Being Persecuted For Being A Servant Of Christ

IF YOU WERE ACCUSED OF BEING A CHRISTIAN, WOULD YOU BE FOUND GUILTY?

Dear brethren, this brief message was prepared for us by Charis, please be blessed as you read it as we have been. Let us continue to pray for one another, times like these requires prayers, some faith, steadfastness, and humble perseverance. 

now as for today's message, I was watching something on the news a few days ago and this very question came up. It really got me thinking about my own Spiritual walk with God.

Today I want us to ask ourselves this question, as we analyze ourselves:

·        Am I reading my bible faithfully? And if so am I doing so because I have to or for God’s glory (1^st Corinthians 10:31: Well, whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for God’s glory.)?

·        Am I praying only because I have to (Philippians 4:6 and James 5:16)?

·        Do I share my faith with others or am I shy of criticism (Mark 16:15-16)?

·        Do I offer the other cheek when being insulted or do I act in defence in order to protect my feelings by insulting back (Matthew 5:38-40)?

·        Do I judge people who openly sin and apply my own sinful standards whilst I’m sinning in the dark (John 8:1-8)? Often, some weak-willed Christians are being discouraged by those who pretend to 'better' than others by pointing finger at the sins of others. We know the Bible says we must rebuke others in a gentle spirit and with love and not in a hateful and 'better than thou attitude' (Galatians 6:1) often the one who judges others is the one who will himself be excluded from God's Kingdom (Luke 18:12-14).

                           Would we be found guilty or walk free?

Brother and Sisters, today we would like to encourage you to get in touch with God in a solemn and dedicated way and this we do by really calling upon him for that priceless relationship. We read in Jeremiah 33:3 where God tells us to call on him and he will answer us, he will show us great and mighty things that we know not of. Also in 1Peter 1, we are called upon to live a Holy life.

Furthermore, 1Peter 2:12 we are told: “Your conduct among the heathen should be so good that when they accuse you of being evildoers, they will have to recognise your good deeds and so praise God on the Day of his coming.”

 Blessed Love and A Blessed Merry Christmas to all God's dearly loved Children

Brother Glenn and Charis

Being Delivered To Forgive

Forgiveness Is A Gift

Important Notice: Brethren, please pray for Charis as you know the Lord has been speaking to her and she still hears from God, however, being human she also is subjected to tests and trials so that her faith may be proven genuine. After months of prayer and fasting, the Lord came through for Charis and she got a job opportunity in the USA where she had to endure these trials she is sharing below from her heart.

Have you ever found yourself in a position where you beg God to help you to forgive someone? 

That was my fate. I found myself in pain, asking God how someone else had the privilege of hurting me and I had to be the one to put in the work. But that's where his Grace comes through. Believe it or, I had sleepless nights over this. My Father in Heaven forgives me every day, multiple times and I needed to forgive once. Once.

There is no set instruction manual on how to forgive others. Like Faith, I believe forgiveness is a gift from God. No one can teach you how to forgive or help you. One doesn't even know the exact moment when forgiveness is flowing in your heart.

I moved to another country and was treated very badly on my third day here. I cried constantly, asking God to take me out of that situation. And he did. What I didn't know was the open wound that was left after I was taken out of that situation. I felt pain, guilt, anger, and more pain. I told my family how I felt. I vented to my friend that I can't seem to let go of these negative feelings towards the people who hurt me and they couldn't help me. Yes, they gave me words of comfort but I needed to be freed. 

See, these people were trapped in my heart. Every time I thought of them, I would cry. That's how much pain I felt. Then the Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me that I can't seek help from people. This is spiritual. Just like Physical pain needs Physical attention. My spiritual pain needed spiritual attention. (Matthew 18:21-22.)

In addition, we read in (Proverbs 17:9 NIV) "Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends".

 

And it all leads to Love. Forgiveness is given by He who is Love. Only God can help us forgive and thus forgive our transgressions. (Ephesians 1:7-8.)

"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins".

Blessed Regards

Charis Van Rooyen