UNLOCKING THE MIRACULOUS THROUGH THANKSGIVING

*Unlocking the miraculous through thanksgiving*

 John  11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.  11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

Jesus went to the grave where Lazarus had been laid to rise him upto life. He commanded the stone cover to the grave to be removed. He then gave thanks to God before saying a word to bring the miraculous. From this scripture, I learnt life changing revelations on how to unlock the miraculous through thanksgiving. As you read this,  I pray God to unlock your doors to your life of miracles

1. Know where to direct the thanksgiving: He addressed to his Father. Father is progenitor,  source, origin of, source, giver of life. When we do thanksgiving, it's to the Father. Even in his model prayer Jesus said, Our Father who art in heaven (Mt 6:9). We err when we don't know the source. Where are we directing our prayers?
2. Thanksgiving is done in faith and confidence: Jesus says, you have heard me. He speaks in the past tense. He sees His Father as already done and responsed. Before we pray, by faith we would have received it. That's the attitude we should have when approaching God in thanksgiving. 1 John 5:14 speaks of the confidence we have to God who hears. In faith we thank God, who have already done what we are thanking him for. Faith is a critical component in our thanksgiving  (Heb 11:1,6 )
3. Thanksgiving with understanding the character of God: Jesus brings us to attention to the character of God.  He says, I knew (past tense), you always hear me.  It is the character of God to hear us. He is a compassionate God. It is His nature. However, it is on our side which matters. We need to understand this character of God. We lose it many times by seeing God as someone who sometimes hear us than one who always hear us.
4. Thanksgiving is done for the sake of others: Though Jesus already know the dimension of the power of God he still had to utter words of thanks because of and for the sake of those surrounding him. Sometimes those around us are not believing enough, therefore we need to demonstrate thanksgiving indicating our faith for them to also believe. Your thanksgiving can encourage someone behind or after you. It is for the sake of others sometimes because we already know His power. As you thank God for what He can do or has already done, you raise faith in another soul.
5. After-thanksgiving word: After thanking God, Jesus gave a word of command,  Lazarus come forth. There is power in the word of command. Speak a word to your situation.  Lazarus come out. Situations hear the word of command and respond. Ezekiel was told to prophesy to the dry bones  (Ez 37)

*John Museredzo* is a passionate teacher of the Word.
+263775127589
jhnmuseredzo@gmail.com
 www.johnmuseredzo.blogspot.com

LIMITATIONS TO EFFECTIVE THANKSGIVING

LIMITATIONS TO EFFECTIVE THANKSGIVING

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan ~ Luke 17:15-16

Ten people were healed of leprosy but only one came to thank the Lord. Where were the other nine? It is painful to see that we may be blessed together but only few are able to come back and thank God. I have discovered that many people are limited in thanksgivin.

Below are some of the limitations to effective thanksgiving.

• Taking things for granted: These people say there is no need to thank God. In fact it God’s duty to protect me so why thank Him. The other 9 attitude. Kuvarairwa nekukanganwa ishe zvaakaita. There is also some issues to do with forgetting what God has done in our lives (Deut 8:10-12, Judges 2:10, Deut 25:19 ) It time to take a census and count your blessings, you will be shocked and be surprised.
• Wrong Attitude: God knows that I love him so ndinotendera mumoyo. Handidi kuramba ndichinetsa Mwari. Mwari haaneti kutendwa.
• Feelings: Laziness, not feeling so, tiredness and rudeness: When we don’t feel like – Psa.42:5
• Reluctance/Spectatorism: kusada, hazvimanikidzwi. You have to make a choice to thank Him
• Lack of knowledge: People need to be taught. Don’t manifest signs of bitterness in your testimony to thank the Lord. Salvation testimonies should take precedence over material testimonies. Don’t be carried away by the audience.
• Background: Some cultures, backgrounds and traditions limit people from effective thanksgiving. (He was a Samaritan but thanked Jesus)
• Show off and competition attitude: Never imply that you are better than those who don’t have a testimony. Some have testimonies but don’t speak. Don’t testify to outcompete another. Show-off sometimes cause people to lie and exaggerate in their testimonies. If you are not yet healed it’s not a crime.
• Pride: With pride people say, 'What I have is through my effort and wisdom'. The focus should be on the Lord and His faithfulness. Make sure you exalt the name of Jesus. Emphasis the role of Jesus Christ not just I did this and that.
• Lack of confidence and fear of man: what will people say when I testify or thank God for His goodness
• Spiritual bondage: demons limit you to thank God.

