Addictions

Included with this week’s article is a short VISION OF SATAN’S BRIDE given to Jaydeen as a warning to addicts! Please click on this link to access this vision.

Brief Introduction

Brethren, kindly allow me to mention something very briefly to you. When I write the messages the Lord gives me to share, I do so under a deep conviction and gratitude to the Lord. So then, if I add my own testimony, I do so to win those who are going through similar struggles. Like the apostle Paul, I am not ashamed to refer to my past failures to show the great Power of Christ Jesus and His Faithful love for sinners “of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15 NIV). When we did these wrong things we were not ashamed; in fact we practiced them openly for everyone to see. Why would I be ashamed to tell others of the wickedness that the Lord saved me from? The Lord has subsequently used this ministry to teach you His will through our mistakes, and to display His great Mercy and Patience towards humanity.

As a general observation, when we were growing up and as children, we had limited choices. Our parents or guardians exercised authority of choice over us. They exercised these choices for our well-being. However, as we reach the age of accountability, which the Lord confirmed to Charis to be eight (8) years of age, we have the freedom to make some choices ourselves from this stage onwards. We choose what we want for lunch or breakfast; we choose whom we want to play with and when we want to do certain things. This is true, and unless parents intervene, children from this age group and higher exercise their own will, even to the extent of lying to hide some of the activities they engage in. They hide or lie because they don’t want parents or adults to interfere with what gives them enjoyment. The point we are making is this: as children make choices, they should also be accountable for those choices (Proverbs 22:6). The direction a person would take in life is largely dependent on how strongly they practiced and emphasized Godly conduct. In my observation and experience, in the absence of a strong Godly fear in the house, children feed on wickedness that they see from others. They are enticed by the ‘pleasure’ they see portrayed. Little do they know that this pleasure can eventually lead to addiction, and addiction can take control of their lives.

Today, children and adults alike are in greater danger of addictions than ever before. While we welcome technological advancement to make life a little easier for us, this has unfortunately created new addictions as well. This is not to lay blame on these things; what we blame is the weak human character. As it stands, what we were set up to be in life in our early childhood serves only as a guide, but how we stand up against pressures and demands as adults depends on us. Furthermore, as we steadily progress in age so do our choices and responsibilities. How wisely and carefully we make our choices is seen through our attitude and fear for God. A well-lived life has always been characterised by a submission and obedient attitude towards God (Genesis 25:8).

Scriptural Approach to Addictions

The church and many other secular institutions are flooded with cases of addictions of various kinds, and it seems this war is just never won. As a church of the Living God, we have a duty to point man to God and what He demands of us (Jeremiah 7:23-24). Without being insensitive to addicts, the choices they made in pursuit of their pleasures have resulted in their addiction. God requires a conscious choice from us to obey Him and experience His deliverance. If we are to be free from addictions we are requested to obey the Scriptures.

The Bible says: “Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourself to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:12-13 NRSV). When we exercise our sovereign choice do we take into account that ‘not all things are beneficial’ and that yielding to some passions result in their dominion of us? (1 Corinthians 6:12).

As further evidence of Scriptural warning, the apostle Peter teaches, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wager war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11).

Last year (2012) December, my family and I visited my parents who live about 300 miles away from us. I seized every opportunity to minister the word of God to my peers and the youth. I used my former way of living as a testimony, of which many of you may recall, and point them to a living hope in Christ Jesus and His awesome POWER of deliverance. I shared with them how addiction to cigarette smoking, drugs and alcohol has taken them control over them. To their amazement, many of them agreed that they no longer exercised full control over their lives, but that they go about daily chasing the gratification of their cravings (1 John 2:16). While many of them agreed with me and felt the power of God through the ministry of God’s word, they were unable to break free from the dominion of the cravings (Romans 6:12-13). It was clear to me that many of them were not prepared to come clean and accept freedom in Christ (John 8:36). They wanted help then, but they still hoped for another day (2 Corinthians 6:2, Hebrews 3:7-8). Brethren, I am ministering deliverance from addictions to you and I will use my own testimony to show you how God set me free.

