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Author: Jan Oosthuizen

Leader & Spiritual Mentor | Apostolic Missionary | Relationship & HR Consultant | Social Reformer & Acculturist | Peacemaker & Lobbyist | Speaker & Writer | Musician and unashamed follower of Jesus Christ.

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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.

 

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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.

 

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Skrifbeginsels vir Werknemers en Werkgewers

SKRIFBEGINSELS OOR HOE EK WERKNEMERS MOET HANTEER

Die ingang van die woord gee lig. Deur die woord verkry ons insig oor allerhande daaglikse take. Ook oor hierdie moeilike tema het die skrif vir ons riglyne oor hoe ons ons werkmense moet hanteer.
Die skrif het baie te sê oor lone en oor hoe dit betaal moet word.
Hulle loon het uitgeroep na die hemele. (Jam 5:4)
Oordeel van God as ons hulle misbruik. (Mal 3:5)
Moet op tyd betaal, nie wag nie. (Deut 24:15)
Moenie loon kort-kort verander nie. (Gen 31:7)
Gee wat goed en reg is. (Col 4:1)
In terme van hoe ons hulle moet hanteer.
Moenie hulle saak gering ag nie. (Job 31:13)
Wie gaan veg in ’n oorlog op sy eie onkoste? (1 Cor 9:7)
Arbeider is sy loon werd.
Moet hulle nie dreig nie. (Eph 6:9)
Soek vrede met all mense. (Heb 12:14)
Wat is my verantwoordelikheid?
Kies vandag wie julle wil dien, maar ek en my huis… (Jos 24:15)
Moenie van jou buurman se dienste gebruik maak sonder vergoeding nie. (Jer 22:13)
Maak die huis skoon van afgode. (Gen 35:2)
Hóm verkondig ons deurdat ons alle mense met alle moontlike wysheid onderrig en leer, sodat ons elke mens tot geestelike volwassenheid in Christus kan bring.(Col 1:28)
Julle moet almal eer. (1 Pet 2:17)

SKRIFBEGINSELS VIR WERKNEMERS

Daar is basies twee primêre rolle in die Bybel in terme van die werksplek, die van eienaar en van dienskneg. In Christus word hierdie onderskeid verwyder voor God. (Daar is nie meer Jood of Griek nie, daar is nie meer slaaf of vryman nie, daar is nie meer man en vrou nie; want julle is almal een in Christus Jesus.(Gal 3:28)

’n Leerling is nie bo die meester nie en ’n dienskneg ook nie bo sy heer nie. (Mat 10:24) Voorwaar, voorwaar Ek sê vir julle, ’n dienskneg is nie groter as sy heer nie, en ’n gesant is ook nie groter as die een wat hom gestuur het nie. (Joh 13:16)

Tog verklaar Paulus; Laat elkeen in die roeping bly waarin hy geroep is. Is jy as slaaf geroep, laat dit jou nie kwel nie; maar as jy ook vry kan word, maak daar des te meer gebruik van. Want die slaaf wat in die Here geroep is, is ’n vrygemaakte van die Here; so is ook hy wat as vryman geroep is, ’n slaaf van Christus. (1 Cor 7:19-22)

Jesus bied aan ons die voorbeeld as dienskneg – (Joh 13:4-17) Want hierdie gesindheid moet in julle wees wat ook in Christus Jesus was. Hy, wat in die gestalte van God was, het dit geen roof geag om aan God gelyk te wees nie, maar het Homself ontledig deur die gestalte van ’n dienskneg aan te neem en aan die mense gelyk geword; (Phil 2:5-7)

Ons gesindheid as werknemers is duidelik: Slawe, wees gehoorsaam aan julle eienaars hier op aarde, en doen dit met eerbied en ontsag maar terselfdertyd met ’n opregte hart, asof dit vir Christus is. Moenie net werk om deur julle eienaars raakgesien te word en so in mense se guns te kom nie; werk soos slawe van Christus wat van harte die wil van God doen. Al is julle slawe, doen julle werk met lus, soos vir die Here en nie vir mense nie. Julle weet tog dat die Here elkeen sal beloon as hy iets goeds gedoen het, of hy nou slaaf is of vry. (Eph 6:5-8)

Slawe, wees in alles gehoorsaam aan julle eienaars hier op aarde. Moenie net werk om deur hulle raakgesien te word en so in mense se guns te kom nie, maar werk met ’n opregte hart uit eerbied vir die Here. (Col 3:22)

Soveel te meer as jou eienaar ’n gelowige is. Slawe wat gelowige eienaars het, moet aan hulle nie minder eerbied betoon omdat hulle saam broers is nie. Hulle moet hulle eerder beter dien omdat dié wat uit hulle werk voordeel trek, met hulle een is in geloof en liefde. (1 Tim 6:2)
Uiteindelik word ons almal geroep om mekaar se diensknegte te wees. As goeie bedienaars van die veelvoudige genade van God moet elkeen, namate hy ’n genadegawe ontvang het, die ander dien. (1 Pet 4:10)

Luiheid word as dwaasheid veroordeel. Gaan kyk na die mier, luiaard, kyk hoe hy werk, en leer by hom.(Pro 6:6) Hoe lank gaan jy nog lê, luiaard, wanneer gaan jy opstaan?(Pro 6:9) Die luiaard se honger word nie gestil nie; hardwerkende mense het meer as genoeg om te eet.(Pro 13:4) ’n Luiaard steek sy hand in die skottel, maar bring dit nie terug na sy mond toe nie.(Pro 19:24) ’n Luiaard ploeg nie in die saaityd nie en soek in die oestyd na iets wat nie daar is nie.(Pro 20:4) ’n Lui mens soek sy dood, want hy wil nie sy hande uit sy moue steek nie;(Pro 21:25) Die lui mens sê: “Daar is ’n leeu daarbuite! Ek kan doodgemaak word as ek dit buite waag!”(Pro 22:13) Ek het by ’n lui mens se land verbygestap, by ’n onverstandige mens se wingerd: (Pro 24:30)

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Abide & walk in the Spirit – The only way to sustain life in triumph & victory.

Lord, you want to partner with us. Our prayers, Your answers. Our works, Your grace. Our possessions, Your blessing. Our obedience, Your call. Our weakness, Your strength. This is a great mystery. Please help us to make this sacred partnership more seamless and flowing, more reciprocal, intimate and natural.

In the same way, Jesus could do nothing without the Father, we also can do nothing without the Holy Spirit. Jesus could do nothing without seeing the Father do it (John 5:19-20, 30), He only did the Father’s will (John 6:38), only did what the Father taught (John 8:28), according to what the Father commands (John 12:49). In order for us to live and move by the way of the Spirit, or as the apostle Paul put it: “Walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16), we must learn to be holy – devoted to and depending on the Holy Spirit. We literally can do nothing without Him! Jesus exemplified total reliance on the Father, we should learn from Him and become totally reliant on the Holy Spirit.
In the OT, people lived by the Law. In the NT, believers live by the Holy Spirit.
It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (Zech 4:6).

