New Life with Jesus

How do you become a Christian? By believing the Word of God about Jesus, the eternal Son of God who lived and died as a man on earth because He loved you and gave Himself for you.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26

For by grace you have been saved  through faith. And this is  not your own doing;  it is the gift of God, not a result of works,  so that no one may boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
God created us and loved us but we did not love Him. God IS love but we did not love him. God sent His only son to die for us but we did not love him. 
God created a perfect world but we mess it up but He still loves you and me.
If you owe money and your creditor gives you three days grace, you have three more days to pay. But God saves you by grace because His grace is eternal, so you never pay God the debt you cannot pay.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23      
All this is PURE MERCY but the Grace of God is also more than mercy. GRACE is beautiful. Grace is an essential aspect of the lovely character of God who is eternally beautiful.
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
When Jesus died on a cross, He paid the full penalty for all our sin, all our indifference, all our selfishness, all our human faults for all people for all time. This is amazing, wonderful and beautiful. This inspired Handel’s Messiah and the greatest artists of Europe.
The GRACE of God is the power of His creative love to make a true believer a beautiful man or woman in the true image of our Creator and Father.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor 5:17
The GRACE of Jesus Christ sets us free from punishment and condemnation, saves us from death and hell but more than that, the Grace of Jesus Christ TRANSFORMS you into a new person on the inside and God wants His goodness and love to show on the outside, in your smile, in your kind words and in your new life.
When you believe and invite Jesus to be your Master and Teacher, your Lord and your God, He changes you but He does not take away from you the freedom to make decisions, whether right or wrong. You are called to be a free and willing partner with God in becoming the wonderful person He created you to be. More than that, you are called to be a free and willing partner with Jesus in restoring His Kingdom of love and goodness.
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10 (NKJV)
If this message is already the theme of your life, you may know someone else who needs to read it. Please don't hesitate to pass it on to as many people as you like. TELL THE WORLD THAT JESUS LIVES!!
If you are not already a follower of Jesus, you can make a new start now WITH HIM.
Why not talk to Jesus now?
Please write and tell me what you think.

God so loved the world ...

Is it possible to evangelise without love? Sadly yes. There are self righteous Christians who try to convert people in an aggressive and religious way. They misrepresent the JESUS they preach. He always loved. His miracles of healing were not to prove HE was right but motivated by compassion. We should be like that too. He has given us the power of the Spirit of God for this purpose. GOD IS LOVE.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (ESV).
You go to a charismatic meeting and you enjoy the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit. You experience wonderful healing in your body and God blesses you. The deep wounds and hurts in your heart are relieved and you stand up a better and a happier person.
But why stop there? What about other people, the people you live with or work with who don’t know Jesus? If you enjoy the love of God, it is good. But if you don’t share that love with other people, your sweet experiences will fade away and in time you will lose your blessing.
There are pastors who work hard for their church members and build up their church but they are not effective in reaching outsiders. They don’t release and empower people to go out and reach unbelieving people for Jesus. Some might say: “I am a pastor, not an evangelist.” But a pastor is a shepherd. What does Jesus say?
Luke 15:4-7 (ESV)
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Another will say: “My gift is prophecy, not evangelism. God gives me revelations to build up the church.” But how did Jesus use His gifts? Did Jesus only share divine revelations with His disciples?
Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well and began a friendly conversation with her. He set out to win her trust and lead her to faith and eternal life. He did not preach a memorised formula but used His gift of prophetic revelation.
John 4:17-19 (ESV)
17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’;
18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”
19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.”
Another will say: “I am not an evangelist but a Bible teacher.” Why not teach Bible studies on evangelism? Why not invite unchurched people to study the Bible in your home? It works. I have done it. Why not teach the Bible by writing emails and sending them to Christians but also people who might not be committed or fully converted?
I know people who have been led from religion to personal faith in this way.
If your gift is pastoring (shepherding), that does not necessarily mean you are called to lead and manage a church. You might be a mother or father to workmates or neighbours, using your gift to build a caring community and to meet needs. This too can lead people into a personal knowledge of Jesus.                          
What if your gift is healing the sick? Do you only pray for fellow Christians? Why not pray for people outside the church? Healing the sick was one of the most effective ways of winning people to Jesus in the New Testament.
What if your gift is music or worshipping God in songs? Many people are attracted to music, not only in the church. Why not sing for people in hospitals or in the streets? What if you are shy but you really love and pray? Pray for people and tell them you are praying. Watch out for the answers!!

