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!!

JESUS HAD SUPPER WITH SINNERS DURING HIS MINISTRY ON EARTH!

Often church-going, conservative, religious people see it as their duty to separate them from sinners, unbelievers and all who do not share their Christian attitude. Unfortunately this is often more about defending their way of life, than defending the honour of God!

In Mark 2:13 -17 we find that the teachers of the law had a big problem with Jesus. The problem was that he called sinners to follow him and that he had fellowship with them. The call of Levi (he was also known as Matthew) to become a disciple of Jesus is an example of this. Levi was a tax collector for the Roman oppressor. Yet Jesus called him and had supper at his home.

Out of all the people Jesus could have chosen, he deliberately chose Levi, the offensive sinner. These were some of the most hated men in all Israel. They were men who had a license to steal from the people, because they could keep any money that was raised over the amount the Roman government required. So, they generally became rich men at the expense of the common people. Such a man was Levi, or Matthew. But here was a man who was also hurting inside, who knew loneliness and who needed Jesus. So Jesus called him to follow him. What a scandal it has been!

But Jesus went further. He went home with Levi to a supper where many of Levi’s friends had been invited, and ate with them. This caused a stir among the Scribes and Pharisees. How could Jesus do this? They questioned his disciples about this improper conduct. This was the general idea of these Pharisees: A good, religious person, and especially a teacher, should stay away from such company! Their position was that good, religious people should not be a friend of sinners.

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

To the self-righteous Pharisees who thought they needed no spiritual help, Jesus did not go. They did not consider themselves sick. They thought they were spiritual examples to others.
Someone who believes he or she is extraordinary fit and healthy will not go to a doctor!

So, it is only as you acknowledge your sin-sick soul that you will call on the Healer of Souls, the Great Physician, the Saviour Lord! Only by admitting my need, will I will call on Jesus to help and heal me and I will enjoy his company and joy.

Jesus saves. Not those who believe they are soul-healthy – but everyone who calls on his Name, because they know they are soul-sick, lost and separated from God!
Jesus calls even me and wants to have Supper with me! Are we willing to come, even if it requires us to change?

Lovers of money

Jesus said: No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (Luke 16:13).

We are either serving God or “mammon” - the word Jesus used for money when it becomes an idol. When the love of money becomes the core motivator of our lives, we cannot love Jesus as he demands to be loved and served.

Our actions, passions and choices reveal who has our allegiance. Most of us claim to be serving and loving God, but our lifestyles often reveal that we actually love money more. We aren’t serving God in one of the most fundamental ways he requires, namely being faithful stewards of what he entrusted to us. We can’t imagine sacrificially sharing our wealth as God intended, because we love what we have too much, and we want more. Money is really our master and not God! And as Jesus declared, no one can serve two masters. Either we will love one and hate the other or vice versa.

Jesus also said (Matt 6: 28 – 34) : "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Blessed are those who live the simple lifestyle of Christ-like servant hood and righteous stewardship, because they will inherit the glorious wealth of God’s eternal, heavenly kingdom and reign with Christ forever!

Presbyterian Church (UPCSA) celebrates 10th anniversary of Union

We celebrate the 10th anniversary of the union of the former Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPC) and the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa (PCSA) during 2009. We became the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) on 27 September 1999. It was the culmination of decades of good intentions and hard work to bring Christians together who share the same teachings, doctrine, church government and history and living in the same countries. into an united spiritual home.

This Union and celebrating it is important, because unity amongst Christians is a central Biblical principle. After all, we believe in “one, holy, universal Church”, because the Bible teaches us that there is only one Body under one Head and King. If Christians sharing the same countries, with the same doctrine, polity, history, vision and mission cannot “live in one spiritual home”, who can?

We celebrate both our unity - and our unity within cultural diversity, as well as diversity of spiritual styles and customs.
Yet Jesus clearly said in John 17 that the unbelieving world will believe that he is Lord and Saviour, if they see that we are one “as he and the Father are one”. This remains our calling - and our challenge.

We are grateful that the Lord thus far protected our Union, in spite of the fact that many practical issues and historical diverse developments and traditions still need to be addressed and resolved.
Let us pray, for the sake of our witness in the world, that we will remain as one and serve the Lord and his Kingdom with fervour, love and passion, understanding his priorities for his work and living according to his principles for his ministry.

