Time To Laugh | Institute of Love

A Prophetic Word; There is a time to cry and a time to laugh. (See Ecclesiastes 3:4) This is going to be your time to laugh, because of the impossible that God will do for you! Just like Sarah, Abraham's wife, who testified that God brought her laughter by miraculously giving her and her husband a baby in their very old age. All who hear about this will laugh with me, she said! (See Genesis 21:6-7) Or like the exiles that the Lord brought back to Jerusalem. They were filled with laughter,
 and they sang for joy. It was like dream, they said! Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
 What joy! And the other nations also said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” (See Psalm 26:1-3) Yes, just as these people, God will fill your mouth with laughter
 and your lips with shouts of joy when you see what He has done for you and make others laugh with you!!!

The Jezebel Spirit Is Shameless | Institute of Love

The Jezebel Spirit is an extremely rebellious, stubborn, arrogant, and self-centered demonic spirit. This spirit was also operating in the women of Judah, who controlled their husbands and were burning incense to idols, pouring out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven. When confronted by the prophet Jeremiah with their sinful actions, they responded; “We will not listen to your messages from the Lord! We will do whatever we want. We will burn incense and pour out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven just as much as we like—just as we, and our ancestors, and our kings and officials have always done in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For in those days we had plenty to eat, and we were well off and had no troubles! But ever since we quit burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and stopped worshiping her with liquid offerings, we have been in great trouble and have been dying from war and famine.” “Besides,” the women added, “do you suppose that we were burning incense and pouring out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven, and making cakes marked with her image, without our husbands knowing it and helping us? Of course not!” Jeremiah 44:16-19 NLT  How demeaning and arrogant for these women to disrespectfully talk to a man of God like that. Their husbands were cowardly permitting their wives to take charge over them and allowing them to do evil. God gives modern Jezebels time to repent from their immorality. If they won't, God says; “I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.” Revelation 2:22-23 NLT 

Meddling And Prying | Institute of Love

Some pastors unjustly complain that they are being badmouthed and persecuted by their church members and outsiders. But in reality, they are suffering the consequences for meddling in other people's business, talking about things they shouldn't and gossiping about it. Instead of caring for the flock (See 1. Peter 5:2-3), these pastors are keeping themselves busy with wanting to know all sorts of private and intimate details of their church members. They shamelessly want to know how much money their members make and want to have a say in how much they should give, how their sex life is, what kind of clothing to wear, who their members should hang out with, what purchase to make, who they should marry, wanting to advice them how to have the best sex, and so on and so on. These pastors “are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.” 2. Timothy 3:6 NLT  It is for this very reason that the Bible says; If you suffer, however, it must not be for prying into other people’s affairs! (See 1. Peter 5:15)

Testing The Spirit | Institute of Love

So many Christians happily put up with whatever anyone tells them, even if they preach a different Jesus, or a different kind of Spirit, or a different kind of gospel. (2. Corinthians 11:4) They are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Jesus Christ. (See Galatians 1:7) We are being taught by the Scriptures to test everything that is being said and not to believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. We must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. We must see if they acknowledge the whole truth about Jesus Christ as it is written in the Word of God, the Bible! For there are many false prophets in the world. (See 1. Thessalonians 5:19 and 1. John 4:1-3) We should be like the people of Berea, who searched the Scriptures day after day to see if what the apostle Paul and Silas were teaching was indeed the truth! (See Acts 17:11) Therefore, don’t let anyone capture you or fool you with empty philosophies and high-sounding (religious) nonsense that comes from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Jesus Christ alone! (See Colossians 2:8)

The Rapture | Institute of Love

The “rapture”; the event where the true believers of Jesus Christ and children (See Matthew 19:14), including those who already passed away, will be taken into heaven to be with their Lord for eternity! To be more specific, the Bible says that the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die. For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die. (See 1. Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1. Corinthians 15:52-53) This awesome event will happen unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, when people are saying, “everything is peaceful and secure” and “what happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” But then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape! (See 1.Thessalonians 5:1-3 and 2. Peter 3:4) Jesus is urging us to be prepared, because we don’t know what day our Lord is coming. (See Matthew 24:40-42)

The Price Of Change | Institute of Love

By Sophia Christiaan, August 26, 2013

You are in your mid fifties, mid forties, or even mid thirties for that matter, you have been through life's disappointments and you are now feeling more than ready to move on into a truly meaningful existence, contrary to the life you have lived so far, where it seemed life was a sequence of imposed evil and incomprehensible events, causing nothing but hurt and confusion. But in spite of all of this, you have managed to learn crucial lessons from your past, your eyes have been opened to many things, and now you find yourself in a crossroad. The things that made you fail in the past are still a part of your personality, and you are faced with the only option for salvaging what is left of your life and make it work out for the best: Change the unattractive parts of yourself that has held you back from achieving success and happiness. You know you have to change, but it's painful to admit. You know you need to turn the roughness into mildness, pride into humility, and your bruteness into gracefulness.

