Liturgical prayers during Lent

Call to Worship:

Psalm 52: 8 and 9:   I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.  For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.  And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.

Give thanks to God, because through his mercy we received the spirit of discipline that we may triumph over evil and grow in grace.

Glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, gracious and merciful, world without end!

Come, let us worship the Lord, our God!

Prayer of praise:

Gracious, merciful Lord, how hard is it to read and hear of the abuse your only begotten Son suffered even prior to his crucifixion. What can I say in response, but "Thank You" for Jesus walking the path of grief, suffering and shame for my sake. Our Lord took the abuse that I deserved, and gave us his glory in return.

Dear Lord Jesus, you chose the cross. Those who led you to Golgotha were simply working out what God our Father had willed and you, Lord Jesus, had freely and lovingly chosen.  How can I thank you for this costly choice?  Because you took up the cross, I am forgiven and can take up life in all of its fullness. Make me eternally grateful, Lord Jesus.

Father -   glory, honour and praise to you, who gave us your Son. Help us to believe in him and we will never perish, but praise and worship you, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Prayer for the forgiveness of Sin:

O Lord, as much as I hate to confess it, there is a bit of Judas in me. Forgive me for the times when I pledged allegiance to you, made promises to you, only to discard you in the way that I live. Help me to see where my message to you is a mixed one, where worship and praise and betrayal and deceit live in the very same heart.

Forgive me, dear Lord, when I let fear get in the way of my relationship with you. Forgive me for all the times I have fallen short in my discipleship, because I've been afraid. Forgive me for failing to trust you when you've proven through your suffering to be completely worthy of my trust.

Dear Lord, help me to acknowledge my sins, both to myself and to you, rather than justifying myself through immature and pointless excuses and defences.  My hands will only be clean, Lord, when I am washed in the blood of the Lamb.

(Now let us all, during a time of silence repent of our sins and in faith expect the forgives of God)

O Father who forgives and restores - grant me faith in the atoning death and victorious resurrection of Jesus in my place and, by your Spirit, teach me how to live and how to love.

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer for enlightenment:

Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover our peace;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayers of Intercession:

Eternally kind and gracious God and Father of us all, thank you for your mercy.

You give us what we need, not according to what we deserve, but according to your infinite grace and love.  Thank you for hearing our cries and responding, remembering even me. Thank you for the promise I have of Paradise beyond this life.

Father God, our hope and our salvation, listen to our prayers.

Oh Lord, through your Spirit, enthuse  all believers to carry forward the torch that saints have carried from generation to generation, since the beginning of the Church,  without compromise or fear, that the Light of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord,  will guide all nations to follow God’s reformation plan for their countries and for humanity.  And make your people holy, as you, our God, is holy!

God of mercy and love, send the Holy Spirit to enable every Christian to proclaim the Gospel in the rural areas and amongst the poorest communities and to liberate through Jesus our Lord,  everyone from fear, superstition and false religion. Save those who are lost as the result of human wisdom, worldly leadership and manmade schemes. May we all, because we are in need of salvation, put our trust in the only Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer.

Holy and almighty God, unite preachers of and listeners to God’s work, both the leaders and the members of all faith communities, to work together without envy, personal agenda’s or personal politics to accomplish their best endeavours for the work of God, sparing nothing and giving everything for the redemption of all people and the growth of God’s work in local churches and in the worldwide assembly of the faithful. 

In your mercy, dear Lord, grant peace to peoples worn out by civil war, violence, unrest and military threats to their countries.  Provide for generosity to refugees, all foreigners, all who had to abandon their homes and motherlands and Lord, protect their safety and dignity.

O tender and gracious Creator, our Lord and God, heal all who suffer from depression and are lonely, sad and afraid and grant that your children will help them to see and experience the mercy and the love of God and his Church.

Call and help health workers who will bless community health programs, clinics and hospitals to provide for excellent care of all who are ill, treating those who are sick with respect and love.

And now, Father, listen to our prayers for those in our congregation who are ill, afflicted and in pain.

We pray for.......

Father, grant us and all your children a blessed Lenten Season. Make it a time of spiritual growth, commitment to you and your Kingdom and a time to strengthen and increase our love for you, our Redeemer and our Saviour.  

Prepare our hearts by remembering what Jesus did for us when he suffered, died and was buried for our sake to, at a time so soon to come, be truly able to celebrate that for our sake and for the glory of your name, your gracious Son rose from the dead, ascended to heaven and graciously reign over us as exalted Lord and God of your Church and of all creation.

Gracious Lord Jesus, how can I ever thank you enough for dying for me on the cross?  Your death has given me life. Your sacrifice has led to my blessing. Help me never to take your death for granted, forgetting what you did for me and neglecting its significance. May the reality of your sacrifice press itself upon my mind and flood my heart.

As we hear your eternal Word, even Jesus our Saviour, make us truly thankful, living your Gospel and sharing your gifts and your deliverance, as we seek your face and long for a closer walk with you.

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Was blind, but now I see...

I was blind, but now I see...

