My family and I have been back home for a while now and the holiday feels like a distant memory. However, it has been an amazing three weeks. We’ve experienced so many breakthroughs, both spiritual and physical. I’ve been training on the cycle trainer and it felt wonderful to once again work up a good sweat! It while I was working up this good sweat, that I was reminded of how much we, as people, enjoy making a ‘sweat’ of living. We absolutely adore having to struggle through life and burden ourselves with so much responsibility… isn’t it? No? Then why do we do it? Why, when Jesus did all the ‘sweat’ we’d ever have to do? Jesus, while on the cross, said the following: “It is finished!” We tend to read these words, think “oh its nice, isn’t it” and then just go on living a hard and ‘sweating’ life. Maybe we don’t really understand the implications of what Christ said! He did everything… There is nothing we can add to it… It is complete, a perfect work of salvation. No human ‘sweat’ needed to complete His perfect work of redemption. In the eyes of our Father, that which the Son has done, is enough! Our ‘sweat’ should only be directed at entering into His Rest (Hebrews 4:11), which is so much more than a holy or appointed day. The Rest that the Hebrews writer speaks of is an eternal celebration of God’s perfect work in Christ Jesus!
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus,"
The moment we understand what Christ’s perfect work is, is the day we are liberated from all human laws and expectations. Isn’t it wonderful that now, we also are made part of Someone else? Wherever we look, we see people’s dire need for acceptance, our need to belong to something or someone. The Good News that we read in the Bible is exactly this; in Christ we are accepted by God Himself! PLUS: we are not placed in Christ by our own ‘sweat’, we are placed in Christ by God the Father (1 Cor 1:30)!
John 14:17 "The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you."
Romans8:16 "The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God."
You are accepted by God, not because of your sweat, but because of His finished work! There is nothing that we can do or say to qualify us for Life, a Life in abundance. Nothing can bring satisfaction and fulfilment, nothing can make our lives more significant, but to understand our inclusion in Christ Jesus. It is His Presence in us and His character through us that constitutes LIFE (Galatians 5:22)!
Should we now just sit and wait for Him to do everything? No, that would be pure laziness. Life in the Spirit will sometimes mean working up a ‘sweat’, but this is not a ‘sweat’ so that (I can earn or achieve something), but a ‘sweat’ because of (I am compelled by His Spirit within me to do certain things).
Galatians 5:25 "If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]"
Please do not just accept what you read (accept for the Bible) or hear- but feel free to leave a comment, ask a question or add something!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
You need(ed) help!
It's absolutely amazing how the weather can change within the range of 600 kilometres! We came back from a lovely holiday on the East coast of South Africa, and back at home, it is about 10 degrees Celsius, on average, colder than at the coast! Nevertheless it is good to be back, being what God has called me to be! I have started preparing for the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Race in November, and believe that all my goals will be met concerning this challenge, although it is still on the trainer indoors! There is also a feeling in my heart, that our building project is going to take of, and that we will be moving soon from the place that we are renting at this stage!
Feel free to leave a comment, ask a question, or add something. And remember: He really loves you!
I would like to take this opportunity to share something with you, that has happened to us while on holiday. We visited friends in Umhlanga Rocks before we went down to Port Edward for a few days. On our way down we stopped at a favorite place, the Waffle House, to uphold a small family tradition! The Waffle House is situated in Ramsgate, next to a busy road which is the alternative route for the N2 highway. We parked in the parking area for the restaurant on the opposite side of this road. As we stood next to the road, waiting for a chance to cross the road, an elderly couple and their daughter, about 50 years old, were also standing next to the road, waiting to cross over to the other side. All of a sudden the old lady started running over the busy road, right in front of an oncoming car- I just stood there, without twitching, while her husband was shouting at the top of his lungs! I was sure that this car was going to hit her, but she turned around, and the car swung, and missed her by literally an inch! as she turned, she fell, while another car was coming towards her! This time I was sure that she was going to be hit and in the corner of my eye, I could see my wife running away! Amazingly the car stopped before it hit her, and she was helped to her feet and over the road. I cannot describe the shock, we had to go for a little walk, just to get our 'thoughts' together. I really wanted to explain to this old lady in no 'uncertain' terms, what I thought of the situation and her irresponsible behaviour, but felt led to leave it at that.