The decision to change comes with an array of painful thoughts like; if I have to change, does that mean I'm not good enough? If I change those things about myself, is that then the same as saying I don't fully accept and embrace myself as who I am, and love my personality? Does change equal admittance of failure? Can I really change at this point in my life, or am I too set in my ways? I’m just not up for beginning some weird process of change where I’m going to be insecure and awkward, only to revert right back to the old me again. Been there, done that too many times.

Still, you have intelligently reasoned that you cannot have it both ways: You cannot have happiness without changing. You need to do something, or you will face aging by yourself, alienated from people you love whom you have pushed away because of so-called being who you are. It's not working for you anymore to "be who you are." It's not taking you places, and it's not giving you what you need. You have problems everywhere, you have decade old feuds, family issues, and you are tired of facing it all alone without anyone to support you, hold your hand, comfort you, and let you know you can make it.

Change comes the moment we allow it to be an opportunity, a way out! Change begins the moment we fall on our knees and sincerely admit our need to change. Change begins with humbling ourselves, repenting for our stubborn ways, and thanking God for helping us now to be free from any stronghold that hinders, any fear that paralyzed, and any thought that depresses. “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” Psalm 51:17 NTL

Change begins with daily recommitting yourself to your Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, sincerely surrender your life to Him, and tell Him you want all He has in store for you, and that you want Him now to direct and control your life completely. Tell Him you desire for Him to mold you into His beautiful likeness and produce these godly character traits in your life: "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (See Galatians 5:22, 23 NLT)

Believe | Institute of Love

The way you got saved was, you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believed in your heart that God raised Him from the dead! (See Romans 10:9) This is the same principle when you need God to give you wisdom or anything else you ask of Him. When you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. (See James 1:5-8) Jesus also made this very clear when He explained how to have faith in God; “I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” Mark 11:23-25 NLT

God Makes A Way | Institute of Love

After fleeing slavery under Pharaoh in Egypt, the Israelites stood in front of their biggest challenge when Pharaoh and his army were approaching them from behind as they were standing in front of the Red Sea, no where to go! But then the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side till they reached the other side safely! The Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased the Israelites into the middle of the sea, but the Lord made the water rush back into its usual place and swept them into the sea and causing them all to drown. (See Exodus 14:1-31) Like these Israelites, you can also be standing in front of one of your biggest challenges in life. You ran out of all options and are in need of a huge miracle! Moses, the leader of the Israelites, told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Exodus 14:13-14 NLT  God can also do for you what He did for the Israelites, because He is the only one who is able to make a way where there seems to be no way!!! (See Isaiah 43:16) 

Set In Your Ways | Institute of Love

As a counselor, I have heard Christian single men saying that they prefer not to marry middle aged women because they are too set in their ways and that's why, they say, so many women in church cannot find a man. True or not, the reality is that God never wants us Christians, who are the clay in His hands, to be set in our own ways, but allow Him, who is the potter, to form us the way He wants! (See Isaiah 64:8) We cannot be like the world who says; “this is the way I am.” That's why “you should not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT And by the way, I am a firm believer that if God has meant for you to marry, you will get married! God Himself will bring you and your partner together and join you in marriage! (See Matthew 19:6)

Good Gifts | Institute of Love

God doesn't want you to be deceived, because every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (See James 1:16-17) Satan, who disguises himself as an angel of light, (see 2. Corinthians 11:14-15) is keen to want to mislead you by offering you gifts that looks perfect, but in reality, whether it is a person or a thing, it will ultimately only generate curses and not blessings! Jesus explained it this way; if sinful people knows how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him! (See Matthew 7:11) GOD ONLY GIVES GOOD GIFTS!!!

Be Encouraged | Institute of Love

One of the gifts God has given my wife Sophia and I is to encourage our fellow Christian brothers and sisters and people in general, as the Bible says; “If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.” Romans 12:8 NLT  Many Christians wrestle with knowing what God’s Word says about them and the encouraging promises of what God can do for them if they obey and trust Him! That is why we are compelled to put together these daily teaching blogs to encourage you and lift up your soul! Take for instance these following powerful encouraging promising words Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is speaking to us: “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:16-17 NLT  “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” John 14:12-14 NLT  “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” Matthew 21:21-22 NLT  “Anything is possible if a person believes.” Mark 9:23 NLT  “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 NLT  SO MY FRIENDS, BE ENCOURAGED!!!

Restoration Of What Was Lost | Institute of Love

God, your God, will restore everything you lost; He will have compassion on you! (See Deuteronomy 30:3) As a matter fact, “the Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts.” Joel 2:25 NLT God knows how to restore His people! When Job, who lost his children and all his possessions and was struck with sickness, prayed for his friends who falsely accused him, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring. So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters and in all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. (See Job 42:10-15) “So after you have suffered a little while, God will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation. All power to Him forever! Amen.” 1. Peter 5:10-11 NLT Indeed, GOD KNOWS HOW TO RESTORE HIS BELOVED CHILDREN!!!

