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Die ‘ek is’ beginsel – God se teenmiddel teen minderwaardigheid

Die mees belangrikste uitspraak in jou lewe begin met: Ek is…

Jesus se versoeking het die “ek is” uitspraak in Sy lewe bevraagteken: “As jy dan regtig die Seun van God is,” (Mat 4:3) As die vyand ons onkant betrap rondom ons identiteit, dan vang Hy ons in Sy strik van leuens om uiteidelik sy wil te doen. (2 Tim 2:26) Dit is wesenlik belangrik dat ons elkeen moet weet ‘wie’ ons is.  Jou skeppingsdoel is in werklikheid Christus. (Rom 8:29) Alhoewel ons nooit fisies soos Jesus kan wees nie, wil God dat ons soos Hy sal dink, optree en leef. Hy is die beste manier om te leef. Sy waardes en motiewe is suiwer! Hy is die volmaakte wil van God. Ons is dus die mooiste mense, wanneer ons die meeste soos Hy is.  Die basis van ‘belief therapy’ wat in tronke en rehabilitasie sentrums gebruik word is: Wat jy oor jouself glo, bepaal jou gedrag en keuses.

Maar ons skeppingsdoel gaan ook verder as dit.  God het ‘n plan met elkeen van ons, en sodra ons daardie plan verstaan kan ons ‘n lewe van sin en betekenis leef.  (2 Pet 1:10) Die ek is het eerstens nie te doen met wat ons kan doen en vermag nie. Because God created us as ‘Beings’ not ‘Doings’!  Mense wat deur trauma gaan wil net iemand teenwoordig hê, jy hoef niks te doen nie.  Ouer mense wat teen die einde van hulle leeftyd nie meer al die dinge wat hulle eers kon doen meer vermag nie, is nie nou minder werd en belangrik nie.  Hulle teenwoordigheid, wie hulle was is vir ons belangrik! Jy is eerstens ‘n gees mens. Wie jy in die Gees is, jou teenwoordigheid, jou gesindheid is bepalend.  Iemand met ‘n verkeerde gees, kan ‘n hele vertrek mense negatief beïnvloed. Die teendeel is ook waar! Iemand met ‘n positiewe ingesteldheid kan geskiedenis verander!

Kyk na die rots waaruit jy gekap is:

Dis waarom Paulus die broeders vermaan: “Want let op julle roeping, broeders” (1 Cor 1:26) Hulle moes onthou hoe God hulle geroep het. Hulle was nie vername mense nie. Aanskou die rots waaruit julle gekap is en die holte van die put waaruit julle gegrawe is. Isa 51:1 Jou redding en die manier hoe God jou red, kan betekenisvol wees om jour roeping te verstaan. Die man wat die bekende EE3 Evangelisasie tegniek en kursus ontwikkel het, het juis deur die 2 diagnostiese vrae tot bekering gekom. Die dinge waarvan die Here jou verlos het, en hoe hy jou verlos het kan ook nou vir ander van hulp wees. Hy, al was Hy die Seun, het gehoorsaamheid geleer uit wat Hy gely het; 9 en nadat Hy volmaak is, het Hy vir almal wat Hom gehoorsaam is, ’n bewerker van ewige saligheid geword (Heb 5:8)  Selfs Jesus het ‘n liggaam nodig gehad wat hom voorberei is deur generasies heen. (Heb 10:5) Selfs jou ouerhuis en omstandighede waarin jy gebore is, is belangrik. Moet nie dit as ‘n vloek sien nie.

Vind jouself in die Woord:

Johannes die doper moes homself in die Woord sien, om sy roeping te verstaan. (Mal 3:1 vergelyk Mar 1:2) Paulus het geglo dat hy deur spesiale roeping lewendig gemaak is (Gal 1:1 Sien hoe Paulus sy roeping sien en verstaan: Maar toe dit God behaag het, wat my afgesonder het van die skoot van my moeder af en deur sy genade geroep het, 16 om sy Seun in my te openbaar, sodat ek Hom onder die heidene sou verkondig (Gal 1:15)

Profetiese Woord en Openbaring:

Die woord van die Here het dan tot my gekom en gesê: Voordat Ek jou in die moederskoot gevorm het, het Ek jou geken; en voordat jy uit die liggaam voortgekom het, het Ek jou geheilig; Ek het jou tot ’n profeet vir die nasies gemaak. (Jer 1:5) So het die Here vir Abraham, Moses, Samuel en nog baie ander geroep om vir Hom te werk.  Wanneer ons God ontmoet, kry ons ons identiteit.  Ons is juis identiteitloos omdat ons Hom nie ken nie.  Adam en Eva het in ongehoorsaamheid die verhouding wat hulle met God gehad het verbreek en weggestap en sodoende hulle identiteit verloor.  So het Esau dan sy eersgeboortereg verag. Gen 25:34 Ons eie drange en vleeslike begeertes mislei ons. Ons dink ons is die somtotaal van ons drange en begeertes. God het ‘n hoër doel met ons as mens, daarom het Hy ons geskape met goddelike vermoëns.  Paulus was eers op ‘n verkeerde pad, omdat hy in die tradisies van sy voorvaders geloop het en nie geweet het wat hy doen nie. (Acts 9:3-6) Hy het ook deur profetiese woord van Ananias sy roeping ontvang. (Acts 9:15-16)

“Maar deur die genade van God is ek wat ek is”

Paulus maak hierdie kragtige stelling in (1 Cor 15:10). Hierdie is ‘n diep geestelike paradoks: Om self te verloën (Mat 16:24; Rom 2:20) en uiteindelik net jouself te wees.  Madame Guyon het dit verduidelik dat God soos met ‘n slang die gif uit ons ‘self’ wil haal om ons uiteindelik onsself gesond terug te gee. Die selfsug, ambisie, selfregverdiging, passiwiteit, trots, van die eie-ek verwoes ons lewe. As ons egter sterf tot hierdie self, gee Hy ons ‘self’ terug om in nederigheid, ootmoed, gehoorsaam aan Hom te lewe. Daar is ‘n unieke deel van die beeld van Christus in ons elkeen opgesluit. by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in 2you in Christ Jesus (Philemon 6)

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What to do when God feels distant

We all regularly experience moments where God feels distant. There is a difference between sin and sins. Ultimately sin is our arrogance to break relationship and union with God, thinking we can live without Him. Sins are the things we do as a result of a broken relationship. But we have made peace with God through Christ Jesus. Rom 5:1

David knew about this feeling Psalm 27:8-9

IT IS ONLY A FEELING GOD IS OMNIPRESENT
the Bible instructs us when God feels absent, remember it is a feeling because God is omnipresent. omnipresent (i.e., God is everywhere present): 1 Ki 8:27; Job 26:5–6; Ps 139:7–12; Pr 15:3; Je 23:23–24; Ac 17:27 (cf. Ge 28:16; De 4:36; Isa 57:15; Jon 1:3–4; Mt 28:20; Ac 2:25; 17:24, 27–28; Eph 1:23; Heb 13:5; Jam 4:8

He is always with us. will never leave or forsake us. Jos 1:5; 1 Chron 28:20; Heb 13:5
So we are talking about His manifest presence: God making Himself visible to our senses.

