Reflections on the New Year - 2011

During 2011, build the Church wisely

Do not know about you, but I find it hard to love a fool. Particularly the kind that thinks he knows everything about the whole thing, yet knows nothing about anything. “Fools certainty” is more than frustrating, it’s also dangerous. Jesus said that people who do not listen to what he says are like fools who build houses without foundations!

Matthew 7:24-27: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Who will argue that we live during times when fools will not cause harm and live lives with high risks? Who wants to enter 2011 a fool and have the house of Faith washed away by the challenges and temptations that lie ahead?

The problem with foolishness is that it often looks so much like wisdom, or at least like being clever, that its hard to see the difference at first. In the parable two men built 2 very similar houses. Both desired to build a home in which they could live with their families, be safe and happy. Both houses had the features to provide the shelter they were looking for, had doors, windows, views and various amenities.

But note, there were also important contrasts or differences between the two houses and the two men. The most important difference between the men is that one is a fool and and the other one is wise. This results in the important contrast between the houses. The wise man took the trouble to build on the appropriate foundation, but the fool did not consider the future and the challenges the house would face. He was short-sighted. He saw only the moment and the excitement of living in his new house. He did not ensure the safety, the future and the tests his house would have to survive.

A. When the storm came, the fool’s house was taken out and demolished by the circumstances.
Too many church builders find their foundation in fashionable, dated theology based upon the perceived needs of the people of a particular time (pre-modern, modern or post-modern) than on translating and putting to practice the absolute Word of Christ for the sake of the faith-needs of the generation they minister to.

The post WW. II tendency to want to build churches and denominations on other principles than historic creeds, absolute truth and obedience, yes, the foolish desire to promote a life of faith, without being concerned with faith content, is taking its toll in the current inability of the church to now weather storms that have been part of being the church since the beginning.

A review of the past year's research conducted by the Barna Group provides evident main patterns of how the religious environment is changing (this is a very short excerpt from their findings) :

1. The Christian Church is becoming less theologically literate.
What used to be basic, universally-known truths about Christianity are now unknown to a large and growing share of Christians --especially young adults. Few believe that their faith is meant to be the focal point of their life or to be integrated into every aspect of their existence.
2. Christians are becoming more ingrown and less outreach-oriented.
Christians are becoming more spiritually isolated from non-Christians than was true a decade ago. Examples of this tendency include the fact that less than one-third of born again Christians planned to invite anyone to join them at a church event.
3. Growing numbers of people are less interested in spiritual principles and more desirous of learning pragmatic solutions for life.
When asked what matters most, teenagers prioritize education, career development, friendships, and travel. Faith is significant to them, but it takes a back seat to life accomplishments and is not necessarily perceived to affect their ability to achieve their dreams.
4. Among Christians, interest in participating in community action is escalating.
Largely driven by the passion and energy of young adults, Christians are more open to and more involved in community service activities than has been true in the recent past.
5. The postmodern insistence on tolerance is winning over the Christian Church.
Our biblical illiteracy and lack of spiritual confidence has caused Christians to avoid making discerning choices for fear of being labeled judgmental. The result is a Church that has become tolerant of a vast array of morally and spiritually dubious behaviors and philosophies.
6. The influence of Christianity on culture and individual lives is largely invisible.
Culture is driven by the snap judgments and decisions that people make amidst busy schedules and incomplete information. With little time or energy available for research and reflection, it is people’s observations of the integration of a believer’s faith into how he/she responds to life’s opportunities and challenges that most substantially shape people’s impressions of and interest in Christianity.

Too many Christian leaders take the foolish man's approach to building faith communities: they go for short-cuts and quick results and instant satisfaction. Fashion theology in stead of eternal truth provides no security to the Faith community.
Instead of building Faith by building on the Word, Jesus Christ, and a relationship with God by means of worship, sound teaching of God’s word and earnest fellowship with God and fellow believers, fools try to get by with a fashionable word and a quick prayer when the storm comes up.

B. The wise man is the opposite of the foolish man. He wanted to build permanently. He wanted to build for the future. He wanted a house that would endure the storms that time would bring. He considered what could happen during various possible future scenarios - so he built his house on a foundation.

Jesus reminds us that the most significant and essential thing in the life of a Christian, is his or her foundation. The foundation seems irrelevant and inconsequential because it is out of sight. But if the foundation is done haphazardly and thoughtlessly, the structure will without doubt be destroyed.

When our congregation built our chapel 4 years ago, we had excellent scientists doing a lot of homework, providing us - or rather our engineers and builders – with detailed information. You see, we have a high risk of dolomite and its destructive consequences. We had to get the foundation right to ensure a long lasting, quality structure. The right foundation and protection of that foundation, was the key to successfully building our chapel on this land.
Fools cannot build on high risk land!

When it comes to faith, spirituality and our relationship with Christ, to building our lives, our families, our congregations and our denomination, we can never afford to take short-cuts. We simply have to make sure that we are building on the proper foundation.

C. The only foundation which we can build on, is Christ Jesus. This is Paul's argument in 1 Corinthians 3. He writes: (1Cor 3:10b,11) “... each one should be careful how he builds, for no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

To build on anything but Christ is to play with disaster. For when the storms come, what you have built will be washed away, if you are not built upon the Rock that is Christ. Jesus said wise men put his words into practice! Only a fool will ignore what Christ said and what he did to secure our lives’ homes and trade it for the fashion theology of the day.

From the outside, at least, there is very little difference between the wise man and the fool. You find them both in the Church. Both seem to enjoy fellowship. They listen to the same Gospel. They may both be involved in the life and ministry of the church. It sometimes is hard to tell them apart.

Starting the New Year, we therefore have to look at our hearts. What do you see there? Do we see a wise man or a fool? Don't answer too quickly because they look so much alike.

Check your heart and resolutions against the following God inspired words:
(Mt 7:24) Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

(Mt 7:26) But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

(Mt 7:21) Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

The bottom line is – a wise person listens to and obeys Jesus, but the fool does whatever he pleases, in spite of what Jesus says.

D. It is therefore important to see if we have an obedient heart. Do we see faith working itself out in our daily lives and teaching? Do we see hearts that desire to worship, to learn and to abide by what Jesus expects?
Do you see the fruit and gifts of the Spirit? Do you see an eagerness to serve and love God?

Too many live only for the present, never give a thought to the future and refuse to think of eternity. These fools eat, drink, party, work, and collect material treasure without realizing that when the storm of judgement comes, all of this will be demolished by the ruling before the throne of God.
The wise man lives in the present, but is equipped for the future. He considers the future. He considers eternity. He therefore has to have the right foundation.

Back to the parable. Within the church of Jesus there are wise builders and foolish builders. There are those who build upon the Rock called Christ and put his words into practice. They are wise and they are safe.
And then there are fools!

May Christ and his gospel help us to be wise builders during 2011.
And may God bless us every step of the way!

2011 - Oordenking vir die Nuwe Jaar.

Gedurende 2011 - bou met wysheid.

Weet nie van jou nie, maar ek vind dit moeilik om van ’n gek en ’n dwaas te hou. Veral die soort wat dink hulle weet alles van die hele ding af, terwyl hulle niks van enige iets weet nie. “Gekke sekerheid” is meer as frustrerend, dis ook gevaarlik. Jesus het gesê dat mense wat nie na Hom luister nie, is soos ’n dwaas wat huise sonder fondamente bou.

Matteus 7:24-27: “Elkeen dan wat hierdie woorde van My hoor en daarvolgens handel, kan vergelyk word met 'n verstandige man wat sy huis op rots gebou het. Die stortreën het geval, vloedwaters het afgekom, winde het teen daardie huis gewaai en daaraan geruk, en tog het dit nie ingestort nie, want die fondament was op rots. En elkeen wat hierdie woorde van My hoor en nie daarvolgens handel nie, kan vergelyk word met 'n dwaas wat sy huis op sand gebou het. Die stortreën het geval, vloedwaters het afgekom, winde het teen daardie huis gewaai en daaraan geruk, en die huis het ingestort en is heeltemal verwoes.”

Wie sal waag om te sê ons lewe nie in tye waarin dwase wat hoë risiko aannames maak, groot skade kan aanrig nie? Wie wil 2011 onverstandig aanpak en toelaat dat sy lewe deur die uitdagings en versoekings wat voorlê weg gewas word?