God’s Timing Is Perfect | Institute of Love

This is what the Lord says: “At just the right time, I will respond to you.” Isaiah 49:8 NLT God's timing is perfect! The vision you have received from God is for an appointed time; but at the end it will be fulfilled, and it will not lie! Though it tarries or seems slow in coming, wait patiently for it, for it will surely take place! It will not be delayed. (See Habakkuk 2:3) At just the right time you will reap a harvest of blessing if you don’t give up. (See Galatians 6:9) So humble yourself under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you, (See 1. Peter 5:6-7) and He will certainly come through for you! FOR HE IS A GOD OF PERFECT TIMING!!!

Don’t Let Anybody Condemn You If You Don’t Have Enough | Institute of Love

Prosperity preachers love to use the following Bible scripture to bolster and promote their false teachings that Jesus became poor so we can become financially rich; “You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was. Though he was very rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” 2. Corinthians 8:9 NLT  No! The true meaning of this scripture is that Jesus became poor by giving up His rights as God and becoming human. Yet in doing so, He made us “rich” because we now received salvation and eternal life. Therefore, don't let anybody talk down on you for not having enough, or make you feel guilty or less worth as if you have done something wrong or don’t have enough faith if you don’t have enough money. Jesus didn't condemn the woman who dropped two pennies in the collection box in the Temple for being poor, or teach her the “ten keys” for unlocking divine prosperity in her life so she would become a “better” giver, as so many of these false prosperity preachers make you believe. Instead, Jesus praised and honored this poor widow in front of His disciples for her generous gift, even though it was by far the smallest. (See Mark 12:41-44)  That's why it says in the book of James 1:9 NLT: “Christians who are poor should be glad, for God has honored them!”

Staying In An Abusive Marriage | Institute of Love

The other day, a certain female religious sect leader told a reporter of a newspaper that if your husband beats you, you have to stay in the marriage and do something about it. How ironic, I thought, coming from the mouth of a woman who is widely known for controlling and brainwashing her cult members, including her own husband, who she at one point ordered to go on his knees and be kicked by her female leaders in order to submit to her and become more radical for God. Can you imagine? This female sect leader's message of staying in the marriage while you are being beaten by your husband has absolutely nothing to do with true Biblical Christianity! If your husband is beating you, you have to report him to the authorities, because that is domestic abuse and punishable by the law. (See Romans 13:1-5) That coincides with what the Bible says, that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer and yet is abusive. Don’t even eat with such a person. (See 1. Corinthians 5:11) Staying in a physically abusive marriage is very dangerous! Many women, including Christians, have been killed at the hand of their abusive husbands. Therefore, it is never God's will for you to stay in a such a marriage!!!

Overcoming Bad Memories | Institute of Love

For some people, bad memories from the past can dominate their lives completely, making them feel like they are living in a constant nightmare, with ugly thoughts and dreams always coming back to haunt them. They cannot seem to be able to forget the past and move on, but instead it makes them feel tired, burdened, and hopeless, regretfully placing harsh blame on themselves for the past failures, with words like: “I am not good for nothing,” “I hate myself for what I have done,” “God will never forgive me,” “I am doomed,” and, “There is no hope for me.” The question is: How do we learn to move on from our bad experiences of the past? We must learn to forgive people and ourselves, and even the frustrations we might have toward God for allowing certain things to happen to us. God has mercifully forgiven us through Christ – a forgiveness that no longer reminds people or ourselves of the past sins, but truly lets them go. God says; I will forgive your wrongdoings, and I will never again remember your sins. (See Hebrews 8:12) Therefore we need to “get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT Take the example of the apostle Paul for instance, who had every reason to want to forget the past since he was involved in the persecution and murder of Christians before he became a believer in Jesus. He said this; I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. (See Philippians 3:12-14) If we, like Paul, apply this Godly principle, the memory becomes just a memory without the power to take over and rule our minds like before, BECAUSE THE PLANS OF GOD FOR US ARE PLANS FOR GOOD AND NOT FOR DISASTER, TO GIVE US A FUTURE AND A HOPE! (See Jeremiah 29:11)

Be Sure It Is God | Institute of Love

It was the Lord who told Hosea the prophet; “Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover as an illustration that God still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them.” (See Hosea 3:1) You need to be absolutely sure that it is God telling you to go back to your spouse who committed, or is still committing, adultery with someone else. If you are not sure, you can find yourself in more trouble than you are already in. Like King David for instance, who's wife Michal was given away to another man while he was running for his life from her father, King Saul. (See 1. Samuel 25:44) After some time, David demanded his wife back without asking for God's approval, and got her back. (See 2. Samuel 3:13-15) But one day when Michal saw her husband King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!” David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!” So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life. (See 2. Samuel 16:16-23) Going back to Michal was certainly not a blessing! We should not act thoughtlessly, but understand and try to find out what the Lord wants us to do. (See Ephesians 5:17)

