The Bible tells us, as Christians, that there will be spiritual warfare in our lives.
Things may come up that are out of our control.
We may even wonder why circumstances happen.
We can know that God has a purpose for everything
and that
purpose is that He might be glorified through it.
Trials may even come to strengthen our faith-
Romans 4:20
" He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief;
but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;"
I find right now that my faith is being strengthened.
This is our church,
Village Bible Baptist Church
in Hillcrest, KZN South Africa.
We are a small church.
Our Sunday morning usually looks like this,
but there are only a few faithful families.
You can
PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH:
1. FACILITIES- while I was in the USA, the building was broken into.
-Praise the Lord, no one was there and that they only took minor things
- Pray for a NEW BUILDING: the rent for the one in the above picture
has been raised almost 50%.
We do not currently have a facility,
so we have been meeting in my & other's homes for Sunday AM services.
One of the homes we met for church in.
2. FAMILIES - we have 4 families that come most of the time.
In each face that you see,
there are separate trials that are faced.
Each person is at a differant stage in their spiritual growth.
Each has a battle going on inside between the flesh and the spirit.
You can also pray for their and our safety.
Hillcrest is a big place for crime.
One of the older couples above had a break-in recently.
The robbers broke into their home,
tied her up and put her in the bathtub,
while they robbed her.
Praise the Lord, she and her husband were unharmed!
You can pray for our Zulu young men.
They have so many temptations that they are faced with each day.
Many Zulus use the "cultural" excuse to sin.
For example - drinking, drugs, immorailty are all permissable in the Zulu culture.
Please pray that these young men will stand strong in the Lord and if they fall,
that they will be willing to confess their sins to God and walk right.
Also pray for the single ladies in our church.
Many are going through times of discouragement,
loneliness, depression, lies from satan to compromise in order not to be alone.
Busyness takes up the lives of some to fill the gap of loneliness,
but sadly, it is not busyness for the Lord,
but rather more worldliness.
As you know, I have a huge burden for the single woman, because I am one.
I praise God for putting me in a ministry where I can
encourage others through personal experience.
He has been my very present help & joy!
I can encourage these ladies that He is ALL WE NEED!!!
3. FAITHFULNESS- please pray for the faithfulness of the people.
Not a week goes by when one or more people
are not at church because of one reason or another.
Satan does his best to keep people from growing.
This is one of the hardest things for a missionary working
amongst the people here in South Africa.
People do not see the importance of being faithful to church.
We know that they cannot grow in Christ unless
they are under the preaching and teaching of His Word.
2 Peter 3:18
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."
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| Missionaries : Robbin & Jeff Demarest |
There is so much unfaithfulness.
It can get frustrating from a missionary's perspective,
because we are giving our all
to help them grow in love and obedience to God,
but yet they don't want to.
"Have they lost their love for God, Do they have a heart of rebellion, Are they really saved?"
these questions have come through my mind.
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| Robbin & I |
After a time of feeling very frustrated and discouraged,
God reminded me that His will for me as a spiritual leader/missionary
is just to do His will -
love & obey Him in my personal walk,
study His Word,
teach what He asks,
in love confront those who are disobedient to His Word,
lead those who are willing to grow in their spiritual growth,
and leave the convicting & chastening to God.
A few verses of encouragement when going through spiritual warfare-
1Timothy 6:12
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,
whereunto thou art also called,
and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."
Romans 4:20
"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief;
but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;"
2Corinthians 10:4
"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"
Ephesians 6:10
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of His might."
Ephesians 6:12
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places."
My heart's desire is not to have my eyes on people,
but on the One who sent me to South Africa
to do the work He has called me to do.
May we each be Faithful to the one who is the Author & Finisher of our faith.
Hebrews 12:1a&2
"...Let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."