I Care!

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in "Now" Words, Home Page, Last Days, Ministry Updates, Prophecy, Teaching | Tags: , , ,

Most of you know about the times of my life, nearly 25 years ago now, when there was great destruction and ruin that surrounded the ministry of PTL.  Anyone with access to a newspaper or television back then, saw the devastation of Heritage USA and witnessed the carnage of all that was built there… or so it seemed.

Though the world saw only devastation and ruin, there is much more to the ‘end of the story’.

At Heritage USA, the partners who gave faithfully made it possible to build a home for unwed mothers. There were many young women and girls who came there to live while their babies were growing and developing safely in their wombs. The girls were cared for with all their needs met in that safe place until the time they delivered their babies.

Through the home for unwed mothers at Heritage USA, these babies were given the gift of life instead of issued the sentence of death in an abortion clinic. I still hear quite often about someone who was born there at the home and what they are doing today. These now adult young people and sometimes their birth mothers, often express their gratitude for the provision they received which allowed them to make the right decisions. There are people who live today because we did what we could back then, and those who made that possible will receive a reward in heaven – the Bible tells us so!

Today, in this day of  unrestrained abortion of epidemic proportion, we have an even more pronounced opportunity to help young mothers make the right decisions about giving the gift of life to their unborn babies. So many babies have been murdered in the womb by this lawless generation, and it’s time now for the Church to stand up and do all that we can to help give life.

We have received the commission in a prophetic word by Cindy Jacobs to build “Lori’s House” and we are going to do it with your help! “Lori’s House” will be a safe place for girls and young women to come and have all their needs met while the little child within them grows strong enough to one day take its first breath. That life may go on to use that breath to glorify God and declare His love to a lost and dying world!

Today, we are filming several shows and partnering with Philip Cameron in the ministry of saving young girls and boys from a life of certain death in the sex trafficking trade. We are helping them to build “Stella’s House” in Moldova. Do you think Jesus is interested in this? Do you think Jesus cares if we give shelter, clothing, food and most of all love to these young girls and boys? Do you think Jesus cares?  You know He does and I care too!

In addition to helping Philip save lives in Moldova, we are going to build “Lori’s House” right here in Peaceful Valley at Morningside. We need your help. Just as those who helped Heritage USA’s home for unwed mothers are seeing the fruits of their labors in living beings who are precious to God, you can now sow into the lives of those yet to be born, those whom God has designed to be here on this earth in the Last Days.

When you help to give the gift of life, you will receive rewards in heaven. I didn’t say that, Jesus did! In Matthew 24, Jesus is talking to his disciples and giving them detailed information about the physical signs of the Last Days. The disciples continued to question him about the end of the age, and Jesus then expanded their understanding by telling them who will be chosen to spend eternity with Him in heaven. Here is what he said in Matthew 25:31-46

“The Son of Man will come again in his great glory, with all his angels. He will be King and sit on his great throne. All the nations of the world will be gathered before him, and he will separate them into two groups as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. The Son of Man will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to the people on his right, ‘Come, my Father has given you his blessing. Receive the kingdom God has prepared for you since the world was made. I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house. I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

“Then the good people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you alone and away from home and invite you into our house? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’

“Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.’
“Then the King will say to those on his left, ‘Go away from me. You will be punished. Go into the fire that burns forever that was prepared for the devil and his angels. I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you did not invite me into your house. I was without clothes, and you gave me nothing to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you did not care for me.’

“Then those people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or alone and away from home or without clothes or sick or in prison? When did we see these things and not help you?’

“Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to do for me.’ “These people will go off to be punished forever, but the good people will go to live forever.“Love,

Jim

We All Need Hope and Encouragement

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in "Now" Words, Last Days | Tags: , ,

Lori and I and our Master’s Media group recently attended a Master’s Commission conference in Dallas where we met so many wonderful people!  While we were there, over 100 kids wanted information for the Master’s Media training here at Morningside.