Die probleem met dwaasheid is dat onverstandiges vas glo hulle is reg en dat dit selfs baie slim, akademies en “wetenskaplik” kan voorkom. In Jesus se gelykenis bou twee manne 2 huise wat op die oog af baie dieselfde lyk. Al twee wil graag huise hê waarin hulle gelukkig en veilig met hulle gesinne kan woon. Al twee huise lyk na effektiewe skuilings met deure, vensters, ’n uitsig en verskillende geriewe. ’n Verbyganger sal moeilik kan kies tussen die twee.

Maar daar is tog baie belangrike verskille tussen die twee mans en tussen hulle huise. Die belangrikste is dat die een man verstandig en die ander een ’n gek, of dan, ’n dwaas, is. Dit veroorsaak die belangrikste verskil tussen die huise wat hulle bou – die verstandige man bou sy huis op ’n fondament, maar die dwaas oorweeg nie die risiko’s en uitdagings wat sy huis in die toekoms sal moet trotseer nie. Hy sien net die opwinding van die oomblik raak. Hy wil so gou moontlik intrek. Hy oorweeg nie enige risiko’s nie. Hy maak nie seker dat sy huis die toets van die tyd sal deurstaan nie.

Toe die storm kom, vernietig dit die dwaas se huis onmiddellik. Die wyse, verstandige man se huis het bly staan.

Teveel Christene benader sake van geloof soos die dwase bouer. Hulle hou van vinnige antwoorde, spoedige resultate en kits satisfaksie. In plaas daarvan om hul geloof op te bou deur daagliks aan ’n verhouding met God te werk en goeie gewoontes kweek soos gereelde aanbidding en erediens bywoning, Bybel lees en gebed, volstaan hulle met skietgebedjies as die storm opkom.
Die verstandige man doen die teenoorgestelde. Hy wil hê sy huis moet altyd bly staan. Hy bou met die oog op die toekoms. Hy begeer ’n huis wat storms kan oorleef. Hy oorweeg die uitkoms van allerlei toekomstige scenario’s en daarom besluit hy om sy huis op ’n stewige fondament staan te maak.

Jesus herinner dat die belangrikste en mees essensiële realiteit vir ’n Christen sy of haar fondament is. Moenie soos die dwaas dink, dat omdat jy nie die fondament kan sien nie, maak dit nie saak nie. Die dwaas bou sonder berekenings en ondeurdag en stel net belang in wat sigbaar en ervaarbaar is. Die struktuur wat hy bou, vergaan.

Toe ons gemeente ons kapel gebou het, het uitstaande wetenskaplikes baie huiswerk gedoen om vir ons – of liewer ons ingenieurs en bouers - in besonderhede raad te gee. Jy sien, ons stukkie grond het hoë dolomiet risiko’s met moontlike destruktiewe eienskappe. Ons moes die fondament regkry om ’n struktuur te kon oprig wat lank veilig sal staan. Net die regte fondament, met net die regte beskerming vir daardie fondament, was die sleutel tot ’n suksesvolle bou projek.
Dwase kan nie op hoë risiko grond bou nie.

As dit by geloofsake en spiritualiteit en ons verhouding met Christus kom en as dit daarby kom om ’n veilige lewe te bou en die toekoms van ’n gesin of ’n gemeente of ’n kerk te verseker, is daar nie kortpaaie nie. Ons moet eenvoudig doodseker maak dat ons op die regte fondament bou.

Paulus sê daar is net een fondament waarop ons kan bou en dit is Christus Jesus. Hy skryf in 1 Korintiërs 3: 10 en 11: “Volgens die genade wat God my gegee het, het ek soos 'n goeie bouer die fondament gelê, en 'n ander bou daarop. Maar hy moet mooi kyk hoe hy verder bou, want niemand kan 'n ander fondament lê as wat reeds gelê is nie. Die fondament is Jesus Christus.”

Om op enige iets anders as Christus te bou, is om speletjies met rampspoed te speel. As die storms kom, sal alles wat jy gebou het weg gewas word. Daar is net een Rots en dit is Christus. Jesus het gesê die verstandige man handel volgens sy woorde. Net ’n gek en ’n dwaas ignoreer wat Christus gesê het as dit by die veiligheid van sy lewenshuis kom.

Uiterlik lyk die verstandige en dwase man se geloofslewe baie dieselfde. Jy vind albei in die erediens – hoewel die dwaas dikwels net die eerste paar maande van die jaar kom. Dit lyk of albei die samesyn van die gelowiges geniet. Hulle luister na dieselfde boodskap. Albei ondersteun die instandhouding van die bediening van Woord en Sakrament. Dis moeilik om hulle uitmekaar te ken, as jy net uiterlike dinge in ag neem.

Daarom moet ons aan die begin van ’n nuwe jaar goed en deeglik na ons harte kyk. Wat sien jy daar? ’n Verstandige man, of ’n dwase gek? Moenie te vinnig antwoord nie, want hulle lyk op die oog af teveel na mekaar.

Kyk weer na jou hart en voornemens en toets dit aan God-geïnspireerde woorde:
(Mt 7:24) Elkeen dan wat hierdie woorde van My hoor en daarvolgens handel, kan vergelyk word met 'n verstandige man wat sy huis op rots gebou het.

(Mt 7:26) En elkeen wat hierdie woorde van My hoor en nie daarvolgens handel nie, kan vergelyk word met 'n dwaas wat sy huis op sand gebou het.

(Mt 7:21) “Nie elkeen wat vir My sê: ‘Here, Here,’ sal in die koninkryk van die hemel ingaan nie, maar net hy wat die wil doen van my Vader wat in die hemel is.”

Die basiese waarheid is dat ’n verstandige mens na Jesus luister en aan Hom gehoorsaam is. ’n Dwaas maak soos hy wil, wat Jesus ook al sê.

Dis belangrik om gehoorsaam te wil wees. Om te wil sien dat wat ek glo in daaglikse liefde vir God en my naaste realiseer. Sien jy in jou hart die begeerte om te aanbid en om te leer en om te bly by wat Jesus verwag?

Sien jy in jou lewe die vrug en gawes van die Gees? Sien jy opgewondenheid daaroor om te dien en jou liefde vir God te wys?
Teveel mense leef net vir die oomblik, sonder om na die gevolge vir die toekoms ondersoek te doen. Baie weier om ewige gevolge te oorweeg. Dwase eet en drink, hou partytjie en werk en versamel aardse goed sonder om rekening te hou met hulle weerbaarheid wanneer die storm kom en of alles wat hulle gedoen het, sal bly staan voor die beoordeling van die Troon van God.

’n Verstandige mens lewe in die hier en nou, maar is paraat vir die toekoms. Hy oorweeg die uitdagings wat die toekoms inhou. Hy weet dat hy sonder God geen storm kan trotseer nie. Hy oorweeg die ewige gevolge van sy besluite. Hy bou op die fondament Christus en handel volgens die woorde van Jesus.

Terug na die gelykenis. Daar is verstandige en dwase bouers in die kerk van Jesus. Verstandiges bou op die Rots. Hulle sal veilig wees.
Maar daar is ook dwase, onverstandige, onkundige gekkerny wanneer dit by geloofsake kom.

Mag Christus, sy Woord en sy Kerk jou help om ’n verstandige bouer in 2011 te wees.
En mag God ons elke tree wat ons op op sy padgee, ryklik seën.

Christmas is a preparation to die in peace.

When you die, do you know what will happen to you? Donald Cargill, a faith hero in the history of the Presbyterian church in Scotland, knew exactly what was going to happen to him when he died. He was condemned for his Presbyterian faith and sentenced to the gallows in 1681, and beheaded in Edinburgh.

When he came to the scaffold, Cargill said these words, because he had faith and he knew where he was going after this life: As the drums were beaten and the executioner was ready to fulfil his gruesome task, he clearly said:
Now I am near to getting to my crown, which shall be sure; for I bless the Lord, and desire all of you to bless Him that He hath brought me here, and makes me triumph over devils, and men, and sin -- they shall wound me no more. I forgive all men the wrongs they have done to me, and pray the Lord may forgive all the wrongs that anyone have done against Him. I pray that sufferers may be kept from sin, and helped to know their duty.
Farewell reading and preaching, praying and believing, wanderings, reproaches, and sufferings. Welcome unspeakable joy full of glory.

