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

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

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

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

In Christ’s Love,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Christ’s Love,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Christ’s Love,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Christ’s Love,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Christ’s Love,

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

SCEPTICISM IN THE WORLD !
GOSPEL READING : John 20:19-31

There is an amusing story about an african preacher who went preaching to a remote area in the bush. His message was about Thomas doubting of the Resurrection of Christ. At the end of his sermon, nobody responded to his call to repent from their sins. They simply told him that they understood nothing from all he had been preaching about. Then he re-started preaching a second improvised sermon but this time didn’t open his Bible to read. He told his humble audience about a herd of 12 hares which lived together in the bush. They all knew tricks of escaping from leopards’ attacks but their chief was the best.

One day, the preacher said, as they were grazing in the forest, a leopard attacked them. As always, the hares escaped each one going its direction. But the leopard kept pursuing the chief-hare trying to catch him. Fortunately, on the way, the leopard met another distracted hare which belonged to another flock and caught it. The hare cried desperately and from their hiding places all the other hares knew their chief was certainly killed. But the chief-hare was still alive and had found refuge in a python’s earth. As the python wanted to catch and swallow him, the chief-hare implored it and said:
– Sir, wait, please. I have brought a big leopard to thank you for your hospitality. Come out and see it over there, it is eating a hare.

The python agreed and came out of its hole and caught the leopard and killed it. Then the python told the hare that it would kill soon all the leopards in that forest so that the hares may live peacefully. But the hare had an idea and thought that the other leopards might intervene soon and avenge their friend. So, the chief-hare ran and jumped on a branch and hid himself there. Leopards went and came nearby the tree but none could think there was a hare up there because they knew hares don’t climb trees. Then three days later, the preacher continued, the 12 hares had a meeting in the forest under the tree where their chief had found refuge but they did not know he was there. Their unique agenda point was “Choosing a new chief.” As discussions began, a voice spoke from the branches of the tree and said:
– Peace be with you, my friends, I am alive!”

They all kept silence for a while, terrified. The voice repeated and said: “Peace be with you, my friends, I am alive!” This time, all the hares dared to look up in the tree and some of them shouted with joy saying: “It’s him, it’s him! Oh dear chief, how did you came to arise? Hadn’t the leopard killed you?” Five hares from the herd didn’t believe it was their chief. They simply thought it was a ghost that had disguised itself into a hare in order to catch and kill them. So they left. But the 7 others said to the chief: “Chief, if it is really you, call us by our names and then lead us to our hole.” The chief-hare did so and they all believed it was really him.

The preacher concluded and said: “The Chief-hare is Jesus the Son of God I told you. All of his Disciples thought He was dead but miraculously saw Him amidst them as they were praying in the upper-room. Because of the Chief-hare’s exploit, all the leopards in the forest were killed. Jesus has defeated Satan for you and for me. Now we are free and hidden in God’s powerful hands.” The story ends saying that on that very day the whole village accepted Jesus as their personal Saviour and a church was planted there for the first time.

Dear Brethren, was Thomas wrong as he doubted about the risen Jesus? Most of Christians say Thomas lacked faith. But I believe when he said he needed to touch Jesus, he was thinking about his words: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my Name, claiming, I am the Christ, and will decieve many” (Mathew 24:4-5, NIV).

Today’s world is going through extremely challenging times. The police no longer believes you are Justin Baransananikiye simply because your passport tells so. A biometric checking system has been developed to make sure they are dealing with the right person. DNA analysis is used to make sure they got the right Saddam Hussein or Usama Ben Ladden. We no longer trust the writings printed on cans as “Canned Beef” or “Chicken”. The world is filled with scepticism and doubt. But One thing we know is that JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN and IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER IN HEAVEN and that HE WILL RETURN TO RAPTURE THE BELIEVERS. That’s our Security forever !

In the love of Christ,

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

BEING FIRST
GOSPEL READING : Mark 9. 30-37

I imagine how many teens and even adults have started dreaming to become famous like BOLT the Jamaican sprinter since they saw him winning medals upon medals at the London 2012 Olympics. But that would not be so easier than becoming a Bill Gates the first richest man in the world. Becoming first does always require wisdom and efforts, time and sacrifices, but also testing through many unexpected situations. Being first in this world has never been an easy obtained gift but a tough struggle. Glory! Glory! is the very dream and concern of man.

