Hey friends.
When we think of you and pray for you, we cannot imagine the adventure or the hardship, the number of mosquito bites or the smelly clothes that won’t dry, the endless hours on questionable transport or the stuff that you have to eat and still smile politely. Yet know that you are loved. And build that house of your heart upon a Rock and it shall stand. (Even though it is actually a mobile home), but you know what I mean… (Math 7: 24)
Since you left, we sent 15 young Americans to Swaziland. The Lord revealed Himself, made whole and holy and had tears flowing and cups overflowing. All of this between changing beds, fixing washing machines, and salvaging two houses that were flooded and all kinds of humbling household stuff.
I’m reminded of when I was a student. We had a beautiful law student from Italy called Miriam on our floor in the residence. She one day watched me applying make up, sighed, and said: “So much trouble, so leetle deeference!”
This is exactly what came to mind when through the years I’ve seen so much effort in religion and so leetle deeference…in contrast to the ease by which God can make a difference through you. Please do not get so caught up in survival, team dynamics, image or even competition that the priorities get confused. I want to urge you to remember that you- even if you have a bad morning, a head ache or your socks are wet - might be the only chance for someone out there to escape from misery and eternal damnation.
Don’t forget, when you tell someone about God’s solution for his broken life, He will be right there to confirm that it is not merely you speaking. While you are sharing Scripture or the truth about Christ, you will experience life and purpose. You can be assured at that very moment a process of immense significance is taking place. While you are speaking, the Lord is reaching out to that person by his Spirit. It’s that simple but it is supernatural stuff.
Your message may be welcomed, which can lead to salvation and eternal life that will impact on others, or rejected by the demonic influence in that person’s own heart, rebellion or apathy. The response is of course never your responsibility, yet it will be recorded in heaven that the hearer had a chance.
I have often seen people responding to the Holy Spirit while one is testifying. They get a feeling or a revelation of who He is, of his character and why He came even before you have explained all that much. Irrespective of the culture, level of education or age the person has. And when people grasp who He is, their faith starts rising. During a God encounter the full impact of what was achieved at Calvary is released and at hand. Expect that and be in agreement with this reality while you witness.
Years ago I was testifying to people in Springs. This was a gathering of people in a living room. It came to ear that a man had warned his wife that if this meeting would turn out to be “sectarian”, and the speaker would ask them to raise there hands in praise, the proof of sectarianism in his perspective, he was going to get up and walk out. Of course the Lord has a sense of humour – the people placed me at the door while speaking, so he ended up as part of a trapped audience.
After the message there was opportunity for prayer for those with needs. A lady suffering from arthritis, the kind that would have the lids of fingers stiff and swollen and the hands stiffened, started responding and got up. However, before she could even reach us for prayer, her hands were smooth and whole. And everybody witnessed this. The man who objected to raising his hands was on his feet, arms raised in a spontaneous outburst like someone at a rugby match. The real deal. Without a course in how to worship. Christ is glorified and they have met Him.
This is you, his instrument part of his Body. How can He be Head, if not embodied?
When we were kids, our family was painting the passage. My father watched as my toddler sister was making a mess with her own little brush.
“You get help from above,” he remarked, “but this is what you call help from beneath…” n
That’s us. God’s help from beneath. Fallible and small, and sometimes even making a mess…yet He loves us for it.
And now Solly came knocking on my door. He knocked on the sign I put up: “Don’t disturb. Trying to write- Deadline!”
“Sorry, the plug of the drill broke, don’t you have a three point plug? I hand him the one attached to the electric blanket. Next winter’s problem…
So dear friends, don’t lose your passports or your sense of humour.
Love, Dini and Alabanza Gang.
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