Saturday, May 30, 2015

The urge to ‪#‎pray‬.

The urge to ‪#‎pray‬

The time of #prayer is a time of fellowship with God, your Creator. It presents an opportunity to worship your Maker in the quietness of your quarters. 

Prayer holds the key to great, remarkable and uncommon miracles - to occur in your life, your family and your world.

When we pray, we do not and we cannot get God to change His mind. Our Almighty God is "changeless". Prayer doesn't change God. It changes us. It transforms us to be who God desires us to be.

Prayer, worship and praise! Bask in them. Make them your habit. You will be set apart for greatness! Glory! Hallelujah!

Pray without ceasing! Pray with faith.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Jesus' Instruction for Teachers and Believers

Source: The Urantia Book, Part 4, "The Life and Teachings of Jesus", Paper 159, "The Decapolis Tour", Section 3: Instruction for Teachers and Believers http://www.urantiabook.org/newbook/papers/p159.htm#P159_3_0 
#OneLove


3. Instruction for Teachers and Believers

159:3.1 At Edrei, where Thomas and his associates labored, Jesus spent a day and a night and, in the course of the evening’s discussion, gave expression to the principles which should guide those who preach truth, and which should activate all who teach the gospel of the kingdom. Summarized and restated in modern phraseology, Jesus taught: 
159:3.2 Always respect the personality of man. Never should a righteous cause be promoted by force; spiritual victories can be won only by spiritual power. This injunction against the employment of material influences refers to psychic force as well as to physical force. Overpowering arguments and mental superiority are not to be employed to coerce men and women into the kingdom. Man’s mind is not to be crushed by the mere weight of logic or overawed by shrewd eloquence. While emotion as a factor in human decisions cannot be wholly eliminated, it should not be directly appealed to in the teachings of those who would advance the cause of the kingdom. Make your appeals directly to the divine spirit that dwells within the minds of men. Do not appeal to fear, pity, or mere sentiment. In appealing to men, be fair; exercise self-control and exhibit due restraint; show proper respect for the personalities of your pupils. Remember that I have said: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, and if any man will open, I will come in.” 
159:3.3 In bringing men into the kingdom, do not lessen or destroy their self-respect. While overmuch self-respect may destroy proper humility and end in pride, conceit, and arrogance, the loss of self-respect often ends in paralysis of the will. It is the purpose of this gospel to restore self-respect to those who have lost it and to restrain it in those who have it. Make not the mistake of only condemning the wrongs in the lives of your pupils; remember also to accord generous recognition for the most praiseworthy things in their lives. Forget not that I will stop at nothing to restore self-respect to those who have lost it, and who really desire to regain it. 
159:3.4 Take care that you do not wound the self-respect of timid and fearful souls. Do not indulge in sarcasm at the expense of my simple-minded brethren. Be not cynical with my fear-ridden children. Idleness is destructive of self-respect; therefore, admonish your brethren ever to keep busy at their chosen tasks, and put forth every effort to secure work for those who find themselves without employment. 
159:3.5 Never be guilty of such unworthy tactics as endeavoring to frighten men and women into the kingdom. A loving father does not frighten his children into yielding obedience to his just requirements. 
159:3.6 Sometime the children of the kingdom will realize that strong feelings of emotion are not equivalent to the leadings of the divine spirit. To be strongly and strangely impressed to do something or to go to a certain place, does not necessarily mean that such impulses are the leadings of the indwelling spirit. 
159:3.7 Forewarn all believers regarding the fringe of conflict which must be traversed by all who pass from the life as it is lived in the flesh to the higher life as it is lived in the spirit. To those who live quite wholly within either realm, there is little conflict or confusion, but all are doomed to experience more or less uncertainty during the times of transition between the two levels of living. In entering the kingdom, you cannot escape its responsibilities or avoid its obligations, but remember: The gospel yoke is easy and the burden of truth is light. 
159:3.8 The world is filled with hungry souls who famish in the very presence of the bread of life; men die searching for the very God who lives within them. Men seek for the treasures of the kingdom with yearning hearts and weary feet when they are all within the immediate grasp of living faith. Faith is to religion what sails are to a ship; it is an addition of power, not an added burden of life. There is but one struggle for those who enter the kingdom, and that is to fight the good fight of faith. The believer has only one battle, and that is against doubt — unbelief. 
159:3.9 In preaching the gospel of the kingdom, you are simply teaching friendship with God. And this fellowship will appeal alike to men and women in that both will find that which most truly satisfies their characteristic longings and ideals. Tell my children that I am not only tender of their feelings and patient with their frailties, but that I am also ruthless with sin and intolerant of iniquity. I am indeed meek and humble in the presence of my Father, but I am equally and relentlessly inexorable where there is deliberate evil-doing and sinful rebellion against the will of my Father in heaven.
159:3.10 You shall not portray your teacher as a man of sorrows. Future generations shall know also the radiance of our joy, the buoyance of our good will, and the inspiration of our good humor. We proclaim a message of good news which is infectious in its transforming power. Our religion is throbbing with new life and new meanings. Those who accept this teaching are filled with joy and in their hearts are constrained to rejoice evermore. Increasing happiness is always the experience of all who are certain about God. 
159:3.11 Teach all believers to avoid leaning upon the insecure props of false sympathy. You cannot develop strong characters out of the indulgence of self-pity; honestly endeavor to avoid the deceptive influence of mere fellowship in misery. Extend sympathy to the brave and courageous while you withhold overmuch pity from those cowardly souls who only halfheartedly stand up before the trials of living. Offer not consolation to those who lie down before their troubles without a struggle. Sympathize not with your fellows merely that they may sympathize with you in return. 
159:3.12 When my children once become self-conscious of the assurance of the divine presence, such a faith will expand the mind, ennoble the soul, reinforce the personality, augment the happiness, deepen the spirit perception, and enhance the power to love and be loved. 
159:3.13 Teach all believers that those who enter the kingdom are not thereby rendered immune to the accidents of time or to the ordinary catastrophes of nature. Believing the gospel will not prevent getting into trouble, but it will insure that you shall be unafraid when trouble does overtake you. If you dare to believe in me and wholeheartedly proceed to follow after me, you shall most certainly by so doing enter upon the sure pathway to trouble. I do not promise to deliver you from the waters of adversity, but I do promise to go with you through all of them. 


