2022-07-05
Revelation 2:29 NKJV
It’s not enough to simply listen to a sermon, you must try to hear what God is saying to you. You can hear something totally different from what the person sitting beside you in church hears. Why? Because God is personalising the message to you. The Bible is called “the living Word” (See Hebrews 4:12) because certain Scriptures suddenly come to life and take root within you. Sometimes you will hear what nobody else hears. You may even miss several of the sermon points and still come home with the answer you need. Paul says, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 KJV). When you can say, “I get it, it’s mine,” the faith that comes by hearing is doing its special work within you.
Before Israel went into battle, the prophets would consult God to be sure He was leading them. That’s because God honors faith only when it’s based on what He promised. So what you should fight for is what God has promised! Remember, you can’t say God failed you if He didn’t promise it to you in the first place. And you shouldn’t get upset when your own misguided desires make you reach for what He gave to somebody else. The old-timers used to sing, “Every promise in the book is mine, every chapter, every verse, every line,” and that’s true inasmuch as God loves us all equally. But there are specific promises He wants to fulfill in your life because your calling is different from others. That’s why you must always seek God for clarity and confirmation.
Soul food: Jer 22-24; Matt 23:23-39; Ps 102:1-11; Prov 14:35-15:2
Openbaring 2:29 NLV
Dis nie genoeg om net na ‘n preek te luister nie, jy moet ook probeer agterkom wat God besig is om vir jou te sê. Jy kan iets heeltemal anders as die persoon wat langs jou in die kerk sit, hoor. Hoekom? Omdat God die boodskap aan jou verpersoonlik. Die Bybel word die ‘die lewende Woord’ (sien Hebreërs 4:12), genoem, omdat sekere Skrifgedeeltes skielik tot lewe kom en wortel binne-in jou skiet. Soms sal jy iets hoor wat niemand anders hoor nie. Jy mag dalk selfs verskeie punte in die preek mis en steeds met die antwoord wat jy nodig het, huis toe gaan. Paulus sê: ‘Die geloof volg uit die aanhoor van die boodskap. En die aanhoor van die boodskap volg uit die prediking van die Goeie Nuus wat handel oor Christus’ (Romeine 10:17 NLV).
Voor Israel oorlog toe gegaan het, sou die profete God raadpleeg om seker te maak dat Hy hulle sou lei. Dit is omdat God geloof slegs beantwoord wanneer dit op dit wat Hy beloof het, gebaseer is. Jy moet dus vir dit wat God beloof het, veg! Onthou, jy kan nie sê dat God jou gefaal het as Hy dit nie in die eerste plek vir jou beloof het nie.
Jy moet ook nie ontsteld raak wanneer jou eie misleidende begeertes jou vir iets wat Hy aan iemand anders gegee het, laat uitreik nie. Die ou mense het gesing: ‘Every promise in the book is mine, every chapter, every verse, every line,’ en dit is waar dat God ons almal ewe veel lief het.
Daar is egter spesifieke beloftes wat Hy in jou lewe wil vervul, omdat jou roeping van ander mense s’n verskil. Dis hoekom jy altyd eers God vir duidelikheid en bevestiging moet raadpleeg.
Sielskos: Jer 22-24; Matt 23:23-39; Ps 102:1-11; Spr 14:35-15:2
2022-07-04
Matteus 17:20 ABA
Paulus skryf: ‘Wat is geloof dan? Dit is ‘n vaste versekering dat die dinge waarna ons uitsien, inderdaad sal gebeur…’ Jesus het gesê: ‘…As julle ‘n bietjie geloof het, so klein soos ‘n mosterd-saadjie, dan sal julle vir hierdie berg kan sê: ‘Gaan weg, gaan na ‘n ander plek,’ en die berg sal gaan…’ (Matteus 17:20 ABA).
Ons almal het berge in ons lewens en God is gewillig om hulle te beweeg. Wat is egter dan die probleem? Twyfel! Ander mense se opinies! Die onvermoë om God se Woord te verstaan! Selfs al het Jesus sy dissipels die mag gegee om siekes gesond te maak, het hulle hulpeloos voor ‘n seuntjie gestaan wat van ‘n bose gees besete was. “Agterna het die dissipels vir Jesus gevra: ‘Waarom kon ons nie die duiwel uitdryf nie?'” (Matteus 17:19 NLV).
