2023-12-07
Jakobus 5:14 NLV
Die Bybel sê: ‘Is daar van julle wat siek is? Dan moet julle die ouderlinge van die gemeente laat kom. Nadat die ouderlinge die siekes met olyfolie in die Naam van die Here gesalf het, moet hulle vir hulle bid. En ‘n gelowige gebed sal die siek mens gesond laat word; die Here sal hom laat opstaan…’ (verse 14-15 NLV). Laat daar dus geen twyfel wees nie: wanneer ons siek is, word ons aangesê om die ouderlinge te roep om ons met olyfolie te salf en vir ons te bid, met die geloof dat ons gesond sal word.
Ons moet ook in tye van siekte vir mekaar bid. Jesus het gesê: ‘Hierdie is die wondertekens wat dié sal beleef wat glo… in my Naam…. sal [hulle] siekes die hande oplê, en hulle sal gesond word’ (Markus 16:17-18 NLV).
As jy vandag siek is, bid die volgende: “Here, selfs al is die dokter se verslag negatief, het U die laaste sê oor my lewe. U Woord sê: ‘U het my gesien voor ek gebore is. In u boek is alles opgeteken…’ (Psalm 139:16 NLV). Vergewe my vir enige deur wat ek vir hierdie siekte oopgemaak het deur nie goed na my gesondheid te kyk nie. Hef my as getuienis van u helende krag op. U is die God wat wonderwerke doen en wat dieselfde gister, vandag en vir altyd is (sien Hebreërs 13:8). Ek neem gesag oor elke gebrekkige deel van my liggaam en beveel elkeen om in die Naam van Jesus gesond te word. Ek beveel dat ek nie voor my vasgestelde tyd sal sterf nie, maar sal lewe om te getuig wat U gedoen het (sien Psalm 118:17). Deur geloof staan ek op U Woord en verklaar: ‘Deur u wonde is ek genees'” (sien Jesaja 53:5).
Sielskos: Jos 8:30-10:43; Joh 14:15-25; Ps 147:1-11; Spr 29:1-5
James 5:14 NIV
The Bible says, “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up” (vv.14-15 NIV). So, let’s be in no doubt; when we’re sick, we are told to call for the church elders to anoint us with oil and pray over us, believing that we will be healed.
In times of sickness, we’re also told to pray for one another. Jesus said, “These signs will follow those who believe: In My name… they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18 NKJV).
If you are sick today, pray: “Lord, even though the doctor’s report is negative, you have the last word concerning my life. Your word says, ‘You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book’ (Psalm 139:16 NLT). Forgive me for any door I may have opened to this illness by failing to be a good steward of my health. Raise me up as testimony to your healing power. You are the changeless miracle-working God yesterday, today, and forever (See Hebrews 13:8). I take authority over every defective part of my body and command each one to be made whole in the name of Jesus. I decree that I will not die before my appointed time but will live to report what you have done (See Psalm 118:17). By faith I stand on your word and declare, ‘By your stripes I am healed'” (See Isaiah 53:5).
Soul food: Josh 8:30-10:43; John 14:15-25; Ps 147:1-11; Prov 29:1-5
2023-12-06
Ephesians 1:4 NKJV
When it comes to God’s will for your life, He decides it and you discover it. It’s not something you can change, a topic for debate, or a plan you get to have a say in. The truth is, you can miss God’s will and be miserable, or do things His way and experience “glorious, inexpressible joy” (1 Peter 1:8 NLT). The choice is yours.
“But I don’t know God’s will for my life,” you say. Then pray this prayer: “Father, I’m tired of going through life with no real purpose because it brings no glory to you. You created every living thing, including me, that they may bring you pleasure (See Revelation 4:11). I know that you have a specific job for me to do. Your Word says you formed me in the womb to be your servant (See Isaiah 49:5 NIV). I’m getting lots of input from other people, but I need to know the path you have chosen for me. Help me to stop ignoring and minimizing the gifts and talents you have invested in me; acting like they’re of no significance. I know we are all called to serve, and I need your help to discern who, where, when, and how I should serve. I want to do what you have destined me to do and not be sidetracked by wrong priorities, busywork, or other people’s desires and demands. At the end of my life, I want to be able to look back and say like Jesus, ‘I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to’ (See John 17:4 NIV). In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”
Soul food: Josh 5:1-8:29; John 14:1-14; Ps 2; Prov 28:25-28
Efesiërs 1:4 NLV
Wanneer dit by God se wil vir jou lewe kom, besluit Hy dit en jy ontdek dit. Dis nie iets wat jy kan verander, ‘n onderwerp waaroor jy kan debatteer of ‘n plan waarin jy ‘n sê het nie. Jy kan God se wil misloop en ellendig voel, of jy kan dinge op sy manier doen en ‘…wonderlike blydskap…’ (1 Petrus 1:8 NLV), ervaar. Die keuse is joune.
‘Maar ek weet nie wat God se wil vir my lewe is nie,’ sê jy. Bid dan die volgende gebed: ‘Here ek is moeg om sonder enige ware doel deur die lewe te gaan. U het elke lewende ding, insluitend vir my, geskape sodat hulle U kan eer (sien Openbaring 4:11). Ek weet dat U ‘n spesifieke werk vir my het. U Woord sê dat U my in die moederskoot gevorm het om u dienaar te wees (sien Jesaja 49:5 NLV). Ek kry baie insette by ander mense, maar ek moet die pad weet wat U vir my gekies het. Help my om op te hou om die gawes en talente wat U in my belê het te ignoreer en af te maak, deur op te tree asof dit nie van belang is nie. Ek weet dat ons almal geroepe is om te dien en ek het u hulp nodig om te onderskei wie, waar, wanneer en hoe ek moet dien. Ek wil dit waarvoor U my bestem het doen en nie deur verkeerde prioriteite, werk of ander mense se begeertes en eise afgelei word nie. Ek wil aan die einde van my lewe kan terugkyk en soos Jesus kan sê: ‘Ek het U op aarde verheerlik deur die werk te voltooi wat U my gegee het om te doen’ (sien Johannes 17:4 NLV). In die naam van Jesus bid ek dit. Amen.’
Sielskos: Jos 5:1-8:29; Joh 14:1-14; Ps 2; Spr 28:25-28
2023-12-05
Genesis 27:27 NIV
Every child longs for their father’s blessing, and every father is called to bless their children. When Isaac blessed his sons, he was acting on God’s behalf, using his divinely delegated power to impart blessing. A father’s blessing was a cherished institution, but its effectiveness rested on the fact that Isaac blessed his sons as an act of faith and not out of mere sentiment or favouritism. By Hebrew custom, a father’s blessing comprised two elements.
(1) A meaningful touch. “Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him… Then his father Isaac said to him, ‘Come here, my son, and kiss me'” (Genesis 27:22, 26 NIV). A patriarch’s blessing included the laying on of hands, a kiss, and embrace of acceptance and love. Jesus knew exactly what children needed, that’s why “he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them” (Mark 10:16 KJV). And such expressions of love still bless our children who crave them from us.
(2) A spoken word of affection. Before blessing Jacob, his father said to him, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed” (Genesis 27:27 NIV). To a city dweller these words may not mean much, but not to Isaac’s boys. This old outdoors patriarch who loved nature was in essence saying, “That’s my boy – a hunter, a man’s man, just like his dad!” He couldn’t have spoken more affirming words to his son. Dad, let your words not be critical, demeaning, or insensitive, but words that say, “I couldn’t be prouder than to call you my child!”
Soul food: Josh 1-4; John 13:31-38; Ps 130; Prov 28:21-24
