Seventh Day of Christmas - God became a human being...

A NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE ABOUT
CHRISTMAS ACCORDING TO JOHN!

Listen to John's Gospel: "The Word became a human being and lived here with us. From him all the kindness and all the truth of God have come down to us (John 1:14, Contemporary English Version).

If we want to give this verse a “name” we may call it: “Christmas according to John”.
In John’s version there is no reference to Bethlehem, shepherds, angels, wise men and all the other details that usually make our celebration’s itinerary.
John begins to tell the story of Jesus since the “beginning”. (John1 :1) He tells us that before time and creation, the Son of God existed and that he played an important part in the creation of our world and of our human race. We need to know that he always has had an interest in the details of our “daily reality”.

And then John tells us that the Son of God “lived here with us”.
“Christmas according to John” wants to assure us that in Jesus, God came to experience what its like to live on this earth, to dream and desire, to experience life, to be excited, to be disappointed, to feel pain and human tragedy, weakness and death. Jesus came to be part of everything significant in every person’s life.

The point of this verse, The Word became a human being, is that we are never alone:
In Jesus, God is with us when we are depressed and hurting and sick.
In Jesus, God is with us when we are hit with bad news.
In Jesus, God is with us when we feel guilty and ashamed.
In Jesus, God is with us when we are worried about someone we love.
In Jesus, God is with us when we are so excited about what lies ahead – that it almost scares us to death!
In Jesus, God is with us when we are powerless to face the challenges of a new year – 2010 – that is to dawn on us this weekend!!

We say all of this, because the Bible says that The Word became a human being, in Jesus. He is Immanuel - God with us.

Jesus has become part of our realities. Christmas tells us that God is not detached and disconnected from our world and our experiences. He is with us. He has come to hug us and hold us, even though our mistakes and impurities often make us feel unattractive and unloved.

Jesus was born to show us the heart of God. It is a heart that pulses with love for every one of us. Jesus does not come to us with philosophical descriptions and definitions of love. Or with complex assessments of why we are whom we think we are. Jesus is love and simply came to show us the love of God.

He is the only way to God the Father and eternal life.
Jesus is the only source of inner peace.
In this baby of Bethlehem, born to Mary, we shall see as much of God as we shall ever hope to see in our earthly life. This baby is God in flesh and blood.
Jesus makes a difference to your life.
Christmas invites you to trust Jesus.
Christmas challenges you to take Jesus seriously during every day in 2010 – and beyond the new year.
Jesus wants to refresh your daily existence, even when the dirt amongst which we live, starts to show.

God has a word for you for today and for the year ahead:
God became a human being because he loves you.
Trust God. Accept his love. Understand that he knows what you need.
Ask him what you need, anyway.
Be calm.
God is in control - and is with you. He will bless and keep you!
This was what celebrating Christmas has been about all along!

Sixth Day of Christmas!

Who is Jesus? (Melody “Rock of Ages”)

Who is Jesus, do you say?
Many claim He is Thé Way.
Peter calls Him Christ and Lord.
John says He’s the Son of God.
Paul knows Him as source of grace,
states through Him, we’ll win the race.

Luke says He’s a virgin’s boy.
Mark reveals He’s heaven’s joy!
Gospel names Him: Only One.
God the Father calls Him Son!
Spirit says He’s Saviour, Lord,
Emmanuel, life giving Word!

Jesus Christ, eternal King!
Men and angels for you sing.
All your people love you Lord!
All your Church in one accord,
calls you Jesus and our Friend,
’mighty Christ, until the end!

Christmas is about two saviours and two kings – 5th day of Christmas.

In the very beginning of St. Luke’s Christmas story (Luke 2:1) he tells us about Caesar Augustus. Then in Luke 2: 11 he tells about a baby in a manger, who is a saviour - Christ the Lord!

Why mention Augustus and Jesus in the same passage? Why include Caesar in the story of the birth of Jesus? There are a few reasons. Luke wants to firmly establish that the birth of Jesus was a real historical event that happened at a specific time and place. Without our modern day calendars, it was then the custom to provide a “date” by mentioning the reign of a well known ruler or important event. We have to know that this Christmas story is not one of the many legends and myths that became part of the Christmas tradition. This is the factual first episode of the personal history of a historic Jesus.

And still the question remains, why did Luke choose Caesar Augustus to provide a geopolitical setting for the birth of Christ. It was not done by chance!! Caesar Augustus also claimed the title “saviour of the world” for himself. He demanded that “the whole world” acknowledge him as their king.
The main reason that Caesar and Christ are mentioned together in this version of the Christmas events, is because this Christmas story is one about two saviours and two kings.

Unknown to Augustus, in the year 4 B.C. a rival was born, someone who is until today called Saviour and King.

1. The story of two saviours.
At the time when Jesus was born, the people living within the Roman Empire were for more than 90% - a conquered people! Consider the psyche of conquered people. Anger, confusion, despondency, scepticism, negativity and discouragement would be some of the words to describe the mood within the mighty empire! Not an approach conducive to growth, prosperity, hope and peace! After many years of warfare and turmoil the Roman armies were completely in control – of dispirited people.

It also had implications for their religious beliefs and practices. Conquered peoples did not know what to believe anymore. In those days when a nation lost a war, it meant that their gods had forsaken them and they were not powerful enough to save them from their Roman enemies. The Empire was filled with subjugated people who had no trustworthy gods left to depend on. They were discouraged and confused.

Mighty Augustus planned to change all this. He would provide the security they needed. He would give them a new way of life, a new world order and new gods to worship. He would give them peace, justice and the gods of the Roman empire. Was he not a son of the gods? Did this not qualify him to be the saviour of the world?

Augustus was going to save the world by his stringently executed politics, his excellent administration, his powerful military resources, a booming world economy and by the sophisticated magnificence of the Roman culture and its exciting, fun loving – yet often cruel - gods. An important part of reengineering a new society with a new religion of Caesar worship, was a census to be taken of all the people and nations under his rule.

This man, Caesar, would be a saviour as never seen before! To him an anthem could be sung that said, "Glory to man in the highest."

People today still practice the religion of Caesar Augustus. People today still believe in the greatness of man, his politics, culture, abilities, discoveries and strategies to provide his own salvation.

As in Caesar's day, leaders put their heads together and proclaim new orders and new saviours. Political groupings and mighty nations standing together, the UN trying their very best to stop climate change, world wide plans supported by science to provide food security, new leaders and new programs are to be the salvation of the world. Scientific discovery and achievement will make life meaningful and safe. Technologists propose the might and power of the computer, internet based information and communication solutions as the key to our future happiness. Researchers are looking for the perfect cure. The perfect teaching model will end the painful skills shortage and psychologists will find the key to contentment and happiness and joy!
"Glory to man in the highest" seems to be an appropriate anthem for a world order where man can save himself, create utopia, build a perfect society and bring an end to despair, where the beginning of hope is man himself...

But Luke comes to us with a different message. For hope and salvation, Luke directs us to "a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2: 12). Luke comes with the Gospel News that is the truth. He comes with God’s news that will result in true, everlasting and complete salvation: "Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you" (vs 11). This Saviour’s name is not Caesar Augustus - "he is Christ the Lord" (vs 11).

And how is this Saviour going to save a disappointed, sceptical, discouraged, irreligious and despondent people?
He would die upon a cross. He would freely give his righteousness to people who failed dismally and are lost.
This Saviour brings hope and salvation through his blood and his Holy Spirit. He is God who comes to earth as a man, dies upon the cross, brings about a kingdom built on victory over death, reconciliation, forgiveness, grace, mercy, righteousness, justice, love and peace, by changing the hearts, the minds and the destiny of all people to whom God gave the gift to follow him.

Caesar’s plan of salvation came to nothing.
But Jesus is a Saviour beyond worth. His plan of salvation makes a difference, because it results in redemption and deliverance. And this is so, because the salvation in Christ depends upon God. It is God who works out our salvation through the blood and Spirit of Christ. Only God can succeed where Caesar fails. Only God can save!

