Be Honest With Yourself and with God

Let us, saints of God, be honest — the church in America is widely dishonest.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the spiritual health of the American church?

How close does our worship come to that prescribed in Scripture?

Consider - most churches keep service to an exact punctual finish time, usually one hour, or less, in order to make sure that members do not get restless or upset, or heaven forbid….miss the noon hour football game. The church I grew up in moved the worship time from 11 to 10:30 for precisely this reason. The Green Bay Packers would be playing on Sundays at 12, so they moved the service earlier. Do you realize the choir robes were also green and gold colored? Where are our priorities?

This is not to say that you can’t enjoy football. The point is, why do most people more easily attend the football game (which lasts for hours) and raise their hands to celebrate their team (yet many hesitate to raise their hands to Jesus) than attend a Spirit-led church and worship Him with liberty?

Let’s talk money. The church needs money in order to survive. We can’t give out free food to the needy or Bibles to those who have never owned one without money. This is a reality. So God instituted the tithe. The problem is, most people do not give 10% of their income because it would hamper their lifestyle. Those that do are blessed and of great obedience and value to the church. But there’s an even stranger problem in many large churches in America. The focus becomes all about the tithe and all about the offering, that people end up giving large quantities of money, but the money isn’t going to the missions, the money is going entirely to the pastor’s giant house and luxury car. Should the pastor earn a salary? Sure, there’s nothing wrong with that. But, should the pastor be the richest member in the congregation? That’s dangerous, friends.

Back to our scale. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rank the overall discipleship of the American churches?

Do you read your Bible absolutely every day, morning and evening? Or do you complain that your children are too difficult to handle and your job is too time-consuming so that you are too tired to be in the Word?

What is your prayer life like? Most people will never admit to their pastors that they don’t pray consistently (unless they take an anonymous survey). Saints of God, we know. You don’t have to tell us. We can see it. We know who is praying and who is just sliding by. And that’s not good enough. The entire church should be praying, in unity, in one accord. One church I served when I was a student had a prayer night, and it was powerful and wonderful. The problem is, only 10-20% of the congregation ever showed up. So, these were the faithful, and even of them, was every one who showed up fully engaged? Almost, but no.

We want to see God move. We want the Holy Spirit to work in His power.

But if we ain’t praying? You really think its gonna happen this way?

We are Christ’s hands and feet on this earth. But if our hands aren’t folded or raised or whatever you do to pray and if our feet aren’t in position to be a mighty prayer warrior and man or woman of God, then we are not being honest, folks.

We have got to be honest. We need to recognize where we are failing God, repent, and vow to do better. We are in the final days, and still the church is half-asleep. When you exalt God, do it with all your heart. Don’t ever settle for mediocre. God wants your best, and He wants your honesty.

Luke 16:10 - “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

1 Timothy 1:19 - “Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.”

Salmo 150 - Dar Gracias a Dios En Todo Momento

Como te sientes hoy?

Tal vez estas triste, deprimido, o estas pensando quitarte la vida. O todo lo contrario - te sientes como nuevo, estas muy bien en tu trabajo, con tu familia, etc. Quiero compartir y decirte que tenemos que dar gracias a Dios por todo - por que puedes respirar, estas sano, fuerte, etc.

Muchas personas estan en este momento en hospitales, con alguna enfermidad. Aunque es dificil, tambien tenemos que dar gracias a Dios - por que El puede sanarte y ayudarte.

Y tu mi querido amigo que estas en una situacion dificil pensaras que estoy loco al invitarte a dar gracias a Dios por todo.

Cuando aprendemos a vivir confiando en Dios en los peores momentos que Dios esta siempre con nosotros. Un tiempo de mi vida, aprendi a vivir al dia no tenia dinero para mi renta, y para comer - menos. Fue dificil. Y mis viles siempre pontual llegaran. Muchas veces en las madrugadas le pregunta a Dios por esta situacion hasta que un dia en vez de solo preguntar empeze a dar gracias a Dios, a cantar para El y sobre todo poner mi confianza en El. Dios empeso a obrar.

