WARFARE PRAYERS AGAINST CHURCH ATTACKS

By Elder Christopher Tembo

Matthew 16:18, "And i tell you that you are Peter and this rock i will build my Church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Interestingly,the devil detests the gathering of the brethren simply because when believers hold hands together in unity of purpose during prayer, God will hear the prayer and give a response.This is why the first thing that the devil aims to attack is the peace of the CHURCH. Isaiah 54 :17 says No weapon forged against you will prevail and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. Ephesians 6:10 goes on to say, finally,be strong in the LORD and His mighty power. Additionally it is is key to know that the Church is not the physical building or structure, but the saints (that is the Christians) are the Church 

1.Pray to God to deliver the Church and rescue it from the hand of the destroyer, the devil. 

2.Pray to God to arise in His power and destroy every attack that waged against the Church, the body of Christ.                                

3.Pray for the fire of God upon any gathering that does not want the Church to succeed in it's purposes on earth.           

4.Pray against every demonic and evil gathering against the Church, may the fire of God Almighty begin to consume the enemy in the name of Jesus.           

5. Pray for God's counsel alone to stand and the blood of the Lamb to destroy every schedule and plan of the enemy that makes the Church to fail.             

6.Pray to God to grant the Church the strength to resist every attack of the devil that is launched at it.           

7.Ask God for Spiritual strength so that saints can quickly identify the gimmicks of the enemy that could cause the Church to fail.

This is not the time to sit on our laurels brethren, it's time for war against his  schemes, Arise believer and fight.The fight is not against the flesh and blood but it's against powers of darkness 

2 Kings 9:22-24, "King Joram demanded, "Do you come in peace Jehu?" Jehu replied, "How can there  be peace as long as the  idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel, are all around us?" Then King Joram turned the horses around and fled shouting to King Ahaziah, "Treason Ahaziah" But Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders.The arrow pierced his heart, and he sank down dead in his chariot."

Tatamura Museve Wako, Pray 

 AMEN.

PRAYER FOR ZIMBABWE

To Sing A Blessing Over A Nation: The Blessing Zimbabwe

Dear Heavenly Father,

Being moved with what our country Zimbabwe is facing, in submission and knowing fully well Lord God that apart from you we are nothing, we come before your presence a fountain that never runs dry, a fountain that drowns sorrows and provides for our spiritual and material needs - a river of living waters flowing with goodness. Lord we have come to drink from this fountain, these living waters

This nation Oh Lord we pray that it be trusting in, leaning on and looking to You in everything she so desires and only in the name that is above every name, the name of Jesus Christ. Have mercy on and forgive our sins of omission and commission Lord, and have mercy on those suffering, hurting and in fear, and give wisdom & strength to those who are assisting. May the forces of evil be broken by your power and may we be humble before you, our strength and refuge.

Give wisdom to our leaders in the church and communities and bring your comforting peace through the power of your Holy Spirit. Help us to reach to those that have been affected by not only by this pandemic, Covid-19, but that are in need and disadvantaged.

We pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.

Amen

THE MIND OF CHRIST (MURANGARIRO WA KRISTU)

By Pastor Tranos Munapo

The Mind of Christ : Audio (mp3) Message

TRUST IN, LEAN ON AND LOOK TO THE LORD

By Pastor Erasmas Mandizvidza

Online audio (mp3) message : Trust In, Lean On and Look To the LORD

Proverbs 3:5-8 (NIV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

In this world, this side of life as we stand ready for the blessed hope, there have been and are many problems / challenges / tribulations the world including Christians is facing and continues to face. However, the Christian can take comfort in God’s promises for his / her readiness and preparedness in John 16:33, in the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  Currently, worldwide, families including Christians have had either relatives or friends or neighbours either affected or infected to a very large extent by this COVID-19 pandemic with some having had experienced or experiencing a disheartening amount of loss within a span of roughly 3 months and still counting.

