically similar to the clay searched by the Pygmies. God has also been using the Apostles and all the believers to produce new spiritual pots (other new believers) through the proclamation of the Good News. As long as they have kept sanctifying themselves and faithful to the Great missionary Commission, the Lord has also abided with them confirming the Word through the accompanying signs.(Mark 16:20). As long as the Christian Church has remained a “PRAYING CHURCH”, the Lord has used Her powerfully as a spiritual fighter to bombing Satan’s strongholds. But, where is that supremacy today?

“In the world you will have tribulations!”(John 16:33). Dear Christian Brethren, tribulation IS NOT destruction. In God’s working plan, TRIBULATION IS A SPIRITUAL EMPOWERING PROCEDURE He uses in order to RE-SEASON his Church. We need to go through tribulation in order to become the high quality clay searched out by the Lord. Are you a new-born Christian member of the Church, the Holy Body of Christ? If yes, so tribulation is your calling! We all need to be humbled and seen being NOTHING in order to get the powerful and invincible Spirit of God dwell and abide in this. That’s the great secret of the GREAT REVIVALS that colour the history of the Christian Church.

“Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs,
in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I AM STRONG!”, Paul states. (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Am I accepting testing and tribulation as a believer member of the Holy Church or am I still caught and imprisoned in the unceasing PRAYERS FOR BLESSINGS, BLESSINGS, BLESSINGS? Are you feeling becoming spiritually weak day by day? Are you no longer attracted to kneel and READ THE WORD and PRAY and PRAY and PRAY for the lost? You need to be RE-SEASONED! So, let us all really give its very meaning to this word of HOPE spoken by a true believer in times of tribulation: IN GOD WE TRUST!

Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, grant me a re-seasoned heart, should I need to go through tribulation in order to get it! Amen!

In Christ’s love

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

CHRIST DESERVES OUR THANKS! Luke 17. 11-19

CHRIST DESERVES OUR THANKS!
Luke 17. 11-19

“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back,
And with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face
At his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan” (17:15-16, KJV)

A poor beggar in Bujumbura the Capital of Burundi was a very amazing person. Every Friday as all the other beggars used to go over the streets asking for some help, this elderly man as for him went from shop to shop thanking all the Arab traders who had given him something the PREVIOUS WEEK. He never asked for something else, because, as he said, They all knew what he needed. So all he planed to do was to thank them for their charity. And the miracle was that he was always given more and more.

From the History of Israel we learn that Samaritans and Jews were not good neighbours. They hated each other and nobody could imagine seeing Jesus, a Jew, healing Samaritan leper or one of them falling down on his face at Jesus’ feet to thank Him.

A short African story that we teach in our schools tells us about a pigeon that was resting on a branch of a tree next to a pool. Then it saw in the pool an insect which was struggling to get off the water but was very tired and could no longer fly. The pigeon felt very sorry for the insect and said: “Wait, I can help you, my friend!”.
So the pigeon jumped and cut a small piece of branch which it launched quickly in the pool next to the insect. Making great efforts, the insect was finally able to reach the branch and was pushed to the edge by the wind and was able to get out off the water. After a few minutes spent under the sun, the insect’s wings could function again and it flied. The insect never forgot the great good the pigeon did for it.
A couple of days later, the pigeon was at the same place resting on the same branch. A hunter saw it and was preparing to shoot an arrow to kill it. The insect which was flying around saw the danger and quickly landed on the man’s neck and bit him. The hunter unbalanced shot his arrow which went far away from the pigeon position. And so the bird escaped safely.

The next day, while the insect was drinking water from the pool, the pigeon came and landed on the same branch. The insect said:
– My friend, did you see how I bit the hunter who was going to kill you yesterday and made him miss his arrow shoot against you?
– Oh, no, I didn’t realize that. Thank you my dear friend.

The beggar who came back to thank Jesus received an additional blessing which the others missed: “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”, thus he was told by the Lord. This man certainly went his way with a renewed body and heart. Haven’t we realized from time to time that dark situations we were going through have been miraculously solved? Could you remember a certain day you escaped from Satan’s shooting your hope and your faith? Could you remember a certain day while overwhelmed by the deep waters of despair and loneliness you have miraculously seen a branch next to you and hanged on it and got out. “THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE”, the Lord says again. Never fear the devil’s attacks for Christ is there for you! JUST REMEMBER TO THANK HIM. I personally have a corner in my bedroom where I always go and fall down on my face
at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks IN WHATEVER SITUATION! Such childish but so lovely stories have always made me sing Jeremiah Rankin’s hymn “Tell it to Jesus”, which reminds me to go to Jesus for renewal be it in times of blessing or sorrow:
1.Are you weary, are you heavy hearted? Tell it to Jesus.
Are you grieving over joys departed? Tell it to Jesus alone.

Tell it to Jesus, He is a friend that’s well known;
You’ve no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone.

2. Do you fear the gathering clouds of sorrow? Tell it to Jesus
Are you anxious what shall be tomorrow? Tell it to Jesus alone.

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

WHAT IS THY NAME ? (KJV) Luke 7. 36 – 8 . 3

WHAT IS THY NAME ? (KJV)
Luke 7. 36 – 8 . 3

In African cultures names have special and particular power on people. Usually each of them bears a deep meaning which even can picture the history of a whole Tribe or a nation. Tribes and families are known by their names. Thus, in Kenya, you can easily recognize a Luo or a Kikuyu or a Massai simply by their names. This is also correct in Uganda and in Tanzania where we find many different tribes. Asalo or Atembo sound automatically as Ebembe tribe’s names from the D.R Congo while Kadima or Kashale or Kabangu are names from the Kasaï Tribe in the same D.R Congo, etc, etc.

