The hated

Who takes pleasure in being hated? No one, I think. However, the Lord guarantees this feeling will accompany His followers throughout the world. And, if by chance, the disciple does not endure the contempt and hatred of this world, he certainly has nothing to do with Him. Those who wish to avoid being a target of this, only need to deny the faith.

Many have embraced the Christian faith, but, sooner or later, the time comes when they need to define themselves. At this time, unfortunately, most are cowed and prefer to save themselves. For such, here is a warning:

…whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10.33

God allows this situation with all those who were called. However, the chosen are only those who are hated who stand firm to the end.

And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10.22
And you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. Matthew 24.9

And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. Mark 13.13

And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. Luke 21.17

Apostasy

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons… 1 Timothy 4.1

We have seen many people fall away from the faith. Everywhere we look, we find people who have been inside a Christian church at least once and have listened to the Word of God, but have somehow fallen away. We are truly living the last days, but, why is this happening?

These people began well, but in time, instead of perfecting themselves in the Spirit, they perfected themselves in the flesh.

…having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 

Galatians 3.3

The number of lost sheep and lost coins inside the house (church) is very troubling, because it is more difficult to remain until the end than to give your life to the Lord Jesus. To keep our name written in the Book of Life is a challenge that few can accomplish.

For these people, Jesus says:

…and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life. Revelation 3.5

How can you keep from falling away from the faith? First you need to know:

… Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. Galatians 5.7-8

The answer lies in becoming enslaved to your feelings. The first sign of life when a child is born is when he cries. This makes mankind a “hostage” of his feelings, which lead him to sin. The only way to be free from this slavery is by being born again.

…Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. John 8.34-35

Now we understand why there are so many who have fallen away, so many lost coins, who came to church, did chain of prayers, received miracles, and even held positions (assistants, pastors, etc.), but never became His children, because they remained enslaved to their feelings, which led them to sin.

The only solution for those who are in the church, but find themselves in this situation, is to be born again.

What about those who fell away? Return as soon as possible and start over again, sacrificing the will of your flesh and becoming sons and not slaves.

Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 1 Corinthians 7.21

God bless you!

Our offering

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What have you placed on the Altar?
“Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.”
  Genesis   4:4-5  
The offering we place on the Altar of God has the power to define the future of our life. It was not God who decided what offering Cain and Abel would give, the choice was personal and later each reaped the fruit of what they put on the Altar. Therefore, we must be careful about what we offer to God.

This offering is not money, but everything we do in the Work of God. Evangelization, service to people, prayers for the people and the Church, the care for the things of God, our uniform, the cleaning of the Church, the assistants' room, the restrooms of the Church, the treatment of one another, respecting the authorities constituted by God.

In all this we are giving our offering, and this offering defines who we will be tomorrow. In the case of Cain, he became the # 1 enemy of his brother Abel to the point of killing him and even formed a people who came to be enemies of the people of God.

Look closely at the offering you have placed on the Altar of God.
Bishop Carlos da Costa

The importance of saving souls

BE A SOUL WINNER
Who was Peter before he became a soul-winner? The story says that he was a fisherman, and it seems that he was not a successful fisherman, because the morning the Lord Jesus told him to lay the nets to fish, he said, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”Luke‬ ‭5:5‬ ‭This proves that he worked hard but did not Prospered, although it is not written in the Bible but we believe that what happened that morning must have happened several times.‬‬‬‬‬‬
When the Lord Jesus called them to be fishers of souls, Jesus said to Simon, Fear not; From now on you will be a fisher of men "Luke 5: ..10

Everything has changed in Peter's life. He was baptized with the Holy Spirit, his name changed from Simon to Peter, many miracles were done by his hands and in the end he still wrote two excellent books, I and II Peter.
This is the importance of winning souls. Many assistants do not understand why even though they are serving God, they cannot succeed in many areas of life. They make chains of prayers, participate in campaigns, but in the end they continue to live the same kind of life. No results, just like Peter's nets, empty.

Winning souls is not just inviting or bringing a person to the Church, it is much more than that. There is a follow up to be done from the first day the person arrives at church. Beginning with the process of deliverance, conversion, encounter with God and the baptism in the waters, only after the person goes through all these processes is that he will be able to walk alone. Then we can say that a soul has been won.

The reward of winning a soul is priceless. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11:30‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
Be a soul winner