Trusting-Leaning-Looking to the Lord’s inspired (enthused) peace: 

In this case and like in every case, we trust in, lean on and look up to the Lord for the energy that rejuvenates and have us have strength to wake up in the morning living a life, and walk out the door staying in His sheepfold as the sheep of His pasture. To those that look to the Lord and have sought Him, they have come to know, can know and experience firsthand the power of peace, a peace far much more than that the world offers and continues to offer (cf John 10:27), the peace from our Prince of Peace, that surpasses all understanding (cf Philippians 4:7). It is that peace and its presence tabernacled in us, that get you and I through the days we either could not or cannot get through on our own. This peace only comes through in faith choosing to align our hearts, mind and activities under the leading of the Holy Spirit in obedience to God. It should be known and embraced by the Christian that this peace first grows from or out of the choices he or she makes based on faith and consequently is cultivated in a spirit of total (child-like) dependence upon God as well as a surrender to His will as He our all in all (cf 1 Corinthians 15:28).

Trusting-Leaning-Looking to the Lord for the provision of the sought hiding place (a strong tower or fortress):

Kutenda, kuzembera and kutarisa kunaShe kunotiwanisa rutiziro maari. We also in this case and like in other case - trust in, lean on and look up to the Lord for a hiding place, our escape. When the walls of: deaths, uncertainty, unknowns, rumours of deaths and viral fear causing information are caving around, you and I can discover in Proverbs 18:10 that, “The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to Him and are safe”. The Lord surely has us see and even experience that with the above walls caving in around Christians, the Christians can discover what it means to say the name of Jesus Christ their hiding place, is not only a sure escape but a strong tower.

This we know, experienced and are experiencing it, grabbing in and with faith, Our Lord and Savior’s solemn invitation in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” As we are inscribed in His hands, we are His portion, and we know in times like this as has been and will be the case, that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit and we are a part of Him as we continually abide in Him (cf Psalm 34:18).

God gives us three values in Proverbs 3:5-6 that we hold them as part of our Christian life will help us live in the favour of His promises:

1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart (Vimba naJehova nemoyo wako wese) - What would happen if you only trusted in the food you want to eat or will eat later? What if you really didn’t think it would be healthy and is safe? How would that change your behavior? Would you sit down think of where to source other food in case this one gets you seek? If you knew the food is unhealthy and unsafe you never think of even touching but you just have to find some same foodstuff to cook and eat. All these actions are because of the fact trust affects our choices. God wants you and me to trust Him with our whole heart so that our choices are influenced by that trust.

2. Lean not on your own understanding (Zembera panaShe aneruzivo nehugwaru hwakakwana) - A Computer Technician does not know how to install all software though he or she has installed a lot of other but different brands. He or she will not need to lean on knowledge of installation instructions of those other software installed when wanting to instill other different and maybe new software. It is assumed knowledge in his or her profession that one needs to follow the software installation instructions from the proprietor (owner). Leaning on one’s understanding, especially having limited understanding on instructions of the one in hand, can be disastrous at worst and be rolled back at best though at the expense of time. Our infinite God made this world & fully knows how it works and should work. God knows what you and me must do in order to experience abundant life (cf John 10:10). To make choices based on our own limited (finite) understanding even though disregarding the instructions of our Maker and Lord, is disastrous at worst and unfulfilling at best.

3. In all your ways acknowledge Him (Pazvese tarisa kunaShe umupe chinzvimbo chake) - To acknowledge God in all (entirely) does not mean to reference or only talk about Him or give Him a holy “shout-outs.” To acknowledge God means to recognize Him as He is, that is to look to Him for entire sustenance. Let us set our eyes on the Way, the Truth and the Life if we are to know which way to move forward. In, with & for Jesus makes us to be in-sync with the will of God. It is all about where you and I choose to focus. Are we making our choices grounded on an eternal (everlasting), kingdom view or on an imperfect, worldly (carnal) view? Where you and I look, regulates ultimately our character and where we will wind-up.

When you and I make the choice to trust in the Lord with all of our hearts, to let go of our own way of understanding things and to look to God in everything we do, He will make our path straight. He will set us on the right road, headed in the right direction (concluding to us being with Him eternally, our blessed hope). He will give us peace. A Christian should know that a choice is not a feeling, but a decision and the fruit of and from decision is a function of one’s commitment.

Pastoral Blessing:

May our good Lord, who works in us to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose not only remind us but also cause us to trust in Him, Lean on Him and Look to Him in a child-like dependence in an obedient response to his invitation to us, to  call unto Him and to cast all our burdens to Him as the all-knowing and able provider of the rightful answer(s) to our needs towards the realization of the abundant life that He gives to the sheep of and in His pastures.

