2017-12-29
Revelation 12:11 NKJV
Irene Park became a committed Christian. Her story is remarkable. She was once a high witch in the state of Florida, seducing boys and girls into occult activities. She stated that the children she could never reach were those whose parents protected them by praying over them in the name of Jesus, standing on the merits of Christ’s atoning blood. Today the occult has made its way into some of our public school systems under the guise of “pluralism” and “free speech.” If you’re a parent, you should be concerned! It’s wise to give your child a cell phone or pager so they can stay in touch with you. But the most powerful defence you can give them is praying over them in the name of Jesus and standing on the merits of His shed blood. Jesus defeated Satan at the cross. And today He’s saying to you, “My victory is your victory, and My authority is your authority – use it!” You must acknowledge the existence of the Devil, but you must not be afraid of him because “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). To deny the existence of Satan or underestimate his power gives him the advantage over you. But God has given you the key to overcoming Satan’s power in your life: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Start declaring what the blood of Jesus has done on your behalf. When you do, you’ll begin to walk in victory.
Soul food: Job 35-37; Luk 3:1-10; Ps 116; Ecc 11:7-10
2017-12-28
Matteus 7:20 NLV
Wanneer ons van die ‘vrugte van die Gees’ praat, praat ons van hierdie nege karaktereienskappe: ‘…liefde, vreugde, vrede, geduld, vriendelikheid, goedheid, getrouheid, sagmoedigheid en selfbeheersing…’ (Galasiërs 5:22-23 NLV). Hierdie vrugte is nie net vir vertoon nie, hulle is daar om gedeel te word. Veronderstel jy ry na ‘n padstal toe met die doel om vars groente te koop. Jy sien vars tamaties, pampoen, komkommer, spinasie en ‘n wye verskeidenheid ander groente – alles wat jy nodig het en meer. Net soos jy begin om vir jou groente uit te kies, staan die boer wie se padstal dit is nader en sê, ‘Jammer, hierdie groente is nie te koop nie. Ek geniet dit net om hulle te groei en dan te kyk hoe hulle vrot word. Dan gooi ek dit weg.’ Huh? Jy het in alle waarskynlikheid nog nooit so ‘n absurde situasie teëgekom nie en sal ook sekerlik nooit. Dis omdat boere en klante weet dat groente daar is om geëet te word. Ja, hulle is mooi om na te kyk, maar God het hulle geskep met die doel om mense te voed en hulle gesond te hou. As ons slegs kerk toe gaan en oor die vrugte preek, die vrugte analiseer en mekaar se vrugte ondersoek, misluk ons klaaglik. Dis nie net genoeg om vrugte voort te bring nie, ons moet ook die vrugte met ander mense deel, sodat hulle geseën kan word en deur die koninkryk van God verander kan word. Paulus skryf, ‘want ons is God se handewerk. Hy het ons in ons verhouding met Christus Jesus só gemaak dat ons die goeie werke wat Hy vir ons bestem het, kan uitlewe’ (Efesiërs 2:10 NLV). Om vrugte te dra en vrugte te deel, is twee kante van dieselfde munt.
Sielskos: Job 32-34; Luk 2:41-52; Ps 139:13-24; Pred 11:4-6
Matthew 7:20 NKJV
When we speak about “the fruit of the Spirit,” we are talking about these nine qualities of character: “Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV). These fruits are not for “show,” they are for sharing with others; otherwise they’re no better than fruit that was never grown in the first place. Suppose you drive up to a roadside produce market with your heart set on buying fresh vegetables. You see home-grown tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and several varieties of peppers – everything you need and more. Just as you start to select your items, the farmer who owns the stand says, “Sorry, this produce isn’t for sale. I just like to grow it and enjoy looking at it until it rots. Then I throw it away.” Huh? Now you likely haven’t encountered such an absurd situation, and probably never will. That’s because farmers and customers know that produce is for consuming. Sure, it’s beautiful to look at, but its God-ordained purpose is to bring nutrition and health to people. If all we do is go to church and preach about fruit, analyse fruit, and examine each other’s fruit, we are failing miserably. It’s not enough to bear fruit, we must share that fruit with others so they can be blessed and impacted by the kingdom of God. Paul writes, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). Bearing fruit and sharing fruit are two sides of the same spiritual coin.
Soul food: Job 32-34; Luk 2:41-52; Ps 139:13-24; Ecc 11:4-6
2017-12-27
Isaiah 6:8 NKJV
William Carey is referred to as “the father of modern missions.” But the number of his accomplishments in India was almost equalled by the number of obstacles he overcame just to get there. He was told by a group of ministers, “If God wants to save the heathen, young man, He will do it without your help or ours.” Carey was not a career missionary. He was a young Englishman in poor health with a pregnant wife and small children. He was just like the rest of us – trying to make ends meet and keep life together. But he had something else, a burning question he could not escape: “Who will reach the lost in India, if I don’t go?” Looking back later, Carey realized that the challenges he overcame at home were what qualified him to succeed in his God-given assignment abroad. The same thing happened to Isaiah the prophet: “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’ And He said, ‘Go, and tell this people'” (vv. 8-9 NKJV). But before Isaiah was qualified to go, he needed a life-changing encounter with God. “Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is purged'” (vv. 6-7 NKJV). Do you sense God preparing you and getting ready to send you? If so, say yes.
Soul food: Job 29-31; Luk 2:34-40; Ps 139:1-12; Ecc 10:20-11:3
Jesaja 6:8 NLV
William Carey word ‘die vader van moderne sendingreise’ genoem. Sy hoeveelheid prestasies in Indië is egter amper deur die hoeveelheid struikelblokke wat hy moes oorkom om daar te kom, geëwenaar. ‘n Groep predikers het vir hom gesê, ‘As God die heidene wil red, jongman, sal Hy dit sonder jou hulp of ons s’n doen.’ Carey was nie ‘n sendeling van beroep nie. Hy was ‘n jong Engelsman met slegte gesondheid, ‘n swanger vrou en klein kindertjies. Hy was net soos die res van ons wat met ons finansies probeer uitkom het en ‘n lewe probeer maak het. Hy het egter iets anders gehad, ‘n brandende vraag waarvan hy nie kon ontsnap nie: ‘Wie sal die verlorenes in Indië bereik, as ek nie gaan nie?’ Toe hy terugkyk, het Carey besef dat die struikelblokke wat hy tuis moes oorkom, hom voorberei het om in sy Godgegewe taak oorsee sukses te behaal. Dieselfde ding het met die profeet Jesaja gebeur. “Toe het ek die Here hoor vra: ‘Wie kan Ek met ‘n boodskap na my volk toe stuur? Wie sal vir ons gaan?’ Ek het geantwoord: ‘Here, ek sal gaan! Stuur my!’ Hy het gesê: ‘Ja, gaan…'” (verse 8-9 NLV). Voor Jesaja gereed was om te gaan, het hy ‘n lewensveranderende ontmoeting met God nodig gehad. “Toe het een van die serafs na die altaar toe gevlieg en ‘n gloeiende kool met ‘n tang opgetel. Hy het my lippe aangeraak en gesê: ‘Kyk, hierdie kool het jou lippe aangeraak. Nou is jou skuld weg en jou sondes vergewe'” (verse 6-7 NLV). Voel jy asof God jou voorberei en jou gereed maak om jou te stuur? As dit die geval is, sê ja.
Sielskos: Job 29-31; Luk 2:34-40; Ps 139:1-12; Pred 10:20-11:3