In Dallas, we met a Master’s Commission group from North Pole, Alaska that just knocked our socks off.  There was an immediate connection – hearts to hearts – and we invited them to come to Missouri to visit us on the set to get a feel for what we do here in our Master’s Media training.

So, our friends from North Pole came to see us this week, and there was instant magic in our midst!  While they may have come to receive information about our media training, they also brought us an invaluable gift.  They encouraged us greatly!

The gift of exhortation always brings hope – not false hope, but hope based on the promises of God.  The world is longing for such a message.  While we try every day to bring a message of hope and encouragement to our viewers, we also need to receive hope and encouragement now and then!

I’m convinced that as we draw closer to our Lord’s return, this world is going to experience many upheavals.  As we have said before, everything that can be shaken will be shaken, including many people’s faith.  If ever there was a time when we needed the ministry of encouragement, it is now.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25 NASB)

What day is the author of Hebrews talking about?  The day when Jesus returns!  Between now and that day, we need to be encouraging each other as never before.  Whether you have a ministry of encouragement or not, we can all stimulate each other to love each other more, to help each other by doing simple, good deeds, and by gathering together to worship and praise the Lord as we see the day of the Lord approaching.

Love,

Jim

Prayer a Priority in the Last Days

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in "Now" Words, Last Days, Prophecy, Teaching | Tags: , , ,

So often, the attitude of many Christians today is:  “When all else fails, pray.”  Or how many times have you heard this:  “Well, brother, just pray about it.”  Just pray?  How about starting with prayer?  How about believing that if anything good is going to happen in the church, it must begin with prayer!

To the first-century Christian community, prayer was their first choice, not their last resort (Acts 2:42).  They prayed about almost everything:  spiritual direction, food, finances, and supernatural healing.  Throughout the Scriptures, we are encouraged to pray, even commanded to pray, yet prayer continues to be one of the last resources we turn to when problems, decisions, or opportunities arise.

I was greatly encouraged when one of the prophetic words that I was privileged to hear at a conference concerned the prayers of the body of Christ.  The prophet shared a message that clearly proclaimed God planned to restore divine healing in the last days.  Not contrived or manipulated “healings”; not psychosomatic healings (although mental and emotional healings will no doubt be included); not sweeping, broad generalizations regarding healing; not the sort of “pay-per-prayer”  manipulation of people’s sincere faith that has been so prevalent among healing ministries.  But God is going to restore genuine, supernatural healing on a widespread basis.

The prophet shared a vision he had received from the Lord, in which hundreds and hundreds of people were praying for each other and multitudes were being healed.

Interestingly, the prophet reported that, in the vision, the people who were praying appeared to be “faceless”.  He interpreted this to mean that the healings would not take place through “high-profile,” well-known ministers, but through common, everyday folks.  Furthermore, the message implied that God will continue to do miraculous healings so long as we do not care who gets the glory.  And when we really stop to think about it, all the glory for any genuine healing belongs to our Lord God, not to the vessel through which He chooses to bring about the miracle.

As you know, Lori and I believe in doing all you can to take care of yourself so that you will be healthy.  As much as you can affect your health by eating right and making other healthy choices, you should do it.  But when you need a supernatural healing, don’t hesitate to call on the Lord in prayer!  He is the Healer and all those times recorded in the Bible of supernatural healing are for today as well.

Love,

Jim

Crying Out in Unison – Rick Joyner’s Message

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in "Now" Words, Last Days, Prophecy | Tags: , , , , , ,

I rarely post someone else’s message, but I’m going to make an exception with this one.  The following message is authored by the pastor at Rick Joyner’s Moravian Falls church in North Carolina.  I’m posting it here, in my blog because I believe it’s for all of us.  I’m not the only one who cries out for the church to be ready.  Those who are listening, cry out in unison with the Spirit of God for the Church.

Please read this post and take it to heart.  The time to get ready is NOW!