ALL LIFE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IS BY THE SPIRIT

Know God by the Spirit: No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit(1 Cor 2:11).
Walk according to the Spirit and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. It is the power of the Spirit life that free you from the gravitational downward pull of the flesh and sin (Rom 8:2-4; Gal 5:16). A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death (Rom 8:2; The Message).
Set your mind on the things of the Spirit (Rom 8:5-8).
Put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit (Rom 8:13).
The main characteristic of being a child of God is being led by the Spirit (Rom 8:14).
Know the Fatherhood of God and subsequent ‘sonship’ by the Spirit (Rom 8:15-17).
Hope in the Spirit (Rom 8:23-25).
Pray in the Spirit (Rom 8:26-27). In other passages Paul mentions— (Jude 20)
Be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18).
Serve in the Spirit (Rom 7:6; 15:16).
Love by the Spirit (Rom 15:30; Gal 5:22-23; Col 1:8).
Know one another by the Spirit. The way of the Spirit is more accurate and also quicker! Jesus knew the heart of Nathaniel even before He had met him (John 1:47). Similarly, the Lord revealed to Ananias not only the change in Saul (Paul), but also his destiny – before he met him (Acts 9:10). Phillip was divinely led to meet the servant of the court of Ethiopia (Acts 8:26). Jesus knew what was in the Pharisees’ hearts. He knew the woman at the well in the Spirit (John 4). Imagine a church where people know each other in the Spirit, where everyone knows their place and function, and they work together naturally without complaining and strife because they do not feel threatened by one another.
We are taught by that what the Holy Spirit teaches (1 John 2:27; 1 Cor 1:13).
People err when they try to interpret the Bible without the Spirit (2 Cor 3:6).
We can only know God by the Spirit because He is Spirit (1 Cor 2:10-12).
We cannot be regenerated and born again without the work of the Spirit (Tit 3:5).
The Eternal Spirit, through the Blood of Christ, cleanse you from an evil conscience (Heb 9:14).
Help me to walk, live and have my being in the Spirit alone. Let me be able to say like Jesus: I do nothing unless the Spirit, I say nothing unless the Spiritguides and instruct me.

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT

It is only in the Spirit that we are safe. It is only in the Spirit that we cannot be deceived and misled (1 John 4:1; John 16:13). He will defend words and deeds done in the Spirit (1 Cor 2:13). In the Spirit we are accurate. In the Spirit we are holy and perfect (John 17:17). In the Spirit we are righteous. In the Spirit we will know the way in the Holy of Holies (Heb 9:8). In the Spirit there is liberty (2 Cor 3:17). In the Spirit we are whole and able to speak the whole gospel. In the Spirit we have access to all things: gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:7-10) and fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:21-22). In the Spirit we are seated in heavenly places and will have authority (Eph 2:6). In the Spirit we know all things and intentions of the heart (1 Cor 2:10). In the Spirit we will know how to rightly discern and speak the truth. In the Spirit, the dead are made alive! It is by the Spirit that we are unified and become one like the God-head. It is by the Spirit that we are convicted, regenerated, filled, sanctified, justified and glorified. We have no life, existence nor substance outside of the Spirit. All spiritual life is by definition in the Spirit.
Life in the Spirit is a decision. It is a conscious, intentional and awakening partnership.  The Holy Spirit does not possess a person.  We need to learn to yield to Him, He is not an overpowering control. Being in the spirit is an awakening, not an unconscious, senseless, paralysed, cold, inert, insensate, insensible, lethargic, numb, passed out, stupefied, tranced state of being. Those are characteristics of being possessed by demons. Satan makes you like a zombie!
The Spirit gives life and unlocks supernatural inert abilities that God has already birthed in us. By the Spirit, we are united in the divine!

WE MISS OUT ON THE SPIRIT-LIFE BECAUSE OF:

Self: ego, pride, insecurities, flesh. The way of carnality and fleshly thinking is enmity to the Spirit (Rom 8:5). There is no middle ground, no compromise.
The Holy Spirit is Jesus who walks in our streets today. He is a Person. He does the same work that Jesus has come to do (John 14:15).
The people treat Him the same way they treated Jesus. Who crucified Jesus? The religious and so-called clergy of that time. The Holy Spirit wants to work through us. He wants to use us and let His gifts work through us and lead us to the Father. He wants to reveal Christ to us so that He will become a reality in our lives. He wants to make us His disciples. He wants to lead us into deeper dimensions in the Spirit.

HOW WE RESIST THE SPIRIT

Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled, and grieved his Holy Spirit.
Asab: A verb meaning to hurt, to pain, grieve, to shape to fashion.
Through our own experiences, and culture we have formed a shape and an image of God, a construct in our minds, without having a face to face reality of His person. Rebellion is holding on to that construct, even when the real appears. Some people prefer the god of their own making, than the awesome fearful wonder of the true Creator God.
Matthew 12: 31-32 Therefore I say unto you, every sin and blasphemy shall men be forgiven; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven of men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; But whosoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him in this age, nor in the coming.
blasphēmía: Blasphemy, verbal abuse against someone which denotes the very worst type of slander mentioned in Matthew 15:19 with false witnesses; wounding someone’s reputation by evil reports, evil speaking.
By reading the context of this portion of scripture in its entirety, we will gain understanding by allowing scripture to speak for Himself.  Jesus healed a demonic blind, mute man. (v22) The people (multitude) were clearly amazed and were contemplating whether this could be the son of David the Messiah. (v23) The Pharisees were losing ground, how do they explain this? How do you defend you standpoint, after seeing such a powerful demonstration? They countered by saying Jesus did this miracle by the power of satan. Specifically that He was possessed by Beelsebub. (Mar 3:22) And Jesus disclose the reason for His stern warning at the end of the passage. “because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mar 3:30) Finally Jesus declares: “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Mat 12:28) It is thus very clear that their attack was against the Holy Spirit, and therefor the very stern/fearful warning: “but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” Why? There can be no salvation or repentance without the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor 12:3; 2 Cor 7:9; John 16:8)
Acts 5:3, 9 Then Peter said, Ananias, why did Satan fulfil your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep the price of the land? Then Peter said to her, Why did you agree to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who bury your man are at the door, and they will carry you out.
pseúdomai; fut. pseúsomai, mid. deponent of pseúdō (n.f.), to cheat, defraud, falsify. To lie, to speak falsely or deceitfully.
By God’s grace this never happened again, else more people will fall dead in churches all over the world. Many by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit make commitments and declarations publicly, to reverse, procrastinate, and never comply.  We sometimes forget the Holy Spirit is God.  He is in no way inferior, or less powerful than God almighty. He is fully God, like Jesus, and the Father! The way He reveals God’s nature is predominantly as a dove, being gentle, and not forceful. However, we should revere and acknowledge His person with holy fear.
Acts 7:51 You stubborn and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit; just as your fathers, so also you.
antipíptō; fut. antipesoúmai, from antí (G0473), against, and píptō (G4098), to fall. To fall or rush against or upon in a hostile manner, assault, resist by force and violence, fall or strive against (Acts 7:51).
Stephen the martyr, was addressing a generation, a culture, a system of revolt against God. We see this clearly through History, how the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit can be suppressed, stifled and openly resisted. The tone of the words used in the accusation is violent and shows the open revolt of a culture against God.  The power of culture should never be underestimated. Many people who have come to the truth, have experienced the pain and suffering of families turning against them, being ostracized, persecuted and isolated.  To the point that they were willing to kill someone like Stephan, who only did good, publicly.
Acts 8: 18-22 And when Simon saw that by the laying of the apostles the Holy Ghost was given, he offered their money19 And said, Give me this power also, that whosoever shall lay my hands upon the Holy Ghost can receive. 20 But Peter said to him, Let your money go away with you, because you thought to receive the gift of God through money. 21 You have no part or fate in this matter, because your heart is not rightbefore God. 22 Repent therefore of this evilfrom you, and pray to God, whether the mind of your heartmay be forgiven you.
Some people are totally against spiritual things, then there are others who seek the power of the supernatural for personal gain.  It is interesting to see the words used: heart not right, evil heart, mind of your heart. This shows that Simon needed salvation. He had to repent, and tern form his wickedness.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.
Sbénnumi: To quench, extinguish.
Oh, have we not all been guilty of extinguishing the small still voice of the Holy Spirit! You feel uncomfortable about going with friends, or about a TV program, or certain company, yet we ignore the prompting of the Spirit, and persist most often to our own detriment.  May we become more alert, and sensitive to adhere the small nudges of the Holy Spirit. The more obedient you become to His voice, the more you will hear and discern His voice.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
lupéṓ̄: to grieve, afflict with sorrow; to be grieved, sad, sorrowful, to offend.
Most Christians are more scared and sensitive not to offend man, than God.  We will go out of our way to not offend man, but think it nothing to offend God, knowing His will.  The more we do this, the weaker the voice of the Spirit becomes in your heart.  God can never be offended and thankfully He takes no offence.  May we see His heart! May we really feel what He feels! May the Holy Spirit reveal His heart to us, so that like Mary Magdelene we see the suffering Christ, soon to be crucified, and pour our love on Him. (John 12)

