One step forward, two steps back

Part of my work involves helping people to change—to change themselves, their situation, or both. Some want to change their marriage, others their finances, some want to quit an addiction. They want to be a better person, to be able to enjoy their life more, or to successfully deal with a problem. We all need to learn how to do those things if we really want to succeed in life.

But I have observed one thing that defeats many people who are trying to change.

Setbacks.

The person comes to us with a problem; we listen, give him direction on what to do, and pray for him. The next thing you know is he comes back all happy and saying, “Pastor, it’s working like magic! My wife and I haven’t argued for week…” or “I closed a new contract today, it will really help me with those debts…” or “I haven’t felt like using drugs anymore.” And I am really happy to see his life changing.

But then, that same person might come back a few days later looking like they’ve just been in the ring with Mike Tyson. And I hear that the wife had him sleep in the couch the night before, or that his car broke down when he really didn’t need the extra expense, or that he took a puff at his friend’s pipe when he visited the other day.

Understand this: Changing your life is not like changing your shirt. Expect setbacks. You will make one step forward and two steps back for a while. It’s important you don’t beat yourself up over this.

What you need to do is pick yourself up, go back to where you left off, and start over. Change takes time. Change requires perseverance.

If you keep going, you will outlast the setbacks.

Renato Cardoso

Making the most of now

The past is over, the future is not here

Lately I’ve been thinking about how easily we waste time and accomplish nothing just because we fail to focus on the here and now.

We’re always so busy, always thinking about something. But here’s the problem: We’re often doing something but thinking about something else. What happens then? We don’t give our best to what we’re doing, and end up doing a bad job or worse – not doing anything at all.

I remember when I was a teenager and got my first job. I had a real hard time waking up in the morning to be at work by 7am. I’d stay in bed as long as I could, and often longer, resenting having to get up. I’d rush to work and invariably get there a few minutes late. When I started work in the morning, I would always be watching the clock, counting the minutes to my coffee break. And when I was in my coffee break, I’d moan that it was too short and soon had to be back at work.

Instead of concentrating on what I was doing at the time, I’d always be thinking about the next thing. Needless to say, that wasn’t a very happy time in my life.

Today I see that this bad habit plagues many people. Instead of enjoying what they are doing at any given time, they keep looking ahead or behind them, either regretting the past or worrying about the future. They miss the here and now.

When they are at work, they think about their problems at home. When they are at home with their children or partner, they whine to them about how hard they work and feel unappreciated. In other words, at work they don’t do a good job because their mind is elsewhere. And they don’t spend quality time with their family because when they’re home they’re thinking about work.

Sadly, that’s the way many people live, either lamenting the past or worrying about the future – but always forgetting the present.

You can only do one thing well at a time. So learn to live your life without worries and distractions.

If you are at work, so work! Do the best you can. Excel in your job. If it’s time to study, then devour those books! Think about what you’re learning. Give yourself entirely to it. Master it.

If you are at home with your family, so be with your family! Switch off the phone, enjoy each other’s company, talk about your day, appreciate what your wife or husband does for you – and tell them you do.

If you make the most of now, you will always be the best in all you do. And happiness will be only a consequence.

Renato Cardoso

Admirable Women

These are women who have their jobs, their professions, others work and study, and they have their homes and families.

They work outside, and when they come home, they have to provide for the welfare of their families and the good progress of their homes.

Many of these women confront struggles at work, at home, and all is because of their faith.

What makes them admirable is that they also set time apart to serve God; these women are the helpers of the Universal Church.

In addition to taking care of their own homes, they take care of the house of God, seeing every detail, taking care of the children, so that the parents can participate in the services peacefully; they evangelize, clean the church, serve those who need spiritual help, give a word of encouragement, or simply attend those in need to be heard.

Without them, we would not have proper condition of receiving so many people in the church, and care for all of them with special attention; they are fundamental in the work of God and to the growth of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Everything they do is out of love, for they felt God's calling, came forward, and prepared themselves to win souls.

They are not awarded with anything material, but God’s reward for them will be great; they may not get fame, or have their names written on a wall or on any mural, but they are certainly very special to God.

I want to make this small tribute to the helpers of the IURD worldwide, for their spiritual services and dedication in the courts of the Lord.

Keep serving the Lord with enthusiasm and fervor and He will reward you all.

Obs.: In this picture some of the helpers of the Church in Nairobi, Kenya, the church where I am today.

We CHALLENGE you.

How to receive the Holy Spirit

First step: Be aware

Understand that no one is baptised with the Holy Spirit because they deserve it. Anyone who thinks they’re worthy of the Holy Spirit will never receive it. This baptism should be sought with all of your strength and with all your heart, through faith in Jesus Christ.

Second step: Want

You can’t simply want it because you think it’s a good idea to have or because others have it. You must yearn to have it because you understand that it’s as necessary as salvation. This need is similar to the need for forgiveness for your sins. It’s an ardent need, above any other aspiration or heart’s desire. It’s more than life, marriage, and all the wealth in the world; it’s more than anything the world can offer. This is why the Lord requires us to thirst for His presence. You need to be thirsty. If anyone is thirsty… (John 7:37). You must truly want it and be willing to fight for it; otherwise it’ll be very difficult.