El salmista nos invita agradeserle a Dios nuestro Senor.

Como primer paso - Alabar a Dios en su santuario. Podemos decir es el templo de paredes donde nos congremos todos juntos.

Alabarle por sus prodigios y grandeza. Debemos reconocer que solo El pude hacer las cosas. Cuanto anos han pasado que el hombre solo puede ir a la luna. Dios creo todo lo que podemos ver y aun lo que nisiquiera podemos ver.

Alabar a Dios con toda clase de instrumentos y aun con nuestras manos que producen sonido al golpeiarlas.

Alabar con danza - por que El nos a dado libertad. El tomo el pecado, el pago todo lo que nos tenia atrapados para poderle danzar.

Y por ultimo dice: TODO LO QUE RESPIRE ALABE A JEHOVA!

Pero hacerlo de todo corazon.

Dios te bendiga!

Are you actually FILLED with the Holy Spirit?

When you convert to Christ, you also invite the Holy Spirit into your life. We need to open ourselves up a little more, and not only invite the Holy Spirit to work in us, but also to fully indwell us, to baptize us in the fire of the Holy Ghost. Some people interpret being “filled” with the Holy Spirit as joy. That is a major component, and it is accurate that those who are filled with the Holy Spirit obtain an indescribable joy that the world cannot offer. However, there is a joy much deeper, and it is accompanied by the very same events that occurred the day of Pentecost when God poured His Holy Fire upon the people and they began not only to speak in other languages but to have a miracle of ears, to be able to hear and understand those other languages.

Download: Audio

In order to be informed Christians, and educated Pentecostals, (no, that is not an oxymoron) we need to know what other people are saying (to know - but not necessarily to agree). At Raveh, we believe in Pentecostal doctrine, so we do not agree with a lot of the famous “theologians” who claim to know God but in reality only talk about Him. We know that there is an experience that must accompany education, and that experience can only be found when we know and worship Jesus Christ and desire to receive the baptism by fire that He promised us in His Word. John Piper, a guy who means well and is probably saved but who doesn’t understand Pentecost, wrote something titled “Be Filled with the Spirit.” He writes:“The apostle Paul commands in Ephesians 5:18 that we be filled with the Spirit . . . . I think being filled with the Spirit means, basically, having great joy in God. And since the Bible teaches that “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10), it also means there will be power in this joy for overcoming besetting sins and for boldness in witness. But, basically, it means radiant joy, because the Spirit who fills us is the Spirit of joy that flows between God the Father and God the Son because of the delight they have in each other . . . . With the spread of Pentecostalism in this country and in the third world, there has been a lot of discussion about the New Testament phrases “filled with the Spirit” and “baptized with the Spirit.” I feel some obligation, therefore, today not merely to interpret Ephesians 5:18 in its immediate context, but also to orient what I say in the wider New Testament teaching….

(To see article in original context, click here)

To be oriented in the wider New Testament teaching is to recognize that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not merely what Piper goes on to attribute to John the Baptist. Jesus Himself promised that the disciples would receive power from on high. What is refreshing about Piper’s viewpoint is that while we disagree, he is moderate enough to say that the gift of tongues is for today and did not pass away in the 1st century as some fundamentalists mistakingly suggest. Piper is right that there is a special joy that comes with the Holy Spirit, but when one receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, the joy cannot even be contained. The joy bursts forth in the form of a heavenly language and we are able to speak intimately with our Father in heaven. It is a radiant joy.

Whether you agree with tongues doctrine or not (you should, but no one will force you!) we can agree that everyone needs to find that unspeakable uncontainable joy that is in Jesus the Messiah.

And to have joy, you need to be filled.

Filled with love.

Filled with mercy.

Filled with hope.

Filled with the mighty power of the Holy Spirit. It is something beautiful, but you must ask the Lord for it. The Word of God says when we ask we receive and when we humble ourselves God hears from heaven and answers us. Pursue the Lord. Pursue His love. And pursue the promise that He has for you.