John 9 recounts the cure of a blind man, which more importantly is also the spiritual healing of one who has been in the dark about the truth that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God.   This event is an encouragement for all to recognize Jesus as the true Light of the world.

John 9: 36 – 38 Jesus said to the blind man that was healed, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

This is the climax of the story! It is the miracle of faith based upon Jesus' disclosure of himself as the Son of God. The blind man now had insight added to restored sight. In this preacher from Galilee he saw the precious, long awaited Messiah, his Saviour.

Now we understand what Jesus meant when he said the blindness of this man was to demonstrate the power of God. (9:3) Great good came out of the blindness. If the man had not been born blind, he probably  never would have learned who Jesus was. He gained a Saviour and a Lord.

The greatest miracle of all is when the blind eyes of my soul are opened and I too can say, “Lord I believe” and I worship Jesus!

A Reformed identity for observing Lent and Easter!

“Remembrance” is key to Biblical worship. To remember what Jesus did for our salvation is therefore the benchmark of a Biblical celebration of the Lenten Season, Holy Week and Easter.

Remembering is rooted in Old Testament worship.

Devotional life in the Old Testament was based on “remembering” the great deeds of salvation and liberation by the God of Israel. Each one of the feasts prescribed in the Law, remembered, celebrated and taught what God did in the history of his people, creating and strengthening the belief that he will continue to keep his grace covenant and be their God and the God of their children while encouraging them to, as the people of God, seek obedience to the Lord.

It was at such a feast of remembrance, the Passover, that Jesus instituted his Supper. It seems to me that in the mind of Jesus faith would still be sown and grown through “remembering” as part of the New Covenant. The Kingdom of God  is coming and Christ’s church is established when we remember what Jesus has done to set us free and make us his own. 

Jesus gave us the key to Christian worship when he said:  Do this in remembrance of me!

Remembering is rooted in the Lord’s Supper.

The Lord’s Supper is irreplaceable and unique. But it does refer us to the principle that remembering God’s gospel events has great value.  Christian worship and fellowship is defined by doing it in remembrance of Jesus, our Lord to the glory of God, our Father.

Systematically proclaiming the Scriptures during days and seasons of remembrance and faithfully preaching what the Bible tells us about the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus can never be wrong. It is a disciplined and structured way of teaching and preaching the full council of God, a task our Reformed fathers showed us to do.

The Days of Remembrance that we observe are rooted in Church History.

All the commemorative days on the Christian calendar go back a long way before the Reformation.  We should be open to learn about the original intentions and meanings of these days and why and how they came into the life of the church. With the Word of God as our foundation and our Confessions of Faith as guidelines, it becomes easy to discern what would be God honouring and build up the people of God.

“Remembrance”, the key to understanding worship, should also be the key to unlocking a reformed, protestant identity when celebrating these commemorative days and seasons.

Ash Wednesday.

In the Western Christian Calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent for the last 1 300 years.  It occurs forty days before Easter, not counting Sundays, which as the first day of the week, always remains a day of the celebration of the risen Lord

Ash Wednesday sets the tone for the season of Lent and because any form of spiritual discipline, prayer and fasting during this season will result in a closer walk with the Lord, Ash Wednesday is both useful to help us to observe the Lenten season with humble and contrite hearts. 

Historic Background of the Lenten and Resurrection Seasons.

Resurrection Sunday (more often called Easter Sunday) is the oldest commemorative day in Christianity. It was observed since the first century as a result of the influence of the Jewish Passover. It is the result of the first Christians, from the very beginning of the church, celebrating the resurrection every week on the Lord’s Day,   by celebrating the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of him.

During the second century it became customary to baptise all converts on Resurrection Sunday. They had to be prepared for the public confession of their faith and for their challenging walk with the Lord during those ages of persecution and martyrdom.  These preparations lasted 40 days – not counting Sundays. It relates to the fact that Jesus was prepared for 40 days in the desert before his ministry started.

The church fathers in the second century required these forty days of preparation for baptism. Apart from teaching the gospel truth, discipline, fasting and prayer played an important role during this time.  Those who taught the candidates for baptism shared in observing a time of strict spiritual discipline. After some time, other Church members felt the need to “do the course again”, although they would not be baptised on Resurrection Sunday. This season very early on became the Lenten Season of the Church, meant as a preparation for a joyful celebration of Resurrection Sunday.

It is easy to see how the other gospel events such as the suffering and death of Jesus, the Palm Sunday history, Ascension and Pentecost followed and claimed their place in the Christian calendar.

The Resurrection of Jesus is the culmination, the peak,  of the Christian Calendar.

The shortest version of the gospel truth is to say that Jesus has risen – that he has risen indeed.  Our Reformed / Presbyterian tradition emphasises that all worship, including the Lord’s Supper, is fellowship with the living Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit.  Is it not Jesus who through the signs and seals of bread and wine ensures us of our salvation and inclusion into the covenant of grace?  Is it not our living Lord who nourishes and feeds through his body and blood?

Should Christians observe Lent and Easter?

It is an edifying tradition if we do not fall short of continuously worshipping, praising and having fellowship with our risen Lord.

