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written by Br. Jean Leonidas
It was a blessing to attend another meeting in Dallas, North Carolina. As I left the meeting last year, I was so blessed and prayed that I can make the next meeting. I made it and this time I was not disappointed because the meeting was such an encouragement to all that attended. The Lord met His people with His presence through the songs and messages that was delivered. The saints and the staff worked very hard in order for the meeting to be a success. Each time one of the men of God stood up, the Lord used them to expound the word of God to the people.
Br. Brintley started the service explaining to us the importance of us being active in the work of God. He quoted Revelation 3:1-16, in verse 16 it says �So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth�. Br. Brintley mentioned we should be useful to the Lord else we will be good for nothing. He continued in showing us that we aught to hope in God even though people are suffering around us. He said if we stay faithful in God, He is still able to bless us. He quoted 1 Kings 4:1-7, where the widow women trusted in God and was able to be blessed by obeying the prophet. Br. Brintley said it wasn�t so much that she received a blessing but she actually had to work for it also. He said she obeyed the man of God and then had to go from house to house to get vessels and gather them in order to pour out the oil to sell. The woman had to go out and work for the promise she received from the prophet. Sometimes we think God is a magician that just wants to put on a show for us, but the way God works is that He teaches us while He is blessing us. The end of every miracle God does is to get us closer to Him in a humbly manner. We are not able to handle a blessing from God if it just magically appeared but God has to prepare our spirit for any blessing by making us work for it.
Br. Johnny Miller from Rock Hill, South Carolina, brought about an important point when he mentioned that we should no longer be babes but be able to eat strong meat. He quoted Hebrews 5:13-14, where the apostle Paul was encouraging the people of God not to stay in the same state. Br. Miller mentioned that we must understand the way God works because God is a spirit and we should seek to worship Him in spirit and truth.
Br. Singh stood up and continued on the same line of thought where Br. Brintley started the service in Revelation 3:16. Christ was warning the church telling them that they were not effective. He continued in saying that it is a good thing to be either cold or hot but to be lukewarm is not good. He said "our everyday life should be pleasing to God because church doesn't just start on the weekends but church is everyday. He continued in showing us just being in the church or part of a fellowship does not make us God�s people. He quoted Jeremiah 23:12-22, showing us God was reproving both saints and pastors who went astray from God. He said we must be careful while we are calling ourselves "the body", we can still be in Babylon. Br. Singh said �we cannot fake anything with God, when a man is really saved, even his dog knows that�.
Br. Roger Stevenson from Frankfurt, Kentucky explained to us how as a young man he was in the church and obtained so much because of his believing parents. He accredited all of his success to God for allowing him to have parents that believed. He also mentioned how the Holy Ghost should be very important to all our lives. He also mentioned of the joy of growing up in the church and the relationship he has with Br. Brintley.
Br. Richard from Elmont, New York, reminded us the spirit we must have as a child of God. He emphasized how Paul was a knowledgeable man in the Pharisee religion but he had to put that to the side in order to let God use him. He quoted 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, where Paul presented himself to the people as one having the power of God. Br. Richard acknowledged that in our days we need men that are like Paul. Men that are able to depend on God and are sure of the revelation they have received. He further quoted Galatians 1:8-9, where Paul was warning the people not to except any other interpretation of the gospel than the one he delivered to them. Br. Richard said Paul had to mention it twice to the church (both in verse 8-9) because it was so important. He said Paul had the understanding that although he was being used of God, there was still a possibility of the Devil using him.
Br. Githinji from Manchester, Connecticut preached a powerful message encouraging the church to continue believing in God. He first quoted Romans 3:20, where he was showing us that having the knowledge of the law is a benefit to us to reveal sin to us. However recognizing sin does not put sin away from our bodies. He continued by saying that is where faith is necessary. One thing he said that had me thinking was "if God is able to save us, He is able to heal us also". He said "the church should never stop believing because Christ works through our faith". He also quoted Mark 6:3-6, where the people did not believe in Christ and verse 6 and 7 says "and He marveled because of their unbelief. And He went round about the villages, teaching. And He called unto Him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;� We can even stop Christ from working the way He is supposed to work when we neglect to believe in Him. Believing is a must for all us.
Br. Geary from Tampa, Florida stood up and gave us a very inspiring message. As I sat there I could feel the charity with each word that was coming out from his mouth. He was showing us that we must get over the different distinctions within our midst. Once we start calling each other out by different categories, we are already dividing ourselves. He quoted 1 Corinthians 3:1-6, where the apostle Paul was exhorting the church not to see the ministers of God as two or three but as one working for Christ. Christ must be the center of everything being done in the church. Br. Geary further explained the spirit that must be working in us and that we should not have any bitterness in us while preaching the word of God. He quoted Ephesians 4:15 where it says we must speak the truth in love. He admonished the church to seek the spirit of Christ where by we can get to the point where we can forgive each other as Christ also has forgiven us. He said "Christ�s forgiveness is instantaneous; we should also get to the point where we are able to forgive and forget".
Br. Glenn from Des Moines, Iowa blessed us with a joyful message. He encouraged us to be joyful in the Lord at all times. He explained that happy and joyful is two different things. He said "being happy is outward but being joyful is inward and can only come from God". People can be happy from receiving a gift from someone or when something good happens but he said being joyful can only happens with the hope that God has given us. He quoted Psalms 51:12, where David was asking God to "restore unto him the joy of salvation". One scripture that really caught my eye was in Nehemiah 8:10, the latter end of the scripture says that the "joy of the Lord shall be our strength". This message was so vital for us to hear. We are living in an age where everyone is looking on the outward appearance for comfort but now we know God is able to comfort us with the joy of His salvation.
My pastor, Br. Antoine Clairant from Westbury, NY reminded us that we should take hold of all the messages we hear. He also said that one thing He is waiting for is God�s power to be so strong with the fellowship that when the sick comes for prayer, they will get healed. I also believe that this is possible because God said in Mark 16:20, �and they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." I encourage everyone to come to these fellowship meetings where ever they may be. The meetings are always encouraging as God sends forth ministers to bless His people with the word of God. I was blessed to have attended the Dallas Meeting.
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