Be filled today! If you have questions, feel free to contact us.  We are located in Cary, North Carolina, and we would love to meet you, or you can just leave us a message here…

Salmo 8

Oh Senor, Senor nuestro, cuan glorioso es tu nombre en toda la tierra, que has desplegado tu gloria sobre los cielos!

Por boca de los infantes y de los ninos de pecho has establecido tu fortaleza, por causa de tus adversarios, para hacer cesar al enemigo y al vengativo.

Cuando veo tus cielos, obra de tus dedos, la luna y las estrellas que tu has establecido, digo: Que es el hombre para que de el te acuerdes, y el hijo del hombre para que lo cuides?

Sin embargo, lo has hecho un poco menor que los angeles, y lo coronas de gloria y majestad!

Tu le haces senorear sobre las obras de tus manos; todo lo has puesto bajo sus pies: ovejas y bueyes, todos ellos, y tambien las bestias del campo, las aves de los cielos y los peces del mar, cuanto atraviesa las sendas de los mares.

Oh Senor, Senor nuestro, cuan glorioso es tu nombre en toda la tierra!

Realistic (but not limited) Expectations/Realista (pero sin limites) Expectativas

I read an interesting article this afternoon regarding church planting titled “Church Planting: How Many Church Plants Really Survive - and Why?” (Ed Stetzer and Phillip Connor, Enrichment Magazine, Spring 2008).

He leído un artículo interesante esta tarde con respecto a plantación de la iglesia titulada “Plantación de la Iglesia: ¿Cuántas iglesias plantadas Sobreviven Realmente? - y por qué?” (Ed Stetzer y Phillip Connor, de Enriquecimiento, primavera de 2008).

Many people believe that 80% of church plants fail in the first year: but what does failure mean? If 80% of all church plants close the door never to have another service again, I guess that’s failure. But if failure simply means that in the first year, the church doesn’t have a television ministry, a coffee shop in the foyer, and twenty services a week, then I suppose most do fail. Failure, Biblically speaking, is about giving up effort and giving up hope. In some instances in church planting, that might be best for everyone. If that pastors aren’t equipped or the people are not willing to follow that pastor’s leadership, closing the doors might be the healthiest option. But, a church plant has not failed if the pastors are persistent and the people are still interested in seeing the church grow - even if it takes years. Many people lack patience in today’s world and expect every ministry to grow overnight. Most of the ministries that grow that fast overnight are either here today gone tomorrow (while have appeal, lack sustainability) or simply have a bucket load of money and can start out much quicker than a church that needs to grow literally from the ground up.

Muchas personas creen que el 80% de las iglesias plantadas (nuevas iglesias) fallan en el primer año: pero, ¿qué hace falta decir? Si el 80% de todas las iglesias plantadas ceran sus puertas nunca tendran servicio de nuevo, creo que es cierto. Pero si fracaso significa simplemente que en el primer año, la iglesia no tiene un ministerio de televisión, una cafetería en el corredor y veinte servicios a la semana, entonces supunemos que la mayoría lo hace fracasar. Bíblicamente hablando, fracasar es no tener motivacion ni esperanza.

En algunos casos, en las iglesia nuevas, que podría ser mejor para todos. En caso de que los pastores no están equipados o la gente no está dispuesta a seguir el liderazgo del pastor, el cierre de las puertas podría ser la opción más saludable. Pero, una iglesia nueva de donde los pastores son persistentes y la gente todavía está interesado en ver crecer la iglesia puede sobrivivir. Muchas personas carecen de la paciencia en el mundo de hoy y esperamos que cada ministerio va crecer de la noche a la mañana. La mayoría de los ministerios que crecen rápido están aquí hoy y no mañana (la falta de sostenibilidad) o simplemente tener suficiente dinero para hacerla y aparace mucho más rápido que una iglesia que necesita crecer literalmente sin dinero.

