K
K.U.A.
Guest
Starting a church in a muslim country
Hi! First of all I want to say "sorry" for the mistakes you'll surely find in my thread because English is not my native tongue. And this thread is also my search of help.
God is great -- great in the greatest and fullest meaning of this word. God is all fullness and completeness. God is perfect, and nobody is more perfect than Him, for He Himself is the perfectness. God is strong. God is the Maker and Ruler of this world and nothing is hidden from Him. God knows everything. God is Light. GOD IS LIFE. GOD IS LOVE. And one of the most incredible things is that the love of STRONG, PERFECT, TRUE GOD is unconditional to His creation, or to be more exact - to us, people=dirty sinners. When I look at myself and my life and deeds, I want to repeat David’s words: “O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?†(Ps.144:3)
And one of the things which always makes me wonder is how God finds His people; I mean the language He chooses to speak to each single person. This language is individual, suitable only for one single person and is understood only by the person it is designed for. God is patient. And He can speak as long as needed, even if it takes years. He watches and guides His chosen people even when they don’t know Him. God is forgiving. God is never tired of calling His people to Himself. He creates the most favourable conditions for getting His people ready to accept Him as the one and only true King of their lives. These favourable conditions however may seem very unfavourable and painful to the people. But God knows better and He knows the way the things must be done. I believe it with all my heart, because I had been through many difficulties before I came to God. And only when time passed, when I could look at my life as if from above, as if it were a written story -only then I managed to understand the destination and purpose of all the hardships and challenges prepared for me by God. And not only understand –but also say “thank You, O’Lord!â€Â, because I “know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Ro.8:28) . â€ÂI am K.U.A, a forgiven and saved sinner; and this is my testimony and my story, my way to God Almighty who is the sense of my life now:
I was born on January 11, 1976 in Izmir (Turkey) into a communistic family. My parents loved K. Marks’s, Lenin’s, Stalin’s etc. ideas and so at the age of 9 I started reading books about communism too. The first book I read was “Principes fondamentaux de philosophie†by Georges Politzer. This book was very important for all our family. And being only 9 years old I discussed the ideas of this book with my uncle! I also read other ideological books like “Capitalistic Society†by Zubritski, “French Revolution†by Server Tanilli, “What is Leninismâ€Â, “The Dictatorship of the Proletariatâ€Â, Lenin-Party Work in the Masses†etc. So, as you may see, I absorbed communistic ideas in my childhood and it resulted in my indomitable willingness to follow this ideology. I became a passionate disciple of these ideas from the early age. The hatred to the existing way of poor people’s life gave me extraordinary energy and made me very active.
At the age of 13 I started going out into streets for shouting and walking with red flags. And at the age of 18 I began writing plays and we were staging street theatrical performances about the workers’ rights for the 8-hour working day and the right to have trade unions.
In 1994 I began writing for newspapers and monthly journals. In spite of being only 18 years old I was quite successful at writing ideological articles. I even quitted my job of a photographer and began working at a glass factory because of the proletarian ideology I shared.
The police wanted to catch me because of spreading this ideology. And I was caught in 2000. But I didn’t get into prison because the same day I was caught the government issued an act of grace to some groups of criminals. So, God was gracious to me even at those times, when I didn’t know Him. But He knew me before I was born, ( "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; (Je.1:5) and He knew how He would use me afterwards.
Being a communist I was endangered many times. I was wounded many times. I was despised. Why should I have passed through all those awful troubles? The answer is evident, isn’t it? During these years of struggle I learned to be strong, purposeful and intrepid for the ideology I followed. I also learned not to be afraid of speaking to people about my thoughts. I learned to teach my ideas. And these qualities are useful for me now when I’m a believing Christian. As I see it now, God had been changing my character for the worthy fight and the worthy ideas. He had made me stronger and then just set me on the right track.
After that act of grace I was free again. I opened a photo studio in Antalya and was working as a photographer. I needed some time to think and analyze and gain strength. I started reading a lot of philosophical books. And one day I happened to open F. Nietzsche’s “Deccal†where he wrote very bad things about Christianity.But the greatest miracle was that I got interested in Christianity after reading that book which was specially written to blacken God and His people!
