GABRIELA YARELIZ

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I read Samuel Pipim’s resignation letter. I know this is old news. I cried.  For those who don’t know who he is, really all you have to know is that he is a leader. He has spoken on some of the most controversial Bible topics, and he started campus ministries. I cried not only for him and his family and the difficult time they must be facing, but I cried because this is not new. There is a conflict of good vs. evil battling for our souls. The conflict is so real. What is at stake? Our lives.

And let us praise God for the grace that He imparts to each one of us, even when we fall. But how can we keep from falling?

I have seen, through mistakes of leadership (in my own personal life included) that we are all so fallible and weak. The enemy of souls tries to lure us with any little thing to very dangerous territory.

I just wish people realized that this no longer has to do with ministries, books and conferences…the only thing that works is our own personal connection with God. That being said, I can go to an evangelistic training, but I can leave either changed or the same. The choice is mine. In fact I can achieve the same or more with just me and my Bible in an open field. It’s not about titles, appearance; it’s about time and dedication.

I wish couples ministries and family ministries stopped updating their blogs and posting photo galleries, and I wish they’d actually focus on staying together in Christ. I know. Who am I to talk? I’m not perfect. This is an observation that has led me to want to make changes in my own life.

What is it I am holding back, when Christ gave all for me? Now, I am not talking shallowly; I mean time.

At my job, during the high school retreat, from behind the cash register I saw many Christian youth come and go. Oh, the letter I would write to you! Life is not how it seems to you. It is not reading a devotional in the morning and spending the day laughing about meaningless things with your friends. It’s not about march drills, praise teams, Facebook- if only we knew how difficult this battle really is. If only we knew that we can’t just stand here with a Bible but there is a whole armor of God to be put on.

I speak for myself. in a world of magazines, a gazillion credits, projects, exams, work, church leadership, it’s easy to become consumed. I know I need to do more.

We cannot of ourselves be safe; only in the hands of God can we be safe.

Ephesians 6:10-24 from www.biblegateway.com

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

¹¹Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

¹²For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

¹³Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

¹⁵And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

¹⁶Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

¹⁸Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

¹⁹And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

²⁰For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

²¹But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

²²Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

²³Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁴Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.”

Time. Dedication. Stamina. Faith.

This is no Mickey Mouse task. Those who are not grounded in the truth and drenched in the power of God will fail.

It’s personal training. You don’t need to go to a class, study or conference. You don’t need some mega church pastor to tell you or  you don’t have to “feel” it at the next church service-it starts with you. Here; wherever; with God.

Let us all realize the peril we are in. I leave you with the last part of Samuel Pipim’s letter:

“don’t forget to pray for all the faithful workers and leaders at different
frontlines of the work. They are the special targets of the enemy’s great wrath.
Pray that the Lord will open our eyes to perceive the dangers that lurk around
us, to discern our own true condition – our shortcomings, our secret evils, our
faults and failings – and to behold the spiritual resources in Christ that are
presently available to us. Above all, pray for the Lord to open our eyes that we
may see the urgent need of depending upon Him moment by moment, as we seek true
revival and reformation in our lives and in our church. This is my prayer for
myself and for each one of you.

Sincerely,
SKP”

(http://campushope.com/resignation/)

Depending on Him moment by moment. Intense training to go out there every day, every moment to witness to those around us.

What to give up? What to change? Someone wise once said, we can rarely be too radical if we are doing something to improve our spiritual lives. Give up whatever it takes to bring you closer to God, because He gave everything up for you.

-Let’s do it.