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Tony Evans past sin confession
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Tony Evans Confesses Past Sin & Steps Down For Healing And Restoration

by Christel Berns
written by Christel Berns

Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Senior Pastor Dr. Tony Evans humbly confessed his past sin and temporarily stepped down from his position for healing and restoration.

Dr. Tony Evans Humbly Admits Past Sin

Christian outlet Crosswalk reported about the recent surprising news that happened at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas on Sunday. One of the well-known Christian figures, Dr. Tony Evans, stepped down from his position for the reason that he fell short from the “high standards of the Scripture.”

Tony Evans past sin confessionTony Evans [@drtonyevans]. Tony Evans. Instagram, 15 Apr. 2024,

Instagram will load in the frontend.

According to the report, Dr. Tony admitted to a sin he committed years ago. Although it was not a crime, the pastor needed to go through the process of healing and restoration. In a statement that he released to the church, he said, “The foundation of our ministry has always been our commitment to the Word of God as the absolute supreme standard of truth to which we are to conform our lives. When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God.”

The pastor humbly confessed to his mistake and therefore has to “apply the same biblical standard and restoration” to himself the same way he does to others.

“I have shared this with my wife, my children, and our church elders. And they have lovingly placed their arms of grace around me,” he stated.

Stepping Down From Position

As a result, Dr. Tony had to leave pastoral duties for a time and submit to the healing process. The decision was finalized after Dr. Tony and the church elders went through several meetings and prayers together. He remarked that he needed it as well, saying, “This will afford me a needed time of spiritual recovery and healing.”

Furthermore, the Oak Cliff church also released a statement that the “elders are responsible for providing accountability and maintaining integrity in the church.”

PROFESSOR THOUGHT BELIEVERS WERE ‘STUPID’ UNTIL HIS POWERFUL ENCOUNTER WITH GOD

They wrote, “We serve a God that is merciful to forgive and gracious to restore. In the days ahead, Pastor Bobby Gibson and the elders will provide more information regarding interim leadership and the next steps for the future of our church.”

Despite stepping down from his duties, Dr. Tony clarified that he would still be attending the church services at Oak Cliff.

“During this time, it is critical that the ministry of OCBF continue as vibrantly as ever,” he said. “Remember, you serve the Lord Jesus Christ, not a man. Pastor Gibson and our leadership will keep you informed on how things will continue moving forward with the ministry. During this season, I will be a worshiper like you. And look forward to seeing all that God is going to continue doing to make his name great as we continue to build kingdom disciples, who function as kingdom servants..”

Reference | Crosswalk

Header Image: Tony Evans [@drtonyevans]. Tony Evans. Instagram, 15 Apr. 2024, https://www.instagram.com/p/C5w-bz4IIGC/

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Brandon Ho Shared How The Holy Spirit
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Brandon Ho Shared How The Holy Spirit Prompted Him To Honor And Respect His Absent Father

by Kriza Jo Tanduyan
written by Kriza Jo Tanduyan

Brandon Ho emotionally shared how the Holy Spirit put a burden on his heart to honor and respect his absent father.

Brandon Ho

An actor and media personality based in Malaysia, Brandon Ho, shared a beautiful story of restoration. Before he got married, his wife told him to straighten things out with his father because one day, he would also become a father himself. It was difficult for him to do it because, as a young kid, he didn’t see his father acting like a real father. Since he came from a poor family, he had to mature very quickly to provide and stand up for their family. At 14 years old, he had no choice but to start working.

“I’ve done all kinds of odd jobs. I’ve been a waiter… I had to go and wash dishes by the side of the road,” he recalled.

Furthermore, he struggled to honor his father because he was somehow forced to be independent from a young kid. In his eyes, he believed that his father failed.

Before he got married, the Holy Spirit put a burden on his heart that prompted him to do something in an attempt to restore his relationship with his father. He invited him to his room with his mother and talked to him. Then he told him, “I’m very sorry. I’m very sorry for all the years I failed to respect you. I failed to honor you as my father. Uh as a son, I feel you… I’m sorry for hurting you will you please forgive me.”

Brandon Ho Shared How The Holy Spirit

STREAMS STUDIO. (Screenshot). (2024). When Honour is Difficult. Retrieved May 9, 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKSHxkpxnCs

Honor And Respect His Absent Father

With tears of joy in his eyes, he knew that what he did was a breakthrough. It was a restoration of a father-and-son relationship.