Through prayer we will pursue these challenges! Please pray the following prayer with us:

A prayer for the Church of Christ and for the UPCSA, as we remember the “journey of union” this week:

Eternal God, most blessed and most Holy,
before whom the angels veil their faces,
with humble reverence and adoring love
we acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity,
and worship you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God.

Lord of heaven and earth,
we thank you for all the ways in which you have blessed humankind
through the work and witness of your world-wide Church.
We bless you for the teaching of the Scriptures,
for the preaching of your Word,
for the grace of the sacraments,
and for our fellowship in Christ with you and with one another.

We thank your for the holy example of your faithful servants
who have gone before us
and pray that with them that
we may be counted in the company of the redeemed,
when Jesus comes in glory.

In particular we thank you for
the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa,
as a branch of your one, holy, universal Church,
and for the ten years of our union that you have given us
to express the unity of the Body of Christ.

Forgive us, we pray,
for the times when we have not listened to one another
and for all the ways in which we have not, for the sake of our unity,
set aside our prejudices or what our own group prefers.
Set us free from all our failures in the past
and from all our self-importance and pride, we pray,
so that we may more fully express
the oneness of the Body of Christ in the world.

Almighty God, holy Father of us all,
we ask you to provide the UPCSA with all it needs
to grow into the stature of the fullness of Christ:
teachers to educate children in your love and grace,
Ministers to minister in Word and sacrament,
Elders to serve with diligence and integrity,
carers to care for the needy and the suffering,
and places of worship in which to glorify you.
God our Father, you are the source of all truth and peace.

Hear our prayer also for the whole Church of Christ.
Look with mercy on all your people.
Purify our hearts from all hypocrisy, falsehood and prejudice
that, professing one Lord, one faith and one baptism,
all whom Christ calls may be of one heart and one mind
and come to manifest the unity of the Body of Christ to the world,
to the honour and glory of your Name.

We pray for all who spread the gospel,
that through them your Holy Spirit may draw all people to the Father.
We pray for all who do receive the Word,
that they in turn may bear a good witness to your glory.
So guide us by your loving wisdom
that the peace and unity to which you call the family of God
may be realized more and more in our land
and between all people on earth.

Take away from us everything that hinders
the advancement of your truth;
rouse the careless;
turn the wicked to repent;
restore the penitent;
strengthen and confirm the faithful;
protect and guide our children;
comfort and heal the sick and the afflicted
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God, bless Africa:
guard her children,
guide her leaders
and give her peace,
for Jesus Christ's sake.
Amen.

Jesus is alive! Jesus leef!
uJesu u ya phila! Jesu oa phela! Yesu wa hanya!

Worship with gladness!

It has always struck me as amusing how people change when they come to church services. In church they are all solemn and grave. But take these same people to a social gathering or a rugby / soccer match and they suddenly become excited and enthusiastic.

We are emotional people and positive, motivating emotions are good.
In church, we should also be free to be enthusiastic in our praise to God. We certainly should be joyful and happy. There is much to be excited about.

What we as Christians need is a real revelation of the greatness of God and the great number of blessings that he grants his people. We simply are not aware enough of even a portion of the blessings we receive. If we could somehow catch a glimpse of some of the multitude of ways we have been blessed by God, it will blow us away.
And it’s true! We are the most blessed of all people.

We may call the awesome, creator God, our Father. We know Jesus as friend, protector, redeemer and saviour. And his Holy Spirit lives in and with us always! The holy God calls us his own, cares for us and loves us with divine passion.

Pray about it. Ask God to show you how he has blessed you. Ask him to reveal to you the things for which you should be grateful.
Ask him to give you a glimpse of his glory and a glimpse of his love for you. Such a revelation will change the way you worship. Such a revelation will change the way you live.

You will then certainly join the psalmist in singing this song:
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100).

You are the light of the world!

We know what happens in the darkness: you stumble around, you can't see where you are going and you are not sure of where you are. You need light.
This is the condition of people not following Jesus. They are in darkness. They stumble around without hope and without God. And sometimes it is dangerous to be in darkness. What our sin-darkened world urgently needs, is light.

One day Jesus pointed to a group of ordinary people. He said to his disciples – a collection of simple fishermen, tax collectors, and the like – "You are the light of the world."
Matt 5: 4 – 16: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Jesus says God's people, is the light of the "world." He says God's people are to give light to "everyone in the house." He says their light is to shine "before men." The people of Christ’s church must be used by the Lord to lead the world, other people, from darkness into light.

