2022-03-11
James 5:16 NCV
While he was on holiday in England, the preacher and evangelist D.L. Moody visited a church in London that was spiritually dead. The pastor recognised him and asked him to preach at the morning service. Reluctantly, Moody agreed. Afterwards, he told a friend the congregation was so unresponsive he could barely finish his sermon. Later, he remembered he had promised to preach there again that night. He wished he had never interrupted his holiday plans, and spent the afternoon dreading what was ahead. But behind the scenes, something was happening that Moody knew nothing about.
After the morning service, an elderly lady met her invalid sister for lunch and told her about Moody’s upcoming visit. Her sister’s eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, ‘I’ve been praying God would send Moody to England! Put away the lunch. We’ll spend the afternoon fasting and praying for tonight’s service.’
When Moody stepped up to the pulpit that night, an ‘electric’ sense of God’s presence filled the place. He preached like a man on fire, and when he gave an invitation for people to follow Christ, five hundred of them responded. At first he thought they’d misunderstood, so he told them sit down while he re-explained the gospel call and what it meant. But when he gave the invitation a second time, the same five hundred people came forward to receive Christ.
That single Sunday kicked off one of the greatest revivals ever to sweep England. And it was because two elderly ladies realised their church desperately needed the fire of God’s Spirit. They didn’t think, ‘There’s nothing we can do’. They believed God’s promise, ‘When a believing person prays, great things happen.’ There’s so much power in prayer, and our prayers can help ignite the fire of God and make great things happen.
Exo 36-38; Luke 15:11-32; Ps 27; Pro 7:10-20
Philippians 4:4 NKJV
Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Why did Paul repeat himself? Because joy is the fuel we run on, and unless we maintain it, we can run out. That means regularly checking your fuel gauge to make sure you’re not being sucked into negativity and doubt.
In the Bible, wine represents joy. In fact, Christ’s first miracle was turning water into wine – the best they had ever tasted. Jesus is a joy giver, and when you stay connected to Him, you experience His joy regardless of your circumstances. In John 15:11, He said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
Think about this for a moment: How can you walk around saying your sins are forgiven, God guides and protects you, and you’re going to heaven – but look like you have been baptized in pickle juice? In prison, Paul had so much joy that his jailers were won to Christ and a church sprang up in the “household of Caesar” (See Philippians 4:22).
People are always more influenced by your attitude than your theology. Always! When they see you rejoicing in hard times, they’re apt to wonder what your secret is and to think, “Whatever that person has, I need it”; they become more open and receptive to the truth. The happiness this world offers is only a reaction to circumstances, whereas the joy that comes from living for Jesus lifts you above the circumstances. So, focus on His joy, draw on His joy, and demonstrate His joy to the world today.
Soul food: Exo 36-38; Luke 15:11-32; Ps 27; Pro 7:10-20
Filippense 4:4 NLV
Paulus skryf: “Wees altyd bly omdat julle Christene is. Ek sê dit weer: ‘Wees bly!'” Hoekom het Paulus homself herhaal? Omdat vreugde die brandstof is waarop ons hardloop en as ons dit nie dophou nie, kan ons tot stilstand kom. Dit beteken dat jy gereeld jou brandstofmeter moet nagaan om seker te maak dat jy nie in negatiwiteit en vertwyfeling verval nie.
In die Bybel, verteenwoordig wyn vreugde. Christus se eerste wonderwerk was inderwaarheid om water in wyn te verander – die beste wat hulle al ooit geproe het. Jesus is ‘n verskaffer van vreugde en wanneer jy aan Hom gekonnekteer bly, sal jy sy vreugde, ongeag jou omstandighede, ervaar. Hy het in Johannes 15:11 gesê: ‘Dit het Ek vir julle gesê sodat julle my blydskap mag ervaar en julle blydskap volkome kan wees’ (NLV).
