Dress up in brand new festive clothes for 2015! - New Year's Eve

God paid the supreme, final price to bring us back to him. He gave his Son, to suffer the ultimate sacrifice of the cross, that we will be able to leave the foolish and destructive life within the kingdom of the world and start living in the Body of Christ – the Church and the Kingdom of God.  Jesus conquered the enemies who want to pull us back into darkness. The Lord wants to clothe us with festive Christ-like living that frees from the slavery of our weak human nature, our mistakes and our offences of the past.

This is Paul’s message in 2 Corinthians 5: 16 – 21:  "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Everything old has passed away. Everything has become new.”

It's never too late to make new beginnings. If anyone is in Christ, everything old has passed. Everything is new through the grace of God and by faith in Christ. The new beginning starts with believing that God has made us a new creation and it starts with the power of God through which we put into practice to be the new person that God calls us to be. It starts with a prayerful resolution to behave, to act, as God’s new creation.

Paul tells us about the new behaviours of anyone who is in Christ in Romans 13:13: "Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

Putting on our festive clothes means to put on the risen Christ and celebrate his fresh grace, mercy and holiness every day as we enter through the open doors the Lord gives us in 2015.   And the Bible says that this is the rule of thumb: “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime!”

We are called to trust God for new beginnings in 2015, based on his sacrifice, victory, faithfulness, holiness and his loving promises for our lives.

I wish you a prosperous new year in the Lord, celebrated in truly festive clothes that only can be the Lord Jesus Christ.

Seven paintings of Christmas!

If I were an artist I would have painted a Christmas that captures more than the physical images we are so used to.

The first painting depicts a dove, the symbol for the Holy Spirit, superimposed upon the image of a young woman. The caption at the bottom says:  “Nothing is impossible with God”.

The second portrays an angel talking to a serious looking young man distraught about a pregnant girl-friend. The caption reads, "Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary."

The third painting would be one of a barn. Through the open door we see a man, a woman, an ox, a donkey, and a sheep or two. Then you would notice that all of these are not important at all, for painted in the middle of the picture is a Child in a manger and the caption reads, "Emmanuel – God with us!"

The fourth would be an illustration of an angel, in the heavens, reading an announcement from a scroll. The caption says, "Good news of great joy... for all the people."

The fifth painting would depict a cross and a grave. The cross is surrounded by darkness and stained with blood. The grave is surrounded by light and filled with glory. The caption says, "Today in the city of David, a Saviour has been born to you."

The sixth portrays Christ surrounded by a bright light, the blaze of many suns. The caption says, "Sun of righteousness." And, it says, "The Light of the world!"

The seventh and last painting would be of a throne, a crown, and a purple robe superimposed upon a Baby in a manger. The caption reads, "Christ the Lord."

Merry Christmas!

You can down load the Christmas Day Sermon on the Paintings of Christmas, in MP3 format on this page:  http://www.centurionwest.co.za/sermons.htm

Waiting for the Lord’s unfailing love...

Listen to the believers’ expectation that the Lord may come to them to be their consolation in Psalms 130:  5 – 8:  I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.   I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.  Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.  He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Those followers of Christ who are waiting, watching and praying for the Messiah's coming will be ready and able to recognize him, rejoice in him, believe in him and love him when he comes to be with us this Advent Season and Christmastide, and all of our days, and for all eternity.

It is true that the Lord's Christ has already come to our world when he was born in Bethlehem. But do we hear that he is knocking on the door of the Church and is ready to feast with us if we recognise and embrace him as he comes to us to bring us consolation and guide our lives day by day?

Do we live with eager anticipation and great expectation of what the Lord does when he comes to be with us?

How I pray that when Jesus comes to his church we will be ready and prepared like a bride for her groom. And that we will receive from him, as we so desperately need, his life, his faith and hope, his joy and his love. Are we waiting and praying for the comfort the Lord Jesus gives and are we ready to share in the unfailing love and full redemption he gives when he comes to his people - and to each one of us individually?

May our whole being wait on the Lord as watchmen wait for the morning, always ready to hold on to the joy and love that Jesus wants to give us!

O come Lord Jesus, come to wipe the tears from our eyes!

Liturgical Prayers for the Third Advent Sunday: Joy!

Background to the Third Advent Sunday, also known as “Gaudete”:

The celebration of the season of Advent originated as early as the fifth century as a fast of forty days in preparation for Christmas.

In the ninth century, the duration of Advent was reduced to four weeks, but Advent preserved most of the characteristics of a penitential season,  expecting the return of our Lord.

Yet the Third Advent or “Gaudete”, that means to rejoice, provides a break about midway through a season which is otherwise filled with penance as a result of the nearness of the Lord's coming.