THE BIBLE INSTRUCTS US TO WAIT ON GOD
general references: Ge 49:18; Job 35:14; Ps 25:5; 62:5; 119:74; 130:5; Isa 8:17; 25:9; Mk 15:43
♦ exhortation concerning: Job 35:14; Ps 27:14; 37:7; Hos 12:6; Zep 3:8
♦ results of: Ps 25:3; 37:9; 40:1; 147:11; Pr 20:22; Isa 40:31; 49:23; 64:4; La 3:25–26; Mi 7:7; Heb 6:15 (cf. Je 8:15) ♦ lack of: Ps 106:13

WHAT DOES BIBLICAL WAITING LOOKS LIKE?
Waiting is not passive, but an active waiting with earnest expectation. It is more clearly seen in setting up an ambush for the one who promised, “I will be found by you” (Jer. 29:14). Like fishing, i am actively waiting with expectation.

REST H1826. דָּמַם dāmam: A verb meaning to be silent, to be still; to stand still. It depicts the state of being motionless (1 Sam. 14:9; Jer. 47:6). It can be used to command something to be motionless, to stand still (Josh. 10:12, 13), such as the sun. It means to refrain from speech (Lev. 10:3) at an appropriate time (Amos 5:13). It refers to persons being traumatized, rigid, or frozen from fear and fright (Ex. 15:16) like a stone or the silencing of persons through war or other means (Jer. 8:14; 48:2; 49:26; 50:30). It indicates, on the other hand, the absence of emotional distress and churning and the ability to be quiet and relax (Job 30:27; Ps. 4:4; 30:12; 131:2), which Job could not accomplish.

WAITING PATIENTLY H2342. חוּל ḥûl, חִיל ḥiyl: A verb meaning to whirl, to shake, to fear, to dance, to writhe, to grieve. This word has many different meanings, most of which derive from two basic ideas: to whirl in motion and to writhe in pain. The first of these ideas may be seen in the shaking of the earth (Ps. 29:8); the stirring of the waters (Ps. 77:16[17]); or the trembling of the mountains (Hab. 3:10). At times, this word is used in a context of shaking with fear (Deut. 2:25; Jer. 5:22); worshiping in trembling awe (1 Chr. 16:30; Ps. 96:9); or anxiously waiting (Gen. 8:10; Ps. 37:7). It is also used to describe dancing women (Judg. 21:21, 23). The second idea of writhing in pain can be either physical, as when Saul was wounded in battle (1 Sam. 31:3), or emotional, as when Jeremiah grieved in anguish over Jerusalem’s refusal to grieve (Jer. 4:19). This word is often used to describe the labor pains of giving birth (Ps. 29:9; Isa. 26:17, 18; 51:2) but can also imply God’s creating work (Deut. 32:18; Job 15:7; Ps. 90:2; Prov. 8:24, 25).

OUR ACCESS TO GOD HAS BEEN OPENED
Through a new and living way: Heb 10:19
We have access through his righteousness Mat 6:33
Permanent Glory 2 Cor 3:9-18 His Glory is no longer periodic, we are the habitation of His presence. 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19

ABSOLUTE FOCUS:
I was once driving from Northern California to Southern California on Interstate 5. South of Bakersfield I found myself in a dust storm that almost completely blinded me. It covered the entire freeway. There were cars immediately behind me, so I knew stopping could be disastrous. As I got into this cloud of dust I could faintly see cars and trucks scattered all over both sides of the freeway with people waving frantically. Talking with friends, listening to music, and the like are acceptable activities while driving, but they could have been deadly in this moment. Absolute silence filled the car as I worked to maintain my speed and focus on the lane ahead of me. After a minute or two, we made it through that terrifying cloud of death by God’s grace alone. Intense focus restricts what you are willing and able to see. And while this approach will keep you from seeing many things, it will also open your eyes to see more of what you hunger for. Self-control is not the ability to say no to a thousand other voices. It’s the ability to say yes to the one thing so completely that there’s nothing left to give to the other options. Bill Johnson Hosting His presence Unveiling Heaven’s agenda

The major way to express God’s compassion in the Old Testament was to use the Hebrew word raham, “womb.”¹ Why in the world did the Hebrews pick the word “womb” to express God’s compas-sion? Most likely it came from a Hebrew husband’s observing the intense feelings his pregnant wife had for the unborn in-fant inside her womb. He knew she had feelings and a love for that child that he cculd not yet experience. Excerpt From: “Surprised by the Power of the Spirit: Discovering How God Speaks and Heals Today” by Jack S. Deere.

In die onlangse fliek ͞The Avengers͟ word dit uitgebeeld hoe een van die Agente Phil Coulson besig is om te sterf: In sy sterwens oomblik sê hy: Agent Phil Coulson: You’re gonna lose. Loki: Am I? Agent Phil Coulson: It’s in your nature. Loki: Your heroes are scattered, your floating fortress falls from the sky… where is my disadvantage? Agent Phil Coulson: You lack conviction. Loki: I don’t think I.. Coulson shoots Loki with his BFG, causing Loki to be blown through the wall behind him.

Heb 11:1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. For by [faith—trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report. By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.

Heb 10:22 Let us all come forward and draw near with true (honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified assurance and absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness),

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What to do when God feels distant