Two things to learn from this experience: if you need help to do something, take it, there is nothing to prove! There are people placed around us with a certain and specific purpose, and the only thing you are doing by not accepting their help, is stealing their purpose! I asked my children to remind me of this when I get to that age, or to a place where I will need people.
The second thing is the most important: God knew we could not do it on our own, so He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, so that we could live through Him! Read the following Scriptures and rejoice in the Lord:
Galatians 2:20-21 (20) I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (21) [Therefore, I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous.]
Hebrews 13:5-6 (5) Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] (6) So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?
Galatians 5:25 If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]
Hebrews 13:20-21 (20) Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament), (21) Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it).
Now that is Good News- God providing everything He requires of us! Shall we keep on refusing His offer? (Hebrews 4)
Feel free to leave a comment, ask a question, or add something. And remember: He really loves you!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Team Time Trial
During this time, the greatest cycle race in the world is on, the Tour De France. What makes this one special is the participation of one of the strongest teams in the world, including one of the most famous cyclist's ever, Lance Armstrong, who is actually taking part in this race as part of his project for cancer. (http://livestrongblog.org/) On the fourth day of the race, it was the team time trial, where teams ride together over a distance in a time trial format. And this was one of those exciting days in cycling, where Team Astana won the race, and put Lance in a position to get very close to the Yellow Jersey (the race leader's jersey). This was very unexpected, as nobody really expected Astana to do this well, but they did, because they were prepared, trained and they were focused on winning. I must say, it looked like they wanted to win with everything in them! At one stage the commentator said that Astana studied the course better than all of the teams participating!
Needless to say, it made me think about the spiritual implication that this has for us. Seeing how the teams worked together, and each and every member of the team did his part, was absolutely awesome! The team leaders kept on motivating the team, and in some teams did the most work in driving the team to the finish. Just read what Paul writes to the Ephesians in:
Ephesians 4:15-16 Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). (16) For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
Paul is writing about the leaders in verse 11-14, Who appointed them, and what their role's are, and then he writes about what we were made for- we are God's team! And by His Power in each and every one of us, we can exactly be what He created us to be, and win! This is so wonderful, but we need to know to Who we belong to and what He intended for us- and keep focussing on Christ- because in Him, we have received everything we need just to be that! (2Peter 1:3)
Romans 8:37 "Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us."
The family, with the exception of our oldest son, is on holiday on the East Coast of South Africa, in a town called Port Edward. We are really enjoying this time of rest, but I will keep on writing as the Holy Spirit leads me. Have a wonderful and blessed day, you are His special one!
Needless to say, it made me think about the spiritual implication that this has for us. Seeing how the teams worked together, and each and every member of the team did his part, was absolutely awesome! The team leaders kept on motivating the team, and in some teams did the most work in driving the team to the finish. Just read what Paul writes to the Ephesians in:
Ephesians 4:15-16 Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). (16) For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
Paul is writing about the leaders in verse 11-14, Who appointed them, and what their role's are, and then he writes about what we were made for- we are God's team! And by His Power in each and every one of us, we can exactly be what He created us to be, and win! This is so wonderful, but we need to know to Who we belong to and what He intended for us- and keep focussing on Christ- because in Him, we have received everything we need just to be that! (2Peter 1:3)
Romans 8:37 "Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us."