The spirit of the Liturgy all through Advent is one of expectation and preparation for the feast of Christmas as well as for the second coming of Christ, yet the penitential atmosphere is suspended on Third Advent to remind us of the joy and gladness we will receive in the complete liberation of Christ’s return, so soon to come.

The deep purple Advent candles are replaced by a pink candle of joy and celebration on the Third Sunday of Advent.

Call to Worship:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.   And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians  4:4–6;

Glory to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit – now and for forevermore. Amen.

Prayer of praise and the Confession of sins.

Merciful God, while we patiently wait for Christ’s coming again, may each of us rejoice in our salvation; and may that joy spread throughout all aspects of our lives and be freely shared with others. As we worship you today, grant us your joy.

O God, who through your Only Begotten Son have made us a new creation,

look kindly on us, we pray,

look with compassion and grace on us, your very own people,

and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, for the sake of his sacrifice and his victory,

cleanse us from every stain of the old way of life,

fill us with your Spirit and grant us the true joy of being forgiven and restored as children of God!

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

Prayers of Intercession:

God of mercy and power, whose Son rules over all, grant us so to live in obedience to your holy will, that at the appearing of Christ we may be raised to eternal life and perfect joy!

Lord Jesus Christ, who at your first coming sent your messenger, John the Baptizer, to prepare your way before you: now grant that the ministers and all stewards of your Word and Sacraments may likewise prepare and make ready your way,

by turning the hostile hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,

by turning the despondency of the unfaithful into the joy of truthful and authentic disciples of Jesus;

by turning the mourning, the disappointed, the suffering and the depressed into victorious servants of the almighty Christ who are filled with the eternal exultation, with gladness and excitement because our Lord lives and reigns with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

Rescue today all who are robbed of the true joy of the Lord by bringing to a fall those who inflict our world with cruelty, violence, criminality, envy, gossip, pride, falsehood, adultery and every other demonic and deceitful attitude and behaviour.  Rescue us from the evil ways of the wicked and restore in us the bliss sourced from the wonder of your love, kindness, grace and mercy in Jesus Christ!

Grant in your mercy, o God,

comfort to all who are sad and crying,

healing to all inflicted with illness and pain,

hope to the downhearted,

courage and liberation to your oppressed and persecuted Church,

faith to those who are in doubt,

love to the lonely, the insecure and all who are afraid and weak,

and faith through grace to the repentant who put their trust in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prepare us for the true joy of Christmas and the everlasting love when you return to your people; prepare us for the measureless joy of the wedding feast of the Lamb.

Father God, teach us through your Holy Word, renew our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit and secure us in the everlasting arms of our Saviour.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Central Message of the Season of Advent: God gave his Son!

During the four Advent Sundays before Christmas day, we will remember that Christ took on our weak, human nature and became one of us.   As the Apostle Paul puts it in 2 Cor 5: 21:  God made him who had no sin, to be sin for us so that in him, we might become the righteousness of God.

This is what Christ did for us during that first Christmas day. In taking on ”weak human flesh”, he associated himself with our dilemma which is the result of our mistakes, disobedience and sin. He came to live the life that God requires and we cannot accomplish, and lived it perfectly, holy and without sin, in our place! The Son of God became our brother and will never leave nor forsake us.

During the Season of Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, we want to celebrate that when God gave the gift of salvation, he did not send new laws and rules through which to figure out how we can be saved. No, he sent his Son to save us.

The central Advent message always remains that (John 3:16) God so much loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Let’s trust in the Son. Let’s rejoice because he did everything we could not do, to save us! Let’s pray that he will come back soon to dry all our tears and grant us peace.  

Let’s wait with the same urgent love of the believers in the New Testament Church for the victorious and conquering return of Christ, our King.

A liturgical Prayer for the Feast of Christ the King on 23 November 2014

The Feast of Christ the King: celebrated on Sunday 23 November 2014.

The reign of Christ the King is celebrated on the last Sunday of the Christian Calendar, this year 23 November 2014.  !  Sunday 30 November 2014 is the first Sunday of Advent, the “New Year” of Christianity.

A liturgical Prayer for the Feast of Christ the King on 23 November 2014:

Gracious God and heavenly Father, we come into your presence in the name of our Lord Jesus, the Almighty Christ and King of all!

Today, Lord Jesus Christ, we celebrate your glorious victory. We gladly bring honour to you, our Redeemer, who has not only redeemed us when we were lost, and bought us for God your Father with your precious blood, by your death on the cross and your resurrection, but also ascended to the right hand of God as King and Lord of all.   We rejoice that your Kingdom has come on earth, just as it is in heaven.