BEING IN THE SPIRIT DOES NOT MEAN YOU ISOLATE YOURSELF

Being most connected and in tune, in the Spirit, enables you to connect on a higher level with people, and being really present in their deep hidden needs, wants, desires and motives.
Be connected in the Spirit first, then He will connect you with man, but on a higher level, so that you can pull them up and not be pulled down by man’s devices.
Being in the Spirit does not disconnect you with man to become ascetic, it connects you to man on a deeper, divine, spiritual level. People are most carnal and do not understand the ways of the Spirit. It is foolishness and strange to them. There are very few people who live and abide in the Spirit. Life in the Spirit is like living by the natural law of helium, but the way of carnality – by contrast – cannot escape the natural law of gravity. Therefore, people who do not live in the Spiritwill always pull you down. They do not even realise it, but that’s what they do.

THE SPIRIT AND THE WORD

The WORD and the Spirit is One. The Sword of the Spirit is the Word (Eph 6:17).
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life(John 6:63).
The language of the Spirit is the Word of God. Every single word we speak in the Spirit is based and founded on Scripture. It is like someone who has memorised all of Scripture and has understanding and insight into the whole of Scripture. Your spiritual vocabulary is Word-based. They only speak from the Word (Josh 1:8). The Spirit gives life to the Word. By the Spirit, the Word becomes flesh in us.
You cannot be like Jesus without the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who resurrects, reveals and manifests Christ in us. Only the Spirit reveals Jesus in us.
It is simply not in man to be like Christ, any human attempt is of the spirit of the anti-christ.
The way of the Spirit is holy and sacred. Life in the Spirit is holy, consecrated, sanctified, precise, accurate, on the mark – Jesus.
The only way to be sinless, is to be in the Spirit. It is He who works it in us and draws us closer into a more holy consecrated lifestyle.

WE CAN EVEN WORK IN THE SPIRIT

Oh God, may we walk in the Spirit continually! Help us to remain and abide in the Spirit. Help us to find our complete habitation in the Holy Spirit. Work done in the Spirit is worship and glorifies God. Work can be done in the Spirit, for daily labour is not ungodly, secular nor sinful (Ex 31:3, 5; 35:31). Work is part of our creational purpose – to subdue and multiply (Gen 1:28). When we work by the Spirit it will not be laborious, but innovative, precise and intentional. In the Spirit, you will be able to focus and accomplish what you set out to do. Your work will be a blessing! Your work will be a sermon, an extension of His grace and character in you. Your work will reveal God in the same way His creation reveals Him. Your work will be excellent and spectacular, creative and rich in precise detail and order.
Believers being in the Spirithave created many new inventions.
Work done in the Spirit makes this world better because it resonates and reflects heaven! (Matt 6:10)
When living in the Spirit, our constant focus and attention are on His ability, not ours. His strength, power, fruit, gifts, testimony and riches. We are dead to our capabilities, efforts, methods, trying and achievements. Our confidence is in Him. Our default is Christ. We have died to self, our dreams and ambitions. We have died to our mistakes, failures, inabilities and incompetence. The life we now live, we live in the Son, by the Spirit.  It is the Spirit that enables.

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Moderne Afgodery: Self-aanbidding

Afgodery is ‘n wesenlike struikelblok tot ware aanbidding en belewenis van God.

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:14

Die belaglike absurde vervanging van die heerlikheid van God vir valse afgode.  Is afgodery, sonde, Redding nog relevant vir ‘n Post-Moderne Samelewing?

#Definition of IDOLATRY: image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object.

#Paul describes the origin of idolatry in Romans 1:21-25 : men forsook God, and sank into ignorance and moral corruption ( 1:28 ).

When we shrink God, imagining that it is His job to serve our tribal aspirations rather than our job to serve Him and to strive for the elevation of His world, that is a form of idolatry. Lee Weissman

“It is nothing less than self-idolatry to conceive that we can carry on even the ordinary matters of the day without His counsel” – Charles Bridges

“Idolatry consists, not only in the worship of false gods, but also in the worship of the true God in false ways.” Alistair Begg

Die gesig van ‘n desperate man of vrou op soek na kos, werk, genesing of bevryding raak mens diep. Die diep soeke na aanvaarding, liefde, erkenning, sin en betekenis maak ons as mens baie broos, en kwesbaar.  Ons het nog nooit so baie redders (saviors) gehad nie. Produkte, programme, diëte, spirituele reistogte, oefeninge, selfs klere, selfone en rekenaars word aan jou verkoop, oor hoe dit jou gaan laat lekker voel! Starbugs verklaar ons verkoop nie koffie nie, ons verkoop die lekker salige gevoel wanneer jy in ons winkels kom en koffie drink. Miljoene gelowe, aanbidding rituele, en geestelike ghoeroes, en selfs die taliban ‘n terroriste groep maak volgelinge omdat jongmense soekend is na meer.

EWIGE STRYD

Daar is al sedert die skepping ‘n stryd tussen afgodery en ware aanbidding. Die eerste sonde van ongehoorsaamheid was inherent die wegdraai van die ware God na ‘n ander god. Paulus het dit verstaan verduidelik dit baie mooi: “die heerlikheid van die onverganklike God verander in die gelykvormigheid van die beeld van ’n verganklike mens en van voëls en viervoetige en kruipende diere.” Rom 1:18-32
Geen mens kan neutraal staan nie, ons is gemaak om te aanbid, om te dien, om na te volg. Jy aanbid of die Ware Skepper God, af afgode.
Selfs die atheis wat selfvoldaan verklaar; “Christenskap is vir mens wat ‘n kruk nodig het” wys op sy self-aanbidding, selfbeskikking, en self-redding. Om ons weerbaarheid, afhanklikheid, kwesbaarheid en broosheid te erken dui nie op ons swakheid nie, maar ons realisme. Selfs in geneeskunde word iemand as nie-behandelbaar beskryf, wat nie toewillig tot die rehabilitasie proses nie.

Die wortel van verslawing is, ondervoeding en die mens se eie pogings om vol te word, op hulle eie manier.

Self-aanbidding is vandag die afgodery van ons tyd. Selfies, self-beheptheid, selfgerigtheid, en selfhelp godsdiens. Self-help is die benaming van die katogorie boeke, dvd’s, en hulpmiddele vir die mens, deesdae in boekwinkels. “Die Here help die mens wat homself help” is die mantra van die hedendaagse kultuur.

This form of idolatry is known as Hedonism – or the worship of self as god (Pro 22:15; Rom 1:21-25). As such it operates by the belief that our highest good, goal, priority and purpose in life is to seek to the glory of oneself – and that through the pursuit of pleasure (or the avoidance of personal pain). Hedonism – or the principle of hedonism, is frequently alluded to in many of the bible’s words/phrases (covetous, folly, flesh, selfish ambition, pleasure, passion, sensuality, lovers of self, lovers of pleasure, appetite, their god is their belly, deceitful desires, glutton, drunkard). Hedonism is a direct attack on the first commandment (Exo 20:3) and (as should be expected) a very serious capital crime (Exo 22:20). Knowing then how to diagnose when a Christian is living for self (pleasure/fun) is key to avoiding/preventing the charge of hedonistic idolatry

Die moderne mens soek hulle heil en verlossing in romantiese verhoudinge, beroep sukses, materiële besittings, aansien, volgelinge op sosiale media, wat meebring dat ons onsself dryf, ons is hard op onsself, ons jaag, ons raak verslaaf, ons is angstig, desperaat, ons kompeteer.