It is a good tradition if we can steer clear of legalistic prescriptions and inflexible observances of culturally based customs, particularly those that encourage ritualistic worship with ideas strange to the simple gospel of salvation.

It is a good practice if we rely on the Word to reveal the gospel truth, if we preach Christ, the crucified, risen Saviour and if we are careful to require nothing more from worshippers than to rely on and celebrate God’s sovereign grace, when we observe these age old commemorative days and seasons.

It is good ministry if it grows the faith of the believers and brings all who participate to a place where they through faith celebrate the wonders of salvation given to us in and through Jesus Christ.

Rooted in Christian history much older than the reformation, observing these holy days and seasons is edifying once we ascertained that the way in which we celebrate these days and seasons are inspired by the Gospel, guided by the Word, directed by our Confessions and Creeds and is celebrated to the glory of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

How do I participate?

Various church services on Sundays and days of commemoration reflect on the gospel events during both the Lenten and Easter seasons.  Preaching, hymns and prayers during these seasons find their inspiration in the suffering and death, resurrection, ascension, exaltation and return of Jesus.

We participate by ensuring that we celebrate and remember when the church of the Lord meets for public worship during these various days and seasons of remembrance.

We also participate when our private devotions / quiet times during these seasons, reflect on what these gospel events teach us and what message the Lord personally has for us.

We may want to participate by, like millions of Christians in the world do, decide to “give up something for Lent”.

The original thinking behind this custom was the deepening of our faith and spiritual discipline through fasting and prayer. “Giving up something” is a way to encourage spiritual growth and not an end in itself.  The basis of observing Lent in this manner was and should always be that it adds to growing our faith and our relationship with God and with our fellow believers.   The idea is that we grow spiritually through these Lenten disciplines.

And discipline is the key word - the Greek word Paul uses for "Godliness" implies discipline, moderation, frugality, charity, meditation, prayer, and study.  Godliness is a lifestyle that draws us closer to God and to seek to live holy lives because we are grateful for the grace and mercy of God.

The idea of adding to our devotions on the one side and “giving up something” on the other is to bring us to a closer walk with God.

Lenten additions include, amongst others,

-  coming closer to God through times of focussed prayer, reflection and worship;

-  growing through the creation of good habits and breaking bad ones;

- touching others through charity and kindness.

The challenge is this:  "What, if anything, are you going to consciously do to ensure a closer walk with the Lord as you prepare to remember Christ’s resurrection during Easier?

What do protestant Christians emphasise during the Lenten season?

There are two important aspects:

* Penitence: We realise our own brokenness and our need for Christ.  God’s commandments become our teacher that drives us to Christ for forgiveness with a thirst for sanctification.

* Preparation: We strive to open our hearts wider for remembering Christ’s suffering and death and the celebration of his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

During Lent people add to, or subtract, from their daily routines in order to draw closer to God.

Prayer, Bible study and contemplating the gospel are key to observing Lent.   Reducing TV time, getting up earlier to do more to deepen our quiet times and following Bible study guides are practical things that add to a fruitful Lenten season.  Coming to Church and sharing with the faithful in our community will teach us to be disciplined in worship.

Fasting or giving up something during Lent is helpful if it lends a hand to become more disciplined disciples of Jesus Christ.

Seeking justice in the world by giving donations to the less privileged, volunteering time for charity and promoting causes for justice while reaching out to those who do not know the Lord Jesus as Saviour and God as their Father.

Keeping Perspective...  There must be no legalism about any of this. We are not trying to impress God. We're trying to prepare our hearts.  Observing Lent in the ways discussed here is no obligation!

It is not a Biblical requirement!

It is a good custom that helped many Christians over many centuries to, in fellowship with their fellow Christians, seek a closer walk with the Lord that lasts during all seasons!

Lent is an opportunity rather than a burden and we pray that yours will be meaningful! 

We received the innocence of Jesus!!

We received the innocence of Jesus. This is about “imputed righteousness”

Generally “to impute” means to legally attach to a person liability for the acts of someone else, because of a particular relationship, such as mother to child, guardian to ward, employer to employee, or business between associates.

Imputed righteousness is a concept in Christian teaching which proposes that the "righteousness of Christ is imputed to believers” — that is, we are treated as if we are not guilty on the basis of our relationship with God, as our Father in Jesus Christ.

It is on the basis of this "heavenly" righteousness freely given to us that God adopts sinners to become his children and find them “not guilty” in spite of their sin and disobedient lives.

2 Corinthians 5: 21 is about imputed righteousness.  It says “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

The Bible teaches that we are found not guilty by God on the grounds of the righteousness of Christ imputed or transferred to us, because we have a faith relationship with God in Jesus Christ.  Christ's righteousness – his perfect life and obedience to death - was transferred to us. It is as if I have been perfectly obedient and if I am as righteous as Christ himself – without sin, or shame. 

Notice what God has done: He has satisfied both his justice and his mercy. Sin is punished in Christ and grace is shown to the sinner. 

During the Lenten Season that begins next Wednesday, we will see Christ punished for our sins.   And we will see ourselves clothed with Christ's perfect obedience.

