The past few weeks Gerald and I with a few friends have been studying what the Word teaches about the Holy Spirit. There are probably 1,000s of books, teachings and bible studies on the Holy Spirit, sometimes with conflicting ideas – and through our 43 years of marriage we have encountered a lot! In helping newer believers through the “clouded territory” we prefer to focus exclusively on what the Bible says.
This morning, while relaxing in a bath after a particularly busy week, I was praying for people still in that “clouded territory” and trying their best to minister to other wounded family and friends. I felt the Holy Spirit showed me an onion. I saw that it represented any person we might meet. As we reach out to choose an onion at the grocery store, we make an assessment – there may be a discoloration or blemish on one side, but we feel we can deal with that. Once at home, as we start to unpeel each layer, we can cut away the blemish; but as we continue to cut deeper, revealing each layer, we may come across a seriously rotten layer nearer the core which really needs to be removed too.
I suddenly realized the spiritual application to people we know or meet. When we start getting to know a person we naturally “make an assessment” – perhaps we notice a “blemish”, wound or need that we feel God has prepared us to help address and minister to. As the relationship develops, everything seems fine. But we may never be aware of a far deeper issue that God may want us to help address and bring deliverance or healing to.
As we grow in our faith walk and learn to minister to others by sharing our own testimonies and encouraging Bible verses, we begin to develop a protocol in our ministry: precious Bible promises, anointed prayers, inspiring personal experiences….There is great value in this – just as there is in Old Testament laws and teachings (protocol).
But Jesus came to not just bring us salvation but also to introduce us to a new, living, ever-present teacher and guide. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth so that the Word of God (which is sharper than any 2-edged sword Hebrews 4:12) can pierce to the very heart (of the onion/person) to separate between the soul and spirit and bring the healing or deliverance that is needed (precision).
Let’s not just continue to minister with our trusted protocol as we meet people, but instead, trust that God will guide us through the Holy Spirit and His Word to reach into the very heart and minister to those unseen problems. We may not even be aware of how this is happening, but as we choose to yield control to the Holy Spirit rather than just continue with our protocol, we can truly become vessels used by God to change lives!!
Have a blessed month! Shirley.
Pastor Sika in Togo – He recently sent us some photos and the testimony of a young girl which shows the desperation and sad reality of life in Africa without Jesus. The good news is that he came to know this girl, Rose, because of his weekly radio program. She was thirsty for the Word, and after hearing Pastor Sika preach the Gospel, she gave her life to Jesus Christ. She is 18 and trying to finish high school, but because her parents were desperate for money, they sold her to be married to a carpenter. After her salvation, she left the man and returned home to her parents. However, they again tried to sell her as a sex slave for $370, but she categorically refused and went to the principal at the high school to try to continue with her schooling. Sadly, the principal offered to help her only if she had sex with him! She refused, took her transcript and returned to Pastor Sika for help.
He has found a room for her to rent and has enrolled her in another high school but needs God to provide for her on a regular basis. To help Rose legally he had to talk to her parents, and when he arrived at their home, discovered that they had been divorced for several years. He took the opportunity to preach the gospel to them and is believing that God will touch their hearts. Please pray that God provides the financial means to support Rose.
Pastor Sika reports that the Joseph Project orphans are all doing well and in school. One of them who has completed his schooling, Sossou Jano (pictured here), wants to get an apprenticeship with a tractor driver, which requires an outlay of $2500, to be paid in three instalments, after which he will be engaged by the company. He is currently at the orphanage while he waits for God to provide a way, and we pray that God will move quickly to allow him to continue with his life.
Pastor Honore in Central African Republic –He recently wrote about the CEERCA school: “What a joy to offer free education, to help and bring hope to these orphans and helpless children!” But sadly, due to recent threats and persecution, almost all the teachers left because of poor salary. Two have stayed and one has come back and repented. Some volunteers of the church have stepped up to serve the Lord and meet the need. When he thought that the school would be closed like so many schools around them this academic year, the orphans, needy children and poor parents continued faithfully with him in prayer; and the Lord is supporting and working with them all. We pray the Lord will continue to encourage and strengthen them and enable them to continue this vital ministry along with the church there.