Amen

KUTSANYA NEKUNAMATA

By Elder Davison Sarawoi

Pane mamiriro ezvinhu muupenyu hwemutendi anogona kuda kunamata nekutsanya. Kunamata kwega kunogona kusabudisa mhinduro, asi kunamata kukabatanidzwa nekutsanya kunobuditsa mhinduro. 

Takarairwa kuti tinofanira kunamata nguva dzose. Kutsanya kuzvideredzera miviri nenyama yedu kumweya, muviri wobva wabvumira sekuda kwemweya. 

Thus, fasting , the willful abstaining from natural pleasures for spiritual purpose, has so much power and importance in the christian's life as show in the in the scriptures below:

Mark 9:14-29

Vadzidzi vakatadza kudzinga dhimoni. Jesu akavaudza kuti zverudzi urwu zvaida kutsanya

nekunamata. Kune mamwe masvingo anotokoromorwa nekutsanya nekunamata.

Daniel 10:12

Daniel aida kunzwisisa nguva yaaive. Akatsanya nekunamata kwemazuva makumi maviri

nerimwe. Mwari vakatuma ngirozi kuzomubatsira kunzwisisa.                   

2 Chronicles 20:3-12.

Mambo Jehoshaphat vakati nyika yose itsanye mushure mekutarisana nehondo huru. Vakanamata. Mwari akavarwira.

Esther 4:16

VaJudha vakanga vakatarisana nekuparadzwa kwerudzi rwose. Vakatsanya nekunamata . Mubhuku iri tinoona kuti Mwari akavarwira.

Conclusion

Sedungamunhu, zviripo muupenyu hwedu zvinogona kuda kutsanya nekunamata. Hungava hurwere, masvingo anoda kukoromorwa, nezvimwewo. Kurudziro yangu ndeyekuti ngatizviwanirei nguva yekutsanya nekunamata. Mwari vanopindura. Muswere munyasha.

 Mwari Vakuropafadzei. Amen.

ON THE ROAD WITH JESUS CHRIST

By Pastor Sammie Mangwiro

                           On The Road With Jesus Christ (Audio (mp3) Message)

                                             

Text: Luke 24:13-35

Lord Jesus Open my eyes that I may see You

¹³ And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. ¹⁷ And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” ¹⁹ And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, ²⁰ and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. ²¹ But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. ²² But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, ²³ and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” ²⁵ And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” ²⁷ Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

²⁸ And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. ³² They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” ³³ And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, ³⁴ saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread,

Introduction:

• This story happens on the first day of the week, the day that the lord Jesus rose from the dead.
• I thank God that I worship a Saviour who died for my sins was buried and rose again the third day.
• It is interesting to note that the passage we are going to look at is in the middle of two episodes.
• And in all the three episodes Jesus appeared to three different groups.
• It is also interesting to note that on all the three occasions the people were eagerly searching for Jesus.
• 1st Episode: On the first day of the week Mary went to the tomb very early in the morning and found the stone rolled away, she went and told the disciples they came looked inside and went back to their homes, but she remained until Jesus appeared.
• 2nd Episode: Two men on the road to Emmaus
• They left Jerusalem and retreated to Emmaus after witnessing the horrendous execution of Jesus.
• They were broken-hearted, their hopes shattered, traumatized
• Jesus approached them and joined in their conversation
• They started their journey to Emmaus with broken hearts, but it wasn't too long before their hearts began to burn within themselves 

1 Hunger and desire for God precedes revelation (Nzara neshungu zvodiwa pakuoneswa naMwari)

Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

In all the three episodes we see evidence of hunger and desire, Mary refused to go back home without knowing where the Lord:

a.  Peter and the disciples went back to their homes even the disciple whom Jesus loved went back home but Mary waited until Jesus appeared

b.  The two men on the road to Emmaus were troubled and their conversation was about Jesus and Jesus joined them. *What is dominating your conversations these days?*

c.   When Jesus had appeared to them, they went back to Jerusalem to look for the disciples and when they found them, they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. And while they were recounting what had happened on the road Jesus appeared to them. Kuona Mwari kunotangira pashungu nenzara yekuda kumuona. Ishungu dzekuoneyi dzamuinadzo - zvamune shungu nekuona munozviona !! 

