~ FBF PASTORAL LETTER 04-09 ~
Contents for April PL:
EXPOSITION OF MATT 5.48
KISUMU MISSION REPORT OF ON GOING REVIVAL & VID’S
PRAYER ROOM REQUESTS
~ Matt 5.48 An Exposition ~
Be PERFECT…!
Wow! Now here is a real subject for discussion! And… how many times do we hear this from so many who profess Christ? “Well—Nobody’s Perfect!”… or “ You’re not perfect yet!
Such is our topic in this portion as we close out chapter 5 of this Great Sermon on the Mount… What did Jesus Christ mean when He ‘commanded’ ALL His disciples to ‘Be Perfect… even as your Heavenly Father is Perfect?’ Certainly this will challenge many, and edify the majority. That is our hope anyway. Of course we give you this biblical disclaimer for ALL our publishing: Acts 17.11, 1 Thess 5.20-22… and Rom 12.2,9. WE at FBF will always rest upon the authority of Scripture in the Original Languages of Hebrew & Greek. We have nothing else. That was YHWH God’s choice.
Matt 4.4; 12.38
The best, first place to start is to look at the word ‘perfect’ itself and build from there. The word ‘perfect’ is used 108 times in the Bible and it would be good to gain a conviction on the use of this word.
The Koine Greek word is = teleioi is used 30 times in the New Testament with various moods and tenses… and the same meaning. (teleioi, teleioo, teleiotes)
The context and meaning—by way of a negative example—is NOT one that performs a gymnast routine well… and is given a grade! Far from it! Perfection in executing a deed or task is NOT the issue here.
What Jesus is saying here is in reference to the portion of ‘teaching’ that He has just given in His sermon… indicating that these teachings—if followed—will produce ‘maturity—completeness—fruitfulness— ….and fulfillment in doing the best with the capacity an individual possesses. Literally in the Greek, from the root telos = end, goal, limit, blameless!
In perspective to Matt 5.48, Jesus is saying in effect: “Here is the goal that has been set before you in Chapter 5 with the Beatitudes and all the rest… this is the absolute standard of our Heavenly Father. With all the promises, The Atonement, the Holy Spirit, Grace and Mercy new every morning… every true convert can live up to this standard at their capacity…, in blamelessly doing your best before the Father… for that is how your heavenly Father does things for you… He does the best that He can, at full pitch—nothing held back!”
With this short introduction, it is possible to see that Jesus is speaking more of ‘heart attitude coupled with obedience’ than anything else. The Kingdom of God comes 1st in the Heart Attitude!
We shall give an example and then follow up with a couple of scriptures to back up this usage. (We recommend using a concordance and reading all the NT scriptures for # 5046, 5047, 5048… these will further clarify this definition and carry your conscience into ‘the biblical use’ of this word from this time on.
Many words (ex: love, single, quiet, patience, beginning, &c.) that we use today have attached ‘traditional English’ or contemporary meanings which, may in fact have very different usages other than that of the biblical use of the word… two thousand years ago! As good disciples and students, it is up to each of us to ‘study to show ourselves approved unto God!’ Amen. 2 Tim 2.15-16
Illustration 1
A father sitting in his chair, reading his afternoon newspaper asks the children in the room for a glass of water. Of all the children, the youngest one runs to please his father, and gets a stole to stand on, fills a glass to the brim with water… and gets off the stole, and as carefully as he can (at 3 years old) he takes the glass to his father… spilling it most the way.
The father, seeing who has brought the water, thanks the young man and says you did a great (perfect) job! Thank you my son!
Had it been one of the older children… the response would NOT have been met with reward and approving good cheer! Why? Because they have a much greater capacity to serve without spilling!
Additionally, there are those who perform a task very well… but their heart attitude is far from the subject… they serve without respect or reverence to others… this is also a problem. It is the LORD himself, Who has set these things (the Beatitudes and all of Cht. 5 etc) before us all within the Sermon on the Mount—that clearly points out that heart attitude, coupled with the actions of obedience is needful for entry into the Kingdom of God! Those who have been given much… much is required! Those who knew not have a few lashes… but those who know more and disobey get MANY lashes. This applies to the use of our mouths too! (Luke 12.47-48)
They draw near to me with their lips… but with their hearts, they are far from Me. Mark 7.6
All of these teachings point to the One Central Theme of All Jesus’ teaching: “Love-agape the LORD with ALL of your heart, ALL soul, All of your strength… and ALL of your mind!”