WHAT TO DO WHEN GOD FEELS DISTANT
We all regularly experience moments where God feels distant. There is a difference between sin and sins. Ultimately sin is our arrogance to break relationship and union with God, thinking we can live without Him. Sins are the things we do as a result of a broken relationship. But we have made peace with God through Christ Jesus. Rom 5:1
David knew about this feeling Psalm 27:8-9
IT IS ONLY A FEELING GOD IS OMNIPRESENT
the Bible instructs us when God feels absent, remember it is a feeling because God is omnipresent. omnipresent (i.e., God is everywhere present): 1 Ki 8:27; Job 26:5–6; Ps 139:7–12; Pr 15:3; Je 23:23–24; Ac 17:27 (cf. Ge 28:16; De 4:36; Is 57:15; Jon 1:3–4; Mt 28:20; Ac 2:25; 17:24, 27–28; Eph 1:23; Heb 13:5; Jam 4:8 He is always with us. will never leave or forsake us. Jos 1:5; 1 Chron 28:20; Heb 13:5
So we are talking about His manifest presence: God making Himself visible to our senses.
WAITING FOR THE LORD
♦ general references: Ge 49:18; Job 35:14; Ps 25:5; 62:5; 119:74; 130:5; Is 8:17; 25:9; Mk 15:43 ♦ exhortation concerning: Job 35:14; Ps 27:14; 37:7; Hos 12:6; Zep 3:8 ♦ results of: Ps 25:3; 37:9; 40:1; 147:11; Pr 20:22; Is 40:31; 49:23; 64:4; La 3:25–26; Mi 7:7; Heb 6:15 (cf. Je 8:15) ♦ lack of: Ps 106:13
WHAT DOES BIBLICAL WAITING LOOKS LIKE?
It is more clearly seen in setting up an ambush for the one who promised, “I will be found by you” (Jer. 29:14). Like fishing, i am actively waiting with expectation.
REST H1826. דָּמַם dāmam: A verb meaning to be silent, to be still; to stand still. It depicts the state of being motionless (1 Sam. 14:9; Jer. 47:6). It can be used to command something to be motionless, to stand still (Josh. 10:12, 13), such as the sun. It means to refrain from speech (Lev. 10:3) at an appropriate time (Amos 5:13). It refers to persons being traumatized, rigid, or frozen from fear and fright (Ex. 15:16) like a stone or the silencing of persons through war or other means (Jer. 8:14; 48:2; 49:26; 50:30). It indicates, on the other hand, the absence of emotional distress and churning and the ability to be quiet and relax (Job 30:27; Ps. 4:4[5]; 30:12[13]; 131:2), which Job could not accomplish.
WAITING PATIENTLY H2342. חוּל ḥûl, חִיל ḥiyl: A verb meaning to whirl, to shake, to fear, to dance, to writhe, to grieve. This word has many different meanings, most of which derive from two basic ideas: to whirl in motion and to writhe in pain. The first of these ideas may be seen in the shaking of the earth (Ps. 29:8); the stirring of the waters (Ps. 77:16[17]); or the trembling of the mountains (Hab. 3:10). At times, this word is used in a context of shaking with fear (Deut. 2:25; Jer. 5:22); worshiping in trembling awe (1 Chr. 16:30; Ps. 96:9); or anxiously waiting (Gen. 8:10; Ps. 37:7). It is also used to describe dancing women (Judg. 21:21, 23). The second idea of writhing in pain can be either physical, as when Saul was wounded in battle (1 Sam. 31:3), or emotional, as when Jeremiah grieved in anguish over Jerusalem’s refusal to grieve (Jer. 4:19). This word is often used to describe the labor pains of giving birth (Ps. 29:9; Isa. 26:17, 18; 51:2) but can also imply God’s creating work (Deut. 32:18; Job 15:7; Ps. 90:2; Prov. 8:24, 25).
OUR ACCESS TO GOD HAS BEEN OPENED
Through a new and living way: Heb 10:19
We have access through his righteousness Mat 6:33
Permanent Glory 2 Cor 3:9-18
ABSOLUTE FOCUS:
I was once driving from Northern California to Southern California on Interstate 5. South of Bakersfield I found myself in a dust storm that almost completely blinded me. It covered the entire freeway. There were cars immediately behind me, so I knew stopping could be disastrous. As I got into this cloud of dust I could faintly see cars and trucks scattered all over both sides of the freeway with people waving frantically. Talking with friends, listening to music, and the like are acceptable activities while driving, but they could have been deadly in this moment. Absolute silence filled the car as I worked to maintain my speed and focus on the lane ahead of me. After a minute or two, we made it through that terrifying cloud of death by God’s grace alone. Intense focus restricts what you are willing and able to see. And while this approach will keep you from seeing many things, it will also open your eyes to see more of what you hunger for. Self-control is not the ability to say no to a thousand other voices. It’s the ability to say yes to the one thing so completely that there’s nothing left to give to the other options. Bill Johnson Hosting His presence Unveiling Heaven’s agenda
In die onlangse fliek ͞The Avengers͟ word dit uitgebeeld hoe een van die Agente Phil Coulson besig is om te sterf: In sy sterwens oomblik sê hy: Agent Phil Coulson: You’re gonna lose. Loki: Am I? Agent Phil Coulson: It’s in your nature. Loki: Your heroes are scattered, your floating fortress falls from the sky… where is my disadvantage? Agent Phil Coulson: You lack conviction. Loki: I don’t think I… [Coulson shoots Loki with his BFG, causing Loki to be blown through the wall behind him]
Heb 11:1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. For by [faith—trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report. By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.
Heb 10:22 Let us all come forward and draw near with true (honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified assurance and absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness),
 
 

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The lethal poison we drink when offended at someone

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

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

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

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

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

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

We take offense when:

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

How do you deal with offenses:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Steps of true Repentance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Characteristics of an offended person

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

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

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

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

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

– Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is BECLOUDED.

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

Being offended at God

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

The way of the Kingdom is our escape Button

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

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

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

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

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

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

Categories
Sermons

Uncover the truth behind Romantic Love

Oh, the power of romantic love! It is the most beautiful experience in the world but can become the cruelest and darkest of experiences. It beautifies us, yet has the potential to bring out the worst in us.

Why has God created us to love?

Romantic Love, in essence, is Spiritual. We only need to look at the love stories, the poetry, the songs and we find that a man-in-love has made of woman a symbol of something universal, something inward, eternal, and transcendent. He sees a special reality revealed in her; he feels completed, ennobled, refined, spiritualized, uplifted, transformed into a new, better, and whole man being with the women he loves.
We use words like ‘god’ and ‘goddess’ to describe our lovers, the experience is described as ‘perfect,’ ‘complete,’ and ‘out of this world.’ We feel raptured, fully connected, at peace, nothing can go wrong. We believe we can conquer the world. We’re full of new hope, energy, and ecstasy! We can see no fault in our lover. Romantic love is the most powerful motion and the most passionate of causes on earth. It makes people do things they would never have done before. When we fall in love, we feel alive; our senses are awakened to a newness and freshness of life not like at any other moment in our lives. Oh but the agony of love lost! The realization that it was only a moment! The depression and horror one face, when this love cannot be consummated are despair like no other. People commit suicide! They want to end it all. The rage one feels when romantic love disappoints have led in some cases to crimes of passion.
The Bible says this love is stronger than death, and many waters cannot quench it! It’s flames are fire, a most vehement fire! Song 8:6-7
When we “fall in love” we feel completed, as though a missing part of ourselves has been returned to us; we feel uplifted, as though we were suddenly raised above the level of the ordinary world. Life in love has an intensity, a glory, an ecstasy, and transcendence. We seek in romantic love to be possessed by our love, to soar to the heights, to find ultimate meaning and fulfillment in our beloved. We’re looking for the feeling of wholeness.

Romantic love is not an emotion it is a drive.