“That one incident really helped to open a lot of different inheritance that I could claim in my life,” he highlighted.

He also mentioned how difficult it was to honor and ask for forgiveness from his father, with whom he had so much anger.

Lastly, he testified, “Honor God and he will honor you. And that’s the story of my life. You know, through all the ups and downs. Through all the harsh poverty. Through all the asking and doubting God and just crying out to him. That I found out that, you know, even if I’m put in this position today, in the work that I’m doing. Or work that I choose not to do to honor Him. That when I honor God, He will honor me.”

Watch the full video here.

Reference | STREAMS STUDIO

Header Image: STREAMS STUDIO. (Screenshot). (2024). When Honour is Difficult. Retrieved May 9, 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKSHxkpxnCs

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After Her Husband Left, God Became Her Everything | Restored Marriage Testimony

by Le-Jovale Vallejo
written by Le-Jovale Vallejo

Sheila Ramos shared her testimony about how God became her everything after her husband told her that he no longer wanted their marriage.

Her Story

Sheila was six months pregnant with their second daughter when her husband told her he wanted to leave. The next day, she clearly heard God say that He would restore their marriage. So, Sheila believed Him despite her circumstances. However, the divorce went through. Confused and feeling alone, Sheila turned to God’s word and randomly opened the Bible to Isaiah 54.

“And I just remember reading that the God of the whole world, the universe, my Maker, my Creator, was also called my husband,” she recalled. “When I read that, I just began to weep, and weep, and weep, and weep.”

Because of that new revelation, Sheila intentionally included God in her everyday life. Every time she would come home from work, she would set a place for Him at the table. She would put a plate down and tell her two daughters, “It’s God’s chair, it’s God’s plate.”

How God Became Her Everything

“I would wake up in the mornings and it was like this joy. He was so present to me. For the first time, He was for me… just felt tangible, real, and authentic. He was my husband, my maker, my provider.” Sheila said.

From that day on, Sheila experienced God as her Provider. She fell in love with Him as He began to show her His perspective on life and the plans He had for her. He also started speaking more clearly about His promises to her.

READ: INCURABLE DISEASE HEALED AFTER BEING PRAYED BY A STRANGER

“That it stood. That I needed to hold on tight to Him, trust Him, and allow His word to bear fruit in my life,” Sheila said.

When she wanted to give up, she would recall God’s reminder for her: “Nothing and no one could ever replace the fact that He was all mine and that I was His.”

After Her Husband Left, God Became Her Everything

But being a single mom, Sheila admitted that it was hard. She was struggling and didn’t know where their next meal was going to come from. “But I had Him. And I felt like I had everything. If I had Him, I had everything,” she said.

When people would say that nothing in her life changed, Sheila knew better. She was confident that something indeed changed because she had changed. Now, looking back, Sheila expressed her gratitude because God fulfilled His promise. Her marriage is restored.

“This very moment, I am experiencing the fulfillment of that word. I have a restored marriage. And every day I wake up and I’m grateful. I’m grateful because we’ve added two more kids,” Sheila said.

Reference: A Home of Love

Header image: Sheila Ramos [A Home of Love]. YouTube, 15 May 2023, https://youtu.be/ElOJih90mvg

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FaithToday's Encouragement

Restoration Is Found In God’s Presence

by Sarah Crockett
written by Sarah Crockett

Watch today’s video with Joaquin Evans as he shares about the power of restoration and healing that can be found in the presence of God!

Today’s Verse: Restoration

Proverbs 4:20-23 – “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

Reflect

  • How do you spend time in the presence of God?
  • Do you have faith that in Him, in His presence, is life and healing? Why or why not?
  • Are there any lies you are believing about God and His ability to heal you?
  • Is there anything you need to surrender to step into God’s presence more often?
  • How can you engage with the Word of God to connect with God’s presence?
  • What areas of your life need restoration?
  • How can you connect with God to receive His restoration and love?

