Here I am

God does not call those who do not believe.

He does not waste His time with unbelieving, disobedient, arrogant people.

He only calls those who say: Here I am.

It was so in the past, it is this way in the present and it will be this way in the future.

Abraham listened to God’s voice and obeyed;

Moses also listened and obeyed;

Joshua listened and obeyed;

Gideon listened and obeyed.

Peter, James, John, Paul and many others that were called also obeyed.

All who trusted in Him, obeyed.

Looking back on each of their lives, I ask:

Which one suffered loss or had things go wrong when they obeyed God’s direction?

Not one.

Do you suppose this voice is now silent?

Did God tire of calling people?

When there is no one left in this world that is willing to obey, then His voice will fall silent.

At this very moment, as you read these words, the Spirit of God is calling you by name.

So then, will you continue to live in sin and close your ears to the sweet Voice of God?

How have you profited, in the bad lifestyle that you’ve been living?

Are you tired of living this way?

The Holy Spirit is calling you NOW!

Take advantage of this moment of distress, find a quiet place, even a bathroom will do, and respond:

HERE I AM, HOLY SPIRIT,

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

And when you least expect it, the Holy Spirit will answer you.

Just wait.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you,” John 15.16.

The Greatest Star

“Then He brought him outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be,’” Genesis 15.5.

We can see God's greatness not only by the amount of stars in the sky, but by the size of each one of.

Some stars are five million times larger than the Sun, and they are not the largest stars out there. According to scientists, one star is one billion times larger than the Sun. All these massive stars harmoniously exist in what appears to human eyes as nothingness. And yet, there is a power that supports them in that nothingness: the Word of God.

I believe that Abraham's descendants will not only be numerous, but will also be as great as each of these stars.

God wants to do big things in the lives of those who obey Him like Abraham obeyed. And just as the Earth is too small for one of these immense stars, the Earth will be too small for the children of Abraham.

The God of Abraham is so great that He has to bend down to look at the sky, Earth and universe, in spite of the universe’s vastness.

“Who is like the LORD our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth?” Psalm 113.5,6.

With this in mind, how can we regard family, financial, love life or physical problems as big?

Those with the same vision as Abraham are not afraid to say: "Here I am."

They are sure that God has more to give them, than they have to give Him.

Bishop Romualdo Panceiro

True Security

Of all the material possessions in life, real estate generally provides us with the greatest sense of security (land, houses, etc.).

When God ordered Abraham to leave his country and his father’s house, he had to let go of the security that his properties afforded him, Genesis 12.1.

Even if he had taken all his other possessions with him (verse 5), they would not have guaranteed the same level of security that his properties had given him. But Abraham went ahead and gave them up because of his faith, trust and obedience in and towards God, supported by the constant SACRIFICES that he offered Him.

So much so that whenever he moved from one place to another, the first thing he would do is build an altar (see Genesis 12.7,8 and 13.18).

Why did Abraham always build altars?

Because altars are the place of SACRIFICE. An altar is where SACRIFICES are presented (our lives, self-denial, offerings, etc.), and sacrifice is the fuel of faith.

SACRIFICE is what keeps the flame of faith constantly lit. This is why Abraham was forever ready to obey the voice of God. His faith was unshakable and beyond question because he was constantly presenting SACRIFICES to God.

We should all be exactly like Abraham, because only then will the light of the Most High shine through us and will we ourselves be a blessing, that is, we will generate blessings, as in Genesis 12.2.

When the Word of God says: “Look to Abraham your father…” (Isaiah 51. 2), it is teaching us to imitate Abraham.

As a general rule, parents are a child’s reference point, a mirror, a model to be followed. This is exactly what God wants when He tells us to look to Abraham.

It is worth saying that if we are truly like Abraham — men and women of faith, always obedient to His Word — then we will ourselves be a blessing, anchored and supported by SACRIFICE, and will know true security.

With the assistance of Bishop Marcos Pereira

The Star of Abraham

To rescue his nephew Lot, Abraham had to defeat four nations that had just conquered five nations.

We could say that Abraham defeated nine nations at once with a mere 318 men.

I can only imagine the caliber of those servants.

