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 8^th 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 6^th 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 21^st 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

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

“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

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

“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

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

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

AN URGENT APPEAL FOR A NON-STOP FIRE PRAYER CONGRESS TO DEFEAT TERRORISM PLANS.

Christians, It’s YOUR Responsibility!

PRAYER: O, Lord Jesus Christ, in your mercy, do remember and comfort those suffering from the terrorist attacks in Orlando, Florida, and all over the world.

“When He rose up from PRAYER, and had come to His disciples,
He found them SLEEPING from sorrow. Then He said to them ‘WHY DO YOU SLEEP? Rise and PRAY, lest you enter into temptation” (Luke 22:45-46)

Kenya is a wonderful touristic country with wide parks where are dwelling many kinds of wild animals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Killing any of them is strongly prohibited by the Kenyan Law and any violators are seriously prosecuted. Last year, a lion escaped from a park and got very close to Nairobi city the capital where it started attacking people. The park guards in pursuit of the feline had no other solution than shooting and killing it despite regulations protecting the animal. Why?

These wild animals are supposed to live and remain inside the officially known park areas. Once a lion or a leopard e.g. get out of it and starts attacking people in towns or villages, it become automatically also a Law-violator and the police will also violate the Law that protects it and kill it.
“For where two or three are gathered in My Name,
I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20).

Jesus Christ is in the midst of His faithful Church AS LONG AS SHE REMAINS INSIDE THE SPIRITUAL MANDATE HE ENTRUSTED HER WITH. That very mandate is PRAYER: “My house shall be called a house of PRAYER, but you have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13). Just as the park guards protect animals dwelling inside the park and are also allowed to shoot and kill them once they go out and attack people, similarly Jesus Christ is in the midst of His Church, blessing and protecting Her (Matthew 28:20). But once the Christian Church starts deviating from her holy mandate, the Lord will simply allow the serpent to BRUISE her heel (Genesis 3:15).

Believe it or not, the facts attest spiritually and clearly that our nations are presently suffering the consequences of the Christian Church’s departing from her mandate. What if these terrorist attacks in Orlando or in Colorado, etc, had happened in the days of Dwight L. Moody or Charles Finney and many other great American servants of God? I believe they would have quickly called for a nationwide PRAYER CAMPAIGN to lead all America to cease their labours and FAST and PRAY for an unknown time in order to HUMBLE the whole nation at the feet of Jesus and bring everyone to PRAY and SEEK the Lord’s face and TURN from their wicked ways”. (2 Chronicles 7:14). Signing to have flags put at half-mast is symbolically good and legal but, spiritually, this will never mean anything in the sight of the Lord. WHY NOT PUT OUR HEARTS AT HALF-MAST before Jesus who loves our nation and wants to HEAR us crying, and then FORGIVE our sins and HEAL our Land? (“Chronicles 7:14b). Why have we delayed doing so since a so long time!

TODAY is the decisive and right time to encircle terrorism with a worldwide fortress of PRAYER WARRIORS organized and supported by our nations as a NON-STOP FIRE PRAYER CONGRESS working UNTIL THE LORD RETURNS IN THE CLOUDS IN POWER AND GLORY. America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, Rise and PRAY! Why do you sleep, the Lord asks? Look, in less than ten months, terrorism the great serpent of the 21st century has strongly hit Paris, then Brussels and now Orlando, USA. How many times did this happen previously in America and in many other countries? Why did the Christian Church and international Christian organizations over the world remain caught and made hostages of a spiritual SLEEP generated by a psychological sorrow? Why should Christians walking by FAITH continue staying idle and not take action?

Again, Christians, it’s YOUR RESPONSIBILITY! For as long as you won’t accept to return to your PRAYER mandate:
– SORROW will always continue filling your hearts and you’ll no longer find the joy of being led by the Holy Bible (Psalm 119:105) nor have good success (Joshua 1:8).
– You will enter into temptation (Luke 22:46) and start struggling in the flesh like Peter (Luke 22:49-51).
– You’ll start denying Christ the Lord publicly like Peter in your Assemblies saying: “We do not know Him” (Luke 22:57-60).
– You’ll all return to your former sinful life far from the Saviour’s plan like Peter (Luke 22:57-60).

