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NEWSLETTERS

Like a Mighty Rushing Wind (Volume 4) February 2017 
View January's version here
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February is the "love" month where many couples celebrate their affection and feelings for one another by exchanging cards, chocolate, flowers, and other gifts. Many go on romantic dates, while some decide to get married or renew their vows - in either case, St. Valentine's Day is a reminder to people to celebrate love and romance. 
 
Almost every time I counsel a couple who are planning to get married, they ask the same question, "Is there a guarantee our marriage will not end up in a divorce?" My answer is always, "Yes, there is!"
 
More and more, couples who come to me to get married, know people, (ie. parents, friends, acquaintances, strangers), whose marriages all started with love and good intentions; and who vowed their marriage would last "as long as we both shall live."
 
Today, the casualty rates for divorces are high, and are nearly the same for Christians as it is for non-Christians. This is why so many decide it is better to live together first before they get married; to see if it can work - sort of a trial run. They set themselves up for disappointment and failure 'cause their relationships lack the solid foundation (Matthew 7:24-25) that God deemed necessary to make it work.
 
Without a biblical "Marriage Covenant" (which gives stability and security in a relationship), how can God bless a relationship in the same way as He would a couple who had made their vows before Him? When God is not involved, a marriage is wide open for failure and divorce despite the couples efforts to save it (John 5:39-40). 
 
Many times people who have been living together, come to ask for marriage counseling. I inform them that marriage counseling only works for people who are married. But, I am happy to say that there is a guarantee that a couple can have for a successful marriage that will not end up in a divorce!
 
The key is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, empowered by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Since marriage is ultimately God's idea (Ephesians 5:31), Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit are required as the third person in a marriage; to help a couple's love grow and be renewed continually. 
 
When this happens, the results are quite fascinating. When enhanced by God's agape love (Rom. 5:5) a couple's relationship grows in such a manner, that when they look back, they can see that their love had grown so much more than when they first started!
 

Ministry Message for February 2017


 
February launches us into what has been described as a month to focus on the ministry of a Christian whose name was known as Saint Valentine, and was killed and martyred for marrying Christians when Rome had passed a law that prohibited Christians from being married. 
 
Valentine ignored the law because marriage was God’s plan from the very beginning (Gen. 2:4). Jesus had emphasized and said, “Have you not read that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?" (Matt. 19:5)
 
Man and wife are no longer two, but one flesh. "What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matt. 19:4-65; Mk. 10:6–9). Because Valentine ignored the Roman law that forbade Christians to marry, persecution resulted, and death to anyone who did so. He was arrested and while in prison, he healed the jailer’s daughter and wrote a letter signing it, “Your Valentine” as a farewell gesture... 
 
(Read Gordon's full message by clicking on the link below.)

<< Read Gordon's full Ministry Message for February >>


Ministry Articles for February 2017


 
The gifts of the Spirit are ministry gifts. The condition for receiving them is that a person must be born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit.
 
No one can have any of the gifts without the giver, who is the Holy Spirit. While most people quote First Corinthians when listing the gifts, there are actually two lists, the other being found in the book of Romans.
 
First Corinthians 12:7—11 reads,"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”
 
Thus, the Corinthians list includes: the word of wisdom; the word of knowledge; faith; gifts of healing; miracles; prophecy; discerning of spirits; tongues; and the interpretation of tongues...
 

"There's something different about you," is hopefully the observation of a non-Christian addressing a Christian.

Change is often impossible apart from God. Humans are so trapped by their habits and character flaws that, try as they will, few escape their destructive traits.
 
How, then, does one become like Jesus? It's a supernatural process, a work of the Holy Spirit in us, accomplished through developing what Paul calls "the fruit of the Spirit” as outlined in Galatians Chapter 5, verses 22 to 23.
 
The "fruit of the Spirit" are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (meekness), faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

The word "fruit" is singular here. Because there are nine qualities listed, Paul obviously means that the fruit of the Spirit is composed of all nine characteristics, and thus a fully ripened or mature Christian would be recognized by the presence of all nine...

