Warfare prayer of the soldiers of the Army of Jesus to bind and destroy the works of the devil

Let us bind and destroy the works of the devil in the name of Jesus Christ who has conquered sin, satan, curse and death on the cross

Pro  13:2  The spirit of  the  unfaithful which feeds on violence 

Fell on face

During the  preparatory works of the National Worship Centre, an officer gave me an advice,  “While arranging seating facilities, please leave some space in front for the people who love to worship the Lord prostrating, falling on their faces”. It seemed to be a good advice. So it was done.

Falling on face in Eastern culture is a sign of showing respect. It is humbling oneself and at the same time submitting  fully  to the authority of the other. While showing respect to superiors and elders,  Indians  fall on face. Our Hindu, Muslim  brethren do the same in worshipping the Lord. In Lk 5:12, we see the Jewish people having the same culture.

“One day while Jesus was in one of the cities, a man covered with leprosy saw Jesus and fell on his face, begging him, "Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean." Lk. 5:12

Jesus healed him.  "I do want to. Be clean! Instantly the leprosy left him”.  Lk. 5.13

We can fall on face  while worshipping the Lord. We seldom see Christians doing it. In the new year  we can make a decision regarding this in  worshipping  the Lord. Ample examples are there in the Bible for this. Joseph’s brothers prostrated in front of Joseph, the Israelites prostrated  when they saw the presence of the Lord in the  pillar of cloud, Ruth prostrated in front of Boaz, People with Ezra prostrated while reading the word of God,  etc… Peter when he saw the big catch, fell at the feet of Jesus prostrated. Peter received His calling then and there.

Every Christian,  in the beginning of faith life,  would have such an experience of falling at the feet of Jesus.  It is marvellous to have this experience!  Let us yearn to prostrate and worship the Lord Almighty every day ! He is  worthy to receive honour, praise reverence and worship.

Why Study Bible Prophecy In 2018?

Why study bible prophecy?

Is it really important?

And if so, how important? And aren't people who expend more than a passing moment examining bible prophecy simply uneducated crackpots and lunatics yearning for the destruction of the world?

These are just a few of the questions bombarding today's Christians when it comes to the study of bible prophecy.

That bible prophecy is irrelevant to the Gospel or a mere playground for the mentally unstable is a message we constantly receive from the media, pop culture, and many so-called church leaders. It's unfortunate, because this false image of bible prophecy has succeeded in turning many Christians away from the Gospel.

Although recent history is marked by an untold number of date setters and false prophets claiming to speak for God, this is no reason to ignore bible prophecy. Such people were never true Christians, but rather enemies of God in disguise.

So instead of relying on the words of ministers, priests, journalists, and other humans, let?s examine the primary source. Here's what the bible says about prophecy, including every verse of God's Holy Word:"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God?s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

The word "all" includes bible prophecy, and that's good, considering more than 25% of the bible is fulfilled or yet to be fulfilled prophecy.

 

Why is so much of the bible dedicated to prophecy?

There are many reasons, but in the end, there is only one purpose: to direct the attention of the human race to Jesus Christ.

"For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus." Revelation 19:10 (NLT)

Previously fulfilled prophecies lend unprecedented credibility to the bible's claim to be the Word of God, and the Messianic prophecies fulfilled by the birth, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus of Nazareth authenticate his claim to be the one true Christ.

In essence, bible prophecy is the most powerful witness to the divinity of Christ. So don't listen to those who claim that bible prophecy distracts us from the true Christian mission. Quite to the contrary, all bible prophecy points to Jesus Christ Himself.

Jesus Instructs Us

Despite its many detractors, the study of bible prophecy is an essential aspect of proper Christian living. The Lord Himself expected his disciples to carefully examine the Word of God and to be prepared for His return:

"So be prepared, because you don't know what day your Lord is coming." Matthew 24:42 (NLT)

In fact, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for not recognizing the signs of the times, for the religious leaders of His day had full knowledge of the prophecies of the Messiah, yet they still chose not to believe in Him.

"One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus' claims by asking him to show them a miraculous sign from heaven. He replied, 'You know the saying, 'Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow, red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.' You are good at reading the weather signs in the sky, but you can't read the obvious signs of the times!'" Matthew 16:1-3 (NLT)

Jesus expected the people of His day to fully recognize and eagerly await the time of His first coming. As we patiently await His second coming, he holds our generation to the same standard of accountability.

There are many reasons for the Lord's repeated command to study bible prophecy, but three of the most significant are found below:

1) Authentication of the Bible

Bible prophecy offers the clearest indication that the bible is the verifiable Word of God.

Yet despite the millions of people who attend church and synagogue every week and the existence of countless books on the subject, most people are simply unaware of these prophecies.

They feverishly search through the writings of Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, the Koran, and countless other "sacred texts" in hope of finding a profound truth or revelation concerning the future, only to be disappointed time and again.

Somehow, the most credible source of information on future events, the Bible, escapes notice. Yet the fulfilled prophecies of the bible are backed by mountains of historical data, archaeological evidence, and the staggering mathematical probability of their occurrence merely being the result of chance

No other source of historical knowledge can make the same claims, and for good reason. No other source is the inspired Word of God.

