The Modest Life: October 2017

Happy Sunday amazing brothers and sisters! I felt inspired by the Holy Spirit to encourage you on the importance of having a Church home! As I look back in awe, I am reminded of where I came from. I still cannot believe that I am part of such an amazing Church! I always feel convicted when I prayed for something then start to complain about it. I never want to feel this way about my Church home! Therefore, it is important to check myself and make sure that it is in line with what Jesus thinks. Of course, spending time in prayer and worship reveals such things. The fastest way to get God to speak to you is opening the Bible and meditating on His Holy word. So be encouraged!

If I rewind to just over two years ago, I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to leave the Catholic Church and find elsewhere to worship. It is clear to me now that Jesus could not use me where I was. I needed to grow and have new experiences.

I remember not wanting to “Church hop” (go from Church to Church like a headless chicken) so I had two Churches that I was considering. One of which was Hillsong. Going from a Catholic Church to a Church like Hillsong was a big deal to me. I had never experienced anything like it before, people expressing their faith openly by dancing and jumping! I felt so out of place.

It honestly took me a while for me to actually get used to worshipping that way. I am so thankful though, that I was able to follow under God’s guidance and join a new Church.

It took me a while to actually join a team and serve. I wanted to get to know the heart behind my Church and know whether it was for me. I always had a heart for the homeless though, so the first team I joined was Greenlight which I am still a part of. Then I joined connections team, which welcomes new people and gets them connected into the life of Church. By serving, I made friends and God revealed to me my gift, talents and purpose.

We are all called to make disciples, but God does this in such a way that it unique from person to person, for His glory. 1 Corinthians 12 displays the beauty of having different parts of the body of Christ, all for the glory of God. Each have significant importance as they all have their role in working for Christ. Sometimes as humans, we tend to compare. Once we realise who we are in Christ we understand that we all have something to offer and should lean on our Father for clear guidance on what this is. Once we have done this, we should make conclusive decision to stick to it, until we receive new instructions.

We live in a broken world. Churches should not only pray, but also be pro-active in what we can physically do to help. Sometimes it is beyond giving money. I learnt that the heart behind my Church take action in faith. I noticed that whenever something happens, for example, Grenfell Towers they always are ready to take action and do something about it. I love that about them, it inspires me to think that way myself in all things. I believe that we sometimes forget that God has given us every tool we need to do what He has called us to do. Sometimes we are over spiritual about things when all we need to do is apply wisdom and take immediate action.

If you are in a situation where you have left Church for one reason or the other and looking for a new Church family/home, seek Jesus and allow Him to guide you. There are so many ‘good’ Churches out there, but it is important to find somewhere that you belong and can grow spiritually. It is important that it is a Biblically based Church, that are not following any odd doctrines but prioritise the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are so many misguiding denominations out there, for it is written:

Revelations 22:18-19

¹⁸I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. ¹⁹And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

The doctrine that one does not need to attend Church and can do Christianity alone is a lie. This is something that the devil wants Christians to believe, because there is power in unity. We are a community that were created to be social beings. Just to clarify, all humans are social beings! Isolation is the devil’s idea of making us get comfortable in sin, robbing us of accountability, discouraging us to be used by Jesus and increases loneliness.

Ephesians 4:11-13

¹¹So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹²to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

In the Bible, there is emphasis on servanthood. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. So our gifts and talents are not for ourselves, but for others. In your Church that you attend, keep that in mind and take the focus off yourself. I believe that when we seek Him first and keep Him as our focus, we find the friends, the husband and the purpose that we have been praying for. What has God called you to do? I pray that your focus is to diligently do this and serve all the way.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Be encouraged.