The anthem that we hear on Christmas Eve on the fields of Bethlehem resounds the glory of this Saviour by praising God, who gave his Son – who gave the Saviour. In the heavens, says Luke, there were a multitude of angels singing, "Glory to God in the highest" (vs 14).

The big difference between the two saviours? One gives honour and praise to God and the other relies on weak, silly man who always thought that he could save himself!

2. The two Kings
The Christmas event is a story not only about two saviours, but decisively also about two kings. The name of the one is "Caesar Augustus." This is a title that he took for himself which means "The Exalted One." The other one, Luke says, is Christ, the Lord!

Augustus indeed was one of the greatest men of the world. He commanded thousands of Roman legions, his empire stretched to the furthest corners of the earth. He was a powerful, mighty man. Augustus just had to give one command, and the whole world was on the road to be enrolled and counted. Nobody would dare to even ask why! People observed his every command and his every wish. His birthday was a national holiday for the entire Empire.

But then the Christmas story also is about another king, a little child born in the city of David. He is called "Christ the Lord." His title and the details of his birth in Bethlehem are in the Bible, because he is the Messiah, the Anointed One, the everlasting King.

Could he really be such an important King - God, born as a human king on earth? There is no room for him at Bethlehem’s inn - and he is born in a stable and laid in a manger. The only ones bowing before him are poor, lowly shepherds. His is an invisible kingdom that is not of this world. But he claims to be The King. For him and about his rule, angels bring honour to the One who gave his only Son to be King for the sake of salvation, redemption and joy: "Glory to God in the highest."

After 2000 years, where is Caesar today? He is dead!! His empire has been dismembered. He died, and eventually after many centuries, his empire died as well.
And King Jesus? Jesus is alive! Jesus is victor over all our enemies, even death! Christ reigns for evermore!

What a turn-around this Christmas gospel has!
Christ's birthday, not Caesar's, is a time of celebration for many millions of his followers. Christ's Kingdom, not Caesar's, is growing day-by-day. Christ's rule, not Caesar's, is in effect. Christ sits at the right hand of God and has been given all authority and power. He is the almighty Christ - Saviour and King of heaven and earth.

Man continues to elevate himself to the throne as saviour and ruler of the world. Man still pretends that he is master of his life and controller of his destiny. Man fools himself into thinking that he is in control.
Man loves to play God!
But Christ reigns!

Who is our saviour: Caesar or Jesus? Who is our king: Caesar or Jesus, man or God?
We either believe in "Glory to man" or in "Glory to God."
Believe in Christ! Believe in the life he gives! Believe in the salvation he provides!
Because only through faith in Christ can you share in his righteousness and grace!

Fourth Day of Christmas

ONLY JESUS CAN!

I cannot save myself o God,
- no one can, my Lord!
There is no one, to take away
all my guilt, unrighteousness!
Just Jesus can,
can achieve God’s gospel plan.
Yes, Jesus can,
o holy God,
only Jesus can!

A Saviour pure, I need, o God,
- sinless man and God,
to carry all my punishment,
satisfy your will, your wrath!
Pure Jesus can,
sinless Christ, the Son of man.
Lord Jesus can,
the Son of God,
only Jesus can!

Third Day of Christmas

Jesus acknowledged as King by Gentiles!

If the baby in the manger really was the promised Messiah, the King of the Jews, we could expect the New Testament to describe how the governors, lords and kings of the world bowed before him, and how all people placed their treasures at his feet.
This was what the Magi also thought. We can imagine them hurrying along on their camels, eager to participate in the celebration and excitement they expected to find in Jerusalem.

But when they arrived, they must have been deeply disappointed. They found no dancing in the streets, no national holiday and no excitement. And when the Magi announced that the King of the Jews was born, the people, together with Herod, were not thrilled – they were disturbed. Herod was disturbed because Messiah was a rival to his throne. The ordinary people were disturbed, because they knew what happened when Herod felt threatened by rival claimants to the throne – he murdered and killed and plundered. The priests and leaders were disturbed, because the Messiah's birth threatened their political power and positions. Messiah would demand change! And like most of us, they refused to accept even the thought of change.

But the Magi, in spite of Jerusalem's response to their news, continued their search for the Messiah. They went on their way to Bethlehem to worship him! When they came to the house where Jesus was "they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him" (Matt2:11). Imagine that these proud and independent wise men, bowed before Christ, acknowledging him as Ruler of their lives, and accepting him as Lord and Master. And "then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh" (vs 11). These Magi gave themselves and the best they owned, to Jesus.

In the story of Jesus and the Magi, Matthew is giving a very strong message to his fellow Jews: namely, that Gentiles recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the King of the Jews, whereas Jews did not. Gentiles worshipped Jesus and gave him gifts, but his own people became disturbed at the news of his birth.

The Jews had the Scriptures. They could read about the promised Messiah on every page. Yet, they refused to worship him! The Magi only had a star. They had to go to the Jews for information about the Messiah, yet, they were the faithful worshippers of our Lord.

It is still true that those who own the precious gospel from birth often become unresponsive to its amazing message. Often new Christians are far more excited and enthusiastic about the truth about Jesus, than we who have grown up with it. Ours too is a history of God dealing with us through generations – and we have a Bible, a church, the sacraments, a Christian upbringing and sound teachings about Jesus. Yet, not unlike Herod and the Jews in Jerusalem, we too are so often blind to the treasures of the gospel of grace and salvation. It becomes a burden, a disturbance and even a disappointment to us. We have to be careful that the Gospel treasure never loses its lustre in our eyes.

There is always this two-fold reaction to Jesus: some believe and worship him and others are bored with and even irritated by the excessively known gospel story and its message. It still happens today. And when Jesus returns – some will be disturbed, while others will lovingly and reverently, worship him.

The story of the Magi is a call to us all to come and worship Christ: to be excited about Jesus. The story of the Magi is a call to us all to bow down and worship and adore Jesus, to give him the best of our love and service, because he is the Messiah, the promised Christ, the King of the Jews and for all eternity our King of glory! .
May this Christmastide bring us to a place where we truly worship Christ, the Lord of glory!

Second Day of Christmas!

Our Lord was born on Christmas,
as prophets did foretell.
In David’s blesséd city,
became Emmanuel.
With choirs of holy angels,
we gladly worship Him.
Our Lord was born on Christmas:
Our Saviour and our King!

He brought the light of heaven,
to guide us on our way.
For love of lowly sinners,
He came to serve, to pay.
God so much loved the world, that
He gave his only Son -
our Lord being born on Christmas:
eternal life was won!

Our Lord was born on Christmas;
his people waited long.
So shepherds shouted “Glory!”
after the angels’ song!
As we are waiting ages,
for God’s new glorious reign,
may we be found elated,
when Jesus comes again!!

Christmas

Jesus Christ was born for me,
on that happy morning!
He has come to set me free,
set my spirit soaring!
Brightly shone the angels’ light,
singing, giving honour.
May His birth bring me delight:
Christ became my brother!

Virgin Mary was so glad,
God had shown her mercy!
It’s the Son of God she had,
born in splendid glory!
She in faith accepts the word,
God’s own proclamation:
“I’m the maiden of the Lord,
serving incarnation!”

Let now all who love the Lord,
gladly bring Him honour.
In our lives, is born the Word,
by His Spirit’s favour!
Jesus Christ remains the same,
as today, for ever!
‘Cause He one of us became,
He’ll forsake us never!

Advent excites us about going to heaven!

Most people have only a blurred idea of what living in heaven and on a new earth will be like.
But what is the future then for those who are followers of Jesus?

The Bible says that God will one day restore his perfect rule over the universe through his Son, Jesus (Eph 1:10). Every form of evil, corruption and tyranny will be destroyed. Sickness and death will be no more. There will be no more disappointment or frustration or pain. Everything that stands against God’s purposes will be completely destroyed.