__________

Read more on the GOD TV blog here

Watch GOD TV here

Our passion is to develop a new breed of Christian media with cutting edge creativity and a spirit of excellence; to source, create and present world class anointed, prophetic and supernatural content; to broadcast relevant, highly  creative programming straight from the Father’s heart filled with His glory and anointing, His power and presence, reconciling man, woman and child with God by the power of the Holy Spirit.

SOULS / MEDIA MISSIONARIES – “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 Preaching, teaching and discipling. Taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

ISRAEL / INTERCESSORS – “Jerusalem, I have set intercessors on your walls who shall cry to God all day and all night for the fulfillment of His promises. Take no rest, all you who pray, and give God no rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her respected and admired throughout the earth.” Isaiah 62:6-7 Defending Israel, praying for Israel, proclaiming the Good News of Messiah Yeshua to Israel, interceding for her and praying for the coming revival of the Jewish people.

REVIVAL / EVANGELISTS – “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that He may send the Messiah Jesus” Acts 3:19-20

We are calling people around the world to repentance, broadcasting the move of God around the world, celebrating the Holy Spirit by showcasing the presence and power of God.

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Laurie Crouch
ArticlesFeaturedNewsVideo

Laurie Crouch: ‘Confession Is The First Step Toward Restoration’

by Christel Berns
written by Christel Berns

Better Together host Laurie Crouch shared some wisdom for Christians when they fail. She explained that confession is the first step toward restoration.

Laurie Crouch On Purification

In a short clip shared by Better Together on Instagram, Laurie Crouch shared her insights about purification. It’s a helpful tip some Christians might need to hear whenever they fail, or their weaknesses are exposed.

Laurie Crouch

Better Together TV [@bettertogethertv]. Laurie Crouch. Instagram, 28 Oct. 2023, https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy6LGEORFY8/

“I think when God shines the light on something in our hearts, it’s such a cleansing,” she explained. “It’s that purification that I want to clean this out. It’s part of that purification I think in our lives that I want to clear this out.”

The Better Together host stressed that when a person’s faults and weaknesses are brought to light, they don’t have to be quickly branded as evil. And perhaps, it is beneficial because one would know what to surrender to God.

“I want to get this under the blood where it doesn’t come back and haunt you anymore,” the host added.

God Is Our Peace

Laurie also shared about man’s struggle with having peace within. And how that signifies that a person is no longer aligned to God’s will and purpose.

“I think we walk in peace and if it upsets our peace is our sign,” she said. “That we’re not supposed to go there or do that. If it upsets what we walk in, I mean God is our peace. And I think that when He shines a light on something there is a reason for it. And it’s that purifying to get that cleansed out so that we can even walk closer with Him.”

Also, in the caption, Better Together concluded Laurie’s message that “Confession is the first step toward restoration.”

 

“God is so good to show us where we need to be purified so that we can walk closer and go deeper with Him”  – Better Together.

Reference | Instagram – Laurie Crouch

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one question
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On The Brink Of Divorce, Couple’s Marriage Started To Gain Life After One Question

by Christa
written by Christa

Hans and Star Molegraaf were about to end their marriage. They had been separated for six months and had started the process to file for divorce. They reluctantly met a marriage counselor who asked them one question, and that one question changed everything.

One Question

The couple had considered their marriage “dead.” They thought that nothing could ever save their relationship. But God had other plans!

The Christian counselor helped them connect to God’s plans for their marriage, but it would require one thing from the Molegraafs – faith.

In their first meeting, the counselor asked Star one question, which changed her view of God and their marriage.

Star recalled the moment, “‘Do you believe that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I believe that.’ He leaned forward from his counselor couch, looked me deep in the eye, and shook his head. He said, ‘Star, you don’t hear what I’m asking you. Do you believe it? Do you believe that God took the dead man out of the grave and raised him to life again so that you will be saved?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I believe that.'”

And then, the counselor made his point.

He invited the couple to assess their faith in that truth. Could they believe that the same God could heal their marriage?

Believe in God

From then on, Star began to believe God. Faith in what He had already done helped her and her husband walk on the path of healing and restoration for their marriage.

Hans encouraged other couples who may be having marital problems saying, “Your marriage will not be restored overnight. But you can take a step in the direction of restoration today.”

“Let me suggest that your first step is not an action toward your spouse but rather an expression of faith toward God: HE can restore your marriage into something you never thought possible.”