We bring honour to you, our Saviour, whom we call Christ, the King, who victoriously reigns now, and reigns forever. You, dear Lord, dealt with our every need, delivered us from every enemy, healed us from all sin, harm and injury and you are worshipped when heaven and earth bow down before you as Lord of heaven and earth. One day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, that you, Lord Jesus, are the King of kings and the Lord of lords!

Majestic Lord, everything promised about your reign has not happened on our earth yet! You are the King, and yet, your dominion is in many ways not visible and is still coming to us and to our world.  We live in hope, and in faith, that we truly heard the Word of God, that testifies that you will come in glory to effect in the smallest detail of your glorious reign.

King Jesus, thank you that you not only bring salvation to us, but through your work that you do through the ministry of your Church, you bring redemption and salvation to the whole world, yes, to the ends of the earth.  Your people accept the grace that you bring, and commit their lives to the power of the Holy Spirit who empowers your children and your Church to fulfil your commission to preach the gospel to everyone. Now bring justice wherever we serve you and bring hope and light where darkness still hides your glorious reign and salvation.

Dear Lord of every aspect and facet of our lives help us to live only for your honour, glory and reign. Help us to be obedient, by the power of your resurrection and of your Spirit. We know that nothing will separate us from the love of God that we received in Christ our King and our Lord! 

We pray for all your servants, majestic Lord! For those who preach your word and for those who listen. Protect and guide all the missionaries sent to the ends of the earth to proclaim salvation in you. Guide and keep them and bless their work for you.   Call many more servants to do your work and make us obedient to your call.

In your mercy, heal the sick and comfort those who are weeping. Set the captives free and grant relief to the poor.   Sanctify those who are powerful and influential and humble and bring to fall those who are proud.   Bring to an end the kingdom of darkness and let your majesty shine as the light of the world.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us your peace.

And now, great King of kings and Lord of lords –

have mercy on us, and on all your people.

In your Name, Lord Jesus Christ, we pray!

Amen.

Scripture Lessons for the Feast of Christ the King this year.

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
Psalm 100 or Psalm 95:1-7a
 Ephesians 1:15-23
 Matthew 25:31-46

Prayer makes the difference

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (James 5:16c)

Everyone who had a life-changing experience with God truly believe in our hearts that God is real and that he answers prayer. And we all have the desire to be able to pray in such a way that something important may happen - or change.

Yet it is not the belief in prayer that will change our lives and help us to experience a faith that works.

It is not the intentions to pray that will bring God’s interventions to resolve our fears and problems!

IT IS TO PRAY that will make the difference!

It is going on our knees and listening to and speaking to God that will make us experience that prayer is powerful and that God answers our humble petitions.

We know that if we would spend more time before God in prayer, we would see more of his Kingdom manifesting in our lives and the lives of others. When we find ourselves at the stress points of life, prayer should be the first thing we do, not the last.

When you are bruised, you should pray. "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray." (James 5:13)

When you are broken, you should pray.  "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him...." (5: 14-15)

When you are backslidden, you should pray.  “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." (5: 19-20)

The main teaching of James on prayer is that you should actually pray and not only talk about the power of prayer!  Faithful, humble prayer will change our lives, our families, our church and our world!

Why is the Church not perfect?

Christianity is not perfect. The Church is not perfect.

It is the Christians that cause the imperfections of Christianity.  It is the church members, including the leaders, who are the reason that the church often disappoint people.

Jesus said the Kingdom of God may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field, but while everyone was asleep, someone else sowed weeds among the wheat. When both began to grow, the workers asked the farmer where the weeds came from. He answered, "An enemy did this" (Mt 13:28). And when they asked him if they should destroy the weeds, he said, (Mt 13:29-30) "No ... because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. (30) Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn."

Wheat and weed grow together in the Church. Jesus told the parable to warn his people that they have evil living amongst them.  He offered a promise that God will decisively deal with wickedness and sin in the church.

This parable warns against accepting Jesus as Saviour without accepting him as Lord. Some believe that Jesus died on the cross to save them from judgement. Yet they would not accept him as their Master, Lord and King. They are the weeds in God’s Kingdom fields. At the end of the age they will be pulled out. They will not be part of the harvest. Because we cannot claim that Jesus saved us, yet act as if he doesn't own us.

The parable ends with the righteous that rejoice in Christ as their King and Head and in obedience to him bear much fruit for his Kingdom.   We are told that they eternally "will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." (Matt 13:43).

The Kingdom of our Lord has come and he shall reign forever and ever.

