1 Corinthians 1:17   ” For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. ”

1 John 4:18 ESV “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

We must first take a look at the most important part of this verse. Although there are many wonderful truths buried within these words, there is something deep to be realized to us by the Spirit before the rest of the inspiration is given. Even more so, as this verse is often used by many Christians as a reminder, this verse masterfully anchors and implies the truths listed in the entire chapter. Here, in the letter of 1 John, in the fourth chapter, in the first half of the eighteenth verse, is a word that holds this verse as a kind of written mediator between God and man.

Love? One might think it to be love. Love after all is virtuous; love is patient, kind, not boastful, and the like. It is a pillar and a cornerstone, and a reason for the foundation upon which we are laid. Love is the act that will outlast eternally every ounce of faith and hope, and it will stand forever when every spiritual gift has passed from necessity. Love has been the reason for some of the greatest truths, choices, unselfish acts, arts, monuments, wars, triumphs, and a mean and excuse to most things on the earth. But does love cast out all fear? By no means!

What blasphemy I would be in if I was to even dare to teach something of the sort. You might argue that this is clearly what the verse has dictated to us. This however, is clearly in error. This verse is a profound truth, and to say that love can cast away all fear is disingenuous to the glory of God. But here is where the truth lies…”but perfect love casts out fear.” Now do you see it, the word that anchors this chapter and separates our spirit and flesh? The one word which brings truth is not love, it is perfect. Only God can be perfect, only He is perfect enough to love like this verse dictates.

“For fear has to do with punishment…” I ask, can your love, the love of some other man, perhaps your mother, or even the love of some other god remove fear on the day of God’s wrath and punishment? The answer thin all these things are simply no. None of these things can provide the love to drown out, let alone conquer the fear of punishment. But perfect love can. Love that hung on the cross, love that has called you blessed, love that has labeled you blameless, love that grants you the gift over eternal life.

Why can this love do what other love cannot? Very simply, it is perfect love, for it is God’s love. God’s love affords us mercy and righteousness, which is the direct opposite of wrath and punishment. And if punishment and wrath are the eventuality then this love has more perfection than we can ever realize. If there is no longer fear of punishment, then there is no longer a need to labor to earn God’s love. How could we ever earn God’s love if it is perfect? We cannot, it is given with the cost of His Son Jesus, which amplifies perfection.

Not only the loss of fear of eternally, but from the moment of being reborn. Remember, the Scriptures do not say, ‘anyone who believes in him will get eternal life,’ or ‘anyone who believes in him knows he has eternal life,’ but “anyone who believes in him has eternal life.” Here again our fear is extinguished. Not only do we escape the punishment to come, but we are His right now. This perfect love has chosen us while we were sinners, recreated us, and allows us the blessings and fruits of eternal life while we are still person of the flesh. And then He sealed us by the glorious indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Now we see it is His love that His is perfect, it affords us boldness before Him who sits upon the throne. It is the blessing of the mercy seat, and this perfect love casts out all fear of eternal consequence. Praise the Lord that it is not finished there, or with the indwelling Spirit, because His love goes beyond even that. If He has bought our right to be bold and righteous in His sight, then how much more should we not fear the powers of the world? If He lives in you, then He has bought your freedom, past, present, and future. So often we fear those who can kill the body, but in the reality of eternity and your calling, what fear should we truly have towards men? None!

As children of God, the only one we fear is God, and if he has allowed us to not fear, then why do we do him dishonor by trembling before men? Let me be blunt. You who are filled with the Spirit, even more you who have been baptized by fire, what right do you have being ambassadors of God to live in fear? You are no longer of this world! If God is love, and His love casts out all fear, then those of the world who are different oh chosen of the Most High God. You have no business living out fear, which is the messenger of punishment, for the wrath no longer rests upon you, but was taken by your Blessed Savior. But if you have fear, you are in one of two places spiritually, life or death.

