2025-04-25
Mark 2:3 NKJV
You say, “I don’t have faith to be healed.” Then find some prayer partners with faith. “Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith… He said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’ Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this!'” (vv. 3-5, 10-12 NKJV). Notice two important phrases in this story. First, “when they had broken through.” Second, “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic.”
If you don’t have faith to be healed, look for those who can carry you into the presence of Jesus in prayer, believe God for you, and who can “pray through” until God answers. This paralyzed man needed four friends with faith – you only need two. Jesus said, “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19 NKJV).
This raises some important questions. How often do you pray? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Only when you have a problem you cannot solve? Are all your prayers self-focused, or do you pray for others? To have prayer partners when you need them, you must be one.
Soul food: Num 8-10; Mark 2:1-17; Ps 35; Prov 10:28-29
Markus 2:3 NLV
Jy sê: ‘Ek het nie die geloof om genees te word nie.’ Kry dan gebedsmaats met geloof. “Daar daag toe vier mans by Hom op wat ‘n verlamde persoon op ‘n mat dra. As gevolg van die baie mense kon hulle hom nie tot by Jesus bring nie. Daarom het hulle ‘n gat deur die dak bokant Jesus se kop gemaak. Toe laat hulle die mat waarop die sieke gelê het, deur die dak sak. Toe Jesus hulle geloof sien, sê Hy vir die verlamde man… ‘Ek beveel jou, staan op, vat jou mat en gaan gesond na jou huis toe!’ Net daar het die man opgespring, sy mat geneem en voor almal se oë buitetoe gegaan. Hulle was almal verstom en het God geprys en uitgeroep: ‘So iets het ons nog nooit tevore gesien nie!'” (verse 3-5, 10-12 NLV).
As jy nie geloof het om genees te word nie, wees op die uitkyk vir diegene wat jou in gebed na Jesus se teenwoordigheid kan dra, wat namens jou in God kan glo en tot Hom kan bid totdat Hy antwoord. Hierdie verlamde man het vier vriende met geloof nodig gehad – jy het net twee nodig. Jesus het gesê: ‘Boonop verseker Ek julle: As twee van julle hier op aarde sou saamstem oor enigiets wat julle van God behoort te vra, sal my hemelse Vader dit vir jullle doen’ (Matteus 18:19 NLV).
Dit laat ‘n paar vrae ontstaan. Hoe gereeld bid jy? Daagliks? Weekliks? Maandeliks? Slegs wanneer jy ‘n probleem het wat jy nie kan oplos nie? Is al jou gebede op jouself gefokus, of bid jy vir ander? Om gebedsmaats te hê wanneer jy dit nodig het, moet jy self een wees.
Sielskos: Num 8-10; Mark 2:1-17; Ps 35; Spr 10:28-29
2025-04-24
Psalm 18:36 NKJV
Read these enlargement Scriptures: “You enlarged my path.” “Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would… enlarge my territory'” (1 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV). “Enlarge the place of your tent… lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes” (Isaiah 54:2 NKJV). God wants to enlarge you spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and in every area of your life. But to experience enlargement, you must learn from people larger than you.
Dr. John Maxwell writes: “The first ten years that I was intentionally pursuing personal growth, I was always behind trying to catch up. I had to get over the comparison gap. I recognized I needed to be exposed to bigger and better leaders outside of my own small circle, but when I stepped out of my comfort zone, I was intimidated. It was clear that I was not in their league. Their organizations were six times the size of mine, and they had many more and much better ideas than I did. I felt like I was in over my head and trying to swim.
Despite that, I was encouraged. Why? Because I discovered that great men were willing to share their ideas. And I was learning so much. You can only learn if others are ahead of you. It was a difficult transition, but it was well worth it. So if you are aware that others are better than you, don’t be discouraged. Be glad others are there to help show you the way. Growth is not a rocking chair you sit in, it’s a mountain you climb each day. But there is good news. As Jim Rohn said, ‘You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight.'”
Soul food: Num 7; Mark 1:21-45; Ps 94:12-23; Prov 10:27
Psalm 18:37 NLV
Lees die volgende Skrifgedeeltes wat oor vergroting handel: “Die pad onder my maak U breed…’ ‘[Jabes] was die een wat tot die God van Israel gebid en gesê het: ‘Laat u seën op my rus en vergroot my grond!..'” (1 Kronieke 4:10 NLV). ‘Maak jou woning groter. Span jou tent wyer… Maak die tentlyne langer en slaan die penne dieper in’ (Jesaja 54:2 NLV). God wil jou geestelik, emosioneel en verhoudingsgewys in elke area van jou lewe vergroot. Om egter vergroting te ervaar, moet jy van mense groter as jy leer.
Dr John Maxwell skryf: “Die eerste tien jaar wat ek doelbewus persoonlike groei nagejaag het, was ek altyd agter en het probeer om in te haal. Ek moes oor die vergelykingsgaping kom. Ek het besef ek moes aan groter en beter leiers buite my eie klein kring blootgestel word, maar toe ek uit my gemaksone stap, was ek geïntimideer. Dit was duidelik dat ek nie in hulle liga was nie. Hulle organisasies was ses keer groter as myne en hulle het baie meer en baie beter idees as ek gehad. Ek was oorweldig en het gevoel of ek verdrink.
Ten spyte daarvan was ek bemoedig, omdat ek ontdek het dat groot manne bereid was om hul idees met my te deel. Ek het so baie geleer. Dit was ‘n moeilike oorgang, maar dit was die moeite werd. As jy dus bewus is dat ander beter as jy is, moenie moedeloos word nie. Wees bly ander is daar om jou die pad te help wys. Groei is nie ‘n wiegstoel waarin jy sit nie, dit is ‘n berg wat jy elke dag klim. Daar is egter goeie nuus. Soos Jim Rohn gesê het: ‘Jy kan nie jou bestemming oornag verander nie, maar jy kan jou rigting oornag verander.'”
Sielskos: Num 7; Mark 1:21-45; Ps 94:12-23; Spr 10:27
2025-04-23
Psalm 5:12 NKJV
The Bible says that God will surround the righteous with favour. If you are trusting in the finished work of Christ, God sees you as “righteous” (See Romans 3:22). So, you qualify; you can pray, “Lord, I need your favour in this job interview,” or “in selling this house,” or “in making this deal,” or “in going on this date,” etc. Be prepared for your old programming to kick in, where you think about the word “righteous”; you begin to wonder if your thoughts, words, and deeds are good enough to deserve God’s favour.
Here is a truth you need to keep in mind: The only righteousness that God responds to is the righteousness of Christ. And since He has placed you “in Christ,” you are always qualified to ask God for favour and believe He will grant it. You are saved by grace. And the word grace means “unearned, unmerited, undeserved favour.” The world’s concept of favour is misleading: “She owes me a favour,” or “I don’t owe you any favours!” In other words, the world’s concept of favour is totally performance based.
But the only performance God looks at when it comes to granting you His favour is Christ’s performance on your behalf and the fact that you are trusting totally in Him. His life covers all your sins of omission, and His death covers all your sins of commission. And since God always sees you “in Christ,” in His eyes you are always qualified for favour. “Righteousness… shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus” (Romans 4:22, 24 NKJV). So, today expect God’s favour.
Soul food: Num 4:34-6:27; Mark 1:14-20; Ps 94:1-11; Prov 10:24-26
