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Month: February 2020

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Waar kry jy jou krag vandaan?

Composition with alkaline batteries. Chemical waste

Sessie 3 van Heilige Gees seminaar: Jesus is ‘n permanente ewige volhoubare kragbron wat nooit load-shed en ‘depleted’ raak nie!

What makes you bold, strong, gives you strength? Where do you draw power from? Some people draw power from their personality, status, possessions, knowledge, influence, abilities or success. One can also draw strength from food, chemical stimulants, alcohol and psychedelic drugs. It is a known fact that survivors can also draw strength from positive sources like, family and loved ones, higher purpose, and meaning. Religious people draw strength from their traditions and methods. Ultimately Jesus is inviting us to come to Him and learn to draw power, boldness and strength from the Spirit and the Word!

Jesus promoted another more natural source of power.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 pDo not labor for the food which perishes, but qfor the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, rbecause God the Father has set His seal on Him.” (John 6:26–27) Jesus is a permanent source of power, and strength. The power that man seeks, is for self-preservation. The power that Jesus gives, is a power to heal. His power is to be given away, to free people, heal people and save people. When we live our creational purpose, His power will flow naturally. We are tired, disillusioned, broken, sick, disconnected, powerless because we seek our own rule, apart from God. The iron man superhero found an internal self-sustainable power source! When the power goes down, we need to charge all our devices. Load-shedding is happening because of an unreliable source! All these things mentioned has some power, to empower you for a while, but then you need to come back and reload, while the core is really diminishing and with every charge becomes weaker until depleted.

Jesus contained an inner supernatural, spiritual power:

Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit (Luk 4:14) Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. (Matt. 22:29; Mark 12:24) And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. (Luk 5:17)Power that left Him (Mark 5:30; Luke 6:19; 8:46)And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. (Luk 6:19) He was a power source Himself! People could connect, touch Him and receive power.