Will you be able to speak similar words when the day comes when you will meet the Lord face to face?

In Luke 2: 29 we read a comparable statement by a faith hero who lived during the times when Christ was born. His name was Simeon and he was an elderly man. He too was ready to die, because he knew exactly what was going to happen to him after death. He says,
Luke 2:29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace."
"Let me die," he says. "Let me die in peace."

"Peace" can mean many things. For those living in war-stricken areas it would most probably mean the absence of military activity and the end of violence.

But the peace that Simeon speaks about here (just like the peace that Donald Cargill experienced on the gallows) is so much more than only the end of strife after warring madness.
No, Simeon speaks of the peace that believing men and women experience when they pass on to be with God. He speaks about the perfect peace when we go to be with Christ.

Simeon saw the Messiah in the temple on the 8th day after his birth. He took Jesus into his arms and saw the Comfort promised to God’s people to be real, to be born a human being - the beginning of the Messiah’s ministry of salvation. True peace that cannot be taken from us, even by death, is to meet the Christ of God and to start living in his presence, knowing his peace will be perfected when we see Christ the Lord, face to face.

"Let me die in peace," says Simeon. Simeon knew that he would receive the crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4:8) in a place of glory. This is the peace he is talking about.

Do you know this peace? Do you know that you too will go to be with Jesus when you die? Only when you know this, Christmas truly happened in your heart and in your soul.
Then you have been prepared to live the joyous Christmas life here – and for all eternity.

Christmas 2010: Messiah is called mighty God.

The Bible tells us that it is only God who is truly mighty. The Lord is a warrior (Ex 15:3; Is 42:13). He more than anyone else does almighty acts in battle and defeats his enemies. It was the Lord, mighty in battle (Ps 24:8), who gave Israel victory after victory.

Isa 9: 2, 6 and 7: 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called… Mighty God. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.

The Messiah is called "mighty." Like our LORD revealed in OT times, he is a warrior. He triumphs over his enemies. He defeats his enemies and my enemies. Our Messiah chases away darkness and establishes a Kingdom of peace and joy.

The Messiah is not only called "mighty" - he is also called "God." He is the warrior God. He is the God of absolute power. He is "Mighty God".
In the New Testament we hear Jesus saying, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me" (Mt 28:18). And, "Take heart! I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33b).

Have a blessed Christmas because you too believe that you follow and love a mighty Saviour, and expect a powerful salvation.
This is what we celebrate tomorrow, on Christmas Day: that Jesus, Mighty God, has come, and chased the darkness away.

Choose to serve the Son of the Most High this Christmas

An angel came to speak to Mary. To announce the birth of Messiah Jesus.
He calls her highly favoured and he calls her most blessed amongst women. Why?

The core answer to this question is found in Luke 1: 31 – 33:
Mary, you have found favour with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Mary is highly favoured because she would carry the King who will sit on David’s throne forever! The angel said "you have found favour with God." And later Elizabeth (verse 42) greeted her with the words: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the Child you will bear."
Mary is highly favoured – by the Lord. She is blessed – by the Lord.

Mary was called blessed, not because of her virginity and not because of her humility, but because of her son. God gave to Mary a distinction that he gave to no one else in the history of the entire human race. God gave to Mary the privilege of giving birth to the Son of the Most High, the Second Person of the holy Trinity.

During the Christmas season we honour Mary as the mother of the eternal Son of God, as a man. Not to exalt Mary, but to faithfully confess Christ completely – to assert that the beloved Son of the Most High, was "born of a woman" (Gal 4:4).

Mary did more than just carry the Christ-child to term. She was also the mother who cared for the physical needs of Jesus the infant and boy. She nursed him and took care of him in every way a baby needs to be nurtured. With Joseph, she brought Jesus to the Temple to have him circumcised and presented to the Lord. With Joseph, she fostered him and taught him the ways of the God of Israel. With Joseph, she was the one who taught him to memorize and sing the Psalms and say the prayers and follow the rites of the Faith.

Mary was blessed, favoured by God - to bear and to nurture the Son of God, to be a mother to the Saviour.

Nobody else will ever again do what Mary was called to accomplish. Yet, at the foot of the cross, Jesus said to his best friend John – there is your mother.
A new family is formed at the foot of the cross of salvation. Where we all became mothers, fathers, sons and daughters and brothers and sisters, a family called to look after, to care for and to foster the body of Christ – his physical body on earth today, yes, his church! We receive grace and favour from God to be able to choose to commit our lives to prepare the bride of Christ to meet with him in order to celebrate the wedding feast of the Lamb.

May we through faith make this choice this Christmastide anew!
“Here I am, the servant of the Lord! May I accomplish everything the Lord has said to me!”

Advent 2010: Lord, come to us as everlasting Father

Isaiah tells us in Isa 9:6, 7 that the Messiah is called "Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
The Messiah is, amongst other things, our "Everlasting Father."

Christ is like a father to us. The reason that God became one of us, a man of flesh and blood, was to care and provide for us, to protect us and always and in al circumstances be there for us.

When he is called “everlasting”, we come face to face with the Messiah as eternal God. In whatever way he decides to look after us, he can – he is able to – because he is our eternal God who will forever be a loving Provider to his people.

The truth is, that Messiah Jesus is everything we will ever need of a Saviour. He amongst many other things, is our "Everlasting Father." We can always expect compassion from him. We can always and forever come to him with our needs for mercy, love and forgiveness. Christ is always with us. Always listening and caring. We can always depend on him. Eternally he remains a father to his disciples.

Be blessed during this Advent Season when you realise that nothing can ever separate you from the love of God in Jesus our Saviour. He comes to us as a father. He will always be a father to us. Name whatever danger, problem or issue you may think about, and it will not be able to separate you from the love and care of Christ Jesus as our Everlasting Father.

Come Lord Jesus, and take care of me!

Advent 2010: Serving Messiah’s Kingdom

Mary, the mother of Jesus and Elizabeth, the mother of John the baptiser, were pregnant at the same time. And they had more in common: they were relatives, they were both on their first pregnancy, they both became pregnant through an almighty act of God, God sent the angel Gabriel to announce both births, and they both were given a child who played a key role in God's plan of salvation.

I am sure they wept together, laughed together, prayed together, shared the experiences of becoming mothers for the first time and encouraged one another spiritually, lifting one another up, during the three months they were together (Lk 1:56). Elizabeth must have had a major role in comforting and inspiring Mary to be able to complete her challenge and call within the coming of the Messiah. Elizabeth was to serve Mary and support her when she most needed the care, love and encouragement. Elizabeth served the coming of Messiah’s kingdom by serving her young relative, the Messiah’s mother.

The angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her about the virgin birth. Then he gave her a sign, a proof, that this would actually happen:
(Luke 1:36) Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
When Mary heard this she "got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea" (Lk 1:39). Mary made haste out of obedience to the plan revealed to her by the angel, a plan which included the pregnancy of Elizabeth, and was confirmed by the pregnancy of Elizabeth. (Lk 1:36-37).

The visit began with Mary's greeting of Elizabeth. Mary could not have known of Elizabeth's status apart from God's revelation through the angel Gabriel. And Elizabeth was now, in turn, given a revelation of Mary's pregnancy, so that she could return Mary's greeting.

Elizabeth was given a revelation through the leap of joy of the child in her womb. The angel told Zechariah, her husband, that John the baptiser would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb (Lk 1:15). This meant he would be a prophet in spirit and power equal to that of the mighty prophet Elijah (Lk 1:17). John the baptiser started his prophetic ministry here, still in his mother’s womb, by leaping for joy, as a result of the presence of the Messiah in the womb of Mary. (Lk 1:41,44) Filled with the Holy Spirit, in response to the reaction of her son within her womb, Elizabeth realized that Mary was pregnant and that her child was the long expected Messiah.

In this Advent season our hearts too should leap with joy at the thought of the baby in Bethlehem's manger. We should feel John’s joy and celebrate that what the prophets of old had talked about, was finally coming to fulfilment. After all, Mary's baby is our Messiah, our Saviour and God’s only, eternal Son.

There should be a leap for joy, because we are reminded that all things are possible with God. The Saviour’s conception and birth is a sign that God can and does put aside the laws of nature, the natural order of things, in order to do his mighty will.

