Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
God Bless Haiti
PRAY FOR HAITI DAY 40
GLOBAL PRAYER INITIATIVE OF HAITIAN CHURCHES
Theme Verse 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Today is January 12, 2011, the anniversary of the Haiti earthquake. One year ago at around 5:00 pm Haiti was rocked by 7.0 devastating earthquake where over 250,000 people died. We will gather in churches around the world to memorialize those who were victims of the earthquake and also celebrate what God is going to do with our country. Today is also the end of our “40 days of Pray for Haiti,” A 40 day journey where Haitian Churches and many of our friends around the world set time aside to pray for Haiti. The Haitian Clergy Association of New York and I would like to thank everyone who participated in this extraordinary event. We are sure and certain that God is going to honor the cries of our heart.
I would like to encourage everyone who engaged in the 40 Days of prayer to now commit to a project where they can support, build or contribute to the healing and the progress of Haiti. For a list of some reputable God honoring organizations, please go to www.haitione.com or help support www.beracahaitirelief.com. God bless you.
With U4 Him
Mullery Jean-Pierre
Monday, January 10, 2011
Healing our land requires unity among God’s people Part 3
PRAY FOR HAITI DAY 39
GLOBAL PRAYER INITIATIVE OF HAITIAN CHURCHES
Theme Verse 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Eph 4:2-3 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. The third thing we need for unity to be present among us is patience with each other. When different people or groups come together to work, we all have a way of doing things that we think is the best. When the other person or group try their way we tend to lose patience because we are not familiar with their way. We tend to become agitated and critical in our comments. We must remember patience is a virtue we must learn to develop for it has great rewards, Romans 2:7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; The forth thing is bearing with each other in love. There are times where we will get on each other’s nerves and under each other’s skin; nevertheless, we are required not only to bear with each other but to do it in love. That takes a deep level of understanding and patience. We must understand that we are very different from each other and when you do something that I disagree with, I should not take it too personal just so we can preserve the unity. Though this requires lot of prayers and self control, it is necessary for the preservation of unity.
PRAY: Ask the Lord to help you develop patience with those who are different than you.
ACT: Begin by being patient with yourself.
With U4 Him
Mullery Jean-Pierre
Pastor, Beraca Baptist Church
Healing our land requires unity among God’s people Part 2
PRAY FOR HAITI DAY 38
GLOBAL PRAYER INITIATIVE OF HAITIAN CHURCHES
Theme Verse 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Eph 4:2-3 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. For unity to be present in our midst we must lay the foundation for it. First we need humility. Phil 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. When we begin to put our own personal agenda aside; when we stop looking to take credit for the work being done; when we (the foreigners & Diasporas) don’t act like we have all of the answers and when we consider others better than ourselves, unity will begin to make its abode among us. Humility is the foundation unity is built on. Second, we must be gentle with each other. God’s people are from different denomination, different cultures and different languages therefore, we will disagree in many areas however; we are required to work together. Being gentle with each other will soothe the jagged edges of our differences and allow us to work together.
PRAY: As the Churches seek to work together, ask the Lord to give them a humble and gentle spirit,
ACT: Practice humility and gentleness with those who may be different from you.
With U4 Him
Mullery Jean-Pierre
Pastor, Beraca Baptist Church
Healing our land requires unity among God’s people - Part1
PRAY FOR HAITI DAY 37
GLOBAL PRAYER INITIATIVE OF HAITIAN CHURCHES
Theme Verse 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Healing our land requires unity among God’s people Part1
As we are approaching the final days of our 40 days of prayer for Haiti, we must make an effort to unify ourselves after these 40 days to help lift Haiti out of its desperate situation. Unity is not uniformity. Uniformity means we become the same whereas in unity we remain as individuals while we work together as one. We must live up to our motto "L'Union fait la force" Which means: '' Unity makes strength" Though we have struggled in the past to maintain unity, we must not give up trying to achieve it. Eph 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. We have to make an effort. The January 12, 2010 has given the church a reason to make an effort to unite and make a difference. We have united in prayer for 40 days let us unite in work for 40 years (one generation) and get our country on its feet.