John Museredzo is a passionate teacher of the word of God.
+263775127589

EFFECTIVE TESTIMONY GIVING

EFFECTIVE TESTIMONY GIVING

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” ~ Mt 8:3 -4
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan ~ Luke 17:15-16

A testimony is a declaration of what the Lord has done for you, your family or others. A testimony can present one’s conversion experience or how God has worked in our lives through miracles, healing, deliverance and breakthroughs. This is mainly done in a public worship setting. It is done to encourage others to have faith in God, to declare what God can do, to give evidence of the power of God, to thank God for who he is, to express our relationship with God, to build one’s faith in Him through that experience.

However against all this background I have seen that the motive to testify is very critical and this has caused many people not to testify in the correct manner. These notes will help us to testify in an effective way.
1. Pray before you stand before the people. You are about to do Kingdom business and you need the leading of the Spirit.
2. The focus should be on the Lord and His faithfulness. Make sure you exalt the name of Jesus Christ.
3. Emphasise the role of Jesus Christ in your testimony. Testimony should never zero in on the arena of ‘I did this and that’ It is not in you but in Christ.
4. Don’t be vague. Get straight to the point. What is your issue? What happened? It is also not very necessary to put every pinch of the story to include complexion of the pastor who prayed for you and the color of the bus you boarded.
5. It is not very necessary to mention the name of the church you used to attend if the motive is to downplay that church as if they failed to deal with your case. You are not there to make churches clash.
6. Don’t manifest signs of bitterness in your testimony. A testimony is not a fix-him arena.
7. Never imply that you are better than those who don’t have a testimony. Some have testimonies but don’t speak.
8. By all means salvation testimonies should take precedence over material or prosperity testimony. We should hear more of, ‘I was a sinner and he delivered and saved me’
9.  Don’t be carried away by the audience. The audience may shower praises to the extent that you forget that you are giving a testimony.
10. Stick to the time you have been given. Remember testimony is part of the program with other things to do.
11. Avoid being superficial or superspiritual. It’s not necessary to try give strange or weird experience which include doubtable visions and punctuating every statement with a backing of, ‘Thus saith the Lord’
12. Do not testify to compete or outdo another testifier.
13. Avoid exaggerating or lying in the name of testimonies. Never fake a testimony. If you are not healed, you are not.
14.  Give other people opportunity to testify also what the Lord has done for them. It is not you alone whom God visits.
15. Be careful of pride as you testify.

John Museredzo is a Bible scholar and lecturer with passion to maintain spiritual order in the Church
+263712154277

LEADERSHIP LESSONS

*LEADERSHIP LESSONS*

1. The crowd is not the follower. The crowd is a group but a follower is an individual.
2. Praises and endorsements are not allegiance. People can praise you to your falling.
3. Leaders must always deal with challenges in the organisation.
4. Leaders always reap what they sow.
5. Leaders must be careful of informal leaders. They can sway the whole organisation into disaster.
6. Influence is not in speeches and meetings but progressive action.
7. Leaders should not be fooled by fake followers. These go by the wind.
8. Leaders must give room for a comma not making themselves a full stop.
9. Leaders must never try to ignore the voice of the people.
10. Leaders must understand the power of words. They make you or destroy your leadership.