If Jesus came to establish the reign of God on earth, if he proclaimed this message through his teaching and his life and as this message led him to the cross of atonement, then how do we who believe in Jesus, work for the coming of his Kingdom today?

We should live in the reality of the kingdom of God. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:15). When we accept God’s rule over our lives, we adopt values and priorities that are radically different than those of the world. We live our lives in a brand new direction, namely the reign of God in Jesus Christ.

We live in the world as salt and light. Like Jesus, our message and our lives should proclaim the Kingdom of God.

We testify about what God has done for us, in Christ.

We invite others to accept the Gospel and live under God’s reign.

We live God’s reign by loving our brothers and sisters,

praying for the sick and the frail,

turning away from evil,

caring for the poor,

forgiving and loving our enemies

and living worshipfully in the faith-community of Jesus.

The kingdoms of this world became the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,

and he shall reign forever and ever.

Hallelujah! Amen!

The final instructions of Jesus, our Head and King.

Matthew 28: 18 – 20.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

There is a legend which tells of the return of Jesus to heaven after his time on earth. He bore the marks of his cruel cross and death. The angel Gabriel approached him and asked, "Master, do all the people know about how you loved them and what you did for them?"

"No," replied Jesus according to this legend, "not yet. Right now only a handful of people in Palestine know."

Gabriel was baffled. "Then what have you done to let everyone know about your love for them?"

Jesus said, "I've asked Peter, James, John, and a few others to tell people about me. Those who are told will tell others, and my story will be spread throughout the earth. Ultimately, all mankind will know about my love."

Gabriel frowned and looked rather sceptical. He said, "But what if Peter denies you again? What if they all run away again in the face of opposition? What if the people who come after them forget? What if way down in the twenty-first century people just don't tell others about you anymore? Do you have another plan if this one fails?"  

Jesus answered, "No. I have no other plan.  I'm counting on them."

It is now twenty centuries later and God still has no other plan. He is counting on people like you and me to tell others about his love for us in Christ. He wants you and me and everyone else to proclaim the Gospel. 

He is counting on us!

Jesus commissioned the church to go and make disciples of all nations.   He is speaking as the One who has all power and authority in heaven and on earth. He is speaking as the One who has the authority to give eternal life.

What Jesus chooses to do with his sovereign authority  and power is to count on his friends and his church to share the Good News of his love, redemption and victory with everyone and every nation. What Jesus wants is more reborn and passionate followers to, with a sense of urgency, tell of his love and resurrection that all may believe in him and become God’s children.   What incredible love and grace!

Christ chooses to be with us, guarding us, protecting us and sharing his power with us when we join the 2000 year old family of disciple making followers.  No matter where we go and no matter what we face, Christ is right there beside us saying:   "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."   (Mat 28:20)

The Next Generation: waiting to receive Jesus Christ!

Our challenge is to help the next generation find their true Christian identity and their spiritual dwelling.

Psalm 78: 4, 6, 7 - We will not hide the “things from of old” from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. So the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

The next generation is waiting to be touched by the gospel.

The challenge for those of us in leadership is to set an example to be fully, totally committed to God.  Our challenge is to touch their lives and allegiances by receiving the Lord Jesus personally and being filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Imagine the youth waiting for us, the church, their parents and their grandparents, to be touched by God, to be touched by Jesus.

What will happen if  I am not introducing my children to what matters here and now, and eternally?

What will happen if I do not touch their lives, pray with them and they have to enter adult life having no one to show them how to receive Jesus as Saviour and Lord? 

There is a generation yet unborn, waiting for someone to touch their destiny with the love of God.   There is a generation waiting for someone to befriend them, and reach them with the Gospel.  What if we are the only ones they have who are able to reach them for Christ and the Kingdom of God? 

The psalmist says in Psalm 78 –   “So the next generation would know the hidden treasures of old, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.”

Believing like my mom and my granny!

2 Timothy 1:5-6  -  “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

The well known and respected Dr. Andrew Murray wrote the following profound truth about the importance of being a God-fearing family: 

“Oh, that the eyes of God’s people might be opened to the danger that threatens the church! It is not infidelity or superstition, it is the spirit of worldliness in the homes of Christian families, sacrificing the children to the ambitions of society, to the riches or the friendship of the world — that is the greatest danger of Christ’s church. If every home once won for Christ were a training school for His service, we would find in this a secret of spiritual strength no less than all that preaching can accomplish.”

Paul’s letter to Timothy emphasizes that this young Christian minister’s identity, that Paul commends, is rooted in the faith that his mother and grandmother had left him as a lasting legacy. They shared Christ with him and taught him as only mothers and grandmothers can!  Paul firmly placed the Christian faith and ministry within shared, family settings.