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Posted: October 19, 2024 by Shirley
News and encouragement for October
The past few weeks Gerald and I with a few friends have been studying what the Word teaches about the Holy Spirit. There are probably 1,000s of books, teachings and bible studies on the Holy Spirit, sometimes with conflicting ideas – and through our 43 years of marriage we have encountered a lot! In helping newer believers through the “clouded territory” we prefer to focus exclusively on what the Bible says.
This morning, while relaxing in a bath after a particularly busy week, I was praying for people still in that “clouded territory” and trying their best to minister to other wounded family and friends. I felt the Holy Spirit showed me an onion. I saw that it represented any person we might meet. As we reach out to choose an onion at the grocery store, we make an assessment – there may be a discoloration or blemish on one side, but we feel we can deal with that. Once at home, as we start to unpeel each layer, we can cut away the blemish; but as we continue to cut deeper, revealing each layer, we may come across a seriously rotten layer nearer the core which really needs to be removed too.
I suddenly realized the spiritual application to people we know or meet. When we start getting to know a person we naturally “make an assessment” – perhaps we notice a “blemish”, wound or need that we feel God has prepared us to help address and minister to. As the relationship develops, everything seems fine. But we may never be aware of a far deeper issue that God may want us to help address and bring deliverance or healing to.
As we grow in our faith walk and learn to minister to others by sharing our own testimonies and encouraging Bible verses, we begin to develop a protocol in our ministry: precious Bible promises, anointed prayers, inspiring personal experiences….There is great value in this – just as there is in Old Testament laws and teachings (protocol).
But Jesus came to not just bring us salvation but also to introduce us to a new, living, ever-present teacher and guide. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth so that the Word of God (which is sharper than any 2-edged sword Hebrews 4:12) can pierce to the very heart (of the onion/person) to separate between the soul and spirit and bring the healing or deliverance that is needed (precision).
Let’s not just continue to minister with our trusted protocol as we meet people, but instead, trust that God will guide us through the Holy Spirit and His Word to reach into the very heart and minister to those unseen problems. We may not even be aware of how this is happening, but as we choose to yield control to the Holy Spirit rather than just continue with our protocol, we can truly become vessels used by God to change lives!!
Have a blessed month! Shirley.
Pastor Sika in Togo – He recently sent us some photos and the testimony of a young girl which shows the desperation and sad reality of life in Africa without Jesus. The good news is that he came to know this girl, Rose, because of his weekly radio program. She was thirsty for the Word, and after hearing Pastor Sika preach the Gospel, she gave her life to Jesus Christ. She is 18 and trying to finish high school, but because her parents were desperate for money, they sold her to be married to a carpenter. After her salvation, she left the man and returned home to her parents. However, they again tried to sell her as a sex slave for $370, but she categorically refused and went to the principal at the high school to try to continue with her schooling. Sadly, the principal offered to help her only if she had sex with him! She refused, took her transcript and returned to Pastor Sika for help.
He has found a room for her to rent and has enrolled her in another high school but needs God to provide for her on a regular basis. To help Rose legally he had to talk to her parents, and when he arrived at their home, discovered that they had been divorced for several years. He took the opportunity to preach the gospel to them and is believing that God will touch their hearts. Please pray that God provides the financial means to support Rose.
Pastor Sika reports that the Joseph Project orphans are all doing well and in school. One of them who has completed his schooling, Sossou Jano (pictured here), wants to get an apprenticeship with a tractor driver, which requires an outlay of $2500, to be paid in three instalments, after which he will be engaged by the company. He is currently at the orphanage while he waits for God to provide a way, and we pray that God will move quickly to allow him to continue with his life.
Pastor Honore in Central African Republic –He recently wrote about the CEERCA school: “What a joy to offer free education, to help and bring hope to these orphans and helpless children!” But sadly, due to recent threats and persecution, almost all the teachers left because of poor salary. Two have stayed and one has come back and repented. Some volunteers of the church have stepped up to serve the Lord and meet the need. When he thought that the school would be closed like so many schools around them this academic year, the orphans, needy children and poor parents continued faithfully with him in prayer; and the Lord is supporting and working with them all. We pray the Lord will continue to encourage and strengthen them and enable them to continue this vital ministry along with the church there.
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