1411. δύναμις dúnamis; gen. dunámeōs, fem. noun from dúnamai (G1410), to be able. Power, especially achieving power. All the words derived from the stem dúna- have the meaning of being able, capable. It may even mean to will. Contrast ischús (G2479) which stresses the factuality of the ability, not necessarily the accomplishment.(I) Spoken of intrinsic power, either physical or moral, as in the verb dúnamai.(A) Of the body (1 Cor. 15:43, “in power” stands in opposition to “in weakness”; Heb. 11:11; Sept.: Job 39:19, dúnamis; Job 40:11, ischús; Ps. 29:4, ischús [G2479], strength).(B) Generally (Matt. 25:15; Acts 6:8; 1 Cor. 15:56; 2 Tim. 1:7) a spirit of strength, meaning manly vigor in opposition to a spirit of cowardice (deilías [G1167]) (Heb. 1:3, “His powerful word” [a.t.]; 7:16; 11:34; Rev. 1:16; Sept.: 2 Kgs. 18:20; 1 Chr. 13:8; 29:2; Ezra 2:69; 10:13; Job 12:13). Also in various constructions with katá (G2596), according to one’s strength, meaning as far as one can (2 Cor. 8:3). With hupér (G5228), beyond, above one’s strength (2 Cor. 1:8; 8:3). With en (G1722), in, and the dat. dunámei meaning with power or powerfully, mightily (Col. 1:29; 2 Thess. 1:11). With the dat. only (Acts 4:33). In Eph. 3:16; Col. 1:11, the dat. dunámei means with power.(C) Spoken of God, the Messiah, the great power of God, meaning His almighty energy (Matt. 22:29; Mark 12:24; Luke 1:35; 5:17; Rom. 1:20; 9:17; 1 Cor. 6:14; 2 Cor. 4:7; 13:4; Eph. 1:19; 3:7, 20; 2 Tim. 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:5; 2 Pet. 1:3). Joined with dóxa (G1391), glory, it implies the greatness, omnipotence, and majesty of God (Rev. 15:8. See Matt. 26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 22:69, “on the right hand of the power of God”; Heb. 1:3, “on the right hand of the Majesty”). By metonymy spoken of a person or thing in whom the power of God is manifested, i.e., the manifestation of the power of God (Acts 8:10; see Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:18, 24). With the gen. phrase “of God” it expresses the source, i.e., power imparted from God (1 Cor. 2:5; 2 Cor. 6:7). Spoken of Jesus as exercising the power to heal (Mark 5:30; Luke 6:19; 8:46; 2 Cor. 12:9). In Rom. 1:4, “in power [en dunámei]” (a.t.) stands for the gen. toú dunatoú, the Son of God, the powerful One. In the sense of power, omnipotent majesty (Matt. 24:30; Mark 9:1; 13:26; Luke 21:27, “with power and great glory”; 2 Thess. 1:7, “with angels of His power” [a.t.] means the angels who are the attendants of His majesty; 2 Pet. 1:16); as spoken of the power of the Spirit meaning the power imparted by the Spirit (Luke 4:14; Rom. 15:13, 19); of prophets and apostles as empowered by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:17; 24:49; Acts 1:8 [cf. Acts 2:4]).(D) Spoken of miraculous power, “the mighty power of signs and wonders” (a.t.) means the power of working miracles (Rom. 15:19, explained by the power of the Spirit in the next clause; see Acts 10:38; 1 Cor. 2:4; 2 Cor. 12:12; 2 Thess. 2:9). By metonymy of effect for cause, the pl. dunámeis, powers, is often used for mighty deeds, miracles (Matt. 7:22; 11:20, 21, 23; 13:54, 58; 14:2; Mark 6:2, 5, 14; Luke 10:13; 19:37; Acts 2:22; 8:13; 19:11; 1 Cor. 12:10; 2 Cor. 12:12; Gal. 3:5; Heb. 2:4; Sept.: Job 37:14; Ps. 106:2). The abstract for the concrete, meaning a worker of miracles (1 Cor. 12:28, 29).(E) Spoken of the essential power, true nature or reality of something (Phil. 3:10, “the power of his resurrection”; 2 Tim. 3:5). As opposed to lógos (G3056), speech (1 Cor. 4:19, 20; 1 Thess. 1:5). Metaphorically of language, the power of a word, i.e., meaning, significance (1 Cor. 14:11, “the power of the voice” [a.t.]).(II) Spoken of power as resulting from external sources and circumstances:(A) Power, authority, might (Luke 4:36; 9:1; Acts 3:12; 2 Pet. 2:11; Rev. 13:2; 17:13). Spoken of omnipotent sovereignty as due to God, e.g., in ascriptions (Matt. 6:13; Rev. 4:11; 5:12; 7:12; 11:17; 12:10; 19:1; Sept.: 1 Chr. 29:11). Joined with ónoma (G3686), name (Acts 4:7; 1 Cor. 5:4, meaning warrant). In Rom. 8:38 “powers” stands for persons in authority, the mighty, the powerful ones (see 1 Cor. 15:24; Eph. 1:21; 1 Pet. 3:22; Sept.: Esth. 2:18).(B) With the meaning of number, quantity, abundance, wealth (in Rev. 3:8, a small number of members or perhaps true believers [cf. Rev. 18:3]). Metaphorically for enjoyment, happiness (Heb. 6:5).(C) Of warlike power, meaning force, i.e., host, army (Luke 10:19, over the whole host of Satan [see Luke 10:20]; Sept.: Ex. 14:28; 15:4; 2 Sam. 10:7; 17:25; 20:23). The powers of the heavens means the hosts of heaven, i.e., the sun, moon, and stars (Matt. 24:29; Mark 13:25; Luke 21:26 [cf. Rev. 6:13; Sept.: Is. 34:4; Dan. 8:10]).Deriv.: dunamóō (G1412), to strengthen.Syn.: ischús (G2479), strength, ability, force, somewhat stronger than dúnamis; krátos (G2904), dominion, enduring strength; exousía (G1849), authority; archḗ (G0746), rule, power; megaleiótēs (G3168), majesty; with the meaning of miracle: sēmeíon (G4592), sign, token; téras (G5059), something strange, a marvel, wonder; megaleíon (G3167), a great work; éndoxon (G1741), a glorious work; parádoxon (G3861), a strange work; thaumásion (G2297), a marvelous work; thaúma (G2295), a wonder, marvel; érgon (G2041), work when referring to Christ’s work.Ant.: asthéneia (G0769), feebleness, infirmity, disease.