As we all know, even the smallest of lights chases the darkness away. For instance, in complete darkness the flicker of a match can be seen from 30 kilometres. If the light does not shine, it is not because of the darkness. Darkness cannot put out a light. Darkness gets darker only because the light fails. There can be no such thing as secret discipleship, for either the secrecy destroys the discipleship, or the discipleship destroys the secrecy.

I want to challenge everyone associated with this congregation. As a Christian and as a household I want you to find someone who is not a Christian. Maybe it is someone in your own family. Maybe it is someone you work with. Maybe it is a neighbour. Maybe it is someone you have daily contact with. Pick an unbeliever and as a follower of Jesus, or a Christian household, love them with the claims of Christ. Let the light of Christ’s love shine through you.

Jesus combines the light that must be shone with good works that must be done. Many of you have done that. When we go to someone who is hurting or sick or grief-stricken and we love them and support them and enfold them – it makes unbelievers think about what is missing in their lives. They see our love and want to be part of our circle and our Christian family.
Being the light of the world, is to bring people from darkness to light, because the light of Jesus shines through us!

“Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, anoint our lives, our testimony as Christians and the ministries of our congregation, in order to become light to those hurting themselves as they stumble in the darkness without Jesus. Amen.”

A devoted church.

The first church in Jerusalem was devoted to prayer as a way of life and God moved in their midst as a result. (Acts 2: 43).

At one point in his ministry the great preacher, Spurgeon, was distressed by the declining spiritual condition of churches in London. One of the things that was an indication of this decline, in Spurgeon’s mind, was the fact that many churches were meeting as little as twice a week for prayer!
Spurgeon recognized the vital importance of prayer for the success of the local church.

Our church may be suffering because we do not spend enough time doing battle for Christ’s cause, in prayer.

Rom 12: 10 – 12 and 21: 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Like it or not, we are engaged in a battle where we must be faithful in prayer, patient in affliction and joyful in hope, because we are devoted to one another. And we are devoted to one another, because we are devoted to Jesus and to the cause of Christ.

A church serving the Lord with spiritual fervour, is a church where people live out Biblical Christianity and not a place where we only speak of it. This can only we accomplished by a praying community of Christ.

May your devoted walk with the Lord be richly blessed.

Filled with awe... Awesome!

Acts 2: 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. (Acts 2:43)

God was at work in this group of believers. They had been saved by his grace and were now devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and to prayer. And their hearts were filled with awe.

Being filled with awe means that we have transcended our earthly view and have caught a glimpse of the eternal glory of the living God. It means that we have caught a vision of God’s greatness, holiness, power, and love. When we see the Lord high and lifted up, we fall at his feet in humble repentance and surrender.

This is the kind of atmosphere where God works in power. We hear of many miraculous signs and wonders going on where God’s people are sharing Jesus and many people are coming to Him. You are blessed when God fills you with the holy awe that comes from seeing him in his glory, and he reveals his miraculous power as you share Jesus with others!

My responsibility in the Church

We need to understand that the Church is all about relationship. You know that the Church is not bricks and mortar, it is people. The New Testament word for Church means "the called out ones." The Church is not a physical building or space. The Church is made up of Christians. The Church is all of us. In the Church, we are related to one another in a vital union of the Spirit.

It is a relationship based on a reflection of who we are in relation to each other.
Rom 12: 3: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

There always is a danger to think of ourselves more highly than we ought. There also is the danger of not thinking of ourselves as highly as we ought to think. There is an ought to our thinking. Our opinion of ourselves ought not to be too high or too low. It ought to be an opinion based on what God has done in our lives and what God’s calling means in our lives. We need to desire for our lives what God’s idea is for us, in stead of the “good ideas” that we have for ourselves.

God’s idea is that we rejoice in his work in and through us. God’s idea is that it is through every believer in the body of Christ that his work gets accomplished.

But we are not the same!
Rom 12: 4 – 5: Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Do you want to know how the Church should function? Take a look at your own body. Every part of your body has a specific function. You have hands that can pick up objects and you have feet that can carry your body as you walk. But your hands or your feet could not do their jobs without being connected to your arms and your legs. You have eyes that see, ears that hear, a mouth that can eat and taste and speak. You have a nose that can smell, ears that can hear. There are many organs in the human body, and they must all work together, guided by the head of the body, the brain.

Paul tells us that the mystical body of Christ, the Church, is like our human body. Each member has a role, a function, a ministry. Each member is necessary and important. Each member is inter-related to each other member. And when we all cooperate together under the leadership of the Head, Jesus Christ, the ministry of the local church is powerful and effective.