2.   Brokenness is key to Revelation

a. Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The two gentlemen were gripped by fear and hopelessness. It is clear that they were completely terrorized.

b. One distinct characteristic of distress is that it can affect our sight. People in horrible emotional struggles often experience tunnel vision. They were overwhelmed. 

c.  One of the major hindrances to receive from God is the false sense of adequacy. It’s not that God does not want to reveal himself to us or pour out His knowledge and wisdom in us, but the problem is that we are so full with other things that There is no space anything coming from Him.

d. Brokenness is a God’s pathway into your life and also your pathway into the presence of God. *Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise”

3.  They gave Jesus Christ time to converse with them (Vakapa Ishe Jesus nzeve nenguwa yavo kuti ataure navo)

a. They quizzed Him…Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which happened there in these days?* What things? The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.... .... and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him

b.  But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.

c.  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 

d.    They gave Jesus their time and attention.

·    With the continuous noise of life bombarding us, we often find it hard to hear the voice of God. But when we pay attention and listen, we hear God speaking to us in so many ways.

·    God always speaks but does He always get our attention.

·    God will not muzzle your will so that you can listen to Him

·   Listening to God and hearing His voice is a decision that you have to make.

3              4. They invited and received Jesus into their home

a.  Verse 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So, he went in to stay with them. Verse 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. *Verse 3* And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

b. It is possible to walk the whole journey without recognizing God in your life.

c. They walked with Him, He interpreted the word to them, they felt the heat and power of the word but they did not recognize Him

d. It was after urging Him strongly to come to their home that their eyes were opened.

e. There is a level of openness and yielding to Him that will allow you to recognize His hand in your life.

f.  We cannot earn God’s grace or make it flow apart from his free gift. But we can position ourselves to go on getting should he keep giving. We can “fight to walk in the paths where he has promised his blessings”

Mira pakati pehova dzinoyerera nenyasha dzake, uye bvumidza usadzivisa kuti hova dzenyasha dzake dziyerere nepauri

 Conclusion

1.    Hunger and desire for God precedes Revelation

2.    Brokenness is key to revelation

3.    Allow God to take your time

4.    Be open to allow Jesus into the most intimate areas of your life

                                          Pastoral Blessing 

(May)the Lord Jesus dwell in your hearts through faith—that you may be rooted and grounded in love, that you may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and that you may know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, and that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

PRAYER POINTS FOR SUCH A TIME LIKE THIS

By Elder Christopher Tembo

As we go through these hard times as Christians, let us put upon us the responsibility to pray for the whole world and all saints.We are overwhelmingly concerned with the spiritual growth of all believers and they therefore must be our priority and prime target in our prayers. 

1. Pray for God's strength through the Holy Spirit so that we can go forward (Philippians 4:12-13 and Ephesians 6:10). 

2. Pray to God to raise spiritual standard for believers to witness boldly and increase victory against the world, flesh and the devil (Isaiah 59:19).

3 .Pray that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith (Galatians 2:20, John 14:20, John 17:23, Romans 8:10 and Colossians 1:27). 

4. Pray  for the believers to be continually filled by the Holy Spirit so that we will be closer to Christ  

5. Pray that Christians will be rooted and grounded in love knowing the  deep security of the covenant love, relationship, fruitful witness growth in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control forming the character of Christ inside us (Galatians 5:22 and Ephesians 3:14-19). 

6. Pray for believers to discover more and more  of the breath, length,height and depth of the Glorious love of God-a love which can overwhelm us to experience such reality that goes beyond knowledge (Ephesians 3:14-19).

7. Pray for believers to be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19). 

8. Pray for spiritual protection for fellow believers when they go through spiritual attacks so that their faith will not fail (Luke 22:32).

OBEDIENCE

By Pastor S Mawoyo.

The scripture above were words of the prophet Samuel to king Saul, who had returned from defeating the Amalekites and he and his solders were happy that they had executed the commandment of God. However, God was not pleased with what king Saul did, God had instructed king Saul to utterly destroy all the people of the Amalekites and their animals but Saul brought back the best of their sheep and cattle  to sacrifice to God:

1. From this we learn that God is more interested in us obeying his word than the sacrifices we may want to render to him

2. Saul was rejected for disregarding the word of God, he was told to destroy everything but he spared somethings as he was scared of his solders who had advised him that they should take the best of the sheep and cattle. He disobeyed God in order to please his solders and they gave an excuse of wanting to sacrifice the animals to God.

