2024-08-15
2 Chronicles 20:12 NKJV
The heroes in Scripture often found themselves faced with impossible odds and overwhelming situations. Think of Moses standing up to Pharaoh and David standing up to Goliath. Think of King Jehoshaphat facing the overwhelming might of three combined armies determined to destroy his nation. Here is what he said to God: “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (v. 12 NKJV).
Now notice how God answered him: “‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s… You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you’… Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you” (vv.15-17 NKJV).
God will never give you a job to do that does not require His strength, His wisdom, His resources, and sometimes His miraculous intervention. Who commanded the disciples to get into the boat and go over to the other side of Galilee? Jesus. What happened? Obeying Him involved going through one of the worst storms of their lives. But as they watched Him still the storm, their faith rose to a new level and prepared them to do greater things for God in the future.
So, the word for you today is: (1) position yourself, (2) stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, and (3) “do not fear… go… for the Lord is with you.”
Soul food: 1 Chr 19:1-23:20; Luke 13:1-17; Ps 119:49-56; Prov 21:4-6
2 Kronieke 20:12 NLV
Die helde in die Skrif het dikwels voor onmoontlike en oorweldigende situasies te staan gekom. Dink aan Moses wat opgestaan het teen farao en Dawid wat teen Goliat opgestaan het. Dink aan koning Josafat wat voor die oorweldigende mag van drie gekombineerde leërs, wat vasbeslote was om sy nasie te vernietig, te staan gekom het. Hy het vir God gesê: ‘…Ons is magteloos teen hierdie groot leër wat op die punt is om ons aan te val. Ons weet nie wat om te doen nie, maar ons kyk op na U vir hulp’ (vers 12 NLKV).
Let op hoe God hom geantwoord het: ‘…Moenie bang wees nie! Moenie moedeloos wees oor hierdie magtige leër nie, want die oorlog is nie julle s’n nie, maar God s’n… Dit sal nie vir julle nodig wees om te veg nie. Neem julle posisies in, en staan dan en kyk na die oorwinning van die Here. Hy is met julle… Moenie bang of moedeloos wees nie. Gaan môre soontoe, want die Here is met julle!’ (verse 15-17 NLV).
God sal jou nooit ‘n werk gee om te doen wat nie sy krag, sy wysheid, sy hulpbronne en soms sy wonderbaarlike ingryping verg nie. Wie het die dissipels beveel om in die boot te klim en na die ander kant van Galilea te vaar? Jesus. Wat het gebeur? Gehoorsaamheid aan Hom het beteken dat hulle deur een van die ergste storms van hulle lewens moes gaan. Soos hulle egter toegekyk het hoe Hy die storm stilmaak, het hulle geloof tot ‘n nuwe vlak beweeg en hulle voorberei om groter dinge vir God in die toekoms te doen.
Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: 1) posisioneer jouself, 2) staan stil en kyk na die oorwinning van die Here, en 3) ‘Moenie bang of moedeloos wees nie… want die Here is met julle!’
Sielskos: 1 Kro 19:1-23:20; Luk 13:1-17; Ps 119:49-56; Spr 21:4-6
2024-08-14
Acts 10:4 NKJV
Have you ever wondered where your prayers go? The answer is “up for a memorial before God.” Notice that they are “before” Him. They are in His hands and on His mind. Here when Cornelius prayed, God not only changed his circumstances, He changed history; for the first time, Gentiles heard the gospel and became part of the kingdom of God. How long had Cornelius been praying? We don’t know; the Bible just calls him “a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always” (v. 2 NKJV).
Prayer was not a hotline Cornelius used when he got into trouble or had a problem he couldn’t solve. He “prayed to God always.” He had a lifestyle of prayer. The word “memorial” means God remembers what you pray about. Prayer is like putting money into your bank account. You may not draw on it today or tomorrow, but it will be there when you need it.
Don’t get caught up in religious rituals. You can pray anywhere, anytime, about anything, and God will answer you. “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17 NKJV). When you run out of gas on the highway, you can’t blame the car. You got busy doing other things and neglected what was important. Prayer makes you conscious of God, keeps you connected to God, and positions you to receive what you need from God. So, keep praying because your prayers go “up for a memorial before God.”
Soul food: 1 Chr 16-18; Luke 12:49-59; Ps 119:41-48; Prov 21:1-3
Handelinge 10:4 AFR53
Het jy al ooit gewonder waarheen jou gebede gaan? Die antwoord is ‘voor God in gedagtenis.’ Let op dat hulle ‘voor’ Hom is. Hulle is in sy hande en in sy gedagtes. Toe Kornelius gebid het, het God nie net sy omstandighede verander nie, Hy het die geskiedenis verander; vir die eerste keer kon nie-Jode die evangelie hoor en deel van God se koninkryk word. Hoe lank het Kornelius gebid? Ons weet nie, maar die Bybel sê: ‘Hy het toegewy aan die God van Israel geleef en het ontsag vir Hom gehad… Hy het baie bydraes vir die armes… gegee en hy het deurentyd tot God gebid’ (Handelinge 10:2 NLV).
Gebed was nie ‘n noodlyn wat Kornelius gebruik het wanneer hy in die moeilikheid beland het of ‘n probleem gehad het wat hy nie kon oplos nie. Nee, ‘hy het deurentyd tot God gebid.’ Hy het ‘n leefstyl van gebed gehad. Die woord ‘gedagtenis’ beteken dat God onthou waaroor jy bid. Gebed is soos om geld in jou bankrekening te deponeer. Jy mag dit dalk nie vandag of môre onttrek nie, maar dit sal daar wees wanneer jy dit nodig het.
Moenie in godsdienstige rituele vasgevang word nie. Jy kan enige plek, enige tyd, oor enigiets bid en God sal jou antwoord. ‘Saans, soggens en smiddae pleit ek en kla ek, en Hy hoor my stem’ (Psalm 55:18 NLV). Wanneer jy op die snelweg uit petrol raak, kan jy nie die kar blameer nie. Jy het met ander dinge besig geraak en dit wat belangrik is, afgeskeep. Gebed maak jou van God bewus, dit hou jou aan God geskakel en posisioneer jou om dit wat jy nodig het van Hom te ontvang. Hou dus aan bid, want jou gebede kom voor God ‘in gedagtenis’ op.
Sielskos: 1 Kro 16-18; Luk 12:49-59; Ps 119:41-48; Spr 21:1-3
2024-08-13
John 2:1 NKJV
Let’s examine the story of Jesus turning water into wine. It was His first miracle, and it reveals how He works in our lives.
(1) Invite Jesus. “There was a wedding in Cana of Galilee… Jesus and His disciples were invited” (vv. 1-2 NKJV). When the problem arose, this couple didn’t have to send for Jesus because He was already there. Not only did they know Him, they included Him in their plans. They honored Him. The cry of Paul’s heart was “that I may know Him” (Philippians 3:10 NKJV). Why? Because when you know the Lord, you can call on Him with confidence and be assured He will be by your side when you need Him. This couple probably had a long time to prepare for this event, yet Jesus didn’t criticize them for poor planning. He came to their aid and met their need. And He will do the same for you; all you have to do is invite Him.
(2) Do what He tells you, even when you do not understand it. Faith does not require explanations. It requires simple obedience and trusting in the goodness of God. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:4-5 NKJV).
(3) Understand that God can save the best for the last. “You have kept the good wine until now!” (John 2:10 NKJV). It’s not too late. What looks to you like a tragedy can become a testimony of God’s goodness and faithfulness in your life.
Soul food: 1 Chr 12:23-15:29; Luke 12:35-48; Ps 119:33-40; Prov 20:28-30