Jesus had just healed a young boy with an evil spirit and while walking down to Capernaum with his Disciples, He told them that He was going to be betrayed into the hands of men, and be killed, but would rise after three days. “But they did not understand what He meant and were afraid to ask him about it.”(Mark 9:32, NIV).

That’s how men usually react in many situations. They never take time to understand neither God’s Truths nor His plans nor His appeals to a particular problem to be solved. Instead of going to God for needed explanation, men start discussing and arguing about their own concern for glory! What Peter and the other Disciples were arguing about had no relation at all with the healing of the boy neither with an evil spirit nor with Jesus being betrayed and killed and rise. Incomprehensible! Unbelievable!

“Oh! You want to be first, asks Jesus? Here’s my free eternal project for all those who want to be and remain eternally FIRST: “If anyone wants to be FIRST, he must be THE VERY LAST, and THE SERVANT of all.” Strange! Would say any modern scholar! How can FIRST be equal to VERY LAST? For men, first is first and last is last, while for God, FIRST is LAST and VERY LAST is FIRST. The Apostle Paul understood earlier this Truth that “the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength” (I Corinthians 1:25, NIV). Yes, because the VERY LAST is the rear seat where the very humble sit waiting for God’s plan to come upon them. That’s where the invalid of Bethesda had been lying for thirty-eight years, having no favor to get someone to help him plunge into the pool when the water was stirred by an angel. The VERY LAST is the seat for SERVANTS OF OTHERS, SERVANTS OF ALL! Servants of All are rare to find in this over proud world.

But the most touching teaching Jesus gave his Disciples on that day was the one about welcoming a little child in his Name: “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my Name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the One who sent me”(Mark 9:37, NIV).

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

YOUR SOUL AND MY SOUL
GOSPEL READING : Mark 8. 27-37

Knowing who Jesus is, is one thing. Accepting the mandate He has been entrusted as Jesus is another thing. Peter had the privilege to DISCOVER and KNOW who Jesus was: the CHRIST. He was prepared to accept everything about Him, powerful sermons, miracles, healings, crowds searching for Him, etc. But one thing he didn’t accept was that the Son of Man would suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of law, and be killed. This made Peter dare to rebuke The Master and try to convince Him of making a terrible mistake!
Most of the Christians will tell you Jesus is the Son of God but not all believe He died and rose and went back to the Father in heaven and that He will return to Earth and rapture the Believers. They’d rather prefer Karl Marx and Engels’ teachings than making “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”(John 3:16) a vision and a rule for their life. They’d rather spend lots of money subscribing to 10 different newspapers and always observe the horoscope and quotes from well-known philosophers than buying a cheap Bible and meditate daily the Word of God that gives life to men. Yet, Jesus’ mandate to Earth was made clear since Isaiah’s days about 800 years before He was born: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering…But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by his wounds we are healed…He was assigned a grave with the wicked…After the suffering of his soul, He will see the light of LIFE and be satisfied”(Isaiah 53:3, 4-5, 9, 11). Who then was right to rebuke the other? Was it Peter or Jesus? Who had his belief and feet correctly standing in the things of God? Of course, Satan didn’t want Jesus to bear men’s sins at the Cross and die and rise to life again to GRANT US ETERNAL LIFE.
“Peter! you must also die to your unbelief and sins, you must die to your pride and selfish, you must die to trusting your capacities and your reasoning, and then rise again to Eternal Life. That’s the requirements to be my follower.” I also believe that today many lives in this world would be changed IF PEOPLE COULD SIMPLY ACCEPT TO DIE WITH CHRIST.

In 1984, I was invited to preach at a remote parish of a Free Methodist Church in Kabezi about 15 km South of Bujumbura the capital of Burundi. The Pastor had told me that the congregation there was so terrified by a sorcerer, a witch doctor, member of his congregation who had made big fortunes from lying that he could heal various illnesses while people continued to die in his hands. I didn’t know that person before. But while I was preaching, a strong and tall man stood from the rear bench in the little chapel and begun to defy me. Suddenly, he flied slowly like a big eagle above the heads of people in the chapel and headed towards the pulpit. I was afraid but didn’t run away. He came and banged against the pulpit which was built with strong bricks and cement and fell down. I didn’t worry about him and continued with my sermon.

