pROBLEMS FACING JAMAICA
We have identified some of the main issues in Jamaica that are really common to all mankind:
1. Sin. We can see the devastating effects with people dying large numbers from all manners of diseases and murders at any age. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
2. Broken marriages, broken families and fatherlessness. Slaves in Jamaica were separated from their spouses and children and removed from their homeland in Africa. This is still continuing even though the masters have left the land. Ezra 5:12 “But because our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and carried the people away to Babylon.”
3. Poverty. Wages are not increasing but costs are. This combination makes life very oppressive. An average wage for a security guard is just over $2.00 USD per hour. 1 kg of cheese is over $15.00 USD. That is one days wage for just cheese! Revelation 6:6 “And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.””
4. Sickness and demonic oppression. Many people are not enjoying the effects of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even the church is struggling in many instances. Luke 13:16 “So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”
5. Believing lies. So many doctrinal errors in some of the so-called churches in Jamaica. Also, people are following false ideas about what life should be like. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
6. Spiritual and mental slavery. The effects of slavery are still continuing and have caused long term-damage in a way that African nations have not been affected. Jeremiah 13:13-14 “Then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land—even the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem—with drunkenness! And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together,” says the Lord. “I will not pity nor spare nor have mercy, but will destroy them.”
7. Violence. A society with chronic fatherlessness has resulted with very angry men of all ages who don't like other men. Romans 1:28-32 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
The Solution
1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. To go out into the streets and churches and preach the good news (this is very effective). To also train churches to share the good news too. Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
2. To provide training and teaching on right relationships. To train existing ministries and churches to teach about good family relationships. Equip them with the tools they need to do this. Ephesians 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
3. To train and equip the church in business, trades, manufacturing and exporting. To set up business training centres to train born-again believers in business and in marketing to encourage international trade. This will increase the wealth of Jamaica. Successful business people will then put money into helping others to be liberated by the Gospel too. We can implement a system of wealthier businesses investing into new start ups and offer mentoring. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
4. To provide prayer for healing and deliverance ministry. To set up healing and deliverance centres with the cooperation of local ministries, churches and the government. Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
5. To teach accurate Christian doctrine. To expose the lies of the enemy by educating the public of the truth about life situations and issues. John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
6. To bring true freedom through the word of God. To set up discipling programs to renew the minds of the public to live the Word of God rather than tradition. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
7. To love people with God's love and power to overcome fear and violence. 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
1. Sin. We can see the devastating effects with people dying large numbers from all manners of diseases and murders at any age. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
2. Broken marriages, broken families and fatherlessness. Slaves in Jamaica were separated from their spouses and children and removed from their homeland in Africa. This is still continuing even though the masters have left the land. Ezra 5:12 “But because our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and carried the people away to Babylon.”
3. Poverty. Wages are not increasing but costs are. This combination makes life very oppressive. An average wage for a security guard is just over $2.00 USD per hour. 1 kg of cheese is over $15.00 USD. That is one days wage for just cheese! Revelation 6:6 “And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.””
4. Sickness and demonic oppression. Many people are not enjoying the effects of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even the church is struggling in many instances. Luke 13:16 “So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”
5. Believing lies. So many doctrinal errors in some of the so-called churches in Jamaica. Also, people are following false ideas about what life should be like. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
6. Spiritual and mental slavery. The effects of slavery are still continuing and have caused long term-damage in a way that African nations have not been affected. Jeremiah 13:13-14 “Then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land—even the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem—with drunkenness! And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together,” says the Lord. “I will not pity nor spare nor have mercy, but will destroy them.”
7. Violence. A society with chronic fatherlessness has resulted with very angry men of all ages who don't like other men. Romans 1:28-32 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
The Solution
1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. To go out into the streets and churches and preach the good news (this is very effective). To also train churches to share the good news too. Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
2. To provide training and teaching on right relationships. To train existing ministries and churches to teach about good family relationships. Equip them with the tools they need to do this. Ephesians 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
3. To train and equip the church in business, trades, manufacturing and exporting. To set up business training centres to train born-again believers in business and in marketing to encourage international trade. This will increase the wealth of Jamaica. Successful business people will then put money into helping others to be liberated by the Gospel too. We can implement a system of wealthier businesses investing into new start ups and offer mentoring. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
4. To provide prayer for healing and deliverance ministry. To set up healing and deliverance centres with the cooperation of local ministries, churches and the government. Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
5. To teach accurate Christian doctrine. To expose the lies of the enemy by educating the public of the truth about life situations and issues. John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
6. To bring true freedom through the word of God. To set up discipling programs to renew the minds of the public to live the Word of God rather than tradition. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
7. To love people with God's love and power to overcome fear and violence. 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