But the most glorious thing about his victory was not his boldness or bravery.

He trusted in the promise: "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you..." Genesis 12.3.

His victory was so great that he himself was amazed.

In fact he was afraid that his fame would stir up other nations to unite and attack him.

But our wonderful Lord came to him and encourage him, saying: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Abraham then took advantage of that opportunity and complained: “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?

This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir”, the Lord replied.

Then He brought him outside and said, “’Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be,’” Genesis 15.1-5.

Each star symbolized one of Abraham’s descendants.

He was unable to count the stars, just as he would be unable to count the number of his descendants.

Those who live in the faith of Abraham are one of those stars.

Each star has the promise of God, which He promised to Abraham under oath.

Every one of his heirs is, by legal right, one of his "stars".

Are you a star of Abraham?

The Beginning of Faith

When Adam rebelled the world entered into a spiritual, and as a consequence, moral crisis.

Without the direction of God, mankind became idolatrous, undisciplined and unruly.

To give mankind another chance, the Lord would have to send His Son to die for us.

But how could Jesus be born among an idolatrous people?

How could the Holy Son of God be born to sinners?

For that reason, the Lord decided to form a group of people that were set apart from the ungodly.

Abraham was the only one to respond to God’s divine plan.

His intelligent faith made partnership with God possible.

God is spirit, wisdom, intelligence, reason...

A commitment with Him requires intelligent faith.

Abraham used his reason.

He preferred atheism to believing in gods created by man.

God chose Abraham because he was a thinker.

Instead of using his heart to make decisions, he used reason.

Yet, in order to turn him into a great nation, He had to remove him from his people.

If not, he might have been influenced by his family and the godless customs of that society, and might not have listened to the voice of God.

His first test of faith was the sacrifice of leaving that sinful land and his family, and giving up the leadership of his family.

The same principles that were used in the selection of the children of God in the past, are also used today.

Jesus said:

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me," Matthew 16.24.

There is no third person in a partnership with God.

Either He comes first, or He wants nothing to do with you.

If you want to enjoy the honor of having Him as Lord of your life, He demands First place – He wants to be First in your life...

Like Jesus said:

"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it," Matthew 10.37-39.

I was imprisoned and you visited me

The Fury of Faith

Israel was the picture of failure.

Their fear of the enemy’s wrath forced them to abandon their homes and properties to live in caves, dens and shelters in the mountains.

In their few moments of peace, they would sow seed.

However, at harvest time, the enemies came in full force.

The Midianites were joined by the Amalekites and other tribes from the East, and like locusts came up against Israel to destroy their entire harvest.

Nothing was left behind – no oxen, sheep or donkeys. Nothing.

Israel hit rock bottom in such a way that there was no alternative but to call upon the God of their fathers.

Their humiliation and outcry touched the heart of God.

And so the Almighty chose Gideon to deliver His firstfruits.

Note the criteria the Lord uses to choose His servants.

Gideon was the angriest man in Israel.

His hatred of the enemy led to his revolt.

And yet he did not know how to use this energy.

This is when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and gave him a word.

The object of our hatred should not be those who hate us; instead, we should use it against the evil spirits that are using them.

Gideon had no such insight.

When he heard the angel say that the Lord was with him, he immediately responded in anger and unbelief:

“O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?” Judges 6.13.

This reaction perfectly characterizes the type of person God chooses in the war against hell.

Instead of being reprimanded for his audacity, the Angel confirmed his calling by saying:

“Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” Judges 6.14.

This means: the fury of Gideon was his strength.

The Lord has allowed enemies to rise up against us so that the fury of our faith manifests.

Be abundantly blessed, in the Name of the Lord of Hosts, Jesus Christ!

The Cloud of the Spirit

As I was looking at the mountains here in Africa, I noticed a thick white cloud surrounding this mountain.

I thought it strange because there were no other clouds in the sky.

Only this cloud was over this mountain.

It amazed me and immediately I took a picture.

I remembered that God brought Abraham out of the tent to see and count the stars, if he was able to.

He did this in response to Abraham’s unwillingness to accept the fact that he had no children.