Do we really need to see our nations healed and set free by the Lord?
Come on, let’s unite and PRAY now and say:
“O Lord Jesus Christ, in your mercy, forgive us and remove the darkness over us and allow your heavenly light to lead us back to working on our spiritual mandate in PRAYER! Amen.

May the peace of God be with you.

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

JESUS CHRIST PRAYS FOR US!
GOSPEL READING : John 17. 20-26

How often do we remember that Jesus prays for us, for me, for you, as the ones who are in God’s plan for salvation? The Bible tells so clearly that, “…Who (Jesus) is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession us”(Romans 8:34). Whenever I feel no longer courageous to pray or feel overwhelmed by any dark situation, this very verse I always remember and then in the hands of Jesus lay my heart and all of the despair that is wearing me down because I know Somebody in Heaven is praying for me unceasingly day and night!

But I remember one day when this very Truth sounded powerfully again in my life. This true story happened in August 1967 when together with my brother Benjamin and our sister-cousin Jacqueline we visited our uncle in Gakungwe, 12 kilometers south of Bujumbura the Capital of Burundi. His house is still there even now next to the touristic place where a huge rock is set with these writings engraved on it : “Stanley-Livingstone, 1871”. It a remembrance site that this was the place where these two British explorers met.

Amos was our Uncle’s name and he lived from fishing on Lake Tanganyika which was only one kilometre far from his home. The best thing he could offer to us the children was to take us fishing at night in his little 2 seat wood-made boat. We were so glad to hear him making the proposal before we ate our supper. There was moonlight and as Uncle Amos told us, this was the best time for any fishers of this kind of little fish called “Muneke” to work on the lake. Otherwise fishing groups that use big hurricane lamps and large boats can only work when there is no moonlight as they have to attract bigger fishes around and catch them with strong nets.

So, we walked down to the lake around eight O’clock at night and reached the shore where uncle’s little boat was attached to a tree with strong warp threads. After releasing it, Benjamin and I helped him to push it into the water and we all got in and Uncle Amos seated at the back started rowing up into the lake. We reached a distance of approximately one kilometre from the shore and he stopped there and cast anchor. He was an angling fisher and used rather five hooks fixed on five separated points on a long nylon thread attached on a long flexible stick. He soon caught the first fishes which he pulled out of the water. They were so agitated and he wanted us to put them in the basket we had and cover it with a plastic sheet to avoid them jump back in the water. Uncle caught more and more “Muneke” small fishes but suddenly, something hit strongly the boat and fissured it and the water was springing up in it. We cried loudly and Uncle told us to quickly take the pan we had with us and start collecting the water and pour it back in the lake to avoid the boat to sink.

While we were doing so, Uncle Amos weighed anchor, and quickly started rowing back to the shore. We could hear him appealing upon the ghosts to rescue him since he was not a newborn Christian. Frightened, Benjamin and I and Jacqueline started crying loudly to Jesus: “O Lord Jesus, have mercy upon us!” Then came to my mind the story of Jesus and His Disciples crossing the Lake and how He commanded the waters to keep quite. So, I cried loudly “Jesus, rescue us as you rescued Peter and John!”. Unfortunately, the wind begun to blow pushing the boat back in the lake and we could see uncle Amos struggling courageously against it. This was the highest point of our adventure and Benjamin and I and Jacqueline lost hope and kept completely silent waiting to see the end. But this was also the precious time God had chosen for me to hear a voice murmuring in my heart and saying: “Jesus is praying for you !”

Then suddenly, another powerful wave pushed our boat to the shore and we all shouted with joy. When back at home, Uncle Amos told us that it was a big hippopotamus that had hit and fissured our boat. But, why didn’t it continue and overturn the little boat in the lake? Only Jesus knows! THANK YOU my Lord and Saviour, JESUS CHRIST!

Let’s pray together with the psalmist:

“O Lord. For you, O Lord, are all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.
Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
For He guards the lives of His faithful ones
And delivers them from
The hand of the wicked. AMEN. (Psalm 97. 9-10)

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

IS OUR LOVE ABOUNDING STILL MORE AND MORE?