Romantic love moves us. Let’s read Helen Fisher’s scientific conclusion on Romantic Love:

I study the brain in love. My colleagues and I have put forty-nine people who were madly in love into a brain scanner (hmri). Seventeen had just fallen happily in love; fifteen had just been rejected in love; seventeen were men and women in their fifties who maintained they were still “in love” with their spouse after an average of twenty- one years of marriage. All showed activity in a tiny factory near the base of the brain that pumps out dopamine—the neural liquor that gives you the energy, focus, craving, and motivation associated with intense romantic passion — what the ancient Greeks called “the madness of the gods.” Helen Fisher.

According to Fisher her studies has shown that Sexual drive is what drives us to find a partner to reproduce. Romantic Love is the drive that keeps us together long enough for the infant to be out of danger, which is between 12 – 18 months. Because of the very high levels of dopamine which helps creativity, people tend to write their experiences in poems and songs. We, therefore, have more than enough evidence of just how powerful romantic love can be, by studying the words and expressions of the poets.

The place where Romantic love occurs in the brain is associated with obsession, high-risk gambling, compulsive disorders and drug-addicts. When love is lost, the same withdrawal symptoms occur as seen among addicts. The place where romantic love happens in the brain is right at the core called the reptilian brain. It is below the emotional, and cognitive part of the brain, responsible for feelings of reward, motivation, wanting, focus and craving. Feeling the rush of cocaine would also occur in exactly the same place. But it is much more than a cocaine rush, at least you come down from the effect. Romantic love is an obsession, it possesses you, you loose all sense of self, and cannot stop thinking of the object of your love. It is like someone is camping in your head. Not getting the person you love actually increases the effect. You just cannot get him or her out of your head. Romantic love affects the part of our brain, where we calculate and measure and are willing to take impossible high risks. This is why many lovers are willing to loose it all to win the prize of my love! They are willing to take any risk, and pay any prize to see love fulfilled. Fisher

Romantic love is a need, it’s an addiction.

Romantic love has the same symptoms than addiction: tolerance, withdrawal, relapse. You’re willing to endure all kinds of suffering, to be with the one you love. When love is not fulfilled, and you cannot have your love it leads to withdrawal symptoms physically and emotionally. And it takes one picture months and even years later to start it all again with the same vigorous power it had on your in the beginning.
Surely this is why the Sullumite begs “do not awaken love before it’s time!” This is a power that has brought great men to their end and ruin! It is a fantastic power to enjoy and nurture for a lifetime in marriage, but it can be a destroying power when you do not guard your heart. David the great spiritual King of Israel, the man that God said he loves as a friend, this man fell in love with the end-result being adultery and murder! What is the lesson we learn from history? No person is immune to its power.
The stories of Christian leaders and respectable men and women who have fallen from grace are enumerable! Daily we hear of another divorce, another sexual immoral act performed by Christian Believers.
I believe the answer has been looking us in the face for centuries! From the beginning to the end of the Bible God is calling us to one thing:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength!” 95% of people will acknowledge the fact that they have loved and it was not to be, or that they have disappointed another who have loved. Not many have escaped the tragedy of love not effectuated. We are all in some form of relapse. Looking on Facebook for clues, glimpses of what could have been. The sorrow of regret and the agony of being rejected are heavy loads to carry and tug alongside us throughout life. Did we marry the wrong person? Surely this cannot be it! How can something so perfect now feel so normal and boring? Where is the excitement? Where is the glory?

The truth is romantic love wears off!

According to the Imago therapists, romantic love is only the first stage of any relationship. The second stage is the power struggle. That is where we become aware of each other’s faults, bad habits, and differences. It happens to all of us. That first spiritual enlightened moment has gone by, and here we are settled in a rut.

What is God’s purpose for romantic love.

Let us look at this answer again? Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. I sincerely do not believe God created us with the ability to fall in love, to be heart-broken for a lifetime. Surely no one is perfect and we cannot prevent ourselves from hurt, and offense! (Luk 17:2) Somewhere our bubble is going to burst. It is in God that this love is nurtured and fulfilled! It is in Him that we discover all the glory, fullness and perfection. It is His love that completes us and makes us whole. When we are firstly and foremostly in love with Him, then we can happily fall in love with someone, who has also surrendered his or her heart to Him. His love heals us from all selfishness and makes us the best partner to be with.
Religious formality and traditions will never satisfy man’s hunger for a loving God. It is only when we experience God personally and powerfully in our own lives, that we begin to look at Him with new eyes. It is when we discover for ourselves the light in His eyes, that our heart turns violently in our core! We fall in love with God! This is the core of worship – LOVE! Pouring out our love on Him, is what completes us. This is reason why we were made. This the point of life – Misty Edwards.
Romantic love is deeply personal and focused. Until we love God this way, and fall for Him we are truly lost. This is why God is a God of encounters, He is involved in our lives. He heals, and set people free. He does miracles and signs so that we can see His love. Give your heart to Him! Let your soul finally be satisfied with the true love you seek – God. This is why He gave us the Holy Spirit, so that we can feel Him, sense Him. This is why we need to be in a church, were people passionately loves God, because this love is contagious! God’s love is not selfish and self-serving. When we love Him, He teaches us to go and love likewise. He shares His love, and wants us to share it too.
Finally: a word to young people and single people. When you fall in love with someone that is not saved and born again, when romantic love subsides and fades away, you will find yourself committed, engaged and married to someone that does not have your values, mindset, perspective, identity, habits nor focus. This leads to much pain and resentment later, that ultimately leads to divorce. This person should find Christ before you commit and go deeper in the relationship.
The person you commit to should know beforehand who you are, and your desire to follow Jesus, and His ways! Do not compromise on this! What you compromise to win, you will loose! Your romantic affection makes you believe he/she is an angel and perfect, but they’re not! It’s the chemicals in your brain messing with your head! It is easy to fall in love with someone, but it is really hard to keep falling in love with a person who does not change and become more and more Christlike as they grow older. This only happens in marriages where both partners are fully committed in their walk with God.
Purposefully fill your life with God. Let His love heal and restore you completely. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind!!!