Not Normal | Institute of Love

The Bible says that men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. (See Romans 1:27) The emphasis here is on the word normal, in other words, it is not normal for men to act feminine, lisping, and hissing and having sex with other men. The reason they do this is because they traded the truth about God for the lie that God created gays. And that is why God abandoned them to do whatever vile, degrading, and shameful things their hearts desires. (See Romans 1:24-25) Make no mistake, these people know that God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, and yet they justify it and do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. (See Romans 1:32) But God in His love is patient and does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent and be delivered from sin! (See 2. Peter 3:9)

Being Deserted | Institute of Love

How terrible it must have felt for Jesus to see many of His disciples turn away and desert Him after He offered them eternal life if they would eat His flesh and drink His blood, meaning receive Him as their Savior and Deliverer! They were also very offended when Jesus told them that people can’t come to Him unless the Father gives them to Him! (See John 6:56-66)  How hurtful it must have felt for the apostle Paul to find out that everyone from the province of Asia had deserted him, even his own friends, Phygelus and Hermogenes. Many of them were ashamed and embarrassed of Paul being in prison for preaching the Gospel. (See 2. Timothy 1:8-15)  Another brother named Demas also left Paul, because he loved the things of this life more than God. (See 2. Timothy 4:10)  There you can see that people are unfaithful, but God remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is. (See 2. Timothy 2:13)  When everybody deserts you, God, who is faithful, says; “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU!” Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

A Prophetic Word | Institute of Love

There is nothing to compare to what I am going to do, says the Lord! For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I am making a way where there seem to be no way! (See Isaiah 43:18-19) I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. (See Revelation 3:8) Look! Help is on the way, says the Lord! I will send you a messenger with good news. For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Once again I say to you, don’t be afraid! I am here to help you. Then you will rejoice and glorify the Holy One of Israel, says the Lord! (See Isaiah 41:13-16/27)

Running Church Like A Business | Institute of Love

Pastors who are modeling their churches after, or running it like, a business for making profit, are absolutely not fit to be shepherds. These self-ambitious money focused pastors are always big on obligating and pressuring their church members to pay at least a 10% tithe of their income, give special seed offerings, and buy their merchandise, like books, “must have” sermons on CD's, DVD's, and not to forget the expensive entrance tickets for their “not to miss”, “breakthrough” conferences and seminars. No, no, these pastors will never tell their congregants the New Testament way of giving, that says that you must each decide in your own heart how much to give and not to give reluctantly or in response to pressure. (See 2. Corinthians 9:7-9)  And they certainly won't tell you to give in proportion to what you have and that whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly, or that you should give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. (See 2. Corinthians 8:11-12)  Therefore, these pastors will not teach what the Bible says, that on every Lord’s Day, each of you should put aside SOME AMOUNT OF MONEY, (NOTE: IT DOES NOT SAY TITHE!) in relation to what you have earned. (See 1. Corinthians 16:2)  These churches are all about money as they are constantly busy inventing and finding new ways of how to get it! (See 2. Peter 2:3)  It is no wonder that you will find that control, jealousy, competition, disorder, and evil of every kind is the order of the day in these churches. (See James 3:16)  A true pastor or shepherd is supposed to care for the flock and watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—NOT FOR WHAT HE WILL GET OUT OF IT, but because he is eager to serve God. Also, a true pastor or shepherd is not supposed to control the people assigned to his care and their money, but lead them by his own good example! (See 1. Peter 5:2-3)

God Multiplies The Little You Have | Institute of Love

The prophet Elijah told the widow - who did not have a single piece of bread in the house, but only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug - not to be afraid, but to make a little bread for him first. Then he told her to use what was left to prepare a meal for herself and her son with the promise that there will always be flour and olive oil left in her containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again. And indeed, God did a miracle of multiplication! There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah, and they all continued to eat for many days! (See 1. Kings 17:8-16) Another story of miraculous multiplication was of another widow of whom a creditor was threatening to take her two sons as slaves. The prophet Elisha asked her: “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” “Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied. Elisha told her: “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.” So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her: “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.” (See 2. Kings 4:1-7) Jesus fed thousands of people by multiplying a young boy's lunch of five barley loaves and two fish. And there was even plenty left over. (See John 6:1-14) GOD CAN ALSO MULTIPLY THE LITTLE THAT YOU HAVE AND CAUSE YOU TO HAVE PLENTY!!!

Is Anything Too Hard For God? | Institute of Love

Abraham's wife Sarah laughed silently to herself when she heard she would have a baby and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” And that is indeed what happened, Isaac, the promised son was born! (See Genesis 18:11-14) The same thing happened to this very old couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth, who were unable to conceive children. After he was told by an angel that he would have a son, Zechariah said, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” Against all the odds, that's exactly what happened, John the Baptist was born! (See Luke 1:5-23/57-65) Indeed, NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR THE LORD!!!