I found a New Testament and read it during one night. I started reading it at midnight and finished in the morning. Then I found four books by C.S. Lewis about Christianity. And I read them -- and tore them and threw them away, because they seemed ridiculous to me at that time.
But one month later I wanted to re-read the New Testament again. And after that I found some Christians and started to speak to them. I was still rebellious and willful, and one day I said “I’m god†to my new Christian friends, and they never visited me again.
However something was going on inside of me. God was working. God was speaking to my mind. God was speaking to my heart. God was calling. And during the next 5 or 6 months I used to be on my knees before God in my studio and repent, repent, repent…. Yes, I became a born-again Christian at that time. And I changed from “god†into a miserable creature, dirty sinner, unworthy of His grace and eternal gift of salvation. Yes, God was changing my credo in the silence of the studio. It was He, God Almighty, who was speaking to me, to the mean, evil person I was. I’m grateful to Him now because He didn’t reject and leave me then, even though I had dared to say such awful satanic words as “I’m godâ€Â.
Of course, I needed church, because one of the purposes why God created church is that we should learn and change there. And I started going to a protestant church and I was baptized there later.
I was not just interested in Jesus; I was totally absorbed in Him. I found the truth in Him and that was most essential to me, because I had been looking for the truth for such a long time. And all my communistic experience had been about finding the truth for me and for common people. God gave me the answer to my question “where is the truth?†All the truth is in Him! And all the absolute is in Him! I got deeply involved in His Word and I was fascinated by His non-comparable wisdom, truth and beauty! I started admiring Him and His ideas. I became a passionate, willing disciple. I was reading the Holy Bible day and night and it took me only one month to read it from cover to cover. And after that I wanted to read it again and again.
However 8 months later I left the church because I didn’t agree with some of their ways which seemed too liberal to me. But I remained His admirer. It was a period of drastic decisions in my life again. I closed my photo studio and a bit later moved to Izmir to take a Bible course there. I met one Christian man there and he said that if I was so much eager to know Jesus I could find some good courses in the internet. So due to that man I started a new theological seminary course through the internet. I learned a lot of interesting and useful things at the courses and God was revealing Himself through the books I read and the tutors I listened to. And I’m thankful to God for the knowledge He gave me then.
And I clearly heard God’s call in my heart for speaking about Him, His glory, His divine power and His holy will. That is why I wanted to find a job which would allow me to work for God more. So, after coming back from Izmir I didn’t open the studio again and found a job of a blacksmith. Now I had a lot of time for working for God and sharing the Gospel. And I found a lot of pleasure in leading a new way of life, a simpler life, life without that much comfort and financial stability, because I was getting a lot of delight in spending time with God.
I shared God’s Word as soon as I started knowing Him, and it has always been important to me. I couldn’t help speaking about Jesus because His words were a part of me and they were inside of me. As Jeremiah said “ 9 If I say, "I will not mention Him, or speak any more in His name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. (Je.20:9)â€Â
And I found out that this world is thirsty for God, and many people want to know who Jesus is. I spoke about God and Jesus to my neighbours and friends, to my colleagues and just to the people I met and I was also very active in the internet. I answered the questions people asked, I gave them my telephone number and when they phoned I explained many things to them. And one day I decided to gather a group for Bible studies. I couldn’t have done it on my own will or desire, for no teacher can be a teacher if God doesn’t want it. (“6 And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, (let us prophesy) according to the proportion of our faith;
7 or ministry, (let us give ourselves) to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching;
(Ro.12:6-7)
I can claim that it was God who inspired me through the Holy Spirit to start this group, because I would never have dared to do it without His impulse. But now I’m in charge of this group (in fact this is a small church) and I took the obligations to teach. I’m His willing servant and God works through me.
