WORLD CHRISTIAN POPULATION

A comprehensive demographic study of more than 200 countries finds that there are 2.18 billion Christians of all ages around the world, representing nearly a third of the estimated 2010 global population of 6.9 billion. Christians are also geographically widespread – so far-flung, in fact, that no single continent or region can indisputably claim to be the center of global Christianity.

A century ago, this was not the case. In 1910, about two-thirds of the world’s Christians lived in Europe, where the bulk of Christians had been for a millennium, according to historical estimates by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity.² Today, only about a quarter of all Christians live in Europe (26%). A plurality – more than a third – now are in the Americas (37%). About one in every four Christians lives in sub-Saharan Africa (24%), and about one-in-eight is found in Asia and the Pacific (13%).

The number of Christians around the world has nearly quadrupled in the last 100 years, from about 600 million in 1910 to more than 2 billion in 2010. But the world’s overall population also has risen rapidly, from an estimated 1.8 billion in 1910 to 6.9 billion in 2010. As a result, Christians make up about the same portion of the world’s population today (32%) as they did a century ago (35%).

This apparent stability, however, masks a momentous shift. Although Europe and the Americas still are home to a majority of the world’s Christians (63%), that share is much lower than it was in 1910 (93%). And the proportion of Europeans and Americans who are Christian has dropped from 95% in 1910 to 76% in 2010 in Europe as a whole, and from 96% to 86% in the Americas as a whole.

MPANGO WA MAANGAMIZI

MPANGO WA MAANGAMIZI

DHAMIRA NA DHAMBI

Jifunze

John ni kijana aliyejiunga na kanisa hivi karibuni, katika kipindi cha wiki mbili hivi ambazo amefika kanisani, ana bidii sana katika mambo ya Mungu. Ni mwombaji, ana nena kwa ligha na mwimbaji ambaye anonekana maarufu sana. Diana amevutiwa naye sana, hata kama hamfahamu vizuri. John pia naye anonyesha kuvutiwa na Diana, na angependa kumchumbia. Je, ni halali kwao kuanza uchumba

Jifunze

Sarah ni msichana mabaye hajaokoka. Sengi ni mvulana aliyeokoka na amemwona Sarah. Ameonyesha nia ya kumwoa na wamekubaliana Sara ajiunge na kanisa anakoabudu Sengi. Sarah amejiunga, ametubu na ameokoka. Je, ni vema kuendelea na uchumba?

Mstari wa kukumbuka:

Njia zote za mtu ni safi machoni pake mwenyewe; Bali BWANA huzipima roho (motive/dhamira) za watu (Mithali 16:2)

Bali ninyi msihukumu neno kabla ya wakati wake, hata ajapo Bwana; ambaye atayamulikisha yaliyositirika ya giza, na kuyadhihirisha mashauri ya mioyo; ndipo kila mtu ataipata sifa yake kwa Mungu (1Wakorintho 4:5)

1. DHAMIRA

Tunapifikilia kila hali ni vema kuangalia matokeo yake katika uhalisia na kuziaangalia  dhamira za mioyo yetu. Thamira zetu lazima ziwe safi.

Jiulize: Nini kinachomsukuma kijana/msichana anayetaka kuoa/kuolewa na asiyeokoka?

1. Ni kwa sababu anahitaji amrejeshe kwa Kristo kupitia uhusiano huo?
2. Je, ni kwa sababu ni mzuri?
3. Ni kwa sababu anataka kuoa/kuolewa?
4. Ni kwa sababu anafikiri ataokoka mbele ya safari?
5. Ni uasi kwa wazazi wake?
6. Ni uasi kwa kanisa?
7. Ni uasi kwa Mungu?
8. Ni kwa sababu ya mashindano, hitaji la mwenzi au msukumo wa rika (peer pressure)? 

Tujiulize: Tuwe wakweli kwa dhamira zetu na Mungu, Je, watu walio katika uhusiano:

1. Wana muda wa kuhabarishana kuhusu wokovu wa Yesu au wataongea kuhusu mahusiano yao na maisha ya baadaye
2. Chanzo/msukumo wa mahusiano haya ni Yesu ndai yao au ni uhusiano wao wenyewe?