Yes… the 1st Great Commandment teaches 1st love-agape… Always! That’s what’s known as HOLINESS AS UNTO THE LORD!
THAT>>> is Perfect LOVE-AGAPE! That is the Image of God our Father in His Children! 1 Jn 3.10-11 If you obey these things… there will be a definite change in your life… and everyone will be very aware of it! Light will divide darkness… but darkness has NEVER chased away the Light! Amen.
Yes… Agape LOVE and mercy will always be EVIDENT with the Practice of Perfection in Christ. There is no perfection apart from the Agape and Checed-Mercy of God! It is born in His Righteousness!
There are many would-be imitators of His power, independence, justice &c., but few of HIS Agape-LOVE, condescension… and kindness. Luke 6.35-36
By the scriptures, YHWH God calls Himself LOVE-AGAPE… to teach us that in this—consists that perfection, the attainment of which He has made both our duty and our privilege… for these words in Matt 5.48 include both a command and a promise.
WE live in a moral desert today that calls humans to choose right from wrong a thousand times and more daily! As children of the LORD we are in this life to Grow in the Grace and the Knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ. 2 Pet 1.3-13: 3.18 …. Perfecting Holiness… in the Fear of God! 2 Cor 7.1: Heb 12.14-15
Illustration 2
Ephes 4. 11-15 gives us a clear-eyed view of the biblical New Testament Church… and all its parts working together as any engine in a car! There are many, many parts that must work in absolute harmony together… to generate any POWER!… and direction! Amen.
Much could be said on this portion of scripture, but suffice to say the Apostle Paul teaches that there are certain ‘equipping gifts’ (v-11) given for the ‘perfecting of the saints… and the individuals work of the ministry! Sadly… in the western world today—individualism is the mind-set! Western minded people do not know how to work together… and words like discipleship, submission, authority, oversight, right-order and being ‘rightly released’ into a ministry… are made out to be ‘dirty words!’
That kind of insolent immaturity is what holds back the corporate church in the West! It could be so great a thing at this time.
But continuing on with Paul’s teaching… speaks of a course that leads all local churches to this ideal of all the members working together as a modern engine does! v-13 “Till WE ALL come in the UNITY of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ!” Sadly, many are not operating up to their ‘level’ of fullness. That is a choice problem… not a knowledge problem. It’s called disobedience.
V-14 drives home the point with “That we henceforth be nor more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the tricks and cunning craftiness of men… whereby they lie in wait to deceive!
V-15 The obedience part >>> “But speaking the Truth in LOVE (righteousness) MAY GROW UP into Him in ALL THINGS!
So we see then, it is a choice to constantly work in harmony with the corporate church… to ‘grow up’ in the corporateness of the Perfect man… up to the measure and stature and fullness of Christ! Saints, we can never achieve this on our own! That mentality runs against the definition of the NT Church! This is the property and privilege of being in a local BODY OF CHRIST! Amen. There are way too many western lone-rangers roaming the plains today! That is that ‘independent spirit!’ That’s why there are so many divorces! People who start out making covenants… willfully violate and break them! Rom 1.31-32
What was covenantally sworn before witnesses never to come apart… comes apart for ‘selfish’ reasons! Marriage is a good shadow of the substance of Christ Jesus and the Church working in respective-submissive-cooperative relationship! Everyday is a choice to make your marriage work! You can’t just put things on ‘Pause!’ It’s the same way with Jesus Christ, the church… and finding yourself cooperating with the One New Man in Christ… to the Fullness and the Stature of OUR King… as His Holy Church Bride of Christ! Ephes 5.32 (21-33) She is a working corporate-bride… like a good engine with all it’s respective parts working in order… and on time!
“The Righteousness of the Perfect = Blameless shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.” PV 11.5
Illustration 3
James the brother of Jesus talks about being perfect also:
“My brethren, count it all joy when you encounter various trials and testing… knowing that the testing of your FAITH produces endurance. But let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing!”
