[Hephzibah Stephen]

Dear Rev Lola
You have correctly pointed out the Mandate of the church as follows: Going out and making disciples knowing that His Presence will be always with us as we reach out to our communities with the gospel of Christ. May the Lord help each one of us to accomplish this mandate.
Thank you
Hephzibah

[Hephzibah Stephen]

Deay sister Mabellyn,
You have pointed out correctly that we are called to share the good news of the Gospel of Christ throughout the nations.
Yes as you say, it is important to build positive relationships within our communities for sharing the good news. No one will accept anything communicated with arrogance and pride. Only when we have a good relationship people will be willing to listen to what we have to say. That is why Jesus put a lot of emphasis on loving our neighbours. Yes, indeed we have to watch and pray.
Thank you
Hephzibah

[Hephzibah Stephen]

Dear brother Karl,
You are right when you say many churches today preach a gospel that prepares individuals to succeed in this life. The way success is defined from the worldly perspective and heavenly perspective are very different. Unless we live a life pleasing to the Lord here on earth, the day of the Lord, when it comes, is going to be terrible. Yes, the Church should motivate believers to be true to their faith until the end so that unbelievers will see Christ in their lives.
Thank you.
Hephzibah

[Hephzibah Stephen]

Dear Hema,
you are right when you say it is the right time for the church as a body of Christ to repent and turn to God. Unless all the nominal Christians return to their Saviour and become faithful, the Church cannot face Jesus’s triumphant return with joy. The importance of salvation and holy living has to be communicated with utmost urgency to the church first. Just attending church and the fellowships alone cannot help us at His triumphant second coming!
Thank you
Hephzibah

[Hephzibah Stephen]

Dear brother Michael
Yes are right when you say we have to as a church preach the gospel of the kingdom passionately. It is the Holy Spirit who comforts, and encourages us. The Lord has empowered the Church with His Holy Spirit to complete His mission.
Thank you for your thoughts
Hephzibah

[Hephzibah Stephen]

Dear brother Richard
Thank you for your comments.
Yes, the presence of the Prosperity Teachers is a curse in the current scenario.
That increases the responsibility of the church in teaching the right doctrine
and preparing the people to meet the Lord!
Thank you.
Hephzibah

[Hephzibah Stephen]

Dear brother Richard
Either we die or while still alive, we will see the glorious coming of the Lord. This is our hope.
Yes you have rightly pointed out that on either count, our earthly sorrows, miseries, sickness, disappointments, persecutions, injustices will come to an end. What a day that will be. My father passed away 42 years ago today and I could not but think of him. After his passing away, I had a dream and I saw my father in his white cassock (he was a CSI Pastor) and his face was so shining without usual the care-lines. That is my hope too.
Hephzibah

[Hephzibah Stephen]

Dear brother Lawrence,
Thank you for your comments.
Yes unless we take care there will be more victims falling for the prosperity lures.
The Church has to be engaged actively in teaching and encouraging people in addition to
praying for them.
Thank you for your suggestion.
Hephzibah

[Hephzibah Stephen]

Dear brother Lawrence
Yes, it is our hope in the triumphant return of Christ that keeps us going and helps us face our daily struggles. We have to present this good news so that everyone will be encouraged in this life and continue to do good.
Thank you brother
Hephzibah

[Hephzibah Stephen]

Dear brother Peter
Thank you for your comments.
You have rightly pointed out that we have to communicate it to the world.
Instead of the church getting into the world the world has gotten into the church.
Of course we should pray. But most importantly we have to as you have pointed out call our Churches and congregations to the WORD at the risk of losing some members. People do not want hear what the Bible says or about holy living. That is the sad state of affairs. So our responsibility is more now.
Thank you for your wonderful thoughts.
Hephzibah

[Hephzibah Stephen]

Dear brother Peter
Thank you for your comments.
Yes, in the current prosperity culture miracles and material wealth are considered as the evidence of God’s blessing. You have rightly pointed out that Abraham had children through Keturah. What I wanted to convey was lack of money alone is not the only problem in life. People have many challenges that break them emotionally and that is how many are driven to suicide.
And that is why the glorious kingdom of God has relevance to all.
Thank you for bringing it out.
Hephzibah

[Hephzibah Stephen]

Dear brother Arun Thomas
Thank you for your comments.
I agree with you when you say that many believers are looking for messages that tickle their ears rather than convict their hearts. That is because everyone wants to hear words of blessing only. Preachers who preach messages that convict are not popular at all. Our church needs a lot of prayers.
Thank you for your thoughts
Hephzibah

[Hephzibah Stephen]

Dear brother Peter

Thank you for pointing out that the church should continue to obey His great commission and His command to us to love. Yes, the knowledge and expectation of the future triumphant return of Jesus to justify ad vindicate us should give us great comfort. So we will be failing in our duty if we do not go ahead and present Christ in every way possible. In many ways the Church has become lukewarm. May God give us the zeal to obey Him fully.
Hephzibah

[Hephzibah Stephen]

Dear Brother Ajit Moses
I agree with you when you say that when Jesus returns, there will be no one will left to oppose him. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Everyone will bow to him and submit to his rule. What a wonderful day that will be. It is indeed something the church has to look forward to. It will be very nice if it can be realized in this world too. It can be realized to an extent now if all those who are known as Christians will live a life pleasing to the Lord in obedience to the Word. The sad part is that the Church is filled nominal Christians whose lives are not acceptable to the Lord at all. We have to pray for revival.
Thank you
Hephzibah

[Hephzibah Stephen]

Dear brother Arun Thomas
You have rightly observed that the mission of the church is two fold. To the downtrodden of this world it is indeed end of troubles. But even to the others who do not belong to the downtrodden category, this life is full of challenges of different kinds and and different magnitude. For some it is sickness, for some it is due to relationships, and so on. So for everyone, entering the kingdom of God is a great thing and something to be looked forward to. Of course God opposes the proud and everyone, I mean everyone, has to give an account of our life at the final judgement. This has to motivate all of us to live pleasing God in obedience to the Lord.
Thank you
Hephzibah

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