Soos die mensdom die skepping begin aanbid, in plaas van die Skepper, raak ons slawe van die skepping. Ons werk om uit die stof op te kom, om uiteindelik weer in die stof te eindig. Ons lewe vir erkenning en aansien, maar mense se aansien is kortstondig, mense vergeet so gou. Die aanbidding van die tydelike, het ook ‘n tydelike raklewe.

Ons liefde, passie, lojaliteit, aanbidding, diens, en gehoorsaamheid is vir God, ons Skepper alleen bedoel. Alleenlik wanneer Hy ons fokus is, (Heb 12:2), Sy woord ons daaglikse brood (Mat 4:4), gehoorsaamheid aan Sy wil ons voedsel (Joh 4:34) vind ons lewe rus (Rom 14:17) en vergenoegdheid (Phil 4:11)

Ons prioriteite is 1ste, 2de 3rde God, God, God! Nie God, huweliksmaat, dan kinders nie, soos oms eers geleer is nie. Want as ek nie my huweliksmaat deur Christus liefhet nie, gaan ek haar nooit reg en behoorlik liefhê nie. Dieselfde geld vir ons kinders. God is alryd eerste! Bill Johnson

ONS SKEPPINGDOEL IS:

Op grond van die ontdekking van Sy liefde vir ons, is ons lief vir die Here met ons hele hart, ons ganse gemoed, ons hele verstand en al ons krag! (Deut 10:12; 30:6; Mark 12:30; Luk 10:27) Jesus is immers die rede vir ons bestaan want hy het ons eerste liefgehad. (1 Joh 4:19) Sy Liefde genees en herstel ons wese, en werk in ons om saam met alle gelowiges mekaar lief te hê soos Hy ons liefhet. (Lev 19:18; Eph 5:2; 1 Thes 4:9; 1 Pet 1:22; 1 John 2:7) Sy liefde dring ons om te gaan en mense dissipels van God te maak. (Mat 28:19) Die Groot Opdrag van Jesus om te GAAN, en dissipels te maak van al die nasies (Mat 28:19) en gehoorsaam Sy bevel om ons medemens LIEF te hê. (Joh 13: 34-35; Joh 15: 12-14; James 2:8)

BYBELSE VERDUIDELIKING VAN WAT AFGODERY IS:

Gierigheid, begerigheid is soos afgodery – (Eph 5:5)
Hulle maag is hulle God – (Phil 3:19)
onsedelikheid en onbehoorlikheid, maar ook ander verkeerde drange en begeertes. Dan is daar nog die begeerte na rykdom wat nooit genoeg kry nie (Col 3:5)
Want wederstrewigheid is ’n sonde van waarsêery, en eiesinnigheid is afgodery en beeldediens (1 Sam 15:23)

DIEP MISLEIDING EN VERSLAWENDE ONTKENNING

Afgodery is moeilik om te definieer en te diagnoseer, omdat mense se harte versluier en donker is. (Rom 1:21) Die hoofrede is, dat openbaarmaking van afgodery, gaan lei tot ‘n dramatiese radikale keuse, en rigting verandering. Die idee om afstand te doen van die afgode is vir die meeste mense ontstellend en ontnugterend, dus vermy hulle die onvermydelike, en stap blindelings na hulle dood.

Die Nederlandse Calviniste het getoon dat die beste manier om kulture te analiseer is die identifisering van hul korporatiewe afgode. Inderdaad, het elke roeping en studieveld sy regerende afgod, soos politieke partye en hulle ideologieë. Terwyl sekulêre samelewings menslike rede en outonomie gode gemaak het, het meer tradisionele samelewings ‘n afgod van die gesin, kinders of rasse suiwerheid gemaak.

Baie mense staan die goddelike bonatuurlike, en geestelike dimensies van die godheid tee. Maar Hollywood is ‘n goeie indikator van wat mense soek, oor fantaseer, vrees, en uiteindelik aanbid: Gruwelike bloed-dorstigheid, wetteloosheid, relativisme, super-helde, en zombies is die nuwe topverkopers! Sonder dat mense weet is die gode wat hulle aanbid, besig om hulle te lei na self-verwoesting, en self-vernietiging. Hoe dieper jy verslaaf raak aan die aanbidding van die gode, hoe meer raak jy soos ‘n zombie, jy kan nie reguit dink nie, neem swak besluite, en bring verwoesting aan self en almal in trefafstand.

Daarteenoor wanneer jy jou hart en ledemate, tyd en geld na die Here rig, ontwaak jy tot ‘n helderheid, begrip en fyn aanvoeling vir die lewe! Vol van die Heilige Gees, beteken dat die Here nie net die objek wil wees van ons aanbidding nie, Hy wil ons uiteindelik vul met Homself. Dis die leemte wat ons hunker om te vul, op die verkeerde maniere. Maar wanneer die Vader, Seun en Heilige Gees jou vul, jou konnekteer, jou inprop tot die lewe, ontstaan jou lewe eers regtig. Jy vind betekenis en rede vir jou bestaan. Jy vind vervulling in die liggaam en medegelowiges. Jy begin te LEWE, in hoofletters.

Godsdiens kan dit nie doen nie, want dit ook ‘n valse God, waarin self, en self-regverdigmaking, weer sentraal staan. Die ware aanbidders, aanbid Hom in Gees en in Waarheid. (Joh 4:24) Niemand, nee Niemand, mag in die plek van God staan nie, nie die predikant of kerk, of religie kan God se plek vul nie! Wanneer ons enige mens, voor God stel, is daardie mens god in ons lewe, en sal dit tot diep teleurstelling lei. Inteendeel godsdiens is meesterlik om vals beelde van God op te rig, om opregte mense te mislei om programme, metodes, leerstellings, te aanbid.

“Soek allereers” (Mat 6:33) Sy geskenk van geregtigheid is ons wegtrekplek, ons fondasie, ons boom van lewe, ons rivier en bron van lewende water, ons sekerheid. Wanneer ons op enige ander manier steun of vertrou om onsself reg te maak, is ons alreeds besig om te buig voor ‘n ander god. Jesus alleen is die deur, toegang, regmaker wat jou lewe! Ons kan nie onsself beter maak nie, ons rig ons oë in afhanklikheid na Hom, en Hy doen dit deur Sy Woord en Gees. (2 Cor 4:18)

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The only way to live life as NT believer is in the Spirit. Why? How?

Lord, you want to partner with us. Our prayers, Your answers. Our works, Your grace. Our possessions, Your blessing. Our obedience, Your call. Our weakness, Your strength. This is a great mystery. Please help us to make this sacred partnership more seamless and flowing, more reciprocal, intimate and natural.

In the same way, Jesus could do nothing without the Father, we also can do nothing without the Holy Spirit. Jesus could do nothing without seeing the Father do it (John 5:19-20, 30), He only did the Father’s will (John 6:38), only did what the Father taught (John 8:28), according to what the Father commands (John 12:49). In order for us to live and move by the way of the Spirit, or as the apostle Paul put it: “Walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16), we must learn to be holy – devoted to and depending on the Holy Spirit. We literally can do nothing without Him! Jesus exemplified total reliance on the Father, we should learn from Him and become totally reliant on the Holy Spirit.

