Devotion for New Year's Eve

Blessed assurance – I am saved!

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." This statement from 1 Tim 1:15 sums up the entire ministry and life of Jesus: to save sinners. It explains why God became a man. This statement lies at the heart of what the Christmas message is: Jesus came to save sinners. It is the most glorious proof of God's love for us. It is the foundation of the Church's message and the key to understanding everything written in the Bible.

The good news of God, and therefore also the motivation behind celebrating Christmas, is expressed in this simple statement: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." This statement is equally clear to young and old, to experienced and not experienced Christians.

Whenever we find our faith wavering and we are confused about the true meaning of Christmas and therefore of the thrust of the Gospel message, we should spend some time reflecting on this teaching. It is of vital concern to everyone. Our acts of hate, our failure to love, our inability to live only for God show that we are sinners. We all are the sinners Christ came to save. We all are guilty before God and deserve condemnation by God.

Yet - "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." We know that Christ had to come, because if he didn't, none of us could be saved. We know that all of us need saving and that none of us can save ourselves.

We need to keep reminding ourselves of why Christ was born of the virgin and conceived by the Spirit: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

But what does it mean to be saved?
It means forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, being granted the righteousness of Christ and redemption – being bought by the blood of Jesus. It means satisfaction of God's justice, acceptance by God for the sake of Christ Jesus and that the darkness of sin is replaced by the light of Christ's presence in our lives. To be saved also means to receive everlasting life. Because Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary and went the way of the cross and of the victory of resurrection, God’s children receive everlasting life.

As we contemplate the meaning of the Christmas Season, lets not be side tracked by all the good things done in the Christmas spirit of goodwill towards men! Lets remember that God’s goodwill towards us is based on the fundamental truth on which Christendom was founded - that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Only when we are saved will our compassion and the mercy we show those who are less privileged carry the true message of Christmas: Christ Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary in order to save us from our sins.

And because we are saved, we enter 2009 with confidence and hope. We are not alone. We are under no judgement or curse. We are saved from the perils that are the result of our imperfection and disobedience. We are saved from our sins, and therefore our faith gives us the courage to look forward to being the followers of Jesus during this year, in spite of uncertainties and concerns!

Take heart – Christ Jesus became one of us, to save us from our sins and the consequences of our foolishness. Be courageous and enter into a new year with joy and with peace in your heart! Even before we tread the first uncertain step into this new year – we are saved from ourselves.

God bless you during everyday of 2009!!

Lord, bless my work this week

The hand which brings gifts to God, must first be washed in the atoning stream. In every work we do, God first of all looks for the reparation of what we have done, by the blood of his Son. If this is present, he accepts the work as done to his honour and he blesses it with divine grace. But God will not have any part in anything done in our own strength only and without reconciliation through Christ.

When things go well at work for the unbeliever, he or she may experience gratefulness. The worldling's heart may beat a grateful throb. But he must be cleansed, or God will not accept and bless what he had done.

Lev 23: 12, 13 (The Message) - On the same day that you wave the sheaf of the first grain that you harvest before the Lord, (a sacrifice and prayer of thanksgiving for the harvest), offer a year-old male lamb without defect; it is a Fire-Gift to God , a pleasing fragrance.

Let the sweet fragrance of the cross of Jesus perfume everything you do. Nothing cleanses, but the blood of Christ. Let your reconciliation with God through Christ discern the character of your thanksgiving and praise. Bless God with worship, because only then will everything you do with your life, all you do at work and everything offered to Christ in his church, be welcomed by God as a token of your love.

May your work this week be blessed, because it comes from a heart that loves the Lord and is accepted by him as honouring his Name.

We live by faith, in Jesus

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" Romans1:16-17

Paul is a master at coming up with unexpected insights: He says that the Gospel reveals God's Righteousness.

When we think of Righteousness, we tend to think of crimes being punished, not sins being forgiven. Righteousness means holy, perfect and sinless.

The Gospel (means "Good News") is about being saved. It is about receiving mercy. It's about not being righteous and yet receiving the benefits of righteousness.

Gospel and Righteousness are not normally compatible, and one would think that the only way to make it so would be a compromise where either Righteousness is watered down or Gospel benefits are limited.

But God manages to bring Gospel and Righteousness together. This is because He brings His Righteous Son to the sacrifice-atonement of the cross to deal with our Unrighteousness. We are given His Righteousness.

Now Gospel and Righteousness are compatible!

We begin each service of worship, each opportunity to love and revere God, as "Saved Sinners."
We come to worship God, who gave His very best so that we can be delivered from our very worst!

And so like Paul, we are not ashamed - we are "Saved Sinners" with a Gospel-given Righteousness.

May the Lord bless us as we come to worship Him and listen to His Word tomorrow!

Is being good, good enough?

What does it take to go to heaven when you die? Is being good, good enough? Is it enough to live a good, moral, ethical life? It is certainly better to live that way than to be an immoral and unethical person. But is it enough?

If you were to die today and God were to ask you why he should let you into his heaven, what would you say? Many would give this answer: “I’ve tried to be a good person. I’ve tried not to treat other people badly. I’ve tried to do good. So my good works would counterbalance the bad ones." What do you think? Are you willing to put your trust in yourself, your good works or your excellent religious activities, rituals and traditions?

Our eternal destination is too important not to have certainty about it. Do we want to risk our salvation by trying it our way, or are we willing to accept God’s terms and receive forgiveness (and heaven) God’s way?

Jesus said in John 10:9, "I am the Door; if anyone enters through me, he shall be saved." In the verse immediately prior to this Jesus said, "All who came before me are thieves and robbers." The implication is that he is the only way. There is one door and Jesus is that door. If you go through that door you will be saved. Any other door does not lead to salvation. This is consistent with what Jesus said in John 14:6: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but through me." But it is not enough to only say that Jesus is the right way. Truth is not truth as you see it. Truth is truth as it really is. Christianity is not what we think it is. Christianity is what it really is.