3. When we came to God, did we get rid of our old way of life, did we really leave worship of ancestral spirits – there are some believers who will tell you that though we worship Jesus we should not forget chivanhu chedu, some in the church vanorova makuva kana kunobika doro kumamisha, some go kuMapostori or even kuN’anga when things are very tight for them.

4. What is it in your life that you have not utterly destroyed which God commands to be destroyed? Are you sure you have left kurova makuwa (appeasing spirits of the dead) totally, are you sure you have left lies totally, have you left your old friends that used to influence you in doing the wrong things, have you left that ungodly relationship or there are certain things you do not want to get rid of that are toxic to your relationship with God.

5. God is not interested in what we do in church if we are not obedient to his word. At one point Jesus rebuked the Pharisees about tithing because they were doing this to the point of even tithing spices but neglecting the heavier matters of the law which include righteousness justice and holiness.

Its not about the preaching, its not about the singing, its not about the administration, its not about gathering that matters, its not about the giving, but its obedience to the word of God that gives value to all the other things we do for God

Our prayer should be that we have a heart that obeys God and His word

SPIRITUAL CHECKUP

By Elder Christopher Tembo

Can I listen to other Christian workers being praised and not be jealousy?

 Can I hear of the success of some other Christian and not try to explain it away? 

Can I be constructively criticized and not resent the criticizer?

Can I accept that my talents and gifts may be less noticed than gifts in some other Christians, even if they are just as useful for God? 

What do I honestly regard as 'getting it in life'- is it in terms of Christian maturity, or of possessions and success?

 What is the overriding ambition of my life - to be 'someone', or to serve Christ faithfully? 

How much have I brought God  into my thinking, planning and doing this day?

 Has my love of God's word grown cold? 

Am I prepared to stand up for Christ anywhere, or I am sometimes ashamed or reluctant to be known as a Christian? 

Have people looked at me to see Jesus Christ and been disappointed?

 How much does the love of God flow through me to others?

 Am I a peacemaker?

Am I quick to say ' sorry'?

Can people rely completely on my words ?

HUMAMBO HWEKUDENGA (THE KINGDOM OF GOD)

By Pastor Tranos Munapo

Audio (Mp3) Message

WHAT THE TRUE LOVE OF CHRIST BEARS IN US - RUDO RUNOBETSEREI MATIRI?

By Elder Muchapaziva Begede

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient - able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious - Rudo runopa simba rekugona kumirira…

Love is kind – It gives you the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate  -Rudo runo kuita munhu anonzwira vamwe nekukusunda kubatsira vamwe.

Love is not jealous - when you see something nice that someone else has, and it inspires positive emotions. You feel happy, and want to help them have it more and longer -  Kunzwa kukomborerwa nekuitirwa zvakanaka nekubudirira kwevamwe chero iwe zvisinakukumirira mushe. Even uchizvidawo kana kuti waitokwikwidza navo ukazokundikana. Chero uchifunga kuti ukapiwa mumwe mukana unoita zvirinani. Rudo runoita kuti ugamuchire vamwe nekufara navanofara.

Love is not boastful – It removes self-satisfaction in one's achievements, possessions, or abilities - Rudo runoita kuti munhu azvipete nekuzvininipisa uye asazvitutumadze nokuda kwezvaari, zvaanazvo kana zvaanogona.

Love is not proud – it helps you not to have or show a high or excessively high opinion of oneself or one's importance - Rudo runobvisa kuzvida nekuzvionera pamusoro sewakakosha kudarika vamwe vanhu vese. Chero uine zvavasina kana kuti uchigona zvavasingagone.

Love is not rude – causes you not to be offensively impolite or bad-mannered - Rudo rwaKristu rwunobvisa hunhubu, hundururani uye nemweya wekusaremekedza vamwe, vakuru kwauri kana vadiki kwauri, hama dzako kana vatorwa, vanotenda kana vasingatendi

Love does not demand its own way - Rudo runobvisa “chindini” pamunhu uye nekatsika kekusada munzwawo pfungwa nemaonero evamwe. Rudo runouraya kamweya ke”chandagwinyira” kekuramba kupiwa mazano nekurairwa nevamwe nekutarisira maonero evamwe vanhu pasi usina kumbovapa mukana wakakwana wekutaurawo zvavanofunga.

