AGAPE KI AWAAZ The voice of Agape

Transcription

1 AGAPE KI AWAAZ The voice of Agape FEBRUARY 2008 ISSUE #2 Rev. Joseph Suren - (Pastor/Evangelist) P. O. Box 4236, Samabula. Fiji Islands Phone: (679) Fax: (679) Mobile # josephsuren@gmail.com website: PRAYER Our Priority EVANGELISM Our Purpose MINISTRY Our Goal Theme for 2008: Harvest of Souls. Year of Evangelism Praise the Lord and Welcome to this issue of Agape Ki Awaaz (The voice of Agape). I do hope that you are going to be blessed with the contents. I believe God will do something good in your life today. I encourage you to read the Word of God and allow the Spirit of God to show you all the great things He has for you. God will do it but you must believe. All things are possible to him who believe Amen! My wife joins with me to say Agape greetings to you in the Name that is above every name, LORD JESUS CHRIST, the resurrected Son of the Living God. She is in Pensacola, Florida to visit her sick mother. On June 23 rd we will have our 35 th wedding anniversary and this is the first time ever we are apart from each other for so long. She will be back in April. Well now, it is a great joy for me to share this message with you in this issue of Agape Ki Awaaz. Considering the problem of depression and discouragement. It is probably the most common emotional problem that people have today. Do you have thoughts about anger, or feelings of bitterness? Are you aware these continued thoughts will bring depression? Are you willing to say NO to such inner thoughts? You may need to scream STOP inside your own heart and mind in order to quit the self-talk thoughts that help to build your discouragement and depression. Depression is a prolonged feeling of sadness, discouragement and an inability to get on top of things. Discouragement can be caused by circumstances beyond a person s control: job loss, marital difficulties, sickness, criticism from friends and families, etc. It can also arise from the sense of failure or inadequacy, which could be caused even by seemingly insignificant factors in a person s life. These factors can gradually multiply into a grave problem and sadness in the person s life. With a prolonged feeling of sadness can come a growing distrust of God. There may be guilt from blaming God for the events, circumstances and people with whom we have to do and with whom we may be bitter as well. Often this is

2 further seen in resentments and self-pity. All of these factors can lead to guilt, inactivity, doubting, complaining, and worrying, so that the person may feel as though he s in an inescapable pit. Many admirable Biblical characters experienced discouragement but the Bible gives evidence that hope in God s mercy and steadfast love provides deliverance from depression. Few causes of depression are: Lack of adequate rest. Lack of proper diet. Frustration and anger at God or others. Excessive stress. Feeling sorry for oneself because of circumstances. Sickness or incurable diseases. Problems in life. Disobedience to God s revealed will etc Note some of the characteristics of a depressed person: Complaining about his circumstances. Desire to be alone. Seeing no meaning or purpose in his life. Loss of joy. Sense of problems being overwhelming. Continual focus on one s problems even into the night with loss of sleep. Questioning of God s goodness. Anger, jealousy and bitterness. Facial expression of despondency. Physical exhaustion. Imagined exaggerated calamities that may come upon him. Etc A typical believer will face difficult situations as Paul faced, but will not allow them to destroy his outlook on life or his effectiveness. In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 we read that Paul was: Troubled... but... not crushed. Perplexed... but... not despairing. Persecuted... but... not forsaken. Struck down...but... not destroyed. My friend, God cares and is concerned for YOU. Biblical confession of sin and failure will relieve a lot of depression. Total trust in the Lord s providential will and plan for the life is so important. Christ s YOKE for our lives is not only easy, but HE CARRIES it with us. We must in everything give thanks, for this is His will and the way of rest and peace. Do you really believe that all the things that happen to us are a result of God working for our good if we love God and are willing to fit into His plans? As Romans 8:28 says, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. We read that Christ invites us to do in Matthew 11:28-30 that would make a difference in the stresses and difficulties of life. Jesus gives us true rest and He says, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I Am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. See, His yoke is easy and His burden is light, but often we are discouraged, despondent, and find ourselves depressed because of our self-talk practices or in other words, our inner thoughts and evaluations about life in general. We may become very depressed because of what we say to ourselves about the circumstances of our lives, the events we may face and then the people who are a part of these. So, do you have feelings of inadequacy and failure? The Lord Jesus Christ is your sufficiency, and you must allow Him to meet your inner heart need. It could be your negative self-talk or deep criticalness of yourself which is helping to produce your problem. My friend, Consider the Lord Jesus Christ. He is touched with the feelings of our personal infirmities! (Heb. 4:14-16) This means that He is deeply moved at our sufferings. He knows all about suffering. When He went to the cross, He suffered every kind of pain - emotionally, physically, and even spiritually! He suffered more that any human could ever suffer. He knows all about everything you have gone through that has helped to build your discouragement, hurt, despair, pain, infirmities and depression. He is moved inwardly about your heart cry and need. You can be rest assured that you can t suffer anything that He hasn t already suffered. So He urges you to come boldly to the throne of grace to find help in the time of your need. Also we have the Holy Spirit who abides within the born-again believers and is there to comfort, encourage, strengthen, anoint, and give support. Allow Him to minister to your life. He wants to be your solace, strength, and support, a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. If you need special prayer for your loved ones or for yourself, go to our website and send your prayer request to us. We will join you in agreement for your request and believe God for miracles.

