15 September 2008
My dear brothers and sisters,
My dear brothers and sisters,
October 5th which is the day of Thanksgiving for us as New Apostolic
Church members in the District of Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe is just around the
corner.
Although we need to and we always do thank our God everyday for the countless
blessings he grants us, we usually want to reserve this day (the day of
thanksgiving) for a special thanks offering in prayer and in sacrifice. As we
draw near to this day, we want to look back, as the Chief Apostle recently made
mention in his monthly Divine Service Guide, it is difficult to appreciate and
be thankful for God’s help and provision without hindsight. This hindsight can
be gained and allowed to bear fruit when we have the fear of God, which is
anchored on our love for him as Almighty God and our benefactor. As children of
God we know that whatever we have came from God. He is the author and source of
all life.
On one occasion the Lord Jesus asked Simon the Pharisee this question,
“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii
and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely
forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”
Luke 7:41-42.
We note that despite him not having a very believing heart, Simon got the answer
right, because it is logical that for that one who was forgiven more, he would
be more thankful. However, I wish to also state that as logical as it may seem,
it can not be accomplished in a way which pleases God, like the way that woman
in the house of Simon pleased the Lord, if it is done without faith.
"… But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God
must believe that He is , and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek
him…" Hebrews
11:6.
The faith we have in our God bears the fruit of love, sacrifice, hope and
willingness to serve.
Dear brothers and sisters, each one of us knows for himself or herself what God
has done for them for which they are indebted to him and this is what will
cultivate, sow, and tender the hindsight that will develop the faith - a faith
that will result in works, one of which is the making of a special thanksgiving
offering on 5th October 2008.
Dear brothers and sisters, I have noted with thanks in my heart that all
brothers and sisters in Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe have continued to sacrifice
for the work of God and this has given the support the Chief Apostle and I
require to continue serving and leading God’s children to the goal. This has
been demonstrated by increased thanksgiving offering in all the three countries
under our District in 2007. It is my wish and prayer that even this year our
thanks offering will show growth just like our faith, our membership and our
understanding is growing.
Last year, I did request all of you to pray hard for the work of God in our
District and I have felt that this has been done. I thank you from the bottom of
my heart and urge you to continue in this great and noble work.
Lastly, I wish you a richly blessed Thanksgiving day. I will be in Woodlands
congregation in Lusaka, Zambia from where I will remember all of you.
I hereby send you all our love from my fellow apostles and me.
Charles S. Ndandula
