Building a Spiritual Life is a process which demands faithfulness. If we are steadfast, the answer always comes eventually. It had to because the scriptures say:
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not”. Galatians 6:6-9
When you sow the word of faith you will always get a harvest. But I will confess to you, there were times when I got weary in well doing because my due season took so long to arrive, but even then I kept the faith.
We should learn from all our experiences. What I have discovered is that although we live by faith there is always a time of patiently waiting for God’s promises to materialise in our lives. It is possible to speed things up a great deal. If you are a wise and spiritual farmer, you can shorten the times between seed time and harvest.
How? By carefully tending the soil of your heart.
That natural farmer who wants a great harvest will fertilize the ground, water it and keep the weeds out.
The same thing is true in the realm of the spirit. There are some things you have to do if you want your faith to produce effectively.
What are these things?
Today I am determined to use two words
1. Sanctify yourself, “Sanctified” is a spiritual word that means “to separate yourself” in two ways
• From the things of this world
• To the things of God
Yet this is not what many of wants. We want the things the world is chasing; we want to do the things they do, to live the way they live.
Things we would not say or do 20-30 years ago are now being said and done every night and even days on our television.
Paul in his writings to timothy warned these days would come. 2 Timothy 2:1-4 (amp bible)
Back to our text
Paul tells us what he gave up and remained steadfast
What Paul gave up
1. Health and Comfort
Paul felt hard pressed v.8 but never crushed
2. Calm and Uncertainty
Paul felt perplexed v.8 but he never fell into despair
3. Peace and Acceptance
Paul was persecuted v.9 but he was never forsaken
4. Strength and Poise
Paul was struck down v.9 but he was never destroyed
5. Paul gave up his own life and in his body he bore the mark of Christ’s death. He received the life of Jesus.
What does this mean?
Remember we are not of this world, since we are born again we are not to conform to the image of this world, but rather we are to conform to the image of Jesus.
Whatever you give your attention to is what is going to be inside you either fertilizing or depleting the soil of your heart. Hebrews 12:1-14
Daily Manna
Thursday, 18 October 2007
Requirements for Preaching
Following a personal study with Bishop Wagner a few years ago on the requirements of a preacher, here are a few notes from that session I hope will inspire your own study and development. For more information on Bishop Wagner, please check out his web site on www.calvery4u.org
Preaching Requirements
• You need Purpose = what is God thinking?
• You need Power = inspiration of God
• You need Plan = organization of thought, time and tempo
What a Preacher should Know……
• His God
• His subject
• The audience
• Self
As a Minister of God, you handle sacred things:
1. The Word
2. The Truth
3. The Life
Preaching Requirements
• You need Purpose = what is God thinking?
• You need Power = inspiration of God
• You need Plan = organization of thought, time and tempo
What a Preacher should Know……
• His God
• His subject
• The audience
• Self
As a Minister of God, you handle sacred things:
1. The Word
2. The Truth
3. The Life
Condemnation vs Consecration
You can be closer to God than you are to your best friend. That in it self would be reason enough to live a holy lifestyle. But the Bile promises even more rewards.
1 John 5:17-18 says, “All unrighteousness is sin. We know that whatsoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself =, and wicked one toucheth him not”.
Can you imagine what life would be like if the devil couldn’t touch you? Well that’s the way God wants your life to be. He wants you so free, satan can’t hurt you in any way. For your information, you can be free. Please see 1 John 3:21-22
Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, then have we confidence towards God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive from Him because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
Many people don’t receive answers to prayer, because when they stand before God praying, they have no confidence. They couldn’t ask in faith because their heart condemns them.
When your fault is impaired or weakened, result is far from you. When you are not where you ought to be in God, you know it and your heart condemns you.
In the same way also, when you are sold out to God, your heart knows it. So instead of condemning you, it gives you confidence towards God. So live holy.
To aid you in your preparation, please study The Seven Spirits of God, and you will be enlightened, see the scriptures below for reference.
Revelation 4:5
Isaiah 11:2
1. The Spirit of the Lord
2. The Spirit of Wisdom
3. The Spirit of Understanding
4. The Spirit of Counsel
5. The Spirit of Might
6. The Spirit of Knowledge
7. The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord
Bishop Melvin A Brooks
1 John 5:17-18 says, “All unrighteousness is sin. We know that whatsoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself =, and wicked one toucheth him not”.