What Christianity really is, is the Good News that Jesus saves us by grace through faith. (Eph 1 and 2). Jesus is the only way –Jesus is God’s gracious way that leads to us receiving him in faith as our Saviour!

Grace means "the undeserved favour of God." We receive from God in a positive way what we do not deserve. We deserve damnation, yet we receive salvation. This grace by which you have been saved is the gift of God.

Speaking of Jesus, in 1 Peter 2:24 we read, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the Cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by his wounds you were healed." Far from ignoring our sins, Jesus came to this earth to pay the penalty for our sins that we might receive the gift of God, which is salvation by grace . . . through faith.

And faith, a gift from the Holy Spirit, is the willingness to receive Jesus as only Saviour and God’s only way to heaven!! When God gives us the gift of grace, by grace our hardened hearts and unteachable spirits are changed into believing ones that with thanksgiving, praise and worship, in faith, receive, love and follow Jesus!

Being good is not good enough! You have to be much more than good!
You have to be saved. You have to be redeemed! You have to be delivered!
By Jesus – by grace!!!!

Humility makes you strong in the work of God

There are people who think humility is a weakness.
But you cannot make this mistake if God comes first in your life – if Jesus always remains your highest priority. When we put Jesus first, personal priorities, needs and pride take a back seat. If we radically surrender to Christ, the needs of his work and the needs of others become more important than our own. And that is what being humble is all about.

Is this not what Jesus told us that God expected from us in the “greatest commandment of them all”?
”'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

True humility is not a weakness or a fear that allow others to intimidate you. No, true humility is a willingness to serve (love) God and serve (love) others - even your enemies. It is a strong positive action, that makes a difference to God’s work and to people. Humility, service and love give us the courage to resist the temptations of wickedness (disobedience), because the Holy Spirit fuels the flame of our love for Jesus.

May you be blessed when you humbly love and follow Jesus everyday, everywhere.

Jesus' Great Commission - by Joy Salvage

Matthew 28:18-20 GNB
"I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age."

Bees made their home inside the pool pump cover at the office and had to be removed. When they were gone we saw that in a few days they had made these honeycombs. The perfection of these structures is amazing. A hexagon is the most efficient shape as it uses the least wax and the off-set of the hexagons on the other side strengthens the structure without using extra wax.

Jesus spoke these words that are known as “The Great Commission” and they explain how we can most efficiently fulfil this commission in partnership with him.
The first “side” of the hexagon is the fact that Jesus, who has all authority, tells us to go.
The second is where we must go (to all people).
The third is that we must make them disciples (devoted, committed followers).
The fourth that they must be baptised.
The fifth that they must be taught to obey God.
The sixth, which keeps all the sides together and is most important, is that Christ promised to be with us always and that we are not expected to build the earthly structure of his church by ourselves.

Go Tell! by Joy Salvage

What is known by Christians everywhere as “The Great Commission” is found in 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 the Son and 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.”

Just before his Ascension Jesus reminded his disciples that all authority had been given to him and, as the ultimate authority, he instructed them to make disciples of all nations. Matthew was not the only one to record this in the Gospels. Mark 16:15 says “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”, Luke 24:47 “repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached …to all nations” and John 20:21 “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you”. No matter which Gospel we read the message is clear – Go tell!

Jesus lived selflessly and died for the sins of all mankind and we cannot be true disciples if we do not tell everyone about his great love and sacrifice. We, who know the joy of being able to turn to God in every situation, cannot keep this privilege to ourselves. We must share the message of grace, mercy and forgiveness of sin with our families and friends, our colleagues and acquaintances and everyone we come into contact with. We should also live in such a way that our lives are testimonies to God’s love. The great commission is to tell everyone. This starts in our homes and then spreads to our daily contacts and then moves to supporting outreaches everywhere in whatever way we can.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul asks the following questions: “But how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? How can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them?” (10:14 Message). Can you imagine being in dire straits and not knowing God? If you were let down and disappointed by everyone you know and could not pray to a God you believe in and trust, how would you feel? If you were kept in safety through a dangerous situation, to whom would you give thanks if you did not have a personal relationship with Jesus? We cannot keep the Good News to ourselves because Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and everyone should have the opportunity to accept him as their Saviour.

There are different ways of spreading the News. We can become full time ministers of the Word and go where God sends us. We can go out into our neighbourhoods and tell others about him face to face. We can tell about him in emails to and conversations with those we are in contact with every day. We can give time and support to the outreach programmes of our congregation. Almost every outreach effort requires funding and it is not enough to support only the immediate needs of the congregation - we must reach out because that is what Jesus asked of us.

Some of us may think that we are not able to do any of these things, and it may be true, but there is something that we can all do – we can pray. We can pray for everyone in full time and part time ministry. We can pray that the leadership of the congregation will be led to make wise decisions when choosing outreach programmes. We can pray that we, and others, will be given opportunities to speak to neighbours. We can pray that those to who receive emails about the Good News will be receptive to the message. If we really cannot give, we can pray that God will speak to the hearts of those who can. Remember the widow who gave despite her lack of funds and think again before you say that you have nothing to give. God will honour sacrificial giving.

Jesus did not instruct us to do this and leave us to our own devices – the last part of verse 20 makes that clear: “I am with you all the days until the end of the world.” (MKJV). As long as we are willing he will provide us with the strength and ability to “Go tell!”

Is God first in your life?

The results of living a self-seeking life, where we and not God and his Kingdom became the highest priority, are before us all the time: unbearable stress about our jobs, neglected marriages and families, few if any real friendships, and the nagging sense that none of what we do is really making a difference. There are times when we sense it, but for the most part we live life virtually oblivious to the fruitlessness of a life where we, and not Christ, are in the centre of our concerns.