Love,

Jim

******************************************************************

This past Sunday (Feb. 13th) at HIM in Fort Mill, Rick again encouraged the congregation to do what they could to have at least a 3 week up to 3 months supply of food on hand. In addition, and more urgently, we must have some idea on how to obtain drinkable water. Given the instability both nationally and internationally, Rick strongly believes that although we must not give in to a spirit of fear, it is wise and prudent to store food as an emergency back up.

We have also stressed this on a number of occasions and I again encourage each family to do whatever they feel is wise and out of their own obedience to the Lord.  Remember Noah, being divinely warned of things that had not yet occurred, prepared and built the ark.   As a result of Noah’s obedience, he and his household were saved.   I also agree that fear has no place among believers, however, like Noah, it takes far more faith to be prepared than to do nothing.

Stored food does not have to be wasted but can be easily used and replaced on an ongoing basis.  Regarding water, there are some simple solutions that we will be sharing with the congregation in the coming weeks.

On another note, we know it is easy to get out of the habit of attending church and we also don’t want attending our meetings to be just another religious tradition. However, there is a reason we are exhorted in Hebrews 10:25, when it states,“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.  ” In other words, in the times we are living we should be drawing closer together and we should become more connected because we need each other!  It was Noah and his ‘family’ who were saved.   Yes, we attend corporate meetings to worship and hear the Word and share what God has done for us, but it is also to be connected with family!  The Scriptures confirm that He sets the solitary in families.  That is a lot of what church is all about.  It is vital to be properly connected in the days that are to come.

These are incredible times to belong to the One who rules and reigns over all.   It’s not a time to fear, but to rise up in faith.  The greatest days to be a Christian living on the earth are in front of us.

If anyone needs some tips on how to begin storing food, please let us know.

David White

Pastor – MorningStar Fellowship Church Wilkesboro/Moravian Falls

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Now, more than ever before, we need to pay attention to the prophets!

Do not hesitate – act now.

We have offered everything you need to survive in Times of Trouble for a reason.

THIS is the reason.  NOW is the time.

The Garbage of the World or God’s Foods? You Choose!

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in Teaching | Tags: , , ,
Yesterday, our guests on the live show included three esteemed health and nutrition experts; Dr. Roy Curtin, Michelle Bacarella, and Frank Davis of Food for Health, International. We have had some lively and revealing discussions about what we eat, how our bodies react to what we eat, and how we can maximize the nutritional value of our foods with the right supplements.
 
In our discussions, we talked about the fact that this nation, in particular, has sacrificed our health on the altar of convenience. We are quite satisfied with the garbage produced by huge corporations as food because it tastes good and it’s fast.   We don’t need to take much time to think about or prepare this stuff.  Not many of us know the harm it’s doing to our bodies and the sad fact is that there isn’t many who care!
We would rather stick our heads in the sand and accept the outcome of sickness and eventual, often premature death, than learn what to eat and how to supplement our foods with healthy natural vitamins and other necessary nutrients. Why?
Proverbs 23:2 says, “And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.”
Okay, we know this is not meant literally, but it lets you know that dealing with your appetite is a very serious matter.

Ask yourself what’s more dangerous than putting a knife to your throat when it comes to your appetites?  What exactly happens when we continuously give in to what our appetites want?  What if we ate everything we wanted to eat, whenever we wanted to eat it?  Chances are, our weight would balloon to a point of morbid obesity and we would eventually develop weight-related illnesses, which could ultimately lead to an untimely death.

“Most studies show an increase in mortality rate associated with obesity as obese individuals have a 50% to an ultimate 100% increased risk of death from all causes. Even those moderately obese people have their life expectancy shortened by 2 to 5 years.” (Pesic, Milos. 2006 Tracking Obesity Statistics.)

The medications we take to treat these illnesses caused by improper nutrition often have serious and sometimes mortal side effects!  What sense does that make?  I don’t know about you, but I can’t live with this kind of nonsense!