Let op wat Jesus vir hulle gesê het: 1) Wees gewillig om klein te begin. ‘n Klein mosterdsaadjie kan in iets baie groters verander. Begin dus waar jy is en glo God vir eenvoudige, alledaagse dinge, en wanneer Hy jou geloof beantwoord, bedank Hom en bou daarop voort.
2) Let op wat jy sê. ‘As julle ‘n bietjie geloof het… dan sal julle vir hierdie berg kan sê: ‘Gaan weg, gaan na ‘n ander plek,’ en die berg sal gaan…’ Jou woorde stel die lewensgewende krag van God se Woord vry. Bring dus dit wat uit jou mond kom in lyn met dit wat in die Skrif geskryf staan.
3) Wees gewillig om te doen wat dit verg. Sommige berge het ‘n bietjie ekstra gebede nodig, of soos in die geval van die seun wat deur die bose gees besete was, die krag wat verkry word wanneer mens vas. Die punt is: Wanneer jy doen wat God se Woord sê, sal jy sien hoe die berge in jou lewe beweeg.
Sielskos: Jer 18-21; Matt 23:13-22; Ps 98; Spr 14:34
Matthew 17:20 NKJV
Paul writes, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV). Observe the words “now faith.” Thank God for the faith of our fathers, but to move the mountain that stands in your way, you need “now faith.” Jesus said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move… and it will move'” (Matthew 17:20 NKJV). Your grandmother’s faith may have moved her mountain, but it’s going to take your own faith to move “this mountain.” We all have mountains in our lives, and God is willing to move them. So what’s the problem?
Doubt! Other people’s opinions! Failure to understand God’s Word! Even though Jesus gave His disciples power to heal the sick, they were rendered helpless by a demon-possessed boy. “Why could we not cast the spirit out of him?” they asked. (See Matthew 17:19.) Notice what Jesus told them:
(1) Be willing to start small. A tiny “mustard seed” can grow into something much bigger. So start where you are and believe God for ordinary, everyday things, and when He honors your faith, thank Him and build on it.
(2) Watch what you say. “If you have faith… you will say to this mountain, ‘Move… and it will move.'” Your words release the life-giving force of God’s Word. So line up what comes out of your mouth with what’s written in Scripture.
(3) Be willing to do what’s needed. Some mountains need a little extra prayer, or in the case of this demon-possessed boy, the power that comes through fasting. The bottom line is this: When you do what God’s Word says, you will see mountains moved in your life.
Soul food: Jer 18-21; Matt 23:13-22; Ps 98; Prov 14:34
2022-07-03
Isaiah 28:16 NKJV
Every time you get in a hurry mode, you send a “state of emergency” signal to your body. And it responds by releasing the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol that prepare you to deal with danger. The body cannot distinguish between physical danger, or the danger of losing your job, or any other form of stress and pressure. It only knows that action has to be taken and that it must energize you to deal with it. Now, this is a good thing if you’re indeed physically threatened.
But to live with your body constantly on high alert is like fighting a fifteen-round nonstop boxing match. Sooner or later, you pay the price in the form of heart disease, ulcers, forgetfulness, and a multitude of other conditions.
What’s the cure? A-B-C: Awareness, Belief, Change. Become aware of your continual high-gear mode and what part you play each time you hurry. Ask yourself, “How could I have prevented this?” Believe that the Holy Spirit will give you victory if you ask Him and begin to change your behaviour. Change – consciously slow down. Talk slower, move slower. “Haste makes waste.” Haste causes duplication of work, accidents, and other things that result in wasted time.
Question: Are you speed-reading today’s devotion? If so, this is the word for you today: Try taking twice as long to read and meditate on what you’re reading, and ask God, “What are you saying to me? What changes do you want to bring about in my life? In what ways do you want me to improve?” God is not in a hurry, so slow down and get in sync with Him.
Soul food: Exo 20:1-17; Matt 5:1-12