Back to the process of choice… and faith… and obedience to the Truth! Here, James puts it quite well… and follows up in v-5-6 with mercy for those who are lacking… and says ‘Just ask for Wisdom… and God will give it to you… but, we must ask without any doubting! That’s biblical Faith. As a patient Father, dealing with His children, He will not rebuke us for faithful inquiry.
Oh… may we too, be like our heavenly Father…. that in view of all that Jesus has laid out before us in Matt 5, He closes with: “Therefore—Be Perfect (completely given over to—the cause and commitment of Christ)—even as your Heavenly Father is Perfect.”
Mat 5:48 - how wise and gracious is this, to sum up, and, as it were, seal all his commandments with a promise! Even the proper promise of the Gospel! That he will put those laws in our minds, and write them in our hearts! He well knew how ready our unbelief would be to cry out, this is impossible! And therefore stakes upon it all the power, truth, and faithfulness of Him to whom ALL things are possible.
We cannot expect the reward of Christians, if we rise no higher than the virtue of publicans.” Note, Those who promise themselves a reward above others must study to do more than others.
Our Saviour concludes this subject with this exhortation (Mat_5:48), Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Which may be understood, 1. In general, including all those things wherein we must be followers of God the Father as dear children.
Note, It is the duty of Christians to desire, and aim at, and press toward a perfection in grace and holiness, Phi_3:12-14. And therein we must study to conform ourselves to the example of our heavenly Father, 1Pe_1:15, 1Pe_1:16. Or, 2. In this particular before mentioned, of doing good to our enemies; see Luk_6:36. It is God’s perfection to forgive injuries and to entertain strangers, and to do good to the evil and unthankful, and it will be ours to be like him. We that owe so much, that owe our all, to the divine bounty, ought to copy it out as well as we can. With Jesus, this is not an option. Godliness will always be the rule in the Kingdom of God.
Lastly, Jesus gives us many excellent parables that embrace this principle laid out before us today: The Pearl Merchant… “Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and SOLD ALL that he had, and bought it!
The radical Jesus freaks of the 60’s and 70’s had an old saying: “SOLD OUT!” Yes… that is being Perfect like our Father in Heaven! He is sold out for mankind fashioned in HIS own Image and Likeness! (choice, voice and Eternal life). Jesus was SOLD OUT to Die on a cross of the sin of His Bride! The HOLY SPIRIT is SOLD OUT to live within us and lead us into all the Truth… in preparing the Body of Christ to be a sanctified Bride without spot, wrinkle or blemish!
It is our prayer that you will be there with the Corporate Body of Christ
____________
Again… it is our privilege here at FBF Central—to give over the rest of this Pastoral Letter to the FBF TEAM and center based in Kisumu. With over 200 districts in the prefecture of Nyanza Province—including Kisumu>>> they have a HUGE area of ministry to cover! Certainly they need and covet our prayers. Remember… they are standing on the front lines between Uganda and Kenya with many ancient roots that cross daily through these old ‘camel trade routes!’
FBF MISSION TO AFRICA KISUMU
LAKE VICTORIA
21st TO 25TH FEB 2009.
Missions Report
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofi8QXzpTpc
Kisumu Market preach– a revival crowd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UPcNcBzvSQ
Kisumu preachers Catch Fire!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqfp0_Oxwe0
Kisumu Team worship post-preach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUkabbldtnM
Kisumu Fellowship worship
Dear Man of God,
Thank you so much for our time together when you visited. Really it was a powerful time which God had a fresh visits on us here in Kenya the city of Kisumu. No one could imagine that just hosting our beloved brother could ever bring God’s powerful move of God, anointing in the preaching of the gospel of Christ and challenges in the deep and enrooted word of God full of revelation and insight.
