If faith can move mountains, more so people can be moved by faith.
Zechariah 8: 20. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21. And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.
And this is where we went because of faith.
Before I share with you my personal experience in Brazil, let me first share with you some basic knowledge about Jesus. If you’re a Christian, you probably know these already but these Bible verses helped strengthen my faith from the beginning. These well-known prophecies already proved to be authentic and are relatively easier to understand so let us lay the foundation by discussing them first.
They would pierce His hands and feet
Psalm 22: 6. But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. 7. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head saying, 16. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 18. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Long before Jesus was born, these things about him had been written in great detail.
John 19: 36. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
For those who have doubts about the existence of Jesus, please read my previous post.
Some scholars say that there are probably more than 300 prophecies about Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. The odds that even a handful of these prophecies would happen in a single person is incredibly small. It just can’t happen by accident. -From His birth, ministry, death, resurrection and his role in the Church of God.
Jesus will be born in Bethlehem, Judaea
Micah 5: 2. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
His origin had been clearly written and wise men who were knowledgeable in this prophecy waited for His coming in great anticipation.
Matthew 2: 4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
He would be rejected and despised by many
Referred to in various ways, like “the son of a carpenter,” Jesus was prophesied to be regarded in low esteem by many people in his time.
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. (Isaiah 53:3).
We can clearly see its fulfillment in many verses including the following:
All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. (Luke 4:28–29).
Prophecies indeed come true at the right time.
One of the most remarkable things I have learned from Bro. Eli is that the location/country where he started preaching the word of God decades ago was actually written! I have been a witness to this incredible reality as I have shared with you sometime ago. It proves to us, undeniably, that God blesses Bro.Eli and the Church of God.
Crossing Borders to Seek the Lord’s Favor
Since the historic International Thanksgiving held and hosted in Brazil last 2014, this year’s special thanksgiving will be the 4th undertaking of the yearly Brazil celebration. As early as December last year, some brethren across the world already started their travel preparation and plans, to the Lord’s favor even through crossing borders and frontiers.
Source: MCGI Official blog
It's such an incredible feeling, not only to witness, but to be part of the fulfillment of a Biblical prophecy:
Zechariah 8:21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’
Many brethren now gather here in Brazil where Bro. Eli is and we're all ready to meet him. Now we are even more confident that what we are seeing is the fulfillment of this prophecy:
Zechariah 8:7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west.
The Philippines, where Bro. Eli started preaching many years ago, is in the far east while Brazil is in the west. -Directly on the other side of the planet. Here we can see the rapid growth of the organization. There are so many things I'd love to explain but no words can.
Malachi 1: 11. My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations," says the Lord Almighty. - NIV
Before we come together and sing songs of praises again, we were reminded by our preachers to follow some important Biblical doctrines in preparation for this international thanksgiving event. I can't wait to meet Bro. Eli and greet him "Happy Birthday" and "Happy Sabbath day anniversary".