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Ministry Newsletter

December 2000

GREETINGS ! What a blessed year this has been in every part of the Ministry! We greatly appreciate your interest, investment and prayers in the ministry of Saints Alive. Your efforts deserve more than a simple thanks because of the importance of what we are both fighting for. We are fighting the salvation of those lost in spiritual darkness and for the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These people are the spouses, mothers, fathers, sisters, brother, family, friends, co-workers and neighbors of everyone involved with Saints Alive.

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; he has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." Isaiah 61:1-3

There is a reason why we do what we do. Rev.21:11 explains this. We have over come the devil by the Blood of the Lamb. We have been washed clean by the shed blood of Jesus Christ and freed from the bondage of deception by false doctrines. Now, we have taken it a step further and are using the word of our testimony of freedom to further overcome the devil not only in our own lives and families, but to all of those lost in the bondage of cults like we once succumbed to.

We have several new projects and need your help in accomplishing. We are completely "redoing" our entire audio library and transferring from our old tapes to a new digital format. This will allow us to put everything online for free on our web site www.SaintsAlive.com and produce new audio CD’s to replace our tape collection. This project will cost several thousand dollars, which will start with digital re-mastering. I believe that we will increase the fruit of these messages by making them available in the most accessible, highest sound quality and most cost effective way possible. We are also still trying to meet the costs of reprinting several of our books.

It is amazing to see the transformation of ministry with the current boost of technology and the explosion of new ways in which we can reach the lost. I have seen our ministry transform from old printing presses in our garage and an immense amount of manual labor to our web site, where many tens of thousands of people are helped every month with a fraction of the effort.

We are coming into the Holiday season again. This is the most crucial time of the year for two major reasons. First, the holiday season is the time of year that families and friends fellowship together. This is the greatest opportunity for us to witness and share the love of Christ. This time of year is when we receive our greatest demand for information. Second, the period between November and February are also the toughest months of the year financially for Christian ministries such as Saints Alive. Please, if you can, send in a special year end gift!

Your Brother in Christ, Ed Decker

 

 

Holiday Madness

What to do if your loved one is lost

By Jason Decker

I was planning on writing a different article, but as I was praying in preparation before I started, the Lord led me to this. One other quick note: I am selectively quoting certain scriptures to illustrate points, I mention other scriptures for you to look up on your own. Please take the time to read all them for yourself.

The absolutely most important thing we can do right now is begin to prepare for our upcoming holiday opportunities to share the love of Christ to our friends and family. The most effective way for us to prepare is with intercession. This is the one time of year that we have opportunity that we often do not have on a daily basis to spend time with family and friends.

I have two older brothers who are not saved, the reason I mention this is because the Lord has laid it upon my heart this year to do things differently this year. I don’t want to end up in the same old arguments or dead end conversation that are all too familiar. If you all ways do the same thing as you’ve done before, then expect what you’ve always gotten. This year I am willing to do whatever it takes to see my brothers breakthrough with the Lord. I ask and pray that you would consider your commitment to breakthrough with your loved one.

The issue of forgiveness is another important issue the Lord put on my heart. Read Matt 18:21-35 for yourself. This chapter lays out several important points that may hinder you in your witness. Many of us have issues of past situations and experiences with our loved ones that have brought division and unforgiveness between us.

You need to pray and release that person before you can expect a break through. You also need to pursue reconciliation and restore anything the enemy has taken from between you and them. If you have not completely forgiven them, you have essentially put yourself in prison spiritually and limited the borders of your spiritual domain that God has given you.

Often times we tend to categorize sin and our actions comparatively. We need to be careful that we do not loose our focus on the importance of the "small things". During the holiday meals and get together times we as Christians, are watched and judged by our lost family and friends as to the degree in which our actions follow what we say. Sometimes its not the fact we do or do not engage in a lifestyle of excessive sin, but we may have a pattern of "little things" that can add up to bad witness. Read Matt 18:6-9, 1 Cor.5:6, Luke 16:10

We need to pray with FAITH - Faith is not just believing in something. It is much more powerful that belief. Faith is standing on the Word of God – both in Scripture and "Rhema" spoken words the Holy Spirit speaks to you.