Jesus want to unlock His power in us too:

Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” (Luk 24:49) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Apostolic NT Church examples of this power revealed in His church:

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Cor 2:4-5) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13) in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Rom 15:19)

What did Jesus seek?

Luk 19:10 Seek and save the Lost John 5:30 Jesus did not seek His own will, But God’s Will be done. John 8:50 Jesus did not seek His own glory

What not to seek.

do not seek a sign Mark 8:12do not seek what the gentiles seek Mat 6:32; Luk 12:29 Do not seek the fame of men Gal 1:10 Do not seek the glory of men 1 Thes 2:6

Should we seek His power?

He gave us power to trample over the enemy Luk 10:19; He is the power unto salvation Rom 1:6, the greatest power is the power unto godliness. 2 Pet 1:3 p Matt. 6:19q John 4:14; [Eph. 2:8, 9]r Ps. 2:7; Is. 42:1; Matt. 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22; 9:35; John 5:37; Acts 2:22; 2 Pet. 1:17

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Preke

Die verskil tussen ‘n ‘pigeon’ en ‘n ‘dove’ lewenstyl.

Sessie 2 van Heilige Gees seminaar: Die Heilige Gees is sensitief en opreg soos ‘n duif, moet Hom nie bedroef nie.

As mense vol van die Heilige Gees, dra ons die vrug van sagmoedigheid, vredeliewendheid onpartydigheid, sensitief ingestel om Sy fluistering.

Jesus is toe gedoop en het dadelik daarna uit die water gekom. Meteens het die hemel bokant Hom oopgegaan, en Hy het die Gees van God soos ‘n duif sien neerdaal en op Hom kom. Daar was ook ‘n stem uit die hemel wat gesê het: “Dit is my geliefde Seun. Oor Hom verheug Ek My.” Mat 3:16 

Verder het Johannes getuig: “Ek het duidelik die Gees soos ‘n duif uit die hemel sien kom, en Hy het op Hom gebly. Joh 1:32-33 

As sy nie ‘n lam kan bekostig nie, moet sy twee tortelduiwe of twee ander duiwe bring, die een as brandoffer en die ander as sondeoffer, sodat die priester vir haar versoening kan doen en sy rein kan wees.” Lev 12:8 

H8449. תּוֹר tôr, תֹּר tōr: A masculine noun meaning a dove, a turtledove. It refers to wild doves known for their cooing and their affectionate ways of behaving toward each other. It was a sacrificial animal in Israel, especially for the poor (Lev. 1:14; 5:7, 11; 12:6, 8; 14:22, 30; 15:14, 29). It is used charmingly of the psalmist or of Israel being the Lord’s turtledove (Ps. 74:19). It was a harbinger of spring (Song 2:12); and had its built-in homing instincts (Jer. 8:7).

H3123. יוֹנָה yônāh: A feminine noun denoting a pigeon or dove. It was the bird used by Noah to test the conditions after the flood waters began to abate (Gen. 8:8-12). Its cooing sounds were compared to the moaning of a sick, suffering person (Isa. 38:14; 59:11; Ezek. 7:16). Its wings would glisten as gold or appear as gilded with silver, a symbol of a woman dwelling at home in safety (Ps. 68:13[14]). It was used as an endearing expression about one’s beloved (Song 2:14; 4:1; 5:2, 12). It is used in many more figurative expressions: of Ephraim like a silly dove (Hos. 7:11); of the exiles eagerly returning as doves (Hos. 11:11); of ships with white sails (Isa. 60:8) and many more. Dove’s dung was a last resort as food in a time of famine (2 Kgs. 6:25). A young dove or pigeon could be offered to the Lord (Lev. 1:14; 5:7, 11; 12:6, 8; Num. 6:10). The psalmist wished he had wings as a dove by which to escape his troubles (Ps. 55:6[7]).