The article states that the keys to success are: El artículo afirma que las claves del éxito son:

1) Having realistic expectations. Everyone in the congregation, including the pastors, need to have realistic goals for membership within the first few years and not become disheartened when a family leaves or when the church doesn’t grow as quickly as one might hope. It is about waiting on the Lord faithfully and in His time, He brings the people. Along with that (something not mentioned in the article) is having Unlimited Expectations. Be realistic in knowing that for now, there might only be a handful of people, but remember that God is Unlimited and All-powerful and any day now, He could bring the entire city to revival and use the church where you are ministering.

1) Tener expectativas realistas. Todo el mundo en la congregación, incluyendo los pastores, necesitan tener objetivos realistas para crecimiento dentro de los primeros años y no se desalienta cuando una familia sale de la iglesia o cuando no crece tan rápido como uno podría esperar. Necesitamos esperar en el Señor fielmente y en Su tiempo, Él trae la gente (La iglesia tambien tiene que trabajar en evangelismo por trae la gente). Junto con eso (algo que no se menciona en el artículo) está teniendo expectativas ilimitadas. Sea realista en saber que, por ahora, podría ser sólo un pequeno grupo de personas, pero recuerde que Dios es ilimitado y Todo-poderoso y ahora cualquier día, El podría traer toda la ciudad entera al avivamiento y El uso de la iglesia dónde usted está ministrando.

2) Leadership Development. Pastors who do not raise up leaders in the church are making a mistake. There are a lot of pastors who fear strong leaders in the church because they think that they will usurp their authority or cause division. A pastor who teaches and disciples faithful leaders and a pastor who is not intimidated by other qualified (filled w/ the Holy Spirit) leaders will be a successful pastor and the church will grow and survive and thrive.

2) Desarrollo de Liderazgo. Pastores que no levantan los líderes en la iglesia están cometiendo un error. Hay un montón de pastores que temen a líderes fuertes en la iglesia porque creen que van a usurpar su autoridad o causar división. Un pastor que enseña y discípula fiel líderes y un pastor que no está intimidado por otros calificados (llenos del Espíritu Santo), va ser un buen pastor y la iglesia crecerá y sobrevivir y prosperar.

3) Peers. Pastors and their congregations should not be isolated. When church plants are supported and have peers who counsel them, the church will grow. Some churches that begin to grow also begin to become arrogant and think they do not need the wise counsel of others. God wants us to have positive relationships with other ministries, other pastors, etc, who are all working for the same Kingdom Purpose. Our local Church of God church has shown us this blessing because they have been generous to us with advice and even space. They are a great example of what it means to be in communication with others as peers working for the same goal of reaching souls for Christ - being less interested if that soul goes to our church or theirs because the point is, people need Jesus and if the doctrine is right in both places, that soul has the freedom to choose where they want to worship without having the pastors’ egos feel trampled on.

3) Relaciones de comunicacion. Los pastores y sus congregaciones no deben ser aislados. La iglesia necesita apoyo y los pastores necesitan hablar con otros pastores por tener una relacion con otros trabajando por el reino de Dios. Algunas iglesias que comienzan a crecer también comenzará a ser arrogantes y creen que no necesitan los consejos de los demás. Dios quiere que tengamos relaciones positivas con otros ministerios, otros pastores, etc, los que trabajan para el mismo Reino. Aqui, en Cary, la Iglesia de Dios nos han dado su apoyo incluso el espacio. Ellos son un gran ejemplo de lo que significa estar en comunicación con los demás como hijos de Dios para el mismo objetivo de alcanzar almas para Cristo - están menos interesados que la nueva gente va a cual de las dos iglesias, porque el punto es, la gente necesita Jesús mientras sea la misma doctrina.

4) Stewardship Plan. Church plants need to become financially self-sufficient, so it is important even in the early years to emphasize stewardship. In our church, we emphasize faithfulness to God above all, so your tithe and offering are what we mean by stewardship plans. God blesses the increase and touches hearts so that the church is able to sustain itself.

4) Plan de Administración. Las iglesias nuevas necesitan ser financieramente autosuficiente, es importante incluso en los primeros años. En la iglesia, ensenamos la imporancia de la diezmo y ofrenda. Dios nos bendice mas y pone en el corazon de cada una para que la iglesia puede sobrevivir y sostenerse.

