A lot of atrocities are committed today under guise of the gospel. A lady once told me how she nearly destroyed her marriage out of desperation for a child. According to her she was directed a particular man of God who have helped many women in her condition. When she met him he told her she would require a three-day prayer and liberation in the church. During these days of prayer, she was hypnotised by the man of God who slept with her severally, leaving her with the guilt of adultery. After the encounters she decided not to go to the man of God again and that got the husband worried why she stopped going to him for prayers, and then she opened up.
Child of God today Jesus gives us some marks to identify a true ministry. If you want to know continue reading slowly…
Mark 6:7-13
Jesus made a tour round the villages, teaching. Then he summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs giving them authority over the unclean spirits. And he instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no haversack, no coppers for their purses. They were to wear sandals but, he added, ‘Do not take a spare tunic’…So they set off to preach repentance; and they cast out many devils, and anointed many sick people with oil and cured them.
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. The first mark of a true ministry is its Teaching. The Bible says Jesus went around teaching- he taught the principles of the kingdom of God, which today makes up a corpus called Christian doctrine, different from the teachings of Judaism or any other religion. These teachings contain the TRUTH on how Christians should live their lives in the world characterised by different people, culture, systems of beliefs, practices, relationships, and religion, etc. In the catholic church, we have it as the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In it is found the entire christian teaching that no true christian assembly, church or ministry will contradict. And so if anyone, any church or ministry says it is Christian it MUST obey the teachings of Jesus Christ as contained in the Bible otherwise it is SIMULATION- imitating Christians in order to deceive.
2. Message of repentance: a true Christian ministry must preach repentance, conversion and righteousness of life as the only means for transforming men in the world and preparing them as heavenly pilgrims. This must not be replaced with the message of prosperity which is a necessary consequent of repentance. There will be progress in life (both material and spiritual) when men are truly converted, hence Christ says in Matthew 6,33: “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well”
3. A true christian ministry must liberate souls from bondage of satan. Casting of devils through liberation/deliverance prayers or exorcism in the name of Jesus is part and parcel of the gospel message. And so anyone criticising those doing these, or accuses them as money seekers are ignorant of the Christian ministry, and must wake up to embrace this necessary reality.
4. A true Christian ministry must heal the sick. It must bring healing to people who are sick physically, spiritually, psychologically, mentally, emotionally, economically through prayers, counselling, accompaniment, social welfare, etc together with medical procedures where applicable.
TASK: Child of God, there are so many wolves in sheep’s clothing, so be careful not to allow ignorance of Christian doctrines lead you into error. Do you go to spiritual houses, ministries, or prophetic churches for prayers? If yes, you are susceptible to be misled. Many of them work with seer spirits and not by the power of God. They may read the bible, mention the name of Jesus, but it is easy for those with knowledge of Christian teachings to identify them. If you are a catholic, go back to your catechism of the catholic church and read up answers to your many questions. If you are confused about some deep spiritual things chat me up.
Pray psalm 25:4-6 now, saying 7 times: Lord make me know your ways, teach me your paths
Thank you Fr. Simon for this reflection God bless you.
Thanks fr.