News about the mission
It all started when our brother Robert visited us in a planned Feb. mission where we arranged to have him and his ministry which got in to the lives of our church leaders from the lessons we download from the internet and mail monthly Pastoral Letters he sends. This also came as a result of meeting Brother Robert in a leader’s seminar over two years ago when he first introduced the message of the Kingdom which some leaders never liked because it was not going or dancing toward their tune! This was the special time he ministered to my soul and i welcomed all these as a clear direction to where God wants me and our people to follow and hence forth our hearts were knitted together and became in touch. The man of God brother Robert introduce me to his materials of lessons which i found them very very fruitful and could not only help built me alone spiritually but also to share it to other leaders who would be interested. When i introduced it to the leaders it became an eye opener due to it’s strange but Biblical teaching i distributed it as many as possible and this motivated our leaders to admire these trainings so that they can receive. Those who had less background of biblical and spiritual training had the advantage of surfing immediately invaded the internet till God granted our brother Robert to come and witness what God was doing amongst us here in Kisumu through His lessons.
When our brother landed here in Kisumu to be with us and to share with us FBF MISSION, we were full of expectation and got a team of young adults who are vigorous to preach, and together we extended the kingdom of God to the lost and pagans! it was very much powerful! We welcomed our Brother Robert on the evening of 21th Feb 2009 from Bungoma where we took him to the place of rest in preparation to starting the new next day with freshness.
Reaching out to the lost pagan to know Christ.
On 22st Feb 2009 in the morning this was the day we fellowshipped at the church service of Nyawita Church from 10am till 1pm for Sunday service. Our beloved brother Robert got the chance to minister and share with the fellow believers in the church. It was a wonderful start and God used Brother Robert to minister on God’s process of setting us under the furnace of fire, to refine us, using the example as Saul to Paul. God’s power was present and after the preaching people requested that he may pray for them and sickness, problems all left them and they were built up spiritually!
The church is situated around the city slums within Kisumu City taking a bus at the cost of KSHS.20 or a taxi at the cost of KSHS.200from the City bus park or City centre to Kondele Nyawita Market.
In the afternoon of the same Sunday service after blessing that church we went with Brother Robert to meeting with few church leaders who were part of group were going to preach with in the open and market places outreaches. This was within Kisumu but 7kms away from the city centre. We reach there and found the leaders who were young and energetic ripe to spread the gospel of Christ to the lost pagans. The challenge we received together was how our brother and man of God Robert was conveying the message of Christ which completely different from the religious set up, gathering a lot of resources and building big platforms for the gospel and lining beautiful ladies to attract people and this is what have messed up the body of Christ which is the Church. The message of Christ is preached and the conviction follows it This is our work. It is not our job to be worried about how to impress people and pull them in a large crowd to us. The teaching which lasted for 4hours from 2pm left leaders equipped and more prepared for the outreach of the following day. The fellowship was full of impact and was very much loved since no one wanted our brother Robert to cut the teachings short– we were really blessed!
On 23rd Feb 2009 in the morning of Monday was the day for our first outreach all our team for outreach came together at pastor James’ house where we began our safari (journey) for the outreach gospel. We were led by the spirit to choose one of the busiest and biggest markets in Kisumu City and this one was Kondele, Kondele is a very much known place in Kenya due to its worst hit with post election violence’s. During the skirmishes people died in this market place and police officers were conducting the extrajudicial killings by using live bullets on people which a number of them were shooting astray due to the situation which was out of control over last year.
When we arrive there our brother Robert spearheaded and made the first preaching and really it was powerful people were coming closer to hear and see what was happening. It was so much challenging when we were carrying a banner, wearing written trust Jesus as this alone convicted people and pagans responded to us by asking us questions committing their lives to Christ by asking Christ to enter into their lives!
It was amazing in the market places and after the brother Robert, then i took the bull-horn to preach to the people and the interesting part of it as well was that whenever people had the voice from the horn sound the look around the first thing to stare at was the banner and follow the direction at which the banner is or move whenever we more until they reaches us. We took more than 6 hours in the morning outreach and then got a break for 1hour lunch. But by the time we finished the first mission with our mobile preaching we had covered the whole surroundings of the market and many people were reached. Personally I know of 17 in number that received Christ in their hearts and committed to begin a new life and walk with Christ, 22 were healed and more than 500 were reached by the gospel and were convicted others could wave to us while in the buses as we tell them that the need Jesus in to their lives while others cried loudly and the spirit of God convicted their hearts. We saw the hand of God being extended to the once lost and they could weep as the spirit was releasing their hearts to be free from all the guilt! thank you.
