YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED CITYHILL MENS EVENT
First light streams through a broken window on a cold winter morning. Basil says a prayer, gets his Bible and packet of personal belongings together, then heads out onto the street. Basil lives in a homeless shelter in Durban’s CBD where he shares a dormitory-style room with 30 people. Through physical pain in both legs Basil walks to ‘his bench’ where he relies on donations to pay for his next night in the shelter. At R24.00 per night excluding meals, this is a challenge. Basil ignores his hunger and keeps his thoughts focused on God, trusting for guidance. Anyone who knows Basil sees his love for the Lord. I first met him when I joined the shelter ministry. After being saved last year, I learned about the compassion Jesus had for the poor and I felt God’s call to go to the shelters, to bring glory to His name by spreading the Gospel. When CityHill announced the CityReach program I knew it was an opportunity to experience the privilege of doing God’s work.
If you feel led to join the shelter ministry, we would love to welcome you! The team goes out Thursday evenings, from 6:45pm. For more info please contact the CityHill office or missions@cityhill.co.za
In this scripture we are reminded again that salvation has nothing to do with us. It is God’s work. Here is a great story of one of the many ways that God draws us to Himself. Let’s start with my history. I had been a Methodist “church-goer” pretty much all my life, always believed that God was there but had never given my life to the Lord. Around 5 years ago I joined an Afrikaans charismatic church in Johannesburg and, once again, was just a “church-goer”. In 2009 we moved back to Durban and were un-churched for some time. In January 2011, we joined CityHill Church.
The following month, Lizelle received a call from an employer she had worked for many years before, and they had a pension payout of a couple of thousand to transfer to her. I think God saw that I had not completely responded yet at this point, still resisting at times and worrying about things that He held in His hands, so He kept the biggest for last. I had learnt in the Bible that you must pay your taxes, and I had not submitted a claim in about 6 years. The penalties alone, when calculated, would be around R70 000. Lizelle and I agreed that sorting out our tax was the right thing to do. In doing so, instead of owing SARS I received two amazing refunds.
At that time, we had many challenges: my wife Lizelle Needless to say, at this point I needed no further lost her job in January and we were placed under pressure convincing - I gave my life to the Lord in September financially. I prayed to God that I was ‘out of plans’ and in November I was baptised. and would place it in His hands from that point. Every month God provided, but He provided for us in unusual My dreams in ministry are not 100% clear to me, and ways. The very first month that we were down to the I continue to pray about it. When I gave my life to the bone and didn’t know which corner to cut financially, Lord I immediately felt a burning desire to get involved I received a phone call to say that I had won a mountain in Kids ministry, and last year got involved with the bike. I had not even received the bicycle and it was grade 3 boys and have followed them to grade 4 this already sold via a work colleague. year. Why not take some time to remind yourself of that moment when God called you through a friend, a coworker, family member or maybe even a particular situation. In reminding yourself, celebrate and give God thanks.
Joseph (whose brothers sold him). When in hardship, it often feels like your brothers are selling you off to the highest bidder. It is in times like these that one must, more than ever, trust God and not man.
I sometimes find it amusing how people, Christians, remember the promises in the Word, but are slow to It was during the last ‘dip’ that 2 Cor 9 came alive to give thanks and honour God who makes good on His me. You keep on sowing seed. Make sure it is on good promises. We even had a song that said ‘Every promise ground where the seed can grow and deliver a harvest. in the Book is mine, every chapter, every verse, and Remember: no seed, no harvest! every line’. Never, never, never stop praising God for what He is The one that stuck in my mind is the one in Deuteronomy about to do in your life. Read the Word and listen to 8:18, where the Lord says ‘remember the Lord your what He says. Fill your days and nights with God things. God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth.’ But the verse does not stop there. The reason He gives Now here is what I believe to be the secret. When things us ‘power to get wealth,’ is to establish His covenant. start to get better, learn from the latter part of 2 Cor 9: If you can always remember the reason why God blesses HONOUR GOD. THANKSGIVING TO GOD. PRAISE you, the blessings never cease. Then songs such as, TO GOD. “Great is Thy Faithfulness” has new meaning. It then becomes easy to bless others with the spoils. 2 Cor 9:8 Don’t ever steal His Glory, for it is He who gives you says ‘God is able to make all grace (every favour and power to get wealth. earthly blessing) come to me in abundance, and it shall overflow to God’s people (The saints).’ Remember to be a blessing. This is great. What happens when you lose everything? Is God not true to His Word? Who is to blame when the sheriff comes to write up all your earthly possessions for auction? This happened to us. Twice. All you can do is trust God and look for the outcome. He is always true. The two greatest examples we find in the Word are Job and
Thanks and Glory be to God.