John Museredzo is a pastor, change agent and speaker +263775127589

THE PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

THE PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6. And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;~ 2 Pet 2:5-6

This is very interesting and captivating passage. There was an impeding flood coming as judgement to the evil doings of humanity. Noah’s responsibility was to preach righteousness so that people leave sin. Noah was a preacher of righteousness. It means that righteousness was the main subject for him. Noah is a model of a true preacher.

A preacher must not be carried away and forget that he or she is a minister or preacher of righteousness. People need to be introduced to a holy and righteous God. It is dangerous for a preacher to present other subjects and forget that the key issue is about the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mt 6:33). Yes we have preached other things; but where are preachers of righteousness?

We have a predicament in the model of the modern day preacher. Preachers are running with other messages at the expense of righteousness. If you are a preacher ask yourself, ‘When did I last preach about righteousness’. The gospel is about salvation and righteousness (Eph 1:13, Rom 1:16). Modern day preacher has been an expert of other things and forgets the main course.

What some preachers are preaching

1. Preaching what people want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3

2. Preaching jealousy, hatred and bitterness (Phil 1:15)

3. Preaching powerless messages (1 Cor 2:4)

4. Preaching materialistic messages and to gain positions.

5. Preaching unbiblical and other ‘gospels’ (2 Cor 11:4, Gal 1:7)

6. Preaching which is not correlated to personal life: There must be balance between doctrine and practice (Titus 1:16)

7. Preaching church political dynamics at the expense of the gospel (1 Cor 1:12-13)

What must the preacher of righteousness do?

1. Pursue righteousness 2 Tim 2:22

2. Seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness Mt 6:33,

3. Put on righteousness Job 29:14, Eph 6:14

4. Walk in the paths of righteousness Ps 23:3

5. Thirst for righteousness Mt 5:6

6. Deny ungodliness (Titus 1:11-12)

7. Suffer for righteousness 1 Pet 3:14

Are you still a preacher of righteousness? God give me grace to go back to the basics of righteousness.

John Museredzo is a passionate preacher and teacher of the word of God. +263775127589

TEN BIBLICAL TRUTHS ABOUT MARRIAGE

          

TEN BIBLICAL TRUTHS ABOUT MARRIAGE

Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper suitable for him…..For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh’~ Gen 2:18,24

From this Scripture we learn a lot about marriage. Below are ten Biblical truths about marriage:

1. Marriage is spiritual: Marriage is not just the physical coming together of the man and the woman. It came as a pronouncement by God. In fact marriage has spiritual connotations than any relationship. It is a typology of the union between the church and Christ (Ephesians 5:22-32) As such one must approach marriage from a spiritual point of view that it needs prayer, faith, the Word of God etc. We should understand that in that context we should also not leave God in the equation of marriage. Another interesting spiritual observation is that marriage actually is a heart matter.

2. Marriage is Biblical: In the pages of the Bible, you will encounter marriage. In the Bible, you will see reflections of successful marriages and failed marriages. We also learn that marriage is one of the most consistent and important topics in the Bible.

3. Marriage is sacred: Something that is sacred is believed to be holy and to have a special connection with God. Marriage as such is holy and connected to God. Actually marriage was instituted by God. Therefore it is entitled to reverence and respect, highly valued and important. Marriage is a blessed and consecrated union. Also, 1 Corinthians 7:2 indicates that sex before marriage is immorality. Never play with marriage. It is sacred.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral~ Heb 13:4

4. Marriage is a union: The scripture says that the man should be joined (cleaved) to his wife. Marriage is a powerful union. It is cemented by love. Marriage is more than a relationship. It is a covenantal union. In marriage, there is sharing, networking, fellowship reflecting the power of the union. Therefore, marriage partners should not leave as islands. We are in a union. The Bible says these two shall become one.

Therefore what God yoked together let no man put apart~ Mark 10:6-9

5. Marriage is a unique relationship: There is no relationship which can replace the marriage relationship. It cannot be superseded. As observed, it is the only relationship which is the mirror image of the relationship between Christ and the Church. It is a unique life time relationship.