Because our various gifts are all necessary and important, there is a certain responsibility we have toward one another. With the responsibility comes accountability. We need one another. When one of us is lazy in our job at church, the ministry of another suffers. We therefore have a responsibility to exercise the gifts and ministries God has given us. That is God’s idea to make the congregation strong and effective!

We are accountable to God about what we have done with the talents he gave us to serve him and each other. We should also hold each other accountable for enhancing our combined work for the Lord and encourage each other. The leg can disable the foot and the arm disable the hand. And my brother or sister can disable me!

Let’s build each other up in faith, sacrificial love and enthusiasm. Let’s serve the Lord joyfully in his church community!

Calm down! Be silent!

There is a precondition to listening to God - or to anyone for that matter. Think about it. You cannot hear if you are busy talking. There is little space for God’s ideas in our minds and thoughts, as long as we are too full of our own good ideas!
For you to hear the Lord, you have to be silent before Him.

The psalmist and prophet Habakkuk speak to this:
(Ps 46:10) "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." and

(Hab 2:20) "But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him."

CALM DOWN! BE SILENT BEFORE GOD!

When it comes to listening to God we can say that "silence is golden”. Many people are not comfortable with silence. More people wake up when a sound stops than when a sound starts. Yet, in order to live and serve according to God's idea, we need to be able to listen within the boundaries of silent expectation of personal time with the Lord.

Do you listen and expect to hear the Word of God? Are there enough silent time in your life in which you are listening to him and are you willing to apply his ideas?

Lets create time this week to sincerely pray the prayer in 1 Sam 3: 10:
"Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

Open letter to all Christian men

OPEN LETTER TO ALL CHRISTIAN MEN:
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE A REAL MAN or
Serving Christ in a masculine way…

Let me start by saying that I do not write this open letter against women or their role and privileges in the church. There must be no doubt in your mind that I fully and completely support women’s role in the contemporary church and their right to serve in every ministry and that I respect, honour and appreciate their irreplaceable feminine contribution towards serving God’s people.

But although God made men and women equal in value and honour, the Bible is clear that God made us different. Men should serve God in a masculine way, because this is God’s way for the guys.

Almost a 150 years ago in speaking on the challenges of being a Christian man, C.H. Spurgeon said, ‘there has got abroad a notion, some how, that if you become a Christian you must sink your manliness and turn milksop’. (Milksop is bread soaked in milk but it also means someone who is a weak and easily frightened man .)

One of the problems among Christian men is a lack of understanding of what it means to be ‘more like Jesus’, as men. We know that we are to grow to be more like Jesus (Col.1:28), and to lead like Jesus (Eph.5:25) in our relationships and responsibilities. The problem is that most Christian men see Jesus more as a feminine type than a masculine one, or as I read in a book this week (No More Christian Nice Guy by Paul Coughlin), the vast majority of Christian men see Jesus as a bearded woman!

Paul Coughlin shows how he learned to say no to the "nice guy" syndrome. After all, Christian nice guys aren't always so nice. In the name of appearing Christian by being agreeable, they can lie, keep secrets, manipulate, duck responsibility, and much more. Using the biblical model of Christ as his example of a real man, Coughlin shows men how to become both gentle and bold. This is a powerful challenge and a hopeful message that elevates the true biblical model of manhood above prevailing views in contemporary culture.

If I ask you to describe the ultimate man, what image comes to mind? For most Christian men, Jesus is not the image that comes to mind. In his book The Heart Of A Tender Warrior, Stu Weber writes, “Why is it when someone says, picture the archetypal male, the image that comes to mind is not one of Jesus? For years, the picture in my mind would not have been Jesus. Every portrait of Jesus makes him look more like a pouting model for shampoo than a man”.

This is sad, but it is true. Our image of Jesus is one of a nice guy, a “milksop”, a sissy, who was always gentle, meek, mild, did not defend what he knew was right, was not a highly motivated provider and would do anything not to offend anyone. This is not a biblical picture of Jesus!

When you turn to the gospels you discover a man who we’re told was born to bring division, and who would be the cause of the destruction and salvation of many people (Luke 2:34; 12:51; Matt.10:34).