You who fear, I speak not of fearing the world, but those who fear the judgment of God. You fear the wrath of God? You tremble before His righteousness? Do you dread, poor Christian, the day the Lord counts your iniquities? Good! And you should! If this is you, why do you doubt your place in the faith? Are you converted? Has the Lord forgiven your transgressions? You are either blessed, or you are cursed. You have either the need of salvation, or the need of a revelation! “..And whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” Christians do not have fear and assurance of salvation. There is no grey area for you my friend. You cannot be half saved. You are either born again, or you are still dead in your sins. Are you perfected in love? If God is love, and love casts out fear, and those who have been cleansed of fear are perfected, then your options are perfect love and salvation, or fear of punishment and laboring for God’s grace. If you fear, you have no perfect love, and have no assurance. I plead with you, if you fear, look at your faith and ask if you are truly saved! Do not tread on this lightly. Stop pleading in repentance over every sin in your religion of dead works and place your faith in the wonderful blood of Jesus which gives you eternal life. He is your hope, your foundation, and forever he will keep you. Ask for forgiveness once and for all and walk in the way of holiness that he is calling you into.

If you are already being sanctified by him, take joy in the knowledge of the assurance of your faith. 1 John 4:17 tells us plainly, “…you have confidence for the day of judgment.” No enemy will snatch you from His hand. His perfect love has forever perfected you from the moment of conversion. There is no need of fear because of fear is an object of wrath. You blessed child are no object of wrath. Salvation is yours! Blessed be the name of the Lord! But when you doubt, and fear and flesh take over, fret not. You are not neglected by God, but seek out His presence and be reminded of who He is and who you are. Now, he has not only made you perfect for eternity in His love, but he has allowed you to shed your fear of this world. If you have the assurance of salvation, you may now have assurance before men, for if you are no longer of this world, then you have confidence in the fact that you are a soldier and servant of the only True God of the universe. Take hold of this revelation, for no trait or work has bought you his love, it was bought for you. Move forward in love, and in the knowledge or your assurance. No deed can earn you his love, and no sin can depart you from his love. Forever are you in the faith my friend. Now go boldly into the world with the wonderful and eternal good news with a revelation of His infinite mercy with no fear of man or punishment, and bring others to the same wonderful revelation of forgiveness, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“The voice of rejoicing and salvations is in the tents of the righteous.” Psalm 118:15

Who am I, a mere mortal, soon to pass away, quick to turn, abounding in evil and transgressions to take what has been given for granted? Who am I to forsake the ways of the Author of Creation? It is by Him alone that I am saved. No work of my own can pay homage to the glory of His mercy towards me. While I was still wicked and in my sin, He sought me. When I was dead and turned my eye from Him, He turned His eye to me. He chose me before the foundations of the world. How undeserving I am for His merciful sacrifice, for even after I am forgiven I often seek after my old ways. Yet it is by His name and His power and His steadfast love that I stay on the path of Holiness set before all saints. Undeserving… of mercy, unregenerate at heart, lovers of wickedness, doers of evil, haters of God. This was us, and by no means worthy of mercy. From the womb we have hated God, and to the grave we would despise Him for eternity if it was not for His love and mercy. So sing glad songs to Him. Rejoice in His salvation for the Lord has looked upon you as righteous. If He knows you, rejoice, for He has made you righteous. If He knows you, rejoice, for the tents you dwell in for eternity, will be the tents of the Lord of Hosts. Sing to Him a new song, as long as it is called today. Bless Him in a new way so that ‘The voice of rejoicing and salvations is in the tents of the righteous.’ Proclaim His love in a new way every day, for He is worthy of all praise and honor.

Today (provided that I can secure a ride to said facility) I am going to be taking my plea for giving to a Mens’ Bible Study. I truly have a respect for these men that I am going to be presenting this to. They have a passion for Biblical truth, and do not want to see the Gospel tarnished. A little bit about these men, as far as my knowledge of them, they started in a fairly large church. Probably what would be considered in our part of the country, to be megachurch size. I don’t know how many people attended said church, but what I do know is that I got lost several times trying to find the room they were in. Upon my amazement when I went into the classroom for the first time, I found it wasn’t just a classroom, it was a library. A library filled with strong and Biblical doctrine, apologetics, the Gospel, church history, exposing false doctrines and movements, etc. It kept going and going. I was perplexed at how they could do so much with what only a few men were doing in the ministry.

Once it came time for teaching, it was also very good, although I happened to catch the business day where they talked about membership, who can come, their purpose, etc, much like I did the first time I came to the Assemblies of God, where I am now a leader.  I was impressed at the knowledge and passions to the authenticity of scripture amongst the brothers in this ministry. Eventually due to some disputes between them and the church, which I shall let alone as I was not a part of this, they split. The location moved to a barn of a man named David who helped fund this ministry. To which if he reads this, I’d like to thank him for the location and continuation of the ministry. It has been a blessing to many.

