BEFORE DEFORMATION IS MISINFORMATION (A VERY SHORT STORY)

There was once a leader in a church who found it difficult to cry out for help especially when it refers to food due to shyness. A day came that he prayed hard that he should get fed free of charge at a particular general meeting in their church. He worked hard for the Lord and made sure all what’s to be done was done.

Now been tired, he looked up and asked God where the meal was to come from. Not too long, a member of the team who knew him well asked him to join them in the usually separate planning that is held after such meetings. Due to his tiredness and search for food he declined. Rather, he sought for food from a colleague stylishly, yet couldn’t get. He was promised another opportunity which also stymied. In frustration he had to put on a false smile and walked away briskly, spending the whole afternoon and evening in hunger. When he couldn’t bear it anymore he borrowed to sustain himself for that night. He was actually in a tight corner that weekend.

Several months passed and another encounter came. But kudos to him that he didn’t blame God for not providing for him the previous time. With joy he still did the work, was patient this time and did all he needed to do because he had some money on him. But God had not forgotten his good work.

He became so tired that he went out with some friends to eat, but the food was not available. He then went out to a restaurant with these same friends to buy food. After the meal, his was paid for. With thanks he rejoiced for the free meal.

Another call was made to get something done and he happily went. On arriving, he was informed that he should have gone for a free meal at the venue of the meeting. “Which free meal”, he asked. “Every time such a gathering is held, you are one of those entitled to a free meal”, the general leader remarked. “But nobody informed me”, he snapped. “Are you not one of those to plan after the general meeting?”, he was asked. “Oh, I see, that was where my impatience caused my misinformation”, he concluded.

For quite a long time he had never known that he had this entitlement until he dared to pray. He had been missing his right, but after prayers God had mercy and he was properly informed. He can now walk majestically to the venue of meals and order for whatsoever he wants – free of charge.

So if you see a deformed man (in thoughts or mind), he probably has been without information. To get the anointing you need, the Blessed Information Bringing Life Eternal (BIBLE) must be EATEN.

ANOINTING (Holy vessels Only): A DIVINE REVELATION OF HEAVEN

ANOINTING (Holy vessels Only): A DIVINE REVELATION OF HEAVEN

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ANOINTING (Holy vessels Only): A DIVINE REVELATION OF HEAVEN

ANOINTING (Holy vessels Only): A DIVINE REVELATION OF HEAVEN

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ANOINTING (Holy vessels Only): WARFARE PRAYER AMONG YOUTHS

ANOINTING (Holy vessels Only): WARFARE PRAYER AMONG YOUTHS

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A DIVINE REVELATION OF HEAVEN

Introduction
This book is an account of a number of true experiences I have had with God. It is not the work of an overactive imagination or the pipe dream of someone who hopes for something better than this life has to offer.
Heaven is a reality, and the experiences I describe in this book are told just as they happened to me. I did not see everything there is to see in heaven-it will take eternity to do that. I do not relate everything I saw in heaven; even Paul did not do that. (See 2 Corinthians 12:1-4.) But I am relating all that God has told me to share.
I want to give special honor and thanks to my pastor, the Reverend Dr. T. L. Lowery, and to his beautiful wife, Mildred, for their support, encouragement, and valuable contributions in this endeavor. I also would like to express my sincere gratitude for the staff of the National Church of God and for the Reverend Marcus V. Hand for his editorial guidance on this book. Additionally, I gratefully recognize and credit all those at Whitaker House in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, who have been instrumental in so many ways in making both A Divine Revelation of Heaven and A Divine Revelation of Hell available to the reading public.
I am grateful to God who has called me to share this message. I thank you who have strengthened and encouraged me in my God- called ministry. God bless you all!
-Mary Kathryn Baxter

(FOR DETAILS, CLICK ON THE RED TITLE "A DIVINE REVELATION OF HEAVEN" ABOVE)

IT TAKES A CRUCIFIED MAN TO PREACH
A CRUCIFIED SAVIOUR

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:13).
A PRAYER
Oh to be nothing, nothing,
Just to lie at His feet –
A broken and empty vessel
For the Master’s use made meet.
By George D. Watson.

Throughout the Scriptures we are taught the infinite frailty and weakness of men; and even the best of men are set forth as having no strength of their own. Abraham said he was “but dust and ashes”; Isaiah said, “We all do fade as a leaf”; Job said, “I abhor myself”; Paul said, “I am less than the least of all saints”; and Jesus said, “Without Me ye can do nothing.”
All strength must be imparted to the soul from God. There are some few characters in the Bible against whom no blemish is mentioned; but in those characters it is recorded that all their goodness was imparted. They claim nothing of and from themselves.

