2020-04-14
Sagaria 3:1 NLV
Soms is Satan se aanvalle voor die handliggend. In die Ou Testament, skryf die profeet Sagaria: ‘Die engel het Jesua die hoëpriester vir my gewys. Hy het voor die engel van die Here gestaan. Die Satan het regs van die engel gestaan, besig om Jesua van baie dinge aan te kla.’ Satan verkies gewoonlik om incognito te werk, dus sal hy jou deur middel van mense aanval – dikwels die mense naaste aan jou. Die Bybel sê vir ons: ‘Gedurende die aandete het die duiwel alreeds ‘n saadjie in die hart van Judas… geplant om Jesus uit te lewer’ (Johannes 13:2 NLV). Wat is dus jou beste lyn van verdediging? Die lewende Woord van God. Jesus het voor meer versoekings as wat enigeen van ons kan verduur, te staan gekom en drie keer die Satan afgeweer deur die Skrif vir hom aan te haal. Wanneer Satan jou gedagtes met versoeking, veroordeling, vertwyfeling en minderwaardige gevoelens aanval, is God se Woord ‘n skild wat hy nie kan deurdring nie. Let op wat gebeur het nadat Jesus die geveg met die Vyand gewen het: ‘Daarna het die duiwel die aftog geblaas. En daar het engele na Hom toe gekom en Hom versorg’ (Matteus 4:11 NLV). Jy is nie alleen nie. God het ‘n skare engele rondom jou geplaas om jou te versterk en jou te beskerm. ‘Die engele is tog maar net diensknegte. Hulle is geestelike wesens wat God uitstuur in belang van daardie mense wat gered gaan word’ (Hebreërs 1:14 NLV). Gedurende seisoene van teëspoed, moet jy onthou dat jy ‘n oorwinnaar en nie ‘n slagoffer is nie. Straal geloof uit. Verwag dat jou geloof bonatuurlik geëer sal word deur die God wat belowe het om in te tree wanneer jy Hom die nodigste het (sien Jesaja 59:19).
Sielskos: Lev 13:38-14:57; Mark 1:1-8; Ps 50:16-23; Spr 10:4-7
2020-04-13
1 Thessalonians 2:18 NKJV
Paul writes, “We wanted to come to you – even I, Paul…time and again – but Satan hindered us.” Note the words “time and again.” When you have an assignment from God, Satan will repeatedly attack you and try to stop you from fulfilling it. Observe three things: (1) His attacks reveal that he believes you’re capable of accomplishing your goal. That’s why when you’re down, he wants to keep you there. He knows if you rise again, you’ll be stronger and more effective than ever. (2) He always attacks the birth of something significant in your life. It may be the birth of your ministry, as with Jesus in the wilderness temptation. It may be the birth of your “child of destiny,” like the birth of Moses, which initiated the killing of newborn males in Egypt in an effort to stop the exodus. (3) He uses those closest to you as a gateway to your heart. Jesus said, “Your enemies will be right in your own household!” (Matthew 10:36 NLT). So what should you do? Pray for them. Your intercession is often the only covering they have, so pray daily for the grace and mercy of God to be downloaded into their hearts. And above all, never forget that your attitude is more important than the adversity you’re experiencing. Attacks pass, but your attitude, if bitter or demoralized, can grow into a root of bitterness that will poison every day of your future (See Hebrews 12:15). Your influence in God’s kingdom determines the level of attack the Enemy launches against you. So don’t get discouraged – keep on keeping on!
Soul food: Lev 11:1-13:37; Matt 28:11-20; Ps 50:1-15; Prov 10:3
1 Thessalonians 2:18 NIV
Paul writes, ‘We wanted to come to you…but Satan blocked our way.’ When we have an assignment from God, Satan will repeatedly attack us and try to stop us from fulfilling it. Here are three things about Satan’s attacks: 1) His attacks reveal that he believes we’re capable of accomplishing our goal. If he didn’t think we’d achieve things for God, he wouldn’t try and stop us. It shows that we’re strong and full of faith. If we fall down, he wants to keep us down because he knows if we rise again, we’ll be stronger and more effective than ever. 2) He always attacks the start of something significant in our lives. The enemy tried to stop Jesus just before He started His ministry. He tempted Him in the wilderness (you can read about it in Matthew 4). We might feel more of an attack when we’re just about to get started on something we’re passionate about, or just before God gives us the next thing He wants us to do. 3) He uses those closest to us to reach our hearts. He can work through others to cause us to doubt ourselves and our calling. Other people can make us feel insecure about who we are, and what we can achieve. We should never forget that our attitude is more important than the attacks we’re experiencing. Attacks pass, but our attitude, if bitter or demoralised, can cause bitterness to be rooted in our lives (have a read of Hebrews 12:15). Our influence in God’s kingdom determines the level of attack the enemy launches against us. So if we’re facing a big attack, let’s not be discouraged but instead be encouraged that we’re making a big difference in the kingdom.