Today, the couple has founded and runs Marriage Revolution, which helps reignite love for struggling couples using biblical principles. They shared, “We strive to help couples experience lasting change, hope for tomorrow, and intimate joy with God and each other.”

Header Image: Hans and Star Molegraaf (Screenshot), retrieved September 14, 2023, from: https://marriagerevolution.org/about-us/

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The Mysterious Glory of Do-overs
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The Mysterious Glory of Do-overs

by Corine Channell
written by Corine Channell

What if something about your life story has seemingly held you back or slowed you down?

Maybe you grew up in a particular setting that prevented you from the knowledge of how to get from point A to point B.

Maybe you just showed up late to the ‘party’, everyone had already gone home, and you missed it.

So NOW you ‘get it’; now you’re ready; now all the lights are ON; now you’re equipped with knowledge and growth; now you’re finally healed or set free from all those things that kept you down. And NOW it’s years and years later. and you’re trying to play ‘catch up’.

But life has moved on and you are just now arriving.

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE

I’d like to assure you that it’s never too late. Let me repeat that – It is NEVER too late! You’re still breathing? Well, there’s your sign! Yes, what lies before you will all be different – feel different – look different – sometimes you’ll question if you should bother to keep going; you know, as late as you are! The answer is, YES – keep going!

At some point people – stop beating yourself up for not knowing what you didn’t know! When you DO finally reach that AHA moment (or it may be more like – Oh Noooo – decide right there and then NOT to look back and only to look AHEAD!

“All the tears turn into memories
And the chains, they fall down at Your feet right here, is where
What was broken now is beautiful
What was ash is not a miracle
When a fragile heart finds healing hands
The places numbed by pain start to feel again
Where You fell apart becomes where You begin
When a fragile heart finds healing hands. (Fragile Heart by Leanna Crawford)

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

Forward is the only direction to go! “Better late than never” is a TRUE statement!Let’s face it – that first ‘party’ you missed? The one you showed up late to and all the chicken wing dip was gone – and everyone had gone home? Yeah, it’s over. There is something powerful about facing the truth, not letting it destroy you and making a NEW plan!

Party time! YOU throw a NEW party yourself! This is the glory of new chances and new beginnings and fresh starts! Do overs! Do betters! MORE chicken wing dip! Nothing feels better than the opportunity to try again!

Restoration means: “The action of returning something to a former owner, rebuild, mend, fix, refurbish, repair, remodel, redecorate, overhaul, makeover.”

Many times in our lives we WILL show up late – it’s just the journey of our own personal experiences and learning curves. It’d be great if we get it all right, dot all our i’s, cross all our t’s, our ducks stay in perfect formation, and we follow all life instructions like we are following a detailed cake recipe. In the real world though? We all need do overs. We all need some ‘home’ renovations. We all need a makeover. We all need some restoration.

1 Peter 5:10 says, “And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast”
HE will restore you – HE will make you strong. HE will restore lost time.

THE MIRACLE OF THE DO-OVER

There is great mystery and wonder as to how God can get us to exactly where He wants us to go; despite detours and delays and ALL the obstacles we have faced; all the cycles we got stuck in. But He CAN and He WILL. So, get up – get dressed – put on your dancing shoes – phone a friend – cue the rejoicing music – and get back to living!

___________

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pay the price on the cross
Faith

Reconciled To Wholeness By His Brokenness

by Dudley Anderson
written by Dudley Anderson

We’ve all seen the sign, “You break it, you take it!” on the wall in fine china shops or pottery stores, implying that if you bump over an item of merchandise, you pay the price. Well, there was this shop in town that stocked beautiful vases and glass finery.

One day a man entered the shop to browse its shelves. He wasn’t a rich man. In fact, he was a pauper, a man of low means. He had no way of paying for any of the items in that shop. Yet he gazed upon the splendour of a mink vase in the hope that one day he might be able to acquire it. With that, he turned to leave. As he did, his elbow caught the rim of the vase. Crash! It was in pieces.

“Hey!” yelled the storekeeper, “you there, that vase was priceless. You will have to cover its loss!”

“But… I’m so sorry,” said the man, “I… I could never pay for my transgression.”

