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Month: July 2018

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‘n Oproep tot VREDE in Suid Afrika

Die Here is besig om ‘grond’ te gebruik om ons oë oop te maak in SA.[1] Nog nooit het ons oor enige saak so baie gepraat en geredeneer, as tans oor die Grond Kwessie nie.

“Nadat Hy dit gesê het, spoeg Hy op die grond en maak met die spoeg ‘n bietjie klei aan. Toe smeer Hy die klei aan die man se oë en sê vir hom: “Gaan was jou in die Siloambad.” Siloam beteken die een wat gestuur is.” (Joh 9:4-21)

Ons verlossing gaan daarin lê dat ons nie onsself as grondeienaars sien nie, maar gestuurdes. President Cyril Ramaphosa se woorde “stuur my” is dalk meer profeties en rigtinggewend as wat ons dink.[2]

Daar is ’n spreekwoord in Swahili wat sê: “Wanneer twee bulle baklei, is dit die gras wat daaronder ly.” Dit is algemeen bekend dat Sosialiste/Kommuniste nie werklik omgee vir arm mense nie, hulle is net in wese woedend teenoor rykes.[3]Suiwer Kapitalisme verryk die individu ten koste van die geheel.[4]  Ons land is verdeeld tussen die wat veg om hulle rykdom te behou, die ekonomie in stand te hou, terwyl ander uitroep vir verlossing van ‘n geskiedenis van uitsluiting, marginalisering en die sinkgat van armoede.[5]

Die beste oplossing vir grondhervorming is nie “die beste plan” nie, maar is een waar swart en wit bymekaar kan kom met vergifnis en dienende harte om saam die oplossings te vind.[6]

Wanneer ons hande vat, kan niemand vingers wys nie. Ons verskeie kulture is baie meer geïntegreerd as wat ons dink. Swart en bruin ma’s het baie wit kinders help grootmaak. Ons genetiese poel is so vermeng dat baie min Suid-Afrikaners daarop kan aanspraak maak dat hulle ‘n suiwer wit of swart ras is. Ons tale is deurweef met stukkies en brokkies van die ander.[7]Ons oorspronklike inheemse kulture is verlore en word nog net in museums bewaar. Ons almal gaan elke dag winkel toe en ons koop dieselfde produkte. Ons is almal Suid-Afrikaners, inheems, uniek, ’n diverse Nasie met ’n spesiale boodskap van vrede en harmonie.

Ons almal soek mens-waardigheid, sosiale regverdigheid en waarheid. Ons land gaan gebuk en is besig om te sneuwel onder landswye korrupsie, leuens en bedrog van beide die regering en privaat-sektor leierskap. Ons verklaar dit is genoeg![8]

’n Nuwe maatskaplike verbintenis (Social Covenant) moet gesluit word tussen die mense, die privaat en die staatsektor sodat die lewensomstandighede van alle Suid-Afrikaners verbeter kan word.[9] Hierdie verbond kan net in die lokale gemeenskap op grondvlak geskep word waar leiers en mense nie meer oor mekaar praat nie maar met mekaar.[10]  Om die Konstitusie te verander of nie, beleide te skryf, en druk op die regering toe te pas gaan nie harte verander nie. Ons benodig ‘n wesenlike harts-verandering waar boere en werkers, en gemeenskappe hulle harte na mekaar draai, en saam begin oplossings soek.  Hou op protesteer en baklei, en begin innoveer, skep en bou aan ‘n nuwe toekoms, waar armoede aangespreek word, en burgers in vrede met mekaar saamwoon.[11]

Die enigste manier waarop hierdie LAND gaan oorleef, is om inklusief te dink, te praat, en te doen, om nie meer van hulle te praat nie, maar van ons.

Ons almal hunker na waardigheid, regverdigheid en vrede. Daar is geen waardigheid in korrupsie, bedrog, diefstal, leuens en oneerlikheid nie. Ware waardigheid is wanneer ons bou aan ’n beter toekoms vir almal, ook ons kinders. Daar is geen regverdigheid as net een groepering wen nie, en daar is geen vrede as ons nie almal deel is van die oplossing nie.

Ons kan ’n nuwe nasie word deur saam te werk, saam te bou en saam te regeer. As Rwanda na die ergste volksmoord in menseheugenis as ’n nasie kan opstaan deur saam te werk, hande te vat, korrupsie uit te wis en geregtigheid na te streef, kan ons verseker ook.[12]

Ons demokrasie is in sy onstuimige tienerjare. As ons egter by die waardes hou wat ons voorgeslagte en verskeie leiers, asook Madiba nagestreef het, sal ons ontwikkel tot ’n volwasse, jong verenigde nasie wat die wêreld in die oë kan kyk.

Mag die leuse “Eendrag Maak Mag”[13] nuwe definisie kry vir alle Suid Afrikaners.

Vrede gaan egter nie maklik kom nie! Ons sal almal moet hard werk en bid daarvoor, met alle erns, geduld en deursettingsvermoë.”Ek het een groot vrees in my hart, die dag wanneer witmense hulle tot liefde gewend het, sal uitvind dat swartmense hulle gedraai het om te haat.”[14]

Here stuur my! ‘n kampvegter vir Vrede!

 

[1]Gideon Basson, tydens ‘n mannegebed byeenkoms in Citrusdal, 25 Julie 2018.

[2]https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sona2018-read-the-full-text-of-cyril-ramaphosas-address-here/

[3]George Orwell, The road to wigan pier, 1937 (Chap 11) Mentioned in chapter 1 of Jordon P Peterson, Maps of meaning, the architecture of believe

[4]Thomas Piketty, Capital in the Twenty-First Century, Harvard University Press, 2013

[5]https://www.news24.com/Columnists/Jan_Gerber/what-white-people-need-to-understand-about-the-land-20180727

[6]Dr Arno van Niekerk, Facebook Post. Facebook post. 4 Julie 2018

[7]Elizabeth A Eldredge, Fred Mouton. Slavery in South Africa captive Labor on the Dutch Frontier, Pg 141994.

[8]Arno van Niekerk. Genoeg. Hoekom is ons hier. 2015

[9]http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GAC_NewSocialCovenant_Report_2014.pdf

[10]New Nation, Landbou Thinktank Consensus. 21 Julie 2018, Bloemfontein

[11]Read Full Transcript of Barack Obama’s South Africa Speech | Time.pdf Madiba’s 100 year Celebrations July 17, 2018

[12]Stephen Kinzer, A Thousand Hills: Rwanda’s Rebirth and the Man Who Dreamed It

[13]http://www.dievryburger.co.za/2014/03/oorsprong-van-eendrag-maak-mag/

[14]Alan Paton, Cry, The Beloved Country

 

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Sermons

How to overcome an Offence

In the same way, an octopus hides (through clever camouflage) you will never know it is there, offense takes root in our heart, capturing us to do the will of satan. (2 Tim 2:26) When you try to remove an octopus, it defuses a dark cloud of ink, to even more obscure your view. It is not easy to see and recognize offense in one’s heart. Not even reading these notes will reveal it. The octopus is highly territorial and will defend its position. You need to ask the Holy Spirit to expose the root and stone of offense in your heart. You will also need to study the characteristics and symptoms to help you discover its position in your consciousness and attitude. But knowing it is there and seeing the signs still does not bring freedom, you uproot the source of offense. You have to act according to the way of Christ, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you out of the trap of satan.

Offended people produce satanic evil fruit, such as hurt, anger, outrage, jealousy, resentment, strife, bitterness, hatred, and envy. Some of the consequences of taking offense are insults, attacks, wounding, division, separation, broken relationships, betrayal, and backsliding.

Offense: “Skandalon” – laying a trap in someone’s way. The Greek word has the meaning of the little stick, used to catch birds. When people hurt us, it is a test, a potential trap. We should become wise and alert to see through the plans of the enemy, and not allow ourselves to be captured.