Love is not irritable –It removes the tendency to be easily annoyed - Kana wavanerudo rwaKristu, kukasira kugumbuka nekusvotwa nevanhu kunopera. Kungodhinhiwa nekungofizurwa nezvisina maturo zvinopera. Kusema vanhu, kungonzwa kumaka vanhu vanemaonero akasiyana newe nekudadira vanhu, kunopera uko.

Love does not keep record of wrong - Kana rudo rwapinda mumwoyo, zvigumbu hazvitakurike, zuva haridoke wakamudhura. Haumirire kunzi sorry kuti uregerere munhu. Chero asina kuti sorry anokananwirwa. Chero asina kubvuma mhosva yake, chero waunoziva kuti akakumaka anoregerwa, chero akakutadzira nebwone. Rudo harusungirire munhu mumwoyo kana kuchengeta BHUKU rezvitazvo zvevanhu mumwoyo.

Love does not rejoice about injustice - Rudo runoita kuti uvenge kusaruramisirwa kwevamwe, kana corruption, chero chezivano

Love rejoices whenever the truth wins out - Rudo runomirira chokwadi uye runoita kuti kufarira nekukukonzeresa uite kuti chokwadi chibude pachena.

Love never gives up - Rudo runosika kutsungirira mumutendi panguva dzakaoma. Hauzorase Tariro kana rudo ruzere mauri.

Love never loses faith - Rudo runovandudza kutenda nekukusimbisa pakubatirira parutendo.

Love is always hopeful - Rudo runopa tariro, runo tarisira zvakanaka kwete zvakaipa

Love endures through every circumstance - Rudo runokukundisa chero panguva ipi zvayo, mukuipa kana mukunaka.

Mwari vadurure rudo rwavo chairwo muhana dzedu tose.

GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL

By Pastor Erasmas Mandizvidza

 

Date : Sunday 03 May 2020 

God is still in Control Audio (mp3) Message

Looking at the Book of Daniel we can See that from: 

Daniel, Chapter 1 to Chapter 6 - How God can keep His people standing and protected, even when they are in exile and in any situation (Shadreck, Misheck and Abednigo in the fiery furnace not burnt or any of their hair or clothes singed & Daniel in the lions den and not eaten) is clearly shows that God is in control of everything even nature. Psalm 24:1 says, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." - He is in control even of your life, In your case even in the lockdown/ With the COVID-19 Pandemic, the invisible enemy / When you in your house / Maybe Sweeping / Or Sleeping, God is still Emmanuel, God with us and in control and reigning. 

Daniel, Chapter 7 to Chapter 12 - How God is not only the God of History and the Present (the Great I AM), but He is also the God of the future, He gave prophecies through Daniel of the future (Some have happened and some are to be fulfilled, some are again restated in the New Testament e.g. the coming of the antichrist). God thus was and remains in control – I am with you even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20) / Ndinemi kusvika kumagumo, zvinova zvinokwanisa kutaurwa naiye chete anoziva ranhasi rese uye ramangwana with 100% accuracy as he is 100% in control 

To show that God is in control, the word says: “The Lord shall reign forever and ever - Exodus 15:18, “Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all - 1 Chronicles 29:11. “For thine is the kingdom…” - Matthew 6:13 “He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 1 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the wine-press of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS - Revelation 19:13-16. 

GOD IS MIGHTY IN HIS WORKS – Anoita zvihombesa Mwari uyu: “The Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself” – Psalm 93:1 “It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters - Psalms 74:13. “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever.” - Revelation 5:13. The select verses from Job 41 will reveal a creature that is fierce and mighty, yet it is God who created Leviathan, and it is God who has a purpose in Leviathan’s creation. 

GOD SHOWED THAT HE IS IN CONTROL , DOING SOME AMAZING THINGS THROUGH ELIJAH : 

• 1 Kings 17:1 - Caused the rain to cease for 3 ½ years. 

