Ek het die opdrag ontvang om die uitverkorenes van God te lei tot die geloof en tot kennis van die waarheid, dié waarheid wat lei tot die diens van God en wat hoop gee op die ewige lewe. God wat sy woord hou, het die ewige lewe lank gelede aan ons belowe. Nou het Hy op die bestemde tyd sy woord bekend gemaak deur die prediking wat as opdrag aan my toevertrou is deur God ons Verlosser. Titus 1:1b-3
Hoop teen alle hoop in Om vas te hou aan die hoop op ʼn beter wêreld wanneer hoop se “laaste spore in wanhoop my ontgaan” het, lyk na ʼn hopelose taak. Wanneer dit duidelik word dat die mens alles verbrou het en op moedverloor se vlakte sit, wil dit lyk asof hoop die duiwel se laaste lag in plaas van ʼn geskenk van God is. Tog lees ons in die Woord die hoop beskaam nie. Hoe moet ons dan hoop? Hoop is nooit passief nie. Hoop is handeling in die geloof op ʼn belofte wat sal waar word, miskien nie in jou leeftyd nie maar wanneer die tyd ryp geword het. Hoop is weerstand Dit is ʼn aktiewe weerstand teen hopeloosheid en uitsigloosheid. Dit beteken nie om gelate te aanvaar dat daar geen einde aan ellende is nie maar om aktief mee te werk om ʼn menswaardige lewe vir almal na te streef, selfs al is die hoop skraal. Hoop is ʼn waagstuk Almal het gedink Abram soek vir moeilikheid toe hy sonder huisgode en buite die beskerming van die plaaslike gode die wildernis in trek. Maar om hoop te laat vaar is om mee te doen aan wanhoop. Dit is om jou deelname aan die herskepping van die aarde prys te gee en gelate te sê: Dis hoe dit is. Ek sien geen uitkoms nie. Ek sien geen moontlikheid op verandering nie. Hoop is ʼn aktiewe deelname aan die wêreld Ons deelname aan die wêreld gee uitdrukking aan dit waarop ons hoop. As dit geregtigheid en ʼn kans op lewe vir almal is, is dit waarvoor ons ons beywer. Om te hoop op verligting van armoede en ellende beteken om jou moue op te rol en alles in jou vermoë te doen om daardie hoop waar te maak. Om hoop waar te maak is om ʼn appelboom te plant soos Martin Luther, selfs as jy geweet het jy sou die volgende dag sterf. God het ʼn plan vir ons hopeloosheid: Hy sê in Jeremia: Ek weet wat ek vir julle beplan, sê die Here: voorspoed en nie teenspoed nie; Ek wil vir julle ʼn toekoms gee, ʼn verwagting! Jeremia 29:11. Gebed: Here, om te sit en wag vir dinge om te gebeur, is die grootste daad van wanhoop wat ʼn mens kan pleeg. Help my aktief te wees terwyl ek wag. We (Cindy and Steve) first became aware that our marriage was an open book in 1987 when it was announced in our church that we were going to be moving to new city to start a new ministry. A young couple came up to us afterward and told us that they had been watching us interact as a couple for a long time and expressed that they wanted their marriage to be like ours. We were amazed by their statement. First, we weren’t even aware any one was watching us. And then it made us stop and think, “Wow! We hold the power to influence another couple either for good or for bad.” What if we had interacted more negatively to each other? It started to bring into focus for us what it says in the Bible in 1 Thessalonians 2:12: “Live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory.” It begs the question, “What do people think of God when they watch us in our marriages?” We don’t have a choice whether our marriages will be an open book or not because no matter how much we try to hide who we are behind closed doors — someone, somewhere, will eventually read your marriage book. The truth is you may never know who has been reading your marriage book. You can be sure your children are — every day. It could also be the neighbors, people you work with, or even complete strangers. There was an article a few years ago in Marriage Partnership Magazine that featured an interview with Ravi Zacharias and his wife, Margie. Ravi has a phenomenal ministry to bring Jesus to the world in very unconventional ways. He is a renowned author, speaker and apologist and he and Margie believe very strongly that “marriage has the power to change the world for the better.” They’re convinced that God created marriage, in large part, as a base for ministering to others. And they don’t let those of us who feel called to teaching, computer programming, construction or parenthood off the hook. Talk to the Zacharias’, and they’ll tell you we’re all called, primarily, to show God’s love to those around us. Ravi is the author of several books, including Cries of the Heart, Can Man Live without God and Deliver Us from Evil (all published by Word). He defends the reasonableness of the Christian faith, but also stresses the peace and healing that come only from God. Here’s how Ravi and Margie in their own words have incorporated that same mission into their life as a married couple: Ravi: If our marriage speaks to people, it is our prayer that it is because it is a Christian marriage, not that it is inter-cultural. A couple’s home should convey peace to people when they come in. And where people sense that harmony, they will seek your feedback, even in subtle ways. People have come to the Lord in our home. One was a Hindu couple. I would love to think that happened because they sensed God in our home and in our marriage. Margie: One of the most fulfilling comments that could be made about any home is that it is a place of peace. And not only can friends sense this, but also trades people, real estate agents — anyone who has a reason to be there