Instead, people will enjoy the fruit of their labour. “They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit” (Isa 65:21). They will enjoy a world of perfect peace, righteousness and justice. We will enjoy perfect relationships and real community. What will guarantee this future, is that God will live with his people and be with them forever.

For the Christian, heaven will be the home towards which we look forward. It will be our promised land, the place of rest and abundance. It will be a wedding feast. It will be the security, companionship and riches of a great and perfect city.

What the Bible presents is only a glimmer of what that future glory will be like (1Cor 13:12, Rom 8:18). But God’s word calls us to always set our hope on that day when Jesus returns (1Pet 2:13, Col 3:4). We are called to think often about this future hope like travellers, like pilgrims and pioneers, looking forward to the day when we will finally be at home with the Lord (2Cor 5:7).

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the King of this coming kingdom, to bring everlasting peace and to reign over God’s glorious dominion with us, his bride, for ever! Let’s then celebrate his birthday with due gladness and reverence on Friday. Let’s not allow anything or anyone preference to the One whose birthday it is!

Go to church on Christmas Day! Take the family and all your guests and sing with the angels:
Luke 2: 14 - "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."

(Why don’t you take some time this week to meditate on some of the Biblical pictures of heaven in the following passages: Isaiah 65:17-25, Revelation 7:14-17; 21:1-22:5?)

Advent and reconciliation!

Today, 16 December, is the Day of Reconciliation in South Africa.

One could say it is a civilian and national holiday, meaning that it is not a “church holy day” such as Christmas, universally celebrated within Christianity.
Yet, it fits well within the spirit of the season! An encounter with the Newborn King - and a people who awaits the second coming of Christ, should take seriously the challenge to make a difference to national civilian reconciliation.

This rainbow nation is characterised by diversity and by disproportion.
Political history shows that we most of the time struggle to maintain a non-racial, fair, just and free society. Anger about injustice, cultural and personal pride hurt by favouritism and keeping a record of wrongs show that only a God-given miracle and true regeneration of the very soul of people and of the nation will be able to bring about lasting peace and a fair society in which the children of the beloved country will remain safe and in high spirits!

All should PRAY on Reconciliation day - that God will take self seeking anger away amongst us and grant our nation a spirituality characterised by patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness and love that delights in truth!
Pray that we will be a nation that are not angry - and can therefore work together to eliminate the vast imbalances between rich and poor, powerful and powerless, honest and corrupt, skilled and unskilled, and content and angry.

Are you an angry person?

One can describe a generally angry person as someone who often shows frustration about people and situations, is constantly upset and irritated by trivialities and cannot control body language, tone of voice and words of criticism that are hurtful to others who merely intuitively act out their personal views, values, choices and preferences.

We all know what Paul says godly love is: In 1 Cor 13 he amongst other things say that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (Vs 4 – 7)

Love is not easily angered! Spirit filled children of God, desiring sanctification, fight the tendency to be easily angered. Because being self-seeking and keeping record of wrongs are the opposites of Christ like behaviour!

Proverbs 13: 10 says that “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”
This means that only fools are easily angered because others hold different opinions than they do! And it also means that when we are uncomfortably touchy and upset, it most probably is the result of unholy pride!

Anger may be holy when the honour of God and Jesus and the Kingdom of God are injured and when the witness of the church is harmed!
Unholy anger would be an emotion I experience when my pride and my position of power and control is endangered! Unrighteous anger is what happens when a proud sinner lacks self-control.

Anger is an emotion. And some say emotions are neither good nor bad – it just is. Yet, it is clear that the Bible teaches us that a lack of self control is a sin! Paul says in Ephesians 4: 26: ‘In your anger do not sin’. When we lose control, we sin against God and man. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is amongst others, self-control. (Gal 5: 22-23

James summarises this very well in James 1: 19 - 21.
He says: “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”
The opposite of sinful pride that is easily angered, is a humble acceptance of the Word planted in us!

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. For man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Humility kills pride. But pride kills the Word planted in us!

May God’s love keep us pure.

Advent is also about a woman and a dragon!

Revelation 12 introduces us to two characters: a woman and a dragon.
John says to us: "A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven’: a woman ..." Who is this woman? Listen to her description. "Clothed with the sun" – she is glorious. "With the moon under her feet" – this implies dominion and rule. "A crown of twelve stars on her head" – twelve is John's expression for the people of God.

What else are we told about the woman? "She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth" (vs 3). "She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron sceptre" (vs 5). The "iron sceptre" image comes from Psalm 2. There, the One who rules the nations is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. So, the child to be born is the Messiah.

She and her male-Child is threatened by the devil and fled into the desert where she was protected by God.

Who is this woman? Who else fled into the desert, to a place prepared for her by God? Israel. Remember the twelve stars in her crown? Twelve, John's number for the people of God. How does the Old Testament describe the faithful people of God? As a woman in labour (Is 54:1-5; 66:7-8). It is obvious. The woman is Mother Israel; we are talking about the seed of the woman from whom the Messiah comes; the woman is the church of God, elect and glorious. This woman, this mother, is gloriously clothed with the sun, moon, and stars. We must always exalt the church – in our love, our talk and our thoughts.



(Rev 12:4) The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born.
Do you see what the Devil is doing? The Devil is trying to stop the Messiah's coming. Does he succeed? Of course not! The dragon's dangerous plot is blocked with instant haste. Listen to how John puts this:
(Rev 12:5) She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron sceptre. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.
The life, suffering, and exaltation of Christ are summarized in this one verse: born, snatched up to God and shares his throne.

The dragon was there waiting for the baby to be born, like a lion waiting to leap on its prey. But before it could act, Christ saved his people and was glorified with divine power in heaven. The dragon looks so powerful and frightening, but he is pathetic and helpless. He can do nothing to the Child. Satan has no power over the Messiah.

Once the Messiah was born, Satan tried to stop his work:
-Who can forget wicked King Herod and all the slaughtered baby boys of Bethlehem? But baby Jesus was kept safe from Satan's attack.
-When Jesus started his ministry, he came to Jesus in the wilderness and tempted Jesus to gain a Kingdom without the cross.
-Satan came to Jesus in the darkness and loneliness of Gethsemane and his goal was to stop the Messiah's work.

Evil was at work throughout the history of salvation. There is hostility between the seed of the woman (Jesus) and the evil one. Again and again Satan tries to stop God’s salvation plan through Israel’s Christ – our Saviour.
Again and again, Satan tries to prevent the Messiah's work.
Again and again and again, Satan is blocked.

Today the woman – the Church of Jesus, is still under attack.
The Christ is in authority in heaven under the protection of the glorious power of God’s very throne. Yet we experience the brunt of evil's frustration and of his hatred.
And again he will be stopped.
Everyday Jesus remains victorious. And on his day of return his iron sceptre will shatter his enemies like pottery.
Again and again the enemy will attack!
And again and again the enemy will fail!
Again and again the enemies of the church and of our Lord will be judged and purged.

Rev 12 : 10 11:
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony.

Poetic Advent

Christmas light -
"Isaiah 9. "

Those who walked in clouded darkness,
they have seen a wondrous light.
Those who owned death’s gloomy likeness,
were awakened from their plight.
God enlarged his nation’s power,
he increased their heartfelt joy!
As through holy angels’ worship,
God’s light is through us deployed.

People walked in hazy darkness,
then they saw a marvellous light.
Prince of Peace, it is your likeness
shining in our world, so bright.
Wonderful and glorious Counsellor,
mighty God, yes you alone,
reign forever, gracious Father,
King on David’s heavenly throne.

Christ, the source of inmost pleasure,
King of heaven – King on earth!
Jesus, Lord and godly treasure,
we too worship at your birth.
Shepherds shared the Christmas story
with God’s angels in that night.
And, like Mary’s silent worship,
we pray mutely by your light!

Advent leads to celebrating a real Christmas!!

A Real Christmas!