Finding Your Purpose

God put you on earth for a purpose, to be a unique agent of His creative love.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Eph 5:1-2 
If you have put your life in the hands of Jesus and made the Son of God the centre of your life, you are also recreated in HIS image. You are a son or daughter of God. You are in the image of Jesus but that does not mean you are a photocopy of the man Jesus of Nazareth. You are not called to die on a cross to save the world. You are not called to obey all the laws of Moses and live as a perfect Jew.
Just as Jesus had a unique identity, you too have a unique identity.
Jesus had special abilities that you do not have. I am sure Jesus was a very talented carpenter and he had a very strong resonant voice that he could use to preach to enormous crowds without a microphone. He had unique abilities to equip Him for His unique mission. He could speak fluent Aramaic, Hebrew and probably also fluent Greek. He memorised the Hebrew Scriptures, probably the entire Old Testament.
All followers of Jesus have unique gifts and talents to do special things for God. Many have abilities that Jesus did not have in His brief mortal life. For example women have some abilities which are not given to men. Jesus was limited by his male gender.
Jesus was not called to be a musician. It is probable that the great musicians of history had greater musical talents than Jesus had, although Jesus is no longer restricted by the limitations of mortal human life. Jesus in His Eternal Glory is the source and creator of all mankind and the Giver of all gifts and talents.
You cannot declare like Jesus did, that you are the perfect Son of God but you can share a message that Jesus could not and cannot preach. You can tell people how God forgave your sins and restored your lost and broken life. Jesus could not do that and He cannot do that now. He is and always was perfectly holy, totally good and He was never in need of forgiveness.
What is your identity and what is your story? There never was and never will be anyone quite like you. God made you for a purpose. God will not send angels to tell people about Jesus. He is sending you to tell your story. People can argue with your beliefs but they cannot argue with a story.
What unique qualities did God give you to reveal to the world?
But what if you have already ruined your life, or other people through cruel abuse have left your life in a mess?
That is no problem for God.
In Mark Chapter 5, Jesus recruited a most unlikely person to be an evangelist. This man told many thousands of people what Jesus had done for him and ten towns were won over to Jesus.
He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. Mk 5:3-5
Jesus drove hundreds of demons out of this man and immediately sent him out to be a missionary, with amazing results.
No human church leader would ever immediately appoint such a man to evangelise a region but Jesus did.
What is your story? What are your talents and gifts? Maybe other Christians think you are not gifted enough, not good enough, not mature enough, not experienced enough or not trained enough to bless others with your love and faith but God does not think like men.
Ask God why He put you on this earth. Then DO something and keep acting in faith. He wants to change the world through you, one step at a time.

Free and Real Like Jesus

Jesus was persecuted by religious people because He was a friend of sinners. Sinners were attracted to him and they came to spend time with Him. He loved them.

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." Luke 15:1-2
JESUS DIDN'T ONLY PREACH TO SINNERS. HE HAD FELLOWSHIP WITH THEM.

• Do you enjoy life? Do other people find you interesting?