His kingdom comes and his will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Nothing could change his salvation plan. God was the main player in the first Christmas story and he is the main player in the coming of his kingdom today. The Mary’s, Josephs, Zechariahs, Elizabeths and shepherds of this world, you and I, are employed and deployed to share the Good News of him becoming part of our world, our lives, our faith and our eternal destination!
Glory to God in the highest!

Advent 2010. Praising God.

In Luke 2 we meet a "great company" of angels. "Suddenly," says Luke, "a great company of the heavenly host appeared... praising God" (Luke 2:13).

The angels sang their song of praise to the Lord, because of the "good news of great joy that will be for all the people" (Luke 2:10). And the "good news"is that "in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (vs 11). This is the best news ever proclaimed. To a mankind lost in sin, God has sent a Saviour, the promised Messiah. He will lead his people to victory over sin, death, evil and judgement.

This Messiah is our Saviour. He was born to save us, not the angels. Yet, the angels sing their song of praise to God. Even more than the angels we, during this Season should be singing "Glory to God," because of our Saviour's birth. The angels show us how to sing the praises of God.

Before the beginning of time, since their creation, the angels sang of God's glory. According to the Book of Revelation, John saw angels singing these same words 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! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen! (Revelation 5:11,12; 7:12)

"Glory to God in the highest" means that only to God in heaven belongs honour, praise, and majesty. Men and angels do not give this "glory" to God. It is already his and will always be his from eternity to eternity. What the angels on Christmas eve did, and the angels before the throne are always doing, is recognising and acknowledging the glory that has always been God's.

We must learn from them. God's first commandment for our lives is, "You shall have no other gods before me." This simply mans: “Glory to God in the highest."
The first thing Jesus taught us to pray is, "Hallowed be Thy name."
This simply means: “Glory to God in the highest." All of our lives, must be directed towards the glory of God. God must always be first and always be praised.

When Christ's work in heaven and on earth is done, God will be "all in all" and "everything to everyone." Then all of God's creatures, all of creation will unite in one incredible choir; and, there will rise up to the throne of God one mighty refrain from all of creation: “Glory to God in the highest ... (because) in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you, and he is Christ the Lord."

Advent 2010: Finding faith with Zechariah

Zechariah’s name means, "The Lord remembers his covenant.” Zechariah was a godly, upright priest in Israel during the times when Mary became pregnant with Jesus. His wife Elizabeth was Mary’s cousin. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth "were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly" (Lk 1:6). Combining priestly origins and heartfelt desire to observe God’s will and law, made Zechariah and Elizabeth represent the best of the faithful in Israel.
But they were also beyond their child bearing years and did not have any children.

In Zechariah the Lord remembered his covenant promises. He preserved a faithful priest from Aaron's house who would make the final preparations for preparing the way for the coming Messiah.

Then something extraordinary dramatic happened. The angel Gabriel appeared to priest Zechariah while he sacrificed incense in the temple. The angel said that God remembered his promises about the Messiah. God was continuing his plan of salvation as promised even to Abraham centuries before. And, that a son to be born to Zechariah and Elizabeth, John the baptiser, would prepare the way for the Lord’s coming.

Zechariah could hardly believe what he was hearing.
Lk 1:18: "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years" he said to the angel. What God promises is often so much beyond human ability, that it is simply unbelievable.

God made many “unbelievable” promises: Grace and forgiveness for people who do not deserve it. A role and ministry for regular sinners to accomplish his Kingdom plans. Rebirth and sanctification for those very regular sinners, to restore them by grace through faith into a royal priesthood to work for him - and I may be one of them.
God promised more than the forgiveness of sins. He promised the resurrection of the body, life everlasting and a new heaven and new earth.
We, like Zechariah, also often cannot stop ourselves from asking "How can I be sure of this?"

So God gave Zechariah a sign. Zechariah was turned speechless before the might and grace of God. He would be mute until God made his promise to become true when John the baptiser was born.

As we look at all that God did to guarantee the details of the Christmas story and how he guided the elected role players to participate, we cannot help but be awestruck by the power and the grace of God.
We too are often humbled when our doubts are gloriously turned into amazement as to how God makes the gospel truth become true in our lives and the lives of fellow believers. We too find faith when we cannot help to see that "nothing is impossible with God" (Lk 1:37) We too are muted by amazement when we unexpectedly are given faith that knows that nothing is beyond our Lord.

Because the only hero and star of the Christmas story, is God.
He is behind everything that happened that first Christmas. And he continues to be an awe-inspiring God as he also in our lives remembers his covenant promises, carries out his plan of salvation and guide us to the purposes of our existence.
We too will one day be speechless when he comes on the clouds to bring his perfect and holy Kingdom to final and complete fruition!
The Lord’s advent frees us from unbelief and makes us expecting and awaiting the impossible.
Glory to God in the highest!

Advent 2010: Waiting with Simeon

Simeon was an elderly man who lived at the time of the birth of Jesus. God revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. (Lk 2:26.) We are told that Simeon "was waiting for the salvation of Israel." He was a believer who held on to God’s promises and Word.

As a believing man, Simeon was waiting for the prophecies of the coming Messiah to take place. Then one day Simeon was moved by the Spirit to go to the temple to see the Christ. How excited he must have been! You can be sure that he went as quickly as he possibly could. His waiting was almost done. He would finally cry out that the salvation of Israel and the kingdom of God had come.

When he entered the temple, Simeon saw Joseph and Mary with Baby Jesus. Somehow he knew that Baby Jesus is the One he had been waiting for and praying to see for all those years. He held out his arms. He took the Child and praised God with these words: Lk 2: 28 – 32: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

Most of Israel’s believers were waiting for Messiah's birth. But when the Messiah did come, only a handful of people recognised him.
Many who are waiting for Jesus, begging for peace, joy and salvation in their lives, do not recognise him when he comes to them.

None of us, not a single one, can go in peace unless we have met the Saviour of all men, our Redeemer from sin. I therefore have to ask: have you met the Saviour? Have you truly seen the Christ?

The Saviour has already come. It is also true that someday he will come again. So we too, like Simeon, eagerly wait and pray for his coming. We are filled with hope and great anticipation.

During this season, like Simeon, hold out your hands, your arms and your hearts, to receive him.
We are waiting for the coming of Jesus with Simeon and with all the believers of every generation. He stands knocking at the door of our lives. Let’s let him enter with great joy. And, when he returns on the clouds, or when he comes to take us to be with him, we will go in peace and joy, for we have see the salvation of the sovereign Lord!
Come, Lord Jesus! Come quickly Lord!

Advent: STOP SAYING NO TO JESUS

"Remember that knowing what is right to do and then not doing it, is sin”, James 4:17.

Most people with a conscience at least sometimes feel guilty about sinful things they did. But what about the times we offend God because of the things he expects us to do, and we have not done it, called the “sins of omission”?

The story in Matt 2, about the Wise Men in search of Christ teaches an important message about sins of omission.

We all remember that king Herod’s reaction to the news that THE Christ was born, was one of hatred and attempted murder of the Christ-child. These feelings were eventually shared by the religious leaders Herod consulted in Jerusalem. They were disturbed by the Wise Men, the Bible says. Even though they revealed the location of his birth to King Herod, they did not consider going along with the wise men in search of the promised Messiah. No, they wished that the Wise Men were wrong about his birth. They did not want to worship the Child. It was simply too much to ask of them to have their well organised lives disturbed by the birth of the King.

Silently wishing that what God expects of me will just go away unnoticed if I ignore him long enough, is only a step away from outright hatred of it. When Jesus began his public ministry 30 years later, what was the response to Jesus of this disturbed group of religious leaders? It was one of outright hatred!

In the parable about the sheep and the goats on the judgement day, written in Matt 25:31-46, Jesus accuses the ‘goats’ on his left hand of sins of omission. He accuses them of work which they knew they had to do for God, but didn't! We cannot forget these words of Jesus: "I was hungry, but you did not feed me, I was thirsty but you did not quench my thirst, I was naked but you did not clothe me and ....."I kept sending you bible-based messages, sermons, bible studies, e-mails, blogs, but you never cared to accept them for what they are - the word of the living God!” (This last sentence does not appear in Matt 2 – but I believe Jesus wants to say it to some of us today.)

May you be blessed this Season, when you hear the good news about the King of Heaven who was born in Bethlehem, by surrendering completely to him, faithfully worshipping him with the Wise Men, seeking him, finding him, honouring him with gifts, loving him and following him with all your heart.