And when they (the shepherds) had seen this, they made known the statement, which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things, which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. (Luke 2:17-20)

They made known the statement, which had been told them about this Child. (Luke 2:17)
The shepherds received from God an amazing spiritual experience. It was not something which they took lightly. They knew the significance of what they had seen. All Jewish children had been taught something concerning the Messiah. It was virtually impossible to grow up in a Jewish home and be ignorant of the awaited Messiah.
These shepherds understood that they had witnessed a glorious, divine event.

There is a lot of lip service paid to Christ at Christmas. As the time for the holiday approaches, people from all walks of life begin to gear up by having Christmas parties, singing Christmas carols, and celebrating in the name of Christmas. Entertainers, who would not be caught breathing the name of Christ most of the year – except when swearing - proudly sing his birthday songs on prime time TV. After the holiday is over, however, they act as if it never happened.
This is not the spirit exhibited by the shepherds after they had seen the Child. They made known what they have learned about him!

What makes the difference? The difference in someone who only sings about Christ at Christmas and someone who proclaims him and lives for Christ all year round, is whether or not that person has experienced a true life-changing encounter with Jesus.
It escapes some. Others should proclaim it.
It is an encounter with Jesus that moves us to proclaim Christ the whole year round.

And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen ... (Luke 2:20)
Another characteristic that the shepherds displayed, was an attitude of praise and worship. After their encounter with Jesus, - a real Christmas - and after they had told everyone who would listen to them, the shepherds went back to their flocks and every day lives - glorifying and praising God.

Before this encounter, who knows what problems and circumstances they were facing. Now they had a reason to be grateful. Now they had a reason to worship. Now they could begin glorifying and praising God, because a change had taken place in their lives.

This happens when Christmas is a real experience, and not an artificial, seasonal holiday high. When we celebrate a real Christmas, like the shepherds, our relationship with the King who was born is deepened, and he now is our Saviour and Lord.
A real Christmas is one that changes us into worshipping, praising, serving children of God!
A real Christmas is one where the eternal Word is born in our hearts by the Spirit and through him we receive eternal life!
If you received this real life experience from God, in Jesus, would you not have longed to sing his songs, pray his prayers and serve his majesty?

Advent: Its not about entertainment!

Will Christmas make a lasting difference to your life this year?
Yesterday marked the second Sunday of Advent, a celebration of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
The season has only begun, and already many have started worshipping their man-made messiahs — all the various forms of consumerism that make entertainment the central truth of Christmas.

Carl Trueman in his book “The Wages of Spin” explains why people are so caught up in entertainment that it becomes an idol.
He writes: Distraction is the production of entertainment for the purpose of taking one’s mind off the deeper realities of life.

People create their own “messiahs” to distract themselves from the real questions that the Season challenges us with.
And the ultimate questions are about why do we live! and what happens when I die. But denial makes life so much easier. It is easier to numb ourselves with self-indulgence and idol-worship, than asking the life changing questions that Jesus came to ask.

The messiahs whom we want, are the ones who will save us from deep thought. We prefer saviours that help us avoid life changing choices. Therefore, if I think my real problem is boredom, then someone please just buy me a toy to stop the pain;
but if my problem is sin, death, and the wrath of God against my sin, then I am going to need something (Someone!) that money cannot buy.

The Advent season is not really about entertainment. Mat 1:21 states that the Child-king came to rescue from sin and death. The Gentile Magi or Wise Men came from the East to Israel to pay homage to the newborn King. They offered royal gifts to the Child. They spent their time and their money on the Child. What an exceptional act of worship and praise!

The Infant-king deserves our adoration, but he deserves it in a way that is backed by real investment in his Kingdom and real worship time.

Lets stop being self centred during this Advent and Christmas seasons - and bow down before the only King that matters, reflecting deeply on our faith in Jesus and how to follow and honour him.

Lets bring homage to the Child-king - who is no child anymore, but the almighty Christ, the eternal King that reigns in heaven, on earth and in our lives today.

Advent: Sing with the angels!

Music and singing became part of celebrating the birth of Christ since the very beginning.

We read in Luke 2: 8 – 15: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them… The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."

The angels, who do not need salvation, sang a song of praise to the Lord because the Saviour was born. How much more should we who need salvation sing a song of praise to our Lord? We should be singing "Glory to God," because we are redeemed!

"Glory to God in the highest.", the angels sang.
The newly born King had taken off his divine, heavenly royal robes. He put his glory aside and came to us - not to be served but to serve (Phil 2:6-8; Mt 20:28). Glory to our God in heaven who gave the gift of his Son!

In the book of Revelation given to John on the island of Patmos, he saw angels singing the same song before the throne of God. "Then I looked," says John, "and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne... In a loud voice they sang:
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise ... Amen! (See Revelation 5:11,12; 7:12)

"Glory to God," sang the angels for the shepherds. "Glory to God," sing the angels around the throne since Jesus ascended to heaven.

We ought to learn from these angelic choirs.
God's first commandment for our lives is, "You shall have no other gods before me." In other words, "Glory to God in the highest."
And, the first thing Jesus taught us to pray is, "Hallowed be Thy name." In other words, "Glory to God in the highest."

All believers have to relearn the angels' song. On our lips today and everyday ought to be the words of the angels: "Glory to God in the highest." Because Christ came to make us a people for our God.

May our songs of praise glorify him, God our Father, and Jesus his Son, who is worthy of praise during this season of Advent, and always!

Advent Wreath

The symbolism of the Advent wreath is beautiful.
The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life. It signifies victory over persecution and suffering. The prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns.
Any pine cones or seeds symbolize life and resurrection.

The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ. All together, the wreath of evergreens depicts the immortality of the soul and the new, everlasting life promised to us through Christ, the eternal Word of the Father, who entered our world becoming true man and who was victorious over sin and death through His own passion, death, and resurrection.

The four Advent candles represent the four Sundays of Advent, before Christmas. They are named the candles of hope, of peace, of joy and of love. The progressive lighting of the candles every Advent Sunday symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world as a babe, and the anticipation of his second coming to judge the living and the dead. The light of the candles signifies Christ, the Light of the world.

In family practice, the Advent wreath is most appropriately lit at lunch or dinner time after the blessing of the food on Advent Sundays and serves as an exciting tool to educate children about Advent, Christmas and the Kingdom of our wonderful Saviour who was born more than 2000 years ago.

Advent: Looking forward to the Kingdom of Christ

Jesus warned the church, and individual Christians, to expect to be persecuted and mocked, because the unbelieving world hates believers in the same way that it hates Christ (Jn 15:19; 16:1-4). Paul says "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim 3:12). To share in Christ’s tribulation is something that his followers should be prepared for and expect.

But Christians also share in Christ’s kingdom. Christ "has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father" (Rev 1:6). We even now are subjects of Jesus' Kingdom and under his authority (Col 1:13). And someday we will reign with Christ (Rev 5:10) and will be seated with Him at God's right hand (Eph 2:6).
Right now the churches' participation in Jesus' royal power is hard to see, veiled behind affliction, poverty, and little power (Rev 2:9; 3:8).

And yet, during the Advent Season, the 4 weeks before Christmas, we in faith are looking forward to the day when the kingdom of Jesus will bring all distress to an end. And Jesus who promised to return to us says: “Yes, I am coming soon." (Rev 22:20)



Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Advent: God sent his Son

During the next four weeks, until Christmas day, we will remember that Christ took on our weak, human nature and became one of us. We call this time “the Advent season”.

As the Apostle Paul puts it in 2 Cor 5: 21: God made him who had no sin, to be sin for us so that in him, we might become the righteousness of God.

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

I told this story before, but it’s a good one – so here it is again: Elderly Mr. & Mrs. Jones one Christmas received a microwave oven from their son. They were so excited that now they, too, could be part of the instant generation. Mr. Jones unpacked the microwave and plugged it in. Literally, within seconds, the microwave transformed two smiles into frowns! Even after reading the directions in the manual, they couldn't make it work. Two days later Mrs. Jones was playing bridge with a friend and confessed her inability to get that microwave oven to even boil water. "To get this thing to work," she exclaimed, "I really don't need better directions; I just need my son to come along with the gift!"