Is your life holy in such a way that unholy people feel that you love them and they want to be with you? THIS IS THE KIND OF CHRISTIAN LIFE GOD WANTS TO SEE ON EARTH, BELIEVERS LIKE JESUS.
Jesus attracted prostitutes and corrupt tax collectors and He loved them. He healed hopeless cases with miracles in unpredictable ways that frequently violated religious rules. He healed a blind man by spitting in dirt and making a muddy paste to anoint the man’s eyes. The Bible believing people of His time had made a rule against this exact practice and Jesus broke the rule on purpose.
Most Bible teachers remind you that the religious persecutors of Jesus were Jews. In this way, they avoid the issue that religious legalism is just as strong and negative amongst many Bible believing Christians today as it was with the Jews 2000 years ago.
Jesus was fully human, a man, not an angel. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and we can be too. The Holy Spirit is a PERSON, just like Jesus. God is never boring or predictable but frequently does dramatic and wonderful things in quite unexpected ways. If we are living in the Holy Spirit, we will frequently have wonderful and exciting experiences which will make life interesting for ourselves and others around us, as it was with Jesus on earth.
One evening I was driving near the city when I saw a young woman on a bus stop. She was not dressed modestly. I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to stop and give her a lift. I asked God, “Is that really you?” I really felt it was God, so I turned back and picked her up. It turned out this was a prostitute but not really a woman. I had a very down to earth conversation about male prostitution, heroin addiction, the love of Jesus and his childhood as a Jehovah’s Witness. I later visited his daytime workplace in a hairdressing salon and gave him a Bible. He was so deeply moved that he wanted to kiss me, which I found very embarrassing.
When you are open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, amazing things happen.
Jesus was constantly criticised by the committed Bible believing people. They had reduced the Bible to a set of doctrines and rules. Many Bible believing Christians are like that today.  If you enjoy a supernatural life with the unpredictable Holy Spirit, strange things will happen and serious Christians will reject you. Don’t take them too seriously. They take themselves too seriously already.
Spirits of control are the same dark spirits, whether in churches, political parties, governments, schools, or business organisations. Jesus did not teach chaos and selfish individualism but He taught FREEDOM and brotherhood and teamwork, leadership without ownership, guidance without authoritarianism, obedience without losing your identity. Your true identity comes from the God who created you to be UNIQUE.
    THE ESSENCE OF CONTROLLING RELIGION IS NOT CHURCH BUILDINGS BUT RATHER IT IS WHEN THE MAN WITH THE MICROPHONE ROBS YOU OF WHO YOU ARE. When God gives YOU a vision for HIS purpose for you, that can NEVER be cancelled out or overridden by the vision of the leader of the church you join. LAST TIME I READ MY BIBLE it said THE LORD is my Shepherd. Jesus ranks higher than any human preacher.
But often preachers are also victims of religious control.
A pastor of a big active church desperately desired to go out and reach unchurched people, to be an evangelist. But his church kept him so busy preaching, teaching, counselling and organising Christians, that he had no time. He pleaded with his people to release him but they refused. They said they needed him to look after them. Eventually he resigned as pastor and left the church altogether. He became a successful evangelist.
He obeyed God. What about you?

Finding God Personally

There is a difference between believing in God and FINDING God. Great explorers believed in the lands they were looking for but when they actually landed on the shores of distant countries, that was an entirely different matter.
Many people know about Mother Theresa but how many people MET her face to face or actually WORKED with her?

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. John 1:6-7 (NKJV)
John the Baptist was a supernatural baby. His mother was a childless old woman. One day an angel from Heaven visited her aged husband and promised he and his wife would be like Abraham and Sarah, who became parents when they were over 90 years old.
When God supernaturally creates new life, it is not a one off event but a launching pad for a process of supernatural transmission of life, the multiplication of the reality of Heaven from one person to many others.  
Some people believe in God for years before they MEET HIM and are transformed into sons or daughters of the Heavenly Father. In other cases, God can ambush an atheist or idol worshipper in a dream or vision or even a direct visitation.
I know a young Hindu woman who visited a Christian church and then began reading the New Testament. One night Jesus walked into her bedroom and told her to write down a message. She wrote the words as Jesus dictated them and she became a follower of Jesus and a daughter of the One True God.
These are the words that Jesus gave her to write.
King of kings
Priest of priests
My lord you are the only way,
Through which I can attain eternal life
You are the light of my life
With you in my life
Darkness shall never reside
You are my devotion
You are my salvation;
Lord your mercifulness and greatness,
Shall never be forgotten
Lord you have laid your life for us,
You have accepted to be crucified
So that the holiness of your
Blood shall wash our sin
Jesus, king of Jerusalem

When you FIND God, MEET God, and come to KNOW God, you can expect HIM to speak to you. You read the Bible and a phrase leaps out at you. You know Jesus is speaking to YOU. The Bible becomes to you the living Word of God, His message to you.
You talk to God and sometimes you sense He is talking to you. You sort of KNOW certain things and THINK certain things and PERCEIVE certain realities which you could not know by yourself.
Even before you come to KNOW Jesus and follow Him as His disciple, God can speak to you in mysterious ways. Why? Because He created you. He planned your life and loved you before the foundation of the world. He wants you to know HIM and to be with HIM forever.
And when you encounter Jesus and you KNOW God personally, that is just the beginning of a journey of discovery. As you listen to the still small voice of God and follow His plans for your life, you discover why you were put on this earth, to make a unique contribution to the lives of others, to reveal the supernatural reality of God to people in despair and confusion.
THERE IS A MAN SENT FROM GOD AND HIS NAME IS BILL DERHAM.
THERE IS A WOMAN SENT FROM GOD AND HER NAME IS ANA, MY WIFE.
Put your own name in that sentence and it is true. God has a unique purpose and a plan for your life and He is waiting for you to receive His calling. He wants to send YOU to reach this world for him.
You may have been a Christian for years but  you are discouraged by your own weaknesses and failures. START AGAIN.
Perhaps you have been basing your Christian life on the expectations and teachings of other Christians, even church leaders but this has not made you a world changer. Do something different. Search for a personal encounter with God and do what He tells you.

