A Reference of God

What else can we teach about Abraham that hasn’t already been taught?
However, there is something that few have learned from the many examples of faith in the life of this hero: he has become a reference of the Living God on Earth.
When we talk to people about God, many things remain unclear.
After all, mankind has made their own gods for themselves.
In general, in sports, fools worship their idols.
In the music world, other fools worship singers.
This is, in each segment of success there is always a god to be worshiped because of a popular passion.
Each idolater has their own god.
How can you separate the One True Lord God from the others?
And how can you tell the difference between a child of God and an idolater?
The word "God" means One that is worshiped.
The adoration of your child constitutes as idolatry.
The adoration of any human, animal or thing constitutes as idolatry.
Because of this, believing in God does not mean much or practically anything.
The Abrahamic belief changed the meaning of believing in God.
His relationship with the Invisible God teaches us that.
By invoking the God of Abraham, we are defining our faith, in an intelligent way, to the Lord who revealed Himself to Abraham and made him promises and fulfilled them to the smallest details.
Among all religions, which other god did the same with his followers?
Does anyone know another god who has fulfilled his promises like the God of Abraham did?
Only He honored and continues to honor Abraham and his children in the faith.
Abraham was beyond a blessing.
He was, is and always will be a reference of God in Earth.
When, in the name of the Lord Jesus, I pray and direct my thoughts to the God of Abraham, my faith awakens.
When I pronounce the God of Isaac, my faith increases.
When I am fully concentrated on the God of Israel, the blood of my faith boils and I forget that I'm in the world.
When I use my faith in the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Israel it’s as if I climb the ladder of faith and reach the throne of the Most High.
Try this for yourself.
When challenging the prophets of Baal, the prophet Elijah knew his life was at stake. If his prayer did not have an immediate response, he would be killed. Then he prayed:
"Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word," I Kings 18.36
His prayer did not last 20 seconds, and the fire came down.
The glorious manifestation of the One and Eternal God, Unknown among nations, began with Abraham.
Abraham teaches that there is no limit to what can be conquered by faith;
That we should not measure efforts to practice intelligent faith;
That unconditional obedience to the voice of God was his cross from the beginning of his walk with the Most High.
With him we learn that the size of faith is measured by the degree of sacrifice.
With him we learn to live by faith.
With him we learn to separate faith from emotion, the feelings of the heart.
With him we learn to sacrifice.
With him we find the existence of the Eternal Creator God.

God forgives. Now pay!

God’s forgiveness is bigger than any sin, but sadly it doesn’t keep the sinner from suffering the consequence of what he did.

Understand this: To forgive is to eliminate the anger or hurt against the one who sinned. However, forgiveness does not deal with the consequences of the sin, just the sinner.
I have observed that those who live in sin for a while postpone repenting and changing because of the desire to “enjoy themselves a little bit longer.” Perhaps in their subconscious they tell themselves, “I know I have to change, I will change, but not now… Just a little bit longer… I’ll fix things with God and the world later.”
It’s the syndrome of the thief who is always caught in their “last time” stealing. “Just this last time, I’ll stop after this.” Then they end up in prison, and pray to God promising they will change. And God forgives them. But the thief will still have to pay his debt to society and serve his time in prison.
God forgives the drunk and the drug addict, but their body will pay the price.
God forgives adultery. But the child that came as a result or the memory of the adultery will always be there – whether the marriage goes on or not.
God forgives your irresponsible expenses. But you’re the one who will have to pay the credit card bill.
God forgives your lie. But perhaps the people you lied to will take a long time to trust you again – if they are able to get over what you did.
That’s why, our spiritual intelligence tells us the best thing to do is not to sin in the first place. But in case you have already, stop while your ahead.
Someone once said: the first thing to do when you’re at the bottom of a hole is stop digging.

Pride: a characteristic of God’s enemy

“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble,” James 4.6
Pride is something God does not tolerate in mankind, because He is the essence of humbleness. In Him, there never was, is or will be such a thing as pride. This is a particular characteristic of his arch-enemy – the devil.
The universe of faith goes against the secular world. As people work tirelessly to achieve their own glory – counting on the accolades awarded by men, which provide them with a lot of pride – those who are of God, work so that all the glory and praise be given to the One who is worthy of receiving them – Jesus.
In the Christian point of view, pride is detrimental to our spirituality. It is like HIV, which usually enters the blood at a time of pleasure, during sexual climax. While a man is finding pleasure in his partner, who carries the virus, he does not feel the worms of death penetrate his body. They remain undetected until it’s time to manifest themselves and completely destroy their victim.
The same happens with those who are addicted to drugs. The moment when the contaminated needle injects liquid pleasure into the bloodstream, the virus catches a ride and enters the body, causing the tragic end of a life.
It is very difficult to talk about pride without remembering (not criticizing, but using as learning experience, so that no one makes the same mistakes) the men who used to be with us – and God, through them, worked many miracles, such as healing and deliverance – but they forgot they were simply instruments in the hands of the Doctor of the doctors.
Have you ever seen someone who has undergone a successful surgery praise the scalpel or the clamp that was used during the procedure? Usually, it is the surgeon who receives the accolades, and not the instruments. Right?
We, assistants, pastors, bishops and wives are nothing more than a scalpel, which must be very sharp and sterile to be used. Otherwise, we will be replaced by one that is fit for the spiritual surgery that transforms lives.
May God have mercy on us and remind us that we are just an instrument in His hands.
God bless you,
Bishop Sergio Corrêa.

