PEOPLE ADORE JESUS for the miracles He performs for them, but so few are willing to suffer shame and insult for Him.
Speaking recently during a healing and deliverance retreat at Living Waters, headquartered in St David’s, Christ Church, host and leader Minister Rommel Lawrence told the Christians that if they desired to wear Jesus’ crown of victory, they must first be prepared to do battle amid persecution.
He said no one could claim to be victorious without having been in a battle; and neither could a person give a true testimony unless he or she had been through a test, temptation, trial or suffering.
“At the heart of the suffering, salvation is shrouded in mystery, life is hidden in the blood of Jesus, protection is guaranteed in the precious wounds of Jesus, heavenly joy is secure in the sacred heart of Jesus, strength is available in the power of His Word, radiant light flows from the power of His resurrection, peace awaits in His invitation for divine service to a hurting world and health in mind, body, spirit and soul is present in His embrace,” Lawrence said.
He urged the congregation to count it all as joy when they fell into different temptations, since temptations and trials were often used to test their faith.
“God will always honour your faith in Him in the midst of your suffering. Job, Joseph and Jacob knew this, as did Peter, James and John. One thing is certain: if you do God’s work, you will get God’s pay,” the Roman Catholic said.
He also relayed to his listeners that while their crown of suffering could come through adversity and persecution (even from family members), when suffering was borne with faith in God’s mercy and compassion, their character “was strengthened and motivation for victory nourished”.
He asked a number of poignant questions: “Have you not noticed that the more you seek after the spiritual life, the more unappealing the carnal life becomes? The closer you get to the heart of Jesus, the heavier your cross will seem? This is so because your departure from sin increases in proportion to your love for Jesus.
“Through the cross you will know the grace of Christ, and it is in Christ that you will be refreshed, reformed, rejuvenated, restored and reshaped to undertake even greater works in the name of Jesus.
“When you become effaced and transparent in the presence of God, you will be unafraid of revealing your sins. This will be the state of total repentance.
“You will not be intimidated by man’s wickedness. Instead, you will thrive on waves of holy boldness, selflessness and submission to the will of God Almighty.”
Lawrence also reminded his listeners that the journey from the place of suffering to the place of victory was punctuated with milestones of patience, resilience, courage, forgiveness and repentance, but at the place of victory, they would be filled with God’s Holy Spirit and exude life.
“There you will know that God will use your ordinary nature to accomplish extraordinary things.”
While he reminded congregants of men of God such as Ezekiel and Paul, who through faith wrought many miracles, Lawrence pointed out that they suffered much persecution but stood to receive the crown of life promised by God for those who love Him.
He concluded: “We ought to see ourselves as torches waiting to be lit by the fire of the Holy Spirit, but we can only be bearers of the light of God when we yield our lives to Him and allow Him to possess us and use us as He desires, so that His Kingdom and His will can come to earth as it is in heaven.”
Testimonials were shared and worship in song and prayers was offered up during a time of healing and deliverance before the retreat came to an end.
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