Mission Act 1:8 ~ Day 43

Wednesday 13, 2015 Marius and Gary continued in the Scottsville area, starting near The Mall @ Scottsville. We met up with two young female Municipal street cleaners named Angel and Gloria on King Edward Drive. Their plight which has become all too customary amongst the African folk, is a question of: “Why are my prayers not answered when I pray to God?” We had to get to the bottom of the problem, and it mostly comes down to the “age old” problem – or should we say the traditional problem – of mixing the Holy with the profane. Shembe followers and African traditionalists are being deceived thinking that they can pray to Unkulunkulu (God) and hold to their ancestral prayers, too!

 

This is an abomination when God warns that nobody is to consult with the dead, which is necromancy (see Deut. 18:10-13). People continually say that we – Christians – have no right to judge another person’s traditions! However, they are judged already by God by their foolish actions when God warns against their very practices. We Christians, as disciples of the Son of God our Lord Jesus Christ are merely warning the transgressors of their situation before a Holy, Just and Perfect God who they must face on Judgment Day. Sincerely, this is the greatest love we can extend to deceived persons, warning them of the inevitable destruction of their souls in Hell should they not repent of their abominable actions this side of eternity. Angel saw her sin in mixing the Holy with the profane and she said she wants to be born again. We shared the Law of God with them compelling them to turn back to God through repentance and faith in the finished work of the Saviour our Lord Jesus Christ. We prayed with them that God will open their understanding and cause them to truly repent. Often the easiest way for a traditionalist is for them to continue in their folly out of fear of being ostracised by their family, than make a stand for God by seeking after His righteousness. The Devil uses demonic fear to keep souls in bondage to their sin! Christ, and Christ alone, can redeem souls back to God!

 

A while later, Marius handed a third year UKZN LLB (Latin Legum Baccalaureus) law student named Sabelo some Gospel literature. He had initially received the material and had walked on, but then after starting to read the same, turned and came back to ask us some questions! It was through our discussions that we learned that Sabelo who is studying to be an attorney has set his goals on being rich, in fact he wants to accumulate great wealth! He follows the “teachings” of Donald Trump and other wealthy moguls. It was while sharing the Ten Commandments of God that we dealt with covetousness, the lust for riches, and we went to the Scripture that reads:

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ~ 1 Timothy 6:10

 

Sabelo said that Donald Trump is a “Christian” that does a lot of “good work” for “God.” Gary had to remind Sabelo that Trump, a Presbyterian (source: Wikipedia), might have a different god to the One in the Holy Bible, for Trump has much dealings with casinos that encourage people to gamble, and Trump even makes money off the desperate and poor who will use their last food money to covet after riches and wealth! We advised Sabelo that money in and of itself is not bad as we do have need of money, but it is how you use it – is the love of money so great that you lust after more and more wealth for your own selfish gain and ambition? Or are you using your wealth for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom according to God’s will? For it is “the love of money” which “is the root of all evil”. We then referred Sabelo to the following Scripture:

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. ~ Luke 12:16-21

We discussed many issues relating to wealth and being a good steward of “wealth” for God! Sabelo also made reference to the professional football association FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi who also has much wealth. He also made reference to Messi being helpful by his “charitable work.” The thing is that whilst Sabelo might think that Lionel Messi’s work-righteous Roman Catholic faith benefits people, it is detrimental to the benefactors for they might receive benevolence from the man, but not the Truth. It is the same as an unrepentant poor man begging for food and he receives physical food / care but is not told how to receive the spiritual food of forgiveness of his sins through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, the unrepentant poor man will still go to Hell cared for and well fed with food that wastes away. Spiritually his soul will be lost for all eternity! As our Lord Jesus Christ said:

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. ~ Mark 8:34-38 [Gary’s emphasis added]

Pray for God the Father to deal with the hearts of those who came to hear the Word this day. We pray “. . . that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” (see Acts 26:20). The day’s route was: King Edward – Oribi (to Scottsville Clinic) – King Edward – Hardy – St Patricks – Coronation.

 

 

Soli Deo Gloria!