After finishing the first mission we took a road walk proclaiming Christ by the side of the road along KCB Highway, Kona Legion (occult dominance area) Forem Junction Market, Carwash stage market and different kinds of groups were inviting us to pray for the sick and the oppressed. We did that as we walked about 2kms for our lunch.
The afternoon after having our lunch we went to Nyawita Market which was a small market near Nyawita church. We had a powerful moment of ministering and about 5 committed their lives to Christ and all these were young girls and boys the enemy capture them to destroy their lives but God came in rescue of their lives and they entered into the fellowship of brethrens.
Then finally we ended that day by going and gathering in the church building to worship and give God glory for what He had done, we worshipped, danced and asked our dear brother Robert to speak to us which he did and after that we worshipped God again and His powerful touch was really manifested in our midst and everybody’s prayer was prayed in the presence of the Father.
On 24th Feb 2009 Tuesday was another special day we had in the morning leaders’ seminar which brought together different church denominations of 25 church networks which started at 10am and ended at 2pm. Leaders from each church sanctuary represented a team of their representative. This was another powerful time and encounter with God where God’s mystery was revealed and the leaders received the unusual in-depth of the word so much amazing. These were the leaders and the churches i had distributed the teaching of our dear brother Robert the FBF Mission. It brought a new insight and leaders realized that much had not been revealed and were still shallow in the word. So FBF came at the right time to make Christ be known in His fullness to us as leaders. This was evident when Robert when asked a number of questions but no one was able to understand better i.e. ‘’why did Jesus came to live and die for us here in the world’ this was a simple quiz but no one got it right.
On that day our brother based his teachings on the message of ‘’the Kingdom’’ it was a passionate message and full of the power of God as we were following the message keenly everyone admired the teachings they have been getting it’s glimpse from the mail materials I’ve been sent through email and internet by FBF Mission and distribute to them. This was the time the leaders realised and understood the vision of FBF and really admired to be part of it and spread it even more to all corners of Kisumu, Nyanza province and beyond. They partook the better part of it when Brother Robert promised to take their contact to be sending them directly the monthly teaching materials which will be of great input to their various ministries about 110 leaders attended the FBF Mission seminar.
After the leaders seminar which ended at 2p we rushed to another bigger and busier Market called Mambo Leo Market. The preaching was started by Brother Robert then followed by the rest of the team we saw God’s mighty hand coming down to save the lost. People heard the word of came close to us and as a team we worked together to reach, hear from them, counsel where possible and then prayed for them. They felt convicted and some were shedding tears as the cried to God to forgive them their sins and cleanse them once again from all unrighteousness.
I remember another man who heard us preaching and came nearby Brother Robert weeping and praying that he had been convicted of his guilts which were ungodly before God and men. He was an angry man, very rude to his family and when he heard the word he felt short before the glory of the almighty God. He was prayed for and to his family, and God healed and restored his family back to normal amen. Women also prayed to God to restore their family and to get right in to the relationship with Christ. This was a powerful event and really our Almighty father was presence and manifested amen. The mission ended by 5:30pm and we took the centre stage to walk with those who heard the word and were willing to have sometimes with us and we were walking back to the house which was 2kms away from where were preaching.
We came back home as a team and feasted with fresh Victoria lake Tilapia fish as a good farewell with our brother Robert who was going back to America on the 25th Wednesday early in the morning. We all (my wife Alice, and 3 other pastors) woke up at 5pm on the 25th Feb 2009 and took the brother to Kisumu Airport where he took his plane at 8:30am and left.
The passionate love could not allow us to leave each other… so we all stayed and watched the plane take off. And that was the end of our first ever mission encounter with FBF, which was passionate and after catching on the fire we now carry on with it and see God’s move and conviction upon the hearts of people.