Is fulfilling your appetite worth losing your life? I am trying to provoke you to take better care of yourself because I love you and want you to be well!

It’s sad, but many times people would rather feed on the garbage of the world than feast on the goodness of God’s foods.
That’s a prophetic picture of the world and the Church as well… but that’s another day.
Don’t miss even one of these informative shows with Frank Davis, Michelle Bacarella, and Dr. Roy Curtin.  It just may save your life!
Make your decision today to take better care of your health!
God loves you!  And so do I.
Love,
Jim

 

Pruning With a Dull Ax

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in Prophecy, Teaching | Tags: , ,

Recently, a businessman from our local community came to see me with a prophetic word.  It had the ring of truth so I gave him my full attention.

He explained how the Lord had showed him that the tree (my current life) had a bumper crop of tiny little apples all over it.  There were too many of the apples (fruit) and some of them needed to be thinned away in order for the tree to be healthy and for the remaining apples to grow and produce larger healthier apples.

However, in trying to accomplish this, I had been trying to prune the tree with a dull ax.

Pruning with a dull ax is not productive.  You can’t go into a situation with blunt force without creating damage and wearing yourself out in the process.

Here’s what chopping with a dull ax does:

  • Damages the tree
  • Sometimes the blow glances off and you injure yourself
  • Tires you out
  • Makes the work harder and more dangerous
  • More time consuming
  • Takes more effort
  • Makes the healing time longer
  • Saps the energy from further growth

Immediately after being cut, a tree oozes sap or resin, which dries to create a protective shield. But that’s just the beginning of the healing process.

The tree then diverts energy from its growth (the fruit it produces) to the damaged area while the wound is healing.

Obviously, then, you want to help ensure that the tree will heal as quickly as possible.

One way to do this is to make sure you create a smooth surface by a clean cut using a sharpened tool.  The clean cuts you get with sharpened tools are healthier for your tree.

Not only will the tree heal more quickly, and thus begin growing sooner, but it will be exposed to less damage from diseases, insects, fungi and weather extremes.

The tree will then produce bigger and healthier fruit!

There’s a wealth of wisdom in this prophetic analogy.

I had been wearing myself out trying to do too many things, oversee too many projects, and involving myself in too many of the details of the ministry.   There were far too many apples on my tree.

At times, I had attempted to prune away some of these things that were sapping the life from me.  But the ways I had done this were ineffectual and I found myself diverting even more energy into trying to keep going than actually moving forward!

The Lord said that the End of the Age is the Harvest Time.  I want to do my best to bring in the Harvest, don’t you?  I want to have a bumper crop of rich ripe fruit to present to Him and I want to see His smiling face and hear “Well Done!”

I am determined to sharpen the ax and prune with wisdom so that the Harvest of the Lord will be accomplished in these Last Days.

I have a dream – and I live for the Vision!  If pruning is what is needed, pruning is what I will do!

Ecclesiastes 10:10 Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.

Dreams and Dreamers

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in "Now" Words, Teaching | Tags: , , , ,

Martin Luther King made the statement “I have a dream” an icon in the history of racial equality.  But the dream Martin Luther King had was much more than just an icon.  It was the vision for his life and the reason he lived.  He did something about his dream – but it cost him his life.  He was very aware of the dangers in pursuing his dream, but he was compelled by the vision for his life.

Jesus said “No one can take my life from me.  I sacrifice it voluntarily.  For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again.  For this is what my Father has commanded.”  John 10:18 NLT READ MORE →

The State of the Nation

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in "Now" Words, Last Days, Prophecy, Teaching | Tags: , , , , , ,

Continuing with the words the Lord gave me for 2011, perhaps the most sobering was in regards to the spiritual condition of America.  The Lord was very clear when he told me that in one year, the glory of this nation will be gone.  America is losing her glory.