I Will Pay the Price

A wealthy, elegant man in the next aisle heard the commotion and came over. He looked with compassion at the pauper as he trembled before the storekeeper. He could see that he was unable to redeem himself; that he did not have the means to reconcile his fault. “Here, said the rich man gathering up the pieces of the priceless vase. I will pay the price.”

1 Corinthians 11:24 – “and when He had given thanks, He broke [the bread] and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you”

God showed his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. I am that pauper who broke the vase. I had no means to reconcile my transgressions. My life was in pieces.  But God loved me so much that he sent his only son – his righteous graceful son – into the world to pay the price for my sin. He was wounded for my transgressions and crushed for my iniquities. Upon him was the chastisement that brought me peace. His broken body paid the price for my broken pieces.

How about you?

_________________
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mother and daughter
ArticlesNewsSpotlight

God Heals Mother and Daughter’s Relationship

by Lauren Koch
written by Lauren Koch

Believers with Fire and Fragrance ministries witnessed God heal a mother and daughter while praying for them. A young adult named Cody shared his experience praying for the family in this video.

“While we were there, we were serving them and we asked if they had any prayer requests. The mother said that she had a very hurt arm, that she couldn’t move her arm at all and her shoulder hurt. So we prayed for her once and she was able to move it a little bit and then we prayed again and she moved it a lot. And by the third prayer her arm was fully healed!”

“We were rejoicing and giving God all the glory!”

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOD TV’S CONNECTION TO  REVIVAL: THE BROWNSVILLE REVIVAL AND GOD TV – LOOK WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CHRISTIANS WORK TOGETHER

God gives vision of the mother and daughter relationship healed

Afterwards, they missionaries asked if the family needed prayer for anything else. The daughter, who was paralyzed from the waist down asked for prayer for her body and her relationship with her mom. She desired more unity with her.

“I prophesied that God was going to heal her. And when I opened my eyes, her legs weren’t healed but she said something remarkable,” Cody explains in the video.

The girl noted that their voices while praying all went mute and her vision seized to see anything. Suddenly, all that was in her sight was herself, her mother, and God!

“Even though God didn’t heal her legs, he healed their relationship. It’s not always about what we want to heal but what God wants to heal!”

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Read a GOD TV testimony below:

“Thank God I’ve learned something about bringing heaven to earth. May God bless you.” – David

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Matt Chandler Restored To Ministry After Months Of Leave Due To ‘Inappropriate’ Communication

by Christa
written by Christa

The Village Church has welcomed Matt Chandler back into the pulpit. The lead pastor took three months of leave of absence to deal with the “unhealth in his life.”

Matt Chandler

Leaders and elders of the Village Church released a statement last August 28 with regards to Pastor Matt. It was revealed that Matt had “inappropriate communication” with a woman on social media who was not his wife.

“While the messages were not romantic or sexual in nature, the frequency and the familiarity of the messages crossed a line,” they explained. “Matt did not use language appropriate for a pastor, and he did not model a behavior that we expect from him.”

However, the elders believe that Matt’s actions “did not rise to the level of disqualification.” So, they decided that the best course of action would be for Matt to take a step off the stage as a form of discipline and development.

The 48-year-old pastor went through intensive restoration plan laid down by the elders. And after “faithfully, genuinely, authentically working” the plan, all of the Village Church did not hesitate to reinstate Matt to the ministry.

Elders laid hands and prayed over Matt Chandler before the sermon

Restoration to Ministry

And just this Sunday, Matt greeted the congregation with a humble heart. He said, “I’m sorry, I failed you.”

He continued, “It is my understanding that I have fallen short of the glory of God and he has met me with grace.”

Matt got emotional as he remembers God’s grace and the love of the church. “I couldn’t be more grateful,” he shared. ““[T]here’s no beef between us and the elders. I don’t know what you think about their play — I agreed with it. I’m grateful that they love this church, they love Jesus, and they love us enough. They’re driven by conviction enough to model what needed to be modeled here.”

At the end of the sermon, the congregation honored Matt for his twenty years of service. His wife and three kids then joined him on stage. And the church gave them a standing ovation.

The Advent of Peace – Advent – Week 2 – Sermon – Matt Chandler – 12/4/22

Matt’s failure and redemption prove that God is the God of grace and not condemnation. He restores and reconciles.

Reference: Christianity Today

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