Can you imagine what life would be like if the devil couldn’t touch you? Well that’s the way God wants your life to be. He wants you so free, satan can’t hurt you in any way. For your information, you can be free. Please see 1 John 3:21-22
Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, then have we confidence towards God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive from Him because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
Many people don’t receive answers to prayer, because when they stand before God praying, they have no confidence. They couldn’t ask in faith because their heart condemns them.
When your fault is impaired or weakened, result is far from you. When you are not where you ought to be in God, you know it and your heart condemns you.
In the same way also, when you are sold out to God, your heart knows it. So instead of condemning you, it gives you confidence towards God. So live holy.
To aid you in your preparation, please study The Seven Spirits of God, and you will be enlightened, see the scriptures below for reference.
Revelation 4:5
Isaiah 11:2
1. The Spirit of the Lord
2. The Spirit of Wisdom
3. The Spirit of Understanding
4. The Spirit of Counsel
5. The Spirit of Might
6. The Spirit of Knowledge
7. The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord
Bishop Melvin A Brooks
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
Shame
“Herein is our love made perfect, (mature) that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love Him, because He first loved us. “ 1 John 4:17-19
1. Their fear was a result of their shame.
2. The problem was that they had lost the ability to believe that God could love them.
Even though Adam and Eve had sinned, God did not separate Himself from them. In fact, He went looking for them, He sought for them; the did noot seek for God. Why?
a) They felt ashamed, not guilt.
b) Our guilt is not a problem to God.
Our shame in a problem.
God is well able to deal with our guilt. He provided all that was necessary to deal with our guilt, all we must do is ask to be forgiven and we are.
However, shame is a problem because there is more for us to do and if we are not able or willing to co-operate, we prevent Him from being able to help us.
We must all come to the place of recognizing and acknowledgeing our guilt before God can help us.
God Bless you all as you stive to stand before Him.
Pastor Melvin Brooks
1. Their fear was a result of their shame.
2. The problem was that they had lost the ability to believe that God could love them.
Even though Adam and Eve had sinned, God did not separate Himself from them. In fact, He went looking for them, He sought for them; the did noot seek for God. Why?
a) They felt ashamed, not guilt.
b) Our guilt is not a problem to God.
Our shame in a problem.
God is well able to deal with our guilt. He provided all that was necessary to deal with our guilt, all we must do is ask to be forgiven and we are.
However, shame is a problem because there is more for us to do and if we are not able or willing to co-operate, we prevent Him from being able to help us.
We must all come to the place of recognizing and acknowledgeing our guilt before God can help us.
God Bless you all as you stive to stand before Him.
Pastor Melvin Brooks
Saturday, 23 June 2007
My Favorite Song
This is my FAVORITE Song!! The song of the year, When you see me coming i've got him on my mind!!
Bishop Norman L. Wagner - El Bethel
Bishop Norman L. Wagner, Mount Calvary, Youngstown, Ohio USA - One of my favorite Preachers of all time!
Friday, 15 June 2007
Bishop Noel Jones - "Lord Double My Anointing"
Bishop Jones preaching a great message at New Birth (Bishop Eddie Long)
The Late Great G. E. Patterson - "Theres Power in the Blood"
As Bishop Patterson says here, there really is power in the Blood, this is one of my all-time favorite preachers at his best.
Thought for the Week
Here are four practices that can keep us out of our place of blessings.
1. Loyalty to our past pains.
• Rather than dwelling on you past pains turn your past into gain (profit).
2. Lack of forsight.
• Where there is no vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18 – Or where no purpose is, the people walk without direction.
• To have forsight is to see the future, now and see what God is revealing and bringing into the present. When driving your cars on the High Way’s do you focus only on the car in front of you or do you look ahead with with anticipation! There is a rule in driving that says, when driving in foggy conditions one should drive only as fast as one can see because you aren’t able to see ahead.
3. Gross/Sin
• Knowing what to do, but doing not doing it
• Jesus told the man he healed, “Afterwards, when Jesus found him, in the temple, He said to him, see you are well! Stop sinning or something worse may happen eo you.” St. John 5:14 (AMP)
Romans 1:21-22 (AMP)
21. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Knowing is one thing, doing however is another, but either way, if one knows what to do and doesn’t do it, one could miss all that God prepared for them from the foundations of the world.