Warning | Institute of Love

There is always going to be people like Achan, who during a battle stole a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. These were things God specifically commanded to be set apart for Him. (See Joshua 7:1-26)  Or Gehazi, the servant of the prophet Elisha who said to himself: “My master should not have let Naaman get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.”  Gehazi took more than 75 pounds of silver coins and two sets of clothing from Naaman for himself, pretending it was Elisha who asked for it to so-called give it to two young prophets who just arrived. (See 2. Kings 5:20-27)  Or Judas Iscariot, who was in charge of Jesus' disciples money. He often stole some for himself. (See John 12:6)  Or Ananias and Sapphira, who sold some property and brought part of the  money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. (See Acts 5:1-10)  In the end all these people were exposed, some were struck with terrible sickness and others paid with their lives. These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave stuff or do evil things as they did! (See 1. Corinthians 10:6)

Your Body Is God’s Temple | Institute of Love

What we eat is one of the main factors that determines the condition of our health. If we eat healthy, we will feel a boost of energy, not feeling tired, always sick, and quickly aging, but we stay young, fresh, and good looking, having much to give as a Christian. Consuming nutrient-poor foods with high levels of sugar and saturated (animal) fats in combination with limited physical activity, leads to being overweight and obese. Obesity and overweight pose a major risk for chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and certain forms of cancer. The health consequences range from increased risk of serious chronic conditions, which reduce the overall quality of life, to premature death. Especially concerning is the increasing obesity among children and teenagers. Statistics show that obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than 1 billion adults overweight, whereof at least 300 million of them are clinically obese. Because our bodies belong to God who created us for the purpose of honoring Him, we must not violate His standards for living. That obligates us to take care of our body. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God. You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (See 1. Corinthians 6:18-20) It is true that the Bible says; “So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience” for “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” (1. Corinthians 10:25-26 NLT) and not to let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink (see Colossians 2:16), but it also says that even if you are allowed to do anything, not everything is good, helpful, or beneficial for you and you must not become a slave or addicted to food or anything else! (See 1. Corinthians 6:12-13 and 10:23) What will be good and beneficial, is to eat in moderate fashion with lots of fresh, preferably organic vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and stay away, as much as possible, from the high in fat and calorie junk-food joints, sweets, processed can food, fried foods, soda beverages, caffeine drinks, alcoholic drinks, and smoking. “Dear friend, I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is.” 3. John 2 NLT

Hope And Encouragement In The Scriptures | Institute of Love

“The Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” Romans 15:4 NLT  They say not to worry about evil people who prosper, but to trust in the Lord and do good and then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord,
 and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord, 
trust Him, and He will help you. Be still in His presence,
 and wait patiently for Him to act. (See Psalm 37:3-7) “Many will see what He has done and be amazed.
 They will put their trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:3 NLT  Yes, wait quietly before God, for your victory comes from Him (see Psalm 62:1), in the mighty name of Jesus Christ! 

Promoted After The Test | Institute of Love

Not a hair on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke after having been thrown into the blazing furnace. Not a scratch was found on Daniel who was thrown into the lions den, for he had trusted in his God. All this happened to them because they refused to bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue or pray to him. God sent His angel to protect them against the burning fire, and to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not be hurt. After going through these frightening experiences, they got promoted to even higher positions and prospered greatly! (See Daniel 3:1-30 and 6:1-28) You can also be going through similar testy situations like that of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel, but God, like these faithful brothers, will have you come out promoted and prospering as never before!

Season Of Reconciliation | Institute of Love

It is true what the apostle Paul said, that “we serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us.” 2. Corinthians 6:8 NLT But he also said to “do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18 NLT Jesus put it this way: “If you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” Matthew 5:23-24 NLT That's why we Christians should “never pay back evil with more evil,” (Romans 12:17 NLT) by being angry with someone, calling someone an idiot, or cursing someone. We would be putting ourselves in danger of the fires of hell. (See Matthew 5:22) Instead, we should make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends us. Just like the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (See Colossians 3:13) During my walk as a minister of the Gospel, I have been hurt by many people that I had to forgive and pray for, but I also have hurt and disappointed others in the process who I had to ask to forgive me for the wrongs I have done to them. I believe we are entering into a season of reconciliation and restoration among God's children that will prove to the world that we are indeed disciples of Christ, because we sincerely love one another! (See John 13:35)