Categories
Social Relevance

WALK – Holiness, poverty, and relationship-reform

Caring for the Poor, Biblical Mandate: Summery of “When helping hurts” How to alleviate poverty without hurting the poor and yourself. 
Steve Corbett
What was the focus of Jesus’ Ministry?
Luke 4:17–21 
And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
When Jesus’ Ministry was tested and questioned by John the baptist:
Luke 7:22–23 
Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Jesus Focussed on the poor: and wants us to focus on the poor:
Matthew 25:44–46 
“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
This is the fulfillment of the OT plan God had for Isreal:
Isaiah 1:17 
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.
Deuteronomy 15:4 
except when there may be no poor among you; for the LORD will greatly bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance—
God gave Moses numerous commands in-  structing Israel to care for the poor. The Sabbath  guaranteed a day of rest for the slave and alien (Ex.  23:10–12). The Sabbath year canceled debts for Is-  raelites, allowed the poor to glean from the fields,  and set slaves free as well as equipping the slaves to  be productive (Deut. 15:1–18). The Jubilee year  emphasized liberty; it released slaves and returned  land to its original owners (Lev. 25:8–55). Other laws  about debt, tithing, and gleaning ensured that the  poor would be cared for each day of the year (Lev.  25:35–38; Deut. 14:28–29; Lev. 19:9–10). The com-  mands were so extensive that they were designed to  achieve the ultimate goal of eradicating poverty  among God’s people: “There should be no poor  among you,” God declared (Deut. 15:4). 
God judges our worship as fruitless and futile if we neglect the poor:
Personal piety and formal worship are essential to  the Christian life, but they must lead to lives that  “act justly and love mercy” (Mic. 6:8). 
Throughout the New  Testament, care of the poor is a vital concern of the  church (Matt. 25:31–46; Acts 6:1–7; Gal. 2:1–10; 6:10James 1:27). Perhaps no passage states it more suc-  cinctly than 1 John 3:16–18
God’s answer to the poverty question of mankind is His kingdom:
The kingdom is the renewal of the whole world through the entrance of supernatural forces. As things are brought back under Christ’s rule and authority, they are restored to health, beauty, and free- dom.
Jesus Ministry started preaching the Kingdom: Mat 4:17 instructing His disciples to do the same: Luke 9:2; Luke 10:9 and the first church did the same: Acts 4:34; 10:45
The way God shows His Kingdom to the World is by using the poor, the weak en simple to display His glory:
James 2:5 
Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
1 Corinthians 1:26–29 
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.
Poor people typically talk in terms of shame, inferiority, powerlessness, humiliation, fear, hopelessness, depression, social isolation, and voicelessness.
God established four foundational relationships for each person: a relationship with God, with self, with others, and with the rest of creation (see figure 2.1).¹⁴ These relationships are  the building blocks for all of life. When they are  functioning properly, humans experience the full-  ness of life that God intended, because we are being  what God created us to be
Poverty is the result of relationships that do not work, that are not just, that are not for life, that are not harmonious or enjoyable. Poverty is the absence of shalom in all its meanings
Every human being is suffering from a poverty of spiritual intimacy, a poverty of being, a poverty of community, and a poverty of stewardship.
The materially poor are trapped by multiple, interconnected factors—insufficient assets, vulnerability, powerlessness, isolation, and physical weakness— that ensnare them like bugs caught in a spider’s web.¹⁷ Imagine being caught in such a web.
According to Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, it is this lack of freedom to be able to make meaningful choices—to have an ability to affect one’s situation—that is the distinguishing feature of poverty
Poverty alleviation is the ministry of reconciliation: moving people closer to glorifying God by living in right relationship with God, with self, with others, and with the rest of creation. Material poverty alleviation is working to reconcile the four foundational relationships so that people can fulfill their callings of glorifying God by working and supporting themselves and their families with the fruit of that work.
We are building people, leaders, community, an economic base, and capacity, not a product for profit.
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Sermons

STAND – Resurrected into a new Life in Christ

Elijah – stood for justice but most of all he was a prophet calling his people from backsliding to devotion and holiness unto God. Often he laments; “GOD I am standing alone”

When studying this passage it becomes clear that this wonderful miracle of God vindicating his faith was initiated by God. ‘Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.’ 1 King 18:37 The similar kind of prayer was prayed when Jesus raised Lazarus. Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they might believe that You sent Me.” Joh 11:42

Two of the greatest miracles in the Bible and it is done without much fanfare, pomp, elaboration and outward expressiveness. This simplicity is one of the reasons we believe the gospel writer’s account of what happened in Jesus’ life. Embellished and extravagant details are strong signs that a historical account has legendary elements. The Gospels give matter-of-fact, almost bland descriptions of the Resurrection. Excerpt From: “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Foreword by David Limbaugh)” by Norman L. Geisler. Scribd.

And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the testimony of God [concerning salvation through Christ], I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom [no lofty words of eloquence or of philosophy as a Greek orator might do]; for I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection]. And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom [using clever rhetoric], but [they were delivered] in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit [operating through me] and of [His] power [stirring the minds of the listeners and persuading them], so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom and rhetoric of men, but on the power of God.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:1‭-‬2‭, ‬4‭-‬5 AMP

THIS SIGN WAS POINTING TO A GREAT REALITY

This wonderful sign did not change or move the heart of the people. Jezebel pursued him and tried to kill him. Because all signs and wonders points to a higher and greater reality, that of a lifestyle of obedience and holiness. We are the most healed and whole when we are the most like Jesus. A whole heart, free from iniquity, vile, or deceit.

The focus on healing, signs & wonders, prosperity, wealth, victory, miracles in the Pentecostal church in Africa will either testify against them of for them if it does not lead to holiness, reconciliation, repentance, humility, meekness, truth, and people reflecting Jesus to the World.

Prosperity without God at the center is materialism.
Work without God at the center is slavery – because of mistaken identity
Words without corresponding action as our testimony leads to atheism
Worship without a lifestyle of obedience is witchcraft.
Outward impressiveness without the inner reality of Godliness is religion

EAST AFRICAN REVIVAL

Joe Church stayed with friends on Namirembe Hill and on the Sunday morning walked up to the cathedral. Outside it was an African standing by his motor-bike. His name was Simeoni Nsibambi. ‘There is something missing in me and the Uganda church. Can you tell what it is?’ Simeoni asked Joe. The two men spent two days studying the Bible and praying together. In a subsequent letter home, Joe wrote. There can be nothing to stop a real outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Rwanda now except our own lack of sanctification.’ Both men were transformed and Joe went back to Gahini in Rwanda a new person. Immediately conversions began to take place, and Christians started to confess faults and resentments to one another. Forgiveness was experienced and broken relationships restored.

– public repentance and forgiveness
– no more schisms and divisions tolerated, reconciliation on all levels.
– restitution
– Bible Study & Prayer
– missions, evangelism, church plants
– high standard in work ethic, no more corruption

A true revival cannot have self-propelled vessels. Isa 33:21

ANSWERED PRAYER – SONSHIP:

God is calling the church in Uganda to maturity: children makes a lot of noise, not having substance. This speaks of a position in God, a standing in God. Before we can attempt to stand in this world for God, we have to lay down and surrender to God. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:7-8

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. James 5:13-18

RIGHTEOUSNESS

The English word righteousness comes from the Anglo-Saxon word, rightwiseness, wise in that which is right. In the original Greek it is “Dikaiosune” meaning two parties finding a likeness in one another, to join, to be set at one again. We become wise when we realize our oneness with God in Christ.

This speaks of a position in God, a standing in God. Before we can attempt to stand in this world for God, we have to lay down and surrender to God. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:7-8

Paul alloborates this clearly in Ephesus
Sit, stand, walk – This position is not attained through works or effort of man but through faith in His work. My complete trust is in His finished work. This is why we always start sitting. Sitting in heavenly places. Eph 2:6

Our first position of departure is always surrendered.