1.  Turtledoves never fight; pigeons fight with each other all the time. Peter told me that the turtledoves he raises are always peaceful and quiet. Their soft cooing is very beautiful and reassuring. On the other hand, pigeons are belligerent, noisy and anything but tranquil.

2. Turtledoves can’t stand noise; pigeons don’t mind noise.

3. Turtledoves are afraid of humans; pigeons aren’t afraid of people.

4. Turtledoves are not territorial, that is, they do not defend a particular location; pigeons are very territorial and will even bully one another for a special place to perch.

5. Turtledoves cannot be trained or domesticated; pigeons, having a homing instinct, can be trained. Peter assured me, “I could put a red box in the center of New York City and train a pigeon to come to that box.”

6. Once let out of a cage, turtledoves will never return unless there is no other source of food. Pete told me, “I once released fifty white turtledoves, thinking they would at least return for food.

Excerpt from: “Sensitivity Of The Spirit: Learning to Stay in the Flow of God’s Direction” by R.T. Kendall. 

Dove did not return after it found food. (Gen 8:9, 11-12 

Onthou: Ek stuur julle soos skape tussen wolwe in. Wees dus versigtig soos slange en opreg soos duiwe. Mat 10:16 

185. ἀκέραιος akéraios; gen. akeraíou, masc.-fem., neut. akéraion, adj. from the priv. a (G0001), without, and keránnumi (G2767), to mix. Without any mixture of deceit, without any defiling material (Matt. 10:16; Rom. 16:19; Phil. 2:15). 

“gentleness” Gal 5:23; Phil 4:5) 

“Kom na My toe, almal wat uitgeput en oorlaai is, en Ek sal julle rus gee. Neem my juk op julle en leer van My, want Ek is sagmoedig en nederig van hart, en julle sal rus kry vir julle gemoed. My juk is sag en my las is lig.” Mat 11:28 

‘n Riet wat geknak is, sal Hy nie afbreek nie en ‘n lamppit wat rook, nie uitdoof nie; Hy sal die wil van God laat seëvier. En op Hom sal die nasies hulle hoop vestig.” Mat 12:20 

Maar die wysheid wat van Bo kom, is allereers sonder bybedoelings, en verder is dit vredeliewend, inskiklik, bedagsaam, vol medelye en goeie vrugte, onpartydig, opreg. James 3:17 

Alhoewel die Heilige Gees ook met Wind, Water, Olie of Vuur vergelyk word, is die Duif vergelyking nie beperkend tot Sy persoon nie. 

MANIERE HOE ONS DIE GEES WEERSTAAN

Maar hulle het in opstand gekom en het sy Heilige Gees bedroef, daarom het die Here vir hulle ‘n vyand geword Isa 63:10  

Asab: ‘n werkwoord beteken om seer, tot pyn, te treur, om te vorm tot mode.  

“Daarom sê Ek vir julle: Elke sonde en lastering kan die mense vergewe word, maar die lastering teen die Heilige Gees kan nie vergewe word nie. As iemand iets teen die Seun van die mens sê, kan dit hom vergewe word; maar as iemand iets teen die Heilige Gees sê, kan dit hom nie vergewe word nie, nie in hierdie bedeling nie en ook nie in die toekomstige nie.” Matt 12: 31-32 

Petrus sê toe vir hom: “Ananias, hoekom het jy jou deur die Satan laat omhaal om vir die Heilige Gees te lieg en van die verkoopprys van die grond vir jouself agter te hou? Acts 5: 3,9 

pseúdomai; fut. pseúsomai, mid. persoon van pseúdō (n.f.), om te bedrieg, bedrieglik, sal. Om te lieg, om te praat valslik of deceitfully 