If God Is For You… | Institute of Love

This powerful official guy Haman - who plotted to kill all the Jews throughout the entire empire of King Xerxes, including Queen Esther's uncle Mordecai - (See Esther 3:1-14) was told by his wise advisers and his own wife the following; “since Mordecai—this man who has humiliated you—is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed in your plans against him. It will be fatal to continue opposing him.” Esther 6:13 NLT  And fatal it was, because this evil man Haman ended up being impaled on the same pole he had set up for Mordecai, the man of God! (See Esther 7:10)  That tells me that if God is for you, who can ever be against you? (See Romans 8:31) And, that “no weapon formed against you shall prosper.” Isaiah 54:17 NKJV  Or, as one of the psalms of David says; “they dig a deep pit to trap others,
 then fall into it themselves. The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads.” Psalm 7:15-16 NLT

God Can Do The Impossible Overnight | Institute of Love

“What is impossible for people is possible with God.” Luke 18:27 NLT  And so it was with Israel who at one point was besieged by the entire army of their enemy, Aram. As a result, there was a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for five pieces of silver. (See 2 Kings 6:24-25) Then the prophet Elisha gave the desperate and hopeless king of Israel the following message from God; “By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, five quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and ten quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.” The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!” But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!” 2. Kings 7:1-2 NLT  Here is what God did: He caused the Aramean army to hear the clatter of speeding chariots and the galloping of horses and the sounds of a great army approaching and so they panicked and ran into the night, abandoning their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything else, as they fled for their lives. (See 2. Kings 7:6-7)  “Then the people of Samaria rushed out and plundered the Aramean camp. So it was true that five quarts of choice flour were sold that day for one piece of silver, and ten quarts of barley grain were sold for one piece of silver, just as the Lord had promised.” 2. Kings 7:16 NLT  Now, the unbelieving king’s officer who said that it could not happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven, did indeed see it all happen, but was not able to eat any of it just like Elisha prophesied. He was knocked down and trampled to death by the people rushing out of the gate while he was directing traffic. (See 2. Kings 7:19-20)  God did the impossible for Israel and so He can also do the impossible in your desperate circumstances overnight!

Flirting | Institute of Love

Being flirtatious with women is the same as being sexually impure and it has gotten many pastors and ministers to fall from grace and their ministries destroyed. It is as Jesus said, “anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28 NLT Flirting is an inappropriate sinful behavior, that Wikipedia so perfectly describes as involving “suggestive body language that can include flicking the hair, eye contact, brief touching, open stances, proximity etc. Verbal communication of interest can include the vocal tone, such as pace, volume, intonation. Challenges (teasing, questions, qualifying, feigned disinterest) serve to increase tension, test intention and congruity.” In almost all cases flirting ends up leading to committing the real act of adultery. The Bible clearly warns; “Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.” Ephesians 5:3 NLT And, “have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires.” Colossians 3:5 NLT

Lukewarm Compromising Church | Institute of Love

For good reason the apostle Paul was agonizing for the church at Laodicea, warning them not be deceived by those who come with well-crafted arguments, (See Colossians 2:4) but nevertheless they were indifferent, neither hot nor cold. “I wish that you were one or the other!” Jesus admonished them. (See Revelation 3:15-22) The Laodicean church was amazingly lukewarm. This is the only church of the seven that Jesus addressed in the book of Revelation that rebelliously speaks back to God and boasts; “I am rich.” They were arrogant and proud, lacking in humility and the fear of God. They had a form of religion without God’s love, mercy, and faith – a dangerous mix! They were rich, but they neglected the poor, the widows, and the orphans among them. They had a large bankroll, but they were spiritually bankrupt. This church says, “I don’t need a thing.” It believes it has all the truth. It is unteachable and uncorrectable. It is “full,” complacent, and has that “satisfied” feeling. It isn’t striving to seek God, to seek the His Holy Spirit, more of His divine power, and a closer walk with the Savior Jesus Christ. It has no spiritual power, no hunger, and no true love. This church is “wretched.” In the Greek, this word is talaiporos, and literally means “enduring trial” - in effect meaning it was a constant, never-ending trial to God. It is also translated as “miserable.” The Webster’s Dictionary defines “wretched” as meaning “grievous, deeply afflicted, woeful, hatefully contemptible, despicable, and very poor in quality.” The Laodicean church needed real cleansing, inside and out. It is blind to its own condition, and yet it is arrogant and prideful and will hear nothing, listen to no rebuke, and take no correction. It is a depressing, sad church. It is unfortunate and sad that the majority of end-time Christians, who call themselves Evangelicals, can be compared to this ancient Laodicean church; they are neither hot nor cold! They say in their hearts that they are spiritually rich, wealthy, and need nothing, everything is going very well for them, or so they think. But in reality they are wretched, miserable, poor and naked, and yet they don’t even realize it. Why? Because they are absolutely blind to their own spiritual condition. They often rant and rave, accusing and finger-pointing others, but remaining in total denial of Biblical truth! That's why Jesus said to them; “I will spit you out of my mouth!” Revelation 3:16 NLT

