THE LORD MY DELIVERER BY PASTOR ALEX AND EUMIN WORSHIPERS

HOLY SPIRIT SHINE ON ME BY PASTOR ALEX AND EUMIN WORSHIPERS

REACHING OUT: IS MY PASTOR A FALSE PASTORS/PROPHET? - PART 1

REACHING OUT: IS MY PASTOR A FALSE PASTORS/PROPHET? - PART 1: FIRST THE FACTS: A to E A) False teachers, pastors and prophets have always been there. They are mentioned in the books of Deuterono...

IS MY PASTOR A FALSE PASTORS/PROPHET? - PART 1

FIRST THE FACTS: A to E

A) False teachers, pastors and prophets have always been there. They are mentioned in the books of Deuteronomy 13:1-5, Deuteronomy 18:22, Jeremiah 18: 1-17, Acts 13:6, 2 Peter 2:1, Jude etc. B) They will be there to the end. Others will spring up even if those believed false are removed. 2Peter 2:1 says, “There were false prophets also amongst the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who shall secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord that brought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”C) Genuine pastors are seldom ‘newsworthy.’ They are not very good entertainers. Their good deeds of salvation, feeding or clothing the poor only make news if they win a noble price or the pastor pays for the airtime. D): We are allowed TO TEST all spirits to test if they are of/from God and NOT TO BELIEVE every spirit. The reason given in 1 John 4:1 is "false prophets are gone into the world." Testing the spirits is obeying the Scripture that commands it and therefore God. E) No false hood will remain unpunished by God so cheer up if you feel conned. He says in Galatians 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever man sows, that shall he also reap."  My prayer is for God to help me not to become judgmental. 

What the world is interested in/or loves to see or hear  is misbehaving ‘men of God’

‘pastor’ misbehaving is big news to the world. It gives ammunition for criticism to the people who hate God, Godliness and the Gospel. An attorney general believes he can weed them out by legislation. The actions of the false gives ‘pastors’ who lack power and operate with a form of godliness (most of them religious) bragging rights and a chance to justify themselves. Newspapers love ‘news’ of pastors divorcing, committing adultery or amassing wealth by false pretenses. Other common accusations against Pastors are advocating false prophesy and doctrine, sexual immorality, use of witchcraft and magic gadgets, use of anesthetic powder to put people down, use of makeup artists and actors to imitate wounds and fake healing and miracles (the lame walk, blind see and deaf hear) and use of actors to display exorcism with the actors displaying and testifying to the 'miracle'. If you are a Christian then you seriously need to read the Bible. This blog will concentrate on their identity based on Biblical Teachings.

Do the false qualify to be referred to as Pastor or Man of God?

To answer this, one needs to remember that God is good and anything evil is not of God. HE is not the author of confusion or lies. Any person misbehaving, misquoting scripture for self aggrandisement or misusing it is not a Pastor, Prophet or a ‘man of God.” People who call them so do it because they have identified themselves as such to them and convinced them that they are genuine. Some get the title because of attending theological or religious colleges or one of the many “schools of ministry” run by some ‘church’ They then suck in people whom the Biblical Prophet Hosea describes as “perishing for lack of knowledge and those who reject knowledge’ to start a “flock”(Hos: 4:6). Through erroneous teaching, blaring music all tailored to please the listener and a display of "power", they collect a “flock” that the Bible describes as “people who cannot endure sound doctrine, heap to themselves teachers having itching ears because of their own lusts and who will turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables” (2Tim 4:4). The flock becomes enslaved by selective use of Scripture, choreographed preaching and music. When the 'pastor' messes up, he cunningly uses Scripture to justify his misdeeds. The Question is, are they recognized by God? The answer is NO. The book of 1 John 3:8 says. “Anyone that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins form the beginning.” They are workers of iniquity and need to repent. (Luke 13:27)

The Mark of false prophet/pastor - How do we identify the false prophet/pastor? 

The false prophet resembles the devil in word, deed, action and fruit Jesus said, in John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."  Isaiah describes the devil as one who 'does not release the prisoner.' (Isaiah 14: 17) Expect no mercy or pity from him, he will not let you go once he has snared you into his fold, unless; you "violently" free yourself. Note the quotes. The book of Ezekiel and Isaiah describe him as decorated with pride leading to his down fall. (Isaiah 14:12-19/Ezekiel 18:1-19/). He has the ability to enter into people to fulfill his desire.(Luke 22:3 & John 13:7).