Lev 11:1-13:37; Matt 28:11-20; Ps 50:1-15; Prov 10:3
1 Tessalonisense 2:18 NLV
Paulus skryf: ‘Ons wóú dus na julle toe kom – ek, Paulus, meer as een keer – maar die Satan het ons gekeer.’ Let die woorde ‘meer as een keer’ op. Wanneer jy ‘n opdrag van God ontvang, sal Satan jou herhaaldelik aanval om jou te probeer keer om jou opdrag te vervul. Let drie dinge op: 1) Sy aanval wys dat hy glo dat jy in staat is om jou doelwit te bereik. Dis hoekom hy jou daar wil hou wanneer jy terneergedruk voel. Hy weet dat wanneer jy weer opstaan, jy sterker en effektiewer as ooit tevore sal wees. 2) Hy val altyd die geboorte van iets beduidends in jou lewe aan. Dit mag dalk die geboorte van jou bediening wees, soos die versoeking van Jesus in die woestyn. Dit mag dalk die geboorte van jou lotsbestemming wees, soos die geboorte van Moses, wat veroorsaak het dat al die eersgebore seuntjies in Egipte vermoor is in ‘n poging om die eksodus te keer. 3) Hy sal die mense naaste aan jou as ‘n poort tot jou hart gebruik. Jesus het gesê: ‘Selfs ‘n mens se eie familie sal jou vyande wees’ (Matteus 10:36 NLV). Wat moet jy dus doen? Bid vir hulle. Jou intrede is dikwels die enigste bedekking wat hulle het, bid dus daagliks die genade van God oor hulle harte uit. Moet ook nooit vergeet dat jou houding belangriker as die teenstand wat jy ervaar, is nie. Aanvalle gaan verby, maar as jou houding bitter of ontmoedig is, kan dit in bitterheid wortelskiet wat elke dag van jou toekoms kan vergiftig (sien Hebreërs 12:15). Jou invloed op God se koninkryk, bepaal die hewigheid van die aanval wat die Vyand teen jou loods. Moet dus nie moedeloos word nie – hou aan!
Sielskos: Lev 11:1-13:37; Matt 28:11-20; Ps 50:1-15; Spr 10:3
2020-04-12
Galatians 2:20 NKJV
The cross is a vital part of our everyday lives. When we became Christians, we became a new person. The Bible says: ‘Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT). Each day we face three enemies: sin, Satan, and ourselves. Our old self still wants us to do certain things that we know are wrong. We’re still tempted. The enemy attacks us and tries to lead us down the wrong paths. But we can overcome these things by living the crucified life. Paul wrote: ‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.’ What does it mean to live the crucified life? It means we let Jesus take over the running of our lives. We surrender our desires and goals, and let Him gives us better ones. Jesus said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me’ (Matthew 16:24 NIV). We walk in His ways rather than our own. Living Jesus’ way isn’t easy. We have to keep surrendering, sometimes moment by moment. But living His way is definitely worth it. This Easter, let’s celebrate that Jesus is alive. He’s living in us, and we’re being transformed into His likeness. We have His power in us and He can work through us. Even if we’re struggling in our walk with Him, we can be grateful that His death on the cross means that we’re acceptable to God and welcomed into His presence. When we mess up, He forgives us. When we walk away, He welcomes us back. However challenging it seems, let’s pick up our cross and surrender to God again today.
1 Cor 15; Matt 28:1-10; Job 19:25-26; John 11:25-26; 1 Pet 1:3; Isa 25:8
