Confessions clear way for communion
Several Dinangat believers have renewed their relationship with the Lord.
Many who were young in their faith and their understanding of the Scriptures had fallen back into practicing sorcery. After much prayer, missionary Gary Smith got up in their meeting and addressed the sin clearly, naming it and explaining the Scriptures that deal specifically with the sin of sorcery.
As the Dinangats contemplated what Gary shared, one of the teachers suddenly got up spoke. He summarized the teaching and gave glory to God for making His Word clear. Then he admitted that he and his wife had not spoken up against those involved in sorcery.
“He and his wife both stood up and apologized for not standing up more against this issue when they saw it taking place,” wrote missionary Jeremiah Markley. “They confessed before everyone in the church and the Lord for their part, and then opened the floor to anyone else who wanted to speak.”
At first there was silence and everyone just looked around at the others. But then another believer stood up and he confessed his sin and thanked God for His forgiveness. Immediately after him others stood, one by one they confessed their sin.
“This went on for about an hour, all in all over 30 believers humbling themselves and laying themselves bare before the Lord and the all of us. Oh, the beauty of witnessing the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit,” wrote Jeremiah.
Afterward they shared communion together and it was a sweet time of fellowship and renewal.
Pray for Gary and Jeremiah and their families and Ralf and Elli Schlegel as they minister to the Dinangat church. Pray that the missionaries will continue to make God’s Word clear so that the new believers will stand strong on the Scriptures. Pray for the Dinangats who confessed their sins and gave God glory for His forgiveness.