3 My friend, Decide today, right now, to live in His will and to be blessed! It is your choice! Is Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life, if He is not, Romans 10:13 says, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. That Name is Jesus! Savior, Healer, Deliverer! Do it today, call upon Him and receive your resurrection miracle from Jesus right now! If you have not invited Jesus into your heart as Lord and personal Savior, you can do that right now. Just pray this simple prayer, Dear Father in Heaven, I come to You now, I confess my sins and I ask for forgiveness. Wash me clean by Jesus precious blood. I acknowledge and receive Your Son Jesus Christ into my heart as my Lord and my Savior. Thank You Lord Jesus for saving me and writing my name in the Book of life. I receive the Grace to serve You all the days of my life. Amen. Friend, if you have meant that prayer, He has come, Lord Jesus Christ is yours. Heaven is your home; see you there, if not here! God bless and keep you and your dear family! My friend, if you are sick and afflicted, YOU CAN BE HEALED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! Jesus is the One who can get you well. So in Jesus Name be healed! Be Healed! Receive your miracle in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen! To God be the Glory! Hallelujah! God loves you and so do we! If Agape Ki Awaaz has been a blessing to you, then please copy and forward this to your friends and loved ones. us and let us know if God has blessed you through this article. I would appreciate your feedback on this message. Let me know whether it has been a blessing to you. We want to rejoice with you and pray for you and your loved ones. My friend, we need your prayers and encouragement that will certainly go a long way to forward the Kingdom of God. Till next issue, keep looking unto Jesus the Author and the Finisher of our faith. Keep in touch. God bless you and use you. There is a miracle waiting for you. Receive His breakthrough blessings and greatness in your life. For past issues, please do visit our website: God Bless you and your loved ones! It is our sincere hope and prayer and we also believe that God s Greatness and Breakthrough will be so powerful in our lives, in our families and in our beloved Nation. Thank you for your prayer support, encouragements and being a recipient of Agape Ki Awaaz each month. My friend, if you are looking for a Full Gospel Bible believing Church where you can grow in strong faith, to receive Bible based teachings and to experience signs and wonders, then I welcome you to come to our services every Sunday at 10 am. I preach in English and we have interpretation in Hindustani. You and your family are welcome to attend if you are around Lami to Nausori corridor. See you one of these Sundays. With Agape Blessings and Shalom. Joseph and Martha Suren LOOK, WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE READ THE FOLLOWING TESTIMONY OF MR. JUGEN SINGH WHO WAS HEALED OF DEAFNESS IN THE NAME OF LORD JESUS CHRIST

