2024-08-16
1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV
When you commit your life to Christ, you switch sides. Now you’re up against three things. The world with its pressures, values, and agenda. The flesh, with its impulses and weaknesses. The devil, who is out to defeat you. But God would never allow us to get into a fight we couldn’t win, so let’s consider three blessings of battle.
(1) It teaches you to live at high alert. It was when Samson slept that Delilah shaved his head and robbed him of his strength. It was when the servants slept that an enemy sowed weeds among the wheat and threatened their harvest.
(2) It’s a sign of spiritual progress. When Israel entered the promised land, thirty-one kings and seven nations had to be conquered. Plus giants! They had to take it one city at a time and one giant at a time. And when Jesus becomes Lord of your life, He will address the unsurrendered areas of your life, and He will deal with them one at a time. And the battle will be harder and last longer when it comes to your stubborn areas. You know which ones they are, right? Be encouraged. God won’t give up on you: “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it” (Philippians 1:6 NKJV).
(3) It’s an indication of your value to God. You are a seed capable of producing a harvest for God. That’s why you’re a target of Satan. He is after the deposit of God that’s within you. So, keep fighting the good fight of faith, knowing that by God’s grace, you will win.
Soul food: 1 Chr 23:21-26:19; Luke 13:18-35; Ps 119:57-64; Prov 21:7-9
1 Timoteus 6:12 NLV
Wanneer jy jou lewe aan Christus toevertrou, verander jou lojaliteite. Nou moet jy teen drie dinge opstaan. Die wêreld met sy druk, waardes en agenda. Die vlees, met sy impulse en swakhede. Die duiwel, wat daarop uit is om jou te oorwin. God sal egter nooit toelaat dat ons ‘n geveg betree wat ons nie kan wen nie, kom ons kyk dus na die drie seëninge van die stryd.
1) Dit leer jou om altyd gereed te wees. Dit was toe Simson geslaap het wat Delila sy hare gesny en hom van sy krag beroof het. Dit was toe die slawe geslaap het wat die vyand onkruid tussen hulle koring gesaai en hul oes bedreig het.
2) Dis ‘n teken van geestelike vooruitgang. Toe Israel die Beloofde Land binnegegaan het, moes hulle een-en-dertig konings, sewe nasies en selfs reuse verower! Hulle moes dit een stad en een reus op ‘n slag doen. Wanneer Jesus die Here van jou lewe word, sal Hy die areas waarin jy nog nie volkome oorgegee het nie aanspreek en hulle een op ‘n slag hanteer. Die stryd sal moeiliker wees en langer aanhou wanneer dit by jou hardkoppige areas kom. Jy weet watter areas dit is, nè? Skep moed. God sal nie op jou opgee nie: ‘…God [sal] die goeie werk wat Hy in julle begin het… voortsit totdat Hy dit voltooi…’ (Filippense 1:6 NLV).
3) Dis ‘n aanduiding van jou waarde vir God. Jy is ‘n saadjie wat in staat is om ‘n oes vir God te produseer. Dis hoekom Satan jou teiken. Hy is agter die deposito van God wat binne-in jou is, aan. Hou dus aan om die goeie stryd van geloof te veg, met die wete dat jy deur God se genade sal wen.
Sielskos: 1 Kro 23:21-26:19; Luk 13:18-35; Ps 119:57-64; Spr 21:7-9
2024-08-15
2 Chronicles 20:12 NKJV
The heroes in Scripture often found themselves faced with impossible odds and overwhelming situations. Think of Moses standing up to Pharaoh and David standing up to Goliath. Think of King Jehoshaphat facing the overwhelming might of three combined armies determined to destroy his nation. Here is what he said to God: “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (v. 12 NKJV).
Now notice how God answered him: “‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s… You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you’… Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you” (vv.15-17 NKJV).
God will never give you a job to do that does not require His strength, His wisdom, His resources, and sometimes His miraculous intervention. Who commanded the disciples to get into the boat and go over to the other side of Galilee? Jesus. What happened? Obeying Him involved going through one of the worst storms of their lives. But as they watched Him still the storm, their faith rose to a new level and prepared them to do greater things for God in the future.
So, the word for you today is: (1) position yourself, (2) stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, and (3) “do not fear… go… for the Lord is with you.”
Soul food: 1 Chr 19:1-23:20; Luke 13:1-17; Ps 119:49-56; Prov 21:4-6
2 Kronieke 20:12 NLV
Die helde in die Skrif het dikwels voor onmoontlike en oorweldigende situasies te staan gekom. Dink aan Moses wat opgestaan het teen farao en Dawid wat teen Goliat opgestaan het. Dink aan koning Josafat wat voor die oorweldigende mag van drie gekombineerde leërs, wat vasbeslote was om sy nasie te vernietig, te staan gekom het. Hy het vir God gesê: ‘…Ons is magteloos teen hierdie groot leër wat op die punt is om ons aan te val. Ons weet nie wat om te doen nie, maar ons kyk op na U vir hulp’ (vers 12 NLKV).
Let op hoe God hom geantwoord het: ‘…Moenie bang wees nie! Moenie moedeloos wees oor hierdie magtige leër nie, want die oorlog is nie julle s’n nie, maar God s’n… Dit sal nie vir julle nodig wees om te veg nie. Neem julle posisies in, en staan dan en kyk na die oorwinning van die Here. Hy is met julle… Moenie bang of moedeloos wees nie. Gaan môre soontoe, want die Here is met julle!’ (verse 15-17 NLV).
God sal jou nooit ‘n werk gee om te doen wat nie sy krag, sy wysheid, sy hulpbronne en soms sy wonderbaarlike ingryping verg nie. Wie het die dissipels beveel om in die boot te klim en na die ander kant van Galilea te vaar? Jesus. Wat het gebeur? Gehoorsaamheid aan Hom het beteken dat hulle deur een van die ergste storms van hulle lewens moes gaan. Soos hulle egter toegekyk het hoe Hy die storm stilmaak, het hulle geloof tot ‘n nuwe vlak beweeg en hulle voorberei om groter dinge vir God in die toekoms te doen.
Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: 1) posisioneer jouself, 2) staan stil en kyk na die oorwinning van die Here, en 3) ‘Moenie bang of moedeloos wees nie… want die Here is met julle!’
Sielskos: 1 Kro 19:1-23:20; Luk 13:1-17; Ps 119:49-56; Spr 21:4-6
2024-08-14
Acts 10:4 NKJV
Have you ever wondered where your prayers go? The answer is “up for a memorial before God.” Notice that they are “before” Him. They are in His hands and on His mind. Here when Cornelius prayed, God not only changed his circumstances, He changed history; for the first time, Gentiles heard the gospel and became part of the kingdom of God. How long had Cornelius been praying? We don’t know; the Bible just calls him “a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always” (v. 2 NKJV).
Prayer was not a hotline Cornelius used when he got into trouble or had a problem he couldn’t solve. He “prayed to God always.” He had a lifestyle of prayer. The word “memorial” means God remembers what you pray about. Prayer is like putting money into your bank account. You may not draw on it today or tomorrow, but it will be there when you need it.
Don’t get caught up in religious rituals. You can pray anywhere, anytime, about anything, and God will answer you. “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17 NKJV). When you run out of gas on the highway, you can’t blame the car. You got busy doing other things and neglected what was important. Prayer makes you conscious of God, keeps you connected to God, and positions you to receive what you need from God. So, keep praying because your prayers go “up for a memorial before God.”
Soul food: 1 Chr 16-18; Luke 12:49-59; Ps 119:41-48; Prov 21:1-3