It sounds familiar. We have similar problems with camcorders, computers, electronic clocks in cars or bedrooms and a variety of other gadgets that are suppose to be part of our technological age. Like Mr and Mrs. Jones, we who are on the “wrong side” of 50 often need our children to show us how the stuff work.

During this season of Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, we want to celebrate that when God gave the gift of salvation, he did not send a manual, or complicated instructions for us to figure out, or new laws and procedures that are beyond us. Instead, he sent his Son.

Jesus came to show us how salvation works. Jesus came to become our salvation, our joy and our security. Jesus came to give us everlasting life. Today he comes into our lives through his Spirit and ensure that we know how salvation works in our daily lives and challenges and in our work for the Lord.
And one day he will come again on the clouds to make our salvation complete.

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

Lets trust in the directions of the Son. Lets rejoice because he did everything we could not do, to save us!
Lets pray that he will come again soon to dry all our tears.

May you experience a blessed and merry Advent Season

I will trust God!

According to Paul in Rom 4: 17 our God is “the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not, as though they were.”

I believe in God the Father, almighty Creator of heaven and earth. Everything good that we see and experience, he called out of nothing and they are witnesses of his glorious power and love. He sustains his creation and keeps all of us through his love.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord!
God gave Jesus life and victory and our Lord has all authority in heaven and earth.

I believe in the Holy Spirit who teaches me how great my God is and that the salvation through the Son makes me a child of God.

Therefore I will not be troubled. This week and all my days I will trust in God. And I will trust in Jesus Christ my Saviour, my King and my Lord.
Because he is alive, I will live through him. And because I love Jesus, God will love me too!

Have a blessed week in fellowship with Christ, our Lord.

Why try to be good if you are saved by grace?

If we are saved only by grace, through faith, on the grounds that Jesus Christ is our righteousness and we know that we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God - is there any reason why we should still be concerned with right and wrong? If I know I go to heaven in spite of not being perfect and that I will not be perfect in this life, why strive for perfection and holiness and obedience to God?

Let me share five reasons why.

1. We submit to Jesus because we acknowledge that he rules the world (Eph 1:22-23). He is in control of every thing. Our future is not determined by chance or other human beings, but by God’s. will. There can be nothing more foolish than to ignore his will. There can be no wiser choice than to seek his will.

2. Jesus is the one who will judge the world (Acts 17:31). On the last day nobody will escape God’s judgment. He will hold us accountable for every action. (1Cor 4:5). It will be based on truth and without prejudice. So even if we experience injustice, Christians entrust themselves to God’s perfect justice which will be fully made known on the last day (Rom 1:5-6; 12:19). We seek obedience to God’s Word in our lives, because nothing else makes sense and can be absolutely trusted.

3. We obey God because he loves us. (John 3:16). We love him because he first loved us, dying for our sins, so that we are forgiven and became reconciled with him. There is no greater love than this ‘that a man lay down his life for his friends’. And that is exactly what Jesus did for us on the cross. Such love compels us to seek his will and to not disappoint him or bring his Name in disrepute by our choices.

4. We are called to live out our identity as God’s people. We have a calling and a mandate to proclaim God’s justice, righteousness and holiness. ‘For you are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may sing the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light’ (1Pet 2:9). We are called to make a difference in God’s Name in this world and be the salt and the light that transform communities. We are called to be an example of God’s Kingdom that is coming and to bear witness of its glory by the way we live. .

5. We know that God knows better. We seek to practice his wisdom and to live his life, because it brings true joy in our lives and in the lives of the people whose lives we have an influence on. There is no greater joy than to love, worship and praise God and there is no higher quality of life than to bring into practice our gratefulness for his grace, his sacrifice, his victory and his forgiveness. We want to be restored into the person God wants us to be, because that person is the truly happy and satisfied one. The person who I am in Christ is the man or woman with a purpose that goes beyond this life. (1Pet 1:11-12).

God’s forgiveness and his mercy give us the assurance and hope we need as people living in a crying, dying, lost world. We are committed to show the light of heaven on this dark earth and to show true joy to every empty vessel on its way to eternal death without God. We live God’s will, as much as we are able to, in eager expectation of the perfect glory that will only be revealed when Jesus comes again. (Tit 2:13).

May our Lord bless you with the wealth of his mercy and grace.

How great and powerful is your God?

According to Rom 4: 17 he is “the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not, as though they were.”

Our God gave life to Jesus when he died on the cross. Our God called everything that exists out of nothing. We agree with Rom 4: 21 that we are “being fully persuaded that God has power to do what he had promised.”

Faith in a great, almighty God accomplishes a number of important things for a Christian.

1. Faith teaches us. It grows us toward maturity. It builds us up and makes us stronger. As we exercise our faith, our faith grows.

2. Faith also exalts God. It glorifies his greatness. By trusting in God we are visibly expressing our confidence in his majesty.

3. Faith grasps the truth of God's word. Trusting in God brings us to the point where we are enlightened and fully persuaded of the Gospel truth in the Bible.

4. Faith enables us. It gives us possession of God’s promises. Faith expects from our God everything that Jesus died for and was raised from the dead to give to God’s children!

I know that the greatness and power of my God fully and completely compensates for my weakness. Because of the Lord, even my little faith will grow, will glorify God, will grasp God’s promises and will enable me to own his assurance of salvation!

Bless the almighty God for granting life-giving faith to me. Thanks be to God who called faith into my empty life that I too may be filled with the strength of the resurrection of Jesus!

Hallelujah!

My life has a glorious purpose!

God is not only the creator of all things, but all things have been made to reflect the glory of God. The Bible tells us that when God created the world, everything was good. He also commissioned Adam and Eve, as stewards of his creation, to look after and care for everything God has made and loves. God gave it to them to enjoy the beauty and majesty of what he has made. God created the world for us to live in and get pleasure from, yet under God’s rule and in ways that bring only glory to him.

Psalm 8: 2- 8 takes it even further. God who is the creator of the wonderful universe has, most of all, you on his mind and cares for us even more than he cares for anything else he created. God has also given us, the human race, the highest place of honour and responsibility in his creation. Whilst the rest of creation serves God with complete obedience, it does so because it has no other choice. It was made to do so. But we as humans serve the Lord, because we use our free will to choose to live only for the honour of his glorious majesty.

Ps 8: 3 – 8: When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

God has created us and our world with a purpose. He loves our world. But the Lord loves us even more and gives purpose to our lives by gladly accepting our worship, praise, obedience and stewardship of everything that the he holds dear.

God has not left us to ourselves to discover the purpose of our lives. We are reminded that our lives are valuable, because God himself commissions us and through his expectations of us, he gives value to our lives.
You are more valuable to God than the entire universe. God who declares his divine glory in all of his creation, here tells us that we are more valuable than everything else he has made. That means that as men and women made in the image of God, we reflects his glory more than everything else in all his creation. And we reflect his glory, because, through faith, we know that he is our Creator, our Father, our Redeemer and our Comforter.

Our Creator God and Saviour has given our lives purpose, meaning and value.
We find this purpose by gladly submitting to our calling to only live to the glory of God.
Whatever we do. Anywhere we go! Whatever the task is we are called to fulfil today.
It has meaning, because it reflects the glory, the majesty, the power, the holiness and mercy of our Lord! And God invites us to enjoy all of this, because he takes care of us!

Redeemed!!

The original image of the terms redeemer and redemption introduces us to the language of the market-place and of commerce. The most basic meaning of "to redeem" something is "to buy it or to buy it back." It became a technical term in the ancient world for the purchase of a slave in order to liberate or free him or her. Redeem, then, refers to the release of someone or something by the payment of a huge ransom price.

In the Gospel the concept of redemption is central to the Good News about Jesus. In a familiar text Jesus says, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mk 10:45). And Paul writes to Timothy: There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all. (1 Tim 2:5-6).

The Bible is clearly talking about redemption – about the payment of a price, the life and death of our Lord, in order to set his people free.