The ink/smoke screen the enemy uses to disguise is pride. Pride keeps us from dealing with the truth. It distorts our vision. We can never change when we think everything is fine. Pride hardens our hearts and dims the eyes of our understanding. It keeps us from the transformation of heart—repentance—that will set us free.

No matter what the scenario is, we can divide all offended people into two major categories: (1) those who have been treated unjustly and (2) those who believe they have been treated unjustly.

Psalm 55:12–14 It’s the ones closest to us that hurt us the most. Sometimes it is family! Church family, natural family, and close friends are the ones that hurt us because our defenses are often down towards these insiders. We tend to pretend more towards those outside, but the ones closest to us they see the true-self, when we are tired, lazy, self-indulgent. Intimacy is to be totally transparent without fear of being judged. “naked and not ashamed”

We take offense when:

  1. We have false expectations – of someone, of God, ourselves. God always tells us straight what we are getting ourselves into, not to create a false expectation. (John 16:1) An expectation that does not come to fulfillment leads to disappointment. (Prov 13:12)
  2. Our inner picture clashes with the outward appearance. Friends and family/spouse do not see/understand us. We feel they should know our heart. Jesus spend 3 years with His disciples, and they did not get it, until after His resurrection. They slept, while He was in agony. They did not get the fact that He must suffer and die.
  3. We are opinionated – (Rom 12:16) High-minded, wise in your own opinion. Wisdom of the World (1 Cor 1 & 2). The things of the Kingdom, does not always make sense to the natural mind. (1 Cor 1:18-31) You need to know and study the Word of God, through the revelation of the Spirit, to get to know God, and understand His ways.
  4. We do not like or agree with the demands of the gospel, fear of suffering. (2 Tim 3:12) The word of God will be tested in your life. When you start doing right, believing and obeying the Word, there will be opposition. Expect it!
  5. We Reject Correction because of pride – Not legitimate sons – Hebrews 12. True sons receive and ask for correction. We love to please our father, and corrections bring change and growth.
  6. We listen to rumors based on lies, agreements. (Lev 19:16; 1 Tim 5:13; Prov 17:9; 18:8; 20;19)
  7. We trust our own feelings. (Prov 16:25)
  8. We do not love sincerely – love is not easily offended (1 Cor 13:5).
  9. We are not rooted and grounded in the Word of Truth – Eph 4:15. The more we know the Word, and discover the truth, the more we mature in God, to no longer be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. We look and judge, and proof our lives, and people through the Bible. The Word heals our perspective to look at people without filters of offence, human judgment, preconceived ideas, racism, exclusivity, and pride.
  10. We are too sensitive – have not died to the flesh (Pro 14:17) (Love is not touchy).
  11. We try to hide sin & disobedience. Sin is deception and will always try to self-justify, and be self-righteous, vindicating self.
  12. We have been exposed to false doctrine, false prophecy and false teaching. Many people became disillusioned because of false teachings. (2 Cor 11:13; Gal 2:4; Col 2:16 23; 2 Pet 2:1-18)

How do you deal with offenses:

Study (Luk 17:1-7) to see the steps, of how you should deal with offenses.

We cannot help, and prevent offenses to come: v1 “Temptations (snares, traps set to entice to sin) are sure to come” Scott Peck says in the first line of chapter one, (the road less traveled) “Life is an obstacle course” But surely when we fall from an obstacle, we do not remain on the ground crying and complaining. We do get up again, and we try again, until we succeed! Many people do never get over life’s hurts and offenses and remain in their own self-made prison of resentment, bitterness, and anger. They make vows in their heart, to be never be hurt again, ending up isolated and distant from the very sources of provision and personal growth.

Although God does not give offense, He uses offense to make as emotionally and spiritually mature. The enemy uses offense to stop us from growing and maturing. The obstacle course is not your enemy, it can became your friend and coach that make you stronger, if you learn to embrace the pain.

v3 “Take heed to yourselves” You must take responsibility of your won well-being. Yes your parents are supposed to look after you and help you, but if they for some reason cannot help and support, do not moan and groan. Get up and do something. Neither is your spouse responsible for your happiness. Yes a husband should take care, cherish and love you. But you yourself are responsible, to become complete in His love first. God is love, and it his Love that complete and fulfills us. (Ephesians 3:16-20)

v3b If your brother sins against you, REBUKE HIM; and if he repents, forgive him. The emphasis in this portion of scripture is to correct wrong behavior. Because of our hurt, we focus so much on our own pain, that we do not in the end are able to help the offender to change. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE is an approach to justice that aims to involve the parties to a dispute and others affected by the harm (victims, offenders, families concerned and community members) in collectively identifying harms, needs and obligations through accepting responsibilities, making restitution, and taking measures to prevent a recurrence of the incident and promoting reconciliation. – See more at: http://www.justice.gov.za/rj/rj.html#sthash.ghXRR2QC.dpuf

This is I believe God’s primary reason, why we need to overcome offense, so that we can help the offender on a path of healing. This is how we break the cycle of retaliation, where people continue to hurt another because we ourselves have been hurt.

This is the gift of repentance that Paul speaks about to the Corinthian church. “You have been made sorry” (2 Cor 7:9) “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation” (v10) “you sorrowed in a godly manner:

– What diligence it produced in you, (speúdō – Careful, Diligence, earnest effort)

– what clearing of yourselves, (apología; to give an answer or speech in defense of oneself)

– what indignation, (aganáktēsis – under a great burden which results in indignation what fear, reverance)

– what vehement desire, (epipothéō – to desire earnestly. Earnest desire, strong affection)

– what zeal, (zḗlou – to be hot, fervent. Zeal, used in a good sense

– what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter (v11) (hagnós – Freedom from defilements or impurities)

The healing and complete restoration of the offender is the redemptive purpose of God. Repentance is a gift from God but Esau could not find it. “he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears” (Heb 12:17) When God works repentance, it brings lasting change. When studying the abovementioned list, it names all the ingredients necessary for the sinner to come free. Oh how wonderful to witness the greatest miracle – salvation! A Life changed and transformed! (2 Cor 5:17) The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgment. (Joh 16:8) He works this change in us. Not just bringing conviction of sin, but also convincing us of our right standing before God, having no fear of judgment.

I believe when we arrive at this place regarding sin, we will be willing to: a) humble ourselves b) be 100% truthful and honest c) obey and follow instructions. He works it in us.

5 Steps of true Repentance.

1) UNDERSTANDING – true repentance occurred when the offender deeply understand and see the damage and pain that was caused to the victim. Forgiveness is easy to give, when one recognize that the offender has understanding of the “why” and “cause” of the error and sin. David prayed the following phrase in his repentance of adultery: “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom” (Ps 51:6)

2) REMORSE – Tears of change and enlightenment, not of regret. Some people cry not because they are really sorry about their sin, they only regret being caught. The tears of regret is an awful deception, because the desire of self/sin/death has not yet fully conceive, and we still want to sin. (James 1:14-15)

3) RESTITUTION – Physically repair and fix what has been broken. Do what is necessary for the offended victim to be healed. What do the victim need to be done.

4) TURN – 180 degree turn and walk away. Abandon the sin. You are more than a sinner. It is not who you are. “yet not I, but sin…” (Rom 8:20) You continue to walk away from sin, and transgressing against people by grace through faith.