What is keeping us from being able to put God's priorities first today? Jesus also encountered people who had the "I'll get around to God’s stuff when I have the time" attitude.

Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:25 and 27:
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ... Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Jesus is telling us that when self-seeking concerns take precedence over following him and doing his work, we need to re-evaluate. We should not let our worries about material security be the reason for saying "I'll get around to God’s stuff when I have the time”.

The amazing thing is that God is not asking us to do anything that he himself did not do first. In Jesus Christ, before we ever thought of doing anything for God, he gave up everything for us. He gave us his best. He gave us his only Son.

May you be blessed when you put God’s priorities for your life first – and he adds everything you need unto you.

The Beginning of Knowledge

An American scholar has estimated that, if all of man's accumulated knowledge from the beginning of recorded history to 1845 were represented by one inch, what he learned from 1845 until 1945 would amount to three inches and what he learned from 1945 until 1975 would represent the height of the Washington Monument! Since 1975 then it has probably more than doubled.

The question is, does the incredible leap in scientific, technological, and other such knowledge also mean an incredible leap in wisdom? Our experience of man’s failure in political stability, economic security, sustainable morality, eradication of poverty and many other areas tells us that we, as a human race, more often fail to apply the vast new areas of knowledge wisely and in the best interest of all. Selfishness and greed, to name but two deadly sins, often destroy the opportunities created by the amazing increase of knowledge in our world.

When we as a church pursue growth in knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, it should also mean a growth in wisdom, where wisdom means the ability to apply our knowledge in order to accomplish our purposes and callings. We hope this will be the result but, again, we find that this is not necessarily the case.

In Proverbs 1: 7 we read: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

What is the fear of the LORD?
It means, amongst other things, that our God is the One and Only God. He is the Creator and Manager of the universe. He is the God who desires a relationship with us. He is the God who loves us in Jesus Christ.
He is the God who spoke to Job and said:
(Job 38:4-5) "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. (5) Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! who stretched a measuring line across it?

He is the God about whom Isaiah said:
(Is 40:14 and18) Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding? (18) To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to?
Our God is awesome, almighty, holy, glorious, infinite, invisible, and completely wise.

What does it mean to "fear" the LORD? Fear in this context means having a relationship with God, based on a worshipping attitude of praise and thanksgiving. Fear means to obediently and faithfully walk in God's ways, because you have some understanding of whom God said that he is. Fear means to love the LORD with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Fear means to live for the LORD and his glory.

I think of the women at the empty tomb of Jesus. When they met the resurrected Christ they clasped his feet and worshiped him (Mt 28:10). We can say that they feared the LORD.
I also think of Thomas. He saw the risen LORD. He saw the pierced hands and side. And he said, "My LORD and my God!" (Jn 20:28). It took a while, but he eventually feared the LORD too.

What is the beginning of Knowledge?
The Bible says "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." What is meant by "beginning of knowledge"? The knowledge this verse speaks of is not just facts. Knowledge, in this verse, means living out what you have learned. It means taking what the Bible says and applying it in my relationship with the LORD.

Our verse says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." The fear of the LORD, in other words, is the basis, the foundation, the first and controlling principle behind all learning, all knowledge, all education. Without a fear of the LORD, all that you will have is facts, but no knowledge, figures but no wisdom, details but no understanding, rules and laws but no morality, knowledge of the historical Jesus, without having a relationship with him.

Point the children and youth under your care to Jesus. Encourage them to make a commitment for Jesus. For that's the beginning point of all knowledge, learning and education. This is true for adults as well. As adults gather for study and fellowship they too need to be pointed again and again to Jesus and the necessity of a living relationship with him. Without that relationship all our study and all our learning comes to nothing.
Only fools despise wisdom and disciplined learning…

The starting point is the fear of the Lord. The ending point is knowledge and wise living for God.
Do you know what lies in-between?
The preaching, teaching and study of God's Word.

We need to spend enough time with the Bible. We need to feed our souls. We need family and personal devotions. We need faithful attendance of all worship services. We need to participate in Bible Study.

We need to feed our souls with God’s Word until we own the knowledge that will make us wise, because we fear the LORD that we love, our Saviour!

Fellowship with Christ will glow through your life

I trust that your fellowship with the Lord in church glows through your life, while you enjoy God's blessings, lots of joy and much faith!

Do you experience God’s presence in Church? You will, if you expect to meet Him there.
Can you witness to prayers that were heard and answered in Church? This will also be your testimony if you come, because you expect the Lord to listen and respond.
When you do worship with God’s people, do you leave with an experience of deliverance and forgiveness? Is this, God's pardon, not one of reasons why you come to meet with your Saviour?

Never come to church, for the sake of pleasing people!
Come to worship God.

Worship God in Christ Jesus His Son, through the work of the Holy Spirit. His Spirit provides the love and faith required, to worship God.

Focus on God when you come to church. Come to show your love for Him, and your gratefulness for His great love and for all His blessings and grace.

Come with the expectation to hear Him speaking to you, forgiving you, loving you and blessing you!

May your fellowship with the Lord amongst His people ensure that you will experience many blessings in His service!

Saved by God's powerful hand

We see the mighty hand of God many times at work. We all have heard or know of people whom doctors pronounce incurable; yet, when his people pray, God brings about a miraculous healing. Think of how a person without peace, in search of meaning and purpose, finds peace and finds God, because he was found by Jesus Christ, his Saviour! In these situations, and many others that you can think of, we see the Lord's mighty hand at work.
It is on occasions like these that our own eyes see that God reigns over all: over death and sickness, over sin and evil and Satan, over his enemies and ours.