My Journey to Addictions

When I was 15 years, I was introduced to alcohol by some of my friends. I liked the confidence it gave me since I was a very shy person. This alcohol consumption took place only during school holidays when my friends came over to our house. We secretly stole money or robbed unsuspecting people and we would then go and buy cigarettes and alcohol. Although I hated smoking and was warned about its effects, some of my friends encouraged me to smoke as it would give me a quicker and stronger kick. After a few puffs I gave myself over to smoking. This became my number one habit for more than 10 years. During these years of cigarette smoking I was introduced to marijuana and it also won control of me. This led to multiple personality changes in me. I stopped taking care of myself. This had an effect on my school work and I dropped out of high school in grade 10 (I completed my high school certificate and pursued further studies several years later after my conversion to Christ). I started stealing money and some household items to satisfy my new habits. I lied using guilt to make people succumb just to give me money for my habits. I surrounded myself with like-minded people. We craved worldly things, name brand clothes, etc. In addition, through my excessive alcohol consumption, years later in my marriage life I carried on with the habit of absconding from work and this led to many problems for me. I was simply controlled by these addictions. I would go to church on the invitation of others and after church I would go back to my cravings.

The problem was not that the Word of God failed me, but how my need for deliverance was addressed. Also, while I was in need of deliverance I did not honestly pursue deliverance.

Furthermore, brethren my soul cried for help but the power of cravings possessed me all around. Before coming to the Lord, I tried on my own to break free from these cravings, but within a week or two I would go back. I went to many church services and read many books including Bible books and examining Scriptures, yet without any deliverance from my habits. This is the same thing that is happening to many folks today. Do you want to know how I got free?

My Deliverance from the Dominion of Fleshly Cravings

In our deliverance article, I briefly chronicled how I got saved and delivered. The Bible says, there is no freedom from sin except through Christ (Galatians 5:1; John 8:36). I experienced this grace of deliverance through my choice of abstaining from these habits.

I needed help and I thought to myself if I wanted to be free from this, I must submit and do what God says. This might sound weird to some of you, but I set dates of giving up on certain habits and trusted the Lord in prayer to help me. On the dates I set for myself I actually did give up on alcohol drinking, cigarettes and other cravings and habits. Let me put it this way: although I received countless prayers through my church visits I did not experience any deliverance. My deliverance came through my submission to Christ in my inner room.

My first step into my deliverance was to acknowledge my many mistakes; I did so by confessing to the Lord (1 John 1:9; Psalm 51; Psalm 32:3). Secondly I asked for His help and at the same time I had to accept His help by obeying and abstaining from wrong things (Psalm 50:15; Romans 6:12-13; Genesis 4:7). Thirdly, in my new life, I practiced Godliness through daily Bible reading and prayers which sealed my deliverance (1 Peter 2:2; Joshua 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Daniel 6:10).

Lastly, and as a serious warning, if we do not keep ourselves occupied with the things of God we run the risk of being occupied with wrong things for the devil. I have witnessed and seen many distinguished men and women of God being preoccupied with useless worldly things and failing to properly live out their calling. As a born-again believer in Christ Jesus ,your calling is to win souls through your testimony about Christ (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8); encouraging your brethren to build them up (1 Thessalonians 5:11); bearing fruit through obedience to Christ (John 14:21; 15:1-4) and to minister to God in praise, prayer and worship (John 4:24; Psalm 34:3; Psalm 150:6).

In conclusion, today many believers are caught up in some form of addiction. Some are aware while others consider it as not that serious. My precious fellow believer, these addictions are given to you by the enemy of our souls to create a chasm between us and God to render us lukewarm and ultimately dragging us back into the world of sin and ungodly pleasures, BEWARE!

Are you being controlled by any addictions (such as TV, video games, gadgets, Internet, gossip magazines, and secular music)? Are you being occupied with obeying and serving God, or are you preoccupied with the things of this world? Are you in need of deliverance and are you committedly pursuing deliverance? Here is a Prayer of Sincere Repentance to get you started. For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please contact us.

In Christ's Service,

Brother Glenn.

Stop Calling People Names

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12 NRSV).

Another Scripture reads “Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10 NRSV).

Paul put it this way, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3 NRSV).

Before going into detail about today’s message, we would like to make our readers aware that the Lord Jesus Christ is using this website to teach us His ways. We are not in rivalry with others, nor are we interested in defending any doctrinal position. We do, however, rebuke error. The Lord said we must minister truth, correction and rebuke falsehood (2 Timothy 3:16; 4:2). Furthermore, through this ministry, we have witnessed many God-fearing people being transformed. Our admonition to you is this: if you do not despise truth, you too will experience a higher walk with God. To experience this, you need to adjust your attitude and be humble, which is the mark of a servant, and possesses the Kingdom of Heaven.