This makes Timothy anything but an independent operator advocating his own brand of Christianity!  No, his faith was rooted in the example and education of his Christian home. It enabled him to be a reliable preserver of the Truth of Christ and the preacher of a sound Gospel-message.

Our faith and calling, our authentic witness, is rooted in and grows from our Christian identity received from devoted, exemplary Christian parenting.

But if parents and grandparents sell out to “the spirit of worldliness and to sacrificing our children to the ambitions of society and the friendship of the world”,  as Dr. Murray puts it, false teachers and heresies and dangerous life styles will rob our children of the cherished gospel and the costly salvation it promises.

No, let the influence and example, the choices and the commitment of families to Jesus, lead our children to the place where they will fan into flame the gifts of God in their lives - and thrive when the church, in laying hands on them, send them into the world to both conserve and share the glorious legacy of our Christian faith – the lasting legacy of our precious Saviour, Jesus, our Lord.

Guiding seekers one-on-one and one-by-one to receive Christ!

Acts 8:  30 – 31:  Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the (Ethiopian) man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

“Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.  The Ethiopian official did not and he asked for help from this unknown preacher who appeared next to his chariot in the desert.

So Philip, beginning with the scripture the man was reading from Isaiah 53:7-8, shared with him the good news of Jesus.”

The prophecy about Jesus that he read was one of the most important passages for early Christians. It is part of Isaiah's fourth Servant Song, describing the mysterious figure who was slaughtered and humiliated and whose life was "taken away from the earth," as Luke gives the text to us in Acts 8.

So, to the official's question about whom this servant is, Philip can eagerly reply that it is no one else but the resurrected Jesus. And like Jesus before him on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24), Philip proceeds to speak, "and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus" (8:35).

In joyful response, the Ethiopian asked Philip to baptize him into this faith of Jesus. And in verse 38, "both of them, Philip and the official went down into the water, and he (Philip) baptized him."

Then we read that the official “went on his way rejoicing.” (Verse 39)

The good news of Jesus always calls for a response: one of gratitude, public profession of faith, receiving baptism and experiencing great joy. This is exactly what the Ethiopian did. He had been in Jerusalem to worship God - but without understanding the Gospel. Now he understood and believed in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as Lord and Saviour.

How much more should we who have heard the gospel our whole lives and were baptised as infants, confess our faith, proclaim the gospel, live new lives, and rejoice in the goodness of God? How much more should we carry the good news of Jesus back to our families, friends, neighbours, schools and workplaces, for all to know and to believe?

We too should ask the seekers that cross our path:

 “Do you understand what you are reading?”

And “do you believe the good news of Jesus?”

The right to be a child of God!

John 1: 10-14 - He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.   Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name,  he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth

The true Light of God, the eternal, one and only Son of God, came from his Father’s heavenly home to bring the message of the grace and truth of God to those who were God’s own.  Sadly Jesus was not recognised and he was not received by God’s own people, the leaders of Israel. They chose to rather reject his message and spread lies about his resurrection.

Those who continued to reject him and persecuted his followers would never find the Light, because their darkness remained undefeated.

But the Father sent his Spirit to us and we were, through the Spirit’s gracious work, transformed and made into new creations as we were born of God.  God’s Spirit changed us from enemies into those touched by grace and changed into God’s children.  And as children of the Father our eyes were opened to recognise Jesus, to believe in his Name and receive the right to walk in the eternal light.

We are given this right when we are adopted by the Father in Christ and are given the privilege to call the almighty Creator “Abba” which means “my Daddy”. We are given the power to claim our divine heritage to be children of God. 

And we claim this right after we recognise Jesus and are shown his glory. We share in the wonder of childship even as Jesus claimed to be God’s Son.  One by one the Spirit grants us the faith to know Jesus as the Truth and receive the Light!

Celebrate the right to be a child of God today.

Celebrate the gracious life of Jesus that brought you truth and light.

Celebrate the calling to be the instrument used by the Sprit to open the eyes of the blind and call those who are dead, to live.

Celebrate that you have been changed to become the visible and audible Word of God who shares this message with people who stumble in darkness:

You too have the right be a child of God.

You too can know Jesus and walk in the Light.

You too can see and share the glory of Jesus - now, and forevermore!

The Gospel is about becoming new people!

We do not have to wait till the last day, the day of the resurrection when Jesus returns, to become a new creation. It all starts here and now. It starts on the day God reconciles us with Godself. On that day we celebrate by singing and shouting: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5: 17 – 20 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” 

God does this. The Holy Spirit recreates me into someone new. I was born again.