• 1 Kings 17:4 - Being fed by the ravens (Kuigirwa chifafu neshiri, gunguwo zvaro rinotokarawo, pamwe itoriwo nenzara kuzopa muranda Mwari, He is in Control of everything.

• 1 Kings 17:14 - The miracle of the barrel of flour and cruse of oil & 1 Kings 17: 22 - The very first resurrection in scripture of the Widow’s son. 

• 1 Kings 18:38 - Calling fire down from heaven on the altar and  1 Kings 18:45 Causing it to rain

Even after all that, when the going got tough, Elijah got depressed and worried. Started grumbling: Oh God, I’m all by myself serving you. Why have you put me in this situation. What am I going to do? Sound Familiar (we do it all the time) >>>: "Oh God, we’re doing what you want us to do, but look at all the problems In Zimbabwe and this global COVID-19, this government is what we have got, this lockdown God oh no, we have got bills due that we cannot pay. I am tired of being home with my family and this husband /wife, tired of everything Zimbabwean, Oh God what am I going to do? We let it get us down so we end up all worried and depressed, What does God tell us about worry and depression, Scripture tells us these are sins. 

GOD IS IN CONTROL – Read 1 Kings 19:9–16 Let’s look at what God did when Elijah got all depressed. Did God say “Oh I understand and I’m so sorry you have to go through this. Wait it gets better” NO starting in from verses 14 - 16 God said get up off your weary posture (Simuka Elijah / Simuka iwe Mutendi) and get busy, ita zvandakakudanira. I got things I need you to do. Zvimwechetezvo newe sedungamunhu kana even seKereke, when something bad happens, we can’t sit around and have a group pity party, ngatisagare tichingo wungudza. The devil tries to get us bogged down and get so wrapped up in our emotions that we lose track of who is in control. We need to pull ourselves together, get up and start doing what God wants us to do.

Remember , GOD IS IN CONTROL. You may ask : How do we know God is in control of this? - When you need an answer go to the source: God’s word (Unozvionera kuti ari in control Mwari uyu):

• GENESIS. 1:1 - In the beginning GOD created the heaven and the earth. 
• 1 SAMUEL 2:6-9 - The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust. And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes, And make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, And He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail & last but not least: 
• REVELATIONS 4:11, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” 

If you are here today and maybe never accepted Christ as your Savior. You need to begin by turning your whole life over to Him, All those fears and doubts you have, just lay them at Jesus feet- If you are here and a Christian, but maybe you are struggling with something in your life that is causing you to be depressed or worried-Maybe it something financial or fear of COVID-19 and all those deaths you are seeing on CNN or any Media Room, maybe it’s something in your marriage, maybe it’s a problem at your work (Mari haisi kuuya) or a spiritual problem that is hindering your closeness with God-You need to understand that GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE, REIGN AND IN CONTROL (Agere paChigaro by Worship Addicts, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAlXaJtRZ6g) - No matter what it is—NOTHING IS TOO BIG FOR OUR GOD -God promises in His word: “Come unto me, all ye that are labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

SAINTS BE REMINDED : God is trustworthy and God promises to always be by your side. God already has your problems and need solved if you put your trust in Him - Often we don’t want to surrender control of our lives, what we think is a perfect solution, though, might be completely wrong. God has the problems of your life already solved, and knows not just why you are going through what you are but the purpose of it. It's possible the problem still exists in your life because He's working on something inside you right now, and then He'll take care of the exterior situation later. God is consistent - Our Lord Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

1. God doesn’t make mistakes - Sevanhu tokanganisa as Mwari haakanganise uye haaresvi. Deuteronomy 32:4 says "His works are perfect, and all His ways are just." Zvoreva kuti Mwari haaresvi, kana uye bodo, hazvigone kuri varesve. 

2. God simply can’t make the mistakes that we do! When we trust in Him and give Him control, we know that He will guide us down the right path. 

3. Your problems didn’t take God by surprise - Psalm 139 anoziva zvese Mwari maringe newe zvauri, zvauri kusangana nazvo and nekuti sei uri kusangana nazvo. Exercise true faith in Him by being assured and convinced that God is in absolute control. 

Prayer

May God work in you through the Holy Spirit, to fully understand and take comfort as you rest in the fact He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and that He is fully in control of not only your life but also is in control of the whole universe in Jesus Name, Amen