Nowadays, calling people names has almost gone unnoticed and this is a widespread practice. We are being deceived by the mass media, which often calls people names for behaviour they displayed. Brethren, the Lord is displeased with this practice, hence the warning through this article.

The Lord’s Anger

In the light of the above Scriptures, we are admonished to practice respect. Maybe we do accord respect people, but only to those in authority, while we disrespect and despise other people we consider inferior to us. Isn’t that true? We are especially rude and disrespectful towards members of our own family, and gentle and kind to certain people, so that we may enjoy their acceptance. How hypocritical! The Lord says: STOP this behaviour of impartiality (James 2:1-7; Colossians 3:25) and practice love and respect.

Recently, the Lord gave a serious message to a member of our ministry who was in the habit of calling other people by a certain name. The Lord gave her a sharp rebuke in an angry tone. Charis said when the Lord gave the message, she felt scared, because the Lord’s voice was very LOUD and it echoed seven (7) times.

Often, as the apostle James observed (see above Scripture), we despise the poor and those who are dependent on us. While Scripture teaches us to respect and honor those over us, it equally appeals to those in authority to exercise the same kind of honor and respect (Philemon 1:16). The apostle Paul reminded Philemon that he should show submission to Christ through respect and brotherly kindness to Onesimus, who was formerly his slave. In Christ Jesus we are brothers and sisters, and in Him we are equal (Galatians 2:6; 3:28).

As a further observation, I have seen this evil of impartiality being practiced in the church. This is at times done through the collection of tithes and offerings. The practice of many churches today is that members write their names on their tithes and offering envelopes (we do understand that there are valid cases where this information is required – in the USA, for example, for tax purpose). This is sometimes done under the pretext of “we need this information to pray for you.” This is an evil sinful practice, and this leads us to being partial and disrespectful towards those who do not tithe. I was a victim of this kind of practice - I could not tithe because I was not working. Does discriminatory behaviour in the church prove helpful? This practice defeats the very purpose we are called to avoid. The church is the pillar of truth and as such we should practice love and respect.

Honor Older People

While this is not part of our original teaching of name calling, I would like to mention this, especially to some of our youth and those brethren who despise the elderly. Despising older people is displeasing practice to the Lord. The Bible says: “You are to rise in the presence of the elderly and honor the old. Fear your God; I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:32 Holman CSB). This practice is very rare today. The Lord has repeatedly rebuked some members of our ministry for not respecting older people. In my culture, I was taught not to say “you” to older people, and instead, I repeat their name with a title of honor.

The Lord, who sees and knows everything once, ordered my wife and I to discipline one of our daughters with the rod of correction (spanking) for being rude. The Lord laid her heart and mind bare through Charis. It was revealed that she was swearing and was disrespectful in her heart. When we told her what the Lord said, she admitted everything. Being rude and disrespectful is an evil attitude, just like ungratefulness, and this is a Hell offence (Jude 1:16). Submit to the Holy Spirit and He will cause you to grow fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). Remember, there is no law against such things!

In conclusion, are you calling people names and insulting them and thinking this is not a HELL offence? Well consider this Scripture, “But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell” (Matthew 5:22b NIV).

Have you been rude and disrespectful to your children, spouse, the elderly, and others? Here is a Prayer of Sincere Repentance. For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please contact us.

Blessed grace and love to you in Christ,

Brother Glenn Van Rooyen.

Helping: A Christian Way of Life

“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open handed towards your brothers and towards the poor and needy in your land” (Deuteronomy 15:11 NIV).

A few months ago, we wrote an article on giving and we showed how God ordained giving in nature and human society. This week however, our Lord wants us to remind you about helpfulness. The ‘glue’ that holds human society together is helpfulness. We express love when we show care to others.