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more
In the knowledge and all discernment” (Philippians 1:9)

Patrick, one of our pupils in 9th form is from a very poor family. We have allowed him to attend school free. We also help him with needed school stationery and a uniform. This year, all the 9th form pupils in Burundi had to go through a national course selection exam. Unfortunately, it had been officially announced that any of them who were involved either in payment or lack of documents litigation would not participate. The school Patrick attended two years ago refused forwarding to us his file because the young boy was into debt with a whole school year fee. Consequently I had an idea as to test at which level the teachings of love our pupils hear so many times have been received. I asked each one of Patrick’s schoolmates to bring one kilogram (1 kg) of the bean grain so that they can together resell the collect at the market and help their friend. In Burundi, May is the bean harvest season, so every one of the pupils should get some to donate since we are located in a rural farming area.

Surprisingly, only four pupils responded to my appeal. My wife and I gave also a contribution. Five days before the national exam was organized, the radio announced that the Minister of Education had just issued an ordinance authorizing ALL 9th FORM PUPILS to participate in the Exam despite any litigation they might have with their schools. So, Patrick’s case was solved miraculously and he has attended. Hallelujah! The next morning I read to the 9th form pupils Paul’s words from Philippians 1:9 and told them that what they refused to do for their poor friend, God had done it perfectly using the Minister of Education. They all fell in tears and repented.

Dear Christ’s followers around the world, the Lord is also allowing problems and sad events to occur around us the Christians as to testing which level of maturity our LOVE has reached in knowledge and discernment of His will. Thus, TODAY, why be astonished seeing refugees from the Middle-East and immigrants from Africa rushing by thousands day by day to the borders of your richest European nations, many of them risking even their life in the Mediterranean Sea? Who really understands what God is doing?

I always tell my congregation in Gitega, that LOVE being the more excellent spiritual gift WILL ALSO AND ALWAYS BE THE MOST SOUGHT in solving various world current issues. Apostle Paul prayed that our LOVE towards the Lord and our neighbor MIGHT ABOUND STILL MORE AND MORE. This to mean that the level it had attained the previous year e.g., should be increased at a certain percentage every new coming year.
Now, could you believe that the Lord is allowing all this sad situation with the immigrants and the refugees BECAUSE YOUR LOVE HAS NOT ABOUND STILL MORE AND MORE for many years? Your bank accounts are filled with SAVINGS FOR YOUR SUMMER HOLIDAYS planed to go to the most beautiful beaches in the world while thousands desperate brothers and sisters are dying at the shores of your borders! Christian ministries in the Third World are lacking sufficient support and no longer making progress BECAUSE YOUR LOVE IS NOT ABOUNDING STILL MORE AND MORE!

If my LOVE donation was $10 a month during the past decade, Paul’s Spirit is still praying that it becomes $15 a month beginning this year of Grace. Have you managed to bring it up that way? Stopping our LOVE gift to growing is also to choke the Spirit of LOVE we have received from the Lord. Refusing our LOVE donation to growing year by year is also a negative prayer asking Jesus to no longer pray that our businesses and our economy or our plantations may prosper. Refusing our LOVE donations to increasing is finally to tell the Lord: “No Lord, I am no longer your follower!” See how plants and animals and yourself grow and grow day by day!

A certain day in the history of Israel, as king Hezekiah was told by Prophet Isaiah to set his house in order for he was to die and not live, he immediately called upon the Lord and said: “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what’s good in Your sight” (Isaiah 38:3). And the Lord answered:
“I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears, surely
I will add to your days fifteen years” (Isaiah 38:5)

Hezekiah was given fifteen additional years to live in order to INCREASE his walking in truth with a loyal heart and do what was good in God’s sight. Dear brethren, what could be your fifteen added years for if they could be given to you? Could we together let the Lord speak today about our richest nations and families, about you and me personally and say: “I have HEARD your prayer…, I have SEEN your love abounding still more and more, and surely, I will ADD…”?

You are so many rich Christians in the West having monthly SAVINGS (non used money) that can easily support 10 African families’ basic expenditures to survive a month and start setting slowly and maintain a small self-support project. Could you hear this appeal and take action TODAY? This is a Christian worldwide project that honors the Name of the Lord and yourself the donor, and which we could have started NOW e.g. in the ten poorest countries of the world including Burundi my fatherland. Let us call it “THE ONE FAMILY SUPPORTING 10 POOR FAMILIES PROJECT”

PRAYER: O Lord, may your Spirit of LOVE revive my heart and enable my sleeping LOVE abound still more and more for the rest of days you have grated me to live. 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