Being disturbed by the demands that Christ makes in our lives and on our lives so often lead to hating his demands (and eventually even hating him!) And it leads to the attempted murder of his Body, the Church. But when we worship him, expect him, wait for him, are ready for him, find hope, peace, joy and love through him, we will not be disturbed by his demand to follow him with all our heart. He will change our hearts and our lives and our eternal destination.

STOP SAYING “NO” TO JESUS THIS ADVENT SEASON.
For he certainly is coming back to ask you why you did.

Advent 2010: Worship with Mary

Mary,the mother of Jesus, glorified God in a song. In her song she said that the name of God is holy. What name did she have in mind? In her song she called God "LORD," "God my Saviour," and "Mighty One."

Mary, of course, was raised a Jew and knew God by all his Hebrew names. She knew him as El-Shaddai — this is "God of the Mountains" or "The Almighty God" with all power, might and strength. She knew him as El-Elyon — this is "The Most High God" or "The Exalted One." She knew him as El-Olam — this is "God of Eternity," the God above and beyond time and space, the God who is sovereign for all eneternity. She knew him as El-Berith — this is the "God of the covenant," the God who remains faithful from generation to generation. She knew him as Adonai — this is "Lord," a title of authority, rule and honour. She knew him as Ancient of Days, Rock, Refuge, Fortress, Shield, Sun, Refiner. She knew him as Judge, Shepherd, and Father.

You may wonder why the Lord is described by so many names? Because the beauty, the fullness, and the magnificence of God cannot be expressed by just one name.

When reading the New Testament we find there are as many different names for Jesus as there are for God.
Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone, the Living Bread, the Hidden Treasure, the Way, Life and Truth, the Sure Foundation, the Great Physician, the Great Teacher, Lord of the Harvest, the Rock of Ages, the True Vine, the Righteous Judge, the True Witness, the Good Tidings of Great Joy, the Wisdom of God, the Good Master, the Giver of Rest, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, the Son of the Living God, the Saviour, the Redeemer and Lord of all!

Why Jesus is described by so many names? Because the beauty, the fullness, and the magnificence of Jesus cannot be expressed by just one name.

Why did Mary praise the name of God? An angel appeared to Mary, called her blessed and favoured and announced her privilege to give birth to the Messiah, although she would remain a virgin. The angel also announced that her cousin, Elizabeth, is going to have a child. And then the angel adds this: "For nothing is impossible with God."

No wonder Mary glorified the holy Name of the Lord. The Mighty One does great things to save his people. As Mary put it, God:
"has been mindful of the humble state of his servant ...(51) He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. (54) He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful (55) to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers." (Luke 1:48, 51, 54,55) ...

From Mary’s example we learn how to respond to God’s holy majesty. We respond in praise and worship. We sing great songs and carols. We worship him. We praise his holy Name! This is what Mary did when she realized the holiness of God’s Name. She said, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour ..." (Lk 1:46-47).

We also should respond in worship when the coming Kingdom of the Christ of God is proclaimed to us. When Mary was commissioned by God to become pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit and carry the Son of God, she said "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said" (Lk 1:38). She did not argue, complain or whine. She surrendered to God and his plan for her life. She became a follower of Christ even before she became his mother.

The Mighty God who acted so powerfully the first Christmas, is able to do everything. Nothing is impossible with God, the angel said to Mary. To him we also want to be obedient. Like Mary, we also want to worship our awesome God.
"Holy is his name."

Advent 2010 - Joseph was righteous and merciful

Matt. 1: 19 tells us that Joseph was "a righteous man." This means he was God-fearing and law-abiding. He was a simple and honest man. The Christmas story gives us a glimpse into Joseph's righteousness.

We are told that "Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph." This means Joseph and Mary had already gone through the first step of making marriage vows and were for that reason considered husband and wife. We are also told that Mary was found with child "before they came together." This means Joseph had yet to take Mary into his home.

At this point Joseph knew only one thing about the child Mary expected: that he was not the father. He thought this could only mean that another man had slept with his wife. As a law abiding man he could not and would not take Mary into his home. As a righteous man, Joseph could not take a wife who was an adulteress. As a righteous man, Joseph could not take a wife home who was not a virgin.

Joseph was righteous, but he was also a merciful, caring, and compassionate man. He did not want to humiliate Mary. He did not want to shame her in front of all the world. He did not want to publicly accuse her of a serious sin. He did not want to subject her to a community trial. He did not want her to be stoned to death. So he decided to divorce Mary quietly. As a truly righteous man, Joseph showed love. As a righteous man, Joseph showed love not only for God, but also for his fellow-man.

Righteous Joseph was and is an example for Christians everywhere to follow and imitate.
As we wait to meet the Messiah, not as a helpless Babe, but as the holy Judge who will come on the clouds, we want to be found to be righteous and merciful.
This can only happen if we are are saved from our sin, ourselves and from God’s enemies by Jesus, because he was born to save us from our sins and to give us his righteousness and mercy.

Advent 2010 - looking forward to the coming of His Kingdom

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 2010

Season of Advent – the four Sundays before Christmas, starts on 28 November.

The word “Advent” essentially means “coming” and “expecting”. It is a time to be filled with joy, because God became a man and was born as a baby on that first Christmas, to become our Redeemer and King!
During this season we also remember that Jesus wants to come to us, here and now through his Spirit’s work in us, and through us come to a lost world in dire need of him.
Finally we also remember during this season that Jesus Christ promised to physically come to us again, to create a new heaven and earth in which we will live for all eternity!

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

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

During 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 new laws and rules through which to figure our how we can be saved. No, he sent his Son to save us.
The Advent message always remains that (John 3:16) God so much loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Lets trust in 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.

The Advent Wreath
The symbolism of the Advent Wreath is beautiful. On Sunday our wreath will be displayed.
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 other seeds symbolize life and resurrection.
The circle of the wreath, that has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ who entered our world a true man and who was victorious over sin and death through his own passion, death, and resurrection.

The four candles on the wreath represent the four weeks of Advent. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of his second coming to judge the living and the dead.
The lighting of candles signifies Christ, the Light of the world.

In family practice, the Advent candles on the wreath is usually lit at home on Sundays at lunch or dinner time, after the blessing of the food.

Full text sermon outlines

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Feast of Christ the King

On Sunday 21 November 2010 the Church again celebrate the the Feast of Christ the King. It is the last Sunday of this Christian calendar, as Sunday, 30 November 2010, marks the first Sunday of the new Christian year as we observe the First Advent Sunday, when amongst other things, the count down to Christmastide begins.

The Christian year ends celebrating Christ the King, in victory. We gladly bring honour to Jesus who has not only saved us from our sins by his cross and resurrection, but also ascended to the right hand of God. Our celebration of the glorious work of Jesus culminates in the great finale of the celebration of Christ the King. We rejoice that his Kingdom has come on earth, just as it is in heaven.

We bring honour to our Redeemer, Christ the King, who victoriously reigns now, and reigns forever. He dealt with our every need, delivered us from every enemy, healed us from all sin, harm and injury and he is worshipped when everyone bows before him as Lord of all.

Yes, we know everything God has promised has not happened on our earth yet! Yes, his Kingdom has come and, yes, he is the King and Head of the Church and , yes, he reigns in glory. And yet, his dominion is also still coming to us and to the world. We still live in hope, and in faith that we truly heard the Word of God, that testifies that he will also come again in glory to effect in the smallest detail, his glorious reign. But until he comes again, we celebrate his heavenly rule, and the coming of his dominion over everything and everyone with great expectation, in faith and in the certain knowledge that even now he is the King of our hearts, of his Church and of every aspect of our lives.

On Sunday we celebrate that Jesus of Nazareth, the eternal Son of God, takes his place as King of kings and Lord of lords in our lives, our faith and our knowledge in faith that he will bring justice and righteousness to us, to his people and to the whole world.

We celebrate that our King not only brings salvation to us, but through his ministry through the Church, also to the end of the earth. His people accept the grace that he brings, and commit their lives to the power of the Holy Spirit who empowers his children and his Church to fulfil the commission of Christ the King to preach the gospel to everyone, bring justice wherever we serve him and bring hope and light where darkness still hides his glorious reign and redemption.