Thank You Women Of God | Institute of Love

Besides taking his twelve disciples with him as he was touring the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God, Jesus also brought along with him some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. (See Luke 8:1-3) So it has also been in our ministry for many years, that Christian women from all walks of life have been financially supporting us on our countless missionary trips throughout the world. Therefore, to all of you God-fearing women, from the bottom of our heart we want to say to you; THANK YOU!!! Yes, “charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; 
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. 
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.” Proverbs 31:30-31 NLT

The Generational Curse of Ahab | Institute of Love

God said; “I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.” Exodus 20:5 NLT There was a clear generational curse of idol worshiping in the family of King Ahab of Israel. His father Omri set the pattern of doing evil for his son to follow, since he himself did more evil than any of the kings before him. (See 1. Kings 16:25-26) Ahab was influenced by his evil wife Jezebel, a woman devoted to everything that God hated and forbid. As a result, Ahab submitted to his wife and ended up serving and worshiping Baal. Baal was the male god, and Asherah was Baal’s female counterpart. This opened the door to Israel through which Satan gained astonishing power and flooded Israel with tremendous sin and evil. Likewise, a Christian man who is like Ahab, will also by lack of fear of God and through compromising the holy things of God open a door to tremendous demonic attack on himself and his family. The relationship of Ahab and Jezebel provides an excellent illustration of the curse brought about by a husband and wife being out of God’s divine order for the family. When you have an Ahab/Jezebel marriage, you will have men not committed to God, home, or children, but they instead seek to achieve personal selfish satisfaction in other things like money, career, alcohol, women, sports, ministry, hobbies, projects, and other activities. Ahab men are spiritually weak and blame others for their own problems. They are easily influenced and persuaded by their wives to make wrong decisions, and then later they don’t own up to their mistakes. By passivity or laziness, they push their wives to take over their own chores and responsibilities in the home and family, which puts the wife in a position of priest and head of the home, a task she is not designed to handle. They set the wrong pattern for their children to follow, causing them to spend the rest of their adult lives struggling to live normal lives. A mother who is a Jezebel, and a father who is an Ahab, will raise Jezebel daughters and Ahab sons. If sons do not see their father as respected in his office of being the father and leader, they have no other example to the contrary, and will grow up following in his footsteps. Likewise, the girls will likely inadvertently choose a husband who is the same passive type as the father. Daughters will grow up not knowing how to respect a man and/or a future husband. Ahab fathers place curses on male children and Jezebel mothers place curses on female children. Both male and female children easily fall into homosexual lifestyles, not necessarily because they want to or are convinced they are gay, but because of the gender confusion that comes with growing up in a Jezebel/Ahab environment, where the roles are swopped so the mother is the dominant leader of the home, and the father is the follower. Children will later on have broken marriages and families like their parents. Jezebel mothers cause children to be manipulative. Children are full of rebellion and under pressure to prove their love to their parents. Children are often very depressed, have fear, insecurity, frustration, and difficulty learning, but at the same time, they learn to develop skills of how to manipulate people with faking sickness and injuries and with other hypochondriac behavior. This Ahab curse can potentially lead to the total corruption of the child, causing them to live in discord, selfishness, and distrust, as they start looking for heroes in the occult world and a sense of belonging in cultic environments where they can have some sort of status of importance. Under the Ahab curse, children are interested in violence and fascinated with death because of tensions, confusions, hurts, and insults given them by the family structure being out of order. All this confusion, frustration, resentment, and hate in many cases lead to these children wanting to commit suicide or finding release in self affliction like for instance cutting, drug abuse, or sexual promiscuity. In trying to find their place, these children frequently give in to demonic spirits that drive them to the love of power, money, praise, and fame. The children are totally vulnerable and open to satanic attacks, and will usually become just like their parents! It is time to break this generational Ahab/Jezebel evil curse over our children and family in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ! Amen!

Seduced | Institute of Love

You are a married Christian man seriously struggling in your relationship with your wife of over 20 years, and one day a woman approaches you while you are in a sports bar with your buddies,
 seductively dressed and sly of heart. She is the brash, rebellious type, 
never content to stay at home. She is often in the streets and markets,
 soliciting at every corner. She threw her arms around you and kissed you, 
and with a brazen look she said, “I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows. You’re the one I was looking for!
 I came out to find you, and here you are! My bed is spread with beautiful blankets,
 with colored sheets of Egyptian linen. I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning.
 Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses, for my husband is not home.
 He’s away on a long trip. He has taken a wallet full of money with him
 and won’t return until later this month.” So she seduced you with her pretty speech
 and enticed you with her flattery. You followed her at once, 
like an ox going to the slaughter. You were like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost you your life. For this woman has been the ruin of many;
 many men have been her victims. (See Proverbs 7:10-27)  You should have known that “the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, 
and her mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end she is as bitter as poison,
 as dangerous as a double-edged sword.” Proverbs 5:3-4 NLT  Now you are dealing with fact of what the Bible already warned you about, that a “man who commits adultery is an utter fool, 
for he destroys himself. He will be wounded and disgraced. His shame will never be erased.” Proverbs 6:32-33 NLT

