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Cornerstone Communications
Slovenia
January 21, 2010

Newsletter Contents

1. Greetings
2. VIDEO
3. Teaching for January Satan is a Fisher of Men, Too
4. Text from the Video (for those who would rather read)
5. Closing

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Dear Friends and Family,

We're off and running! Greetings from Ljubljana, Slovenia! I'm here preparing a new musical which we'll do just next week! I'll fill you in on all that happened here, but right now we're busy getting ready for the first harvest for 2010, so please keep us in prayer. Well, 2009 was an amazing year! It was filled with fruit, but also some real challenges. Watch the video report.

VIDEO MESSAGE

JANUARY TEACHING

Satan Is A Fisher of Men, Too

2009 was a “harvest year”. I praise the Lord for all the souls that have come into the Kingdom in 2009 through Cornerstone so far: over 14,000 souls! Glory to You, Lord! As we strive to be “fishers of men”, we ask for the Lord’s help to make us fruitful. However, there are some things we must be very careful to watch for to keep the enemy out of our camp. This is no time to be lazy in our spiritual lives.

You see, the devil knows his time is limited, and so he “is seeking those whom he may devour.” You see, he desires to be a fisher of men, too. I’ve heard people say (when I witness to them) “I’m not going to ever serve the devil, but I just don’t believe in God”. That’s the enemy’s whole purpose! He doesn’t care who or what you worship, as long as you don’t worship Jesus Christ!

Mark 4:14-20 is the story of the sower who sowed the Word. We see also what the devil did, and how he tries to thwart God’s work. What is the bait that the enemy uses?

Mar 4:14 — The sower soweth the word. Mar 4:15 — And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. Mar 4:16 — And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; Mar 4:17 — And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. Mar 4:18 — And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, Mar 4:19 — And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Mar 4:20 — And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Jesus shows us some of Satan’s bait that he tries to use against us, to keep us from following the Lord or trusting in Him. They are 1) Affliction, 2) Persecution, 3) Cares of this world, 4) Deceitfulness of riches, 5) Lusts of the flesh.

Let’s look at them individually. Affliction means suffering due to the stress in your life from situations at work, or family, or even church. Don’t allow your circumstances to become your focus, and thus take your eyes off of the Lord. That’s BAIT! Don’t bite! Return to God’s Word, and believe only what He says about this.

Persecution is like afflictions, but it’s external. It causes suffering from what others say or do to you. This can lead to misunderstandings, and thus offense. Sometimes, the enemy makes you think you’re being persecuted by those who actually want to help, and uses your confusion against you. He makes you think they’re bad, and are persecuting you, and makes you drive them away due to offense. The offense is BAIT! Don’t bite! Return to God’s Word, and believe only what He says about this.

The Cares of this world come from paying too much attention to BAD NEWS. We focus our time too much on the daily news, on problems, on bad reports, on disasters, but not on God’s Word. We allow those things to overtake our thinking, which can destroy your faith. If you allow yourself to listen too much, they’ll choke you. That’s the BAIT! Don’t bite! Return to God’s Word, and believe only what He says about this.

The Deceitfulness of riches is what happens when we get too focused on what money can do for us. You think of ways to expand your personal kingdom of clothes, cars, houses, jewels, electronic gadgets, etc. and neglect God’s Kingdom. You begin to trust money and what it can do for you. You stop tithing and giving to God. That’s called BAIT! Don’t bite! Return to God’s Word, and believe only what He says about this.

The Lusts of the flesh are anything that causes an insatiable desire to obtain. You can’t rest until you have it, and so you think on, ponder, and dream of getting this desire. It can be sexual, of course. But more than that, it can also be money, or power, or something someone else owns, or the desire to be cool and fit in, and do whatever is necessary to achieve that position. That is BAIT! Don’t bite! Return to God’s Word, and believe only what He says about this.

You must get into God’s Word for 2010. Have you? It’s not too late (it never is!) . If any of these baits have made you bite, then repent today, and turn loose. It might be hard, but Jesus can help you to be set free. Don’t let yourself become prey to one of the enemies many traps for you. Stay in God’s Word, and He will deliver you from any bondage the enemy might have planned for you!

VIDEO TEXT

2009 was a great year bringing God's message to the nations! First of all, I started out 2009 and my 17th World Tour with a trip for the first time to Lima, Peru in January. It was a wonderful time, and we presented “The Judgment Seat” in the form of an outdoor festival in February. We saw hundreds come to Jesus Christ.

From there it was on to Managua, Nicaragua, to do a production of “The Hiding Place” at the National Theatre-Ruben Dario in March. The show was filled to capacity each night, and we saw hundreds more come to the Lord.

After the success of that production, I was on to Panama City, Panama, but what a nightmare that would turn out to be! The pastor there left me high and dry. Not knowing a soul in Panama, and with only a promise of God to do the production, I set out against all odds, and after a month of some soul stirring trials, we succeeded, and did a succesful production of “The Judgment Seat” in the National Theatre in April! Who could have imagined that! Hundreds more came into the Kingdom, and we give God all the glory.

I went on a flight across the Atlantic into eastern Europe, for a new production of “The Judgment Seat” in Skadovsk, Ukraine in May. It's a tiny little city on the Black Sea, but it's really scenic. The actors were excited, and after Panama, I enjoyed a normal production schedule. Best of all, we saw hundreds more make a decision for salvation. Wow!

Without stopping, I took a train over to Dniepropetrovsk, Ukraine and we did another production of “The Judgment Seat”, and worked with some amazing people to do a beautiful production in June. I made some wonderful friends, but the thing that thrilled me the most is seeing so many souls won for the Lord!

I headed west in July, and landed in Cakovec, Croatia and I began my 5th production there, “The Hiding Place”. The August show was powerful, and so many people were touched by what the Lord was doing through this powerful message of forgiveness. I was so blessed, too.

From Croatia, I flew back across the Atlantic, and went on to Mexico City, Mexico. I was sad to see a wonderful church split, but was part of the healing effort by producing a show that would reunite so many people. We presented, “The Judgment Seat” in September, and again, we saw multitudes walk the aisle to make a profession of faith. It's such an honor to be a part of lives being changed!

And now, I would feel like a ping pong ball for the next 3 months, as I would fly between South Korea and the U.S. to prepare two Christmas productions. In October, I flew to Korea, and headed back to present “A View from the Edge” in Dallas, and then went into Christmas auditions with the Dallas cast.

I flew back to Seoul, Korea, and worked with the actors in November, and then flew back to Dallas to work with the American actors. I flew back on Thanksgiving Day, and we presented, “Two from Galilee” in Anson, South Korea, and then flew back to the U.S. in December to present “Two from Galilee” in Colleyville, Texas. Altogether? We saw over 14,000 people come to Jesus Christ for 2009! Wow!

HVALA!

That is Slovenian for Thank You! Thank you for your love, your prayers, your financial gifts and your friendship. All these things together were an encouragement to me last year, and saw me through some really difficult times like my time in Panama. I couldn't have made it without your prayers. However, my friends, I really need you this year, too. I pray that you will partner with me to see MORE in 2010. MORE salvations. MORE miracles. MORE harvest for the Lord! God bless you, and may the Lord grant MORE blessings for both you and your family (and mine) in 2010!

For the Kingdom,
Richard Montez