It is possible that in six thousand years there have lived a few persons whose hearts never consciously wandered from God. Doubtless there are many who have had many wanderings, without the humility or the fullness of light to perceive or confess it. And the millions of God’s children have been painfully conscious of shortcomings – backslidings of greater or less extent.
Living as we are, in the state of probation, there is no degree of grace which may not be lost, and this is consistent with the doctrine so clearly taught in many Scriptures, that a saint may feel assured of his salvation. In the passage of Corinthians which says, “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall,” the original tells us, “Let him that assuredly standeth take heed”; that is, let the most advanced believer, who has the fullest assurance of faith, take heed lest he fall. “Watch YE therefore, and pray ALWAYS.” Luke 21:36.

PRESS TOWARD THE MARK
Philippians 3:14

Heart wanderings from God are almost imperceptible at first. There are slow degrees of the leakage of grace, almost imperceptible inroads of temptation. The devil insinuates himself in such soft, silent ways, and through unguarded avenues, and in such an assumed celestial raiment – that before the soul is aware, he has well-nigh captured the magazines of the heart.
A little spiritual laziness, and little tonings down of self-sacrifice, are like the coming of gray hairs. The Bible speaks of a certain one who had gray hairs here and there and knew it not. (Hosea 7:9). The loss of property and of health have the same imperceptible beginning as backsliding from God.

FORBIDDEN AND UNLAWFUL

Wanderings from God often begin by looking on forbidden objects. The eye is allowed to rest too long upon an object of temptation. Through the eye the thoughts take hold upon the object. This kindles exaggerated and unlawful desires. This undermines the will, and the outcome is sin in greater or less degree. Such was the case of Eve, who stood looking on the forbidden fruit, when God told her not to touch it. This was the case of David, who was gazing from the top of the palace.
This is the art that Satan tried on Jesus, when he spread before His mental vision all the kingdoms of the earth, and all their glory in one dazzling panorama of worldwide sovereignty and splendour; but Jesus instantly turned His mental eye from the beautiful vision, and fixed it on His coming cross.
This is the best cure for all fascinating and tempting visions – to get in the mind the precious blood of Jesus. The sight of Christ crucified is the panacea for unholy mental pictures.

ACCEPTING UNLAWFUL DELIVERANCE
Another cause of heart wanderings is self-management, and attempting to take our affairs in our own hands; trying to help the Lord in His providences of our case in time of trouble and distress. We must be led through many a soul crisis.
These crises will come on us in social life, in business, in church relations, in health, in lines of duty. Many of them cannot be avoided. They are in the very nature of things in this world, and when they come, our human spirits are so eager for the speedy and premature result they sometimes accept of an unlawful deliverance; and we are so tempted to think that God has forgotten us, or that He is too slow, that we take affairs in our own hands.
This was the case of Rebecca and Jacob, who thought they surely must manufacture a lie and deceive Isaac with the goatskin, in order to secure the fulfilment of an infallible promise from God; but their self-management brought sad separation and years of sorrow.
This was the case with King Saul, who thought that Samuel was so long reaching his appointment that he thought he (Saul) must play the part of the priest, and offer sacrifice; and from that hour he began wandering from God.
This was the case with Uzza, who thought, when the oxen stumbled, he must surely put forth his hand and assist the Lord in caring for the ark.

SINFUL MANIPULATIONS

Officiousness has led many a soul into bondage. It is so easy for even spiritual men to get the impression that they must manage the work of God; that they are responsible in great Revivals for keeping their little fingers on the safety valves, and curbing divine fire within the limit of their prudence.
Spiritual power is lost in the attempt to manipulate spiritual power. The kingdom of God in the soul is often weakened by an attempt to manage the kingdom. Self-management, in some form or other, is the starting point of many a decline in grace.

WARFARE PRAYER AMONG YOUTHS

THE PLACE OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN THE YOUTH MINISTRY
2 Corinthians 10:2-6; 1 Timothy 1:18, 19.

“The story of your life is the story of a long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it” - John Eldredge “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12).
Every aspect of life has battles – the physical, spiritual, emotional, psychological etc. But in all these, the spiritual battle is the most important, most dangerous, decides destinies, determines progress, actualizes actions but can’t be seen and yet so real. People, knowingly and unknowingly, are involved in these battles – youths, adults, aged, toddlers etc. These unseen battles can be termed “spiritual warfare”. Spiritual warfare is a strong merciless fight between two spiritual kingdoms – Heaven and Hell. People have to show up or get involved in just one camp whether they like it, are prepared for it, are opposed to it or not. Because this cuts across all ages, the youth is not exempted in this fierce and furious battle. Invariably, the battle rages more severely in the youthful age. That is why the youth and youth leaders must know the position spiritual warfare occupies in their lives and ministry.
Let’s look at the place of spiritual warfare in youth ministry under three sub titles: 1. The Principles of Spiritual Warfare in the Youth Ministry 2. The Place of Spiritual Warfare in the Youth Ministry 3. The Price of Spiritual Warfare in the Youth Ministry
1. THE PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN THE YOUTH MINISTRY
Daniel 9:20-22.