"And do not forget the things I have done throughout history. For I am God - I alone! I am God, and there is no one else like me. Only I can tell you what is going to happen even before it happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish." Isaiah 46:9-11 (NLT)

The very definition of God includes His unique ability to see from the distant past to the distant future, from the beginning to the end. He alone can foresee world events with 100% accuracy centuries in advance.

The apostle Peter testified to this fact:

"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God." 2 Peter 1:20 (NLT)

Unlike other sacred texts that claim divine origin, the bible can point to its unprecedented track record in foreseeing future events. This is because the bible is not the product of imaginative men, but rather the testimony of prophets who were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak from God.

Fulfilled prophecy authenticates the bible, proving it to be the Word of God. For this reason alone, bible prophecy is worth every iota of our attention.

However, when it comes to spreading the Word of God, there is no greater tool of evangelism than bible prophecy.

2) Assistance in Spreading the Gospel

One of the easiest and most natural methods for spreading the Gospel is the sharing of bible prophecy.

In fact, in the early days of the Church, sharing of fulfilled bible prophecy was the primary method for spreading the Gospel. On the day of Pentecost, Peter gave a rousing speech in Jerusalem in which he cited fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies as clear proof that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah (Acts 2:14-42). This speech led to three thousand people devoting their lives to Jesus Christ.

Later in the same book, we learn the story of Philip and the Eunuch, in which Philip uses a fulfilled prophecy from the Book of Isaiah in order to explain the Gospel to an Ethiopian traveler (Acts 8:26-39). These are just two of many instances in which the early church emphasized bible prophecy as a tool for evangelism.

In one of the New Testament books which bear his name, Peter underscores the important role of bible prophecy:

"For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and his coming again. We have seen his majestic splendor with our own eyes. And he received honor and glory from God the Father when God's glorious, majestic voice called down from heaven, 'This is my beloved Son; I am fully pleased with him.'

We ourselves heard the voice when we were there with him on the holy mountain. Because of that, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. Pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a light shining in a dark place - until the day Christ appears and his brilliant light shines in your hearts." 2 Peter 1:16-19 (NLT)

In Peter's words, bible prophecy is "like a light shining in a dark place."

Bible prophecy provides us with confidence in the coming glory of Christ and the necessary hope to see us through the daily rigors of life until that day appears. He further proclaims his confidence in the words of the prophets, both fulfilled and unfulfilled, because he has witnessed firsthand the authenticity of the scriptures.

Therefore, we should afford the utmost respect for the words of the prophets, and rejoice in the fact that we are able to understand their fulfillment in the life of Christ:

"This salvation was something the prophets wanted to know more about. They prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you, even though they had many questions as to what it all could mean. They wondered what the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ?s suffering and his great glory afterward.

They wondered when and to whom all this would happen. They were told that these things would not happen during their lifetime, but many years later, during yours. And now this Good News has been announced by those who preached to you in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.? 1 Peter 1:10-12 (NLT)

The prophets yearned to know more about bible prophecy, and the Spirit of Christ was within them. Even the angels are eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of bible prophecy. If this is true, then how can we say bible prophecy is insignificant or of secondary importance?

-By PNW Staff

Gunmen Kill 16 Christians Leaving New Year"s Day Church Service in Nigeria

Unidentified gunmen shot and killed at least 16 Christians following a New Year's Day church service in Nigeria.

BBC News reported Tuesday that the attack occurred in the oil-rich region of Rivers state, which has seen heightened tensions between rival gangs. The Nigerian Independent reported that the gunmen opened fire at random early Monday morning on people leaving the church who had gone to welcome in the New Year, though there were conflicting reports on the number of casualties. At least 12 others are believed to have been hospitalized following the shootings. The public relations officer of the command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, responded to the incident, stating, "The deputy commissioner of police in charge of operation and other tactical heads have been mobilized there to restore peace." Omoni added, "The Commissioner of Police (Ahmed Zaki) has launched a manhunt for the bandits to ensure they are arrested and prosecuted. 

"When the DCP and the teams there conclude we will know the total number of people involved." BBC noted that at first, residents in Omuku town had difficulty distinguishing the gunshots from the firework celebrations. The town is known for its violent crimes, and has seen an increase of violence this past year, with militants aiming to control a greater share of the oil-producing region. While it is not yet clear whether the attack on the church was connected to the oil conflict, Christians in Nigeria suffered violently at the hands of different groups in 2017.

Four Christians taking part in Christmas carols were killed just two days before Christmas, with another 10 critically injured. The suspects were identified as Fulani herdsmen, who've slaughtered hundreds of believers over the year. Southern Kaduna People's Union responded to the killing during Christmas, with national public relations officer Yakubu Kuzamani stating, "This has left us wondering why people who had gathered peacefully for joyful Christmas carols in their village should be gunned down for no reasons." Southern Kaduna Progressive Youth Forum National Chairman Andrew Kure called the act "barbaric, wicked, and inhuman" and one that "should be condemned by all people of good conscience." Stephen Mamza, chairman of the local Christian Association of Nigeria, said that at least 100 people were killed by the Fulani on attacks on several villages in December alone, with many others missing. Islamic terror group Boko Haram has also separately been waging a war on Christians, government officials, and Muslims who do not support it for years, seeking to drive out all followers of Jesus Christ from the country.

