January 27, 2010

Drainers vs Fillers

Filed under: Sipho Kaleni — Sipho @ 7:40 am

We were made in God’s image and after His likeness (Gen.1:26) and because God is a relational God, we are also relational in our nature, thus God saw it necessary to make a SUITABLE partner for Adam to be his helper, (Gen. 2:18 (CEV)). “The LORD God said, “It isn’t good for the man to live alone. I need to make a suitable partner for him.”

Allow me to borrow the above scripture to drive my point home. If God made a suitable partner for Adam, surely He would also want him to have suitable association which will grow him as a person and help him to fulfill his divine purpose of existence. Reality is: not every person who is in your life right now needs to be there. While others are contributing positively in your life, the rest are draining you (and you know I’m right).

The Psalmist (King David) sounds this warning:

Psalm 1:1-2 (AMP) “BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.”

Have you been toiling in life without much success? Perhaps it’s time you did some introspection and ask this question: DO I NEED TO KEEP EVERYONE THAT IS IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW? ARE THEY SUITABLE ASSOCIATES? Look at your phonebook, associates, colleagues, friends and yes even your family members, in relation to the above-mentioned scripture, and think about the contribution or lack thereof they are making in your life. Are you being DRAINED or FILLED?

Sipho Kaleni

January 26, 2010

Negligence

Filed under: Ray Legodi — Ray @ 2:50 pm

The neglect of the Duty of Salvation

The biggest challenge facing believers today is the lack of clearly demarcating as to preaching about salvation of souls. Many have even resorted to blame games, as to who this responsibility belongs to.

In Mathew 28:18-20 Jesus says all authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to Him. He then told His disciples to therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe what He has commanded.

Are we still doing this as the Lord commanded? Have we taken this command and relayed it to “others”? Organizations etc? Are we being taught about our individual responsibility towards the salvation of souls? Is this still a Godly concern of Love that others be saved to? Have we become so concerned about “ourselves” that the salvation of our brethren is no longer important?

Issues of Impertinence – Ezekiel 33:9

We know that we have no excuse in avoiding this task, we should never stop warning against sin, and by so doing we will be delivered.

Absorption into business

In Luke 14:18 we read about excuses given to the Lord about not doing the work of salvation. Are we also absorbed into making sure our “Stuff” is right before doing God’s will? Has God’s will become secondary to our needs? Do we see the injustice of neglect in this aspect?

Fear of Procrastination – Acts 24:25

Procrastination has become a point of embarrassment to many well-meaning sharers of the good news. Many are discouraged by the negative response not realizing that the Lord God himself is aware and witnesses to the faithful efforts, therefore we shouldn’t lose heart in doing the Lord’s will.

Lack of Discernment – Hebrews 12:25

As we are in ministries where the awareness of the world’s need for salvation is of major importance, will we escape the judgment of the Lord if we turn away from His command? Or have we forgotten the reason why the Church is here? Perhaps one should ask, do we know God’s purpose for believers?

Knowing to do Good

“Therefore to him who knows how to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin”

James 4:17

Ray Legodi

January 25, 2010

“MEER AS OORWINNAARS” – Romeine 8:37

Filed under: Johann Els — Johann @ 3:33 pm

Ek wil baie graag met my eerste blog hierdie riglyne met jou deel waarbinne ek al ‘n ongelooflike geloofsperspektief en ferm Bybelse fondamente in my lewe as Christen ervaar het deur die werk van die Woord en Heilige Gees in Jesus se genade.

Almal van ons gaan een of ander tyd deur “moeilikhede” in die lewe.

Dis ‘n baie lekker en vervullende uitdaging om hierdie kernwaarhede saam met die Here in jou lewe deur te worstel en vrede in SY KRAG in jou alledaagse lewe te ervaar!!

My hart en kop klop entoesiasties oor “meer as oorwinnaar-wees”

Romeine 8:37 : “…meer as oorwinnaars…”

  • is in konteks van die geheel van die verband van die teks asook in semantiese vorm van woordgebruik in Griekse taalvaardigheid van die tyd.
  • Die Griekse woord vir “meer as oorwinnaar” is  “huper-nikaoo” en beteken letterlik om meer as ‘n oorwinnaar te wees.
  • Dis ‘n saamgestelde woord met twee dele : die letterlike betekenis van die  woord “nikaoo” is om besitreg te bekom deur ‘n geveg / dit te bekom ten spyte van struikelblokke / om doelwitte te bereik / struikelblokke te bemeester / oorhand van meesterskap van die lewe as wins te bekom / as regsterm om `n regsgeding te wen / om `n saak te wen / te seëvier / te verslaan / om iets oorweldigend te bemeester.
  • Die ander deel van die Griekse woord : “huper” is ‘n uitdrukking van die oortreffende trap wat beteken : bo en behalwe / oorkant die grense van menslike moontlikheid.