The youth ministry in any assembly is an arm that moulds and builds young minds into what they should be especially to achieve targeted aims and objectives. Before the youth ministry can be said to attain success, there must be some set principles that guide both the leader and the led.
Firstly, there must be a clear cut salvation experience in the leaders – those handling one position or the other; and a strong passion to know more of God. This experience is supposed to be deepened everyday in Christ. A novice can’t occupy any position with success or else these spiritual unseen forces will cause a shipwreck of such an individual’s convictions. Such novices will require sincerity and training to acquire knowledge first, so that God will not forget the children they are trying to bring up. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hosea 4:6).
Secondly, there should be continuous holy living to sustain oneself and others around us. Youths are people that believe more in practical than in theory. They learn faster when they see it done than when they only hear of it. In other words, the principle of holiness that is strictly adhered to by anyone in the youth circle – whether their colleagues or leaders will be creating a strong positive foundation for a victorious spiritual battle.
Thirdly, the word “DISCIPLINE” cannot be relegated to the background. Especially among youths, if there is no discipline, the enemy will strive easier and faster like a ferocious fiery serpent. The following areas require discipline: (i) What you look at. (ii) Temptation to be in the company of the opposite sex – peer pressure (iii) Restlessness in youths that leads to insubordination and laziness to duties; in school, at home and even in the church. (iv) Quick desire for freedom that leads to stubbornness, disobedience and rebellion and (v) Fashion. Even the leaders in the youth ministry should be mindful of these in their very lives.
2. THE PLACE OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN THE YOUTH MINISTRY
Philippians 4:6
Prayer takes the first place in any ministry; the youth ministry cannot be otherwise. Prayer has various aspects, but the aspect of warfare is paramount in the youth ministry. It should occupy the very first place for success to be attained. Why is warfare essential in the youth ministry? Where does it fit – its position? Well, it must be noted that the youth ministry as earlier stated is part of the main church that helps to build young minds for a targeted future. If the youth ministry fails, then the present church has failed and there will be no future church. This, the hordes of hell are aware of and will do anything to stop the youths and their leaders. They can hurl any type of stone at us, throw different sizes of javelin, arrows, pestilences etc., whether by day or by night without batting an eyelid. They wouldn’t mind using even respected people to carry out their mischievous plans.
Knowing all these, as real as it sounds, you and I know that we can’t afford to sleep. Spiritual warfare should take the first place in our prayer life and in the intercessory session in the church at large. These young minds, especially those ones just coming from the children church have a lot to learn, a life to live, a future to behold and a promise to keep. Satan will be the very last person to keep mute and watch these young ones attain their divine destinies.
Because of these, the youth ministry must wake up to the challenge and fight for the course of the youths, their siblings, parents, the church and the society at large. I am very much convinced that Christ who shed his blood for all will be glad we kept spiritual warfare in its appropriate place to pluck these youths from hell to heaven and to cause them to achieve their God ordained goals. In this race, you can’t get anything by folding your hands and wishing. Crying, resentment, grumbling and complaining will be an insult to the Captain of our salvation. There is only one way, “spiritual warfare” – NO WAR NO WAY. To achieve this, there must be some sacrifice, this will lead us to the last point.
3. THE PRICE OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN THE YOUTH MINISTRY
Daniel 6:10; Ephesians 6:16-18.
The price of spiritual warfare in the youth ministry is very high. Only those who love the ministry and are called into it can actually attain success. There is a price to pay for any spiritual warfare session.
There is the need to pray, not just the normal kind of prayer but the warfare kind of prayer. This will require denying oneself of some legitimate things like sleep, food, rest, visitation and leisure to actually challenge the forces of hell that are not relenting in their effort to swallow up the youths of this generation.
If you discover that you don’t have the love, passion and compassion for the youth ministry, the first thing to do is to leave the youth ministry right away. This is so because when insults, assaults and all forms of prejudices start appearing, such a person will do more harm than good to the youths and the ministry in general. Such a person cannot fight a good fight of faith. You may be long forgotten before you are remembered.
Also, if you think there is no need to “do battle”, then you are going to pay another type of price. The results will actually be fatal and unimaginable – a case study is the Niger Delta Menace. So pay a price to receive a prize or receive a prize to pay a price. I advise you to choose paying the price now with strong perseverance for all youths and the youth ministry at large, challenging and binding anything that will want to stand against the knowledge of God. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18).