We have to and want to live only for his honour, glory and reign. We seek to be obedient by the power of his resurrection and his Spirit. We are convinced that nobody and nothing will separate us from the love of God that we received in Christ the King, our Lord and our Saviour!
Hosanna to the King of kings!

Sick and Tired (4) – Final

Renewable Energy

When we grow weary, we often fall into depression. It’s so easy to be negative and critical when you are tired, and at the same time feel defenceless and loose reasonable perspective. When you are exhausted, its so easy to feel sorry for yourself. You become like the man who had both an identity crisis and energy crisis. He didn’t know who he was, but was too tired to find out.

But what can we do about it? We need a renewable source of energy. We need to grow strong again.
Isaiah says: (Isa 40: 31) "Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength: They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."

"Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength." The contrast here is between the vulnerability of a weary person and the vigour of a waiting believer. We wait for the Lord because we trust him and walk by faith. Literally, the word for “wait” has the connotation of "to bind" or "to braid." The idea is to braid ourselves together with the Lord. To wait upon the Lord may be the Old Testament equivalent of faith in the New Testament. To wait on the Lord means that we seek his presence earnestly, while waiting patiently and expectantly for his answers.

The promise to those who wait upon the Lord, is that they shall renew their strength. The original word for “renew” means that the Lord shall "exchange" their weakness for his strength. As we draw nearer to God, waiting upon him expectantly in faith and trusting in him as our resource, he will impart his strength to us.

Paul expresses this same idea in 2 Corinthians 4:16 where he says, "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." In Jesus Christ, our inner man can be renewed everyday as we effect our faith in him. And spiritual renewal makes it easier to truly rest emotionally and physically as well.

We must give top priority to our daily relationship of quietly being with the Lord, listening to him and submitting to his will and way with our lives. We cannot allow anything to rob us of this renewable spiritual energy. It is in these daily times of drawing upon God’s resources that we are given the strength to live for him. If we want to face our circumstances victoriously, we must spend time patiently waiting upon the Lord. This is how we receive his renewable strength.

Are you, here at the end of the year, in desperate need to renew your strength? Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Prayerfully ponder. Focus. Braid yourself with him.
And Christ will give you strength.

Beware of the judgmental spirit of legalism

Just as we value and defend our personal freedoms, we should guard against anyone who wants to steal our spiritual freedoms in Christ. The good news of the message of Christ is that we have been set free to live in the power of Christ, to choose to live for God and drink from the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
We have been set free from the punishment of a law we were unable to keep. We live by grace through faith.
Sadly many Christians are unaware of the extent of this freedom in Christ. Many allow others to judge them or they judge themselves by legalistic standards in stead of enjoying the abundant life that Jesus has given us in his mercy.

Beware of the judgmental spirit of legalism
Col 2: 16 – 17 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Have you noticed that within Christianity there is sometimes a judgmental spirit? Far too often we encounter a Christian, even a whole “church of Christians”, who is that way. You feel like they are always looking over your shoulder comparing you to some personal preference that they have for you, to live up to. Sometimes you hear Christians talking about other people in the most negative way possible, putting them down for something they did or failed to do.

As followers of Christ, we desire to be obedient to him. That is what following Christ is all about –– seeking to hear his voice and to follow where he leads. We should be concerned about righteousness and justice and live pure and simple lives. We want our children to learn Christian values. We do not condone sin. If Christians do not stand for what is right and holy, who will?

But when we move from a broken-hearted attitude of love and compassion for a lost world to a hardhearted attitude of self-righteous judgment, because other Christians have different views about negligible causes and ideas about right living, we have become unrighteous ourselves.

We’ve been set free to live for Christ. We are free to do anything and everything that we can do in Christ. So, do not let anyone judge you by so-called righteousness that keeps itself busy with the shadows of reality in stead of being focussed on living for Jesus.
We have been set free from the judgmental spirit of legalism. We are free to live for the Lord and to enjoy the bounty of his grace.

Sick and tired. (3)

Losing perspective when we are weary.

We all run out of energy sometimes and have to face the problem of being weary. Last week we saw that when we become weary, we are defenceless against the enemy. We are like a vulnerable sheep to the wolf.

But we also lose our proper perspective when we are weary. The best. known Bible story to illustrate this is found in Genesis 25:29-34. Its the story of Esau selling his birthright. Notice why he sold it: Because he was famished! He was starved, he was wanting, yes, he was in physical need!
"And when Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, ‘Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.’... But Jacob said, ‘First sell me your birthright.’ And Esau said, ‘Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?’ And Jacob said, ‘first swear to me;’ so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright."

It was because Esau was physically exhausted, weary and hungry, that he sold his birthright and lost his proper perspective, and so can we.
Take Note that weariness makes you to pay more attention to your physical and emotional needs, than to your spiritual needs. If you are sick and tired, you usually are more inclined to “looking through physical eyes.”
Because Esau was famished, he could not see what was really important any more, and missed out on the blessing of God.

Even in the Lord’s prayer Jesus allows us to pray for bread, before we ask for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus knows that a famished person can hardly think of sins, temptations and forgiving his neighbour. We need bread, our most basic physical needs met, in order to gain proper perspective on our spiritual health.

What we really need is spiritual vision. Jesus also quoted Moses in saying that “man cannot live form bread alone, but from every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord!” We desperately need bread, rest, health and to be physically relaxed. Then we will have the energy and the perspective to repent, to forgive and to seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, knowing that we will receive everything else from the Lord we serve. We need to learn how to rest by to trust and obey.

When we grow weary, we tend to lose our proper perspective on God’s reality. But even when I am sick and tired, I must remember that God is still on the throne. We need to see that. We need to know and believe that!
If you are weary, you are more inclined to “looking through physical eyes.”
Yet it remains the best time to learn how to rest by to trust and obey.

Only Jesus can!

Col 2: 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.

The main threat to Christianity is not the direct, head on attacks. Its the subtle changes in God’s truth that can ambush us much more easily. Its adding to or subtracting from the Gospel truth while still presenting an illusive image of being Biblical that are the most dangerous threats.

The Christians to whom Paul was writing in Colosse were faced with false teachers that would distort Christianity by adding to it. In order to be a true Christian, in their view, one must not only believe in Christ but ALSO be circumcised. They taught Christ plus adding circumcision, a Jewish ritual, to the Gospel.

Their tactic is still being employed today. People still are adding to essential Christianity. Faith in Christ is not enough for some. They want to add some sort of good work, religious rituals or fashionable faith of the day as being as essential as Christ.

As Christians, we must be clear about the basics. We contend that salvation is
BY GRACE ALONE, THROUGH FAITH ALONE, IN CHRIST ALONE.

We believe that everything has been provided for us in the person and the all sufficient, once and for all, complete work of Jesus Christ. Through Christ we have been given all that we need for life and godly living. We are alive in Christ. Our sins are forgiven.
We will not add to it and not subtract from it!
Jesus is all we need!

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!

Being sick and tired of being sick and tired. (2)

Defenseless when attacked
One of our challenges is that our strength is exhaustible. We all run out of energy sometimes and have to face the problem of being weary.
Last week we saw that Isaiah 40:30-31 deals with the fact that we all become tired, even the youth and even vigorous young men! It says:
"Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength: They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."

When we become weary, we are defenseless against the enemy. We are like a vulnerable sheep to the wolf. Satan, the enemy who steals our lives and prevents us from being significant in God’s service. Like the wolf, he waits for the weary idler who falls behind the flock. And then he ambushes and devours that easy prey.

The Scripture is filled with examples which illustrates this point. In Deuteronomy 25:17-18 we read, "Remember what Amalek did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt, how he met you along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God."
Amalek’s attack on Israel is an example of what happens when Christians grow tired and fall behind the flock in serving God, becoming victims of those who do not fear God.
That is why we are urged in Hebrews 12:3 to consider Jesus "who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart." It is when we grow weary and lose heart that we are in the most dangerous position a Christian can be. We become easy prey for the enemy. Our defenses are down, and sometimes we aren’t even aware of it.

Say no to exhausting schedules! Pursue Christ! Find rest in quiet time with the Lord. Earnestly keep praying for protection when you are tired. Rest. Eat well and healthy. Sleep enough. Take leave if you can. More importantly, take good care of your personal relationship with Jesus, and make time to spend with the source of rest, love, trust and hope, Jesus Christ, who died, that we may live triumphantly. Fear God!
Do not fall for the devils snares and ambushes because you are tired.
Ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of spiritual dangers and temptations!