Exodus 15: 13 "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

The greatest and most glorious deliverance of God is the salvation through Christ Jesus. At the cross, God in his unfailing love did not spare the life of Jesus, his Son, in order to save you and me by his strenghth. And, to remember this great act of deliverance God has given us his Word, his sacraments, his Church.

May you be blessed when you cry out to our Lord and you are saved and delivered by his mighty hand – and by his divine love.

God's Kingdom remains always

Markets and governments fall – but God’s Kingdom remains always…
What will make the ultimate difference in your life?
The value of the US dollar, the price of oil, the stability of your family, the Church? ...Or the Kingdom of God?

For Christians the Kingdom of God is of overriding importance. When we understand the “Kingdom perspective” of Jesus, it will impact on our family life – a central responsibility, on financial and other security – an important priority - and on the way we serve Christ in his Church and spread the Word of salvation – a key principle for Kingdom people!

1. Kingdom focus takes away our concerns and set our priorities right.
Jesus said: (Matthew 6:31-33) So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Kingdom people’s focus shifts away from the concerns about what will benefit me now personally, to the ideals of righteous living in all areas of life in obedience to our sovereign King, seeking to proclaim that the Kingdom of God has come and promoting the justice of Jesus wherever we are and in whatever we do.

2. Kingdom people move their focus away from earthly success and recognition towards eternity.
Jesus said: (Matthew 6:19-21) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The reality about “storing up treasures in heaven” is that investing in the kingdom of Christ in the here and now, requires sacrifice in the here and now to bring it about! Jesus sacrificed his life for us and we are to sacrifice our lives to live his lifestyle and the lifestyle of his Kingdom. We must 'lose our lives' for Jesus. This will warrant Christ-likeness in our family life, job and finances, care for others, church participation and our contribution towards a stable and prosperous society (i.e. politics, etc.).

The Kingship of Christ and a life focussed on serving him, do not allow for cynicism and pessimism, but it relies in everything on the almighty Christ who promised to remain with us always, bringing to fruition his eternal Kingdom of peace.

3. Kingdom people place the honour of Jesus and the glory of God before anything else.
Jesus said (Matthew 16:25-7) For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Such is the Kingdom focus of Kingdom people: By submitting ourselves to live for Christ (losing our lives for his sake!), we find the real life: a life of spiritual joy, satisfaction and love, healthy families, responsible and balanced seeking of career and financial goals and an exciting vision for the Church - far beyond anything which the world offers and can never guarantee.

As world markets are wiping out trillions of dollars overnight, we are literally seeing that the riches of this world, for which many are willing to “lose their lives”, are temporary and uncertain, while the kingdom lifestyle is an amazing rehearsal of the complete security that is to come eternally for those who are fully committed to the Lord.

Shall we learn not to put our trust in the markets, the “world leaders”, the strongest political movements – or any man made ideology, doctrine and structure? How many times does the ungodly culture, who betrays and denies Jesus, has to fail us, before we will start to live only for Jesus, our King, and for his Kingdom?

The Word says: (Psalm 146: 3 – 6) Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Pursue Godliness

Listen to what Paul taught the Corinthians in the context of remembering Israel's deliverance from Egypt: (1Cor 5:7-8 – The Message) Yeast is a "small thing," but it works its way through a whole batch of bread dough pretty fast. So get rid of this "yeast." Our true identity is flat and plain, not puffed up with the wrong kind of ingredient. The Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has already been sacrificed for the Passover meal, and we are the Unraised Bread part of the Feast. So let's live out our part in the Feast (of life), not as raised bread, swollen with the yeast of evil, but as flat bread—simple, genuine, unpretentious.

What Paul wants us to do is to pursue holiness and godliness as a member of the body of redeemed believers. The true church and sincere Christian get rid of “old yeast” in life’s dough and “bake a new bread” by pursuing a new life style which is sincere, truthful, simple, unpretentious – always being the “real thing” – an authentic Christian.

Because of Christ – his death and his burial – you are dead to sin and the “old yeast” influence of sin has been swept clean from your life. It died with Christ and was buried with him. You are now truly alive, sharing in the “new genuine bread” of Christ’s resurrection.

May you be blessed as you work at making this a reality in your life. We must live like the old bread is gone. We must live like people whose bondage and slavery in Evil’s Egypt has been left behind for good.

Holy Communion, celebrating God's love...

There is so much we can say about God's love. Because we are invited to sit at the Lord’s Table on Sunday, lets emphasise this aspect of his love today: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4: 10) Out of love God sent his Son "as an atoning sacrifice."

Firstly, Jesus was sent as a sacrifice. This means that Jesus died. This means his blood was spilled on the altar of the cross. God sent Jesus to die. God sent his one and only Son to die for us.
What love. What tremendous, awesome love!!

Secondly, Jesus, out of love, was sent as an "atoning" sacrifice. To atone means to pay a ransom or to be set free from slavery by paying the “value” of the slave to his owner. See Mark 10:45. This means Jesus' sacrifice does something to us: His atoning sacrifice flushes out our sin and the guilt of our sin, setting us free from its ownership. It also means that Jesus' sacrifice does something to God. It takes away God's wrath. It satisfies the demands of God's justice that sinners pay for sin. Jesus removes the wrath of God by suffering and dying in our place.
What love. What tremendous, awesome love.

When we eat and drink at the Lord’s Table, remember the Father's love that caused him to send his Son into the world as an atoning sacrifice. We may leave his Supper with the full knowledge of being washed and cleansed and with a certain faith-knowledge that God’s anger as a result of our sins, has been satisfied. Our loving relationship with the Father is restored. Completely and fully restored. We are free to serve God again!
What love. What tremendous, awesome love

Yes, we are celebrating this love of God when we on Sunday morning enjoy the Lord's Supper. But can you celebrate this love along with his people? Do know this love of God? Is it visible in your life that you know God’s love given by the atoning sacrifice of his Son on the cross?

"Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God" (1 John 4:7). On the other hand, everyone who does not love, has not been born of God and does not know God.

What happens is this: God's wonderful, tremendous, awesome love flows into us and out of us. This love that God gives to us, we absolutely want to give to others. It is a love that is willing to sacrifice for the good of others. Lets celebrate, then, God's love for us at his Table. And, in doing so, let us also celebrate our love for one another.
What love. What tremendous, awesome love!

The Oppression ended

When Jesus came into the world our oppression by sin ended. When Jesus comes into your life, your domination by sin, ends.
When we enter into an intimate walk with Jesus, we no longer live under the threat of judgement and we are no longer owned by sin, a tyrant that seeks to hurt and destroy us.

When Jesus comes into our lives, a new power is in operation within us – the comforting power of the Holy Spirit that sets us free from the brutal cruelty at the hands of sin and death.

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! (Jn 1:29).We are not only forgiven our sins, we are also set free from being enslaved by its malicious despotism. We are bought by the precious blood of the Lamb and we are free to love and serve God.

May you be blessed this week when you hold on to the certainty that there is power, power, wonder-working power in the precious blood of the Lamb.

Love...

What is love? We cannot see it by looking at other people – at least not people without Christ and sometimes not even people who received Christ. Why can non-believers not be role models of what love is? What is love?
The Bible says: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us ..." (1 John 4:10). John earlier wrote: "God is love" (1 John 4:8).

1. John reminds us that love always involves self-sacrifice. God "sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice ..." (1 Jn 4:10). If we show this same kind of love we also engage in self-sacrifice – we give up our own desires, our own plans, and seek the good of others. We stop putting ourselves and our own feelings first and put the other person first.

The sending of the Son both shows God's love and that God is love. The sending of the Son both shows that God loves us, and sending Jesus for our sake is the act of love itself. God communicates his love both in words and in deeds.

2. Love: a painful sacrifice. The revelation of God's love and the act of God's love is this: God "sent his one and only Son" (1 John 4:9). God sent "his only begotten Son."

These phrases remind us that Jesus alone is the "eternal, natural Son of God." He is God, he is of God's essence, he is of the same substance as the Father. We know that God the Father loves his only begotten Son with divine love. Jesus was the very best God had to give us!

Yet, the Father "sent his one and only Son." Think of the pain a parent feels when a child leaves – the first day of school, off to varsity or away from home for a job. Think of the pain the Father felt when he sent his one and only Son. What love the Father must have for us that he did this.

3. Love: God sent his Son for sinners – his enemy. "This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world" (1 John 4:9) By "world" John means the universe and everything in it, mankind, the fallen creation opposed to God and his rule. The world that has fallen into sin, the world that opposes God, mankind that became God’s fiercest enemy – into this world God has sent his one and only Son.

Not only did God out of love send his Son "into the world" but he sent his Son out of love "for our sins." God sent his one and only Son for sinners. A sinner is someone who has offended God. A sinner has broken God's law. A sinner is guilty in God's sight. A sinner is separated from God. A sinner stands in opposition to God. A sinner deserves God's wrath and condemnation. We all realize that we are the sinners and that Jesus was sent for our sins.

Jesus wasn't sent for perfect people. Jesus wasn't sent for people who are loving and caring and compassionate and kind. Jesus was sent for people who hate God and their fellow mankind. Paul says this:
(Rom 5:8) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Christ came and Christ died for people who were enemies rather than friends.

A human example…A recent story about a brave soldier, is about Michael Monsoor who gave his life to save his friends. This American Navy soldier sacrificed his life to save his comrades by throwing himself on top of a grenade Iraqi fighters tossed into their sniper hideout. Michael A. Monsoor had been near the only door to the rooftop structure when the grenade hit him in the chest and bounced to the floor. "He never took his eye off the grenade, his only movement was down toward it," said a 28-year-old lieutenant who sustained shrapnel wounds to both legs that day. "He undoubtedly saved mine and the other soldier’s lives, and we owe him."

Monsoor did this for friends.
Jesus did this for enemies! For you and me.

Real love involves sacrificial love, sacrificing the best we have to offer. Not only for God and for those who are good to us, but also love for those who oppose us because we are Christians.

Jesus delivered us from the bondage of sin and the burning wrath of a holy God. We owe God and his eternal Son love, sacrificial love and we owe real love to everyone he requires us to love!

Anticipate victory!

There are two possible responses to the display of God's divine power: you can respond in belief and obedience or you can respond with cynical scepticism and insubordination.

The scribes and Pharisees, for instance, heard and saw many wonders and miracles, yet they refused to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

In their presence (Lk 7:22 and 30) the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves.

They had no excuse for their unbelief and hatred for Jesus and later also for his followers and young church. They hardened their hearts against the Lord. They conspired against him. How typical this is of sinful man.

But when God’s people see his wonders and experience his power and might, victory is anticipated: the Lord’s victory and ours in his Name, power and authority. We know the gospel and we saw the saving and sustaining power of our Lord. We anticipate his divine victory in our challenges and responsibilities everyday. We do not become cynical or fearful, but aniticipate Christ's victory, even against all odds.

May you be blessed when you respond to the revelation of God’s divine power with the anticipation of victory, with belief and with obedience!

Helpful...

One of the prominent characteristics that develop in us when we truly submit to Christ, is that the prime motivation in our life becomes one to help others. Not building ones own kingdom, but as one of the many who are the Body of Christ, contributing to the growth of the kingdom of Jesus upon the earth, by doing the will of the Father, as communicated by the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught us to pray: Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. And he wants to start with your heart, your life, your job, your relationships, your interests.

Ironically, when your motivation moves away from simply fulfilling religious obligations, but seeking out God for his unique, personal purpose for you, you will find that God will continually place others in your path. The closer your walk with the Lord, the more practical use to him and others you will also become. For closeness to God does not result in an ascetic existence, but rather in reaching out into the community as God leads - and he will lead!