The new creation within me does not hide or run away from God anymore. The new creation within me does not oppose the Kingdom or the values, the dream and the vision our Lord has for us and for the Church.

No, the new creation in me thirsts for friendship with my God. It longs to walk with God. It prays to work for God. It celebrates that my sins do not count against me anymore. It begs the Lord to be a change agent for our Lord’s sake. It urges me on to seek the glory and honour of my God in every aspect of life.

The new creation within me turns me into an ambassador of God. We represent the eternal King on the Father’s right hand. We teach what he taught, we bring the message he brought, we testify about his resurrection and his victory. We promise the forgiveness of sin. We live for our King and invite the world to enter and celebrate the everlasting Kingdom of life and love.

Through us God makes the appeal to all who live as enemies of Truth, to make peace with their Creator. Through us God implores all to through Christ’s atonement and in Christ’s conquering power, become new people – transformed by being reconciled with God, filled with the Spirit and creating a new community of love, promoting true life.

Ambassador of God, the new person you became is a militant agent of transformation. You are light, salt and yeast. Communities opposing God, and suffer the painful consequences, can change to live as Gods friends, walking with the Father, working for Christ, seeking his glory in everything and celebrating true life and healing through becoming alive in Jesus by the Spirit’s work in us.

The new people we become beg everyone on Christ’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God.” 

The gospel is about Service

The blessed ones in the Kingdom of God are those who have seen a King who is not like the kings of this world. They are blessed because they know a King who brings real peace, who sees the needy, and who hears the cries of the suffering and the oppressed.

In God's kingdom, no one should be hungry, naked or alone. To bear witness to Christ as our Saviour and King, is to be a messenger of this Kingdom -- to serve others and thereby profess the invasion of God's glorious grace and mercy in our world.

We do this when we understand that being a follower of Christ does not mean to be served, but to be a servant!

- The gospel is about Service.

Therefore living in the Kingdom of God is about being a servant!

Let’s pray together as one during these demanding times.

I look to the Scriptures for comfort and strength. 

I remember the words of Isaiah 50:10: “Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.”  During every challenging time and when we look for answers and direction, Isaiah tells us to entrust it all to the Lord.

The reason we can trust him with our lives, our circumstances and trust him to overcome the challenges that our congregation has to deal with, is because of his ‘Name’. The Lord’s ‘Name’ speaks of his never ending goodness and of his commitment to us. The Lord took an oath by his Name to be our God.  The Lord we trust continues to be good and committed to all of us. We know this, because he didn’t spare Jesus to make us his own.

Uphold your congregation and her leadership in prayer, intercede for the minister and all the leaders, fast for them, and let them know you are walking with them.

As you do that, let me share Scriptures that we can be praying for each other and for our leaders during these trying times:

• Pray that the Lord might strengthen our leaders and their faith that God answers prayer.

James 5: 16 – 20.

• Pray that as the Lord knows us and our circumstances, our leaders might know that he holds them and continues to guide them. Ps 139: 1 – 3 9,10.

• Pray that the Lord will give them comfort as they come to him for wisdom and answers.

Ps 55: 22 and 2 Cor 1: 3 and 4.

As a church community we want to uphold this church and her leaders before the Lord. As a church community I am asking you personally to pray, and to pray in your small groups, and during your family devotions.

We want our congregational leaders to know that they are not alone, that we stand together and that the Lord journeys with us. In our challenges and our inefficiencies, may the Lord give us the faith and strength to walk his journey together, as one!

I look to the Scriptures for comfort and strength. Only through his Word and his Spirit will he guide, protect and keep us. Because Jesus is our help and our salvation.

And now, let us put our trust in Christ who saves and sustains,

and the love of God will carry us through every test and tribulation.

It is a Biblical commandment to praise and worship God!

John 4:24: God is spirit; and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

God moves in a fresh way in his church amongst his people. An important part of this restoration comes from warm and sincere celebration of God through praise and worship.

If we ask whether it is a Biblical commandment to praise and worship God, if it really is important to the believer and if we should emphasise the role our Sunday Service plays in being obedient to this command, the answer is a stern YES!

Celebratory Sunday Worship where we heartily praise the Lord, is not the invention of man, or of the gospel music industry or any church renewal movement, but it is God’s idea. Since the days of the Old Testament, it was God’s idea that his people should meet regularly and continuously to worship him and to celebrate our relationship with him.

Just listen to Psalm 150, and see how we are taught to "praise the Lord!"

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary;
Praise him in his mighty expanse.
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
Praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with trumpet sound;
Praise him with harp and lyre.
Praise him with timbrel and dancing.
Praise him with stringed instruments and pipe.
Praise him with loud cymbals;
Praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!