We need to celebrate redemption with our whole life. We need to celebrate that we now belong to the living Jesus. We are reconciled with God. We now only live for our Redeemer!

Yesterday we sang this song in church:

While I’m alive, or when I die,
I’m not afraid! You ask me why?
’Cause I belong, to Jesus Christ, my Lord!
I have no need for anything,
or any other solace.
Christ now owns my everything,
faithful Saviour Jesus!
In life and death, he remains, my Comforter.

I know my sin; it is forgiven.
I only live, for God in heaven,
It’s Christ alone, who guides me in my life!


Believe it!

We must become what we are in Christ!

We last time discussed the fact that we are not perfect, yet! This week we think about the fact that we are:
To become what we are in Christ.

Listen to these passages which talk about who we are, in Christ:
(Col 3:9-10) You have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self.
(Eph 5:8) You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
(Rom 6:11) Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
(Rom 6:2,4) We died to sin ... just as Christ was raised from the dead ... we too may live a new life.
(2 Cor 5:17) If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Over and over again the Bible calls God's children to live the new life because, in Christ and through the Spirit, they have been delivered from the slavery of sin. In Christ we are new or renewed. In Christ the old self of sin has been demolished.

Think of what we are in Christ: a new self, raised with Christ, light in the Lord, alive to God, a new creation. This new person that we are in Christ hates sin, strives for holiness and has the life of Christ himself. This new person that we are in Christ, is indwelt by the Spirit.

But if all of this is true – and it is – then why do we Christians still do bad things? If we are a new creation in Christ, why do we so often live like we are still part of the old creation? Why is it that we seem to be dead to the new life and alive to sin instead of alive to God in Christ Jesus and dead to sin?

The Bible says it is because we are still “in the flesh”! We are still human. And “our weak flesh” clings to even our best works for God.

So what happens? In our flesh there is a slumbering tendency which is both unexpected and fierce. With great power it seizes us. All at once a secret, smouldering fire is kindled. It makes no difference whether it is ambition, or vanity, or desire for revenge, or love of fame and power, or greed for money. God becomes unreal to us. God loses all reality, and the only real thing is the desire to sin. It surrounds the mind and will of the Christian with darkness and we lose the power to fight and resist.

A Christian may be a new self, she may be raised with Christ, she may be light in the Lord, she may be alive to God, she may be a new creation, but she is also a sinner. Even in the Christian, sin remains sin. Even in a Christian sin is horribly displeasing to God. In fact, in the eyes of God the sins of the Christian are worse than the sins of the world, because the Christian knows better and is supposed to be dead to these sinful desires.

So, we have to fight the enemy within!

God doesn't want us to tolerate sin, learn to live with it and be complacent about it . He says:
(Col 3:5,12) Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature (“flesh”) : sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry ... Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

God wants us to become what we are. We are a new self, raised with Christ, light in the Lord, alive to God, a new creation. Now, we must live and act like we are. We must become what we are in Christ.

How do we do this?
Firstly, Christians must humble themselves before God. We have no reason to be proud and we have every reason to be small. By nature those who are Christian are not one tiny bit better than even the greatest sinner. And we are especially small before God. We cannot defend our sins in any way. We must be humble about our sins.

Secondly, Christians must flee for refuge to Christ crucified. We need Christ every hour of every day. As born-again Christians who continue to sin, we need what only Christ can give: His blood, his grace, his power, his forgiveness. We need Christ and must turn to him as much as the unbeliever down the street has to turn to him.

Thirdly, Christians must pray. We pray, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." We pray, "Grant us victory, Lord. Keep us from falling."

Finally, the Christian is to strain for holiness. The Christian is to strain for holiness in the same way as the athlete strains for the finish line.

That's the effort we need to make, to become what we already are in Christ: a new person, raised with Christ!
Victorious Jesus, in his mercy, will do the rest.

How is faith born in my heart?

Romans 10:17 says, "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

The origin of faith in the hearts of believers is through hearing the word of Christ. Notice that Paul does not say that faith comes by hearing the word, but rather, that faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the word.

The picture is more than only of the believer and his Bible. The picture here is of the believer, the Holy Spirit and the Bible. It is by the action of the Holy Spirit, as we read the Bible, that we come to a place of spiritually hearing what God has to say through his Word.

We can hear with physical ears and never hear with spiritual ears. As we read God’s Book, or hear it preached or taught, we should prayerfully ask God to reveal and apply its truth to our lives. When we do, the Holy Spirit will be faithful to speak to our hearts the truth of the Word. He will apply it to our lives. And as the Spirit applies it to our lives, faith will be born in our hearts. We will not only understand the truth of the Word of God, but will be challenged and changed by it. Only then are we enabled to respond to the Word of God with eagerness and changed lives. And that is faith.

Lets faithfully read the Bible this week – examining the truth of the gospel through the magnifying glass of the Scriptures and be blessed with the faith we need to live victoriously in every circumstance!

Perseverance - a matter of life and death!

NOT PERFECT YET?
Do not do something stupid today!

A member of the Christian church commits suicide. "How can such a thing happen?" We ask. "He was a pillar of the community, an elder of the church, someone respected for his faith. So how could he do this?"
A member, elder or minister of the church commits adultery. "How can such a thing happen?" We ask..
A member of the church is charged with theft. "How could she have done this?"
A member of the church, a professor of theology, is caught with child pornography on his computer. "How could he have done that?"
A member, elder or minister of the church is charged with sexual abuse. "How could this have happened?

All of the above happened in South Africa during the first 10 months of 2009. How do we explain it that Christians have actually done horrible things? This is not the first time nor will it be the last time that God's people ask questions such as these. I think it happened since the time of the Apostles.

Take a look at Abraham, the man of faith. Out of fear he lied to Pharaoh and said Sarah was his sister. It was Pharaoh, the pagan, who asked, "What have you done to me? Why didn't you tell me she was your wife?" (Gen 12:18). In other words, "How is it posiible that you, a child of God, can do this?"
Take a look at David, the anointed king in God’s service. He was an adulterer and a murderer.
Remember Peter. He was praised for his confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus called him a rock and said that on this rock he would build the church. And then this rock denied Jesus three times. "How is this possible? How could he have done something so appalling?"

The only way to deal with this, is in terms of what the church fathers called the “perseverance of the believers”. Christians are called to persevere in faith and salvation. In other words, God preserves his children, so that, although they fall, they are not lost.

The perseverance of the believers is also called the preservation of the believers. God's grace of preserving the believers becomes visible in and through the perseverance of the faithful.

Seriously consider this story: An old man was cutting down tree branches to make up a bundle for his fireplace. When it was large, he tied it up, and attempted to lift it on his shoulder, and carry it away; but, finding it very heavy, he laid it down again, cut more wood, and heaped it on; and then tried again to carry it off. This he repeated several times; always adding something to the load, after trying in vain to raise it from the ground.
The pile of wood became bigger and bigger. The old man attempted to lift it, but in vain; it was now far beyond his strength to raise. His feeble legs staggered under their burden; the remains of his strength were fading away; the darkness of death was gathering around him; and, after a convulsive attempt to lift the pile, he fell down and died.

In the foolish old man we see those, who, being made aware of the burden of their sins and weakness, still attempt to save themselves, to persevere and remain children of God in their own strength! Continuously adding to their burden until it is too heavy to carry; and then, in despair of God's mercy, and with no glory in sight, lie down to die.

What is a true Christian? Who are those that God preserves in faith and salvation?
Are they those who achieved perfection?? No!
No, they are those who were called by God, have fellowship / a relationship with Christ, are renewed by the Spirit, and are set free from the reign of sin.

But why does a true Christian then needs preservation? Here is a profound truth that you should not miss:
In this life the believers are not entirely set free from the burden of sin.
It means: We are not perfect yet. We sometimes / often - still do filthy, stupid things!!

It is about this issue that Paul speaks in Romans 7. (Read the chapter!) Paul tells us from the heart about his own difficulties with sin - as a Christian. You have heard his words before:

(Rom 7:15,19) I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (19) For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Now consider this: It was the custom of ancient conquerors to prevent the escape of their prisoners by tying a dead body to their backs. With such gruesome burdens, these poor wretches could not run away. Imagine that: carrying around a dead body, a body of death.