Today, they want me to present a set of things, which greatly impressed me as to that which they wanted to know. In all actuality these are merely the basic principles of our faith, and if people put time into knowing God as they should today they would know these few key foundational beliefs/facts on which every denomination should rest upon.

They want merely to know my testimony, my understanding of the Gospel, what place discipleship takes in my ministry, my background and/or qualification into ministry, how I came to be called into missions, how I would deliver the Gospel and deliver the fundamental elements of the message, and how I would disciple those who want to learn.

All in all, this is very simple, yet the fact that they want to test the spirit of those who are coming through asking for money is very encouraging. I can guarantee that in the future, that most all of the churches I will step into will never ask these questions of me. These are the churches however that I feel called to one day. But as for now, I shall answer the call of the Lord for my life, by fulfilling the Great Commission as He leads me to Uganda.

My day today is spent playing a game of catchup. As of late, I’ve either been stressed, slacking off, or overly busy with a ministry to get things done. Although 2/3 are a good reason, at least a good excuse, it doesn’t excuse the timeline I have left to raise the money needed to push through the last of my fundraising. My day today is spent emailing several pastors in the area. Many of whom I didn’t even know that there were churches where they pastor. I pray that the Lord would impress it upon their hearts to answer in a generous fashion.

However, if they so choose not to reply, I do not think it so much a loss. It would be very easy to move on from it. I have two reasons why I really want to make contact with these churches. I will be doing missions in the future again, this I know. I want to have a good foundation for raising money the next time I have to leave the states. Also, I very much want to be a blessing to the churches in America as well as those abroad. I know that my friends and family in Uganda are grateful for the messages I have brought them in the past. Not that it is hard at all to stand up and preach or teach. It is an easy thing. Yes it requires a lot of prayer, fasting, personal worship, daily study, a life of holiness, etc. Of course none of these things are easy for a person to do, and even more so, none of these things are even possible without the Holy Spirit to guide us and aid us daily. However, these are things that we do just to get to know our precious savior and our might God. The rest is just stand up, say what the Holy Spirit has placed upon your heart and your tongue.

I want so much to be an encouragement to as many people in America as I can be. I know how important of a ministry that is in America. Many people would disagree with them. However I find that many people I know, some even those considered more spiritual, cannot even tell me the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. This is a sad thing. They have trouble putting together a testimony, and giving glory to our God who died for us, and our God the Father whom we wait to glorify in the heavens. People need reminding in westernized Christianity. This is where I eventually feel led to, the church of America. And I hope that I can be a blessing to all of these, my brothers and sisters in Christ, before a time of tribulation finally comes against the saints of the US.

My fundraising is underway! So first and foremost I would like to thank anyone who is reading this right now for taking time to come to this website. It means a lot to me, and I hope that you continue to look to this for updates, prayer, and encouragement.

I am about 1/2 of the way there. It seems so close, and so hard. But soon I will be spending time seeking out more possible sponsors, and I pray that the Lord provides for me. I know He will. So for those of you that are here reading this, I confess to be nervous and stressed out over all of this, so please I have one request. PRAY!!! Please pray for me and my fundraising. I need it ever so dearly. Pray for exhortation, for protectiong, for equipping, and for empowerment. Pray about giving, but don’t stop praying for me spiritually.

All glory to the God of heaven! May we see Him in all His glory and splendor soon!

My fundraising is underway! So first and foremost I would like to thank anyone who is reading this right now for taking time to come to this website. It means a lot to me, and I hope that you continue to look to this for updates, prayer, and encouragement.

I am about 1/3 of the way there. It seems so close, and so hard. But soon I will be spending time seeking out more possible sponsors, and I pray that the Lord provides for me. I know He will. So for those of you that are here reading this, I confess to be nervous and stressed out over all of this, so please I have one request. PRAY!!! Please pray for me and my fundraising. I need it ever so dearly. Pray for exhortation, for protectiong, for equipping, and for empowerment. Pray about giving, but don’t stop praying for me spiritually.

All glory to the God of heaven! May we see Him in all His glory and splendor soon!