should be able to sense the difference in a Christian home. Think about it: God’s peace seems intangible. How do you establish it in your home? Ravi: Peace starts with the discipline of respecting your fellow human beings. Be kind to whoever you talk to, and gentle and gracious in what you’re saying. I have always marveled why anybody would be unkind. I’m not kind to Margie because she’s my wife; I’m kind to her, first of all, because she’s a person. I see people at an airline counter screaming at a flight attendant because the plane is late, as if she had responsibility for it. Think of the peace that is lost. Added to that is the love of Christ, which gives breadth to our kindness. When the love of Christ is in your heart, you’re accountable to him for your actions toward others. Christ sheds his love in your heart, and all the more you need to share it with others. Is there something implicit in marriage that shows people how God wants us to live? Ravi: Marriage is the one human relationship that reflects the covenant relationship between God and his people. Margie: Marriage, the way God designed it, is meant to point people to God. The family is God’s laboratory where his grace and provision are put to the test. It greatly concerns me that so many Christian marriages have fallen so short of what God intended for marriage. We can never impact our society for God if, in our own families, we can’t show the love of Christ. Ravi: Marriage is the first human relationship God instituted. Before we were ever parents, we were a couple. Adam and Eve had no eathly parents. Their allegiance was first to God and then to each other, under God. That is why the wedding vows are so sacred — they are rooted in God’s first gift to humanity, a pure love, an exclusive love, an abiding love. In our society of broken homes, where can people turn to see the reality of God’s love if not to a Christian home? What they see demonstrated there should show them that it will take more than human love to repair their own lives. Christian couples, in the honor and respect they give to one another, can have the privilege of showing God’s power at work in a relationship. We hope you will spend some time this coming week to reflect on the Zacharias’ comments and especially his last sentence. Then take some time to pray together as a couple asking God to show His power at work in your relationship. Maybe you don’t feel you’re anywhere close to being a couple God could use. If that’s true, today is the day He wants to begin to change that. Start by confessing to Him where you have failed and then ask each other for forgiveness and then commit to learn and apply Biblical principles so you can show the love of Christ in your marriage. Don’t worry about being imperfect. If God can use Cindy and me by having people read our “marriage book” He can definitely use you. Die lewe is jou verfdoek, geloof jou kwas,
God se Woord jou inspirasie, en jy my liewe maat, is Sy meesterstuk. Ja, dit is U wat my gemaak het, ’n mens wat kan voel en dink. U het my hele liggaam gemaak voordat ek gebore is. Psalm 139:13 Job's friend told him that, "God does speak; now one way, now another; though man may not perceive it." Job 33:14, NIV
This scripture both fascinates and encourages us, for it shows how eager God is to speak to those of us who are more likely not to hear what He is saying. That doesn't stop Him. In fact, He speaks now one way, now another — in whatever way necessary in order to reach our dull and indifferent hearts. God knows us, and He knows our language. He also knows how to bypass all the barriers we have set up against His approaching love. God speaks "now one way, now another." How delightful is God's diversity. His vocabulary is vast, His understanding is unsearchable, His love is unfailing, and His resolve to reach our hearts with His Word is unrelenting. He will speak in whatever way suits His purpose to redeem our lives. In church; outside of church — it matters not. God speaks through the Bible, through nature, through circumstances, through other people, through dreams and visions, and even sometimes even by supernatural means. Charles Spurgeon wrote, "In the field we have a study hung round with texts for thought. From the cedar to the hyssop, from the soaring eagle down to the chirping grasshopper, from the blue expanse of heaven to a drop of dew, all things are full of teaching, and when the eye is divinely opened, that teaching flashes upon the mind far more vividly than from written books. Our little rooms are neither so healthy, so suggestive, so agreeable, or so inspiring as the fields. Let us count nothing common or unclean, but feel that all created things point to their Maker, and the field will at once be hallowed." Notice, finally, that the verse adds this hopeful phrase, "though man may not perceive Him." It does not say that man cannot perceive Him; rather, it says he may not. That means, on the other hand, that he also may perceive what God is saying and doing. And therein is hope for each one of us. It is possible that we may indeed hear God's voice today! It is relatively easy to say to someone else, “Just Believe!” We do this often, even though the words we use differ. However, it is completely another matter when we ourselves are struggling with depression, disappointment or doubt, and are losing our own faith. The doubt that flooded over Thomas was not dispelled by any act of