When he looked up at the starry sky, his understanding of the Greatness of God changed.

I hope these photos open your mind, like Abraham’s was, and change your understanding of the Greatness of God.

I found this verse in the Bible:

"Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled," Exodus 19.16.

This Sunday will be the third day of June.

A Day of Decision, a day of challenge, that is, D-Day in the lives of those who believe.

I know that the Cloud of the Spirit will descend with His greatness and honor those who honor Him.

This is what the Lord said: "...for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed," I Samuel 2.30.

The Anger of the Firstfruits

Only those who have acquired certain rights can claim those rights.

The firstfruits of God, the firstborn or the faithful tithe-givers are aware of their rights.

And when they do not see these rights coming true in their lives, they revolt against that situation.

Their anger does not appear out of nowhere.

On the contrary, it comes from a breach of their pact.

No one, in their right mind, would allow someone to insist on payment when they had not fulfilled their part of the agreement.

This faith guides those who have a pact with God.

It is impossible to have a pact with God and not enjoy the benefits He offers.

It would be like getting married and not enjoying the company of your loved one.

After 24 years of obedience, Abraham said to the Lord:

"Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless...?"

Immediately, the Lord took him outside and told him to look at the starry sky, Genesis 15.

Jacob said to the Lord:

"I will not let You go unless You bless me!"

Immediately, the Lord answered him:

"Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men and hast prevailed,” Genesis 32.26 (KJV).

Faithful tithe-givers, or the firstfruits of God, are also princes of God.

In the faith of Abraham and Jacob, Moses said to the Lord:

"If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—if I have found favor in Your sight—and do not let me see my wretchedness!” Numbers 11.15.

Following in the same footsteps as Abraham, Jacob and Moses, Gideon said to the Angel of the Lord:

"…if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about...?" Judges 6.13.

Immediately, the Lord answered him:

"Go in this might of yours and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” Judges 6.14.

Each one had reached their limit. They did not fear for their lives or their family’s lives.

It was all or nothing.

Why is that?

Because they were not merely upset, but felt revolt against the situation they were in.

Gideon’s might was his revolt against that situation.

And this is the kind of faith that takes possession of the promises of God.

It is natural for those who have been wronged to feel revolt.

They carry within themselves a sense of revolt against the one causing the injustice in their lives.

A revolt against the one that slows the fulfillment of the Promises.

The Firstfruits of God

Tithes are the firstfruits, the firstfruits of God.

They are the first ten percent.

The people of Israel were consecrated to the Lord.

The enemies of Israel were the enemies of God because the people of Israel were the firstfruits of God.

Whoever touched Israel was guilty before the Lord.

“Israel was holiness to the Lord, the firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him will offend; disaster will come upon them,” says the Lord, Jeremiah 2.3.

Every time that Israel turned away, fell into the hands of their enemies and cried out the Lord, His patience and mercy raised up a deliverer because the people of Israelwere His firstfruits.

The coming of the Lord Jesus formed the new Israel.

New firstfruits of God.

Those who have faith in Him, follow Him and practice His Word. They are true Christians.

Their faithfulness makes them actual tithes and offerings – the firstfruits of God.

When the Lord invites His people to turn to Him, to honor Him with tithes and offerings, in truth He wants them to continue as His firstfruits.

All faithful tithers are the firstfruits of God.

No one has the power to destroy or even touch a faithful tither because he is the sole property of the Most High.

Only tithers are able to test the Word of God.

We invite you who believe, even if you who have not been a tither up to this point, to start tithing from this Sunday on, 6-3-2012.

From the very moment you tithe — set apart what is God’s — you become the sole property of the Most High and the rights and privileges that Israel had, you will have.

You will be consecrated to the LORD and will be the firstfruits of His harvest.

Whoever touches you will be cursed, (Genesis 12.3).

To be a tither is to be the tithe itself, the firstfruits of the Eternal God.

This coming Sunday, the firstfruits of the Lord will demand that the windows of heaven open for them, just as He promised.

I repeat: tithers are the tithe, the firstfruits of the Lord.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light...”  1 Peter 2.9.

Only those who are not in their right mind will stay outside.