Israeli Prime Minister Takes Stand for Persecuted Iranian Christians

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he stands with Christians in Iran. “We stand with you, brothers and sisters,” he said. “The world stands with you.” The supportive statement comes after Iran’s foreign minister tweeted a “hypocritical” tweet days before Christmas. "A very happy and peaceful Christmas to all. May Christ's universal message of peace be embraced in the coming year,” he said. Netanyahu says, however, that the Christmas greeting is hypocritical because Iran has been ranked as one of the world’s harshest persecutors of Christians. "I wonder what the Christians jailed this month in Iran would think about that tweet," he said in a taped message posted on his Facebook and Twitter pages. In Iran, house churches are considered illegal and government security raid the churches regularly. Many of the worshippers and leaders are imprisoned, while bibles are confiscated. "Imagine praying quietly in your home, surrounded by your family—and all of the sudden, armed thugs burst in and drag you away to prison. They torture you merely for practicing your Christian faith. Welcome to Iran. Saying 'Merry Christmas' while jailing Christians in your own country is the height of hypocrisy," Netanyahu said. This is not the first time that Netanyahu has brought awareness to the persecution of Christians in Iran.

In October, he told Christian journalists to investigate Iran’s treatment of Christians. "Profile the brave Christian leaders jailed for practicing their faith. Sit with the families, the school teachers jailed for years merely for converting to Christianity... Call out the lies of President (Hassan) Rouhani, who promised in 2013 that all religions would 'feel justice' in Iran while so many Christians live there in constant terror," he said. "Some world leaders are willing to ignore this repression and seek to appease Iran, but I am not one of them," Netanyahu added. "I think that how a country treats religious minorities is a very good indicator of how it will treat its fellow citizens and its neighbors." 

Extremists Attack Egyptian Church as Worshipers Leave Mass

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that following today's conclusion of mass at Mar Mina Church in Helwan City, terrorists attacked the church as congregants were exiting to attend Sunday School. One of the attackers was wearing a suicide vest and attempted to enter the church, but was prevented by police. One of the Sunday School teachers, Ihab, shared with ICC, "Following the end of the church mass, as the congregation of the church began to leave and I began to collect the children to start Sunday School, we heard shooting outside the church. There was a situation of terror among all the people inside the yard: they all were screaming and running. The situation was terrible, the sound of the shooting was very dense and lasted more than 20 minutes. Many of the congregation who were in the church yard preparing to leave hurried inside when they heard the shooting. They hid inside the church and closed its inside door." He continued, "The situation was very terrible, it was like war against the church, the sound of the shooting was very terrifying. Those terrorists used automatic weapons."

A member of the congregation, Abanoub, added, "These terrorists arranged the attack of the church with precision. They knew everything about the church and the time of the ending the mass...One of them was wearing [a] suicide vest under his clothes and tried to enter the church while the worshippers were leaving the church to explode himself and kill many of them.

Abanoub elaborated, "First, the terrorists attacked the security men (police) who were assigned to guard the church and they exchanged fire with them. The terrorist wearing the suicide vest tried to storm the church during the exchange of fire to explode himself inside, but the police managed to shoot him and prevent him from storming the church."

During the exchange of shots between the police and terrorists, five Christians were killed and more than seven others injured. One of the security forces, a Muslim, was also killed.

Claire Evans, ICC's Regional Manager, said, "This brutal attack further demonstrates the ruthlessness with which extremists target Egypt's Christians. Thankfully, the attack was not as violent as the terrorists intended. But our hearts are heavy with the news of the lives lost during this assault. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost a loved one today, and we pray for the speedy healing of all those who were injured during this terrible attack."

 

Indonesia: 9,000 Jailed Christians Receive Reduced Sentences

Indonesia reduced the sentences of more than 9,000 Christian prisoners on Christmas Day, according to reports. According to Jakarta Post, Indonesia’s Law and Human Rights Ministry cut down the sentences of 9,333 Christian prisoners. “Of the total, 175 inmates were freed upon receiving remissions,” a Law and Human Rights Ministry official told reporters. The changes in sentences came because of administration considerations and consideration for the type of crimes jailed for. “If an embezzler wants a remission, for instance, they must first obtain justice collaborator status,” the official said.

The length of sentence reduction received depended on how much time had already been served. Reductions varied from 15 days to a maximum of two months, with the month-long reduction mostly given to prisoners who had already served from one to three years. One of the Christians whose sentence was reduced was former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who was sentenced to two years in prison after he was falsely accused of blasphemy in 2016. The former governor was used in an edited Facebook video that showed him allegedly blaspheming the Quran, although Purnama had really issued a warning against politicians who used the Quran for political advancement. The video led to protests of Purnama and a call for punishment. A man named Buni Yani admitted to editing the video and was convicted. Meanwhile, Purnama was sentenced to jail.