Many congregations will gather around the world on January 12, 2011 to celebrate the Lord Jesus Christ and pray for Haiti. More than one million in Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitian, Thomassin, Petion-Ville, Jacmel and others. In the Diaspora, Canada, Boston, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, Bahamas, the Seven day Adventist, The Church of God, The Church of God in Christ, The Church of Prophesy and many independent congregations throughout USA and Canada will gather to remember the tragedy that occurred in our beloved Haiti on January 12, 2010 and seek the Lord’s guidance. 1Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
PRAY: Ask the Lord to help the Church develop a passion to work together.
ACT: Encourage your Church to partner with another Church that is actively working to rebuild Haiti.
With U4 Him
Mullery Jean-Pierre
Pastor, Beraca Baptist Church
Healing our land includes correcting faulty teaching within the church. Part 2
PRAY FOR HAITI DAY 36
GLOBAL PRAYER INITIATIVE OF HAITIAN CHURCHES
Theme Verse 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Healing our land includes correcting faulty teaching within the church. Part 2
Though demons cannot possess a true believer however: true Christians can be oppressed and or influenced by Satan and his demons. Possession is an internal operation while oppression and influence are external. When a believer gets involved in ungodly activities we open ourselves to demonic oppression and influences. (Eph 4:27). 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. This verse implies that you have the power to give the devil access into our lives. There are many ways Christians give the devil a foothold in our lives:
1. Telling Lies: John 8:44 …When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Eph 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
2. Harboring Anger: Eph 4:26. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, God warned Cain about his anger problem. Gen 4:6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” When you don’t deal with your anger quickly you give the devil access to whisper to you. “ARE YOU GOING TO LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THAT?
PRAY: Ask the Lord for strength to obey His word so that you “don’t give the devil a foothold.”
ACT: One way to enforce obedience to God’s word in your life is to help others live it in their lives.
With U4 Him
Mullery Jean-Pierre
Pastor, Beraca Baptist Church
Healing our land includes leadership training within the church. Part 1
PRAY FOR HAITI DAY 35
GLOBAL PRAYER INITIATIVE OF HAITIAN CHURCHES
Theme Verse 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Healing our land includes correcting faulty teaching within the church Part 1
Christians cannot be possessed by evil spirits because the true Christian belongs to Christ and his human spirit has been sealed by the Holy Spirit. Eph 1:13. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
For example, when you go to a store and you see a living room set you would like to buy however, there is a sign on it that says SOLD! That means someone has already purchased it though it still remains in the store. You can look at it, you can touch it, you can sit on it, you can bounce up and down on it but you can not possess it because it was paid for by another. It is guaranteed to that person who is coming back to pick it up. The sign on it that says “sold” means the deal was sealed and it cannot be purchased by anyone one else. The same is true with the child of Christ, we are his possession and cannot be possessed by another. We are purchased by His blood and sealed by His Spirit. If it were possible for a true Christian to be possessed by demons, we are in essence saying that demons are more powerful than God.( lol)
PRAY: Ask God to transform our thinking and renew our mind in His word.
ACT: Study, meditate and memorize the word of God and teach it others.
With U4 Him
Mullery Jean-Pierre
Pastor, Beraca Baptist Church
Friday, January 7, 2011
Healing our land must include healing the mind of Haitians
PRAY FOR HAITI DAY 34
GLOBAL PRAYER INITIATIVE OF HAITIAN CHURCHES
Theme Verse 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Healing our land must include healing the mind of Haitians.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Haiti has been conforming to a pattern of thinking that has affected their outlook on their country. This oppressive mindset has infiltrated many hearts and minds to the point that they feel limited in what they can do. Similar to how an elephant is trained. While the elephant is a baby the trainer would tie its leg to a post and whenever it would go a certain distance he would feel a tug on his leg limiting him from going any further. This would engrave a message in his mind saying this is your limit you can’t go any further. Years later though the elephant is five times larger and can easily pull the post out of the ground; he doesn’t, because when tries to walk away he feels a little tug on his leg and doesn’t go any further. To some degree this has happened to our Haitian brothers and sisters. There are few who would rise up to become community leaders and organizers because the mindset would say this is your limit , you can’t go any further. Pastors who have an opportunity to rise up and make a difference in some cases would rather sit and wait for help. Though resources may be limited ideas are unlimited. It takes an idea to generate motivation, motivation creates momentum, momentum creates action and action brings the idea to reality. Proverbs 27:3 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. (KJV)
PRAY: Ask the Lord that they Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world
ACT: Support organizations that train leaders in Leadership Development. Beraca Community Development Corporation is such an organization. Training leaders in the Leogane and its surrounding areas.