Hebrews 11:6 tells us that "Without Faith, it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Romans 10:17 says that Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. When we are "hearing" – this is active, not something we’ve heard in the past. I am going to list several "Things to Pray" and during your prayer times this holiday, recite these scriptures and speak them over your loved one. Use the Word as a position from which to attack the enemy. Jesus gave us this example during His temptation in the wilderness. His victory came when He said "It is written…." Read Luke 4

Things to Pray:

1. Open their Eyes:

Acts 26:17b-18: "I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."(NIV)

2. Awakening in Their Heart:

2 Tim 2:25-26: "Those who oppose him, he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."(NIV)

3. God’s Will be Accomplished in Their Life:

Romans 12:2: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is— His good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV)

* Not what you think is right – But what God knows is the best for them

John 5:14-15: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that He hears us— whatever we ask— we know that we have what we asked of Him."

4. God will open a Door to reach Them:

Col 4:3-6: "And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (NIV)

Prayer Tactics:

"Prayer is not just folding your hands and shooting a one-liner up to God."

Pray the way Jesus said to: Matt 6:9-15 "This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

The Lord’s Prayer is not a 15 second prayer or Mantra you recite.

Think of it as an outline that has a specific order. First start with Praising God, Second Pray for God’s will and that YOU come inside it. Pray for His will to be manifested. Ask God for both spiritual renewal and physical provision. Then ask Him for conviction, and cleansing as you repent. Pray for His protection over yourself, family, belongings etc. Then look for anything between you and the lost person, i.e. bitterness, anger, pride, etc.… confess and cover with His cleansing Blood. Then pray for needs, salvations and other breakthroughs. Close with thanksgiving and praise.

Pray with someone: Mark 6:7, Deut. 32:30, Jn. 8:17, Heb.11:37

* If you can, pray with another family member and/or with your spouse.

Also, you can do this over the phone if you need to.

Pray with Scriptures: 1Thes 2:13 "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe." (NIV)

* Use the scriptures list above in your prayers

Pray on the Armor of God

Eph.6:10-12,18 * Do this before you engage in spiritual warfare.

Pray Consistently and "Fervently" (James 5:16).

* Don’t get too busy and become distracted during the holiday rush and back off. The enemy will try to do this especially if you are just about to breaking through.

Set aside a daily special time and place that minimizes distraction. *Jesus often went off alone to pray - Matt:26:36

Use a prayer list, prayer journal or plan to make good use of time, being detailed and thorough for everyone you pray for. Pray for special needs they have. What is the one need they have, that if God met it – they would see the reality of His love and not be able to deny it? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal things to you prophetically. Hab.2:2, Jer.30:2

Call or Write Saints Alive and your local Church and put your loved one on a Prayer Chain/List. Fill out the card enclosed with this newsletter and send it to us.

Spiritual Warfare:

Whether or not your friend or loved one is a Christian believer, they have evidently been blinded by Satan. You need to pray in a specific way, doing spiritual warfare against the demonic blindness which has taken him.

2 Cor. 4:3-4 says "if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."(KJV)

This illustrates the problem that those in both Mormonism and Masonry have—it is difficult to discuss reasonably the faith with them because of the spiritual darkness, which blinds them. This is what makes them so difficult to witness to, and why prayer is the key.

We must wrestle spiritually with the Masonic principalities and powers (Eph.6:12). "Baal," "Hiram Abiff" and "Tubalcain" are key demonic principalities which blind the Freemason. Likewise, "Mormo," the Satanic god of the dead and "Moroni," the false messenger, and Mechizedek, (priestcraft) are key demonic principalities of Mormonism. These can also be strongholds in their lifestyle such as fornication, premarital sex or drug use.