God is still saying to his church, as he commanded so often during all the ages: "Praise Me!"

The reason for the Biblical command to worship and praise lies not with God, but with me. The reason is that WE need what praise and worship can do in our lives. It meets a deeply rooted need to celebrate the Lord.

Praise and worship change and inspire us! The living of a purposeful and content life, begins with celebrating God.

Love as Jesus loved!

In Deuteronomy 6: 4-5 we find what is considered as the greatest of all the commandments in the Old Testament: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. And in Leviticus 19:18 we read, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself." The Bible had taught these commandments to love, from the very beginning.

In both the Old Testament and New, we meet God as a God of love. And in both Old and New Testament, we find that God expects from us to have holy love.

But the old commandment does differ from the new commandment that John speaks about in 1 John 2: 7-8:  “I am writing you a new command... because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.”   

When he wrote these words, John was thinking of Jesus’ own statement recorded in John 13: 34: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

It is not the command to love that is new, it is that Jesus gave us a new scope for love. It is not new in its being there, but it is new in its reach and standard!

In the old command, we were to love our neighbour as ourselves. In the new command, we are to love one another as Jesus loved and demonstrated God’s love to us.

This is the new commandment – to love as Jesus loved!

Listen to John 15:13, "Greater love has no one that this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Jesus loved us enough to lay down his life for us.

When we walk in the light and learn to forgive one another, we will take the next step as well: To love as Jesus loved!

Serve the Lord cheerfully

We need to understand that the Church of Christ is all about relationships. Everyone knows that the Church is not bricks and mortar, buildings and structures, laws and traditions.  When we say “church” we talk about people. 

The New Testament word for Church means "the called out ones."  The Church is made up of Christians. The Church is all of us who love the Lord and love his work. In the Church, we are related to one another based on our love for the Lord.

It is a relationship based on an understanding of who we are in relation to each other.

Rom 12: 3: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Our opinion of ourselves ought not to be too high or too low. It ought to be an opinion based on what God has done in our lives and on what God’s calling means in our lives.  We need to desire for our lives what God’s idea is for us and what place and role God has given us in his work. We think too much of ourselves when we assume that we received a gifting that we do not have, or believe we should play a role that God has not given to us.   

On the other hand if we think too little of ourselves and if we do not recognise the gift of God in us, we do not serve according to Gods calling and equipping of us. 

We all are needed and important for God’s work. And we are responsible to each other and we are accountable to each other to get the work done. We need each other to accomplish what the Lord intended for us personally and communally.  We have to use the gift that God has given us.  This is how God wants to make a congregation strong.

Let’s build each other up in faith, in love and in enthusiasm. Let’s serve the Lord cheerfully in his Church community!

Simply being God's children!

See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.   Matthew 18:10

While children are persecuted in Iraq and other parts of the world - and often even within their own families – we need to remember how important they are to God, who has a special group of angels to help and guide them.  We need to pray for every child that suffers and make a difference in their lives, even if it is only in the life of a single one of them at a time!

But for today, let's learn about faith and trust from the children around us. Let's celebrate their spontaneity, love and simple trust. Let's do what we can to protect them from that which would mislead them - let's give them more of ourselves than of entertainment and materialism-driven values. And let's be comforted that when our children struggle, God sends his closest angels to be with them!

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me”, Jesus said.  “It is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” What good news this is!

Whoever receives one such child in Christ’s Name, receives our Lord.   An important part of whom we are and what we do as the church is to receive people here in the name of Jesus Christ.

We receive the children into the household of God, the faith community.  Think about how different children are from adults. They do not come to church to do a task or run a project.  

They come to church because they can and may be part of God’s family. Because God loves them and his grace welcomes them with open arms. They come because they love to be with the Lord and learn about him and praise and worship him. 

And so they remind us of our own status in the Lord’s household.  It is important for us to be accountable for God’s work and to contribute to the work of his Kingdom.  But first of all we are here not because of all the good things we can do, but because of all the good things God has already done for us and wants to do for us. We are not here to tell Christ how to run his work and church. We are not here to be equal partners with God.

Instead, we are here as God’s children. We are here as grateful, trusting, believing and faithful children of our heavenly Father. We are here because the grace of God calls us and gathers us here.

The children remind us of who we all are. When the church forgets that, we forget who we are. We forget that we live by the grace of God alone, and we begin to think that we can live by our own common sense and strength and goodness. But when we receive a child in the name of Christ, we learn again who we are—the children of God whom Christ has received—and so we are reminded of, and strengthened in, the grace of God.