The family, with the exception of our oldest son, is on holiday on the East Coast of South Africa, in a town called Port Edward. We are really enjoying this time of rest, but I will keep on writing as the Holy Spirit leads me. Have a wonderful and blessed day, you are His special one!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Lemons and aquariums
Yesterday my son came home and he was very excited about a car that he saw at the local mall, a 'Volvo C 30', a car he saw in one of his favorite movies. Most of us has a favorite car, which we dream about, especially men. And our dreams consist of driving at high speeds, driving in some or other luxury, and then the dream comes to an abrupt halt, when we realize the cost of that particular car! But we almost never dream of a car, doing things that cars don’t do!
This made me think of something Jesus said just before He was captured in John 15: 1-5:
“ I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. (2) Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. (3) You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you]. (4) Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. (5) I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.”
Jesus says I am a branch implanted in Him, the Vine, already pruned by the Word, and by abiding (staying) in Him, much fruit will be seen in my life! And in this example, it is impossible for a branch to bring forth something else than grapes, like lemons for instance! What we need to see here is that Jesus is the Word, He took our pruning and cleansing from all sin and unrighteousness on Him, and because of this, we were made to be His branches, clean (righteous) and fruitful! And what we need to do is stay in Him, by focusing on the Word and to stay in fellowship with His Spirit. (2Cor 3:18)
When ‘fruit’ is mentioned in this context, we spontaneously think about the fruit of the Spirit which Paul writes about in Galatians 5:22-23:
“But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, (23) Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].”
The role of the Holy Spirit should be understood here, He came to lead us into all Truth. (John 16:13) So what He is doing, is showing us Christ (the Truth) in us, and as we see Him, His character becomes visible in us, and also through us! And it is His character we read about in Galatians 5:22-23, the only fruit, we were designed to bring forth, those of us who are new creations in Him. (2Cor5:17)
If we understand this by His Spirit, something happens on my inside, I see that Christ has dealt with everything that is against the Will of God, and that I do not want to sin anymore- because that is not who I am! I want to love people, I want to be patient and not “lose” it, I want to be friendly, because this is who I am! (Gal 2:20)
Sin is translated as “to miss the mark”, where the Mark, is Jesus Christ, and taking it a bit further, the word “mark” is translated as “character” from the original language, which means that, “sin” is missing His character in me- the same as a branch bringing forth lemons or a car used as an aquarium!
Please comment, add or ask- I pray that the Holy Spirit will enlighten the eyes of your heart, to see Him! And remember: you are His beloved!
This made me think of something Jesus said just before He was captured in John 15: 1-5:
“ I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. (2) Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. (3) You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you]. (4) Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. (5) I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.”
Jesus says I am a branch implanted in Him, the Vine, already pruned by the Word, and by abiding (staying) in Him, much fruit will be seen in my life! And in this example, it is impossible for a branch to bring forth something else than grapes, like lemons for instance! What we need to see here is that Jesus is the Word, He took our pruning and cleansing from all sin and unrighteousness on Him, and because of this, we were made to be His branches, clean (righteous) and fruitful! And what we need to do is stay in Him, by focusing on the Word and to stay in fellowship with His Spirit. (2Cor 3:18)
When ‘fruit’ is mentioned in this context, we spontaneously think about the fruit of the Spirit which Paul writes about in Galatians 5:22-23:
“But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, (23) Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].”
The role of the Holy Spirit should be understood here, He came to lead us into all Truth. (John 16:13) So what He is doing, is showing us Christ (the Truth) in us, and as we see Him, His character becomes visible in us, and also through us! And it is His character we read about in Galatians 5:22-23, the only fruit, we were designed to bring forth, those of us who are new creations in Him. (2Cor5:17)
If we understand this by His Spirit, something happens on my inside, I see that Christ has dealt with everything that is against the Will of God, and that I do not want to sin anymore- because that is not who I am! I want to love people, I want to be patient and not “lose” it, I want to be friendly, because this is who I am! (Gal 2:20)
Sin is translated as “to miss the mark”, where the Mark, is Jesus Christ, and taking it a bit further, the word “mark” is translated as “character” from the original language, which means that, “sin” is missing His character in me- the same as a branch bringing forth lemons or a car used as an aquarium!