With U4 Him
Mullery Jean-Pierre
Pastor, Beraca Baptist Church
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Healing our land must include healing the mind of Haitians.
PRAY FOR HAITI DAY 33
GLOBAL PRAYER INITIATIVE OF HAITIAN CHURCHES
Theme Verse 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Healing our land must include healing the mind of Haitians.
Haiti is known as the Pearl of the Antiquities or in summary the best of the beautiful ancient art in the Caribbean. With a title like that you would think that the inhabitants are living in contentment linked with pride and patriotism for their country. However, the opposite is true. The mindset in Haiti is one of an exodus mentality. Everyone is trying to get out. Many have lost their lives in an attempt to get out of Haiti. The greater tragedy is that this mentality has permeated down into the hearts and mind of the children. Last year in one our five mission trips to Haiti while going to our work site, a little girl about 8-10 years old yelled out “Blan, menem nan peyie ou” which means “white man take me to your country.” Though we are far from being white, that’s the term they use for foreigners who mostly speak English. The message it sends is they are waiting for a Moses to take them out of their Egypt (Haiti) where the suffering is unbearable. That is why the mind of the next leader will have to be like that of Solomon who prayed; Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” The Haitians are a great people who from years of economic oppression are living in survival mode and are just looking for relief. Transforming Haiti must include transforming their mind. Romans 12:2 “...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...”
PRAY: Ask the Lord to begin the transformation process of healing the minds of our brothers and Sisters in Haiti.
ACT: Act as an agent if transformation by challenging the Haitians you know to renew their minds.
With U4 Him
Mullery Jean-Pierre
Pastor, Beraca Baptist Church.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Healing the land includes using the resources of the land God gave us
PRAY FOR HAITI DAY 32
GLOBAL PRAYER INITIATIVE OF HAITIAN CHURCHES
Theme Verse 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
According to French scientists Daniel and Ginette Mathuri Haiti has large deposits of gold, iridium, uranium, and zyconium. Iridium, uranium, and zyconium are radioactive minerals used to make nuclear materials. Alexander Poujol and Henry Thomasset produced a map in 1908 that revealed a major oil reservoir in Haiti near the source of the River Thomonde, said Georges Michel in 2004. “The deposit of oil in question straddles the boundary between the boroughs of Hinche and Mirebalais in a mountainous area located at the foot of the chain of the Black Mountains, direction due west of Thomond. Haiti is rich with natural resources. Enough resources where 9 million citizen of Haiti can live comfortably and even be a resource for its neighbors. The land of Haiti can be healed however, due to the politics and bureaucracy of leaders who are self-serving many are suffering. When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan. Proverbs 29:2 Haiti has been groaning for years and need relief.
PRAY: Ask the Lord to change the hearts of the leaders and policy makers and bring media attention to Haiti’s resources and ability to provide for itself.
ACT: Support Haitian organizations that are mining in Haiti such as SIMAC.
With U4 Him
Mullery Jean-Pierre
Pastor, Beraca Baptist Church
Monday, January 3, 2011
Healing the land includes taking proper care of the land God gave us
PRAY FOR HAITI DAY 31
GLOBAL PRAYER INITIATIVE OF HAITIAN CHURCHES
Theme Verse 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Healing the land includes taking proper care of the land God gave us. In Genesis 1:28 God gave Adam the mandate to subdue the land God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. One of man’s primary responsibilities is to take care of the land God gave him. Haiti faces a severe deforestation problem as a result of the clearing of wooded hillsides for subsistence farming over many generations, leading to the destruction of more than 90 per cent of the country's natural forests (fewer than 100,000 acres of forest remain). Trees are cut down and are made into coal for fuel. It has become a lucrative business for some. Sometimes on the mountain side you can see smoke billowing into the sky from several locations in close proximity. That is where trees are being processed into coal. Consequently, Haiti is one of the most environmentally degraded countries in the world. More than one-third of its soil is seriously eroded. The lack of trees to hold the soil in place causes massive mudslides. Haiti must undergo complete reforestation while providing alternative fuel for its citizens. Back in March 2010 while traveling with World Vision on a Pastor’s Vision tour in Haiti, we drove to the Dominican Republic from the Plateau Central area. As we crossed the border, there was a stark difference; Haiti was brown and the Dominican Republic was green. Amos 7:2 When they had stripped the land clean, I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!” Amos was concerned when they stripped the land and so should we.