Jesus, the Bread who came from heaven, saves from the thirst that kills the soul!

John 7: 27 – 39 - On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice,   “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”    By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.

The feast of Shavuot, or feast of Weeks, did not only remember God’s care while the Israelites were wandering through the desert for 40 years - the manna, the waters from the rock, the fiery pillar by night – but also gave thanks for God’s blessings during the harvest at the end of summer, and prayed for those important winter rains during the months that follow.

At the feast, in the words quoted in the text above, Jesus declared that he is the answer to their prayer for water and that he answers their prayers for water.  He ultimately would give his followers the Holy Spirit, the source of life, of divine energy and strength -  living waters!

He, the Bread who came from heaven, he alone can quench our thirst!  Jesus makes us vessels of the rivers of his living waters to save his Church, to save us all from the thirst that kills the soul!

Liturgical Prayers for Public Worship - The Lord exalted!

Call to worship:

Ps 92: 1 – 8   It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High,  proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.  For you make me glad by your deeds,  Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.  How great are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts!

You, Lord, are forever exalted.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit:  bring glory to your Name through our worship today! Amen.

Prayer of praise.  Gracious and merciful God -   your only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, came to us in your Name to comfort and help us, to redeem and save us and to reveal your glory to us.  Jesus have freed us from the slavery of sin, redeemed us through his death and delivered us when he rose to be exalted at the right hand of God. You have sent upon us your Holy Spirit and now we may come before our God and our Deliverer us a people of Your own possession.

To you, glorious Father, with your Son and your Holy Spirit, be honour and praise forever and ever.

Prayer for the forgiveness of sins:

Father, give us repentant hearts and sincere sorrow because we disappointed you!

(a few moments of silence)

Holy God, forgive us the wrongs we have done as we also forgive those who have wronged us.

Keep us from temptation, and save us from evil.

Almighty Lord, you are merciful and your love endures forever. As far as the east is from the west, so far do you remove our sins from us.   (Ps.103:8,12)

In the Name of our Lord Jesus, crucified for us, help us to love, as you loved,

help us to live as you lived and to be victorious through your resurrection power.

Amen.

Before Reading and Preaching.

Father, you alone are our God and you only have the words that give eternal life: quench our thirst and guide us to have fellowship with our Lord and Saviour and through your Spirit become friends with each other!

Only when your Holy Spirit plant the seed of life in our hearts can we celebrate both your gospel and your law. 

When we hear the Good News today and when you show us the way of righteousness, imprint your life giving Word upon our hearts that we may learn to be your people. Amen.

Prayers of intercession:

Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ has promised that you will hear us when we ask in faith:

in your mercy and love, receive the prayers we offer.

God of everlasting love, who provides all things, we pray for all people:  make your way known to them, make known your saving power among all nations. Glorify your Son amongst all peoples as Lord and Saviour and draw to you those who are lost, those who serve idols and those who are dying without the Bread of Life

Our God who is love, we commend to your fatherly care and mercy all who are afflicted or distressed in body, mind or circumstances [especially...... ]

help them according to their needs,

give them patience in their sufferings,

and deliver and heal them, o Lord, deliver them from their suffering,

for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Most holy and most righteous Lord, defeat criminality, corruption, violence and those who cause it and are guilty of it. May wickedness come to a fall.  Redeem and deliver those who repent and seek your gracious forgiveness and bring to justice all who with hardened, unrepentant hearts embrace darkness and evil.

We pray for the nations of the world, especially those facing oppression, violence, famine, pandemics or any other disaster.

Father God, we pray for our country that there may be peace and justice and a better life for all in our land.   Guide and protect our nation that everything we do may be for the best of the beloved country and her people and to the honour of your Name.

O Lord of hosts, strengthen your people for their witness and for your work in the world.

Fill your ministers with your Spirit that they may faithfully preach the gospel and administer your holy sacraments.

Unite in the truth all who confess your Name, that we may live together in love and proclaim your glory in all the world, serving you with diligence, reverence and love.

Lord Jesus, who for our sake truly became a man even though you are the majestic, eternal Son of God:

grant your children the kindness to reach out to and share with the poor and the destitute.  Protect all who are vulnerable and grant them hope and peacefulness!

Almighty Creator, we pray for good weather, and for an abundance of the fruits of the earth. 

Enable those who are engaged in industry and commerce, the media and education, sport and the arts, to fulfil their responsibilities with integrity and an attitude of service, enabling all people and creating unity and opportunity for all who live here.

Ever living and always merciful Lord, bring glory to your Name and listen to our prayers, bless your Church and keep your children in your love,

through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Amen.

Prayers at the offering:

Heavenly Father,

we know that you love a cheerful giver. We do not give to you and your work reluctantly, or under compulsion, but because of love for you and your people.

Help us to not focus so much on the treasures that moth and rust destroy, but to put first the treasures we have in heaven that never will be stolen from us.

Bless now, Lord, these gifts given for your work and bless those who gave cheerfully and with love.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Called to reach out to the lost.