The congregation stood up as they thought he was dead and some ran out fearing vengeance from his evil spirits. As I concluded my sermon, the man woke up and sat down and watched the congregation around silently. He stood up and asked for prayer. I invited the congregation to join in prayer for him after what the sorcerer said: “I now understand that I have been wrong all my life long, lying, killing, stealing, and thinking I was a god. But Jesus is the only true God I want to serve.” Later I was told that he repaid everything he had taken from people and became poor and humble. Yes, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”

May the peace of God be with you.

President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheneingchristian.doodlekit.com/blog

THE POWER OF HUMILITY
GOSPEL READING : Mark 7. 24-37

Jesus Christ the humble leaves the crowds of Gennesaret and moves to the Mediterranean coast where He hadn’t preached the Gospel before hoping that He wouldn’t be seen nor discovered by the very busy traders of these thriving cities of the Antiquity. He enters a house, certainly a humble one and makes no publicity, no TV shows, nor appearances in newspapers editorials, anything to gather attention around him. Silence! While there, a foreigner woman, a Greek woman, a humble mother who had certainly heard about Jesus ‘miracles in Galilee and Decapolis, was also informed about his entry in the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. Her little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit. She certainly could no longer sleep for nights. Pharisees in their Synagogues had certainly no solution to help her. She suffered solitude, was abandoned, humiliated, rejected, stressed, hopeless, but on that very day she believed Jesus could put end to her ordeal as He has done with the man with an evil spirit in the region of Gerasenes (Mark chap. 5). So, she decided to go on searching Him until she found Him and fell at his feet begging Him to drive the demon out of her daughter.

Unfortunately, “First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs”, She was told by the One She had taken as her latest hope! “Don’t you know you are a dog?” Anybody could imagine himself going through such a disappointing experience losing consequently all hope but this tough woman hero didn’t. “Yes, Lord, you’re right; I am a dog, a big dog! She replied. I am not allowed to sit on a chair next to the children and share their delicious meal. I know where my place is: under the table! And, please do remember that none of the children has ever been and will never be seated under the table and eat crumbs. Lord, Lord, give me my crumbs. I am here to beg for crumbs! And the miracle was accomplished for her daughter. THE POWER OF HUMILITY!

In 1972 during the horrible massacres of the Hutus in Burundi, I was also targeted just like the many other students who were savagely killed. The Kibimba Quaker High school I attended was located in the mountains of Gitega 80 km far from my home in Bujumbura. We left school on June 28 and yet en route, some of our schoolmates were extracted from our van by the police and taken to the execution site. As I got home, my mother said I couldn’t spend the Summer holiday there since all my friends around had already been killed. So, early the next morning, Mum took me and we walked more than 35 km on foot to reach the border between Burundi and the D.R. Congo. She had helped me to put on rags and carry on my head a worn basket containing some cassava pieces as to distort myself and appear like a poor person going to the market. We reached the little village of Gatumba at the border with the Congo and fortunately I met a friend of mine who had escaped from being killed at a high school in Bujumbura. He had also distorted himself. We went through a plantation of cotton where we met the state milicia. They looked at us and said, “You, dogs where are you going? We replied humbly that we were poor farmers going to sell our cassava to the little Congolese market there at the border. They allowed us to continue and we could cross the border safely.
While refugees in the D.R Congo, we had nothing to eat. Every morning we decided to go at a market rubbish dump where we found various peelings to eat. People finally called us “The dogs from Burundi” and we were so happy to bear that humiliating name. The essential for us was to get something to eat. Yes we were humble big dogs who could survive that way in a strange land. Praise God! I recently met again my friend with whom I shared this long journey as refugees to the Congo. He has been the Burundian Ambassador to Egypt since 2006. He said “Justin, do you remember our story in 1972 in the Congo?” THE POWER OF HUMILITY!

May the peace of God be with all of you !

Bishop Justin BARANSANANIKIYE, DD, DMin
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheneingchristian.doodlekit.com/blog