1/31/03
Testimony of God's grace from the Second 8th Week assembly in South Africa
God saves, heals, delivers, and seals with His Spirit
RINA REPORTS:
I sat with Freddie for a few hours yesterday, and he is coming back today. He committed himself to Christ and the ministry of truth through the Second 8th Week Ministries, and started to study the lessons.
You know he went back home last week, but immediately came back. He told me yesterday it was as if something was driving him back. All that was on his mind all the time was the Lord, and that he must make things right with the Lord.
It is so wonderful!! He admitted that he watched Patricia (his dear wife) closely these past 2 years, and saw the tremendous change in her, and something started to 'eat' at him. He says all the years that she was wondering from Church to Church he watched her, and went with her sporadically, but there was always something that put him off (different things in different Churches).
Then he would stay away until the next Church, watching her, but seeing no change. Thinking, "Just another Church, another group of people but NOTHING CHANGES." When Patricia joined our group (Second 8th Week Ministries, South Africa) he thought, "Yes, there we go again." But to his surprise she started to change, and things in their marriage started to change for the better.
This man smoked 'dope' (dagga) since he was 9 years old. He told me not a day went past, he smoked everyday. Well, he stopped 5 days ago. He said he cried out to God for help, just throw the 'stuff' out and did not touch it again for 5 days now. He says there are no withdrawal symptoms and he has NO CRAVING at all. Then he decided to come and see me to make things right with God. All through our conversation he keep on telling me of his desire to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, on which of course I gave him more details, and encouraged him to ask the Lord for this gift, and it will be given to him.
To make this long story short, just before he left he asked me again, "Please pray with me, I so long to be baptized." On which I answered, "God sees the desire of your heart, let's pray." I started to pray in tongues, and it was within seconds, and this man was baptized in the Spirit, speaking the wonderful language of angels. He was in assembly last night, the dead look is out of his eyes, and he was very involved, thanking God and ready to hear more about the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ."
Dear Christian reader and friend:
God is in the business of saving and delivering people from the kingdom of darkness, and bringing them into covenant with Him, sealing their faith by His Spirit. This is why Jesus shed His blood. Thank God that this young man was given a heart to perceive, and that the Spirit of God makes the knowledge of Jesus Christ living!! This is the miracle of salvation.
Now that Freddie has been converted, he will need instruction in the doctrine of Christ so that he will know how to worship God in Spirit and in truth. God is expecting Freddie to glorify Him through the fruit the Spirit births in him as he takes on the divine nature of Jesus Christ. Freddie will learn how to worship God through fruit.
Freddie will learn how to function as a New Testament priest, how to offer the spiritual tithe of his faith, how to go through the cycles of his growth, overcoming himself, the devil, and the world. He will come to understand the law of grace and truth, and know with certainty the voice of the Lord which speaks from the foundation of truth.
He will enjoy the mediation of Jesus Christ as he uses the tools of the covenant. Jesus will be bearing his griefs and carrying his sorrows. Jesus will cause equity in the inner man. Freddie will experience the manifolds graces of God, the powers of the world to come, and take on the responsibility of sharing Christ in the assembly with the measure of grace given to him by God. He will also be ready and willing to share Christ with those who are yet in need of salvation.
Freddie will be able to honor Jesus as the head of the Body of Christ by submitting himself to the doctrine delivered to Jesus' apostle. God will make known to Freddie what his calling is and prepare him to begin to function in that office. We rejoice in Christ Jesus that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. All these things that God has so graciously provided for our union with Him bring us the life and light of Christ.
I N V I T A T I O N
If you too have seen nothing in the church that is worthy of your time or attention, and God is now moving upon your heart, and you would like to experience what Freddie has experienced, if you would like the salvation that comes only in the name of Jesus Christ, we invite you to do this now as the grace of God is present:
The bible says, "He that has received His testimony (the testimony of Jesus Christ), has set to his seal that God is true," Jn.3:33.
Jesus Christ testified of Himself saying that He is the only Saviour of the world. That He died for the sins of the world, and rose again from the dead. Are you willing to come in agreement with this testimony?
Jesus Christ testified of Himself saying that He is the only Way to His Father. Are you willing to come in agreement with this testimony?
Jesus Christ testified of Himself saying that He is the only Door to eternal life. Are you willing to come in agreement with this testimony?
| All you who have received the testimony of the son of God, come and call
on the name of the Lord so that your sins may be forgiven and you can walk
in covenant with God. Acts 2:21. |
| Receive the testimony of Jesus Christ. Repent and be converted that your
sins may be blotted out. Receive the refreshing that comes from the presence
of the Lord. Acts 3:19. |
| God has sent His Son to bless you, in turning away every one of you from
his iniquities. Receive His testimony and come, repent of your sins, and He
shall give you the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 3:26. |
| Be it known unto you all this day that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him do I preach the gospel of peace. There is salvation in none other name. All who will receive this testimony, come to God for forgiveness of sins and He shall cleanse you and give you the Holy Spirit. Acts 4:10, 12. |
AS THE GRACE OF GOD IS DRAWING FAITH FROM YOUR HEART, PLEASE MAKE THIS CONFESSION OF FAITH:
- "I CONFESS that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
- "I ACCEPT His testimony and BELIEVE that Jesus died for the sins of the world and rose again from the dead."
- "I REPENT. I have walked contrary to God, and ask for forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ."
- "I AGREE to come into covenant with God, to take on the yoke of His knowledge."
- "I AGREE to receive His Seal and embrace His commandments."
- "I DESIRE to know the living and true God."
- "Give me your life, O God, bless me with the gift of the Holy Spirit."
THE SEAL OF YOUR FAITH:
Just as God sealed the faith of the disciples of Jesus on the day of Pentecost and gave them the sign of tongues, just as Freddie also spoke in tongues, so also you can expect to speak in tongues as a sign that the righteousness of your faith has been sealed by God. Please read Rom.4:11,12.
As God forgives you of your sins, the hostility between you and God is past, you will experience the peace with God and may feel a release or a weight being lifted off you. You are saved by Jesus' death (Rom.5:9).
Yet, the Spirit of God, being WITH you in the power of His grace, is not yet IN you. You are not yet born again. Your sins are forgiven. You are declared righteous on the basis of grace and faith alone. As Abraham was declared righteous BEFORE he was brought into covenant with God through the circumcision of his flesh, you also are declared righteous BEFORE you are brought into covenant with God through the circumcision of the Spirit.
When God grants you repentance unto life (Acts 11:18) through the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues, you are being saved by Jesus' life (Rom.5:10). Jesus rose from the dead; death could not hold Him. The same power (Spirit of God) that raised Jesus from the dead enters into you when you are baptized with the Holy Spirit. God evidences this baptism with tongues so that you will be able to use this divine form of communication each day. You will receive instruction about the importance and use of this tool as you study the doctrine of Christ with the Apostle Eric.
When God baptizes you with the Holy Ghost these things are taking place:
- You are born again. God is placing His Spirit into you and you are experiencing a new birth, a spiritual birth.
- You are brought into covenant with God.
- You are given an eternal inheritance
- You are baptized into the Body of Christ
- The believer is now a child of God (the apoption).
Let us know about your conversion. We praise God with you for giving you this gift of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Write the Apostle Eric at:
We also invite you to visit the Second 8th Week University Distance Learning Site and register for your doctrinal instruction in how to have your faith perfected in Christ.