Furthermore, helping has been confined to the church as a ministry function and gift. But sadly many individual believers think they only need to give to the church and they would have fulfilled their Christian duty of helping. I have a report for you from the Scriptures, “Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members [emphasis mine] of it. And God has placed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, of HELPING….” (1 Corinthians 12:27-28 NIV). From this Scripture and many others, helping is as much a spiritual gift as prophecy and tongues, but the believers desire the higher gifts instead of gifts that expresses Christian character and Godly conduct. The Christian ministry gift of helping is an outward expression of goodness, gratitude and love. This is a BEATITUDE and a lofty example of Who it is that is WITHIN us (John 15:12). As an observation, people are naturally egotistical and no wonder they desire association and possession of the higher gifts of the Spirit more than gifts that expresses God’s character. The higher and explosive gifts of the Holy Spirit reveal us to everyone and cause an instant attraction to ourselves, while the ‘self-sacrifice’ gifts like helping and humility are hidden yet powerful and praiseworthy because they are yielded to God (Romans 12:1; Matthew 6:2).

Helping: A New Testament Teaching

Beloved brethren, before you consider this topic boring and that you know it all, my question is: do you actually practice helpfulness? This teaching is for you and if you feel like resisting it, you are actually being challenged. Take heed and deal with that bad fruit within you; YIELD and be delivered!

In the book of Acts chapters 4 and 5, we are shown how sharing was practiced among believers. The opening Christian message by Peter was preached for salvation and sharing was practiced as a way of life. The earlier believers sold and shared the proceeds of their possessions to help others who were needy (Acts 4:34-35). In this account of Acts, I read the believers ‘were of one heart and soul’ (Acts 4:32). They did not have to know one another to care, they were unified in the Holy Spirit they knew Him and His commands. Christ is seen alive in us if we show kindness to the needy (John 8:31; Matthew 5:42). We would like to recognise that this doctrine of helpfulness has been well presented in the church and praise the Lord many ministries practices helping. However, individual members are encouraged to bring to the ‘store house’ only. The Bible admonishes us as individuals and as a body to practice helping as a Christian duty (1 John 3:17). The apostle James is even much bolder by saying, “You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works” (James 2:18 Holman CSB). The preceding verses challenge us to show our religion through sharing and helping (James 2:14-17). The Scripture encourages us to practice charity all around us, and not just to the brethren. Our very opening verse says: be open-handed!

As background information, Christians are encouraged to hold on to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). If you view our teaching with suspicion, accept the message as from the Lord because we seek to build you in faith and in Christian ministry service (Philippians 4:8; Ephesians 4:16). Our teachings and messages to you have been confirmed and authenticated through mighty visions. These truths we shared are undeniably from the Lord. We live and practice truth and our aim is to please you and draw you closer to God. In reality, some believers have grown so accustomed to ‘Churchism’ that all truth meant to foster their growth and walk with the Lord is being rejected, because their church or pastor never preached about this. Sadly, but true, these kind of believers are deceived! They have given their spiritual destiny into the hands of man, instead of studying and practicing the Scriptures themselves. As a faithful witness and a preacher of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ myself, I do not encourage a personal following of man, instead I preach Christ and point man to Him. Nor do I magnify the gifts to lure man to it, but to the GIVER! He matters and the gifts must testify about Him! My question to you is this: do we chase after gifts because we want to be like brother so and so? [Egoism] Or do we seek union with Christ? (1 Corinthians 6:17).

Examples of Helping and Not Helping

Here is our further encouragement to you: please pursue to know Christ and serve Him faithfully more than a church membership. We have inquired Word from the Lord through Charis for quite a few Christian brethren who are not church members of a local body. As individuals the Lord gave them personal messages and found them to be faithful in service to Him. Having mentioned this, I am not discouraging church attendance; if your church attendance does not bear fruit for outside ministry, then you are an infant and spiritually unproductive. John says, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3: 8-10). Do you think your salvation was meant for church membership? Think again! It was meant for fruit bearing, FRUIT BEARING! (John 15:1-6).

Moreover, the NAME JESUS is associated as the embodiment of all GOODNESS and those who opted to follow Him must be like Him (Philippians 2:1-11). If helping is practiced with discrimination, we fail the truth and deny Christ a witness to the needy church member or the non-church member (James 2:1-9). I once attended some Bible School classes at a local church and I heard how the pastor and his wife encouraged some members of their congregation to practice discrimination towards non-church members. He told them in my hearing that children whose parents are not attending church are not welcomed to his church’s children’s year-end party. I was dumbstruck by this and I wondered how he would invite outsiders to Christ if he shuts them out, especially innocent children. Brethren, as followers of Christ Jesus, we must practice helping everywhere to anyone! What this pastor and his wife practiced is widespread and anti-Christian (1 John 3:17).