Dink vir ‘n oomblik hieroor: Hoe kan jy rondloop en sê jou sondes is vergewe, dat God jou lei en jou beskerm en dat jy hemel toe gaan – terwyl jy lyk of jy met ‘n emmer asyn gedoop is? Paulus het soveel vreugde in die tronk gehad, dat sy tronkbewaarders vir Christus gewen is en daar ‘n kerk in die keiser se paleis ontstaan het (sien Filippense 4:22).
Mense word altyd meer deur jou houding as jou teologie beïnvloed. Wanneer hulle sien hoe vreugdevol jy in moeilike tye is, sal hulle heel waarskynlik begin wonder wat jou geheim is en dink: ‘Ek het dit wat daardie persoon het, nodig.’ Hulle word dan meer ontvanklik vir die waarheid. Die vreugde wat hierdie wêreld bied, is net ‘n reaksie op omstandighede, terwyl die vreugde wat uit ‘n lewe met Jesus spruit, jou bo die omstandighede uitlig. Fokus dus op sy vreugde, put krag uit sy vreugde en demonstreer vandag sy vreugde aan die wêreld.
Sielskos: Eks 36-38; Luk 15:11-32; Ps 27; Spr 7:10-20
2022-03-10
John 11:26 MSG
At the graveside of His friend Lazarus, Jesus told his grieving sisters Mary and Martha two all-important things: (1) “Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23 NAS). (2) “Everyone who lives believing in me does not… die at all. Do you believe this?” (v. 26 MSG).
So, what’s going to take you beyond death and into your heavenly home? Sterling character? Charitable giving? Going to church? No. While those are all commendable, only by placing your trust in Christ can you have the assurance of resurrection and eternal life. You see, Jesus conquered death and the grave for you.
You may be reading these words today fighting tears of sorrow. Perhaps you have lost your mate of many years, or your child to a tragic accident, or a loved one to some dreaded disease. Like no other, Jesus understands your grief. He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities (See Hebrews 4:15). Or perhaps you sense that death is near to you. If you haven’t placed your trust in Christ, you must take care of that right away.
Don’t wait for a more convenient time. Do it today, and you will be saved; that means that when you breathe your last breath, you will pass from death to life – heavenly life. When you trust in Christ, there is no reason to fear what lies beyond the grave. He is already there. And He has prepared a place for you. It’s ready! Inexplicable, unending joy will be yours forever, thanks to Jesus. You can exclaim with Paul, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). Think about it: Immediately following death – glory!
Soul food: Exo 33-35; Luke 15:1-10; Ps 112; Pro 7:6-9
Matthew 6:18 NKJV
Have you ever been to a concert where they used the latest audio-visual equipment? Chances are, you were blown away by the multidimensional sights and sounds, and afterwards, left talking about the amazing skills of the performers. If the performance went along with no problems, you probably didn’t think about the sound and lighting techs. Usually we only notice them when the equipment fails. They’re the invisible element; the people who do their job by making the star look and sound great. The real accolades and honours go to those in the spotlight. That’s the order of things in the kingdom of man.
But the kingdom of God operates on the idea that ‘the last shall be first, and the first last’ (Matthew 20:16 KJV). Jesus said when we fast, pray, and give without looking for recognition, ‘your Father who sees [your actions] in secret will reward you openly’.
On a big ship, only the captain and a handful of officers are visible on the bridge. But the crew below deck influence the ship’s progress for most of the journey. And in God’s church, it’s the ‘engine-room crew’ who faithfully carry out a lot of the work: caretaking staff, nursery workers, bus drivers, car park attendants, nursing home visitors, prison outreach workers, and prayer warriors.
The high-profile people tend to get most of the credit, but God recognises and appreciates the faithful workers behind the scenes, and says to them, ‘Well done, my good servant’ (Luke 19:17 NIV). And God’s approval is the best reward of all. So whenever we feel our work isn’t noticed or appreciated, let’s remember that God misses none of it.
Exo 33-35; Luke 15:1-10; Ps 112; Pro 7:6-9