Ephesians 4:11-12 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

The problem is that in the church, we often have separated 'ministry' from the rest of life. This fits the pattern of a Greek way of thinking embedded in our culture, where the different aspects of our life are compartmentalised: family, work, culture, politics, religion, etc. This results in “spiritually” being Christian, while in economics or politics or sports or at home being a pagan and therefore being of no use to Jesus, the community or others.

The Jewish way however, the pattern on which the Bible is based, is operated on a 'whole of life' basis.

Proverbs 4: 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Everything I do comes from my heart, the “wellspring of life", the central control centre of my being, and if Jesus is in control of everything that comes from this “wellspring”, everything I do should meet the standards of God and therefore be Kingdom work and helpful to God, community, ecology and other people.

We must understand that our life for the Lord incorporates the whole of our life, not just the supposed, 'spiritual side'. In everything we do we seek his honour and everything we do should build up the people of Christ and everything we do must become “works of service”.

Such is the way of the kingdom: Matthew 20:25-: Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

and

Romans 12: 1 – 2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies (your whole life!) as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

May we too give our lives, everything we do, everything we are, to Jesus and to what is beneficial and constructive for others.

If you serve God you cannot have fellowship with evil...

Remember what God has invested in our salvation. It took nothing less than the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross to purchase our salvation. Because of God’s great love for us, Jesus bore our sins in himself on the cross. He suffered the humiliation of the cross, the torture of crucifixion and the spiritual agony of being cut off from the Father.

Considering all that God has done to bring us into a right relationship with himself, we cannot even imagine that he would not demand our pure and unbroken fidelity. He desires for us to be totally his. When we betray him by substituting him with other things and lesser things, his passion is stirred up and his anger is kindled.

Paul teaches that “you cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.” (1 Cor 10: 21).

God cares for us. He proved that in the death of Jesus Christ. This motivates in us a passionate desire for an intimate and personal relationship with him — the one who loved us and gave himself for us.

May you be blessed as you walk with the Lord, in the light of his Word! May he abide with us always and may we be faithful to him.

Yuppies, excellence and God's work...

One of the big challenges to the church today, is to make believers understand that the very right of existence of the Church, is defined by the great commission Christ gave to her: Go and disciple all the nations and teach them everything I taught you! This is always an awesome task, but a responsibility the Church can never run away from, for it is for this very reason that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Church of Christ. Acts.1: 8 is quite clear: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses to the end of the earth.

A congregation that claims to be part of the baptism of the Church by the Spirit on that very first Pentecost Sunday and thus claims to be part of the Body – and not disciple the unchurched nor witness to the unbeliever, has a lot of explaining to do about why it should be considered the instrument of the Lord and therefore claim His graceful blessings. If we then measure our “performance” also in terms of the Great Commandment, to love God more than anything else and other people as much as ourselves – how many Churches can still claim to be part of God’s most critical strategy in a lost world!

This is all challenging. What I do find to be the most challenging and probably the most critically important of all, is to not only involve the young generation – that I call the generation of excellence – with the Church, but to specifically get them to be excited about God’s strategic role for His Church in saving the lost, involving the unchurched and inspiring its ambitious young members through the teaching and the preaching of the Word in our congregations.

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE
The young professional’s approach to life is very much a result of the culture of excellence in which they started their careers. Striving for excellence and professionalism and needing an external confirmation of them achieving this, is generally true. Being very busy with working on their careers, they often only want to get involved in projects and responsibilities that confirm their own excellence and success. One of their concerns about getting involved in anything, is the guarantee of success and a visible reward for their contribution.

For the Christian Bible student this does create a problem. Shouldn’t we be servants according to the example of Jesus Christ? If we look for external confirmation of our value and worth, shouldn’t we be looking at God whose children we are and find our assertiveness in our salvation and justification in Jesus Christ, outside of ourselves? Shouldn’t we like Paul in Romans Chapter 7, hate our own disabilities and only live through the confidence of Romans Chapter 8?

YOUNG CHRISTIAN PROFESSIONALS ALSO STRIVE FOR AND APPRECIATE EXCELLENCE
The challenge to the Christian church in reaching yuppies with God’s Good News and involve them in His commission, is to, without compromising the Biblical values of humility, help them understand the meaning of total dependence on God and His grace and the servant’s attitude of the Saviour. To communicate to them, in terms that make sense to them and address their needs as people and as sinners, the truth of the gospel and get these valuable resourses for the Lord’s calling, involved in our ministries and outreaches.

We probably should once again learn from Paul’s wisdom as he directs us to become a Jew for the Jews and a Gentile for the Gentiles. The question remains how to become a yuppie for the yuppies?

THE SOLUTION:
ONLY GOD CAN REALLY DO IT.
As the people of the Church, we can never impress the yuppies! Only God can! A most important teaching to these talented and well educated young adults, is to understand that God’s saving grace and His plan for His kingdom is neither dependent on the format or the content of the ministry, nor on the efficiency of the minister, but only and solely on God himself who saves through grace. Although God chose to use people, earthly instruments and even provide exiting opportunities through the technology that this generation often find so fascinating, to fulfil His promise to save His beloved bride from all peoples and cultures, God only is the excellent, perfect, reliable, omnipotent, infinite, perfect in wisdom, truth, love and mercy, almighty and sovereign Saviour, King, Minister and Pastor of His people.

The person who really strives to be instrumental in achieving infinitely excellent results with eternal consequences, cannot do it by trusting in their own ability, strategy or knowledge and expertise, but through faith, expects God to do it through our Churches and us. God only, through Christ, in the power of His Spirit, can to any person, even an imperfect one, give the outcome of the Commission He so solemnly gave to His Church.