159:3.14 And much more did Jesus teach this group of believers before they made ready for the night’s sleep. And they who heard these sayings treasured them in their hearts and did often recite them for the edification of the apostles and disciples who were not present when they were spoken.

Friday, May 22, 2015

The Kingdom of God

Public Ministers, like Jesus, are needed to facilitate this:

Urantia Book 170:5.19 -
"Sooner or later another and greater John the Baptist is due to arise proclaiming “the kingdom of God is at hand” — meaning a return to the high spiritual concept of Jesus, who proclaimed that the kingdom is the will of his heavenly Father dominant and transcendent in the heart of the believer — and doing all this without in any way referring either to the visible church on earth or to the anticipated second coming of Christ. There must come a revival of the actual teachings of Jesus, such a restatement as will undo the work of his early followers who went about to create a sociophilosophical system of belief regarding the fact of Michael’s sojourn on earth. In a short time the teaching of this story about Jesus nearly supplanted the preaching of Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom. In this way a historical religion displaced that teaching in which Jesus had blended man’s highest moral ideas and spiritual ideals with man’s most sublime hope for the future — eternal life. And that was the gospel of the kingdom."

http://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-170-kingdom-heaven

'Private Ministry' vs. 'Public Ministry', a brief overview.

#GospelMinistry:

We are all called into "private ministry". And it is important to note that NOT EVERYONE is called into "public ministry". If indeed you are among the few that are called into public ministry, you should know this, deep down, on your inside. Many times, it will cost you a lot more, to wholeheartedly commit to the call to public ministry. This is a key reason why a very strong and reliable support base is needed. (Of course the celestials support but you need human beings to support you.)

For His public ministry, Jesus had a strong support base - His inner circle of Apostles and Evangelists. He also had some disciples, well wishers, etc. There were people who gave him moral support and prayed for Him and made donations to assist the work.
Our work of presenting the message of the Kingdom (Gospel Message) and the Fifth Epochal Revelation would gain greater traction when many more readers understand and appreciate these things.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Having a Sustainable Impact on, "The World-Mind"

#Preaching #Teaching #PublicMinistry 

Fellow Urantia Book readers, please let us strike directly at a very important objective: "What did Jesus do?" Where are the pastors, teachers and evangelists in our midst? Where are the ministers?
There has to be a better way of presenting the "undiluted" message of the gospel to the world - to people in villages, towns and cities. This would involve having a "structure" in place. This would involve "money". Some teachers would have to commit at least 40 hours per week to the work. 4 hours of "volunteer" work is not sufficient. This is what we see looking at Jesus and his apostles and evangelists as they embarked on a "Public Ministry" (not "Private Ministry").

This is not about forcing the entire Urantia Book down the throats of the masses. It's not about "rushing" to get millions of humans to change their entire mindset instantly. That's not the point. Rather, the point is having a sustainable impact on "the world-mind" with the simple, clear and undiluted gospel teachings as presented in the Urantia Book. Many souls will be saved, healed, delivered, spiritually enlightened, uplifted... Laborers are needed in the Master’s vineyard. More people, who can devote 40 or more hours weekly are needed to take the message of love, grace and truth to the ends of the Earth.