6. Marriage is permanent: Marriage is a permanent life time commitment. There shouldn’t be trial marriages or experimental marriages. If you have decided to go into a marriage, make sure you have made your mind. Do not say, ‘I want to see how it goes’ Marriage entails commitment and sacrifice.

7. Marriage is personal: The instruction of the Lord is directed to the man (Adam) as an individual. It was not good for the man to be alone. Therefore, marriage is at a personal level. There is no group marriage. It is an individual who marries. You marry an individual. Though advice is essential, the bottom line remains that marriage is about the individual. After all has been said, the couple will be in marriage alone and expected to solve their problems alone. That is why the Bible say the man will leave his father as mother, as an individual, to join his wife.

8. Marriage is beneficial: The Scripture tells us that the man was going to be given a helper or a helpmeet suitable for him. There was going to be a benefit from both ends. The woman and the man were going to benefit from the marriage structure. There is mutual benefit (Eph 5:22-27) Never should we receive satanic teachings that marriage has no benefits. If one has failed in a marriage, that doesn’t make marriage bad. In marriage there is intimacy, sexual fulfilment and procreation.

9. Marriage is heterosexual (opposite sex) based: From the above scripture we are introduced to Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve. It is the man and the woman biologically. Homosexual relationships and marriages are an abomination before God.

10. Marriage can face challenges: Those entering marriage should understand that marriage faces challenges. These challenges can be spiritual, financial, physical, material etc. As such parties to a marriage must be will willing to fight these challenges and come to a resolve.

John Museredzo is a relationship expert who has written more than 5 books including Youth and Sexual Purity; Youth, Relationships and Marriage. Contact him on:

+263775127589; +263712154277

jhnmuseredzo@gmail.com

www.johnmuseredzo.blogspot.com

PASTORING IN CHALLENGING AREAS

PASTORING IN CHALLENGING AREAS

Nature of Challenging Areas

Challenging areas present themselves in various modes. Below are some of the challenging areas as far as pastoring is concerned:

a. War-torn areas: These areas are characterised by civil or ethnic wars or interregional conflicts.

b. Economically challenged areas: These areas characterised by poverty, food insecurity and shortages etc

c. Geographical challenges: These areas can include remote places, climate challenges, deserts etc.

d. Religious wars: These areas will include areas where a pastor has to fight religious wars with religions like Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism etc.

e. Disease hit areas: These mainly relate to health issues like Ebola, cholera, malaria, yellow fever etc.

What Can Happen To A Pastor In These Challenges?

a. Die spiritually

b. Die physically

c. Sickness (esp. psychologically and physically)

d. Murmuring, grumbling and bitterness

e. Joining the occult to attract followers

f. Hate those who sent, if you have been deployed maybe by a deploying authority

e. Hate God: The assumption is that God is getting you all these challenges

g. Run away from ministry or pastoring. Challenges need strong people who can stand.

What The Church Should Do For The Pastor?

a. Communication: Constantly Communicate with the Pastor

b. Prayer: Prayer for the Pastor in those challenging places

c. Support mechanisms: Support the pastor emotionally or maybe in every means possible

Attitude To Win For The Pastor

 a. Love the place

b. Do not hate the people: they could be also undergoing the same challenges

c. Patience is virtue: You will learn to wait upon the Lord

d. Have a great vision for the place

e. Encourage and motivate the people

f. Maturity is key: some challenges are for our good.

g. Positive attitude: The challenge is an opportunity for you

h. Prayer, fasting and faith: you can’t substitute these. They pull you along.

i. Network and Linkage: Avoid being in isolation. Have friends who are positive and be a member of the pastors’ fraternity so that you can also exchange notes.

j. Don’t scold people: It doesn’t work that way. Do not manifest your bitterness on the pulpit.
i. Have income generating projects so that you don't just expect church to support you.

John Museredzo is a passionate teacher of the Word of God. He is pastor who has pastored areas of diverse backgrounds. Link up on +263775127589