Today I can say I met dozens  of people needing a savior. It is amazing how street ministry can change your life. As we walked the streets of St. Barbara, people greeted us as if we were family and accepted an evangelism tract from us.  Out of more than 200 tracts that were given, only one person refused to receive our testimony.  The rest of them were receptive and several came to the luncheon we offered to the community. Only one refused the love of God.

It amazes me that of all those who were in captivity in Egypt for over 400 years, only two, Joshua and Caleb, were allowed to see the Promised Land. Coming out of Egypt, they crossed the Red Sea and went north toward Jericho to make the historical entrance into the Land. The reason for this manuever around the southern portion of Israel was that the land was occupied by other tribes, the Hittites, the Amorites, and all of the other “ites.” In other words, God gave Israel the land which was filled with other tribes much stronger and much bigger than they were. What an interesting gift!

I can imagine Joshua outside of Jericho, wondering in his mind,” How in the world can I win this battle against a fortified Jericho, when my soldiers are all untrained and young?  Furthermore, since God required that they be circumsised, they are hurting from the experience at Gilgal.  How can I enter into battle when they have never battled like this; they have only wandered in the wilderness since the days of Egypt?”

Joshua was walking outside of the city of Jericho, wondering these things when he met a man. It says that Joshua looked up and saw the man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The answer was, “Neither.” You see, when you have  an enemy, it is not a matter of God being against the other one. God simply comes to solve your problem and accomplish His purpose. The man identified himself as the “Commander of the Armies of the Lord.” The  man says to Joshua, “Take your shoes off, for the place you stand is holy.” The response from Joshua was impressive and revealing. Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence!

You know, we do not do this any longer.  If anyone were to fall face to the ground during the 11 o’clock hour of worship, many would be uncomfortable and wonder why they are doing something so radical. But if you have a revelation from God in your life, that is exactly what you should do.

This week we have here in Brasil a group from the United States who are sincerely seeking the Lord. This morning after the story of Joshua was delivered at the local church here in St. Barbara, the power of the Lord came upon them and they remained prostrate before the Lord for an entire hour. Many came under conviction of the Holy Spirit that something has to change.

Have you ever been face to the ground before God? Have you ever been so in reverence before His presence that you could not stand? For Joshua this meant victory against Jericho, for the strategy was given by God’s angel as to how to win the battle. If you hear from God today, will you fall face down and worship Him? Do it!

Rick Bonfim

The Apostle John wrote 1 John with a thought in mind: you and God working together. In those days of the New Testament, many followed a heresy called Gnosticism. The followers of Gnosticism believed that only the spirit of man was good, but all matter, including the body, was evil. Since the body was evil but God was good, salvation would come from escaping the body by acquiring special knowledge to get salvation. Thus, the word “knowledge” or gnosis, what gives us the word gnosticism.

The apostle John says that he saw, touched, looked at and heard the Word of Life and to him it became life. You can study and theologize all your life regarding the gospel. You can “know” it in your mind but never truly experience it, since the Word of Life interacts with all that you are, body, soul, and spirit.  Only then can you proclaim it with your life.

John continues to say that having fellowship with God gives light to you. Having fellowship with the flesh gives darkness to you. He closes chapter 1 by saying this: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

So, basically, you arrive to God and begin to know God by first confessing your sin! Without this, you will never have your life line up with the cross. Have you confess your sin lately?

We Methodists like to take communion and confess our sins at the table of remembrance.  Catholics talk with the priest and confess to him the same. Presbyterians, Baptists and Pentecostals like to confess, taking communion also. It really does not matter how you do it; the fact is YOU WILL NOT HAVE FORGIVENESS AND PURIFICATION FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT UNTIL YOU CONFESS, AND YOU DO IT TO GOD ALONE.

WHAT DO WE CONFESS? You confess to Him that you have missed the mark, you have denied Him, you have been greedy, you have been unforgiving to your brother or sister. So, here is the word for today:

YOUR SIN IS 50% RELATED TO GOD AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AND IT IS 50% RELATED TO OTHERS. All of your sins are not simply between you and God.  Another 50% are related to your brother or sister, to your church family, to your ex-friend, to your wife or husband, to your boss, or to your son or daughter.  

Mark 12:29-30 says: “The most important one is: ’Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart,with with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ’Love  your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandament greater than these.’”

So, beginning the year of 2009, let me ask you: Are you dealing with the 50% on each side of your life? You and God –  and you and others? both have the same weight and importance!

Rick Bonfim