“Julle hardkoppiges! Julle is heidens in julle harte. Julle is doof vir die woord van God. Julle weerstaan altyd die Heilige Gees. Soos julle voorvaders gemaak het, maak julle ook Acts 7:51 

antipíptō; fut. antipesoúmai, vanaf antí (G0473), teen, en píptō (G4098), om te val. Om te val of jaag teen of op ‘n vyandige wyse, aanranding, weerstaan deur krag en geweld, val of strewe teen (handelinge 7:51;

“Gaan na die verderf met jou geld en al! Dink jy jy kan die gawe van God met geld koop? In hierdie werk is daar vir jou geen plek nie, want jou gesindheid teenoor God is nie reg nie. Bekeer jou van hierdie dwaling en bid tot die Here: miskien sal Hy jou hierdie gesindheid van jou hart vergewe. Acts 8: 18-22 

Moenie die werking van die Heilige Gees teenstaan nie. 1 Thess 5:19 

Sbénnumi: Om te blus, blus

En moenie die Heilige Gees van God bedroef nie, Eph 4:30 

lupéṓ̄: om te treur, verdruk met verdriet; om te wees grieved, hartseer, bedroef, te beledig

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Die krag van stilte.

Sessie 1 van Heilige Gees seminaar: Stilwees en luister is voedsel vir jou Gees.

“Kom buitekant toe en gaan staan voor My op die berg,” sê die HERE vir hom. Terwyl Elia daar staan, het die HERE by hom verbygegaan en ’n geweldige rukwind het die berg uitmekaargeruk en die rotse gebreek voor die HERE. Tog was die HERE nie in die wind nie. Na die wind was daar ’n aardbewing, maar die HERE was nie in die aardbewing nie. Na die aardbewing was daar ’n vuur, maar die HERE was nie in die vuur nie. Na die vuur was daar die geluid van ’n sagte fluistering. (1 Ki 19:11–12). NLV

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Ki 19:11–12) AMPL

“a delicate whispering voice”

0db is called the zero crossing, or average pressure, equilibrium, or resting position, and all sound vibrates in amplitude above or rarefaction below.

I believe this position is critical to achieving perfect pitch, Christ pitch, resonating heaven. Silence and stillness should be our constant starting-point before we say something, act or do something. Stillness is the default position for someone living in the Spirit.

Think about music for a moment. If every note or chord were played at the same time, you wouldn’t have music. You’d have noise. Music occurs when sounds are contrasted against silence. Varying the pattern of sound and silence creates rhythm and melody. Without silence, there is no music.

The negative space of the canvas is just as important as the positive elements that we place on the canvas. The clean empty space greats emphasis for the object of the painting.

It is the stillness of water mass like lakes, that mirror the heavens best. Creating seamless photographs of heaven touching earth.

“Not all men are called to be hermits, but all men need enough silence and solitude in their lives to enable the deep inner voice of their own true self to be heard at least occasionally. When that inner voice is not heard, when man cannot attain to the spiritual peace that comes from being perfectly at one with his true self, his life is always miserable and exhausting. For he cannot go on happily for long unless he is in contact with the springs of spiritual life which are hidden in the depths of his own soul. If a man is constantly exiled from his own home, locked out of his own spiritual solitude, he ceases to be a true person. He no longer lives as a man.” —Thomas Merton

“Solitude is more a state of mind and heart than it is a place. There is a solitude of the heart that can be maintained at all times. Crowds, or the lack of them, have little to do with this inward attentiveness.” Richard Foster (Celebration of Discipline)

A time for silence and a time to speak Eccl 3:7

“Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest awhile.” —Mark 6:31

Be still and know that I am God Ps 46:10

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Psalm 4:4

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Psalm 37:37

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

In silence and solitude, you “sharpen the saw,” restoring the edge you need to continue cutting through life’s problems.