5) CONFESSION – You cannot demand forgiveness, you have no rights or privileges. Your have to earn trust and respect. Say: “Would you please forgive me?” The victim has the right to initially refuse, and when ready give forgiveness. You cannot ask forgiveness and use the word “but”. This is not forgiveness. Except full responsibility for your actions. You partner cannot be blamed if you disobey God, you chose to disobey. Adam blamed God: “It is the wife you gave me” Eve blamed the snake. (Gen 3:12-13)

Get to the root of the offense

There is no reconciliation between God and man without blood. Through the blood of Christ we have been atoned, reconciled. Rom. 5:10-11, the word ‘reconcile’ used in this passage means to change a person for the purpose of being able to have fellowship together. The verb katallássō is found only in Rom. 5:10; 1 Cor. 7:11; 2 Cor. 5:18- 20, and the subst. katallagḗ (G2643) is found in Rom. 5:11; 11:15; 2 Cor. 5:18, 19. The word implies two people who are at variance with each other and who are brought together because of a change that occurs. When the words are used in reference to the variance that exists between God and man, the change never occurs in God, but always in man who is the sinner. This is the meaning of the verb in Rom. 5:10, “We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled we shall be saved by his life.” Such reconciliation to God necessitates His changing us, through the new birth (John 1:12; 3:3). It is also the meaning of the subst. in Rom. 5:11, “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement [katallagḗ, reconciliation.

1) The Blood – There can thus be no reconciliation unless there is blood. Blood represent repentance and forgiveness. You cannot leave errors and sin without speaking up, and repent. You need to humble yourself! You need to go low! This is the only way to deal with offense! Only blood can remove the stone of offense. In order for you to forgive completely, and actually forget the hurt, you need to repent. Repent of the offense taken: bitterness, hardness, unforgiveness, criticism, alienation, resentment, fear of man, ungodly vows, pride. These negative emotions and actions is the fuel that keeps the memory-fire of the offense going. Once the fire gets no more new fuel/logs to burn, it dies out naturally. The oxygen that feeds the fire of offense burning in our hearts, are these specific sins, and un-Christlike actions and feelings.

2) Confront and verify the truth – Keep on engaging and maintain contact. Most of the time when we offended, we either attack or we flee. Both these attempts have disastrous results. People, who are in covenant relationship with each other, do not have the privilege to disengage! In the covenant ritual, an animal is killed. This is to symbolize that in the same way that after our death we cannot change our will and testament, in the same way we CANNOT break this covenant. We are instructed to break relationship with believers who have sinned (1 Timothy 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13; Romans 16:17 But the intention is to bring the brother or sister to repentance. (2 Cor 2:5-8) These disciplinary actions are temporary of nature, seeking repentance and change. God’s Judgment is eternal.

3) Do not symphonize (agree) with a person who is offended. Do not listen nor agree with their accusations. The person discussed is not physically present to explain their side of the story, or able to defend. Beware that a secondary offense is much more vehement than the original. Have compassion! Compassion and love moves you to do something about the problem. Bring the parties together, and be the facilitator, peacemaker that reconcile. (Mat 5:8) Blessed are the peace makers.

4) Take back your boldness, entrance towards God – (Eph 2:11-14) The Enemy wants to rob us of our right standing, so that through shame, guilt we loose our confidence and faith in God. Offense is satanic! It is void of God’s nature and the fruit of the Spirit. It separates! God gave His Son to reconcile us with Himself, He is the way, not your holiness and works. You originally came and made contact not because you were holy, but because He sanctified you and called you close. Reclaim your access to God, the door is still wide open. He has not moved. (Heb 10:19)

5) Know you own boundaries – know yourself. Remain in grace. Often when we stretch our own boundaries of obedience, we enter into a dangerous zone, where the enemy can easily reach us, and trip us. For example, If you are an emotional person, beware of the people you allow into your life. You do not have to be friends with everyone. Do not go unless you are send, and do not help unless you are asked.

6) We can only be offended to the measure that you are insecure. Seek to discover and find the reason for offense in yourself, not the offender. Ask the question. “Why does this offends me so much?” If someone else told me this, it would have meant nothing, but when my husband said it, I was furious! Why is this? What is the root of the insecurity. We deal with insecurities by facing them, stop self-pity and wallowing, get going and do something about it. Improve what you are doing! Learn to get your identity and approval from God. Your life is hidden in Christ. (Col 3:2) Insecurities are areas in our lives where we are not yet mature in Christ. Discover Christ in your insecurities and let Him validate and vindicate you.

7) Keep yourself in the love of God, restore the joy of my salvation. We live by faith. The fruit of faith is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Once we have lost our joy, peace, we will loose our righteousness, and in the end that will lead to doubting God’s Love.

We justify the transgressional sin in our lives. We feel entitled to the anger, because of the wrong. It is in trails of our faith that these impurities of the flesh are revealed. God refines us as Gold through afflictions, trials, and tribulations, the heat of which separates impurities such as unforgiving, strife, bitterness, anger, envy, and so forth from the character of God in our lives. Isa 48:10 and 1 Pet 1:6-7

Characteristics of an offended person

– HARDNESS (Pro 18:19) It is rather hard to win and soften an offended person. When we retain an offense in our hearts, we filter everything through it.

– Love does not seek its own, but hurt people become more and more self-seeking and self-contained. Pr 18:1 ISOLATE THEMSELVES

– So an offended Christian is one who takes in life but, because of FEAR, cannot release life. 1 Joh 4:18 Fear is most of the time the root, fear of man, fear of suffering, fear of being hurt and rejected, fear of commitment and failure, fear of loss, fear of death. This fear blinds you, and filters out the entire positive perspective, and thus causes such a person to not being able to reason logically. The emotion hinders godly perspective, only looking at the rock of offense.

– STONE/Rock of offense. The wrong deed becomes the focus, we cannot see beyond it. When offended with someone, you feel you see a secret truth about that person (usually one aspect), and that everyone else is blinded. (Who sees the whole person, even with their mistakes, but also with their goodness) Offense DEMONIZE an aspect of a person’s life, to justify the total rejection of that person.

– ALIENATION OF THE MIND Col 1:21 (imaginary rejection)

– Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is BECLOUDED. [They are] alienated (estranged, SELF-BANISHED) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the WILLFUL BLINDNESS) that is deep-seated in them, due to their HARDNESS OF HEART [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature]. (Ephesians 4:18 AMP)

– void of the spirit of life, God breathe into dust, without His presence we become like dust again, no life, dead, lifeless, carnal.

– Offended people become DISCONNECTED from God. When we filter everything through past hurts, rejections, and experiences, we find it impossible to believe God. We cannot believe He means what He says. We doubt His goodness and faithfulness since we judge Him by the standards set by man in our lives. But God is not a man! He cannot lie (Num. 23:19). His ways are not like ours, and His thoughts are not ours (Isa. 55:8–9). If for some reason you are offended with God, (by questioning Him), it would in essence mean that He has to ask you forgiveness. This is a prideful. People often question “Where was God when…” God asks:” where were you? I have not moved.

– And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. —Mat 24:10 Let’s examine this statement. If we look closely we can see a progression. An offense leads to BETRAYAL, and betrayal leads to HATRED. a Betrayal in the kingdom of God comes when a believer seeks his own benefit or protection at the expense of another believer. The Bible states clearly that anyone who hates his brother is a murderer and that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3:15).

– RETALIATION – Jesus being crucified never retaliated. (1 Pet. 2:21–23). Read and study Joseph’s life, “I served my master with honesty and with integrity for over ten years. I’m more faithful than his wife. I stayed loyal to God and my master, daily fleeing sexual immorality. What is my reward? A dungeon! Ps 105:18 yet because Joseph endured in faith and obedience Gen 50:19–20; Rom 8:29

– LOOSE YOUR PERSONAL REVELATION and faith in Jesus. John the Baptist at conception received the spirit, was personal witness to the Father publicly endorsing His son. Yet when left in a prison, because of standing for truth, he became offended at doubted that Jesus is the Messiah. Mat 11:3, 6.

– UNFAIRNESS – http://youtu.be/lKhAd0Tyny0 You feel ENTITLED to your judgement, bitterness, anger and resentment.