The false will therefore be full of lust and he speaks of his own when he lies. The lust is for fellow men/women, money, wealth. jealousy (especially of other servants of God), he will be proud believing himself God’s chosen one, he will fleece his flock mercilessly, kill their dreams through demands for money, kill if necessary to remove opposition, corrupt scripture to get favors weather sexual, monetary or so. In brief, he works for his stomach. (Isa 156:11-12). The testimonies on TV, crusades, open air meetings and religious radio stations are all about the ‘man of God’ or ‘his church’ and seldom the God who performs miracles or Jesus. Contrast these testimonies with those in the entire Bible especially the book of Acts and the difference is clear. A good example is Peter’s testimony after miracles happened. In Acts 3, peter and John prayed for a cripple who leapt after them into the temple. Peter noticed people were giving them credit by their looks. He says in verse 12, “men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? why do you look at us as if it is by our own power or holiness we have made this man walk?’ He went on to exalt Jesus in the next verses. He and John did not take the credit. None of the true prophets/teachers or scribes in the Bible took credit for miracles, not even Jesus or Moses. It was that God gets the glory (John 11:4, 11:40). The false points to themselves and their churches as the source of miracles, they take the credit that belongs to God. Their “flock’ is taught to exalt the ‘man of God’ and the building of worship they referred to as “their church.” After all, all prisoners will praise the jailor if they want to serve the sentence in peace.

Isaiah 14:17: He keeps prisoners and does not tend to 'sheep' The messages of false prophets and pastors or teachers  turn his followers into hopeless dependents (prisoners). He teaches directly and indirectly that it is only him and through him that God hears them contrary to the teaching of Jesus in Mark 16: 17 that all who believe can cast out demons, speak with new tongues; take up serpents, not be harmed by drinking any deadly thing and they lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. After all God is no respecter of persons and “opens to all who knock, gives to all who ask and seek.” (Mat 7:7) Each believer according to the Apostle Paul makes up the body of Christ each having a role to play. The Holy Spirit helps all believers, all who desire and uses all with equal zeal while equipping each believer for their unique role for the benefit of all. (1Cor 12 & Rom 12) If you have been mesmerized by the false razzmatazz and turned into a prisoner, you need to break out and serve the Lord Jesus which is what Jesus expects. 

Until my nest blog take some time to fast and pray while meditating upon the word of God. Doing so will set you free. Remember me in your prayers too. I took this step after many years of "fearing to 'point a finger at the man of God" and broke out of a life of captivity. Today I can pray for myself, pray for others, encourage them and even boldly write that you need to test the Spirit your pastor operates in. Examine his life vis-à-vis what Scripture teaches, his words vis-à-vis Scripture and the impact of his ministry on your life. Examine if it produces righteousness, peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit? (Rom 14:17) Does it produce hope of life in abundance here on earth and everlasting life through Christ? (John 10:10). If it produces the false hope that ‘offerings and tithes’ will lead to abundance regardless of your walk with God Contrary to 2 Cor 9:6-8, you need to test that Spirit. God is not and cannot be bribed. Jesus redeemed us by taking all curses that were pronounced in the Law (read Old Testament) (Gal 3:13-14), Jesus fulfilled the Law, (Mathew 5:17), Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit as a gift so that we may by grace obey God. (Eph 2:8-10) It should be a joy and a grace to serve God with all our substance as in Prov 3:9 not a punishment. If the teachings and sermons you hear leave out Faith in Christ and the grace of God as an avenue to God’s heart and all riches, be cautious. If serving God, praying, worship, attending church and fellowship or giving to God is difficult and painful, then you are a slave not a son of God. It should be by grace. God does not need payment for services rendered, he gave freely. (Math 10:8). The price was steep; it took the death of a person, Jesus on the cross. His blood and body was the ultimate price. God offers all things freely for He was paid a ransom for us by HIS SON.

LET GOD BLESS THE READER WHO BELIEVES IN TRUTH ABUNDANTLY.