Often religious church-going people see it as their duty to separate them from sinners, unbelievers and all who do not share their spiritual view of life. Unfortunately it is often more about upholding man-made laws and traditions, than an attitude of making sure that they do not offend God or break his commandments.  Such an attitude is more about defending our life-style than defending the honour of God!

In Mark 2:13 -17 we find that the teachers of the law had a big problem with Jesus calling sinners to follow him and that he had fellowship with them. It becomes clear when you read about the calling of Levi as a disciple of Jesus (he was also known as Matthew). He was a tax collector. Jesus called him and had a meal at his home.

Jesus chose Levi.  Tax-collectors were some of the most hated men in all Israel. They were men who had a license to steal from their own people, because they could keep any tax money that was raised over the amount the (oppressive) Roman government required. So, they generally became rich men at the expense of the masses whom they, within the bounds of the law, robbed as a result of their greed.

Such a man was Levi, or Matthew.

He also was a man who was hurting inside, who knew loneliness and who needed Jesus. And Jesus called him to follow him. He chose him to be his disciple. “What a scandal!”

Jesus went further. He went home with Levi to a supper where many of Levi’s corrupt, sell-out friends came too, and ate with them as well.

This caused a stir among the Scribes and Pharisees. They questioned the disciples of Jesus about this improper conduct.

This was not something a religious Jew should have done. The Pharisees believed a good Jew, and especially a teacher, should stay away from such company. He should not associate with them in any way, and never be a friend of fraudulent abusers of the poor – or any other sinners for that matter.

But Jesus saves.  Not those who believe they are soul-healthy, but everyone who calls on his name because they know they are soul-sick, lost and separated from God! 

Are we willing to call the “tax collectors” to become followers of Jesus – even if it requires a radical change in attitude on our part?

Jesus met the real human need of Levi the only way it could be met. Jesus was the physician of sinners and they needed him because they were soul-sick. They knew it, and he knew it, and that is why he was there with them.

To the self-righteous Pharisees who thought they needed no physician, he did not go. They did not consider themselves sick. And someone believing he/she is healthy will never call a doctor. It is only as you acknowledge your sin-sick soul that the Healer of Souls, the Great Physician, will be called to help you.

Yes, we live different lives than the sin-sick world. Not to separate us from the world, but to be able to offer an alternative – to follow Jesus – to all affected by this very world. 

We are in the world, although not from the world.  Lifesavers cannot be prohibited from saving someone, because it would cause them to break a tradition or any man-made taboo.  Christians cannot refuse to do whatever is needed to save the lost, because it asks of them to think out of the box, be compassionate towards those who offend the church - and speak the language of those seeking salvation.  

Jesus loved those of low position, even outcasts. Whom did Jesus spend time with while on this earth? Yes, he did eat fancy dinners at the homes of the influential religious establishment, the powerful. But he also associated with tax collectors and sinners. He wasn't ashamed to be seen talking with a Samaritan woman. He allowed a prostitute to anoint his feet with perfume and to dry them with her hair. He honoured these people with his presence and company and saving grace.

If you evolved from being a believer in Jesus to becoming a follower of Jesus, are you willing to invite all with repentant hearts to walk with the Lord alongside you?

Humility is the key to being a Christian helper to others.

No person can truly be a Christian helper to others or to the work of the Church, until we come to a place where we humble ourselves before those whom we ought to help. We can only be of help when we put the interests of fellow Christians first, before our own.

Then the magnificent paradox of Christianity becomes evident to us, namely that: When we die to self, we live; when we give up our life, we find it; when we abandon our pursuit of sinful pleasure, we become fulfilled.

With this attitude humility results in a journey of wonderful blessings – for those in need and for us who are called to help them.

To be humble is a gift from God. Humility is the attitude with which men, women and children turn to God in faith, for salvation. In this way only Christ will increase in our lives, and we will decrease!  And when Jesus Christ increases he works through us and his glory becomes known through his graceful work in and through our lives.

Paul says: (Philippians 2: 9 - 11) Therefore also God highly exalted him (Jesus) and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow... and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Those who choose not to humbly submit to God must know that while God still for a short time allows us to rebel against him, soon he will subject all people to his authority, when Jesus comes again. We can submit to the Lord now, or be judged by the Lord later. Either way, we will bow the knee before him who is above all and over all.

We are saved by grace through faith when we surrender to God and submit to the authority of his Word, and to Christ as his means of salvation.

Once we have truly surrendered to God, we will be prepared to give up our lives for Christ’s work and receive fulfilment in God’s will. Once we surrender, humility, preparedness and faithfulness will be the natural outcomes of the work of the Holy Spirit within us.  And our work for our Lord will be blessed.

It will be the fruit of our walk with Christ.

God's food makes us strong enough to do his work!

Just as the Samaritan woman at the well did not know that God had provided a better type of "water" to comfort her weary heart and heal her tragic life (John 4:13-15), the disciples of Jesus also did not know that God had provided a better type of "food" to strengthen them in the Lord’s work.