You must take authority over them as a believer in Christ and bind their influence away from that friend or loved one, at least for a season (Matt. 16:19, 18:18,20). As I said earlier, if you can find others in a prayer group or your church to agree in prayer with you, so much the better!

Use your authority as a believer to literally cast out the demons which may be oppressing him/her/them at least for a short time—long enough for you to share the truth! You need to pray against these deceitful spirits in advance, perhaps for weeks. Read Mark.16:17

As Paul writes in 2 Cor.10:4-5: "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (KJV) Pray like this, and "soften the soil" upon which you are going to scatter your seeds before you approach the battle.

Finally, the last thing I want to bring up is this: It is NOT your job to convict or convince your loved one of their sin. This is the job of the Holy Spirit. This is good news because you are not alone in this battle. You have the greatest tag team partners in the ring with you – Jesus Christ, God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Let God do what He does, and just be willing to do whatever it takes. If you feel your heart beating hard and a strong leading to say or do something – JUST DO IT! Don’t wait until next time. You never know when and if that will ever be.

 

The Mailbox

. Dear Ed, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your ministry of Truth. I only discovered your web site this evening and am looking forward to sharing it with everyone I know. Your "conversation" with Taylor via e-mail was an education in itself. I don't think I've ever before been provided with so much effective "ammunition" from the Word of God in such a short amount of time. Keep up the Good Work! Gratefully, Paul

. My name is Dan and I am a Mormon. My wife and I have been wanting to leave the "Church" for a long time now, but we do not know exactly how to do it. We have talked with the "Elders" and the "Bishop" about leaving and they told us that we would have to write the "Bishop" a letter explaining why we want to leave, what prompted this, and why they should remove our names. They then told us that we would have to meet with the council to discuss this. My question to you is this. Would they go to any (including physical) to keep us in the "Church"? When I was told about the meeting an overwhelming sense came over me that if my wife and I attended this meeting that something would happen A friend suggested that I take someone with me. I attend a church with several retired ministers. What do you think of this idea.

. Mr. Decker, For 17+ years I was a very devoted Mormon. Last year I gave my heart and life to the real Jesus and am on my way. By the time you read this I will have spoken out in public for the first time on Mormonism. I have been invited to a local Baptist church tonight to speak.

. Mr. Decker, I have to admit I am very frightened. This was advertised in our newspaper and I still have many family and friends in the Mormon church. Will they come? I don’t know. I have been going through a very rough month since I agreed to speak. Its just that I was reading in Ephesians that once you become a child of light you should expose those of darkness and this really hit me that the church is growing very rapidly in our area and I could help slow that down if not stop it.

Well, there is a lot more I would like to tell you but lack the time for now. I just really wanted to thank you for your ministry on the Mormons. You have helped me like so many others have and I am grateful Still recovering, Michele

. Dear Mr. Decker,   I would first like to sincerely thank you from the very bottom of my heart for your incredible web site and ministry.  You are truly a man of God and are willing to stand up for what you believe. 

 I am a 19 year old "Baptist girl" :) who has been dating a Mormon for the past seven months.  I am sad to say but I went into the relationship with my eyes closed.  I had no idea of what I was getting into.  I have endured many trials because of this relationship.  My faith was tested and my brain was filled with nonsense. 

I met with missionaries from the LDS church and decided that it was definitely not of God.  My boyfriend, however, has been brainwashed since birth and will not accept that the Mormon faith is false. I am writing you in hope that you will be able to help me in this situation. What made you reject the Mormons after 20 years of being one of them? Your reply and any other advice that you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for the hope that you have already given me. Love in Christ, Aimee

. Sir! Banishment!  I believe that you have no morals or principals for you shall be banished in the firey lake, your tounge be cut and buried in the deep sands of the sea. For you have revealed the true secrets of a mason and may this stand by you for eternity.  Biochem0o@aol.com