Isaiah 21:16 “This is what the Lord says to me:  All of Kedar’s honor will be gone in another year.  I will count it like workers count the years left on their contracts.” GWT

I wish I could say that most of us who are Christians can see the depth of the depravity into which this nation has descended, but it’s a proven fact that we can’t.  Recent fact-gathering surveys have reported that among professing Christians, views on issues of morals, money, and marriage are virtually indistinguishable from the world.  That’s a sad indictment for this nation, in which there is a reported 82.3% of the population who are Christians.  What kind of Christians live and behave just like the world?

The Bible tells us that “Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” KJV

Instead of the Light of righteousness, truth and justice dispelling the darkness of sin and depravity in this nation, we have permitted the darkness in every area of life.  Our churches have become social centers focused on who can provide the best entertainment in order to grow the biggest support base.  Our schools are godless institutions that prohibit prayer or any expression of faith, especially Christian faith.   Our courts are in contempt of the Courts of Heaven – having mastered the incredible task of calling evil good and good evil.  Our entertainment sources are cesspools of filth that provide precious little that is fit for a true Christian.  

How did we get here?  How did this happen?  Where do we go from here?

Stay tuned!

Betrayal – a Sign of the Last Days

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in Last Days, Prophecy | Tags: , , , , ,

One of the words the Lord gave me for 2011 is that there will be “great betrayal – churches and relationships” this year.  I take no pleasure at all in delivering this word, yet it is an important one.  While some of us have had more experience with betrayal, personal and corporate, others have never had to live through these kinds of assaults on our hearts.

Maybe that’s why the Lord wants me to warn you all about it.  I could be the poster child!  When you have come through something like betrayal, God authorizes and expects you to help others come through it.  Like Rick Joyner told Lori:  you will take the stick the devil beat you with and beat him back!

Your victory is never for you alone.  The Church and the Kingdom of God is a building made of living stones – each one supplying something the other one needs.

In Luke 21, Jesus is telling His disciples what the signs of the end times will be and it is here that He says “Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you.”

That time is here, folks.

It’s impossible for me to think of any situation that would arise where one family member might betray another, but it will happen – the Bible tells us so.  But even in the Church there is going to be great treachery against one another.  This is exactly the opposite of what the Lord prayed for us before He left this earth.  Jesus prayed in John 17:21 “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one…”

Bob Hartley is a prophet of HOPE.  When he was here recently, he told us that Hope defends you, fights for you and helps you heal.  He said we would be Hope Craftsmen (and women) here at Morningside.  This is my heart’s desire.  He said people would come in and be healed and then be launched out to help others.

Bob said:  “I saw this Hope in God for Community come forth like in Nehemiah’s day.   Jesus brought me back to my catholic neighborhood where I grew up and showed me how I had 100 families that fought for me on every level:  for my physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, and for my calling.  He shared that this is the type of community that He (Jesus) would restore again, like the early Church in Acts 2:42-47.  This warmed my heart with hope as I reflected on how much the community of my childhood had meant to me and how I had prayed for this same type of community for my children.”

Bob said that we, like Nehemiah, will become “Hope Craftsmen” and direct the people to build right where they live, where their hearts flourish, and people will be strategically placed here.  My vision for Morningside has always been that we would become a “Refuge” and a place of restoration.  Freely I have received, and my desire is to freely give HOPE to others.

Each of us ought to have genuine compassion for others who have spiritual or physical hurts.  We have to move out of the swamps of backbiting and tearing down.

In the Refuge, we will love each other, we will have each other’s backs, and we will care for one another!  God is raising up many places of Refuge for the Times of Trouble ahead.  Betrayal may drive you to one of these Refuges, but HOPE will sustain you through it!

We must purpose in our hearts to become “Hope Craftsmen”!

United in a True Gospel

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in Last Days

As we enter some very difficult times ahead, there will be life situations and circumstances that will present a faith challenge to Christians.  When the world starts coming apart, the real Church will come together in a true unity.  This true unity will be rooted in a true Gospel – not this crazy perversion of the gospel that has been centered around the love of money and the love of self.  God is about to shake up the church world and bring judgment on this abominable lie being preached as gospel – and judgment will begin in the House of God.