Disciplined

Col 2:5 “For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.”

Orderly here means disciplined. If you’re going to really know Christ, you must discipline yourself to study, to pray, and to serve. You must have a plan and then follow the plan. It will not happen by accident. And it will not happen unless you make it a priority. Our faith can grow to be a firm foundation of a life that makes an impact through loving effort and focuses on the mystery of God, even Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

Here is the lesson. A life worth living requires discipline, so we must be intentional. We must order our lives in such a way that we plan to get to know God better. We must order our time in such a way that we make opportunities to serve God, to worship God, to listen to God and to respond to his leading.

Jesus Christ has already made the first move. He reached out to us in love. He gave his life for us on the cross. He died there to pay for our sins. He was not passive. And just as he was proactive, so must we be. If we want to grow in our knowledge of God, we must pursue Christ actively.

Being sick and tired of being sick and tired. (1)

One of our challenges is that our strength is exhaustible. We all run out of energy sometimes and have to face the problem of being weary.

We simply have to deal with weariness. We cannot accept being sick and tired as a way of life. We all have to learn about how to tap into the strength of God to overcome the risks of exhaustion, because the risks are many and it holds danger for our physical health, emotional wellness and our spiritual vitality.

Isaiah 40:30-31 deals with the fact that we all become tired, even the youth and even vigorous young men! It says:
"Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength: They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."

Isaiah, here deals with two truths we should be aware of to be able to defend our ourselves against weariness and to manage our risks. The first is the obvious truth, that every one grows weary. As we already said, even the fittest and healthiest young person does. The second truth is a deeper and most important truth and faith reality, that, as we learn to trust and expectantly wait on the Lord, we tap into his inexhaustible strength. Are we willing to remain sick and tired of being sick and tired, or, are we willing to learn about how to, through faith and trust in God, manage our energy, challenges and risks through a living relationship with the Lord?

We need to take note of the risks of allowing ourselves to become exhausted. And it is a choice to take on too much, to stress too much, not to be able to say no, in time, to have life priorities where being rested and having time to rest on God are too low on our list. Then we run the risk of being so vulnerable that we, in the words of Isaiah “stumble badly”. When our priories are primarily materialistic or when be defy reality thinking we can move mountains without faith – even spiritual mountains – we eventually will stumble badly!

When we allow ourselves to become too tired we also become vulnerable and defenseless against the enemy, namely evil attacks and temptations. We also loose perspective and we become victims of despair, of despondency and depression. We may burn all our energy to try to win the whole world and then we may loose our souls, our very lives, as Jesus warned.

During the following few Wednesdays we are going to discuss being sick and tired of being sick and tired here in the Midweek Devotion. And how God’s purpose, wisdom, strength and life can take us out of the rut that we may mount up with wings like eagles, running without getting tired and walking without becoming weary!

Here is a hint of where to start - if we in faith rest upon the Lord, trust his judgment, live according to his values, say no to the principles of darkness that run our plans, dreams and diaries, and return to the restful peace who is our God, and fellowship with the source of light, who is our God, and obey the Kingdom principles of the all wise and all knowing, who is our God, we will fly, run and walk with joy and hope and enthusiasm, again!

Say no to exhausting schedules today. Say yes to being recuperated by sharing quiet time and worship time with the source of rest, love, trust and hope, Jesus Christ, who died, that we may live triumphantly.
(I know this may sound airy-fairy – but watch this space for God’s reality!)

Willing to pay the price for ministry!

Ministry is another word for service. The Apostle Paul had a passion for ministry, because he knew that it meant allowing God to use him for God’s purpose. Do you see serving God for the sake of the church, as a calling and a ministry? Do you have a passion for serving God? If we want to make a difference in people’s lives, we need to become passionate about this service.
We must know that to be used by God, we must be willing to even pay the price of ministry.

Paul says: (Colossians 1:24-25) I rejoice in what was suffered for you... for the sake of the body of Christ, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness.

If we desire to be used by God, we must know that it will involve sacrifice. If we are going to follow Jesus in suffering for the sake of the Church, then we, like Jesus, must be willing to pay the price required for our choice, and the price may even include suffering.

Paul knows for certain that his suffering as part of his service for the Lord had meaning. If the work we do for the Lord is even worth suffering for, we rejoice that the sacrifices we make produce something that matters. And we, the church of the Lord, work for a reason worth sacrificing for, even worth suffering for. The reason is the cause of Christ.

If we desire a life that counts and makes a difference, we will volunteer for duty. We will step out in faith. We will be determined to live a life dedicated to serve God and serve others. Then we will make a difference in this world for God. Our lives will count for a lot. It will touch others. It will bring glory to God’s Name.

The Ultimate Love Affair (5) – with all your strength.

Not only do you have to love God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind, you are required to love him with all your strength. Christianity is more than heartfelt dedication or soulful passion for Jesus. It is even more than thoroughly considering the Scriptures and saying “Yes” to what God revealed about himself. Being a Christian needs to be lived in every aspect of our lives. To love God with all our strength means to love God in everything that we do.

In Colossians 3:17 it says, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Christianity that is only in the heart or only in the mind may be the reason we fall for either sentimentalism or intellectualism. But being a true Christian is to practically live for the Lord. This changes our faith into a strong and powerful service to God’s Kingdom. It makes us soldiers of the cross.

A Christian lifestyle is required if we truly love the Lord. James says in his letter that faith without good deeds is a dead faith. We must be "doers of the word" he says. We can also say that faith that does not inspire Christian living is faith without love and Paul says that even if we have the faith to move mountains, if we do not have love, we are NOTHING.

We must be careful not to consent intellectually to the Christian faith while our lives, our practices, our priorities and the values according to which we live shout louder than what we say we believe. And what it may shout is that Christ is not relevant to everything in our lives. The powerlessness of many a church lies in the problem that too many whose names are on their rolls may not be far from the Kingdom of God, yet they are not in the Kingdom, of the Kingdom and for the Kingdom of God.

Hanging out with the Church does not make you a follower of Jesus. It is committing everything you are and you do to Christ and to surrender to his will in the most practical way imaginable that testifies of being truthful in your confession of being a Christian. What a tragedy it is to be so close to the Kingdom of God that you agree to what the Bible teaches, and you even sometimes wipe away a tear because you are touched emotionally by the Gospel, yet you live outside the City of God and the family of God, because you do not love the Lord with all your strength and all your choices and you are not doing what will make a difference to the glory of his Name and the extension of his Kingdom.

Jesus said – Seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, and everything else you need will also be given to you.
What is the top priority in your life? We must surrender all that we are to all that God is, and dedicate ourselves to live for Christ. Submit to the guidance of his Spirit in a way that reflects a love for God that is genuinely devoted, full of passion, thoroughly considered, and finally, also fully lived for the Lord.
That is the ultimate love affair – an all consuming life for God.

Christ qualified us for an eternal inheritance

Colossians 1:12 : Give thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the believers in the kingdom of light. We have been qualified by God to receive an eternal inheritance in the kingdom of light. We have been made legitimate heirs of the kingdom of God. Only heirs receive an inheritance, and we have been placed on that list.

We know what Christ did to qualify us as heirs of God’s eternal light. Col 1: 14 says “in whom [Christ] we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins”
The work Christ did for us can be summed up in the two words found in this verse. The words are redemption and forgiveness.
Redemption comes from the word "redeem" that literally means to buy back. It means that we were bought back by God.

This is precisely what Jesus Christ did for us. He made us and he bought us. We are twice his. He redeemed us by paying the penalty for our sin on the Cross. He died there in our place. He took upon himself our sins. He was our substitute. He purchased our redemption by giving his life as a sacrifice. And because we are redeemed, we now receive the forgiveness of our sins.

We have been qualified for our inheritance as God’s children, because we have been delivered from the penalty of sin. Because of what Christ did on the Cross we are set free from the penalty and from the guilt of sin. We can breathe a big sigh of relief. The burden of sin has been lifted. We are no longer guilty before God. Christ has taken our guilt away.
We are going to heaven! Praise be to God!

The Ultimate Love Affair (4) - with all your mind!