Elijah did not strive and performed rituals like the false prophets. He simply obeyed an instruction God gave him, and God did the rest.

The one thing the world has seen enough of, is man standing. Rebellion, entitlement, pride, arrogance, even for the right cause brings anarchy, pain and war. We instead learn to die to self, take up our cross, and follow His way. Mat 16:24

When Jesus is doing the standing in you, he works meekness, humility and gentleness in us that is much more powerful weapons. 2 cor 10:3-6 than the works of the flesh.

Once this is achieved Jesus will stand in you, all the time. His life, way, values and character becomes the weapons of our warfare

Meekness – (before God)
Gentleness – (before man)
Humility – (before myself)

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Sermons

SIT – Always our First step in the Spirit

If you learn to rest more, you will see more provision, more victory, more revelation, more healing in your life! Mat 11:28 

We do not know how to rest:  The world and schools has only taught us to compete, strive, contend, fight for your rights.  Jesus taught us to give up our life. (Mat 16:24-26)

Peace is eternity now. The Kingdom within Luk 17:21 is to have peace within. Rom 14:17

Romans 14:17  [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

We war with peace: In the Kingdom everything works to the opposite of man.  First will be last etc… When we are at peace we win, conquer, rule, reign, overcome! 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Rom 16:19-20)

A baby learns to sit first before he starts to stand and walk. The Christian life also begins with sitting. God “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. (Ephesians 2:6) How well we walk after that depends on how well we sit and rest in the finished work of Christ.

The only “work” left for us to do today is to enter His rest. We are to labor every day to enter His rest. We are to rest inwardly and believe that the work is done because it is a finished work, and trust in God’s undeserved favor toward us. We are to rest in Jesus our true ark, who will carry us through tempestuous waters. One of the first doctrines of the church foundations is – repentance of dead works.  Heb 6:1

So today, “if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts… be diligent to enter that rest”. (Hebrews 4:7, 11)  Let’s enter His rest. Let’s enjoy sitting together with Christ in the heavenly places, (Eph 2:10)

Rest implies “waiting” – then we will run and not be weary! (Isaiah 40:31)

Eze 44:18 The priest should not wear anything that causes sweat.

The ultimate prize, nourishment, comfort, ecstasy, rapture, peace and rest the whole world is seeking are found in God. He is our rest. The more you’ll know Him, the more you will rest.

We do not trust Him, because we do not know Him.  The world’s alternative of Devine rest is drugs, holidays trips, money etc.

Isa 50:60 “They have forgotten their resting place.

Faith is a place of rest:  Running with the medal in my pocket.

The thing that steals your peace will reign over you

The battle is not to get peace, but to keep it.

The enemy’s intend is to steal you peace.

Remain in the rest of faith

20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.  (Heb 13:20-21)

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Sermons

Exposing the spirit of Entitlement

There is a culture of entitlement in South Africa contributing to the country’s rise in violent crime. This is according to national police commissioner Riah Phiyega’s analysis of the country’s crime statistics released in parliament on Tuesday. Phiyega believed the situation was further exacerbated by the lack of balance between citizens’ rights and responsibilities. “A culture of entitlement has risen in the country that apparently justifies almost any action taken to address grievances and promote own interests. Communities have to take ownership of their own best interests including the creation of an environment free of crime and fear.”

Pride – It is an iceberg. The danger of an iceberg is not its great strength, but that its strength is hidden. Likewise, pride exists in the unseen realm of the heart. Though glimpses of it are seen in the realm of the actions, the staggering and destructive power of pride lies hidden in the shadows of the heart. (kellyneedham.com)

“I’m at the front of the line, you can’t cut me. I deserve to be here because I got there first.”

“I deserve some pleasure and me-time”

“I should have received that reward”

“I will take what I want”

“I deserve this, because…”

ENTITLEMENT IS THE BELIEF THAT YOU DESERVE TO BE GIVEN SOMETHING

compensation; claim; repayment; retaliation; retribution; revenge; rights; vengeance; what is coming to one

: the right to guaranteed benefits under a government program, as Social Security or unemployment compensation.

Luke 18:28-30 Lord, we have also given up everything

Isa 14:14-15 Lucifer

Mat 16:24-27 He who tries to save his live will loose it.

James 3:16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. (NLT)

David: 1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22 a man after my own heart

Entitlement explained in Nathan’s Story to King David: 2 Sam 12:1-9 Later in David’s repentance he know God’s heart, and came to truth: For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Ps 51:3 God looks at: The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

The offspring of David’s entitlement attitude produced that same spirit in his children.

Ammon and Tamar – Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Amnon, her half brother, fell desperately in love with her. 2 Amnon became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. 2 Sam 13:1-22

Absolom –  As they were on the way back to Jerusalem, this report reached David: “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons; not one is left alive!” The king got up, tore his robe, and threw himself on the ground. His advisers also tore their clothes in horror and sorrow. 2 Samuel 13:30-31 (NLT)

Even David’s son Solomon, who would succeed David as king, repeated the sins of his father many times over—Deuteronomy 17:16-17, 1 Kings 11)

HOW DO WE BECOME ENTITLED??

1) UNMET EXPECTATIONS are our first glimpse of entitlement: a sense that we deserve marriage, kids, more money, or a better job. A feeling that God owes it to you.

2) COMPARISON fuels the fire of pride and brings entitlement into the light. The sense of entitlement is particularly strong when that person seems less worthy than you in some way: If so-and-so (who is way less spiritual/good/Christian than I am) is getting that much, then I certainly deserve that!” A comparative heart will always be an entitled heart.

3) The subtlest variety of entitlement shows up in SUFFERING. Of course, all suffering is an occasion for grief and sorrow. But in the midst of the loss and pain, we all too often give pride a free pass to grow. Your teenage child is rejecting the faith, “but I’m entitled to have saved children.”

4) ME-DOM

At the core of our obsession with self is a belief of entitlement. I want something, then perceive that I need the thing that I want, then proceed to do what I have to do to get it… and continue to do what I have to do to keep it, and to do what I have to do to get more of it. If I want to feel something (i.e., pleasure, happy) I will do what I have to do. It is the same for eliminating the thing from my life that I do not want. I will do what I have to do. If I don’t want to feel something (i.e., pain, sad) I will do what I have to do. It’s what we do. We can’t help ourselves.

THE ANTIDOTE

Luckily for us, there is a solution to this sin of entitlement. It’s called generosity. Rather than wallowing in our bitterness for not “getting what we deserve”, we should pour our time into giving to others.

You cannot be generous and at the same time feel entitled!

Jesus was entitled to call on the help of 12 legions of angels, Matthew 26:53 yet He surrendered to the will of the Father and gave His life for the sin of the World.

The 24 elders fell down and cast their crowns before him. Rev 4:10 Leadership in the NT is a constant casting down of crowns, not holding onto honor, position, and praise of men.