UKWELI

1. Jambo muhimu sio sisi tunataka nini, bali ni Mungu anataka nini.
2. Upendo halisi husubiri
3. Upendo halisi unapimwa kwa kutoa na si kupokea
4. Upendo halisi unapima matokeo ya mbele kuliko ya sasa
5. Upendo upo tayari kufanya maamuzi magumu kwa manufaa ya wengine
6. Kama unaona dalili zozote za udhaifu katika mahusiano hayo, kwanini uendelee? Huo si upendo, bali ni tamaa

2. DHAMBI

Chanzo cha Anguko -Dhambi (Mwanzo 3:1-6)

Katika mistari hii tunaona tatizo liliopelekea anguko la mwanadamu wa kwanza na mabazo ni chanzo cha anguko la wanadamu wote.

V1-Nyoka (shetani) sio mjinga kama wengi wanavyofikiri; ni mwerevu na mjanja kuliko wanyama wote wa mwituni (sio mwerevu kuliko mwanadamu, kwani mwanadamu ameumbwa kwa mfano wa Mungu; hivyo shetani hawezi kuwa mwerevu kuliko Mungu).

V1:- Shetani ni mwongo. Ili kumwangusha mwanadamu huongeza/ kupunguza au kubadili Neno la Mungu. Alitumia neno ‘ati’ halafu akaendelea kupotosha maagizo ya Mungu kwa mwanadamu. Hii ni silaha aitumiayo hadi sasa. Mf: kijana anamwambia binti, ‘kama’ unanipenda …. Huu ni uongo. Upendo hauna masharti, ni ukweli.

V2-5: Eva aliingia katika mtego kwa kukubali kufanya mazungumzo na shetani. Kwa kuwa hakuna urafiki katika ya nuru na giza, pia hakuna mapatano kati ya shetani na mwana wa Mungu. Ukiruhusu mazungumzo, basi utajikuta unaingia mtegoni. Nyakati Fulani mwanadamu anapokemea mapepo na kuyaruhusu kusema, huchonganisha watu. Usimruhusu shetani.

V6:- Mwanamke alipoona ule mti wafaa kwa chakula, wapendeza macho, nao ni mti wa kutamanika kwa maarifa, basi ailitwaa katika matunda yake akala, akampa mumewe naye akala. (Mwanzo 3:6). Katika mstari huu tunajifunza kuwa anguko la mwanadamu yeyote husababishwa na:

1. Vitu vinavyoonekana kwa macho
2. Vitu ambavyo kwa mtazamo wa kibinadamu ni kwamba vinafaa
3. Vitu vinavyopendeza moyo wa mwanadamu
4. Tamaa ya kupata vitu Fulani
5. Na hitaji la kutaka kujua (hasa vitu vipya)

Angalia: 2Samweli 11:1-4. Daudi alijaribiwaje?

1. Aliamua kutoenda vitani, akapumzika tu. Hii ilimweka katika hali iliyompelekea kujaribiwa
2. Alimwona Bathsheba na jaribu lilianza alioendelea kumwangalia
3. Alichukua hatua ya kuzini naye

Angalia:  Mwanzo 39:4-12   Yusufu alishindaje jaribu?

1. Alikuwa makini na kazi zake (was busy with work)
2. Mke wa Potifa alipomjaribu alikataa
3. Mke wa Potifa alipomkamata kwa lazima, alikimbia.

TUNACHOJIFUNZA

Mtego wa shetani huonekana unafaa wakati unaanza, lakini mwisho wake unalipa gharama kubwa sana kwa matokeo ya yale uliyofanya kama hautamkataa.

Vijana wengi wameanguka kwa sababu wamekuwa hawajishughulishi, hupenda maisha ya raha. Hudhani wanaenda na wakati. Kuna baadhi ya vitu ambavyo vinaonekana si vibaya kufanya lakini vimekuwa vikiwapelekea kuanguka, mfano:

1. Kusalimiana kwa mikono
2. Kupeana busu
3. Kupeana zawadi
   
   
   
   
   
4. Kuwa pamoja kwa chakula cha machana/jioni (out)
5. Kuhudumu pamoja wakiwa pea sawasawa (1+1, 2+2 au hata 5+5) za jinsia.

KUMBUKA:

Njia zote za mtu ni safi machoni pake mwenyewe; Bali BWANA huzipima roho (motive/dhamira) za watu (Mithali 16:2)

<<<<<<<<<<<<<< PRAY >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

ASKOFU MOSES KULOLA AFARIKI DUNIA

habari tulizozipata hivi punde ambazo pia zimethibitishwa na wanafamilia ya Askofu Dk Moses Kulola ni kwamba, askofu huyo wa kanisa la E A G T Ametangulia kwa Bwana leo hii.