You discover a man who spoke the truth and spoke up publicly against hypocrisy calling the religious leaders of his day snakes fit for hell, and decomposing corpses that stunk and polluted others (Matt.3:7; 23:27, 33).
You discover a man who thought his disciples were too slow and let them know about it (Matt.17:17).
You discover a man who threatened judgment to those who were spiritually unfruitful (Luke 13:6-9).
You discover a man who got physical when he saw God’s name dishonoured (Mark.11:15-17).

The Bible’s picture of Jesus is one of a man who openly confronted lies and deception, who spoke the truth boldly, who spoke up against hypocrisy, who spoke judgment, who wasn’t afraid to embarrass those who deserved it, who jealously acted to guard God’s honour, and who wasn’t trying to please everyone. Jesus was no milksop, he wasn’t a sensitive new age guy, and he wasn’t a bearded woman. In fact, in the last book of the Bible, Jesus is portrayed as a divine warrior who initiates God’s final salvation and judgment (Rev.19:11-21)

Yes, we certainly also discover that Jesus was tender and gentle. His strength was matched by tenderness.
His power was matched by gentleness. His masculinity was matched by compassion.

Jesus is portrayed as a powerful and strong warrior who came to save his people (John 3:17; Luke 19:10).
He was a man who invited those tired and worn out to come and find rest in him (Matt.11:28).
He was a man who expressed a desire to gather those who were his, under his wings (Matt.23:37).
He was a man who was truly moved when he saw those who were lost (Matt.9:36).
He was a man who openly wept with others in their loss (John 11:33-35).
He was a man who got down on his knees and washed the feet of his disciples to teach them how to serve (John 13:1-15).
He was a man who forgave the sins of others (John 8:1-11; Luke 23:34).
He was a shepherd who bravely laid down his life to save his flock, his people.

Jesus was not “in touch with his feminine side”, no, he shows us that a real, strong warrior, protector and provider, a real man, also is a gentle, tender man with compassion. That it is truly masculine, to care.

To all Christian men, I want to say that God needs both real men and real women to do his work properly.

Women most of the time do not need any encouragement to be strong, nurturing mothers and daughters of the church.
But I am afraid that we guys seem to need encouragement to be strong and brave warriors, protectors and providers in God’s work.

In order to do that, we need to have a biblically balanced view of Jesus.
Unless you as a Christian man have the right picture of Jesus, your masculinity and your understanding of what it means to be a Christian man will be lacking.
Jesus was no a new age mr. Nice Guy. He certainly was no milksop or sissy.

The Bible’s picture of Jesus is that of a strong warrior whose strength was matched by tenderness, whose power was matched by gentleness, and whose masculinity was matched by compassion.

Another secret I want to share with you – your lady will find the real biblical man much more attractive than any milksop!

And in the church – a man according to the image of Jesus will be respected, loved and looked up to by everyone!

A real man loves, protects and provides for his wife as if she is his own body!
And a real man will love, protect and provide for the Bride of Christ, the church, as Jesus loves, protects and provides for us!

When it comes to taking on the challenges in the church – let’s stop being milksops!
And in the face of any evil, slackness, need or threat - be brave!! Fix it!!!

Let’s pray together as one during these demanding times.

I look to the Scriptures for comfort and strength.
I remember the words of Isaiah 50:10: “Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.” During every challenging time and when we look for answers and direction, Isaiah tells us to entrust it all to the Lord.

The reason we can trust him with our lives, our circumstances and trust him to overcome the weaknesses and threats that our congregations has to deal with, is because of his ‘Name’. The Lord’s ‘Name’ speaks of his never ending goodness and of his commitment to us. The Lord took an oath by his Name to be our God. The Lord we trust continues to be good and committed to all of us. We know this, because he didn’t spare Jesus to make us his own.

Uphold your congregation and her leadership in prayer, intercede for the leaders, fast for them, and let them know you are walking with them. Let me share a few Scriptures to guide our prayers for each other and for our church leaders during these trying times:

• Pray that the Lord might strengthen our leaders and their faith that God answers prayer. James 5: 16 – 20.
• Pray that the Lord might be their shepherd giving them comfort, and always leading them. Ps 23.
• Pray that as the Lord knows us and our circumstances, they might know that he holds them and continues to guide them. Ps 139: 1 – 3 9,10.
• Pray that the Lord will give them comfort as they come to him for wisdom and answers. Ps 55: 22 and 2 Cor 1: 3 and 4.

As a church community we want to uphold the church and her leaders before the Lord. Not just on Sundays, but in all the days and weeks ahead. As a church community I am asking you personally to pray, and to pray in your small groups, and during your family devotions.