The nine Beatitudes, found in the Gospel of Matthew (Chapter 5, verses 3 to 12), are a collection of Jesus' moral teachings and served as an introduction to His Sermon on the Mount.  

Basically, Jesus outlined in the Beatitudes, the process involved in the development of a Christ-like character. Unfortunately many of our biblical translations do not adequately convey his teachings. 

For instance, when we read in Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall receive comfort (be comforted)", when we go back to the original Greek, the actual meaning is: 

"Blessed are those who mourn over their sins, for they shall receive the Comforter", referring to the (baptism of the) Holy Spirit, who is the "Comforter".

Each of the Beatitudes is actually a stage of growth in the Christian life. Through them, we are taken right through from salvation to the baptism of the Holy Spirit - both leading ultimately to one's peace and self-control... 

Read more>>


Ministry Report for February 2017

Speaking of Miracles! (Hebrews 2:4)
“Dear Rev. Williams: I just want you to know how much my wife (Claire) and I appreciated your prayer against cancer for me. You were at Brand’s farm at Dashwood, Ontario. You told me to pray in tongues every day. I followed your instruction as best I could, and I am now totally healed! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Gordon!
 
My wife and I are going on a trip to the Philippines by Feb. 12 to visit her family. If you have a list of people’s email to notify about speaking engagements; I would love to be added to it.
 
Thanks, and be blessed. Enclosed is an offering for your ministry.”
 
Call your Vet! (Acts 19:16; Mark 16:17-18)
A Veterinarian, who is one of our Pastors, reported a visit he made to one of our House Church host’s house near Stouffville, Ontario, to attend a somewhat unusual call to a ailing baby potbellied pig.
 
The pig appeared near death, and there was little medically that could be done. The prognosis was poor, but much medical help was administered to aid recovery. Prayer was offered to heal the patient, and the owner and her large family readily accepted the offer concluding the prayer with a unanimous Amen!
 
After attending to the pig, the client expressed concern that God never answered her prayers after the death of her mother. In the conversation that followed, an invitation was given to be saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit.
 
The woman asked, “Who can I call to receive the Holy Spirit?” I simply stated, “Call your Vet!” After the laughter had subsided, the vet prayed with the woman, and four of her children prayed along to receive Salvation and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 8:17).
 
And, by the way, the pig made a wonderful recovery! Praise the Lord!
 
(Read Gordon's full ministry report by clicking on the link below.)

Thank You For Your Partnership in the Gospel! (Philppians 1:5)
Many thanks to your continued donations and partnership in the Jesus' Gospel! Because of your faithful help, our ministry continues to grow each year, and Gordon has the freedom to continue to accept invitations from any church in Canada, U.S.A, and other countries, regardless of the size and without charging a fee. 
 
Thank you for your generosity! Because of your help, many people have received Salvation, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, healing, deliverance and answers to prayers more than any other year!
 
Your prayerful support allows Gordon the freedom to go where Jesus leads him. Your financial contributions allows us to provide Bibles, books and CD’s to help people grow in their relationship with Jesus and to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. 
 
But, more than that, we are able to meet the needs of people locally as well as the Christian Children’s Hospital in India, which does free surgery for the various physical problems that their families could not afford; the Children’s Mission Haiti which provides ministry and school classes, churches and meals for 1,000 plus children; and also, Breakthrough Ministries (Rev. Maurie Blair), whose ministry is welcome in schools across Canada.

And, your monthly support allows Gordon to accept invitations to any church, small or large in any town or city in Canada, USA or any other country. Please continue to be a “cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7) and help to increase our ministry. Please pray and ask Jesus what you should do to help.  

To make a financial contribution to Gordon's ministry, donate by clicking below:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Copyright © 2017. The Gordon Williams Evangelistic Association. All rights reserved.
 

 

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