The true Church will transition from what has been to what really is.  There’s that word again – transition.  When Cindy Jacobs was here, she said a lot about transition.   Cindy said 2011 is going to be a pretty tough year for the Church.  There’s going to be a lot of shaking going on and a lot of change (birthing new and better vision).   This change is going to look differently than most people think.  It’s not going to be change “for the sake of change” or to accomplish any man-made goals.  It’s going to look a lot more like upheaval in our thinking and in our priorities.

God wants to birth His strategic end-time plan in those who will embrace this transitional process.  He is looking for those whom He can trust to run with His priorities in one of the most critical times in the history of mankind.  It is time for His justice to be known and enforced.  The time is near – this is the year it begins.

The sad thing about the perverted gospel being preached today is that many Christians are so accustomed to hearing the babble (disguised as gospel) and it sounds so familiar to them, that they think it’s real – or right – or true – or comfortable –or  just the way it is.  What they are really hearing and settling for is a perversion of faith.  Sadly, many will be shipwrecked in their faith because their gospel didn’t work for them like they have been taught it would.

The false “gospel” being preached today says that Jesus came to save people from a lack of money, a lack of purpose, a lack of happiness, or from living a stress-filled and problem-filled existence, i.e. “Happy Church”.

In days to come, true unity has to go beyond the local church, or even the denominations.  True unity has to be rooted in the knowledge of a Gospel that is so pure it’s unchallengeable!  The true Gospel sets sinners free who are destined for God’s wrath unless they come to the saving knowledge of the grace of Christ and His death in our place (John 3:16). This is the Gospel Paul and John and all the disciples preached and this is the “faith of the Gospel” around which Paul told the Philippians they should be united.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.  For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:8-10)

Any church that does not clearly and publicly preach this message from the pulpit, yet talks about “unity,” is promoting a false and man-made corporate unity (even within the church) that is unbiblical.  And it’s going to get worse as the world’s problems bring about the circumstances that will cry out for an answer or relief from the Times of Trouble.

First, we have to get past the “love of money” gospel.  It isn’t true, it has never been true, and it will fail you in the days ahead.  We have to understand that God will not be mocked with a false gospel.  He did not send His Son to die so that we could live in luxury.  He did not have one good thing to say about money, in fact, He warned against the love of it!  What an abomination!  Jesus died that our eternal souls might not perish if we believe in Him – period!

We must know Jesus as the Savior – the sacrifice that was given for OUR sin!  We ARE sinners – we need a Savior!  And this Jesus who died to save us is coming again very soon!  That reality cannot be minimized, diluted, or incorporated in some other agenda!  And when He comes, He is coming for those who are carriers of His Truth – that God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, will not perish but have eternal life! (John 3:16)

“Unity” is not walking in lockstep behind someone’s purpose or vision statement.

“Unity” is not agreeing together for things God has not promised you!

When Bob Hartley was here, he talked about 5 waves of supernatural challenge coming against the nations in 2011.  One of those waves was “false unity”.  Bob said “Jesus showed me those who would join together in wrong alliances and not around a lovesick God who was lovesick for people.  Instead, they would gather around the survival of human beings and out of their desperate need would purpose to make false alliances.”

Unless the Church understands the meaning of true unity in the Times of Trouble ahead, they will misplace their faith in wrong precepts, and may even rely on and readily accept the world’s solutions, substitutions and counterfeits.  There will be more and more rhetoric from the media and false teachers claiming to have the answers for the woes of mankind.  They will be very convincing and sound very logical – to the untrained spiritual ear!

The bottom line is that we must be very careful who and what we align ourselves with!

The winds of doctrine that are blowing people about and undermining their precious faith must be resisted.  Teaching the truth of God’s wisdom with God’s Word will give the Church the spiritual strength to withstand these winds and to progress in true Christian unity.