The blood of consecration

The word "sacred" means "dedicated", and devoted through an offering. Therefore, when you give an offering in favor of a person, you are actually dedicating yourself to that person. Once such an offering is made to God, it means that person now belongs to Him (Leviticus 27.2). "And the wicked one does not touch him," 1 John 5.18. Unless it’s with God’s permission, like in Job’s case, Job 2.6
How many families are being affected by evil spiritual forces, who cause addictions, illnesses, poverty, misunderstandings and, worst of all, death – like in some cases, it arrives too early , because of a lack of care, safety or dedication to God? However, the most important question is: where will the souls of these people go? Because, the truth is that death is imminent to all of mankind and, sooner or later, one way or another, it will come for everyone.
How many parents would give anything and not measure efforts to have their children back? But, the truth is: that after death, there is nothing else you can do; you must do everything while you still can.
This tithers’ consecration, together with the vow for your family, will bring protection and, especially, salvation.
This reminds us of the Israelites’ deliverance from Egyptian bondage, when every Israelite had to sacrifice a lamb for their family, according to God’s instructions (Exodus 12.1-6), and the blood of that lamb, placed on the doorposts and lintels, would be the sign that those houses were consecrated to God, Exodus 12.7-13
The firstborn would be saved, delivered from the destroyer, on a night like this one, to kill those who were in homes that were not marked with the blood of the lamb, while all the firstborns of the Egyptians were killed (Exodus 12.29). And, who knows, maybe some of the children of Israel, who refused to obey or did not care, were also victims of the same spirit of destruction, which also acts the same way nowadays?
The Brazilian Carnival is about to begin. While many will be celebrating this feast of the flesh, we will be fighting for our loved ones from the 3rd until the 10th of February. Actually, it was after this event, in Exodus 12, that the Passover and the consecration of the firstborn were instituted, so that the people of Israel would never forget this ritual of consecration, Exodus 12.14.
And just like the sacrifice of the lamb consecrated the house of those who believed, the Lord Jesus was consecrated by Joseph and Maria’s offering, Luke 2.22-24
Those who believe will be consecrated through their tithes and will consecrate their families through their offerings. This is our faith: those who believe will consecrate their family; those who do not believe, patience!

Facing the monster early in the morning

This story took place in 1994 when I was sent to the city of Cabo, South Africa to begin evangelistic work there. We had finished renting an old vacant warehouse and after some basic reforms, we opened it as our church. 
Nevertheless, during the first simplest of rainstorms the roof cried on the inside. We called the owner and asked for provisions. It was the end of the day, but he promised to resolve the problem. Being that he owns several businesses and many properties, I thought: “I hope he really sends someone tomorrow and doesn’t give us the run around.”
The next morning at 7 a.m he came in person to the church, which opened at 5:30 a.m (yes, Africans wake up early… our first meeting was at 6 a.m.) I had finished the meeting and spoke with some of the people that asked us for prayer before going to work. I finished speaking to them and then went to greet the owner. “I confess I am surprised. I didn’t expect you so early.”
He answered with assurance and positivity in his voice, a characteristic of successful people: “Pastor, I learned many years ago in business: when you have a problem or something unpleasant to resolve, it’s best to put it on the top of your list and get it out of the way early in the morning. If not, the more you delay or avoid it, the worst your day will be. So I came to eliminate this problem from my day and yours. How can I help you?”
I have never forgotten that man or the lesson he taught me. It has been almost 20 years and I have tested and proven those wise words hundreds of times.
Try it yourself. If there is something that you know you have to do but keep postponing, fearing or rehearsing how you will do it, but you never actually do it, stop torturing yourself. Face the monster already and you will see how the rest of your day will flow all the better.
It’s like ripping off a Band-Aid.

On the last, great day of the feast…

What’s the price of a soul?  How about the soul of one of your loved ones? What about the price for your entire family? Clearly, nothing in this world can be compared to the price of one soul.
And yet, deaths are rapidly multiplying in this world.
People’s lives are taken by the most trivial, and by the most oppressive misery.
Only God, those who are born of God, and the devil know the true price of a soul.
The king of Sodom, symbolizing Satan, said the Abraham:
Give me the people, but take the possessions for yourself. Genesis 14.21
This gives us an ideal of the satanic goal of this world.
According to the Law of Moses, every firstborn son of a couple would be dedicated or consecrated to the Lord.
The firstborn son, the first fruit of the couple, was dedicated to the Lord.
This boy, as the tithe, would be considered God’s own possession.
Eight days after his birth they would celebrate his dedication.
In those times, the parents would give sacrificial vows on this special day. Each couple, according to their ability, would make an offering.
If a couple was extremely poor, even then they would make a sacrificial offering.
Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord, and to offer a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Luke 2.23,24
This was done with Jesus as a child.
A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons was the minimum that they were to offer to God.
But now, we praise the name of Jesus for opening the door for us to consecrate or dedicate anyone to Him, whether or not they are the firstborn.
The dedication of Jesus as a child demanded the sacrifice of an animal’s blood, according to the Law of Moses.
On the 3^rd to the 10^th of February we will join the consecration of the firstborn (the tithers) and the dedication of our family.
Those who believe should place their tithe together with a vow for their family and a photo and join this multitude of faith that is being raised up.
Seven days of dedication (Sunday the 3^rd to Saturday the 9^th) and on the eighth day, the 10^th, we will have the feast of the Holy Spirit in each home, when the family of faith will participate in the Lord’s Supper.
If you believe, move forward; if you don’t, say behind.
May God bless those who believe.