The group’s name is “Mesihçiler†which means “Jesus’s followersâ€Â. We took this name from the Bible in the Turkish language: “Öğrencilere ilk kez Antakya'da Mesihçiler* adı verildi.â€Â( Acts 11:26)
There are not many of us, but I believe with all my heart that God will join more people to us, because men and women here still want to know the truth about this world and about the Maker of this world. They still call, they still write, they still ask. As if the memory of the ancient times when this land belonged to the first Christians still lives in them. The satan hasn’t stolen everything here. And I’m waiting. And I’m always ready to answer. And I’m praying. And keep on going. Or it’s better to say “runningâ€Â. As apostle Paul said: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
(1Co.9:24-27)â€Â
Our church meets twice a week-- on Wednesdays and Sundays. We pray, read, discuss some theological things and sing (19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph.5:19-20)). I also preach to them. Sometimes we meet more often than twice a week, as the people in my group need teaching and listening to God’s Word. We also phone and talk to each other on other days of the week. If somebody is ill, we visit him/her. We also try to help each other (10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.(Ga.6:10)).
I have a dream to have a big church one day. I and my wife are praying about it. We believe that God can make it true. Now there are few of us. And it’s not easy to lead local people to knowing Jesus, because Turkish people are difficult to deal with. One can never know their thoughts. And – what is more important-they are born into muslim culture. But I know one thing -- we mustn’t stop (13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,(Php.3:13)).
Many people ask if it is difficult to be a Christian in such a muslim country as Turkey. And actually this is how I met my wife or it’s better to say how she met me. She saw my profile in a Christian site and asked me how it was to be a Christian in Turkey (My wife is from a Christian country --Belarus). Well, the answer is “yes†and “no†at the same time.
So, yes, it’s difficult to be a Christian in Turkey, because muslim people hate Christians and I often face this hatred. I’ve faced treachery and betrayal from muslim people too. It’s also dangerous to be a Christian in Turkey. You have probably heard about the tragedy in Malatya in 2007 when 3 brothers were brutally killed, haven’t you? And – I don’t like to speak about it, but – I get threatening calls and e-mails too. But I also know that it is dangerous to be a true Christian everywhere, because Jesus said “22 All men will hate you because of Me….(Mt.10:22)â€Â
And at the same time it’s easy to be a Christian, because Jesus is always near, as He promised – “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Mt.28:20) “" And if we come unstuck we always seek Him and His comforting. "28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For My yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Mt.11:28-30)).
So, when we look at Jesus and take His yoke we understand that everything here is vanishing and perishable; but we also understand that we are already in eternity with Him. And it means that we’ll be ok in the long run, maybe not in this life, but in the new life we’ll be fine. “ 16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."(Rev.7:16, 17)â€Â
So, what is this life in comparison with the promised everlasting objective reality?
However it’s very important to look at Jesus and His cross all the time. And only remembering what He did for us about 2000 years ago we’ll be always glad and satisfied, for we have no reason for feeling sad or discontented any more. Why should we worry now if we know that we’ll be fine, no matter what is going on at present? It’s like watching a movie knowing that it will have a happy end. Then you don’t feel so nervous.
If you belong to Jesus you don’t ask yourself “What is this life about? Why is this life so hard and bad? Where’s the sense in it?†We know the answers to these questions. We know the sense of life. We know where we go. We have a life based on Jesus, the chief cornerstone, and He gives us a steady background on Himself.
Yes, Jesus is always with us. But there are other people who need to learn our Heavenly Father. Jesus said “16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.(Jn.10:16)†And my deepest desire is to work with Him to bring His people to the light. There are a lot of “sheep without a shepherd†here. I want them to find the way of the truth. I pray about them.
As you may see from John 10:16,brining people to God is the business of God Himself (16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also.). But we also know that He needs co-workers. I’m already involved into this work. And I know He won’t leave me alone with this task. And I’m offering you cooperation in this work for God too. I’m not asking you for help, no! Because, as I’ve already said, He won’t leave me alone with this task of starting and developing a new church. I’m asking Him for the help, and I’ll get it. But if you, dear brothers and sisters, feel any inclination (or it’s better to say God’s call in your heart) to take part in this challenge too, then you are warmly welcome! Maybe it’s you who is the answer to my prayer for help. Maybe it’s you who has got everything from God to help me and my friends in this task. Then please help! We are waiting! And may our wonderful God Almighty bless and protect you!
