2023-09-08
Jeremiah 48:11 NKJV
God said, “Moab has been at ease from his youth; he has settled on his dregs, and has not been emptied [poured] from vessel to vessel… Therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent [aroma] has not changed.”
This Scripture paints two pictures for us; one is natural and the other is spiritual. In the natural picture, we see how wine is made by being poured from one vessel into another. In the spiritual picture, we see how God changes us by pouring us from one experience into another. And just as in winemaking, when the wine is poured out of one vessel into another, it leaves behind the dregs which must be removed in order to produce good vintage.
Similarly, God will permit you to be poured into situations that reveal your weaknesses so that you can work on them. And no matter how uncomfortable it is or how badly you want to escape, God won’t let you until your issues have been dealt with successfully. How will you know when that’s so? Because as you enter your next experience, you will leave them behind you.
In the winemaking process, the wine doesn’t spend the same amount of time in each vessel. That’s because each vessel serves a different purpose. Only the winemaker knows the purpose of each vessel, and therefore determines the amount of time needed in it. If you’re being poured from one experience into another, read this: “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 NKJV).
Soul food: Eze 16:53-19:14; Mark 11:12-26; Ps 27; Prov 20:5-6
2023-09-07
Lukas 8:54 AFR53
Die Bybel sê: ‘Terwyl Hy nog spreek, kom daar iemand van die owerste van die sinagoge se huis en sê vir hom: U dogter is dood… Maar toe Jesus dit hoor, antwoord Hy hom en sê: Moenie vrees nie. Glo net, en sy sal gered word. En toe Hy in die huis kom, het Hy niemand toegelaat om in te gaan nie, behalwe Petrus en Jakobus en Johannes en die vader en die moeder van die meisie. En almal het gehuil en oor haar rou bedryf. Maar Hy sê: Moenie huil nie; sy is nie dood nie, maar slaap. En hulle het Hom uitgelag, want hulle het geweet dat sy dood was. En toe Hy almal na buite uitgejaag het, gryp Hy haar hand en roep uit en sê: Dogtertjie, staan op! En haar gees het teruggekom, en sy het onmiddellik opgestaan; en Hy het beveel dat hulle haar iets te ete moes gee’ (verse 49-55 AFR53).
Daar is belangrike lesse hieruit te leer. Om die opstandingskrag van Christus te ervaar, het jy die regte mense en die regte omgewing nodig. Net soos olie en water nie sal meng nie, sal geloof en twyfel ook nie. Let op dat Jesus Petrus, Jakobus en Johannes saam met Hom in die huis geneem het en die res van die mense uitgejaag het. Was sommige van hulle dalk beledig en het hulle Hom daaroor gekritiseer? Seker, maar wanneer jy jouself in ‘n krisis bevind, moet jy jouself met mense wat saam met jou op God se Woord kan staan en Hom vir die antwoord kan glo, omring. In die oorspronklike Griekse teks het Jesus gesê: ‘Moenie bang wees nie; glo net en hou aan glo en sy sal gesond word.’ Jy het mense nodig wat saam met jou God sal aanhou glo vir die antwoord.
Sielskos: Eseg 14:1-16:52; Mark 11:1-11; Ps 112; Spr 20:1-4
Luke 8:54 NKJV
The Bible says: “Someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, ‘Your daughter is dead’… when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.’ When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, ‘Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.’ And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, ‘Little girl, arise.’ Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately” (vv. 49-55 NKJV).
There is an important lesson here for you. To experience the resurrection power of Christ, you need the right people and the right environment. Just as oil and water won’t mix, neither will faith and doubt. Notice, Jesus took Peter, James, and John into the house with Him, and put all the others outside. Might some have been offended and criticized Him for this? Sure, but when you’re in a crisis, you need to surround yourself with people who can stand with you on God’s Word and believe Him for the answer.
When Jairus heard that his daughter had died, he doubtless would have thought, “That’s it; nothing more can be done!” But that’s not what Jesus thought. In the original Greek text, Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid; only believe, and keep believing and she will be made well.” You need people who will keep believing God with you for the answer.
Soul food: Eze 14:1-16:52; Mark 11:1-11; Ps 112; Prov 20:1-4
2023-09-06
1 Konings 19:12-13 NLV
Toe Isebel Elia se lewe bedreig het, het hy na ‘n grot toe gevlug. Dis toe God vir hom gesê het: “‘Kom buitekant toe en gaan staan voor My op die berg,’ sê die Here vir hom. Terwyl Elia daar staan, het die Here by hom verbygegaan en ‘n geweldige rukwind het die berg uitmekaargeruk en die rotse gebreek voor die Here. Tog was die Here nie in die wind nie. Na die wind was daar ‘n aardbewing, maar die Here was nie in die aardbewing nie. Na die aardbewing was daar ‘n vuur, maar die Here was nie in die vuur nie. Na die vuur was daar die geluid van ‘n sagte fluistering. Toe Elia dit hoor, het hy sy gesig met sy mantel toegemaak…” (verse 11-13 NLV).
God kan enige plek, enige tyd, deur enigiemand, in enige situasie, met jou praat. Hy sal egter dikwels sy grootste insigte met jou deel wanneer jy alleen by Hom is. Om God se ‘sagte fluistering’ te kan hoor, moet twee dinge gebeur:
1) Jy moet stilte hê en afgesonder wees. Dit beteken dat jy alles anders moet uitsluit en op God moet fokus. Nie almal sal dit verstaan of waardeer nie, maar jy moet dit doen as jy van Hom wil hoor.
2) Jy moet naby aan Hom kom. Die gemiddelde persoon kry deesdae daagliks vyftig tot eenhonderd teksboodskappe en eposse. So lank as wat jy gewillig is om te stop en na ander te luister, maar nie na God nie, sal jou probleme nie opgelos word nie en jou situasie sal nie verander nie. Die liedjieskrywer Everett W. Sugg stel dit so: ‘Shut in with God in a secret place, There in the Spirit beholding His face, Gaining more power to run in this race, oh I long to be shut in with God.’
Sielskos: Eseg 10-13; Mark 10:35-52; Ps 20; Spr 19:24-29
1 Kings 19:12-13 NKJV
When Jezebel threatened Elijah’s life, he fled to a cave. And that’s when God said to him: “‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice… Elijah heard it” (vv. 11-13 NKJV).
God can speak to you anywhere, anytime, through anybody, in any situation. But He will often share His greatest insights when you’re alone with Him. In order to hear God’s “still small voice,” two things must happen: (1) You must have silence and solitude. This calls for shutting out everything else and focusing on God. Not everyone will understand or appreciate what you’re doing, but you must if you’re to hear from Him. (2) You must get close to Him. The average person now gets fifty to one hundred texts and emails every day. Think about that. As long as you’re willing to take the time to stop and listen to others but not to God, your problems will not be solved, and your situation won’t change.
The songwriter, Everett W. Sugg, put it this way: “Shut in with God in a secret place, There in the Spirit beholding His face, Gaining more power to run in this race, oh I long to be shut in with God.”
Soul food: Eze 10-13; Mark 10:35-52; Ps 20; Prov 19:24-29