– Offense SABOTAGE you from the SUPERNATURAL Mark 6:1 first he did powerful things… His family is offended… v5 he could not do any mighty works… He marveled at their unbelief. You cannot initiate anything supernatural when in the wrong camp. Favor brings an atmosphere of faith, offense is anti favor. Disgust, contempt, judgement, criticism leads to dehumanization, leading to demonizing, and ultimately rejection, alienation and in the end murder and death.

– OFFENSE IS A SPIRIT Mat 16:21 – far be it from you Lord… Peter in a few verses previously saw Jesus as the son of God, yet he interpreted this revelation as earthly rule and glory… He did not see the road of suffering. What Jesus was saying was against his expectation. “Get behind me satan.” Peter’s expectation was wrong and satanic. We think earthly. From the perspective of dust. Jesus expose satan working in Peter’s heart.

– TRIALS AND TESTS locate a person. In other words, they determine where you are spiritually. They reveal the true condition of your heart. How you react under pressure is how the real you reacts. It is in trails of our faith that these impurities of the flesh are revealed. God refines us as Gold through afflictions, trials, and tribulations, the heat of which separates impurities such as unforgiveness, strife, bitterness, anger, envy, and so forth from the character of God in our lives. Isa 48:10 and 1 Pet 1:6-7

Being offended at God

There is no legitimate reason for us to take offense. These following examples of people had a valid reason to be offended, but they did not. Mat 5:39-45 These are the true sons of God. We find TEKNON used in Romans 8:15–16. It says that because we have received the spirit of adoption, “the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children [teknon] of God.” When a person receives Jesus Christ as Lord, he is a child of God by fact of the new birth experience. (See John 1:12.) The other Greek word translated sons in the New Testament is HUIOS. Many times it is used in the New Testament to describe “one who can be identified as a son because he displays the character or characteristics of his parents.”

God told Chantál: “Are you angry at Me?” No answer… “If you are angry at me, then you expect Me to apologize?” Oh Lord, what arrogance and blindness we have! God is never wrong! He does not need to explain Himself. (His thought is not our thoughts Isa 55:8-9) Many people say, where is God, where was He when that happened? God is always there, and He didn’t move. But we moved away. We took our eyes of Him, and started looking at the storm.

Biblical accounts of offense:

Some of these characters had reason to take offense against God, but they did not, and their faith was counted to them for salvation. God is a good God, and wants our ultimate good, bringing us into rich fulfillment. (Ps 66:12) Yet what He does, doesn’t always make sense at the time, it is only later that we see His hand and protection.

  1. God asks Adam why he disobeyed. Adam blames God for “That woman you gave me,” causing him to sin (Gen. 3).
  2. God doesn’t accept or receive Cain’s sacrifice. Cain is angry with God for not taking his sacrifice. He kills Abel.
  3. Noah is ridiculed for many years after God tells him to build a gigantic boat on dry land. His obedience led to ridicule and slander.
  4. God tells Abraham that he will be the father of nations (That is also what his name means). He must wait until he is 100 and his wife is 90 for the son that he was promised.
  5. Joseph had reason his brothers deliberately wanted to kill him. (Gen 37:20-21) Joseph refuses to sleep with the wife of his boss. Jilted and angry, Potiphar’s wife accuses him of attempted rape and Joseph is sent to prison for years. Joseph was innocent in being put in chains in prison (Ps 105:18)
  6. Moses reluctantly agrees to go back to Egypt and speak to Pharaoh. Pharaoh increases the work on the Israelite slaves so that they are beaten. Their lives now more difficult than before, his own people curse Moses for doing what God told him (Exodus 5).
  7. Job suffers, unknowingly participating in God’s bet with Satan that Job will not curse God if his blessings are removed.
  8. Daniel thrown in lion’s den while in his 80’s.
  9. David anointed to be King, runs from Saul for 10+ years. Rejected, betrayed, sleeps in caves (1 Sam. 19-30). Saul sought to kill David, David looked to Saul as a spiritual father from greatly loving David (1 Sam 16:21) to wanting to kill him, “and Saul ‘eyed’ David from that day forward (1 Sam 18:8-9) Yet David’s heart did not turn into offense (1 Sam 24:11-13) who can stretch out his hand against God’s anointed (1 Sam 26:11)
  10. The angel Gabriel said to Mary, “Greetings favored one!” Joseph wants out of the relationship. They both must receive the stares and shaming from family, friends and relatives.
  11. John the Baptist, Jesus cousin, dies an ignoble death in prison. (Matt. 11:4-6). John was in prison because he spoke out against Herod’s illicit relationship with his brother’s wife. He was not given a Godly command to do this, else he would not have been offended in prison. When God gives you a command, and you suffer as a result there is grace to endure. Like Paul being send to Rome. He knew the danger, but was fearless. In the end Herodias ensure John’s death, because of her own offense being corrected publicly.
  12. Jesus’ states his mission is to “proclaim liberty to captives,” (Luke 4:18). But he leaves this sentence out when answering John (Matt 11:4-6)
  13. Jesus tells us to visit prisoners but we have no record of him visiting John (Matt. 25:39-40).
  14. Knowing our tendency to get offended, he says, “Blessed is he who is not offended by me.” (Matt. 11:6)
  15. Jesus heals on the Sabbath knowing it will offend the religious leaders (Mark 3:1-6).
  16. Jesus calls a foreign woman a dog. She overcomes the offense, comes after him and receives a miracle (Mark. 7:24-30).
  17. Jesus ruins the economics of an area when 2,000 pigs are drowned (Mark 5:1-20). He is asked to leave.
  18. Jesus is often frustrated with people and tells them, i.e. “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me” (Mark 9:19).
  19. Jesus curses fig tree when it was not the season for figs (Mark 11:12-14).
  20. Jesus tells observant Jews they must eat his flesh and drink his blood. “This is a hard saying, who can listen to it?” “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” (John 6:52-66). The truth offends, some departed, but the disciples remained “you have the Words of eternal life” (Joh 6:60, 61, 66)
  21. Because of his trust in His Father, Jesus allowed himself to be offended, betrayed, rejected, humiliated and tortured to death. “Father forgive them for the know not what they do” (Luk 23:34)
  22. Jesus expects that he will make us stumble and be broken. “But he looked directly at them and said, ‘What then is this that is written: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him’” (Luke 20:17-18).

These Biblical accounts show that much can be learned as they and we walk through the struggles of offense. In the midst of offense, we can wallow in self-pity or trust in our Lord God to make it right in His time, however long it takes. Remember, we are not looking for God to prove His love through our circumstances, the Cross of Christ proved God’s love. It may not seem fair, but there is purpose, His purpose in allowing offense. We’ve died to ourselves, our life is now lived with and for God. (Galatians 2:20) We may grieve our loss, but we don’t cry for ourselves, but for those who hurt us who don’t know how to love.

Nothing demonstrates that we’re not dead to ourselves like offenses. Wrestle with offense, placing it at the feet of God. Ask Him for wisdom. He may require you to wait. In the meantime, practice praising and thanking God for what you do have and not focusing on the loss. But let Him vindicate you, waiting for His miracle, His work as you press forward in faith, trusting. For God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

The way of the Kingdom is our escape Button

Love is never selfish, never quick to take offense. 1 Cor 13:5

Proverbs 19:11 “A man`s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”

When Jesus dies on the cross he exclaimed: “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do” (Luk 23:34) Why did he not say: “I forgive you” He made intersession for the people, asking God to not hold His death against them. Jesus is love! Jesus is forgiveness. This is the crux of the life He taught: Love your enemies, Pray for those who spitefully use you, Bless those who curse you! (Mat 5:43-44)

When we intercede for someone in prayer, God restores His love in our hearts. This is how He heals us from taking offense. He gives us compassion for the offender. We do not live anymore; we have been crucified with Christ. (Gal 2:20) We do not accuse someone before God. When intercede, we put our self in their shoes. This is when we will begin to see what God sees, a broken heart, and a heart needing a Savior!