These sound like good tips; but the article didn’t really mention the power of the Holy Spirit. In all things, regardless of following tips, the Holy Spirit can and does do mighty things to raise up churches for His glory. We are unashamedly Pentecostal, and articles like this seem to stress the commercial ideas of “success” for churches. Our own covering who knows full well we are planting a church has told us not to communicate with them regarding support until we have over 35 members. At 35 members, we’ll have resources - but now, as a smaller church, our own denomination/fellowship has not once contacted us, called us, visited us to ask how we are doing, to ask how to pray for us - and yet every single month without fail, an invoice comes in the mail asking for the pastor’s tithing money. We are not trying to be critical, but we do think that our denomination and all others need to rethink priorities. Many of the denominations are getting further and further from God’s Word and are more interested in the paychecks of denominational leaders and enormous church budgets than they are concerned about the small ministries that one day will do mighty things for the Lord. We are seeking to be as faithful to the Word of God as possible and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. Is stewardship necessary? Yes. But, the “success” of a church is not based on worldly standards. It is based on what God declares successful, just like little David who one day reigned as king, the same God who came to us as a baby in a manger, the same God who is Jesus, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. It is important to know what is going on in denominational fellowships so that we can pray for them and so we can pray for our leaders so that they will repent and once again we can see revival in this land.

Estos son buenos consejos, pero el artículo no menciona realmente el poder del Espíritu Santo. En todas las cosas, independientemente de la siguientes consejos, el Espíritu Santo puede y va a hacer cosas poderoso para levantar a las iglesias para Su gloria. No nos avergonzamos de ser pentecostal, y los artículos como éste parecen hacer hincapié en el comercio de ideas “éxito” de las iglesias. Nuestra propia covertura sabe muy bien que estamos plantando una iglesia - nos digo que les comunicaramos cuando tengamos más de 35 miembros. A los 35 miembros, tendremos recursos sin ellos - pero ahora como una iglesia más pequeña, nuestra propia denominación no ha ayudado ni nos a contactado, ni nos visitan para preguntar cómo esta el grupo para que puedan orar por nosotros - pero cada mes sin falta, llega una factura que viene por correo de ellos pidiendo solo dinero. No tratamos de críticar, pero creemos que nuestra denominación y todos los demás necesitan de replantear las prioridades. Muchas de las denominaciones son cada vez más y más lejos de la Palabra de Dios y están más interesados en los cheques de pago de los líderes denominacionales y de los enormes presupuestos que están preocupados por la pequeña ministerios que un día hará cosas para el poderoso Señor. Estamos tratando de ser lo más fieles a la Palabra de Dios como sea posible y que confía en el poder del Espíritu Santo. ¿Es necesaria la administración? Sí. Pero, el “éxito” de una iglesia no está basada en las normas mundanas. Se basa en lo que Dios declara éxito, al igual que David cuidando ovejas un día governo como rey, el mismo Dios que vino a nosotros como un bebé en un pesebre, el mismo Dios, que es Jesús, el Rey de Reyes y Señor de Señores. Es importante saber lo que está sucediendo con las iglesias y sus lideres para poder orar por ellos y nuestros lideres para que pueden entender mas las cosas y, una vez más, poder ver la avivamiento en esta tierra.

Raveh Church is doing exceptionally well for its first year and we know and believe in our hearts that the best is yet to come! If you are ready to be part of something special, now is your opportunity. It is easy to be part of a ministry once it has already grown - the blessing comes in being there from the ground-up to see God’s provision and greatness. Contact us for more information, we would love to meet you!

Iglesia Raveh está haciendo excepcionalmente bien durante su primer año y sabemos y creemos en nuestro corazón que lo mejor está por venir! Si usted está dispuesto a ser parte de algo especial, ahora es tu oportunidad. Es fácil ser parte de un ministerio, una vez que ya ha crecido - viene la bendición de estar allí en el terreno de ver a Dios y la grandeza de la disposición. Para más información, llama 439-3342 nos gustaria conocerte!

Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter in!

The vision of Iglesia Raveh includes ministering to the nations - the peoples of the world, of every tongue and tribe, that together every shade of color and ethnicity and every language would raise up a holy banner and praise the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who is Conqueror and Redeemer, Savior and Friend.

The church is a pueblo, a people set apart as holy unto the Lord made righteous by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Isaiah 26:2 proclaims “Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter.” The nation of God needs to be purified just like the individual believer, and this is one of the reasons for corporate praise. When the Holy Spirit is permitted to flow in liberty among us as we praise Jesus, the stage is set for a glorious encounter with the Lord God Almighty. Authentic praise breaks down barriers and allows those gates to be opened so that we, the righteous nation, may enter into the Holy of Holy, the courts of our King.

Praise should be vibrant! There should be banners waving and musicians singing and people receiving the mighty yet gentle touch of the Holy One because as He is exalted He blesses us in return. Be faithful, people of God, worship Him and praise Him with liberty, because He is the Author of your life and the Savior of your soul!!

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah; “We have a strong city; He sets up walls and ramparts for security. Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter, the one that remains faithful. The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.”

Isaiah 26:1-4

Psalm 57:1-3

Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by.

I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me.  He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me.  Selah.

God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth.

Pecado? Mas no Pescado!!

El pecado es como el cancer. Destruye familias, iglesias, o naciones!

No importa que tan pequeno o grando es - lo destruye. Te acaban.

Actualmente, vemos por las noticias tantas cosas que pasan por todo el mundo: jovenes matando en escuelas, adultos o ancianos violando a ninos inocentes y la ninez metidas en tantos video juegos que piensan los padres que estan bien - porque?

1) Mi hijo esta mas seguro jugando en su cuarto!

2) Mi hijo no me molesta si lo dejo jugar!

3) Puedo checar a mi hijo mas si esta en la casa!

Proverbios 22:6 —– “Instruye al niño en su camino, y aun cuando fuere viejo no se apartará de él.”

Los adultos pueden decir:

1) Despues de tanto trabajar puedo checar la computadora o la television.

2) Empiesan hacer ocioso y a tener malos pensamientos y empiezan a navegar en el internet buscando cosas malas y cuando se dan cuenta estan atrapados.

El diablo utiliza todo para destruir al ser humano por eso tienes que ver que hacen tus hijos, y ustedes adultos mejor agan cosas que sean de ayuda para sus vidas o del que los rodean.

No seas pescado por el pecado. Dios es nuestro unica Ayuda. Dise la palabra (Romans 5:

“Mas Dios muestra su amor para con nosotros, en que siendo aun pecadores, Cristo murio por nosotros.”

Entregale la direccion de tu vida a Dios. El es fiel y justo para perdonarnos. No estas solo. No estas acavado. Tu, ni tu familia. Dios esta ahora pidiendo que le entregas tu vida. Solo dile,

Senor Jesus, yo te pido con todo mi corazon que me limpias de todos mis pecados. Y me perdonas de todo lo malo que yo he comitido conscientamente y inconscientamente. Yo Te acepto como mi unico Senor y Salvador Jesucristo. Y te pido que tomes el control y el direccion de mi vida y de todo mi familia, Jesus. Gracias por limpiar mi vida.

Dios te bendiga. Estamos en Cary, Carolina del Norte

Are you speaking the Truth in love?

Ephesians 4:15 instructs Christians to speak the truth in love which will allow us to grow up in all aspects into Jesus Christ. Throughout both the Old Testament and New, the Bible is full of Spirit-inspired instructions on how to live our lives, especially when it comes to what we speak.

What flows from our mouth can either cause death or life (Proverbs 18:21) and James calls the tongue “a fire, the very world of iniquity.” (see James 3:6)

All of us have difficulties with “taming our tongue,” even the most faithful followers of Christ - we live in a sinful world, after all, but that is no excuse. As Christians, we must hold ourselves to Jesus’ standard of perfection, constantly striving to “be perfect as [our] Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

Usually, when we talk about “speaking the Truth in love” it means something along the lines of telling people the Gospel Truth with love so as not to offend them and in everything being honest. That’s certainly accurate. But, what if we take it a little further? Let’s assume are speaking the Truth, but how do we make sure we are speaking in love?