John 4: 31 – 32. His disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But Jesus said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

The disciples were puzzled that Jesus was not ready to eat the fine food they bought in the Samaritan town, because they did not know that Jesus already enjoyed more satisfying and nourishing food from the city of God!

Unless we enjoy the nourishment that the Lord gives, we remain hungry, unfulfilled and weak.  We may, in spite of the finest food and comforts we enjoy, still feel that our lives are meaningless and without joy. In spite of a balanced diet we may feel weak and tired.

Our Lord teaches us that God has provided other types of “food” for us, saying:  ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’, quoting Deut. 8:3. in Matthew 4:4.

God provides many wonderful foods to enjoy and strengthen our physical bodies. 

He also provides his Father’s “food” to equip and strengthen us for our calling in his work for his Kingdom!

John 4: 34. “My food,” Jesus said, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

Jesus provides a life where the life changing living waters that he gives, defines us.

The transforming power of the love of Jesus Christ gives me a new identity

We all know the story of the Samaritan woman at the well and how Jesus changed her life and how she became the Lord’s disciple who turned her hometown into Jesus-followers.  We read this story in John 4.

In John 3 Jesus encountered a male Jewish religious leader, Nicodemus, who struggled to comprehend who Jesus was and what he taught.

But in John 4 the narrator contrasted the important and respected Nicodemus with his complete opposite, the unloved woman at the well, and because she is at the other end of the prestige continuum, she recognized not only who Jesus is but also that he offered her dignity.  

Jesus invited her not to be defined by her circumstances and offered her an identity that lifted her above the extreme tragedies of her life. And she accepted, playing a unique role in Jesus' ministry as she was the first character in John's gospel to seek out others to tell them about Jesus.

When tragedy strikes, or when we find that we are different from others in whatever way, or that things happened to us that influenced our self image and our emotional security, we may know that the transforming power of the love of Jesus Christ has the capacity to give us a new identity and a new sense of self worth!

Jesus promised her a new existence that rose above the judgmentalism of others and the chauvinism and pride of others.  The love of Jesus for us help us to rise above what others think of us, what tradition, culture and social opinions make us out to be  - and turn us into joyful and powerful witnesses of Jesus Christ!

Jesus promised her a life where going to the well to collect water for someone else’s household does not define her anymore –

where chauvinism and racism and culture and xenophobia did not define her anymore,

but he gave her a life where the life changing living waters that Jesus gives, defined her.

Thank you Jesus for the transforming power of your love and for giving us the capacity to live a new identity as your followers

Without love there is neither grace nor faith

John 3:  1 - 21

This famous passage links four related subjects into one theme: There is no grace or faith without God’s love for the world. 

(1)  If we are not born into the Kingdom of God by the grace of God, we cannot have faith. (1 – 13)

(2)  The faith that brings salvation comes from beholding the lifting up of the Son of Man. The term, "lifted up," refers to the cross, but it also refers to the resurrection and to the ascension.  Jesus will be lifted up on the cross, the great sacrifice of atonement. He will be raised up on the third day, conquering death.  His cross, his resurrection and his ascension are different facets of his glorification. (verse 14 – 15)

(3)  God loves the world, which prompted God's gift of the Son so that those who believe in him should have eternal life.  God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.  (verse 16)

(4) There is a judgement day for those who love the darkness more than the Light, and who for this reason do not in faith look to the uplifted Son for eternal life. (verse 17 – 21)

These four subjects are so closely related as to become one theme:

There is no faith without grace. Grace has no meaning in isolation from the judgment.  If we have no sin, we need no forgiveness.  If there is no judgment, we need no grace.  

Therefore there is no grace or faith without God’s love for the world.   

The Father’s House of prayer

In John 2:13-25 we read about the “cleansing of the temple” and we find an unusual picture of Jesus with a whip in his hand and with zealous words and actions against those who changed the temple, his Father’s House of prayer, into a market place.

The passage tells us that the key question about this strange incident is what grants Jesus the authority to disrupt both the worship and economic activities in the temple in such a harsh way?

The answer is clear.  It is his Father’s house. He was more than a pilgrim visiting the temple. He is the Son of the God who dwells in that temple and as such he has the authority to take control of all the temple’s activities.

Jesus appears in Jerusalem making a bold statement for his authority to represent and reveal the God of the temple, whom he knows intimately as his Father.  As the Son of God, Jesus will not tolerate the abuse of people’s need to worship and serve God for personal agendas and gain. Jesus will neither accept nor bless participation in God’s work which is the result of wicked self satisfying motives. 

The challenge for churches today is to follow the example of Jesus when they structure their own activities only in ways that sincerely and reverently serve to reveal God to the world and provide for a “God-hungry-and-thirsty-world” the opportunity to worship the Lord and have their spiritual needs met. There should be zero-tolerance for any other agenda than to provide to God’s people a house of prayer and a revelation of the love, grace and glory of God.

When non-believers look at how Christians participate as members of God’s household, what picture do they get of the God worshiped in that particular “house of God?”

Only through faith

Only through faith

in the Lord we receive his salvation.

Only our faith creates true and sincere celebration.