Offense in essence is a lack of love, our hearts have turned. But by praying and interceding for our offenders and enemies we gain God’s heart, we see as He sees.

When His love floods our heart, we forgive and surrender everything to God. Faith is restored in Love. (Rom 5:4)

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Sermons

All land belongs to God.

 As a pastor, I’d say that although I recognise people’s needs, although I know about historical, deliberate displacement of families and the emotional trauma thereof, although I am able to feel, as deeply as I can, the straightforward pain of being imposed upon, and being reduced to poverty, the question of correcting all these realities can’t be reduced to ownership of land.

 The fact is that the innermost heart of humanity isn’t about ownership. This is a currently hyped politically opportunistic venture into persuasive words to stir emotions and gather votes.

 I am a pastor. My vision and concern is to hold care for the human heart supreme, and by so doing, to honour God. Remove God from the equation, and you have humans fighting and squabbling and grabbing land much as predators and scavengers fight over food.

 We are more than that.

 I could spend a lot of time pointing to what Jesus Christ practised, but I can cut to the chase: he owned no land, and had no need to, because he created it.

 His was the sun that volcanoed out our still-cooling earth: his is the mysterious crust on which we walk, wondering how we have come to be here. His is the strange vigour of life which we realise as we engage with our ongoing sense of purpose.

 Owning land means nothing if we don’t know how to husband the land, and the husbanding of families, as a point of significant engagement, has a long way to go, in our country. The hard work, the economic challenges, the discipline of development have been largely ignored in the call for compensation.

 As we argue with one another, and make presentations about what land belongs to whom, we forget how to honour the land, as we try to beget honour for ourselves. Land owes no-one anything. If we feel strongly that we are owed land, let’s not become arrogant and fall prey to ignorance. The entirety of history reflects boundaries and ownership claims. South Africa is no special exception.

 We have the opportunity and the ability to rise above self-pity, greed and opportunism. Our rhetoric and purpose should reflect this. Practically, there is no solution to ownership. Stewardship is a more relevant word, and husbandry the practicality. Owning land means nothing. You have to know what to do with it, and with educational aspirations being as dismal as they are at this time, handing over land for the sake of handing over land is futile.

 I am a pastor. I object to the political rhetoric that destabilises, for the sake of political purposes, our human sense of collaboration. Let the dispossessed speak to the possessors, let owners speak to those who do not own, let us allow the language of collaboration rather than promote the rhetoric of antagonism.

 And let us remember that stewardship and husbandry of land mean more to the people than ownership of land.

 It’s of little use to own a car if you don’t know how to drive it.

 It is of no use to claim land if ownership is the main intention, and fruitfulness neglected.

 Let us be practical as well as ethical, spiritual as well as material, and frank in our words with each other.

 And let us remember that he who created not only land, but also the celestial heavens, dwells in our real hearts.

 I am a pastor, not a politician. I do not seek votes. I seek the conviction of hearts and the concrete building of God’s kingdom. I seek economic opportunity. I seek minimisation of impediment to meaningful work. I seek family foundations. I seek that which really can be done, not the naive daydream of empty ownership, the rhetoric of which sprouts from manipulative politicians. I seek the real walls of healing homes, not the pretended paint that covers nothing.

 

Jan Oosthuizen

(Thanks to Dr Wally Willies for putting words to my voice)

Categories
Sermons

Making a peace offering for Land Expropriation

There is a Swahili saying, “When two bulls fight, it is the grass that suffers.”

Let us appease for the sins of our forefathers by cultivating the economy of this nation through Ethical Inclusive Agricultural Enterprise.

Together we can make SA the Eden of the world again.[1]  The best way to irradiate inequality, unemployment and poverty is growing the economy. Agriculture is the quickest and most sustainable way to do this.[2]Give the most productive commercial farmers a chance, remove the hindrances and legislative restrictions, smooth our path for international success.  No other sector of a country’s economy can sustain rural development as the agricultural sector. It populates the countryside, creates jobs for unskilled workers and draws secondary and tertiary businesses to remote villages. Alleviating the pressure on the cities. [3]

People cannot eat, title deeds, or land in the state. The land itself will not provide you with food on your table. We need a thriving, growing inclusive economy, to sustain and empower the National Development Plan. We need money to build houses, pay for the workers.  We need money to provide services and build infrastructure.  We need money to improve the quest of the poor.  We need money to start new SMME’s and pay people better salaries to go and spend their money at these businesses.

The best answer for Land Reform is not “the best plan”, but one where black and white can come together with forgiveness and serving hearts.[4]

When we take hands, no one can point a finger. Our cultures white and black are more integrated than what is believed. Black and coloured mothers have raised many white children. Our genetic pool is so mixed that there are very few South Africans that can claim they are of pure white or black descent. Our languages are interwoven with bits and pieces of the other. Our original indigenous cultures have all been lost and preserved in museums, as we shop together for the same goods every day.  We are all South Africans, indigenous, unique, a peculiar people with a special message of peace and harmony.

Our democracy is in its turbulent teenage years, but if we hold true to our values forged by our forefathers and leaders, like Madiba, we will grow up into a mature young unified Country standing tall in the World.

The poor are grieving for dignity. A new social Covenant is needed between the people, the private, and public sector to provide work and living conditions for all South Africans that shapes dignity and cultivates potential.

The only way this COUNTRY will survive is where every citizen learns to become productive and creative not in taking, but in giving.  One person, one work! There is no dignity in getting something one has not worked for.  There is also no dignity in saying sorry without offering restitution. There is no dignity in corruption, fraud, theft, lying and cheating.

True dignity is providing a better world for our children.

Dignity is working together for a common good!

We can become a new nation, by working, and building and ruling together.  If Rwanda can rise as a nation, after the greatest deadliest genocide recorded in history, by working together, taking hands, eradicate corruption, pursuing justice and productivity so can we.

 

Jan Oosthuizen

 

[1]https://www.thesouthafrican.com/land-expropriation-to-make-sa-a-garden-of-eden-ramaphosa/

[2]https://www.netwerk24.com/landbou/Nuus/afrika-is-gereed-vir-landbourevolusie-de-jager-20180612

[3]The role of agriculture in economics by Dr Philip Theunissen computus management building.

[4]Dr Arno van Niekerk, Senior lecturer/Economist, University of the Free State

 

 

Categories
Sermons

Grondreëls vir konflik hantering. 

In arbitrasie en konflik oplossing moet jy die persoon wat te nagekom voel se ‘offense’ beter kan verwoord as hyself (haarself) dan voel hy/sy, hy/sy word gehoor. Dan werk ons na oplossings. Die hele kwessie en mikpunt van die gesprek is: om te hoor, begrip te toon, medelye te hê en dan te werk na oplossings.

Dink anders oor konflik en gee dit ʼn ander naam. Ons redeneer  i.p.v.  argumenteer. Ons bespreek  ʼn punt  i.p.v. ons stry.  Ons verskil  van mekaar, maar is nie kwaad vir mekaar nie.

Begin altyd eers met die beginsels/waardes/emosies waaroor albei wel in eenheid is.  Waaroor stem ons saam? Voordat ons gaan begin om oor iets te praat waaroor ons dalk van mekaar mag verskil.

Kies die regte tyd, die tyd wanneer beide partye ten volle by die gesprek is sonder onderbrekings.

Beplan konflik :  Die meeste konflik gebeur onverwags en onbepland en omdat niemand hierop voorbereid is gebruik ons gewoonlik verkeerde en negatiewe ammunisie teen mekaar. Maak ʼn afspraak en kom vooraf ooreen wat die punt van bespreking gaan wees.  So kry elkeen tyd om voor te berei.  Ons grootste vyand in konflik hantering is ons vrees vir konflik, en ons poging om dit te vermy.  Konflik wat nie gehanteer word nie, internaliseer en kom dan in gedrag en gesindhede te vore, wat nog meer negatief is tot die verhouding.  Praat dinge uit, en hoor mekaar!