“Do not flee to solitude from the community. Find God first in the community, then He will lead you to solitude.” —Thomas Merton
“Let him who cannot be alone beware of community. . . . Let him who is not in community beware of being alone. . . . Each by itself has profound pitfalls and perils. One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation, and despair.” Thomas Emmerson

Learn these following skills and master them.

1) Google your spirit, learn to listen
2) Hold a technology sabbath regularly
3) Be at peace with God, self and others
4) Contemplate, meditate, focus and concentrate your attention on one thing.
5) Create space, silence.

We are primary spiritual beings. Our spirit is eternal. By becoming silent and still, turning off the voices of the temporary, we discover our core, our centre, heaven inside and God’s throne the holiest place. The OT temple holy place was pitch black dark. There was nothing but the ark of the covenant. I’m sure it was almost a soundproof, room, of silence. Here the high priest had to wait to hear the delicate whispering voice of God. The centre of our universe.

The Sacred Veil that was made for the Temple of Solomon, according to rabbinic sources was actually made by using layering many sheets of linen until there was a curtain thickness of over three feet. On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest, when he entered the Most Holy Place, he had to blindly navigate through this maze with the censor with smoking incense in one hand and the blood in the bowl in the other hand. As his world became darker and darker, he soon found himself standing in the presence of the Lord in complete darkness. Without any sensory sight to help him, standing in the presence of the Lord would have been very disorientating. He had to lean on faith and trust explicitly on the Lord to shield and protect him, for to touch the ark of the Lord would mean instant death. This was very much like the spiritual maze of the mystic whose mind ascends mentally to the throne of the Lord.

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Who Will Save?

Blogpost by Apostle André Pelser

Who can save us?

In Egypt, the 10 Plagues destroyed a nation to free another. God did signs and wonders to give Pharaoh a chance to repent and release the Jews to go and serve God, but he bluntly refused. There are many theories of how the plagues could have happened, like at a certain time of the year the red reeds in the Nile let off a substance that changes the color of the water to red, like how the plague of insects caused the plague of frogs, like how the Red Sea gets shallow at certain times, but the only true explanation is the plagues were supernatural. It was not a rare disease that killed the firstborn during the last plague, but the Angel of Death that flew over the homes of the Jews because they covered their doorposts with blood of a spotless lamb.

Revelation speaks of plagues that will come over the earth in the last days just like they did in the time of Egypt. According to Revelation, one-third of the earth’s population would die.

The Coronavirus has spread to over 27 nations from China where over 2 000 people have already died, and tens of thousands of Chinese are affected as a result of the virus. They have not found a cure for it yet. Wherever you travel you get confronted with a corona testing gun at customs and all officials wear masks. The epidemic has affected air and sea travel and passengers are stuck.

Chinese eat about everything. The coronavirus was transferred from animal meat to humans.

The SARS virus, also from China, has also struck fear in the hearts of people, as did the Ebola virus from West Africa.

One-third of Australia’s forests have been burned to the ground and many people died and others lost their homes. Then great hailstones the size of golf balls hit Australia and people had no answer.

Floods devastate many countries and heavy snowfalls cause havoc.

There are wars all over the world and cities look like ruins. People flee their own countries to seek refuge elsewhere. It is crisis upon crisis. The world leaders regularly meet to find answers, but they have none.

The world has become a fearful place and there is no safe place anymore.

Unless God protects us in these days, we have no protection at all. Unless the Lord protects the house, those who try to protect it do so in vain. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who try to build it will not succeed.

The answer is: only God. Only God can save us – no one else. The safest place is in the will of God for your life.

There are life-threatening diseases all over the world, malaria, yellow fever, hepatitis B and scores of other dangerous maladies. Inoculations help to prevent some of it, but unless the Lord protects us, we have no defense against the onslaught of evil infections.

