2018-03-19
Acts 3:6 NKJV
Notice two things in this story. First: It’s important to know what you have and don’t have. “Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.'” You must become comfortable in your own skin and confident in your calling. Paul writes: “Let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without…trying to be something we aren’t. If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face. Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it” (Romans 12:6-9 TM). Second: Learn to recognize the difference between what people want and what they truly need. Sometimes they need to be strengthened; other times they need to be stretched. Sometimes they need comfort, not correction; other times they need correction, not comfort. This lame man didn’t need a handout – he needed a hand up. And that’s what Peter gave him. “He took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength” (Acts 3:7 NKJV). So in order to help people you must love them, recognize what they need, know what you have to offer, and connect with them at the point of their need.
Soul food: 2 Kings 18:17-20:21; Matt 25:1-23; Ps 115; Prov 8:1-3
2018-03-18
Acts 3:1 NKJV
The Bible says: “Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer…And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple…to ask alms from those who entered…who, seeing Peter and John…asked for alms…Peter said, ‘Look at us.’ So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength” (vv. 1-7 NKJV). Notice two things: (1) Miracles happen in ordinary moments. This man was probably no stranger to Peter and John; they walked past him daily. But this day was different. Peter said, “Look at us. We have the answer you need.” Supernatural faith rose up in Peter’s heart, causing him to see an opportunity to glorify God, and he seized it. (2) You must be prepared when your moment comes. You can’t give what you don’t have. You can’t tell what you don’t know. You can’t share what you don’t feel. You can’t give out of a vacuum. The fact is, nothing great is created suddenly; it takes time. Three and a half years of walking with Christ, listening to His messages, and seeing His miracles had prepared the apostles for this moment. So had the ten days they’d just spent in the upper room being filled with the Holy Spirit. So the word for you today is: To help people, you must be prepared!
Soul food: Gal 5:22; 1 Cor 13; Eph 3:14-21; John 15:1-17
Handelinge 3:1 NLV
Die Bybel sê: ‘Petrus en Johannes was een middag op pad tempel toe. Dit was drie-uur, die gebedstyd. Net tóé word daar ‘n man aangedra wat van sy geboorte af lam was. Mense het hom daagliks laat sit… om by die tempelgangers te bedel. Petrus en Johannes wou net… ingaan, toe hy hulle sien en ‘n bydrae by hulle vra. Petrus kyk hom toe… stip aan, en sê: ‘Kyk na ons!’ Die verlamde man kyk toe na hulle in die verwagting dat hy ‘n bydrae gaan kry. Maar Petrus sê: ‘Geld het ek nie. Maar wat ek het, dít gee ek vir jou: Op gesag van Jesus Christus van Nasaret, staan op en loop!’ Petrus vat die man toe aan sy regterhand en help hom op. En onmiddellik het sy voete en enkels gesond en sterk geword’ (verse 1-7 NLV). Let twee dinge op: 1) Wonderwerke gebeur in allesdaage oomblikke. Hierdie man was heel waarskynlik aan Petrus en Johannes bekend, hulle het daagliks verby hom geloop. Hierdie dag was egter anders. Bonatuurlike geloof het in Petrus se hart opgekom en hy het die geleentheid aangegryp om God te verheerlik. 2) Jy moet voorbereid wees wanneer jou oomblik aanbreek. Jy kan nie gee wat jy nie het nie. Jy kan nie vertel wat jy nie weet nie. Jy kan nie deel wat jy nie voel nie. Niks word skielik geskep nie; dit neem tyd. Drie en ‘n half jaar van wandel met Christus, die aanhoor van sy boodskappe en die sien van sy wonderwerke, het die apostels vir hierdie oomblik voorberei. So ook die tien dae wat hulle pas in die kamer gevul met die Heilige Gees deurgebring het. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: Om mense te kan help, moet jy voorbereid wees!
Sielskos: Gal 5:22; 1 Kor 13; Ef 3:14-21; Joh 15:1-17
2018-03-17
Galatians 2:21 MSG
While grace doesn’t give anyone a license to live as they please, the judgmentalism that comes from insisting that others live by our standards has caused untold damage. Chuck Swindoll writes: “Legalism spreads a paralyzing venom…blinds our eyes, dulls our edge and arouses pride in our heart…love is overshadowed by a mental clipboard with a long checklist requiring others to measure up…soon friendship is fractured by a judgmental attitude and a critical look. And before you conclude that you’re not guilty, observe your reaction when you meet another believer who doesn’t think, act, or dress the way you do. Even when you think you’re sophisticated enough to disguise your real feelings, they come out in the ‘stony stare’ and the ‘holier than thou’ attitude.” Jesus said, “Don’t judge others, and God won’t judge you. Don’t be hard on others, and God won’t be hard on you. Forgive others, and God will forgive you” (Luke 6:37 CEV). A judgmental Christian acts as though blowing someone else’s light out will cause their light to shine brighter. But it’s not so. Paul writes, “If a…relationship with God could come by rule-keeping…Christ died unnecessarily.” You say, “But what if someone is getting off track, or sinning intentionally?” The Bible says, “If another believer is overcome by sin…humbly help that person back onto the right path…be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself” (Galatians 6:1 NLT). When you take it upon yourself to condemn others – you are denying them the same grace you may need before the day is over.
Soul food: 2 Kings 16:1-18:16; Matt 24:29-51; Ps 26; Prov 7:26-27
Galasiërs 2:21 NLV
Terwyl genade nie vir ons ‘n lisensie gee om te lewe net soos ons wil nie, veroorsaak ons ongekende skade wanneer ons ander veroordeel wanneer hulle nie volgens ons standaarde optree nie. Chuck Swindoll skryf: ‘Wettisisme versprei ‘n verlammende gif, verblind ons oë en wek trots in ons harte op. Liefde word deur ‘n verstandelike kontrolelys, waaraan ander mense verwag word om te voldoen, oorskadu. Voor jy tot die gevolgtrekking kom dat jy nie hieraan skuldig is nie, oorweeg bietjie jou reaksie die volgende keer wat jy ‘n gelowige ontmoet wat nie soos jy dink, optree of aantrek nie. Selfs wanneer jy dink dat jy gesofistikeerd genoeg is om jou ware gevoelens te vermom, kom dit tog in jou houding na vore.’ Jesus het gesê, ‘Hou op om ander te oordeel, en julle sal nie geoordeel word nie. Hou op om ander te kritiseer, en julle sal nie gekritiseer word nie. As julle ander vergewe, sal julle vergewe word’ (Lukas 6:37 NLV). ‘n Vooroordelende Christen tree op asof hulle lig helderder sal skyn as hulle iemand anders se lig doodblaas. Dit werk nie so nie. Paulus skryf, ‘…As dit moontlik was om deur God vrygespreek te word deur die wet te onderhou, het Christus mos verniet gesterf!’ Jy vra, ‘Maar wat as iemand die pad byster raak, of met opset sondig?’ Die Bybel sê, ‘…wanneer iemand iets doen wat verkeerd is, moet julle wat deur die Gees gelei word, daardie persoon nederig reghelp. Wees baie versigtig dat jy nie ook versoek word nie’ (Galasiërs 6:1 NLV). Wanneer jy dit op jouself neem om ander te veroordeel, weier jy hulle dieselfde genade wat jy dalk mag nodig kry voor die dag verby is.
Sielskos: 2 Kon 16:1-18:16; Matt 24:29-51; Ps 26; Spr 7:26-27