In the OT, people lived by the Law. In the NT, believers live by the Holy Spirit.

It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies(Zech 4:6).

ALL LIFE IN THE NEW TESTAMENTIS BY THE SPIRIT

Know God by the Spirit: No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit(1 Cor 2:11).

Walk according to the Spirit and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. It is the power of the Spirit life that free you from the gravitational downward pull of the flesh and sin (Rom 8:2-4; Gal 5:16). A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death(Rom 8:2; The Message).

Set your mind on the things of the Spirit (Rom 8:5-8).

Put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit (Rom 8:13).

The main characteristic of being a child of God is being led by the Spirit (Rom 8:14).

Know the Fatherhood of God and subsequent ‘sonship’ by the Spirit (Rom 8:15-17).

Hope in the Spirit (Rom 8:23-25).

Pray in the Spirit (Rom 8:26-27). In other passages Paul mentions— (Jude 20)

Be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18).

Serve in the Spirit (Rom 7:6; 15:16).

Love by the Spirit (Rom 15:30; Gal 5:22-23; Col 1:8).

Know one another by the Spirit. The way of the Spirit is more accurate and also quicker! Jesus knew the heart of Nathaniel even before He had met him (John 1:47). Similarly, the Lord revealed to Ananias not only the change in Saul (Paul), but also his destiny – before he met him (Acts 9:10). Phillip was divinely led to meet the servant of the court of Ethiopia (Acts 8:26). Jesus knew what was in the Pharisees’ hearts. He knew the woman at the well in the Spirit (John 4). Imagine a church where people know each other in the Spirit, where everyone knows their place and function, and they work together naturally without complaining and strife because they do not feel threatened by one another.

We are taught by that what the Holy Spirit teaches (1 John 2:27; 1 Cor 1:13).

People err when they try to interpret the Bible without the Spirit (2 Cor 3:6).

We can only know God by the Spirit because He is Spirit (1 Cor 2:10-12).

We cannot be regenerated and born again without the work of the Spirit (Tit 3:5).

The Eternal Spirit, through the Blood of Christ, cleanse you from an evil conscience (Heb 9:14).

Help me to walk, live and have my being in the Spirit alone. Let me be able to say like Jesus: I do nothing unless the Spirit, I say nothing unless the Spiritguides and instruct me.

ABIDING IN THE SPIRIT

It is only in the Spirit that we are safe. It is only in the Spirit that we cannot be deceived and misled (1 John 4:1; John 16:13). He will defend words and deeds done in the Spirit (1 Cor 2:13). In the Spirit we are accurate. In the Spirit we are holy and perfect (John 17:17). In the Spirit we are righteous. In the Spirit we will know the way in the Holy of Holies (Heb 9:8). In the Spirit there is liberty (2 Cor 3:17). In the Spirit we are whole and able to speak the whole gospel. In the Spirit we have access to all things: gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:7-10) and fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:21-22). In the Spirit we are seated in heavenly places and will have authority (Eph 2:6). In the Spirit we know all things and intentions of the heart (1 Cor 2:10). In the Spirit we will know how to rightly discern and speak the truth. In the Spirit, the dead are made alive! It is by the Spirit that we are unified and become one like the God-head. It is by the Spirit that we are convicted, regenerated, filled, sanctified, justified and glorified. We have no life, existence nor substance outside of the Spirit. All spiritual life is by definition in the Spirit.

Life in the Spirit is a decision. It is a conscious, intentional and awakening partnership.  The Holy Spirit does not possess a person.  We need to learn to yield to Him, He is not an overpowering control. Being in the spirit is an awakening, not an unconscious, senseless, paralysed, cold, inert, insensate, insensible, lethargic, numb, passed out, stupefied, tranced state of being. Those are characteristics of being possessed by demons. Satan makes you like a zombie!

The Spirit gives life and unlocks supernatural inert abilities that God has already birthed in us. By the Spirit, we are united in the divine!

WE MISS OUT ON THE SPIRIT-LIFE BECAUSE OF:

Self: ego, pride, insecurities, flesh. The way of carnality and fleshly thinking is enmity to the Spirit (Rom 8:5). There is no middle ground, no compromise.

The Holy Spirit is Jesus who walks in our streets today. He is a Person. He does the same work that Jesus has come to do (John 14:15).

The people treat Him the same way they treated Jesus. Who crucified Jesus? The religious and so-called clergy of that time. The Holy Spirit wants to work through us. He wants to use us and let His gifts work through us and lead us to the Father. He wants to reveal Christ to us so that He will become a reality in our lives. He wants to make us His disciples. He wants to lead us into deeper dimensions in the Spirit.

HOW WE RESIST THE SPIRIT

Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled, and grieved his Holy Spirit.

Asab: A verb meaning to hurt, to pain, grieve, to shape to fashion.

Through our own experiences, and culture we have formed a shape and an image of God, a construct in our minds, without having a face to face reality of His person. Rebellion is holding on to that construct, even when the real appears. Some people prefer the god of their own making, than the awesome fearful wonder of the true Creator God.

 

Matthew 12: 31-32 Therefore I say unto you, every sin and blasphemy shall men be forgiven; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven of men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; But whosoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him in this age, nor in the coming.

blasphēmía: Blasphemy, verbal abuse against someone which denotes the very worst type of slander mentioned in Matthew 15:19 with false witnesses; wounding someone’s reputation by evil reports, evil speaking.

By reading the context of this portion of scripture in its entirety, we will gain understanding by allowing scripture to speak for Himself.  Jesus healed a demonic blind, mute man. (v22) The people (multitude) were clearly amazed and were contemplating whether this could be the son of David the Messiah. (v23) The Pharisees were losing ground, how do they explain this? How do you defend you standpoint, after seeing such a powerful demonstration? They countered by saying Jesus did this miracle by the power of satan. Specifically that He was possessed by Beelsebub. (Mar 3:22) And Jesus disclose the reason for His stern warning at the end of the passage. “because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mar 3:30) Finally Jesus declares: “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Mat 12:28) It is thus very clear that their attack was against the Holy Spirit, and therefor the very stern/fearful warning: “but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” Why? There can be no salvation or repentance without the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor 12:3; 2 Cor 7:9; John 16:8)

 

Acts 5:3, 9 Then Peter said, Ananias, why did Satan fulfil your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep the price of the land? Then Peter said to her, Why did you agree to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who bury your man are at the door, and they will carry you out.

pseúdomai; fut. pseúsomai, mid. deponent of pseúdō (n.f.), to cheat, defraud, falsify. To lie, to speak falsely or deceitfully.

By God’s grace this never happened again, else more people will fall dead in churches all over the world. Many by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit make commitments and declarations publicly, to reverse, procrastinate, and never comply.  We sometimes forget the Holy Spirit is God.  He is in no way inferior, or less powerful than God almighty. He is fully God, like Jesus, and the Father! The way He reveals God’s nature is predominantly as a dove, being gentle, and not forceful. However, we should revere and acknowledge His person with holy fear.

 

Acts 7:51 You stubborn and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit; just as your fathers, so also you.

antipíptō; fut. antipesoúmai, from antí (G0473), against, and píptō (G4098), to fall. To fall or rush against or upon in a hostile manner, assault, resist by force and violence, fall or strive against (Acts 7:51).

Stephen the martyr, was addressing a generation, a culture, a system of revolt against God. We see this clearly through History, how the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit can be suppressed, stifled and openly resisted. The tone of the words used in the accusation is violent and shows the open revolt of a culture against God.  The power of culture should never be underestimated. Many people who have come to the truth, have experienced the pain and suffering of families turning against them, being ostracized, persecuted and isolated.  To the point that they were willing to kill someone like Stephan, who only did good, publicly.