BY giving to others, helping and serving others, not seeking any selfish gain we align ourselves with the life and will of Jesus, and thus will also be eternally rewarded with Him. Our reward is in heaven. Mat 5:12; 46; 6:1-6 

“Man is not, by nature, deserving of all that he wants. When we think that we are automatically entitled to something, that is when we start walking all over others to get it.” Criss Jami,

“You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.” Abraham Lincoln

“What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.” Brené Brown

“When we replace a sense of service and gratitude with a sense of entitlement and expectation, we quickly see the demise of our relationships, society, and economy.” Steve Maraboli

“Everybody deserves love, but nobody is entitled to it.” Katerina Stoykova Klemer

“Society nowadays tells people that their happiness is all that matters but happiness is never found if it costs someone else’s theirs. That is not what happiness is, nor would such a person deserve it, because happiness is forged by the setting aside of self and in doing for others to make them happy first and foremost, so if you have to hurt another human being to “find your happiness,” then you have no clue what the word actually means or what it’s willing to do, and in being so self-centered and entitled, it’s veritably tragic that the only care and concern you have is for yourself.” Donna Lynn Hope

“Rewards are not an entitlement, they have to be deserved, they have to be earned.” Murad S. Shah

“You don’t build a family by tearing down another one.” Donna Lynn Hope

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Preke

God se Bloudruk vir Vriendskappe

Die Bybel is ‘n boek oor verhoudings en Vriendskappe. God is in wese ‘n drie-enige verhouding. Sonde is die dade wat verhoudings skade bring en verwoes.  Sonde het hoofsaaklik vier verhoudings verwoes: ons verhouding met God, met onsself, met mekaar en met die skepping.  Christus is God in mensvorm, om ons te wys hoe om al hierdie verhoudinge te herstel. Hy is die bemiddelaar en tussenganger wat ons verhouding met God herstel het, deur Sy eie lewe as offer te gee vir ons sonde en oortredinge.  Die hele skepping is in verhouding met al die dele van die skepping.  Die skepping is dus een groot verhouding van verhoudings! As een lid weggeneem word, affekteer dit die geheel.  God is dus ons antwoord en bloudruk vir verhoudings. Hoe meer ons nader aan hom leef, en in dieper verbondenheid met Hom leef, hoe gesonder en reg is ons verhoudings.  Om die Here te dien maak ons mooier mense: die vrug van die Gees, Jesus se voorbeeld wys ons hoe om in vergifnis en waarheid te leef.

Relationships are hard, exhausting, unpredictable, and time-consuming, which is one reason too many of us enjoy relationships with the lifespan of fruit flies. Relationships don’t come to us like Christmas packages, all neatly wrapped with ribbons and bows. Relationships come more to us like an abused package from the post office: ripped, torn, its guts spilling out, the contents often broken. (Beautiful, Leonard Sweet)

Ek kan jou nie seer maak, sonder om myself seer te maak nie. – Ghandi

Aristoteles se drie motiewe van vriendskap is: nuttigheid, plesier en assosiasie.  Ons het vriende nodig wanneer ons in nood is – Nuttigheid. Ons wil lekker dinge saam met vriende doen – Plesier. Ons voel meer waardevol wanneer iemand belangrik ons vriend is – Waarde.

In Johannes 11 wys Jesus ons ‘n baie meer dieper en goddelike motief.

Jesus leer ken die gesin tydens een van sy reise na Betanië, ’n dorpie net 3km buite Jerusalem, toe die oudste suster Martha Jesus in haar huis ontvang het. Luk. 10:38-42 Hier sien ons Marta is die ouer meer besorgde verantwoordelike een. Maria is die een wat Jesus se hart wou raak, sy wou niks mis nie.  Hy sou dikwels weer daar oorbly wanneer Hy in Jerusalem moes wees. Mark 11:11 Vriendskappe gaan werklik eers dieper, wanneer ons ‘n huis deel.  Daarom het Jesus se 12 vriende saam met hom geleef vir drie jaar.  Daar gebeur iets wanneer ons agter die voorgee van openbare profiele kom, wanneer ons mekaar beleef besig met aardse menslike dinge, soos kos maak, badkamers deel, toilette deel, slaapkamers deel. Dis ongemaklik en ongerieflik, maar dis waar ons werklik mekaar beter leer ken. Jesus se opgroeijare het meestal in Nasaret gebeur, ‘n klein gemeenskap van arm boere en skrynwerkers nie meer as 250 – 400 mense nie.  Almal het mekaar geken, moes alles deel, en huise was in klein groepies teen mekaar gebou.  Die lewe was moeilik en almal moes help, en hulle deel doen vir oorlewing.  Jesus verstaan dus verhoudings, Hy leef verhoudings!

Op hierdie tydstip van Jesus se bediening was dit vir Jesus gevaarlik om in Jerusalem te wees. Hy was amper gestenig ’n paar dae tevore, die Jode wil hom in hegtenis neem. Joh 11:8; 10:31, 39 Die familie weet dit, daarom net die in kennis stel woorde. “Die een wat jy lief het is baie siek” Hulle woorde wys hulle respek en geloof in Jesus, asook hulle vrymoedigheid met hom, Hy is hulle vriend. Hulle het hom al dikwels gehelp, en Hy sal hulle ook help.  Die dissipels is soos gewoonlik meer op hulle self ingestel as op die Here.  Hulle verstaan nie Jesus se woorde nie en hulle maak die verkeerde gevolgtrekkinge. Jesus moet hulle reguit verduidelik wat Hy bedoel toe hy eers sê Lasarus slaap, dat Lasarus dood is, want hulle verstaan nie.  Thomas se woorde, dat hulle saam met Lasarus gaan sterf, dui op sy pessimisme soos gewoonlik, Thomas die twyfelaar is bekommerd vir sy eie lewe. (Joh 14:5; 20:24–29)

Jesus het dus geweet Lasarus is dood, nogtans gaan Jesus nie onmiddellik nie. God wil die omstandighede gebruik vir Sy glorie.  Jesus sê Hy is bly dat hy nie onmiddellik gegaan het nie, want die Vader gaan die Seun verheerlik.  Vriendskap is ’n hefboom, ’n onsigbare band wat jou verplig om te help.  Mense sal op grond van ’n vriendskap dinge doen, wat hulle nie eintlik wil doen nie. Vriendskap is ’n emosionele kommoditeit.  Jesus bied sy vriendskap en liefde, maar laat hom nie verbind nie.  Dit moes maar ‘n bitter pil gewees het vir Marta en Maria om te sluk, dat Jesus nie dadelik kom nie.

Jesus se optrede druis in, teen wat reg is oor hoe die meeste mense vriendskap verstaan.