‘n Ou Testament agtergrond van die woorde “meer as oorwinnaar” :

  • Die ware en eintlike oorwinnaar is God
  • Net Hy het mag oor Sy vyande en gee Sy kinders oorwinningsmag (Ps. 51:5)  (2 Kron. 29:11)
  • Die mense se oorwinning is nie afhanklik van die sterkte van hulle weermag en getal soldate nie, maar van die feit dat God die vyand oorgegee het in die mag van die Israeli weermag

Die Nuwe Testament agtergrond van die woord “meer as oorwinnaar”

  • Jesus se dood aan die kruis en opstanding is die rede hoekom geen mag in die wêreld finaal die oorwinning kan hê nie (1 Kor. 15:54)
  • As kinders van God word gelowiges ingesluit in hierdie oorwinning
  • Dan is die Christen se oorwinning nie ‘n prestasie of doel wat bereik is of ‘n beloning, vergoeding of  tipe “terugbetaling” van God vir hulle toegewydheid van goeie werke of “naby persoonlike verhouding” met God nie
  • Hierdie oorwinning is genade : dit word verniet gegee deur God (1 Kor. 15:57)
  • So word Christene in ‘n posisie geplaas waarin en waarbinne hulle boosheid, moeilikheid, trauma etc. kan oorwin
  • Nou is Christene byvoorbeeld swaar onderdruk, benoud, beangs, besorg, onrustig en in gevaar a.g.v. moeilikhede van een of ander aard
  • MAAR hierdie magte van buite het hulle beherende krag oor jou verloor
  • Die gelowige se stryd / “struggle” teen die oorheersing / regering van hierdie duiwelse / bose kragte word gevoer onder die belofte van die oorwinning wat al hierdie situases te bowe gaan (Rom.8:37)
  • Niks kry meer die oorhand oor Christene nie
  • Nooit weer sal jy verslae staan of verleë staan nie, Christen !
  • Die klem lê eintlik daarop en die Bybel benadruk dit dat ‘n Christen in God se Naam uitstyg bo die negatiewe belewing en traumarampe van die lewe
  • Dis JUIS BINNE IN die teenwoordigheid van hierdie nare onaangename ondervindings wat alle Christene in die lewe van tyd tot tyd deurmaak, ervaar en beleef  dat ek “meer as oorwinnaar” is
  • Deur hierdie ondervindinge se toedoen en met hulle hulp is ons ”meer as oowinnaars”
  • Nie net : “…..ons sal op die ou end eeeeeeendag oorwin nie…..”
  • Nee !! – selfs nou, hier binne in die ervaring is ons “super oorwinnaars.”
  • Nie deur ons eie karakter of moed en deursettingsvermoë nie
  • MAAR deur GENADE van Jesus Christus

Wat ek altyd wil weet is : “….wat bedoel die Here Jesus presies vir my in Paulus se woorde : “meer as oorwinaars” ???

  • Woorde moet in hulle konteks verstaan word
  • Elkeen van ons se lewe het alle soorte “MOEILIKHEDE”
  • “…In al hierdie dinge…” is die moeilike dinge van Romeine 8 verse : 35,38,39.
  • Vers 28 en vers 37 moet eintlik na mekaar gelees word
  • Hierdie moeilikheid wat Paulus hier noem maak ons nie seer nie en vernietig ons nie
  • Maar al hierdie moeilikhede help ons en werk almal mee en saam ten goede vir ons (vers 28)
  • In hierdie sin is ons meer as oorwinnars
  • ‘n Oorwinnaar is ‘n mens wat sy vyand verslaan
  • Iemand wat meer as ‘n oorwinnaar is, veroorsaak dat die vyand ‘n helper / ‘n hulp word in sy stryd met sy moeilikhede

Wat sê jy van hierdie dinge?????