BIBLICAL BASICS PART 2: PRAYER FOR THE WILD LIFE FIASCO

On the 24 Feb 2015, The Daily Star (KENYA) had a gruesome picture of a dead elephant on page 28. The page was headed starlife while the picture must have been deliberate in order to elicit sympathy for the cause of wild life. (Pause to ponder, who will do the same for the HUMANS neighboring game parks.) The Standard Newspaper (KENYA) on page 20 named COAST/EASTERN NEWS dated 27 February 2015 also spoke of "wildlife conservation organization targeting pupils and tutors to stem poaching". All very noble. I support this but, pause to wonder as to who will sensitize the authorities and those who benefit most from wild life on the plight of suffering communities neighboring them.  I would like to look at this issue that formed part of my first blog. Perhaps a testimony will help. I was born of a Maragoli father in Vihiga where the only wild life is probably a cat that raids homes and steals chicks, eggs and at times chicken though there is mention of the “night runner’s leopard”. I have a Taita Mother whose ancestral home happens to be somewhere deep in the "human part" of the vast Tsavo National Park. (Kenya)  My maternal grandfather was a cattle herder (pastoralist) who kept a large herd of cattle, sheep and goats. We still boast of them and enjoy the wealth he left behind to date. Below is a brief and in fact a very brief summary of my life:

·    More than 90% of my 'school holidays’ was spent tending goats in Salaita area of  Mbololo Wangala  and Bachuma in Taita Taveta (Coast Province Kenya) that is virtually part of the Tsavo National Park.

·     There was no conflict between my grandfather or ourselves and wild life in those days.

·    The people simply hunted game for meat and had developed ways of skirting around elephants etc

·   This was unlike the professional hunters of those days who were mostly Europeans and hunted animals for game and trophies to show off with.

·    When Elephants invaded farms, we would make din using sticks and pans to chase them and they fled back

·    The only real threat to us was the buffalo. Yet again the people would simply throw soil in the air to check of wind direction and ensure the wind did not blow from us to the animals. This ensured our safety.

·    My father worked as a station master for the Kenya Railways in Ndii station that is situated to date within the National Park and between the human part and animal part of the national Park. Were he alive today, he would testify that lions at times followed him   behind silently as he rode his bicycle to visit my Grandpas place. (they literally escorted him) It was mainly the Lioness that moved back off into the bush once he was safely inside. He made sure not to kick the cubs if any.

My opinion: the current conflict has very little to do with the indigenous people and everything to do with the way they are treated by the Kenya Wild Life services and those in charge of wildlife. These communities are the best people to conserve wild life if given the mandate and if they were to benefit from wild life revenues. The People of Taita and others next to animal game reserves, animal sanctuaries and parks are a sad lot. Every time revenues earned from wild life and tourism are announced, they ask "where is this money." To them, it is a mirage. If my grandfather were to rise from the dead, he would be a very sad fellow. 

The situation today:  picture what is currently happening:

·    Elephants are reeking havoc in the Taita area under the very watchful eye of KWS. It would only take a visit to Mbulia, Ngolia location, Ndii area moving up to Tausa up to Miasenyi to see destruction to crops with peoples livelihoods dissipated. These include my in-laws and cousins. The elephants impose a curfew on people’s movement at will. A cousin informed me that they had reported the matter and photographs were taken but there was no word yet of compensation  

·    One day, the elephants had chased school going children who fortunately ran down a deep gulley in the ground as they were small enough. The Children had to drop their bags as they fled. These were then  buried under a mound of earth as is the fashion of wild elephants. I happened to be in the area on a mission, I had phoned the then area member of parliament (now deceased) to assist before KWS took action. They had dispatched a team to chase the beasts back into the park. If not for the MP’s intervention no action would have been taken as reports had already reached these officers. 

·    The animals are protected by an army of heavily armed rangers while their fellow men do not have the same privileges as the animals. When an elephant dies they moan BUT when a fellow human being is killed by wild life they issue statements but take no steps to protect the people. When cattle stray into the parks the owners are heavily fined and jailed YET when wildlife invades farms they issue statements that make no sense to those grieving. The most famous statement is that ‘people have encroached on elephant corridors’ even when the reality animals foray for food and water far and wide. I don’t support poachers or poaching but they are still human and I am tempted to pray for their success.

·     Every time they are called to remove wild life from people farms etc their response is wanting. If they move at lightning speed to arrest herdsmen grazing around and in parks, why not act as fast to stem the conflict? Why not prevent the animals from straying out of the Park by electric fence or chasing them back before they cross over as soon as reported?

MY CONCLUSION: Kenya Wild Life Services (KWS), Animal right activists, people who benefit from wild life and ministers in charge of wild life have failed to endear communities of affected areas to wild life and need a programme to do so to stop poaching. 

MY SUGGESTIONS: We can live side by side with wild life and help curb poaching 

·    Not by punitive laws but by incorporating communities cut out by the same laws into management of wildlife.