My e-mail is adonayadvertisement@yahoo.com
Hi! First of all I want to say "sorry" for the mistakes you'll surely find in my thread because English is not my native tongue. And this thread is also my search of help.
God is great -- great in the greatest and fullest meaning of this word. God is all fullness and completeness. God is perfect, and nobody is more perfect than Him, for He Himself is the perfectness. God is strong. God is the Maker and Ruler of this world and nothing is hidden from Him. God knows everything. God is Light. GOD IS LIFE. GOD IS LOVE. And one of the most incredible things is that the love of STRONG, PERFECT, TRUE GOD is unconditional to His creation, or to be more exact - to us, people=dirty sinners. When I look at myself and my life and deeds, I want to repeat David’s words: “O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?†(Ps.144:3)
And one of the things which always makes me wonder is how God finds His people; I mean the language He chooses to speak to each single person. This language is individual, suitable only for one single person and is understood only by the person it is designed for. God is patient. And He can speak as long as needed, even if it takes years. He watches and guides His chosen people even when they don’t know Him. God is forgiving. God is never tired of calling His people to Himself. He creates the most favourable conditions for getting His people ready to accept Him as the one and only true King of their lives. These favourable conditions however may seem very unfavourable and painful to the people. But God knows better and He knows the way the things must be done. I believe it with all my heart, because I had been through many difficulties before I came to God. And only when time passed, when I could look at my life as if from above, as if it were a written story -only then I managed to understand the destination and purpose of all the hardships and challenges prepared for me by God. And not only understand –but also say “thank You, O’Lord!â€Â, because I “know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Ro.8:28) . â€ÂI am K.U.A, a forgiven and saved sinner; and this is my testimony and my story, my way to God Almighty who is the sense of my life now:
I was born on January 11, 1976 in Izmir (Turkey) into a communistic family. My parents loved K. Marks’s, Lenin’s, Stalin’s etc. ideas and so at the age of 9 I started reading books about communism too. The first book I read was “Principes fondamentaux de philosophie†by Georges Politzer. This book was very important for all our family. And being only 9 years old I discussed the ideas of this book with my uncle! I also read other ideological books like “Capitalistic Society†by Zubritski, “French Revolution†by Server Tanilli, “What is Leninismâ€Â, “The Dictatorship of the Proletariatâ€Â, Lenin-Party Work in the Masses†etc. So, as you may see, I absorbed communistic ideas in my childhood and it resulted in my indomitable willingness to follow this ideology. I became a passionate disciple of these ideas from the early age. The hatred to the existing way of poor people’s life gave me extraordinary energy and made me very active.
At the age of 13 I started going out into streets for shouting and walking with red flags. And at the age of 18 I began writing plays and we were staging street theatrical performances about the workers’ rights for the 8-hour working day and the right to have trade unions.
In 1994 I began writing for newspapers and monthly journals. In spite of being only 18 years old I was quite successful at writing ideological articles. I even quitted my job of a photographer and began working at a glass factory because of the proletarian ideology I shared.
The police wanted to catch me because of spreading this ideology. And I was caught in 2000. But I didn’t get into prison because the same day I was caught the government issued an act of grace to some groups of criminals. So, God was gracious to me even at those times, when I didn’t know Him. But He knew me before I was born, ( "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; (Je.1:5) and He knew how He would use me afterwards.
Being a communist I was endangered many times. I was wounded many times. I was despised. Why should I have passed through all those awful troubles? The answer is evident, isn’t it? During these years of struggle I learned to be strong, purposeful and intrepid for the ideology I followed. I also learned not to be afraid of speaking to people about my thoughts. I learned to teach my ideas. And these qualities are useful for me now when I’m a believing Christian. As I see it now, God had been changing my character for the worthy fight and the worthy ideas. He had made me stronger and then just set me on the right track.
After that act of grace I was free again. I opened a photo studio in Antalya and was working as a photographer. I needed some time to think and analyze and gain strength. I started reading a lot of philosophical books. And one day I happened to open F. Nietzsche’s “Deccal†where he wrote very bad things about Christianity.But the greatest miracle was that I got interested in Christianity after reading that book which was specially written to blacken God and His people!