Wat is ‘n Geesvervulde temperament, en hoekom moet ons streef daarna as gelowiges?

Filed under: Wynand Rossouw — Wynand @ 1:43 pm

“Laat julle lewe steeds deur die Gees van God beheers word, dan sal julle nooit swig voor begeertes van julle sondige natuur nie.  Wat ons sondige natuur begeer, is in stryd met wat die Gees wil, en wat die Gees wil, is in stryd met wat ons sondige natuur begeer.  Hierdie twee staan lynreg teenoor mekaar, en daarom kan julle nie doen wat julle graag wil nie. Maar as julle julle deur die Gees laat lei, staan julle nie meer onder die wet nie.  Die praktyke van die sondige natuur is algemeen bekend: onsedelikheid, onreinheid, losbandigheid, afgodsdiens, towery, vyandskap, haat, naywer, woede, rusies, verdeeldheid, skeuring, afguns, dronkenskap, uitspattigheid en al dergelike dinge.  Ek waarsku julle soos ek julle al vroeër gewaarsku het:  Wie hom aan sulke dinge skuldig maak, sal nie die koninkryk van God as erfenis verkry nie.  Die vrug van die Gees, daarteenoor, is liefde, vreugde, vrede, geduld, vriendelikheid, goedhartigheid, getrouheid, nederigheid en selfbeheersing.  Teen sulke dinge het die wet niks nie.  Dié wat aan Christus Jesus behoort, het hulle sondige natuur met al sy hartstogte en begeertes gekruisig. Ons lewe deur die Gees;  laat die Gees nou ook ons gedrag bepaal.” (Galasiërs 5:16-25)

Om ‘n Geesvervulde temperament te hê is om te breek met die sondige natuur en wat die sondige natuur begeer, om in alle omstandigehede en situasies op te tree soos wat God wil hê ons moet. Dit is om te lewe deur die Gees, dat die Gees ons gedrag bepaal.

Die Geesvervulde temperament openbaar geen swakhede nie, maar wel nege allesomvattende sterk eienskappe wat ook as die vrug van die Gees bekend staan, naamlik:

  • Liefde
  • Vreugde
  • Vrede
  • Geduld
  • Vriendelikheid
  • Goedhartigheid
  • Getrouheid
  • Nederigheid
  • Selfbeheersing

Almal wat hulle deur die Gees van God laat lei, is kinders van God. (Romeine 8:14)

En wil ek dan afsluit met die Woorde van 2Kor 13:5, ”Ondersoek julself of julle in die geloof is; stel julself op die proef. Of is julle nie seker van julself dat Jesus Christus in julle is nie—as julle ten minste nie verwerplik is nie!”

Shalom

Wynand Rossouw

Faith Equals Trust Minus Hind-sight

Filed under: Linda Ritchie — Linda @ 1:40 pm

This year my eldest daughter, Hannah, started Grade 0 in a brand-new school. It was a very happy day preceded by much excitement and anticipation. However, this transition to ‘big school’ was an issue that caused me much stress and even a few tears last year.

When it came to deciding on which school to send our three girls, I was faced by two options but I had my own preference. I had asked the Lord to make it clear which school He wanted our girls to attend. I thought that there was a very good chance of getting Hannah into either school; I had even put Hannah’s name on the waiting list of my personal favourite – at which time I was assured that she had a very good chance of getting in – when she was only ten months old!

At the start of last year when the schools started contacting the parents of the children who had been accepted, the realization slowly dawned on me that Hannah had not been accepted into the school of my choice. Word was out that the 2010 intake of Grade 0’s for that particular school was dominated my siblings and the daughters of past pupils and there were very few places available for anybody else.

Needless to say, I was devastated. Of course, I knew that God knows what’s best for us but this wasn’t my choice and I felt that He was forcing me to settle for second best. (As if He ever would!)

Now, a week into the new academic year I am really starting to see the all-inclusive extent to which God knows what’s best for us. Hannah is happily settled in a small private Christian school that is a mere five minute drive from our home, has lovely teachers and staff and just the type of nurturing environment she thrives in.

I wish I could have experienced the peace I now feel about the school throughout the course the last year when I was constantly beset by doubts about God’s decision. It would have saved me so much heartache.

I guess this experience has taught me what real faith is; trusting God for the future before we get there!

Linda Ritchie

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