Paul compares his struggle with sin as a Christian with carrying around a body of death: "Who will rescue me from this body of death?" Paul knows the answer: "Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom 7:25).

This tells me of a horrifying feature of the Christian life. Believers can be deeply divided persons. Genuine faith and genuine wickedness can live side-by-side in us. It certainly explains the behaviour of Abraham, David, and Peter. And it certainly explains why even prominent church members embarrass themselves, the church and most of all their Lord!

Christians need the preserving grace of God in their hearts and lives, otherwise they will in their own strength fall away. The body of death we carry will certainly become too much for us to bear!

But this is the truth: God preserves his children. They are called by God, have fellowship with Christ and are renewed by the Spirit. They are set free from the reign of sin.

Yes, they are not yet perfect. This is why God needs to preserve them in the faith and in salvation or all will be lost and none would be saved. But, by the grace of God we are preserved, therefore we can persevere, in spite of shameful things that happened!

Have you done something terrible – something you cannot bear to carry anymore. Are you sick with shame, with guilt, with fear? Can you not carry the body of death anymore?
You are a believer, right? Well, having faith is good. It helps. But its not enough.
You need God’s mercy and grace. Someone must help you! And there IS help available, thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom 7:25).
Jesus can help! Only Jesus can!!

You DO NOT HAVE TO DO SOMETHING STUPID!
Call on the Name of Jesus! Ask him to help you carry the body of death!
You need God! You need God to take the guilt, the shame and the fear away, today!!

Let any Christian friend, pray with you, battle with you!
GOD PRESERVES YOU FOR HIS KINGDOM. That is why you will be able to persevere!

Thanks be to God – Jesus can help you with the body of death.
Jesus helps with everything.

Fired up for God's glory

As Presbyterians we know it is only through faith that we receive all the wonders, all the blessings of God’s grace.

John Calvin said: “No man is excluded from calling upon God; the gate of salvation is set open unto all men: neither is there any other thing which keeps us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief”.

And nobody can believe on our behalf. We need to be fired up by our own accepting of the Lord’s promise that we belong to him forever. It is in this context that Calvin also said:
“Build a man a fire and he will be warm for a day; set him on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life!”

Pray to be set on fire by the Spirit, who changes hearts and thoughts by teaching us through the Word of God to follow Christ. In this way only will we, by God’s grace, live only for the glory of God.

500th birth year: John Calvin's legacy!

John Calvin’s 500th Birthyear!

- Soli Deo Gloria –

John Calvin was born 500 years ago, on 10 July 1509. His life and ministry would change the Christian views of many millions of Christians, shaped the thoughts of tens of thousands of theologians and ministers of the Church, founded the Western views of just as many philosophers on the state, politics, democracy, science and every other important sphere of life! On Reformation Sunday, 25 October 2009, we celebrate the 500th anniversary of his birthday.

This is one birthday everyone can celebrate. Our values and beliefs benefited from his genius, his humble faith and piety and his dependence on the work of the Holy Spirit.

Calvin’s theology is popularly summarised by quoting the five “sola’s” or “only’s”, of the Reformed tradition, namely:
- We should live our lives “only to the glory of God!”
- We know the Gospel truth “only from the holy Scriptures!”
- We are justified “only by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ!”
- We are saved “only by grace!”
- We are saved “only through faith!”

Calvin became the leader of the Protestants in the city of Geneva, which became the centre of the Reformation in Europe. From Geneva Presbyterianism spread to Germany, Scotland, mainly through John Knox who studied under Calvin, and to England, Ireland, the Netherlands, Hungary, America and eventually other parts of the world, including the Dutch and British colonies.

Today some 50 million men, women and children throughout the world belong to ‘Reformed’ or ‘Presbyterian’ Churches. The name Reformed refers to Calvin’s intention to establish a Church reformed according to the Word of God. The name Presbyterian refers to our form of church government with ‘presbyters’ or elders.

His Bible centred teaching matched his passion for God centred living and God centred faith. This is the origin for passionately seeking a just society, up to this day. Calvin’s dream to promote religious toleration challenged the Church and the state. His views on the separation of the powers of Church and State where each is independent of the other yet accountable to God for everything they do, led to the ideal of democratic freedom of both the individual and structures within society. Without these principles a free economy and science and technology liberated from both theological and political tyranny, would not have flourished.

Calvin’s thinking influenced many over the centuries. It was, for example the Calvinism of both President Woodrow Wilson of the USA and of Jan Smuts of South Africa which inspired the establishment of the League of Nations after the First World War. It became the forerunner of the United Nations as we know it today.

Lets contemplate this remarkable contribution towards the development of the ideals for a free Christian society, while seeking answers for our own challenges. Lets also give thanks for a life lived to the glory of God, in service of the Church of Christ and for the liberation of humanity.

We must always remember that it is God who sends, calls and commissions to preach and teach his Word. This means that the Word of God is proclaimed amongst us with the authority of our Lord himself.

Let me remind you of what Paul writes to the church at Rome:
(Rom 10:14-15) How, then, can they call on (means to pray) the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (15) And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Do you see the proclamation chain? Commissioned/sent, preach, hear, believe, pray. We are blessed to be part of that chain. But notice, the focus of it all is the Word and Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Do you see how serious God takes the proclamation of the Gospel? It is so serious that God lets no one speak their own word or on their own authority. Whether it is the Apostle Paul, our Minister or Sunday School teachers or Bible study leaders - we speak as those sent by the Spirit to proclaim the Word and Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Be blessed as you listen to and live the Word proclaimed!

God does not show favouritism.

Ten years after the ascension of Christ and his command to "go and make disciples of all nations" and be "witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Mt 28:19; Acts 1:8), the mission to the Gentiles – to the nations who are not Jewish - has not yet started.

The blame has to be placed on the understanding of the division between Jew and Gentile prescribed by their interpretation of the Old Testament Law that forbade almost all contact with Gentiles. Gentiles, like us, were considered unclean and all forms of contact with Gentiles, to accept their hospitality and sit at table with them, was intolerable.

Acts 10 is about God bringing an end to this idea of unclean people. Two people play out God’s message to the church, namely Peter – a preacher but a Jew and Cornelius a religious man who feared the God of Israel, but a Gentile.

Cornelius, though a Gentile, had very impressive religious credentials: he feared God, gave generously, and prayed constantly. Nevertheless, there was something lacking in his faith, and his religion was not good enough: it was still necessary for him to believe in Christ Jesus.

The other main human actor in our story is Peter. We know him as an impatient follower of the Lord. He also was a man stuck on tradition and culture.. His traditions and culture would not allow him to actively begin a mission to the Gentiles.

One day about lunch time Peter was standing on the roof waiting for his food to be prepared, for he was very hungry (vs 10). It was then that Peter had a vision of a cloth coming out of the sky filled with all kinds of creatures – all of them ceremonially unclean according to the dietary laws of the Jews. A voice from heaven said, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat" (vs 13). Peter replied, "Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean" (vs 14). Then the most interesting and marvellous words come to Peter: "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean" (vs 15).

God is from beginning to end the main actor and director of this story. It is God who breaks down the barrier of human tradition and culture. It is God who initiates the Gentile mission and brings Cornelius into the church as a full member. It was God who took steps to let also the Gentiles hear about the death and resurrection of Christ.

Peter parted with his traditions and culture because of the Lord's leading. It was God's Spirit which allowed Peter to make the leap from impure or unclean food to impure or unclean people. So Peter himself says, "God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean" (vs 28). That Peter learned the lesson is obvious from what he says: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism" (vs 34). God has no favourites. He does not favour one culture over another and one person over another!

