I woke up one morning and remembered the things I used to do, things I used to be great at. I sat at the corner of my bed as I reminisced on those memories; it felt like it was just yesterday. I started telling people tales of how I used to be a great leader, a good dancer, and the list is endless but the one that struck me most and caught my attention is that whenever I tell them I used to be a dangerous prayer warrior they give me this ‘n then look’. There was one response that hit my consciousness and it was of a 7 year old boy who asked me then what happened, what is stopping you from continuing being a dangerous prayer warrior?
…and my response was I don’t know, I guess staff happened. There is nothing that’s annoying like a 7 year old inquisitive boy bombarding you with questions you haven’t asked yourself; he asked me what am I willing to do with it, am I comfortable and happy telling people things of the former glory. MXEM….kids…they just bluff, wait until you get to where I am and you will tell me; that was my response.
No matter how ignorant you can try to be, the truth will always be the truth and it requires maturity for you sit down search and acknowledge your weaknesses and work on them, so that when someone points them out you won’t be ticked off by what is merely the truth.
As little Jonny walked away repeating the words former glory (you know kids can be when they what to annoy you), I got reminded of these two scriptures;
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.( Isaiah 43:18)
The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty. (Haggai 2:9)
This called for a serious personal check out, after 3 days I realized it’s an issue of FAITH and it can be tricky if you do not understand what I mean. I need faith to recuperate all that I lost; strength, focus, direction and my base of foundation who is Christ, with these and many more I can definitely get back on track and keep up to do even greater things. Many at times we struggle with a lot of issues, we tell people things we used to do and end up settling with I used to be; but with my little knowledge I had this revelation that, if I can tell people that used be a drunkard, rapists, thief, liar, fornicator, murder or witchdoctor but now I am a child of God, pastor, evangelist, apostle, cell leader, worship leader then it means I must have been born again somewhere in the process ( I must have received Christ and accepted Him as my Lord and savior). If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9.
I guess my faith can be born again…the born again faith…
As a now believer I used to do things of the world, things that I took joy in when I was a sinner and I heard about Christ, believed in Him and went on to be baptized with water and the Holy Ghost and now I’m leaving the life of a believer following Christ footsteps (Read 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 for further understanding). I got born again and stopped doing ungodly things, and I strive every day to walk in perfection just like Apostle Paul says Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (Philippians 3:12). The attribute of doing was required from me, accepting Christ and being baptized isn’t enough I had to stand up and do, act and imitate Christ.
It’s a similar approach with my ‘BORN AGAIN FAITH’, I used to believe in many philosophies and random people (which are somehow not bad at times) but I had to change my perception. My new found FAITH had to be born again, I believe in God with all that’s in me because the Bible said it is impossible to please God without faith… (Hebrews 11:6) as I went on I realized that believing is not enough, I’m required to do more than just to have faith because if I don’t I will end up singing ‘I used to do this and that’ song. My faith can be renewed if I work it out, I stand up and act on the ‘I used to be’ so I achieve more and greater things, What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? (James 2:14).
James 2:14-26
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
One of the principle of Christianity is to do, Christ said I do the work of the one that has sent me;
- My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. (John 4:34)
- Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:29)
- As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. (John 9:4)
- The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him. (John 8:29)
If this principle is crucial then it means even that of faith is important, once you purpose in your heart not only have faith in yourself and in the things you used to do but start acting upon that faith by going back on your knees to pray, trace where you left of with being a good leader or dancer make ends meet just to get on your feet. I will say then your faith just got born again for you used to do them and fell off or got side tracked by life’s challenges but you refused to remain down and sing lonely song, you stood up and kept on with your walk with God.
It does not matter how many times you failed on that particular task, whether you just got demoted, retrenched, failed, you used to be worshipper or whatever it is. All that it needs is to revive your faith, stop telling people about your former glory rather prepare yourself to tell them about your new glory, the glory that will give you peace and greater joy.
For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again… (Proverbs 24:16), give your faith the chance it needs to bring you to your place of glory and not shame, just like you gave Christ the chance to bring you to His glorious seat and not defeat.
Arise and shine, child of God for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you, to give you faith which is the chance to be born again and stop saying I used to be.
By
Kesego Ramoleko