Katika mitandao ya kijamii, wengi wametoa maoni yao kuhusu kifo cha Moses Kulola

 Askofu Kulola ni 'Mtumishi wa Mungu mwenye moyo wa Uinjilisti, Aliyefanya kazi kwa muda mrefu tena kwa UAMINIFU MKUBWA, akizunguka huku na kule Tanzania na nchi zingine akibeba habari njema na nzito za Injili ...aliyekubali mateso kwa ajili ya Injili....aliyezaa matunda mengi kiroho....Ninayemheshimu sana ....hata nilipokuwa mdogo niliwahi kuota kuhusu yeye....alihusisha mambo mengi na Injili ....hata watu waliookoka chini yake aliwaita wana wa Injili...Binafsi Yesu alikuwa Rafiki wa pekee kwake....hata cheo cha U dokta hakitoshi kwake ...bado amekuwa mnyenyekevu wa moyo, mwenye huruma sana kwa wanaoteseka ....mkali sana kwa mapepo na nguvu za giza...aiyeogopa kukemea Injili za aina nyingine zinazotaka kutoka kwenye msingi wa injili halisi....Ninamependa sana sana ....sasa ni nini hiki naanza kusikia watu wanasema' (Abel Orgenes) 

'Naomba Isiwe Kweli ..... Vita Amevipiga, Imani Ameilinda na Mwendo ameumaliza.....' (Samwel Sasali) 

'R. I. P. lev moses kolola pumzika kwa amani baba yetu wa kiloho.nipengo kubwa kwa watanzania'  (Ballack Alberto) 

Wengi wametoa masikitiko yao, lakini cha muhimu ni kwamba AMEMTUMIKIA MUNGU KWA UAMINIFU WOTE, tunaamini kuwa amepumzika ba siku ya Mwisho tutamlaki Yesu Kristo pamoja mawinguni tusipozimia mioyo.

BWANA ALITOA, BWANA AMETWAA, JINA LAKE LIHIMIDIWE
AMEN 

DEALING WITH THE SPIRIT OF DEBTS

Debt is one of the major roots of lack of progress and productivity in many lives today. Debt will put you under harassment in life. Right now we are living in a society that encourages borrowing. Prov 22:7 … When you are a borrower you enslave your destiny

If it wasn’t for the word of God to the widow 2Kings 4:1 the children would have gone into slavery because of the debt of their father.

Salvation will not end your debt but is the door into blessing that will get you out of debts. But the blessing will not come until you act on the instructions fro the word.

Many people are in debts because of disobedience. May you be delivered toady in Jesus Name. Deut 28:1.

Deut 28:12, vs. 42, 43 Every time you borrow, you make yourself a slave. So. The creditor will begin to dictate your economic policies. Borrowing will destroy your self image, your pride and you loose honor. No man stands boldly before his creditor to make noise.

 A wise man said take the whole money in the world and share it equally to everybody in the world in less than one year the money will go back again but only into few hands. Why? We are in a world where only people who have knowledge matter.

Many Christians don’t want to settle down for knowledge, they are full of activities Luke 10:38-42

You don’t get into debts overnight it’s an attitude cultivated by poor management habits. You start borrowing 50, 10, 100, 500,. It is a gradual thing.

WHY DO PEOPLE GET INTO DEBTS

1.      Greed – Greed is desiring more than God intends for you to have. Prov 27:20. Greed will cause you to go for what you want and not what you need. Phil 4:19. You may want a fridge of Tshs 400,000  but your salary is 50,000 this will only lead you into debts. The solution is found in 1Cor 9:27. Subject your flesh wherever you begin to long for what is beyond your reach.

2.    Desire for new things – There is nothing with desiring new things however you must be careful with such desires must not lead you into debts. Your desire for the new fashion in town it’s not sin but don’t buy in credit, don’t subject yourself to insults. The bible warns in Luke 12:1`5….Money spend on new fashion cannot restore your dignity neither can it change your status. You don’t need to be covetous. Most people who go for flamboyant things often do to cover up heir inferiority complex. Many have left church because of borrowing. Solution: your life is not in your material possession but in your relationship with God.

3.    Trying to impress others – Gal 1:10 you don’t have to impress anybody in this world just live your own life. Beware of subtle power of sales, people bring you things for you to buy in the presence of your friends. In trying to impress your friends you get into debt. Know that you are not to live your life by public opinion. People are free to feel anyhow or think whatever they like about you. Never try to impress anyone.

