Everyone is different because everyone thinks differently. The greatest desire and challenge of a person is to make others think like him, at least on one matter – have the same opinion, the same taste, the same point of view. When it comes to a person’s spiritual life, it’s something that those who belong to the Light as well as those who belong to the darkness wish to do in regards to the way other people act, because both believe they are in the right, though only those who are of the Light truly are.
But often, the children of God try to do this the wrong way. This is the reason why they usually do not succeed. Meanwhile, most of the children of the devil have been doing it the right way, and effectively guided souls to hell.
The biggest mistake we can make, and that we usually make, is to impose our faith on someone. When we become aware of reality, the desire to save our family and friends is so great that it causes us to try everything in our power to achieve this. And unfortunately, we end up using it in the worst possible way.
We use our eyes to notice every sin they commit, our ears to know what they have been doing, our mouth to criticize their behavior and our hands to point fingers and make accusations. We think that these drastic measures will awaken them to the truth, but all we’re doing is pushing them further away from us and, consequently, from God.
We should not, nor could we, impose our faith on anyone. Not even God Himself imposes things on us! But we can, and it is necessary to inspire people to have the same faith, making us worthy of being admired for an irreproachable character, supernatural strength and a humble spirit.
Therefore, use your eyes to see their qualities and needs. Use your ears to listen when they need someone to talk to. Then, use your mouth to make a compliment, show appreciation or give them wise and useful advice. This way, your hands will serve to raise them up during difficult times. You will be considered a true friend: one that does not judge, but helps. This is the true representation of the Lord Jesus!
Effective influence does not scream out loud, it is silent. It does not clash, but works in harmony. It does not criticize what is contrary, but shows the benefits of being on its side. It is not violent, nor troublesome, but gentle and almost imperceptible.
The salvation of the people you love should not be an obligation, but an inspiration. But which of the two strategies have you been using? Remember that Jesus did not force anyone to do anything, but was and is the Greatest Influencer of the Universe, because He is an example, a reference to be followed. When you become this reference, multitudes will begin to follow you, and have the same faith and the same God you have. This is the behavior of a real and effective soul winner.
Jerusalem - Holy Land
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Monday, August 31, 2015
Friday, August 28, 2015
When God is in control
When everyone says that it won’t work
"For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, 'Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.'
Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands." Nehemiah 6.9
When you start to do something great immediately the prophets of defeat will come. They will give you their opinions even when you do not ask for it. This is without mentioning the situations that rises up against you, to bring you fear in order to making you give up. Then, you begin to feel pressured. There are voices that is saying you are not going to get it, you are not going to stand it, these voices increase tremendously. Normally you would give up. You would doubt and fear.
However, there is a certainty burning inside of you. The certainty that God is in control. He strengthens your hands and you know that you are going to make it. There is nothing that is impossible. There is no obstacle that cannot be overcome. Your strength is renewed, and your hands grab the weapon even stronger, and now it is a matter of honor. It’s to win or to win. You know that if you obey and go forward, then soon the prophets of defeat will have to shut their mouth. They will have to admit that you conquered. You conquered because God was by your side.
Knowing about that, you should not allow the words of defeat to enter your heart. Don’t give ears to them. The attempting of scaring you just proves how much despair the enemy is in. It’s the propaganda of your victory. No one kicks a dead dog. God strengthens your hands and you go against them. Moving forward, without fear. The work will be complete whether they it want or not. It is a matter of honor. It is to win or win.
And you win. This is the unavoidable result of faith
Kind regards,
Carlos Da Costa
Bishop
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
A second chance
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16.16
Last Sunday, August 23rd, I had the great privilege of baptizing in water these two people, both Americans. Actually, they are the first two members of the Universal Church in Chicago Illinois. I clearly remember how they first came to the Church, their lives were upside down, totally destroyed by different types of problems. But, little by little they were learning how to use the power that they had within, called faith. And, in 5 weeks coming to the Church they could find a new life. Very soon you will watch their stories, here in my blog and you will see how a person can change through the manifestation of faith in the Word of God.
The Universal Church is located at 345 West 95th Street, Chicago Illinois. Tel: (1) 872 702 4915
If you have friends or relatives who live or work in Chicago, you can let them know about us and without a doubt, God will bless them.
Discipline in the Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God is made up of perfect discipline. The Church, like the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ, He being the Head, is formed by those who are born of the Spirit of God. This body has harmony because it works perfectly. There is discipline because each one of its members has a defined order. Each one is extremely important, occupying its rightful place, working in harmony, in full agreement with the Head. It is the Kingdom of God.
The true Spiritual Church, not the institutions, works similar to the human body. When food is put into the mouth, the teeth work by chewing, enzymes are produced in the stomach, preparing it to receive the food. After having done its job during the digestive process, the bolus is taken to the intestine where the body retains what it needs by moving it into the blood, and expels what it does not need. Everything works with great perfection.
However, when someone eats something that is spoiled or unhealthy, he will probably get a headache and want to throw up. This happens when the body rejects the food because it is foreign to it.
The same happens with the Church of Jesus. It also has discipline. When someone from the church institution is not living within this harmony, they compromise the well-being of the body. Especially when there is a rebellion within them, a bad feeling, like anger or resentment, due to an alleged injustice. Sooner or later, he will be expelled by the body. When this discipline is broken, the entire body suffers. For this reason, harmonious discipline within the church is of fundamental importance to us.
When we speak of the Church of the Lord Jesus we are referring to the Body of Jesus. The Body of the Lord is disciplined and works in harmony. When one organ says amen, all the organs agree as well. There is no division, they are all important because they are part of the Body.
Each one occupies a space in this Body. And if there is an element that is harmful to this harmony, causing disorder, it is labeled a divider, which brings bitterness and can spread to others. In order to restore the harmony it has to be expelled because it’s a foreign body. It cannot remain; otherwise it will harm the entire body. The Head, who is the Lord Jesus, also feels when there is a bad element within Him, in His Body.
The same goes for the Church. There can be no consideration for a foreign body that compromises the Body of Christ. Can we take into consideration a harmful element because he has a family, has been in the Church for many years, etc.? Our obligation is to expel this evil and report it to our superiors so that the appropriate action may be taken. Is this unjust?
Monday, August 17, 2015
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