God wants to do something new in your life!

Isaiah 43:18-19 says “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?

The Lord asks in this verse that, when we in faith accepts that he “will do a new thing” in our lives, our families and our churches, we would be ready to open ourselves to his new direction, his open door and his response to our needs and concerns.

Are we willing to, within the parameters of the personal relationship God wants to have with us, embrace his plan for us and our lives, our futures and our calling?

The Lord is saying, "I am going to do a new thing. Will you embrace it? Will you receive it into your life?"

May our hearts respond with joy and thanksgiving to our God who knows our need for him to do a “new thing” for us. May we all say wholeheartedly: “Yes, Lord. I want to be open to whatever you do. I want to be available to your time to do this for me. There is every reason for me to believe that you are preparing me for something new, even something significant.”

We are not to sit back and become spectators of God’s interventions and plans. No, as the Lord plants the “seed” of the “new thing” he is doing in our lives, we will be full partners of God in taking care of the seed he planted in our lives and in faith expects the seed to sprout.

We will be personally involved and asked to work with the Lord, within our relationship with him, to bring his new plan, his open door and his purpose for us, to fruition.

Jesus multiplying bread and fish: The abundance of God's reign!

Multiplication of bread and fish is a sign of the coming of the Kingdom.

A second narrative of Jesus multiplying bread and fish to feed 4000 men plus women and children, is found in Matthew 15: 29 – 39.  The gospels often speak about bread against the background of Jesus calling himself the Bread of life!  The message is clear: we do not receive crumbs of his redemption. presence, love, forgiveness and power, but we  receive complete fellowship with him that indicates abundance.

But there also is another context that helps to identify the significance of Jesus’ actions involving abundant food. Firstly, we must remember that the world of the first-century Roman Empire was marked by significant inequalities concerning, amongst others, food access.

Many experienced food insecurity and struggled on a daily basis to acquire enough food and nutrition. The small group of ruling elites in the Roman Empire enjoyed an abundant variety of nutritious, excellent food, while the majority of the population lived below subsistence level with inadequate food resources.

The petition in the Lord’s Prayer that God will supply daily bread, reflects this situation (6:11).

The lack of food was one of the ways that the majority experienced the injustices of the oppressive empire. The abundance of the elite signified their abuse of power and influence and total lack of compassion for the poor.

The coming age of the Messianic Kingdom is in the Old Testament depicted in terms of abundant food and feasting for all. Ezekiel  said  “They shall be secure on their soil … when I break the bars of their yoke, and save them from the hands of those who enslaved them … I will provide for them a splendid vegetation so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land … ” (Ezekiel 34:27-29). This happens when God breaks the self-satisfying rule of oppressive governments and powers.

The scène in Matthew 15: 29 – 39 is set in a “wilderness place.” The setting reminds of the exodus and God’s feeding of the wilderness generation (Matthew 14:21).

Crowds joined Jesus in this deserted place.

Jesus’ response was first of all one of compassionate power expressed in healing. His compassion is then powerfully illustrated by feeding this multitude when the disciples produced 7 loaves and some fish.  Jesus took control and hosted the meal. He took the food, blessed it, broke it and gave it to the crowd gathered there.  

The blessing on that day in the wilderness is expressed in the words: “All ate and were filled.”

Remember Psalm 107:9 celebrating God’s actions of grace and love: “he satisfies the thirsty and the hungry he fills with good things.”

God intervened in this narrative to multiply the limited resources so that there is abundant food. Not only is the crowd of four thousand men plus women and children were fed, there were leftovers, “7 baskets full.” Jesus unequivocally demonstrated his lordship over food resources and that the abundance of his provision signifies that “the Kingdom of God has come near”.

Jesus hosted a life-giving feast representing, proclaiming and celebrating the gracious abundance of God.  And this is the message we should share with a lost, hungry and oppressed people living in an immoral and power hungry world!

Sermon Recordings in English and Afrikaans

Click on this link to download sermons in English:

http://www.centurionwest.co.za/sermons.htm

Kliek op hierdie link om preke in Afrikaans af te laai:

http://www.cpk.co.za/sermons_a.htm  

For women’s day, Sunday 9 August 2015!

The Bible tells amazing stories about strong women who played a central role in God’s encounters with his people!  Two of the many heroines of faith were the mother and grandmother of Timothy.

The little that the Bible tells us about these two ladies speaks volumes for their character. One verse, 2 Timothy 1:5 says:  “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that is also in you.”

Paul was telling Timothy that he saw great character in him and that he would become a pillar of strength in the church. Paul’s letters to the young minister often refer to the things Timothy had been taught, the things he had learned.

Timothy’s grandmother Lois and mother Eunice taught Timothy about the Bible, about God and about Jesus, as they seemed to be diligent students of God’s Word.

The stories of great women in the Bible are inspirational to women today.  Not only do they play a pivotal role in advancing the Kingdom of God (and often they are not recognized for it) but they also prepared many other heroes and heroines of the faith to fulfil their calling.

Mary, mother of Jesus, remained a lifelong support, disciple and friend of the Saviour.

Elizabeth was key to forming and preparing John the Baptist.

Hannah gave a powerful prophet, Samuel, to the temple to serve God fervently.

Lois and Eunice educated a zealous minister of the Word.

And today we know that without our strong mothers, sisters and women co-workers, the church would be too poor, even unable, to fulfil her mission and serve her Lord.

We salute you, our mothers and sisters!  We confess that through the history of the church you were not recognised as you should have been. We repent of this un-Christlike lack of gratitude and respect.

We honour you and urge you to continue to be as heroic as the women of God always have been in God’s encounters with his people!