We shall believe,

and all his mercies receive:

Trusting the God of creation!

Only our faith

in the Saviour assures of God’s favour.

It is through faith in the Son that we joyfully labour.

Through faith do right,

witness with power, with might,

love God with zeal, love your neighbour!

It is God’s Spirit

who grants us our faith through his teaching,

when by his grace and love into our deepest thoughts reaching.

Learning Gods Word,

only through faith we’re assured,

while we Christ’s gospel are preaching!

- Andries.

Copyright reserved

God is with us!

God is with us, because in the person of Jesus Christ, his eternal Son, he became one of us, never to leave or forsake us again.

God became a human being, namely our Lord Jesus Christ.  As he is with us and one of us, we have no reason for fear. "If God is for us (and with us), who can be against us?" asks Paul (Rom 8:31)?

Just before Israel fought the inhabitants of Canaan to take possession of the promised land, the Lord gave his people a comforting word of assurance: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of your enemies ..." Why not? "For the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deut 31:6). 

Because of God's presence in our lives, because God became a man when our Saviour Jesus  came to us as prophets promised God’s people over centuries, we  can be strong and courageous. We know that no evil is so great that the presence of God in our lives is not able to overcome it. Nothing can separate us from his love.

Luther said that the Lord is closer to him than the clothes that he wore.  He is closer to us than our best friend, spouse or children. Through his Spirit he fills our lives and intervenes on our behalf. He is Emmanuel, God with us.

Do not be afraid!

You are blessed if you walk with the Lord, in the light of his Word!

What a glory he sheds on our way, if we only could trust and obey!!

Only by grace...

Washed with the blood of Christ,

cleansed with his Spirit’s flame,

only by grace was called to live,

and only by grace, I came!

Only by grace I live,

only by grace restored.

Only by grace my faith is real:

I’m only by grace adored!

Only by grace I love,

only by grace believe,

and by the Spirit’s gracious work,

a trusting heart receive!

Jesus has made me whole,

onto God’s heart engraved.

Father who chose me – praise the Lord -   

yes, only by grace I’m saved!   

- Andries.

(Copyright reserved.)

Universal Prayer Priorities for 2014.

You are invited to pray with us these prayers throughout this year of our Lord, Jesus Christ, 2014!   The idea is to embrace these prayer priorities and through a six week cycle focus on all of them, repeating the 6 week cycle for the rest of 2014. 

The A section about the Church and God’s work has been developed for a 6 week cycle that runs simultaneously with a 6 week cycle for the needs of the world and humanity in Section B.

A Section.  Prayers for the work of the Church and for God’s work through us:

Gracious Father of all creation and our Father in Jesus Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit,

we pray, o Lord of hosts, during this year of our Lord Jesus Christ:

(Week 1)

Enable Christians of all denominations and traditions to respect and honour each other and to work and pray in unity that the world may believe that our Lord Jesus Christ indeed is the Saviour of the world and the Prince of Peace and that his Kingdom is coming into our world!

Enthuse  all believers to carry forward the torch that saints have carried from generation to generation, since the beginning of the Church,  without compromise or fear, that the Light of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord,  will guide all nations to follow God’s reformation plan for their countries and for humanity. 

(Week 2)

Show through the witness of all believers to Africa, and to our beloved country, the only truth that reconciles, brings forgiveness and discovers growth and progress which is the biblical Christian Faith. 

Send the Holy Spirit to enable every Christian to proclaim the Gospel in the rural areas and amongst the poorest communities and to liberate through Jesus our Lord, the Truth, the Way and the Life, everyone from fear, superstition and false religion who is lost as the result of human wisdom, worldly leadership and manmade initiatives. May we all, because we are in need of salvation, put our trust in the only Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer.

(Week 3)

Unite all ordained servants of the Word and sacraments, all pastors and priests, all leaders in the church, all ordained and lay leaders, to, in harmony, selflessly seek to evangelise all who have not been reached with the Gospel – in every part of the world. 

Unite preachers of and listeners to God’s word, both the leaders and the members of all faith communities, to work together without envy, personal agenda’s or personal politics to accomplish their best endeavours for the work of God, sparing nothing and giving everything for the redemption of all people and the growth of God’s work in local churches and in the worldwide assembly of the faithful. 

(Week 4)

Send missionaries during this year to every province and country on earth to, with gladness and enthusiasm, announce that the Kingdom of God has come and that salvation, truth and love reign through King Jesus, our Lord. 

Inspire all Christians by the faithful proclamation of the Word of God, to dutifully serve the poor, the suffering and the lost.

(Week 5)

Call young people to a life of ministry and grant them the spiritual formation to pursue their calling, providing godly mentors and Spirit filled teachers. 

Call young people to accept the Lord’s invitation to surrender to Christ and to, with obedience, proclaim the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ for the rest of their lives.

(Week 6)

Inspire, through the power of the resurrected Lord, hope in the lives of all who experience pain, sickness, affliction and anxiety and may they see in the lives of your people the love of Jesus Christ that shows us the love of God, our Father.  