Jesus laat weet hulle nie dat Hy nie nou dadelik gaan kom nie – dus swak kommunikasie.  Jesus gee nie onmiddellik in tot hulle noodroep nie – dus nie ingestel op menslike behoeftes nie – Maar die wil van die Vader. Hy het voedsel beskikbaar om hom te vul wat nie van ’n mens is nie.  Joh 4:32, 34 Vgl Mat 4:4 Hier leer ons ook ‘n waardevolle les: Ons soek nie vriende omdat ons ‘n behoefte het na vriendskap nie, Jesus was die seun van God, en het niemand se hulp nodig gehad nie, ook nie vriende nie.  Tog kies hy vriende. Is hy die gestuurde wat vriende uitkies.  Dis die kern van die groot Kommissie: “Gaan dan heen en maak Vriende van alle nasies.” Ons kies dus nie ons vriende op grond van waaroor ons alles saamstem, en dat ons van dieselfde goed hou nie.  Ons kies ook nie vriende omdat hulle iets vir ons gedoen het nie.  Dis maklik om liefde te gee, as ek dit eers ontvang het. Jesus stuur ons, om ons vyande lief te hê, (Mat 5:44-48) om vriende te maak van mense wat vir ons niks kan beteken of gee nie.

“As u hier was sou Lasarus geleef het” Hulle verwyt liggies Jesus se afwesigheid. ( Joh 11:21; 32) Selfs die begrafnisgangers en toeskouers verwyt hom ook. Joh 11:37 “Kon Hy wat die oë van die blinde man geopen het, nie maak dat hierdie man ook nie gesterf het nie?” Maar Marta en Maria neem nie “offense” nie.

Beide Maria en Martha spreek hulle geloof uit: ek glo: (Joh 11:7)

  • – Sy erken Jesus as die gekose Gesalfde (Messias: Christus – vgl. Joh 1:20,41).
  • – Hy is die Seun van God (vgl. Joh 1:34,39; 10:36)
  • – en die Profeet wat na die wêreld toe gestuur is (vgl. Joh 3:31) om God aan die mense bekend te maak. In een asem ’n belangrike getuienis oor Christus.

Offense: verwoes die vloei tussen en skakeling, konneksie tussen mense.  Moet nie offense vat teenoor die Here, omdat jy dink Hy laat is nie.  (Jes 55:8-9)

Jesus se trane wys egter op Jesus se seer in hierdie verhouding.  (Joh 11:38)  Hy het al by meer as een geleentheid vir hulle gesê, dat Hy gaan sterf. Hier by die dood van Sy vriend Lasarus, sien Jesus Sy dood. Hy moes dink aan die sonde las van hierdie mense wat Hy eersdaags sal moet dra, en hulle sien dit nie. Die Griekse woord “groaning”, embrimaomai  (em-brim-ah-om-ahee); Strong’s #1690:  Derived from en,  “in,” and brime,  “strength.” The word is used to express anger (Mark 14:5), to indicate a speaking or acting with deep feeling (John 11:33, 38), and for stern admonishment (Matt. 9:30; Mark 1:43). to roar, storm with anger; to be enraged, indignant, to express indignation against someone.  Since Christ could hardly have felt anger toward Mary and the mourning friends, it is probable that his deep emotion was due to his inwardly protesting the indifference, ignorance, blindness, thoughtlessness, of the people… seeing His own coming death… the crucified the wrong person.

Die grootste hartseer in enige vriendskap is, dat jou vriend(in) jou nie sien nie. Jou maat sien nie jou hart nie, sien nie jou swaarkry, lyding of swaarheid nie.  Dis die een enkele sonde/oortreding wat enige verhouding op die afdraandpad kan stuur en uiteindelike verwoes. Die persoon wat die naaste aan my is, sien my nie!  Jesus se liefde is groter as ons oortredings, Hy gee nog steeds Sy lewe, en vergewe ons.

Deur hierdie wonderwerk wil Jesus iets van die glorie van die verhouding (eenheid) wat Hy met die Vader het vertoon.  Let op Marta se woorde; “God sal U alles gee wat u vra” Toe Jesus by die graf staan bid Hy nie eers nie, Hy sê: “Ek dank U Vader dat U my verhoor het, ek weet dat U my ALTYD verhoor” Jesus het ‘n vriendskap, Vader Seun verhouding met die Vader.  As jy iemand enigiets kan vra is jy goeie vriende met daardie persoon.  Dis is die crux van die evangelie, Ons kan God “Pappa” noem.  Geen ander geloof op aarde het hierdie benaming vir hulle God nie.  Hierdie sou later ‘n tema word in Jesus se prediking, die feit dat ons deur ons geloof in Christus ook God enigiets kan vra. (Joh 14:13; 15:16)

Tweedens wil Jesus met die einde van alle vriendskappe deel naamlik die dood. Ons sê so graag “Friends forever”, maar besef vandag dit is ‘n illusie! Jesus wek Sy vriend op, en verklaar: As julle in My glo sal julle sekerlik nie sterwe nie.  Daar is geen ewige vriendskap sonde vriendskap met God nie.  Soos selle mees gesond is wanneer hulle verbind is aan mekaar, is ons die meeste gesond wanneer ons eerstens met God versoen is.

Indien ons nie eers met God vriende is nie,
gaan ons altyd goddelike eise stel aan aardse vriendskappe wat nie kan hou nie.

Na Jesus se opstanding, en uitstorting van die Heilige Gees word die kerk die vrug en resultaat van mense wat eers met God herstel en versoen is, en dan in ‘n goddelike eenheid met mekaar leef. Die eenheid in die Handeling Kerk is gegrond op: Acts 4:32; “Een van hart en sinne” – Afwesig in die vlees maar tog teenwoordig Col 2:5 – As een lid ly, ly die hele liggaam – 1 Cor 12:26.

Laastens: Joh 11:44 Lasarus word weer lewendig, sonder seremonie, en groot vertoon. Jesus spreek bloot ‘n woord, en Lasarus word lewendig.  Jesus bly nie eers vir ete nie! Weereens verbreek Jesus die reels van aardse-vriendskappe. Jesus gee daarop opdrag dat Lasarus losgemaak moet word sodat hy kan huis toe gaan.

Jesus se vriende het Hom nie gesien nie, die mense vir wie Hy Sy lewe gee, het Hom nie ontvang nie, maar daar was een vrou wat gesien het. Maria kom salf Sy voete met duur olie in die volgende hoofstuk. Joh 12:1–8 (Vgl Mat 26:6; Mark 14:3) Sy moes tydens Lasarus se opwekking, Jesus se oë gesien het, sy het dieper gekyk, en verstaan dat Jesus eersdaags Sy lewe gaan gee vir die mensdom.  Niemand anders het Jesus se vooraf leiding gesien of verstaan nie, Hy moes Sy las alleen dra.  Ons ontvang deur die geloof dié geskenk van Jesus se geregtigheid, hierdie spesiale verhouding met die Vader.  Deur ons verbondenheid met die Vader laat Hy ons anders kyk. Ons vergeet van onsself, en sien ander se seer en las raak.  Ons kyk met Jesus oë.