Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 247 AUGUST 2016 BODY OF CHRIST NEWS Living The American Dream If you have been praying to live the American dream, you are not alone. Many people like you have been praying such prayer as well. Unfortunately, not many will actually live the American dream unless someone come alongside them and pull them up. Just like the lame man at the gate called beautiful in Acts 3:1-10; “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9When all the peo- ple saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amaze- ment at what had happened to him.” This man was sitting at the beautiful gate and yet his case was ugly. It was not God’s plan for this man to be in the situation he found himself. But the good news was that help came to him from God! Your help is coming to you as well in the name of Jesus! Let me remind you that God was the first to encourage man to live the “American Dream”. In Genesis 1:27-28 the Bible said; “God created human beings; he created them god- like, Reflecting God's nature. He creat- ed them male and female. God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth." (Message Translation). Did you notice the word God used? PROSPER! I do not believe this is a suggestion but a command. I am say- ing that; locked inside each of us is the big dream to PROSPER and be in charge of our own destiny. However, I want to remind you that in our com- munity, I mean the African-American community; the percentage of the peo- ple enjoying this heavenly command is too low to be desired and I put it to you that God is not happy to see you in pain unable to pay your mortgage and so broke that you cannot even “pay attention”. Apostle John wrote in 3 John 2; “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” It is God’s will for you to prosper and be in health. If we are ever going to break the cycle of poverty in our community, we have to do more than just praying and going to church. Don’t get me wrong, going to church is good and necessary, but there are other things we need to rec- ognize and do. Economics in a capitalist system is a system that promotes competition. Knowing the human weakness in a racially complex nation like ours, com- petition is never going to be just “per- son-to-person” alone; there will always be the bigger factor of racial complexity as we compete for the resources in the land. Competing for resources is noth- ing but competing for opportunities. Without opportunity given to you there is no way the greatness in you can manifest. We all need opportuni- ties to prosper. Paul, who was formerly Saul of Tarsus, could not have become the great apostle to the Gentile if not for Barnabas who provided him the opportunity to be exposed to the church in Jerusalem. Acts 9:26-28; “Back in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn't trust him one bit. Then Barnabas took him under his wing. He introduced him to the apostles and stood up for him, told them how Saul had seen and spoken to the Master on the Damascus Road and how in Damascus itself he had laid his life on the line with his bold preaching in Jesus' name. 28-30After that he was accepted as one of them, going in and out of Jerusalem with no questions asked, uninhibited as he preached in the Master's name.” (Message Translation). Look at the passage again, “Then Barnabas took him under his wing. He introduced him to the apostles and stood up for him…” The question is; where are the Barnabas in our com- munity? Where are those who are will- ing to lay down their own agendas to let others go up? I am not saying that there is none, but Barnabas’ in our community are too few, we need more of them. Are you willing to be one? Whom have you pulled up from the “Beautiful Gate” they have been stuck? When was the last time you were as Barnabas to someone in our commu- nity? We should be tired of hearing stories of leaders using their position of influence to cheat or defraud the powerless by now. If it had happened before, it’s time we do not let it happen again! If we are ever going to see more people in our community living the American dream it will have to take a concerted effort to see us help each other “come up higher!” No matter how stiff the competition may be, if we work together and strategize together, we shall always win and we will see more people in our community living the American dream. 1 Chronicles 19:10-13; “When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best, and put them in battle array against the Syrians. 11 And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in battle array against the people of Ammon. 12 Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you. 13 Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.” Notice the careful planning of the community here? I am of the opinion that the time has come that we should be able to look at each other in the eyes and say like Joab; “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you. 13 Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cit- ies of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.” Rev. Dr. Ade Ajala is the Senior Pastor of Kingdom Connection Christian Center, located at 1391 Oswego Street, Aurora, CO 80010. He is a prolific teacher of the Word of God. He has traveled to sixty-four countries in all the continents of the world declaring the gospel of the Lord Jesus. Dr. Ajala’s “Kingdom Power Conference” has been used by the Lord to set many people free from sicknesses and oppression of the devil all around the world. By Rev. (Dr.) Ade Ajala Ade Ajala SCRIPTURE Did you notice the word God used? PROSPER! I do not believe this is a suggestion but a command. I am saying that; locked inside each of us is the big dream to PROSPER and be in charge of our own destiny.