• Note: “Uprightness and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 24:34 (AMP)
“For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (KJV)
4. Disagreement
• “Agreement is the place of power, but disagreement is the place of powerlessness”. Dr L. ED. COLE
• Jesus said “If two of us shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of his father which is in Heaven.” Matthew 18:19
• Amos wrote, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed.” Amos 3:3
• When God looked down at the tower of Babel that was being built by Nimrod and Co. He said, “And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.” Genesis 11:6
• What we are seeing here is, if we agree, we can accomplish all that we imagined even if it is wrong. Agreement is only potential power. Therefore, let us agree to do the right thing for the right reason, reasons that will bring Glory to God.
Stay Blessed.
1. Loyalty to our past pains.
• Rather than dwelling on you past pains turn your past into gain (profit).
2. Lack of forsight.
• Where there is no vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18 – Or where no purpose is, the people walk without direction.
• To have forsight is to see the future, now and see what God is revealing and bringing into the present. When driving your cars on the High Way’s do you focus only on the car in front of you or do you look ahead with with anticipation! There is a rule in driving that says, when driving in foggy conditions one should drive only as fast as one can see because you aren’t able to see ahead.
3. Gross/Sin
• Knowing what to do, but doing not doing it
• Jesus told the man he healed, “Afterwards, when Jesus found him, in the temple, He said to him, see you are well! Stop sinning or something worse may happen eo you.” St. John 5:14 (AMP)
Romans 1:21-22 (AMP)
21. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Knowing is one thing, doing however is another, but either way, if one knows what to do and doesn’t do it, one could miss all that God prepared for them from the foundations of the world.
• Note: “Uprightness and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 24:34 (AMP)
“For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (KJV)
4. Disagreement
• “Agreement is the place of power, but disagreement is the place of powerlessness”. Dr L. ED. COLE
• Jesus said “If two of us shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of his father which is in Heaven.” Matthew 18:19
• Amos wrote, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed.” Amos 3:3
• When God looked down at the tower of Babel that was being built by Nimrod and Co. He said, “And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.” Genesis 11:6
• What we are seeing here is, if we agree, we can accomplish all that we imagined even if it is wrong. Agreement is only potential power. Therefore, let us agree to do the right thing for the right reason, reasons that will bring Glory to God.
Stay Blessed.
Make God a Memorial
This morning as i sat in my conservatory listening to the rain coming down and hitting the roof. I began to look through my Pastoral Journal where i make notes and came across this theme “Make God a Memorial.” Every believer is to remember what God has done for them. Too many of us receive but are not appreciative, yet we celebrate at the thought of healing, financial blessings, new houses, cars, and other things that will be promised in the name of the Lord, but as soon as we recieve we forget.
Deuteronomy 8:1-20
Verse 10-12:
10. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
11. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
12. Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
God is amazing, Paul in his writing to the Hebrews reminding them of the new covenant, a new way of thinking, a new way of living and a new way of relationship. God was going to put “His law into their minds and write them in their hearts: and i will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people.” In Hebrews 8 verse 12, God continues to reassure them, “For i will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will i remember no more.” In our Christian walk we need to remember where the Lord has brought us from. One way to remember God’s goodness, is to make Him a memorial in our hearts. We would do well to make Him a dwelling place in our heart, a place for Him to abide.
Deuteronomy 8:1-20
Verse 10-12:
10. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
11. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
12. Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
God is amazing, Paul in his writing to the Hebrews reminding them of the new covenant, a new way of thinking, a new way of living and a new way of relationship. God was going to put “His law into their minds and write them in their hearts: and i will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people.” In Hebrews 8 verse 12, God continues to reassure them, “For i will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will i remember no more.” In our Christian walk we need to remember where the Lord has brought us from. One way to remember God’s goodness, is to make Him a memorial in our hearts. We would do well to make Him a dwelling place in our heart, a place for Him to abide.
My Biography
Chief Executive of New Jerusalem Apostolic Church Ltd, Author, International speaker, Mentor and Overseer of Churches in Scotland, India and Birmingham, Bishop Melvin Alphonso Brooks was born to Catherine Rebecca Howard and Joshua Emmanuel Brooks on 7th October 1955 in St Catherine, Jamaica, W.I. In 1971 he emigrated to England at the age of 16yrs, joining his family in Stafford.
Bishop Brooks progressed through the ranks of Deacon to Assistant Pastor for the Mount Peniel Church in Stafford, where he served for many years. In 1981 he took up the mantle as Pastor for the Birmingham branch. At this stage the church had only eight members, including children. In 1997, not deterred by having a minimal 30 members he followed the Lord's leading and decided to enter the ministry full-time. Today with a new name, New Jerusalem Apostolic Church has a membership in excess of 200.
