Blessed Life SA & Unemployment

South Africa's unemployment rate is currently at about 26%. That means out of the 53.5 million people in South Africa there are about 14.5 million people who are not working at the moment. The stark reality due to this fact is that there are families starving. 

We have created a platform on Facebook which allows Jobseekers to place there CV's and Employers to put our job requests. Find it at www.facebook.com/blessedlifesaconnect 

A Warning.

Hello friends. 

Today's topic is a pretty serious one as I believe it's important for us to hear the truth, and also know the truth. Like I mentioned in my previous post, I am busy working through Galatians and I found a strict warning from the Apostle Paul to the church. 

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9 ESV)

Verse 6 speaks about turning from the truth and Grace. Our foundation as Christians is based on Grace and the sacrifice Jesus made. 

Verse 7 states that there are people who want to distort the gospel of Christ. They aren't trying to do away with it, just muddle it up and make it there own Gospel. Think of a clear pool of water as the pure Gospel of Jesus and then someone comes and throws sand and rubbish into the pool. It's the same Gospel in essence, but it is now distorted with half truths and full lies. 

Verse 8-9 are a stern warning from Paul. He may come across as being a bit arrogant at this point making a statement that says "even if we or an angel from heaven should preach something different to what they preached before, let him be accursed." I take some comfort in the fact that he puts himself in that criteria as well. 

Ok so we now see that we have to be careful what gospel we listen to. But an even bigger eye opener for me is that I have to be careful as to what gospel I preach. I can never take a story of my life and try fit the gospel into it. I have to fit my story into the gospel as that is my baseline and concrete foundation. I've seen and heard preachers take there preaching and fit a bit of Gospel in there. Lets get back to preaching the unadulterated word of God with no compromise or deviation from the pure gospel. 

Friends we have such a huge responsibility in haveing a platform like this. I might just be speaking to myself on this one and if that's the case know that I will always do my best to present the pure gospel of our savior. 

Love you much. 

Thanks for reading. 

Pastor Chris

You ARE called.

Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— (Galatians 1:1 ESV) 

Ok so I haven't done this in a while and I have a very valid reason.

 You know when you start something and it gets to be an obsession. I started the blog and was so worried about numbers and viewership, that I lost sight of why I started in the first place. I really felt led by the Holy Spirit to stop and get my priorities straight.

Now in bearing my weakness to you I want to encourage, maybe even just one of you today that you ARE called. Not from men nor through man! 

You are called by Jesus Christ and God the father who raised Him from the dead. 

I have been working through the book of Galatians and there are so many statements and corrections that Paul makes to the church at Galatia. But he starts the book off by reaffirming his call. He makes sure to say that his calling isn't man made or maintained by man but that is a call that was established by God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

My friend today this scripture is for you. You may be going through a season of drought and questioning God. You my be criticized by friends and family about your call. Take heart today that you have a call that is established by God himself. With your call comes the anointing. With this anointing you are equipped by God to do what he has planned for you to do. 

The book of Galatians primarily deals with grace but also gives us a good understanding of the road less traveled, yet Paul did just that. He was in training and sharpening his ministry tools for 17 years before he went to meet with all the apostles. Your season is at hand and God is sharpening you up. Don't lose sight of that. 

With much love 

Pastor Chris.