I found a New Testament and read it during one night. I started reading it at midnight and finished in the morning. Then I found four books by C.S. Lewis about Christianity. And I read them -- and tore them and threw them away, because they seemed ridiculous to me at that time.
But one month later I wanted to re-read the New Testament again. And after that I found some Christians and started to speak to them. I was still rebellious and willful, and one day I said “I’m god†to my new Christian friends, and they never visited me again.
However something was going on inside of me. God was working. God was speaking to my mind. God was speaking to my heart. God was calling. And during the next 5 or 6 months I used to be on my knees before God in my studio and repent, repent, repent…. Yes, I became a born-again Christian at that time. And I changed from “god†into a miserable creature, dirty sinner, unworthy of His grace and eternal gift of salvation. Yes, God was changing my credo in the silence of the studio. It was He, God Almighty, who was speaking to me, to the mean, evil person I was. I’m grateful to Him now because He didn’t reject and leave me then, even though I had dared to say such awful satanic words as “I’m godâ€Â.
Of course, I needed church, because one of the purposes why God created church is that we should learn and change there. And I started going to a protestant church and I was baptized there later.
I was not just interested in Jesus; I was totally absorbed in Him. I found the truth in Him and that was most essential to me, because I had been looking for the truth for such a long time. And all my communistic experience had been about finding the truth for me and for common people. God gave me the answer to my question “where is the truth?†All the truth is in Him! And all the absolute is in Him! I got deeply involved in His Word and I was fascinated by His non-comparable wisdom, truth and beauty! I started admiring Him and His ideas. I became a passionate, willing disciple. I was reading the Holy Bible day and night and it took me only one month to read it from cover to cover. And after that I wanted to read it again and again.
However 8 months later I left the church because I didn’t agree with some of their ways which seemed too liberal to me. But I remained His admirer. It was a period of drastic decisions in my life again. I closed my photo studio and a bit later moved to Izmir to take a Bible course there. I met one Christian man there and he said that if I was so much eager to know Jesus I could find some good courses in the internet. So due to that man I started a new theological seminary course through the internet. I learned a lot of interesting and useful things at the courses and God was revealing Himself through the books I read and the tutors I listened to. And I’m thankful to God for the knowledge He gave me then.
And I clearly heard God’s call in my heart for speaking about Him, His glory, His divine power and His holy will. That is why I wanted to find a job which would allow me to work for God more. So, after coming back from Izmir I didn’t open the studio again and found a job of a blacksmith. Now I had a lot of time for working for God and sharing the Gospel. And I found a lot of pleasure in leading a new way of life, a simpler life, life without that much comfort and financial stability, because I was getting a lot of delight in spending time with God.
I shared God’s Word as soon as I started knowing Him, and it has always been important to me. I couldn’t help speaking about Jesus because His words were a part of me and they were inside of me. As Jeremiah said “ 9 If I say, "I will not mention Him, or speak any more in His name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. (Je.20:9)â€Â
And I found out that this world is thirsty for God, and many people want to know who Jesus is. I spoke about God and Jesus to my neighbours and friends, to my colleagues and just to the people I met and I was also very active in the internet. I answered the questions people asked, I gave them my telephone number and when they phoned I explained many things to them. And one day I decided to gather a group for Bible studies. I couldn’t have done it on my own will or desire, for no teacher can be a teacher if God doesn’t want it. (“6 And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, (let us prophesy) according to the proportion of our faith;
7 or ministry, (let us give ourselves) to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching;
(Ro.12:6-7)
I can claim that it was God who inspired me through the Holy Spirit to start this group, because I would never have dared to do it without His impulse. But now I’m in charge of this group (in fact this is a small church) and I took the obligations to teach. I’m His willing servant and God works through me.