When I entered high school in 1968, I asked my parents why they named me BARANSANANIKIYE. My mother told me that the reason was because I was born at a time when my parents were horribly hated by our neighbours. In the Burundian culture it is said “Izina ni ryo muntu”(Which means that everything that happens to somebody in his life is the consequence of his name since names have a certain power in our lives). This seemed to be true about me at school since I was hated by some teachers and even students without any clear reason. Even when I did something good, they always had negative critics issued against me. My daughter Fidélité was born after my wife Virginia had gone with a cesarienne. We saw this as a miracle from God and we named her BIGIRIMANA (which means only God has made it possible).

WHAT IS THY NAME , Jesus asked to the demon-possessed ? By asking that question, Jesus wanted to know exactly which kind of demon He was dealing with because the possessed-one had many symptoms showing he was possessed by multiple demons. Jesus didn’t want to command only ONE or TWO or THREE of these demons to go out of the man. No! He wanted to command all of them to leave. Salvation is a complete process that sets man free.

All Kingdoms in ancient Africa and certainly in other parts of the world were built on such demonic powers. It is said that every king had private witch doctors and before he launched an attack, he first checked with them to know exactly the name of their gods and ghosts. Thus, a former story reports that a certain king planed an attack against his neighbour who had defeated him at many battles in the past. A wise man from his advisers told him the following: “Majesty, I have been checking to know why you have always lost your battles against your neighbours. The reason is because you have never known under which ghosts they were empowered. But now, listen, Majesty. The witch doctor I went to told me that if you want to defeat the king you plan to attack, please, simply go first on that mountain and offer a sacrifice to him while pronouncing seven times the names of his gods. And when you’ll launch the attack, tell your soldiers to herald his ghosts’ name casting them out of their way.”

The king did so and the soldiers were instructed as to what they would say. Unfortunately most of his soldiers who knew they would lose the battle as always, drank a lot of alcohol thinking that this would help them to die without suffering. So, when they launched the attack, a few soldiers were able to herald correctly the ghost’s name while the majority under alcohol pressure couldn’t remember what to say and simply cried out with strange words. So, something strange happened at the battle field: The two groups of soldiers started fighting one against the other and many soldiers were killed by their own friends. Finally the remnant of the two groups turned back to their king and killed him as well.

But a wonderful blessing story was recorded the 19th century, when American hymn writer W.C Martin after having tasted how sweet Jesus’ Name was through many trials, wrote the poem “THE NAME OF JESUS” saying:

1.The Name of Jesus is so sweet, I love its music to repeat;
It makes my joys full and complete, The precious Name of Jesus

R:“Jesus”, oh, how sweet the Name ! “Jesus” every day the same;
“Jesus” let all saints proclaim, Its worthy praise for ever.

2. I love the Name of Him whose heart Knows all my griefs and bears apart;
Who bids all anxious fears depart, I love the name of Jesus !

PRAYER: O, Lord Jesus, teach to really love Your Holy Name. Amen!

In Christ’s love

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

FORGIVEN ! FORGIVEN ! Luke 7. 36 – 8 . 3

FORGIVEN ! FORGIVEN !
Luke 7. 36 – 8 . 3

Forgiveness is the greatest blessing men can experience in their life above all other blessings. Being forgiven is not a right but a favour. Forgiveness is one of the pillars in God’s plan for salvation. Unfortunately, men have never agreed with their Creator and even reject to forgive and forgive and always forgive. Am I a forgiver? Are you a forgiver?

Muliro was a renowned thief and everybody was afraid of him. Every time he entered a village or a town, he stole cattle or bicycles or motorcycles and all precious goods. He never left a place without having stolen something; he was a professional thief. Six times Muliro had been captured by villagers but they always forgave him and did not take him to the police station. But this had not taught him to become a forgiver himself because later on he killed his own son who had stolen some potatoes from his garden.

The day Muliro was converted and became a Christian, he told his entire story and among other things he said:
“I was a lost man, a horrible one. One day, I made plans to go to another neighbour town. The previous night in a dream I had seen “THREE JESUS alive” surrounding me but I didn’t understand what that meant. The next morning as I was walking to my destination which was four miles from my home, I met a witch doctor and remembered my mother having told me that he was the one who had killed my father. I stoned him seriously and left him bleeding half-dead in the street. Soon as I was walking the second mile, the sun disappeared and it was night and I had the same vision but saw this time only “TWO JESUS alive” surrounding me. I was afraid. As I continued walking my third mile, I met one of my former fellow-robbers who had left our gang taking with him all the money we had stolen. I ran after him in the bush and captured him and killed him with my knife. As I left the place quickly, the sun disappeared again; it was night and I saw now “ONLY ONE JESUS alive” walking next to me. As I walked the fourth mile, a rich man who was driving alone came behind me. I asked for help and he stopped and took me in his car. Far ahead near a bush, I told him to stop and leave me there. As he stopped, I took his two mobile phones and his briefcase filled with money and ran through the bush. I hid myself there, but the sun disappeared again. This time I saw “NO JESUS” near me.”

Muliro concluded his sad story saying: “On that day I simply understood that I had completely lost the Grace of God and that I had voluntarily driven away JESUS THE FORGIVER from my life. Thus I decided to confess my sins and became a Christian.” To end his testimony he sang William Newell’s marvellous hymn, AT CALVARY, while tears were flowing abundantly from his eyes

Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowning not it was for me He died
On Calvary.

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty,
At Calvary.

Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan !
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man !
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary !

“Blessed are the merciful : for they shall obtain mercy” (KJV)

PRAYER: O Lord Jesus, grant me a forgiving heart in every situation of my life. 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