There are still Christians with the same fears and desires as were in Peter and the Jewish Christians. They too want to protect themselves from those they consider to be "unclean." When God's people think and act like this, God's marvellous and loving words to the nations come back to us, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

We should not act this way. We are called to be a living testimony of the unity of Christ’s people, in spite of cultural diversity and other differences. We are called to be warm, loving, and accepting of all those who walk in the doors of our churches. I believe that we, like Peter, have to know the truth about God: that he does not show favouritism but accepts every person who fear him and follow our Lord Jesus.

This truth is personally important for me and for you. For if God did show favouritism, then none of us would be or could be saved. So, always make room for others in the church. May we never think that we are favoured by God above others.
Instead, let's celebrate the diversity of Christ's body.

The hands of Jesus

During the Second World War a church in Strasbourg was destroyed. After the bombing, the members of the church found that the entire roof had fallen in, leaving only a heap of rubble. Much to their surprise a statue of Christ with outstretched hands that had been carved centuries before by a great artist, was still standing. It was virtually unharmed except that both hands had been broken off. The people asked a sculptor if he could replace the hands of the statue. He was willing, but when the church officials met to consider the sculptor's proposition, they decided not to accept his offer. Why? Because they felt that the statue without hands would be the greatest illustration possible that God's work is done through his people.

Have you considered the work you can do for the Lord? In Acts 9: 15 we read that the Lord said about Saul of Tarsus, humanly speaking the most unlikely candidate for the ministry: “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”

Have you ever thought of yourself in this way? Have you ever thought of yourself as the hands of Jesus, his chosen instrument?
Jesus Christ chooses to do his work through human hands. Sometimes they seem to be frail, or the least successful, or the least qualified hands, but yours are the hands he uses. If Saul was his chosen instrument, then you can be his chosen instrument as well.

Be blessed when you thank the Lord for the gifts you received, and serve him with passion!

History of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA)

CELEBRATING THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNION
OF THE UNITING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN SOUTHERN AFRICA (UPCSA)
The History of the UPCSA

Several attempts to unite the Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPC) and the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa (PCSA) were pursued during the 20th century. All failed until, with the coming of democracy in South Africa, the RPC in 1994 initiated a new attempt. This culminated in the formation of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) on 27 September 1999.

This is the Union that we celebrate during 2009!!

THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
Through the Word and the Spirit God calls the Church into being and sustains it as a people gathered into fellowship in Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is the King and Head of the Church. Her purpose and function is to bear witness to his saving gospel to all the world, to build up in faith, hope and love those who believe in him, to proclaim his sovereignty over all of life, and to work for his will in the world.

ORIGINS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The Presbyterian family of churches, like all Christian churches, traces its roots back to the apostolic Church in the New Testament.. It stands in the tradition of the Church fathers of the first century.

But we are also rooted in the 16th century Reformers like Martin Luther , Huldreych Zwingli and John Calvin, who called the Church to return to the gospel. The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa belongs to the Reformed family of Churches, which stems from Zwingli’s reformation in Zurich and Calvin’s in Geneva.

John Calvin was born in France in 1509. He studied Latin, logic, philosophy, theology, law and classical literature at several universities in France. While still a young man he became convinced of the truth of the Reformation. As a result he was forced to flee from France and eventually found refuge in Switzerland.

Calvin became the leader of the Protestants in the city of Geneva, which became the centre of the Reformation in Europe. Calvin's particular legacy is in his teaching on the authority of Scripture, the sovereignty and glory of God, the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit and salvation by grace alone through faith alone.

His ethical and political ideas shaped the modern democratic society and particularly Western thought.

From Zurich and Geneva Presbyterianism spread to Germany, Scotland, mainly through John Knox who studied under Calvin, and to England, Ireland, the Netherlands, Hungary, America and eventually other parts of the world, including the Dutch and British colonies.

Some 50 million men, women and children throughout the world belong to ‘Reformed’ or ‘Presbyterian’ Churches. The name Reformed comes from Calvin’s intention to establish a Church reformed according to the Word of God. The name Presbyterian comes from the Reformed form of church government with ‘presbyters’ (Elders).

THE BEGINNINGS OF PRESBYTERIANISM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
From 1795 to 1803 Britain occupied the Cape. Some of the occupying troops were Scottish, and W. Reid, a missionary of the London Missionary Society, inspired them to form a ‘Calvinist Society’. They met every week for prayer, Bible study and public worship and invited any passing missionaries to preach.

In 1812 George Thom arrived at the Cape. He was a Presbyterian minister on his way to India as a missionary. A meeting with the Calvinist Society led him to stay at the Cape and establish the first Presbyterian Church in 1813.

By 1824 a growing number of Presbyterians established a strong congregation. In 1827-29, with help from the British Government and from the Dutch Reformed Church, they built a church building in what is now the centre of Cape Town. First called ‘The Scottish Kirk’ and later ‘St Andrew’s’, this is ‘the Mother Church’ of Presbyterianism in Southern Africa. In 1827 Dr John Adamson arrived from Scotland and served as minister until 1841 and helped to found the University of Cape Town, which he served as its only professor for some time.

MISSION WORK IN THE EASTERN CAPE
In 1821 the Glasgow Missionary Society (GMS) sent its first two missionaries to work on the eastern frontier: John Bennie and William Thomson. Others soon followed. In 1824 they established a mission station at Incehra named Lovedale after Dr John Love, former secretary of both the GMS and the LMS. In later years, under the leadership of Dr James Stewart, Lovedale became the most famous Presbyterian institution in South Africa.

As early as 1823 a Presbytery was formed and churches spread rapidly throughout the whole Eastern Cape frontier. Within a few years this work developed into three Presbyteries.

Meanwhile the 1820 British Settlers had also arrived in the eastern part of the country. They erected the first Presbyterian church building actually completed in South Africa, at Glen Lynden in 1828, and gradually spread through the eastern Cape.

IN NATAL AND IN THE INTERIOR
The beginnings of Presbyterianism in Natal go back to missionary work. Organised Presbyterianism began in 1850, when Presbyterians met in the Congregational Chapel and resolved to form what they called ‘The Presbyterian Church of Natal’. William Campbell, a minister of the Free Church in Scotland, accepted a call to become the first minister of this young congregation the next year.

The growth of the Presbyterian Church in other parts of South Africa followed in the wake of the Great Trek that began in 1830, the discovery of diamonds in the Northern Cape in 1870 and the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886.

IN ZIMBABWE AND ZAMBIA
In 1896 the first Presbyterian congregation in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was formed at Bulawayo, and in 1903 another at Salisbury (now Harare). Others soon followed. Several important educational institutions such as David Livingstone Secondary School, Gloag Ranch and Mondoro Secondary School were also started.

The first Presbyterian congregation in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) was established in 1926 at Livingstone and named after this famous Presbyterian as the David Livingstone Memorial Presbyterian Church.

FORMATION OF THE PCSA AND THE BPC
Meanwhile back in 1882 St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Cape Town initiated a move to unite all Presbyterians (of all colours) in South Africa. This led to the meeting and constitution of the first General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of South Africa in Durban in 1897. By the end of the next year this had brought together congregations and mission stations scattered all over the Cape (west, east and north), Natal and the Transvaal and also the congregation in Bulawayo.

Some missionaries and leaders feared white domination in a united Church, however, and felt that the Scottish missions should stay out of the union unless the PCSA adopted a rule that white and black majorities separately had to approve all important decisions. Tragically the negotiating committee did not accept this, and so the majority of the Presbyterian Church mission stations and black congregations eventually stayed out of the union. The intention nevertheless was that all the groups would one day unite. In 1923 all the mission stations and congregations that had stayed out of the PCSA united to form the Bantu Presbyterian Church. In 1979 it renamed itself the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (RPC).

Meanwhile in 1958, the PCSA, because its work in the countries north of South Africa had now expanded, also changed its name, to the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa.

THE UNITING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN SOUTHERN AFRICA (UPCSA
With the coming of democracy in South Africa, the RPC in 1994 initiated a new attempt to unite the two denominations. This culminated in the unification, and therefore the formation of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) on 27 September 1999.

This is the Union that we celebrated during 2009!!