Since that time we have seen God continue to move in the lives of the lost as we have had outreach in three consecutive weekends of 27th Feb to 1st of March 2009 and 6th to 8th of March 2009 at Seme and Maseno other districts of Nyanza North East of Kisumu direction about 40miles from Kisumu East district. Our last mission was done last week at Kibos area part of Kisumu where we saw a need to reach this place because of it rich roots of Islamic dominance. It is a place where pre colonial Arab traders were settling when they came to do barter trade and slave trades majority intermingled with Arab traders and gave birth to children who were nurtured purely Muslims called ‘’Nubians’’ and it had a strong influence in this area. During our last weekend mission we had a stiff opposition but the better part of it was that we were welcomed by children which was great and gave glory back to God. We got time to challenge them with the word of God and they promised to share a word with their parents which fulfil our mission that they heard the God’s Holy word and saw our banner which is leading to a process of conviction amen.
For these last outreach we have had we have seen success in taking bold step to be able to reach people out there. It’s really a calling and yield fruits since people who were not able to be accessed openly or approached by individual gets the chance to be reached and have a personal relationship with Christ through the Open-Air Proclamation and reading a banner and understanding what it means ad getting convicted to the word of God or hearing the message of Christ and drawing closer to us and getting the right teaching of the message of Christ and being convicted of their sins and leading them to repent. This mission reached people easily and better than arranging a big tent meeting and making fancy things to pull the crowd! The Open-Air Proclamation really worked and reached people as many as possible according to time and strength given by God both in our city and rural areas. Pastors recommended it the best to reach out and build up spiritually. We truly appreciate the mission and foundations of FBF leadership, and we are ready for our next mission together.
For now, we have been carrying on with what we have both learned and have been given. During the past month, we have covered these towns with the Gospel of the Kingdom:
TUESDAY,7TH 2009 ,MIWANI-10KLM FROM KISUMU TOWN
FRIDAY,10TH 2009 ,AHERO-15KLM FROM KISUMU TOWN
TUESDAY,14TH 2009 NYAMASARIA 4KLM FROM KISUMU TOWN
FRIDAY ,17TH 2009 KUNYA 3KLM FROM KISUMU TOWN
TUESDAY,21ST 2009 OTONGLO 8KLM FROM KISUMU TOWN
FRIDAY,24TH 2009 KIBOSWA 8KLM FROM KISUMU TOWN
TUESDAY, 28TH 2009 KUNYA3 KLM FROM KISUMU TOWN
we are requesting our brethren to stand with us in prayers that GOD may enable us to reach those areas… and many more… in Jesus Mighty Name.
Your fellow servants and co-laborers in Christ, Pastors James, Geofrey, Allan, Nick, Isaac and Alice…. oversight Team for FBF Kisumu Centre.
Prayer Closet: Feel free to send us your prayer cares:
The Intercessory Team is on their knees daily for the Church Family
Bro Stanley and Sister Celestine (35) just mis-carried… it was rough. She had to have surgery and is very delicate now. More—she went back into the hospital 2 days and just released this week.
Continued prayer for Bro David’s family… A good and faithful minister who was murdered by thugs for $256… his children’s school tuition.
Many pastors beginning to see that prosperity gospel is not of Jesus. That they might repent—and preach the FREE Gift of Christ!
A mother and daughter who, being threatened with physical harm from their un-converted angry father-husband, had to move.
Bro James and Alice expecting ‘very soon’ their 2nd child.
Christians to get all the way out of debt. Deut 28.44; Rom 13.8
For the 2nd soon advent of Jesus Christ… to end sin in this world, once and for all. Amen.
Enlarging missions and support for NE India
DR Congo FBF Centre Development
Kampala FBF Centre Development
Protection and Maintenance of East Africa Revival
For Wisdom, Understanding, and Perseverance in these last days. WE are watching the unfolding of Biblical Birth Pangs getting closer and more severe all the time now… Every individual’s faith is going through the FIRE now! Like it or not… ready or not… it’s time! PS 119.126; PV 15.3; 21.22; Is. 48.10; 59.14; 59.1-2
More intercession for the Corporate Church Bride of Christ to be dressed in Holy readiness… It’s time! Don’t wait! You’ll be late!
Amen.
How Blessed are the Feet that bring the Good News of the Kingdom
Isaiah 52.7-8 Romans 10.15
Following in the Footsteps of the Master Preacher…
JESUS walked those many dusty roads too…
www.timeforchrist.org
The Teams of FBF Ministry
~ Your comments and questions are always welcome. ~