No man can tame the tongue (James 3: but, certainly the Holy Spirit can! We must give complete control to the Lord of our entire being, including submitting our tongue to the full authority of the Holy Spirit.

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:29).

This verse tells us to pay attention to the need of the moment and speak only what will edify. By allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us, we will be given greater discernment to know what to speak and when and to whom, and also the glorious gift of being able to speak intimately with God in the heavenly language He gives us (Gk: glossolalia).

When we speak in tongues, our tongue is not able to speak evil, but is instead in pure communication with our Father in heaven, something beautiful and truly redemptive. How much time daily are you engaging in gossip and idle talk? Jesus said, “I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). How much time instead are you devoting to using the gift of language, the gift of the ability to speak at all, to bless the Lord your Maker? To bless and not curse, to pray, to lift up His Holy Name, to speak Love over your family, to teach your children the promises of our Faithful Lord?

“By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37). We all will have to give an account for our words. Christians, take this seriously. Too many Christians in America are taking the Word of God far too lightly and think that just because we said a short prayer to be saved that that’s it, and we’re set for eternity and it doesn’t matter if we sin from then on because “we’re washed by the blood”. If we stick to the promises we made in that prayer, then of course - but the problem is, we keep sinning and we keep gossiping. The Christian life is a journey, and it is one in which we need to walk in the kind of love that the Lord requires of us.

What does the Lord require of you? “To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). In order to live this kind of life, you need to be equipped. Even if you have already repented and given your heart to the Lord in all sincerity, you will find yourself quickly needing more - you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. One pastor challenged his congregation to “fast from angry words” or whatever other types of words that were causing discord in their relationships with family and friends. The fast was to last for 30 days. Could you do that? Could you go 3 days without letting an evil word slip from your mouth?

Challenge yourself today, and let us know if you’re up to the challenge!! We’d love to hear from you and hear your testimony.

Remember, the important thing is that you try your best to live God’s word - we all fall short (Romans 3:23) of His glory, but poco a poco (little by little) we can use our tongue to His glory rather than our own.

Make it your goal to not grieve the Holy Spirit of our God.

Animo en el Camino del Senor

Hola queridos hermanos, como siempre quiero seguir animandolos en todo su camino en nuestro Senor Jesucristo a que no se cansen de buscar de el. Muchas veces cuando Dios nos bendice nos olvidando de donde llego la bendicion.

Dar gracias a Dios nuestro Padre por la oportunidad de permitirnos de estar en este pais trabajando de que nos da fuerza cada dia, nos da salud, que nuestros hijos puden ver el amanecer de un nuevo dia, que nuestro organizimo trabajo.

Muchas personas mueren cada dia y otras esperan transplantes de organas y muchas mas esperan de que pudas decirle que Dios las ama y que con El podemos vencer. No pienses que es tiempo perdido o quien pondra dinero para tu gasolina de tu auto en 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Así que, hermanos míos amados, estad firmes y constantes, creciendo en la obra del Señor siempre, sabiendo que vuestro trabajo en el Señor no es en vano.”

No tengas temor como se ven las personas si son importantes o no para nuestro Senor Jesucristo todos somos iguales. Todos nesecitamos de la misericordia de Dios. Isaias 51:16 Oídme, los que conocéis justicia, pueblo en cuyo corazón está mi ley. No temáis afrenta de hombre, ni desmayéis por sus ultrajes.

No calles tu boca de hablar palabra de Jehova. Animo y ten valor, mis hermanos.

Isaias 51:16 “Y en tu boca he puesto mis palabras, y con la sombra de mi mano te cubrí, extendiendo los cielos y echando los cimientos de la tierra, y diciendo a Sion: Pueblo mío eres tú.”

Fibra por que somos un pueblo bendicido en los ojos de nuestro Dios.