Once they understand this, they can, in faith, risk to associate them with the Church of the Lord on earth and give their support, energy, time and means to a task so wonderful and glorious that we cannot expect mere human beings to be successful in accomplishing it. This, I find, the young, ambitious career orientated believer can and want to understand. Expectations become more reasonable, tolerance develops for the shortcomings of Gods children, but excitement is created to participate in the challenging expectation of the Great Commission of Jesus.

BEING GOD’S CHILDREN SHOULD MOTIVATE US TO BE EXCELLENT
This does not mean that yuppies will ever excuse mediocrity, slackness or not being professional. They would expect the Church to be at least as efficient and excellent as that of the financial, technological, business and commercial world in which they are striving for excellence on a daily basis in their professions and careers. If the God we serve is so most holy, blessed, trustworthy and perfect, how can His children strive for anything less than those who are serving a mere idol such as Mammon? They would ask...

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
After understanding this about this generation, we should be able to give answers to the following checklist of questions that I found during years of ministry that this generation wants to be answered well - and honestly, before they will become involved with any particular congregation. (Please also note that the answers must be given in such a way that it will inspire participation and create a desire to share in God’s excellence displayed through His Church.)

1. Does this congregation meet a recognised (or proven or measurable) need and address a universally acknowledged problem? (Yuppies are also children of the global village!)
2. What evidence do you have that this particular need that this congregation tries to address, exists, and has this, independently from the congregation inviting their involvement, been confirmed?
3. Does this particular Church have clear and concise objectives, relating to alleviating this need or to providing solutions to this problem?
4. Are the objectives stated in a way that prospective members will be able to see whether you can meet your objectives?
5. Can the Church meet its objectives, at a reasonable cost over a given period of time?
6. Does the Church have the staff, or access to people with required skills, to accomplish these objectives satisfactorily?
7. Does the Church have a budget, which is sufficiently detailed to reflect responsible utilisation of financial resources?
8. Does the Church have a method of measuring the effectiveness of its work during the course of its projects and outreaches and how will the members know that the objectives (humanly speaking, such as erecting a structure or implementing technology or broadcasting a program) have been achieved?

Now you can see why I am so excited about the generation of excellence! They could be the most responsible and gifted members Christ ever sent into the world for His sake! Never before were the questions that the Church had to answer so critical, but also so wise, as that of the young professionals of our day! Hopefully these exciting expectations will push us towards boundaries of professionalism and efficiency that the Church never dreamt of achieving before. The goals, objectives and strategies of our congregations should lead them to choose our outreaches and projects as the opportunity through which their obedience to Christ’s commission can be channelled. In this way, our interactions with the generation of excellence will be to the glory and honour of the most excellent God, wanting us to be His victorious Church – through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the conquering power of the risen Lord!

WHY DO BELIEVERS BECOME INVOLVED IN CHRISTIAN EVANGELISATION?
One more important thing we should always remember to ask is: Why do believers give of themselves and their resources, to a Christian cause? Why are Christians obedient to Christ’s commission! All real Christians know that God wants to use their potential and call them to serve in His Kingdom.

Sacrificial giving of my time, expertise, skills, energy, excitement and money, bring out the very best of the intentions in us. Church leaders have the satisfaction of helping people to accomplish for themselves the knowledge that they are obedient and useful to their Saviour.

At the heart of effectively mobilising the generation of excellence, is capturing this generation’s attention and persuading them on the level of their experience of being faithful to their Lord, to give and give of themselves– over and over again. Because I believe they do have the need to give, not to man - but to God, not to organisations - but to the Kingdom, not to earthly leadership - but to Jesus. This is what we must be able to do with the clearest conscience and as far as we know to the best of our ability. We must be able to tell them that – Giving to the Church, is giving to the Lord!!! Expressing your enthusiasm for the outreaches and the projects of the congregation, is loving the Lord, the excellent One! Our own obedience and commitment to the Lord’s commission must persuade us that we have the right to ask this trust from our members and must give us the confidence to state with a clear conscience that placing your offering to the disposal of the congregation’s budget - and making yourself available for this work – is an offering on the alter of the Lord.

Our Biblical teachings, excellence in service and excellence in applying of ourselves and the true knowledge of our own calling before God, only, can give us the right and the confidence to offer this opportunity to people hungry for results. Can we always with clear conscience state, that if you make yourself available to this congregation’s projects and outreaches, you make yourself available to the most powerful One of all, the one and only God, the almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who through His Holy Spirit will accomplish what no man can, namely saving a lost world for Himself and gathering His harvest to the last individual that He in His sovereign grace and ultimate wisdom has chosen to redeem through the work of His Son, the Saviour of the world.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN CHALLENGE
The South African challenge is no easy one and the complexity of our diversity and development as a nation at this point in time, gives us a challenge and it creates an opportunity for God’s work, equal to few others. Let us apply our knowledge, skills and gifts, pray urgently and faithfully, act wisely and expect everything from the Lord, while we are willing to monitor and manage our strategies and the excellence of our performance.

Temptation

When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before his death and crucifixion in our place, he said this:
(Jn 17:14-15) I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. (15) My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

Jesus does not desire for his disciples to be taken out of the world and therefore avoid all temptation. His desire for us is that we remain in the world, but at the same time be protected from the evil one. In other words, Jesus prayed, "Father, give them the power to overcome the Devil's attacks."

When Peter and the other disciples were gathered with Christ for his last Passover meal, Jesus turned to Peter and said,

(Lk 22:31-32) "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. (32) But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

Satan had to get "permission" before he could tempt Peter. God determined whether or not Satan could tempt Peter; and, God set limits to what form the temptation could take. And, he made sure it was not beyond what Peter was able to bear. And when Peter failed, he already had the promise from Jesus that he could turn back – and be received with forgiveness and restoration!