Bishop Brooks and his wife Yvonne (the Associate Pastor) conduct a variety of counselling sessions. Having co-authored a pre-marital counselling manual entitled "Prepared For The Future", they have assisted numerous couples through their counselling ministry and marriage seminars, which they have presented throughout the United Kingdom and various other countries world-wide.
Bishop Brooks currently holds several positions, all of which ensure the church is in a position to influence change. He has personally served on the Board of Parole for Her Majesty's Prison Service, and is currently a Chaplain at Draken Hall Women’s Prison. He has seats on the boards for the Nechells Development Programme, the Nechells Redevelopment Committee Group and also on the governing body of two inner city schools. He is chairman of Windrush Training and Education Consortium, in addition to which he is a Race Relations Independent and Diversity Development Officer. Bishop Brooks has also served in the capacity of Chaplain for Wolverhampton University and Stafford College. In 2004 he received an award from the House of Commons for his astounding work in Prison Ministry. A very influential man, Bishop Brooks has advised many politicians and religious leaders around the world. This is a pastor who sincerely believes that the church has much to offer to both it's congregation and the wider community and has particular interests in reaching minority groups, single parents and juvenile ethnic youths, especially those who have been excluded from mainstream education. In a bid to assist these and other groups in the community Pastor Brooks initiated a supplementary school in his local assembly which offers extra curriculum tutoring, a venture which is sponsored by the Birmingham Education Department and the Birmingham Partnership for Change. In 2001 he initiated New Jerusalem’s first Youth Conference, catering for the 10-25 age range, with the aim of giving young people hope and purpose.
Happily married for over twenty-five (25) years, Bishop Brooks and Pastor Yvonne Brooks have three very blessed and talented children, Rebecca, Adam and Matthew, who are all involved in the praise and worship ministry. Adam being a very accomplished keyboard player, Matthew a very skilled drummer, and the psalmist Rebecca, widely renowned for her powerful and dynamic vocal talents.
Bishop Brooks progressed through the ranks of Deacon to Assistant Pastor for the Mount Peniel Church in Stafford, where he served for many years. In 1981 he took up the mantle as Pastor for the Birmingham branch. At this stage the church had only eight members, including children. In 1997, not deterred by having a minimal 30 members he followed the Lord's leading and decided to enter the ministry full-time. Today with a new name, New Jerusalem Apostolic Church has a membership in excess of 200.
Bishop Brooks and his wife Yvonne (the Associate Pastor) conduct a variety of counselling sessions. Having co-authored a pre-marital counselling manual entitled "Prepared For The Future", they have assisted numerous couples through their counselling ministry and marriage seminars, which they have presented throughout the United Kingdom and various other countries world-wide.
Bishop Brooks currently holds several positions, all of which ensure the church is in a position to influence change. He has personally served on the Board of Parole for Her Majesty's Prison Service, and is currently a Chaplain at Draken Hall Women’s Prison. He has seats on the boards for the Nechells Development Programme, the Nechells Redevelopment Committee Group and also on the governing body of two inner city schools. He is chairman of Windrush Training and Education Consortium, in addition to which he is a Race Relations Independent and Diversity Development Officer. Bishop Brooks has also served in the capacity of Chaplain for Wolverhampton University and Stafford College. In 2004 he received an award from the House of Commons for his astounding work in Prison Ministry. A very influential man, Bishop Brooks has advised many politicians and religious leaders around the world. This is a pastor who sincerely believes that the church has much to offer to both it's congregation and the wider community and has particular interests in reaching minority groups, single parents and juvenile ethnic youths, especially those who have been excluded from mainstream education. In a bid to assist these and other groups in the community Pastor Brooks initiated a supplementary school in his local assembly which offers extra curriculum tutoring, a venture which is sponsored by the Birmingham Education Department and the Birmingham Partnership for Change. In 2001 he initiated New Jerusalem’s first Youth Conference, catering for the 10-25 age range, with the aim of giving young people hope and purpose.
Happily married for over twenty-five (25) years, Bishop Brooks and Pastor Yvonne Brooks have three very blessed and talented children, Rebecca, Adam and Matthew, who are all involved in the praise and worship ministry. Adam being a very accomplished keyboard player, Matthew a very skilled drummer, and the psalmist Rebecca, widely renowned for her powerful and dynamic vocal talents.
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