Our love for Christ begins with a pure devotion with all our heart, and expresses itself by being full of passion, with all our soul.
But there is more to the ultimate love affair. Jesus says that you are to love the Lord your God with all your mind. Our love for God is to be one that is systematically thought out too.

Loving Jesus is more than excitement and more than euphoric warmth and experience. It is not emotion that is illogical, and that excludes good understanding and dedicated learning.

There is a brand of Christian teaching that creates the impression that clear thinking, study and considering the Bible can get in the way of our relationship with God. While it is true that when you rely on intellectual aptitude to figure out God, you will always fail. God cannot be fathomed by human minds. And if you wait until you have figured God out, all the reasoning and debate can stand in the way of a blessed and spontaneous love affair with the Lord. Yes, our minds can be a barrier preventing us from devoted, passionate love.
But that does not mean that our minds are not also a big help in growing our relationship with God.

It is clear from the Scriptures that God knows that our minds, our thinking, our insight and our contemplation are always involved in our love for him. In Romans 12, we are told that our minds need to be renewed and then we will live for God with pure commitment. And Jesus says we are to love God with all our mind.

A mind committed to Christ, transformed by the renewing power of the Spirit, is a remarkable asset to the Kingdom of God. Christianity makes sense and anyone who thoughtfully considers the plan of God will soon be able to communicate just how reasonable it really is to serve the Lord passionately. Faith is after all a certain knowledge of God, his heart, his plan and his character. Faith is a big, heartfelt “Yes” to everything God has told us about himself through Jesus Christ! And our love for the Lord grows as our informed faith grows as a result of better understanding what God is saying to us about himself and his plan for our lives.

A mind that loves God will become a mind into which God will pour his wisdom and his insight. After all, our love relationship is with the almighty God who made the whole universe. Our God has all wisdom and all knowledge.
And as we commit all our ways to him in love, even our thinking, reasoning and learning, he gives us of his wisdom and his knowledge. All our intellectual ability ought to be dedicated to God. When it is, he will show us how to think and how to reason with less flaws and with more understanding.

There is perfect order in God’s creation. We will find the same in his character as we learn to know him better through our love relationship with him. One of the main reasons that we love him so devotedly and passionately, is because his Gospel makes so much sense to poor sinners that are lost! It is what he showed us and taught us about himself that made us love him with all our hearts and soul.
Therefore we simply have to love him also with all our mind.

Living worthy of our Lord

Colossians 1: 10 - 12 We pray that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father…

Hopefully, we never quit learning and growing and therefore maturing. Just as we had to learn how to live as human beings in this world after being born as completely dependent babies, so we also must learn how to live as spiritual people. Just as our parents taught us how to walk physically, so the Spirit of God teaches us how to walk spiritually.

Col 1: 10 – 12 shows us four ways in which we must walk to live lives worthy of the Lord. (1) We must walk in increasing knowledge of God. (2) We must walk in fruitful service. (3) We must walk in Spiritual power. (4) And we must walk in joyful thanksgiving.

Think of all God has done for you. Yes, the greatest blessing for which we should be thankful for, is our salvation. It is the greatest gift that anyone can be given. What Jesus did on the cross, dying and paying for our sins, changed the destination of our walk from hell to heaven. Even eternity is not long enough to thank God for that. And then God has continued to bless us with an inestimable number of other blessings. If we see all that God has done, we do not want to live any other way than worthy of the Lord, pleasing him in everything as we live as joyfully thankful Christians.

Giving thanks is the worship of mature children of God. It is an acknowledgment of the goodness and grace of God. It increases our faith. And it shows others our trust in God.

Being a Christian is something you must be, as well as something you must do. You can not do it, without being it, but you must do it or you can not be it.
Who you are – a Christian - and how you live - the Christian life - always go together.

The Ultimate Love Affair (3) - with all your soul!

We are not only to love God with all our heart, we are to love him with all your soul.

The soul speaks of our emotions. To love God with all our soul means that our love for God ought to be passionate. When we think of a love affair, we all think of passion. And we are all people of passion.

While we may try to deny our emotions, our emotions have a way of rising to the surface in spite of all our efforts to hide them. And emotions can be very good. God created our ability to feel and to feel passionately. Our emotions can make a most positive impact on our relationship with God and we must confirm that it is OK to express our emotions, especially as we express them in love for God. We simply ought to be emotional about our love for God. No, we are not talking about sentimentalism exposed in bad taste. We do not mean emotion only for emotion’s sake. We are talking about warm, passionate, self consuming love for the Lord who saved us.

Many people within our current society became cynical . They also became disillusioned and apathetic regarding “church”. Apathetic literally means "without passion." Others became passionate about less important matters and cooled off regarding the matter of salvation, of a lost world that needs to be reached with the Good News of Christ and about living holy lives for the Lord.

We cannot afford to be apathetic about our love for God. We must be excited about our relationship with Jesus. We must be passionate, because real, true love is passionate love. To love God with all our soul means that we must involve all our emotions in expressing our relationship with him.

When you gave Jesus your heart, sincerely and devotedly, it will be easy to become excited about following him.

Stand by faith, and walk in love

You stand by faith, and you walk in love. Faith is our response to God’s Word, his Good News about Jesus. The authenticity of this faith is proven by the way we love one another.
Look at Colossians 1:4.
…we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints (fellow Christians) …

Love is indispensable for every true believer. Jesus said:
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)

John says: “If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20)

Do you believe that love is important? You certainly can’t read these passages of Scripture and come to any other conclusion. Following God in faith and walking in love are synonymous. You can’t have one without the other.
Are you walking in love?

We stand in faith, walk in love, and rest in hope.
Look at Colossians 1:5. “…the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven…”

Hope makes us willing to endure, even sacrifice for the sake of the Faith, the love and the future glory. Hope allows us to rest in God’s promises. We will be encouraged, even enthused, if we focus more on hope and on heaven. The glorious destination we expect inspires our faith in God and our love for our brothers and sisters!
May we be blessed by the gifts of faith, love and hope. It gives real meaning to our lives!

The Ultimate Love Affair (2) - with all your heart!

We are using a couple of Blogs to talk about the meaning and impact of the Great Commandments:
Love God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ And: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself!
Without a love affair with God, all that we do becomes meaningless. Without a love affair with God, we lack the motivation and the passion to do his work. There is a frantic need for a passionate, hot-hearted, intense, consuming love affair with God in this world.
This is the one and only love affair that will take you to heaven, even before you die!

But how is this love relationship to be worked out? There are many similarities with any other love affair, (yes I know its not exactly the same as falling in love with a partner!)
Jesus gives us four ways to work it out: with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength.

Today we hear that we have to love the Lord our God with all our heart.
To love the Lord with all your heart means to love him with pure devotion. It’s not enough to give Christ a (little) place in our hearts. No, we are called to love him with all of our heart.

Remember how it was when you first met that one special person who captured your heart. Remember how you could not hide it and wanted to talk about it to whoever would listen? Remember the look in your eyes when the “beloved” walked into the room? Remember that you were thinking of the loved one all the time, wanted to make phone calls all the time and wrote letters every day? You longed to be with the one you love with all your heart! This person was a high priority in your life. Hope all still remember what we call “being in love" is and how wonderful it is. Being in love is a breathtaking experience. Many would say they were rushed off their feet by it.

Well, to love God with all your heart is a lot like that, and more! It means that your heart is totally devoted to him. It means that you are faithful to him. And it certainly means that God is the most important Person in your life! It means that you cannot stand being separated from him!

Remember the glorious experience of pure devotion when we first became Christians! The Bible calls it our "first love." Hope you remember it — the thrill of meeting Jesus for the first time, and for the first time understanding his love for you as well? You came to him, received his forgiveness and experienced his unconditional acceptance. For the first time you understood why people who know the Lord cannot stop talking about him, working for him, worshipping him, praising him!

How could you help but love him back? Remember the time when you gave Jesus your heart? Your whole heart! The wonder of being a follower of Jesus is, that this amazing love can be fresh every morning. This amazing love for Jesus brings us to love God, who gave us his Son, with all our heart! This love for God is the gift of the Holy Spirit who showed us the precious love of Jesus!
We never have to be deprived of our first love for the Lord. We can love him with all our heart till the end!
Remember the words of the Hymn writer?
Amazing love! how can it be,
that Thou, my God, should die for me?
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.(
Next Wednesday we will share on what it means to love God with all our soul!)