4 In 1993, I started having difficulties hearing with my left ear and became partially deaf. My condition became worse and in 1995 and I could not hear anything with my left ear. Then in 1997, my right ear became partially deaf - my situation was that I was only able to hear very little from my right ear. I consulted DR. Narayan (ear specialist) and was told that I would be totally deaf within 5 to 10 years. I also consulted a specialist from overseas who said that I may have improved hearing if I installed hearing aid. The cost of getting this done was quite high. I became desperate and worried as I have 3 daughters and I was concerned about their future. To get better, I went to temples, witch doctors, did my prayers and fasted but nothing helped. My condition got worse. Two years ago (2006), my wife's aunt, who attends Agape Revival Centre in Lami, told me that I should attend church and get prayed for. I did not believe her. One day (in October 2007) I visited our aunt and again she mentioned that I should get prayed for. That day, my ears were very painful and aunty mentioned that I should attend the crusade in Pilling Road that was being organized by her church (in October, 2007) and she said that Pastor Joseph Suren was going to be preaching and will also pray for the sick. She encouraged me to come and see the difference. I took my eldest daughter to the crusade and when the invitation was given to pray for sick people I went forward. I was prayed for, on the first and the second night, but did not notice any difference. On the 3 rd and final night of the crusade, the power and the presence of God were in the Crusade. Pastor prayed and asked if there was any improvement in my hearing. I did not notice any difference so I told him. He prayed again and I fell under the anointing. I got up after 5 minutes and immediately notice that my hearing had improved. I was partially healed. Faith and hope began to rise within me and I knew I was going to be healed. Together with my family we started attending Agape Revival Centre, church in Nadonumai Road, Lami, where Pastor Joseph Suren is the Pastor and Evangelist. In December 2007, there was another crusade being held at Narere Assembly where Pastor Joseph Suren was preaching and praying for the sick. On the last night of the meetings (9th December), I was prayed for and praise God I was completely healed. I praise God for what He has done for me. My family and I have devoted our lives to Him and now feel so much better. To God be all the glory. A QUICK INSPIRATION & NUGGETS OF TRUTH ISAIAH 40:31 NKJV But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

5 Today's Quote "It isn't difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill, just add a little dirt." HUMOR PROVERBS 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones. Question: Why does a chicken coop have two doors? Answer: Because if it had four, it would be a chicken sedan. READER S RESPONSE ON DECEMBER ISSUE Hi brethren, I just received this from my spiritual friend.. I kindly ask you to put my name on your monthly news list. May God bless your ministry as you began to reach out to others in countries like PNG. With Jesus Love. Rosemary Vagi, PNG Thank you for the good message. TVGM, India THANKING YOU. GREETING TO YOUR MINISTRIES. GOD BLESS YOU. Prabhu Katuri, India God bless you brother! Happy New Year! Keep up the good work. Isikeli Sila, Fiji Dear Joseph, Greetings. Thanks for the message that we viewed. God bless you. Ps. Dennis Balcombe. Hong Kong Hi Joe and Bobby, God's best for the New Year as you fulfill your calling in Christ and live in faith, grace, love and truth. May you find new people to love you and to love and may every true friendship bring you much assurance of God's love for you and His love for others. Thank you very much for sharing your latest message and also the wonderful pictures of the Christmas spirit among your people in your church in Fiji. All of those pics transported me and made me thank God for all of you and His Spirit moving in love in your midst. Keep at whatever God is telling you all to do because, well, it looks beautiful in a world looking desperately for love.and everything else in our lives is in Jesus' care. He loves us, whether we are good or bad, brave or afraid and gives us the faith and grace to be over comers every time. Our lives are saving others because of what He is in us. Agape, indeed! What more can anyone ask for?? God bless you all folks. Happy 2008! Joe. Singapore Hi bro, Praise the Lord, how are u and bhabi hope everything is fine. Thank you for Agape ki Awaaz January bulletin which I received. It s a timely theme of the year which the Lord has laid upon your heart. Consider us partners in this worthy call. We are praying for God s action in our lives and we have not joined a church but are praying and waiting upon the Lord to show His grace and vision for the Agape ministry here in Sydney. Our prayers are always for you and Agape ministry. You are our pastor and we are still members of Agape Fiji. Please pray for us that our lives will be upheld in faith and Christian values. We the Ranjans love you and bhabi and the rest of the church members.. God will use you in mighty way this year and that you will reach many souls and evangelize the whole world. love you always. Edward Ranjan, Australia

