“Witness, Difference, Dependency”

Witness. Difference. Dependency.

Three words about the fathers heart that have been revealed  to me these past few weeks. These three words act as a step by step process. This process is the very core of what happens when we look at scripture and the life of Jesus. People WITNESS who God is and because of this encounter they leave DIFFERENT, now realizing they must be utterly DEPENDENT upon the Father. Not only was this every encounter Jesus had with people in scripture, but this is what happens still today!!! The Holy Spirit dwells inside of us. The Lord is dwelling in and with us. As we are called in 2 Corinth. 3:6 to be “ministers of the new covenant”, we get to walk hand in hand with the resurrection power of Christ as he is bringing his love and freedom over people everyday. In every moment, King Jesus is WITNESSING to his children and to the lost. He is leaving people DIFFERENT as they’re lives begin to be entirely transformed from darkness to light. Never leaving his peoples side as they learn to be DEPENDENT upon him.

How do I know this… because it’s happening in-front of my eyes in Africa. Do you all remember the Cab driver, my friend Soso, from the last blog? The one who had never heard the name Jesus? Yes, that one. After weeks of conversation about who Jesus is, the Bible, sin, and relationship for eternity and much prayer together. He opened his heart and he has begun to WITNESS the love, kindness, and truth of God. This past week, I called for a cab, graciously it was Soso driving. We greeted each other as friends as I got in and began to chat. As I asked him about our recent conversations and his thoughts about Jesus, he began to smile. He turned to me and said, “Matt ya know what, I have begun to pray everyday. I don’t know, I just feel DIFFERENT”. As I write this there are tears in my eyes. A life full of anger, hurt, disappointment, and abandonment now being met by the redeeming love of god. A 40 year old cab driver who 4 weeks ago had never heard the name Jesus, is now being encountered by the relational love of the Father. Need I not tell you that the Father is doing what he did in the gospels today? He hasn’t stopped changing the narrative for people everyday. Furthermore, my dear friend Soso now has a Bible for the first time and has started to read it so that he may learn to become completely DEPENDENT on the fathers love. How kind is King Jesus?

During the last few weeks the manual labor to help build housing had been hard work, but in every free moment the Lord has been calling me to evangelism in obedience and to love His people in this town. I have been brought to tears by the kindness of the Lord as He is so intentional in loving His children and saving the lost. This past week some incredible things have happened, exalting Gods glory. Two weeks ago I had a chat with a young man named Ronny, a believer of Jesus, 23 years of age, and a Zimbabwe native. While working to chop down timber for the housing we are building, he told me that when he reads the Bible the words jumble up at times. As I investigated further, it was clear he had dyslexia. But with little education, he wasn’t aware of this.  There in the woods while chopping down trees, we prayed to the Father, asking God to heal and restore his eyes. 5 days later I saw him again and asked how his eyes were and if he could read his Bible, his phone, or anything whiteout any issues. He smiled and said “no problems. My eyes, they are very good”. We both began to smile, laugh,  and embrace on another praising God for what He had done.

This last weekend I also had the honor of standing next to my brother in Christ, Jacob, during his public declaration of faith through Baptism! It was one of the most joyous days for our team. The fathers presence in transforming his life and his courage to step into his new life with Christ is admirable. Look at the pictures below and try not to smile, the freedom and love of the Lord exudes through the photos. To God be the Glory, all of heaven rejoices!!

Over the past two weeks I probably have close to over 20 stories I could write about Gods work He is doing and how His Kingdom is alive on this earth, but id write a blog too long for anyone to read haha. But, I shall share just a bit more into what God is currently doing personally in me. With three weeks left until I return to America the idea of home and the comforts it will bring are an easy trap to fall into to keep me from seeing all God has left for me in Africa. I pray that I don’t miss one thing. I pray God continues to teach me, humble me, and nurture me further into sanctification. That he would equip me with wisdom and a heart full of strength and honor to walk in the next season of my life. I can often run into the future as I am hungry to “complete” the next goal or phase of life and enjoy it. But I pray the father teaches me patience as this sweet season in Africa comes to a close!

As I write to you knowing at this time over 2,000 years ago, Jesus was laying in a tomb and darkness thought it had won. But death and darkness was to be defied in the coming hours, leaving the power of reconciliation through the blood of Christ reigning in love and power over all of creation. A plan that was forethought before time and then predicted throughout history of the Old Testament as the true messiah message is being brought to revelation. The Father ready to reveal his nature and majesty as his son was to be raised from the dead, as all of creation bears WITNESS to the Living God! Defining the DIFFERENCE between life and death. Graciously allowing our inherently dependent hearts to find DEPENDENCE in Him.  Happy Easter my friends. WITNESS his reign in love. Reflect on the DIFFERENCE he has made in you life as you have encountered him. Choose daily to be graciously DEPENDENT in his nature and power.

Ways to pray:

1. That I wouldn’t miss one thing the Lord has for me here. That I would posture myself to receive all he has while in Africa.
2. For clear mental preparation as I return home.
3. That as the Lord calls us into the last three weeks in the field to further his kingdom, that we would courageously step into this invitation to be ministers of the new covenant.