will on his part. It was removed only by Jesus Christ, who appeared to Thomas in a special effort to help him. We are seldom able to overcome our doubts by trying to rationalize them away. Usually it is the presence of God, or the visible workings of Christ in a particular manner that convinces us of the truth, love and omnipotence of the Lord. Most of the time we believe because we want to believe in something. We doubt when we don’t want to believe. Jesus broke through the wall of doubt that Thomas had placed around himself and said, “Here I am!” We also believe because God has penetrated our consciousness and we have no option but to believe. That is why it is important to allow God the opportunity to reveal Himself and overcome the reservations we have about one or other event in the Bible. Believe because God is revealing Himself to you. If you are willing to do so, your faith will grow steadily. We pray Father, to support those who have lost their sense of Your power and love, so that once again they can honestly say, “My Lord and my God!” Amen. But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception be reasoning contrary to the Truth]. JAMES 1 : 22
A HEARER .. OR .. A DOER .. WHICH BEST DESCRIBES YOU ? But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out] .. Hebrews 11 : 6 So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself) .. Romans 10 : 17 Faith .. By now you are well aware that faith is the very cornerstone of your relationship with Jesus Christ .. You also know that faith in God comes through hearing His Word !! O.K. .. So you trust and believe in God .. And .. You study and meditate on His Word .. And Then ? And Then .. You have to ask yourself this question .. What Benefits Will Your Faith Bring Into Your Life If You Never Do Anything With It ? DO ? .. That’s Right !! .. Faith Is A Doing Word .. Faith Acts !! Faith Must Always Be Combined With Actions That Express And Agree With Your Faith !! What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul] ? .. James 2 : 14 As A Believer In Jesus Christ, It Is Very Important That You Understand This !! .. Because .. If we find yourself in a situation where you are claiming to be in faith, but the actions you are demonstrating do not agree with your faith .. Then Very Simply .. Your faith will not work !! Now one of the most powerful tools you can use to prove that your actions are in agreement with your faith is your confession .. And .. Unfortunately it appears that it is in this very area that you may be letting yourself down in a big, big way !! One of the biggest mistakes that you may find yourself making, is that you continue to confess your unshakable faith in God’s Word .. And Yet .. At the same time you totally contradict your confessions with wrong actions. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you need a financial breakthrough .. A situation that leads you to stand in faith and trust God to provide the finances and the breakthrough that you require .. And Yet .. At the same time you stress and worry about how you are going to pay all your accounts at the end of the month ? Can you see that when you do this your actions do not correspond and tie up to your faith !! .. One moment you stand up and confess that what God says in His Word is true .. And .. The very next moment you totally turn your back on your confession of faith with wrong actions such as stress, worry and anxiety. Your actions Must, Must, Must agree with your faith .. One-Hundred Percent .. If you are expecting the Mighty hand of God to move in your life regarding any situation that you are facing !! Because .. If you don’t then you will only end up misleading and deceiving yourself !! You will find that you grow more and more frustrated with each passing day, and you will be tempted into playing the blame game .. You will begin to blame any failure of your faith on the devil, or on your partner, or on your children, or on your boss .. When In Reality It Is Just You That Has Deceived Yourself, by not acting on or being a doer of God’s Word !! STOP DECEIVING YOURSELF !! .. If You Are A Doer Of The Word Then Your Actions Will Agree And Tie Up With Your Confession !! 24 .. So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock. 25 .. And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it has been founded on the rock. 26 .. An everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand. 27 .. And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell – and great and complete was the fall of it .. Matthew 7 : 24 - 27 What A Beautiful Parable That Jesus Shared .. And .. The message that He wants you to take out of His parable is very simply this .. Doers of His Word will endure and withstand the storms of life !! Storms are going to blow through your lives .. But .. Jesus wants you to know that if you are a doer of His Word .. If you build His Truth into your spirit .. If you follow and obey the instructions of His Word .. If you allow His Word to become your very foundation .. Then .. You will never be faced with a situation where you feel as though you are going to crumble under the pressure .. Because .. Your life will be built on the solid, unshakable, rock of God’s Word !! Jesus Shows You Very Clearly in His parable He teaches about two houses and one storm. One of the houses is built on rock and the other is built on sand .. And .. That is the only difference in the parable, because when