Machiventa Melchizedek did it with his students. He had a headquarters in Salem (that is "structure" or "organization", folks). The Salem headquarters needed "funding" constantly. Remember Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek? Jesus did a similar thing with his apostles, disciples, evangelists... They were funded as well. The Apostles couldn't work full time at a job or business. Their families had to be supported. Jesus and his inner circle had to be supported financially as well. Matthew was "the money getter". Believers gave cheerfully to Jesus' Public Ministry. Judas was the treasurer.

More light workers are needed to "GO!" - and preach the gospel of the kingdom and proclaim the saving truth that man is a son of God; to present the teachings of the kingdom in ways that can be easily understood by the common man. Jesus said "the harvest is plenteous". How do we look at this? Please, compare and contrast with the "slow growth" concept of the dissemination of the Fifth Ephocal Revelation.

Look at it this way: There may be "slow growth" with regards to people fully embracing the Fifth Ephocal Revelation and having a very good grasp of its many information. But when it comes to getting people to having a clear understanding of the "gospel message", the harvest is plenteous. We do not have to shelve the entire Urantia Book on people's laps. But we are called to work together in teams, to share the gospel message to the entire world's population.

So the question is, "Please, what is stopping us from having a sustainable impact on "the world-mind" with the simple, clear and undiluted gospel teachings as presented in the Urantia Book?" Let us strike directly for our objectives! Please, let's not make it look complicated. "Strike directly for your objectives!" 

Peace be upon us!

“Jesus continued to teach the twenty-four, saying: “...The heathen strike directly for their objectives; you are guilty of too much chronic yearning. If you desire to enter the kingdom, why do you not take it by spiritual assault even as the heathen take a city they lay siege to? ...Cease your useless yearning and go forth bravely doing that which concerns the establishment of the kingdom.” - Urantia Book 155:1.3

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." - Jesus, Matthew 11:12. The violent ones take it by force - by spiritual assault! Glory!

- The Christ Michael Center, http://www.christmichaelcenter.org 

Friday, May 8, 2015

Global Gospel Outreach through Facebook Boost

Beloved, are you interested in Gospel Outreach? Through Facebook Boost (advertising) you can present the gospel to people in cities around the world or in countries around the world. Words of truth, beauty and goodness in their undiluted form can be offered to hundreds, thousands or even millions of people. It all depends on the amount of money you spend. You may spend $5, $10, $25 or more each month.

First of all, you would have to create a Facebook Like Page. And post messages: texts, pictures and/or videos there. It’s all free. You may then pick a post and “boost” it. You initiate the boost by clicking on the “Boost” icon by the post. You have the opportunity to share that post with men and women, boys and girls in a particular city or cities around the world. Also, you may choose to share using the Country option. You can select one or more countries.

Just imagine the difference we can make in the lives of people all over the world by sharing teachings from the Urantia Book. You can make a commitment of spending $10 or $25 per month. You can even spend less or more. Each month, your message may reach 5,000, 20,000 or more people. In partnership with divinity, you can bring salvation, healing, deliverance and spiritual enlightenment to your fellow brothers and sisters globally. New Urantia Book readers would most definitely be generated.

Just imagine if 1,000 readers create Facebook Like Pages and each spend $10 a month, sharing the gospel of grace and truth, in its undiluted form as presented in the Urantia Book! Each month, we will be reaching millions of people, globally! There are thirsty and hungry souls, seeking, searching, waiting for people like you and I to help them get to know of the existence of the Urantia Book. Please, stop and think about this for a minute.

If you do not wish to create a “Like” page, may I suggest to you to consider giving money to those who do? A cash donation of $5, $10 or $20 per month would go a long way in bringing salvation, spiritual growth, peace and joy to many. Through Facebook Boost, organizations like “Stories of Jesus”, “The Urantia Book Fellowship”, “The Christ Michael Center”, etc are making a remarkable impact in the lives of individuals globally. Please, consider praying for them and giving financially to them. 

Let us work together - sow seeds together. Let us allow Jesus to re-live his life through us today; to pass by our fellows, bringing gifts of love, healing, joy and spiritual power! Let us make this world a better place. 'Thank you! 

#OneLove
#GospelOutreach

"The next evening, having gathered together the twelve apostles, the apostles of John, and the newly commissioned women's group, Jesus said: "You see for yourselves that the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Let us all, therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest that he send forth still more laborers into his fields."" - Urantia Book Paper 150:4.1

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." - Jesus, Matthew 11:12