Please comment, add or ask- I pray that the Holy Spirit will enlighten the eyes of your heart, to see Him! And remember: you are His beloved!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Receiving the Gift
Last week we celebrated my birthday, and what a lovely day it was! I want to thank everybody who had a part in it, even if you were not here! As I received a few gifts, for which I am very thankful, it got me thinking of something very important in life. When the gifts was presented to me, I received each and every one of them, not one person left with the present they brought me, I took it!
There is a few gifts given to us by God, which we need to only receive. We have been taught, that we need to do something to get into a certain place with God, but we need to read the Bible, and at this point I must say, the Bible is a spiritual writing and should be read in this way- if the gospel was based on intelligence, it would not have been the Gospel! And thank God that it is based on Him, and on Him alone!
1Co 2:14 AMP “But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated”.
And when the Bible becomes alive to us in the Spirit that God has ‘given’ us, we see that we need to ‘receive’ what God has given us. The word ‘receive’ is described, in the Greek/English dictionaries like the Vine’s, as ‘taking up, embracing and becoming one with’. Understanding this, the Gospel becomes what it really is, the Good News in Christ. Let us look at some of the Scriptures that speaks of this, and see the Goodness of God.
John 3:16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
1Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of his great mercy he has given us a new birth to an ever-living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
Romans 5:17 For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
Looking at the above mentioned Scriptures, it is very clear that God has done everything in Christ that we need to be, what He created us to be, here on earth! And Peter goes on to confirm this in 2Peter 1:3. So, we can stop trying to become what we (in the flesh) think God wants from us, and what people say you need to do or not do to be a Christian, and just see that Jesus death, burial and Resurrection, has dealt with all of this ‘stuff’ that we think is so important. We need to ‘receive’ it, we can not add anything or take anything away from the completed work of Christ! And, it was done for us, this is your everyday gift, God has given you Life, enjoy every moment, by being what He made you to be! By receiving and keeping your focus on Him, by looking at Him in the ‘mirror’ of the Word. (2Cor 3:18)
Please comment on this, ask a question, or just add something. May your day be filled with the realization of the Good part of His News! And remember- He loves you, yes, you!
There is a few gifts given to us by God, which we need to only receive. We have been taught, that we need to do something to get into a certain place with God, but we need to read the Bible, and at this point I must say, the Bible is a spiritual writing and should be read in this way- if the gospel was based on intelligence, it would not have been the Gospel! And thank God that it is based on Him, and on Him alone!
1Co 2:14 AMP “But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated”.
And when the Bible becomes alive to us in the Spirit that God has ‘given’ us, we see that we need to ‘receive’ what God has given us. The word ‘receive’ is described, in the Greek/English dictionaries like the Vine’s, as ‘taking up, embracing and becoming one with’. Understanding this, the Gospel becomes what it really is, the Good News in Christ. Let us look at some of the Scriptures that speaks of this, and see the Goodness of God.
John 3:16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
1Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of his great mercy he has given us a new birth to an ever-living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
Romans 5:17 For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
Looking at the above mentioned Scriptures, it is very clear that God has done everything in Christ that we need to be, what He created us to be, here on earth! And Peter goes on to confirm this in 2Peter 1:3. So, we can stop trying to become what we (in the flesh) think God wants from us, and what people say you need to do or not do to be a Christian, and just see that Jesus death, burial and Resurrection, has dealt with all of this ‘stuff’ that we think is so important. We need to ‘receive’ it, we can not add anything or take anything away from the completed work of Christ! And, it was done for us, this is your everyday gift, God has given you Life, enjoy every moment, by being what He made you to be! By receiving and keeping your focus on Him, by looking at Him in the ‘mirror’ of the Word. (2Cor 3:18)
Please comment on this, ask a question, or just add something. May your day be filled with the realization of the Good part of His News! And remember- He loves you, yes, you!
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