You are not alone, anymore.... because your God is here.

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Is 40:1). In Is 40: 9 we are told what the comfort is:  You who bring good news to Zion, say to the towns of Judah: “Here is your God!”

Those who come face-to-face with death, their own death and the death of a loved one need to hear: “Here is your God!”

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God and your God is here" (Is 40:1, 9). These words must be heard today by those who suffer because of their broken marriage relationships. Young men and women who get married with so many dreams and excitement and then have to leave with pain, anger and disappointment needs to hear. And it needs to be heard by the children from these broken marriages.

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Is 40:1). Those who suffer as a result of life threatening decease have to hear these words:  Your God is here!

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Is 40:1). It must be heard by those who live with unemployment, poverty,  and those who experience financial loss.   It needs to be heard by those who are bullied and robbed and financially abused. Your God is here!

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Is 40:1). Teenagers who are intimidated, rejected by their peers, who have no friends, who feel abandoned by family and unaccepted by their fellow learners and educators, need to hear these words.   Your God is here!

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Is 40:1). The victims of abuse need to hear these words. Women and children who suffer behind closed doors, because of physical, sexual and emotional abuse! Orphans and widows, and child headed families, aunts and grannies looking after orphaned children and are crying for help and support need to hear:  Your God is here!

Listen to the Word of God:

Your God is here!

God is coming to you

and his coming means that he will grant you comfort.

You are not alone, anymore....

Because your God is here.

God is your refuge.

His grace will comfort you through faith in Jesus Christ which is a gift of his Holy Spirit.

Are you afraid of the dark? Remember, God is light!

Are you afraid of the dark? Many people are.

We see losing that fear of the dark as a good thing. We see it as part of becoming a mature adult.  Loosing an unhealthy fear of the dark is a good thing. But, at the same time, we should beware not to lose sight of the effects of darkness. Those effects are very real indeed. 

Darkness is nothing to be trifled with, especially spiritual darkness.

Darkness, understood biblically, is where the hidden things of evil have freedom to thrive. Darkness is the enemy of the light. Darkness is the strategy of evil to ensnare the unsuspecting.

It is easy to underestimate the power of darkness. It’s easy to make accommodations for darkness. It’s easy to stumble into darkness. You see, as the light dims our eyes slowly adjust. As Christians, we need to do periodic evaluations of our own lives to make sure that the level of light stays bright. Have you taken a good look at your life lately? Are you intentionally walking in the light? John gives us a wake up call. He gives us a challenge to turn on the light and take a good look at ourselves in the clarity of that light. Let’s look at a powerful Word for us today:

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 

(1 John 1:5-7)

Sowing in the Kingdom of God.

Sowing in the Kingdom of God.   Matthew 13.

A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow   But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred,  sixty or thirty times what was sown.

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.  The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 

But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it.

The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, Jesus Christ our Lord.   The field is the world, and the good seed is the people of His kingdom.

Ready to die and ready to live!

When we have settled the issue of our eternal destiny, we are set free to live life to the full. Only then do we understand why we are here. You are here for a reason. God has a purpose for your life. His purpose is, that as you hold onto his eternal promises, you will make a difference to his kingdom through a “promise driven life”!

As Christians, we know that the greatest reaction to God’s promise of eternal life in Christ is to glorify God in gratefulness and love for him. 

This was Paul’s desire. Paul’s desire was to glorify God whether in life or in death. In all things our lives should glorify God.

This is not only about the “church” things we do. This is about everything we do. We do not only glorify God on Sundays, serving and worshipping God around his Word and Sacrament.  We are to glorify God every day of the week in everything we do: in our jobs, our families, our politics, our sports, our play. In all of our attitudes, actions and plans, we are to glorify God.

We glorify God when we reflect the life of Christ through our lives. In every situation that we face, we need to ask ourselves what Jesus would have us do. This is really the essence of following Jesus.  As we obey the leading of the Holy Spirit the through his Word, our lives will glorify God. We will surrender to Christ, the King.

We need to remember, as Paul did, that we are here for others. While Paul desired to depart and be with Christ, because he believes it is “far better” to be with Christ, he knew there were many more people that needed him:

  I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again, your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. (Philippians 1:23b-26 NIV)

Paul knew that his life was about being here for others. That is why Christ came to us and Paul was following the example of his Lord, giving his life to bring others to the Kingdom of God.

Our lives can make a difference in the lives of others. This is what the church should be about:  people caring for one another, people helping one another, people encouraging one another, people serving one another and people showing others that to live for Christ results in gaining eternal joy and life!

Because we are ready to die, we can truly begin to live.