Grant God’s people Christian parents that keep their vows to pass on to their children the gift of faith in God the most holy, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that the next generation will also benefit from the apostles’ teachings and become authentic members of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, found in all truly Christian traditions and denominations. 

B Section. Prayers for the needs of the world and for humanity:

Almighty God, protector and provider of Your creation -

we pray, o Lord of hosts, to during this year of our Lord Jesus Christ-

(Week 1)

Grant us enough rain, good weather and a growing economy providing for the needs and advancement of all peoples.

Bless all endeavours for the protection of Your creation and our environment and natural resources.

(Week 2)

Grant peace to peoples worn out by civil war, violence, unrest and military threats to their countries.

Provide for generosity to refugees, all foreigners, all who had to abandon their homes and motherlands and Lord, protect their safety and dignity.

(Week 3)

Heal all who suffer from depression and are lonely, sad and afraid and grant that Your children will help them to see and experience the mercy and the love of God and his Church.

Call and help health workers who will bless community health programs, clinics and hospitals to provide for excellent care of all who are ill, treating those who are sick with respect and love.

(Week 4)

Provide jobs for the unemployed, make mentors and enablers available to them and restore their serenity, confidence and self-esteem.

Love all who live with disabilities and help them in all they need to enjoy dignified lives.

Sustain and protect the elderly.

(Week 5)

Grant respect for the rights and significance of women in all communities and strengthen, heal and protect all our mothers and sisters who are vulnerable and suffering.

Protect all children and heal those children who have been hurt, abused and neglected.

Help and enable all who work for the proper education of all children, repair dysfunctional schools and call teachers and mentors who selflessly, creatively and with passion develop the God-given talents of every learner.

(Week 6)

Restore all men to be strong, honest and kind men of God and help them to, with love, provide for and to protect their families and Your family, according to Your example, o gracious Father.

Defeat criminality, corruption, violence and those who cause it and are guilty of it. May wickedness come to a fall during this year.  Redeem and deliver those who repent and seek Your gracious forgiveness and bring to justice all who with hardened, unrepentant hearts embrace darkness and evil.

Our Father who is in heaven,

Glorify your Name and

may your Kingdom come and your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us each day our daily bread

and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us.

And protect us from temptation.

Father, have mercy on us!

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Amen. 

After researching the prayer priorities of a couple of global denominations and prayer movements and as a result being inspired by them, these prayer priorities were compiled by Andries Combrink to be used as part and parcel of the prayer strategy of the Centurion West Presbyterian Church in Tshwane, South Africa.  He invites all Christian faith communities to utilise, adapt to your own circumstances and promote these prayer priorities in any way you are led by the Holy Spirit.

-      Andries.

2014 New Year Reflections: God will provide what you need!

Nothing is accomplished without dreams and aspirations. We should all dream at the beginning of a new year  - not only about our own needs and opportunities, but certainly also about what God wants to and can do through our faith community.

In our vision for 2014 it would be important to take note that what we want, and what we need, do not always go hand in hand.

There are things that I have wanted and prayed for over a long time that the Lord has not given me.  Yet I know that God determines what is best for me. It is not always easy to accept that the Lord thinks that I need other things than what I want, and that in his love, he believes it was best for me not to have those things and opportunities I desired.

In his letter James writes in 1:16 - 18:  Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

Don’t be deceived!   How can we be deceived? One of the ways is that we believe that what we want is a necessity. And that we believe that what we want will be a good and perfect gift from God.

What God gives is the word of truth. What God gives is good and wise insight into what we need in order to enjoy satisfied lives. What God gives is what we need to make a difference in his Kingdom and in his Church.  To dream how to accomplish God’s vision for me and for his church could be the biggest vision I may ever have. 

But it does not exclude my personal needs.  (Matt. 7: 1 – 11)

Jesus said:  “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

God wants to get very personal with us about what we want and what we need. God is not into his Kingdom project in a way that what I do and what I need do not count anymore.  But the key word in both these two Scriptures, is the word “good”. We need what will be good for us and when God gives them, they will be more than good – they will be perfect!  But do we understand the difference between what we need and what we want, and that the Lord firmly promised to give us what we need?

Are you waiting on the Lord to give you something you really want in 2014? A job? A richer more satisfying marriage? Financial blessings? A cure from illness? To find your soul mate? Victory over an addiction?

We all want something, don’t we? Trusting God to decide what would be a good and perfect gift for us during 2014 will bring us peace of mind when we think about the year ahead of us.

May we, here at the beginning of 2014 pray that the Lord who knows what is best for our lives will, as in the past, give us what we need.

May we be at peace with it! 

And when we know God does what is best for us, may we resolve to only do our best for God’s work, every day of this year!

Make straight the way for God within

Oh cleansed be every breast from sin;

make straight the way for God within,

and let each heart prepare a home

where such a mighty guest may come.

All, praise eternal Son, our Lord,

whose birth now freedom us affords;

whom with the Father we adore

and Holy Spirit, evermore! 

Presbyterian Link Christmas Edition 2013

http://www.centurionwest.co.za/pdf/PresbyLinkChristmas2013.pdf