PRAY: Ask God to encourage the government enact policy to protect the forests while providing fuel for the people.
ACT: Give to organizations such as World Vision that have several reforestation projects in Haiti.
With U4 Him
Mullery Jean-Pierre
Pastor, Beraca Baptist Church
Healing our land starts with believers not neglecting the poor. Part 3
PRAY FOR HAITI DAY 30
GLOBAL PRAYER INITIATIVE OF HAITIAN CHURCHES
Theme Verse 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Part 3
Healing our land starts with believers not neglecting the poor. How do you measure your faith in Jesus Christ? We will answer that with the third part of “Healing our land starts with believers not neglecting the poor”. When believers neglect the poor it is: A proof of unbelief. Jas 2:15-17 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. This passage is an indictment against the believer who says; I know you are hungry, thirsty and naked but I will pray for you. This is the equivalent of saying “Go, I wish you well….” Prayer is powerful and necessary but after you have prayed, you must act. It is in the acting your faith is demonstrated not just in the prayers. This passage is clear; if you don’t act you don’t have faith. How many of us have pleaded guilty to this indictment. When you don’t act on your faith in this particular matter, it opens up concerns in many other areas in your Christian walk. Especially in the area of salvation. If we are “saved by grace through faith” and there are no evidences of your faith in what you do, we have to question if you are truly saved. It may sound a little harsh but take some time to examine yourself and your practices as it relates to your faith not only in reference to Haiti but in life itself. 2COR 13:5 “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” We have brothers and sister who are without the basic necessities in Haiti. We can no longer tell them “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” When we go or give our faith is demonstrated as being alive and well.
PRAY: Ask God to have you assess your faith in a sincere and genuine way.
ACT: Give organizations that you can trust to meet the needs of the Haitian people.
With U4 Him
Mullery Jean-Pierre
Pastor, Beraca Baptist Church
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Healing our land starts with believers not neglecting the poor. (Part 2)
PRAY FOR HAITI DAY 29
GLOBAL PRAYER INITIATIVE OF HAITIAN CHURCHES
Theme Verse 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Healing our land starts with believers not neglecting the poor. (Part 2)
Today we will look at the 2nd thing we display when we neglect the poor: 2) We display Inconsistency with love to God. 1John 3:17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? It is clear that we who are living in the United States have material possession far beyond what we really need. We are the riches nation on the face of the earth. It is sad to say but saw a homeless man go into a garbage can in Manhattan and after rummaging through it, he pulled out a McDonald’s bag with a sandwich that had only a couple of bites taken from it and a half filled cup of soda. He ate the sandwich and drank the soda. To many of us we would say that is gross, but you know what I said “That’s a blessing, only in America can someone go into a garbage can and find a meal”. Many of us have no idea of the abundance of wealth we have in America. To prove it to you, I want you to go to this website: www.globalrichlist.com and you will see how your salary compares to those around the world. If you make $25,000 per year, you are in the top 10% of the richest person in the world. The annual salary per capita in Haiti is $400 per year. They are in the bottom 10% of the poorest bracket in the world. Here is the irony, Haiti who is the poorest country in the western hemisphere is located next to America, the richest country in the world and the richest country in the world is filled with believers who say they love God. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
PRAY: Ask the Lord to not only open our heart to the dire situation in Haiti, but also our hands to the people of Haiti.
ACT: This year make a resolution to commit to giving. Challenge yourself to give first of yourself and then of your resources.
With U4 Him
Mullery Jean-Pierre
Pastor, Beraca Baptist Church
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)