 

Acts 8: 18-22 And when Simon saw that by the laying of the apostles the Holy Ghost was given, he offered their money19 And said, Give me this power also, that whosoever shall lay my hands upon the Holy Ghost can receive. 20 But Peter said to him, Let your money go away with you, because you thought to receive the gift of God through money. 21 You have no part or fate in this matter, because your heart is not rightbefore God. 22 Repent therefore of this evilfrom you, and pray to God, whether the mind of your heartmay be forgiven you.

Some people are totally against spiritual things, then there are others who seek the power of the supernatural for personal gain.  It is interesting to see the words used: heart not right, evil heart, mind of your heart. This shows that Simon needed salvation. He had to repent, and tern form his wickedness.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.

Sbénnumi: To quench, extinguish.

Oh, have we not all been guilty of extinguishing the small still voice of the Holy Spirit! You feel uncomfortable about going with friends, or about a TV program, or certain company, yet we ignore the prompting of the Spirit, and persist most often to our own detriment.  May we become more alert, and sensitive to adhere the small nudges of the Holy Spirit. The more obedient you become to His voice, the more you will hear and discern His voice.

 

Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

lupéṓ̄: to grieve, afflict with sorrow; to be grieved, sad, sorrowful, to offend.

Most Christians are more scared and sensitive not to offend man, than God.  We will go out of our way to not offend man, but think it nothing to offend God, knowing His will.  The more we do this, the weaker the voice of the Spirit becomes in your heart.  God can never be offended and thankfully He takes no offence.  May we see His heart! May we really feel what He feels! May the Holy Spirit reveal His heart to us, so that like Mary Magdelene we see the suffering Christ, soon to be crucified, and pour our love on Him. (John 12)

BEING IN THE SPIRIT DOES NOT MEAN YOU ISOLATE YOURSELF

Being most connected and in tune, in the Spirit, enables you to connect on a higher level with people, and being really present in their deep hidden needs, wants, desires and motives.

Be connected in the Spirit first, then He will connect you with man, but on a higher level, so that you can pull them up and not be pulled down by man’s devices.

Being in the Spirit does not disconnect you with man to become ascetic, it connects you to man on a deeper, divine, spiritual level. People are most carnal and do not understand the ways of the Spirit. It is foolishness and strange to them. There are very few people who live and abide in the Spirit. Life in the Spirit is like living by the natural law of helium, but the way of carnality – by contrast – cannot escape the natural law of gravity. Therefore, people who do not live in the Spiritwill always pull you down. They do not even realise it, but that’s what they do.

THE SPIRIT AND THE WORD

The WORD and the Spirit is One. The Sword of the Spirit is the Word (Eph 6:17).

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life(John 6:63).

The language of the Spiritis the Word of God. Every single word we speak in the Spirit is based and founded on Scripture. It is like someone who has memorised all of Scripture and has understanding and insight into the whole of Scripture. Your spiritual vocabulary is Word-based. They only speak from the Word (Josh 1:8). The Spirit gives life to the Word. By the Spirit, the Word becomes flesh in us.

You cannot be like Jesus without the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who resurrects, reveals and manifests Christ in us. Only the Spirit reveals Jesus in us.

It is simply not in man to be like Christ, any human attempt is of the spirit of the anti-christ.

The way of the Spirit is holy and sacred. Life in the Spirit is holy, consecrated, sanctified, precise, accurate, on the mark – Jesus.

The only way to be sinless, is to be in the Spirit. It is He who works it in us and draws us closer into a more holy consecrated lifestyle.

WE CAN EVEN WORK IN THE SPIRIT

Oh God, may we walk in the Spiritcontinually! Help us to remain and abide in the Spirit. Help us to find our complete habitation in the Holy Spirit. Work done in the Spirit is worship and glorifies God. Work can be done in the Spirit, for daily labour is not ungodly, secular nor sinful (Ex 31:3, 5; 35:31). Work is part of our creational purpose – to subdue and multiply (Gen 1:28). When we work by the Spirit it will not be laborious, but innovative, precise and intentional. In the Spirit, you will be able to focus and accomplish what you set out to do. Your work will be a blessing! Your work will be a sermon, an extension of His grace and character in you. Your work will reveal God in the same way His creation reveals Him. Your work will be excellent and spectacular, creative and rich in precise detail and order.

Believers being in the Spirithave created many new inventions.

Work done in the Spiritmakes this world better because it resonatesand reflects heaven! (Matt 6:10)

When living in the Spirit, our constant focus and attention are on His ability, not ours. His strength, power, fruit, gifts, testimony and riches. We are dead to our capabilities, efforts, methods, trying and achievements. Our confidence is in Him. Our default is Christ. We have died to self, our dreams and ambitions. We have died to our mistakes, failures, inabilities and incompetence. The life we now live, we live in the Son, by the Spirit.  It is the Spirit that enables.

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Is dit nodig om te skree as jy preek?

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Hoekom skree sommige predikers?

Ek veronderstel al die geskree is ontwerp om passie te kommunikeer, maar dit kom ook dikwels as woede voor. Ek wil ook nie sê dat ‘n uitroep op die regte plek, om ‘n spesifieke onderwerp te onderstreep nie sy plek het nie.  Jesaja 58:1 is immers die skrif waarmee die Here my as twaaljarige seun geroep het as prediker.

“ROEP uit die keel, hou nie terug nie, verhef jou stem soos ’n basuin! En verkondig aan my volk hulle oortreding en aan die huis van Jakob hulle sondes.” Isa 58:1

Yelling has long been part of the preacher’s arsenal of public speaking tools. When the crowd tunes out, take it up a notch. When someone nods off, let loose with a stentorian bellow. When people seem placid, fire ‘em up with a rousing round of shouting. When you catch a whiff of apathy, yell about it. If the “amens” reach a lull, cut loose w ith another ear-splitting session. When the sermon is nearing its climax, make people reach to turn down their hearing aids. Crank it up, shout it out, and bring the house down! [1]  (Daniel Trelfall)

Daar is ‘n voorbeelde in die Bybel van uitroep en luide gejuig.

Toe die môresterre saam gejubel en al die seuns van God gejuig het? Job 38:7

KOM, laat ons jubel tot eer van die Here, laat ons juig ter ere van die rots van ons heil! Ps 95:1

Juig voor die Here, o ganse aarde! Dien die Here met blydskap; kom voor sy aangesig met gejubel. Ps 100:1

’n Stem van een wat roep: Berei in die woestyn die weg van die Here; maak gelyk in die wildernis ’n grootpad vir onse God! Isa 40:3

o Sion, verkondiger van goeie boodskap, klim op ’n hoë berg! o Jerusalem, verkondiger van goeie boodskap, hef jou stem op met mag; hef dit op, wees nie bevrees nie! Sê aan die stede van Juda: Hier is julle God! Isa 40:9

Daarenteen is stilte is net so kragtig.

Habakkuk 2:20 says “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him,” Zephaniah 1:7: “Be silent before the Lord God!”, and Zechariah 2:13,

Wanneer dit egter by prediking kom, sien ons Jesus se voorbeeld se woorde was met gesag, en mense was verstom, maar nie omdat Hy geskreeu het nie. Dis was wat Hy gesê het, wat soveel impak gehad het. Matt 7:28; 13:54; 19:25; 22:33; Mark 1:22; 6:2; 7:37; 10:26; 11:18; Luk 2:48; 4:32; 9:43; en Acts 13:12.