Crime and violence have increased at a drastic rate, fraud and corruption bring nations to their knees, governments are dishonest and can no longer be trusted. Many nations are bankrupt in the world, and some that seem to be going strong is merely avoiding the collapse.

Paul said, in the last days terrifying times will come because of 3 causes: men will be lovers of money, lovers of self and lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Greed is a result of the love of money; selfish interest is the result of self-love and lust results in loving pleasure. Europe speaks of a post-Christian era and no longer even believe in God. Young people everywhere are taught that Christianity is old-fashioned and religious.

Paul explained in the first chapter of the book of Romans that people who do not want to retain God in their thinking will be handed over to their own pleasures such as men doing unseemly things with men and women with women. The result of rejecting God is the cause of all the immorality, homosexuality and lesbianism in the world. God has handed them over to their own designs and lusts because they put God out of their minds.

Peter assures us that we can escape the corruption that is in the world through the great and precious promises of God in His Word, but people regard the Bible as outdated and no longer meditate in the Word. They have gone astray like sheep, because they do not heed the voice of the Great Shepherd. Most Churches in the world have rejected the Bible and priests and preachers give self-motivation lessons instead of preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

And yet, amidst the chaos in the world, the Spirit of God is still brooding like it did right at the beginning of creation when God created everything out of dark chaos.

Out of the chaos in the world God is creating a new nation, a holy nation, a kingdom of priests and a peculiar people who show forth the praises of God in the earth, people who know how to worship God in spirit and in truth, the way God desires it.

Only God can save us and protect us from all the terrible things that is coming over the earth. He protects us in several ways.

He protects us through dreams and visions. He directed Joseph the husband of Mary, through dreams of Angels appearing to him and telling him where to go and when to go. God has protected us as a family through many dreams that Nola, my wife, had.

He protects us by His Holy Spirit that leads and guides us into all truth and even shows us things to come. The Holy Spirit gives an inner conviction what to do and what not to do, where to go and where not to go and what to say and what not to say. He nudges us with promptings to do the will of God. Hilton, our youngest son, was in Sri Lanka when the Holy Spirit prompted him to get up and leave immediately. Later, the same day, a revolution broke out with much violence and they closed down the trains, busses and airports. If he did not head the voice of the Holy Spirit, he would have been stuck for a long time.

Jesus promised those who believe in His Name that they would not be harmed even if they drank deadly things. Twice I have been poisoned in Africa, but survived by the grace of God. The second time the doctors announced twice that I was going to die. My heart actually stopped beating and all my vital organs stopped functioning and I couldn’t breathe. But Nola blew into my mouth and said, ‘Ruach!’ which is the Hebrew word for ‘Breath of God’. God saved me and brought me back to life again.

God has given men & women knowledge in medical science to create vaccines to immunize people against deadly diseases such as polio, malaria, yellow fever, influenza and measles. Penicillin brought relief to many sufferers, blood transfusion saved lives and heart transplants lengthen the lives of many.

God uses the wisdom of the elderly to give advice to the young ones, if they listen, they will be safe. Going to Church is probably the best advice to give to anyone, because that is where you hear the Word of the Lord. His Word upholds all things in creation.

His Word brings health to all your being. His Word guides you along your life’s path. His Word sustains you. His Word corrects you. His Word warns you of what is to come. God told Joshua to meditate in the Word day and night and then he would have good success and make his way prosperous. He needed wisdom to lead the Jewish nations into the Promised Land. Solomon desired wisdom above everything else and because he did that God also gave him fame and fortune. He had to govern a great nation after David, his father, passed away.

As God saved the Jews and brought them out of Egypt through the dry bed of the Red Sea after He made a miraculous way for them, so God will save those who trust in Him in these last days when Jesus returns to take His bride away from this earth. We are to encourage and comfort each other with these words. We have a blessed hope in Christ. We are not hopeless or helpless in this world. We have Savior in Jesus Christ. He will save us. We are to keep our eyes on Him, trust in Him and live for Him.

God will save us.