The group’s name is “Mesihçiler†which means “Jesus’s followersâ€Â. We took this name from the Bible in the Turkish language: “Öğrencilere ilk kez Antakya'da Mesihçiler* adı verildi.â€Â( Acts 11:26)
There are not many of us, but I believe with all my heart that God will join more people to us, because men and women here still want to know the truth about this world and about the Maker of this world. They still call, they still write, they still ask. As if the memory of the ancient times when this land belonged to the first Christians still lives in them. The satan hasn’t stolen everything here. And I’m waiting. And I’m always ready to answer. And I’m praying. And keep on going. Or it’s better to say “runningâ€Â. As apostle Paul said: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
(1Co.9:24-27)â€Â
Our church meets twice a week-- on Wednesdays and Sundays. We pray, read, discuss some theological things and sing (19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph.5:19-20)). I also preach to them. Sometimes we meet more often than twice a week, as the people in my group need teaching and listening to God’s Word. We also phone and talk to each other on other days of the week. If somebody is ill, we visit him/her. We also try to help each other (10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.(Ga.6:10)).
I have a dream to have a big church one day. I and my wife are praying about it. We believe that God can make it true. Now there are few of us. And it’s not easy to lead local people to knowing Jesus, because Turkish people are difficult to deal with. One can never know their thoughts. And – what is more important-they are born into muslim culture. But I know one thing -- we mustn’t stop (13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,(Php.3:13)).
Many people ask if it is difficult to be a Christian in such a muslim country as Turkey. And actually this is how I met my wife or it’s better to say how she met me. She saw my profile in a Christian site and asked me how it was to be a Christian in Turkey (My wife is from a Christian country --Belarus). Well, the answer is “yes†and “no†at the same time.
So, yes, it’s difficult to be a Christian in Turkey, because muslim people hate Christians and I often face this hatred. I’ve faced treachery and betrayal from muslim people too. It’s also dangerous to be a Christian in Turkey. You have probably heard about the tragedy in Malatya in 2007 when 3 brothers were brutally killed, haven’t you? And – I don’t like to speak about it, but – I get threatening calls and e-mails too. But I also know that it is dangerous to be a true Christian everywhere, because Jesus said “22 All men will hate you because of Me….(Mt.10:22)â€Â
And at the same time it’s easy to be a Christian, because Jesus is always near, as He promised – “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Mt.28:20) “" And if we come unstuck we always seek Him and His comforting. "28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For My yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Mt.11:28-30)).
So, when we look at Jesus and take His yoke we understand that everything here is vanishing and perishable; but we also understand that we are already in eternity with Him. And it means that we’ll be ok in the long run, maybe not in this life, but in the new life we’ll be fine. “ 16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."(Rev.7:16, 17)â€Â
So, what is this life in comparison with the promised everlasting objective reality?
However it’s very important to look at Jesus and His cross all the time. And only remembering what He did for us about 2000 years ago we’ll be always glad and satisfied, for we have no reason for feeling sad or discontented any more. Why should we worry now if we know that we’ll be fine, no matter what is going on at present? It’s like watching a movie knowing that it will have a happy end. Then you don’t feel so nervous.
If you belong to Jesus you don’t ask yourself “What is this life about? Why is this life so hard and bad? Where’s the sense in it?†We know the answers to these questions. We know the sense of life. We know where we go. We have a life based on Jesus, the chief cornerstone, and He gives us a steady background on Himself.
Yes, Jesus is always with us. But there are other people who need to learn our Heavenly Father. Jesus said “16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.(Jn.10:16)†And my deepest desire is to work with Him to bring His people to the light. There are a lot of “sheep without a shepherd†here. I want them to find the way of the truth. I pray about them.
As you may see from John 10:16,brining people to God is the business of God Himself (16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also.). But we also know that He needs co-workers. I’m already involved into this work. And I know He won’t leave me alone with this task. And I’m offering you cooperation in this work for God too. I’m not asking you for help, no! Because, as I’ve already said, He won’t leave me alone with this task of starting and developing a new church. I’m asking Him for the help, and I’ll get it. But if you, dear brothers and sisters, feel any inclination (or it’s better to say God’s call in your heart) to take part in this challenge too, then you are warmly welcome! Maybe it’s you who is the answer to my prayer for help. Maybe it’s you who has got everything from God to help me and my friends in this task. Then please help! We are waiting! And may our wonderful God Almighty bless and protect you!
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