In conclusion, kindly allow me to share some personal testimonies of helping. I used to work in a food-processing factory west of Johannesburg, South Africa, in the early 1990s. One morning I was met by a young man about six years younger than me. He asked me for money so I gave him without questions. This happened quite regularly, so one day I decided to ask him why he doesn’t look for a job instead of living on hand-outs. He told me that he could not find a job. I asked him where he lived and he pointed me to an old train as his sleeping place. This brought tears to eyes and I tried very hard to hide it from him so I hurriedly told him that I will try to find him a job and a place to stay. I gave him a silver coin and left. Many days thereafter, I thought to myself I must help this boy, but how? I decided to commit this to the Lord in prayer. I felt led to visit him at the train station where he was living. Because we had not seen one another over many days he seemed to have forgotten me when I called to him. He at first refused to answer, as he thought I could have been one of the men who had threatened his life in the past. I explained to him who I was and he came out to meet me. The Lord had put it into my heart to take him to my apartment and have him take a bath; provide him my clothes and food for him. After all this, I ministered to him the Word of God. He cried out to the Lord and got saved. He was visibly shaken by this act of kindness. Brethren, I am nothing and I need no commendation from anyone, I practice and live out my Christian convictions without regret.

Through the grace of the Lord, we managed to get him a job at the factory where I worked as a temporary worker. I then invited him to a local Christian coffee shop and we met up with brothers who after listening to his situation decided to give him a place to stay. Although, I initially offered him a place to sleep I could not accommodate him because I shared a place with three brothers in the Lord and our lease agreement prohibited housing more than three people. This young brother grew in confidence. Having grown up selling “mandrax” (drugs) in the streets, he began to experience working and earning money honestly for the first time in his life. I am not going to relate his whole story but in closing, it is not a happy ending. He became ungrateful and longed for the days of drugs so he found himself in his former life. He did us much harm materially and we forgave him. Still I did not give up on him and I continued to pray for him. I tried to help him again, but he refused and lived to regret the chances he was afforded.

This is one of many similar situations of personal ministry as an individual member of the body of Christ. Some made it and were restored back into society, while others abandoned the faith and engaged in their old habits. To this day, I am not discouraged and still practice and preach helpfulness.

Finally, this is the Lord’s teaching and He has shared with us through many messages that we should help others and practice sharing. While we do not say you must support the world, your ministry of help is to those around you. The body of believers or Church whether, your local church or a Christian ministry, needs your help for God’s work; we encourage you help them. The individual member of society looks to you, dear Minister of Truth, for help; so be the light there (Matthew 5:16). This will help you to be unselfish and stay greed-free. Christian sharing is choked by the deceptive doctrine of ‘prosperity’ and Christianity is being used as means to personal enrichment. This is Satan’s worldly trap; my Christian brethren BEWARE! Consider helping others today!

We have through this website requested help from our readers to help fund a vehicle, which we still don’t have, for our witnesses. The response is embarrassing and before we placed the request for help, we asked the Lord and He said we should ask for help from the brethren (Galatians 6:6). This is not for self-enrichment but for the work of God. We go out witnessing with battered feet, not that we want anybody’s sympathy, but we appeal to you for Christ’s sake for the salvation of others (Philippians 2:21).

Have you been working out your faith? Are you chasing the higher gifts of the Spirit rather than union with Christ? Have you neglected to use your humble gift of helping and being open handed which expresses God's character? Here is a Prayer of Sincere Repentance. For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please contact us.

May the Peace of the Son of Man be upon you!

Your Fellow Brother in the Truth,
Glenn.

Cleanliness and Tidiness

The Lord is Coming Soon!

This morning, around 11:40 a.m. the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to my six-year old daughter, Claudia, and told her twice: “I am coming very soon!” About 20 minutes later, He said again: “Claudia, I am coming very soon. Bye!” I took her for a walk with me in a veld (grassland/field) nearby while I used that quietness as an opportunity to pray. She heard the first words while we were on our way, and then when we returned. Praise the Lord!

Update: we have added two new visions of evil snakes and Satan’s influence on people to the Dreams and Visions page. You can also translate this site to other languages using the Translate drop-down button on the right.

