Gospel News — May-Aug 2013

10

A Measure Of Faith

Bro. Itai Tembo (Sanyati, Zimbabwe.)

Though we have not seen God, we believe He exists and is everywhere present; that He hears our prayers and our petitions. Belief in things we have heard but not seen is what is called unconditional Faith. We should have this in good measure, but without wavering. We have to stick to our faith even if it means being persecuted for what we believe. If Jesus in Faith died for our sins, then we should be prepared to go through every hardship and obstacle put in our way for the Kingdom to come.

The Bible in James 1:6-8 says, "But when we ask God, we must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." So faith should have one direction, and that is forward. We should be what God wants us to be – His obedient children. We should trust Jesus the way he called his followers to trust.

If we have faith that God's spirit word lives within us to comfort, teach and guide us, then nothing can separate us from the love of God. Rom.8:38-39: "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither the present nor the future, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God." God's plans for our future can be beyond understanding, and yet He reveals Himself and His will to us.

We do lose faith sometimes when problems seem to overwhelm us. Let us lay all our problems at his feet. We must believe God's word calls us to faith, to believe. He has answers to all our problems. We just have to call on him and cast all our anxieties upon him. The Bible says, "Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

After all is said and done, let us take heed of Psalm 119:28-30: "My soul is weary with sorrow, strengthen me according to your word. Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law. I have chosen the way of the truth: I

have set my heart on your laws." God loves us and wants the best for his children.

In conclusion, let us listen to the words of Psalm 27:13-14: "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Four is a family; Left to right, Sis. Esnath, Lyton, Lemmington,

Bro Itai Tembo, while staying in Kadoma.

Eternal Security

Bro. Gideon Hankomone
(Mazabuka, Zambia.)

These days we hear much spoken or written about financial crises and the dangers of failing economies, which may later affect our savings and earnings. But for our own lives and security, we need to trust in something more secure than money.

When we sin, we are rebelling against God, and at times we do it unknowingly, without noticing. Some sins we now even accept as normal, though God's standards have never changed: moreover, a sin is still a sin and needs to be punished. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."(Romans 6:23)

Thankfully `we are not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ' (1Peter 1:18-19). Because Jesus never sinned, he bears the burden of our sins before God. This is the simple formula of