God’s Way Of Healing | Institute of Love

There are people who love to tell you how to pray for them for healing when they are sick, where to touch them, which words to use and how long to pray, and how much anointing oil should be placed on them. If you don’t do it their way, they get upset with you, just like Naaman, an army commander who suffered from leprosy, did. He went to the house of Elisha the prophet to have him pray for healing over him. “But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.” But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.” (2. Kings 5:9-12) After his officers reasoned with him and calmed him down, Naaman ultimately humbled himself and did what the prophet said and washed himself in the dirty Jordan River and was completely healed. When we want God’s healing, we need to allow Him to do it His way and not ours, even if it means under dirty, smelly circumstances in ways you don’t like or think is appropriate for you! “God blesses those who are humble!” Matthew 5:5 NLT

God’s Way Of Healing | Institute of Love

There are people who love to tell you how to pray for them for healing when they are sick, where to touch them, which words to use and how long to pray, and how much anointing oil should be placed on them. If you don’t do it their way, they get upset with you, just like Naaman, an army commander who suffered from leprosy, did. He went to the house of Elisha the prophet to have him pray for healing over him. “But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.” But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.” (2. Kings 5:9-12) After his officers reasoned with him and calmed him down, Naaman ultimately humbled himself and did what the prophet said and washed himself in the dirty Jordan River and was completely healed. When we want God’s healing, we need to allow Him to do it His way and not ours, even if it means under dirty, smelly circumstances in ways you don’t like or think is appropriate for you! “God blesses those who are humble!” Matthew 5:5 NLT

Greedy Liars | Institute of Love

So many of these televangelists/prosperity preachers are as the Bible says, well trained in greed and they lure unstable gullible Christians into sin. (See 2. Peter 2:14) They do the opposite of what the scriptures teaches, and exactly what the Word warns us against, they will do. When 2. Corinthians 9:7 NLT says that you must each decide in your heart how much to give and don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure, these televangelists, to the contrary, pressure you to give, by telling you to go quickly to the phone and give your $1000 money seed while the anointing is still around, or otherwise you will lose your breakthrough blessing! And when 2. Peter 2:3 NLT says; “in their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money,” that's precisely what they do, by coming up with all sorts of “seed” offerings that God so-called revealed to them with the promise of a special blessing or breakthrough in your situation, like; New Year offerings, resurrection seed offering, healing offerings, prophetic seed offerings, Passover offerings, atonement offerings, financial breakthrough offerings, sin and redemption offerings, 777 offerings, $58 monthly seed, Psalm 71.21 pledge with the promise of increase and greatness, boomerang or turnaround seed, a $1000, $500, $300, $100 envelop seed that is usually tied to getting a prophetic word, and the list of deception goes on and on. These false televangelists/prosperity preachers take advantage of desperate people’s need for God’s resolution in their lives. They tell them to keep giving, and even to put their gift on their credit card if they don't have the money right there and then, and thereby causing them to sin. You may think why in the world are people still giving money to these greedy liars?

What God joins together | Institute of Love

“Since they are no longer two but one, let no one separate them, for God has joined them together.” Matthew 19:6 NLT  With the emphasis on “for God has joined them together,” meaning that what God puts together in a marriage covenant between Him and a man and a woman, no one is able to separate. The purpose of marriage is to reflect the love relationship between Christ and the Church (See Ephesians 5:21-33), and to effectively accomplish God’s plan for that particular marriage on this earth. It’s obvious that not all marriage relationships are put together from God! Many times we get into relationships from motives that do not come from the perfect choice of God. We even make ourselves believe that it is God who blessed us with this particular partner, but in reality it was God giving us what we wanted only to show us that it doesn’t work! He knows that we have our own personal reasons for stubbornly moving ahead with the relationship and ignoring the warning signals, thinking that we ultimately know what is better for us. But then, a few years down the road when the marriage relationship has grown sour and dysfunctional and even abusive, we find God waiting, who all along knew that we were setting ourselves up for disaster and would need His rescue in the end when we “beg for relief.” God knows that everything that is not built on His choice will eventually crumble and come to an end, even if it means many years of marriage. That’s why God hates divorce! (See Malachi 2:16) He hates when people choose their own will over His. He knows what we need and what is best for us, and He never meant for anybody to marry someone He didn’t call them to marry. It is God who ordains a marriage covenant and no matter what comes against it, or no matter the turbulence you have to go through, if God has brought it together, He will preserve and protect it! When you have entered a marriage on the wrong conditions, God still gives you grace, but He requires of you to repent from choosing your own will over His.“But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 1. John 1:9 NLT  God, in His love and mercy, wants to spare us from being trapped in a marriage curse that stops and hinders our spiritual progress in Him.