Jesus se voorbeeld:

Jesus het op eenvoudige maniere diepgaande waarhede geleer. Isa 42:2 sê Hy sal nie skreeu of uitroep of sy stem op die strate oprig nie. Jesus se prediking was gemik op mense se gedagtes en nie net hul emosies nie. God kan ons gedagtes net so maklik hoor as wat Hy ons woorde kan hoor (Ps 139:23; Jer 12:3)  Uiteindelik wil Jesus ons denke vernuwe. Rom 12:2 Sodat ons Hom in gehoorsaamheid sal dien, dis immers ons redelike godsdiens. Rom 12:1

Jesus het nooit geskreeu terwyl hy gepreek het nie (Mat 12: 19). En Hy het ook nie altyd in Sy boodskappe “Hallelujah” of “Amen” gesê om ‘n reaksie te kry nie. 😉

Hoe ons kommunikeer, is net so belangrik as wat ons kommunikeer. Jesus het menigte keer gesit, en die mense geleer.  (Mat 5:1; Luk 4:20; Luk 5:3; Joh 8:2) Die manier wat ons preek, ons kleredrag, gewoontes, lewe en voorbeeld, is alles deel van die preek.  Soms word predikers iemand anders vir die tyd wanneer hulle preek.  Dis dualisties en veronderstel dat ons twee mense is.

Die Here is nie beïndruk deur die mate van ons oorgawe en emosie nie, maar die mate van ons gehoorsaamheid.  “Take away from me the noise of your songs” (Amos 5:23).

“Wat Satan meer haat as jou skree op hom, is jou gehoorsaamheid aan Jesus.”

Skree kan mense verwar:

Dink daaroor. Wie anders in ons lewens skree op ons om ‘n punt te maak? ‘n Ouer aan die einde van hul tou? ’n verskriklike baas? As jy in ‘n huishouding vol aggressie en geskreeu, groot word, maak dit jou doof, want skree veroorsaak angs.  Jy stomp af om jou jouself nie langer aan die boodskap bloot te stel nie.

Skreeu verwar mense oor God se ingesteldheid teenoor hulle:

Baie mense sit in kerke regoor die wêreld en aanvaar dat die predikant namens God praat.  Hulle kan tot die gevolgtrekking kom; “Is God dan vir ons kwaad?”

Twee tipe prediking: Preek mense GEREGTIG in Christus of SKULDIG en veroordeeld

Jy preek nie mense reg met God, deur met hulle te raas nie.  Die eenvoudige vraag is, verander mense? Deur mense elke week skuldig te preek maak hulle nie heilig nie.  Jesus het nooit so geraas en geskree in sy prediking nie.

Volume en vurigheid raak die emosies, en mense maak emosionele besluite, maar dit is nie standhoudend nie.

Skree is nie Geestelike gesag nie: Acts 19:11-20

’n Ware gelowige verstaan ​​alreeds dat God se teenwoordigheid altyd by hom is, en hy hoef nie enige tipe fisiese sensasie te ervaar om dit te bewys nie.  (Psalm 139:7; Matthew 28:20; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; 2 Timothy 1:14)

Daar is drie belangrike aspekte van ‘n goeie kommunikeerder.

  • Ethos: Die waarde van die spreker se geloofwaardigheid
  • Patos: Die beroep op die luisteraar se emosies
  • Logos: Die logiese struktuur van ‘n argument

In kommunikasie is daar ‘n negatiewe obstruksie tot gesonde dialoog: “Ad Homonym” Daar word ‘n beroep op gevoelens of vooroordele eerder as intellek gemaak. Die persoon val eerder ‘n teenstander se karakter aan as om te antwoord op die gestelde bewerings. Soms kan predikers hulle ook hieraan skuldig maak, deur die platform te gebruik om hulle eie woede, seer, bitterheid uit te spreek.

Iemand merk die volgende op: ‘Ek dink dat hoe minder predikante het om te sê, hoe harder sê hulle dit.’ When losing an argument do not raise your voice, improve your argument.

Wees prakties:

Jesus het altyd sy gehoor, die hoeveelheid mense, en waar dit gebeur in ag geneem om die meeste effek te kry.  Hy het soms op ‘n boot gepreek om die water te gebruik as ‘n luidspreker sisteem. Hy het teen ‘n berg gepraat, waar die klank ook beter trek. In daardie tyd was daar minder, geraas in die algemeen, soos vandag veroorsaak deur opwekkers, waaiers, voertuie, musiek ens.

Wanneer jy ‘n boodskap aan kinders bring, rolspeel ‘n storie, en maak jou stem na, soos die karakters verander. Waneer jy wees met Jongmense praat, moet jy logies, inligting deurgee, en regtig ‘authentic’ wees. Jou lewens storie het baie krag.  Elke gehoor verskil, maak kontak met die gehoor. Paulus met die mense van Athene, het aanhalings uit hulle letterkunde gemaak.

Uitroep en ernstige emosie het soms ‘n plek maar nie heel tyd nie. Wissel af en wees, oorspronklik.

[1] https://www.sharefaith.com/blog/2014/06/pastor-yell-sermons-discussion-yelling-helps-gospel/

http://scriptureknowledgebase.blogspot.co.za/2010/08/why-do-some-preachers-scream-yell.html

 

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We will not forget or let go, of the legacy of the reality of Pentecost in SA

What we have easy today, have come at a great price for men of women of faith and obedience paying with their lives, so that the seed of His Word can continue to spread over all the World.
May we be counted worthy to enter into the labours of these heroes of faith, and see God transform our People by His Glory For His Glory in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Though your beginning was small,
Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.
“For inquire, please, of the former age,
And consider the things discovered by their fathers;
For we were born yesterday, and know nothing,
Because our days on earth are a shadow.
Will they not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their heart?
Job 8:7-10
John G Lake’s legacy of starting a work of Pentecostal outpouring in South Africa!

One day some years ago, being environed by certain conditions powerful and influential enemies who pamphleteered us throughout the whole world, broke confidence in our work for God to that extent that the little pittance of financial support almost dwindled away. I had one hundred and twenty workers out on the frontiers of South Africa, beyond the confines of civilization. The question arose as to what to do for these at such an hour. I said, “There is only one thing. That is, be honorable with these men and women. Let them know the true condition. If possible, let us call them in and let them decide as to the best thing to do.” So we sold our household possessions; we sold our watches, we sold everything that was salable for money enough to bring that hundred and twenty in.

When they arrived in Johannesburg, I poured my heart out to them as I am to you today. And alter a while they said, “Brother Lake, we would like to be alone for a little while and we ask you to retire. We have a decision to make.” I retired into the vestry for a half hour, and then they called me in. When I came in I found the hundred and twenty sitting in an oval in the middle of the tabernacle.. They had cleared the chairs away, made a large open circle with a hundred and twenty seats around, and a little table in the middle with bread and wine. They said, “Brother Lake, we have made our decision. We are going back to our fields. If we die, if our wives die, if our children die, we will never reduce that ministry that Jesus Christ has established through this work in Africa.” They said, “Brother Lake, serve the bread and wine.” I took my place at the head of the circle and started the bread around and the wine around. And every man said, “The new testament in my blood,” meaning “my blood to save South Africa.”

They put only one restriction: They said, “Brother, if we die. one request—come and bury us.” And twelve times in that year of hell, I stood beside twelve of the finest men and sixteen of the finest women and children God ever let live in this world. ] buried them because they starved to death, or they died because they could not get proper nourishment. That is the reason that the work in South Africa lives, and that is the reason that all the damnation on earth has never been able to assail it. But like a conquering glory it has gone on these years, conquering and conquering in the name of our Christ, until my hundred and twenty have grown to two hundred and fifty white preachers of the same character and until our five hundred black preachers have grown to be twelve hundred preachers of the same type and character, and until our mission stations are planted all Over Southern Africa.

May God grant us and enable us in the same way, than these powerful heroes of faith, to continue in the message of the Kingdom with signs and wonders following!!

“Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Taken from: The New John G. Lake Sermons, edited by Gordon Lindsay!