4.    Low self-esteem – in trying to become who they are not, they get into debts Gal 1:10 Don’t try to be someone else. That someone did something does not mean you should do the same thing. First find whether you are in position to do that thing.. Your relationship with Christ will cure your self-esteem.

5.     Lack of planning – A wise man said if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. Planning is a sign of wisdom. Prov 22:3. If you are a good planner you will always know when to buy a thing and when not to buy. Luke 14:28  if you want to be great then plan, anointing, fasting, praying cannot take the place of planning. Crisis in many families are a result of planning not the devil.

6.    Pride -  many people live in deception. It is good for nothing boasting around that you have this or that yet you are borrowing all over. Pride have pushed many into debts. “Considering my class I can’t go around without a car so he goes on borrowing it.”

7.     Lack of discipline Prov 25:28 It is the vital key to success in life. Your spirit must control your flesh. If you are not able to say no in some circumstances then you are not wise. Don’t take you capital to entertain people. Some end up putting a;; the clothes they are selling because they lack discipline.

HOW TO STAY FREE FROM DEBTS

Debt is not sin but a weight that can push you to sin that is why is against it.

God looks at you as a lender not a borrower – we are positioned by God as lenders. Deut 28:12. Salvation we received through Christ is total deliverance. It includes deliverance from debts.

Let’s obey the scriptures and God will show us His faithfulness – until your part is completed it’s not God’s turn to do it for us.

Things to Do

1.      Face it to defeat it – You must face those debts as are to defeat them. Take spiritual and physical responsibilities to get out of them. David had to face Goliath before he could defeat him. Stop running away – that is a goliath. It will only fall as you face him. List all your creditors and begin to face those debts one by one.

2.    See debts as an hostile enemy of God’s will in your life and treat it as such. Debts reverses God’s will against your life. God’s will is that you become a lender but debts will make you remain a perpetual borrower.

3.    Understand the reason behind the debt – You must know what led you into debt so that you can learn from your mistake. The problem you don’t understand will be difficult to handle. You must understand the cause and identify your weakness so that you can predict when the enemy is about to attack again.  Prov 13:20. Relationship can be the cause of many entering into unnecessary debts. Check the people you associate with. There are also women who lead their husbands into debts and vice versa.

4.    Make purchases based on what you have. Don’t go for what you can’t afford. “cut your cloth according to your size. Don’t try to arrive where you have not yet gotten to. Phil 4:11. Contentment is knowing how to discipline yourself in order to control your spending based on what you have, If you want to stay debt-free always have a budget and let your budget guide your expenses. Your budget must be based on what is available. :Act of planning on our purchases result in overspending. Prov 25:28. lack of self-control in spending exposes you to financial ruin.

5.     You must work – God hats idleness! God worked, Jesus worked who do you resemble with idleness. You cannot stay debt-free if you are idle. Deut 28:12. Rain will not fall until there is where to fall, He promised to bless the work of your hands that will make you a lender not a borrower. Idleness is not of God. It is your work that determines worth. Pride is a killer. If your are 30 years old and you still depend on your parent or uncles is an insult to redemption . Prov 12:24. Don’t call yourself a man if you are not working – to be lazy and live without working is to live in bondage.

6.    Maintain a faithful covenant walk financially. To ensure that you stay debt free. You must faithfully pay your tithe. No matter how tight you are financially never yield to the temptation of not paying your tithe, which will worsen the situation. Mal 3:8-9. Refusal to pay tithe brings you under the curse of God. How can God curse a man and that man still expect progress? Nothing sets a man backward in life like being under a curse especially a curse that is placed by God Himself. No anointing can remove that curse all it takes is obedience. It is dangerous to eat your tithe Mal 3:10. Obedience to God’s word gives you the capacity to receive His blessings. When you pay your tithe God releases some ideas that will make your life to blossom and else keep you out of debt. God will not intervene in your finances until you honor Him with your finances faithfully. Tithing will not only guarantee you the release of supernatural  blessing but also provide security over your life and property Mal 3:11

7.     Mind what you say. You need to guard your mouth. Your mouth will tie you or set you free Matt 12:37. Your words create forces – with your words you can bring the spiritual and invisible things into the natural and visible world. Gen 1:3-4. God did not see light out of dark situation until He declared it. YOU were created in His image therefore begin to declare your freedom from debts: ‘I cannot be poor, I cannot be in debts, I am free from debts. Mark 11:23 Do not talk lack and expect plenty; you don’t talk sickness and expect health. Words are a vehicle that conveys things from the invisible to the visible. Speak always what you want to see and not what you are passing through.