Third Step: Give thought

Your want has to be followed by constant thoughts of the Person of the Holy Spirit. He should continuously be on your mind; whether it’s at home, work, while running errands, at church or anywhere else for that matter. Think about Him as much as possible, just like when you’re in a relationship with someone. When you’re in love, you always end up thinking about that special someone, right? The same thing should happen with those seeking the Divine Seal. The important thing is to keep your focus on Him. Needless to say that during this time, you should separate yourself from anything that can pollute your good conscience. Avoid hanging around with the wrong crowd or people that aren’t of the same faith because they’ll end up distracting you and disrupting your relationship with the Holy Spirit. It’s difficult but not impossible. Faith requires sacrifices. If you’re willing to take all the necessary measures when fighting for your prosperity, the same principle should be applied even more so to your spiritual life. Imagine the Holy Spirit’s abundance!

Know that this takes a supernatural effort.

Conclusion:

There’s nothing more that is needed after all these conditions are met, and worrying about it is useless. Just wait. The baptism can happen at any moment and anywhere: at home, work, while running errands, at church etc, because you have seen to it that there are no obstacles impeding the Lord Jesus from baptising you with His Spirit.

Note: It’s very likely that the devil with attack you with dirty thoughts during the time that you’re occupying your mind “with the Person of the Holy Spirit”. Don’t fret when this happens, it’s an excellent sign that you’re on the right track. Don’t become discouraged. Don’t worry. Don’t feel as though you have sinned against Him because temptation is not sin. Sin is when you fall into temptation. The only unforgivable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Don’t be afraid or back down when you’re bombarded with dirty thoughts. Seize the moment, resist the devil and praise the Lord Jesus, whether it’s through singing or worship (in a loud or low voice, depending on your privacy).The important thing is not fearing or being intimidated by the dirty thoughts. React! And by react, I mean, praise God.

Bishop Macedo

We will, we will rock you

Did you hear about the earthquake?

Knowledge is power, they say. And I say, "Ignorance is powerlessness." Those who control empowering information, control or deprive those who don’t have it. Most people don’t immediately think of knowledge as a source of power and wealth. And yet, every day they pay large sums of money for the information, advice, or knowledge that someone else possesses.

Why do we pay money to lawyers, doctors, schools, accountants, realtors, and other people who don’t sell us any tangible goods? The reason is because they possess knowledge or information we need but don’t have. And their knowledge serves them so well that they make a living out of it.

Those who know, earn. Those who don’t, pay. What you don’t know can cost you dearly – even your life. That’s the world we live in, and that is a fact.

Easter is just around the corner. It’s supposed to mark the most important event the world has ever seen. What do you know about it? Are you drawing power from it? Is it making your life any better?

If Easter for you is simply a tradition, a religious holiday, or nothing at all – you are being robbed blind. Someone is hiding that knowledge from you. You are paying a high price for that ignorance, believe me.

Do not assume you know all about it just because you’ve heard about it since Sunday school. Invest your time in seeking, searching, learning about all your cross-conquered benefits. Because when you know them, your faith will have power.

This Easter we are calling people to rescue the real meaning of the cross. Let’s remember all our benefits and claim them. Let us go back to the roots and do it the Lord’s way – the earth-quaking and rock-splitting way!

Don’t come for the music. Don’t come for the tradition.

Don’t come to be entertained. Don’t come for the preacher.

Come because you can’t accept failure when He gave His life for you to succeed.

Bp. Renato Cardoso

P.S. Our Easter services times are: Good Friday 10am, 3pm, Easter Sunday 10am

The devil's worst fear

The single event that changed the world- and still does –

GOOD FRIDAY

"So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, " It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gve up His spirit." John 19:30

If you understand what Jesus’ death on the cross meant for you, you will never again accept suffering in your life. If you believe in what He accomplished for you on the cross, you will reject every kind of curse, disease, guilt, failure, sadness and defeat.



The Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul spoke about what the Lord Jesus achieved on the cross: “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Col 2:15)



Do you know what the devil’s worst fear was? – that the Lord Jesus would go to the cross and die as a perfect and redeeming sacrifice. He tried to stop the Lord Jesus many times and in many ways, but he couldn’t. From the day the Lord Jesus was born till His last moments on the cross, Satan tried to defeat Him and impede His sacrifice:



“And Herod... gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem...” (Mt 2:16)
“And the people said, Save thyself, and come down from the cross.” (Mk 15:30)

Why? What was Satan’s fear and why did He want Jesus to come down from the cross? Why did he try to use even the apostle Peter to stop Jesus from going to the cross? (See Matthew 16.21-23)

Satan knew that if Jesus successfully accomplished His sacrifice on the cross, it would mean the end of his control over mankind. He knew he would be finished.



Praise God, Satan could not stop Him! Our Lord Jesus overcame! By the cross, our Lord disarmed the powers and principalities, stripped them off of their authority, humiliated them, made a public spectacle of them, and triumphed over them. No wonder He said on the cross, before giving up His spirit, “It is finished!

”

Now the question is: Are you benefiting from the blessings He conquered for you? If not, you should know that the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus does not make His blessings automatically appear in your life.



For you to receive His blessings, you need to manifest your faith with actions. And sacrifice is the highest, strongest manifestation of faith.



Remember: faith without works is dead.



People of faith don’t wait – they make things happen. 



People of faith don’t stand still and watch Jesus pass by – they use their faith to get His attention.



People of faith do not accept to look at what happened on the cross and then just keep existing with the same old life.

If it cost Him so much, it’s because it was worth that much.

Are you taking advantage of it?

UNIVERSAL CHURCH OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Kijabe Street – Former Globe Cinema – Nairobi

Kenya

Phone: +254 20 300 0956, +254 729 243 699