KNOWING GOD.

But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NKJV)
God is searching your heart. Does that mean He is looking for the dark secrets, the hidden weaknesses, the shameful thoughts that sometimes trouble you? No, He knows all about those things and He loves you anyway. God condemned His own Son to die on the cross. He died in your place to pay for all the shameful things in your life. Now He sees you as His dear child, as one who He gave His dear Son for.
If you invited Jesus to come into your life, He came. God is actively involved and lovingly at work in your thoughts, in your feelings and in every part of your being.
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. John 6:37 (NKJV)
But He will not interfere with your free will. He will not force you to think the way He wants you to. He longs for you to come into harmony with His love and truth. If you have opened your life to Jesus to become His follower, that means God has become your partner in life but not your equal partner, because God is God and He is your Lord and Master. God will direct your life but He is not interested in passive obedient slaves or puppets. What Jesus said to His chosen apostles is what He longs to be able to say to each one of us.
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:14-15 (NKJV)
The obedience He is looking for is the active partnership of men and women who want to please God and be led and directed by Him. The Spirit of God is searching your heart in love. He has  also opened His heart to you. He is inviting you to search His heart and know His love and understand His ways for yourself.
God is sad when we passively depend on preachers to tell us what to think about Him. I love good preaching but that must never be my main connection to God. In the Old Testament, God gave prophets and priests to stand between God and the people. Now each one of us is invited to enter into deep personal communication with Him.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)
If you have never placed your life in the hands of Jesus who loved you and died for you, now is the time. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Jesus died to forgive your sins but you must receive Him to benefit from His forgiveness.

RICK JOYNER'S PROPHECY OVER GERMANY.

Strategic Prophetic Word - Europe - Germany

by Rick Joyner
May 31, 2002

Germany is one of the most strategic nations on earth, both spiritually and economically, and will again be a great military power. This is a nation of doers that must have a vision. Without a clear and noble vision, racism, national intolerance of others, anger, and cruelty will again sink its roots deep into the German culture and seek to direct its future. Steered with strong and noble leadership, Germany can become a powerful force for good in the world, healing the many ethnic conflicts within Europe and the Middle East. One thing that Germany will not be is neutral.

There is a calling on Germany to continue spearheading the Reformation of the church. Because of this the enemy is seeking to raise the level of religious intolerance and suspicion of all but mainline religious groups to thwart this nation's ultimate purpose.

Spiritually and politically there are many leaders arising in Germany that are truly a new breed. These have been patiently waiting for their time, maturing in their vision and resolve. They will soon be ready to lead. However, there will be a great battle between the forces of liberty and those of intolerance and tyranny. The direction the government takes in relation to religious liberty will be the direction it takes in regard to political liberty as well. Germany will either have true freedom or again be subject to oppressors.

If Germany chooses freedom, there is a strong enough moral center in the cultural heart of Germany that will not continue to tolerate the moral and spiritual pollution that is now the norm for much of Europe. Germany will then begin to set a separate course from the rest of Europe. Germany has one of the greatest potentials of any nation on earth to build a free society that is not overcome with moral corruption and pollution. Of all the people on earth who have a law in their hearts, Germans are near the top. They want to do what is right, and with the right spiritual and political leadership they can become one of the greatest moral nations on the earth.

The great danger for such a strong and resourceful people is that when the devil sees he cannot stop them in a matter, he will get behind them and push them too far. Becoming reactionary and extremists will always be a danger for this nation, but becoming a nation of noble and decisive action is its calling.

Even though Satan has tried to place his throne in the heart of Germany, Germans will be some of the first to respond to the gospel of the kingdom of God, and to bow before the throne of the King of kings. Germany is called to bring life and healing to all the places the devil has used them to bring destruction and death.

German leaders will one day join with the spiritual leaders of Britain and Russia to form a cord of three strands that will not be easily broken. Germany will also become one of the greatest friends of God's purpose for Israel and the Jewish people. Israel will love Germany and Germany will love Israel. These two nations are more alike than any two nations on earth at this time, and they will soon "discover" each other in a wonderful and powerful way.
Rick Joyner, 5/31/2002