6 My Dear Brother Joseph. Praise The Lord. Thank you very much for your wonderful message and the word of encouragement during the year We will continue to pray for you and your ministry. Now it s God s time to do the miracles. Our love and best wishes for a happy new year to you and Bobby. God Bless You. Ps. Samuel & Rachel Krishna, Canada Thanks Padre for the News letter. Yea it s one we always look forward to. Ps. Reginald, Fiji Dear Rev. Suren. May you and your family have a blessed prosperous new year. Many thanks for the January issue of Agape message, so appropriate to mesmerize on it at the beginning of the year. Best wishes. Ana Delana. Fiji AGAPE NEWS FLASH 1. CALL or VISIT our Church (in Lami 22 Nadonumai Road, Lami phone and in Auckland - Senior Citizen s Bowling Club, 522 Blockhouse Bay Road, Blockhouse Bay phone Pastor Jay Chand on ) and find out the exciting things the Lord is doing. You will receive and be blessed by the ministry of the Word, we also pray for the sick and those who need prayer and spiritual counseling. 2. Our theme for this year is Harvest of Souls: Year of Evangelism! We believe God Almighty for His Best in all phase of our Life, Family and Ministry. 3. Pray for our Salvation/Divine Healing/Revival crusades around the Nation and outside Fiji. Crusades * Multi-media Presentation * Bible Study * Church planting 4. Continue to pray for our compassion ministry in Fiji at the Old Peoples Home, the Mental Hospital and the Father Law Home. Please pray for these inpatients, staffs (nurses and doctors) and our team members. 5. DO VISIT US ON OUR WEBSITE: PRAYER THOUGHT Heavenly Father, I thank You for all that You did in my life last year. I thank You for Your faithfulness and many breakthroughs. Lord, I ask for Your favor and will to be done in my life in this new year of evangelism. Help me not to compromise but trust and obey You always. Lord, help me to make right choices and decisions in my life before the year ends. Lord, help me not to give any room to doubt, but release my faith to expect my miracle. God of Breakthroughs, be with me and help me to be an over-comer in everything. Lord, be my Provider for all my needs. Take me to the next level. Lord help me to be an over comer in all my troubles and trials and be victorious. In the Mighty Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray to receive my miracle now. Amen

7 Agape Ki Awaaz in each issue we will report the miracles of God and His promises, a little message to help you and your loved ones to have greater faith in God. Read and pass on to someone. Remember, God s miracles are for you! There is power in prayer. Success, Health, Salvation, Happiness and Prosperity are for YOU and your HOUSEHOLD. Faith and miracles are for you today. God has more miracles than your needs. Christ died to give YOU abundant living. Because Jesus suffered for YOU, you can be happy, you can have abundant life, you can be healed, you can have success, and you can prosper. Good things are happening to people, who ask for prayer. God has been reaching out to YOU. Do you have needs? Are there problems you cannot solve? Is there sickness? Will you give God a chance to PROVE His power to YOU? We believe in prayer, call us, write or visit our church. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever and what He is doing for others, He wants to do for YOU! God loves you and so do we at Agape Revival Centre, Lami, Fiji and Auckland, NZ. Till next issue, GOD BE WITH YOU!