This week, the Lord gave us a Word to write an article on neatness and tidiness. Yes, you heard that right! In a sharp rebuke to the Pharisees, the Lord said "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence" (Matthew 23:25 NIV). Undoubtedly, the Lord is referring to external cleanliness and internal cleanliness (Titus 3:5). This is an essential teaching, because many people who are too lazy to take care of their themselves thinks that the Lord is pleased if they are dirty. From a young age, the Lord gave Charis encouraging messages for her and our other children for keeping themselves clean. Therefore, keeping ourselves clean and tidy is as natural as eating.

Personal Neatness

Let us examine more scriptures on tidiness, the Lord Jesus told Peter: “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean…” (John 13:10). This was a literal statement, but it also had a spiritual meaning (John 13:10-11). Also, the Lord encouraged us to “put oil on your head and wash your face” (Matthew 6:17). In addition, the entire Old Testament’s ritual cleansing was a direct command from God to Moses for the Israelites to learn the importance of cleanliness (Numbers 19:1-22), and we know that the Jews practiced neatness even during the time of our Lord Jesus (John 2:6).

 Furthermore, we might argue and say that it is not a sin not to be clean and there is no Scripture charging us to be physically clean. Wrong! in the light of various scriptures it is a sinful to be spiritually and physically untidy, and that is to even the perfecting holiness required of us (2 Corinthians 7:1). We may also consider the following verse as a strong charge against disrespecting, offending and being a stumbling block to others: “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, wont he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way (being unclean) and wound their weak conscience, YOU SIN AGAINST CHRIST “(1 Corinthians 8:9-12).

Now, after we briefly clarified our scriptural position on being neat and tidiness, we will be discussing below some instances and rebukes from the Lord relating to uncleanliness.

The Lord Jesus on Untidiness and Uncleanliness

To our surprise, the Lord issued a few rebukes to some of our members, for untidy dressing. However, before we share some of the Lord's messages regarding untidy appearance I would like to briefly share a confusing encounter I had. When I was about 13 to 14 years old, I was invited to church by a man who was born again and in his early 20s who lived in close proximity to us. By declining his offer, I used the following as an excuse, “I don’t have decent clothes to wear to church.” In reply he said, “You may come just as you are; God looks at the heart not the outside (1 Samuel 16:7).” It didn't mean that I had to go to Church in an untidy state, I had to be reasonably clean and properly dressed up and after tidying myself I was left with no excuse and I went to church on the brother’s invitation. The point that I am making is this: as people, we think that we are summoned to do things for God we must appear untidy, negligent or appear poor. Such reasoning is based on poor judgement. This is not the God that I am serving, for He delights in the beauty of His work “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30 NIV).

In expressing His disapproval with the attitude of a member of our ministry, I had the task of sending someone a message from the Lord to “...stop putting on ugly clothes and say you don’t care what other people think.” The Lord is NOT pleased with sloppy Christians! The Lord expects us to be clean and neatly dressed at all times, whether we go out witnessing, to school, work or attend Church services we represent Him, so we must reflect His image that of external purification. In another rebuke, a sister was told that  ‘she was not keeping herself well.’ As an encouragement to basic tidiness: Dress modestly and not to impress or to show off to others. Wear what you have and feel good and comfortable in. Why should Christians be unkempt while serving a Pure and Holy God? Let us honour God in our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20; Romans 12:2).

In emphasising cleanliness, the Lord commanded my daughters Charis and Jaydeen to go and CLEAN the house of a very close relative, including the bedding and the clothes of some of the boys living there. The Lord gave them detailed instructions on exactly how they should clean the house. This CLEANING took them about five (5) working days. Could you imagine the amount of dirt they unearthed? Amongst other work, they had to clean the walls do some painting.  Soon after the children completed their cleaning, the Lord issued a word to a sister residing there to start cleaning the house and keep it tidy daily. It is often people with a lazy attitude who practices untidiness and uncleanliness. Such a practice is tantamount to demonic influences (Mark 5:1-20).

So, have you been unclean and untidy, either physically or spiritually? Are you keeping yourself pure and keeping your heavenly garments clean, stainless, spotless, tidy, and wrinkle-less, ready for the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ? Here is a Prayer of Sincere Repentance.

For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please contact us.

The Lord bless you!

Yours in Neatness,

Brother Glenn.