Be blessed in the knowledge that Jesus prays for you in your struggle against temptation, that God sets limits to the level of temptation - and that through forgiveness and mercy, and the love of Christ – when you “return” from having “fallen”, you will be an inspiration to many others who also need to “turn back” to Jesus!

THE POWER OF SUFFERING

Around the world more and more preachers claim that the basic message of the Gospel is: "Come to God, do things his way, and your quality of life will improve." Whether the emphasis is on the improvement of spiritual experience, prosperity, wisdom and knowledge, or even social issues, the promise is given that day to day life will change for the better if you believe in Jesus.

But is this Biblical? Is it actually what New Testament Christianity was – and is about? Was it really the experience of 1st century New Testament leaders and believers?

Remember the Apostles. History shows us that of the eleven left after the departure of Judas, ten were martyred for their faith while John was banished to the prison island of Patmos. No lives of any worldly success and improvement for these (faithful) followers of Jesus!

Just look at what Paul said about himself:
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely,(than the other Apostles) and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).

Is this an ordinary story of success, happiness, prestige and fulfilment? No, certainly not! One is forced to conclude that Paul’s life, after meeting Jesus, was not one of great human happiness. Indeed, it finally resulted in martyrdom in Rome around 66/67 AD. This would not have been a surprise to him, as he would have been told by Ananias (on the day of his conversion!) what the Lord had said:

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:15-16)


Jesus experienced suffering too, as was prophesied by Isaiah about 700 years earlier:
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3)

Of course we know that after the suffering of his death Jesus rose in victory in his resurrection body, having crushed the power of Satan, sin and death. This is the eternal promise that we share in also. In the meantime however, we share in his sufferings and he shares in ours, for we are called to serve like Jesus.

It is not by chance that Christianity today is expanding in Muslim countries, China, and others where believers suffer persecution for their faith in Jesus. For true believers, suffering brings us closer to God! This is the power of suffering for Christ: Jesus shares in our suffering. It results in faithfulness, evangelistic zeal – and most of all the powerful energy that comes from sharing God’s desire that the perfectly holy Kingdom of Christ will come when he returns and all suffering will stop for ever. The dream of and passion for the coming of this Kingdom powerfully brings us, not prosperity and prestige, but true faithfulness, obedience and diligence for Christ’s sake.

As Paul said:
10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10).

The power of suffering is that that it changes selfish, greedy or lazy Christians, into good and faithful ones!

"Lord, give me the strength I need, when called upon to suffer for you, to work for you, to live for you and to sacrifice everything for the sake of your Kingdom. Amen."

Faithfulness

The one quality that God looks for in us, his servants and stewards, is faithfulness.
(1Cor 4:2) Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Paul says faithfulness “is required”. This picture is of God looking us over, putting us under his magnifying glass, looking for faithfulness and giving or withholding his blessings on the basis of faithfulness.

Faithfulness is the key word in the relationship between God and us. The Bible tells us that God is faithful to his covenant (his promise of salvation) with us.

(Deut 7:9) Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

(2Tim 2:13 )If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

In his covenant faithfulness God is absolutely trustworthy and utterly dependable. He will keep covenant with us, and he will do so forever. He will keep covenant with us even though it demanded that he nailed his own eternal Son to a Roman cross. In describing God's covenant relationship with us, the Bible uses phrases like abiding faithfulness and eternal love.

“Great is your faithfulness, Lord unto me!
Now bless me, Lord, that I too will remain faithful to you and your work! Amen.”

Powerless

BE POWERLESS BEFORE CHRIST. IT MAKES THE WALLS OF JERICHO COME DOWN!
Being in a powerless position makes you feel weak, vulnerable, unable to change anything about your situation and it often makes you deeply depressed.

But in the strange ways of God, these emotions can become the most powerful position on earth. Just ask General Joshua, from the book in the Old Testament that bears his name, about this truth!

In Joshua 5, beginning with verse 13, Joshua is in what may be the most intimidating, fearful situation of his life. He has bravely led God's people into Canaan, only to be confronted with the massive walled city of Jericho, distressing God's people as an apparently impossible obstacle between them and the land that God has promised them. As their commanding general, Joshua went to explore the details of this humanly impossible commission.

The Bible says: "Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, 'Are you for us or for our enemies?' 'Neither,' he replied, ‘but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.' Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence and he asked him: 'What message does my Lord have for his servant?' The commander of the Lord's army replied, 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.' And Joshua did so."

This Commander of the Lord's forces is the eternal Son of God making one of his Old Testament appearances. No angel would have accepted worship, and Joshua calls him "my Lord." And Joshua falls on the ground, facedown, before him.

Joshua was competent, successful, skilled and brave. A man who never surrendered to anybody. But on this day he surrendered, and his surrender was going to be the reason for winning one of the most amazing battles of his career. From this moment of total surrender, of total powerlessness before the Lord, comes God's unusual plan for conquering Jericho. Before there could be the defeat of Jericho, there had to be the surrender of Joshua.

And before there can be the conquest of the challenges that emerge before you right now,there must be the conquest of you.

God sometimes allows things into our lives that will bring us to the end of ourselves; where all our experience, our talents and our connections are useless in finding a solution. God may have brought you to a moment of powerlessness, not that you would give up, but so that you would unconditionally give over the control to him! There is no condition God can do more with, than our complete dependence on him. When you and your inabilities, your human weaknesses, are out of the way finally, you are able to see what miracles the almighty God can do! Only when you surrender to Jesus, will you see what our all powerful Lord can do for you – and through you, for his church and for his Kingdom!

Do not hesitate to lie face down before Christ! When you are at the end of yourself, you are at the beginning of his all-powerfulness. Surrendering to the almighty Christ, is the Christian’s way of winning. Complete surrender to Christ is the most forceful position in the world.