Definieer die punt waaroor die bespreking gaan duidelik. Wie se probleem is dit?  Waar het die probleem begin? Wie raak die probleem? Sit selfs by ʼn tafel met  papier en pen. Die grootste uitdaging in konflik hantering is om by die punt te bly, wanneer ons dit regkry is dit baie makliker, en kan die partye gouer by ʼn vergelyk kom.

Visualiseer mekaar langs mekaar teenoor die probleem, m.a.w. werk vanaf eenheid, dis ons twee teenoor die probleem.  Konflik begin wanneer ons mekaar as die probleem begin sien. In sport geld die reël; “speel die bal nie die persoon nie” dieselfde reël is van wesentlike belang in konflik hantering met iemand in ʼn huweliksverhouding.

Aanvaar dat julle dalk nie die ander persoon gaan oortuig nie, en dus “agree to disagree”.  Dit is nie verkeerd om verskillende opinies oor ʼn sekere saak te hê nie.  Ons eenheid hang nie af van alles waaroor ons saamstem nie.  Solank ons grondwaardes ooreenstem.

Familiariteit is baie gevaarlik in ʼn intieme verhouding, want ons dink ons kan enigiets sê of doen, en dit móét aanvaar word, want ons is getroud.  Hou konflik professioneel en dink aan jou gedrag soos wat dit sal wees teenoor iemand wat jy werklik respekteer.  Jy sal byvoorbeeld nie sulke kru taal gebruik voor jou kerk leier of huiskerk leier nie. Behou te alle tye respek vir mekaar.

Lys moenies :

  1. Moenie van die punt afbeweeg en ʼn nuwe aanval loots nie.
  2. Moenie veralgemeen nie.
  3. Moenie die woorde “altyd of nooit” gebruik nie.
  4. Probeer so min as moontlik sinne begin met “jy” praat eerder van ons.
  5. Moenie emosioneel raak nie, indien wel, stop die gesprek beleefd en vra of julle met die gesprek op ʼn ander tyd kan voortgaan.Stem ooreen oor die tyd wanneer julle weer bymekaar gaan kom.  Moenie net uitstorm nie.  Enige emosie is sleg tot konstruktiewe konflik oplossing.  Woede, trane, stilstuipe en ontrekking is emosionele reaksies wat die gesprek ontspoor.  Wanneer ons byvoorbeeld kwaad raak, kan ons nie kognitief verder redeneer nie, want die bloed vloei na ons hande en ledemate.  Dit is wanneer ons dinge sê wat ons nooit bedoel het nie.
  6. Weerhou jouself van kinderagtige gedrag en manipulasie.Byvoorbeeld jou maat koggel, tart, dreig en vloermoer gooi.
  7. Moenie mekaar se swakhede kritiseer of gebruik om jou punt te regverdig nie. Wees versigtig wanneer julle mekaar se swakhede ontbloot tydens die gesprek.  Is dit werklik nodig? Vra eers jou maat se toestemming of hierdie spesifieke swakpunt nou bespreek kan word? Hou dit werklik verband met die probleem?
  8. Vra toestemming of ʼn sekere sensitiewe tema aangeraak kan word. Moenie net inbars en as te ware op heilige grond loop met disrespek nie.
  9. Moenie die kwessie probeer systap nie. Dink aan teenargumente wat belang het tot die punt onder bespreking, en moontlike oplossings.Vrae meer vrae om sodoende jou maat te probeer verstaan eerder as om nuwe probleemstellings uit te dink.
  10. Moenie aanneem dat jy weet wat jou maat dink en dit dan kommunikeer nie. Vra eerder is dit wat jy dink? Of verstaan ek jou reg?
  11. Moenie mekaar onderbreek nie. Oppas om bloot te reageer op ʼn sekere woord of sinsnede, omdat jy uit vorige gesprekke klaar ʼn negatiewe konnotasie het oor die spesifieke woord en weereens valse aannames maak nie.  Luister mekaar uit.
  12. Moet nooit kru of vuil taal gebruik nie, jou maat hoor die negatiewe woord en luister nie verder na jou redenasie nie.
  13. Probeer om nie jou stem te verhef nie, wanneer jou maat dit egter doen. Moet nie die stemtoon moraliseer nie. Sê eerder: “Ek hoor jy voel sterk oor hierdie punt, verstaan ek jou reg?” Harder stem toon is gewoonlik ʼn dringendheid en uitroep om gehoor te word en verstaan te word.  Die kragtigste woorde tydens konflik is: “Ek verstaan”
  14. Moenie ʼn aanval met ʼn aanval verdedig nie. Sê eerder: “Ek stem nie saam met jou stelling nie omdat…”
  15. Moet nooit jou argument vergeestelik en die Bybel teen jou maat gebruik nie. Sê eerder: Die Here het met my gepraat uit die woord om …” Moet ook god gebruik as geestelike manipulasie met woorde soos:  “Ek sal maar vanaand vir jou bid dat jy…” of “ek sal maar vir die huiskerk vra om vir jou in te tree nie.
  16. Moenie jou maat in ʼn argument met enigiemand vergelyk nie, “Jy is net soos jou…” of “ek wens jy was Sondag in die kerk dan sou jy gehoor het…” of “So en so se man”
  17. Moenie mekaar dreig met egskeiding, ek gaan my goed vat en loop nie. Dit breek die vloei van verder konstruktiewe kommunikasie, die ander party moet nou ook na die volgende vlak beweeg.

Moets :

  1. Onthou die koppie perspektief. Hou ʼn koppie tussen julle met die oor aan die kant. Vir die een persoon is die oor aan die regterkant vir die ander is die oor aan die linkerkant, wie is reg?  Onthou enige gebeurtenis het meer as een legitieme perspektief.  Hierdie beginsel geld selfs in die hof.
  2. Gaan gedurig tydens die redenasie terug na die punte waaroor julle wel eenstemmigheid het. Byvoorbeeld: Ons is beide lief vir mekaar en wil nie mekaar skade doen nie.
  3. Vrae eerder vrae as om te argumenteer. Die doel van konflik is nie om jou punt te regverdig of te verdedig nie, maar om mekaar te hoor.  Empatiese begrip vir jou maat bring groei in beide die partye.
  4. Balanseer die gesprek deur ook die positiewe eienskappe, karaktertrekke en pogings van jou maat te prys.
  5. Let op gesigsuitdrukkings, liggaamshouding, hand in die sy, vingerwys en visuele handeling wat dreigend, manipulerend van aard is. Onthou tot 70% van kommunikasie is nie-verbaal. Dink vanuit jou maat se perspektief en sien jouself soos hulle jou sien.
  6. Onthou as jy jou maat van ʼn sekere verkeerde gedrag probeer oortuig, dat hierdie oortuiging in jou maat se hart moet gebeur en nie omdat jy die beste argument gehad het nie, of die konflik gewen het nie.Die Bybel verklaar dat hierdie oortuiging lei, tot bekering en berou en die persoon verander. (2 Kor 7) Om iemand te oortuig met ʼn argument dat hy of sy verkeerd is bring nie noodwendig die hartsverandering nie.  Daarom moet sulke probleme biddend gehanteer word.  Jy moet konfronteer, maar vra deurentyd die Here vir die woorde wat hierdie goddelike berou sal aktiveer.  Dink byvoorbeeld aan hoe Natan Dawid gekonfronteer het met sy sonde.  Hy het ʼn storie vertel, wat oënskynlik glad nie op Dawid gerig was nie.  Direkte aanval lei in die meeste gevalle net tot ʼn terug aanval.
  7. Eindig die gesprek op ʼn positiewe noot. Daar is bewys dat paartjies wat dit regkry om konflik te ontlont en om te draai na ʼn positief, langer leef, en langer getroud bly uit die aard van die saak.  Wanneer konflik nie ordentlik uitgepraat is nie, en een party internaliseer die grief, verskyn die groef in gedrag en negatiewe gesindheid.
  8. Die beste manier om ʼn gesonde konflik te beëindig is waar beide partye die geleentheid gebied word om te erken en te bely.Meestal is dit al wat die ander party wil hoor, dat jy te minste erken dat jy verkeerd was of is.  Onwilligheid om foute te erken en vergifnis te vra en nie te eis nie, is tekens van trots en rebellie.  Konflik kan baie vinniger ontlont word deur bloot te erken en my maat se punt te hoor.
  9. In ʼn onlangse studie is bevind dat paartjies wat gedurig baklei en nooit dit afwissel met positiewe ervarings en momente nie, gaan baie vinniger in die skeihof eindig . Dit is dus baie belangrik om romantiese en lekker dinge saam te doen. Dit versterk die emosionele band en help baie om konflik beter te hanteer. Paartjies wat nie  ʼn sterk liefdesband beleef nie, en gebrekkige kommunikasie het, hanteer selfs die kleinste konflik situasies sleg.