I look to the Scriptures for comfort and strength.
Only through his Word and his Spirit will he guide, protect and keep us. Because Jesus is our help and our salvation.

Beware! Gossip can kill!

The sin of gossip is nowhere better illustrated than in Numbers 12: 1- 15. It warns against its evil power to destroy all kinds of relationships – also in the church of Christ.

The setting for this story is Moses’ marriage to a woman from the land of Cush. Miriam and Aaron disapproved of this wedding because his bride was not an Israelite. But, instead of directly bringing their unease to Moses, they gossiped behind his back about it, attacking Moses’ character as a result of what they considered an inappropriate marriage. The discussion then moved on to assess his leadership and they started to believe that it would be better if they too became leaders in Israel. God’s reaction to this gossip was fierce, swift and violent. He condemned Aaron and Miriam for challenging Moses’ authority and imposed leprosy on Miriam as punishment. Moses intervened and begged God to heal her. Miriam was healed, but only after she was expelled from God’s people for seven days.

What do we learn about gossip from this story?
Firstly, that gossip is a cowardly act. Gossip discusses the victims in their absence, denying them the opportunity to defend themselves. Moses’ marriage to the Cushite was not against the law and Miriam and Aaron never approached him to understand his reasons for it.

Secondly, gossip spreads like decease. Gossip easily develops into a more serious threat to kill relationships. What seemed to be “only Moses’ personal life” ended up in challenging his call by God. Gossip seldom restrains itself but seems to have a life of its own, spreading like mortal cancer against which only God can protect us.

Thirdly, gossip seems to build up the person responsible for the story, by destroying the injured party. Aaron and Miriam wanted to increase their influence by challenging the uniqueness of Moses’ call. Nobody gossips to help the injured party, although it is most of the time fabricated that it is the case. It always has a selfish, evil element to it.

Fourthly, gossip is injury by a perceived friend, relative or spiritual brother or sister! Are you upset when a total stranger insults you? I bet not as much as when someone you love dearly calls you names and question your character and the sincerity of your faith. The same is true of gossip. It is the friendly and trusted person, often close to us, that has the greatest potential to cause hurt, pain and destruction through gossip. It often is the church’s own members that maim and disable her most severely.

Lastly, never forget that God passionately hates gossip. God’s fierce judgment on Aaron and Miriam for their gossip is but one example of how God hates this sin and that it provokes his anger and punishment.
Prov 6:16-19: “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”

A congregation is not made up of perfect people. Also not of robots without feelings, but of humans who naturally respond both positively or negatively to the words we utter when we speak to them and when we discuss them behind their backs. Our spouses, friends and colleagues, children and their friends also are mere humans of flesh and blood that easily are hurt and whose lives can be effortlessly destroyed.

A strict word of reprimand cannot do even a small measure of the harm that gossip does. Specifically if it was deserved and really meant to protect against further foolishness or godlessness. If we truly have someone’s best interest at heart, speak directly to him/her, without hypocrisy, while being willing to listen to their side of what occurred and while praying that you act under the guidance of the Spirit and with the love of God!

Selfish, malignant words and gossip have the potential to break people down! Encouragement, education, instruction from God’s word and reassurance can build them up in the Lord!
Psalm 19:14: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

What words will you speak today?

Remain in the grace of God

Acts 15: 7 – 11 says: Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them (the Gentiles) by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us (Jews). He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith…. We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they (the Gentiles) are (saved)."

We believe that both Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews, that is to say: us) will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 15:11)

Yes salvation is free! Yet we are called to a Christian journey, one of remaining in the Word and Spirit of God’s grace. This grace progressively sets us free from the power of sin and grows the fruit of the Spirit within us.
It happens over a life time.
And we help each other along the way. We confess our sins daily and weekly and we are encouraged by the forgiveness of God and of each other!

As we grow to know and to love God more every day, we at the same time grow to accept, to forgive, and to affirm ourselves - and others - in ways that set all of us free to enjoy the grace of God in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The fact that we, “Gentiles” may share in God’s grace was made known through the Lord’s prophets so long ago, as we read in Acts 15: 13 – 17 (NLT):
“…this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written:
‘Afterward I will return and restore the fallen house of David. I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, so that the rest of humanity might seek the Lord, including the Gentiles— all those I have called to be mine’.”

May the Lord who called us from darkness to light, sustains and protects us in his grace.