the storm came, it was exactly the same rain, the same floods, and the same winds that hammered up against both houses. The end result of the storm was that the house built on sand was defeated and destroyed .. While .. The house built on the rock stood strong !! Now .. It is important for you to understand that in your life you are going to face various tests and trials .. You are going to experience your own personal storm .. But .. You must also understand that your tests, trials and storms Can Not defeat you .. Unless You Allow Them To .. The Choice Is Yours !! You can choose to hear God’s Word and confess that you have faith and believe what God is saying to you, while in your heart you continue to stress, worry and be anxious .. In which case your foundation will be crumble under the worlds pressure and you will feel defeated and destroyed more often than not .. Because .. Your actions do not really agree or tie up with your faith. OR You can choose to hear God’s Word and confess that you have faith and believe what God is saying to you !! .. You decide that it does not matter what you see, it does not matter how you feel, it does not matter how big and bad the storm looks .. What matters is what God has to say about it .. And .. If God says it, you believe it and that settles it !! .. You build your unshakable foundation on His Word and then you let go and you let God !! Become A Doer Of God’s Word And Then You Hold Fast To Your Confession Of Faith .. Because You Know .. That You Know .. That You Know .. That .. God Does Not Fail !! Faith accepts and acknowledges all that God has already promised in His Word .. And .. You can personalise God’s Word and make it your very own by acting on it !! .. Do What He says !! Lean on, trust in and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding .. Proverbs 3 : 5 Trust God with all your heart .. And .. The only way that you can do that is to trust in His Word !! .. God and His Word are one .. So .. If you trust in one then you must trust in the other !! .. It Is As Simple As That !! Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it .. Jeremiah 1 : 12 Isn’t That Awesome !! .. God Is Actually Sitting, Waiting, Watching !! Watching over His Word so that He can give you everything that He has promised .. He is excited about making sure that His Word comes true in your life .. BUT .. His hands are bound for as long as you choose to think like the world thinks .. Instead of having faith in what He says, confessing it and living it, without hesitation or doubt .. God Cannot Make His Word Come True In Your Life If You Do Not Believe It And Act Like It Is True !! Your Father is a God Who turns information into revelation .. And .. If you have been blessed enough to have received the revelation that perhaps your “house” is built on sand at the moment .. Then .. You have the power to break that house down right now !! .. It Is Never Too Late !! .. You can choose to demolish that house before the storm comes to do it for you !! Re-Build !! .. God is the Master Architect .. The Master Builder .. And .. He Has Given You The Master Plan .. So .. It Is Time To Re-Build !! .. Re-build A Brand New House !! .. A Brand New Start With A Solid, Unshakable Foundation Built On The Rock !! .. The Rock Of God’s Word !! Turn Back To God !! .. Turn Back To His Word !! .. Get rid of all the clutter from the world that has been clogging up your heart and pulling down your spirit !! Start to renew your mind with the treasures that lie within God’s Word .. Become a true doer of the Word and God will ensure that His Word never remains empty and void in your life. He will fill every moment, of every day with His sweet presence and He Will Make Sure that His Word comes true for you .. He does not say maybe .. He will not think about it .. He Will Make Sure that His Word comes true in your life !! The Sooner You Get Your Actions .. “Your Doing” .. To Agree And Tie Up With Your Confessions Of Faith .. The Sooner You Can Expect God To Show Up And Begin Doing Some Amazing Things In Your Life !! IT IS NOT OVER UNTIL GOD SAY’S IT IS OVER AND GOD WILL NEVER SAY IT IS OVER UNTIL YOU WIN Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men ! PSALM 107 : 31 THANK GOD FOR HIS NEVER-ENDING LOVE AND DEVOTION TO YOU What more can you ask of the Savior, than to know you are never alone. That His mercy and love are unfailing, and He makes all your problems His own. In Jesus Name, AMEN! God's LOVE is: COMPASSION I’ve never been surprised by God’s judgment, but I’m still stunned by His grace. God’s judgment has never been a problem for me. In fact, it always seemed right. Lightning bolts on Sodom. Fire on Gomorrah. Good job, God! Egyptians swallowed in the Red Sea. They had it coming. Discipline is easy for me to swallow. Logical to assimilate. But God’s grace? Anything but. Do you need examples? How much time do you have? Peter denied Christ before he preached Christ. Zacchaeus, the crook… the cleanest part of his life was the money he’d laundered. But Jesus still had time for him. The thief on the cross, hung-out to die one minute, heaven-bound and smiling the next. Story after story. Surprise after surprise! Search the pages. Read the stories! Find one person who came seeking a second chance and left with a stern lecture. Search. You won’t find it. |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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