·     Not by arresting herdsmen and harassing those not armed but using them as the eyes of the KWS.

·    KWS Rangers changing their tactics and watching what they say when dealing with indigenous communities. Abusive language, disrespect and mistreating communities next to game only aggravates the situation and making the poacher a more beneficial and better "partner", a hero and a kind of “robin hood”

THE SADDEST CUT: There are no human rights groups fighting for the people left poor, maimed, wounded or dead by wild life. Every rights group is fighting for some animal as it is more politically correct and puts food on the table

·    Obviously the reason is there is more money in fighting for animals than people. The sponsors of these groups perhaps view fellow humans as below the animals. After all, the death and not arrest of a poacher has never been highlighted as using "excessive force by security forces”. Yet we hear it even where a policeman risked his life to save fellow men. Compare the reaction of human right groups when a poacher is killed and when police gun down a violent robber who KILLS PEOPLE. They are silent on the former but very vocal on the later.

·    It would make more human sense to me and be nobler if one of the marathons held every year to raise money to save the rhino was to raise money to put up electric fences and raise some income to compensate people rendered poor and destitute by wild life or simply put “to save livelihoods”

MY TAKE ON THE NATION STORY: Teaching children in far flung areas on the goodness of animals is noble. 

·     How would this be for a child who stays awake at night to beat pans and shout their voice hoarse in an effort to chase stubborn animals that attack and destroy their crops? It is worse when they go hungry because some hyena ate the chicken while an elephant cleared the cassava and maize crop. How about taking these ones to school, building hospitals for them? They would be converted from hate to radical conservatoires

FINALLY: MY FEELINGS AND PRAYERS ON THE WHOLE ISSUE

MY LAMENT: The Taita people are an unfortunate people

·    They have never had someone powerful and able to help them like their Masai counterparts put their case across. Ironically, they have in the past had one of their own appointed Ministers for wildlife.

Ø  MY prayer is for God to raise a Moses who will champion their plight.

·   Being a member of the community, as I keep my own cows, sheep and goats but cannot till my land in Miaseni for fear of destruction to the crop, I can say boldly that I have never seen any great direct benefit that I know of for the Taita from tourism. If any, I would definitel know of.

Ø  My prayer is for God to save us from the situation akin to the Midianite oppression of Israel in the book of Judges so we can enjoy our inheritance. 

·     Every time you enjoy a ride in the game parks and celebrate the killing of “poacher”, remember you are looking at the possible animal that killed the bread earner of a family on his own farm the night before you spotted it. It could be the animal that destroyed crops or domestic animals that were to pay school fees and feed a family rendering them to drop out of school and starve or live from food aid.

Ø  My prayer is for God to raise people in KWS and the government who will take the plight of people affected by wildlife to heart and put solutions in place to save their lives, crops and animals. 

AN ADDITION TO MY SOULUTION: People who live next to wild life need to be endeared to them.

·    The poachers would then have nowhere to hide as they would not be welcome. Just as wild life      feasts on their crops, let their cattle feast on the grass in the parks during drought. It does not make sense to see hundreds of thousands of cattle dying as grass wastes in the parks only for animals to move out and destroy what has been planted as soon as it sprouts.

·         My prayer: that God will make me to be understood and give revelation to the reader from this blog.

·     As a Pastor, I am aware that God did not create the world to be destitute or empty. He meant it for all his creation setting boundaries and dividing the inheritance. I am also very aware of the fact that HUMAN LIFE to God is precious and the blood of man is the only blood that cried and therefore still cries for vengeance from the ground (Gen 4:10) and not animals or animal blood. Animals were given for food. (Acts 11) FOR SURE EVERY TIME AN ELEPHANT or EDIBLE WILD ANIMAL DIES, WE SEE VILLAGERS COME OUT WITH MACHETES TO FEAST ON THE MEAT. – What a picture. It proves that they would equally celebrate if all wild life is eliminated for THEY DO NOT SEE THE BENEFIT BUT view wild life as an evil nuisance. 

     FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, LET US ENGAGE THESE COMMUNITIES AND JOIN THEM IN PRAYER SO THEY CAN HAVE PEACEFULL NIGHTS WITHOUT THE WORRY OF WAKING UP TO FIND LIVELIHOODS THAT ICLUDE LIVESTOCK AND CROPS DESTROYED AND GOD WILLING WE WILL SAVE ELEPHANTS AND OTHER GAME FROM POACHERS BY GOING BACK TO BIBLICAL BASICS