 

Categories
Sermons

Hoe verloën ek myself elke dag?

Van toe af het Jesus dit vir sy dissipels duidelik begin stel dat Hy Jerusalem toe moet gaan en baie moet ly onder die familiehoofde, die priesterhoofde en die skrifgeleerdes, en dat Hy doodgemaak moet word, en die derde dag uit die dood opgewek moet word. Petrus het Hom toe opsy geneem en Hom begin berispe: “Mag God dit verhoed, Here! Dit sal beslis nie met U gebeur nie.”
Maar Jesus het na Petrus toe gedraai en vir hom gesê: “Moenie in my pad staan nie, Satan! Jy is vir My ‘n struikelblok, want jy dink nie aan wat God wil hê nie, maar aan wat die mense wil hê.” Mat 16:21-23
Toe sê Jesus vir sy dissipels: “As iemand agter My aan wil kom, moet hy homself verloën, sy kruis opneem en My volg, want wie sy lewe wil behou, sal dit verloor; maar wie sy lewe ter wille van My verloor, sal dit terugkry. Wat sal dit ‘n mens help as hy die hele wêreld as wins verkry maar sy lewe verloor, of wat sal ‘n mens gee in ruil vir sy lewe?  Mat 16:24-26; Mark. 8:34 – 9:1; Luk. 9:23-27)

VOORBEELDE VAN SELFVERLOËNING

Ons almal weet dat ons, ons self moet verloën.  Die vraag is hoe? Ek sterf in myself:
wanneer ek iemand vergewe.  (Luk 17:1-4)
Wanneer ek my broer vermaan in liefde.  (Eph 4:15)
wanneer ek erken dat ek verkeerd is.  (Jam 5:16)
wanneer ek bereid is om korreksie te ontvang. (Heb 12:5-11)
wanneer ek opofferend van my tyd en geld gee. (2 cor 9:6-15)
wanneer ek iemand lief het wat dit nie verdien nie.  (Rom 5:8)
wanneer ek in die teenoorgestelde gees optree. (Mat 6:38-48)
wanneer ek nie skaam is vir my geloof nie.  (Rom 1:16)
wanneer ek die Here onmiddellik gehoorsaam.  (Isa 1:19)
wanneer ek die Here spontaan en ongeïnhibeerd aanbid. (Joh 12:1-8)
wanneer ek geduldig is met mense wat swakker is as ek. (Gal 6:1-5)
wanneer ek maklik en sag is, “willing to yield” (Jam 3:17)
die lysie gaan aan en aan.  Maar hierdie dien net as voorbeelde.  Dink aan te minste nog 5 voorbeelde van selfverloëning en skryf dit neer.
En nou doen ek ’n beroep op julle, broers, op grond van die groot ontferming van God: Gee julleself aan God as lewende en heilige offers wat vir Hom aanneemlik is. Dit is die wesenlike van die godsdiens wat julle moet beoefen. Julle moenie aan hierdie sondige wêreld gelyk word nie, maar laat God julle verander deur julle denke te vernuwe. Dan sal julle ook kan onderskei wat die wil van God is, wat vir Hom goed en aanneemlik en volmaak is.  (Rom 12:1-2)

Hier is ‘n paar praktiese punte van selfverloëning wat jy kan toepas elke dag.

• Moenie talm en uitstel om met jou belangrikste dag aktiwiteite te begin nie.
• Moenie kla oor die min tyd of die baie werk wat verrig moet word nie, koop eerder die tyd uit en maak dit klaar.
• Doen alles sonder murmurering.
• Moenie voorgee hoe swaar jy kry nie, doen alles met blydskap en oortuiging.
• Moenie aandag trek op die groot en belangrike dinge waarmee jy besig is nie.
• Wanneer jy iemand aanspreek doen dit gebaseer op eerstehandse getuienis en nie hoorsê nie.
• Bly stil oor mense en hulle dinge en die foute wat jy sien, moenie stories oordra nie.
• Soek nie die eer of dank van mense nie, doen dit alles vir die Here.
• Moenie ongelukkig of gekrenk voel as jou advies nie gevra of gebruik word nie.
• Moet nooit toelaat dat jy gunstig teenoor ‘n ander afgespeel word nie.
• Moenie honger om altyd die geselskap te lei of die middelpunt te wees nie.
• Soek nie die guns, simpatie of begrip van mense nie.
• Dra eerder die blaam, as om dit oor te dra op ander.
• Wanneer jy nie die krediet of eer kry wat jou toekom nie, moenie ontsteld wees nie, wees dankbaar!
• Leer om vinnig te vergewe en vinnig jammer te sê.
• Moenie gaan as jy nie gestuur is nie, en moenie help alvorens daar nie vir jou hulp gevra is nie.
• Los die groot dinge wat jy vir die Here wil doen en laat toe dat Hy groot dinge deur jou doen.
• Ons kan nie altyd kies hoe die Here ons wil gebruik nie, Hy gebruik ons nie altyd om groot dade te verrig nie.
• Moenie iets doen waarvoor jy nie geloof het nie., dis sonde
• Soek nie die eer van mense nie.
• Moet nooit vergeet wie jou vooraf gegaan het en wie na jou gaan moet kom nie.
• Jy het niks alleen bereik nie.
• Ambisie kom nadat Hy jou die opdrag en mandaat gegee het.  Om dan alles tot die beste van jou vermoë te doen en dit wat Hy jou gegee het om te doen klaar te maak.
• Sukses lê opgesluit in die mate waarin jy dit wat Hy jou beveel het om te doen voleindig het.
• Moet jou nie oor te hoë dinge bekommer of tob nie.  Daar is genoeg krag vir elke dag.
• Moenie eiewys wees nie en te veel dink van jou eie opinie nie.
• Bly binne dit wat God jou toe geroep het.
• Moenie ‘n opinie lewer oor dit waartoe God ‘n ander man geroep het nie.
• Moet nooit jouself vergelyk met ‘n ander nie.
• Bly meer stil.
• Leer om te wag.
• Wag.
• Luister.
• Bly altyd ingestel en gefokus op Sy (Heilige Gees) se bewegings, woord, impuls, emosie, handeling.
• Die mense wat Jesus gekruisig het was die toe sogenaamde kerk.  Aanvaar dit!  Christene gaan jou die meeste teleurstel en is werktuie in God se hand om jou dood te maak.
• Onderwerp jou aan gesag.
• ’n gebedslewe is ’n bewys dat jy werklik van God afhanklik is en niks uit jouself kan doen nie.
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Die kwaliteit van jou verborge lewe, bepaal jou publieke lewe.