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Dailiness: Discovering the Sacredness in the Ordinary

Blessed be the Lord,
Who daily loads us with benefits,
The God of our salvation!
(Ps 68:19)

Carpe diem is a Latin aphorism, usually translated “seize the day”, taken from book 1 of the Roman poet Horace’s work Odes (23 BC).
In Horace, the phrase is part of the longer carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero, which can be translated as “Seize the day, put very little trust in tomorrow (the future)”. The ode says that the future is unforeseen and that one should not leave to chance future happenings, but rather one should do all one can today to make one’s future better. This phrase is usually understood against Horace’s Epicurean background.[6] The meaning of carpe diem as used by Horace is not to ignore the future, but rather not to trust that everything is going to fall into place for you and taking action for the future today.[7]

“Remember that you are mortal, so seize the day.”

enjoy the moment.
“enjoy, seize, use, make use of”

Hebrew[edit]
The phrase ?ואם לא עכשיו, אימתי ‘And if not now, then when?’ (Pirkei Avoth 1:14)

n the 1989 movie Dead Poets Society, the English teacher John Keating, played by Robin Williams, famously says: “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.” Later, this line was voted as the 95th greatest movie quote by the American Film Institute.[9] The television series Community later satirized the movie with the recurring character of Professor Whitman, a comedically eccentric version of Williams’ character who uses “Carpe diem” as his guiding philosophy.

The ability to fast-forward music and movies tempts us to think that we can fast-forward through the parts of our lives that seem boring or too difficult to face. But we really can’t.

Joan Chittister once said, “Dailiness, routine, sameness frees the heart to traffic in more important matters.”

As mens swaar kry, begin mens automaties fokus op, dag vir dag.

“Moet julle daarom nie oor môre bekommer nie. Môre sal sy eie bekommernisse bring. Vandag se moeilikhede is vir een dag heeltemal genoeg.” Die Bybel, Nuwe Lewende Vertaling. (2006). (Mt 6:34). Christelike Uitgewersmaatskappy.

Moet julle dan nie vandag al oor more se probleme kwel nie. As more gekom het, kan julle daaroor dink. Elke dag het genoeg van sy eie probleme.” Die Lewende Bybel. (1982). (Mt 6:34). Roodepoort: Christelike Uitgewersmaatskappy.

In the dailiness of our lives the holy meets the ordinary. Glory intersects with ruin. The sacred meets the routine. The lifelong journey to heaven is often marked with ordinary days where we simply do our work and serve God the best way we believe we can.

Exo 16:4 Manna elke dag

“Gee ons vandag ons daaglikse brood” Luk 11:3

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

Indian philosopher, cultural reformer, and spiritual leader Gandhi was right when he said, “There is more to life than increasing its speed.”

the Lord’s mercies “are new every morning” (Lam. 3: 23 NIV),

The incarnation of God helps us rethink the myth that we need more. When God became flesh, every ordinary human life was validated as sacred. The fact that God became human and spent most of His life in obscurity as a carpenter in a small village called Nazareth gives us perspective. Through the incarnation, we learn that every life has dignity and significance; every ordinary life matters. The mystery of the incarnation helps us remember that an ordinary life is, in fact, a life worth living or else God would have chosen a different life, a different town, and perhaps a more “relevant” time, like right now.

DIE DAILY

The abundant life is not based on position or stature. It is not based on the heroic and epic. The abundant life is an ordinary life transformed by the power of God through Jesus Christ living in us. He said that following Him is a daily task, as is bearing His cross “daily” (Luke 9: 23 NIV).  Self is our biggest enemy. By choosing to die daily, and continuing to do exactly what he command, it simplifies things. This is our reasonable service. (Rom 12:1) We recon ourselves dead (Rom 6:11) and live to see Christ resurrected daily in us. (Phil 3:10)

DAILY CHURCH

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2: 46–47 NIV) (2 Cor 11:28) (Acts 19:9; Luk 19:47) (Acts 16:5)  Bother Lawrence “I believe in the … communion of saints” Now with social media, the website, the Mobile app, and the daily radio programs we as a church are meeting and gathering together daily.  There is much protection and safety in keeping close ties with the Body of Christ. (Eph 4:16) It provides nutrients, and growth to all the parts.

WORSHIP DAILY

The psalmist clearly said, “Seven times a day I praise you” (Ps. 119: 164 NIV). So I will sing praise to Your name forever, That I may daily perform my vows. (Ps 61:8) Praise is part of our ordinary daily routine, altering our focus to remain constantly on God. (Heb 12:2) Praise focus our attention not on what has happened, but on what has not happened. It helps you to keep your focus and have a godly perspective about life.  Praise and thanksgiving humbles us, and keep your mood and attitude in the divine.

PRAY DAILY

Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers. (1 Tim. 4: 8) In the Catholic orthodox faith the traditional fixed hours for prayer are 6: 00 a.m., 9: 00 a.m., noon, 3: 00 p.m., 6: 00 p.m., 9: 00 p.m., and midnight.  This means that there are always someone praying at the same time all over the world. Jesus lived a daily prayer life, making time for separating Himself for times of prayer and reflection.

DAILY MIRACLES

Dr Brain Adams believes in – “Expecting everyday Miracles” Having an expectation to see God work the supernatural in every day, causes you to think, speak and live right! God does not confirm the person, He confirms His word. The word of our testimony. Declaring the gospel of salvation stirs faith for people to get saved, in the same way declaring God is present to heal, stirs faith for healing. Believe that signs and wonders follows you.

Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.
Acts 4:29-30 grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
Heb. 2:4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
You cannot theorise the work of the supernatural. If you never have done it, you have no right to even an opinion.

The Kingdom is not in words only but power 1 Cor 4:20; 2:4 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.  If their is thus no signs and wonders, no miraculous, people put their faith in vain in the wisdom of man.

DAILY WORK

Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, (Pr 8:30).  May your good works glorify your father in heaven (Mat 5:16). Do all to the Glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV). Brother Lawrence “Practising the presence of God” – “That he had always been governed by love, without selfish views; and that having resolved to make the love of GOD the end of all his actions, he had found reasons to be well satisfied with his method. That he was pleased when he could take up a straw from the ground for the love of GOD, seeking Him only, and nothing else, not even His gifts.”

When love motivates our daily work, our work becomes a testament of His love!

DAILY GIVING (SERVING)

Because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Acts 6:1 This means the church were active in providing for the poor daily. This is why Deacons were chosen to serve the tables. (Acts 6) Giving and finding ways to serve is the heart and core of Kingdom living.  Jesus came to serve. (Phil 2:1-5) Serving another, doing the little ordinary things for another, is an act of love! (Joh 13:5)

DAILY REST

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, (Heb 4:11) In other words: make work of finding rest.  Living in rest, means also to live without any offence. Scripture demands that we encourage one another to be at peace, lest sin enters in, and disable you walk before God.  After you made peace with God. (Rom 5:1) Follow after peace with all men (Heb 12:14) See the emphasis on ‘daily’ and ‘today’ in the following scripture: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (Heb 3:12–15)

DAILY STUDY

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Ac 17:11) Plan your day, to make time for the Word. Personal Bible Study is the foundation of a spiritual life exercise regime.  You can only grow spiritually to the measure your understanding has been enlightened by the Word, through the Spirit.  Moreover, making the Word the first priority in your thoughts is vital, so that you’ll learn to base your thoughts and emotions on the Word. When facing a crisis, go to the Word first! Before analysing and confronting the problem! We should always instinctively turn to the scriptures first, when facing and dealing with life.

Sieze Christ within the hope of Glory, and see Him manifest Himself though your life!

Some of the notes comes from: The Jesus Life: Eight Ways to Recover Authentic Christianity
by Stephen W. Smith