. Dear Ed, My wife is an ex-Mormon.  She left the Mormon Church before we met, we dated, married, etc, etc.  The missionaries were working the block which we lived and recognized her.  She began talking to them and later on asked me if I would attend the Mormon Church with her.  Although I have not been much of a church-goer, I have always considered myself a Christian. I was skeptical about Mormonism but had little information on it.  I decided to check the internet and found your site (rather easily) and found more information than I had expected.  I also checked other sites with additional information including the Kinderhook Plates and bios on Joseph Smith.  I applaud your work and am grateful for the reference materials.  My wife was glad she had left the Mormon Church but had nothing to arm herself with against the missionaries' candy-coated words until now. Again, thank you. Dale

. Dear Mr. Decker; I am a 58 year old Ex-Mormon. I joined, (or more correctly, was suckered into) the Mormon Church, (read, "cult",) in 1972. Granted, I was only in for four or five years before the Lord, through a good friend, kicked me out of it. But I learned a lot about Mormonism since then, and have kept up on it throughout the years.

I just recently finished your book "The God Makers." Before I finished, I must have consumed a whole jumbo tank car full of Maloxx. I never had such an idea that such dark wicked things were going on in there. But, I don't doubt it. Praise Jesus, He led me out. And that brings me to the real purpose of this letter. I would like to share a true story about the power of the Holy Spirit.

While I was in the Mormon "Church", I was working for a medical device manufacturing company in Irvine California. I was working the swing shift, and a friend, who was also Mormon, was supervisor of the night janitorial gang. His shift overlapped mine by a couple of hours, and we would talk about the church and all. When I decided to have myself excommunicated, I was appointed to appear at their (kangaroo) court on a Sunday morning. After the meeting, I was removed from the rolls. Now, Earl was in the *** Stake, I was in the ### Stake.

Monday evening, Earl comes in and is very upset. He wants to know why I had myself excommunicated. Well, so much for secrecy in the priesthood! I explained to him what was going on, and why I left the church.

For the next couple of months, he kept after me to rejoin, and I kept answering him by "bearing my testimony" to the true Jesus of the Bible, and pointing out the differences between Mormonism. One Wednesday, I was sitting down at my machine, when I saw Earl come in. I was ready for another debate, but not for what he had to tell me. He came over to me, and I could tell something had happened. He said it was a good thing I was sitting down. I asked him what was wrong.

He said, "Nothing’s wrong. Just the opposite! Daniel, because of your testimony, my family and I have been studying the Bible more and more. Last Sunday, I, my wife, our two sons, their wives and two (each) children,(he paused and took a deep breath,) "all had ourselves excommunicated from the Mormon Church."

I couldn't breath for a few seconds. Then all I could do was whisper, "What?" He said, "It was because of your unwavering testimony to the true God and Jesus of the Bible, and your refusal to bow to my insistence you come back into the church that did it. I told my wife, and it kind of snowballed to my sons and their wives.

Because of you, we are all free of that fog that we now see in the Mormon Church." I had to caution him about giving me credit, when all I did was act as the mouthpiece for the Lord. It was Jesus, through the Holy Ghost, speaking through me, that did it. I take no credit whatsoever. He agreed.

I look back on that, and I am still awed and amazed that I was a part of it, if even a little part. I feel like Moses, when he said, "Who am I Lord, that You would use me to lead Your people out of Egypt?" And what a wonderful display of God’s love for all people, and His power over Satan.

I declare to all who read this, I love God, and Jesus, and I publicly reaffirm my faith in Him, and acceptance of His loving Grace and Salvation through His blood which He shed on the cross for me. All Glory and Praise to Jesus forever, Amen. Your friend in Jesus, Dan

. Dear Ed: Your article about Islam and it's so-called impending destruction's on America are bold lies and further more you should learn more of the truthful of Islam instead of those lies you have told. I guess the lies that have been and are still be told by people like you are the reason more and more people are leaving the Christian church. You are not a good follower of Jesus, he did not tell lies, nor did he promote them as you and your predecessor have. God hates people who lie and guess what, you must repent and except Islam so that you may be saved. If not, than you have no salvation in this world nor the next. Sincerely, ALI ABD

 

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