77391653 - iceberg floating on sea - appearance and global warming concept

Die gedagte van ‘n lewe van verborgenheid, druis lynryg teen die kultuur en sosiale tendense van ons tyd. Mense wil juis gesien word, ge’like’ word, ‘celebrities’ wees.  Die strewe om minder privaat te wees, en meer openlik te wees is ‘n goeie kant van wat op sosiale media gebeur. Maar die gehalte, en diepte, en waarde van dit wat jy uitgee, word bepaal deur wat in jou hart aangaan, die orde in jou binne wêreld.

‘n Ysberg is ‘n groot stukkie varswater-ys wat van ‘n gletser afbreek en vrylik in oop water dryf. Ongeveer 90% van ‘n ysberg is onder die oppervlak van die water. So word die sigbare 10% van ons lewe bepaal deur die 90% dinge wat ons doen, wat mense nooit sien nie.  Dis hoeveelheid vet wat sigbaar om ons heupe begin sit, word bepaal deur wat ons eet. 😉 Ons oefen program. Ons hoeveelheid TV tyd. is alles bepalend tot of ons gewig optel, en gesond leef. Net so in die gees. Die kwaliteit van ons gebedstyd, tyd in die Woord, intimiteit met die Heilige Gees bepaal of ons geestelike gesag en outoriteit het.

Die kwaliteit van ons karakter word bepaal deur die kwaliteit van ons verborge lewe – die lewe wat ander mense nie sien nie.  

Josef is in gevangenskap voorberei om ’n groot leier te word, hy het as ’n slaaf gewerk en is uiteindelik in die tronk gegooi.  Moses het ’n groot leier geword nadat hy 40 jaar lank in die woestyn as ’n skaapwagter gelewe het.

Too many sounds, appointments and conversations. Too much haste, anger and wanting. Too little silence, joy and power. Koos van der Merwe

JESUS HET ’n VERBORGE LEWE GELEI

Jesus het 90% van Sy lewe in verborgenheid geleef.

Volgens die mees onlangse opgrawings in Israel was daar net sowat 50 huise in die dorpie Nasaret. Die gebied was kleiner as 1,6 hektaar. In  Johannes 1:47 word gevra: Kan daar uit Nasaret iets goeds wees?

Hy het in Sy pa se skrynwerkerswinkel geleer om werk te voltooi (Mark. 6:3).

Hy het deur Sy lyding gehoorsaamheid geleer (Heb. 5:8).

Maar ons verbly ons ook in swaarkry, want ons weet swaarkry lei tot volharding; volharding lei tot ’n egte geloof en egte geloof lei tot hoop (Rom. 5:3, 4).

Toe Jesus deur satan roem, vernaamheid en bekendheid aangebied is, het Hy dit van die hand gewys (Matt. 4:3-9).

Jesus het mense gewaarsku om stil te bly oor Sy werke: Matteus 9:30; 12:16; Markus 1:44; 3:12; 8:30

Joh. 12:36 Dit het Jesus gespreek en Hy het weggegaan en Hom vir hulle verberg.

Joh. 8:59 Hulle het toe klippe opgetel om Hom te stenig; maar Jesus het stilletjies uit die tempel gegaan en tussen hulle deurgeloop; en so het Hy vertrek.

Joh. 11:54 Daarom het Jesus nie meer in die openbaar onder die Jode gewandel nie, maar daarvandaan weggegaan na die streek naby die woestyn, na ’n stad met die naam van Efraim. En daar het Hy vertoef met Sy dissipels.

Lees in Matteus 6:1-8 wat Jesus self gesê het oor vertoonsug en vertonerigheid voor mense.

Jesus het steeds uit die kollig gebly toe Sy broers voorgestel het dat Hy die fees gebruik sodat skares mense Hom kan raaksien (Joh. 7:3-5).

 

Van al die soogdiere vat mense se kinders die langste om gereed te wees om die wêreld alleen aan te durf – 18 jaar!

Ons kultuur leer ons dat mense wat eenkant lewens leef iets misloop. Moenie te gou beroemd raak of beroemdheid najaag nie – leer eers hoe groot die mag van tevredenheid en nederigheid is. Ons promiveer geensins isolasie agv vrees, woede, seer, of bitterheid nie. Ons praat hier van gesonde eenkant wees. Dis ‘ok’ om nie orals deel te wees nie en in alles saam met die stroom te gaan nie.

 

Waardeer die onbesonge helde in jou lewe:

Elke belangrike en beroemde persoon het die volle ondersteuning van ’n geliefde, ’n ouer, ’n sekretaresse, ’n assistent, ’n afrigter, wat hulle gehelp het om sukses in die lewe te behaal.

 

DIE WEG VAN DIE KONINKRYK IS VERBORGE

Verder is die koninkryk van die hemele soos ’n skat wat verborge is in die saailand, wat ’n man kry en wegsteek; en uit blydskap daaroor gaan hy en verkoop alles wat hy het, en koop daardie saailand (Matt. 13:44).

Bedink die dinge wat daarbo is, nie wat op die aarde is nie. Want julle het gesterwe, en julle lewe is saam met Christus verborge in God. Wanneer Christus, wat ons lewe is, geopenbaar word, dan sal julle ook saam met Hom in heerlikheid geopenbaar word  (Kol 3:2-4).

Moenie goeie werke doen sodat mense dit raaksien nie. Maar jy, as jy liefdadigheid bewys, laat jou linkerhand nie weet wat die regterhand doen nie, sodat jou liefdadigheid in die verborgene kan wees; en jou Vader wat in die verborgene sien, Hy sal jou in die openbaar vergelde (Matt. 6:1-4).

En wanneer jy bid, moet jy nie wees soos die geveinsdes (skynheiliges) nie; want hulle hou daarvan om in die sinagoges en op die hoeke van die strate te staan en bid, om deur mense gesien te word. Voorwaar Ek sê vir julle dat hulle hul loon weg het. Maar jy, wanneer jy bid, gaan in jou binnekamer, sluit jou deur en bid jou Vader wat in die verborgene is; en jou Vader wat in die verborgene sien, sal jou in die openbaar vergelde (Matt. 6:5-6).

Moenie die aandag na jouself, jou geloof of jou vroomheid trek nie. Maar jy, as jy vas, salf jou hoof en was jou gesig, sodat jy nie die mense laat sien dat jy vas nie, maar jou Vader wat in die verborgene is; en jou Vader wat in die verborgene sien, sal jou in die openbaar vergelde (Matt. 6:17-18).

 

Die Koninkryk se boodskap is die teenoorgestelde van die wêreld se boodskap

– as jy wil lei, dien die mense

– as jy eerste wil wees, gaan staan laaste

– as jy meer hê, gee meer

– as jy beroemd wil wees, verberg jouself

 

Selfs Jesus se finale oorwinning was in geheimenis gehul – 2½ dae in die graf (Ef 4:8-10).

 

Dit is die oorwinnings wat ons in ons verborge lewens behaal wat die mate van ons oorwinning in ons openbare lewe bepaal.

Die dinge wat ons in die geheim reg doen, maak ons wat ons is. Dit word INTEGRITEIT genoem.

Die lofprysing wat ons op ons eie, alleen, na God bring, maak Hom blyer. Dit is waar Dawid geleer het om God te loof en te prys – en hy het ’n man na God se hart geword.

Die dinge wat ons in die geheim perfek maak, dra by tot die absolute grootsheid van die finale produk.

 

Ons oorkom die verborge dinge wat ons in skaamte gedoen het deur dit na die lig te bring.

 

Mag die Here se teenwoordigheid die alleen tye, eenkant tye, en privaat worsteling tye van ons lewe vul, en ons harte vervul in ons diepste wese.